This is shocking news
It’s official now point guard Markelle Fultz will enter the 2017 NBA draft, I was joking this isn’t really shocking we figured as much. Fultz has been number one or two pick on most mock draft sites since the beginning of the college season. Will the Celtics with Isaiah Thomas established at the point draft Fultz or maybe the Lakers despite having D’Angelo Russell on the roster?
He played where?
Guys arrive in college not highly recruited and turn into all-stars in the NBA. They often come from NAIA and mid-major D-I schools unheralded and often unknown. You know them in an earlier era there was Scottie Pippen from Central Arkansas was Robin to MJ’s Batman or vice-versa in any event Pippen is now in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Joe Dumars of McNeese State and Dennis Rodman Southeastern Oklahoma were key members of championship Piston teams.
There were others besides the three mentioned but where did many of today’s stars play? Well there’s Dwayne Wade and Jimmy Butler both from Marquette, Hassan Whiteside Marshall, Damian Lillard Weber State and C.J. McCollum Lehigh. Gordon Hayward Butler, Paul George Fresno State and the incomparable Steph Curry from Davidson. Athletes who emerged from small schools but proved beyond a shadow of a doubt they could play at the NBA level. Over the years many have succeeded at a higher level than many of the better-know players in the NBA draft.
I’d rather believe the basketball guy
I’ll attempt to answer the question, in one corner we have Dan LeBatard newspaper sportswriter, radio and television host on ESPN. In the opposing corner we have Pat Riley former coach of the Lakers, Knicks and Heat. Riley now serves as president of the Heat and coached two teams to NBA Championships. Remember a week or so ago I mentioned LeBatard claimed Magic Johnson was hired by Jeannie Buss due to his “charm.” Now I say LeBatard has a right to his opinion but he only offers a failed late night television program and 15 games as a head coach proof of Magic’s failure.
I pose the question once again who do we trust? Do we trust the guy who’s opinionated but never led anybody anywhere, take that back I’m sure LeBatard has led his children How about the former coach? The president of the Heat and former coach defends the Lakers hiring Magic Johnson. As I attempted to point out at the time Riley believes his former player will utilize his business skills in rebuilding the Lakers. In closing I ask again who we trust with a clear picture of the issue in front of us--the media member or the former coach.
Blame Kevin Durant
Doug Gottlieb of CBS Sports hit on something that makes sense. We’ve read Paul George stated he wants to remain in Indiana; Boogie Cousins made the same statement about Sacramento however the trade changed that. If they look toward Kevin Durant do you stay loyal to the team or leave for a possible championship? Gottlieb said and I agree; “We (NBA fans) are just as responsible for Durant leaving Oklahoma City as Kevin is. We say a successful NBA career is often based on winning a championship.”
Think about this Charles Barkley on a weekly basis during the TNT telecast is sitting at the table with Shaquille O’Neal (4 championships) and Kenny Smith (2 championships). We gave Durant the blues for leaving from a successful team to one with 73 wins. With the inclusion of Durant in the lineup the Warriors are just a few wins behind last season’s record breaking record. Last year the team might have over achieved just to break the record, this year they are on near the same pace and appear to be peaking. As this is written we have no idea if Durant receives a ring however we know the move to the Bay Area have proven beneficial already.
