Basketball from a fans perspective
He’s the leader
It’s probably been clear for awhile now Kwahi Leonard is the leader of the Spurs. Okay there was guy named Tim Duncan but in the last few years he’d moved to more of a supporting role. We could make the same statement regarding Manu Ginobili; he too has fallen into more support than leader. Swift and once young Tony Parker is now 34 years old and of course Duncan has now retired. What should we expect from the 2016-17 version of the Spurs?
There is likely a drop off but it will not be tremendous because of Kwahi. We apply the term leader loosely and we have a guy that prefers to remain in the background. Everything I’ve read indicates that’s where he prefers to be. Leonard’s scoring average has continued to climb each of his first five years in the NBA. In the end his leadership is conducted in a quiet manner, he appears to be non-verbal but manages to get the job done.
Knick fans know----maybe
A number of all-time Knicks standout among them Willis Reed. Reed would lead the Knicks to their last two (1970, 1973) NBA Championships. It’s interesting in that Reed is enshrined in both the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. That’s impressive for a second round draft choice but who knew, he arrived from Grambling College (now Grambling State University) in 1960. Grambling one of a number of historically black institutions in the nation has sent more football players into the NFL than basketball players into the NBA. The story is told when he arrived at Grambling a coach asked him “How tall are you?” Reed is supposed to have responded “I’m 6 feet 9 inches tall.” The coach then informed him “You are 6 feet 10; the NBA pays players more at 6-10.”
From that point and throughout his NBA career Reed was listed at 6-10. The first Knick championship (1970) was monumental, the big center had been injured and missed Game Six, the Lakers behind Wilt Chamberlain smashed the the Knicks forcing a Game Seven. The day prior and leading up to game time Knick fans waited anxiously hoping somehow Reed would be able to play. Game Time the Knicks are warming up with no sighting yet of Reed. With minutes remaining Reed emerged from the tunnel and took several jump shots. Tip off and the Knicks behind Reed’s outside shot hit both. Dragging his injured leg up and down the court he couldn’t play but he provided the psychological advantage the Knicks needed. Reed’s jersey 19 is now retired hanging in the rafters of Madison Square Garden. Reed a giant in size and heart.
The other direction
Much has been written or discussed regarding college coaches moving into the NBA. Fred Hoiberg with the Bulls and Billy Donovan of the Thunder are the most recent. How about former NBA coaches now at the collegiate level. The Little General Avery Johnson after stops with the Mavs and Nets is now coaching the Alabama basketball. Terry Porter has been a head coach at two stops; his last one in the NBA was an assistant with the Wolves. In April 2016 Porter was hired as head coach of the University of Portland.
We could also include John Calipari in the count although technically he was college then NBA and then college (Memphis, Kentucky) again. Eric Musselman has journeyed far and wide as an assistant and two head coaching stops in the NBA. March 2015 Musselman was hired as head coach at the University of Nevada. This short study is not complete but we must include Louisville Coach Rick Pitino in our count. He’s served as head coach with the Knicks and Celtics. Lon Kruger appears to favor coaching at the college level after a less than stellar NBA coaching tenure.
Break-out year
I expect great things from Semi Ojeleye this season. Unknown name to you I would suppose, he’s been invisible for awhile. He set the all-time high school scoring record for the State of Kansas. His college choice was Duke where he languished on the bench. The 6-8 230 pound Ojeleye transferred to SMU in 2015-16 he would sit out the fall semester as a transfer.
Later he would decide to red shirt for the spring semester preparing to play for Brown in the fall. Over the summer Brown suddenly decided to quit SMU leaving Ojeleye to ponder what might have been. The young man might be more inclined to prove he can play at this level. We might add he should become a focal part of the offense having lost a few of last years key contributors.
