Basketball from a
fans perspective
What season is it?
I was once asked, “Basketball season is over why not write about another sport?” I’ve concluded there really is no off-season, locally the baseball Royals are prime topic which they probably should be. This is the other part of the discussion; the NFL Chiefs are always worthy of a discussion. In addition to this bit of information one of the local television stations telecast Sunday evening Chiefs program 12 months of the year.
Professional teams still
maintain a schedule of competition, but they must now share space with other
sports. I guess we might say they are no
longer the only game in town. Baseball
and playoff NBA games have occurred on the same calendar day. The same goes for NFL football, NBA
basketball and NHL hockey. In years past
the lines were clearly drawn, that was before sports talk radio and the
proliferation of sports cable television networks.
Going home
Former McDonald's All-American Jabari Parker headed for Duke, he would only be there one season leaving for the NBA. The Bucks made this talented forward the number two choice in the 2014 NBA draft. Stardom was predicted for this Chicago native if only he could remain healthy. Parker would play only 25 games in his rookie year sidelined by injury. The following season he would appear in 76 games improve all his numbers and he was on his way…. until.
Going home
Former McDonald's All-American Jabari Parker headed for Duke, he would only be there one season leaving for the NBA. The Bucks made this talented forward the number two choice in the 2014 NBA draft. Stardom was predicted for this Chicago native if only he could remain healthy. Parker would play only 25 games in his rookie year sidelined by injury. The following season he would appear in 76 games improve all his numbers and he was on his way…. until.
Although Parker managed to
raise his scoring average once again he was only healthy enough to play in 50
games, last season he played in 31 games starting only 3. It appears the Bucks have given up on him
remaining healthy. On Saturday he signed
a 2-year agreement and play for his home town Bulls and the Bucks chose to not
match the offer. After a series of
devastating injuries, its hoped he can remain healthy and demonstrate the
promise many saw in him several years ago.
Where is he?
Chances are good the name Lucius Mitchell is unfamiliar to 99% of you reading this, during his 15-year coaching career his teams won 325 of the 428 games played. Mitchell served as head coach at Kentucky State, Alabama State and Norfolk State however it’s his Kentucky State teams most basketball aficionados are probably familiar with. Kentucky State then a NAIA Division One member won three consecutive national championships from 1970-1972. Those teams produced Elmore Smith drafted by the NBA Buffalo Braves in 1971 and Travis Grant by the Lakers in 1972. Smith still holds the NBA single game block shot record with 17 collected in a 1973 game.
Where is he?
Chances are good the name Lucius Mitchell is unfamiliar to 99% of you reading this, during his 15-year coaching career his teams won 325 of the 428 games played. Mitchell served as head coach at Kentucky State, Alabama State and Norfolk State however it’s his Kentucky State teams most basketball aficionados are probably familiar with. Kentucky State then a NAIA Division One member won three consecutive national championships from 1970-1972. Those teams produced Elmore Smith drafted by the NBA Buffalo Braves in 1971 and Travis Grant by the Lakers in 1972. Smith still holds the NBA single game block shot record with 17 collected in a 1973 game.
As for Grant he was
nicknamed “Machine Gun” for his
scoring prowess. Grant holds the
all-time college scoring record with 4,045 points averaging 33.4 points per
game in three years of action. Ponder
this, those points were scored without benefit of a 3-point line. Smith and Grant have been enshrined in the
Kentucky State Hall of Fame along with their coach. In 2009 Grant was inducted in the College
Basketball Hall of Fame. I could locate
no record of Lucius Mitchell in the Naismith or College Hall….my guess is no
one bothered to nominate this basketball pioneer. In February 2010 Mitchell died in his sleep
at the age of 74.
Bronny in action
We guess Bronny is his nickname, his given name is LeBron James Jr. Video of this 13-year old in action on the AAU circuit clearly demonstrates his talent. As he grows and continues his basketball development I hope he’s not trapped. Trapped along the lines many will unfairly compare him to his celebrated dad. It’s been pointed out previously it’s difficult for a son to follow the same sport of the father, a number dealt with the celebrity of their fathers successfully.
We guess Bronny is his nickname, his given name is LeBron James Jr. Video of this 13-year old in action on the AAU circuit clearly demonstrates his talent. As he grows and continues his basketball development I hope he’s not trapped. Trapped along the lines many will unfairly compare him to his celebrated dad. It’s been pointed out previously it’s difficult for a son to follow the same sport of the father, a number dealt with the celebrity of their fathers successfully.
Two names that first come to
mind are Klay Thompson and Kobe Bryant, both are superior players to their
fathers. Those two might be the
exception others such as Jeffrey and Marcus Jordan had the specter of Michael
circling above them. The same could be
said for Gary Payton II, he plays but will always be compared to The
Glove. None of the Barry brothers now retired
was close to their Hall of Fame dad Rick. Perhaps the truth is none of these sons plus other were not as talented as their dads. The truth is none of these sons plus others unnamed were just not as talented as their dads.
