He was a pioneer
The name Benjamin "Ossie" Schectman is unfamiliar to most; he died yesterday at the age of 94. Schectman scored the first basket of the first NBA game during the 1946-47 season. He spent one season with the New York Knickerbockers; Schectman scored his basket against the Toronto Huskies.
Bits n Pieces
I laughed out loud viewing the Damaris Lewis interview on NBA TV. Lewis a former model writes a column for NBA.com titled NBA Style. Read her column for further insight, in the she stated several players miss the mark with their fashion concept. Although she didn’t call out names I will, hear that Dwayne Wade and Russell Westbrook?
I just finished reading ESPN.com’s poll for the future of the 30 franchises. There is danger with future predictions of this type. Salary cap issues aside these writers are never able to project trades, free agent signings or even draft choices. On the other hand when discussing the future 4 or 5 years from now no one will remember what these scribes wrote.
Tim Brando CBS Sports expressed an interesting view on his radio program recently. It was the day after Andrew Wiggin’s announcement he was headed to Kansas. Brando stated “we place too much emphasis on high school talent and the big press conference with the school hats lay out on the table. At the end of his speech he picks up one of the caps placing it on his head.”
NBA Summer League is fun just to check out several of the 2013 draft choices against their contemporaries. . Summer League consists of rookies and 2nd year players who experienced limited playing time. The summer’s number one pick Anthony Bennett was M.I.A. due to injury, the same for the Lakers Ryan Kelly. NBA Summer is not meant to be taken seriously for a number of reasons. There are few practices and most of the athletes are probably conducting a “meet n greet” since they barely know one another.
He gets paid
The name DeMarre Carroll won’t register with most of you. I thought it noteworthy to update you on this former Mizzou Tiger. At 6-8 and 226 he was a power forward at Mizzou and while important to the Mizzou program was not projected to be an NBA prospect. Carroll parlayed a Portsmouth Invitational Tourney MVP award to become the 27th pick in the 2009 draft by the Grizzlies. Several NBA stops later he signs a 2-year $5 million dollar contract with the Hawks. The point of course he was not considered a prospect in college. No one will ever mistake him for a super athlete, Carroll’s work ethic has led to an NBA career; he never gave up the dream. If he never plays another minute in the league he’s already qualified for an NBA pension.
He will decide his future shortly
Duke graduate and recently retired NBA athlete has a decision in front of him. What does he do with the balance of his life? Speculation exists he will become a television analyst which certainly is possible. Discussing and analyzing a game you have played half your life should be a relatively smooth transition. If he decides to become a play by play analyst I know at least one I’d like to see replaced. For other reasons I could foresee him filling a surprise role. Working in some role in a Fortune 500 company is certainly a possibility. On the other hand he might fool all of us and continue in the world of basketball.
I hope he can play again
By my count this is at least the fourth or fifth Greg Oden story. His rehab is supposed to be completed. Oden has been a free agent for a time now having been released by the Blazers. Team representatives are journeying to Indianapolis to see him go through a series of basketball drills. His decision is to be made at the end of this week or early the following week. I want to see the youngster succeed for one reason; there are a number of people against him they act as if Oden injured himself on purpose. Oden emerged from Ohio State with such promise he was the number one pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. At 7-feet and 285 pounds Oden had limited offense skills but excelled on the defensive side. I mentioned in another column one scout was so fascinated with his ability he said “Oden would be the second coming of Bill Russell.” Count me in as one who is rooting for the guy to make it back even in a limited role.
