Basketball from a fans perspective
Don‘t hold your breath
Two acquaintances walked up to me on Wednesday and one said; “I understand Los Angeles is holding a Kobe Bryant Day today” I smiled and said yes. My follow-up is likely to upset a number of folks. “Don’t hold your breath waiting on the city to honor a member of the Clippers.” My attempt at humor might not be received well in Clipperland however it’s the truth.
Owner Steve Ballmer has complained about the lease at Staples and his team’s position in the order of available dates. Unconfirmed reports indicate he might build his own arena. Until a time the Clippers win a championship or have a Hall of Fame player in their lineup well. Bam--that’s the microphone I just dropped on the floor.
The first
Yao Ming is gone, Yi Jianlian is returning and Jeremy Lin remains. I’m referring to the subject of Asian players in the NBA. There were others omitted but this is intended to focus on the very first Asian player Wataru Misaka. Misaka is Japanese-American and was born in Ogden Utah. How long ago you ask, well the 5-7 Misaka was drafted in 1947 by the Knicks.
Misaka only managed to play three games before the Knicks cut him. He says there was no discrimination involved the team had an abundance of guards. Misaka indicates the Globetrotters reached out to him at the time however he turned them down. He returned to college and would later secure an engineering position. To give you an idea of change he indicated playing pro basketball in the ‘40’s and engineering pay were about the same. The 92-year old Misaka currently lives in Utah.
Add his name to the list
All summer I’ve written the number of NBA comebacks. Players who left the game but have a desire to return. The latest is the 2011 Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom. Odom is 36 now and has been out of the NBA since 2013 and basketball since 2014. Odom is different from the others in that he was close to death in 2015 from a drug induced binge. According to reports Odom has been working steady on his recovery and has been working out in hopes of gaining an NBA roster spot.
Round Ball Rock
It was 2002 probably the last time you heard Round Ball Rock at the beginning of an NBA game. From 1990 to 2002 NBC was the broadcast network for the league, most of the networks play by play was conducted by Bob Costas and Marv Albert. Round Ball Rock was the theme song for The NBA on NBC, the tune was written by entertainer John Tesh. Check out the link below and the Tesh bio. I’m unsure if I’ve heard it used for anything other than the NBA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZKX-cf_p90
Bits n Pieces
Sometimes a name “jumps” off the page at you that was the case with Kris Wilkes. My first thought “I wonder if he’s any relation to former Laker great Jamaal Wilkes?” Well I cannot confirm any relationship however this Wilkes can play. He’s a 5-star Rivals prospect and number 17 in the Class of 2017. This Wilkes is from Indianapolis (IN). Although listed as a forward the 6-7 185 pounds Wilkes stature appears more likely a shooting guard.
Nick Young claims all is right between him and D’Angelo Russell. You remember last season the Laker rookie broke the “bro” code by outing Young on his off the court activity. I’m not dealing with that aspect I’m dealing with Nick Young the player. The Swaggy P. mantra has run its course with this Laker fan, I’m ready for him to move on.
Out with the old in with the new, that’s Charlotte (NC). Time Warner Cable was sold to Charter Communications in May of this year. Home of the Hornets has been Time Warner Cable Arena, the change it will now become the Spectrum Center.
I rechecked the 2007 NBA Draft because it just might impact the Lakers this upcoming season. Yi Jianlain from the Guangdong Southern Tigers would become the sixth pick that year by the Bucks. I returned to 2006 scouting reports to determine what occurred. To condense this piece there were concerns about Yi’s ability although one report indicated “There are liabilities in his game but he could become a legitimate NBA player.” Perhaps maturity and the growth of his game in China over the last four years may have improved he might be ready now; we must adopt a wait and see.
