Editor’s note: On Thursday Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors will make his way to his hometown of Atlanta to face the Hawks, and he wanted to show his gratitude for the city — particularly his neighborhood. The following letter was composed by Deseret News sports writer Eric Woodyard from an interview with Favors.
Come and ride with me for a quick second as I take you down my personal journey of what the A-T-L means to me. Way before the fame and NBA lifestyle, I didn’t even have a basketball goal.
It was just my best friend, JJ, and me, hooping on a recycling bin by my momma’s car in my neighborhood, Cleveland Avenue.