Basketball fans perspective

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Welcome to summer

June 21 marks the first day of summer, and this is the first summer edition of Off the Dribble. Publishing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I hope to cover as much basketball news and information as possible without much delay. With that said, I have this matter for many of you. If you enjoy the blog, please share the link (https://larry-laker.blogspot.com) with family or friends who might enjoy it as well. Thank you in advance.

There is more to the game

In one of those numerous basketball discussions we often hold this subject came up. Whenever the game is discussed we always want to know “How many points did Jalen Brunson/Wemby/KAT score.” We realize defense is important but it’s often overlooked in these discussions of a particular game. A player likely to be drafted tomorrow night has limited offensive skills but boy does he make up for it with other aspects of his game. A bleacherreport.com account claims “Ugonna Onyenso is a mobile shot-blocker who covers ground quickly and can make plays outside his immediate area.” Reading that I’m sold on the 6-foot 11 inch 245-pound Onyenso who finished his college at the University of Virginia.

Born in Nigeria he began play at the NBA Academy in Senegal and later attended the Putnam Academy in Connecticut. Onyenso spent one year at Kentucky, Kansas State and Virginia before declaring for the NBA draft. He was one of 73 players invited to the NBA Combine in Chicago were he displayed his shot-blocking skill and physical profile. This is the disclaimer on my part, its clear to me Onyenso must be drafted or signed as a free agent by the “right team.” A team expecting him to be the next Embiid or Wemby will be in for a rude awaking, he ain’t that guy. If you are looking for a lob threat and capable defender Onyenso is your man, he will score for you on occasion but that is not his primary skill. Just in case he’s not drafted late in the first round or perhaps in the second round expect to see a free-agent signing by some team.

Do you believe him….sorry, I don’t!

I hesitate to write this for fear some of you will become upset. Okay, I’m going to take a chance anyway, you either accept it or reject it. Does anyone pay attention to stuff ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says? This is not just lately but going into his past, at least one of the tales he spins is difficult for the most die heart fans of his to maybe believe. I hope you remember the story, in any event I will relay it to you. This revolves around the basketball exploits of SAS and the legendary Clarence “Big House” Gaines, he coached Winston-Salem State basketball for 47-years. In any event lets set the stage, for sake of this discussion the fall of 1986 would have been SAS’s first year. The story he details for us the claim he and a friend traveled from New York City to Winston-Salem North Carolina arriving on a Sunday for a tryout for the basketball team.  

Some mysterious person who remains unidentified to this date “persuaded” Big House Gaines on a Sunday no less to check out this young basketball prodigy. SAS after demonstrating his passing skills the coach requested he display his shooting skill. According to the info provided by him he sank jumper after jumper evidently impressing the coach. After his tryout he was offered a basketball scholarship but later an injured knee requiring surgery changed his basketball journey, he was unable to return to the form he previously demonstrated. His bio takes a strange turn here, while still a member of the team he wrote an article for the student newspaper claiming Big House should retire based on health issues. But wait, there is more at least 5 former teammates have indicated SAS was indeed a member of the team however he saw no action due to his injury. So what’s the verdict….does his story appear valid to you? It sounds suspect to me on so many levels.

We are there

Every year at this time the NBA holds its annual draft, a number of teams hope they are choosing the next MJ or perhaps the next Cooper Flagg or Wemby. The scouting staffs have done their  job, they have traveled all over the nation and world in an attempt to uncover that hidden gem. A few NBA playoff teams believe they will secure a Dylan Harper or someone near the Spurs guards ability. Many of the teams at the bottom of the standings desire that one player to raise the level of play and allow them to compete successfully. We can also explore rookie free agents, some players (Austin Reaves) preferred to choose which team they want to unite with.

In the case of Reaves its proven quite lucrative and will again once he signs with the Lakers are elsewhere. Lu Dort of the Thunder went undrafted and has proven to be a valuable asset for the Thunder, the same could be said for the Raptors and Rockets Fred VanVleet. In the past we could mentioned retired players such as Udonis Haslem, Bruce Bowen and Ben Wallace. Each of them had a long and storied NBA career. As for others it’s an attempt to improve the team through NBA free agency, teams can begin negotiations on June 30, on July 6 they can begin signing many of those free agents but this can be misleading for some. NBA teams can sign their own free agents to higher salaries and longer contracts than other teams can offer. There is little basketball played with the exception of Summer League but numerous business is being conducted during this period.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

The decision

With the conclusion of the NBA championship a lesser amount of basketball activity remains for the balance of summer, based on this fact there will be changes in the publication dates. For the duration of the summer the schedule will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday publishing dates. At an undetermined date in mid-September Off the Dribble will return to a full publishing schedule Monday through Friday. I appreciate you loyal readers for sticking with me over time.

Here we go again

This time the conspiracy theory comes from former Piston Bad Boy Isiah Thomas. He claims (without offering us any proof) the NBA is “attempting” to make Victor Wembanyama the face of the NBA. In a basketballnetwork.net story, Zeke claimed during the period Michael Jordan played the NBA made him the face of the league. Time out….as with most issues Thomas and others are entitled to their opinion regarding a matter. His belief the NBA is viewing Wemby as the face of the NBA is impossible to prove. As for the MJ thing, for reasons most of them unknown Jordan lives rent free in Zeke’s mind.

I could make a similar statement regarding Magic and Zeke, the two were described by the media to be best friends at one point. This belief existed despite the fact they played on teams that were fiercely competing for NBA domination at the time. Since their playing days ended the friendship that previously existed between Magic and Zeke has all but disappeared and for reasons unknown. As for Zeke and MJ apparently a friendship never existed only a rivalry, with that said change eventually occurred. The MJ Bulls outshined the Zeke led Pistons and perhaps that’s where this conspiracy theory might have begun, it appears to be old fashion bad blood between Zeke and MJ.

It’s been awhile, for others it’s a never

This is written ahead of the conclusion of the Knicks-Spurs series, if the Knicks won it this will be their first NBA championship since 1973 (56 years). They played in the 1999 Finals however the Spurs won the championship that year. There are several teams that have a longer drought than the Knicks, for example the Kings last won an NBA championship two cities ago, they were the Rochester (NY) Royals back then 75 years ago (1951). Sacramento is home at present but the franchise also had stops in Cincinnati and Kansas City prior to its latest home.

In 1958 the St. Louis Hawks interrupted the NBA championship winning streak of Bill Russell’s Celtics, that was 68 years ago. Later the franchise would move to its present home in Atlanta Georgia. The remaining NBA teams have never won a championship and the years of their existence is adjacent, Phoenix Suns (58 years), Los Angeles Clippers (56 years) and their previous incarnation the San Diego Clippers and the Buffalo Braves when they came into the NBA. We close this exercise with the Charlotte Hornets, this franchise has operated for 36 years. There are other franchises without championship on their resume however they are nowhere near the drought of the teams noted.  NOTE: Of course the Knicks did win and are 2026 NBA champions.

 Generational talent: Part Deux

99% of you reading this are aware Cooper Flagg was named NBA Rookie of the Year. The NBA began awarding the honor to a rookie after the 1952-53 season, in that length of time a great number of players have displayed their basketball ability. A few of those names who landed have been deemed generational i.e., they brought a unique skill set into the NBA. That is the case for Flagg, all aspects of his game are light years ahead of several grizzly veterans but the 19-year old Flagg is not alone. Prior to Flagg’s entrance into the NBA came another generational player. Appearing before Flagg was now 22-year old Victor Wembanyama, LeBron James hung “The Alien” tag on Wemby because he too does stuff few players his age have been able to accomplish and he’s only in year four.

These two are not alone there have been others, in 1956 the St. Louis Hawks drafted Bill Russell but traded him to the Celtics. With the Celtics Russell became the driving force to multiple championships with his defensive prowess. A few years later Wilton Felton Chamberlain was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors and the NBA would never be the same, his game might have supplanted Russell’s in that he was a scoring machine who could play defense too. The 100 point game Chamberlain scored against the Knicks in 1962 remains the single game scoring record….but wait there are more. Michael Jordan was a different kind of cat, for me it was his will to win at all cost. A standout game for me was Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against Utah. He was dehydrated and had food poison symptoms yet played 44 minutes leading the way to victory with 38 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Next we arrive at LeBron James, he was fully a man at 6-foot 8 and 245 pounds at the time his hometown Cavs (technically) drafted him straight from high school. He set a standard which will never be duplicated by another four NBA championships on his resume.

The next name will surprise some and they might question why I’m including Shaquille O’Neal as one of my generational players but there is a basis. 7-foot 1 350 plus pounds, no one ever played the power game in the manner of Shaq. Steph Curry might have a bunch of nicknames, mine is “Lights out,” no one ever in the history of the game shot the ball from distance like Curry. I informed a friend 5-10 years ago I’d see Curry shoot from distance and believe….that ball will find the bottom of the net. A number of NBA All Pro’s considered generational were left off my list. The only explanation I can provide they missed the cut but barely, who are they? Kobe Bean Bryant, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird are just a few of the names. 

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Nunca

If you’ve read Off the Dribble any length of time you are aware of my belief. The Lakers require a legitimate Big Man in the middle, they don’t need him to score simply do those things which make for quality play at the five position. I thought at one point Deandre Ayton might be the answer but his inconsistent play has become a concern for me. As this is written I remain unsure if the Lakers intend to resolve this issue in the 2026 NBA draft, in the meantime allow me to explain what I don’t want.

This story emanated from a Laker fan website so it’s certainly not set in stone by any means, this .com site indicated the team should take a thorough look at Knicks center Mitchell Robinson. Now this requires a second look, I first became aware of Robinson while he was still in high school, the numbers he displayed gave me the impression he was a walking double-double. I speculated that type of play would continue once Robinson enrolled at Western Kentucky. He never played, he withdrew as a freshman and prepared himself for the June NBA draft. In 2018 he was chosen in the second round by the Knicks where he’s become a capable defender. The offensive game he exhibited in high school never materialized at the NBA level, in addition we discovered he is a horrible free throw shooter.

In all his years as a Knick Robinson remains a capable but backup post player despite the fact missing games due to injury, despite these issues change is in the air. Robinson is a pending free agent who the Lakers should look at according to this site. From my perspective please no, the Knicks need to pay him and he should remain on the east coast and not the west. Espero que él permanezca en Nueva York y nunca en Los Ángeles. Much later you will come across a more detailed assessment of what the Laker roster as I believe it should appear for next season.

Dropped in out of the sky

Keaton Wagler’s former high school Shawnee Mission Northwest is a 20 minute drive from my home. The reason why I am providing the information is simple, most of us in the Kansas City metro had never heard of Wagler. We were unfamiliar with his name until he burst on the national scene at Illinois. The youngster will be an NBA lottery pick soon after his freshman year at Illinois, what occurred before this? There is no indication the 6-foot 6 inch 185 pound combo guard distinguished himself at Shawnee Mission Northwest except he was rated a 4-star prospect.

There were offers for Wagler to attend and play basketball, for the most part they were from smaller schools across the nation. I’m unsure how Illinois came into the picture but that would be the school of choice. He made the Big Ten All Freshman Team and was Big Ten Freshman of the Year, in addition First-team All-Big Ten, Second Team-All American. Wagler topped off his outstanding 2026 being named the Jerry West Award winner. So how did Wagler move from an unknown to a possible NBA lottery pick in 2026? We know this for sure, he didn’t drop in out of the sky. I’m sure hard work plus talent and the fact he was a late bloomer is really the why.

Historic events

Over the course of time many world events and those in this nation have stood out for a variety of reasons. The world of sports is no different, these occurrences have often been so earth-shattering they changed the course of history. One of those events I’d like to point out occurred March 19, 1966, Texas Western (now UTEP) won the NCAA men’s championship 72-65. The significance of the event, many schools in the deep south were yet to integrate their sports programs.

The University of Kentucky basketball roster that year was all-white, not a single black player on the roster. On the other hand the Texas Western team did include white players however the championship game would witness 5 black players matched against 5 white players. Unlike other schools in the deep south prior to Don Haskins arrival Texas Western had recruited and their lineup contained black players. What you are about to read further is from Wikipedia not me. “Later asked about his decision to start five African American players Haskins downplayed the significance of his decision. “I really didn’t think about starting five black guys. I just wanted to put my five best guys on the court,” Haskins was later quoted as saying. “I just wanted to win that game.”

Of course in winning “that game” as he stated the basketball landscape of the nation would later change. In 1969 Adolph Rupp longtime Kentucky coach added the first black player to his team, other schools throughout the south began recruiting black athletes for their programs. Sometimes history is influenced by those who simply believe the best course of action is to win. That might have been the case for the late Don Haskins, he wanted to win not realizing his accomplishment would help change the course of American history and basketball.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

It’s that time of the year

Most reporting doesn’t stop completely; instead, it sometimes shifts to a slower pace. That is the case with basketball, the NCAA championship concluded the first Monday in April, the Michigan Wolverines won the Division I Championship 69-63 over the UConn Huskies April 6. The order for the NBA draft lottery was outlined for the 30 members, all that remains is for the draft to occur. June 13, the New York Knicks won the NBA championship over the Spurs 4 games to 1. On Tuesday, June 23 and Wednesday, June 24 the draft will occur at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. As the calendar turns to July NBA Summer League play begins (July 9-July 19). NBA fans will have an opportunity to see a number of those drafted in action on their new teams.

Moving into August, the 14th through the 16th activities related to enshrinement in the Naismith Hall of Fame will occur. Saturday August 15th the Enshrinement Ceremony will occur in Springfield MA. Although generally at work already, the fourth week of September will witness college basketball players begin official practice. NBA training camps officially open in late September. My plan was to provide you some detail over the summer months ahead. There will be a smaller number of events to cover which calls for Off the Dribble to begin a reduced publishing schedule. As this is written I’m thinking twice a week published dates however the days is yet to be determined. As I close this is my hope you remain faithful during this time of the reduced publication. Beginning in mid-September a 5-day a week schedule will be implemented.

Chip(s) off the old block

Spurs guard Dylan Harper has played outstanding basketball during his rookie season, his sparkling play continued into the playoffs. A number of you reading this account might remember his father Ron Harper, the father had a long and distinguished 15-year career playing for the Cavs, Clippers, Bulls and Lakers. “A devastating knee injuries (particularly a major ACL tear in the early 1990s) fundamentally altered his NBA trajectory, transforming him from a high-flying, explosive 20-point-per-game scorer into a vital, defensive-minded orchestrator who won five NBA championships.” The championships won by Ron occurred while he was a remember the Bulls and Lakers. Injuries made him a single digit scorer for the balance of his NBA career after the 1995-96 season.

As for the other chip, it’s his mom Maria Harper, she played Division I basketball at the University of New Orleans. She was Dylan’s coach from elementary school through high school at Don Bosco Prep, that driving ability….thanks to mom. She would allow her son to shoot jump shots a youth. Seeing Dylan in action we see evidence of the game his father displayed and the tutoring of his mom. Proof of his significance to the Spurs, the 6-foot 5 215 pound guard is the first reserve off Mitch Johnson’s bench. Currently DeAaron Fox is blocking Harper’s path toward a starting role, at some future date Dylan will move and began playing starter minutes. Dylan played his freshman season at Rutgers University and was a teammate of Ace Bailey of the Jazz.

They are not returning  

It’s apparent the NBA not only has an issue with returning to Kansas City but that is the case for St. Louis as well. A brief look back at the history, the Milwaukee Hawks moved to the city in 1955 where they remained until their 1968 move to Atlanta. In between there were a few high water marks, the 1958 team ended the Celtics streak of championships although it would continue the following year. Bob Pettit remains with us at the age of 93, he is enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. The history indicates the Hawks owner wanted a new arena which the city never complied. The NHL might have been indirectly responsible for the demise of the Hawks. The arrival of expansion Blues and their success on the ice indirectly led to the Hawks departure for Atlanta. The Hawks made a decision that would likely haunt them for years much earlier.

This from AI Overview: “While the racial climate of St. Louis and the Hawks’ lack of Black players contributed to their willingness to let him go, the Hawks did not technically “pass” on Bill Russell; they drafted him (1956). They immediately traded him to the Boston Celtics in a pre-arranged deal for white stars Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan.” Years later there would be an issue at the time the Grizzlies planned move from Vancouver Canada. Bill Laurie, who owned the Blues (yes, the hockey team) had an agreement in place to purchase the Grizzlies until then NBA commissioner David Stern stepped in. The basis for voiding the sale. according to the NBA, a requirement existed that an expansion team remain in its original location five years. After the proposed sale was rejected Michael Hensley stepped in purchased the franchise kept it in Vancouver for one more season before moving it to Memphis after entertaining several other locations. There’s been no serious St. Louis effort since 2001 and that is likely to remain for the immediate future.

“Sore loser”

There are occasions members of the media might report an incident without being aware of the fact this was not the first time an incident of this type may have occurred. The person reporting the story is too young, the previous time a similar incident occurred was prior to their birth or when they were in their youth. On the other hand they could have just forgotten the incident had occurred previously. I am guessing one of those scenarios would be the case for ESPN NBA analyst Alan Hahn. After the NBA championship was resolved Wembanyama left the court without acknowledging the fact.

Hahn referred to Wemby as a "sore loser" because he didn't shake hands with Jalen Brunson at the conclusion of Game 5. How about a little NBA history for Hahn and those who might unfamiliar with two events from the past, here goes, in 1988 most of the Celtics left the floor without shaking hands after losing a 7th game to the Pistons. Three years later (1988) Isiah Thomas led most of those same Pistons off the floor after being swept by Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Wemby should have acknowledged Brunson and the Knicks’ win, but he didn’t. I’m not making excuses for any player’s actions, but I also don’t agree with Hahn’s view that his action makes Wemby a bad guy. I just love the reaction of Hahn and others in the media, it sure would be ideal if they could transport themselves into the shoes of Wemby (and others).

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

First choice or last….does it matter

I have no method of verifying this account one way or another, a writer claimed Mike Brown was not the first choice as coach of the Knicks. Does that really matter, this I believe to be true he will never have to pay for a meal in New York City again. Brown has proven he can coach, however, a couple of stops where he was fired have hung like a millstone around his neck. In Cleveland with LeBron and his stop at the time he was head coach of the Kings. What is most interesting about the time spent in Sacramento this little jewel. The team went 16 consecutive seasons missing the playoffs before Brown led them to a berth in the 2022-23 season.

Consider this, Brown is an NBA championship coach 18 months after the Kings fired him. How many active coaches are NBA champions, I will save you time it’s seven, Mark Daigneault with the Thunder was added last season becoming number six and Brown this month makes the count seven. One of the most difficult tasks in life is to never lose faith in yourself. I’m really unsure how Brown accomplished this but consider the fact, he was fired at Cleveland, fired at the Lakers and fired at the Kings. Was New York the last gasp of hope for a job, probably not. See he’d been an assistant on Steve Kerr’s staff and was a 4-time winning NBA championship coach. So we have the brief account of Mike Brown who should never pay for a meal in New York City again, do you hear me New Yorkers?

I plead guilty

Quite often I will mention a headline to my wife, she then says, “What about ________________ and _________.” I am then forced to confess I didn’t read the article only the headline. That is the case with the story I’m about to convey to you. A well-known celebrity who claims to be a Knicks fan was critical of another well-known celebrity attending the Finals. I thought for a moment this is interesting because I’ve never seen this particular celebrity offering the critical commentary on my television screen.

On the other hand I can say in truth I haven’t seen every Knicks game from MSG however I have seen a significant number. Despite that fact it seems the television camera almost always provides us video of Spike Lee, he’s the only celebrity who always appears at Knick games. This made for a larger question, who are you….a bandwagon fan someone who only follows a team when they attain success? On the other hand you could be the fan who sticks with the team through the good and bad times. This is the truth, I once held a discussion along these lines who is your favorite team or which one do you follow? The answer, “I followed the Bulls until Michael Jordan retired.” My thought, you are no fan of the Bulls your interest lies strictly with the play of Michael Jordan. My point is simple, its far easier to follow and root for a team when they taste success, I imagine over the next few weeks and months we’ll see a legion of folks emerge pledging their loyalty to the Knicks.

In this instance I wonder who’s been there since 1973, I’m sure quite a few excluding the bandwagon fans. The question could be posed to me as well, am I a loyal fan? Am I willing to remain a fan of the Lakers no matter if they win or lose? I think that might be the case for me, what about you and your favorite team, doesn’t matter if its college or the NBA? In the case of this celebrity shouldn’t they be allowed to attend a game without being a fan of that particular team, I say yes.

Where do we go from here

The guy in the apartment above you turns on his television at 3:00 a.m. blasting you out of a sound sleep every morning 5 days a week. That might be the plight of the Los Angeles Clippers, they are awaiting a judgement that could sink the franchise or allow it to float successfully. The Aspiration debacle is partially over, you remember that was the company that filed bankruptcy and the owner sentenced to prison recently. Were the Clippers involved in an unscrupulous arrangement with this company? The law firm hired by the NBA must wrap up its investigation regarding the company and a supposed payment arrangement to Kawhi Leonard circumventing the salary cap. That’s one story, the other is the 2026 NBA draft upcoming and how it will impact the franchise.

The trade to acquire Paul George in exchange for SGA left the Clippers with no draft picks like forever, I’m exaggerating of course. The February trade to the Pacers would lead them to the first round and the lottery guarantees they will have the 5th pick in a few weeks in the 2026 NBA draft. With that said the Clippers find themselves in a position they probably would not have believed, even at the close of the season, who do they choose with this pick? Two of the mocks I normally use has them choosing talented point guard Darius Acuff Jr. 6-foot 3 from Arkansas. A third mock indicates the choice will be Illinois combo guard Keaton Wagler 6-foot 6 while a 4th site has them choosing Mikel Brown Jr. a 6-foot 5 point guard out of Louisville. This is certainly not written in stone but do you see the common theme here….point guard. Based on these four mock draft sites I can state we might be surprised if the pick is another position other than someone to play the point.

“Danger, Will Roger!”

That was the phrase uttered by the robot from the iconic television series Lost in Space. What I discovered it was only said once the entire the series ran on television but will forever be a catch phrase. The connection here, the danger expressed by the courts whenever there is a ruling affecting sports. The latest, the Texas Tech quarterback okayed to play after evidence he bet on games. A Texas court judge made the ruling it would be okay for him to play, of course the following day the NCAA took action. This issue has not been resolved as this is written but it follows a pattern.

Last season an Alabama judge made a ruling allowing a professional basketball player to return to college in….you guessed it….Alabama. I’m not going to detail that or the Texas Tech quarterback, all I intend to ask is WHY? Has the issue of Name, Image and Likeness driven us to this point? I realize its difficult to refer to several athletes as amateurs while they are being paid huge sums of money for attending a particular university. Unfortunately (or fortunately) that is the world we live in today. Would a commissioner of university sports resolve these issues, I am unsure. I feel compelled to make this statement, we cannot have Washington D.C. politics involved in any resolution of this magnitude. Once again yours truly has raised an issue without providing you an answer, the simple truth is I don’t have one.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

The Finals 

My apologies, inclement weather in the KC Metro prevented me from providing you a critique of the game. The Knicks won, they are 2026 NBA champions thanks to a 94-90 victory over the Spurs. 

Shameless behavior

Have you seen any video surrounding the Knicks comeback victory in Game 4? Naw, I’m not referencing the game I’m discussing the aftermath that occurred. The property destroyed, the objects thrown at Spurs players upon returning to their hotel, that and other stuff. Based on the actions of several individuals—not all—they gave New York City an ugly black eye for the world to see. Watching the aftermath, you might have thought the home team had lost rather than completed a thrilling 29-point comeback victory. I’m writing this Saturday morning before Game 5 on Saturday evening.

It is quite possible the Knicks have since won both the game and the series. My hope is citizens and property have been saved from the destruction we saw occur previously. I can offer you little proof but those who participated in the violence and destruction are not basketball fans. I make that statement by saying how does this reflect on the win your team just accomplished. I am a party of one however any victory in a team sport in my view lessens the value of that win. Are the Knicks condemned by me, how about the city itself, of course not that would be ridiculous. I will however make this mental note, any victory celebration of this type in New York City, Los Angeles or Kansas City will forever be tainted by me.

Another alien sighting

Victor Wembanyama has a “baby” brother, his name is Oscar. He doesn’t have the cache of his older brother yet, truth is he might never acquire it. In addition he is nowhere close to his older brother in stature, Oscar stands 6-foot 7 inches and a slim 205 pounds, he’s got a 6-foot 11 inch wingspan. He spent this past season playing for France’s LNB Élite for SIG Strasbourg. As for his NBA outlook we must check first with Jonathan Givony. According to Givony *“has made a big jump in ability in the past 12-18 months.” The 6’-8, 19-year-old wing averaged 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 block for Strasbourg in the French Espoirs league this season.”

Some reading this will look at the numbers and indicate they are not that impressive. I can agree the stats are only average however it becomes a beginning. If Oscar has the work ethic of his big brother he will continue to progress on an upward plane. While Givon provides his observation I also checked nbadraftroom.com. This sentence stood out for me; “Despite his raw game he’s got good physical tools and of course the great pedigree.” As for the future it will be a surprise if his named is announced in a few weeks. More than likely that will occur in the 2027 NBA draft should he decide that is his ultimate destination.

*X Jonathan Givony

Meanwhile….

I didn’t give Marcis Ponder the nickname “Baby Shaq,” there is a starting point for this comparison to Shaquille O’Neal. The first is his height, he’s a Big Man and second to that he is comparable to Shaq at a similar age. Ponder is listed on most sites standing between 6-foot-11 and 7 feet, he is reported to weigh 310 to 330 pounds. Gillion Basketball Academy in Springfield, Virginia was his school, he plays for AAU Team Breakdown from Miami Florida. The 4-star prospect will suit up for Florida State this fall and winter. Videos of him in action highlight his raw power, but we must keep in mind he’s likely competing against 6-7 220 pound centers. This is for informational purposes only and certainly is not intended to indicate Ponder is going to be the next Shaq or if the NBA is in his future.   

I found this interesting, Julian Champagnie has been one of the Spurs who’s become quite valuable to them. He’s what I like to refer to as a “glue guy,” he will play defense for you, in addition when called on he manages to score timely baskets. How he arrived in San Antonio is untypical for the majority of players throughout the NBA. The 6-foot 7 Champagnie played his college basketball at St. John’s, he went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft but began his NBA career on a two-way contract with the Sixers. In 2023 the Sixers would release him and the Spurs would claim him off waivers. This is probably the most interesting portion of the story, the Sixers cut him in order to provide roster space to add Mac McClung. As for Champagnie, we know where he ended up.

Be bold, that’s my contention for my Lakers! The Spurs and to a degree the Thunder have clearly laid out the path for obtaining a great team. My belief is not going to please 90% of Laker Nation but I wouldn’t write this if I didn’t believe it. I don’t know whether the Spurs win the championship but if not this year maybe next year. As for the Thunder they were missing two key roster members, if those two were able to play perhaps the outcome of the Western Conference Finals might have turned out differently. This has been mentioned previously but both teams were constructed primarily through the draft. I realize the Clippers had no idea SGA would blossom into a two-time MVP, as for Wemby it was different there were questions but it was believed he was the real deal. I will close this with words at the beginning…..be bold Lakers at draft time.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

The NBL

This is not a reference to the former basketball league that eventually became part of today’s NBA. Here, the focus is the National Basketball League, or NBL, in Australia. While the number of NBL players reaching the NBA has not been overwhelming, the league has produced NBA talent for several years. LaMelo Ball, for example, played for the Illawarra Hawks, earned NBL Rookie of the Year honors, and the following season was named NBA Rookie of the Year with the Hornets.

Others have followed similar paths. Rayan Rupert, who played for the New Zealand Breakers, was drafted by the Blazers and is now with the Grizzlies, splitting time between the parent club and the G League Hustle. Bobi Klintman, formerly of the Cairns Taipans, now divides his time between the Pistons and the Motor City Cruise. AJ Johnson, another former Illawarra Hawk, was drafted by the Bucks and is now with the Mavericks. Josh Giddey reached the NBA after playing for the Illawarra Hawks and Melbourne Tigers, while Alex Sarr played for the Perth Wildcats before being drafted by the Wizards. This list is not complete; I may have missed several players. Still, even if the numbers are modest, the NBL offers clear evidence that Australia remains a source of basketball talent.

Was he blackballed

We use the headline above on those occasions when an athlete is generally ignored by a league for political, racial or other unnamed reasons. That is the case for the late Raymond Lewis, he was drafted in 1973 by the Sixers but never played in the NBA. From what I have been able to gather it had nothing to do with his ability….it was said at the time his attitude. Where did this story begin, Lewis had distinguished himself on the basketball court for Verdum Dei High School in Los Angeles. While enrolled at Verdum Dei he led the school to an 84-4 record and three consecutive CIF titles from 1969 through 1971. It was said the 6-foot 2 175 pound Lewis received over 250 offers but decided to attend Cal-State L.A., according to the history Lewis was a scoring machine while enrolled. Was he ready for the NBA, the Sixers believed that to be the case.

In 1973 he became the 18th pick in the first round of that year’s draft. The next portion of the story becomes who do you believe? Reports are Lewis had played outstanding during rookie camp even outplaying Doug Collins the Sixers number one pick. At this point “the water becomes a little murky,” the Sixers contend Lewis walked out of camp over a contract dispute. According to Lewis he was told “to sit out a year and mature,” he claims the Sixers tore up the original agreement and informed him he had to earn a spot on the team. Back then there were 12 players on a team under contract, he attempted to go to the ABA but the Sixers threatened him with a lawsuit. In 1975 he was invited back for the third year of his contract but didn’t make the team. The story of his potential NBA career ends at this point, Lewis would battle alcoholism and depression for the latter part of his life. February 2001 he died after complications developed from amputation of his leg and a stroke. Raymond Lewis drafted into the NBA but never played a minute….was he blackballed by the league?

It’s my belief

You probably read or heard many of the same stories as me. The claim there is more emphasis on recruiting portal transfers than high school prospects. This is easy to understand, a portal player has played at the collegiate level already and the only adjustment required is a new team/conference. Notice I didn’t include the coach/coaching staff in our account, I would guess the athlete would be okay in that department prior to committing. Despite what you just read it’s my belief high school remains more fertile than portal transfers for a single reason….length of time. Often portal players have no more than two seasons of eligibility remaining, a high school prospect not NBA driven could provide a coach four quality seasons. With that statement let’s check out the ranking ESPN assigns several colleges for the 2026-27 season. They rank John Calapari’s Arkansas Razorbacks having the top rank group of high school prospects in the nation.

At number two they place the Duke Blue Devils which says to me Jon Scheyer has continued to funnel talent to Durham. At three the Bill Self and his Kansas Jayhawks managed to secure the number one prospect in the country Tyran Stokes, he is headed to Lawrence Kansas. Number four, the defending NCAA champion Michigan Wolverines are placed here. Number five at Southern Cal the Ratliff twins arrive and demonstrate the recruiting prowess of the university. Number 6 the Michigan State Spartans, Tom Izzo is still on the job coaching and beating the bushes for talent. At 7 we find the Missouri Tigers making the cut for the first time under Dennis Gates. Number 8 is Alabama while number 9 is Oklahoma State, we close the Top 10 with BYU which intends to continue its winning ways despite no AJ Dybantsa. There is no guarantee that any of these schools will have successful seasons or with the NCAA championship, ESPN happens to believe these schools have added the best crop of incoming freshmen.  

The NBA (international) draft

In a few short weeks at Barclays Center the NBA draft will be held once again. The vast majority of names will be known college players, included in the number will be a few international athletes. I checked two mock draft sites and both place 5 international athletes in the first and second round, of course that’s not to state it will occur. There are at least two college prospects in this draft who played at American universities, this is liable to increase the number even greater. Will this 2026 draft contain the next “Wemby or SGA” that’s highly unlikely but certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.

Unlike other American sports basketball has exploded on the international level for a variety of reasons. Other American sports are yet to reach that level and a few might never reach the level of basketball. I can state with confidence the NBA and basketball in general is the only American sport with an ever increasing international flair, allow a brief explanation on the others. Major League Baseball has long contained international athletes the majority of athletes coming from Latin American nations. More recently we’ve seen an increase from other parts of the world too, those who follow the game closer than me might disagree with my next statement. It’s my belief the best baseball player in the world is the Dodgers Shohei Ohtani who hails from Japan. Although the NFL is the sport most popular on these shores the following is smaller on an international level. As for football/soccer in this nation I am unsure of the count but believe the sport contains a smaller number of American athletes compared to international one’s.

In any event back to our sport basketball, it shouldn’t come as a surprise for a variety of unexplained reasons the game has grown overseas at a greater level than other sports. On an international level there are probably more Little League baseball teams than peewee football played throughout the world. I continue to take a world view of  basketball, all those arriving on these shores will not be noteworthy in the NBA as Wemby has become, however, quality athletes will continue to land in the U.S.  

A basketball fans perspective

The Finals   

At the end of the evening all were treated to a meltdown of epic proportions, final score Knicks 107 Spurs 106. These youthful Spurs got off to a swift start shooting lights out creating havoc all over the court for the home team. The Knicks looked totally lost as the Spurs ran around and over the top of them. It didn’t help that KAT got in early foul trouble and was in and out of the lineup. At the end of the first quarter the Spurs were shooting 65% from the floor with 100% from three, as for the Knicks it was 29% and 40% from three.

The first quarter ended with the Spurs holding a 41-22 advantage on the score board, Wemby with 13 and Vassell with 12 points led the way. For the Knicks it was Anunoby with 7 and Bridges 5 points, they played slightly better in the 2nd quarter however half-time saw them trailing 76-49. In addition to the hot shooting the Spurs took care of the ball having only 2 TOs for the half. I’m unsure what Mike Brown said to his Knicks at the half but they returned to the court with fire in their eyes playing much better, at one point they made a 10-0 run. At the beginning of the 4th quarter the Spurs still held a 90-75 lead and the thought was that even if the Spurs score every other time down they should cruise to victory. That was not quite the case as the Knicks began playing inspired basketball, the Spurs were either missing shots or making TOs. It was difficult to believe the Spurs had a 29 point lead as they slowly but surely came apart and began playing poorly. The Spurs as hot as the Sun could only score 14 points in the 3rd quarter and the critical 4th it was 16. The Knicks scored 26 and 32 which allowed them to successfully compete and thus win the game.

The Knicks take a commanding 3 games to 1 lead and journey to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday night. The Spurs committed a number of bad plays down the stretch (TOs and poor shot selection). As for the shooting discrepancy the Knicks finished the night outshooting the Spurs from the floor and the three line. These young Spurs must learn to play the second half of championship games. Brunson, Anunoby and even KAT despite his foul problems were key to the victory for the Knicks.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

The television eye

I’m unsure if it was the Wemby factor or something else, Game 1 of the NBA Finals set all kinds of viewership numbers. According to figures released nearly 17 million viewers were tuned in, it was the most watched Game 1 Finals since 2018 when LeBron James then with the Cavs faced Steph Curry and the Warriors. The number represents viewers in the U.S., the world-wide audience might be difficult to project. Perhaps it was more than The Alien being in the Finals it was the presence of the Knicks. For the first time since 1973 the Knicks were playing in the Finals.

I’m unsure how to accurately gauge a broadcast, it’s claimed the networks desire large television markets (i.e., New York, Los Angeles & Chicago). What occurs if its an Oklahoma City as it was last season and a San Antonio this season? There is no reliable method to prove my hypothesis however I believe NBA fans will arrange their schedule when possible to see the games. The NFL loves to brag about its numbers swamping those of the NBA and there is no disagreement from this corner. I could turn this television thing around and report there are more eyeballs worldwide on the NBA Finals than on the Super Bowl, notice I expressed around the world.  

A brief look

A continued survey of a few lottery picks in the 2026 NBA draft. This athlete will likely be compared to his father which isn’t fair, that’s the fate of former Duke power forward Cameron Boozer. For those who might not be aware his father Carlos also played at Duke, dad was a 2002 draft pick and spent 13 years in the NBA. Most mock drafts project the 6-foot 9 255 pound Cameron between 3rd and 5th so that provides you an idea that most scouts project him so highly. Caleb Wilson who played at North Carolina is probably the most unknown lottery choice.

Wilson is 6-foot-10 and 210 pounds with tremendous leaping ability. He suffered a broken thumb in practice on February 10 and missed the rest of the season, but the injury is not expected to hurt his draft stock. Another projected lottery pick is Houston point guard Kingston Flemmings, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 185 pounds. Scouting reports say he affects the game at both ends of the floor and has drawn comparisons to De’Aaron Fox and Derrick Rose. Illinois’s Keaton Wagler will be covered individually in a forthcoming piece. That wraps up this brief look at several projected lottery picks. Could an unheralded player still move into the early lottery? That is certainly possible.

Help is on the way….maybe 

A number of players decided to return to college, based on that fact I decided to check the latest revised mock draft sites. Naturally, I hope to help my Lakers draft a post player, nbadraft.net introduced me (and maybe you) to an unfamiliar name. He’s 19-years old and his name is Luigi Suigo, measures at 7-feet 3 inches and 245 pounds. This past season was spent playing for KK Mega Basket in the ABA League. Suigo’s got a 7 foot 5 and ½ inch wingspan and a standing reach of nearly 10 feet.

Naturally, the YouTube video I could locate focused on the offensive side of his game. The negatives, perimeter defense, “He struggles with lateral quickness and burst, meaning he can get exposed when forced to switch out onto smaller, quicker guards and wings on the perimeter. He has a tendency to foul at a high rate (nearly 6 fouls per 36 minutes), largely due to positioning struggles against older, more physical pros.” After reading the scouting report is this a game changer regarding him being drafted in the first round. I don’t have an answer for that question, I do believe NBA coaching can address concerns raised in a scouting report. If an athlete on my radar is chosen ahead of the Laker pick so be it if they should pass over him that’s another matter to me. 

A portion of the schedule   

Mizzou has posted back-to-back winning seasons and earned NCAA tournament bids in both years, but many including me in Mizzou Nation—have questioned the strength of the nonconference schedule. I understand that coach Dennis Gates is trying to build a cohesive team, yet that part of the schedule has felt too light, with too few challenging opponents. In my view, there is little value in entering SEC play undefeated if the nonconference slate has not truly tested the team.

Kansas, on the other side of State Line Road, consistently schedules strong nonconference opponents. Mizzou’s schedule is not complete, but so far I think most fans will see an improvement. The teams have been scheduled however several of the dates have not been finalized. Based on this fact alone I am going to only list the teams, here are the opponents announced to this point: Buffalo, Saint Louis University, Marquette, Kansas, Nebraska, and Illinois. In the SEC/ACC Challenge, Pitt will travel to Columbia to face the Tigers. That’s not necessarily a knockout opposition lineup however in my view that is much improved over what was witnessed in past years.

A basketball fans perspective

The Finals

Game 3 between the Spurs and Knicks has now shifted to Madison Square Garden, “The World’s Most Famous Arena.” The game was a must-win for San Antonio, while New York had enough cushion to ease off the pressure if it chooses. I wonder if the ESPN radio crew I heard over the weekend might now regret their “victory parade” talk at least for a time. The final score read Spurs 115 Knicks 111 as the Texas team played much better on Monday evening. What I find interesting shooting from the field and the three line were even for both teams, so what made for a Spurs victory? Wemby had an improved game leading the way with 32 points 8 rebounds 3 blocks and 6 assists, in 39 minutes of action he only committed a single TO. He played the entire 4th quarter which impacted the game in favor of the Spurs. 

Spurs guard Stephon Castle scored 28 points and dished out 5 assists and had only 2 TO’s in 38 minutes. As for the Knicks Jalen Brunson scored 32 points but had to take 25 shots in order to accumulate his point total. OG Anunoby scored 28 points and played his usual outstanding defensive game, coming up short for the Knicks was KAT. He got in foul trouble and managed but 11 points and 8 rebounds. It appeared the bench came up short in this game for the Knicks, Jordan Clarkson scoring 10 points might have been the man. Dependable Landry Shamet was an ice cold 1 for 8 from the floor, but he wasn’t alone Jose Alvarado also didn’t contribute much either. Despite this limited production the Knicks were in the game until the very end. The key for me, the Spurs took much better care of the ball than the first two games. Now the Knicks must regroup and prepare for Game 4 without the distractions surrounding this one, they clearly still hold the edge in the series. 

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

No excuse

After his error that led to the Spurs loss Wemby would be down. Down but not out realizing the significance of his errant pass to the back of teammate Stephon Castle. Stuff like that occurs the hope is not at a critical point of a game, “I threw that one away. I messed up.” That was a brief summary made by Wemby regarding his Game 2 error. Probably millions of negative thoughts have rushed around in his mind but they all must be placed aside. He and his Spurs teammates have a gigantic task in front of them tonight….win a game. On the other hand the Knicks, although feeling good about themselves cannot relax too much.

They must realize the Spurs are down but not totally out of this thing. I’ve been told that teams that lose the first two games of a playoff series have never come back to win it, so that remains a concern. The other issue (at least for me) how much of a distraction to the gathering will the president be in deciding to attend this game. James Dolan doesn’t communicate much with the public so we have no idea if it’s true or not. The president claims the Knicks owner invited him to attend the game, realizing how unpopular the president is in New York City the question might be asked why? That’s a whole other story and I’ve spent far too much time on it. Here’s hoping both teams play a competitive game and not be distracted by events they have no control over.

The mystery

With the NBA draft just weeks away, it remains unclear which of the roughly 60 players selected on June 23 (first round) and June 24 (second round) will ultimately succeed at the NBA level. As I indicated there are questions regarding all but Darryn Peterson might be the biggest mystery of all. Peterson arrived on the campus of Kansas University the projected top pick in the 2026 draft, later the questions began. When he did play Peterson averaged 20.2 points, 4 rebounds and almost 2 assists a game, he shot nearly 44% from the floor with 38% of it from the three line.

Those are certainly decent numbers however there is the other, intermittent hamstring issues, cramps, and ankle injuries that saw Peterson see the floor in only 24 of the 35 games Kansas had on the schedule. Peterson has all the physical tools to succeed in the NBA, he stands 6-foot 5 and weighs 205 pounds good size for an NBA shooting guard. As I’ve often stated mock draft sites are no valid indication of order however they do provide us an idea where a prospect might be drafted. After beginning the season in the top position the questions failed to drop him very far. Most mock sites project him the number two choice while one dropped him to third. From an ego standpoint, most prospects would probably want to be the No. 1 pick. Even so, Peterson is still expected to be drafted no lower than third.

The Bucket Getter

The title above was utilized by a Rock M Nation media person in the Missouri fan website, he was describing incoming freshman Jason Crowe Jr. He pointed toward the fact “the ball would be in his hands most of the time scoring or dishing out assists.” Can you say a possible SGA comparison….whoa, hold on there a moment the kid is yet to set foot on the floor of Mizzou arena. Well the hype is somewhat valid, there’s not been a competitor of his merit since 2017 when Michael J. Porter committed. MPJ arrived National HS player of the Year, a McDonald’s All American and 5-star prospect.

Porter was ranked the number one or two best player in the nation, Missouri had never recruited a basketball player of his stature up till that time. MPJ suffered an injury in a December game and missed the entirety of the season. At the end of the season he would declare for the draft and the story ends here for Missouri. Projected a number one or two draft pick the injury was a factor in MPJ being drafted 14th in 2018 by the Nuggets. MPJ has since proven he is a capable and valued athlete for the Nuggets and now he continues play for the Nets. As for Crowe Jr. the evidence predicts Missouri has an outstanding player who will be headed to the NBA next spring. I’m not fooling myself into thinking this youngster will be at Missouri for his sophomore season. Mizzou has laid the groundwork for post-Crowe Jr. so we shall see how that plays out too.

This is only the beginning   

This is written prior to the first game of the NBA Finals, I have no idea of the outcome or Victor Wembanyama’s contribution or impact on the outcome. The truth of the matter Wemby has already affected the NBA, it began with his arrival three seasons ago. Last season Wemby missed nearly half the season due to a blood clot issue which was medically resolved. His off season was spent with Shaolin monks in China along with tutoring from Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett. Some reading this might not understand Wemby is a different kind of dude. The off season prepared him for much of what we witnessed.

He was honored being voted NBA Defensive Player of the Year, he was also named an All-NBA First Team member. Wemby finished third in voting for the NBA’s MVP, behind SGA and second place finisher Nikola Jokic, also add Western Conference Finals MVP to his resume. The Finals have been a different story for him, several ESPN radio guys have really been critical of Wemby’s play in the first two games. Maybe it’s a generational thing, but some commentators seem either too young to remember or quick to forget. They’ve praised KAT’s performance against 22-year-old Wemby, but it’s worth recalling Hakeem Olajuwon’s “Dream Shake” on 23-year-old Shaquille O’Neal during the Rockets’ 1995 Finals sweep. Wemby isn’t the first young star to get a harsh welcome—As for Shaq I wonder how his NBA career panned out.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

The predicament

I believe this was going to occur in advance of the series being played. Allow me to state up front I like the Knicks coach Mike Brown, I like the Knicks team….what I and millions of others are forced to tolerate is the over the top New York sports media. Driving home from the barber shop I’m listening to a discussion on one of our local sports talk radio stations. These stations usually pick up the network feed late night or weekends and this is Saturday morning after the Knicks Game 2 victory on Friday. The two unidentified ESPN radio guys are discussing the outcome of Game 2 back and forth in conversation they went on discussing the win along with views of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson.

And then it occurred, it landed like a Mike Tyson punch on the ears of listeners. “I don’t wanna jinx anyone but should the Knicks began planning a victory parade?” That was the jest of the conversation back and forth between the two for about 10 minutes or so. “The Nets will never be it, the Knicks are the cities team” said one of the ESPN guys. I felt it in my bones before this contest began, if the Knicks win this thing we’ll hear about it for the next year. How can this conclusion be an outcome, look at the New York Jets? They have been a bad team for years yet they are always a topic of conversation from east coast media. My question, when’s the last time the Jets have been a relatively good football team….I thought so. Some reading this are upset with my take, sorry that’s how I see it.

Dylan’s the man

This is written Friday afternoon in advance of the Friday night game, I have no idea if Dylan Harper scores. That might not occur however he still remains the Spurs rookie playoff scoring all-time leader. I came across this information while researching statistics for another story. Harper has approached this playoff and Finals appearance in the same manner a 10-year NBA veteran might. Bet you didn’t realize same as me Harper now holds the rookie scoring record for the team. There are several Spurs heavyweights whose numbers he’s eclipsed, check this out:

Dylan Harper 251 points

David Robinson 243 points

Manu Ginobili 226 points

Tim Duncan 186 points

What else did those other Spurs accomplish; wait I will answer that for you. All three, Robinson, Ginobili and Duncan have been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame and received other honors. I don’t wish you to misread this, I am making no claims regarding Harper’s NBA future however based on his rookie play he could wind up his NBA career with an extensive resume if he continues at this pace. NOTE: Although the Spurs lost the game Harper came off the bench and scored 15 points in the loss, his rookie Spurs total stands at 266 points (and counting).

Everything changes

Once upon a time and I am surely repeating myself, this was my conviction. An athlete accepts a scholarship offer he must remain in school four years, of course illness and injury failed to apply here. We then began early entry most of it brought by the ABA at the time it was vying with the NBA for talent. That’s the brief history to set the stage for this account. The change for me, school will always be there, “Go get the money if you are assured the NBA is your destination.” Recently came news reports that former player JR Smith had completed all requirements and is now a college graduate.

Of course Smith is not the first, it’s my belief Michael Jordan is probably the first NBA player to return to college to complete his degree but there are others. Among just a few of the names, Shaquille O’Neal, Vince Carter, Steph Curry, Marvin Williams, Rajon Ronda and Ray Allen. I believe AJ Dybansta will also join them after a promise made to his mother to graduate college, while for others it was likely personal satisfaction. Whatever the basis it’s good for another aspect, I have no idea of the finances of these former players but believe it to be substantial. They have no employment opportunities which require a college diploma yet they did the work, they are applauded by me for completing the task begun years prior.  

Anytime, anywhere

I can talk basketball 24/7 with emphasis on any level, high school, AAU, college or the NBA. I can talk basketball during the sweltering month of August or a bone chilling day in January. This is the basis for Off the Dribble being a 12-month blog, it’s always basketball season here. For me it’s a matter of finding one’s passion, as an example I find this common. I have NBA fans who don’t have a clue who the top rated incoming prospect is at their favorite school, of course they know his name but there is other stuff a basketball fan would uncover. On the other hand I have college fans with no clue how the NBA operates on a day to day basis.

Often find myself in conversation at work when I didn’t begin the dialogue, co-workers have sometimes approached me as if I have the answers (which is not true). My memory of certain games precedes my understanding of the intricacies of the game of basketball. I cannot give you the date but I remember the first time I saw LeBron James play. He was still in high school and playing for St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron Ohio. This too was a televised game, I witnessed Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game against the Raptors. In addition to those names I saw Victor Wembanyama play in Las Vegas when only a handful (exaggeration of fans) even knew his name. Sometimes I wonder if friends and acquaintances are saying; “Doesn’t this guy ever shut up?” Yes I do when I am asleep….otherwise you can generally catch me discussing my favorite sport. 

A basketball fans perspective

Finals edition 

I expected the Spurs to play better in Game 2 and they did, the only problem they came up short again. This time the Knicks were winners 105-104 as the game wasn’t really decided until a missed Victor Wembanyama shot just before the buzzer sounded. This game had all the elements one might expect from a Finals game, the first quarter saw the Spurs race out to a 34-25 lead but by the half it had dissipated. Half-time saw the Knicks with a 56-52 lead, much of the third quarter the Knicks imposed their will on the youthful Spurs, oh did I mention this?

Wemby had 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first half. That was hardly a take charge game as many expected him to have. For the Knicks it was KAT with 17 points and 7 rebounds and Jalen Brunson with 10 points but only 27% shooting from the floor, Mikal Bridges contributed 11 points. Every time it seemed in the 3^rd quarter the Spurs made a run at the Knicks they had an answer, it would be an offensive rebound and score or forcing a TO by the Spurs. The result was the visitors would retain the lead, most critical at a point was missed free throws, with the score 90-83 in favor of the Knicks we counted 8 missed free throws by the Spurs. After trailing by 14 points in the 4^th quarter the Spurs came roaring back, missed shots by the Knicks and timely shots and forced TO’s by the Spurs had them back in the game under the three minute mark or so in the 4^th and then it occurred. A missed Knick shot and an errant Wemby pass with 12 seconds remaining to Stephon Castle’s back and a foul on the recovery. With seconds remaining this placed Brunson on the free throw line where he missed the second of two free throws. The first Wemby shot was a miss but an offensive rebound allowed a second shot. The second shot was a miss too as the horn sounded, final Knicks 105 Spurs 104.

The Spurs once again had five players in double figures led by Wemby who came alive in the 4^th quarter. He totaled 29 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks. The winning Knicks also had 5 players score in double figures, they were led by KAT with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Brunson and Bridges each scored 20 points. The teams now head for Game 3 on Monday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Spurs outshot the Knicks from the floor 47% to 42% but were outrebounded 44-42, the Knicks also had 11 steals in the game.