Raleigh Firebirds Soaring Through TBL Offseason Thanks To Core Group Grinding
Looking ahead to the 2023 TBL season next spring, Matthew McClain, Daequon Antoine, and James McKelvin are eager to get back to business after growing on the court this summer.
Raleigh, North Carolina — As teams around The Basketball League are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2023 season next spring, members of the Raleigh Firebirds have used their time extremely wisely this offseason. With the Firebirds finishing with a .500 record at 12-12 in the competitive Southeast Division and failing to make the postseason, the organization has dedicated themselves to creating a fresh start from the bottom up since July.
Not only have the Firebirds helped bring fans closer to the inner-workings of the team by producing a fantastic podcast dubbed, The Raleigh Firebirds Show, but they have also made it a priority to consistently give back to their local community in Raleigh by hosting a back-to-school book bag and supplies drive, providing free sports physicals, holding a shoe drive, and teaming-up with Habitat for Humanity on home building projects.
It’s safe to say the Firebirds are building something special of their own in North Carolina thanks to a concrete foundation.
With the front office in Raleigh setting the tone of what it means to be a professional team – on and off of the court all year round – it’s easy for their players to follow in those footsteps. Take Matthew McClain, Daequon Antoine, and James McKelvin for example. Their individual dedication and exemplary work ethic this offseason speaks volumes about how the Firebirds aim to step their game up in The Basketball League in 2023.
At 6-6, forward Matt McClain (Ottawa University) led Raleigh in scoring at 18.1 points per game and was second on the team with 6.3 rebounds per game. He also etched his name in the Top 10 in three league leading categories by ranking 2nd in TBL in 2-Point Percentage at 69.5%, 10th in Field Goal Percentage at 63.4%, and 10th in free-throw percentage at 83.2%.
Coming out of Nichols College, guard Daequon Antoine was right behind McClain on the scoring front by averaging 18 points per game while also leading the team in three-point shooting at 38.1% from behind the arc.
Rounding out the trio, 6-4 guard James McKelvin (Missouri Baptist) was a steady presence on both ends of the floor thanks to his athleticism by averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game to begin his professional career.
The goal for each of these Firebirds this summer: grow your game, get better, and prepare to win it all once the regular season tips-off next March…
Before we get into your offseason, can you guys share some thoughts on last season in the TBL and your biggest take away from how things went for you in Raleigh?
Matthew: Last season in TBL went by fast. We went through some changes throughout the entirety of the season which kind of sped things up a bit. The way teams competed around the league was pretty consistent. And the crowds varied from game to game city to city. All that being said, I think the best place to be is deep in the playoffs.
Daequon: For the TBL season overall from a team standpoint and a personal standpoint, I felt like it was a good one. Personally, a lot of things opened up for me on the court and team wise although we didn’t make it to the playoffs, I feel like lessons were learned in many ways.
James: The overall experience of the TBL for me was an experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. It gave me the opportunity to become a professional basketball player, when it seemed like that would be impossible especially with how everything was going in the world (Covid-19). My time in Raleigh was great. They showed me a lot of love while I was there. My biggest take away from being there would be to create as many connections and relationships as you can anywhere you go. Just watching the team market owner Wade Harris maneuver through the community and bring so much attention to the organization was extremely inspiring.
What did you all learn the most about yourself and where your game is at from that experience of playing in TBL?
Matthew: Being able to bring what I've learned from playing for different clubs helped me get through the season. I had people in Raleigh who were there helping out too. I learned mostly about my play style and how much more I have in the tank.
Daequon: I learned how to become a scorer at all levels and how to create space to get my shot off when I needed to.
James: I learned very quickly that to be a pro you have to act as such. During my time in Raleigh I was able to measure my game up against other pros (guys that have already played overseas and current TBL players ). That’s when I realized that this dream I have can really become a reality if I’m able to separate myself through hard work.
Heading into the offseason, what were some areas you guys wanted to work on?
Matthew: My focus going into the off-season was to get stronger and expand on how I attack.
Daequon: I wanted to work on my pace, playing at different speeds. Also, I wanted to focus on how I can control the game better whether it’s scoring, passing, and defensively.
James: During the offseason, I wanted to emphasize shooting a lot. I want to become a knock down 3-point shooter. As well as improving on my decision making when I have the ball in my hands.
What has your summer been like over the past few months? Have you been playing in any summer leagues or Pro-Ams?
Matthew: Besides my workouts, I played in some local leagues in Charleston and stayed on the court a minimum of 4 days a week. I also reached out to a group that is helping to gain more exposure – USA Select. It's good to have people who know the game to keep me fresh.
Daequon: My summer has been nothing but non-stop basketball from summer league games to money tournaments up in Massachusetts to Pro-Ams. I played in the Saint Augustine University/Chavis Basketball League, and the Ultimate Basketball Association (UBA) league here in Raleigh.
James: This summer I have been spending a lot of my time at Larry Hughes Basketball Academy. That’s my place of employment, where I coach a team of 4th graders as well as training kids of all ages and helping them with their skill development. It’s also where I do most of my workouts and training. Besides that I have been playing in the St. Louis Pro-Am, which was the best it’s ever been in my opinion. I even got to play alongside a couple NBA guys (Ben McLemore of the Portland Trail Blazers and Jordan Goodwin of the Washington Wizards). My team made it all the way to the Pro-Am Championship game that had Jayson Tatum, Bradley Beal, and Harry Giles in attendance, which was a great experience not only for me but for our city as well.
What are you looking forward to the most when you consider returning for the 2023 TBL season?
Matthew: In 2023 I want that ring.
Daequon: I am looking forward to just getting right back to it and the constant grind of working to get better everyday.
James: What I’m looking forward to most is taking another step forward in my professional career statistically and competing for the TBL championship, as well as hopefully gaining an opportunity to play either overseas or with an NBA G-League opportunity.
Wendell Maxey has covered and written about professional basketball and sports for 19 years including eight years reporting on the NBA in New York and Portland where his work appeared on ESPN.com, NBA.com, USA Today, FOX Sports, YAHOO Sports!, SLAM Magazine, and The Oregonian among other publications and media outlets. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn or read through his writing archive on Linktree.