Basketball from a fan perspective

1996

In the year above Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant arrived in the NBA; one became a star instantly (Iverson) however Kobe’s arrival took a bit longer.  Both are Hall of Fame athletes although we can state with conviction their approach to the game was quite different.  Larry Brown coached Iverson and his teams faced Kobe numerous times; Brown made an interesting quote.  The former coach said, “When Allen was coming back from the club at 6 a.m., Kobe was getting up and working out.” 

You might conclude Iverson did not care for the game but that was not the case.  Iverson was fearless, he would drive the lane no matter who stood in his path.  Numerous times he would be knocked on his butt however two things occurred.  Iverson would score the basket or be awarded foul shots, of course there were times he was defended at the rim.  In 2016 Iverson was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, in 2020 the late Kobe Bryant will be given the same honor.  Two fighters who went about their craft in a different manner however their dedication might have been distinctly apart.   

Bits n Pieces

DeAndre Ayton is a name we often fail to mention when discussing the NBA’s future stars.  Ayton from the island nation of The Bahamas, Ayton took up the game as a youngster prior to enrolling at Arizona.  The 6-foot 11-inch 250-pound Big Man has some ol skool elements of the game.  Check him out, Ayton is a regular double-double talent and his game continues to evolve.    

Sometimes a phenom’s status precedes them, in an earlier period it was Kobe Bryant.  More recently it was LeBron James, we could make the same statement regarding Zion Williamson.  In the case of Zion, it is far too early to determine his future NBA status however it appears he might be the real deal.  Next up might be Emoni Bates from Ypsilanti Michigan, he is headed to Michigan State in 2022 but if he is as good as advertised, he will not be there awfully long. 

What are the qualifications for NBA Coach of the Year?  The top two of three candidates’ teams were expected to contend.  This is no knock at Mike Budenholzer with the Bucks or Nick Nurse Raptors coach.  Both teams were incredibly good last season and have continued play into the 2019-2020 season, give us a candidate whose team exceeded expectations.  That might be Nate McMillian Pacers coach. 

As this is written August 10 it would appear there will be no collegiate football season for 2020.  How this suspension of football impacts college basketball is yet to be determined.  We are talking November before play would officially begin so COVID-19 could affect the 2020-21 college basketball season, stand by.   

Texas

Once upon a time there was a joke made about sports in Texas.  It was said, “There are two seasons, football and spring football.”  Those days are long gone in the state, do not get me wrong have you seen any of the high school football stadiums in Texas?  Many of these stadiums rival the facilities of several small colleges, Friday Night Lights is reality.  Football is still king but basketball especially in the urban areas has made gigantic inroads. 

Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and the San Antonio metros produce a large and increasing number of talented high school prospects every season.  That is not to say there is no basketball being played in many of the smaller cities and towns in Texas, talent exists there as well.  It is likely due to population the greatest amount of high school prospects attend California schools.  Who finishes second is open for debate, it could be the state of Florida, New York or maybe Texas? 

Trae Young

His profile indicates he is 6 foot 1 and 180 pounds, there are doubts if either measurement is close to accurate.  As for the weight question let us just say he is short of the published number by several pounds.  Young burst on the national scene thrilling large crowds of students at the University of Oklahoma.  The second half of the season he tired a bit and Big 12 teams’ mad adjustments guarding him.  We read a scout said, “They won’t be able to throw those junk defenses at him in the NBA.” 

Sure, enough that turned out to be the case, after the draft trade that sent him to the Hawks, he began play in the NBA rather slowly.  By the second half of the season many contended Young not Doncic should be named Rookie of the Year.  His sophomore year has witnessed his numbers improving across the board.  The Hawks are not particularly good, and the problem is despite his effort they are not much better.  Doncic and his Mavs receive more publicity because they are better, this is certainly no reflection on Young who is a budding star for the Hawks.