A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

King of New York

Are the Knicks and Nets in competition for the Hearts and Minds of New Yorkers? I don’t know if that will ever occur, the Nets are clearly in second place and will likely remain in that position for a significant period of time. I might add that the Knicks winning the NBA Championship in 2026 the first since 1973 certainly makes it even more difficult for the Nets. The Knicks have history on their side for one thing, they were the only NBA team in the city first beginning play in 1946. I can’t be for sure writing this as an outsider but it would appear the Nets movement around the Greater New York area certainly has not aided their  cause. The Nets were born as the New Jersey Americans in 1976 and was a charter member of the American Basketball Association.

After the 1976-77 season the Nets moved to Long Island and became the New York Nets, they would retain New York in their name when they moved to the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale New York. New Jersey would be the name until 2012, although it was a planned move the Nets moved back into the city and were reborn as the Brooklyn Nets. Rather than reclaim the New York name, the Nets adopted Brooklyn, echoing the borough’s baseball past. Brooklyn once had the Dodgers, who moved to Los Angeles and began playing there in 1958. The Brooklyn Nets name revived that local identity. Since the move, the Nets have recorded 514 wins and 681 losses—a less-than-stellar record. Their future is secure, but who is King of New York? The Knicks, who will likely hold that title indefinitely. So there you have it, the chief reason I believe the city will forever belong to the Knicks.

The Good & the Bad

Laker Nation was excited, the team had gotten off to a fast start at the beginning of the season winning their first three games. They would face the Blazers for game four on the schedule, what occurred was not what Laker Nation expected. It was a good shooting game on the Lakers part, they managed to shoot 56% from the floor and 40% from three. Those are certainly good numbers but not based on what the other guy did. The Blazers let off a sizzling 59% shooting from the floor and 50% from three. Luka led the way in scoring for the Lakers with 41 points and Austin Reaves chipped in 26 but the other guys.

Deni Avdija, Dame Lillard and Jae Morant all scored 20 plus points. I should add the 22 points Jrue Holiday scored as he emerged from the Blazer bench so what occurred? The balance of the numbers i.e., rebounds, blocked shots etc. were somewhat even. One could say the Blazers didn’t play much defense, I could say the Lakers didn’t either losing the game 136-129. The Lakers gave up 32 points in the first quarter then 36, 34 in the third and 34 points in the fourth quarter so it is quite easy to see why they turned out to be losers Tuesday night, based on the results Tuesday evening it’s time for a Laker coaching meeting.

Sometimes you miss some

I’ve said this before and I will repeat it again, ESPNs Jay Bilas is a knowledgeable basketball mind and a voice of note for me anytime I hear or read his take on a subject. I watched a video of him where he acknowledged he’s missed on his assessment of talent. Bilas said at the time the NBA allowed high school talent he failed to assess Dwight Howard accurately. Of course all are aware Howard has gone on to play at a high level for an extended period in the NBA. At age 40 Howard is no longer in the NBA but has continued to play.

There are two others Bilas indicated he thought would be outstanding talents in the league but failed, they are Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons. Some might not remember however in 2017 Fultz was the first pick in that year’s draft by the Sixers. “His career was impacted by thoracic outlet syndrome, a shoulder condition that altered his shooting mechanics.” Fultz is currently not active with any NBA team, he played on a 10-day contract with the Raptors last season. As for Ben Simmons drafted number one in 2016 he sat out the 2025-2026 season, the physical issues aside he first arrived in the NBA unable to shoot the basketball from more than 15-feet. Simmons is now on the Kings roster there is a question if he earns a spot. NOTE: Simmons suffered an Achilles tendon injury and will undergo surgery.

His given name 

From time to time video of Earvin Johnson continues to pop up on one of my social media feeds. That’s his given name, the world knows him as Magic and that’s what he was on the basketball court for the Lakers. Consider this fact, John Stockton leads the NBA in career assists with 15,806, right behind him is Chris Paul and his 12,552. In 8th place is Magic with 10,141 assists and this for some unfamiliar with the history. Early retirement due to a positive HIV test saw Magic play only 13 seasons in the NBA. Compare that to the 19 seasons for Stockton and 21 for Paul.

There are others several who remain active as an example with outstanding assist numbers. LeBron James now with the Sixers exceeds Magic and the Cavs James Harden who will not pass Magic. As for his nickname Magic it arrived with him in 1979 with his NBA debut, a member of the media bestowed the title on him after seeing Magic in action at East Lansing (Michigan) High School. Of course this is all in the past however many ponder the question, what his assist total might have been if he’d played 3-4 additional seasons. That also begs another, what might the Lakers win total have been if he was directing the Showtime Lakers. Rather than me go on and on check out the YouTube video of him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prvjNFHSOj0

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

He’s either loved or hated

John Calipari is a college coach most fans either love him or hate him, there are probably few persons who take a ho-hum approach toward the veteran coach. This applies from his time coaching UMass, Memphis, Kentucky and now Arkansas. The coach has won 905 games losing only 286 (.760) over his NCAA career, the NBA was his Achilles heel winning but 72 games while losing 112 when he was head coach with the New Jersey Nets 1996-1999. Only twice during his tenure as a head coach (38 years) has a team coached by Calipari failed to earn a post-season tournament invitation.

Coach Cal has produced over 60 NBA Draft picks with 40 of them being first round choices. Whenever the NBA draft occurs in June I never observed any other college coach in attendance except coach Cal. You play for him and he’s going to coach you up to play at the NBA level, what we just covered is the portion of the story that folks love. Now the downside, critics point out despite all the talent Cal’s produced there is only one NCAA championship on his resume. He’s often accused of being outcoached at times which might be only partially correct. The other complaint, he might have been an early advocate of players leaving for the NBA.

Scoring gets in the way

If I told you Ant Man and Dyson Daniels were among the top defensive guards so far in this young NBA season you’d believe me. On the other hand you probably would find it difficult to believe Luka Doncic is not as bad a defender as some think. After three games the Laker point guard has a 110.9 rating which places him at number 25 according to StatMuse. Okay, Doncic is that low….consider this fact the number of starting guards not reserves who rank behind him. How about other guards more specifically those who play the point? How about James Harden, I could toss in Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey or Cade Cunningham as examples.

If you are a fan of any of those named there is no desire on my part to call them out, the objective is to point out Doncic is not as bad as believed. I suppose the belief regarding Doncic has more to do with the offensive side of his game. I hear it all the time, “He can score on anybody but he’s a poor defender.” The Lakers game this past Sunday against the Jazz I will use as an example, the media was all over the 52 point game he scored. To a lesser degree his assist and rebound total for the game was less a point of emphasis. I cannot change anyone’s perception, let’s just say the defensive side of Luka Doncic is not as terrible as folks desire you to believe. I always fall back to Laker great Magic Johnson, he admitted he wasn’t a great defender but emphasized a belief he played good team defense.  

”I want to be a burger boy”

The headline above represents the words of Demarcus Henry, he’s a 6-foot 7 small forward from Santa Ana California. Currently Henry is the number two prospect in ESPN’s 2027 SCNEXT 100 and he indicates no interest in reclassifying as some have done in the past. Henry wants all to know he wants to be named to the 2027 McDonald’s All American team. Despite what might seem to be that big a deal remains important in the days of NIL and other opportunities for high school players. When did it all start i.e., the McDonald’s All American teams? The first game was played in 1978 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia before 13,000 fans.

Over the years the game has introduced us to a number of players who would later become hall of fame honorees. Michael Jordan started in the 1981 game and totaled 30 points, Shaquille O’Neal’s play would dominate the 1989 game. The McDonald’s All Star game would be a launching pad for a number of other future All Stars beginning in the 1990s, they include Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Grant Hill and Jason Kidd were just a few named McDonald’s All Americans. The concentration is the game but the objective is more important than the score. “From the beginning, a game week activities have raised proceeds for Ronald McDonald House Charities to support families with hospitalized children.” 2002 saw a girls McDonald’s Game being added. This concludes a brief history of the McDonald’s All American game.

NBA expansion

There’s an old adage that says; “If you must ask the price, you can’t afford it.” The quote has been mistakenly attributed to American J P Morgan 19th Century financier and investment banker. In any event I shall proceed onward, I researched the following. In 1985 Gregg Lukenbill purchased the Kansas City Kings from a local ownership group, he would then move the team to Sacramento the city they presently call home, Lukenbill paid $10.5 million for the Kings franchise.

Fast forward to 2026 and the NBA’s announcement of placing expansion franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas. In both cities their appears to be an issue securing viable ownership groups. Ownership of an NBA franchise has become such a lucrative purchase it would appear only a “Steve Ballmer” type is able to secure a purchase alone. The figure being reported for each franchise is between $6 to $10 billion. This news might be the basis for the NBA announcing they might be exploring a Mexico City move. This is my belief and not official, Mexico City will eventually be granted a franchise but after Seattle and Las Vegas.

eA fan’s perspective

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It’s okay if you laugh

Recruiting for the Class of 2027 high school talent has begun in earnest for a time now. Dennis Gates and Mizzou basketball is in rarefied air, the program is in a place that never existed previously. I have detailed all spring and summer about the incoming Class of 2026 and their ranking. I have stuck my feet on that precarious tree limb and claim the 2026-27 Mizzou men’s basketball team will reach heights never before experienced.

The foundation is in place and will continue into the future. If we check out the recruiting class of 2027 Mizzou is right in the mix, 247Sports places them number 2 in the nation. As for others ESPN ranks them number 5 while Rivals has Mizzou at 6. Yes, I’ve set my expectations extremely high for this version of Mizzou basketball. Naturally, there are variables I am unable to see as this is written in late October….limited injuries being key. Someone mentions to me “The preseason Top 25 fails to list Mizzou basketball.” While true my guess Mizzou on the low end ranking is probably 26, on the high end maybe 30 or 31.

Fans, I just shake my head

It’s amazing the response of sports fans and those who follow the NBA in naming their offspring. Over time we’ve witnessed a number of sons who play basketball named Kobe, then we’ve seen the name   spelled in a variety of different manners. We’ve seen it spelled with a C., we’ve also seen the name end in an E or C as follows, Cobe, Cobi, we must also include Kobi spelled in this manner as well. Of course this was all done due to the on court success of the late Kobe Bryant. It doesn’t end there, we have a number of Shaquille’s and the NBC Network has Shaq Brewster covering the news for the network.

But wait there is more, the success of the Knicks saw a number of babies given a Knick tag in various forms or another. According to ESPN “Between March (2026) and October this year 32 babies were born named Jalen, this was double the number for the same period (15) in 2025.” Of course this was a connection to Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson. This one….this child must bear this the rest of their life. As you are aware the NBA championship was won by the Knicks in five games, somewhere in New York City there is a boy named “Knickson Fyve” who will forever hate his parents for the name they gave him.

Rivalries

I’m unsure who compiled the list however I saw it on one of my social media feeds. It was named the Top 20 Sports Rivalries but it only contained three of the basketball teams. Number 4 on their list was Los Angeles Lakers versus Boston Celtics, number 5 Duke and North Carolina, 13 was New York Knicks and Miami Heat. What I found interesting at 20 they listed USC versus UCLA in football but failed to include their basketball rivalry. Around these parts, especially in basketball, there is Kansas-Mizzou along with Kansas-Kansas State. I included Kansas and Kansas State despite the fact K-State has not done a great deal of winning in recent years.

Also missing from their list was Michigan-Michigan State one of the oldest in the nation, I’m adding Kentucky-Louisville to the count. We could consider Oklahoma against Oklahoma State as well. Although these two New Jersey schools, Rutgers and Seton Hall are in different conferences they still play during the non-con. These rivals have played one another every season since 1916. If we look at the NBA again we could include the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers as rivals since their addresses are in the same city. Speaking of same city or borough in this instance. Once the Nets moved to Brooklyn the former owner wanted to establish a rivalry with the Knicks but it’s never seemed to develop. Rest assured I’ve omitted a number of rivals, which one’s did I miss in your view.

I’m coming to the rescue

Weeks ago a dot com basketball website listed the top men’s basketball coaches in the nation in order. At number 17 they placed the name of Bill Self longtime men’s Kansas basketball coach, in my view they did a total disservice to this very successful coach. Where do I begin, how about the two NCAA championships his Kansas teams have won. The only active coach with a similar number Dan Hurley at UConn. His coaching resume speaks for itself, 109 wins at Oral Roberts, 101 at Tulsa and 102 while serving at Illinois.

During his time at Kansas his Jayhawk team’s won 648 games losing but 167 for a sparkling .795 percentage. In 23 years at the helm Kansas has never failed to earn an NCAA invite to the tournament. Self has been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, the Collegiate Hall only awaits his retirement. Coming to the defense of Self might seem strange for a Mizzou fan however there is a basis, I must acknowledge the path he’s laid out for the future. I believe whoever replaces him will be inheriting some mighty big shoes. That coach will be in the same position that first coach at UCLA felt like taking over for John Wooden. Yes, this Mizzou fan can acknowledge the outstanding contributions of Bill Self.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Dale Brown

LSU was not his first coaching stop however it’s the one most closely associated with the name Dale Brown. LSU’s former coach Brown died this past Friday at the age of 90. After the Pete Maravich years (1967-1970) the school hired him to replace Press Maravich (Pete’s father). He took over in the 1972-73 season and would guide LSU men’s basketball until the 1996-97 season a total of 25 seasons. In addition to coaching Shaquille O’Neal he led the team to winning seasons.  

During his tenure LSU teams won 448 games and with the exception of his last six seasons the team was annually invited to the NCAA Tournament. His Final Four team in 1980-81 finished the season with 31 wins while losing only 5. In 2014 Brown was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. It should be of note that LSU was the only college head coaching position he ever held. Brown was an assistant at two college stops and before that he coached several high school teams. Dale Brown another of the all-time great basketball coaches.  

Best Big Man

Unlike some college basketball players I was familiar with Walker Kessler prior to his NBA debut. He’d played at North Carolina and Auburn previous to becoming pick 22 in the first round of the 2022 draft by the Jazz. The accolades that accompanied him into the NBA indicated the 7 foot 1 245 pound Kessler might be a keeper. Kessler was Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and also NABC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He followed the path of most Big Men, a slow adjustment from the college game to that of the NBA.

As for the draft itself Kessler’s head must have been on a “swivel,” he was  drafted by the Grizzlies his rights were then traded to the Wolves along with several other players. That was not his last stop, two weeks after the draft he was on the move again in a package deal with several others, this time it was a move to the Jazz. After playing a reserve role his third year would see him move into a starter role as for the Jazz and his numbers increased and then last season. Kessler suffered a torn labrum in his left should which required season-ending surgery, he missed all but 5 games of the 2025-26 season. Based on his injury the NBA world was shocked with the Laker move, they signed him to a 4-year $130 million contract in a sign-and-trade deal with the Jazz.

NBA cynics questioned the Lakers for signing Kessler to such a huge contract. There is no requirement to become too excited too soon but two games has Laker Nation salivating. His first game in Purple and Gold against the Warriors saw Kessler with these numbers, 100% from the floor, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and 26 points. Against the Clippers it was 71.4% from the floor 8 rebounds and 6 blocked shots for 22 points. Scoring is a bonus because the Lakers wanted the other things they believed he’d bring to them. Despite that belief after two games Kessler is 24 ppg, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks a game. The chief concerns for the Lakers now and into the future, an adequate backup center and an injury free season for Kessler and others. FYI: It was Shaquille O'Neal not me who declared Kessler the Best Big Man. 

Class of 2026

The Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City first opened its doors in 2006. It’s likely Kansas City was chosen due to its long association with NAIA basketball plus its history of serving as host for NCAA Tournament games. The Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame was founded by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Although the Naismith Hall in Springfield Massachusetts included outstanding college basketball coaches and players there was a belief by a number that the college game required a separate place. Depending on the age of a reader several of the names and accomplishments may be unfamiliar. Despite what might be limited knowledge by the reader each of the honorees deserve the reward of enshrinement. What follows are the names of The Class of 2026 enshrined on October 22, 2026:

Coaching Inductees

Jay Wright—head coach at Hofstra and Villanova; two-time NCAA champion with Villanova (2016, 2018)

Tubby Smith—head coach at several programs; 1998 NCAA champion with Kentucky

Ted Owens—head coach at Oral Roberts and Kansas; seven NCAA Tournament appearances and two Final Fours

Player Inductees

Danny Ainge—BYU

Glen Rice—Michigan

Walt Hazzard—UCLA

Never have I ever….

For you it might be something totally different, for me it occurred Thursday evening. I tuned into ESPN to see the LeBron Sixers and the Cavs, how bad was the first half of the game? Philly sports fans once threw snow balls at Santa Claus during an NFL Eagles game, they demand more than others their teams must play at a high skill level. Philly fans could be heard booing loudly on the poor play of their Sixers. These Sixers had beaten the defending champion Knicks opening night but this game was different, it would be played in Philadelphia. The first half of the game witnessed the Sixers losing in practically every manner possible, at a point in time the Cavs held a 29-point lead.

Maybe in college, no NBA team wins a game after falling behind by such a humongous margin. You can stop reading at this point, the Sixers came roaring back in the second half of the game, the end result Sixers 114 Cavs 106. The teams reversed roles, the first half it was all Cavs, they hit shots forced turnovers etc., you name it they did it. In the second half it was the Sixers who forced the turnovers hit vital shots and the Cavs were missing. The Cavs lead would sink to three points on a number of occasions and the visitors would score once again. I kept thinking to myself “Surely the Cavs won’t allow the Sixers to win this game.” There was no single thing the Sixers did to accomplish the win it was a bunch of stuff they failed to accomplish in the first half. In closing, “Never have I ever witnessed a victorious NBA team win after trailing by 29 points. 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I wonder why

Cut day saw the Lakers waive Dalton Knecht but keep Bronny James on the roster. I am just as confused as you, I thought for sure a decision would be made in favor of Knecht. The main reason at least while in college Knecht proved he could score baskets, during his tenure with the Lakers that component was missing from his skill set. Coach JJ Redick even went on record detailing the fact Bronny had a poor (my words, not the coach) preseason when he was on the floor. I cannot explain why Knecht is gone and Bronny remains, there is no conspiracy as I read.

I actually came across what you are about to read. “LeBron James is paying the Lakers to keep Bronny on the roster.” There is no doubt in my mind the manner young James arrived in Purple and Gold had his daddy’s fingerprints all over it. I have serious, serious doubts that LeBron has enough clout to keep his son on the Laker roster. My issue with Bronny is simple, his game has not developed in the manner expected of a third year player. I understood the why Bronny was drafted (LeBron), I understood why he remained on the roster. What I fail to understand now is the why, at this point I’m unsure if there is anything Bronny does well enough to be considered an NBA talent. Am I being too tough on the youngster….perhaps but I must call this as I see it.

Top 10-New York City

There is a rich high school boys basketball tradition in New York City. I thought an exercise of the best would prove interesting, this time it’s not me….its AI Overview. If you are a student of the game many of the names will be familiar to you, familiar because there were careers that eventually led them to the Naismith Hall of Fame. With that said let’s see who AI Overview names 1 through 10:

Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Lew Alcindor)-Power Memorial-Manhattan

Kenny Anderson-Archbishop Molly High-Queens

Connie Hawkins-Boys High-Brooklyn

Chris Mullen-Xaverian High-Brooklyn

Stephon Marbury-Lincoln High-Brooklyn

Lance Stephenson-Lincoln High-Brooklyn

Dwayne “Pearl” Washington-Boys and Girls High-Brooklyn

Bob Cousy-Andrew Jackson High-Queens

Nate “Tiny” Archibald-DeWitt Clinton High-The Bronx

Felipe Lopez-Rice High-Manhattan 

Who’s missing, how about these and maybe several others: 

Julius “Dr. J.” Erving

Bernard King

Lenny Wilkins

Rodger Brown

Billy Cunningham

Earl Manigault

Walter Berry

Echoes of Wilt Chamberlain

The Lakers won their first game of the season 127-105 over the Warriors. There were several impressive events that occurred during the game, one of them was Laker Big Man Walker Kessler. The 7-foot 2 inch 245 pound Kessler filled up the box with 26 points on 12 of 12 shooting from the field along with 2 blocked shots and 9 rebounds. The scoring by Kessler were all lobs from Luka Doncic and this allowed him to join an exclusive group. Wilt Chamberlain was the last Laker to have a perfect shooting game from the floor, he accomplished this in a 1969 game.

Of Kessler’s scoring 10 were dunks which placed him alongside Shaquille O’Neal in the Laker record department. I’ve mentioned Laker Big Men Chamberlain and O’Neal, please don’t confuse this post however it does one thing. It places Kessler in the company of two hall of fame players. Now the warning, this was the first game for the former Utah Jazz player there are many more games to go. Several of you might remember I was plenty excited this time last season with the acquisition of Deandre Ayton. I believed at the time Ayton would resolve Laker post play and expressed as much, as you are aware that didn’t turn out to be the case. Hopefully, Kessler will be the Big Man that solves the issue.

Making a name

Metro Kansas City is hardly alone in producing elite AAU youth basketball talent. There’s been one AAU team that’s excelled over others that would be MOKAN Elite. Over the course of time, many MOKAN players have advanced to college basketball, with some later playing professionally in Europe or the NBA. The following are just a few who developed their skills with the local AAU program before reaching the NBA. Veterans include the likes of Trae Young who later played for Oklahoma, he’s now with the Wizards.

Mizzou’s Michael Porter Jr. of the Nets and his teammate Ochai Agbaji former Kansas Jayhawk. Christian Braun later would play for Kansas and he was drafted by the Nuggets, he counts MOKAN as a stepping stone to the league. Joining NBA rosters as rookies this season are Tarris Reed Jr. of the Spurs and Cameron Carr of the Lakers. MOKAN has also produced former NBA players Shake Milton, Alec Burks and Semi Ojeleye. This list likely omits other deserving names, but its purpose is to highlight several players who suited up for MOKAN Elite before reaching the college level or experienced either professional play in Europe or in the NBA.

The

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Another giant of the game

Cliff Hagen, who spent most of his playing career with the St. Louis Hawks, died last Thursday at 94. He helped the Hawks win their only championship while the team was based in St. Louis. Hagen was a leader among the NBA players of the era. After 10 years with the Hawks, he played three more seasons in the ABA with the Dallas Chaparrals in 1969 before retiring and transitioning into a coaching role. Years later, he was inducted into the Collegiate and Naismith Halls of Fame.

Top 10-Kansas

How about checking the top high school boys basketball on the other side of State Line Road? I guess that should be clarified on my part….the Kansas side. Although I conducted this as an AI search I had to place restrictions due to “mechanical issues.” As an example I excluded Paul Pierce, he played at Kansas University however his high school ball was played in the Los Angeles metro, the same could be said for Danny Manning. Manning played his first three years at a North Carolina HS and his senior year at Lawrence HS, Lawrence Kansas. The last one is Wilt Chamberlain, a Philadelphia HS player who attended Kansas University. With those names omitted the following are the Top 10 All Time boys basketball team AI generated:

Darnell Valentine, Wichita Heights HS-Wichita

Perry Ellis, Wichita Heights HS-Wichita

Antoine Carr, Wichita Heights HS-Wichita

Lucius Allen, Wyandotte HS-Kansas City Kansas

Wayne Simien, Leavenworth HS-Leavenworth

Gradey Dick, Wichita Collegiate/Sunrise Academy-Wichita

Dean Wade, St John HS-St John

Larry Drew, Wyandotte HS-Kansas City Kansas

Semi Ojeleye, Ottawa HS-Ottawa

Greg Dreiling, Kapaun Mt Carmel-Wichita Bill Bradley, Crystal City HS, Crystal

It’s that time again

The 81^st NBA season began last night, it commenced with the Detroit Pistons serving as host for the Celtics in an afternoon game. The Pistons would be winners 121 to 113, the Pistons used a trio of Jalen Duren, Cade Cunningham  and Duncan Robinson to win the game. The trio scored 22, 22 and 21 points for the winners. Javonte Green came off the bench and contributed 19 points. As for the Celtics Paul George led the way scoring 38 points but Jayson Tatum had a poor shooting game with 13 points. Payton Pritchard emerged from the Celtic bench and scored 17 points. As for the 6:00 p.m. Central Time game it saw the 76ers facing the Knicks, so what occurred here? 

The 76ers won the game 106 to 100 spoiling the first game of the season for the defending NBA champions. The winners were led by Tyrese Maxey who scored 28 points, in his first game as a Sixer LeBron had 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. The evening concluded with a 9:00 p.m. game between the Thunder and the Spurs. The Thunder’s Shai-Gilgeous Alexander was matched against the 3-guard lineup of the Spurs. As you might be aware the Spurs guards are DeAaron Fox, Stephen Castle and Dylan Harper. The visiting Thunder came out on fire shooting 45% from three. They were led by SGA and his 32 points, as for the Spurs they didn't show up. The Spurs shot 39% from the floor and a measly 28% from three, this resulted in a 116-104 victory for the Thunder and revenge.   

Rivalries

I’m unsure who compiled the list however I saw it on one of my social media feeds. It was named the Top 20 Sports Rivalries but it only contained three of the basketball teams. Number 4 on their list was Los Angeles Lakers versus Boston Celtics, number 5 Duke and North Carolina, 13 was New York Knicks and Miami Heat. What I found interesting at 20 they listed USC versus UCLA in football but failed to include their basketball rivalry. Around these parts, especially in basketball, there is Kansas-Mizzou along with Kansas-Kansas State. I included Kansas and Kansas State despite the fact K-State has not done a great deal of winning in recent years.

Also missing from their list was Michigan-Michigan State one of the oldest in the nation, I’m adding Kentucky-Louisville to the count. We could consider Oklahoma against Oklahoma State as well. Although these two New Jersey schools, Rutgers and Seton Hall are in different conferences they still play during the non-con. These rivals have played one another every season since 1916. If we look at the NBA again we could include the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers as rivals since their addresses are in the same city. Speaking of same city or borough in this instance. Once the Nets moved to Brooklyn the former owner wanted to establish a rivalry with the Knicks but it’s never seemed to develop. Rest assured I’ve omitted a number of rivals, which one’s did I miss in your view. 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

In court rather than on the court

Mizzou coach Dennis Gates was photographed in court while a Kentucky judge was rendering a judgement on former Mizzou forward Mark Mitchell. Meantime CJ Gunn a DePaul transfer was appearing before a Boone County (MO) judge, in both instances the athletes were attempting to gain an additional year of eligibility. I’m not going to go into the details of the why let’s just say I’ve grown tired of this exercise. I am making this statement despite the fact there are Mizzou players involved. The end result, Mitchell has gained eligibility while the Boone County judge issued a temporary restraining order which also allows Gunn to play this season as well. I realize this is “grown folks” business but this issue of eligibility has become irritating to me.

Baby Shaq 

Some of you were introduced to Marcis Ponder this summer. Sources indicate the 7-foot, 328-pound freshman is nicknamed “Baby Shaq.” When we learned he was headed to Florida State, I promised to follow his progress. I’m usually skeptical of high school big men because I believe they often face opponents 3–4 inches shorter and several pounds lighter. But Ponder’s collegiate debut, though only an exhibition, was outstanding: 13 points, 21 rebounds and 3 blocks against Auburn.

It’s just one game, but I’d call that a promising start. I’m not one to rush anyone toward the NBA, but times have changed. If he sustains that level of play, expect him to declare for the 2027 NBA draft. If you’ve read this blog for a period of time you realize the type of game Ponder appears to have it is a favorite of mine. I love Big Man basketball and this is part of what I don’t understand. If a coach has a budding talent such as Ponder why not develop an inside power game? I located three additional 7 foot high school players who are in the Class of 2027, are they going to be trained to shoot three’s?

There remains the game  

My old ESPN has gone the way of the American bison, the bison hunted to almost extinction has returned but certainly not to the 19th Century numbers.  I believe that has become the destiny of the Entertainment Sports and Programming Network, the network is no longer interested in journalism. The truth is ESPN began drifting in this direction several years ago, I offer Pablo Torre’s Clippers investigation as proof. Torre once worked for ESPN but for unknown reasons departed several years ago. As for the network the journalism we witnessed in their 30 for 30 series and other programs provided us evidence of journalism, information and entertainment. If we believe the reported figures the two highest paid on air employees are Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith.

This next portion I find most interesting, in the past it seems every time the credibility of Smith is called into question his fall back response is always the same! He mentions beginning his journalism career as a beat reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper, friends there is no argument that’s where he began his journey. Smith, McAfee along with Mike Greenberg and others have become more well-known for their opinions and entertainment value over pure journalism. Is that a terrible thing….of course not however they along with those who enjoy their views fail to take into account the missing element. That element of course is the journalism, the question remains for me, will I cease watching ESPN? Of course not, there remains the game, the live action of the NBA and college basketball will always be there because that’s the entertainment for me.

Time is the true test

Of all the off-season moves (excluding LeBron James) the Lakers acquiring Walker Kessler in a trade with the Jazz might be the prime move. To offer proof he was signed to a 4-year $130 million contract, this after coming off the 2025-26 season and only 5 games played. Kessler suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder which caused him to miss the season. Were the Lakers desperate after the failed Deandre Ayton experiment? In his brief NBA history Kessler is certainly not (at least for now) on the same level as the player he replaces in the post offensively.

It’s the other things its reported that the 7-foot 2 245 pound Kessler will be an improvement. This from AI Overview; “an elite rim protector, high efficiency interior finisher, and dominant offensive rebounder.” Although Ayton certainly had skill apparently the Laker coaching staff found he was deficient in the areas mentioned. As the headline indicates time is the true test, the decider of whether this move will prove beneficial or not for the Lakers. I remember seeing Kessler in action while at Auburn, I don’t recollect any particular aspect of his game standing out. Despite that fact he’s now in the NBA, someone with more insight than me believed Kessler could play at this level.  

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Yet it remains

Despite what some might believe these days high school recruiting of talent remains important. The days of NIL and the transfer portal leads some to judge that part to be crucial to a team’s growth. While it remains a vital piece high school talent is just as important. Mizzou has the 2026-27 season to contend yet coach Gates is looking ahead toward the future. Two commits from the Class of 2027 have indicated they are headed to Columbia next fall.

On Friday Mizzou received another commit, his name Devin Cleveland. Cleveland is a 6-foot 3 point guard and 247Sports rates him a 4-star prospect. In the same manner as others sites 247Sports places a rating on recruiting classes. Based on the commitment of Cleveland the scouting site moves Mizzou up to number two in the nation only behind Houston at this time. Friends, this ranking means diddly if the prospects cannot or discovered to be unable to play at the level expected of them. Naturally as a member of Mizzou Nation my hope is that is not the case. Basketball games are won on the court not on paper so that factor must be considered as well.

Coming to a screeching halt…..at least a pause

NBA fans in Seattle began a slow clap when the league announced, “Expansion was on the horizon.” In addition Seattle and Las Vegas were mentioned in the next breath, we are a time from that announcement and in Seattle there is not as much joy. Residents in Seattle figured the NBA was trying to address an issue many believed they played a role, moving the franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City. If Seattle was one, Las Vegas was two in discussions, now the roles have been reversed. The NBA appears to be concerned about the financing for a Seattle franchise. They have even hinted Mexico City might replace Seattle in the expansion plans.

Mexico City has been on the NBAs radar for a time, there are numerous reasons why, chief among them the time zone. At the time this is written its 4:20 p.m. Central Daylight Saving Time and 3:20 p.m. in Mexico City. The peso is solid compared to the dollar plus there is a ready-made NBA fan base in a city of 9 million, in addition Arena CDMX has a max population of 22,300 spectators. The negatives for a franchise in Mexico City, at the top of the list is the fact it’s a Spanish speaking nation which is not what you might first believe. If the NBA intends to build NBA Europe rest assured every fan in Turkey or Italy doesn’t speak English. At the top of the list for negatives is the cities altitude, consider the fact Mexico City has a higher elevation than Denver. In closing Mexico City might eventually receive a franchise but not before Seattle.

Meanwhile….

You might remember back in July when you read this account, a teen had purchased a Wilt Chamberlain jacket from the 1972 NBA Finals at a thrift store. The purchase price he paid for the jersey was a mere $3.07 and later it was sold at auction for $89,000. Well there is another story we have just been made aware. A Bulls road jersey worn by Michael Jordan in the 1998 NBA Finals was located. The MJ jersey sold for an even larger number at auction, $14 million. My initial question, who is able to purchase sports memorabilia at such a staggering number? I thought this back in July about visiting thrift stores but I’m serious now, Kansas City thrift stores here I come.

SEC media predicts Mizzou men’s basketball to finish 8^th in the conference. That well could occur however I happen to be a dissenting voice. There is no disagreement that the SEC is one of the toughest men’s basketball conferences in the nation, its stacked from top to bottom. It’s more than 5-star prospect Jason Crowe Jr., on paper they have one of the deepest rosters in the school’s history whether Mark Mitchell becomes eligible or not. On the other hand basketball games are not played on paper, the proof is in the end result. Oh well, just consider me a member of Mizzou Nation and end it here.

Euroleague representatives say; “Thanks but we have no desire to be part of you.” Of course I speak of NBA Europe and FIBA’s effort to establish a footprint on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The NO reasons for the Euroleague to align with NBA Europe are too numerous to detail however it appears for now the NBA and FIBA will proceed without Euroleague being part of the expansion. The plan is two franchises in the United Kingdom, London and Manchester along with two in Spain, Madrid and Barcelona. There will be two teams in France Paris and Lyon, in Germany Berlin and Munich. Completing the list will be Italy with teams in Milan and Rome plus Greece with a team located in Athens and Turkey with its team in Istanbul.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The other son

His name is Bryce James, he is the younger brother of Bronny and son of LeBron. While Bronny only remained in college for his freshman year Bryce has taken a different route. The 6-foot 5 shooting guard was redshirted last year at Arizona so technically the 2026-27 season will be his first competitive college basketball. At the time he graduated from high school scouting sites ESPN and Rivals rated Bryce a 3-star prospect while he played at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth California.

This is but a small portion of his high school scouting report from Adam Finkelstein Director of Scouting for 247Sports. “He may not be the dynamic athlete or playmaker some expect at first, but he is a fundamentally sound player with solid perimeter size and a good early skill-set.” Now the question on the minds of most reading this, is Bryce a better talent than older brother Bronny? That question cannot be answered as this is written.

The other

I have attempted to update you on plans for new arena builds throughout the league. Naturally, the prospect of a “new” building is more exciting than one presently in existence. It requires an extensive timeline for construction to be completed, a remake of the existing building is usually less time. There are at least 5 arenas that are being refurbished or soon will be. Where are these arenas located, we begin in Portland and the Moda Center home court for the Blazers, the arena opened in 1995. The plan is a $573 million to $600 million overhaul of the arena which is yet to begin. Remaining on the west coast we journey to Salt Lake City and the Delta Center home of the Jazz.

This building first opened in October 1991 is currently in the middle of a massive, multi-year $525 million redesign. We now journey to Denver and the Ball Arena, this downtown arena home of the Nuggets opened in October 1999. The building will undergo an extensive $135 million renovation. Our next stop is the nation’s capital Washington D.C. and The Capital One Arena home to the Wizards opened its doors in 1997. This renovation is the most expensive in the NBA to date, this will be a massive $1 billion complete modernization of the existing arena. Our last stop is north of the border in Toronto Canada and the Scotiabank Arena which opened in 1999. The home court for the Raptors is undergoing what is termed a $350 million “Reimagination Project” whatever that entails. These projects have varying timelines on when they might be completed, sometimes what is old can become new again and that appears to be the case here.

This might have changed

By the time you read this there might be a change, I’m referring to Mizzou’s basketball recruiting ranking. The Class of 2026 witnessed the school finishing 7 in the nation in recruiting according to Rivals. Earlier I’d reported on two prospects who committed to Mizzou which entails the Tigers getting off to a fast start for the Class of 2027. 247.com places Mizzou 7 while On3/Rivals.com list them as the number 13 team in the nation. What does all this mean, at the top of the list the commits must turn into solid players, which is certainly no guarantee for high school talent.

I could state pressure is three-fold, on the coach his overall team and these fresh new commits. Despite the issues of NIL and the transfer portal it says to me coach Gates and staff are continuing to travel all over the nation in an attempt to build the Mizzou brand. Someone might point toward the adage “failure is not an option” oh but it is. We cannot forecast health from the aspect of avoiding injuries nor the ability for one to adjust to the college game. I love the fact there is a work in progress sign in front of Mizzou Arena at 1 Champions Drive, Columbia MO.

This is interesting

Last season Spurs guard Dylan Harper failed to play in the manner of a rookie. He would prove vital to the streaking Spurs as they would eventually play for the 2026 NBA Championship. Although Harper’s team came up short many asked the question, “how can you keep him out of the starting lineup?” Well coach Mitch Johnson may have an answer, a three-guard lineup. Recently the Spurs lineup contained DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle and the aforementioned Harper. This is not the first attempt by a team to change its lineup in an expanded manner.

The Spurs depth chart listed on ESPN contains the name of Devin Vassell at small forward, he too was key to the success of the Spurs this past season. Does he become a permanent member of the reserve squad? That issue aside consider this, Fox is the oldest member of this expanded backcourt and he’s only 28-years old. As for the others, Castle will turn 22 in November while Harper is the “baby” of the trio at age 20. This move should not be considered final however it is interesting in several aspects. The chief one of course is placing second year man Dylan Harper in the starting lineup. Adding Harper’s athleticism and will power to an ever improving Spurs team.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

LeBron James is how old

Sixers fans will see their new main man in his 24^th year in the NBA. A little trivia for you, Michael Jordan (63) is 22 years older than LeBron however LeBron is 22 years older than Cooper Flagg (19). The lengthy career of LeBron has seen him play at a time when the NBA allowed hand-checking which has been outlawed since the 2004-05 season. Understand this information, a candidate for the Naismith Hall of Fame must be retired two full seasons in order to be eligible for entry.

Bet you didn’t realize there are three players from LeBron’s draft class enshrined in the hall of fame, they are Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Bronny James had his dad as a teammate his first two years in the NBA, Bronny was born in his father’s second NBA season. Mentioning offspring how about this, there are 10 father-son’s LeBron has played against. Early in his NBA career LeBron played the fathers who are retired and now he’s matched against the sons of the fathers. How about this bit of interesting trivia on LeBron James,

Dickey V.

I wasn’t sure if one of the voices of college basketball would return. Former coach and longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale has suffered a number of health challenges the last few years. We haven’t been entertained by many of the broadcast phrases he originated when he first began broadcasting the men’s game back in 1979. Dickey V. will return to do what he loves in the 2026-27 season. He’s already announced his All Rolls Royce team for this upcoming season, as for some of his colorful phrases.

“Aircraft carrier” referencing a team’s Big Man, how about “Diaper Dandy” a reference to an outstanding freshman. Then we have “PTP’re” his definition of a prime time player and finally “In the Trifecta Zone” denoting a player who pulls up and shoots a three. Dickey V. is 87-years old now but is there such a thing as retiring especially if you love your job and its clear the pay is good but there is another reason. It’s simple he loves the game. As I indicated earlier health issues have sidelined him for the last two seasons but it appears he’s ready for action  

Work ethic

The man, the myth….the legend, that what I now consider Kobe Bryant far a single reason alone. Since his passing I’ve read more about him in death than I ever did while he was living, this is just one more story. I’m sure there’s another one out there somewhere, in any event lets proceed. This again from his teammate and later head coach Byron Scott. Scott said; “Probably Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter were more talented than Kobe, he had one advantage over both, they couldn’t out work him.” Scott went on to say; “He’d (Kobe) be working out three times to their one.”

In addition we’ve heard stories about Kobe being a difficult teammate and Scott addressed that as well. Scott said, “Kobe believed he didn’t need any friends.” I cannot address any friends relationship for Kyrie Irving however  Patrick Mahomes might possibly be different. From outside appearances it appears Mahomes and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce have a friends relationship. As for the question of friendship as it relates to sports is it critical to team success? My initial thought it depends, we know the history of Kobe and Shaq. We’ve read other instances where teammates were not friends as well. How about David Robinson and Dennis Rodman or Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton? There are other examples, I just wanted to point out a few.

New faces in new places

Of the major professional sports the NBA is actually the youngest, trading players was more common place in baseball over football although players did move from team to team. In 1946 as the NBA first began play it adopted the principle of trading for talent as well. All that changed in 1974 when Jim “Catfish” Hunter in baseball is recognized as the first modern free agent in professional sports. As free agency began to become the norm more and more baseball players sought out new teams in this manner.

Free agency then moved into the world of football, NFL players began seeking larger salaries and new teams in the same manner as their baseball counterparts. Although NBA teams continue to acquire talent through trades free agency has taken on a dominant role in the league. I’m unsure of the NHL although I’m sure it exists there as well. I have no method to determine an  actual number, I happen to believe there are probably more free agents in the NBA than any of the other major sports. According to AI Overview “the Free Agent Tracker indicates 236 individual player movements and status update for the 2026 offseason.” So the headline above is correct through the NBA draft, trades and mostly free-agency.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Modern medicine

I didn’t see the game only read an account by someone who was there. The writer claimed Kyrie Irving showed no issues with his first game back for the Mavs. Considering ACL is major surgery it details to several points for us, advancements in medicine plus a work ethic. Those are keys to a successful return to action, we could look at the NFL Chiefs as well. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a left knee ACL and LCL tear in a game last December. He didn’t play in the preseason however in four regular season games he appears to demonstrate his previous prowess. In the same manner of the Mavs point guard Mahomes underwent extensive rehabilitation.

The point of this exercise is simple, sports medicine has come quite a distance from the past. The injuries of Irving and Mahomes maybe as recently as 20 years ago would have been career ending. Of course the key is the individuals themselves, both had a strong work ethic to return to action for the Mavs and Chiefs. I’ve certainly never suffered the type of injury of those two, the nearest might be illness. I left the hospital remained home one day and thought I was prepared to return to work. Needless to say I discovered my body had not healed to the level I believed, I thought I was ready but that was not the case.

How long….not long

By now you are aware LeBron James is going to reside in New York City and helicopter to Philadelphia for practice and games. Before I begin this look see allow me to say this is only an attempt to detail the why, whatever LeBron and the Sixers conclude is okay by me. First for those who might be geography challenged the two cities are located quite near one another. The distance between New York City and Philadelphia according to Google maps is 94-100 miles depending on your starting point.

Drive time between the cities can vary based on the weather, heavy traffic, roadwork, or rush hour, the drive could take 2.5 to 3 hours in length. LeBron in a charter helicopter (weather dependent) can leave New York City and arrive in Philadelphia in 30-45 minutes, as you can see a much shorter time. I am quite sure LeBron could find a residence to his liking in the city or suburbs, why live in New York City? In a role similar to Los Angeles my guess there are business interests that might be easier to accomplish in New York City over Philadelphia.

Are you for change

In this instance we discuss rule changes regarding NBA play, the college game is a whole different matter. This account was brought about due to a sports talk radio discussion I heard recently. Major League Baseball is the oldest professional sport, despite its founding in the 19th Century there was a belief rule changes were required. There were a number of rules MLB headquarters believed would improve the quality of the game. As an example pitchers now have a time clock on them, they must deliver the ball to the plate in a timely manner.

There are other rule changes however my desire was to provide you an example. In the NFL new rules were also instituted, the kick off rule is now changed from what had previously existed for 100 years. As for the NBA are there any rules you believe would enhance the game? This is not a rule change just a belief on my part. I’ve grown tired of the NBA offices the day after indicating officials had errored during the game. The outcome of the game will not change so what’s the purpose? My suggestion to speed up the game. Anytime there is a stoppage of play and the officials are at the monitors a decision should be rendered without delay. I’ve witnessed games a return to action has been held up almost 5 minutes in some instances.

This is it

Thoughts of mine while waiting on a FedEx delivery, this is it….what I desire of the 2026-27 basketball season both in the NBA and college. These are not in order they are strictly random thoughts:

*Luka and the Lakers exceed the ESPN projection

*Mizzou basketball earn a Final Four berth

*Wemby develop the effective inside game we are aware he is capable

*Zion Williamson fulfill the promise we envisioned when he left Duke

*Someone, anyone take control of college sports

*Pistons win the east over the LeBron led Sixers

*The Kansas-Mizzou grudge game has expired, hope for a renewal

*Eliminate the term “Mid-Major” from the vocabulary, highly unlikely

*NBA Eastern Conference basketball just as competitive as the Western Conference

*Jay Wright move from the broadcasting back to the bench somewhere for some team

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

It’s a tough place to play

I came across this list from college basketball analyst Andy Katz, who has covered the sport for many years. Drawing on visits to arenas nationwide, Katz ranked the 10 toughest college venues for visiting teams. Road games are generally more difficult in college than in the NBA, and a strong home-court advantage can significantly boost a school’s record. Here is Katz’s ranking, from 1 to 10:

Allen Fieldhouse-Kansas Jayhawks

Cameron Indoor Stadium-Duke Blue Devils

Mackey Arena-Purdue Boilermakers

Madison Square Garden-St. John’s University

Hilton Coliseum-Iowa State

Bud Walton Arena-Arkansas

Breslin Center-Michigan State

The Pit-New Mexico

McKale Center-Arizona

United Supermarkets Arena-Texas Tech 

Too high….too low

One year ago Noam Gumerman wrote this for Clutchpoints.com 25, best centers, in NBA history ranked. This is his list his opinion however I reserve the right to disagree, IMO he’s ranked several too high while others I believe too low. With that out of the way I shall proceed with the changes I see differently. He’s got Kareem Abdul Jabbar at number 1, no disagreement on my part with that selection. He’s ranked Shaquille O’Neal as his 3rd best all-time.

The problem for me I believe is too low, he’s got Bill Russell winner of 11 NBA championships at 4 and Nikola Jokic listed at 6. Both Shaq and The Joker are outstanding however far too high. Ranked too high for what they were able to accomplish during their brilliant NBA careers, Nate Thurmond (12) and Wes Unseld (14). Yao Ming was listed at 19 and Chris Bosh 21 both had very good careers but all-time is my question. Ming should have been ranked a bit lower and I have difficulty with Bosh as an all-time great. Gumerman placed Dikembe Mutombo at 22, his defense presence alone  should rank him much lower.

Meanwhile….

I have attempted over the years to withhold my thoughts regarding the pay of an athlete for a variety of reasons. The chief purpose, we the public often have little detail on the negotiation process, we hear the final figure and number of years and that’s about it. Where am I going with this you ask….straight to a comment made by former NBA player turned analyst Blake Griffin. He’s questioning the amount of guaranteed money the Lakers are paying Bronny James as a second round draft pick. Griffin said and I paraphrase: “Unlike some 2nd round picks Bronny had NIL money when he arrived in the NBA.” For me that statement has little validity, the player (through his agent) asked for the specific amount and the team agreed to pay, case closed.

Annually Forbes publishes its list of most profitable sports teams. If you haven’t seen their 2026 list I’m going to provide you the information and I uncovered several surprises for me. If we are discussing all sports teams in the top 20 for Forbes at number one are the NFL Dallas Cowboys. As for the NBA there were 5 teams that earned distinction, I found several surprises, and it didn’t take very long. The Golden State Warriors were placed second, another shocker at 7 the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers were tied. Number 9 for Forbes were the Houston Rockets, rounding out the list it’s the Los Angeles Lakers at 18 and the Chicago Bulls number 19. This serves no purpose other than information for you the reader and it becomes a prime topic for discussion. On the other hand you might be among those with a few billion in disposable income, which allows you to purchase a share of one of the teams listed and perhaps others.

We are a people of the now, allow this brief explanation. A couple of podcasters (who appeared quite young) provided us “their list” of the best point guards in NBA history. One of the pair placed Magic Johnson at number one, the other disagreed and decided Steph Curry belonged there. I need help with this one, no disagreement on my part Curry is one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen play. As for point guard play that’s another story, clearly Magic was only an average shooter however the other things he did impacted the game more significantly than Curry. There, I said it and refuse to retreat from my statement.

To help me further in my trepidation (I like that word) for Mizzou men’s basketball 2026-27 I found this. Jeff Borzello ESPN media places Mizzou number 16 in the nation preseason. I’m unsure if I can ever remember Mizzou being ranked at this level in anyone’s preseason poll. On the other hand David Cobb of CBS Sports appears to take an opposing view, he sees the SEC race in this manner. He places Mizzou at number 8, that is the same position the Tigers finished in 2025-26. Although they received an invitation to the Big Dance that team won only 20 games, so which forecast do I take as being the most valid?

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

There is no Goat

The headline comes from Julius “Dr. J” Erving, who said, “There is no one athlete who you can look at in any sport and just say that was the best that ever did it. It’s all an opinion.” These few lines are probably unlikely to change many minds, but they may persuade a few readers. After considering his statement, I agree with Dr. J. My problem with GOAT debates is simple: they compare players from different generations. Later, I will propose a way to settle the argument—have the athletes face one another on the court.

Of course we realize that’s not practical, some are in their 70s and 80s while others have passed. The NBA has changed greatly over the years; some current players are even the grandsons of former NBA players. Statistics can be compared across eras, but numbers alone prove little. In the days of Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, the NBA was more physical than it is today. Most players from the 1950s probably would not earn a roster spot now, although a few exceptional athletes might because their talent transcended their era. I believe Chamberlain could have played in 2026, and the same may be true of West.

On second thought

Are you similar to me in this manner, you write or make a statement and then have second thoughts? That was the case in Wednesdays edition of Off the Dribble. I wrote of the Top 7 backcourts in the NBA and believe a further explanation is required. Tell us Larry Laker, “Are you saying out loud the other 23 teams have trash backcourts?” The explanation is simple, that’s not what I’m stating. Take for example the Blazers, the paring of Dame Lillard and Ja Morant positions two exciting dynamic players in the backcourt for the Blazers.

The ESPN depth chart currently places Jrue Holiday as the shooting guard and Dame at the point, where does that leave talented Ja? It’s apparent the minutes will be reduced for one of the trio…will it make for a happy team? The Blazers and several other teams have talented backcourts there is always a question regarding cohesiveness especially with these new parings. There is also a talent issue from this perspective one or more teams might possess an outstanding two guard and an average three or vice versa. So in closing please give me a break, as one of the headlines of this blog states, this is written from a fan’s perspective and not from someone with all the answers.

I’m pleased but scared

Mizzou basketball fans are “swimming in shark-infested waters.” We love that our Tigers look ready to compete at a high level, but that excitement comes with some fear. When only the Mizzou faithful were optimistic, everything felt manageable. Now, national media members are beginning to view the Tigers as a legitimate threat—dare I say, a possible Final Four team in 2027? That would be rarefied air for this program.

The latest example is veteran college basketball analyst Andy Katz, who recently ranked Mizzou No. 2 among his Top 10 Final Four dark-horse teams. My excitement is easy to understand since midsummer, I’ve believed this could be the most competitive Mizzou team in program history. The roster has depth at every position; the challenge is getting everyone to come together. The SEC remains one of the nation’s toughest conferences, and injuries are always a concern. Despite my trepidation, I’m excited and ready for the drama of SEC play this winter and into the spring of 2027.

He receives no love

A website titled HooperParadise’s Post provided us their list of Top 10 players in Lakers History. Naturally anytime a similar list is published someone always finds fault with it. In this case it involves but a single player:

James Worthy

Magic Johnson

LeBron James

George Mikan

Shaquille O’Neal

Wilt Chamberlain

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Jerry West

Elgin Baylor

Kobe Bryant

The letters begin to pour in; “LeBron James is not an all-time Laker” and others written with a similar tone. For a variety of reasons many in Laker Nation become upset anytime LeBron’s name is mentioned. The truth is I’m unsure why so much scorn is aimed at him especially from Laker fans. I’m unsure of the basis, is it the length of time LeBron spent as a member of the Lakers? On the other hand it could have been expectations, was he expected to lead the Lakers to multiple championships?

The criticism certainly cannot be based on time spent with the Lakers: Chamberlain played five seasons in Los Angeles, compared with LeBron’s eight. Nor can it be about championships since each led the Lakers to only one title. As for me I may have hoped for more championships with the arrival of LeBron, but I cannot hold that against him simply because the Lakers won only once, in 2020. In the end, I can find no clear reason for the anger directed at him by a large contingent of fans especially those in Laker Nation; all I can say is that LeBron receives little love despite his outstanding talent.