BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
Best of the Best
“Say what you want but Larry Brown is one of the greatest teachers in the history of the game.” Seth Greenberg twitter.com/nba/status/774
Bits n Pieces
Nike is still number one in the shoe department among the NBA elite. That fails to take into account Adidas is quietly making headway in the market. The Three-Stripe brigade now include James Harden signed after his Nike contract expired, the company re-signed Derrick Rose earlier. Adidas probably believes playing for the Knicks will increase market share. The company has two Rookies of the Year Damian Lillard (2013) and Andrew Wiggins (2015) under contract. Veteran Joakim Noah now with the Knicks is an Adidas man as is Mike Conley Jr.
76ers Ben Simmons jersey 25 is Top 10 in sales already. I’m not discounting anything about the youngster however it boggles the mind. He’s yet to set foot on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center or any other NBA arena. Is it anticipation of his play that’s propelling sales? Believe it or not I think it just gives us an idea where the NBA stands in the eyes of sports fans.
In some circles there was plenty of yelling and screaming when it was announced Yao Ming was to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. “He didn’t play long enough in the NBA” or “His stats were not Hall of Fame worthy.” Listen I’m not here to defend the selection but I understand the significance of his selection. Yao was not the first Chinese player in the NBA however his breakthrough on the court proved athletes from the largest populace nation in the world can play.
I cannot locate any news update regarding progress on the Chase Center. The San Francisco arena planned to become home to the Warriors remains in the 2019 opening time-frame. The arena announced in 2012 and to my knowledge not a single shovel full of dirt has been turned over due to continuing issues, first location and later a lawsuit. Consider the Golden 1 Center new home for the Kings will open for the
2016-17 season.
Ground breaking and construction has begun on Milwaukee’s arena in June and the building should be complete in time for the 2018 NBA season a full year ahead of the Chase Center. I’d mentioned in another account Joakim Noah had grown up in NYC. His dad former pro tennis play Yannick answered the question I posed. Dad indicates he took his son to the Garden a number of times while Joakim was growing up. If Joakim is fully recovered from injury I believe he will be a step above last years center Robin Lopez.
Stay in your lane
A few weeks back I mentioned the pastor’s sermon point about staying in your own lane. He stated; “The white lines on the interstate or on the street are to ensure you stay in your lane and not the other guys.” When it comes to professional sports it might be a good idea to stay in your lane or play the sport that best suit you. In order to play at the “pay for play” level talent and ability are required. Nate Robinson drafted by the Knicks had a 10-year NBA career. In addition the 5-9 point guard managed to win the NBA Slam Dunk Championship three times. At the age of 32 he’d decided to try the NFL specifically with the Seahawks. Coach Pete Carroll indicated Robinson “had skill” but at his age (my words) did he really expect to earn a roster spot on an NFL team?
Robinson played football his freshman year of college but gave it up to focus on basketball. The same for Tim Tebow the Heisman Trophy winner has failed at several stops to earn an NFL quarterback job. He began a sports broadcasting career and then decided at 29-years old he would try out for baseball. A number of baseball scouts were in place to view Tebow’s workout. One scout said; “He looks like an actor trying to play a baseball player.” Tebow we understand hadn’t played baseball since high school. Talent and ability are required, Michael Jordan was a failure the brief period he attempted a baseball career. Former outfielder-running back Bo Jackson might be the only player in the last 40 years to succeed in two professional sports.
