Basketball from a fan’s perspective

The question was asked  
Can a great player lack athleticism be considered notable?  That was the question I posed to several friends?  For this purpose and blog let’s check out the basketball players they named.  I didn’t supply any name in this profile they did, I’m only providing the summary.   We begin with Wes Unseld who spent the bulk of his NBA career with the Bullets (Wizards).  Unseld stood 6 foot 7 and checked in at 245 pounds yet battled Chamberlain, Kareem and other 7-footers of his era.  He averaged 14 rebounds a game during his NBA career his specialty.  Unseld would rebound the ball and toss an outlet pass half-court to a streaking teammate for an easy layup or dunk.  Unseld may have been best in the business but was barely athletic. 

This would be incomplete without adding the name of Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  Magic was at his best in running an offense, his no-look passes to teammates were…well Magic.  There was no jump shot when he arrived in the NBA, it was more a push shot and he couldn’t have elevated more than 2 inches off the floor.  The All-Time leading scorer in the NBA wasn’t very athletic, no matter Kareem had a hook shot no one could ever block.  That and longevity is the basis for him becoming the scorer he was.  We close with Celtic great Larry Joe Bird, Bird certainly fit our profile.  Bird like the others, but boy could this guy play the game at a high skill level.  The players profiled and maybe others played the game cerebrally which likely made up for their lack of athleticism.   

I can’t imagine why
As this is written we have no idea of James Wiseman’s status, will the NCAA allow him to miss a few games or will they declare him ineligible for the season.  Both have occurred with athletes in the past.  Those questions are yet to be answered however I’m scratching my head in wonderment.  Regardless of his status how is that going to affect his draft stock, ESPN television and .com are posing that very question? 

Just for grins let’s check out some recent history, if you check the Knicks roster it indicates Mitchell Robinson played at Western Kentucky.  That’s not entirely true, Robinson was indeed enrolled at the school, he left school once then returned and finally left for good.  Robinson played not one single minute of a single Western Kentucky game.  In the 2018 NBA Draft the Knicks made Robinson a 2^nd round pick, if its determined Wiseman has NBA capability bottom line he will be drafted. 

My new name…. naive
I few weeks ago I said, “I sure hope Mizzou is able to get a commitment from ________.”  I was greeted with this statement from an acquaintance, “They must ensure they offer him enough money.”  There are schools as this is written in trouble with the NCAA, next season there will be others and the following season and so forth and so on.  I’ve concluded I’m the most naïve person around despite my age, I refuse to believe much of the nation’s coaches are cheating. 

I refuse to believe John Calipari, Coach K. and Roy Smith bend the rules intentionally.  The word we hear routinely, “They never catch any of the Blue Blood programs.”  Might it be those programs are not cheating but in your heart of hearts you believe they are?  Did you stop and consider a youngster might just want to play at that school or play for a legendary coach?  This simple account is not going to silence you and that’s not my intent.  My hope is you consider the fact the school or coach might not be the crook you perceive them to be.  

Change the name part deux
You might remember the team name change suggestions we covered recently.  It got me to ponder another team…. the Brooklyn Nets.  Notice it Nets not New York but Brooklyn, it’s no state nor a city.  How come a team in New York City has a borough name instead of the city, I’m glad you asked the question?  We can blame or point a finger at those interest that harken to an earlier time.  Los Angeles is home to the baseball Dodgers but that’s not always been the case.  From 1884 through 1957 the baseball team played in the borough of Brooklyn. 

For unknown reasons the baseball team never had New York in front of the team name.  The ABA Nets once had New York on their name but once they moved to New Jersey a name change occurred.  We’ve read once it became clear an arena was being built in Brooklyn elements in the borough wanted the name revived.  We must consider 3-4 generations have been born in Brooklyn since the Dodgers departed for the west coast.  This generation has no memory of the baseball team except through their grandparents, great-uncles and aunts.  This is a shortened answer why an NBA team has the borough as part of their name rather than a city or state like other professional teams.