A fans perspectives

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It’s gonna happen…just when

Expansion is coming, as the headline indicates we just don’t know when. Currently there are 15 teams placed in the Eastern Conference and a like number in the West, Seattle and Las Vegas being added would make 17 teams in the West. Two teams currently in the Western Conference are headed east, who are they? Before you entertain the prospect of who the teams might be a brief history reminder. The Grizzlies are located in Memphis Tennessee, the city is located east of the Mississippi River in some circles the dividing line between east and west. Hint, there are no Grizzly bears in Tennessee however they exist in Canada.

The expansion franchise was born in the City of Vancouver, which placed them in the Western Conference. At the time the team was sold and re-located the NBA retained them in the Western Conference. How about others who might be close to the imaginary division between east and west, the Minnesota Wolves and New Orleans Pelicans? Maps indicate the river flows through both Minneapolis and New Orleans so it’s a tossup which team moves. If the decision is mine alone I believe the Pelicans should be the team to move to the Eastern Conference. My view is based on a single fact, historically the Minneapolis Lakers played in the Western Conference. Regarding each team’s roster, they have 15 players; among these, only eight can be protected. With seven unprotected player per team across 30 teams, there are a total of 210 unprotected players. The process following the establishment of rosters with 15 players being chosen the remaining number of unprotected players are retained by their respective teams.

He is forgotten NBA history

Who is the only player to lead the NCAA, ABA and NBA in scoring? If you have the answer before I place it in front of you that’s good, as for others his name is Rick Barry. He played for the San Francisco (yes) Warriors and in the ABA returned to the Warriors and ended his career with the Houston Rockets. Barry began his rise in the game at the University of Miami, in his senior year (1964-65) he led the NCAA in scoring with a 37.4 point per game average. Drafted by the Warriors in 1965 as the second pick that year he hit the ground running and in his sophomore year he led the NBA in scoring (35.6 ppg). In 1968 he would join the ABA Oakland Oaks although a court order by the Warriors prevented him from playing for one year.

Barry’s been a lightning rod of controversy for teams, and some teammates over his playing career. Despite this fact he still managed to win two championships one in the ABA and another later with the Warriors on his NBA return. His last two years were spent as a member of the Houston Rockets. Barry was prolific from the free-throw line, 4 seasons in the ABA witnessed him shooting .880. In the NBA he was even better, in 10 years with the Warriors/Rockets it was .900 from the line. In 1987 Barry was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, at the time the College Basketball Hall opened he was honored there as well. There was a brief try as an analyst but that was not long term, CBS, which held the NBA rights, failed to renew his contract. From Wikipedia: “Producers later cited the general negative tone of his game commentary, which did not sit well with some players and agents around the league as being the reason he was not brought back.”

This is not 1987

Of course you are aware of the year, apparently Gilbert Arenas might be unclear. This former NBA player on a recent podcast said this, I paraphrase: “The Lakers are just picking up any players nowadays.” I didn’t listen to his podcast in its entirety but I guess he was expressing his belief the Lakers didn’t make any major moves leading up to the NBA trade deadline. The reference to 1987, the Lakers acquired Klay Thompson’s dad Mychal in a February 1987 trade. Thompson would prove invaluable in aiding the Laker cause as backup to Kareem Abdul Jabbar. I certainly wasn’t holding my breath figuring the Lakers might be able to swing a trade to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks.

In the case of Arenas I am sure part of his statement was for “entertainment purposes” and to get guys like me to respond. A couple of reminders for Arenas, you have an opinion which is okay but the other part (contracts, balancing trades etc.) you haven’t a clue because you have no expertise in the management workings of an NBA team. You were on the other side, your agent explained the intricacies and you either agreed or disagreed with your agent. It’s far easier to sit around with your homies discussing the NBA and its players, it’s a far different matter when you are responsible for the day to day operations of a team. I’m certainly not trying to imply Arenas couldn’t handle the duties however I believe Rod Pelinka has a degree of work in the area that Arenas lacks.

It was a special night   

Fans tend to reflect on those occasions they witnessed a historical event. An NBA, Super Bowl or World Series clinching championship, we all remember. Not only a team effort but individual as well, Magic Johnson leading his Michigan State Spartans over Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores. Michael Jordan with flu symptoms led his Bulls team to victory against the Jazz. Kawhi Leonard for the Raptors helping provide the way for the only championship the franchise has won. The 100 point scoring game of Wilt Chamberlain, 5,000 fans were in the stands but over the years thousands more “claim they were there.”

Second, to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game there is the 81 point effort by Kobe Bean Bryant. This game against the Toronto Raptors occurred the winter night of January 22, 2006. These are numbers for you to mull over, in the game he rarely rested except for timeouts, he played 42 minutes of the 48 minute game. Kobe shot 61% from the floor with 54% from the three line, he shot 20 free-throws and was 90% from the line. Despite the fact he logged all that time on the court Kobe only managed to have 3 TO’s the entire game. Of course his 3 steals negated the TO’s, in the second half of the game Kobe actually outscored the entire Raptors team 55-41.

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One game fails to make a season

The final score read Mizzou 86 Texas A&M 85, the Tigers managed to escape with a road win on Wednesday night. It was a much needed victory for Mizzou to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, prior to the game Joe Lunardi NCAA guru indicated Mizzou was on the bubble. Can I say it was a badly needed win, yes it was. If we check the box score the Tigers shot outstanding from the floor (54%). The only negative was the three point shooting and the free throw line…but you cannot have everything.

The winning basket was a lob from Mark Mitchell to Shawn Phillips (12 points) who dunked the ball, in addition Phillips had a key block preserving the win. Trent Pierce led the way scoring 23 pulling down 9 rebounds and 2 assists. One of the concerns expressed about the coach was his in game adjustments, this is what we often heard. “Dennis Gates can recruit but what about his in game decisions?” As indicated by the headline the win goes on the left side of the page versus the right, for me it was more than the outcome of a game. Gates provided for all to see he and the staff can design winning plays plus they were able to set up an appropriate end of the game defense.

Face of the NBA

From time to time the subject of who is the face of the NBA has been discussed. Maybe this subject might have first occurred in the 80’s with the Magic/Bird rivalry, the Lakers and Celtics seemed to face one another in the playoffs annually. Later it would become Michael Jordan and those Bulls teams which dominated the NBA. Although there was plenty of exposure I’m unsure if Kobe Bryant or anyone else for that matter became the Face of the NBA. With the NBA less visible in the public eye the Bill Russell led Celtics were never considered.

It wasn’t just them the same might be said for the Elgin Baylor/Jerry West Lakers plus the Wilt Chamberlain dominance. Truth be told it wasn’t Chamberlain, he once said; “Nobody roots for Goliath.” Now the discussion has begun once again and we’ve heard from parties with differing views on the subject. One camp claims; “It’s  Victor Wembanyama” while another says, “He’s an international player, he can’t be the face of the NBA.” I would take this discussion one step further, is there a requirement for anyone to be symbolized as the Face of the NBA? The answer is yours to answer, IMO the NBA is the NBA, there is no requirement for anyone to be titled. Often winners go a great distance for any type of decision who might become that face.

The dilemma of Darryn Peterson

All but one of the four NBA mock draft sites I normally use list the name of Darryn Peterson at Kansas as the number one pick in the June draft. Some are aware Peterson’s been in and out of the lineup due to injury and illness a total of 11 games. We’ll briefly check NBA draft history for a look at Andrew Wiggins and Michael Porter Jr. First, Wiggins, he was also at Kansas arriving in the fall of 2013, few believed the heralded Wiggins was going to play his sophomore year. I remember the comment of my former barber, “He’s (Wiggins) playing to not get hurt,” pointing to the fact he believed Wiggins was looking toward June. In 2014 he was made the top pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers and the rest of his story continues to evolve.

Although I compared Peterson to former Mizzou Tiger Michael Porter Jr. a friend indicated “It wasn’t the same because MJP was injured,” he would appear in only three games.” Later MPJ declared for the NBA draft after his freshman year, despite the injury history the Nuggets made him the 14th pick in the first round of the 2018 draft. The Nuggets were willing to wait a year for MPJ to fully heal before he first played for them. He’s since been traded to the Nets and his NBA career has continued to develop. For Peterson, things have changed---Name, Image & Likeness is now the standard practice. With large sums of money being paid to basketball players and other college athletes fans and alumni expect more in return. Is Peterson a malingerer, I don’t have that answer. Is the athlete influenced by family to play or not play? In both instances I have no answer, your opinion is just that…yours.

The game is suspect

If you’ve read this blog any length of time you are aware I’m a big fan of Victor Wembanyama. There is only one time I root against him, anytime he faces my Lakers. Now, there is a second time for me, anytime there is an occurrence similar to Tuesday evening. Just in case you were unaware, although the game was played at Crypto.com arena a group of players showed up pretending to be the Lakers. Missing from the Laker lineup was Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.

Wow, that’s all five starters for the Lakers…final score would detail a Spurs victory. It was Spurs 136 Lakers 108 Spurs which is certainly embarrassing for all. Of course the Spurs are justified in the win especially Wemby with his outstanding game. Jaxson Hayes wasn’t matched against Wemby all night but there was little he or anyone could accomplish to slow the giant. 40 points on 65% shooting, 66.7% was from three plus 83% from the line and 12 rebounds. Despite Wemby being the NBA’s leader in blocked shots, he managed to record only one block in this game.

A fans perspectives

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Sports radio, the driving force

Monday evening the undefeated and number one Arizona Wildcats (23-0) faced the number 9 Kansas Jayhawks (18-5) at Allen Fieldhouse. We knew ahead of time presumed number one draft pick Darryn Peterson would not be available, he was reported to have flu symptoms. Okay, another miss or limited game for the projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, in any event despite his absence the Jayhawks held on beating Arizona 87-78. You would think a thrilling victory over the number one team in the nation would suffice, most likely it would. That failed to account for sports talk radio on Tuesday morning, instead of reveling in the victory they were raking Peterson over the coals for his nonappearance.

The co-host of this particular sports radio station has made in my opinion extreme statements in the past so instead of rejoicing in the win he preferred to attack Peterson. We cannot see or feel for that matter the belief, illness or injury of Peterson…we must take his word he was sick with the flu. If this particular host is upset regarding Name, Image and Likeness he might want to follow another sports, whether he likes it or not it's here to stay. Apparently he expressed a concern about play for pay. A friend suggested this to me, “I bet he didn’t say anything about the Peterson 3-point shot which tied the Texas Tech game nor the 3-pointer which won it.” We as sports fans don’t have the capability of deciding who is playing for real and who is faking it. This writer is no fan of Bill Self nor Kansas basketball however I believe the coach, he said “Peterson has flu like symptoms that is good enough for me.”

Will it occur…they believe it

This from Yahoo Sports, “The NBA is likely to vote on expansion this summer.” If that should occur it’s not shocking news, it has been a subject of discussion at least by the media for the past two years. The two leading cities for an NBA franchise hasn’t changed either, Seattle and Las Vegas are the contenders. As for the particulars I am aware of at least three ownership groups vying for the Seattle franchise, Las Vegas is a little trickier. The Sonics (I think that’s appropriate) will play in Climate Pledge Arena their former home before the franchise moved to OKC.

Questions abound where the Las Vegas team will play, the last information I read indicated there were two competing groups desiring to build an arena. Whatever might occur in the intermediate time there are two potential sites which could be utilized for a time. T-Mobile Arena home of the NHL Golden Knights could be used, in addition the Cox Pavilion or Thomas & Mack Arena could also be utilized although none of the arenas would be permanent. This account similar to others is not set in stone, the news didn’t originate from the NBA offices so there is that to consider. There is no doubt NBA expansion will take place, exactly when is unclear.

There was never a question about talent

I don’t believe any of us including yours truly questioned the talent of Kawhi Leonard. It was the other stuff, the injury bug which cropped up periodically indirectly led to his “load management” status. Then came the report Clippers ownership had attempted to circumvent the salary cap, he was paid an additional sum by a questionable company which resulted in an NBA investigation being initiated. Although results of the investigation are yet to be completed Leonard continues to press on.

The 2025-26 season has been outstanding thus far for Kawhi and circumstances beyond his control provide us an idea he becomes even more valuable. The recent trade of James Harden and Ivica Zubac are the basis for two reasons, Darius Garland obtained from the Cavs is still injured and unavailable. Zubac has been replaced in the lineup by Brook Lopez, while he remains a capable scorer Lopez is 37-years old now and cannot hit the boards in the same manner as Zubac or score down low. Back to Leonard, he’s leading the Clippers in scoring with a 28 point a game average the highest output since his first season with the team 5 years ago. I love guys who shoot free throws and currently Leonard is 91.4% from the line.

I remember it like yesterday

A prominent media figure delivered a critical commentary following the NBA draft, expressing unfamiliarity with a particular athlete who was chosen by his favorite team. While I was aware of this player’s name—primarily due to regularly consulting mock draft websites—I did not initially know if he possessed the skill level required for the NBA; he later demonstrated that he was indeed prepared for the league. Many do not closely follow Euroleague or Australian basketball, the only names somewhat familiar are the international athletes playing at U.S. schools.

Their home country is listed and behind that is the college they attend in the U.S. My aim is to share names of international players who are likely candidates for the 2026 NBA draft. Although the list is ranked, it is intended solely to provide names of potential prospects, focusing on individuals projected as first-round and early second-round selections. By no means should this be considered complete, in addition several of the names might skip the draft while others might not be drafted at all. The bottom line, this account should not be regarded as exhaustive or extensive.

Karim Lopez Mexico-NBL

Dash Daniels-Australia

Miikkia Muurinen-Finland

Sergio De Larrea-Spain

Adam Atamna-France

Mouhamed Faye-Senegal

Ognjen Srzentiz-Serbia

Hans Steinbach-Germany (Washington)

Aday Mara-Spain (Michigan)

Tomislav Ivisic-Croatia (Illinois)

Flory Bidunga-Congo (Kansas)

Mor Massaba Diop-Senegal (Arizona State)

Michael Ruzic-Croatia

Henri Veesaa-Estonia (North Carolina)

Johann Grunloh-Germany (Virginia)  

Motiejus Krivas-Lithuania (Arizona)

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Damn if you do, damned if you don’t

Some reading the headline might be unfamiliar with the idiom. The text definition is: “In a specific situation a person can be blamed or considered wrong no matter what he or she does.” That might be the case for Dennis Gates basketball coach at the University of Missouri. Those living outside the State of Missouri might not understand the passion behind this argument. Despite what some might tend to believe there is a basketball heritage in Missouri, its been dormant for a time.

Part of this problem has been caused by a series of not good hires and poor recruiting has led to play at a subpar level. Since the retirement of Norm Stewart there have been a series of coaches who failed to grow the basketball program or left for greener pastures, i.e., Mike Anderson comes to mind. Along comes Dennis Gates a virtual unknown and he arrives and must attempt to change the culture that existed. In the same period came the implementation of Name, Image and Likeness plus the transfer portal and plus other stuff which impacts the development of a basketball program. Gates arrived from Cleveland State and he turned the team around winning 25 games. Now into his 4th year some fans want more than we’ve seen at this time, there’s been no BIG SPLASH. This is written from the perspective of a fan of Dennis Gates I must admit that.

Missouri’s suffered by my count three ugly conference losses against LSU, Georgia and Ole Miss, teams they should have beaten. Based on this outcome the wolves have begun howling and circling around the coach. Sure it’s upsetting to lose games to teams below yours in the standings. Despite that fact this is not the place nor the time to entertain firing the coach which several have suggested. At the same time Missouri cannot continue replacing coaches unless there is a losing culture (which I don't believe exists). Oh, by the way they beat South Carolina on Saturday 78-59.

Stat of the night

I borrowed Stat of the night from veteran broadcaster Ernie Johnson, he’s long done this when Inside the NBA was on TNT. Johnson and team have moved to ABC/ESPN this season. Actually in this case it was plural not singular, “Stats of the Night.” It was Stephon Castle Saturday February 7. See you thought it was Victor Wembanyama only, he’s the foundation but there are others and Castle represents one of those valuable Spurs. In their 138-128 win over the Mavericks Castle filled the box score, the second year combo guard scored 40 points on 15-19 shooting from the floor (.789). It didn’t end there he also shot 3-5 from the three line, 7-10 from the free throw line and he added to his total with 12 rebounds and 12 assists.

NAIA basketball

NCAA Division I basketball's rise has dominated college basketball coverage in recent years by the media and fans. Although the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics or (NAIA) is occasionally acknowledged by some fans, most generally the public is unfamiliar with its annual tournament held just like the NCAA. SportsCenter but that’s about it. We should note that a championship tournament is held at the end of every season in Kansas City (MO). The tournament will be held March 19-24, 2026, at revered Municipal Auditorium the site from 1937-1974 and 2002-present.

1975-1993 the tournament was played at Kemper (now Hy-Vee) Arena also in Kansas City. The tournament was “farmed out” to several other locations but returned to the city of its origin. Last year’s champion was the College of Idaho which won its game over Oklahoma Wesleyan 93-65. In the 1960’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s a significant number of NBA players gained their skill playing at these schools. Willis Reed, Scottie Pippen along with Dennis Rodman are just a few of the names with NBA careers who first played at the NAIA level. Below is the list of the Top 10 NAIA teams and the location of the institution. Note, there is no guarantee at this point that any of the following teams will be in Kansas City:

Grace University – Winona Lake, Indiana

Freed-Hardeman – Henderson, Tennessee

Oklahoma Wesleyean – Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Ave Maria – Ave Maria, Florida

Indiana Wesleyan – Marion, Indiana

Cumberlands – Lebanon, Tennessee

Arizona Christian – Glendale, Arizona

Nelson – Waxahachie, Texas

Langston – Langston, Oklahoma

Bethel – Mishawaka, Indiana

Success or lack of it

Young men sometimes follow in the footsteps of their father. I had a high school classmate who followed his father into the legal field as an attorney. There are cases I’m aware where the son has moved into the medical field traveling in the footprints of the father. There are other examples however those are our focus for this exercise, in other pursuits to compete successfully at the professional sports level might be even more difficult. I once read; “It’s far easier to become a neurosurgeon than to become a successful NBA player.” The landscape of full of those who attempted to play the same sport as their father. We have two examples currently, at this point we don’t know if Bronny and Bryce James will be successful playing at the NBA level.

The James brothers are not the only example just the latest. Tim Hardaway Seniors college and NBA career led him to be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, Tim Hardaway Junior will receive no such honor. Junior will retire one day from the NBA but will never come close to the career of his father. We could return to the past where we discover Marcus and Jeffery Jordan the sons of Michael, both played college basketball. Neither was able to move their game to the level of their more famous father. Hall of Fame former player Rick Barry had 5 sons, all played basketball, none of them came remotely close to the numbers produced by their more famous dad.  There are others but the matter is raised by yours truly, did the offspring take up the sport influenced by the father? We don’t have the answer to that question, however, it might be key to this discussion.  

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I can’t be sure

Bleacher Report.com projected an individual the Los Angeles Lakers might draft in June. You might have read an account containing a list of Big Men I indicated the Lakers should consider. That story aside the prospect of adding Karim Lopez being the Laker pick in the first round provides a great deal of excitement for me over the Big Man list for several reasons. Lopez is young (18-years old), despite his youth he’s got 2 plus seasons of international basketball experience in Spain and with the New Zealand Breakers of the NBL. Although he stands 6-foot 8 several draft sites list Lopez as a shooting guard/small forward. Drafting a player from Mexico with the immense Hispanic population of Southern California would be a marketing coup for the Lakers.

Next question, can he play skillfully at the NBA level, I have no idea, I can only depend on scouting reports. Offensive skill is important however it’s the other stuff I look at…check this out from a scouting report. “Defensively, Lopez sets himself apart. He competes with effort and awareness, using his size, length, and anticipation to defend multiple positions. He rotates well, contests shots effectively, and takes pride in doing the little things that impact winning. While he’s athletic, coordinated, and skilled, Lopez can look a bit mechanical at times, moving more like a modern four than a true wing. He’s somewhat of a positional tweener right now, but that versatility could easily be looked at as a strength depending on the perspective.” I omitted the offensive portion of his scouting report on purpose because what you just read are keys to success what I believe are required in the NBA. It’s quite a ways to the June draft but I’m hoping the Lakers have an opportunity to draft Lopez.

Flying beneath the radar

A significant number of college and university programs across the nation are relatively unknown, every season come tournament time they always receive an invitation. Among that small grouping of relative unknowns is Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Despite winning over the generations many consider Creighton a mid-major program, in 2013-14 they moved to the Big East Conference so can we say goodbye to the mid-major tag? Creighton has played competitive basketball for 106 seasons going back to 1911-12 the first year the program existed. From that point to 1927-28 they would move to the Missouri Valley Conference remaining until the 1948-49 season when they became an independent program again. In 1976-77 the school returned to the MO Valley where they remained until recently.

There is no intent to spoil any of the school’s past coaches but the focus is on the two most recent Gregg Altman and Doug McDermott. Under Altman (1994-2010) the level of play began on an upward trend as Creighton once again won 20 plus games annually. In 2010 the University of Oregon would hire Altman were he’s remained since. His replacement would be McDermott who’s continued the winning ways of the program. Some might question the why, “the school’s never won an NCAA championship.” While that statement might be true there are a number of others we could uncover that have never won either. “They don’t produce NBA players,” again a misleading statement by many, must a program produce NBA talent to be successful? In my view not so, a pattern of successful winning basketball over the years is the key requirement over producing NBA talent.

For Americans

Allow me to state upfront I remain an advocate of good basketball play, I have no qualms regarding the players country of origin. I am reading accounts claiming “We (United States) are no longer developing basketball talent.” They are looking at last season’s MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (Canada), also included in the discussion is the perennial NBA MVP, Nikola ‘Joker’ Jokic (Serbia). Number 77 Luka the Don was NBA gold earlier, his trade to the Lakers has only increased the number of eyes on him. Look friends, we have an American game (invented by a Canadian) many believe is ours alone. The game is not ours exclusively because of the efforts of former commissioner David Stern and others. Over the past several decades the game has been exported world-wide, is there any reason to believe other nations would not adopt the game we love.

I would venture to say if you travel the streets of any suburban neighborhood you will see basketball hoops in driveways. In inner city parks especially during the summer basketball play continues unabated. There is no crystal ball that designates “he’s going to be a star” however the future of American players continues. As this is written Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel are battling one another to determine who will be the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year. Flagg grew up in Maine while Knueppel is from Wisconsin however behind them are several potential talents. Due to his parents being foreign born some will dispute BYU’s AJ Dybansta in this count, he was born in Boston. Then we have Darryn Peterson Kansas freshman guard, he too is a budding talent. The game continues to develop talent in Paris France and Paris Texas, also Athens Greece and Athens Georgia. Wherever it played basketball continues to grow internationally and world-wide.

Best in Missouri

If you asked fans in Missouri the question; “What’s the best college basketball team in the state?” I would bet money 98% of them would say the University of Missouri or Mizzou. In some years that might be the case but not this season, the best is the St. Louis Billikens, after today’s 82-58 victory over LaSalle they have 23 wins versus only 1 loss. Although they are rated the number 19 team in the nation practically nobody is aware of their outstanding record even folks in Missouri. Part of the problem is their conference affiliation, SLU is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and has been since 2005. From 1995-2005 the Billikens competed in Conference USA, there were other conferences but let’s focus on the coach and his team.

Josh Schertz is the head coach, hired from Indiana State in 2024 he led the team to a 19-15 record in his first season. At Indiana State he led the losing Sycamores to a 32 win season and the NIT in his last year there. It was Division II Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee his journey began as a head coach. From 2008-2021 his teams won 337 games losing only 69. As for the Billiken players they are more than Robbie Avila although he might be the most well known name, he transferred from Indiana State following his coach. I would be shocked if they fail to receive an NCAA invitation. Just in case you wondered what a Billiken was, this from AI Overview. “The Billiken is a mythical, “good-luck” figure, often depicted as a smiling, pointy-headed creature, representing “the thing as it ought to be.”

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What the heck      

In the space of a little more than 48 hours the ship was literally dismantled, it certainly hasn’t sunk but it’s taking on water. The ship I speak of is the Los Angeles Clippers. Apparently management has decided to go in another direction, part of it driven by player demand while others just leave us scratching our head. The Clippers had begun the season with a terrible start but thanks to James Harden and Ivica  Zubac were able to steer the ship around the rocks and other impediments. Soon Kawhi Leonard was able to come on board emerging from the injury list. Leonard’s outstanding play plus Harden and Zubac and others it appeared the early season poor play was in the rear view mirror. Then it occurred, we heard rumblings that Harden wanted out,

This was compounded by the fact Harden was operating under a one-year contract and apparently there was reluctance on the part of management to pay for the second year. Keep this in mind, he didn’t hold them hostage management signed him to the contract. Then it occurred, Southern California Harden was traded to wintry Cleveland for Darius Garland, although injured Garland can play and is 10 years younger. On Thursday afternoon came word the Clippers traded Ivica Zubac to the Pacers for Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and draft picks. What happened, apparently management must have decided to go in a different direction we really don’t know since we are not part of the brain trust of the Clippers. I cannot deal with draft choices, that’s a catch-22, warm bodies determine a teams direction. This was not a robbery, the players received by the Clippers should aid the cause however will they be able to play at the level of Harden and Zubac is the chief question.

Meanwhile…

Free agency has significantly transformed the landscape of professional sports, enabling athletes to move between teams with relative freedom. While this system remains prevalent with NFL football and Major League Baseball, the situation within the NBA is notably different. This from AI overview: “NBA teams can trade throughout the year, but the main offseason trading period typically begins in late June, just before the NBA Draft, and intensifies when the new league year starts on July 6, 2025. For the 2025-26 season, the trade deadline is Feb. 5, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET.” As for the question why the NBA trades more players than other professional sports I have no answer.  

It’s unlikely LeBron James will have an opportunity to play alongside Bryce James. It was announced this James will redshirt for his freshman year and he might have been impacted by at least two issues. The first might be playing time, he arrived on campus to an Arizona team which at this writing is undefeated. Freshman don’t play on exceptionally good teams unless they are outstanding. In addition, there is the adjustment required the leap from competitive high school play to Division I basketball. I’ve never seen the younger sibling in action, I’ve been told “He’s better than Bronny.” We shall see his play next season as a red shirt freshman.   

I wasn’t holding my breath for the Lakers BIG TRADE, instead I hoped they would make some sort of move. On Thursday prior to the deadline it occurred, they traded Gabe Vincent for Luke Kennard. Kennard is currently leading the NBA in 3 point shooting percentage (49.7%). Do you suppose the Lakers might find a spot for him? Just kidding folks, other than a wing defender scoring from the bench is the other great need for this team. Hopefully, Kennard will impact the game receiving passes from Luka, LeBron and Austin.

In an October 24 OT win over the Pelicans Victor Wembanyama blocked 9 shots in the game. There is no method to determine how many shots were missed by the opposition attempting to avoid him. I mistakenly believed that game was a career number that is not so. During his rookie season Wemby recorded 10 blocks and a triple-double in his teams February 12, 2024, game against the Toronto Raptors. Just in case you were curious, former Laker Elmore Smith holds the single game blocked shot record with 17, he accomplished this October 28, 1973, against the Blazers.

FREE THROW

Many claim when you type a word or sentence in all caps you are screaming, I guess that’s what I’m doing in this case. Nothing irritates me at a greater level than to see a player at the free throw line brick shot after shot after shot. It’s a FREE THROW buddy, no one is guarding you…your attempt is not contested by one or more opposing players. Despite that fact you miss and it becomes consistent for players and in some instances teams. Currently the Mizzou Tigers are shooting 66.7% from the line, not terrible but not great either. If you check out the numbers for the SEC you will discover that figure places Mizzou as the number 15 team in a 16 team conference. Mizzou has 7 losses as this is written, there is no method for me to provide you proof they could have had 2 or 3 more wins if they sunk their free throws. I’ve long held the belief that individuals and teams don’t shoot well from the line because they fail to practice.

I’ve mentioned this previously and will repeat it, a long-time high school coach in the metro told this story. He claimed when his teams finished running drills and he allowed them free time many would be practicing dunks rather than free throws. After all shooting free throws will never rise to the level of a dunk for the spectators and that players ego. I’m not going to repeat the excuses I read regarding Shaquille O’Neal and his poor shooting. The only statement I will repeat is this; “I make em when it counts” which was his response and totally untrue. For his 19-year NBA career Shaq was 52.7% from the line but he wasn’t the only one. For his 14-years in the league the great Wilt Chamberlain was 51.1%, these are but two examples of outstanding players but poor at the line shooters. Contrast those two with the efforts of Steph Curry with his 91.2% or former great Rick Barry at 89.3%. It might appear there is no leeway on my part which is untrue, it’s my belief every player college, NBA or whatever should be able to shoot at least 75% from the line with continuous practice.

A fans perspectives

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29 or 31

I was a fan of Anthony Davis prior to the trade that brought him to the Lakers. I remember him from his play at Kentucky and later once the Pelicans drafted him. Teamed with LeBron James they were able to win the 2020 NBA championship, since that time AD has been productive but there was an issue. He missed periods he was unable to play spending weeks it seems on the injury list. February 2025 all that changed, Nico Harrison then president of basketball operations and GM of the Mavericks contacted his counterpart with the Lakers Rod Pelinka. The conversations probably went something like this, “How’d you like to have Luka Doncic on your team?” I’m sure the first question was who do you want in exchange for him?

Pelinka was most likely shocked when Harrison said, “How about Anthony Davis?” That was it, the trade was made and there was rejoicing in Laker Land and bunches of angry fans in Dallas. Keep in mind there were multiple players and draft choices included in the trade. The trade was really one for one, AD for Doncic. In November 2025 Harrison was relieved of his duties but that is not the end of the story. On Wednesday Anthony Davis and a host of others was traded to the Wizards and that is where the story ends. As for the headline, if we count the games AD played last season for the Mavericks and thus far this season the number is 29 or 31. One source claims AD played 29 games in total for the Mavericks while another claims it was 31. No matter the number, the end result, superstar Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers for less than a half-season of play. There is no doubt in my mind…this goes down as the worst trade in NBA history.

The mind of James Harden

There is no method for me or anyone else for that matter to uncover the mindset of James Harden now with the Cavs. No argument on my part (or anyone else for that manner) that James Harden is a super basketball talent. 2018 NBA MVP with the Rockets he proved he can do it all but that’s the issue, what motivates him might be the question. Friends, basketball remains a team game, whenever the team fails to win we generally don’t point fingers at one individual. That statement can be made about Harden, of his 5 previous teams, for the most part all were probably incapable of winning an NBA championship.

Despite that statement a few did have the opportunity if he only played like he did in the regular season. See quite a time ago many of us discovered there was a difference. ’Playoff’ James Harden has proven to be quite different from ‘regular’ season James Harden. This veteran Cavs guard is now 36-years old, time is running out to the end of his NBA career. What must he accomplish at Cleveland to satisfy critics like me, it’s quite simple. Contribute to an NBA championship while a member of the Cavs, something he’s failed at 5 other NBA stops since his career began in 2009. Am I being too tough on Harden, perhaps that might be the case however time has expired…this is his last opportunity for a championship in my view.

MSG

The initials above could stand for monosodium glutamate, what is it? “MSG is found naturally in some foods including tomatoes and cheese in this glutamic acid form.” For me and others MSG stands for Madison Square Garden as said often, “The world’s most famous arena.” Several years ago I traveled to New York City and took in all the tourist sites, I missed two most identified with New York City. They are the Statue of Liberty and Madison Square Garden the home of the New York Knicks, the NHL Rangers and scores of other entertainment events held annually. The present MSG was opened in 1968 and is the oldest arena currently in use by an NBA team.

The arena located at Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd streets above Pennsylvania Station is just the latest MSG. The original MSG opened in 1879, it was replaced in 1890, that arena was superseded in 1925 and was in use until the present arena opened in 1968. A great number of historic NBA, NHL and college basketball games have been played in the arena since its opening. In addition to sporting events we could include a great number of concerts and the circus. Will there be another MSG built ever, there’s been talk however not much more than discussions on a replacement. In any event I hope one day to return to the city and see the inside of the arena made famous by those World Champion Knick teams in 1970 and 1973.

We debate the issue

Among the many issues facing the college game of today is professional players. We have begun to see an ever increasing number of players return to play college basketball, to my knowledge none have spent extensive time. Once again the line between amateur and professional has become even more confusing. Ol skool individuals like me have issues with this change while one of my younger co-workers sees the situation in a slightly different manner. To borrow a phrase said by legendary Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn, “No harm, No Foul.”

The issue most unclear to this writer there appears no established criteria for an appeal. In one instance a player was drafted even played in the NBA Summer League but was allowed to return to college. The key, this particular athlete never signed a professional contract. Without going into detail the most recent example, this athlete played 10 games in the NBA yet is appealing in order to return to play college ball, his argument, “I left school too early.” We all make mistakes and sometimes those decisions rightly or wrongly affect our life for an unspecified period of time. My mind is made up, despite the transfer portal, NIL and other changes this one causes me a great deal of difficulty. In closing this disclaimer, I’ve expressed my view on the subject where there is no requirement for you to agree with my assessment.

I’m going to be the first

“During the history of the NCAA tournament only 20 teams entered the tournament with a perfect record.” Seven teams have won the tournament championship with that record. Bill Russell’s San Francisco Dons were the first to accomplished the feat in 1956. In 1957 the University of North Carolina won in three overtimes beating Kansas led by Wilt Chamberlain. John Wooden led UCLA twice to undefeated championships in 1964 and again in 1967. In 1972 and 1973 Wooden’s teams accomplished the task again each time with 30-0 seasons. The last team, the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers won the NCAA Tournament in 1976.

That would be unique in more ways than one, Bobby Knight would become the last NCAA winning coach who led his team to an undefeated season. Since that year, some teams have come close, six teams began the tournament and suffered their first loss. As for the headline of this account I’m going to be the first. I intend to pose the question will Arizona (22-0) finish the season with an NCAA championship and a perfect record as well? If you are superstitious I have broken the rule, you know the one that claims you never discuss something of this nature prior to it possibly occurring. Some might be unfamiliar with the superstition however It’s supposed to bring bad luck to discuss it.

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Meanwhile…

Darryn Peterson is considered the top NBA pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Leg problems have kept him in and out of the Kansas lineup, despite that fact his last two games were productive. In the game against Texas Tech Peterson didn’t have a particularly good shooting night (5-14) but he was clutch at crunch time. Basketball continues as a team sport and Flory Bidunga and Melvin Council provided much needed assistance in the back and forth game, this is how the tail end portion of the game began. Although they were behind the Jayhawks managed to hold a 14 -2 rebound edge in the final 6 minutes of the game. Peterson provided us proof he was unafraid of the moment. Behind by three points Peterson took the shot which tied the game, later he would provide a three which ultimately resulted in the 64-61 win for Kansas. The Kansas Jayhawks after stumbling a bit at the beginning of the season appear to have righted the ship.

This account is written before the trade is finalized, it appears James Harden is on the move once again. The Clippers point guard is due a ‘balloon-type payment’ and apparently the Clippers are unwilling to pay him. Based on this fact he is reported to have requested a trade, at present the Cavaliers are reported to be the destination. Because this move is fluid my intent is to only cover the Clippers side of the trade, there have been names mention that I intend to hold off naming them until there is confirmation. Should this trade be consummated this will become Harden’s 6th NBA team. Drafted by the Thunder he was later traded to the Rockets, from there it was the Nets and then Sixers and finally the Clippers. I pose the question, despite being named league MVP one season is Harden a Hall of Fame nominee once he retires?

McDonald’s All American

It’s quite an accolade to be named a McDonald’s All American, consider this fact for a minute. There are an estimated 450,000 plus boys who play basketball at the high school level across the nation. Since the inception of a McDonald’s All American team in 1977 the University of Missouri a.k.a. Mizzou’s connection to the honor has been infrequent. In 1979 Steve Stipanovich was accorded the honor prior to arriving in Columbia, it would be 1984 before another high school talent was named an All American, that would be Derrick Chievous.

In 1988 it was Anthony Peeler and 2000 saw Travon Bryant being named to the team. In 2017 Michael Porter Jr. (now with the Brooklyn Nets) was named to the team. 2026 will find two incoming Tigers named McDonald’s All Americans, that would be Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant. Based on your prior reading you see having an all-star on the roster is not unusual, what is different this time there are two athletes. As for the 1977 team one of the most well-known names on that first team was Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson who was enrolled at East Lansing High School in East Lansing Michigan. It should be of note to those reading this, being named a McDonald’s All American is no guarantee of future success.

The dawn of a new day

The basketball program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City or Kansas City which is the name commonly used now will begin a new journey new journey next fall. A bit of background before proceeding. The Kansas City program began play at the NAIA level but moved to NCAA Division I in 1987, despite this fact the program has operated a revolving door with its hire of head coaches. In addition in all that time the school has never come close to receiving an NCAA tournament invitation and the reason is clear…lack of victories.

The school announced last month that veteran coach Marvin Menzies would not return to head the program. The hope of many for a successful winning program over time has never materialized, only 4 of the coaches in the team’s history had a winning record. The latest was Billy Donlon who left in 2022 after three seasons to become an assistant coach with another program, that spells danger with a capital D. In my opinion why leave a program you headed (somewhat successfully) for one you are simply tasked with assistant coaching duties. This past Sunday, the school announced they have hired Mark Turgeon as the school’s 13th head coach. Turgeon has an extensive record and most of it winning at several stops. After playing at Kansas he would began his coaching career at Jacksonville State.

He spent his first 2 seasons coaching the Florida school, he would then spend the next 7 seasons heading the program at Wichita State and another 4 at Texas A&M. Maryland hired Turgeon in 2011 and he remained there until 2022 when he and the school agreed to a buy-out. Based on his bio this coach has been a winner at the three stops mentioned, the question is can he convince the athletic department the school must began a serious effort to recruit talent. UMKC or Kansas City must become serious if the school ever intends to compete for talent on a national basis.

That was the nickname

The ‘Bruise Brother’s was their nickname, i.e., Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland. The NBA of the 1980’s was nothing like today’s game. It was much more physical than what we see today. Nowhere was this more in evidence than the Washington Bullets of that time. On one side stood Rick Mahorn 6-foot 10 and 260 pounds…opposite of him was teammate Jeff Ruland also 6-foot 10 but slightly smaller at 240 pounds. They were principally in the Bullets lineup to play tough hard nose defense which is exactly what both of them did.

It was said opposing players would be bruised after an afternoon or evening facing these two. Devastating picks and they almost dared you to go in for a layup, you might sink the basket but find yourself on the floor from the hard foul. You might have read or heard the term “pulling the chair out from under you.” It’s a trick Mahorn used to perfection, an opposing player would lean on him in anticipation of a move. Mahorn would simply move to his right or left allowing that player to fall to the floor…ask Charles Barkley. Those days are long gone the NBA has gotten soft, the days of Charles Oakley, Bill Lambieer the Bruise Brothers and others no longer exist. There are a number of positives regarding today’s players which make them better.     

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This has got to be a record

There were a few trades made prior to the deadline, one was more unusual than others. Moving from the Sacramento Kings to the Cleveland Cavaliers is one Dennis Schroder, he will soon don his 11th NBA jersey. This is not done in any order but consider the fact Schroder has now worn the jersey of the following teams:

Atlanta Hawks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Los Angeles Lakers

Boston Celtics

Houston Rockets

Toronto Raptors

Brooklyn Nets

Golden State Warriors

Detroit Pistons

Sacramento Kings

Cleveland Cavaliers 

During his NBA career I’ve never read anything negative regarding Schroder and his involvement with his coaches or teammates. It’s clear Schroder must be a valued reserve player because to my knowledge no NBA team has indicated they didn’t want him to be part of their team. I guess it might be a good idea for Schroder to keep a ‘go-bag’ so he can leave at a moments notice.

They created confusion

They had the same name, John Williams, they were never teammates but their NBA careers did overlap one another. To offer additional confusion one played his basketball at Louisiana State University and the other played at Tulane University also in the state. Nicknames help separate which one you might be discussing. One was given the nickname ‘Hot Plate,’ this was done due to his eating habits. He was 6-foot 8 and 235 pounds when drafted by the Washington Bullets (Wizards). 

He’d ballooned to 260 pounds by the time of the NBA draft in 1986 and the team placed him on a restrictive diet. Despite the weight issue ‘Hot Plate’ was a skillful passer, he was 5.1 assists for his NBA career. ‘Hot Rod’ Williams received his nickname because as a baby he made engine-like sounds when he scooted backwards across the floor. There was a physical difference over the other Willliams, Hot Rod stood 6-foot 11 and 245 pounds, drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers he culminated his 13 year NBA career at the end of the 1999 while a member of the Dallas Mavericks.

An appraisal

The final score read Mizzou 84 Mississippi State 79, I should be pleased but I’m not. Mizzou is now one game above .500 (5-4) and this becomes win number 15. It is likely Mizzou will have another 20-win season which should ensure contentment on my part…not so. Perhaps my anticipation for the 2025-26 was sat too high, it’s been my belief middle of the road in the SEC no longer is satisfactory. Dennis Gates is now in his 4th year, an NCAA invite has occurred in two of those years. There is an outside chance another invite will occur, if not the NCAA surely the NIT or some other post season tournament will see Mizzou in action.

While Gates may not admit it, I believe that players coming through the transfer portal have generally been disappointing and haven't performed to expectations. There is no requirement on my part to name them, those in Mizzou Nation are familiar with them. As a fan observing the games, it seems to me that Mizzou’s offense and defense lack clear planning at time. My main concerns include average to poor free-throw shooting, below-average three-point shooting, and most importantly, rebounding. Even though Mizzou has one of its tallest teams, they've often matched or been outrebounded by their opponents. On Sunday, I explained why I’m anxious about the future, but I remain hopeful that this top recruiting class will help change the trajectory of Mizzou basketball moving forward.

A true change…maybe

I cannot provide the date, on more than one occasion this was written or something quite similar. “Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg will not wow you with his scoring, he will do all those things to aid the development of his team.” That was then, this is now and I have no explanation except this. Flagg’s been on a scoring binge, although it’s not led to victory its proven to me (and others) his game is only requirement is to grow his effort defensively. The team has quite an injury list, missing in action for the Mavs are Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, PJ Washington and Brandon Williams. One possible factor contributing to the recent increase in scoring may be an unexpected development in Flagg's game.

Over the past five games, Flagg has recorded point totals of 18, 21, 16, 49, and 34. In these appearances, his lowest shooting percentage was 35%—occurring during the 16-point performance against the Lakers. For the remaining games, his minimum shooting percentage was 44%, and he exceeded 50% in the others. In summary, it is evident that Flagg has demonstrated a level of scoring proficiency that was not initially anticipated by me. The Mavs remain in a building mode, there is a question regarding Anthony Davis returning. He will probably be traded at some point so with Irving on the downhill side of his career could it occur? Will Flagg become the leader of these new Mavs? That question cannot be answered this season and it might not come about until some point in the future but it will occur.

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Newcomers

The June NBA draft is about 6 months away, there are a number of factors that could change draft positioning. I am attempting to provide  my own “scouting report” for you, and as usual most of the high profile  prospective draft types are freshman. We do a quick check on the Top 10 prospects I intend to discuss. Cameron Boozer is profiled first, Duke basketball is a school everyone either hates or loves. Based on that fact alone there are plenty of Duke games on television and numerous opportunities to see him in action. The 6-foot 9 Boozer should be chosen somewhere in the Top 10 however there are others.

Darryn Peterson at Kansas has been in and out of the lineup, when he plays he looks NBA ready, my concern is his health…in and out of the lineup a number of times so far this season. Caleb Wilson at North Carolina also appears ready for the next level, in addition he is quite a leaper. One of the most intriguing prospects to me is AJ Dybansta BYU freshman, the only ‘hole’ in his game is his average free throw shooting. We must also see Kingston Flemings Houston point guard and Mikel Brown at Louisville. Keep in mind there are only 6 players mentioned in this brief account, it’s written in early February. By the time the draft occurs several players could possibly move into the Top 10…keep that in mind.

Looking ahead 

The SEC race is yet to be completed, we are a distance from the NCAA championship in April. Despite those two facts I’m looking toward 2026-27 for Mizzou basketball. Incoming in the fall will be the school’s highest rated prospects ever. The names have been profiled earlier but a repeat is performed here. There is Jason Crowe Jr (6-foot 3) combo guard, check any prospect site and you will see him listed at or near the top for the Class of 2026 guards and is a 5-star prospect. A similar statement could be made regarding 6-foot 9 forward Toni Bryant, he is also rated 5-star and is one of the best forwards in the class.

Forward (6-foot 6) Aiden Chronister is not ranked as highly as the two previously mentioned, Chronister is listed as a 4-star prospect. Mizzou has been without a 5- star prospect since 2017 when Michael Porter Jr. arrived on campus. No 5-star prospect in several years and then two in a single class. As was once stated “I don’t wish to place the cart in front of the horse.” In other words don’t become too excited until they are in action. No matter how highly rated a prospect there is a Grand Canyon jump between competitive high school competition and that which exists at the Division I level. As you can see these three prospects plus returning roster members should make for a competitive Mizzou team in 2025-26 and provide a foundation for the future. Just so you are clear on this it’s not Mizzou Nation alone, ESPN rates this crop of pending freshman number one in the nation. Rivals and 247Sports list this class as 3 and 6.

The best worst seat in the house

I’m sure there is quite a bit of debate on what might be considered the best seat in the house at a basketball game, in this instance we are not discussing any of the thousands of high school gyms in the nation or anything close to it. The conversation centers on NBA and college arenas, my intent is to inform you the reader which are the worst seats. I’ve had an opportunity twice to view games from a suite or sky box, my opinion…the food was tremendous. The view of the game was terrible, I felt as if I was “5 miles away from the action,” I said to myself never again (unless I’m the owner of the suite). This is only the beginning there is more…continue to read.

Contrast with this experience, once a friend acquired seats two rows behind the television broadcast crew….I thought to myself “this is great.” The only problem it wasn’t so great, standing up was a different matter. Sitting down I couldn’t see portions of the court on either end. I suppose Spike Lee and others sitting on the front row have an unobstructed view of the game which I didn’t. There is also the end zone experience to detail for you, this might sound quite strange but I could see player movement on the opposing end better than play right in front of me. I’m going to close this out with the “nosebleed” seats, those are the ones you are seated so high in the arena an oxygen mask is required. Okay, now that I’ve detailed for you the worst, how about the best? IMO, the best seat in the house is one in the middle portion of the building halfway toward the top.  

How to build an NBA winner

I am not attempting to play GM of some NBA team, the purpose is a discussion how some franchises attain success becoming winners and some rising to the championship level. NBA teams over time have used a variety of methods to build their brand effectively. The first area to look at is the annual NBA draft held in June. There are prospects whose value is unrealized, i.e. “We think they will be good but we don’t know yet.” My quick response to that would be Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, scouting reports were outstanding for the Thunder point guard. When he was drafted would anyone have projected him as a league MVP…I doubt it. Several teams have utilized the draft to build the team, examples at present would be the Spurs, Thunder and Pistons. When you check the rosters of those teams and others you will see a number of talented young players.

The few grizzly veterans on these teams play infrequently as reserves or spot starters. In all three instances these teams were cellar dwellers or close to that level but have managed to rise in the ranks by drafting talent who benefited the team. All 30 teams participate in the annual draft however others build through free agency and trades. The predominant team in my view would be my Los Angeles Lakers. Over the decades they have managed to add talent which has improved the Lakers and in some instances help them win championships. Who are the athletes they acquired in trade or signed as free agents? You are familiar with the names beginning with Wilt Chamberlain, he would lead to Kareem Abdul Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal along with Kobe Bryant. A present day example would be the signing of LeBron James in free agency. In conclusion there is no magic formula for producing winning basketball play, of course a further key is an effective coach/general manager being in place.

A fans perspectives

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It was a Magic Time

Earvin "Magic" Johnson introduced a level of skill at the point guard position previously unseen in the NBA. Prior to his arrival with the Lakers in the 1979–80 season, point guards were primarily responsible for distributing the basketball; however, Johnson brought remarkable creativity and elegance to the role. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches and weighing 215 pounds, he possessed the physical attributes typically associated with forwards. His exceptional passing ability often surprised his teammates, who had to remain attentive to avoid missing his swift deliveries. For further illustration, refer to the accompanying YouTube video, which demonstrates Johnson’s unique talent and confirms that no Lakers players were injured during these plays.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnISYh_eXs0

Things have changed

Last season, Duke fans and the nation saw Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg wearing the same jersey. This time around, the former teammates faced off for the first time as NBA rivals—Knueppel with the Hornets and Flagg with the Mavericks. The matchup was intense, culminating in a narrow 123–121 victory for the Hornets, while both players put up stellar numbers. Knueppel racked up 34 points on 62.5% shooting, including hitting two-thirds of his shots from three-point range, along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists for the Hornets. Flagg, leading all scorers despite the loss, dropped 49 points on 69% shooting and connected on 60% of his threes.

Flagg also managed to grab 10 rebounds and dish out 3 assists in the game. He kept fouls to just two but turned the ball over at a critical moment, giving Knueppel the chance to steal it. Trying to recover, Flagg committed a shooting foul, sending Knueppel—who boasts an 80% free-throw average—to the line, where he made both attempts. The Mavericks called a timeout, hoping for a last shot, but Flagg couldn't convert, clinching the Hornets' win. You might believe this was ho-hum game after all both teams have losing records, for me it becomes far different. It provides evidence for all to see outstanding players continuing to join the association. The 49 point total scored by Flagg in the loss is the most by a teenager in the history of the NBA, that is quite an extraordinary accomplishment.

The return of Manu Ginobili

No, the Spurs Hall of Fame guard has not come out of retirement, he’s 48-years old now. As for the headline some might have forgotten Ginobili began his NBA career as the Spurs Sixth Man, his play aided the Spurs in winning four NBA championships in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. What I’ve always found amusing Ginobili is generally credited with bringing the Euro Step to the NBA, interesting in that he’s actually from the South America nation of Argentina. Ginobili played for several teams in Europe prior to beginning his NBA career with the Spurs.

As mentioned he’s in the Hall of Fame despite being the 57th pick in the second round of the 1999 NBA draft, he almost missed being drafted. That was then, let’s fast forward to the present. Keldon Johnson is a name familiar to most NBA players but not most NBA fans. Johnson’s career has begun to blossom as the first reserve off the Spurs bench, he was the 29th pick in the first round of the 2019 draft after playing his college basketball at Kentucky. Unlike Ginobili the journey of Johnson began slightly different, Johnson was a starter and then moved to the bench last season. Some might consider that a demotion however that is not the case. What is a major standout his shooting from the three line, he is a sizzling .352. Johnson has been one of the sparks and a key of this revitalized Spurs team.

Meanwhile….  

Commissioner Adam Silver indicates the NBA will increase its number of teams one day, at the current pace there are snails moving speedier than serious talk of NBA expansion. Some of the conversation has been placing an additional team in Canada and one in Mexico. One is likely to occur the other has a major obstacle preventing expansion, its altitude. That is the issue surrounding an expansion team in Mexico City, all the boxes are checked in a positive manner except the cities altitude. Take for example Denver, the home of the Nuggets, the city is 5,280 feet that’s why its nicknamed “The Mile High City.” Contrast that with Mexico City and its 7,349 foot altitude which makes it the city with the highest elevation in North America. Before you begin checking Mexico City is not the highest however it is the largest populated city with such an elevated height. Will that be the issue that ultimately dashes the hope of Mexico City for an NBA team? I don’t know if that will be a factor however its certainly possible.

The NCAA Men’s Championship Tournament is a basketball event held in football stadiums. The reasoning is easy to understand, far more people can be seated in a stadium over at best a 25,000 seat basketball arena. Based on this fact the location for the next 5 championship tournaments is presented for you. In April 2026 it’s Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis which holds 67,000 for the NFL Colts but up to 70,000 for basketball and concerts. The following year 2027 Ford Field in Detroit, occupancy is 65,000 but 70,000 for basketball. In 2028 its Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, 65,000 for football but it also has the magic number of 70,000 for basketball. 2029 its back to Lucas Oil Stadium again and 2030 the site is AT&T Stadium Arlington. AT&T’s capacity for football is 80,000 if we remember back to the 2010 NBA All Star Game. There were 108,713 fans in attendance that evening for the NBA All Star Game. 2031 the site selected is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta which can seat 71,000 for football. If I were to take a wild guess it probably would be 80,000 for basketball, so there you have it…basketball played in stadiums built exclusively for football.