Basketball from a fan’s perspective

No requirement to pile on

Football defense can be penalized for piling on a down player.  That is the case here, after reading an indictment of NCAA President Mark Emmert on Yahoo Sports I cannot add anything whether you have read the article or not.  The NCAA as you are aware is accountable for all sports including our game basketball.  Leadership has been lacking from his office for years, expect no significant change until after 2023.  Emmert’s contract expires in 2023 and if the NCAA extends his contract well…….  There is a revolution brewing, do not be shocked if the Power 5 Conferences break away and form their own governing body.   

The Big Fundamental

We are unsure of the accuracy; it is believed Shaq hung the nickname “The Big Fundamental” on Tim Duncan.  6-foot 11-inch Timmy spent his 19-year NBA career with the Spurs after being drafted number one in 1997.  By my definition nothing Duncan did on the court was flashy except for the fact he clearly demonstrated he was a winner.  Proof, it is still a team sport however five NBA Championship rings offer the proof of his value to the Spurs. 

Duncan grew up in the Virgin Islands before he arrived at Wake Forest.  Duncan first stood out athletically in high school as a championship swimmer rather than on the basketball court.  He was Rookie of the Year which provided us early evidence of his eventual NBA stardom.  Duncan was 3x Finals MVP, twice NBA MVP and was an NBA All Team performer 15 of his 19 years in the NBA.  With no surprise his jersey number 21 been retired by the Spurs.  In 2019 surprising many he accepted a role as assistant coach on the Spurs.   

Rookie of the Year

Few persons reading this might be familiar with the first NBA Rookie of the Year.  The honor was not awarded until 1953, Don Meineke of the Fort Wayne Pistons was given the honor.  Meineke experienced a rather brief career retiring as a member of the Cincinnati Royals in 1958.  Several of the other names read as Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame members while others await their HOF honor, check these names:

Elgin Baylor 1959  

Wilt Chamberlain 1960

Oscar Robertson 1961

Rick Barry 1966

Lew Alcindor 1970

Larry Bird 1980

Michael Jordan 1985

Shaquille O’Neal 1993

Tim Duncan 1998

LeBron James 2004

There are other names missing from the list which might surprise readers, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Dirk Nowitzki as examples.  Magic contended with Larry Bird for the honor, as for Kobe and Dirk they played little in their rookie seasons.  Other names after distinguishing themselves in their rookie season reversed course and did not continue the play that saw them awarded Rookie of the Year.  It should be of note 1953 represented the first “official” year of the award.  “Prior to the 1951-53 season, the Rookie of the Year was selected by newspaper writers, however, the NBA does not officially recognize these players as winners.” *

*Wikipedia 

The Spencer Haywood Rule

Most reading this might be unfamiliar with Spencer Haywood, they have no idea how much he impacted today’s game.  We digress a bit here to provide background to the Haywood story.  Wilt Chamberlain left Kansas after his junior year; he could not play in the NBA at the time.  NBA players were not permitted in the league until four years after their high school class had graduated.  Chamberlain spent his “senior year” as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters prior to beginning his NBA career.  As for his professional career Haywood cast his fate with the ABA Denver Rockets, in 1970 he left them for the NBA Sonics. 

At that point Haywood would change the basketball landscape, not alone of course but his actions forced a landmark modification in the rules.  Then Sonics owner Sam Schulman was determined he would fight the NBA over its rule, and he did.  Schulman filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA which made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The court ruled in the Haywood and Sonics favor.  Of course, this ruling would pave the way for the NBA to begin accepting high school players at that period.  It is not only high school, consider Michael Jordan left North Carolina after his junior year.  The Spencer Haywood Rule is not so named but it should be.  Just research the number of past and present NBA players who were able to utilize a rule directly impacted by Haywood.