Basketball from a fans perspective
Cap
We are only hearing one side of two stories, when the Cap speaks we listen. The Cap is Kareem Abdul Jabbar Hall of Fame center for the Lakers and author of several books. Do we believe Kareem or should we believe Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum might say? Let’s look at Howard first, Laker fans might remember Abdul Jabbar was serving as a Laker Big Man coach, he worked with Howard and Bynum. Howard would leave the team after one year and reports indicate there were problems with Kobe Bryant.
There may have been problems with Kobe however according to Kareem some of the problems might he Howard related. Interviewed Kareem said; “Dwight Howard didn’t want to do any work.” Not surprising in that Howard always appeared to not work on his game, he seemed to utilize his skill alone. As for Bynum; “I don’t think Andrew (Bynum) was that interested in playing basketball.” If he’d stuck with it I’m sure he would have been better.” Two players one out of the league the other hanging on to what is left of a career that could have placed him among the elites of the NBA.
Texas by way of Harlem
6-11 Mohamed Bamba is the number two prospect in the Class of 2017, he is/was one of the last of the uncommitted remaining. It was generally believed Calipari and Kentucky had the inside track with Duke a close second. Mizzou also made an offer however I didn’t hold my breath. Despite what the experts believed Bamba’s made his decision known. He’s headed to Austin to play for Shaka Smart and Texas.
After a last place finish in the Big 12 Texas looks significantly improved adding talent at several positions. In addition to Bamba the Longhorns add point guard Matt Coleman, shooting guard Jase Fabres and power forwards Royce Hamm and Jerico Simms. Bamba is a 5-star prospect while the others are 4-star prospects. As for Bamba he's from Harlem (NY) his parents emigrated to the U.S. from the Ivory Coast a West African nation.
The coach
Not only did Norm Stewart coach Mizzou he was a Tiger athlete prior to serving as coach. A player from 1953-56 he would play one year with the St. Louis Hawks, he also signed a major league baseball contract but never played. In 1961 he was hired as head coach at State College of Iowa (Northern Iowa) where Stewart remained until 1967. In the fall of 1967 Stewart was hired by his alma mater the University of Missouri where he served until 1999. No Final Four appearances however numerous NCAA appearances during Stewart’s 29 year tenure at Mizzou.
The school announced a statue of the former coach would be erected outside the arena soon. Norm Stewart was funny without intending to be, he hated Kansas so much his teams would stay in Kansas City (MO) hotels for the night and then bus to Lawrence. The reason he didn’t want to spend a dime in the State of Kansas. The other story I related a number of times but will repeat one more time. Questioned about McDonald’s All Americans at Mizzou. The coach said; “We don’t have any McDonald’s All Americans but we eat at McDonald's.” The coach was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2007; the statue is overdue for The Coach.
Bits n Pieces
Steph Curry is now sporting a beard. Is this an effort on his part to hide his “baby face”? Any man able to grow a beard is definitely a grown man. Yours truly is fully grown but unable to accomplish the task of a full beard like Curry.
The job might be too much for one person to handle, I speak of those NBA coaches who also serve in some personnel capacity. The Hawks removed their coach, they didn’t fire him just took away the responsibility of acquiring players. I have long believed this might be one of the issues holding the Clippers back. Reading the account the Clippers have a bunch of coaches in the front office. Stan Van Gundy (Pistons) and Tom Thibodeau (Wolves) also wear “two hats.”
We’ve discussed the growth of NBA basketball world-wide, that now extends to the nation of India. The Bhullar brothers have been drafted in the NBA the game remains in its infancy. All that might change now, In May the NBA opened a Youth Academy in New Delhi for 21 youth prospects. Hopefully they will become the nucleus for the future of continued basketball development in the nation.
You remember Kobe Bryant’s dilemma don’t you? He received a great deal of grief when he married his parents said they were concerned about his age. Many years later Kobe “fought” with his parents over memorabilia they attempted to sale he believed was his property. Kobe haters were all over him in both cases; sometimes you must divorce “your parents.” And that’s what you do as a draft choice kick to the curb “He who shall not be named. “
