BASKETBALL FROM A FANS PERSPECTIVE
Training camp
Can you believe it’s here already, what happened to summer? Tomorrow (September 23) camp opens for NBA teams participating in pre-season NBA Global Games. On Tuesday September 27 camp opens for the remainder of teams for the 2016-17 NBA season. The pre-season schedule kicks off officially Saturday October 1 and Tuesday October 25th the NBA will begin its 70th season of operation.
Bits n Pieces
There are several coaches I’d love to sit down and discuss aspects of basketball. I would guess by now you know my admiration for SMU’s former Coach Larry Brown. I know he’s 76-years old but the guy still retains plenty of basketball knowledge and wisdom. I know he can be cantankerous at times as well. When you reach 76 its likely difficult for him to hold back at times.
The Missouri Valley Conference established in 1907 is steeped in basketball tradition. I found this interesting that several Big 12, SEC and American Athletic Conference schools had Valley Conference roots? As an example the Cincinnati Bearcats were members from 1957-1969. Kansas, Kansas State, Mizzou and Oklahoma were in the conference until 1928. Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) left in 1956 for the Big 8 (later Big 12 conference). Those are just a few of the former Valley members.
It’s likely the Mavs Dirk Nowitzki will be one of the guys who finish his career with one team. In the day of trades and especially free-agency Dirk will join a select few who managed to play for just one team, he will join Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. Dirk says he wants to play two more years which means he retires at age 40. The next stop after retirement will occur a few years later when he’s enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
A change in The Big Apple regarding the visibility of the Nets. In 2002 a Kansas City reporter was dispatched to cover the NBA Championship series between the Nets and the Lakers. The Nets at the time had “New Jersey” plastered across the front of their jerseys. This reporter claimed in 2002 he walked into several sports stores in NYC and claimed he couldn’t find any Nets gear. Moving into Brooklyn has changed the profile of the Nets in the city. ESPN financial guy Darren Rovell says Warriors caps are in third place behind Knicks and Nets.
The “other” Hall
Most are familiar with the Naismith Hall of Fame; it was established in 1959 and is located in Springfield (MA). Fewer are aware there is a hall dedicated to college basketball only. The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame opened in 2006 in Kansas City (MO) is newer than the more well-known Naismith Hall. The college hall is located next door to the Sprint Center in the Power and Light District downtown Kansas City. Similar to Naismith the college version honors a group to be enshrined every year.
The difference between the Halls of Fame Naismith contains a mix of college, NBA and international players, coaches and contributors to the game. As for the college version it’s strictly college players, coaches and contributors to the game. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett will never be enshrined unless they graduate college. This is no slap at the players mentioned all have been great players however none attended college. If you plan on traveling to Kansas City the College Basketball Experience is certainly worth a visit. I receive no financial compensation for writing this I just happen to live in Kansas City.
