Basketball from a fans perspective
His goal
Players often establish goals which appear difficult to accomplish. That certainly is the case for Kristaps Porzingis of the Knicks says he wants a quadruple-double as a goal. Consider this fact it’s been 22 years since this rare feat was last accomplished in the NBA, how rare you say. The records indicate only four players in NBA history have been proficient enough to accomplish it. You might find this even more interesting Hakeem Olajuwon did it twice.
Nate Thurmond Bulls 22 pts, 14 rebs, 13 assists, 12 blocks vs. Hawks
Alvin Robertson Spurs 20 pts, 11 rebs, 10 assists, 10 steals vs. Suns
Hakeem Olajuwon Rockets 29 pts, 18 rebs, 10 assists, 11 blocks vs. Warriors
Hakeem Olajuwon Rockets 18 pts, 16 rebs, 10 assists, 11 blocks vs. Bucks
David Robinson Spurs 34 pts, 10 rebs, 10 assists, 10 blocks vs. Pistons
Marked for greatness
Can you think of any athlete in college or Europe you said; “He’s gonna be a star.” Other than injury they never reached the level you or maybe the NBA team expected. A number failed due to injury which curtailed their careers I’m talking about folks who were healthy but we discovered they couldn’t play effectively at the NBA level. It appears big men have failed more so than others. Michael Olowokandi is the name that comes to mind first for me. He emerged from College of the Pacific in Stockton (CA); he would become the top pick in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Clippers. He came into the NBA after a 22 point 11 rebound 3 block shot a game average. It was envisioned he’d be close to that at the NBA level. Olowokandi would leave after the 2007 season his numbers 8.3 ppg and 6.8 rebounds for a 7 foot 270 pound player pathetic numbers.
One of the issues NBA great Kareem Abdul Jabbar was a Clipper coach at the time. It was reported he stated; “I’ve learned all I can.” Darko Milicic from Serbia was 7 feet and checked in at 275 pounds. The Pistons would make him the second pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. 2012 would be his last year in the NBA with his 5th NBA team. He departed the NBA with 6.0 ppg and 4.2 rebounds a game. Kwame Brown has been documented in the past in words however he too deserves a mention. How about Shawn Bradley who stood 7-6 inches and 275 pounds, he was drafted with the second pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. Bradley would leave the NBA with 8.1 ppg and 6.3 rebounds a game. The Warriors once had a center named Joe Barry Carroll; Carroll was a good player he appeared to not put forth an effort at times. He was nicknamed Joe “Barely Cares”. Maybe with these athletes it’s a talent issue in other instances it’s an attitude that says I don’t care.
Better than dad
I’m watching the beginning of the Knick-Celtic exhibition game on NBA TV. A shot of Al Horford and the announcer says “He signed a free-agent contract with the Celtics over the summer. “ My first thought “He’s better than his dad.” Sons follow their fathers into the game but often they are unable to play at the same level. We can state with certainty Michael Jordan, Rick Barry and Bill Walton’s off-spring had talent but nothing close to that of their fathers. I’m sure there are others however those names are off the top of my head.
In the case of new Celtic Al Horford his dad Tito had a rather pedestrian NBA career. We can say with a degree of certainty if Al stopped playing after this season his career will have eclipsed that of his dad. We know the story of Kobe Bryant don’t we? Joe “Jellybean” Bryant was a 6-9 jumping jack. Over the course of 7 seasons with the 76ers, Clippers and Rockets Bryant averaged 8.7 ppg and 4 rebounds. This is no criticism of his talent however Mitchell Wiggins was a journeyman NBA player. As for son Andrew besides scoring Rookie of the Year honors he is on the road to an All-Pro career.
