M.I.A.
The question might be “Are some big men head cases?” We need look no further than Boogie Cousins, a talented big man but sometimes contemptuous. We could make the same statement about Hassan Whiteside of the Heat. Two years ago, we witnessed him on the road to superstar status, last season I wasn’t sure where he was headed. After two seasons of rising numbers he fell back to earth last season. He missed games with injuries as for the other portion of missing games…well.
The question might be “Are some big men head cases?” We need look no further than Boogie Cousins, a talented big man but sometimes contemptuous. We could make the same statement about Hassan Whiteside of the Heat. Two years ago, we witnessed him on the road to superstar status, last season I wasn’t sure where he was headed. After two seasons of rising numbers he fell back to earth last season. He missed games with injuries as for the other portion of missing games…well.
Will the 2018-19 season see Whiteside return to form? If we check out Wednesday evenings action
that might indeed be the case. In a
95-88 win over the Spurs Whiteside displayed why many believed (including me) he
was on his way to superstar status. Whiteside
filled the box score 29 points 20 rebounds along with 9 BLOCKED SHOTS. In 32 minutes of action Whiteside was .552
from the floor. A second-round pick in
2010 it took him time to grow his game plus he left Marshall University after
one year.
Not his former self
I saw a video featuring Derrick Rose and thought “He’s only 30 years old but we’ve got to believe his best years are behind him.” Rose was on his way to superstar status and then the crippling series of injuries that sidelined him for parts of several season. The Rose 2010-11 season with the Bulls led to him being voted the leagues MVP the youngest in history. As mentioned Rose returned to the Bulls but never played a full season for them thereafter. Since that time, he’s moved from the Knicks to the Cavs and now the Wolves hoping to re-capture his former self. Rose must face facts he will never return to his days of glory.
I saw a video featuring Derrick Rose and thought “He’s only 30 years old but we’ve got to believe his best years are behind him.” Rose was on his way to superstar status and then the crippling series of injuries that sidelined him for parts of several season. The Rose 2010-11 season with the Bulls led to him being voted the leagues MVP the youngest in history. As mentioned Rose returned to the Bulls but never played a full season for them thereafter. Since that time, he’s moved from the Knicks to the Cavs and now the Wolves hoping to re-capture his former self. Rose must face facts he will never return to his days of glory.
He could check former Cavs, Clippers, Bulls and Laker Ron
Harper’s bio for an answer. Harper was
also on the road to superstardom till an injury sidelined him. With the 1994-95 season Harper would assume a
role with the Bulls as a reserve player, a devastating injury had curtailed him
and his career too. From that point, on to
his retirement Harper became a role player helping first the Bulls and later
the Lakers win NBA championships. NOTE: Since this was written Rose had a
50-point game and Wednesday night against the Lakers. Wednesday, he played like the 2011 Rose, he
might be back.
Illinois Wesleyan
University
The school located in Bloomington Illinois competes at the Division III level. Jack Sikma was made the 7th pick in the first round of the 1977 NBA draft by the Seattle Sonics. It’s very rare indeed for a Division III athlete to be drafted into the NBA and it might be even less likely they would achieve the success of Sikma. You ask how many NBA players from Illinois Wesleyan have graced NBA rosters? Well a quick count indicates one (1) but he was a good one.
The school located in Bloomington Illinois competes at the Division III level. Jack Sikma was made the 7th pick in the first round of the 1977 NBA draft by the Seattle Sonics. It’s very rare indeed for a Division III athlete to be drafted into the NBA and it might be even less likely they would achieve the success of Sikma. You ask how many NBA players from Illinois Wesleyan have graced NBA rosters? Well a quick count indicates one (1) but he was a good one.
This 1979 NBA champion was a 7X NBA All-Star and that’s just
a glimpse of Sikma’s exploits. He would
spend the bulk of his career as a member of the Sonics and his final five
seasons were spent as a member of the Bucks.
The 6-foot 11-inch Sikma had his number 43 retired by the Sonics one of
six Sonic players to have their number retired.
Since retirement he’s served as an assistant coach at a couple of
stops. The information I uncovered
indicates he’s currently working for the Raptors working with center Jonas
Valanciunas. Jack Sikma, a name from the
past NBA fans should be familiar with.
She’s in charge
If I said SHE is an NBA owner, the Lakers Jeanie Buss might be the first name that comes to mind and rightly so. The daughter of the late Dr. Jerry Buss has been involved in the day to day operations of the franchise all her life. After the death of her father Jim Buss managed the franchise until he ran it into the ground. Jeanie fired her brother and now is 100% in charge as owner. Family members and shareholders continue to hold stakes in the team, this we can state with conviction the buck stops at Jeanie’s desk. Less known is Gail Miller widow of Larry Miller Jazz owner who died in 2009. How involved in the day to day operations of the Jazz is unknown however all indications are she too has owner behind her name.
If I said SHE is an NBA owner, the Lakers Jeanie Buss might be the first name that comes to mind and rightly so. The daughter of the late Dr. Jerry Buss has been involved in the day to day operations of the franchise all her life. After the death of her father Jim Buss managed the franchise until he ran it into the ground. Jeanie fired her brother and now is 100% in charge as owner. Family members and shareholders continue to hold stakes in the team, this we can state with conviction the buck stops at Jeanie’s desk. Less known is Gail Miller widow of Larry Miller Jazz owner who died in 2009. How involved in the day to day operations of the Jazz is unknown however all indications are she too has owner behind her name.
This could be a cosmetic move however
Ann Walton Kroenke is listed as the owner of the NBA Nuggets. Ann’s husband Stan had to transfer ownership
to his wife in order to attain full ownership of the St. Louis/Los Angeles
Rams. Son Josh serves as president of
the Denver Nuggets. Gayle Benson assumed
ownership of the NBA Pelicans on the death of her husband. Her role is unknown as to the day to day
operations of the team. Artist Jada Pinkett
Smith is a minority shareholder in the Sixer franchise along with husband
Will. Like the Smith’s Valerie
Daniels-Carter is a minority shareholder with the Bucks. So, there you have it the number might not be
significant however it certainly represents the progress many women have made
as owners and shareholders of NBA teams.
