Breathe Eazy Interview
With handles, moves, hops and a pure jump shot Kendall "Breathe Eazy" Butler is widely regarded as one of the best underground streetballers in the game today. The 6'3 shooting guard has been holding down The Streetball Fanatics and the Nassau Bahamas basketball scene for a minute now and looks to take his game to the US. Check out the interview I did with the man better known as B.E.Z
B.T: Sup B.E.Z I just caught your new clip "Asleep" and I have to say it was pure fire. Seems like your one of the only ballers around that works on all parts of your game B.E.Z: I'm determined now so it's a must to keep getting better. Also I plan on doing more things this summer so i have to be ready to hold my own. Glad you like the clip though. It's just somethin I threw together cause the fans deserve to see some new stuff from us. Just that I've been a bit busy.
B.T: Yeah things have been a little on the quiet front with you and the Fanatics lately. What have have been up to in recent months? B.E.Z: I've really been keeping a low profile for the past 3 to 4 months. Basketball has grown to be a bigger part of my life now. Since January I started college, But since I got here in January I'm red shirting this semester and gonna start playing next semester. It's actually better for me though because it gives me time to work out real hard and to see how things go program wise (running plays and how other things operate). I'm on a full scholarship though so I got everything paid for so I'm living the life right now. Handling business like I always do
B.T: So how old were you when you first picked up a basketball and what made you start playing? B.E.Z: Unlike most people that were ballin from a real young age I didn't start playing any basketball until I was in the 9th grade. My father got me a goal outside the house because me and my brother would always go over to the neighbor and shoot on theirs. Years passed and I got a little better but not much to be noticed. I didn't really develop myself until Iverson got into the league and I started seeing him breaking people in games. I wanted to be able to do that too so I started watching tapes of him doing his crossover until I got it down. Day by day I just kept working on getting better.
B.T:Who did you look up to as a young baller? And how did they influence your game? B.E.Z: Iverson all the way. He really was a big influence to my game because I wasn't all that big growing up and most of my friends never would pick me when we went to play because I wasn't as good as them or I just wasn't all that good at all. I also looked up to a few of my friends that I'm still cool with today like Instant Offense. He is much better than people would think.
B.T: As a streetball player you are faced with a lot of competition. How do you keep on top of your game? B.E.Z: I always keep my head up no matter what situation I'm in. I don't let excuses be a reason for failing. I normally would work on my game in parts like my jumpshot or dribbling but for the past few months I really have been dedicated to stepping my game up because I got goals to aim for now seeing that I'm in college. I still keep my game street no matter what the situation is. So I still think up new moves and do my lil freestyles here and there to keep my mind creative with the ball. What really pushes me are people that hate on me just out of envy or spite. The better you get or the more you are talked about the more people you have to deal with so I'm prepared for all the hating that's gonna eventually come up. People may even hate on this interview. But that's just what pushes me to be flawless. Still Gonna Breathe Eazy.
B.T: What is your main goal for the future? B.E.Z: To push myself to be the best ball player I'm capable of being. I'm really focused on my career now and working on my game so that I can get into one of the big names colleges so that everyone that believes in me would be even more proud of me. I know I can do it once I stay healthy and away from injuries. When it comes to streetball im not gonna stop doing what I'm doing and that's going at everyone in front of me. Since I came out with the Streetball Fanatics all I've got is positive responses. People enjoy watching clips of us because we are real about what we do. I intend to still play in all the streetball games I'm capable of attending and still pushing everyone around me as far as they can go such as O.T.B (out the building) I got some people offering him some real nice deals so you all will hear more about that soon.
B.T: Here's a few questions that the guys on the message boards want to know: Trouble asks. Are you going to come out wit a "Why Hares Bother pt. 3" since Unreal from da ATL came wit a Retaliation??? B.E.Z: WOW. I mean. To Be real? Somebody establish who that guy is then get back to me with this question. I got no comment on pump fakes. Earn your status na mean....Don't try to ride my name to be seen.. But if you guys really wanna see it then let me know fo real.. I'm about the fans 4man: asks. What happened at the And1 Open run you went to? B.E.Z: Man that was a real good experience for me. I saw all the guys that I looked up to and that was a big inspiration seeing that I came around streetballin because of those guys. Here is the run down. I played the first game and had like 8 points with 2 dunks., one oop threw by papo. I was then sent straight to the final round and entered into the dunk contest for Boost Mobile. I had to then sit down in that cold arena and watch like 7 games before I played again. I was hella cold by then since I was already warm. Next thing I hear I gotta do the dunk contest,. I made my first dunk cold with my cuff touch rim windmill, but I couldn't get up like I do to do my other dunks so some guy they named (I Robot) won it. Now we played the final game and it didn't go that well. I had like 4 points but people were hogging a whole lot so I only couldn't do what I could have. They chose the 3 guys and went on. I wasn't down or anything because I really wanted the experience no matter what the outcome is. This year when I go you all will get footage of whats up. I hope..
Check-it-out asks. Whats the basketball scene like in the bahamas? I hear your playing D1 Ball there, Whats the Level of competition like? B.E.Z: The level is strong. People back home play real hard. YOU WILL GET HIT! That's part of getting your mind ready to be a strong player. You have a lot of skilled players there and you have to ball up to standard to keep your reputation where it should be.
Check-it-out asks. what do you think the addition of kitkat and papo do for SF? B.E.Z: Those 2 guys make a big addition to the crew. Both of them are well respected and some of the most creative guys out. Don't just go by what you see on the internet. I played with these guys on more than one occasion and both of them can really do their thing.
Check-it-out asks. also what are your thoughts on the Canadian version of SF, hype and sickness? B.E.Z: I respect those guys just as much as any other member in the crew. Hype got my back 24/7 and a true SF homie. With sykness he really shocked me with some footage that he sent me with how creative he can get. For his age he really impressed me. I hope to someday get to play against those guys in person, but its still good to know that those guys are representing up in Canada.
Suavecito asks. Where do you believe you stand at the streetball level? Along side some of the more well known streetballers? B.E.Z: I'm Actually right where i need to be. But I haven't been exposed like alot of these other streetballers. I'm from the bahamas and it's much harder to get to a game in virginia than it is do one at home. So other ballers can get around easier to these events. But yet I still hold my own and try to attend as much as I can and I got enough respect to be mentioned up there with some of the hot names out there so I'm proud of what I have accomplished. Still though... this summer I'll probably hit more states and games to get my name more respected out there because only proof of your game can speak for itself. Not just internet clips. You gotta earn your respect against the better players. So I'll get out there and show what i can do so my fans would know if I can really do my thing.
B.T: Any Last words before we finish? B.E.Z: Ummm. I'd have to say too much but I'll keep this short. The updates to the website are coming. Thing most people don't know is that I'm in school now and I'm SF (literally) I edit, update, EVERYTHING!! Just tryna get my books game straight. But I do got some stuff I need to release that I will. Secondly thank all yall who respect my game enough to read this interview and to have positive responses to things about me.,,, Your boi Breathe EZ gonna do some big things fa sho... Oh one last thing" Thanks again for the haters that try to be negative towards me. I'm moving forward a lil bit faster now.. Ha HA! so anyone hatin always remember this. If you gonna hate on someone be ready to go Toe 2 Toe. Also don't let the person you hatin on have some dirt on you. Somethin crazy like drivin over 10hrs somewhere only to have people find out your game is as ugly as you look.. THEN HAVE IT ALL ON TAPE!! So hate with precision. Just an example.. ha ha ha Holla at ya boi Breathe EZ.. Reppin Bahamas to the fullest!! Thankxz for featuring me on here BT. K.I.E
