A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Mad Max

No, the headline is not a reference to the classic 1979 movie which propelled Mel Gibson to stardom. This “Mad Max” refers to Vernon Maxwell, he’s closely associated with the Houston Rockets although he played for other teams during his 13 year NBA career. The media bestowed the nickname on him for several reasons, his fiery temper, intense competition and his fearless play. Mad Max was a vital contributor to the two NBA championships won by the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. The MVP for both was Hakeem Olajuwon although as I indicated Maxwell provided vital play.

This is a momentary look back at Mad Max and his connection to the present day. In a recent podcast he pointed out the value of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to the Lakers. He even nicknamed Luka Batman and indicated Reaves was Robin for the Lakers. This is the part most interesting for me, cynics have claimed the present day Lakers are a throwback to the 1950 Minneapolis Lakers i.e., an all-white team. In this case we have a black man, Vernon Maxwell claiming the twosome of Doncic and Reaves are good and are front-runners. Is a championship forthcoming for the LeBronless Lakers, the season is still early and we shall see.  

We are the product of the now   

The headline is based on my belief we often fail to look at history, as a result we sometimes have an inaccurate view of past events. I’ll give you an example, although Mizzou men’s basketball has never won an NCAA championship the program has been highly successful. 120 seasons of play has witnessed Tiger teams winning 1,758 while losing 1,271 for a .580 percentage. The issue in recent years even by some in Mizzou Nation has reminded us of the Janet Jackson pop tune in 1986; “What Have You done for Me Lately.”

The 2026-27 in my view is not a make or break season for coach Dennis Gates although some in Mizzou Nation would be pleased if he left for somewhere else. This has always been my issue if you replace him who becomes the next coach. The athletic department could cast a net out and locate another “Dennis Gates” type but then again maybe not. It’s possible the hire can be similar to some of the past. I’ll give you a prime example, I’ve stated this previously. Quin Snyder is a good coach now, there were issues heading the Mizzou program, he was only 32-years old when hired. Mike Anderson replacing Snyder was a good hire however there was a chief issue. It appeared every season he was preparing to leave, especially for Arkansas, where he once served as an assistant coach. Then it was Frank Haith who like Anderson had a winning record but brought “baggage to Columbia.” In a stopgap measure the school hired former Mizzou player Kim Anderson. Anderson had been very successful at the Division II level but was clearly overmatched moving a rung up to Division I. Next up was Cuonzo Martin who I really liked, for Martin the only issue he was unable to recruit talent at the level we were led to believe.

At the time Martin was relieved of duties his Mizzou record was one game over .500. Martin was replaced by Gates who’s held the job since 2022, his record headed into this season 75 wins and 58 losses. The failure of his teams to advance in the tournament has caused him to fall out of favor with several in Mizzou Nation. The 2026-27 appears quite promising, for the first time in Gates tenure his team is loaded on paper at least, of course inning basketball is played on a court and not on paper. If Mizzou fulfills the promise I doubt if we’ll hear any

Is it Luka

Lakers post man Walker Kessler is not an exciting player. The truth is it’s my belief Deandre Ayton was a better offensive player and is more athletic. So the question might be why is Kessler now the Laker center and Ayton is now with the Wizards? Some might remember last season I’d expressed excitement believing the addition of Ayton would be an upgrade over Jaxson Hayes. Well it didn’t quite work out as expected, check this out. At one point last season Ayton complained about his role with the Lakers claiming “I’m no (Clint) Capela” mentioning the capable but not exciting post player for the Houston Rockets. I checked the numbers last season and discovered Capela was number 18 among post players defensively.

Guess who was no place to be found….Deandre Ayton. I was familiar with Walker Kessler but had hardly seen him in action especially after an injury sidelined him for the entire season. The season is new however I see different play in the post, unlike Ayton there is no demand for the ball from Kessler. To top this off Kessler plays defense, blocks shots and rebounds the ball. In addition he and Luka work smoothly on pick and roll offense. I mentioned earlier Kessler’s lack of athleticism, despite that fact post play this season for the Lakers is so much better than last year. Now we must take into consideration the season is less than 2 weeks old, can this change be attributed to Luka or the fact of a willing plus adaptable teammate in Walker Kessler?

That’s what I wanted to talk to you about 

Some dismiss earlier NBA generations as “carpenters and plumbers.” I believe today’s players are the best trained and conditioned in league history. Medical advances also allow athletes to recover from injuries that once ended careers. Yet, as noted in an earlier account, 27 of the 30 teams have players on their injury lists. Some will miss months; others will miss the entire season. That raises my question: if today’s athletes are in better shape, why are so many injured? Consider the Lakers’ 33-game winning streak, which began on November 5, 1971, and ended on January 9, 1972—nearly two months without a loss.

There was no load management then; players competed through what Shaq calls “knick-knack” injuries. The Lakers also won consecutive championships in 1987 and 1988. Michael Jordan’s Bulls won three straight titles twice, from 1991 through 1993 and again from 1996 through 1998. The Lakers followed with three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002. I’m sure those teams suffered injuries, but I don’t believe any were season-ending. The Warriors won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018; no team has repeated since. Setting aside those recent Warriors teams, were old-school players more rugged than today’s? The NBA has increased its number of teams over time but is that the basis for the differences pointed out?

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

What’s new might be old

LeBron James is now a member of the Philadelphia Sixers, despite this fact he lives in New York City and commutes to practice and games by helicopter. I thought this a little different and decided to conduct a degree of research. I discovered a flight from New York to Philadelphia or vice versa is about 30 minutes travel. Also checked was drive time by automobile about 1 hour and 45 minutes to roughly 2 hours depending on traffic.

Okay so much for that, later I’m reading a story on Wilt Chamberlain I discovered an account which is not documented. A writer claimed Chamberlain had done the same thing, i.e., living in the Big Apple but playing in Philadelphia. The writer didn’t specify the time so we must guess. Drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959 he played for the Warriors through 1962 when the team moved to San Francisco. In 1965 Wilt was traded to the Sixers where he remained until the 1968 trade that sent him to the Lakers. As you can see if this account is accurate we can say what is new might not necessarily be the case, it could be old.

Okay Norm

It was never quite clear but longtime Mizzou coach Norm Stewart refused to play St Louis University. Stewart was head man at Mizzou for 32 years, this season coach Dennis Gates changed all that. He scheduled the Billikens and not only that on their home court. The Tigers took a bus ride to St Louis and played Friday evening, perhaps they should have followed the path laid out by Stewart. The final score

was Saint Louis Billikens 90 Mizzou Tigers 84, the Billikens shot a sizzling 52.4%  from the floor while all the Tigers could muster was 41%. The Tigers were not terrible from three however the Billikens managed to shoot 56%, the balance of the box score was even. The Tigers allowed the Billikens to race out to a huge lead, it’s always difficult to climb back into a game after surrendering a massive lead and that’s what occurred to the Tigers. If this appears an excuse so be it, the Billikens returned a tournament laden team from last season while the Tiger lineup contained two freshman. Despite the outcome of the game I’m gonna follow the plan of Bill Self of Kansas. The coach always plays a tough non-con schedule believing this prepares his Jayhawks for Big 12 conference play. This member of Mizzou Nation would have preferred a win however I understand what occurred….the experimental lineup employed at times by Mizzou. 

Luka…Luka

It was a hard fought victory on Friday evening, the Lakers prevailed over the Blazers 124-118. The Lakers were able to extract a degree of revenge after being beaten by the Blazers earlier in the season. This Blazers team is light years better than I thought they might be this season. The game was this close with no Ja Morant acquired from the Grizzlies remaining sidelined. As for the Lakers Luka is on a scoring binge, he finished this game with 53 points on 52% shooting from the floor with 33% of it from three.

Luka closed out the match against the Blazers with 5 rebounds and 5 assists and registered only 3 TOs. The defense, Luka will never be a great defender but he’s worked on his defense and its improved. As for the Blazers they were meteoric from the floor and three, the TOs especially in the second half of the game sealed their fate. Back to the Lakers a moment, I continue to be impressed by the game of Walker Kessler. Nothing fancy…pick and roll to the basket….snatch a rebound….contest a shot around the basket. To borrow an overused term, Kessler “does all the dirty work.” How far can this Laker team go, I have no idea but I’m excited.

You can’t get there from here

NBA teams once revolved around ball-dominant centers and forwards. The prevailing belief was, “You can’t win a championship with a guard as your leader.” That thinking belongs to another era. Today, it’s Steph instead of Chamberlain and SGA rather than Shaq. We can look at the Knicks’ 2026 NBA championship as an example, their first since 1973. KAT, OG Anunoby and others were essential in winning but the driving force and leadership of the team was led by Jalen Brunson the Knicks point guard.

Point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to the 2025 title, while Steph Curry’s shooting and leadership helped fill the Warriors’ trophy case. Without him, that collection would likely be much smaller—or nonexistent. Championships still demand teamwork, including strong frontcourt play and contributions from reserves. What has changed is who leads the way: in today’s NBA, combo guards—not traditional point guards—often set the pace. Luka’s Lakers and Dame’s Blazers haven’t won titles, but they reflect the same shift in leadership. Do you prefer building a team around a star guard or a dominant frontcourt player—and why?

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

SPECIAL EDITION

He’s Ernie

Although he never dribbled a basketball, took a shot, snatched a rebound or dished an assist he’s become an NBA legend. His name is Ernie Johnson, he’s been the moderator and host of Inside the NBA on TNT and now ESPN for 37 years.  Former NBA players Kenny Smith (1998) along with Charles Barkley (2000) and later Shaquille O’Neal (2011) served alongside Johnson but it was the latter who maintained the posture of the program. Johnson allowed the former NBA stars free latitude in discussing the game we viewed and other news related to the NBA. 

How important is Inside the NBA to its audience, the program came to fruition on TNT and belonged to the network exclusively, with TNT no longer an NBA broadcast partner fans became quite upset. Behind the scenes negotiation saw Inside the NBA continue with a move to ESPN. It was quietly believed by a number of fans Johnson would be the first to leave. Health concerns are the likely reasons Johnson is leaving after this season. he’s faced two separate battles with cancer and a recent heart bypass surgery. These issues are probably key to his decision to leave the program. Despite his health over the 37 broadcast years Johnson’s missed little time. 

The question becomes who replaces Ernie Johnson and my statement is no one. As this is written there is no indication Inside the NBA will continue, it certainly will not be the same with no EJ “maintaining” order between Kenny, Chuck and Shaq. At one point before the move to ESPN it was believed Inside The NBA had seen its last days and was going off the air. Maybe that time is now for a single reason alone, no one replaces Ernie Johnson as host.

Inside the NBA has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards in its history

Ernie Johnson 3

Charles Barkley 3

Shaquille O’Neal 1

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

C’est totalement historique

This was a close game, the final score read Spurs 112 Mavs 111 and it actually came down to a missed shot attempt and a Spurs rebound. Kyrie Irving led the way for the Mavs with his 29 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. As for Victor Wembanyama he shot a paltry 1 for 8 from 3-point range (12.5%). That was the “poor” Wemby, what about the “good” Wemby….I’m pleased you asked the question. The young French phenom shot and dunked his way to 52 points along with 24 rebounds and 8 blocked shots.

There have been 12 NBA greats throughout the history with 50-20 games however only two have 50-20 and 5 rebound games. Bob McAdoo accomplished the feat on February 22, 1974, and Victor Wembanyama November 4, 2026. The NBA did not begin tracking blocks until the 1973-74 season, it’s quite possible Wilt Chamberlain might have accomplished the task because the records indicate he scored multiple 50 point games. With no tracking method in place for blocks during much of Chamberlain’s time we just don’t know. In any event Wemby continues his ascension to superstar status, maybe he’s already a superstar. As for the headline and just in case your French is a little rusty; c'est totalement historique translated to English is "This is totally historic or It's completely historic. 

Another Wemby

Kentucky coach Mark Pope received a commitment from a 5-star prospect. A report on Cherif Millogo was provided earlier but just in case you failed to read the earlier account or forgot here goes. After arriving here from the nation of Burkina Faso on the West African continent he began play at a Massachusetts high school. Later he would transfer to St Francis High School in La Canada, California. ESPNs 2027 SCNEXT 100 places him number 8 on their list and the number two center in the Class of 2027.

He didn’t play his sophomore year due to a torn ACL but rebounded to begin play his junior year. After impressing scouts Millogo began receiving offers from North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Louisville and Arkansas along with Kentucky. Athletes of his stature are usually matched against talent much smaller than himself, based on that fact I view video in a different manner. There are other aspects I prefer to check out, I witnessed a solid mid-range jump shot, Millogo moved up and down the court easily. The 7-foot 5 225 pound Millogo rebounds the ball well and was found for easy lobs at the basket by teammates. He is a prospect to track for the future and maybe another Wemby perhaps.

Rivals no more 

The Lakers and Clippers are no longer rivals in a sense, allow me to clarify by looking elsewhere first. New York City is our destination and this view, the Nets and Knicks never had this issue. Once the Nets moved from New Jersey to Brooklyn they played in Barclays Center their own arena. The same could be said of the Knicks who play at Madison Square Garden. As for Los Angeles it was a different story, for years the Lakers and Clippers shared dates with Staples Center (now Crypto.com).

When the Intuit Dome opened in 2024 it was no longer necessary to share dates. It prompted a question by me….no longer sharing the same building do the Lakers and Clippers play on the same night? This from AI.com; “Because they are in separate arenas, both teams can (and occasionally do) host or play games on the exact same night.” Los Angeles County alone contains 9 million folks, so I’m saying to you there is enough population for the Lakers and Clippers to play on the same day or evening with little impact on the other now. So as you can conclude the teams are no longer rivals for play dates.

This is one of those times

I’ve tried to point this out since summer, the Lakers are in unusual territory. For the first time since 2018 there will be no LeBron James in the lineup. In addition to the departure of LeBron a number of trades and free agent signings has “rebuilt” this team. As this is written no one has any idea how the season turns out for the team. Although the roster is finalized one of the newcomers who will be in the lineup is Alexander “Sandro” Mamukelashvili or Sandro. He is a 6-foot 9 240 pound power forward/center. He is just as much a mystery as this Laker team, Sandro is a 5-year NBA veteran but has not done much until last season.

Was his breakout year due to an adjustment to the speed of NBA play, was it the coach utilizing him in a different manner? I have no answer period, let’s just check out the numbers. He was used by the Raptors in a reserve role however .523 shooting from the floor with .390 from three details a need the Lakers have a requirement. What I found interesting was his lineage, born in New York City his parents later moved to Tbilisi, Georgia when he was a baby. Sandro’s international travel has been quite extensive, he later returned to the U.S. where he played for Montverde Academy. Also on his resume is time spent playing at Seton Hall, in 2021 Sandro was made a second round pick by the Pacers. So the brief history of Sandro concludes at this point, Laker Nation can only hope Sandro plays at the level expected whatever role develops.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The game remains a team effort

In case you missed it the final score of Sunday night’s game read Lakers 131 Raptors 125. Before I delve into components of the game I must inform you I am no defender of Bronny James. Despite my statement I am not about to pound him into dust based on the final score. The media is reporting which is true that Bronny checked into the game in the 4th quarter with 2 minutes and 28 seconds remaining with the Lakers having a 122-107 lead.

With 43.7 seconds remaining the score read Lakers 125 Raptors 119. I was unable to view the game however from the medias standpoint it was Bronny’s fault alone the Lakers imploded near the end. The numbers for the game certainly are not beneficial to Bronny but I will ask the question. Were there not 4 other Lakers on the floor at the time Bronny checked in? The late 4th quarter collapse can be blamed on all hands and not just Bronny. I remain in the corner that question whether Bronny will ever be successful playing at the NBA level, it would appear he’s got skill although I certainly don’t believe it’s very high. Where do we go from here, that’s a question only the Lakers can answer.

Injury concern

What is going on? The NBA season is barely a week old, yet many teams have injury lists almost as tall as Victor Wembanyama (7-foot-6). That might be understandable in January or February—not this early. The Thunder likely feel they fell short in defending their championship last season and hoped 2026-27 would be a chance to prove that setback was a fluke. At last count, roughly six or seven Thunder players were on their injured reserve list including starter Chet Holmgren. Still, there is some good news: some Thunder players will be able to return in time within a few days.

As for other Thunder players such as Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace their return dates remain unknown. In addition the team has two other players on the IR, one requiring back surgery and the other knee surgery. I have no medical background, neither of those surgeries would appear to be a quick turnaround. It’s not just the Thunder, the ESPN Injury page list 27 NBA teams with injuries. A number of teams have only two or three players and most are day to day however several are in the same boat as the Thunder, they have players who will be out for an extended period. There is certainly nothing that can be done it’s just difficult for teams to play at less than 100% based on their injury report.

Meanwhile….

Dennis Schroder of the Hornets holds a unique distinction, Schroder has played for 13 NBA teams. Of that number of teams he’s managed to score 25 or more points for 9 of them something no other player has accomplished. Have you wondered about the teams, I’m pleased you asked the question. They are the Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavs, Sacramento Kings, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets and his present team the Charlotte Hornets.

How often have we heard this, “Limited offensive game but an outstanding defender.” That’s the word regarding Lewis Uvwo 5-star center and the top center in the Class of 2027. Uvwo from Lagos Nigeria plays for Prolific Prep (Florida). Uvwo stands 6-foot 11 and 225 pounds with a wingspan of 7 foot 5 to 7 foot 7 which should provide us evidence why he’s one of the best shot-blockers in high school basketball. Uvwo averages 4.5 to 6.1 blocks a game. The game at the NBA level requires great skill in the areas Uvwo’s appears to dominate, shot blocking and rebounds. Over the next few years Uvwo will gain pounds and certainly could grow in height as well. We can look forward to seeing this youngster in action at Providence next season.

In several mid-sized cities, the NBA is the only major league sport in town. Which cities make the list? Portland has the Trail Blazers, while the Thunder are Oklahoma City’s only major league team. Despite its population growth, San Antonio still has only the Spurs. Memphis, known for its Beal Street blues, is home to the Grizzlies. Orlando has Disney World, but its only major league team is the Magic. I also count in the count Sacramento, despite the baseball A’s temporary stay before their eventual move to Las Vegas. That brings the total to six cities where the NBA is the “only game” in town.

The face of the NBA

I don’t know who first called Victor Wembanyama the face of the NBA after his explosive play last season, but let’s pause before settling that debate. Someone argued that Wemby couldn’t represent the league because “He’s not an American.” Personally, I had no problem calling him its face after watching “The Alien” play his first few seasons in the NBA. Well if it’s not Wemby who becomes the face, could Cooper Flagg fill that role?

His numbers may rise or fall by the time you read this, but he is averaging 26.8 points, 6 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game, shooting 55.7% from the field, 26.9% from three and 85.3% from the free-throw line. As part of my new effort to include defensive ratings, Flagg stands out: his 107.7 rating ranks behind only three other NBA small forwards. Together, those statistics put him in exclusive company. Our opinions won’t decide the matter, but are you ready to name Wemby or Flagg the face of the NBA? Perhaps there is no requirement for anyone to assume the role.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

$$$$

Only Spike Lee and his accountant know what he pays for courtside seats. I’d say Lee is probably the Knicks’ principal celebrity fan, though he has plenty of company. Because its New York, Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden there are usually a significant number of names seated in those very expensive floor and courtside seats. I once heard Lee being interviewed about his seat and he said; “Don’t do what I do” or a similar statement. Curious, I decided to check on the cost, keep in mind we have no idea what Lee, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart or John McEnroe pay for their seats.

According to the internet the MSG seats these folks occupy range in price from $2,000-$10,000. In addition to those figures its reported price adjustments occur based on the day of the week and visiting team. On the west coast portion of the nation Los Angeles to be exact a similar cost exists. Jack Nicholson is not in attendance at Crypto.com Arena but there are plenty of others, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg and Steven Spielberg to name just a few. How much are these folks paying for their tickets….it depends. The figure I uncovered only applies to courtside seats and the price could be adjusted in a similar manner to Madison Square Garden. In Los Angeles we have a range of $2,650 up to $10,000. I suspect NBA arenas lacking celebrity fans ticket pricing is more moderate than New York and Los Angeles.

In court rather than on it

For the immediate time Mizzou forward Mark Mitchell is eligible to play. Mizzou has a game tomorrow which has become annual its match against Cleveland State and there is a basis for the game. Coach Dennis Gates arrived at Mizzou after coaching the Ohio school from 2019-2022. The resume of the coach is not the basis of this account its “In court rather than on it.” As most of you are aware Mizzou along with several other schools across the nation has attempted to aid a number of athletes in gaining another year of eligibility. Each case is different, I have no intent to detail each and every one of them I’m only detailing Mizzou. Forward Mark Mitchell, who most of Mizzou Nation believed was gone having his eligibility expired.

But wait there is more, Mitchell went to court and the final reading, he’s been granted a 5th year by the courts. I have no ability to determine if Mitchell is eligible for the season that will be determined later. As for transfer portal player CJ Gunn that’s a different matter. Gunn a guard had played two years at Indiana and two at DePaul but signed a professional contract. He played three games for a Canadian team earning $524, he’s agreed to pay the money back and serve a three game suspension as part of an agreement. The agreement was based on a temporary restraining order and a follow up hearing was planned. Tuesday’s hearing was cancelled, though it’s unclear which party cancelled it. Gunn remains ineligible to play pending a final ruling on his status. Now you see the reason for the headline: Mizzou is spending more time in court than on it. I wish that weren’t the case.

Chamberlain back then

Walk with me for a few minutes on this belief of mine, see if you can gather a degree of truth in the words you are about to read. Wilt Chamberlain back then, we are so far pass the events of his time most of his exploits on the basketball court are blurred. One of the complaints I’ve read and heard mentioned by many, “There weren’t that many teams back then. Chamberlain had little competition for the numbers he was able to produce.” Well the statement is partially correct, when Chamberlain arrived to play in the 1959-60 season there were only 8 NBA teams.

That meant he competed against 7 other starting centers and the reserves of the team. By the time he retired after the 1972-73 season the NBA had expanded to 17 with Chamberlain competing against 16 others. Also keep in mind during this period he played for the Warriors, Sixers and Lakers. It’s my belief by the time Chamberlain retired he might have competed against more quality post players than exist today. The NBA contains 30 teams at present, we could state in truth, “the product (post-play) might be diluted even more than in Chamberlain’s time.” The quality of play is generally at a premium however there are probably a number of players today who might not have earned roster spots back then.

Meanwhile….

Most of Laker Nation is asking the same question I am, who is Lawson Lovering? Having never seen him in action a deep internet dive was required. “Lovering played college basketball at Colorado and Utah, spent time with the Memphis Hustle in the G League, and appeared in two games for the Memphis Grizzlies last season. Lovering is a 7-footer and the Lakers waived AK Okereke in order to sign Lovering to a two-way contract. As most are aware the team is in need of a backup center to Walker Kessler, whether the 23-year old 245 pound Lovering can fill the role is unknown for now.

This is part II of an earlier report, keep in mind I didn’t conduct the research however it certainly would appear to be valid. How old is LeBron James, you know the answer he’s 41-years old and will have his 42nd birthday December 31. Consider this, “23% of today’s NBA players were not alive when LBJ entered the NBA.” The number is 103.5 or more of today’s players were yet to be born. Now for the math, I had to guess there are approximately 450 players in the NBA based on each roster containing 15 players and that’s how I arrived at 103.5 players.

I admit it, I’m spoiled….I wanna see what I want when I want to see it. Confused, here goes, the non-con portion of Mizzou men’s basketball schedule drives me up a wall. Mizzou will have played UNLV by the time you read this, I had no opportunity to see the game, are you wondering why? UNLV is on the Mountain West Network and Mountain West Streaming, I skipped paying for one more streaming service. The balance of the non-con consists of pay for additional streaming services or ESPNU. Based on what I am presently paying for cable and limited streaming I’m financially tapped out.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

They went opposite ways

This move did not occurr at the same time, however, two coaches took opposing paths toward the 2026-27 basketball season. His was somewhat indirectly, he’d been fired by the Nuggets and was an analyst for the leagues broadcast at the time he left for college basketball and the other left the college game for the NBA. With that said how about a brief look at both individuals? The North Carolina Tarheels hired former NBA coach Mike Malone, he’s a 24 year NBA coach serving in several capacities. There will be an adjustment for him although the basketball bounces in the same manner. As for the other Dusty May takes over the Dallas Mavs for a brand new experience.

May’s Michigan Wolverines won the 2026 NCAA Championship and the coach departed about two months later. Which coach is facing the most pressure in this brand new environment? We return to Malone first, he must adapt to recruiting athletes of today with NIL and the transfer portal in place, it would appear he’s gotten off to a fast start. Demarcus Henry a 6-foot 7 wing and the number two prospect in the Class of 2027 verbally committed on Friday October 30. As for May he’s now responsible for massaging the egos of 15 Mavs players most earning far more dollars than him. The pressure cooker that is coaching would say both are under scrutiny in their new positions. If I were to choose one over the other its got to be May in my opinion who might be facing the most pressure. Of course this is only an opinion, you might come to a different conclusion.

It’s just a number

Lebron James is “ancient” continuing play in the NBA considering his age, he will turn 42-years of age December 30. How about this tidbit of information recently pointed out to NBA fans? LeBron has played against an NBA player who was born in 1962 and another whose birth year was 2006, that’s a 44 year age difference. Who are they, some who are reading this might not remember the name Kevin Willis. Willis had a 21-year NBA career however he spent the greater portion (11 years)  of it as a member of the Atlanta Hawks.

Willis retired in 2006 while LeBron’s first year in the NBA was 2003. As for the player born in 2006 that would be Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavs. I know what you are going to say; “How come you weren’t providing information of this nature when LeBron was playing for the Lakers?” All I can say is Oops! As for LeBron playing at 41 it might not be as unusual as you might first believe. According to AI there have been a total of 36 players who played in the NBA after turning 40. Robert Parrish, Vince Carter, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and surprisingly we can count Michael Jordan in the number as well. Those names represent just a few of the number who played past age 40.

Surprise, they were ballers first

Basketball has wide appeal to large segments of the population. In some instances well known celebrities were never stars playing basketball although they reached stardom in other fields, let’s check out just a few of those names. Tom Selleck came to our attention playing in Magnum PI, later he would become New York City Police commissioner for 14 seasons in television’s Blue Bloods, he played the game in college. George Clooney has appeared in a large number of movies over the course of his career, in high school Clooney played basketball. Calvin Broadus a.k.a. Snoop Dog played on the Long Beach (CA) Polytechnic High School team.

Jamie Foxx has made a name for himself in the entertainment industry playing comedic and drama roles, he competed  in football and basketball while in high school. Standing 5-feet 4 it might be difficult to believe but comedian Kevin Hart also was on his high school team. Derek Jeter had a hall of fame career playing for the New York Yankees, he chose baseball although basketball was played as well. Rapper Nelly was on his high school basketball team. Either the game failed to hold his interest or maybe he didn’t improve, former President Barack Obama played on the junior varsity at Punahou School while living in Hawaii. Actor Brad Pitt of Moneyball was a member of Kickapoo High School as a freshman in Springfield MO. There are several celebrities who were omitted however this is but a small list.

Twin Towers

Whenever a team has two 7-footers in the lineup the immediate thought is “Twin Towers.” Think Tim Duncan-David Robinson or Hakeem Olajuwon-Ralph Sampson in the NBA, much earlier there was Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond for a time. At the collegiate level it was slightly different, the only names from memory are Artis Gilmore and Pembroke Burrows who played for Jacksonville University and faced UCLA for the 1970 NCAA championship. How about high school, most recently we had the twin sons of former NBA player Theo Ratcliff. Son’s Darius and Adonis. Both 7-footers are to be in the lineup for Southern Cal this season, of course we have the next two of note.

Cherif Millogo and Yann Kamagate are enrolled at St Francis High School in La Canada Flintridge California. This city is located in the foothills of the Verdugo and San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County. Some might remember an earlier report on Cherif Millogo who is a 7-foot 4 240 pound center, 247 Sports rates this Class of 2027 prospect 4-stars. At the  time I omitted his “twin.” Teammate Yann Kamagate is also enrolled at St Francis, he’s 7-foot and 230 pounds and 247 Sports awards this Class of 2028 prospect 5-stars. He and Millogo also share the same home country, both youngsters are from Burkina Faso on the African continent. As this is written it’s unclear if the two are from the same town in their home country. These are two names to file away for future reference.

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

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

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.