Basketball from a fan’s perspective
Can you believe, I’m waiting on Mario McKinney?
This is quite unbelievable I’m waiting on a 17 or 18-year old to announce his intentions. The youngster is new age, he’s announcing on Twitter which is the manner it’s done today. About 6:35 p.m. Central time Monday September 24 combo guard Mario McKinney said it would be Mizzou. This Rivals 4-star prospect is the first in the Class of 2019 to commit to Mizzou, a couple of points. We have no idea if McKinney makes the transition to Division I basketball successfully.
Coach Martin and staff
continue to recruit the nation extensively, prized prospect E.J. Liddell is
still out there uncommitted. Liddell is
the 6-foot 7-inch power forward and Class of 2019 Rivals 4-star prospect. A Chicago Sun-Times reporter indicates Mizzou
is on the outside and Illinois (his home state) and Ohio State are in the
lead. This writer could be correct, we
shall see. NOTE: The Michigan State
commit's first name is Mark “Rocket” Watts, just wanted to ensure you didn’t
think his first name was Rocket.
Kansas City professional
basketball
I’ve written previously about the Kansas City Steers, they were a professional basketball team playing here from 1961 through December 1963. The Steers were members of the American Basketball League which is not to be confused with the American Basketball Association. Years later the NBA Kings would locate here from Cincinnati, I’ve always been curious, there must have been professional basketball prior to the 1960’s in Kansas City. My interest brought about a research project which is now complete. The earliest date I could uncover was around the time the NBA began.
I’ve written previously about the Kansas City Steers, they were a professional basketball team playing here from 1961 through December 1963. The Steers were members of the American Basketball League which is not to be confused with the American Basketball Association. Years later the NBA Kings would locate here from Cincinnati, I’ve always been curious, there must have been professional basketball prior to the 1960’s in Kansas City. My interest brought about a research project which is now complete. The earliest date I could uncover was around the time the NBA began.
In 1947-1948 the Kansas City Blues began play in
the Professional Basketball League of America (not to be confused with a later
league with a similar name). I was
unable to uncover additional information, but the Blues and league died after
one year. In the 1950-1951 season
another league formed, the National Basketball Professional League was born, the
Kansas City Hi-Spots were one of the members of this 8-team league, it folded
after the season with no championship being decided. In 1957 the National Industrial Basketball
League began play, the Kansas City Kaycees competed in this league. Interesting this league was comprised of mill
workers as a recreational league so I’m unsure if we should consider it a pro
league. There you have it Kansas City’s
professional basketball resume.
Taking on a
reserve role
40-year old Dirk Nowitzki will be coming off the bench this season for the Mavs. That’s been the talk all summer and now it appears official, that’s the preliminary statement by coach Rick Carlisle. DeAndre Jordan late of the Clippers will start at center replacing Nowitzki, highly touted rookie Luka Doncic will move into the starting lineup at power forward. The Mavs believe Doncic’s passing skill will allow him to play the position at 220 pounds.
40-year old Dirk Nowitzki will be coming off the bench this season for the Mavs. That’s been the talk all summer and now it appears official, that’s the preliminary statement by coach Rick Carlisle. DeAndre Jordan late of the Clippers will start at center replacing Nowitzki, highly touted rookie Luka Doncic will move into the starting lineup at power forward. The Mavs believe Doncic’s passing skill will allow him to play the position at 220 pounds.
He led them to
the Promised Land
I didn’t realize Moses Malone played for 10 ABA and NBA teams during his career until I began this research. Malone will forever be remembered by Sixer fans as he led them to the Promised Land…. the 1983 NBA championship. The journey of Malone began in Petersburg Virginia, born in 1955 he would be chosen in the 3rd round of the 1974 draft by the ABA Utah Stars out of high school. At that time-frame NBA rules prohibit drafting talent directly from high school, but his ABA tenure would be brief. Playing for the Stars and the Spirits of St. Louis Malone and several players were placed in a pool at the of the ABA-NBA merger. It’s long been my contention we have no NBA basketball in Kansas City due to a series of errors, failure to acquire Malone is one of them. In 83 games for the Stars 18-year old Malone averaged 14.6 rebounds and 18.8 points per game.
I didn’t realize Moses Malone played for 10 ABA and NBA teams during his career until I began this research. Malone will forever be remembered by Sixer fans as he led them to the Promised Land…. the 1983 NBA championship. The journey of Malone began in Petersburg Virginia, born in 1955 he would be chosen in the 3rd round of the 1974 draft by the ABA Utah Stars out of high school. At that time-frame NBA rules prohibit drafting talent directly from high school, but his ABA tenure would be brief. Playing for the Stars and the Spirits of St. Louis Malone and several players were placed in a pool at the of the ABA-NBA merger. It’s long been my contention we have no NBA basketball in Kansas City due to a series of errors, failure to acquire Malone is one of them. In 83 games for the Stars 18-year old Malone averaged 14.6 rebounds and 18.8 points per game.
His numbers for the Spirits
of St. Louis were comparable until the team folded. In any event players from the folded
franchises (including Malone) were placed in a pool. NBA teams could select a player based on the
teams record at the end of the season.
The Kings with the 3rd poorest record chose a 6-foot 2-inch
guard named Ron Boone. The Blazers
having two picks chose Maurice Lucas with the second pick, Marvin Barnes went
to the Pistons and the Blazers selected Malone.
For $100,000 difference the Kings could have chosen a future NBA
champion and Naismith Hall of Fame player.
Boone’s signing fee by the Kings was $250,000, the Blazers signed Malone
for $350,000. This is all debatable,
Malone selected by the Kings might have never reached his later potential, but
we just don’t know.
