Basketball from a fans perspective
The road woes are over
I didn’t realize until I read the Monday edition of the Kansas City Star, Mizzou slipped passed Tulane on Sunday 67-62. The Tigers broke a 32-game road losing streak on Sunday. The game was not available on television so I can only check the box score. Mizzou managed to out rebound an opponent significantly for the first time this season. Guards K.J. Walton with his 20 points and Frankie Hughes with 14 aided in the victory, forward Kevin Puryear chipped in with 11 points. Mizzou is now 2-2 facing Northwestern State on Saturday.
Kansas basketball in the NBA
It’s not fair to use NBA basketball as a barometer of basketball success. A number of very talented college players for a variety of reasons had less and sometimes no success at the next level. Many of my friends love to point out the accomplishments of Kansas basketball which is certainly evident and I’ve acknowledge that fact. The conversation degrades to an argument when we begin discussing prosperity in the NBA. Players receiving an NBA pay check are accomplished based on a minimum contract, in this instance I’m referring to All-Pro/All-Star level of play.
Clyde Lovellette 6-9 forward/center
Kansas 1949-52
1952 NCAA Champion
1952-1964 NBA
1954, 1963 & 1964 NBA Champion
Naismith Hall of Fame
Wilt Chamberlain 7-1 center
Kansas 1956-58
1959-1973 NBA
1967 & 1972 NBA Champion
Naismith & Collegiate Hall of Fame
Jo Jo White 6-3 point guard
Kansas 1965-69
1969-1981 NBA
1974 & 1976 NBA Champion
Naismith Hall of Fame
Paul Pierce 6-7 small forward
Kansas 1995-98
1998-???
2008 NBA Champion
Hall of Fame-date to be determined
On the bubble baring injury small forward Andrew Wiggins of the Wolves and Sixer center Joel Embiid appear headed for stellar NBA careers. Besides these two NBA rosters contain a number of former Kansas Jayhawks. At least two Danny Manning and Bill Bridges could have been included but were omitted. After he sustained an injury Manning continued to play. His NBA game never returned to the prior level, as for Bridges he was steady and had a long career his numbers were average at best. Research and prove me wrong, have I missed a Kansas player worthy of being included in this list?
Check up time
Thon Maker the wunderkind has fallen off the edge of the earth, just kidding folks. The youngster remains on the Bucks roster although he’s not seeing any playing time. His effort to acquire an NBA presence might be more difficult than the typical rookie, the majority has four years of college ball behind them, and others have at least one year playing at the collegiate level. Maker is attempting to make that leap from high school to an NBA team he’s having a tough time gaining playing time. Time to give up on him, off course not the ceiling is still unlimited for the 7-1 223 pound Maker.
Downtown
In 1965 pop singer Petula Clark had a hit tune titled “Downtown”. The second stanza reads;
Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city
Linger on the sidewalks were the neon signs are pretty
How can you lose?
The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown
I have no idea if the traffic is musical or the neon signs pretty in Detroit however the Pistons are headed downtown. In an afternoon press conference the story was confirmed the Pistons will move into the 20,000 seat Little Caesars Arena next season. As mentioned earlier the new arena belongs to the NHL Red Wings so the Pistons will be co-tenants. The first game in the 2017-18 season will be the first Piston game inside the city limits of Detroit since 1978. The arena was designed by HOK Sports Architecture of Kansas City (MO).
