A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

This has got to be a record

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

Atlanta Hawks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Los Angeles Lakers

Boston Celtics

Houston Rockets

Toronto Raptors

Brooklyn Nets

Golden State Warriors

Detroit Pistons

Sacramento Kings

Cleveland Cavaliers 

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

They created confusion

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

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

An appraisal

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

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

A true change…maybe

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

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

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Newcomers

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

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

Looking ahead 

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

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

The best worst seat in the house

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

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

How to build an NBA winner

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

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

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

It was a Magic Time

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

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

Things have changed

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

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

The return of Manu Ginobili

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

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

Meanwhile….  

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

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

Wednesday plus Friday through Monday publication

How it played out

Where were you, the time you first saw Victor Wembanyama play? I’m not talking highlights from his time with Metropolitans 92, I’m discussing real time game action. I was parked in front of my television set viewing his French team’s game against G-League Team Elite. I claim no ability to view the future but I thought, “This kid is good…barring injury he’s going to be real, real good.” Now for the main course, the Houston Rockets are a very good team. As this is written they have 28 wins and 17 losses. One of those losses occurred on Wednesday evening losing against the SA Spurs 111-99. It wasn’t just the fact the Rockets lost, it was the manner in which it occurred. 

The Rockets held a 16 point lead at a stage of the game and then the roof literally caved in on them. The Rockets scored but 13 points in the 4th quarter, Wemby scored 13 points in the quarter too. The tripartite of guards DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper were just as much keys to the victory but so was “The Alien.” It was 28 points on 12-15 from the free-throw line, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 blocked shots in his 29 minutes of action on the court. The numbers could have been even higher if they hadn’t sat him for an extended period in the third quarter. You ask the question why are the Spurs so improved….It’s the Wemby Factor? From 22 wins to 34 last season and 32 so far in the 2025-26 season. In the 33 games he played to date he’s averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.7 blocks per game. Of course it is far too early to determine a finish however I am impressed so far.

I have the answer…I believe

Recently I attempted to cover the basis for the Duke hatred. There are a legion of fans who follow the college game, the minute you mention “Duke basketball” they become epileptic. The answer is much easier to understand than we might believe, the initial thought…”they are an elitist school and that flows down to the basketball team.” From there we look at the retired coach, Michael William Krzyzewski or Coach K. He won over 1,200 games and 5 NCAA Championships, that’s a resume which upsets a large number of college basketball fans. From 1980 through 2022 his teams beat up your teams which certainly upsets many and he did it time after time after time.

Jon Scheyer has done nothing to provoke anger except he is now sitting in the seat Coach K. occupied for so many years, that gives Duke haters another symbol to hate. Then we have the players and there have been plenty over time, one of the lightning rods was Christian Laettner who played at Duke from 1988-1992. He is famous for his game-winning shot against Kentucky in the 1992 tournament. There were other Blue Devil players, Shane Battier, Carlos Boozer and this even includes Zion Williamson. Although Kyrie Irving missed his freshman year and would leave for the NBA he’s one of the players too. What I’ve found most interesting the Duke hatred never landed on Grant Hill. Hill former NBA player is now a part owner of the Atlanta Hawks and NBA television analyst. I hope you see the intended humor in this account, I stated earlier and will repeat I love Duke basketball.  

How about the ‘old fashioned’ manner

We continue to read and hear stories that the Los Angeles Lakers are somewhat unsatisfied with the play of Deandre Ayton at center. If you remember the story, last summer the decision was made to sign Ayton despite the fact there were problems that existed in his previous stops with the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trailblazers. Laker management signed Ayton to a 2-year contract. With Ayton on the roster at least through next season the Lakers might secure his replacement in the old fashioned manner….the NBA draft. I realize NBA teams do little development of players in this age however quality play at center is still required. I compiled a list (based on several mock draft sites) of 10 centers who might be available to the Lakers should they choose to travel this route.

Nate Bittle 7 ft Oregon

Michael Ruzic 7 ft Croatia

Henri Veesaa 7 ft North Carolina (Estonia)

Patrick Ngongba 6-11 Duke

Flory Bidunga 6-9 Kansas (Congo)

Tomislav Ivisic 7-1 Illinois (Croatia)

Aday Mara 7-3 Michigan (Spain)

Johann Grunloh 7 ft Virginia (Germany)

Zvonimir Ivisic 7-2 Illinois (Croatia)

Motiejus Krivas 7-2 Arizona (Lithuania)

You might note Flory Bidunga at Kansas is the shortest center on this list, he’s included for a single reason. His defensive effort, Bidunga can leap tall buildings in a single bound, sorry I just had to use the old Superman quote.

The first season

The 1946-47 season would be the first for the Basketball Association of America, in 1949 the BAA would merge with the NBL becoming the NBA we recognize today. As mentioned previously the BAA got off to a shaky beginning as several teams ceased operations. The following is a brief explanation of those teams that went out of business and their history. The Pittsburgh Ironmen, 1946-47 would be their only season of operation for this Pennsylvania team. The Ironmen finished the season with 15 wins and 45 losses, their claim to fame. Press Maravich the father and coach of Pete Maravich played that lone season. Next up the St. Louis Bombers, they were slightly more successful having survived for four seasons before ceasing operations. They were the first BAA/NBA team to score over 100 points in a game.

The Detroit Falcons similar to the Ironmen the Falcons only lasted that first season before closing shop. Most NBA fans maybe some in Toronto might not be aware of this fact. The Raptors are the second Toronto team, the first was the Toronto Huskies who also lasted only one season the first. Cleveland also had and NBA team prior to the Cavs, they were the Cleveland Rebels and similar to the others only played the inaugural season of 1946-47. Next up we have the Providence (Rhode Island) Steamrollers, unfortunately they only lasted one season too. The Chicago Stags were slightly better, this franchise lasted four years before they went belly up too.  Finally we close with the Washington Capitols, they ceased operations after playing five seasons. It should be of note their coach would go on to success elsewhere in the NBA…his name Red Auerbach. As you can see the 11-team BAA lost most of its teams in a short span of time, perhaps that might be the basis for merger with the National Basketball League.

It might be

Recently we held one of those conversations that are the formation on something I can write about but it’s just an opinion. Our discussion centered on the roller coaster play of Mizzou in the SEC so far this season. He said; “I don’t think the SEC is as strong this season as last.” I said; “You are probably correct,” after a brief pause I said; “You know the Big 12 might be the strongest conference in the nation this season.” With that, let’s do a quick dive using the popularity contest i.e., AP Top 25 ranking. Number one we find Arizona now a Big 12 member, number 8 the Iowa State Cyclones.

Number 10 is the Houston Cougars and right behind them the number 11 team in the nation the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. At 13 the BYU Cougars followed by number 14 Kansas Jayhawks. That’s 6 of 12 teams the AP believes are the best in the land, of course the NCAA Tournament is the ultimate test. Despite my previous statement there is much to be said regarding the Big 12 being the best basketball conference this season. This might be one of those years playing in this conference might imply your team is the best of the best. The next three schools, although not ranked by the AP have winning records but losing conference records. These schools are UCF, West Virginia and TCU with win totals of 16, 14 and 13, respectively. This was not a deep dive however I believe it details the depth of the Big 12 Conference.

A fans perspectives

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65

Those not checking NBA stats regularly might conclude Victor Wembanyama San Antonio Spurs star is “missing.” No place can you locate his numbers unless you look them up separately, this is the example. We find him scoring at a 24.2 point per game average which is above his career number of 22.9. That number would place him tied with Utah Jazz forward Keyonte George however Wemby’s not there. Okay you are now going to check his block shots per game, they are 2.7 which would place him tied with Alex Sarr of the Washington Wizards.

Let’s check Wemby’s rebound total, its 11.1 per game, he would be third in the NBA. Your question, why isn’t Wemby listed in any of the stats just covered? The answer is simple, he suffered two extended time missed due to injury. As this is written he’s played in 32 games which places him just outside the minimum number to qualify for post-season honors. The question might be asked, what is the minimum number of games played to be eligible, its 65? The Spurs have 36 games remaining on their schedule, Wemby can only “miss” play in three games for the balance of the season. Someone might add are individual honors important, my response is yes but they come in second to a team’s success on the court. I’ve mentioned this in the past and will do so again, Wemby wants to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Sometimes fate intervenes

This was pointed out to me by a trivia person, he wrote “The Kings would still be in Kansas City if they had drafted Larry Bird.” My first reaction; WHAT, then I decided to conduct a bit of research. Bird was selected with the 6th pick in the 1978 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, okay how did he almost become a King? The Kansas City Kings had the second pick in that draft and chose point guard Phil Ford who went on to become NBA Rookie of the Year. Later an eye injury shortened what could have been an outstanding NBA career.

Meanwhile Bird decided to return to Indiana State for his senior year, later in 1979 he would duel Magic Johnson for the NCAA Championship, that game would set the stage for future matches, later they would meet as adversaries in the NBA, Bird with the Celtics and Magic with the Lakers. Speaking of Magic Johnson he also came close to becoming a Kansas City King. After reading that you are probably saying no way, how did this almost occur? That second pick in the 1978 draft and this is how the story unfolded. Joe Axelson then Kings general manager flew Magic and his father to Kansas City for a meeting. Magic says the Kings were prepared to offer him a six year contract paying him $200,000 a year if he would leave school after his freshman year. Take into consideration that’s 1978 dollars, if a similar issue occurred today the money amount would be considerably above that figure.

Back to our story, Magic says this, “I’ve been poor all my life” however his father had the final word. He told his son, “You been poor all your life what’s one more year, you need to return to school?” Of course he did, declared for the draft after his sophomore season chosen by the Lakers, the balance of the story is NBA history. The history of the NBA in Kansas City might have taken an entirely different course if fate hadn’t entered the picture. It would have been an either or situation, the Kings would have Bird or Magic on their roster.

The coach

There are many pursuits in life in which the public has an opinion. I speak of those jobs or positions which inspire public comment, political is the one most view however I would suggest another…head coach. Those in all sports constantly face the ire of fans, alumni and the media. Often under intense pressure from those elements I would borrow the comment made by President Harry Truman. “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” That has sometimes been the path of those coaches, the pressure becomes too much for them to bear.

This focus is on two coaches one collegiate the other in the NBA, who live this burden on a daily basis. Dennis Gates at the University of Missouri and JJ Redick with the Los Angeles Lakers, we cover the path of Gates first. The Chicago born Gates began coaching as an assistant at several stops the chief one being Florida State under Leonard Hamilton. The 46-year old Gates would be hired as head coach at Missouri in 2022 and the first question “Dennis who?” if nothing else he accomplished one task, Gates was able to renew the basketball culture at the school. Despite this fact a losing record in his second season saw the ‘wolves’ begin to howl. They have been less vocal but continue to whine from time to time. Now a brief look at JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers, this might be the toughest hire as head coach in the NBA, other than the Celtics job, these are two storied institutions. In 2024 with no coaching background the Lakers hired Redick as head coach. Redick was appointed after an extensive NBA playing career (2006-2021) he moved from podcaster to head coach in a single bound. There were a number of questions “how do you hire someone with no prior coaching experience?”

The media has certainly run rampant at times regarding Redick’s coaching moves despite the fact last season and this his Laker team is plus .500. They made the playoffs last season and should this season as well. His counterpart Gates might be less secure although his Missouri teams have earned an NCAA invite two of the three years he’s been at the helm. Will it be a third in 2026, that question is unanswered as this is written. One thing for sure this is a fact, Gates can certainly recruit. So there it is, a look at two basketball coaches one college and one in the NBA, one in Columbia (MO) the other in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile….

I believe we’d better hold off inscribing Cooper Flagg’s name on the NBA Rookie of the Year trophy. His former teammate at Duke has quietly moved into the lead by many in the media, yes Kon Knueppel is the name. This is written with Knueppel playing 44 games, I cannot speak to the defensive side of his game the offensive numbers for a rookie are good. 19 ppg, 48.2% from the floor with a sizzling 42.3% coming from three. Knueppel at 6-foot 6 is grabbing nearly 6 rebounds and dishing out close to 4 assists a game. As you are aware Flagg was made the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft however Knueppel was close behind having been chosen number 4 by the Charlotte Hornets. I’d mentioned previously last season while both were enrolled at Duke all eyes were focused on Flagg, based on that fact it’s easy to see why some in the media and fans may have overlooked Knueppel.

Cameron Indoor Stadium is one of the older college venues still in use today. The home of the Duke Blue Devils opened January 6, 1940, since that year there have been 5 renovations over the course of the buildings existence. There is a premium on seating because the fire marshal will only allow 9,314 fans in the arena for basketball. Cameron is also utilized by the women’s basketball team along with women’s volleyball. It’s my contention it will be several years before the arena is replaced for one reason alone. The Blue Devils have a built in home court advantage, their rabid fans are practically sitting on the court, many at the same level of the opposition. There are a number of basketball cathedrals which exist across the collegiate landscape of America…Cameron Indoor Stadium is one of them.  

I caught the last portion of the Hoops Hall Classic Championship game played in Springfield (MA) on Sunday. 6-foot 3 Jason Crowe Jr. was named MVP and he managed to fill up the box score. The victory by his Inglewood HS (CA) team over Notre Dame (CT) wasn’t an overwhelming victory despite Crowe Jr.’s game. The game was an 81-80 victory by Inglewood over Notre Dame, they had an opportunity at winning the game however the shot was a miss. 5-star prospect Crowe Jr. filled up the box score with 48 points, 6 steals and 7 rebounds in this game. As most are aware he is headed to Mizzou in the fall, based on this game alone you might see why optimism abounds in Columbia based on the potential of this lefty shooter.

A fans perspectives

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He awarded them a C

We're halfway through the NBA season, and a CBS writer who covers the league assigned letter grades to all 30 teams. I was especially interested in his grade for my team, the Los Angeles Lakers—he gave them a C. He explained why he only gave them a passing grade, but personally, I think they deserved a bit higher grade. I've often pointed out that the Lakers can score just fine; it's their defense effort that is called into question especially by this Laker fan, that's an issue. According to the writer, the chief problem is that "The Lakers don’t have another ‘Luka Doncic’ at a different position." I believe his rating is too low based on the following details. 

In my opinion he is overlooking the play of Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura (when both are healthy) and the improving play of Jake LaRavia. Marcus Smart is starting because he might be their best defender, and reserve Jarred Vanderbilt, who didn't play much earlier, has now been added to the lineup at times. I believe Vanderbilt’s defense remains slightly above average despite his lack of offense. I have no argument with the moves made by JJ Redick at this point, I believe he still has a team able and willing to listen to him even LeBron James. Ultimately, the grade of C is the writer’s opinion—even though I disagree with it. The real measure will be how the Lakers finish the season and how far they manage to go in the playoffs. As for me, my grade is best a B-, or worst C+, the defensive issue is a legitimate concern. Reserve scoring also concerns me however I believe a C grade based on their winning record to date is unreasonable to me. 

Freshman scoring binge

40 point scoring games are not that unusual even for freshman, over the history of college basketball a significant number of freshman have accomplished this scoring feat. Just this past season Cooper Flagg scored 42 points against Notre Dame, Antoine Davis had a 48 point game while a freshman at Kentucky, in addition Trae Young while playing for Oklahoma also had a 48 point game as a freshman. In this instance it was highly remarkable because we had three freshman manage to score 40+ points on the same date, January 24.

Who are these amazing freshman, of the trio AJ Dybansta at BYU is probably the most well-known name among them. He is the number two or three prospect depending on which 2026 mock draft site you might check, the Dybansta box score read 43 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists against Utah in his school’s 91-78 victory over Utah. Kingston Flemings 46 points 6 assist and 2 rebounds failed to help his Houston Cougars, they were losers against Texas Tech 90-86. Keaton Wagler from Shawnee Mission HS in metro Kansas City led the Fighting Illini to victory 88-82, he scored 46 points in his team’s victory over Purdue.

South Philly

I have distanced myself from arena developments in Philadelphia. I’ve done this for a single reason…confusion on my part. If I were to admit the truth the process of providing new/renovated baseball and football stadiums in Kansas City had me confused on exactly what was to occur. The advancements in Kansas City will not be covered because neither involve an NBA arena. I believe the last time it was mentioned in this blog the mayor and city council of Philadelphia had agreed on 76 Place at Market East. It was a move forward and then it wasn’t, a change for whatever reason and we discover the Sixers and Flyers came to an agreement on a new arena in south Philadelphia which places it in the sports complex area.

The City of Philadelphia has been awarded a WNBA franchise and instead of a 2031 opening its been moved up a year due to the arena also becoming the home of the new franchise team. In the age of grouping stuff together in addition to building a new arena it will be surrounded by restaurants, retail, public plazas and perhaps residential projects. This would enhance the sports complex area over the next several years. With a dwindling timeline its being reported groundbreaking on this project will occur in February. In closing what I find most interesting, the Sixers who wanted their own building will continue to share space, although the WNBA plays a different schedule they become the third tenant. The one question remaining would appear to be financing for this planned arena, as there are additional developments I will attempt to update you.

Is it The Joker

I found myself cornered today, I was asked to respond: “Is not Nikola ‘The Joker’ Jokic’ the best NBA player today?” I hesitated unable to provide a quick and concise answer to the questioner. We are discussing the Denver Nuggets three time NBA Most Valuable Player, he’s an NBA Champion and he is an 8 time NBA All Star. We could argue if he is the best at present but this I find most interesting, most probably don’t remember this. The Joker was made the 41st player chosen in the second round of the 2014 NBA draft, do you realize the significance of this fact? There are first round players drafted ahead of Joker who are no longer in the NBA in 2026.

Because our conversation occurred at work I didn’t have time to fully disclose my position for my co-worker. This is my assessment, Joker is ‘mechanical’ in his movements especially shooting the ball. There is no argument on his passing skills, there is no Big Man in today’s NBA who can be compared to Joker. Annually he is near the top in assists season after season. Once upon a time Wilt Chamberlain decided he was going to lead the NBA in assists and guess what…he did it however that was only one season. Shaquille O’Neal was an outstanding passer but he cannot be fairly compared to Joker. I am searching my mind to uncover another center who is able to dish the basketball as effectively as Joker. With that I end this exercise, Joker is the best Big Man current. The question becomes best Big Man in history, I am going to withhold my view but ask you the question is he?

A fans perspectives

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88-87 OT victory

The headline represents the final score as Mizzou beat Oklahoma in OT, Mark Mitchell is a very good player the best on this squad. Despite my statement I can say with conviction Mark Mitchell is not a good three point shooter, despite what you just read Mark Mitchell made the shot that led to the victory. I am warning you, I only saw the first half of the game. I didn’t see the second half or the OT however I did see the Mitchell shot live, I can say this account is somewhat incomplete. Mizzou Nation is happy with the win but this team is struggling currently, losing to Georgia and last week LSU this was a must win maybe for both teams. For the first time Mizzou had three players in double figures including Mitchell with his 25 points and 10 rebounds. The TO’s were even for the teams however Mizzou was horrific from the three line (29%).

At this point I will repeat my earlier statement this Mizzou squad remains a mystery to me, are they NCAA worthy might be your next question? At this point I remain unconvinced although I remain solidly in their corner. Although I did not view the second half or overtime, I witnessed Mitchell's impressive shot live. As such, this account may lack some completeness. The Mizzou fan base is pleased with the victory; however, the team has experienced recent difficulties, with losses to Georgia and LSU making this game critical for both sides. Notably, Mizzou had three players reach double figures for the first time, including Mitchell, who contributed 25 points and 10 rebounds. Turnovers were balanced between the teams, while Mizzou’s performance from the three-point line was subpar at 29%. Overall, questions remain regarding the full potential of this Mizzou squad and whether they are contenders for NCAA selection. At present, I am not fully convinced, though I continue to support them.

True Grit 

This is no reference to the 1969 western movie which starred John Wayne or its 2010 remake. As for the headline exactly what is true grit…rather than provide you my idea I decided to offer you a thesaurus definition. The word is defined as “courage and resolve; strength of character,” you think that might fit Warriors power forward/center Draymond Green? Take a look at his bio, his career numbers certainly are nothing to shout about, the truth is they appear below average so what is it? Let’s check the past, he played 4 seasons at Michigan State and almost missed the NBA draft.

Green was the 35th pick in the second round of the 2012 draft. There are players no longer in the NBA who were first round draft choices and here stands Green after 13 seasons continuing to play a vital role for the Warriors. Of course as a friend mentioned to me when discussing Green he said this “being drafted by the Warriors was being in the right place at the right time.” If Green had been chosen by a team other than the Warriors I might not be writing this and you wouldn’t be reading It either.  As for those players drafted ahead of Green, I decided to provide you the names of the first 10 players chosen in the first round. Even with the first 10 there are at least 3 names who are no longer in the NBA, check out the names: 

 1. Anthony Davis

 2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

 3. Bradley Beal

 4. Dion Waiter

 5. Thomas Robinson

 6. Damian Lillard

 7. Harrison Barnes

 8. Terrance Ross

 9. Andre Drummond

10. Austin Rivers

The connection

When discussing international players in collegiate or NBA basketball, Europe is often the primary region considered. While this is frequently accurate, there are notable exceptions. This article will highlight basketball talent from Australia and New Zealand, where the National Basketball League (NBL) has operated since 1979. The NBL currently consists of ten teams distributed across Australia and New Zealand, listed below are the teams as the league currently stands:

Adelaide 36ers-Adelaide

Brisbane Bullets-Brisbane

Cairns Taipans-Cairns

Illawarra Hawks-Wollongong

Melbourne United-Melbourne*

New Zealand Breakers-Auckland

Perth Wildcats-Perth

S.E. Melbourne-Melbourne*

Sydney Kings-Sydney

Tasmania JackJumpers-Hobart

The city of Melbourne similar to New York and Los Angeles has two NBL teams. The NBL has sent a number of players into the NBA and a number of college and NBA players have found a home in the NBL. What happened for JaVale McGee, he found a new home playing for the Illawarra Hawks. Back in Australia now is Matthew Dellavedova after playing for the NBA Cavs and Bucks. The 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball spent a season playing for the Illawarra Hawks before returning to the U.S. and being drafted by the NBA Charlotte Hornets. Also from Australia, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey and a host of players I’ve failed to mention in this short piece.

The conundrum

Lots of times we hold discussions that cannot be resolved, as the idiom goes; “It’s difficult to close the barn door when the cow has already gotten out.” Part of this was mentioned earlier, the Kansas fan complaining Darryn Peterson and the fact the school was only a stop on his way to the NBA. That statement is true for him plus Cameron Boozer, BJ Dybansta and others I’ve not mentioned. All are freshman who are likely to declare for the NBA draft, this time next year they will be NBA rookies. How did we arrive at this point might be the question? Once upon a time the NBA allowed high school talent in the draft, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and others not named. They came into the NBA and became superstar players but that was the upside, the downside are the high school players who declared for the draft and were skipped over. There were others who were drafted but were gone within a few years, they were found to not be NBA ready.

The NBA through its Players Association voiced their disapproval of high school players in the draft and then WHAM…no more. College coaches say okay, “We can’t recruit players headed to the NBA this rule change is good.” With an age 19 or one year out of high school there was an effort to circumvent the rule. A high school player would play his freshman year and then declare for the NBA draft. We heard again from college coaches; “We can’t recruit a player who is only going to be here as a freshman.” There were some coaches with no issues, they would recruit a kid realizing he’d only play for them one season. The drip…drip…became a trickle and soon it was a gully washer as more and more freshman declared for the NBA draft. I’m not going to add Name, Image and Likeness to this discussion. This issue has been compacted for space however the events occurred generally as they were spelled out. The fix in my view which will not occur…allow high school players in the NBA draft again.  

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Sometimes you miss

I felt so proud of myself, a guy from Kansas City informing a native born Chicagoan the city had more than one NBA team. I enlightened him that the Washington Wizards had begun life as the Chicago Packers in 1961. A year later the name was changed to the Zephyrs, at the end of the year season three (1963) the team moved to Baltimore and underwent another name change becoming the Bullets. From the Baltimore Bullets it was the Capital Bullets and then in 1974 the Washington Bullets. In 1997 the team took on Wizards as the team name. This is the portion of the Chicago NBA story I overlooked, the Chicago Stags. The Stags were charter members of the Basketball Association of America which began play in the league’s inaugural year of 1946.

When the BAA and NBL merged in 1949 becoming the NBA the Stags moved into the newly formed league. As for why the Stags ceased operations after four seasons the Stags new ownership citing monetary issues closed shop prior to the 1950-51 NBA season. Although they failed to win a championship the Stags were successful on the court with 145 wins versus only 92 losses. Most of the names associated with the Stags are lost to history however there are two names of note. They are Kenny Sailors generally credited with being the first jump shooter, up to his time most players shot two-handed set shots. Sailors has been enshrined in the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. The name of Max Zaslofsky is also mentioned, this guard was the BAA scoring champion in the 1947-48 season. The Chicago Bulls are the latest NBA team to represent the city, before them came the Packers/Zephyrs and Chicago’s first team the Stags.

The real truth

I admit that I sometimes get distracted by all the attention given to “The Top 25.” Like many people, I end up focusing on these rankings, but it’s been my long held view that they’re really more about popularity. Now please don’t misunderstand me, they do provide a degree of reality. What’s the real measure? For me and several others that would be the Basketball Power Ranking or BPI, which relies on analytics to determine the position of college basketball teams. For example, consider the Coaches Poll—can we realistically expect college coaches, with all their responsibilities, to have time to accurately rank the Top 25 teams on a week to week basis? If you want to believe it, go ahead, but it seems questionable—that would be the same for the media poll. The BPI, however, is different. I’m not going to detail the parts of BPI, check it out for yourself. See if it’s a tool you might find useful, so, what does the Top 25 BPI ranking look like? Here it is:

   

  1. Duke Blue Devils

  2. Michigan Wolverines

  3. Gonzaga Bulldogs

  4. Houston Cougars

  5. Arizona Wildcats

  6. Iowa State Cyclones

  7. Purdue Boilermakers

  8. Louisville Cardinals

  9. Illinois Fighting Illini

10. Florida Gators

It’s more than him

The San Antonio Spurs have played outstanding basketball (31-14) to date. Winning basketball always requires teammates who are willing to do stuff that contributes to this culture. This is a salute to the roster, the clear leader of this team is ‘The Alien’ Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot ? giant is having an outstanding season. He’s been impacted by injury however across the board the majority of his numbers this season exceed his career numbers. As an example his field goal percentage for his career is 47.8%, this season Wemby is shooting 51% from the floor, his 3-point shooting is higher over his previous effort. The only area that’s dipped slightly is blocked shots, career wise he’s 3.5 per game this season it’s a healthy 2.6.

Rebounds are about the same nearly 11 per game technically placing him alongside league leaders. Due to the extended time Wemby missed with injuries he’s short of qualifying for many of the stats we follow. I have no method of providing evidence of what you are about to read so keep that in mind. I wrote this past Friday I believe Wemby wants badly to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year, he’s hinted as much. His chief competition since his arrival in the NBA has been fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert, the Wolves center has won DPOY four times over his career. I’ve said this previously, critics of Wemby’s game claim “he should develop a low post game.” No disagreement with that statement however shooting 39% from three provides proof he’s got outstanding talent in that area as well.

Which team shows up

This is written 24-hours in advance of Oklahoma facing Mizzou in Columbia. The headline is a reference to the roller coaster play of Mizzou lately, they beat Top 25 Florida yet lose to LSU. Mizzou plays a winnable game versus Georgia but comes out of it with another loss. The question becomes which team is the one we should view as the norm? The starting five has basically been the same since day one, the problem as I see it is the inconsistency of play. Power forward Mark Mitchell is producing good numbers but he alone cannot make up the difference for the poor play at times. My finger is pointed directly at Anthony Robinson, Jacob Crews and Jayden Stone…all are starters and this is where I disagree with Gates.

If they are not effectively producing he needs to replace them in the starting lineup. The coach has gone with a  9-man rotation to this point in the season however maybe Northweather and Mack need to be moved too and replaced by I’m not sure who. As I’ve pointed out in other instances I’m far from ready to replace the coach, that’s for more than one reason. Gates has proven to be an outstanding recruiter however moving those prospects into the rotation has not produced much to date. Back to the coach a moment, who replaces him plus the revolving door of coaching hires has got to cease at a point. Although we have not completed this season for me the 2026-27 becomes the litmus test for coach Gates. Depending on which source you utilize the number 2, 3 or 4 best prospect class in the nation will arrive on campus. This will be the true test for me and maybe others.

A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

It was a good win

The Joker remained absent from the Denver Nuggets lineup, that may have indirectly led to the 115-107 victory by the Los Angeles Lakers. I’m giving the Lakers a B- letter grade because its clear there were some good things coming from this game. The first and most important they beat a playoff bound team despite Joker missing, the Lakers haven’t done too much of that recently. Truth is they have lost games to teams hovering around and below .500 that should make them feel embarrassed. LeBron James only scored 19 points but appeared to be revitalized with his 9 rebounds and 8 assists.

Luka ‘The’ Don led the way with his 5th triple double of the season, 38 points 13 rebounds and 10 assists but there were others. Deandre Ayton was poked in the eye (I hope not serious) and he missed the second half of the game, stepping up in his absence was Marcus Smart, Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura. The Lakers outshot the Nuggets 51% to 45% and the real surprise shooting from three. The Lakers didn’t defend particularly well (41%) but managed to shoot 40% which is outstanding for them. Probably the most encouraging aspect of the Lakers, they won in Denver, which hasn’t occurred too often in recent years on the Nuggets home court. By the time this is read they will have continued the road trip playing the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome.  

An enigma

Maybe I should contemplate a better term for this Mizzou Tiger team. They are a paradox, or conundrum…how about this less complex term puzzle. The last two games have witnessed them almost win both of them, despite that fact they haven’t allowed me to feel any better about this team. Friends, yelling and screaming at your television serves no practical purpose so in the future I will refrain myself. Oh, the final score was Georgia 74 Mizzou 72 in what I might describe an “ugly game.” Neither team at times appeared to have a will to win, turnovers…poor shot selection all were contributing factors to this game.

A 3-point basket at the end by Mizzou came up short however it wasn’t a clean shot and in my view didn’t come close enough to be tipped into the basket. The Achilles heel of Mizzou basketball poor free throw shooting failed to appear however it was replaced by offensive rebounds by Georgia. It seemed every miss by Georgia a rebound offered them a second and sometimes third attempt. I am stating this upfront, I love Dennis Gates…I love the fact he’s revitalized the basketball program however there remains an issue. This Mizzou team is yet to turn the corner where they become a repeat conference contender similar to Kentucky. I have no idea what occurs from this point going forward, the college season begin with such promise and is slowly descending into a downward trend.  Next up they face the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday afternoon, I expect a win by Mizzou.

Meanwhile….

A writer used the term “losing a winnable game” several weeks ago while describing the outcome of a Mizzou game. It was his interpretation (not mine) Mizzou lost a game he believed they should have won, I thought, “I like the phrase.” Probably the first thought from you might be what is the definition behind the expression? You can arrive at your own conclusion and it will be correct as for me it’s not this occurrence. A half-court heave that finds the bottom of the net or a tip in basket that wins the game, also a crucial rebound that might seal a win, it’s none of those things. It’s a winning team losing to one with a losing record, for me it is simple playing down to the level of your competition, it doesn’t matter if we are talking a high school game, one played in college or the NBA. It could also be termed an “ugly” loss due to the fact it could have become a win with a little more effort.

As of mid-January, the college basketball season has been underway since November. Personally, I review NBA mock draft sites approximately four to five times before the season concludes. Typically, there is fluctuation in player rankings; as noted below, the mocks generally align with one another. Presented here is the projected Top Five NBA mock draft picks as of January 18. Despite intermittent absences due to recurring leg cramps, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson continues to hold the number one spot across all three mock draft sources. There has also been minimal movement for AJ Dybansta of BYU and Cameron Boozer, both wing players either up or down at their respective programs. An additional update is planned for you in February, between the middle and end of the month. It should be of note that our focus is always on the top portion of the draft. That fails to take into account their might be a Manu Ginobili, 57th pick in 1999 or Draymond Green, 35th pick in 2012. There is always hidden talent in a draft, the 2000 draft being the exception.

NBADraft.net                                        nbadraftroom.com                                                tankathon.com

Darryn Peterson                                      Darryn Peterson                                                      Darryn Peterson

AJ Dybansta                                             AJ Dybansta                                                          Cameron Boozer

Cameron Boozer                                     Cameron Boozer                                                    AJ Dybansta

Kingston Flemings                                  Caleb Wilson                                                         Caleb Wilson

Caleb Wilson                                           Kingston Flemings                                               Kingston Flemings

I cannot prove a portion of what you are about to read, its only my belief. A view that Victor Wembanyama wants to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He hinted as much with his comment recently regarding the NBA rule which stipulates the number of games played in order to be eligible for honors. As an example if he played more than the 28 games he’s played thus far he would be tied for second in the NBA in blocked shots. Currently Wemby is three games behind the minimum number to qualify for post season honors. Why did the NBA institute a games played rule you ask? In this day of “load management” it has become a requirement. A rule change shouldn’t have been necessary however the league must have believed it important enough to implement.