A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The sun no longer shines

Tragedy has struck in Los Angeles, the sun no longer shines and you remember this, “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.” The latter portion was the line uttered by Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) in the 1984 movie classic Ghostbusters. Of course the disaster is not quite on that scale, however, the fact Jonathan Kuminga is signing with the Wolves after appearing to want the Lakers is a bit disappointing. I’m not going to deal with the money only the fact it’s a two year signing versus three the Lakers offered. For me attempting to sign Kuminga was different in a manner of speaking, I claim no scouting expertise but confusion reigned supreme for me.

With limited opportunities to see Kuminga in action is he really that good? Beginning in late October all will soon have an answer including me. If this appears to be negative commentary that is not the case, I remain unsure about his potential. Now that the issue has been resolved what do the Lakers do going forward? Rui Hachimura has moved to the Intuit Dome, apparently the Lakers believe he didn’t fully address the needs they required. The power forward position is wide open now, possibly too late to seek help on the open market. The Lakers currently have 5 candidates who play the position, the most athletic of the group is second year man Adou Thiero and Arthur Kaluma off his Summer League play. There is definitely a “Help Wanted” sign placed at the position and we shall see what occurs once the season begins.  

What’s a mid-major

Many in the media continue to apply the term “major” vs “mid-major” in college basketball discussions, I’ve long believed it’s not factual. If for example your favorite team plays in the Big 10, SEC, Big 12 or ACC the media considers them a major team. On the other hand if you attend Akron (Mid-America) or Hawaii (Mountain West) your school is considered a mid-major. Last season Michigan (major) won the NCAA men’s championship, 2024 and 2023 witnessed UConn winning it all. I’m unsure where UConn fits in this conversation having won two NCAA championships in a row and three overall. 2016 and 2018 Villanova coached by Jay Wright won, is Villanova considered a major or mid-major?

You’ve heard the old adage, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and that is the case here. I didn’t bother checking the opposition however I am willing to bet large sums of money these so-called mid-majors beat teams considered majors. I have long had issues with the practice by some using mid versus mid-major. I could concede one particular conference could be stronger than another but not always the teams. If we care to we could travel further back in time, it was December 23, 1982, it was a championship for the winner. Chaminade competed at the NAIA level when they upset the University of Virginia in the Maui Invitational Tournament that year. The basketball is rolled onto the court in the 6,000 seat mid-major arena and the 22,000 Dean Dome in the same manner.

The NBA on television

I cannot speak for the world, the NBA is available on television however I’m unsure how its delivered. Here in the U.S. it’s a different story, this was covered to a degree prior to the start of the season. Talking to some friends regarding the NBA their chief complaint was the television package. This past season with a new family of channels in place the NBA was on a number of outlets. ABC/ESPN continued however TNT was no longer a partner replaced by NBC along with Peacock and Prime. The argument I heard from my friends, “The NBA makes you pay to see games.” The statement is only partially correct, the NBA available on broadcast television ventured into cable in the early days.

USA Network, WGN (Bulls), TBS and later TNT, a cable package was required for the networks listed previously. A check of the other professional sports (excepting MSL and NHL) are as follows. The NFL is broadcast on over the air networks CBS, NBC and ABC. Football is available on the NFL Network, ESPN and now Prime broadcast Thursday Night Football and Peacock. As for baseball, there is the MLB Network, ESPN, Local free baseball however some baseball teams have exclusive packages (Royals baseball network as an example). If I were in charge every sport would be broadcast free but that’s no longer the manner of operation in today’s world. I’m unsure who led the way to the “new broadcast standard” however the NBA has either led or followed the leader.

Could they follow suit

On Wednesday, August 26 the NFL announced the annual Pro Bowl would no longer be played. I certainly claim no expertise here but it’s my understanding an increasing number of NFL players declined to play in the game. A local radio host indicated one year a third string quarterback earned an invitation. The NFL further indicated players would be selected all pro they just would not play the game. Will the NBA at some point follow the lead of the NFL at some future date perhaps? I don’t have that answer however this acknowledged NBA fan has grown tired of what is exhibited on my television set at All-Star time.

The Saturday afternoon and evening action is far more television ready for me over the game itself. There are a couple of problems I see, one year there was no separation. We saw eastern all-stars on the same team as western conference all-stars. That’s one issue, the other for me….little if any team defense played by the West or East teams. If this were cancelled I would miss the Slam-Dunk, 3-point shoot out and other Saturday events, the game not so much. I’m a party of one, perhaps you remained glued into the NBA All-Star game no matter the format. A co-worker claimed the NBA All-Star game remains a money maker so that certainly is key to it being continued.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Mistake

I read a story on a social media site so I decided to explore the 2017 NBA draft. Lonzo Ball’s NBA career is likely over but this is not the question I’m posing, with the 2nd pick the Lakers chose Ball but could they have selected someone else? I know this is revisionist history on my part but bear with me. I’ve mentioned the Ball pick, right behind him at 3 the Celtics chose Jayson Tatum (NBA Champion). Between the Tatum pick a number of players were selected who in my view had average to subpar careers. At 13 we saw the Jazz select Donovan Mitchell (NBA All-Star), the following pick was Bam Adebayo who’s been invaluable to the Heat.

March 10, 2026, Adebayo scored 83 points for the Heat in a game against the Wizards. Last season Adebayo supplanted Kobe Bryant with the second highest single game scoring accomplishment. With the 23rd pick by the Raptors they chose OG Anunoby, on December 30, 2023, the Raptors traded Anunoby to the Knicks. If we fast forward to the 2026 NBA Championship the Knicks don’t win without the invaluable contributions of Anunoby scoring and defense. There are some who contend the Finals MVP could have been Anunoby and practically no one would disagree. Some of you reading this might assert I’m being unfair to Ball, they claim his play at UCLA was the basis for him being made the 2nd pick. Injury aside I believe the Lakers could have gone a different route in the 2017 NBA draft, think about it.

They have vast resources

I’m unsure about you so I will only speak for me. I’ve grown tired of billionaire NBA owners in some instances holding a city and fans hostage. This especially is true when I come across a list of NBA billionaire owners and this was only the top 10. At the top is Steve Ballmer Clippers owner and at number 10 is Tony Ressler. There is no reason to feel sorry for Ressler, the guy is worth huge sums of money and that’s where the issue for me begins. I am relaying information as I believe it exists, research additionally if you have questions. The first location for us to check is San Antonio and their rush to the top.

The Spurs with the Wemby factor at work are wanting to build a new arena. I discovered Michael Dell owner of Dell Computers and a bunch of other stuff is a minority stock holder in the Spurs. San Antonio’s mayor asked the question, “Why can’t Mr. Dell provide additional funds for the arena project from the Spurs side?” Recently I brought to your attention the dilemma in Portland, new Blazers owner Tom Dundon is pressuring the City of Portland for repair costs to the Moda Center. There certainly is additional detail to both stories but I hope you understand where I’m headed, billionaire owners want taxpayers to underwrite construction or repair costs to arenas for teams they own exclusively. Maybe I have this entire thing wrong, I certainly believe there is another side, please help me understand.

Houston, we've had a problem here

The headline is actually the correct quote from astronaut Jim Lovell in the Apollo 13 lunar mission. The 1995 movie provided us a misquote but that’s not the problem---we do have a problem and it’s reference is college basketball not lunar missions. We have been slowly drifting toward anarchy for a number of years regarding the collegiate game. The latest revelation was the legal judgement that allowed a small number of athletes an additional year of eligibility.

In addition we’ve witnessed two collegiate athletes who played professional basketball be placed on college basketball rosters for a time with one even suiting up and playing in a game. We then have the NIL issue and the question becomes who owes what? Darryn Peterson now in the NBA had an unspectacular season at Kansas despite being the potential number one NBA draft pick pre-season. We know now despite what occurred at Kansas Peterson was made the number two pick in the 2026 NBA draft. What’s the problem you ask, I’ve read and heard a number of complaints about the amount of NIL money Peterson received. Several in Jayhawk Nation pointed out “We didn’t receive the return expected. The transfer portal is also an issue for some, they say, “There’s no loyalty anymore!” That might be true, allow me to cite an example, Dusty May won a national championship then recruited kids for the Michigan program.

As soon as the Dallas Mavs approached him and provided a $$$ number he could agree to he’s history and I could ask the question what about the athletes May recruited? The NCAA appears to be unable to provide any leadership on a number of these issue due to their hands being dirty over aspects that forced several of these issues to the forefront. If this appears to be a doom and gloom report that is not what its intended to be, my desire was to point out quite a few issues concerning the college game which are a troubling to me.

What you are about to read

I offer you no proof whatsoever, these are a collection of my thoughts regarding the Clippers, and the Steve Ballmer-Kawhi Leonard farce. As reported earlier the NBA announced they were unable to uncover conclusive evidence there were improprieties between the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard the defunct company Aspirations. There would be no punishment for the Clippers and the Kawhi trade to the Raptors can be completed, what if there is more? Steve Ballmer is the richest owner in the NBA and sometimes an effort to win can be overwhelming especially to the Ballmer’s of the world.

If Ballmer had been found guilty short of forcing him to sell the team he would have been suspended. Suspension and a monetary fine would be in my opinion an embarrassment for the NBA, this would certainly be news the league wouldn’t desire. Kawhi Leonard when healthy continues to be one of the best players in the NBA, Kawhi Leonard suspended provides no eyes on the Raptors or the NBA. With both parties found not guilty the NBA can continue operating unabated. A cloud of suspension will hang over the Clippers and to a degree Kawhi Leonard, soon it will be seen in everyone’s rear view mirror as other NBA news becomes more viable.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Research is vital

I have always strived to ensure information contained in Off the Dribble is accurate as possible. This account you are reading is 100% accurate and correct. That is the title of the account, research is vital before providing information. I am laying the groundwork for a social network feed I came across. The host tested his partner in naming “The original 8 teams of the NBA.” Well fans there are several issues picky me found in watching the video which I am about to correct. In 1946 technically speaking there was no NBA as he stated, he was actually referring to the Basketball Association of America and even with that his video was incorrect.

The BAA began play with 11 teams, not 8 as this host indicated to the viewers. In addition, the host identified the Minneapolis Lakers as one of the “original 8,” which was another mistake, and then placed the team in Minnesota. In 1946, the Detroit Gems began play in the National Basketball League. The following year, the franchise moved to Minneapolis and became the Lakers. On August 3, 1949, the National Basketball League merged with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association we recognize today. The social network site may reach more readers than Off the Dribble, but those who read this blog will at least come away with the correct history. If you read a story and it appears questionable research it, doesn’t matter who wrote it….even me!

The Dampier’s

If you are a certain age you might remember the name Erick Dampier. He was drafted by the Pacers in the first round in 1996, over his 16-year career in addition to time with the Pacers he played for four other teams. The 6-foot 11 Dampier has two sons who took up the sport of their NBA father. The eldest son Erick Dampier Jr. enters his junior year this month at Madison-Ridgeland Academy located in Madison Mississippi. Junior is a 6-foot 10 230 pound center, most scouting sites rate Jr. a 5-star prospect.

Although he is entering his junior year of high school as this is written there are 5 schools with offers, Mississippi State (his father’s alma mater), Purdue, Kentucky, Florida State and Alabama. But wait there is more to the story of the Dampier family. Our focus is 10-year old Derrick Dampier, he’s also taken up the sport of his father and older sibling. Derrick has quite a bit of growth both with his game and his body, although still very young he stands nearly 6-feet in height. We’ll track the basketball progress of both Dampier brothers over the next several years.

The End

I borrowed the title from a 1967 classic by The Doors, a rock band of the era. It was written as a breakup tune by lead singer Jim Morrison about his girlfriend. We are at the point of another breakup or The End, this time it involves basketball. This upcoming basketball season will see the final edition of the Kansas-Missouri Border War (we don’t like to use war to describe it). I’ve written of the history on several occasions but a brief return, the two schools have played over 100 years of basketball. All that changed once Mizzou moved to the SEC while Kansas remained in the Big 12.

I’m not going to point fingers however after years of non-play between the two schools a 6-year contract was signed. The two schools would play one another during the non-con portion of their schedule alternating home courts. It will be T-Mobile in Kansas City and we are almost there. Sunday December 6, 2027, the schools will face each other for the last time, the series will have ended and there is no indication it will be renewed. It’s being reported Mizzou’s Dennis Gates want’s the series to continue however Bill Self Kansas head man appears less enthusiastic about extending the series. Gates has limited ability to continue on the other hand the same cannot be said for Self. As for my view I am really neutral, if the series is renewed I’m okay, if not I remain okay.

Meanwhile….

I must applaud former NBA player Patrick Beverly, he went undrafted yet managed to parlay his limited skill into a 12-year NBA career with several teams. The other portion of him I must just shake my head, it would appear Beverly has commentary on practically anything and everything related to the NBA. I’m unsure how it occurs, it seems either members of the media are seeking him out or vice-versa. On the surface one could state he’s voicing his opinion on a particular matter, that’s okay in a sense. Four days a week you read this blog where I’m offering you my view of a subject, 99% of the time I have no first-hand knowledge either. The difference of course he’s got “street cred” because he played, I didn’t.

The court ruled in favor of former Mizzou Tiger Mark Mitchell, this is the conundrum that’s become of college basketball today. Originally Mitchell and others were reported to have secured a 5th year of eligibility which is where the issue first cropped up. Mizzou had no room on its roster, with high school and transfer members plus returners no room on the roster existed without movement. One present member must be redshirted, which is certainly unfair to someone assuming they would receive a degree of play. Mitchell moved on to Kentucky although with the ruling he will be a Kentucky Wildcat this fall and winter. I hope you understand this rant is not aimed at Mitchell, the problem is much larger than him and others. Someone smarter than me can lead college basketball out of this malaise it’s become in recent years.  

Based mostly on an NBA championship (2025) and other factors OKC moved quickly to replace Paycom Center with the yet to be constructed Continental Coliseum. The project is moving along without any impediments or turmoil, as for other portions of the nation that sentiment is not the same. In San Antonio, the Spurs improved play also witnessed a desire for a Frost Bank Center replacement along with additional urban development. This project has not moved as swiftly as that of OKC due to some pushback. This past Monday the city council voted to reject a proposal for a public vote on city funds to subsidize the arena, stay tuned for additional developments on this story.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

New team with an old name

The Monarchs name has deep roots in Kansas City. The original team was a charter member of the Negro Leagues, beginning play in 1920 and lasting until 1948. Jackie Robinson briefly played for the Monarchs before breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier. His arrival helped open MLB rosters to Black players, which also contributed to the decline of the original Monarchs. In 2021, the minor league Kansas City T-Bones team adopted the famous Monarchs name.

You might be wondering what two baseball teams have to do with basketball, glad you asked. The newest Kansas City Monarchs is a basketball prep school focused on developing elite talent. According to its website, “Monarch Academy partners with TPH Academy to deliver a blended academic program designed around the student-athlete schedule. Monarch Academy will compete in the Nike EYBL Scholastic League.” Because the team will play a national schedule, there is a good chance they will appear somewhere near you in 2026-27.

It’s Blue

If you say Kentucky generally two thoughts come to mind for most, the annual Kentucky Derby horse race and Kentucky’s  love affair with basketball. Basketball is as Blue in Kentucky as it is in the nickname, The Blue Grass State. How did it all begin, can you say James A. Naismith, no the inventor of the game did not coach at the university however there is this connection. Adolph Rupp was head coach 41 seasons 1930 to 1972, his Wildcats won nearly 900 games and 4 NCAA Championships the last in 1958. Rupp was a student of Naismith at Kansas although reports indicate he was a reserve player. Rupp would not be the only player of marginal success as an athlete shine brightly in the role of head coach. The basketball landscape began changing in the 1950s and 1960s as more institutions began recruiting black players.

March 19, 1966, historical change would occur, Texas Western now the University of Texas-El Paso with 5 black starters played Kentucky with their all-white team. It should be of note Don Haskins Texas Western team was comprised of white players however his starting lineup was all black players. The undefeated Kentucky Wildcats finished the season with a 27-1 record, the one loss---Texas Western 72-65 in the championship game. Rupp was a product of the times, teams in the south simply didn’t recruit black players. That would change in 1969 as Kentucky added its first black player to its roster. This brief history of Kentucky basketball concludes here but there is certainly much more to this rich basketball program at the school. Just a thought, we refer to outstanding basketball institutions as Blue Blood, I wonder if it has anything to do with Kentucky basketball and its dominance at a point in the games history.

No power game

We discover for the second consecutive summer Victor Wembanyama is training with former Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his footwork. Working out and dedication to the craft is required to become a better performer no matter the occupation. I believe those are two key elements that comprise a major portion of Wemby’s continuing developing game. Until I am proven wrong expect to see an improved version over the play we saw of Wemby last season. Before I go any further allow me to lay this out before you, there will be no Kareem/Shaq version of Wemby. Some elements of Wemby’s game exceeds both of these hall of fame performers in my view.

As for the other stuff former NBA player Chris Bosh issued a warning, Wemby should remain on his medication. Some might remember blood clots caused Bosh to retire earlier than plan. As for Wemby you might remember a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder in February 2025 caused him to miss the balance of that season. No such issues were detected this past season, we don’t know for sure but tend to believe he is adhering to the medical advice he was given. With the budding potential of talent plus other Spurs it’s easy to understand why the Spurs have developed plans for a new arena to display Wemby and the team’s talent.

From the land down under

Jongkuch Mach is 18 years old and believe it or not Wemby would be forced to look up at him, he stands 7-foot-6. Born and raised in Perth, Australia, he is the son of parents who emigrated from South Sudan. Mach currently plays for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East, Australia’s second-tier senior league. My best guess it could be compared to high school level competition in the United States. Reports indicate Mach has received offers from LSU, Colorado and Santa Clara.

Video of Mach in action details clearly there are areas requiring improvement even to play at the collegiate level. One of these can be fix easily his thin frame, nutritionist can bulk him up with high carb meals. The other area he appears extremely raw, dedicated training and coaching can address that issue. AI reports list him at 197 pounds, so he has quite a bit of work ahead for him in both skill development and adding weight to his boney frame. And to think all this time you thought Victor Wembanyama was the skinniest basketball player you’d ever seen.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Hollywood drama

The City of Los Angeles contains the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood. Over several generations numerous movie and entertainment productions have come to fruition. The current action is drama however its unaccustomed to what occurs normally. The two NBA teams in the city, the Lakers and Clippers are in the middle of controversial drama. Each is going to be dealt with on a separate basis, first Steve Ballmer’s Clippers. There’s been no official word from the NBA however it appears the Kawhi Leonard investigation has concluded. Unofficially its being reported the league could find no evidence the Clippers circumvented the salary cap in order to provide additional funding for Leonard.

Before I begin allow me to state I offer you 0 proof only my belief. You might remember the beginning, media guy Pablo Torres is given credit for bringing this issue to light. Torres claimed a defunct company paid Leonard under a “no-work contract.” Let’s play worst case advocate, suppose parties had been found guilty….this would have been extremely embarrassing for the NBA. It could see Ballmer possibly suspended and fined, the Leonard trade to Toronto would be voided. I continue to claim to be no conspiracy theorist and I maintain that posture. I have a difficult time accepting this verdict, what about you? This entire story might have concluded but not for me, I will question the circumstances why Leonard signed with the Clippers rather than the Lakers.

Two stories become one

Laker Nation and the NBA world was shocked a little over a year ago. The Buss family owned Lakers were sold to Mark Walter billionaire guy who also owns the baseball Dodgers. Jeanie Buss would continue in her role as NBA Governor for the team. Fast forward to the present, a magnitude earthquake 6 to 7 on the Richter scale occurred. The Lakers would be sold to a partnership of Kushner and Iger, that was just the tip of the iceberg. The Buss family decided to sell their 17.8% share of the Lakers, the problem….apparently no one bothered to inform Jeanie Buss of their intention to sell. In any event this caused a further rift in the family, we had Jeanie Buss on one side opposing her three brothers and one sister.

How does this conundrum eventually play out, no one knows for sure however there is background to consider. In 2017 Jeanie had “fired” Jim Buss and later Joey and Jesse in 2025. This from AI on the judicial ruling; “The legal ruling mandated that the co-trustees (Buss family) vote annually to keep Jeanie Buss as the franchise’s controlling owner for her lifetime, absent any legal motivation.” It would be apparent Jeanie Buss will utilize this ruling to prevent her brothers and sister from selling the remainder of the team. There is no method to determine how this family feud will eventually turn out, they could appeal the 2017 ruling. I mentioned in the earlier account regarding the Clippers this was Hollywood, it certainly is----it’s got soap opera written all over it. This is only the beginning of the story stay connected for further developments.

I will have forgotten

By the time the NBA season begins in October I will have forgotten the schedule. Because the NBA presented it to us I’m going to provide it for you:

Sunday: ABC, NBC/Peacock

Monday: Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday: NBC/Peacock

Wednesday: ESPN

Thursday: Prime

Friday: Prime/ESPN

Saturday: Prime/ABC 

The Knicks, Spurs, Sixers and Lakers will be in action 34 times, the Thunder for 30. To check a few other teams the Celtics will make 27 appearances while the playoff Pistons and Cavs only appear 19 and 17 times, respectively. At this point apparently the Clippers are no longer the draw they were with no Kawhi Leonard on the roster, they will play 8 times. The Bucks minus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Grizzlies with no Jae Morant will only appear twice the same as the Pelicans and Kings.

Jeopardy

The headline above references the long-running television quiz show Jeopardy!, where contestants must respond in the form of a question. With that in mind, I’ll say, “I’ll take things you have no control over for $400.” Since the Lakers were sold again less than a year after the previous purchase, several podcasters and media members have questioned it. The news surprised me too, and I said as much, but I’ve moved on.

Unless someone was prepared to offer Mark Walter a larger purchase price—just kidding, folks—there is little reason to keep questioning the sale. There are plenty of issues, some daily, that we cannot control. We discuss them, then move on, and that applies here. The sale is still too recent to know what will happen under the Kushner/Iger ownership group. This is only my speculation, but I don’t believe they bought the Lakers to move the team to Las Vegas. Like the Celtics or Knicks, the Lakers occupy a place in the NBA that makes relocation almost unthinkable. Future updates will be provided as notable developments occur.

 

MA fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Who Do You Trust  

During the golden age of television a quiz show with the above title was aired from 1956-1963. “Married couples would compete to answer questions; the husband decides whether he or his wife will answer.” That sentence from Wikipedia provides you an idea how 1950s the program was, the husband had to decide etc., etc. One of the hosts was Johnny Carson who would later make his mark as the host of NBCs long running Tonight Show. This account is not about television programs however it could be a quiz, who do you trust.

As this is written there’s been no official word from the NBA. Unsure of when the league offices might sign off on the findings I wanted to get in front of the revelation. It’s being reported the NBA has no proof that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap by funneling money through team sponsors in order to pay Kawhi Leonard. That leaves one question: who should we believe—the NBA, or media member Pablo Torres, who uncovered the payment story? I would never label myself a conspiracy theorist but if the early report is correct someone managed to avoid a major fine. If early reports are true does Torres lose a degree of credibility?

I ain’t no hater

David Suggs of The Sporting News wrote an article which I’d like to discuss with you. Suggs put together his list of Top 10 Sixers over time. Number 10 for Suggs was Maurice Cheeks (1978-1993), he placed Hal Greer (1958-1973) at 9, number 8 he listed Dolph Schayes (1949-1964). It should be pointed out Schayes began his career at the time the team’s home base was Syracuse (NY), Schayes ended his career shortly after the move to Philadelphia. As for others it was Joel Embiid (2017-present) along with Allen Iverson (1996-2010) Charles Barkley (1984-2000) then Julius Erving (1971-1987), Wilt Chamberlain (1959-1973). Suggs has LeBron James (2003-present) as his number one choice as the best Sixer player ever.  

Before I move to the “meat & potatoes” of his account for an odd reason Suggs failed to list at player at 7.  As for me, Moses Malone (1982-1986 & briefly 1993-1994) should fit somewhere in a Sixer top ten or perhaps Bobby Jones. LeBron James is an NBA all-time great, he’s the all-time scoring leader. Depending on who is in the conversation he is considered the GOAT in some circles. Despite the accolades of this generational player I have a tough time listing James as an all-time great Sixer. As this is written he’s yet to play a single game in a Sixer jersey, he’s not scored one point in practice or under game conditions. Will this change once he begins scoring and playing for the Sixers, not for me? It will be necessary for him to play 5-6 seasons to be included in my list of all-time greats for this team, I guess that makes me a hater.

Is he under pressure

The jury is still out regarding Darryn Peterson, the former Kansas guard who had a checkered freshman season at Kansas. Peterson arrived in Lawrence Kansas last fall as the top potential draft pick in the majority of NBA mock draft sites. His freshman year was a roller coaster ride, more down than up. From the letters and commentary a large segment of Jayhawk Nation was upset with the on-court production they witnessed. The vast majority of complaints from fans was likely based on NIL money Peterson was paid. As you are aware Peterson left Kansas for the NBA and was made the second pick by the Jazz in the 2026 draft.

For the second year in a row coach Bill Self was able to recruit the top high school player in the nation, his name Tyran Stokes. Stokes is a 6-foot 7 230 pound wing and will be inserted in the starting lineup day one. As I often mention it’s difficult for me to discuss money anytime we are deliberating an athlete’s ability. By all indications Stokes is being paid a larger sum of money over that Peterson received. The comparison between Peterson and Stokes is remarkably similar, both McDonald’s All Americans, both 5-star prospects and there are others. Does the time Peterson spent off the court affect how Jayhawk Nation and many in the media might sense about Stokes? That issue becomes the basis for the headline you read above.

All-Time greats

With 17 NBA championships in the record book the Lakers are second behind the 18 won by the Celtics. In order to win that number of championships requires contributions by outstanding talent. The franchise in the same manner as others have drafted or traded for players who came up short in the talent department. The names associated with those championships reads like a who’s who of NBA greats. Most of them have been enshrined in the Naismith, College or FIBA Halls of Fame. One dot.com site selected 20 names for its list, they are placed in the following order.

Kobe Bryant

Magic Johnson

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Shaquille O’Neal

Jerry West

Wilt Chamberlain

Elgin Baylor

LeBron James

James Worthy

Pau Gasol

I highly object to placing LeBron James above “Big” Game James Worthy and the explanation follows. Worthy helped the cause in winning three championships for the Lakers (1985, 1987, and 1988). In addition he was named Finals MVP in the 1988 win, Worthy was a key contributor to the Showtime Lakers. Several reading this are probably saying out loud I’m discounting the contributions of LeBron James and that is not the case. LeBron was the ring leader in the Lakers winning number 17, for a variety of reasons that was it. The criteria for this was NBA champions which is the formula I utilized. Now someone might argue why Elgin Baylor is ranked so high when he failed to win a single championship, that’s a discussion for another time.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The departure

Our headline this morning has nothing to do with a movie, a musical refrain or anything of that nature. The title simply implies a change for me in writing what you are about to read. Since commencing Off the Dribble I’ve covered controversies involving basketball but generally (not at all times) avoided money and politics. This is going to be political and I hope the last instance, the departure is caused by several issues I’ve seen raised regarding the sale of the Lakers.

This time it’s not the surprise of the sale rather it’s the WHO. It’s been pointed out one of the purchasing partners has the same last name as the president of the United States son-in-law, Jared and Josh Kushner are brothers. I have read stories indicating the president’s hands were involved in the sale or a federal investigation of the prior owner prompted this speedy sale of the team. All sorts of speculation surrounding this move have cropped up, the question might be how this member of Laker Nation sees it. From my perspective not very far, did the president have anything to do with this sale? To those who believe he did please raise your hands high enough in order for us to see them. I am not the least bit concerned about this move UNLESS an impropriety might have occurred. I am not the least bit concerned for the future of the Lakers unless this ownership group should prove to be less than competent.

In closing this is for those who tend to believe “He’s only writing this because of his allegiance to the Lakers!” That’s only partially true, a similar account would be placed in front of you if this occurred for the Wolves, Spurs or Pelicans franchise. If you are one of the many conspiracy theorist around so be it, I’ve always attempted to adopt the state motto “I’m from Missouri, you’ve got to Show Me.” I categorically refuse to indict someone due to their last name

KG

The headline above denotes his nickname, he was also referred to as The Big Ticket. I speak of Kevin Garnett, an NBA champion with the Celtics, he would later play briefly with the Nets. It was with the Wolves he made his name known throughout the NBA world. Another noteworthy point, Garnett was one of 5 high school players drafted into the NBA who would eventually be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. He retired from the game in 2016, several years later (2022) the Celtics retired his jersey number 5.

KG wasn’t issued 21 in Boston, that number belonged to Bill Sharman legendary Celtic guard. As for the Wolves and why KG was traded we don’t know the entire story. A rift developed between KG and former owner Glen Taylor which lasted until Taylor sold the team. KG indicated his issue with his former team would continue until he met with owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. So, the rift that existed has been healed, February 28 KG’s number 21 will be retired and hoisted to the top of the Target Center. KG intends to be a “team ambassador” for the Wolves.

Is this true, well….

I’m debating if I should communicate this story if I do a number of you will refuse to believe it. The basis for your disbelief no film/video or taped radio broadcast exists. Okay, you twisted my arm enough I’ll tell the story. What do you suppose was Wilt Chamberlain’s best game, was it the night he scored 100 points, maybe it was the 55 rebound game of his? It’s my contention those could certainly be considered noteworthy however I think of another game.

Some are aware as for others the NBA didn’t began tracking steals and blocked shots until near the end of Chamberlain’s career. Based on that fact we must take the late Harvey Pollack’s stats as official, he was responsible for Philadelphia record keeping during this period. The date of this significant event occurred March 18, 1968, and it occurred while Chamberlain played for the Sixers. What is evening more interesting this game occurred against my Lakers, in the summer of that year Chamberlain  would later be traded that same year. These are the Chamberlain numbers from that game, he scored 53 points pulled down 32 rebounds had 14 assists, 24 blocked shots and 11 steals. The Sixers won the game 158 to 128.

From the box we gather these figures, the Lakers were led by Mel Counts with 26 points and Archie Clark scoring 25, all five starters for the Lakers scored in double figures. This game was played at Convention Hall in Philadelphia which has been demolished, only 3,491 spectators attended the game however it could hold 9,000 folks. The building was home for the Warriors (1952-1962) and Sixers (1963-1968), opened in 1931, closed in 1996 and was demolished in 2005.

Short timer

His 64th birthday will have occurred prior to Kansas concluding the 2026-2027 college basketball season, of course that would be Bill Self. Depending on your view his age is certainly not an issue, many veteran coaches have continued past that number. There do remain a number of questions, the first of course is the change in college basketball’s landscape. Recently in Off the Dribble you read a story on Dusty May and why he left Michigan for the NBA after winning an NCAA championship. This past season the fortunes of Kansas basketball were greatly affected by NIL regarding the departed Darryn Peterson, the other issue the portal transfer.

Kansas lost two highly touted Big Men to other programs. Once upon a time Self indicated “he’d be retired by the time he reached his 60th birthday or a slightly older number, of course that’s not what occurred. It’s become more difficult for a teaching coach such as Self to remain productive. In addition the transfer portal has left many a coach questioning how to reach today’s youngsters. I’m unsure of the timetable for his retirement however I doubt if he recruits anyone from the Class of 2031. If it appears I am pushing Self out the door that is not the case, my question is simple. What remains for him at this point with the exception of another NCAA championship? He’s already in the Naismith Hall of Fame only the College Basketball Hall awaits him.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Go bag

Your definition might be different from mine, for me a go bag is a suitcase containing items allowing you to travel from home within a short space of time. Does Dennis Schröder have a go bag, we don’t know for sure but that might be a good guess. Schröder is about to join NBA team number 12 as the Cavs have traded him to the Hornets. You might ask now which teams Schröder has played.  After playing in Europe he was drafted by the NBA Hawks in the first round of the 2013 NBA draft, from that point on Schröder moved to a succession of teams. He spent 5 seasons in Atlanta, then two with the Thunder, a single season with the Celtics, he divided the next two seasons between the Rockets and Lakers. 

Schröder's time was divided once again during the next two seasons between the Raptors, Nets and Warriors. Time was split over the next three seasons with the Pistons, Kings, Cavs and when training camp opens in the fall it will be the Hornets. Over his lengthy career I’ve never read or heard any negative reports regarding Schröder’s conduct, it just appeared he would often become part of a trade. By the way Schröder does not hold the NBA record for most teams played, that belongs to Ish Smith with 13 teams. With only one team behind Smith it might be a good idea for Schröder to pack a go bag. Here's the oddity for me, in the summer of 2021 the Lakers offered him a 4-year contract I believe. He turned it down believing he could earn more on the free agent market, it was at that point his NBA journey began.  

It’s for life

Nothing is set in stone however Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. indicates Steph Curry is likely to finish his career with the Warriors. We can associate the names of Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Magic Johnson who spent their careers with the team that drafted them. There are certainly others but without additional those named come to mind which I can provide without the need of research. As for other All Star NBA players their careers have been quite different. There are several so closely associated with one team most fans believe that is the only team the individual was a member. We begin this exercise with the name of Michael Jordan.

MJ is so closely identified with the Bulls its often forgotten he retired then unretired and began play for the Wizards. Patrick Ewing is always associated with the Knicks although late in his career he played for the Sonics, and Magic. The Dream, Hakeem Olajuwon is thought of as a Rocket, he left Houston to play for the Raptors for a season. Some of the all-time greats have traveled extensively playing for a succession of NBA teams. Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James have played for a considerable number of teams and their moves had nothing to do with their on-court talent. The majority of these frequent moves occurred through free-agency rather than trades as it once did.    

Which one earns it

This is not set in stone but check out the story anyway, LeBron is gone but not Bronny. At least that would be the case as this is written August 10, what you are about to read is certainly not official. It does not come from JJ Redick or any member of the Laker coaching staff. Chris Mañon is the competition for Bronny for what might be the final guard position on the roster, you are familiar with Bronny’s bio but not his opposition. Mañon is on a two-way contract with the Lakers, he played at Cornell and Vanderbilt but went undrafted in 2025.

Because I am unfamiliar with Mañon’s play at the collegiate level I have only his time there as judgement. The numbers at both schools would appear average or slightly below that. Last season while playing for the Warriors Summer League team he scored 55 points in a single game. We know the story regarding Bronny and this is what I read a few weeks ago. There are a few in the media who expressed the belief he would have benefited by an additional summer of play. This would prove interesting, if Bronny wins the roster position we’ll know it’s not due to his father who is no longer on the roster. The battle for the final spot in training camp should prove interesting.

Nothing’s getting fixed 

The headline represents the words of former Michigan basketball coach Dusty May, the question, was success at the college level too difficult to maintain? It was his decision but I wondered why May (other than money) would leave a successful Michigan basketball program. This move was made within a short time of his Wolverines winning the 2026 NCAA championship. Of course most reading this are aware the Dallas Mavs decided to change coaches, Jason Kidd was let go and he was replaced by May. The coach indicated he was so excited about attending Big 10 spring meetings. “We’re going to find some solutions.” I go there and I was just like, “Oh my God, nothing’s getting fixed. Ever.”

The issue May referred to was NIL and the transfer portal, both of which now play major roles in college basketball recruiting. As May put it: “Even when you sign prospects, you’re not really signed; to me, that is the biggest issue.” Colleges no longer lose players only to graduation, academic eligibility, or similar circumstances. Today, players can simply walk away from a program because they believe it gives them a better chance to secure their future. I have no problem with athletes trying to look out for themselves, but NIL and the portal appear to have created a problem of enormous proportions. Do I have an answer? Of course not—I’m not that smart. Still, I believe men’s college basketball faces a serious issue in this era unless there are decisions to be made by those in charge.

 

From a fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Boy, that was quick

The news broke quickly while I was preparing this edition of Off the Dribble. My Lakers have been sold again, I’m unsure of the time without checking the date but that’s not critical. Mark Walter who also owns the baseball Dodgers reportedly paid $10 billion to the Buss family to purchase the Lakers a little over a year ago. Walter has now sold his interest in the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a described $12 billion purchase so Walter made a cool $2.5 billion in a short space of time. It’s being reported the partners were focused on an expansion franchise for Las Vegas but made the pivot when the Lakers ownership became available.

Only the seller and buyers are familiar with all the particulars but a closer look might uncover a basis for the sale. Former owner Walter is facing regulatory and federal scrutiny over his business and insurance operations. The Lakers under the Buss family have been among the lengthiest ownership group in the NBA’s history. Now they will have three owners (Buss, Walter & Kushner/Iger) in the last two years, which is quite a departure for this very stable team. As for the new owners if the name Bob Iger sounds familiar it probably should to several reading this. Iger once served as CEO of the Walt Disney company on two occasions.

Meanwhile….

We are not there yet, i.e., NBA training camp. I’m unsure of the number however the Lakers have a new team waiting for fans in Crypto.com this season. Based on that fact along Luka Dončić in an attempt to bond and create harmony this is what he proposes. He’s invited the entire Laker roster including the two-way players to his native Slovenia for a “Meet n Greet.” And guess what, Luka is doing this on his dime, It’s my understanding roster members including two-way players have accepted the invitation. The only no show has an excuse, rookie Cameron Carr will be attending mandatory NBA instruction.

Chaos reigns supreme in college basketball, some are aware of a recent ruling that is difficult to explain in a few sentences. The quick story a judge ruled a handful of college basketball players will be allowed an additional year of play. One of those is Mark Mitchell who played at Mizzou, with this ruling there was talk of him returning for year five but there is a problem. Mizzou’s roster is full, a roster member must be red-shirted to allow Mitchell play. I am always in the athletes corner until a ruling of this type, college sports desperately needs a commissioner stat.

For many readers, this may be an introduction to Wu Jiahao, a Chinese basketball prospect. He might not reach the NBA, but as I wrote recently, China has not produced a successful NBA player since Yao Ming’s breakthrough back in 2002. Some reports suggest the gap is partly tied to training methods in China, and Jiahao could certainly help change that. The 6-foot-9 prospect will head to Spain next year to play in Liga ACB’s U22 league, making him a potential test case for whether Chinese players can develop their games internationally and possibly earn playing time in the NBA.

Sometimes it’s difficult

Are we end the NBA off-season, sometimes it is difficult to believe based on a steady stream of news. On Wednesday mid-day it was announced Russell Westbrook would not play in 2026-27. He is retiring from the NBA after an 18-year career. In 2008 the Seattle Sonics made him the 4th overall pick that year, he never wore a Sonics jersey, the team moved to OKC and were rebranded as the Thunder. It was OKC where he first began his triple-double game despite standing only 6-foot 4. In 2019 Westbrook was traded to the Rockets and from that point on his suitcase was always ready at the door. It was the Rockets then the Wizards and later the Lakers. In succession it became the Clippers, Nuggets and Kings and the Kings would be his last team.   

A basketball fan’s perspective 

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I have a request

If you’ve followed Off the Dribble for any length of time, I hope my love for the game has come through. I began this labor of love in 2011 with the goal of covering as much basketball, at every level, as possible while allowing the blog to grow and evolve. Over the years, there have been many basketball-related stories I couldn’t publish because time and space simply wouldn’t allow it. Still, I’ve tried to provide as much coverage as I can through research and writing. If you enjoy reading Off the Dribble, please share it with family and friends who might have the same affection for basketball. My opinion has never been intended as the final word, and if you disagree with something I’ve written, that’s okay too. To those who have remained faithful through the years, and to brand-new readers as well, thank you.

Nellie

We learned Sunday former NBA player and long-time head coach Don Nelson had passed. Nelson would spend a life-time playing in the NBA for the Celtics and coaching four NBA teams. He was an innovator as an NBA  coach and is given credit for “Nellie Ball,” ball or point-forward. As a player for the Celtics he was a 5 time NBA champion and while conducting research I didn’t realize he briefly played for the Lakers prior to becoming a Boston Celtic.

As for coaching Nelson was named NBA Coach of the Year three times and All-Star coach twice. His name is listed as one of the Top 10 Coaches in the NBA, in 2012 Nelson was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. His coaching and executive career ran from 1976-2010. After All-American honors at the University of Iowa he was drafted by the Chicago Zephyrs (Wizards) in 1962, he would later find his way to the Lakers and then the Celtics where he would become a valued reserve player for them. Below is video of the shot which directly led the Celtics to the 1969 NBA championship win against the Lakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7u2-jOi2-0

Christmas Day games

Once upon a time the December 25th Christmas Day games were the property of the NBA exclusively. The NFL has played games on the date in the past however infrequently. More recently with NFL games butting up against the NBA they have become the viewership leader. That’s really okay with me because I believe true NBA fans will see “their” games and only check a few NFL games. In any event the NBA did its best to place hot ticket games in front of us. We have the defending champion Knicks matched against their Finals opponent the Spurs, but wait there is more. We’ll see LeBron James of the Sixers in action against his former Laker teammates, the balance of the matches will see the Heat at the Celtics, Thunder vs the Wolves and the Nuggets against the Warriors. The family of NBA networks will be primed and ready to entertain.  

The first jump ball 

NBA Europe is scheduled to begin play in October 2027 with 16 teams: 12 of them permanent clubs and four open spots the NBA plans to fill through a promotion system. Qualified Slots: Four spots will be awarded annually based on performance, including finalists from the FIBA Basketball Champions League. This was a  dream of the late David Stern while he served as NBA commissioner, the league would come into fruition but probably not in the manner he might have envisioned.

Stern, while serving as commissioner of the NBA was a proponent of extending NBA basketball play to the European continent. As additional detail is provided I will deliver continued updates until the launch of the league. 55 questions are more cannot be answered until we arrive close to the date however there is a question for me, will NBA Europe embraced the same period of play as NBA USA does, stay tuned for that answer? I mentioned the cities that were bidding for a franchise, in case you missed the earlier story located below are the proposed nations and cities as this is written:

England: London, Manchester

France: Paris, Lyon

Spain: Madrid, Barcelona

Germany: Berlin, Munich

Italy: Milan, Rome

Türkiye: Istanbul

Greece: Athens 

 

A basketball fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Gasoline onto a smoldering fire

I’ve tried to clarify my position regarding income earned by NBA athletes. I have no serious issues with earning as much as possible however there is an unscrupulous manner which there are issues for me. This is an old rumor however it popped up again on one of my social media feeds. In 2019 it was reported Kawhi Leonard wanted to “return home.” The belief at the time his team of choice would be the Lakers rather than the Clippers. Of course we know what eventually occurred but what about the WHY of signing with the other team? We read much later Leonard’s uncle Dennis had made demands the Lakers were not going to agree to. What were the demands you ask, well this came from Jeanie Buss so is it true, it’s not official? Here are the unproven details:

Partial ownership stake in the Lakers

Private jet available at all times

A house

Guaranteed endorsements & sponsorships

From Courtside Buzz: “Buss immediately informed Kawhi’s uncle & agent, Dennis Robertson, that these demands violated the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, & she rejected them.” With all the stories circulating around Kawhi Leonard am I “tossing gasoline onto a smoldering fire?” I truly hope not because there is no proof these demands were made by Leonard’s uncle and agent however they appear highly suspicious if we connect them to the Aspiration investigation. 

This is different

Barclays Center home of the Brooklyn Nets has an interesting history. The building officially opened in September 2012, its located at one of the busiest intersections in the borough of Brooklyn, Atlantic and Flatbush Avenue. The arena is also different from others in the NBA because there is no parking lot for patrons to attend basketball games, concerts and boxing. Arrival for attendees is nearby subway, train or taxi and seating capacity is 17,732 people. The Nets, however, tasted success at the level some expected however they now have a permanent home. Compare this to their founding as an American Basketball team in 1967 as a charter member.

There have been 7 arenas over the teams history they managed to refer to as home. The first arena was Teaneck Armory in Teaneck, NJ, they played but one season 1967-1968. The next move was Long Island Arena (1968-1969) then Nassau Coliseum (1971-1977), Rutgers Center (1977-1981). From 1981 to 2011 home was Meadowlands which had a succession of names, finally the Prudential Center (2010-2012). As you can see there have been a number of moves in the history of the Nets but finally the Barclays move in 2012 has provided the team an unchanging home. There is no disagreement, the Knicks are New York City, the Nets will never supersede that fact even if they should win an NBA championship.

I hate this

Hate is a strong word and one I rarely use but allow this explanation. Capital has been the driving force as to why there are west coast teams now competing in the Eastern Time Zone of the nation. I am now reading that one of the longest rivalries in the nation will not occur this upcoming season. The University of Washington has played Washington State every season since 1917, that’s 109 years. A rivalry existed between the two schools as members of the Pac-12 and what preceded it. In 2024 the University of Washington moved to the Big-10 Conference which is comprised of middle America teams.

Although the rivals have played in different conferences (Pac-12 & Big-10) they managed to schedule one another until this upcoming season. According to reports it was something as simple, “WSU was open to playing UW this season, according to a source, but talks between the sides fell through.” Of course in my “backyard” we have the Kansas-Missouri rivalry which also fell apart based on Missouri moving to the SEC while Kansas remained in the Big-12. These two have come back to play one another in football and basketball but the question----will it last? Keep in mind sports programs must utilize all sorts of revenue streams and perhaps dissolving of conferences is just one example.

yahoo.com sports

He’s the best

We don’t pay a great deal of attention to Lavar Ball, his talk has become like an empty wagon. A great deal of noise but that’s about all, especially his claim. “If a team wants to win they need to have all the brothers on the same team” or something similar. Of course he was referring to son’s Lonzo, Lamelo and LiAngelo Ball but there is an issue with the projection of the father. Lonzo, although clearly demonstrated talent at a point he cannot remain healthy for an extended period. It’s a shame for me to make this statement but his NBA career might be over and he’s only 28-years old. Middle son LiAngelo after several NBA tryouts and time spent in the G-League his phase as a professional basketball player is over. He is now a rapper and signed to Def Jam Recordings.

This leaves “baby brother” LaMelo who is clearly better at the game than his two older brothers. Although he’s been traded to the Wolves this move had nothing to do with his play on the court. He was drafted by the Hornets with the 3rd pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft. To prove everyone wrong Melo would be named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2021. He’s not a shooter but can score the ball, his low number scoring was the 15.7 ppg his rookie year. The next four seasons he never averaged less than 20 points a game but there is more. He also averaged his lowest assist number his rookie year (6.1), he’s consistently been above that number since. Standing 6-foot 7 Melo is also an outstanding rebounder although he’s at the point guard position. Despite what father Lavar says Melo is his last and only hope for success in the NBA. 

 

A basketball fan's perspective   

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

General Manager

This blog follows basketball however there is a created position that entails all college sports. We are reading that more and more college teams are hiring general managers, at the professional level we are familiar with the role---but what about college? The “amateur status” is a little confusing in this age, based on that fact alone I thought for my clarification (and maybe yours) I would attempt to clarify the role of a college general manager. What you are about to read is not mine, it emanates from AI Overview. 

“The general manager (GM) role in college sports—most prominently in college football—has exploded into a vital front-office position. Driven by the transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), and revenue-sharing, college GMs handle roster construction, salary-cap style budgeting, and player evaluation much like professional sports executives.” Keep in mind this definition identifies football as the driving force but basketball is also a key as to why many schools are hiring general managers. I hope this explanation helps, it certainly cleared confusion for me.

This will sound negative

No argument on my part (and I hope not yours), LeBron James has secured his place in NBA history. Moving from the Lakers to the Sixers several analysts have already secured the 2027 NBA championship for the Sixers. On paper this team appears quite formidable, Joel Embiid at center, LeBron at the power forward. We then have Jaylen Brown at the small forward along with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe at the one and two positions.

I’m unsure who made the statement however they believed the Sixers could have a 20 plus points a scorer at each position. This is certainly possible however it ain’t gonna happen for a variety of reasons. This is not intended to degrade them however the Sixer reserves don’t appear out of the ordinary. During the season, a reserve roster or two bolstered by the presence of the starters will exceed expectations. We could look this past season at Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson of the Spurs as examples. Both athletes played vital roles in the Sixers competing for an NBA championship. History could repeat itself, a Sixer reserve maybe two backing up this team of all-stars will rise to championship play.

He did what

You remember the name Pablo Torre don’t you, he’s a media reporter who covers a wide range of subjects however his chief focus is sports. Torre was directly responsible for bringing the Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration story to the forefront. He reported that Aspiration allegedly paid Leonard “under the table” to help the Clippers circumvent the NBA salary cap. The NBA hired a law firm last year to investigate, but the review has not been completed. The commissioner has indicated the report could be finished by the start of the 2026-27 season.

While we await for the Aspiration findings, Torre has dropped another bombshell, he is reporting that Leonard had an arrangement with Daktronics, the company that developed the Clippers’ videoboard. At this point, it is only a report and offers no proof of wrongdoing. Still, whether it involves Aspiration or Daktronics, the concern remains. I have no issue with athletes earning as much as possible through salaries and endorsements. But if Leonard is found guilty, it would be a black eye for the NBA. Even without proof, I’m concerned. This could prove to be one more troubling concern for the NBA and the Raptors. The Raptors have not violated any rules however over the summer traded for Kawhi Leonard.

2002

It was 2002, the world saw Yao Ming of China drafted number one by the Houston Rockets. Although Yao was not the first Chinese player in the NBA he projected as the readiest to compete. As for the first Chinese player the honor belonged to Wang Zhizhi drafted in 1999 by the Mavericks and who made his debut in 2001. Back to Ming, he was named NBA Rookie of the Year and the NBA was excited. The NBA seeing a populace the size of China would witness a steady stream of talent headed to the U.S. As this is written there have been 8 players in total from China who managed a brief time in the NBA. Unfortunately a succession of players since Ming have arrived on these shores and after a few seasons been unable to adapt and returned home.

Injuries would cut short the career of Ming however he made enough of mark in the NBA his play led to him being enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2016. What does the future hold for Chinese talent? That question will remain unanswered for a time however the 2025 draft saw Yang Hansen drafted by the Grizzlies and his rights were traded to the Blazers. He would play 43 games for the Blazers and a number of others with the G-League Rip City Remix. The jury remains out on Hansen for now but it is clear China must adapt and revise its training schedule if the nation hopes to see an increase in the number of Chinese players in the NBA. In addition to the last statement it would aid the cause if the government would allow a select number of prospects to attend and play in American colleges. 

A basketball fan's perspective 

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Is he the replacement

Prior to the 2026 NBA draft I was curious who might draft Yaxel Lendeborg. The draft stock regarding Lendeborg was mixed depending on which site you read. In any event after aiding Michigan in winning the 2026 NCAA championship he was drafted in the first round with the 11th pick by the Warriors. His outstanding play in Summer League saw him become a first team selection and MVP. Next stop Warriors training camp where he meets Draymond Green. The ESPN depth chart for the Warriors places him behind Green as his backup.

It’s not inconceivable Green has met the guy who will replace him at power forward at a future date. If we check Lendeborg’s numbers at UAB and Michigan we discover several interesting facts about the man. His shooting percentage was above 50% and 33% was the lowest number he managed from beyond the arc. Lendeborg also rebounds the basketball well so that provides us an indication he thrives on contact. I would be surprised if he starts over Green however as indicated earlier, if he makes the adjustment successfully to the NBA he goes into the starting lineup. As for life before the NBA, Lendeborg was born in Puerto Rico from Dominican parents, he now calls Pennsauken, NJ home, this township is located in the Philadelphia Metro area.

He’s on the move….again

NBA Summer League has ended, Jon Elmore will be trying to determine where he intends to play this upcoming season. It could be a return to the G-League or one of the many international nations and teams he’s played for. This 6-foot 3 inch guard played for the Lakers Summer League team but that’s only part of his story. Elmore is now 30-years old but has continued the dream of playing in the NBA one day. He played his college basketball at Marshall University but went undrafted in 2019. Since that year Elmore’s played for 11 teams all over the world beginning with Pallacanestro Trieste in Italy.

The following year saw him in action for Orlandina Basket also in Italy, he would then play for Ionikos Nikaias B.C. in Greece followed by Sopron KC in Hungary. He went on to play for BC Siauliai in Lithuania, Elmore returned to the United States and played for three NBA G-League teams over that period. Continuing his world tour he journeyed to Türkiye where he donned the jersey of Manisa Basket. Elmore returned to this side of the Atlantic Ocean and began play for another G-League team, this past season it was the Calgary Surge of the Elite Basketball League in Canada. This provides us ample evidence that Elmore’s love of the game, nothing but passion would entail world-wide travel of this magnitude just to play basketball.

Rookies no more 

Last season in my opinion was one of the best in my memory for NBA rookies. As starters or reserves we saw plenty of sparkling action from all corners of the association. In Charlotte and Dallas two former college teammates battled for NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Many thought the Hornets Kon Knueppel should have been honored over Cooper Flagg, both had outstanding seasons as rookies but they were not alone. Shooting guard VJ Edgecombe the number three pick came off the Baylor campus and straight into the starting lineup for the Sixers. He proved to all he was ready to assume the role of an NBA player. The number two pick Dylan Harper performed as a valuable reserve for the Spurs much of the season.

Harper came alive in the playoffs supporting the cause for his team and allowing them to play for the NBA championship. My prediction, he will receive a larger role for the Spurs in his sophomore year. The youthful enthusiastic play of Carter Bryant was quite evident for the Spurs during the season and into the playoffs, expect to see him take on a much larger role in year two. There are others in this draft class that performed admirably, expect them to improve as well too. Keep in mind there is no method to predict the possibility of injury, in addition there is no technique to determine growth in an athletes game. There are probably other areas that could delay ascension, those first year players named are standouts for me, as for the future the NBA looks in fantastic shape.

Kansas City in the NBA….again

I say thanks but no thanks, no NBA team in Kansas City for me. Okay allow me to clear the confusion of my statement. I don’t have all the details and I’m not going to pretend everything is clear to me. This I do know that the new owner of the Blazers and the city are an MMA match over the Moda Center upgrade. I’d mentioned this previously media member Bill Simmons suggested the NBA look at Kansas City for a possible future franchise. Much later the issue with the Blazers presented itself and once again Simmons claims “The NBA should look at Kansas City.” I’d love for my hometown to have the NBA return however this owners fight with the City of Portland is bothersome.

I could see it now, T-Mobile is not ancient by any standards however it’s going to require an upgrade in a few years. What if this owner makes the types of demands he’s making for Portland?  Bottom line, I’ve grown tired of “billionaire palaces for billionaire owners.” Taxpayers are left paying in perpetuity for a stadium/arena that doesn’t belong to them despite the fact their tax dollars make up the bulk of the cost. I’m unsure who pays for the maintenance and upkeep of Chase Arena or the Intuit Dome. This is fact, neither arena was constructed with taxpayer funds being expended. In closing this is written by an NBA fan who would love the association to return but not at the expense of an entitled billionaire owner.