Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Youth will be served
There are a number of instances we read “Youth will be served”, it’s even the title of a 1940’s comedy/musical.  My interpretation it’s meant to point out young people are always the future and it’s just a matter of time before they takeover.  Nowhere is that statement truer than in the NBA.  Recently NBA on ClutchPoints identified 10 players that point to the fact the future is bright for the league.  In 5 years, none of the 10 names will have turned 30 years of age, that’s a bold but fact-based statement:

Ben Simmons
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Zion Williamson
Trae Young
Luka Doncic
Nikola Jokic
De’Aaron Fox
Devin Booker
Donovan Mitchell
Jayson Tatum

I doubt if anyone cares to argue with the assembly of talent represented here.  One more point, we don’t know if there might be others, we could add to the list with the 2020 NBA draft.  They may have gotten off to a slow start in the NBA but might blossom at some future date.       

This is not what it might appear
The deal to acquire Dwight Howard is conditional is what we read, there is no guarantee he makes the Laker roster which is a good thing.  No need of him arriving in training camp believing “he’s made it,” he will have a non-guaranteed 1-year contract.  As mentioned earlier at age 33 portions of his game are superior to Joakim Noah who was my choice.  We read in conversation he made an impression on many of the Laker veterans.  Now comes an even taller task, the one convincing me and other fans he’s changed his attitude.  Howard claims he’s not the same whiny individual who left the Lakers after the 2012-13 season.     

If it appears, I’m being tough on him that’s my intent.  Howard is still playing, and Kobe is retired, if only Howard could have the maturity to understand he would have been the leader of the team someday.  It’s possible the Lakers might not have fallen into the abyss if Howard had remained and vital pieces were added to the team.  Oh well that’s all water under the bridge now as they might say.  Let’s just say I have no problem rooting for him he’s in Purple and Gold.  If there is the least bit of talk indicating there are problems…. cut him loose.  In a perfect world Howard plays so well he forces the coaching staff to replace JaVale McGee in the starting lineup, it’s time for Dwight Howard to put on his Big Boy pants. 

The new home 
If you are a certain age you might not even realize San Francisco once served as home for the Warriors.  From 1962 basically through 1966 the team played in several locations throughout the San Francisco metro.  As you can see the move across the bay is not new in a sense.  Very soon the Warriors will play their first game in Chase Center, the team has moved back across the bay.  The Warriors franchise was founded in 1946 in the City of Philadelphia, in 1962 the team moved to San Francisco in 1962. 

For several unclear reasons San Francisco was home base although they never had a permanent arena.  The Cow Palace in Daly City was home from 1962-1964, San Francisco Civic Auditorium 1964-1966 although games were farmed out to Oakland and San Jose during this period.  1966 witnessed the team moving across the bay to Oakland and Oracle Arena where they remained until the end of the 2019 playoffs.  As this account was being finalized came this word.  Warrior management indicates the season ticket renewal is 70% after the move from Oracle to Chase, so much for a drop off in interest.  

He did what Magic did
Junior Bridgeman was drafted in the first round in 1975 by the Lakers.  He was traded to the Bucks prior to wearing a Laker jersey, he would spend the bulk of his 12-year career in Milwaukee.  Bridgeman a 6-foot 5-inch shooting guard registered career numbers of 13.6 points and 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.  Although Bridgeman tasted success in the NBA he began plans for his retirement before the event occurred. He parlayed a portion of his salary into several business opportunities. 

We’ve read stories of an uncountable number of athletes in all sports who become insolvent after retirement.  Wild uncontrolled spending often leads to little if any money, that wouldn’t be the case for Bridgeman.  His financial wealth today a cool $600 million thanks to business investments.  Bridgeman owns 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s Restaurants; in addition, he owns a Coca-Cola plant which dispenses the product to 18 distribution centers (also owned by Bridgeman).  Junior Bridgeman did what Magic did, he prepared well for life after his basketball career was over.