BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
We begin anew
Boy the summer was really short, the NFL season starts on Sunday. By the end of the month all NBA teams will be in training camp, we’ll be at the dawn of the 2016-17 season. I hope you are as excited as I am.
Without the Detroit Gems there are no Lakers
You ask how Detroit is connected to Los Angeles. I’m glad you ask the question, the Gems were an original member of the National Basketball League founded in 1946. The Gems would play only one year in The Motor City; they were sold and moved to Minneapolis in 1947. They would become the Minneapolis “Lakers” and and the city was home until 1960 when owner Bob Short moved the team to Los Angeles. In Minneapolis they drafted one of the leagues first superstars George Mikan who would dominate the NBA at 6-10.
While Minneapolis was home a Laker would later become famous for football over basketball, so famous he’s now enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame. Bud Grant played the 1949-51 seasons for the Lakers and later switched to football becoming a defensive end with the NFL Eagles. Grant would go on to coach in the Canadian Football League but is better known for his years as Minnesota Vikings head coach. The Lakers have a rich and historic history however many are unaware it all began in Detroit not the Twin Cities if only for a brief time.
Your definition?
If I read a report of international players I think of the Gasol brothers, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and several others. Ben Simmons, Reggie Jackson, Buddy Hield or Andrew Wiggins don’t make my list; they are quite far from my definition of “international”. Ethan Skolnick of CBSSports.com wrote a story on the increasing numbers of players from foreign shores now in the NBA. No argument on my part the number of international players has risen and will continue to increase. My issue I disagree with Skolnick’s definition of an international player. Simmons was born and grew up in Australia however his dad is an American who played pro ball in Australia. While living there he met and married his wife. The elder Simmons and wife had a daughter and son (Ben) while living in Australia, both brother and sister has dual citizenship.
It’s tough for me to refer to Ben Simmons as international but okay. On the other hand both parents of Thunder guard Reggie Jackson are American citizen’s son Reggie was born in Italy because his father was serving in the U.S. military at the time. Buddy Hield ex-Oklahoma Sooner was drafted by the NBA Pelicans. The Bahamas are indeed a foreign nation however it’s difficult for me to consider a 52 minute flight from Miami of international duration. Finally we connect with our northern neighbor Canada. Canada has continued to send talent south to U.S. colleges and several players have found their way into the NBA. Canada is not the U.S. although the two nations share a common border, language and a number of other things. Canada is certainly a whole other nation but in my eyes it is not international nation in the same manner as France, Italy or Germany.
Bits n Pieces
A poll of NBA rookies chose Kris Dunn as Rookie of the Year. Dunn has all the tools, point guard skill along with shooting ability. That represents the upside for Dunn what about the downside? The Wolves made him the 5th pick in the first round of the 2016 draft interesting because Ricky Rubio is the starter. Why draft a potential talent (Dunn) to provide backup to the present point guard?
Jason Terry claims the Lakers turned him down; this former teammate of Luke Walton was searching for an NBA job. Terry believed he could provide the team veteran leadership. No argument from this Laker fan I believe age (38) was more the issue than ability or leadership. The team just retired another athlete of the same age.
A few weeks ago you might remember I wrote of Warren Jabali. I said without confirmation I believed Jabali was talented enough to play in the NBA despite the fact he toiled in the ABA. I interviewed a former high school teammate and friend. I cornered Alex and said; “Do you believe Jabali could have played in the NBA.” He said; “No doubt” and then proceeded to detail some of the issues that managed to keep Jabali out of the NBA. Alex said; “Jabaili was directly responsible for some of the issues.”
One guy has three and the other none (0), I‘m referring to NBA Championships. A few weeks ago the ESPN.com NBA page read; “Who will win more rings LeBron or KD?” Sometimes I believe ESPN comes up with headlines that are just space fillers. How is this even a question at this stage when Durant is yet to win even one? Okay I’ll go along with their game, Durant is 27 LeBron is age 31. Barring injury both continue play into their late ‘30’s certainly possible. As great as these individuals play might be its still a team game.
