The Drew League may have played its last game
By Kenneth Miller | Publisher
The Drew League co-founder Dino Smiley gingerly held the microphone to present awards prior to the women’s championship. He squeezed it with both hands and lift it close to his mouth.
“I don’t know if any of you know this but I had a heart attack and stroke,” he solemnly said before going silent as emotion gripped.
Smiley went on to add that he does not know what the future holds, admitting the league has been struggling to stay afloat.
This all unfolded on a glorious championship day Aug. 23 at King Drew Medical Magnet gymnasium located in Watts as a capacity crowd looked on.
The 53-year old Pro AM League which was founded by Alvin Wills in 1973 with six teams and held at Charles R. Drew Middle School to give local youth an alternative to gang violence has evolved over the half century to become a community institution.
It has survived 10 United State Presidents, while evolving like the Toyota Corolla stretching as wide as a Kareem Abdul Jabbar sky hook, operating once as smooth as a Marques Johnson midrange.
I remember some of those early days when I served as the public address announcer and the teams paid the referee fees out of pocket before every game. Back then The Drew, as it is branded now was really a community affair and one of its early and longtime stars was Casper Ware. Casper essentially grew up in and was responsible for some of its enduring success.
CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT–From left in white T-shirt Dino Smiley, co-founder and gate keeper of The Drew League joins Gage as they rejoice in winning The Drew League Women’s championship at King Drew Medical Magnet on Aug. 23. (Kenneth Miller/Photo)
The Drew, which was founded on community, loyalty and friendships and bridged through the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, catapulted when NBA stars showed up in 2011 as a way to stay in shape.
Immediately, The Drew rocketed into a new dimension and soared in national popularity as legends such as Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, James Harden pulled up, thus opening the door for the arrivals of LeBron James and others.
One person significant in the growth of The Drew was Baron Davis, who also played as a teen before his stellar NBA career. Baron produced a highly reviewed documentary “No Excuse, Just Produce” on The Drew that heightened popularity even more.
Shoe giant Nike was The Drew first major sponsorship deal in 2013, a deal that provided funding and apparel for 7 years, according to Smiley.
The Nike deal mutually ended and Adidas sought out The Drew and came in with a new multi-year sponsorship that infused more funding and merch.
Adidas ended its agreement with the league in 2025, but by 2026 The Drew had to operate without a sponsor for the first time in 13 years.
COMMUNITY OF THE DREW–The 2026 community service honoree Daniel “Butchy’ Brown (white shirt with tie) at King Drew Medical Magnet during championship Sunday on Aug. 23. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)
“It’s been tough,” Smiley admitted. Speaking candidly for the first time since perhaps the final Drew League champions were crowned, he admitted this could be it.
According to Dino and his wife Stephanie, who corrected that Dino didn’t have a heart attack but a stroke, if The Drew does not secure the financial resources, it’s over.
“We have been through a lot, especially this year and with his health, wearing a heart monitor after the stroke, I am not going the let basketball kill him. If this is it after 53 years, we had a heck of a ride,” Stephanie explained to South Bay Black Journal.
The league features 12 games each week for 11 weeks, beginning in June and concluding in August. The expenses include the lease with the Los Angeles Unified School District to host the games at its namesake King Drew Medical Magnet, referees, administrative fees, security all of which runs in excess of $300,000 annually, according to Dino. The games are free to the public.
Contrary to many rumors, the Smiley’s have not enriched themselves from The Drew, which is ran through a non-profit organization.
“We still live in the same house on 89th street, drive the same cars,” added Stephanie.
Both the Smileys addressed reports of staff members not being paid, stating they had to struggle to come up with the money but as of this writing said they were paid.
Gage captured the Drew Women Championship and Hometown Favorites repeated as champions in the men division.
Roy Walker, one of Hometown Favorites assistant coaches shouted, “We go win it a third time next year.”
CHAMPS AGAIN– Reggie Morris, Jr., head coach of Hometown Favorites celebrates winning back-to-back championships in The Drew League on Aug. 23 at King Drew Medical Magnet High School gymnasium. (Kenneth Miller/Photo)
Hometown Favorites head coach Reggie Morris, Jr. coached his team with a heavy heart knowing that his brother from dying from a car accident.
Only at The Drew can a melody of gleeful celebration synchronize with heartache and pain.
The awards all wearing memories of the lost soldiers whose name meant more in The Drew than it did in the world.
Dino Smiley has been The Drew caretaker for more than 30 years, much like Stephanie has been his.
He relishes all of the life time relationships, ‘Still Bill’, now wheelchair bound attends every game.
A man with an apron whip throughout the humid gym with a trey of frozen ice cups. Three scoops for five bucks. That scent of movie hot buttered popcorn resonates amid the screeching sneakers and backdrop music as the game is being played.
One more dribble, one more shot. A towering rebound or blindsided assist.
There will be plenty more, but only if The Drew can rebound from this.
