A Fan’s View of Basketball

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“Addition by subtraction”

The term addition by subtraction in the headline was used by former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to describe a particular period in the team’s history. According to Popovich, he believed it was necessary for the Spurs to trade Dennis Rodman in order to pursue an NBA Championship. Dennis Rodman, known as an NBA and rebounding champion, was previously traded to the Spurs after seven seasons with the Pistons, where he contributed to two NBA Championships. In contrast, Will Perdue, who was involved in the same trade, spent most of his NBA career as a reserve player, and did not achieve the same level of recognition as Rodman.

The trade between the Bulls and Spurs saw Rodman move to Chicago, where he later helped the Bulls win championships, while Perdue joined the Spurs in a reserve role. Following these changes, the Spurs secured their first championship in 1999, with Perdue listed on the team’s roster. The impact of this trade on the Spurs’ first championship remains open to interpretation. Rodman, despite his talent, was a concern for some coaches. From our reading it appears there were few if any issues with Phil Jackson as his coach, perhaps Popovich believed after two seasons this “marriage” would not work. A rebounding machine in Rodman traded for a career reserve player in Perdue, you be the judge.

The end is in sight

When the 2025-26 season begins in late October a number of players in the NBA will begin with the prospect they can see the end of their careers within a short few years. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green will retire with NBA Championship on their resume. Let’s take a glance at the others and the present age of all. 

LeBron James-40

Chris Paul-40

Steph Curry-37

Kevin Durant-36

Russell Westbrook-36

Jimmy Butler-35

James Hardin-35

Draymond Green-35

Dame Lillard-35

The remaining question for NBA fans, who moves into the void once these veterans retire? What I find most interesting none appear to have slowed, they may longer be capable of playing 48 minutes but they still have game in those “old bones.”

What couldn’t he do?

All these years later despite the doubters I might ask the question, what couldn’t he do? The NBA was a new league (1949) if we compare it in age to MLB, the NFL and the NHL. Many believe Wilt Chamberlain never received the accolades he should have at the time was due to the Celtics and Bill Russell. The Celtics of that era were a juggernaut especially with Russell anchoring the middle. I once read this from Chamberlain, “Russell had better teams than me” and it was true at the time, no matter if it was the Warriors, Sixers or Lakers he was never able to beat them during his brilliant NBA career. In 1967 as a member of the Sixers he won over the Warriors, 1972 while a member of the Lakers he won over the Knicks.

Let’s return to an earlier time, if an athlete left school as Chamberlain did back there were few professional leagues. Chamberlain spent a year playing for the Harlem Globetrotters until he was draft eligible for the NBA. The Warriors (then in Philadelphia) selected home grown talent Wilt Chamberlain. 1959-60 was unlike any rookie season before or to this day, a single player never dominated a league as he’d done. Cynics will claim there were fewer teams and they are correct however there is a statement for them. Fewer teams meant the best of the best was in the NBA, that meant it was more than Russell he would face night after night. In any event since we are enamored with numbers allow me to toss a few in your direction. Chamberlain led the NBA scoring with a 37.6 ppg average and 27.0 rebounds. In addition he was named All-Star Game MVP and League MVP plus Rookie of the Year. He singlehandedly couldn’t beat the Celtics, that’s Chamberlain’s only unattainable achievement.

Meanwhile….

I went into a sporting apparel store in Greater New York City, after checking the shelves and failing to discover an item I asked a sales associate. “Have you any Kansas City Chiefs baseball caps,” the associate look at me as if I were speaking a language he didn’t understand. That is a far out example but follow me on this account. For the most part the Nets have spent the bulk of their existence headquartered in New Jersey. From 1976 through 1977 they were playing in the city at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Long Island. Despite this fact once the team moved to Brooklyn I wondered if things might change, it didn’t. The television cameras catch site of Brooklyn born Spike Lee all the time at Madison Square Garden, he’s not giving up his Knicks.

In this instance we address comments made by Draymond Green of the Warriors and acknowledge his right to express his opinions. Nonetheless, I, along with a letter writer, respectfully disagree with Green’s perspective regarding Cooper Flagg being benched after playing only two summer games. The letter you are about to read is that of a fan. “I don’t understand what Draymond is talking about. He concerned about a rookie on another team not playing so they (Mavs) can have fully healthy fully rested fully available for the start of an 82 game season in which he will play 76 of them. Stop it DG you too old for this.”  It is unclear why Green, whose focus is on his own team, chose to comment on Flagg, a player not affiliated with the Warriors and yet to play his first official NBA game. This criticism of a 19-year-old athlete still awaiting his debut in the league raises questions about its necessity and appropriateness. Rather than speculate further on Green’s motives, I prefer to refrain from overanalyzing the situation involving this veteran player's remarks about an untested rookie.

It’s been a ‘minute,’ in fact it was 1990 the last time Pat Riley was associated with the Lakers. There are individuals who are only familiar with his role with the Heat, still more his tenure with the Knicks. As for older folks and those steeped in NBA history are acquainted with his Laker connection. Riles as he’s nicknamed moved from the broadcast booth of the Lakers to an assistant and finally head coach of the team. He was the primary architect of the Showtime Lakers however in fairness the team was loaded with a number of Hall of Fame athletes. All that to inform you the events to occur February 22, 2026, a statue of Riley will be unveiled alongside those of Magic, Kareem, Kobe. Quite an honor for Riley who will be on hand as the bronze statue is unveiled.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun

The mayor said, “Hold on a moment!”

Below is a story written much earlier regarding the Spurs outlook for the 2025-26 NBA season. What you are about to see is the latest news report from San Antonio. Rather than provide my view we go straight to the source, check out the video below from News 4 (WOAI) San Antonio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVcUAT8SSxg

One more check

The onset of the college basketball season will be here before we realize it. In Kansas City students, administration, alumni and fans of the University of MO-Kansas City await that one good season. UMKC now listed as Kansas City to help identify the basketball program has wallowed in the basement of division one basketball since. Let’s just say once the program was implemented again there were several years of play at the NAIA level prior to moving to division one. I have mentioned this on more than one occasion, the talk at the beginning had me (and maybe others) envisioning an urban program similar to UCLA, St. John’s and other schools located in large cities.

That was then, this is now…on the surface it appears the basketball program is stuck in neutral unable to move the column into drive. Kansas City moved into division one play in the 1994-95 season. Since that time, the most games ever won during a season was 19-12 under Billy Donlon who is no longer the head coach during the 2021-22 season. It seems whenever a coach has the team poised to succeed he’s either fired or like Donlon leaves for another school. The arena is closer to my home than T-Mobile, I could leave my home and be inside and seated in the space of no more than 30 minutes. I don’t attend the games, there is no reason with a team which appears like a rudderless ship. Am I being too harsh, no I don’t think so based on the really bad basketball played by Kansas City since 1994-95.

The look of the Spurs

From what I’ve read Wemby’s health issue has been resolved, in addition to that comes word he’s bulked up. It’s all muscle so he should be just as swift up and down the court at a hefty 245 pounds. Some will claim he’s still a lightweight based on his 7-foot 4 frame but that is not me. This is written early prior to free agency so I’m unsure if the Spurs will be full scale participants. In any event let’s check out portions of the roster, near the middle of last season they made a trade with the Kings receiving point guard DeAaron Fox. In 2024 the Spurs drafted guard Stephon Castle who turned out to be 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year, the 2025 draft saw them select 6-foot 6 shooting guard Dylan Harper with the second pick.

Also in this draft the Spurs added 6-foot 8 Carter Bryant who played his college ball at Arizona. I am unsure how coach Mitch Johnson intends to mold this collection of talent into a cohesive team. As for the subtractions with this youthful backcourt I question whether Chris Paul remains with the Spurs. There are reports he wants to be with his family in Los Angeles, would they…could the Lakers sign him as a backup? As this account was being completed the Spurs added two veteran frontcourt players, Luke Kornet who last played for the Celtics and Kelly Olynyk. Kornet stands 7-foot 1 and Olynyk is 6-foot 11, as you can see along with a healthy Wemby have gained height as a team. With this revised roster the Spurs, with a revamped lineup, should earn a playoff berth in 2026.   

The other Mavs

You are certainly familiar with the Dallas Mavericks generally shorten to Mavs. Unless you are a member of Generation X (born 1965-1980) or earlier these Mavs will be unknown to you, besides the fact their home base was Houston and not Dallas. In 1967 the Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, they were there at the beginning but not the end. By the time the NBA added 4 ABA teams the Mavericks were just an afterthought. The franchise would only last two seasons, by 1969 they were on the road to another ABA city. That first roster consisted of players from the defunct Eastern Professional League plus a few players from nearby Houston colleges. How did this glue and paste roster come together, according to the history the GM discovered funds required to be a participant in the draft hadn’t arrived.

By the time he was able to acquire the funds from other sources the draft was just about over. Despite the strange and unusual start the Mavericks managed to finish the season with a 29-49 record and earn a playoff berth where they were quickly eliminated. The community was not thrilled with the team with an average attendance of 1,500. Fast forward in the story, the team was sold with plans to move them to North Carolina although they remained in the city until the season was complete. The history indicates 49 fans attended the last game prior to the move, The following season the team was re-born as the Carolina Cougars and Houston would remain without professional basketball until 1971. That season witnessed the Rockets moving from San Diego, as for the team name it would remain in the State of Texas. In 1980 NBA expansion would see an NBA team in Dallas and it would become the Mavericks or Mavs for short.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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The best ever

This is a brief look at what most in the metro believe to be the most talented high school basketball player to ever from the area despite the passage of time. Metro Kansas City is not small in population (2.2 million) but certainly much smaller than a New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago. Based on that fact alone a smaller number of the population has managed to make its way to the professional ranks over time. One of those who was able to accomplished the task and tasted league success was Warren Armstrong who in 1968 was named ABA Rookie of the Year. Much later Armstrong would change his last name to Jabali which confused the media and much of the public. It was believed he’d done this in the same manner of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar), that was not the case. It’s he adopted the Swahili name due to its definition, “One who has the qualities of a mountain; strong” is certainly represented of him both on and off the court. Armstrong graduated from Central High School Kansas City (MO) in 1964, in high school his athletic prowess led many to have witnessed his play refer to him even now, “The greatest high school basketball player ever produced from this area.”

Armstrong would graduate and go on to excel at Wichita State, all these years later his name remains in the school’s record book. In 1968 be drafted by the Knicks in the 4th round. It’s been mentioned that the NBA draft back then was much more extensive than the two rounds of today. It just so happened the Knicks had drafted a guy by the name of Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier the year prior. That was an issue but also the reported reputation of Armstrong. It was the 1960’s and he in a manner similar to Muhammed Ali was outspoken regarding race and issues in that time period. This next portion I offer no evidence just a belief by many at the time, Red Holtzman Knicks coach at the time didn’t want Armstrong on his team. His reputation while at Wichita State had preceded him with Holtzman and others. He would choose the ABA where he was named ABA Rookie of the Year in 1969. Could Armstrong Jabali have played at or near the same level in the NBA, that question is impossible to answer however many believe he could have. I am suggesting for additional detail seek these books, Jabali A Kansas City legend written by David Thomas. Also Thanks To You Memories of Warren Edward Armstrong Jabali written by Mary Alice Beasley his wife, both can be purchased through your usual suppliers.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLcVdlL2SF8

FIBA’s EuroBasket tourney

Luka Doncic was injured recently, what I’ve read the injury was not serious but it makes for a question. I am sure many of you believe this is written by a Laker fan but it is more than that. Also playing are Lauri Markkanen Jazz, Rockets center Alperen Sengun plus Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks forward and Nikola Jokic Nuggets center. Each one of those named and others are valuable to their NBA teams, I don’t wish to be a harbinger of doom but there is only so much basketball to be played. We have witnessed a rash of knee, ankle and Achilles injuries in recent years to key players.

I have no background in medicine nor any type of training, despite that fact I continue to believe the human body can only take so much wear and tear. The FIBA tourney is important if for nothing other than national pride. I’m thinking NBA contract and back to a time Jay Williams was playing guard for the Bulls and not working for ESPN. His contract prohibited him from riding motorcycles yet that’s what he did in the off season, that was the cause of a devastating injury. That ended his NBA career, the Bulls paid him although he’d violated a provision of his contract. I’m wondering if it’s time particularly for Euro players to be prohibited from participating in this tournament or anything similar. Am I an alarmist, I hope not however I tend to be on the cautious side.

The Legacy

If you’ve read this blog any length of time you are aware I have a preference for Big Man basketball. From my point of view that’s an element of NBA play I believe is lacking. With that said we’ve discussed Nate Thurmond in the past but for anyone unfamiliar with Thurmond I believe there is valued information that follows. I recently read Thurmond did not want to enroll at Ohio State figuring that Jerry Lucas had the inside track to play the center position, therefore he decided to play at Bowling Green University located in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Thurmond was drafted by the (San Francisco) Warriors in 1963 with the 3rd pick in the first round. What is even more interesting the Warriors drafted the 6-foot 11 Thurmond despite having Wilt Chamberlain. Looking back on the draft the guess was that the Warriors were receiving the best player available and that indeed turned out to be the case. With Chamberlain occupying the center position Thurmond’s play was limited, he would play out of position at the forward or the post for a few minutes a game whenever Chamberlain would sit. This arrangement lasted for two seasons until Chamberlain was traded to the Sixers, with the trade Thurmond would move into the center position where he excelled for the Warriors. He would play for them 9 seasons before a trade sent him to the Bulls, he finished his NBA career with the Cavs in 1977. Thurmond would battle opposing centers of the time, Walt Bellamy, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Chamberlain and others.

Abdul Jabbar claimed Thurmond played him tougher than any other center of the period. It should be noted the first game Thurmond played for the Bulls he filled up the box score. He scored 22 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and dished out 13 assists while on defense blocked 12 shots. Thurmond is enshrined in the College and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, this legendary Big Man passed away in 2016 at the age of 74. Nate Thurmond is a name from the NBA’s rich past you should be familiar with.

Memphis basketball

The basketball team is one of the more successful college programs in the nation. The Tigers finished the 2024-25 season with a 29-6 overall record, they won the American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season title with a 16-2 conference record. The roster is solid and they should be in contention again for another title, so what’s the problem? The Tigers appear desperate to gain membership in a Power 5 conference, they made an effort once again. This time it was the Big XII conference which rejected their application. What are the issues preventing the Tigers from a move, for one Name, Image and Likeness…it appears the school is lacking the financial clout necessary to compete.

For unknown reasons despite the on court success of the program attendance is dropping, in fact this past season it was less than 7,000 per game. That alone is difficult to determine when we take into account they only lost 6 games all season. What that says to me you can attend a game at FedEx Forum and be somewhat assured the “home team” will win the game. The Athletic Department including the basketball team has been placed on a two-year probation by the NCAA so that could seriously impact a potential move. The last area of impact is reported to be academics, so there you have the Memphis Tigers. A highly successful basketball program under coach Penny Hardaway but it appears there is no other conference interested in them becoming a member, stay tuned this story is not complete yet.   

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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A unique point

Historically, professional sports teams would request new stadiums or arenas, and city, county, or sometimes state government officials would promptly initiate the process. However, the current environment has shifted significantly; municipalities are no longer readily approving such requests, and increased public opposition frequently influences outcomes, occasionally leading to compromise. Project Marvel, San Antonio's comprehensive downtown revitalization plan, includes provisions for a new arena for the Spurs and appears to have reached a significant milestone.

The advancement pertains to an agreement between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and the Spurs regarding a downtown arena. Despite this agreement, the proposal still requires formal approval and remains uncertain until such approval is secured. A primary concern is that, should the arena plan not be approved, the Spurs may consider relocation—a possibility underscored by precedent. For example, the NFL’s Raiders relocated to Las Vegas in 2020, and Major League Baseball’s Athletics are preparing to do the same; both teams were originally based in Oakland. While new stadium constructions were anticipated for these franchises, the Warriors’ move across the Bay represents a distinct scenario.

The college game on television

We have discussed the impact television played in the growth of the NBA, the same could be said for the college game. ESPN, CBS broadcast and sports network, TBS, TNT, Fox broadcast and sports network along with True TV are the key networks while the Big 10, SEC and ACC conferences provide coverage. In addition to those mentioned many of the streaming services also offer college basketball games. Once the college basketball season begins games are available 7 days a week and at all hours of the day and night.

The crème de la crème of course is the NCAA tournament a.k.a. March Madness, this 68 team tournament culminates with one team winning the championship of college basketball. What might be most interesting to readers televising college basketball began at a period when the number of viewers was quite small. The very first basketball game televised occurred February 28. 1940, a game between Pitt and Fordham was broadcast on W2XBS (later becoming WNBC). The game was played at the old Madison Square Garden since demolished, the estimated audience was measured between 400-1000. As for the game Pitt was the winner over Fordham 57-37. We must keep in mind at the time television was in its infancy and this was considered ‘experimental.’ A single game played much later would set the tone for ESPN and other networks that would later blossom. During the late 1960’s and early to mid-1970’s, UCLA was a dominate force in college basketball.

Led by All American Lew Alcindor, UCLA faced the University of Houston, led by Elvin Hayes, in a highly anticipated matchup at the Astrodome. On January 20, 1968, before an audience of 52,000 spectators, Houston secured a 71-69 victory, ending UCLA’s 47-game winning streak. At the time, Eddie Einhorn organized a consortium of television stations to create TVS Network, broadcasting the game to viewers across the nation. This overview concludes with the significant role that television has played in expanding the reach and popularity of college basketball.

A second career

Dick Barnett passed away in April at the age of 88, the 6-foot 4 left-handed guard played a significant role in the New York Knicks’ two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Earlier in his career, while attending Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State), he helped his team secure three consecutive NAIA Tournament titles. While reports indicate that academics were not initially his main focus, this area become more prominent for him following his retirement from basketball. After retiring in 1973, Barnett continued his education, earning a master’s degree from NYU and a Ph.D. from Fordham University.

Barnett authored 20 books and established the Dr. Richard Barnett Center for Sports Education, Business and Technology. He also taught Sports Management at St. John’s University during his retirement. In addition to receiving further honors such as induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame, Barnett has successfully pursued a second career in academia. His later dedication to education surly must have influenced both his personal direction and the students he taught, reflecting a transition from his athletic achievements to contributions in the academic field. This serves as a recognition of Dr. Richard Barnett’s accomplishments in both basketball and academia. In 1959 the NBA draft was much more extensive than it is at the present time, Barnett was a 5th round draft choice by the Syracuse Nationals (now Sixers).

Why the hatred exists

I would be extremely proud of all my son’s if I were LaVar Ball. After all two of his three sons are playing in the NBA and are talented. With that said allow an explanation why the father has a vendetta against the Lakers.  The first of course might be the fact the Lakers drafted but then traded eldest son Lonzo. Do we believe the words of LaVar, he claims LiAngelo middle son was still enrolled at UCLA he received a “verbal promise” from Magic Johnson. Back then Magic was still working for the Lakers and making player personnel decisions. The promise was that the Lakers would draft LiAngelo, you might not remember the complete story, this is a short sanitized version. LiAngelo and a teammate were apprehended by the police for shoplifting while the team was in China. 

Eventually the matter was resolved but UCLA suspended him for the season which upset LaVar, LiAngelo declared for the draft and left school. When the NBA draft rolled around his name was not announced, since then he’s played in Lithuania, a pro league in SoCal, the Greensboro Swarm G-League and last season in the Mexican Basketball League. So that is the shorten version of the story, LaVar Ball continues to hold a grudge against the Lakers due to them refusing to sign his middle son. I have no method to validate my statement, I believe LiAngelo is a good basketball player but he must not be NBA quality. If he were talented enough surely some NBA team would have snap him up by now. LiAngelo is 26 years old certainly not old by basketball standards but the clock is ticking on his attempt to become an NBA player.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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He chose a different path

Marcus Spears Sr. spent the majority of his National Football League career with the Dallas Cowboys, and also played one season with the Baltimore Ravens. As a 6-foot 4, 315-pound defensive end, he was selected as the Cowboys’ first-round draft pick in 2005. Currently retired, Spears Sr. serves as an NFL analyst on the ESPN network. His son has emerged as a highly promising basketball prospect, with indications that his future is more likely to be in the NBA over the NFL were his father competed. 

Spears Jr. stands 6-foot 7 and weighs 195 pounds, he’s a power forward although he might slide in at the small forward position. He’s a 5-star prospect in the Class of 2027 and is rated the number 2 prospect by 247Sports and the top prospect in ESPN’s Recruiting Data base. Home for Spears Jr. is Dynamic Prep in Dallas Texas. My first thought on hearing this was the Hill family, there might be others but they came to mind first. If you remember the father Calvin Hill played in the NFL (1969-1981) while son Grant Hill was a career NBA athlete and played from 1994-2013.

Conspiracy theorists

I read an ESPN headline regarding potential 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year candidates. The photo of Cooper Flagg an several others reminded me of a single fact, many of us have become skeptical of stuff. “How could the Mavs trade their franchise player Luka Doncic and later win the draft lottery, very suspicious.” You’ve read those statements made by the media and fans alike hinting the NBA draft lottery is fixed, of course we’ve heard that story since the “bent card” that allowed the Knicks to draft Patrick Ewing in 1985. We’ve read the card was either bent or frozen to distinguish it from the others in the hopper. It’s not just the draft it’s one NBA record in particular that has continued to be greeted with skepticism over the years. It was the 100 point game recorded by Wilt Chamberlain March 2, 1962, against the Knicks, as stated previously, no film exists and only a 4th quarter radio tape exists.

I almost forgot this one, the Big Market bias that exists in the NBA. Many contend the NBA only wants the Lakers and Celtics or Knicks playing for the NBA Championship i.e., Big Market teams. In 2002 the Lakers shot a record 27 free throws in the 4th quarter of Game Six in the Western Conference Finals. Of course this emphasis on Big Market teams is quickly quashed if we look at 2025 which had Oklahoma City winning the championship while playing Indianapolis…two small market teams. Rigged Games, periodically disgraced NBA official Tim Donaghy’s name surfaces once again. He manages to spin one more story about the outcome of selected NBA games being “controlled” by game officials. This one is new, Michael Jordan’s retirement and later the brief period he played baseball. “David Stern had received word organized crime individuals were after MJ due to his reported gambling activities.” Of course that makes little sense since MJ was certainly not hiding while playing baseball. That account and others listed make little sense however that’s common place with many of these conspiracy theories.

A trade which became the future

99% of the time it is impossible to predict the future, we have no idea what might unfold. That was the case for the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers in 2018. The Hornets chose Shai-Gilgeous Alexander with the 11th pick in the first round but then traded his draft rights to the Clippers. After playing a reserve role for the Clippers SGA and a host of draft picks plus Danillo Gallinari was traded to the Thunder for Paul George. George was an NBA All Star, at that time Gallinari had more NBA credibility than SGA having been in the NBA for a time. The Clippers believed paring George with Kawhi Leonard they were on the road to a championship, of course it never arrived.

July 6, 2024, free agent George would sign a contract with the Sixers ending the goal of a Clipper championship with him in the lineup. In the intervening years SGA would become an NBA All Star and this most recent season lead his Thunder team to the 2025 NBA championship. In fairness to the Clipper brain trust they had no idea SGA would become the dynamic force he would eventually become. Adding the talented George to the crew assembled by the Clippers appeared to be a sure fire winner. The Clippers are not totally at fault, they gambled on what they believed was a future NBA championship. I use a baseball analogy for basketball, “You cannot steal second base if your foot is planted firmly on first.” In other words one must be willing to take a risk which the Clippers did.

The second round

It can’t be helped, we concentrate on the Top 10 or so picks in each year’s draft. We pay attention to the second round of the draft but not with the intent of the first round, we tend to forget there are “hidden” gems in even the second round. Want an example, how about Jordan Clarkson as proof! Clarkson arrived in the NBA in 2014 as pick 46 in the second round, NBA All-Rookie Team, NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2021). Clarkson now playing for the Jazz has managed to carve out an 11-year career in the association.

Think about this fact, there are a large number of players who are no longer in the NBA picked ahead of Clarkson at 46. At the top of this brief look has got to be Nikola Jokic a.k.a. The Joker, also in that 2014 draft. Jokic was pick 41 in the draft. Since then he’s helped make the Nuggets an NBA Championship team and from a personal perspective has been the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Next up Draymond Green, he stirs up emotion whenever his name is mentioned, hopefully this time it’s a little different. Emerging from Michigan State he was pick 35 in the second round by the Warriors, since then he’s been a four time NBA Champion, 2017 Defensive Player of the Year need I say more? Manu Ginobili formerly of the Spurs was drafted in 1999 as the 57th pick in the second round of that year’s draft. Do you realize the significance, there are at most 60 players drafted into the NBA each year. As for Ginobili, he’s earned Naismith Hall of Fame enshrinement.

The 2025 playoffs witnessed Jalen Brunson lead his Knicks team to a great deal of success although they came up short. Brunson arrived in the NBA from Villanova in 2018 with the Mavs, in 2022 he signed a free agent deal with the Knicks where his career has grown to great heights. As for positioning, Brunson was the 33rd pick by the Mavs in 2018. This is my look at what is believed to be some of the NBA’s most successful second round draft picks. Next time someone claims “There’s little talent in the second round” remind them of this exercise.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Meanwhile…..

The late Paul Allen owner of the Blazers died in 2018, since that time his sister Jody Allen has acted as executor of his estate. For unspecified reasons, the team was never placed on the market for a new buyer until May 2025. On August 13 it was announced that a tentative agreement is in place to acquire the Blazers. The prospective owner(s) are Tom Dundon, who owns the NHL Carolina Hurricanes purchased the team for a reported $4 billion from the estate of Paul Allen. Dundon has two other partners in this acquisition, they are Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital and Sheel Tyer founder and co-CEO of Collective Global. Once again I pose the question, if the NBA was such a losing proposition why are the people with vast wealth “lining up” to purchase NBA teams? Less than three months after the Blazers were placed on the market we have a prospective new owners as soon as they are approved by the NBA Board of Governors. 

Ticket holders have been banned from attending NBA games for years, I didn’t realize it until I read it on ESPN’s NBA page…Knicks owner James Dolan plays a part in banning individuals in fact he’s got an “enemies list.” You can read the piece in detail however I will provide a brief summation from what I read. We heard Ja Morant’s father being banned from FedEx Forum, the same could be said about the father of Pacer guard Tyrese Haliburton at the home arena. I’m sure there are probably other arenas throughout the NBA that have an exclusion list, I’d bet money none are as extensive as the one for Madison Square Garden. Those banned have usually been involved in legal matters against Dolan, MSG and even the NHL Rangers check this out, “over a thousand lawyers across about 90 firms have been banned since 2022.” Once an individual or the firm is banned is it in perpetuity, i.e., forever, I have no idea however it is quite interesting. It appears James Dolan holds grudges for an extended period of time.

A legacy

Depending on when this is read, Bryce James may be departing for Arizona or may have already arrived. Bryce is the youngest son of LeBron James and the brother of Bronny James, and, like his father and older brother, he has chosen to pursue basketball as his life’s pursuit. Standing at 6-foot-6, Bryce is taller than Bronny (6-foot-2), though Bronny currently weighs more (205 pounds compared to Bryce's 185). 

Upon graduating from high school, Bryce has not received as much acclaim as his older brother; he is currently rated as a three-star prospect in the Class of 2025 by Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN100. As Bryce begins his collegiate career, questions regarding his future—particularly about a potential NBA path—are likely to arise. If he demonstrates sufficient talent, progression to the NBA remains a possibility. With Arizona now part of the Big XII, there should be more than a few opportunities to observe Bryce’s development during his freshman year.

There remains time 

As for the time issue, NBA training camps don’t open until early October, there remains ample time to arrange a trade. Whom am I trading, how about Ja Morant of the Grizzlies which might be a shock to some? This is not a talent issue or even a coaching matter it’s the other stuff. For unexplained reasons Morant cannot play an entire season without suffering an injury or suspension. The injuries are one thing the suspensions are a totally different matter. There is no argument regarding his talent the mercurial Morant can do almost anything on the basketball court.

Off the court has presented problems even for his father who’s been banned from FedEx Forum for his rowdy behavior, a change of scenery might work wonders for Morant too. I cannot suggest a team for him since his budding talent indicates he could play for any of the other 29 NBA teams and play successfully. I believe Morant has a limited number of “Get out of jail” cards remaining, the Grizzlies might agree a preempted move might prove beneficial for him and the franchise. What does the future hold for Morant, a considerable number of accolades if only he curtails the other issues which have plagued him during his brilliant but short NBA career.

It might be revised

This was written weeks ago so this account might require an update by the time you read it. Currently the post position for the Lakers appears to be solidified, I can make that statement based on Deandre Ayton being picked up. He will play the bulk of minutes in the post, his backup will be Jaxson Hayes. Although Hayes brings athleticism to the position he was found to be lacking in defense toward the end of the regular season.  In the playoffs he was benched for the most part with the coach failing to play him. 

Based on this fact Christian Koloko (7-0, 225 pounds) was signed to a second two way contract. Koloko had offers but chose to re-sign with the Lakers, also in the mix to play backup is Maxi Kleber who lacks rebounding ability at 6-foot 10 and 240 pounds but is a threat from three. Will a combination of Hayes/Koloko/Kleiber be enough depth allowing the Lakers to escape the cauldron that is the Western Conference? As you can see the Lakers have several ‘warm bodies’ they can send onto the floor should Ayton suffer an injury or illness. The larger question might be can those named provide an adequate backup role which is so vital to the Lakers. The next few weeks leading up to training camp should prove interesting, are there moves still in the planning stages? It appears at least for now that the Lakers are headed into the season with this roster as constructed. 

It was reported they had an opportunity to include Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent (separately) in trade deals but refused. I cannot say in confidence there are no backroom deals being arranged but tend to believe the roster is set into the early-mid portion of the season. There are several unknowns for me, will Jake LaRavia be the shooter off the bench they expect? Will rookie forward Ado Thiero be the sparkplug defensively the coaching staff expects? The Western Conference of the NBA is so very tough aside from OKC its difficult to project any team playing for the NBA championship in June.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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I missed this

Future commitments almost always remain tentative, and there is no certainty that a particular athlete will later sign a letter of intent. Regarding recent updates, Mizzou has secured a commitment from Scottie Adkinson, a 6-foot-2-inch, 170-pound combo guard enrolled at Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, Missouri, the city is located within the St. Louis metropolitan area. Rivals, ESPN100 and 247Sports all have awarded Adkinson four stars, although his ranking in the Class of 2027 varies across these platforms.

Adkinson became a hard commit on July 1, and this information was not previously reported; it is now confirmed. At present, it is uncertain whether Adkinson or any other incoming recruit will successfully transition to the college level. Notably, the ongoing recruiting efforts by Coach Gates and his staff are commendable and demonstrate a continued commitment to program development. Naturally with such a wide recruiting net Mizzou Nation faces the potential loss of some of the talent it recruits. This might be considered the downside of recruiting, assembling so much talent that a player or two might not see any action.  

Changes in San Antonio

Spurs basketball is played in 23 year old Frost Bank Arena, elements in the city want to replace the building. 1. It’s not located in the downtown portion of the city, 2. Having Wemby on the Spurs roster should increase attendance. 3. Fear of losing the team to population growing Austin 100 miles or so from most of Bexar County. Despite the issues raised it’s quite possible this story may be a non-issue by the time of its reading, I wouldn’t hold my breath though. How do you pay for a $1 billion arena, that’s what the City of San Antonio and Bexar County are facing. What’s been advanced to date is similar to what occurred in Kansas City, hotel users are paying a tax which goes toward T-Mobile Arena.

Although that is the plan for San Antonio this might not be a smooth effort, residents have the usual gripes. Citizen complaints are valid, the same story prevails, “building billion dollar arenas for millionaire owners.” This complaint existed in Kansas City with the Royals and Chiefs, it continued with the Sixers (location) and now citizens of the City of San Antonio and Bexar County are facing the same issues. Arena and stadium concerns will eventually be resolved with some of the parties remaining unhappy. In Kansas City financing and location have continued to drag on for several months with no resolution in sight, in Philadelphia a location change apparently has resolved the issue. As for San Antonio I could say we are at the middle of this issue, no one is arguing over location it is strictly a financial question at this time.

Reclassifying

It is not unusual for athletes to change to a prep school or reclassify in order to graduate high school early. Up till now the most recent example was Cooper Flagg, he reclassified and then enrolled at Duke. We have a similar instance here with 5 star prospect Baba Oladotun Class of 2027. He’s reclassified moved into the Class of 2026 and will graduate high school next May. 247Sports ranks him the number 8 prospect in the nation. This 6-foot 9 175 pound forward attends James Hubert Black HS in Cloverly Maryland.

I wasn’t familiar with the city so I checked Google maps, depending on where you might begin your drive Cloverly is located less than an hour from the nation’s capital Washington D.C. The list of schools recruiting Oladotun is quite extensive, Maryland, Arizona State, Georgetown, Kansas, Indiana, Louisville, Notre Dame and Mizzou. As this is written no school appears to have the inside track on recruiting the youngster. This I believe will occur, whatever campus he decides the first visit other than the practice facility will be the weight room. He is likely to be placed on a carbon rich menu which will allow him to acquire poundage. I was curious regarding his name and further research indicated Baba was born in the U.S. although his father arrived here from Nigeria to play basketball.

These guys are old, really old…at least by NBA standards

The Clippers are an old, old team, they just grew even older with this signing. It seems a brief time ago the media always took time to mention the age of the Lakers, this present Clippers roster is older than any of the Lakers. Our check begins with 40 year old Chris Paul joining the team for his second tour of duty. The probable starters Tyronn Lue utilizes is yet to be formulated, it’s been a source of speculation to date but consider this possibility. One account has Brook Lopez inserted into the starting lineup giving them Twin Towers of Lopez and Zubac. The Clippers become the oldest team in NBA history with an average age of 33.2 years of age. Keep in mind by most standards 34 is not considered old, in the world of sports that’s a different matter.

LeBron James is the exception but consider the fact that by an athletes middle thirties most in the NFL and NBA are retired or at least considering leaving the game. This Clippers team could surprise, they could win the championship although age has got to be a factor. The second issue is injury, Leonard and Beal have an injury history. You’ve got to have all hands on deck for the playoffs and a championship run, perhaps that is the ultimate plan for the Clippers compiling a group of capable replacements. I came across this From 2013-2024 the Clippers have the most regular season wins with 646, they are only exceeded in the won-loss column by the Warriors with 665 wins. Did I fail to mention that the Warriors won 4 NBA championships in those 11 years, the Clippers won zero. The Lakers as a team had several sub-par years even with Kobe Bryant in the lineup, despite the poor play they won the 2020 championship.    😳

Probable Starting lineup

Point guard James Harden (35)

Small forward Kawhi Leonard (34)

Shooting guard Bradley Beal (32)

Center Ivica Zubac (28)

Power forward John Collins (27)

Reserves

Chris Paul (40)

Brook Lopez (37)

Bogdon Bogdanovic (32)

Kris Dunn (31),

Derrick Jones Jr. (28)  

Kobe Brown (25)

Yanic Konan Niederhauser (22) 

Cam Christe (19)

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun

Happy birthday

Former Celtic great Bob Cousy celebrated his 97th birthday this past Saturday. Although Cousy has long been associated with those great Celtic teams I was surprised to discover they were not his first pro team. In the 1950 NBA draft the Tri-City Blackhawks made Cousy the third pick in the first round, the history indicates he refused to report to the team and was then sent to the Celtics however there is no indication of a trade. Based on that story I was curious about the series of events that led to the Blackhawks demise and what area of the nation the team called home.   

They were founded in 1946 as the Buffalo (NY) Bison, but moved to the Tri-Cities midway through the first season. The Blackhawks were an NBL team and played in that league until 1949 when they joined the newly formed NBA. In any event Tri-City represented the cities of Moline and Rock Island Illinois along with Davenport Iowa. Moline and Rock Island are located about 5 miles apart and Davenport is located just across the Mississippi River from Rock Island an even shorter distance. There is no indication in the history if the team played in one city over the other. They struggled at the gate forcing them to move to Milwaukee after the 1950-51 season where they were renamed the Hawks. Much later 1955 to be exact the Hawks would move to St. Louis and finally in 1968 to Atlanta their present home.

When you believe in your own hype

I could use another word but I will keep it PG rated, the headline is slight bit misleading, I believe it’s always necessary to believe in yourself even if you are WRONG! My example is Stephen A. Smith ESPN media member, recently the former first lady Michelle Obama made a statement which quite displeased SAS. I’m going to paraphrase her quote, “Watching some sports talk programs like First Take is just like watching reality television, the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

All they do is yell back and forth at one another.” Naturally, SAS took offense to the statement, in his usual condescending self-responded and ended by saying “I have no argument with Michelle Obama.” As you are aware I’ve mentioned on occasion my co-workers continue to inform me to not become upset. They claim SAS, Jason Whitlock, Skip Bayless and others are for lack of another term are “entertainers.” Most often they fail to provide us vital information however they have no problem providing their opinion of a sports subject be it an athlete, owner or front office move. That becomes the chief problem, most times it’s their which often lacks verification and objectivity. Anytime someone literally says “Trust me” without providing me a basis for that trust they become even more suspect to me.     

Who are they

The top college basketball coaches in the country, what is the criteria for ranking them? For me there are a few important issues, a history of turning out winning basketball teams and adaptability to change. Notice I omitted winning NCAA championships, anyone like Dan Hurley or Bill Self who manage to win more than one should be applauded. Winning at the highest level should certainly be taken into consideration however it’s not at the top of my list.  There are 68 teams thrown into the cauldron of tournament play every season, a coach might be at his peak and some unforeseen thing occurs causing them to lose a championship game.

My thought the 1983 NCAA championship game between Houston and North Carolina State. There is no argument the Phi Slama Jama Houston Cougars were clearly the superior team but lost the game on a Lorenzo Charles dunk. Did Jim Valvano really outcoach Guy Lewis for the win…I don’t think so. The following season with essentially the same team might be knocked out in the Sweet 16 or maybe the field of 32, far too iffy a situation for me to rate a coach. With that said who are my Top 15 coaches. this is not in any order. I am quite sure some of you reading this will question at least one selection. I heard you say, “Unbelievable you placed Shaka Smart on your list and excluded Bruce Pearl!”

Dan Hurley-UConn

Bill Self-Kansas

Tom Izzo-Michigan State

Mark Few-Gonzaga

Rick Barnes-Tennessee

Shaka Smart-Marquette

Matt Painter-Purdue

Todd Golden-Florida

Jon Scheyer-Duke

Mick Cronin-UCLA

Rick Pitino-St. John's

Scott Drew-Baylor

Eric Musselman-USC

John Calipari-Arkansas

Dana Altman-Oregon

I could see this

Russell Westbrook will not return to the Nuggets, I make the statement because he is a free agent. There are few teams willing to sign him except one…the Thunder. This is not me, rather a move Dharya Sharma of the Sporting News claims could possibly occur in the off season. If you’ve read Off the Dribble any length of time you are aware I’ve not been a fan of Westbrook for a time. Who says you can’t return home after all it was the Thunder who drafted him. In 2008 Westbrook was made the 4th pick in the first round that year by the Sonics, by the time he prepared to play the team had moved to OKC. 

Westbrook would develop into a star player, the first for the Thunder franchise. He would become Mr. Triple Double as he led the NBA in that department. In 2019 he was traded to the Rockets, in 2020 Westbrook moved to the Wizards and in 2021 he joined the Lakers. It was there where I believe his career took a left turn, although LeBron wanted him the fit just didn’t work. From their it was the Clippers and in 2024 Westbrook became a Nugget. He’s 36 years old and will be 37 before the 2025-26 season ends, It’s believed a substantial majority of Thunder fans would welcome Westbrook’s return. This written by me, however, I must give Dharya Sharma credit for inspiring me to write this based on his account.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun

I’m disappointed

Some of you reading this might remember the name Ethan Taylor, he’s the 7 foot 230 pound center from Shawnee (KS) in metro Kansas City. Last season he made an unofficial visit to Mizzou and I thought Dennis Gates might have an inside track signing him. Fast forward to the present, he chose Link Academy in Branson Missouri for his senior year. This Rivals 4-star prospect recently reduced his prospective schools to 6, among the schools eliminated was Mizzou. Remaining on his list Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Oregon. Headed into his senior year Rivals places Taylor as their number 24 prospect in the Class of 2026, they believe Taylor might be headed to Kansas to play for Bill Self.   

Load Management

If we look purely at the numbers we can say Kawhi Leonard experienced a good 2024-25 season. The statement is made despite the fact Leonard didn’t play his first game until January 4 and appeared in only 37 games. Of course he was returning from an injury and rehab which caused him to miss the early portion of the season. Leonard, who rarely talks to the media, did just that to Basketball Network and his declaration was quite significant. He said, “I wouldn’t be here right now,” he went on to state that he believed his NBA career would have ended a long time ago if not for load management.

No one can get inside Leonard’s head not you or me but he must believe what he said otherwise why mention it. For Leonard I have stated over and over with him there is no doubt in his talent. Despite what Scottie Pippen might say today Michael Jordan was the clear leader of those 90’s Bulls team, MJ willed them to win. Fast forward to 2019 and we find Leonard in a similar role to MJ, there is no argument from practically anyone in the media or NBA fans, if there were no Leonard there would be no Raptors NBA championship. Leonard managed to leave the Spurs under a cloud of suspicion, it’s been documented he refused to be evaluated by the medical staff of the team,could Leonard have returned to action at the time he played for the Spurs? We could ask a similar question as he’s been in and out of the lineup for the Clippers since his arrival. No one plays 82 games anymore, that is not the issue.

In the 5 years Leonard’s been in Los Angeles the most games he’s played occurred in the 2023-24 season when he played 68. As for the playoffs that year the number was 2. I think back to Willis Reed injured seriously in Game 6 and the belief he wouldn’t be able to play any further. He came out of the MSG tunnel to a roaring crowd took a few practice shots and was ready. Once the game started Reed hit his first two shots, dragging his leg up the court he went to the bench never to return in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. Reed had inspired his Knick teammates to an NBA championship by appearing on the court ever how short a time it would become.  

“Don’t kill the messenger”

An idiom that means “You shouldn’t blame or punish the person who delivers bad news.” In this instance this is a report not actual fact but it is news. As some might be aware the estate of Paul Allen has announced the Blazers franchise has been placed on the market for purchase. On top of that issue is the Moda Center home of the team, it’s old by NBA standards, not MSG old but it is. The lease for the arena expires in 2030 which is only 5 years from now and that’s where the story becomes wild rumor. NBA owners appear to be in a holding pattern regarding expansion, with the television contract kicking in this fall there is no rush.

No urgency to divide the television revenue by 32 ownership individuals and groups over 30. That’s where the story grows “legs” will a new Blazer owner be obliged for the team to remain in Portland? The commissioner was about evasive as possible with his answer, “Silver did say that (that day) that the NBA’s “preference” is that the Blazers remain in Portland.” Elements in Seattle have been clamoring for a return to the city by the NBA for years it seems. It’s interesting that one of the issues holding Seattle back at one time was an arena, that exists no more. The complete interior portion of the old Key Arena has been rebuilt and is now known as Climate Pledge. Seattle’s NHL Kraken play in the building, you are left to draw your own conclusions based on the evidence presented.

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