Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Depends on the school
Locally we don’t receive a great deal of NBA news, it’s probably based on no NBA team being located here.  With that statement in tow consider this report, free agent Kelley Oubre Jr. re-signed with the Suns which was not shocking.  Earlier free agent Willie Cauley-Stein signed a contract with his new team the Warriors.  One party earns a spot on the local sports news while coverage of the other was omitted. 

The local NBC affiliate during its 10:00 p.m. newscast mentioned the Oubre story but failed to mention Cauley-Stein which occurred a week or so earlier.  Oubre Jr. played his college basketball at Kansas, Cauley-Stein from Olathe Kansas in metro Kansas City played his college ball at Kentucky.  It could be me however there certainly appears to be bias in sports coverage here unless an athlete attends Kansas University.      

It might be more than talent
There is more than talent separating an NAIA athlete over one who plays Division I or II basketball.  I held a conversation with a friend who played NAIA basketball, and this is what he said.  “On one of our many road trips we played _______ and _______.  Our biggest adjustment was playing in a much larger arena.  We walked into the building and our eyes got really big” That makes sense in several instances, as an example his home arena had a seating capacity of only 1,800. 

Many teams in the conference played in similar size arenas throughout the conference.  As a visiting NAIA or Division II team walking into Rupp Arena seating almost 24,000 fans or the Dean Dome with almost 22,000, the surroundings could easily intimidate a visiting team.  As for the talent issue he shared this story with me; “They had the ball on a break, me and a teammate were prepared to take a charge from the guy dribbling down court toward us.  We are standing almost shoulder to shoulder ready to take a charge and somehow he elevated squeezing between us both and dunked the ball.”  We can conclude sometimes talent is an issue as well. 

Has anything like this occurred previously?    
The Russell Westbrook trade sent a seismic shock throughout the NBA world.  Chris Paul arrives in Oklahoma City however he’s 34 years old.  The trade has long term implications for a total re-build with the number of draft picks the Thunder retain.  Beginning in 2020 up through 2027 the NBA draft will become the “Thunder” draft rather than the NBA draft.  If Thunder GM Sam Presti remains in place his team will have 13 first round draft choices. 

In addition, the Thunder have 6 second round picks too.  We cannot peer into the future, it’s likely the Thunder will not retain all the draft choices, a few of these choices are likely traded for veteran talent.  This is a bold attempt on Presti’s part to re-build the Thunder over the next several years.  The question was asked in the headline, “Has anything like this occurred previously?”  NBA teams in the past have stockpiled draft picks but certainly nothing close to this number of picks.         

Does this role fit you?
The term chauvinist, does this resemble you?  I’ve read many of your letters those particularly related to basketball.  You offer critical remarks regarding the WNBA not for its play, but the fact women desire their level of pay be increased.  I'm willing to fact facts, it’s never going to be at the NBA level.  If pay were increased perhaps many of these women could stop playing year-round.  When the WNBA season is over many journey to their European “second job.”  I’ve heard you describe ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Doris Burk as unattractive, that’s rich as you sit in your Lazy Boy chair consuming large quantities of adult beverages while watching the game.  Whens the last time you could see your shoes over your ever protruding belly?

Every time an NBA team hires a female assistant coach generally the first words out of your mouth “I hope she’s good-looking.”  You never stop to consider the woman delivering or writing the sports news or coaching might be just as competent as any male fulfilling the same roles.  Many of you reading this will assume the female is hired due to a quota system.  Too a degree you are probably correct however consider this little tidbit.  For several years despite the talent level women were excluded from many professions sports and basketball included.  Keep your chauvinist beliefs if you view them important to your male status, this short account will certainly not change your mind. 

UMKC 
I wrote earlier this year I couldn’t understand the moves regarding the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  If the administration commits to play at the D-I level that’s forever (sometimes).  Since moving from the NAIA ranks the school has struggled to attract basketball talent, based on continuous losing records the athletic department continues to fire coaches believing the next one will turn the program around.  This is no knock at D-II or NAIA level, but I wrote UMKC should slide downward for a period.  Want an example, Oral Roberts did it moved from NAIA to D-I then back to NAIA.  Oral Roberts is D-I again playing in the same conference UMKC will return in 2020-2021. 

I’m unsure who’s idea it was for UMKC to move into the Western Athletic Conference, it was a loser in more ways than one.  UMKC continued to lose on the court and probably lose financially.  Conference foes in the Summit League were much closer than travel to Seattle and trips to play two different California foes.  The Summit League will be more accommodating if for nothing else travel.  UMKC has never come close to fulfilling the dream of a winning urban university basketball.   Hopefully this move to the Summit plus improved play will place the basketball program on a winning path. In addition, a name change takes place immediately, only UMKC applies to those in the metro.  The team will now be “Kansas City” similar to how Nebraska-Omaha is now “Omaha” and one other program.