Basketball from a fans perspective
I did it
The Man-Cave is about to have another jersey added it's been awhile since I’ve made a purchase. I decided in favor of a Jamal Wilkes #52 jersey. The Man-Cave at this time only contains retired Lakers it wasn‘t planned that way. I had Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Steve Nash when all were active. At some point there might be a Lonzo Ball, Julius Randle or Larry Nance Jr. jersey hanging in the cave.
The Wilkes jersey will hang alongside Kobe Bryant, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O’Neal. I know what your thinking to yourself Shaq didn’t retire a Laker. Consider the Lakers retired his 34 jersey and it hangs in the rafters at Staples Center. One additional note the Lakers erected a statue outside of the building, I believe those two events certainly qualify Shaq to occupy a space in the Man-Cave.
We don’t know
Zion Williamson is the number three prospect in the Class of 2018 yet seems to receive the bulk of attention. Do you know Marvin Bagley III or R.J. Barnett? Both Bagley and Barnett might have as many offers on the table as Williamson however it’s Williamson whose become a media darling especially through social media particularly YouTube. The 6-7 230 pound forward has an NBA body as a high school senior so there is no requirement to add weight.
Jason Marcum of SBNation has begun speculating of the many offerings which college Williamson will eventually chose, Mizzou’s not in the mix so I write this objectively. Marcum believes Kansas and Kentucky are in the lead for his services. Where ever he lands I’ll repeat my statement; “develop a jump shot, at the next level the competition gets a little tougher. At the level beyond college its even tougher young man develop your game…….Out. NOTE: Marvin Bagley III is now in the Class of 2017 and Williamson moved up to the number two position on Rivals.
You remember him don’t you?
David Blatt sorta disappeared after the Cavs fired him in 2016. The Cavs were 30-11 when he was terminated; Blatt might have had best won-loss record ever for a coach who losses his job. Blatt is coaching in Turkey but has expressed a desire to return to the NBA. This is the bad news part of this story not for Blatt but for Knicks Coach Jeff Horncek. Blatt’s friends with Knicks President Steve Mills and Craig Robinson who was a recent front office hire. Frank Isola New York Daily News tells the story Blatt, Mills and Robinson were all teammates at Princeton. Should Horncek be concerned about his job security, if I were him I don’t think I’d make too many long-range plans.
The Glove
Gary Payton was nicknamed “The Glove“ due to his defensive prowess. Oakland’s Payton played his college ball at Oregon State he was drafted by the Sonics in 1990. Payton and Shawn Kemp became the glue that led to regular season and playoff basketball success for the Sonics.
Point guard Payton could score (16.3 and 21,813 points) during his career but it was his tough hard-nose defense that would become his trademark. In addition to the defense Payton was a notorious trash-talker which resulted in a great number of technical fouls. Payton would spend the bulk of his career in Seattle but also played for the Bucks, Lakers, Celtics and Heat, he won an NBA Championship with the 2006 Heat. ’The Glove‘ would be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
