Basketball from a fan’s perspective

A Kid from Coney Island

Stephon Marbury arrived in the NBA from Coney Island New York, he would attend Georgia Tech and then declare for the 1996 NBA Draft.  He was made the 4^th pick by the Bucks and a draft night trade sent him to Minnesota rather than Milwaukee.  The Wolves should have been a perfect landing spot with his buddy Kevin Garnett in place.  After gaining success two factors appeared to cause a rift, money, and snow.  Garnett was able to sign a max contract, the following season the NBA Labor Relations changed, Marbury was paid but nowhere near what he thought he should have been paid. 

It snows in New York City as well as Minnesota but with no family in the Twin Cities it became a place of dread.  After a series of trades Marbury found himself without an NBA job, next stop China and a revival of his basketball career.  From 2010-2018 he would play successfully for several teams in China, he now serves as head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters.  Stephon Marbury, one of the most talented players to emerge from New York City.  It was not the NBA, but his basketball career was renewed while planning in China, if you have Netflix check it out for yourself.  

“Every fit is not a good fit” 

We might ask the question what occurred at Kansas for Quentin Grimes?  The former Texas Mr. Basketball and McDonald’s All American in 2019 headed to Kansas to further develop his basketball talent.  Grimes freshman year proved uneventful in that he averaged a mere 8.4 points while shooting .384 from the floor.  Near the end of his freshman season Grimes would submit his name for the 2019 NBA Draft but withdraw his name later.

Grimes would transfer to the University of Houston to play for Coach Kelvin Sampson. Rather than sit out the season Grimes was granted eligibility immediately and was inserted into the Cougars lineup by the coach.  The 6-5 shooting guard finished the season scoring 12.1 points while raising his shooting to .443 while being praised as the best defender on the team.  The elder Grimes said this about his son, “Every fit is not a good fit”, without registering any complaints about Bill Self and the Kansas coaching staff.   

They share a border too
I have lamented the loss of the Kansas-Missouri rivalry with the SEC move by the Tigers. For those who might be unfamiliar with the geography Kansas and Missouri share a common border, the rivalry has been renewed beginning this winter.  Missouri also shares a border with several others including the State of Arkansas. Arkansas and Mizzou have played one another over the years in football and basketball however until recently not in the same conference. 

Arkansas was a member of the defunct Southwest Conference for 76 years the only non-Texas school, in 1990 Arkansas became a member of the Southeastern Conference. Mizzou had been a founding member of the conference which would eventually become the Big 12, Mizzou made its move to the SEC in 2012. The “Battle Line Trophy” has been implemented; this is a traveling trophy in football awarded to the winning school.  As for basketball there might not yet be a basketball equivalent of the Battle Line Trophy however a natural rivalry is already in existence between the two border schools.  The border, Missouri’s southern and Arkansas’s northern border which should be a natural rivalry.   

“Where in the world is Carmen San Diego”?

This ‘90’s PBS television program was initiated due to America’s limited knowledge of geography.  It was said at the time “one in four could not locate the Soviet Union or the Pacific Ocean.”  Our title is rephrased to “Where in the world is Markieff Morris.”  The twin was signed February 23 but saw limited action due to the season shut down early.  Avery Bradley was missing but Laker Nation was aware of his decision, as for Morris that might be a slightly different story.  He is not in Orlando as this is written but it appears Laker management is not upset, perhaps they know something we do not.

Bells

Walt Bellamy has been profiled in the past; I read a recent account reminding us of his basketball prowess.  Bells as he was nicknamed stood 6 foot 11 and weighed 225 pounds and was an imposing figure on both offense and defense.  Bells was an All-American at Indiana at the time he was drafted as the first pick in the 1961 NBA Draft.  His team the Chicago Packers who became the Zephyrs, in year three the team moved to Baltimore (Bullets). 

The numbers prove why he was rookie of the year, 31 points and 19 rebounds a game placed Bells among NBA best of that era.  Despite experiencing a Hall of Fame career, he was never able to duplicate his rookie of the year numbers.  Despite hidden in the background so to speak Bells was honored twice by the Naismith Hall of Fame.  He was inducted for his NBA career and 1960 Olympic team membership.  Once the College Basketball Hall of Fame opened, he was honored once again with a 2006 selection.  Bells died in 2013 at the age of 74, Walt Bellamy a name from basketballs rich past we all should know.