Basketball from a fans perspective

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Next 7 years

The Spurs have been really bad over the last few years, this despite veteran coach Pop is still at the helm. Last season the prospects for improvement began with the 2023 draft where they added Victor Wembanyama to their ranks. In addition Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassel, although young played well at times for the Spurs. This upcoming season should be even better, veterans Chris Paul plus Harrison Barnes along with UConn rookie Stephon Castle have become Spurs.

The Spurs won but 22 games last season and that record should improve in the upcoming season…how much of course depends on a number of factors. The key to improved play by the Spurs is the health of Paul who’s past injuries have impacted teams he’s played for. The next question, what about the future, the Spurs have always built successful teams through the draft and it’s unlikely that changes. Guess what, over the next 7 years the Spurs own all their draft choices. Coach Pop will be gone however his replacement should be successful in at least one area, the ability to add talent through the draft. In addition the hopeful success on the basketball court will be an enticement for free agents to journey to San Antonio.

The headline read, “The Spurs haven’t won a playoff series in five years, the front office doesn’t want them to become like Cowboy fans.” No booing and hissing at me fans of the NFL Cowboys I didn’t write it I’m only reporting it. It’s clear using the draft plus free agency the Spurs intend to make some noise in the 2024-25 NBA season. The promise is there, now it’s up to the Spurs to fulfill the potential of improved play. Finally 75-year old Gregg Popovich and the coaching he presents to these mostly youthful Spurs.

The question

I was pleased with the additions coach Dennis Gates made over the winter and spring. Mizzou had one of the best recruiting classes in its history…at the same time the transfer portal brought in talent from other college teams. That’s the upside, what about the potential problems it might create? I look at this as it relates to the crop of incoming freshman, transfers not as much. The key is minutes on the court, that hot shot freshman believes he’s ready to play because he “smoked” the high school competition he faced.

Time on the court or PT as Dick Vitale might say is critical to the mindset of that freshman. Forced to sit on the bench and wait his turn can be a concern. The Mizzou roster for 2024-25 contains 7 freshman which is a good and at the same time an unpleasant situation, it’s probably the hope of the coaching staff many can become building blocks for the future. The key as I see it Mizzou has a number of portal transfers who are probably listed ahead of the incoming class on the depth chart. I ask the question once again, can these freshman be willing to wait their turn to play.

Naismith Hall

Over the weekend two former Lakers were enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Michael Cooper so vital a contributor to the Showtime Lakers and Jerry West. I remember once reading Larry Bird claimed the skinny 6 foot 7 170 pound Cooper played the toughest defense in the NBA on him. Although his specialty was defense, unlike some defensive specialists he could score when called on. It’s said he could guard 4 positions on the floor.

What can I say about the late Jerry West, The Logo was enshrined for the 3rd time something no other individual has accomplished to date. Earlier West was enshrined as a player and executive, this time it was for his contribution to the NBA. This is not a sugary report, he left the Lakers and worked for the Grizzlies and Clippers before his death this past June. It’s been reported despite his long association with the Lakers he was upset with the organization at a point. Despite this issue son Jonnie made no mention of it during his introductory speech before the Naismith gathering. Congratulations are due all those who were honored by their hall of fame enshrinement.

NBA Rookie of the Year

Who becomes 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year, at this point it’s really unclear who that might be. Despite being drafted number one in 2024 the Hawks Zaccharie Risacher is not the favorite to win the honor nor is the second pick Alex Sarr. Most oddsmakers are going with the Grizzlies Zach Edey which is a story by itself. Listed right behind Edey is Rockets guard Reed Shepperd who is the subject of this account, Shepperd was the number three pick in the 2024 draft.

Interesting isn’t it, Edey who was told to “go home” last season he wasn’t ready for the NB and Shepperd a point/shooting guard with a good pedigree although he was not highly touted in high school. His dad and mom both played basketball at Kentucky so it wasn’t exactly shocking when he headed for Lexington last fall. Just because you might be drafted at the top of the draft is certainly no guarantee of future success in the NBA. It will be interesting to see how the season turns out for Edey and Shepperd and other 2024 draft choices.  

He joins a cast

Earlier this week I wrote of Lou Williams and his view of a questionable NBA record. Williams former NBA player doesn't believe Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a March 1962 game. No film/video evidence exists therefore in his mind there are questions whether it actually occurred. It’s not only the NBA that we might question all sports records. Former Yankee great Joe DiMaggio holds MLB's hit record, DiMaggio hit in 56 consecutive games. Little if any film is available...did it occur? In the NFL Alvin Kamara scored 6 TD's in a 2020 game, he joined two others Gayle Sayers (1965) and Dub Jones. Jones playing for the Cleveland Browns established the record in 1951, I ask the question again did Jones actually score 6 TD’s in a single game, there is likely no film to confirm whether it occurred.

As I see it there are literally thousands of records in all sports that might be called into question if we align ourselves with many of the opinions of today. I’m not being more critical of Williams than other present day or former NBA players. We must place Sixer guard Paul George in the group of disbelievers too, there is a conspiracy by the NBA to force us to believe the game occurred. It’s really unnecessary for me to provide you proof that the Chamberlain game happened, whether you believe it or you don’t it’s that simple. The vast majority of noteworthy sports events are likely set prior to the time video evidence was available, even film verification is limited. Once upon a time mankind believed the earth was flat, and a vast number of people refused to believe in the curvature of the earth. Is Lou Williams a flat-earth believer?

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Just the latest

Former NBA player Lou Williams is retired now, he will turn 37 years old the 27th of October. It was March 27, 1962, exactly 62 years ago, that was the night Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA single game scoring record. In a game against the Knicks played in Hershey Pennsylvania it occurred. Before a total of 4,000 plus Warrior fans Chamberlain would score 100 points in the game, on the other hand maybe he didn’t. Williams becomes the latest of this generation to question whether the event occurred, to compound this issue further no filmed evidence exists.

NBA games were televised in that day although the Chamberlain game was only available on radio. I can’t offer any proof the event occurred but believe it did. No video evidence film or tape exists however it’s the fact some tend to doubt it occurred. Williams wants someone to prove the scoring record was established in the March 1962 game. Nowadays there is not a single professional sports game that lacks proof it occurred. In closing I’m going to add this, several years ago archival radio tape of the last few minutes of the 4th quarter of this game was located. Of course in the day of AI someone listening to this will decide the audio has been manipulated, check it out and see what you think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Agchvbxd8A

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

Braves in the NBA

Some of you are aware the Clippers were born to the NBA on the other coast. The Braves in New York State were an expansion team who began play in 1970, the team lasted until 1978 and moved to San Diego and would become the Clippers. Despite Buffalo losing their team in a short space of time their record allowed them to draft a trio of players who could have provided them a winning record. In 1972 the Braves would draft Bob McAdoo with the 2nd pick in the first round. McAdoo moved into the NBA without missing a beat and was named 1973 rookie of the year. The following season Ernie DiGregorio was made the third pick in that year’s draft, he would be named 1974 rookie of the year.

He led the NBA in assists his rookie year, despite this glowing start a severe knee injury would see him play only 5 seasons in a Braves jersey. 1976 the Braves chose Adrian Dantley with pick number 6 in the first round, he too would be named rookie of the year in 1977. Other than the injured DiGregorio what about McAdoo and Dantley? Both would be enshrined in the College and Naismith Hall of Fame. McAdoo would also be named a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. This is no attempt at revisionist history, there were issues far beyond talent that witnessed Buffalo losing its NBA team. The point…for a brief period the Braves appeared to have a monopoly drafting talent it just didn’t aid them to wins on the court.

What’s a 2-way contract

As this is written Christian Koloko’s been signed to a two-way contract by the Lakers, they also have at least one other player signed in the same manner. What exactly is this type of agreement between team and player, I am pleased you asked the question? The following are not my words rather they are AI generated.

*An NBA two-way contract allows a player to split time between an NBA team and its G-League affiliate.

*This contract is intended for players who are still developing and don’t want to play professional basketball outside the NBA.”

*There are restrictions such as: Players must have fewer than four years’ experience

*Players can play in up to 50 NBA regular season games, and are ineligible for the NBA postseason.

*A two-way contract can be converted to a regular contract during the season

*Two-way player salaries do not count against the salary cap

These are but few key provisions, there are others involving two-way contracts, my hope was to provide key provisions of these type of contracts. Over the last several years this method has been utilized by an increasing number of NBA teams as they attempt to groom talent or fill a vital roster need. 

In other parts of the nation

The arena in Philly, 76 Place at Market East appears to be in a holding pattern as this is written, in other parts of the nation progress is ever so slowly moving. Let’s check arena development in Oklahoma City for the Thunder first. The planned opening date was to be June 2030, the timeline has been moved up to have the team play the 2028-2029 season in the arena. The location of the arena is the area occupied by the Myriad/Cox Center/Prairie Surf studio which will be demolished.

This spot is a short distance from the Bricktown entertainment district of the city. The architect is yet to be selected although Populous Architects headquartered in my hometown of Kansas City is reported to be in the lead. The report indicates a firm is likely to be chosen prior to the 2024-2025 season which says depending on my publishing schedule could be announced earlier. In this day $1 billion is not an astronomical amount based on the cost of new arenas over the last few years. This represents the latest information I could uncover regarding the replacement for Paycom Arena.

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Bits n Pieces

This was the year Emoni Bates intended to earn a spot on the Cavs roster. The 6 foot 8 small forward arrived in the NBA last season at a skinny 170 pounds…that was then, this is now. Bates training camp weight when he arrived a few weeks ago and his weight is now 190 pounds, he’s bulked up over the summer but then misfortune struck the youngster. Last Wednesday he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Bates certainly could return before the conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA season, however, that places him behind the time he might have envisioned coming into this season. 

Do you remember, probably not, the following is a portion of my Monday October 7 blog, “We’ll have an idea soon where the Boozer twins are headed. Cameron and Cayden Boozer are the sons of former NBA player and Duke graduate Carlos. Cameron is a 6 foot 9 225 pound power forward, Rivals.com places him in the number two slot in their Class of 2025 prospects. Cayden is listed as a 6 foot 4 inch 205 pound point guard, he’s number 23 on their list. I will be shocked if they fail to attend their fathers school, the expected news conference on October 10 will see them announce they are headed to Durham to play for Duke.” On Friday (Oct 11) the twins made it official and confirmed an intention to enroll at Duke. 

As most are aware the Knicks Mitchell Robinson is not in training camp nor has he been in action. Mitchell’s been sidelined due to surgery, the truth of the matter he only saw action in 31 games this past season. Despite this fact he’s found his way into this blog over the last few days due to his coach Tom Thibodeau, who has raved about his defensive presence in the middle. The timetable for his return to action is January, the team should be solid with KAT and Jerico Sims. These two will play the majority of minutes until Mitchell is able to return to action.

I don’t do predictions, at least not very well I might add. As for the Lakers the focus is on the wrong rookie in my view…it should be on Dalton Knecht or maybe not. The question might be who is more NBA ready Bronny James or Knecht, I happen to believe the answer is clear. We are a few short weeks from the start of the regular season, I’m going to look back. In three summer league games Knecht averaged 21.3 points per game while shooting nearly 42% from the floor and 39% from three. To detail for you it wasn’t just scoring he averaged 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists and nearly 2 steals a game in 30 plus minutes. I have no input on the coaches rotation but I could see the 6 foot 5 Knecht being part of it. On the other hand what do I know, I’m just a guy sitting behind a laptop who happens to be a Lakers fan.

His health is key

The Sixers made a key move over the summer luring Paul George to their side. At the age of 34 is there enough in the tank to aid the Sixers to win an NBA championship? Maybe a better question is there actually enough remaining for him to help them eclipse the Celtics? Without making this stats only account my focus is two areas, free throw shooting (.907), 3-point shooting (.413). Those are outstanding numbers for any NBA player especially at his age. Point guard Tyrese Maxey experienced a breakout season scoring nearly 30 points a game along with almost 7 assists.

On the surface PG and Maxey certainly are keys to success for the Sixers however there is one more name to mention. His name is Joel Embiid, he’s the 7 foot 280 pound post player and perhaps the key to on court success. Embiid’s numbers this past season were outstanding, that’s the good. The bad, he was sidelined and managed to play only 39 games. At the beginning of this account I mentioned PG’s age, Embiid will turn 31 before the 2024-25 season ends. That says the window on an NBA championship is not over but it’s slowly closing. If only Embiid could manage to stay on the court for an extended period of time, after all his health is key to any success the Sixers might attain.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Celebrity

Mega entertainer Taylor Swift continues to appear at games of her boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Chiefs. You might have seen or read some of the complaints from NFL fans seeing Swift on their television sets. This is different because there is a dating relationship between the two as for celebrities attending NBA games is not new. As he’s aged Jack Nicholson has not been in attendance at Laker games at the level he once did.

There is a story which cannot be confirmed, during a time out Nicholson rose from his courtside seat walked over to the opposing teams huddle. He returned to his seat but not before he told Laker coach Pat Riley what play was going to be run. It’s not only Jack, some might not be aware director Spike Lee lives in Brooklyn. Once the Nets moved to Brooklyn from New Jersey it was believed this lifelong Knicks fan would change allegiance…not so. The television cameras always manage to catch Lee as well from his courtside seats at Madison Square Garden. Producer, music mogul Jay Z once owned a percentage of the Nets, the television camera has often caught he and wife Beyonce. Entertainer Billy Crystal can often be seen at Clippers games, he once told the story when he first began in the industry he couldn’t afford tickets to the Lakers.

At that time it was much easier to purchase tickets to Clipper games, eventually he became a season ticket holder. Television cameras have often caught rapper Drake at Raptors games and Usher at Cavs games. As for Usher he’s a minority stockholder of the Cavs. The Bulls can claim a former president as a fan and he too can be seen on camera occasionally, Barack Obama. Tired of seeing Swift on your television, I have doubts it will change unless she and Kelce break up.

Summit League

Unless you live in the Midwest region of the nation the Summit League might be unfamiliar to some reading this, in addition it’s considered a mid-major conference by media standards. Based on that fact alone the conference fails to receive the media coverage of the SEC, Big XII and other large conferences. The conference no longer plays football having dropped the sport in 1984, conference members compete in all others including men’s and women’s basketball. As for the member schools below is a list of them:

South Dakota State

Oral Roberts

North Dakota State

Omaha

Denver

South Dakota

North Dakota

St. Thomas

Kansas City 

The media places Kansas City in the driver's seat to win the conference championship. The Roos are coached by veteran Marvin Menzies who's served as head coach at New Mexico State and UNLV in the past among other stops. 

Was it a mistake

The answer can vary depending on your opinion, allow a further explanation. Drafting Bronny James to the Lakers from LeBron and Savannah’s standpoint was a good thing. From the Lakers it was likely a decision made for the parents, as for most NBA officials there questions that remain on Bronny’s basketball ability. NBA fans have been much more critical in their assessment for the youngster and that’s where we begin this brief evaluation. As this is written LeBron and Bronny have appeared on the court together in a pre-season game, that issue’s been addressed for the time being.

As for yours truly I’m not upset at the Lakers for drafting Bronny however I believe it to be a miscalculation. From my reading there are components of the game Bronny is at or above average of most prospects but it ends there. Will Bronny ever be a genuine NBA prospect, on a scale of 1-10 at this point I would place him as a 6 on the high end 4 on the low. I wrote this recently and I’ve not changed my opinion, the Lakers might be the worst team for him to begin play. Unlike some unnamed teams the Lakers will be contending for a playoff berth, that will leave few opportunities for rookie Bronny to play major minutes. Although it probably will not occur Bronny needs to appear in the lineup for the South Bay Lakers over the team that plays at Crypto.com arena.

The college season

Let’s take a glance at the upcoming college season. For this purpose I will use ESPN’s Top 25 list of teams, the majority of sites are consistent which teams are placed in what order. With that said here goes:

  1.Kansas Jayhawks

  2.Bama Crimson Tide

  3.UConn Huskies

  4.Houston Cougars

  5.Gonzaga Bulldogs

  6.Baylor Bears

  7.Iowa State Cyclones

  8.Duke Blue Devils

  9.Arizona Wildcats

10.Carolina Tarheels

Did you see it, check out the list again…okay I help you just in case you didn’t spot it. 5 of the Top 25 teams all reside in the Big XII Conference Kansas, Houston (last year’s champion), Baylor, Iowa State and new member Arizona. It would appear loaded Kansas will be forced to fight their way out of the conference before even considering an NCAA championship run.

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His name is lost to many

I’d bet large sums of money you had no prior knowledge of this fact. The first Duke All American played in the NBA but a single season, he’s known for baseball play over basketball. The late Dick Groat while playing basketball was a second team All American in 1951 and first team in 1952. In those days there was no baseball draft, players generally signed with a major league team wanting their services. Despite his outstanding basketball play he was the shortstop for the baseball team while enrolled at Duke. The history is unclear however after his MLB debut (without spending one day in the minors) Groat began play for the Pistons then located in Fort Wayne Indiana.

Halfway through the season he decided to join the Army, he would lead Fort Belvoir to the Army championships in basketball and baseball. In 1955 Groat returned to Pirates baseball where he would be a member of the winning 1960 World Series team. He retired from baseball in 1967 and his name was included in another honor, Groat would be the 13th player who could claim they played in the NBA and MLB. April 23, 2023, Groat died from complications of a stroke he’d suffered a week before. The record says he would have played both sports if permitted, this was certainly possible in the 1950’s however Branch Rickey would not permit it. “I would never have given up basketball, but I would have lost the rest of my (baseball) bonus.” So there ends the story of Duke’s first All American basketball player…one who spent only a year in the NBA after earning honors playing basketball.

Once again we hear his name called

Earlier you read of the Knicks Mitchell Robinson and several teams making inquiries about him. The latest is my Lakers, remember AD being the butt of all jokes because it seemed he was always injured. A media member of Sports Illustrated is claiming the Lakers have contacted the Knicks about Robinson. On the surface one might say Robinson is in the same category although he doesn’t have the offensive game of AD. His defense might be a step or two better than AD in limited minutes but the question arises. NBA training camps have opened and where is Robinson?

He is no place in sight because once again he is in the process of recovering from injury. There is no doubt, the Lakers are shorthanded in the post, AD will start but has complained about playing the position time and time again. What I’ve read and witnessed Robinson is a defensive stalwart but that might be the problem. You cannot block every shot and grab every rebound, don’t you realize those are probably keys to your numerous injuries? Why did I write the last statement there is no possibility Robinson will read it. Friends I am a party of one with no impact regarding Laker decisions by Rob Pelinka. Despite the displayed talent of Robinson the Lakers should stay as far away as possible from any type of trade.

Check this out

The Knicks are a storied NBA franchise, they along with the Celtics and the Philadelphia Warriors are the legacy teams that remain from the birth of the league in 1946. The Knicks have fallen onto some trying times in recent years but it’s not always been that way. They won the league championship in 1970 and 1973 however there may have been more if someone in the Knicks front office had more foresight in decision making. It was pointed out to you previously the Knicks were offered the contract of Julius “Dr. J.” Erving at the time of the ABA-NBA expansion but turned the Nets down. Imagine this lineup appearing on the court if you will:

Walt Frazier point guard

Earl Monroe shooting guard

Spencer Haywood power forward

Bob McAdoo center

Dr. J. small forward 

Coming off the bench would be small forward Bill Bradley along with a crop of reserve players. Take into consideration this fact Frazier, Monroe, McAdoo, Haywood, Bradley and Dr. J. are all in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Of course no one could have predicted back then you’d have 6 hall of fame players on the same team. What’s even more interesting despite the talent of the starters minus Dr. J. that Knicks team finished the season with a 40-42 record hardly representative of the talent assembled. Who knows, adding Dr. J. to that group perhaps they fail to win an NBA championship however I don’t believe they would have experienced a losing season, just my revisionist history observation.

Bits n Pieces of information

There is more drama in the NBA regarding jersey numbers, some of you might remember I wrote of the Nuggets after they signed Russell Westbrook. Westbrook has worn 0 all his NBA career however the number belongs to Christian Braun, there was an indication he would give up the number to Westbrook and then he wasn’t. The drama then moved to the Spurs, veteran point guard Chris Paul signed with the Spurs after the season, Paul has worn jersey 3 throughout his NBA career at several stops. In this instance number 3 was held by Keldon Johnson, he’s worn the number during his 5 years in the NBA. Johnson will give up his jersey number to Paul although its understood reluctantly.     

It's interesting whenever a discussion of the GOAT commences there is a missing name. That name is Tim Duncan power forward for the Spurs, I say that because he spent his entire career in a Spurs jersey. Some might say “He was good but benefited by outstanding Spurs play.” Others might claim “Popovich is one of the NBA’s All-Time best coaches, it was beneficial to Duncan.” Let’s check out just a bit of the resume, 5X NBA Champion, 3X NBA Finals MVP, 2X NBA MVP. I could go on but you have a bit of an idea why the question came up. By the way it’s not just me, the good doctor…Julius Erving claims Duncan’s name should be included in any GOAT conversation.  

This is an interesting take in several ways, the NBA TV crew forecast for rookie of the year was a surprise for me. Analyst Greg Anthony picked the Grizzlies Zach Edey, Brendan Haywood echoed his view as NBA Rookie of the Year. This is not to state their forecast will be proven out but it’s the manner we arrive here. Some might remember Edey declared for the draft his junior year, he decided to return to Purdue after receiving few positives. As a senior most mock draft sites projected him a second round draft pick and then a strange thing occurred. The 7 foot 4 300 pound Edey was made the 9th pick in the first round of the 2024 draft. Both analyst claim Edey will be helped immensely having Ja Morant getting him the ball.

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Bits n Pieces of information  

We’ll have an idea soon where the Boozer twins are headed. Cameron and Cayden Boozer are the sons of former NBA player and Duke graduate Carlos. Cameron is a 6 foot 9 225 pound power forward, Rivals.com places him in the number two slot in their Class of 2025 prospects. Cayden is listed as a 6 foot 4 inch 205 pound point guard, he’s number 23 on their list. I will be shocked if they fail to attend their fathers school, the expected news conference on October 10 will see them announce they are headed to Durham to play for Duke.    

He speaks and we listen i.e., Kawhi Leonard thanks to Basketball Network. “This is what I work for. I strive to get a championship. I’m not out there to try to play 82 games. I’m trying to win. Even tho that’s obligated for me. I try to, but it hasn’t worked out.” His words regarding load management and his injury history to date. I’ve long believed he doesn’t miss games on purpose but there is a concern with a portion of his statement. Leonard saying, “I’m not out there to try to play 82 games.” In the old days that was a badge of honor for NBA players barring injury to play their team’s entire schedule.

Someone reading this might believe I have a hate Las Vegas thing going on, that is not the case. The media is focused on NBA expansion with the key teams likely to be added are Seattle and the aforementioned Las Vegas. At this point we’ll conduct a deep dive into attendance figures. In 2023 the NFL Raiders finished 31 out of 32 teams, maybe because they were so bad on the field. As for the NHL Sharks they were much better coming in at 13 out of 32, best of the bunch the WNBA. The Aces finished number one out of 12 WNBA teams. If we toss in Athletics baseball which has yet to arrive…do you see where I’m going? Despite the fact it’s a tourist destination it’s population is not that large to support all these professional teams. Fact is Las Vegas metro (2.227 million 2018) is actually smaller than Kansas City metro (2.392 million).

I’m surprised…not shocked

Not much has been heard or read by yours truly from Kwame Brown for a time. You might remember Brown, he arrived in the NBA directly from high school which was possible in 2001. Despite his heavy frame (6-11, 290 pounds) Brown failed to have the career most expected. He would move from team to team throughout the NBA with his career ending in 2013 and that’s where we begin. I don’t like to use the term “bust” for a player with the lengthy career Brown experienced he’d just not been a dominant player. Fast forward to the present day and Stephen A. Smith enters the picture, I’m unsure where it began but the mouthy Smith began a tirade regarding Brown, they went back and forth trading barbs.

Then the attacks subsided and I don’t remember reading or hearing anything from Brown until recently. After being attacked unfairly by Smith in my view Brown figured he do the same thing…his target Bronny James. He questioned how young James was drafted yet DJ Burns was passed over, the 6 foot 9 270 pound Burns had led North Carolina State to an improbable NCAA run. Despite Burns best effort in the tournament he was passed over in the June 2024 NBA draft. I said at the time I was displeased with the Bronny pick but understood the why of it. As for Burns he’s signed with a team in the Korean Basketball League so he’s getting paid. In addition Burns is young and will likely have another opportunity at some point to play in the NBA. As for Brown I’m surprised he decided to bully Bronny for no apparent reason.   

They don’t always know

This from ESPN, an NBA official expressed the belief they were not sold on Cooper Flagg as the top pick in the 2025 draft. That’s okay because the youngster must prove he’s the real deal, his season at Duke will provide this official and us just how good he might become. As for his apprehension I am not completely sold on his view for a variety of reasons. The history says NBA officials don’t always make the best decisions, want examples. Markelle Fultz being picked ahead of Jayson Tatum, how about Nikola “The Joker” Jokic becoming the number 41 pick in the second round.

The Joker is a three time NBA MVP, tell me someone still has a job analyzing talent after missing on him. How about the 2013 draft where Anthony Bennett was chosen at the top of the draft while Giannis Antetokounmpo was pick 15. The point of course even with all the evidence teams have in the past made huge mistakes in adding players they believed were talented enough to compete in the NBA. Back to Flagg for a while, I certainly understand the skepticism a general manager might have based on a number of factors. There is no guarantee in the draft so you must investigate everything you can and then go with your gut. You remember last season prior to the 2023 draft there were gigantic questions surrounding Victor Wembanyama, a number of the questions even came from credible NBA veterans.

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G-League

Bronny James didn’t embarrass himself Friday night against the Wolves, he emerged from the Laker bench playing 16 minutes in total. I’ve gone back and forth regarding Bronny since the draft in June. It was my belief back then and it continues into training camp…he’s not ready. Allow me to clarify my statement, I said nothing about potential, he’s got plenty of that. My concern back then and now is the limited amount of time he’s played at a high skill level, Sierra Canyon HS doesn’t count. Get this neither does the season he spent at Southern Cal, the health issue with his heart made him a reserve player.

I’m unsure now if there was any effort to make him a starter while at Cal, the draft and then NBA Summer League. Bronny looked okay although it appears defense is going to be his strong suit. As for his future status he belongs with the South Bay Lakers for this upcoming season but it probably won’t occur. There is no two-way contract which says its likely he spends the season on the Laker bench and that becomes the problem. The NBA is different from the NFL, we’ve seen rookie QB’s in a backup role, Patrick Mahomes might be the example. Sitting on the bench Bronny will be unable to judge the speed of the game and other factors which he will require for future growth as a player.

He returns

After an outstanding career 90% of it spent with the Knicks Patrick Ewing retired from basketball in 2002, since then he’s been on a journey. Ewing spent years as an assistant coach at several NBA stops even with the Knicks at a point. Strangely enough he would interview for a number of NBA head coaching opportunities but was never hired. In 2017 his alma mater Georgetown hired him hoping his presence and coaching would turn the program around.

After a number of years at the helm Ewing was unable to return the basketball program to any semblance of what occurred in the past. In 2023 Georgetown released Ewing after the school experienced two successive losing seasons. Last Friday the Knicks announced a hiring, Ewing was returning to the Knicks as a basketball ambassador. The news release indicates he will work with coach Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks front office. As for his basketball play Ewing found success while playing at Georgetown, that and his play in the NBA saw him enshrined in the College and Naismith Hall of Fame.

What the heck is he doing?

The talk on adding UConn to the Big XII conference has slowed, it appears several schools have voiced objections. It’s not only the Connecticut school, there are others the Bret Yormark commissioner is exploring. I’ve been reading that the conference could eventually contain 24 teams adding Oregon State and Washington State. Everything is money driven that’s understandable but how the heck is a 24 team conference to operate. I pointed out earlier information indicates home and home series will not exist for basketball in the 2024-25 season, it’s been reported some teams might play one another only once.

At the present time regardless of the conference’s future Kansas basketball will again face stiff competition attempting to finish at or near the top. As an example the University of Houston performed well in its first season in the Big XII, they won the regular season championship with Kansas finishing in a 5th place tie. I’m quite sure Houston has reloaded, it’s likely the same could be said for Baylor. We must include Iowa State in the mix and now Arizona arrives fresh off winning the Pac-12 this past season along with Colorado. Those are but a few teams in the now expanded Big XII, I wonder in building this “Super Conference” what commissioner Yormark might be doing for the future of Kansas basketball. 

NBA Rookie of the Year

We cannot see the ceiling for Victor Wembanyama, after all he was named 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year. Not only was he named ROY he was a unanimous selection…not a single rookie received a vote. With that you might be asking why I am writing this now, it’s due to Ralph Sampson. Just in case the name is unfamiliar to some of you a brief explanation. Sampson played at the University of Virginia and was drafted by the Rockets in 1983, he was named ROY in 1984. As for other honors he’s been enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame.

The key point, Sampson arrived in the NBA standing 7 foot 4 and 228 pounds. The Rockets had Hakeem Olajuwon at center so the rookie Sampson moved into the power forward position, Sampson had a perimeter game at a time no one his height possessed. Recently he assessed the game of Bol Bol and Wemby and his view was interesting. You might remember prior to the start of last season Shaq was comparing Bol’s game to that of Wemby…that’s ceased now. Sampson indicates from his perspective there is no requirement for Wemby to play the post, he’s got a different game from a traditional center. In closing you might remember when questioned on Bol’s ability Shaq claimed he is lazy, Sampson takes a different view taking an opposing observation.

Basketball from a fans perspective 

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“The report of my death was an exaggeration”

Samuel Clemens 1835-1910 was better known by his pen name Mark Twain, he was a 19th Century American writer and humorist. The headline above is one he once wrote at a time it had been reported he’d died. That quote works for the Pac-12 as well, team after team departed for other conferences. What remained was two schools, Oregon State and Washington State. The conference was about to go the way of the Southwestern Conference (1914-1996) where Texas, Baylor and other Texas schools played. Rather than sit back and wait for their eventual demise the Pac-12 added members. This growth will be detailed in full after this upcoming season.

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State will join the Pac-12 July 1, 2026. Utah State and Utah accepted an offer to join in September 2024. On Tuesday came word traditional basketball power Gonzaga will also become a member of the new Pac-12. This is interesting in a number of ways, what stands out for me, with the exception of holdovers Oregon State and Washington State the pending conference member schools with the exception of Gonzaga might be considered mid-majors. The only remaining question, is this the end of moves by the Pac-12? Hardly, UNLV turned them down however they are talking to St. Mary’s and Grand Canyon about membership. This expanded conference will offer competitive football too although it’s the basketball part we are exploring.

A New York thing

This is written Monday morning after the trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks. Despite the move it seems I am reading more accounts regarding Mitchell Robinson than KAT. I can say this in truth, coach Tom Thibodeau loves Robinson's play despite his injury history. Regardless of this fact there are NBA teams lining up attempting a trade for post man. Keep in mind he will be sidelined unable to play at least until mid to late December.

Why are so many teams without legitimate centers attempting a trade? Since 2018 when drafted by the Knicks he’s not been much of an offensive threat however that’s not his forte. It’s his defense including an ability to block or affect the oppositions shot. He can score the ball on occasion when challenged, the only Achilles heel for him beside being injury prone is free throw shooting. Robinson is Shaq like from the free throw line. The question might be asked, why is there such a demand for an injured player. Despite his history of injury is it Robinson’s potential or is it simply a New York thing?

I hope their expectations are reasonable

Baylor’s Scott Drew continues his outstanding recruiting, talent is always added to the Bears program. His name is Tounde Yessoufou, originally from the African nation of Benin, he moved to Santa Maria California prior to his freshman year of high school.  By the time his senior year came he would be ranked a 5-star prospect by 247Sports. Yessoufou is a 6 foot 6 inch 210 pound small forward, this continues Drew’s pattern of having at least one 5-star prospect in each recruiting class.

As for the headline as you are aware most pre-season polls place the Kansas Jayhawks number one in the nation. I hope the expectations are reasonable by Jayhawk Nation, I hope they are not expecting the Jayhawks to waltz through their schedule with little if any opposition. Last season Baylor won 24 games and finished in 3rd place during the regular season of the Big XII. I have no idea whose been added to the Baylor roster or might be a holdover, this I believe Drew will have his team ready. As for Yessoufou there were opportunities other than Baylor, Arizona State and Southern Cal were in the picture until Yessoufou’s verbal commitment.

Wingspan

The Lakers announced the signing of Christian Koloko, in addition to his 7 foot height his wingspan is listed as 7’5.25.” Players with vast wingspans are expected to be shot blockers, that is the hope of the Lakers for Koloko. I thought it worth mentioning a few other athletes and their reported wingspans. The late Manute Bol who stood 7-6 had an 8 foot 6 inch wingspan the longest in NBA history, Tacko Fall (7-6) is no longer in the NBA, his wingspan was measured at 8 feet 2 inches. Surprise at third, Victor Wembanyama (7-4) was measured at 8 feet, this next name might surprise you and me and maybe you as well.

It’s the Celtics Kevin McHale, unlike the others McHale stood 6-10 but also had an 8 foot wingspan. Mo Bamba (7-0) rounds out our top 5, he’s got a 7 foot 10 inch wingspan. A large wingspan fails to make one a rejecter of opponents shots, as Bill Russell once said, “I couldn’t block every shot but I would make them think I could.” Back in the day I wonder how many shots were missed based on Russell looming in the vicinity. Provided he’s healthy the question remains is Koloko talented enough to play at a high skill level in the NBA. I read the scouting report on Koloko prior to the draft and the Raptors taking him, the weaknesses pointed out didn’t appear to be of a serious nature and in time could be fixed.

Basketball from a fans perspective 

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Do you remember

This time last season many connected with the NBA gave us a chilling warning. This warning came to us from a number of former NBA players and some in the media. They told us the Spurs Victor Wembanyama would be “beaten” to a pulp coming in the league at 210 pounds even at power forward. He would be pushed all over the floor according to them, well there were several bumps in the road for the rookie. They were to be expected however Wemby managed to have an outstanding NBA season. Outstanding enough he was named NBA Rookie of the Year. The actual truth I expressed prior to the vote Wemby should have been named NBA Defensive Player of the Year as well.

At some point between the end of the season and the Olympics and training camp it occurred. We now have Wemby reporting to training camp at the same height 7 feet 4 inches however he’s bulked up. The training day weight indicates Wemby is now up to 235 pounds which is certainly amazing based on his 2023-24 season weight. I decided to check back a couple of generations to 7 foot 4 Ralph Sampson, the records indicate the former Houston Rocket checked in at 228 pounds. Again this is no predictor of additional success for the Spurs second year man but it details a comparative Hall of Fame player actually weighed less. As for Wemby’s weight gain its good for him although its unwelcome news for association foes.

Distressing news

While preparing the Wednesday edition I received a text indicating Dikembe Mutombo died. How could it be, this mountain of a man (7-2 260 pounds) was the Incredible Hulk a generation or so ago. Mount Mutombo was the nickname given him due to his ability to block shots around the basket. The NBA finally had to outlaw his effort afterwards, every time he blocked a shot he would wag his finger back and forth. After a time, the NBA that action taunting an opposing player so they outlawed it.

How did this all began, Mutombo arrived here in this nation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to play basketball at Georgetown. Although he exhibited an offensive game in the NBA defense became his specialty. The Nuggets would make him the 4th pick in the first round of the 1991 draft, he would later play for a number of NBA teams over his 18 year career. Honors would come to him, an 8 time All Star and 4 time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He led the NBA in blocked shots 3 times during his career, in 2015 Mutombo was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. The other portion of Mutombo’s life was probably not as well known.

He became tireless in his humanitarian efforts after retirement, his effort was quite extensive. This is me, I believe Mutombo might have been a better human being than he was a basketball player, he was selfless in his efforts to improve human conditions, especially on the African continent. The world is better because Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo came our way. Did he loved to block shots, check out this YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGDZ3S5Y2MI

“I don’t play defense”

The headline above are the words expressed by Bill Murray in the 1996 movie Space Jam. Murray is diagraming an offensive play and is reminded his team is on defense, at that point he utters the words “I don’t play defense.” Well just like Murray I don’t do draft choices, you say for whom? A writer for SI suggested the Lakers trade Anthony Davis back to the Pelicans for Brandon Ingram, Jordan Hawkins and 4 first round picks and 1 first round pick swap. I see so many issues with this it’s amazing, how could this writer even propose such a trade. Brandon Ingram is a talent, one the Lakers once drafted but were willing to include in the trade to acquire AD.

Ingram is still young but acquiring him again causes me to shake my head, as for Hawkins can I say NBA potential however to date he’s done little to demonstrate it. Finally we come to the issue of draft choices, to borrow from Murray I don’t do draft choices. We have no idea who might be available in the 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 NBA draft. If the trade were made they could acquire a couple of Shai-Gilgeous Alexander types, they could also draft a Josh Jackson (2017) or Jahlil Okafor (2015). The point is clear for me and hopefully you as well, having a large number of draft choices fails to aid a team if THAT rose surrounded by thorns is not selected. This trade might be okay for the SI guy but if I’m Rod Pelinka I’d simply smile at him, this is dead on arrival in my view.

A New York thing

This is written Monday morning after the trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks. Despite the move it seems I am reading more accounts regarding Mitchell Robinson than KAT. I can say this in truth, coach Tom Thibodeau loves his play despite his injury history. Regardless of this fact there are NBA teams lining up attempting a trade for Robinson. Keep in mind he will be sidelined unable to play at least until mid to late December.

Why are so many teams without legitimate centers attempting a trade? Since 2018 when drafted by the Knicks he’s not been much of an offensive threat however that’s not his forte. It’s his defense including an ability to block or affect the oppositions shot. He can score the ball on occasion when challenged, the only Achilles heel for him beside being injury prone is free throw shooting. Robinson is Shaq like from the free throw line. The question might be asked, why is there such a demand for an injured player. Despite his history of injury is it Robinson’s potential or is it simply a New York thing?

Basketball from a fans perspective 

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Is it over? 

You remember the jokes made about Anthony Davis’s durability? Truth is up until the 2023-24 season he’d been missing in action for a considerable number of Laker games over two seasons. I never thought it was funny just as I never thought Kawhi Leonard missing games or “load managed” was funny either. This past summer you remember the event don’t you, Leonard was on the roster for Team USA then he wasn’t. I never understood the why, the only thing I can say is become confused by Lawrence Frank president of the Clippers. Frank expressed confusion as to why Leonard was sent home and the question is, did Frank had knowledge he wasn’t sharing with the media and public. And now this news, the Clippers announced when training camp begins tomorrow Leonard will be held out of scrimmage activities.

The announcement stated there was a concern about his surgically repaired knee. Now I’m reading in barstoolsports.com an account claiming Leonard might have undergone another procedure later this past summer. Throughout his NBA career he’s always been reluctant to talk to the media which is certainly his prerogative. The actions of Leonard continue to be quite stealthy, if this second surgery is confirmed I’m unsure what to say about this development. Some reading this might remember media person Bomani Jones from his ESPN days. The subject of Leonard came up while he was a guest on The Rich Eisen Show. Jones was as blunt as can be he said, “I think he’s done and it’s a shame, finals MVP for two different franchises.” Leonard the outstanding defender and scoring threat who just cannot seem to remain healthy for an extended period of time.

Georgetown basketball

Prior to the arrival of the late John Thompson in 1972 the Washington D.C. university was only known for its excellent educational curriculum. During Thompson’s tenure, the school was placed on the basketball map of the nation, thus began a string of NCAA tournament appearances practically every season culminating with the 1984 NCAA Championship. In the 1998-99 season Thompson decided to retire and his assistant coach took over the program. Craig Esherick would coach the Hoyas for the next five years before turning over the team to Thompsons son John Thompson III. Over the next few years Georgetown basketball experienced up and downplay until he was fired by the school.

Prior to the 2017-18 season the school hired former Georgetown alumnus Patrick Ewing, it was hoped he would return the basketball program to its glory days. Despite his name and reputation the teams won-loss record failed to improve under the former Georgetown star player. The truth of the matter the record was even worse than play under Thompson III. In March 2023 Ewing was fired and replaced by Ed Cooley longtime Providence coach. The first season under Cooley was certainly underwhelming (9-23) but more is expected in his second year at the helm. Will this hire of Cooley be the right move for the Georgetown program, only time will tell however I have serious doubts if the team is allowed to flounder for an extended period.

Another possibility

The Lakers may have solved their post play and the name might surprise some of you. His name is not Anthony Davis, he will be the starter again this upcoming season, it’s the relief I speak of. It’s not Christian Koloko who signed a two way contract but the other guy with a two way contract. If you follow the Lakers as much as most of us his name is Colin Castleton and he’s been around for an extended period. Castleton’s played in Summer League and for the South Bay Lakers for an extensive time now.

Castleton stands 6 foot 10 and 250 pounds and this is the good part for him, there is no requirement for him to play like AD just offer relief. Christian Wood is missing until December due to surgery and Jaxson Hayes has not played up to the level expected. This leaves an opening for Castleton to earn a regular season contract. In other Laker news training camp is yet to open but JJ Redick’s already announced his starting lineup. D’Lo will be starter at the point, Austin Reaves at the shooting guard, LeBron James small forward plus Rui Hachimura at power forward, that leaves Anthony Davis as the center.   

A colossal miscarriage of justice

It’s been said, “There is nothing written that life should be fair.” I certainly can agree with the statement however sometimes on occasion your life can be drastically effected. That’s the case for the late Roger Brown, Connie Hawkins and Doug Moe. These three and several others had promising careers waiting for them in the NBA that bypassed them by an event that wouldn’t occur today. It was 1961 a different time, the three named were acquainted with sports gambler Jack Molinas. College basketball was rocked with a point shaving scandal and these three and others were named. There was no trial, none of the three was ever arrested.

Despite this fact they were banned from playing in the NBA regardless of the fact Hawkins was the only one who actually received any money. He’s borrowed $200 from Molinas which was repaid prior to news of the point scandal coming to the public’s attention. All three were eventually cleared however it was too little too late. Moe met with the gamblers but turned down any attempt to draft him for the scheme. The history indicates Brown was never accused of point shaving he was only acquainted with Molinas. Years later Hawkins would sue the NBA and when the court ruled in his favor he became a 27-year old rookie. Brown never played in the NBA, Moe served as coach of the NBA Nuggets. Hawkins was eventually enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. It’s my belief such a travesty of this magnitude would never occur today.

The City of Ben Franklin & Dr. J.

Philadelphia Pennsylvania has a rich history going back to its colonial days, the days of Benjamin Franklin inventor, politician and Founding Father of the Nation. In between Ben Franklin and Dr. J. there have been others who lived, worked in the City of Brotherly Love. As for Dr. J. he thrilled residents of the city and others throughout the nation with his play on the basketball court, Franklin in a different area. What about the current mayor, what’s her influence on the city in one area? You might remember I indicated last week Mayor Cherelle Parker announced an agreement with the Sixers for their planned arena.

The only difficulty as this is written it appears the mayor and the Sixers are the only parties pleased at this juncture. Chinatown will not be demolished in order to build the arena however it’s proximity to the arena has the coalition displeased with this “agreement.” In the meantime we discover another grassroots community organization has announced they intend to fight the proposed arena as well. The portion most interesting to me the mayor and Sixers indicate there is no public funding involved in the project. Despite this fact there is a court fight brewing between the mayor’s office and at least two community groups. This is not good news for Philadelphia, If this project cannot soon be finalized will Camden NJ remain in the picture.

The Nuggets

You remember the story, Superman could only be defeated by Kryptonite? Well I’m not comparing the play of the Lakers to Superman however they have beaten the Lakers two years in a row in the playoffs. That’s the story for my Lakers however that might not be the story for the balance of Western Conference teams. In 2023 the Nuggets did a beat down on the league winning the NBA championship. Nikola “The Joker” Jokic’s skillful passing and shooting, Michael Porter Jr. along with Jamal Murray and company…you know the story. They finished the regular season with 53 wins in addition to that championship.

The Nuggets were expected to compete for a second championship, they managed to accomplish only a portion of the task. They earned a playoff berth however the Wolves knocked them out of their repeat championship effort. What occurs for the upcoming season fans of the franchise are questioning. Center/Forward DaRon Holmes II was drafted from Dayton University however he might not see a great deal of court time with the veteran Nuggets roster. The only other addition is guard Russell Westbrook, he is expected to take on a reserve role. There is no argument on my part barring major injuries the Nuggets will earn a playoff berth again. As for championship aspirations I must wait to determine whether they are prepared for a deep run. The Nuggets must believe, the ESPN headline reads: “Nuggets believe they’re still in their championship window.”

Basketball from a fans perspective 

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KAT

Saturday morning came news of a blockbuster NBA trade. The Wolves Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, DaQuan Jefferies and a lottery-protected first round pick from the Pistons. On the surface my first reaction says the Knicks intend to battle the Celtics for Atlantic Conference supremacy. The Knicks were competitive last season as Jalen Brunson led the way for the team. KAT becomes the second blockbuster move by the Knicks in this off season, earlier they added Mikal Bridges from the Nets.

The portion of the trade I find most interesting, KAT was born in Edison but grew up in Piscataway NJ located in the New York City metro. In a sense this will be a return to home so to speak, by the way according to the NY Post KAT says he did not demand this trade be made. This trade aids the Knicks in this manner, it makes up for the loss of Isiah Hartenstein and the delayed recovery from surgery for Mitchell Robinson. On the other end does this trade make the Wolves any stronger in the Western Conference? That question will remain unanswered for now, as for the Knicks I believe they have improved with this trade.

He’s retiring

Derrick Rose is retiring after 16 years in the NBA and after playing for several teams. After a year’s play at the University of Memphis the Bulls made this Chicago area talent their first pick in 2008. By 2011 he was made MVP of the association the youngest in the leagues history. Rose would tear his ACL in his left knee in the 2012 playoffs, surgery indicated he’d be out 8-12 months. He did not return for the 2012-13 season despite being cleared by the Bulls medical staff. He did return but later suffered another devastating injury which kept him sidelined.

Rose began a journey that took him to several teams in the NBA including the Knicks twice, his last team would be the Grizzlies where he retired. It’s quite easy to lookback on his NBA career and say, “If only he’d been able to avoid injury.” Considering the two devastating injuries it’s a wonder he even played in the NBA the length of time he managed (16 seasons). Rose turns 36 years of age this month and if he’s managed money properly should be able to live the rest of his life financially secure. As for the basketball part those who missed his play in college and early in his career with the Bulls missed a treat.

Are you a hater

This is an advance warning for those who consider yourselves a Duke hater. I offer not proof  but it appears the football team doesn’t suffer the same dislike that faces Duke basketball. I am sure some of this hatred goes back to the days of Coach K. Oh well here goes, I recently read the ESPN family of channels will broadcast a substantial number of Duke basketball games this upcoming season. Rest assured there will likely be games on CBS and Fox Sports as well.

It was pointed out the university will be on television more than a number of NBA teams. I’m sure a portion of this increased coverage is due to Duke wunderkind Cooper Flagg, he will be on full display during the 2024-25 college season. The legend of Flagg has grown to epic proportions prior to him ever setting foot inside Cameron Indoor Stadium for a meaningful game. The arena is always bursting at the seams anyway since it holds less than 10,000 fanatical supporters. In conclusion you have been warned in advance of the planned television schedule.  

Slipped beneath the radar

Imagine this scenario, you are made the 57th pick in the NBA draft, there are only 60 players chosen in total. This says you are third from the bottom, a draft pick that low is a sure indication of how scouts are evaluating your talent as a potential NBA player. What if I told you that was a true story, it was no fairy tale, that player’s name was Manu Ginobili. After the 1999 NBA draft Ginobili would spend his entire career as a member of the Spurs however it was not his first professional basketball play. Ginobili was chosen that year but would not play his first game for the Spurs until 2002. What occurred between the draft and his arrival…plenty, Ginobili would play for several European teams.

This is the portion of the story most interesting, he is considered the originator of the “Euro Step” however Ginobili is from Argentina on the South American continent. His resume is quite extensive, the following represents only his NBA career. Ginobili was a 4X NBA champion with the Spurs, 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. It should be of note he made a name for himself as a reserve player before eventually becoming a member of the Spurs starting lineup. In 2022 Ginobili was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts, he’s come a great distance not being considered a valid prospect to the ultimate prize, the hall of fame. Based on how little scouts thought of him and where he ended can we say he “Slipped beneath the radar.”

Rivalry

I’m unsure if this is actually the case, college basketball rivalries are no longer intense. Don’t misunderstand my statement they still exist but not at the blazing white hot level any longer. As an example one of the best in the nation Kansas-Missouri no longer exists. With the departure of Mizzou to the SEC it disappeared, many especially on the Kansas side will claim it still exists but not for me. If we look closely that rivalry has been replaced by Illinois, the two schools play annually a week or so before Christmas. We cannot look at Kansas-Kansas State, one party must defeat the other on occasion. A one-sided match with the Kansas Jayhawks winning every season is not a rivalry.

What about the others, at the top of most list is North Carolina-Duke. These two schools located 12 miles apart have comprised some of the best basketball talent in the nation over the years. It’s been Duke’s coach K. since 1980 on one side and now Jon Scheyer, for Carolina since 1980 its been Dean Smith for a time then Bill Gutteridge, Matt Doherty, Roy Williams and now Hubert Davis. Up next might be Louisville-Kentucky, which is an interesting one. For years Kentucky refused to play Louisville, state government had to threaten to withhold funds if this policy remained in place. There are others however I wonder if they are as intense as we might believe, who are they? How about Indiana-Purdue, Xavier-Cincinnati along with Arizona-Arizona State. Did I miss any, I'm sure there are one or two I missed.