Words eye view
Basketball from a fan’s
perspective
Overrated NBA players
This is not a reference to players who simply didn’t have the “right stuff” or injury shorten their career. This refers to those with a long NBA career but just didn’t live up to the promise many believed. At the top of my list is Kwame Brown all 6 feet 11 inches of him and 290 pounds. In the 2001 draft the Wizards chose him number one and he would go on to a 13-year career playing for 7 different NBA teams.
Kenyon Martin was the number
one pick by the Nets in the 2000 NBA draft.
If we check his career stats, they are not terrible (12.3 points and 6.9
rebounds a game). Those numbers were compiled
over a 15-year career for several teams.
Stromile Smith was made the second pick in that same draft by the
Grizzlies. Smith had a 10-year career
with several NBA stops, his registered 8.4 points and 4.6 rebounds. Those are not the numbers for a 6-foot 10-inch
220-pound athlete. He only registered
double-figures in points one season and 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds a
game. There are others I omitted, whose
on your list?
He was the bridge
In a previous account several facts of Laker Elgin Baylor’s brilliant NBA career were detailed. Baylor holds an additional distinction, he was the bridge between Minneapolis and Los Angeles. NBA Rookie of the Year for the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 he along with teammates moved to Los Angeles in 1960. Baylor in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame was the first mega-star for the Los Angeles version of the Lakers.
In a previous account several facts of Laker Elgin Baylor’s brilliant NBA career were detailed. Baylor holds an additional distinction, he was the bridge between Minneapolis and Los Angeles. NBA Rookie of the Year for the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 he along with teammates moved to Los Angeles in 1960. Baylor in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame was the first mega-star for the Los Angeles version of the Lakers.
Baylor retired in 1971 and
his number 22 hangs in the rafters of the Staples Center. A few years ago, a statue of Baylor was
erected outside the arena. Number 22
also hangs on the wall of Larry Laker’s man-cave, please allow a further
explanation. The jersey I purchased is
not the original nor is it autographed. Just for your further information all who
might not be informed I located an autographed Baylor jersey on the net priced
at $750.00.
Junior college basketball
Division I basketball has long had an association with the nation’s junior and community colleges, athletes matriculate at this level for at least two reasons. 1. Their GPA falls short of entry to most Division I programs. The athlete will attend a junior or community college to raise their grade point average. 2. The player in question might need to enhance his skill at the Division I level. Several NBA players began play at the junior college level, just a few of those names:
Junior college basketball
Division I basketball has long had an association with the nation’s junior and community colleges, athletes matriculate at this level for at least two reasons. 1. Their GPA falls short of entry to most Division I programs. The athlete will attend a junior or community college to raise their grade point average. 2. The player in question might need to enhance his skill at the Division I level. Several NBA players began play at the junior college level, just a few of those names:
Nate “Tiny” Archibald –
Arizona Western CC
Jimmy Butler – Tyler JC
Dennis Rodman – Cooke County
JC
Artis Gilmore – Gardner Webb
JC (now a 4-year institution)
Three of the four are
retired and have been enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Jimmy Butler might be there one day once he
retires as well. We might bet money at
the time they enrolled at the community or junior college they may have never
believed it would lead one day to the Naismith Hall of Fame. These schools are no longer the fertile
recruiting ground they once were.
Despite this fact fewer NBA players might begin their careers at these
institutions they continue to provide talent for Division I schools, a few such
as Jimmy Butler continue to the NBA.
Have they found him?
This is likely a figment of my imagination, it’s been my belief Magic fans felt betrayed at the time Shaquille O’Neal left for the Lakers. Have the Magic finally found that big man to replace the larger than life Big Aristotle? That’s not yet determined although Magic fans probably are feeling somewhat optimistic. Mohammed Bamba left Texas after his freshman year and the Magic made him the 6th pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft.
This is likely a figment of my imagination, it’s been my belief Magic fans felt betrayed at the time Shaquille O’Neal left for the Lakers. Have the Magic finally found that big man to replace the larger than life Big Aristotle? That’s not yet determined although Magic fans probably are feeling somewhat optimistic. Mohammed Bamba left Texas after his freshman year and the Magic made him the 6th pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA draft.
The 7-foot Bamba was a
double-double man at Texas with 12.9 and 10.4 rebounds a game. Perhaps the most exciting portion of his game
he’s a shot-blocker. In 29 games he
blocked nearly 4 shots a game, there is no telling how many he may have caused
to be altered. Magic fans be patient, it
will take some time for Bamba to adjust to NBA play. He might eventually cause fans to forget that
another 7-foot guy who once played for them.
