Basketball from a fan perspective  

It was just an exhibition game

The Nuggets and Bol Bol won their game over the Wizards 89-82, immediately after the game he was drug tested.  Bol scored 16 points along with 10 rebounds and 6 blocked shots.  In one instance he blocked a shot dribbled down the court and sank a 3-point basket.  The 7 foot 2 Bol was drafted by the Heat in 2019 however his rights were traded to the Nuggets, he did not see much action due to a foot injury while at Oregon.  Two notes, the NBA conducts random drug tests, so this had nothing to do with Bol’s sterling game.  In addition, this was only an exhibition game, nor requirement to become too excited about the outcome or Bol.   

He wants to be an owner

The other day we reported owner Glen Taylor was placing his Wolves on the market.  Taylor indicated he wanted the new owners to keep the team in the Twin Cities.  Former Wolves forward Kevin Garnett had fallen out with Taylor while still an active player with the team.  That might have been the main reason for the trade, after a “career” with the Wolves he was sent to the Celtics in a trade. 

It is now being reported Garnett has assembled a group to place a bid for the Wolves.  There is never a lack of potential owners, this is commonplace in the NBA.  It is difficult to find an NBA team that failed to secure a buyer within a reasonable amount of time.  This from memory rather than documented, there is only one instance.  The owner died and the estate had to be settled before the team could be sold, that team remained om the market for several months before it was sold.   

No comparison intended

The disclaimer is up front, I ain’t saying he is that good yet.  We posted the news earlier Emoni Bates was headed to Michigan State in 2022.  At 6 foot 9 inches and 205 pounds his dimensions remind us of other slim basketball talents.  The first name is that of George Gervin, the Spurs guard stood 6 foot 7 inches and weighed 180 pounds.  Gervin had the best finger roll in basketball history…better than Wilt Chamberlain who stood 7 foot 1. 

Next up, former Pacer Reggie Miller who also stood 6 foot 7 but was 5 pounds heavier at 185.  Bates body of work is high school only so the comparison is likely speculative however the comparison is strictly dimensions.  There are other athletes we might compare however Gervin and Miller are the first that come to mind.  Bates is likely to gain weight and height he just might eventually come closer to Kevin Durant than Gervin or Miller.   

All Time Sonics

The franchise ceased to exist in 2008 with the move to Oklahoma City.  Beginning in 1967 as an expansion franchise they tasted success on the basketball court with talented players.  How about an all-time Sonics roster, which begins with two of the most high-profile players of the franchise?

Gary “The Glove” Payton

Shawn Kemp 

Jack Sikma

Spencer Hayward

Nate McMillan

Fred “Downtown” Brown

Gus Williams

Ray Allen

Detlef Schrempf

Xavier McDaniel

Depending on your age and NBA knowledge several names might be unfamiliar to you.  Check the names in basketball sources for detail on the players career. 

Once upon a time

Makur Maker earns a spot in this story not for what you might think.  This has nothing to do with his Howard University decision rather his 6 foot 11- or 7-foot height.  Maker is considered a power forward and not a center, if we teleport back to 1990, he is a center.  I jokingly place the blame on former Mavs player Dirk Nowitzki, he might have been the first “good” 7-foot athlete with a consistent outside shot.  One year later Kevin Garnett would arrive on the scene with outstanding shooting range for a 6-foot 11-inch guy. 

If we journey further back in time the Knicks Willis Reed and Piston Bill Laimbeer had decent range but nothing close to Dirk or Garnett.  Reed played at 6 foot 10 and Laimbeer 6 foot 11 both were genuine centers.  Perhaps the blame partially belongs on the Warriors and small ball rather than Dirk.  After all they certainly experienced a modicum of success with little if any offense coming from the center position.  Everything cycles, there will come a day the traditional center will return to the college and NBA game.