Eugene “Pooh” Jeter is more than a scorer and playmaker. The Los Angeles native and former Sacramento Kings player took his influence and created Laced (Los Angeles Creates Endless Dreams) South Bay with his business partner James Booker. The current Chinese Basketball Association star will host the Trap All-Star Fest on Feb. 15, 2018, which kicks off All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.
How did you and your partner James Booker you come up with the lifestyle brand Laced South Bay?
I’ve been knowing James Booker for almost a decade now. We met at this barbershop in Inglewood called Platinum Cuts. Our good friend John, who’s my barber and Kevin Hart’s barber is the co-founder of Platinum. When my basketball season was finished in China in 2015, I came back home with a plan and mindset to open a clothing and shoe boutique. So, when I went to the barbershop, James and I were talking about my season and personal life. I told James that I wanted to open a store and he stated that he already had a place in mind. We both were trying to figure out a name with the help of family and friends. Our friend Jonathan Smith, who is a fashion designer and creative director for a brand called Scrapes & Gravel, gave us the name Laced.
What does the Laced movement mean to you? Who do you have involved?
The owners of Trap House Clothing, Quinten and William Jones, came up with an incredible acronym for TRAP, which means “To rise above poverty.” When I saw this, I told my team that we need come up with an acronym like that. I went back to Tianjin, China for my season in 2016-2017, and I came up with “Los Angeles Creates.” I asked my teammate at the time, Jeremy Tyler, to help me with a word that starts with the letter “E.” He said a few names and then he said, “How about Endless?” So, I kept Endless in mind. I went back to the notes section in my iPhone and was thinking of words that start with the letter “D.” I turned to Jeremy again and said “Dreams.” He looked at me with a look of excitement and that’s how Laced came to be. People who are from Los Angeles already have that acronym in their DNA. My goal is to highlight those individuals and those who moved to Los Angeles to create their endless dreams.
How did you connect with performers Young Dolph, NBA Youngboy, Metro Boomin, and 03 Greedo for the Trap All-Star Fest?
Trap House Clothing, (who we partnered with for this event), has a good relationship with all the above-mentioned artists. 03 Greedo is from LA so we have mutual friends. Each artist represents Trap House Clothing, so it was an easy call to execute for All-Star weekend.
I know you have Chris Paul, Deandre Jordan, Lou Williams, and Baron Davis coming to your event. What are you looking forward to the most from All-Star weekend, since you’re from L.A.?
I have a lot of friends that play in the NBA and NFL. I played for the Sacramento Kings during the 2010-2011 season, but I’ve been playing in China ever since then. The NFL season is done and Thursday, Feb. 15 has two televised NBA games, so people should be coming out to the show that night. I just want everybody to have an exciting time and to be safe during this weekend.
What can patrons expect from the Trap All-Star Fest this year?
This show is about to be lit! Metro Boomin said it’s about to be a movie. Each artist has their own surprise guest too. Other people have reached out about performing so everything should run smoothly. I encourage everyone to get their tickets because they’re going fast.
What are your upcoming plans for Laced?
We’re planning to launch a giveaway that will allow one person to win a free outfit for one full year. Right now, Laced is the only black-owned clothing and shoe boutique in Los Angeles with an official NIKE account so we’re proud to have them on board, along with other brands. This contest is for men only starting from age 14 and up. People can sign up at www.lacedlifestyle.com.
