Basketball from a fan’s perspective

Shaq worked harder

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Chris Jackson) made an interesting comment regarding his former LSU teammates, he was speaking of Shaquille O'Neal and Stanley Roberts.  Abdul-Rauf said, “Stanley Roberts was the better athlete, but Shaquille O’Neal worked harder.”  This is an interesting observation from Abdul-Rauf given that he had an opportunity to witness both Roberts and Shaq in practice and actual game conditions. Also interesting in that one of the complaints expressed by Kobe Bryant was O'Neal's sometimes lack of a work ethic.  

This provides a different account regarding Shaq we’ve often heard over the years.  For many unfamiliar LSU back in the day had a twin tower combo akin to Jacksonville (Pembroke Burrows/Artis Gilmore) and Houston (Hakeem Olajuwon/Ralph Sampson.  Former LSU coach Dale Brown was an excellent recruiter however questions regarding his game plan dogged him throughout his coaching career.  

LSU had 7-foot 285-pound Roberts on one wing and 7-1 294-pound Shaq on the other. As for Roberts future he would become number 23 pick in the first round of the 1991 NBA draft.  His resume indicates he played for 10 pro teams including a few in Europe before eventually retiring from the game in 2004.  Roberts NBA career never blossomed as many believed.  On the other hand, it might be as Abdul-Rauf indicated Shaq worked harder.  Below is a link with Roberts in action while playing for the Clippers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ5OxcoEUko

Interesting

We can only speculate at this point, several members in the Class of 2020 are yet to choose a college.  Rivals was the source of our report, the prospects appear on most scouting reports however Rivals is more familiar than others.  Of the first 50 prospects on the site only 9 have not signed or given a verbal commit.  Is the coronavirus slowing their decision or something else at work? 

Jalen Green a 6-5 guard from Napa (CA) is number 2 and the number 6 prospect Ziaire Williams 6-8 forward Chatsworth (CA) is also in a holding pattern.  We include number 8 Greg Brown 6-8 forward from Austin (TX) and number 11 Josh Christopher 6-5 guard Lakewood (CA) are included.  We close with the tallest player on the list yet to decide, 7-foot Makur Maker Phoenix (AZ).  NOTE: An account on Christopher was published on Saturday, his decision might be as soon as Monday. 

All Time Bucks team

Assembling an all-time Bucks team starts with Lew Alcindor as he was known in his rookie year.  His second year I believe the name changed occur, he’d converted to Islam but maintained his secular name, he would become Kareem Abdul Jabbar.  Oscar Robertson spent the bulk of his career with the Cincinnati Royals but was the glue leading to the Bucks only NBA championship.  Robertson was on the 50^th Anniversary NBA team indicating his greatness, as for the others.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Oscar Robertson

Marques Johnson

Sidney Moncrief

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Honorable mention

Paul Pressey

Junior Bridgeman

Bobby Dandridge

Bob Lanier

Jon McGlocklin

The great difficulty

Doesn’t matter the sport, I’ve long believed the job of a scout is one of the most difficult of all jobs there is.  In basketball sometimes it’s easy to see talent, back in the day it was believed Kareem Abdul Jabbar had mega star written on him fresh out of UCLA in 1969.  That turned out to be correct, so too years later at the time LeBron James entered the NBA from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School from Akron Ohio in 2003.  These two and others we believed would become outstanding NBA players. 

A number arrived without a great deal of fanfare and managed remarkable NBA careers.  How about those with outstanding NBA careers but were not highly sought at the time.  In the first round of the 1996 draft Samaki Walker became the 9^th pick and Todd Fuller was chosen at 11.  A guy by the name of Kobe Bryant was chosen at 13.  The 2001 NBA Draft might have seen the biggest draft bust in history; Kwame Brown was chosen that year.  Near the bottom of the first round the Spurs chose Tony Parker with the 28^th pick and we know his NBA resume. 

Parker’s long-time teammate Manu Ginobili was the 57^th pick in the 1999 draft by the Spurs.  We can debate if Hassan Whiteside makes the list; I maintain the Blazer center is a genuine talent.  He didn’t make the first round, he was the 33^rd pick in the 2010 draft.  As you can attest talent has arrived sometimes in “secret.”  Guys who were not expected to make an impact did indeed perform the deed.  There are a couple of issues each must have, talent, opportunity to play plus heart and desire.  The chief one I believe is desire, desire to excel.