A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Law & Order: LSU

Football coach Lane Kiffin and men’s basketball coach Will Wade have been a lightning rod of controversy. Both have waded far from shore into the deep water which can prove dangerous. I’m not going to detail Kiffin only Wade but the path chosen by both is similar. Understand this, ESPN’s college basketball page indicates the roster is complete. Contrast that with the roster of the school website, it only contains four players.

Wade has brought on board RJ Luis Jr., who played at St. John’s. He was the 2025 Big East Player of the Year however he’s signed multiple two-wade contracts with NBA teams. There are two other 5th year players Wade hopes will be declared eligible, wait there is more. The four players listed on the school’s website are Euro prospects whom Wade hopes to be cleared to play. Wade’s been a winner at all his stops with 105 total out of 156 games played so his coaching resume is certainly solid. How would I cast Will Wade, a coach who walks as closely as he can to the edge of the cliff who manages to avoid falling off the edge.

On the east side

Our friends in St. Louis might suffer NBA withdrawals as well as many of us in Kansas City, it’s been a great deal longer for them. The Hawks departed for Atlanta in May 1968, the Kings left Kansas City in 1985. So the 18th most populated region of the 50 states is without NBA basketball. As for the St. Louis connection it goes like this, the Basketball Association of America began play in 1946 with 11 teams. Among that number in that initial season was the St. Louis Bombers. The team would play its first three seasons in the BAA and the 1949-50 season their last in the NBA. The history says the Bombers went out of business due to low attendance and poor play on the court. The team did manage to win a division title in 1948 however that appears to be the only bright spot for this club.

It wasn’t only the Bombers,  the history indicates they were one of six teams that either folded or departed after the 1949-50 season. St. Louis would remain without an NBA team until 1955 when the Milwaukee Hawks relocated and began play as the St. Louis Hawks. The Bombers had one player who would distinguish himself with the Celtics and Hawks. Ed Macauley played his college basketball at St. Louis University naturally the Bombers drafted him but he would only play his rookie year in St. Louis. The next season with the team folding the Boston Celtics selected him, Macauley was chosen in the dispersal draft. In the 1956 NBA draft the Hawks selected Bill Russell with the second pick and immediately traded him to the Celtics for Macauley and Cliff Hagen. 

One town, two teams   

The greater Los Angeles metro contains 18.4 million souls that’s certainly a large enough population base. Attendance is not the issue but I thought I would toss that into the mix. Despite my love affair with the Lakers I don’t have a “earth-view” of events in the metro, Joey Linn does. Linn is a beat writer who covers the Clippers and he wrote a column that was insightful to me. I have no desire to steal his thunder but I want you to focus on a sentence Linn wrote. “This is an organization (Clippers), that whether they wanted to admit it or not, have operated as if they are trying to get out of the Lakers shadow.”

Is there an issue with two professional teams in one city, it depends. The baseball Yankees appear to have no problem with the Mets, we could make the same statement for the Giants-Jets. In Chicago we have the baseball White Sox and their south side neighbors the Cubs. Because were discussing Los Angeles it the Dodgers or Angels. The point in my view, these cities with two teams appear to be in more competition with the league than their city counterparts. The Clippers have resided in the shadow of the Lakers since they moved from San Diego in 1984. This from an incident during the time Doc Rivers was coach of the Clippers, this occurred. Prior to the Intuit Dome being built the Clippers and Lakers were co-tenants at Crypto.com arena then known as Staples Center. Rivers had building maintenance cover the Laker retired jerseys for Clipper home games.

They are one of the few

In March 1979, a group of schools came together to form what became the Big East Conference. What made the conference different was its foundation in basketball rather than football, the sport around which most major athletic conferences were built. The Big East remained primarily a basketball conference until 1991, when several schools were added as football-only members. At its founding, Providence, St. John’s, Georgetown, and Syracuse invited Seton Hall, UConn, Holy Cross, Rutgers, and Boston College to join. Holy Cross and Rutgers declined, while Boston College, Seton Hall, and UConn accepted.

In those early years, the conference quickly became known for primetime matchups featuring Syracuse, Georgetown, St. John’s, and others. Patrick Ewing playing for Georgetown was hated whenever his team played St. John’s in The Garden, the vitriol would change much later once Ewing began play for  Knicks. The Big East is no longer the conference of its founding, schools have left while new ones have arrived. St. John’s remains a power member however Georgetown basketball has suffered and no longer is the power it once was. In recent years it’s been up to UConn to retain the prestige for the conference it once held, Bobby Hurley’s Huskies have won back to back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024. The college basketball landscape has changed so significantly the Big East is unlikely to return to its glory days.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Will they….can they

The year was 2018 the Warriors were crowned NBA champions for the second year in a row. This was quite unusual not the championship but the fact we had a repeat champion in the NBA. The Showtime Lakers, the Russell led Celtics no longer dominate the game. Both remain competitive teams but similar to others they don’t repeat. The Lakers won in all in 2020, the Celtics 2024 but neither were able to repeat the feat in the following season. There are a variety of reasons that factor into the why there are no longer repeat NBA champions….the chief one in my view injuries. The second might be free agency, those teams that manage to come up short have secured free agents allowing them to accelerate past their rivals.

The Knicks won it all in June 2026 after last winning in 1973, the Knicks lost four players from their championship team. Mitchell Robinson, who backed up Karl-Anthony Towns was key to the win over the Spurs, he left in free agency. The Knicks signed Andre Drummond and Tacko Fall in an attempt to solidify the reserve position in relief of Karl-Anthony Towns. The 7-foot 6 Fall is a training camp signee who hopes to secure a position with the Knicks. The Knicks also added two players from the 2026 NBA draft, don’t expect either to see any minutes, the Knicks are a veteran team. The Sixers signed LeBron James to an improving team and the Celtics are laying in the weeds despite shipping Jaylen Brown off to the Sixers. It will be extremely tough but barring major injuries the Knicks could repeat if all the dominoes fall into place again. The headline “Will they….can they, the answer is yes.

Blocked shots

Bill Russell didn’t invent the blocked shot, after all his rookie season in the NBA was 1956-57. The first year of operation for the league was 1946-47, surely a number of players probably blocked shots prior to his arrival. What was the difference, Russell turned the blocked shot into an art form. He once said; “I can’t block every shot but if I make them think I can.” As you can see the intimidation factor was in full effect for Russell. Now for the problem, the NBA didn’t begin tracking blocks until the 1973-74 season.

Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, who arrived in the 1959-60 we can only guess the numbers they managed. The following numbers should be taken as speculation based on the shot-blocking ability of both. Russell was probably 8.1 blocks a game during the regular season in the playoffs it was 8-15 blocks. There are no playoff estimates for Chamberlain but his number during the regular season was guesstimated to be 8.8 blocks. As indicated once the block shot stat was added well a number of players blew the roof off. October 28, 1973, Laker center Elmore Smith set the NBA single game record with 17 blocks against the Blazers. This past season Victor Wembanyama was named Defensive Player of the Year, he also led the NBA in blocked shots. What’s that you say, its easy when you stand 7-foot 5 or whatever height Wemby stands. Blocking shots is more than height alone, I’m not picking on Brook Lopez but consider this.

Lopez is 7-foot 1 and 282 pounds yet 2.5 blocks a game is his highest total for his 18-year career and he accomplished the number four years ago, Wemby led the NBA with 4.8 blocks this past season. Why do you think the Lakers traded for Walker Kessler, he’s a productive rebounder and shot blocker. Because the height issue was mentioned what are the traits of a good shot blocker. He must have good leaping ability, timing is also important plus positioning. Added is discipline and the intimidation factor or the Russell effect is also a key. Bottom line, just being 7-feet tall is no guarantee of an athletes ability to block shots or intimidate.  

Meanwhile…. 

ESPN is projecting a dire future for the Clippers losing 5 future first round draft choices. They use the example of the Minnesota Wolves from 26 years ago at a time they suffered a similar fate involving Joe Smith. Although it will not be an easy task I believe the punishment is nearly the same although the outcome could be quite different. As an example I believe in the draft, however, a complimentary free agent is more likely to turn a team around than a rookie draft pick. What’s the old adage; “location, location….location.” This is certainly not intended as a criticism but we are talking Southern California versus the cold, cold winters of Minnesota. The Pacific Ocean plus Hollywood movie and commercial opportunities, those might work to an advantage for the Clippers attempting to sign free agents.

My best guess is that, aside from winning an NBA championship, having your number retired ranks near the top of basketball honors. I was surprised to learn that all 30 NBA teams have retired at least one number, with the Boston Celtics leading the way at 24. The Los Angeles Clippers have the fewest with one, and even that is somewhat technical. Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson’s number 42 across the sport, and the NBA took a similar step with Celtics great Bill Russell’s number 6. That remains the only retired number credited to the Clippers. The Lakers are second behind Boston with 15 retired numbers, though technically it is 14 players because Kobe Bryant’s numbers 8 and 24 are both retired. The New Orleans Pelicans have retired two numbers: Bill Russell’s 6 and Pete Maravich’s 7. Overall, seven NBA teams have retired 10 or more jersey numbers.

I like Michael Porter Jr., much of this stems from the fact he attended and played at Mizzou briefly. I’ve followed his NBA career and pleased it appears MPJ has raised his level of play over his brief time in the association. Those are the positives. The negative for me, his opinion: He recently made headlines by saying he is unimpressed with the rebuilt Lakers roster. I’m not sure what prompted his view, but I can say with confidence that I’m equally unimpressed with his assessment.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I’m not a hater

After reading this a number of residents in Las Vegas who are readers will boycott me. I’m not a hater, I just happen to believe Las Vegas doesn’t deserve a franchise right now. By the time this is read I’m quite sure I will be unwelcomed at least in Las Vegas. As most are aware the NBA Board of Governors met this week and one of the topics on the agenda was NBA expansion. The front runners are Seattle (clearly understandable) and Las Vegas (why). Seattle is easy to understand, the NBA should have never left the Emerald City. Even the former owner has admitted selling the team to Oklahoma interests was not a good move on his part.

As for Las Vegas you noticed I question why this city should be chosen over another, there is no argument it’s one of the top tourist destinations nationally in the nation. The NBA has long embraced Las Vegas as the home of Summer League, and the city also hosts numerous youth tournaments. Those are clear positives, but the central question remains: Do Las Vegas residents want an NBA franchise of their own? I’m not sure. Consider the NFL’s Raiders: They play only once a week, so even with a struggling team, filling Allegiant Stadium is relatively manageable. Would residents consistently attend 41 home games at an arena that has yet to be built? Seattle already has an arena; Las Vegas does not. I realize these points may not make a convincing case against NBA expansion to the city however they are my points.

Big Man Basketball

Allow me to introduce to several Marcis Ponder, he’s a 7-foot 285 pound freshman post man at Florida State University. Scouting reports indicate he’s got a “physical presence and paint protection” in his arsenal. In addition to that he’s been nicknamed “Baby Shaq” which requires an additional detail. I have no skepticism in the scouting report but Ponder is dominating high school centers, most probably don’t have enough physical presence to battle him successfully. This is where we begin this latest account regarding Big Man basketball.

I have long expressed a view in the past athletes continue to grow in stature. Yes, the game has moved outside to a degree, post players are often expected to shoot three’s which is real concern for me. In the NBA with the exception of Wemby and Joel Embiid (when healthy) most centers are suspect in shooting threes. This change in the game is the fault of Steph Curry as I’ve often expressed. His shooting prowess over the course of his NBA career has witnessed “copy-cat” basketball. The Warriors until recently have been quite successful shooting three’s why not utilize their style of basketball. I intend to track the further development of Ponder, I’m going to discover if FSU turns him into a three-point specialist.

Meanwhile….

Gee, thanks ESPN for your observation of the upcoming season for my Lakers. The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network has decided the Lakers are “Two bricks short of a full load.” That’s an old adage that may or may not apply here, I just thought I would toss it in. In any event the fellas at ESPN have decided the Lakers have not improved themselves significantly in the off season. From my Man-Cave I disagree with their assessment of the upcoming season for the Lakers. Consider this fact, the Lakers have become a younger team and in addition they have taken on a more athletic and defensive mindset. Truth is in the results, I cannot truly sit here in September 2026 and forecast a May 2027 finish. Despite what I just wrote I am forecasting a better season barring major injuries than ESPN. Aside from the injury issue a starter at power forward is the only “hole” I see, but what do I know I’m just a basketball fan.

This is an interesting take this time, rather than a straight line projection ESPNs Men’s College basketball page made the SEC forecast in this style. They predict Mizzou BB finish in a Ceiling and Floor outlook, let’s check it out. As for the Ceiling ESPN projects a 30 win total and a second place finish in the SEC. They see post-season as a Final Four. On the other hand the Floor for Mizzou is 22 wins and a 7th place finish culminating with an NCAA invite. Naturally, I would prefer a ceiling finish however there are intangibles (injuries, subpar play etc.) that make it extremely difficult from where I sit to have any kind of thought as to where Mizzou might finish.

Now and again you come across a story that appears somewhat questionable. That is the case here, Spurs shooting guard Stephon Castle is reported to stand 6-foot 6 inches in height. Now the team is reporting he’s grown to 6-foot 8, he’s sprouted two inches over the summer, but wait there is an addition to this story. Wemby, the Spurs center has been listed at several heights. The Spurs record him at 7-foot 4 but most consider him a bit taller like maybe 7-foot 5. Think a moment about this bit of news, The Alien is now listed at 7-foot 7 inches in height. Just like teammate Castle he’s also grown at least two inches over the past 2-3 months. Oftentimes it’s difficult to determine whether the information you receive is correct or not, we have an opportunity to accept the information or reject it. I like the Spurs, I could make the same statement about Castle and Wemby. Despite what I just stated I don’t believe this story one iota.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

You are in charge

An 1875 poem by William Ernest Henley became famed, a portion reads; “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” I might have misread the poet but I always believed he was stating we as individuals have a large degree for our success or lack thereof. This is said based on comments by former NBA player Danilo Gallinari who made headlines recently with his comment on Kawhi Leonard. Some might remember as for others Gallinari was traded to the Thunder in order for the Clippers to obtain Paul George, who Leonard wanted as a teammate.

I had forgotten Gallinari’s name until I read his statement, he said; “Leonard altered the trajectory of my career and landed me in a mess.” He went on to state the trade (to the Thunder) severely impacted his NBA career. I had forgotten Gallinari’s name, who is now retired. I checked and his stats indicate he was having a career year with the Clippers prior to the trade. He spent one season with the Thunder and played for four other NBA teams before eventually retiring. I cannot speak to Gallinari’s career after the Thunder but I believe there is truth to the Henley poem.

NBA business

Yes, we realize the NFL season has begun in earnest, sports news coverage will begin dominating the airways. Despite that fact there remains the NBA and this week should be interesting. An NBA owners meeting is scheduled and there are numerous topics to discuss. These are not in any order just what I believe are likely to be on the agenda. With a federal investigation beginning regarding the Clippers will there be additional penalties addressed by the NBA? Also likely on the agenda is further news regarding NBA Europe, the league is scheduled to begin play next fall near this time. Expansion will also be a subject of discussion as well, this is not a guaranteed fact however the conversation surrounding Seattle and Las Vegas would indicate these cities are considered the prime candidates for expansion to the NBA.

Kansas City basketball

The city is laid back in most of its sports programs with the exception of the NFL Chiefs. Despite coming off an injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and missing the playoffs this past season it doesn’t hurt they have made it on an annual basis for 10 years. In addition to that winning 3 Super Bowl championships aids the cause too. The baseball Royals, the Current and Sporting KC soccer teams….is there room for basketball? The University of Missouri Kansas City or Kansas City Roos have made little noise in the past for a Division One program.

What makes a difference for the 2026-27 season, hopefully the coach and his resume. February 1, 2026, Mark Turgeon was named head coach for the men’s basketball program. Turgeon brings over 20 years’ experience as a head coach at Wichita State, Texas A&M, Jacksonville State and Maryland. The coach has a .634 winning percentage over the total of his coaching stops. The truth of the matter I really have no idea the number of wins Kansas City Roos basketball will have by next spring. My optimism is based on the coach and the possibility he is able to turn this program around. I’d mentioned my longtime desire for a successful urban basketball program similar to those of UCLA, St. John’s or others, my belief Mark Turgeon is the man for the job.

The best trade in Laker history was…..

NBA free agency has been the mechanism for teams to acquire new talent. Free agency has changed the future outlook for a number of teams over time but its new compared to trading for roster additions. Teams will often trade a player or players in an attempt to improve the team, the Lakers have certainly utilized this process over time. I got to thinking, what do you suppose might be the best trade in Laker history, there are certainly a number of blockbuster moves to choose from. How about the trade that brought them Mychal Thompson, the center/forward was a vital cog in two NBA championships. We could look at the trade with the Bucks, the Lakers would acquire the Captain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The Lakers already had “Batman” in the lineup, his name was Kobe Bryant they needed a Robin and that’s exactly what Pau Gasol would become.

Gasol would arrive in a trade in 2008 from the Memphis Grizzlies, 2009 and 2010 the Lakers win it all. Although they are yet to reap the ultimate reward i.e. NBA championship the trade that brought them Luka Doncic February 1, 2025, was/is of the blockbuster variety. In the summer of 1968 the Lakers acquired up till that time the most prolific scorer in NBA history Wilt Chamberlain. In closing Kobe Bean Bryant must be included in this account for one reason alone….the Lakers acquired him through a trade. In the 1996 NBA draft the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe with the 13th pick in the first round of that draft. His rights were traded to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac. There you have it those trades (with the exception of Luka) which brought the Lakers a championship or multiple ones. Which one is the best, well for one thing I didn’t provide you the names who the Lakers traded to acquire these All Stars. With that in mind you become the judge, which in your view is the best trade in Laker history?

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

You get a car and you get a…..

This headline references a memorable television moment that may be unfamiliar to some readers especially those abroad. On September 13, 2004, media personality Oprah Winfrey told all 276 members of her studio audience, “You get a car, and you get a car.” The giveaway was projected to cost well over $7 million. In this instance the reference is Denzel Aberdeen Florida basketball player. His attorney has filed suit against the NCAA in order for Aberdeen to gain a 5th year of eligibility.

This from ESPN’s college basketball page; “The NCAA’s refusal to honor its current eligibility framework breaches its contract with UF, which is intended to benefit student-athletes like Aberdeen,” the lawsuit said. The troubling portion of this account Aberdeen joins a growing list of players totaling 30 as this is written. Will this issue of a 5th continue to crop up every season into infinity, I don’t have the answer? As I have continued to point out as recently as last Friday’s Off the Dribble someone, somebody must take charge of this problem.   

Is this franchise cursed

The question is asked of the Los Angeles Clippers, it seems there is always someone or something preventing them from reaching the championship level. Consider their birth, born in Buffalo New York as the Braves, years later sold and then moved to San Diego. New owner Donald Sterling then landlord watched the NFL Raiders move from Oakland to Los Angeles and the league sue them. Once the court ruled in favor of the Raiders Sterling decided to move his Clippers to Los Angeles in 1984. Never mind seeking NBA approval, Sterling moved them north and technically said “stop me.” He did this because Los Angeles was a larger market plus his business was located there. The Clippers were never able to compete effectively with the Lakers even during periods when the Lakers were not very good.

In the early 2000s the fortunes of the Clippers began to change, they reverted from perennial losers to consistent winners. The only problem….failure to advance to the next level. They earned playoff berths from 2012 through 2017 and again from 2019 through 2021 and followed that with a streak from 2023 through 2025. Despite the winning the Clippers only managed to play for the Western Conference championship one time, 2021. An injury to a key player or some other anomaly might occur preventing them from advancement. And now the Kawhi Leonard saga, now he’s gone a member of the Raptors. Despite his departure indirectly he’s caused the team to continue its present course. I began this exercise with the headline “Is this franchise cursed.” Despite the fact the Clippers have continued an endless cycle of never competing for the ultimate prize I don’t believe in curses. The problem of the Clippers is more of a human problem which must be resolved.

Music and basketball    

This might not be true for everyone, but over the years several songs have become closely associated with basketball, whether in the NBA or college game. In some cases, I had to do a little research to learn who recorded them. The following are just 6 tunes selected we’ve heard while viewing an NBA or college game in person or on television. You might be unfamiliar with the artist however perhaps you’ve heard the tune, an example is the longtime theme tied to the Chicago Bulls’ glory days. I remember watching games on WGN Chicago, where it always played at the start of Bulls broadcasts. You may have heard it even before it became linked to the NBA and the Bulls. The song is titled Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project—check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkC_oi0ksuw&list=RDOkC_oi0ksuw&start_radio=1

Composer/musician John Tesh wrote this next tune at the time the NBA was being broadcast on NBC, it remained in hibernation until this past season when NBA games returned to the network. This was named, Roundball Hard Rock:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qCEX4scaJA

This next tune had nothing to do with basketball, it might have been played in dance halls prior to it becoming associated with basketball. The Pointer Sisters Jump was heard throughout NBA arenas across the nation anytime there was a jump ball:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyTVyCp7xrw&list=RDuyTVyCp7xrw&start_radio=1

Another example and this might be a surprise to some reading this, it’s House of Pain’s rap tune Jump Around. One group member wears a Celtics jersey in the video, so perhaps that is the basketball connection:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=house+of+pain+jump+around

This is usually heard at the beginning of a number of college basketball games, we actually don’t hear the tune but we hear the student body in the arena hum it more than sing it, here is the tune. It’s title Zombie Nation by Kernkraft 400:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5LW07FTJbI&list=RDz5LW07FTJbI&start_radio=1

Finally this exercise is closed out with a tune we only hear once a year, it’s titled One Shining Moment and generally we hear the refrain prior to hearing the late Luther Vandross provide words, it’s played at the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament:

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

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Should I

There are the occasions, you must decide between writing about a story or not. This is one of those times you’ve read plenty regarding Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers the last 3-4 weeks. This is an additional story that broke recently and I had to determine if it was worth covering. In this instance it’s the New York Times reporting the story, they claim, “A federal investigation has been opened into the Los Angeles Clippers for allegedly circumventing the salary cap to compensate Kawhi Leonard.”

Please note the word highlighted and underlined because as this is written there is nothing yet to be proven. The main reason I decided to mention it due to the possible repercussions if the named parties are found guilty. If this probe is true (and I believe it is) the entire process will likely be pending for a time. Consider the NBA’s investigation, it took the law firm roughly 11 plus months to issue a report on the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and others. Whatever occurs in the future I will attempt to update you just as soon as practical.

The truth

In this instance “truth” has nothing to do with the nickname of former Celtic Paul “The Truth” Pierce. It’s the conclusion by an athlete they must face the truth, they are unable to play at a skill level that allows them to play professionally. Recently many of us might have read Lonzo Ball’s claim that his younger brother LiAngelo had NBA skill, he said; “His (LiAngelo) game is league-worthy.” Some might remember the middle brother had several tryouts particularly with the Hornets but was unable to secure a roster spot, he even played in the G-League for two seasons. Being real or coming to a conclusion “Maybe I’m not good enough to play at this level,” there is no shame in admitting that however some might have difficulty admitting that as the truth.

Several years ago the son of a friend made an effort to sign as a free agent with the NFL Chiefs. Although he’d been a starter and played major minutes for Iowa State he failed, I believe this occurred twice. His final attempt at a pro contract was a tryout with a Canadian League Football team, he was cut once again. He might have concluded “I’m not good enough” which is certainly no reflection on him as a human being. Another example occurred when the Kings called Kansas City home and held an open tryout for free-agent talent. Carl had played for a highly competitive high school team and a small local college, but he did not earn the roster spot he hoped for. Years later, he told us, “I would hate to grow old and say to myself I never tried.” LiAngelo and the other individuals mentioned should feel no shame; they simply were not talented enough to play in the NFL or NBA, where opportunities are extremely limited—the NBA has only about 500 jobs. The key question, I believe, is: What do you pursue next?  

Meanwhile….

In my view, a sports agent has one primary responsibility: securing the best possible contract for their client. That job can require tremendous effort, but it should not include doing business in a way that later creates problems for the player. That appears to be the case with “Uncle Dennis,” Dennis Robertson, the former agent and uncle of Kawhi Leonard. I use “former” because Kawhi reportedly fired him, likely connected to the defunct Aspiration Company and the fallout involving the Clippers. Stories about Robertson have circulated since he negotiated with the Lakers over a potential Kawhi Leonard contract, but I’m not going to revisit those accounts. Instead, I’ll focus on the present: Uncle Dennis has been barred for the next five years from conducting business with any NBA player or anyone associated with the league, he seemed to operate by his own set of rules.

Once upon a time there was Ruben Patterson, he was the self-appointed Kobe Stopper. He claimed his defense would curtail Kobe’s game, guess what it was more talk than anything. This is 2026 and we have the Wemby stopper, his name El Hadji Tacko Serigne Diop Fall. Most of us recognize him as the 7-foot 6 inch Tacko Fall, you might remember he played his college basketball at the University of Central Florida. He went undrafted in the 2019 draft but later signed as a free agent with the Celtics. Tacko has also played for the Cavs but the last several years have seen him play in the Chinese Basketball Association. He’s returned to the U.S. and the Sixers have signed him for training camp, in this this upcoming season a battle between 7-foot 6 Tacko and the 7-foot 5 Wemby.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I hate to keep repeating myself

College sports (football & basketball) are out of control, this issue has existed for a time now. Nowhere is this more evident than at LSU, this Louisiana university school has been threatened by the SEC with expulsion. Despite that fact as this is written that’s not been done. As for football coach Lane Kiffin he’s indicated his intention to add two NFL players on his team’s roster although they were missing from LSU’s first game. A similar situation exists with men’s basketball at LSU, I am unsure of the number but it is being reported Will Wade has also added “pro-players” to his roster as well.

With the threat of a pending lawsuit the NCAA the governing body of college athletics has been somewhat silent. The question becomes, is there anyone in charge, from where I sit the answer would be an emphatic no. We are in an age whereby the universities and colleges have increasingly become farm systems for the NFL and NBA. Each year one more rung higher on the ladder is established. I’ve stated over and over resolution of this issue is above my paygrade and scope. I don’t know who fixes this but I will inform you who I don’t wish to become involved in….its congress. I would foresee senators or congresspersons even the president politicizing this issue for their benefit. This ends with a fix is required but by who?

Really

I’ve been reporting for a time the Sixers desire to move from Xfinity Arena to their own building. Well an agreement was reached several months ago and a decision was made to build a new arena on the same spot of the demolished Spectrum where the team once played. The plan for the building was released this past Tuesday, now for the numbers. Seating is unknown at present however it’s likely to be in the neighborhood of 20,000 occupancy. The price tag for this arena is projected to be $1.5 billion with no taxpayer funds being expended for the project.

Naturally, there are complaints and one of those I heard was this. The Xfinity Arena opened in 1996, which makes it about 30 years old, in 2019 it was remodeled to the tune of $265 million. One resident questioned the need for a new arena with the work performed at Xfinity. As a taxpayer and one who is paying for the Royals and Chiefs stadium the proposal for zero taxpayer money being expended sounds exciting to me. On the backend we have no clue what will occur or did occur for Chase Center in San Francisco or Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Chase and Intuit were built without taxpayer funds as well, who pays for the maintenance and upkeep of these buildings? I believe it’s just as important to detail that bit of information too.    

Genius

Jack Molinas was reported to have a 175 IQ, this is what AI Overview says. “An IQ of 175 is well beyond standard genius thresholds and falls into the profoundly gifted category, representing an extreme rarity of roughly one in a million or fewer.” That should provide us an idea how intelligent Molinas was, he could have accomplished a multitude of tasks but he preferred a criminal protagonist as his life’s pursuit. In addition to his intelligence level Molinas was an outstanding basketball player. Molinas attended Stuyvesant High School, the school is widely considered one of the most prestigious and competitive public high schools in the United States.

Only the top 1% of New York City kids are admitted each year so that should provide evidence of the intellectual level of Molinas. After graduation he attended Columbia University and one season led the team in scoring and was team captain. It’s been reported he was involved in the 1951 college basketball betting scandal although he was never caught or charged. How good a basketball player was Molinas, well in 1953 the Fort Wayne (Detroit) Pistons made him the 3rd pick in the first round of that year’s draft. His gambling habit would eventually be his downfall, he would sometimes even place bets on his Pistons team, somehow he was caught and the NBA permanently banned him from the league. Molinas would later sue the NBA however he would lose the case and the ban would remain in effect. From 1954 to 1962 he played in the Eastern League a precursor to the G-League. After his playing career was nearing an end he enrolled at Brooklyn Law School securing a law degree. Molinas would become a central figure in the 1961 college betting scandal, this blackeye for college basketball involved over 50 players at 27 colleges and universities. Some of those names might be familiar, Connie Hawkins, Roger Brown, Doug Moe and others. In 1963 Molinas was convicted for his role in the scandal and was sentenced to 10-15 years in prison, he would be paroled in 1968 after serving but 5 years.

In 1970 Molinas moved to Los Angeles in hopes of seeing his life story portrayed on film, the project would never come to fruition as his criminal past was never far behind and would catch up with him. In 1973 Molinas was arrested and charged with interstate crimes however he didn’t stand trial. At 2:00 a.m. on August 3, 1975, Molinas was shot in the neck, his girlfriend and dog were wounded, Molinas would die from his gunshot wounds. No one was ever charged, and authorities believed his ties to organized crime may have been the motive behind his murder. Thus ended the controversial life of Jack Molinas, a man whose extraordinary intellect could have led him to success in almost any field he might have chosen. Instead, he chose a life of crime—a decision that would cost him his life at the age of 43.

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What’s next for him

I realize several grew tired of me writing about the exploits of the Spurs Victor Wembanyama. Based on his 2024-25 season being cut short due to injury he came roaring back last season. He led the Spurs to the NBA Championship although they came up short, the question what do we expect after his  breakout 2025-26 year. At age 22 he became the youngest player in NBA history at 22 years of age to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the previous winner was Dwight Howard who was 23 years old the first time he won the honor. Wemby’s surprised him on the age chart that’s clear but there is more.

Most Blocks in an NBA Playoff Game, that record was held by three players. Hakeem Olajuwon, Mark Eaton and Andrew Bynum all had 10 blocks….Wemby had 12. How about this other playoff game record, Wemby became the youngest player to record a 40-point, 20-rebound game, he accomplished this at 22-years of age, the previous record holder was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at age 23-years. Most Career Games With 5+ Blocks before age 23, Shaquille O’Neal accomplished this in 45 games…Wemby its 46. There are other records but I will stop here with this, Wemby became the first unanimous DPOY in history. He received 100 of 100 votes cast, the nearest to him was Ben Wallace who finished with 116 of 120 votes.

Vindicated

Several reading this are familiar with Pablo Torre and his reporting. Before I delve into the topic at hand allow a brief explanation from me, I have no issues with the media. I do have issues with certain members who in reporting the story become THE STORY by their over the top reporting, Torre is not among that number. One year ago, September 2025 he broke a story regarding the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration Company. He reported the player had circumvented the salary cap thanks in part to his Clippers team.

I’m unsure what most believed at the time however there must have been enough evidence for the NBA, they hired an outside legal agency  to begin conducting an investigation. For the next 11 months the public heard little except there was progress being made. At a point in August came a report indicating “No judgement was forthcoming for the Clippers owner Ballmer or Leonard.” It’s now believed the Clippers might have funneled this report to ESPN who in turn ran with the story. I along with several others assumed it was being reported so it must be correct. We reported what was revealed by this story, Of course all that changed September 2, 2026, as the NBA made a major announcement indicating the Clippers were guilty of wrongdoing. The league issued major punishment to Ballmer, two front office individuals plus Kawhi and his agent. Was this close to a “Death Penalty,” you be the judge, 5 consecutive first round draft picks beginning in 2029. You’ve read plenty on the outcome my focus is Torre, he was roundly criticized in some circles initially after the all clean report was generated.

After September 2, his labor has been vindicated and he’s proven once again the value of investigative reporting. I’ve seen him on television from time to time over the last year, no pontificating in front of the television cameras. Torre calmly lays out his view of the subject matter and reports what he’s discovered.  Torre would become a 2026 Pulitzer winner for his Audio Reporting podcast investigation on the Clippers. This should provide proof there is always a requirement for reliable and forthright investigative reporting no matter what area is under discussion.

This is interesting  

I didn’t generate what you are about to read, it’s an Instagram author, despite that fact I believe you will find it quite interesting. The following is his list of the “15 Men Who Changed Basketball Forever.” Number one is easy to understand, he placed James A. Naismith in the top slot. There would be no basketball without his desire and innovation to provide a winter sport for his classes. George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers Big Man was selected number two, he was listed as the NBA’s first superstar. There is no intent to list all 15 simply point out several I found interesting.

Bill Russell was four while Wilt Chamberlain earned a 5 slot, Julius Erving was listed at 7. Two on-court adversaries who were certainly responsible for growth of the NBA game Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were listed 8 and 9. The writer placed the innovative Pete Maravich at 12, does he belong on the list in your view? Dirk Nowitzki also earned a spot, he was not the first international star he was listed at 13. Steph Curry was placed at 14 the only current active player and finally Kareem Abdul Jabbar was 15. Keep this in mind, I believe the writer was not compiling this list from a talent standpoint, it appears to be a selected number of athletes who impacted and changed how the NBA game was played.

Confused, no longer

The ever changing landscape of rules and regulations inside the NBA is sometimes confusing to fans. That is the case for me (and maybe you as well), I hear the term protected or unprotected used regarding the NBA draft. In simple terms the definition or meaning of the words are understandable but the question remains for me, how does this relate to the NBA draft? Since I was unsure of how it was utilized I sought help, I did this because I ain’t too smart, what you are about to read is AI generated and not my words. In the 2027 NBA draft where do my Lakers stand is the question? Based on what you are about to read you will understand the confusion and it will provide the answer most of us are inquiring.

“Lakers own a top-4 projected or protected pick in 2027 actually reflects the inverse: the Los Angeles Lakers traded their 2027 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz (via the Russell Westbrook trade), and that pick is top-4 protected.”  

“What the Protection Entails

If the pick lands 1 through 4: The Lakers keep their pick.

If the pick lands 5 or lower (5th to 30th): It conveys to the Utah Jazz.

Because the first-round pick fails to convey, it transforms into a 2027 second-round pick sent to Utah instead.”

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Terrible NBA trades

Over time, the NBA has seen its share of terrible trades, the worst trade in NBA history actually was the result of a free agent signing. The teams involved certainly never intended for things to turn out that way, but they did. Here is a brief history as I see it. The first one that comes to mind is the 1956 Bill Russell trade. Russell, the second pick in that year’s draft, was selected by the St. Louis Hawks and immediately dealt to the Boston Celtics. Russell would go on to win 11 NBA championships. Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley enjoyed some success in the league, but nothing close to Russell’s. Verdict: this was a bad deal for the Hawks, the Celtics were the winner. How about the 1996 trade that saw the Hornets trade the draft rights to number 13 Kobe Bryant in exchange for Vlade Divac?

You are aware of the Naismith Hall of Fame Kobe, in the meantime Divac had a decent NBA career but nowhere close to that of Kobe Bryant, winner: the Lakers. In 2021 the Lakers traded three players and three draft choices to the Wizards for Russell Westbrook, the Wizards were clearly the winner here. Westbrook was not a good fit and was traded two years later. In the 2024-25 season the Mavs sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, because AD has since been traded the Lakers were the clear winners here. The acquisition of Doncic could be debated because despite him being in the lineup that have not advanced to play for an NBA championship. This essay closes with in my opinion the worst trade in NBA history….worst because of all the pieces involved. In 2019 Kawhi Leonard required a stipulation be in place if he were to sign as a free agent with the Clippers, the team must acquire Paul George which they later completed in a trade with the Thunder. The Clippers traded Danilo Gallinari along with future MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander for George. That trade in 2026 would prompt a bunch of moves which prove detrimental to the future of the Clippers.    

No need of detailing the entire story you are aware the Clippers had been under investigation since September 2025 for an under the table scheme which paid Kawhi Leonard. Once details were uncovered NBA punishment was swift surrounding Leonard’s circumvented payment ploy. This is the after affect, the Clippers gave up two players with one of them being SGA to the Thunder, the resulting penalty from the Aspiration salary cap fiasco plus the Paul George trade will cost the Clippers 10 first-round draft picks beginning in 2029. Paul George is gone and so is Leonard, what did they gain with these two in the lineup….a few extra wins during the season but no NBA championship, only one occasion did the Clippers play for the Western Conference finals. Now they are left with what is the worst trade in NBA history prompted by a free agent signing.

American MVP

I was viewing NBA TV on Friday, the host and guests were entertaining several subjects, one of those was the lack of an American player winning the NBA MVP. It was pointed out the last 8 MVP’s in the league have all been international players, the last American player was James Harden in 2017 while a member of the Rockets. Are there American players who might be future candidates for league MVP? I would submit the name of Mavs forward Cooper Flagg as a prime candidate.

Also we could add Anthony “Ant” Edwards to a list, he could be a Bonafide candidate as well but wait there are others. Jalen Brunson was Finals MVP, could he parlay a series MVP into an NBA MVP, the question remains unknown for now. Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero along with Jalen Johnson could also be considered. It’s difficult to name those who are yet to see action but I could nominate AJ Dybansta, Carlos Boozer and perhaps Darryn Peterson members of the Rookie Class of 2026. There is no guarantee any of the names on this list will be named NBA MVP, they certainly could comprise a list of candidates over the next 5-7 years.   

A law degree might be helpful

I have a measure of understanding regarding the ever changing status of Mark Mitchell. You remember Mitchell was headed for Kentucky then he wasn’t, currently Mitchell has been added to Mizzou’s roster, the question becomes how is this possible, they have 16 players and only 15 are allowed. From Yahoo Sports; “The program accommodated Mitchell using a roster exemption tied to the 2025 House settlement.” That is the court ruling which allowed Mitchell and others a 5th year of eligibility.

As for adding CJ Gunn who becomes roster member 17 that takes a slightly different turn, forward Annor Boateng suffered a devastating injury last season. Although Boateng remains on the roster its reported he is not ready to play this season. Mizzou is stating if Gunn is able to gain eligibility he will be added using the medical exception of Boateng. Confusing, of course it is….you did read the headline didn’t you? So now you have a clear understanding how Mizzou can claim 17 players on its roster when 15 are the maximum allowed. 

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The road less traveled

The phrase “the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason” is a pragmatic reply to Robert Frost’s famous poem “The Road Not Taken,” noting that unpopular paths often involve hidden dangers or practical difficulties. What you just read was AI generated however I believe it might fit almost Laker Jonathan Kuminga, as you are aware he chose the Wolves over the Lakers. “Not to come disrespectful, but I didn’t feel like Los Angeles was the right environment for me. There’s a level of expectation and outside noise (that) surround the Lakers that can become distracting, and I wanted (a) situation where I could stay focused on basketball and my development.”

Those are Kuminga’s words but these are mine, at the time Harry Truman served as president a sign on his desk read; “The Buck Stops Here” indicating to me be prepared for a decision or the pressure that accompanies it. I’m not upset although I claim to be part of Laker Nation, Kuminga kept the Lakers and other NBA teams “on hold” for almost two months. The following are the words for all prospective Lakers. “Kobe believed the Lakers brand sold itself, stating that if a free agent needed to be convinced or recruited to handle the immense pressure of the L.A. dynasty, they were not meant to wear the uniform.” I hope this doesn’t appear I’m hatin’ on Kuminga that is not the case, it’s my belief based on his comment despite potential talent he just might not have been a good fit for my Lakers.

In season, always

Friends and acquaintances of mine have said this to me on more than one occasion, “Why do you write about basketball year round?” The explanation is simple, basketball is in season, always, do you want some examples? How about the breaking news from the NBA offices regarding the Los Angeles Clippers? As most of you are aware this investigation involving Kawhi Leonard was a yearlong investigation, it could have been resolved in April or June but it wasn’t, it was September.

That was just one of a number of stories surrounding the NBA that concluded in the summer. We can also check out the college game as well, as you were aware several college players were granted a 5th year of eligibility by the courts. Mizzou added two players to its existing roster in the August-September time, in addition we have AAU and FIBA basketball being played during the summer. So the truth of the matter, the NFL commands headlines at the time there is no competitive play the same status exists for the sport of basketball.

The second coming of Magic

Ben Simmons had potential superstar written across his chest literally. He’s 30-years old now but his exploits in Australia led us to believe he was the second coming. After all he was taller than Magic Johnson (6-10) and outweighed him and played outstanding at the point. There was little if any range on his jump shot but that didn’t matter, Magic was not a great shooter either but it was the other things he did so well. In addition Magic worked and became much better at shooting by the time his career ended. On his arrival on these shores Simmons played at LSU for a season prior to declaring for the NBA draft.

In 2016 Simmons was made the top pick by the Sixers but missed what would have been his first year due to injury. To provide evidence that the wait proved beneficial he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team and was also NBA Rookie of the Year for 2018. I am reading between the lines but it appeared criticism of his lack of shooting plus an injury were contributing factors to his downfall. He was traded to the Nets and the change of scenery failed to change his path, Simmons played for the Clippers half of the 2024-25 season, he did not play at all last year. Reports are circulating he wants a return to the NBA but the question might be, is there any team willing to take a chance that Simmons has returned to his Rookie of the Year form? NOTE: As this was completed word came the Kings signed Simmons to a one-year contract, he returns to the NBA after sitting out the 2025-26 season.

Y’all go’ make me

The complete line of the 2000 Hip Hop classic Party Up by DMX, Y’all go’ make me lose my mind Up In here, up in here. Why do some wish to make a story that is no story, that’s what we have here. Former NBA player turned analyst Blake Griffin had a biting commentary on Bronny James. Griffin wasn’t critical of his play rather than the amount of money Bronny was being paid. Here goes and this paraphrases the Griffin statement, “Bronny has a rich parent (LeBron) plus he secured an NIL agreement while in college.”

Finally, this last bit of information “He’s being paid too much considering he was a second round draft pick.” I choose to tear this argument apart, first of all the statement regarding rich parents. Bronny and his siblings were probably denied few things growing up however they are not rich, their parents are. NIL money is none of Griffin’s business and finally the recent contract Bronny signed. It’s likely in meeting with the Laker front office his agent specified the amount of money his client desired. The Lakers said, okay we can do that. I have serious doubts if Bronny arrived in the Lakers office with a weapon threatening anyone. To borrow the LaVar Ball line Blake Griffin needs to stay in his lane, I believe he’s stuck his nose in an area where he’s got no business.

 

 

A fan’s perspective

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The ship be sinking

If you are a certain age or an NBA historian the headline above will be familiar to you. Although the sentence structure is incorrect it’s one of the more famous NBA quotes. In 1981 a member of the media interviewing Knicks guard Michael Ray Richardson asked him about his struggling New York Knicks team. Michael Ray’s response; “The ship be sinking” which might be just as appropriate for the Los Angeles Clippers.

After all a great number of the early sailing ships were referred to as clippers, from time to time clippers did sink just like the NBA team with the same name. As sure as I’m sitting here in my Man-Cave writing this Steve Ballmer and crew will appeal the NBA judgement which becomes the largest in the history of the league. The most recent “earthquake” involved, are you ready for this; the Clippers and former owner Donald Sterling. He was fired by the NBA over racist comments he made and banned for life. The Clippers were placed on the market and at that point Steve Ballmer purchased the team. From where I sit it’s difficult to truly determine an outcome after all I along with others were led to believe there was “more smoke than fire” a few weeks ago. If there are no changes check out the NBA draft, the Clippers will have their pick for the next two years. After that, a move into the desert for this team occurs for the next five years.

Once again I’m looking at the now with no idea what eventually occurs. Based on the hammer laid on the Clippers organization it’s possible there could be a monetary reduction, draft choices could be reinstated. Ballmer and company will not escape punishment completely. I wrote this yesterday and will repeat it, Adam Silver has been criticized by several in the media along with fans for his lack of leadership. If, for example, he is too lenient there are those who once again will refer to him being soft. NOTE: Yesterday I wrote Kawhi Leonard should have been suspended too. Technically that’s not possible if the NBA approves the trade, he is now a member of the Raptors, why should they be punished for events in which they were not part of.

This one is beyond me

The Mark Mitchell saga shifted from Kentucky and returned to Mizzou and you might ask why? The talented 6-foot-9 forward is now again part of an ever expanding roster for coach Gates. As for expansion of the roster word arrived of another addition on Tuesday: CJ Gunn, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard who played last season at DePaul, he began his college career at Indiana. Gunn is viewed as a strong three-point shooter which should help Mizzou shooting.

As some are aware this was an area of concern and was solely lacking last season….shooting from deep. The headline reflects my confusion because reports had indicated previously Mizzou’s roster was complete. Yet in a matter of two days, the Tigers have added both Mitchell and Gunn. This team now appears loaded from top to bottom, which raises one question I cannot answer: How will Dennis Gates find enough playing time for such a deep roster? I’m sure happy I’m not walking in the shoes of the head coach.

You remember I hope….

Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, is the self-appointed voice of the NBA, I’m not the least bit serious about what I wrote or you just read, it was meant in a divisive manner. As most are aware Smith claims expertise on nearly everything related to the NBA and I am unsure who gave him this designation that’s why I wrote earlier “self-appointed.” As for the war of words that occurred between Smith and Kwame Brown I’m unsure where it began.

Some of you might remember the history, in 2001 high school players could declare for the NBA draft and that’s exactly what Brown did, the Wizards made the 6-foot 11 290 pound Brown the top pick that year. His NBA career did not progress at the level most expected he became a journeyman player moving from team to team. Kwame left the NBA after the 2013 season however some like Smith wanted to attach derogatory names in front or behind his name. For a time a war of words ensued between Smith and Kwame, despite many of the negatives aimed at Kwame by Smith consider these facts. Over the course of his 12-year NBA career Kwame earned in the neighborhood of $63 million. He’s made investments from his Adidas contract and other ventures, in 2026 it’s reported his net worth is in the neighborhood of $4-5 million. Based on what I’ve read, I believe Kwame has used guidance from advisors—and perhaps lessons learned through his own business ventures—to expand his portfolio. Those decisions appear to have helped increase his net worth over the years. This story is recounted to you for the following reasons, no one unrelated to you can pass judgement on your life journey.

It’s just an opinion expressed by Smith but is non-valid in all aspects. From a monetary standpoint it would appear that although he experienced limited success in the NBA Kwame is far beyond what he might have dreamed as an 18-year old. No one but us can define our success or lack thereof including Stephen A. Smith, despite the position he believes he holds. In reading this a number might believe my focus is the monetary aspect earn by Kwame but it’s really much more.

He’s a Big Dude

Ethan Taylor is so huge he blocks out the Sun, okay that’s a bit of an exaggeration but he does stand 7-feet tall and 244 pounds. He’s a local product, he first became known for his play at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School. The school is located in Shawnee Kansas a suburb on the Kansas site of State Line Road in Kansas City Missouri, Taylor finished his senior year at Link Academy a school with a national basketball reputation, its located in Branson (MO).  

The highly sought after Big Due chose Michigan State over a host of other schools with offers for his services. Taylor must now adapt his game to the collegiate level. My one hope, the coaching staff skips the lessons on 3-point shooting. As for the future I’ve grown weary of coaches talking to 7-footers on the virtues of shooting three’s, I know I’ve made this statement previously but it bears repeating. Athletes have continued to grow in stature and my question remains….is anyone teaching these giants specialized post play? In any event I plan on viewing as many Michigan State games as possible with a local talent on board.

                     SPECIAL EDITION

This is a shocking development. Earlier reports suggested the NBA had found no wrongdoing by the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, or any connection to the defunct company Aspiration. That was what I wrote a few weeks ago, well that has changed. That account was then; this account is now. On Wednesday, word broke that the NBA was lowering the boom. The Clippers are being fined $30 million, and owner Steve Ballmer will be suspended for one year.

In addition president of business operations Gillian Zucker also receives a one-year suspension without pay, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank receives six months without pay. The Clippers must forfeit first-round picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033. Add the picks sent to Oklahoma City to acquire Paul George and secure Kawhi Leonard, and the total climbs to 10 first-round picks. Kawhi Leonard is reportedly required to repay $700,000 in restitution for receiving improper benefits. In addition the NBA will monitor front office operations of the Clippers for the next 5 years. As for the infamous uncle/agent Dennis Robertson also did not escape the NBA’s wrath: “Dennis Robertson will be prohibited from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel.” His suspension will last five years. To date, Kawhi Leonard appears to be the only party admitting guilt, while owner Steve Ballmer and perhaps others may appeal their suspensions.

This is a major black eye for the NBA however one they eventually will overcome, but I believe the punishment is justified. Over the years, many have described Adam Silver as a weak commissioner. Whatever occurs regarding the appeals, Silver has shown he can act forcefully when required. Rest assured, there will remain defenders who will say they saw nothing wrong with the actions of Ballmer and company however it makes little difference in what they think or believe. The NBA operating in its best interest made a historic decision. Finally, Kawhi Leonard might be in the best shape of all, no suspension which should have occurred. 

A fan’s perspective

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Curiouser and curiouser

Perhaps you read the book or saw the Disney movie, the headline is from the Lewis Carroll classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or shorten to Alice in Wonderland. There really is no such word as curiouser, it’s believed Carroll wrote it to detail the bewildered state Alice found herself in. This might be the view of much of Mizzou Nation and maybe basketball fans in general, Mark Mitchell is returning to Mizzou. If you continue to read you will uncover the why Mitchell’s outlook has changed from just a few weeks ago, we must return to June 2026 to begin this investigation. Mitchell had extinguished his eligibility, he was not drafted but played for the NBA Nuggets in Summer League.

More recently Mitchell along with others were granted a 5th year of eligibility by the courts but here the issue becomes tricky. Mitchell indicated he was headed to Kentucky to play for Mark Pope and BAM, just like that he’s not. He can play, however, not for Kentucky, SEC rules indicate he didn’t submit his name in time for the transfer portal. Mitchell is ineligible to play at Kentucky but could play for Mizzou. Now the waters become murky, Mizzou’s roster is full, a player must be red-shirted in order for Mitchell to return. The question becomes on August 31, 2026, will Mitchell return to Mizzou and if so who is red-shirted? Without including the 6-foot 9 Mitchell in the count consider this fact, the team has 5 players on the roster 6-foot 10 or taller. The tallest roster member is 7-foot 5 260 pound Trent Burns, there should be few games Mizzou might be outrebounded.

Is this the current roster     

The Lakers have been quite active over the summer, in some instances players such as LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart decided to depart on their own through free agency. In other instances the Laker front office signed free agents or made trades adding talent. The Laker roster is just about finalized, the list of players with the exception of rookies appears to be somewhat complete. Among the last of the acquisitions is Zaire Williams, a 6-foot 9 inch 3-and-D wing who played this past season for the Nets.

Also added was Matisse Thybulle a defensive guard from the Blazers to a 1-year agreement as well. There are holdovers whom I believe will be traded or released before the beginning of the season. This is speculation only so I am going to omit the names I believe might be history with the Lakers. JJ Redick and the coaching staff have a monumental task in front of them, they must coach this squad of new players to the Laker play book. Expect bumps early in the season but I would anticipate by January they should be a cohesive team and all on the same page. Of the additions only Walker Kessler in the post is likely a starter, as this is written power forward remain a mystery to me as to who starts versus who sits.

The keys of course, who scores and who plays lockdown defense off the bench which is vital for a deep playoff run by these Lakers. Despite the fact several in the media appear to not be impressed with the “new look” Lakers, I am however and this is the basis. The Lakers have become a revitalized version of themselves and this was accomplished without adding aging talent. At present the oldest player on the roster are the aforementioned Matisse Thybulle who turned 29 years old in March and Kevon Looney who had birthday 30 in February. The roster is comprised of players the Lakers believe they can develop for the future, despite many of the naysayers I’m ready in September for the NBA season to begin.

Did you cry

Although it’s rare for me anymore, I listened to a discussion on sports talk radio about decisive college basketball games. The conversation surrounded games played in the NCAA tournament, after all during the regular season a team could have a heartbreaking loss on Saturday and a big time win the following Monday or Wednesday. As for the tournament it’s always been win or go home. What about the opening games, teams have played all season only to be eliminated and forced to return home after a loss. How about the big time programs upset by smaller, less well known schools?

March 20, 2010, Northern Iowa a number 9 seed beat the number 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks 69-67 in the second round. How about this one, in 2023 number 15 seed Princeton beat number 2 seed Arizona 59-55 or a year earlier 15 seed Saint Peters over number 2 Kentucky 85-79. There are probably scores of others I omitted that have occurred over time. As a Mizzou fan my Tigers have not tasted much success in the tournament, one year they had a really good team. This is unlike many of the earlier stories, both Mizzou and UCLA were well known plus UCLA was the higher seed. In 1995 the two faced each other, UCLA a number 1 and Mizzou number 8. To this day the loss in this game is too difficult for me to describe, check out the YouTube video of the closing action.

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

It’s unknown

This account is prompted by a story I saw on one of the many social media platforms. The focus was NBA career block shot leaders, at the top of the list was Hakeem Olajuwon with 3,830 blocks followed by Dikembe Mutombo and his 3,289. Missing from the list was the name of Wilton Felton Chamberlain and there is a reason why. Chamberlain one of the most prolific scorers and rebounders arrived in the NBA in the 1959-60 season.

The last season Chamberlain played was 1973-74 making a total of 14 seasons. The following season (1974-75) the NBA began tracking blocked shots, as for rebounds it was Chamberlains last season. Unofficially the league researched 112 games from later in his career, he was measured at 8.8 blocks a game. Researchers claim Chamberlain would have recorded 9,000-11,000 rebounds, of course that is a projection and is unproven. He’s become the man of myth and legend, did he score 100 points in a single game? Did Chamberlain snatch down a minimum of 9,000 rebounds? We have no method to accurately detail what the totals might have been in those 14 seasons.