Words eye view

Basketball from a fan perspective

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Jackie Robinson was a 4-star athlete at UCLA, baseball, track & field, football, and basketball.  Little is known about his basketball ability while enrolled at UCLA however research turned up some interesting info to share with you.  Check out the video below for additional facts regarding Robinson.  The man who would break the color barrier in major league baseball was a 5-11 inch forward. 

In 1939 UCLA was then a member of the Pacific Coast Conference predecessor to the Pac-12, he was named MVP for the conference in 1940 averaging 12.4 points a game.  Robinson would lead the conference in scoring twice while at UCLA.  Baseball was not his best sport although he would become world famous playing it, despite this fact Robinson would end his baseball career with a .311 average.  As for basketball it’s claimed he could have played professionally if circumstances had not worked out in baseball.  Jack Roosevelt Robinson the man who helped change the racial climate in America.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNQxVE1D5TE

Journeyman

The term journeyman is an age-old sports expression, it references an athlete with an extensive career who continually moves from team to team throughout their career.  It doesn’t matter the sport, it could be baseball, the NFL, NHL, or NBA.  This athlete is certainly talented (and valuable) but is not considered a first line player, that is the case with the Lakers Jared Dudley.  Just in case you hadn’t read the news Dudley wrote a book on the recently completed championship NBA season.  It is clear he must have written uncomplimentary particulars regarding Clippers forward Paul George. 

PG made it known he took exception to portions of the book; on Thursday morning it was Clippers coach Tyronn Lue who weighed in on the matter.  Regardless of how his career ends basketball folks will remember PG for a time after he retires, nobody probably but Dudley’s family and trivia folks will likely remember he even played in the NBA.  That’s not to say Dudley is a terrible person, he’s just Dudley journeyman NBA player.  Okay, Larry Laker exactly what are you attempting to get across?  Dudley is entitled to his opinion and view unless it is libelous, the easy path for PG and Lue is to simply ignore Dudley.  By their comment and this account, we are giving credence to the book. 

Bits n Pieces

Once upon a time we had an NBA G-League, what happened?  Well, the league is still in operation partially shut down by the pandemic.  The G-League will begin play February 8 with 12-15 games; the playoffs will run March 5-9.  G-League teams will repeat the actions of the NBA and play in Orlando in the bubble.  We are looking forward to seeing Team Ignite in action, Team Ignite is the new G-League team comprised of high-profile high school players.  The last account mentioned Ignite would not face other G-League teams exactly how this plays out is yet to be announced.  As soon as the information is available it will appear in Words eye view.   

Bet nobody who follows the NBA says “Duncan who” when referring to Duncan Robinson.  Division III player at Williams College his freshman year then transferred to Michigan however the numbers were certainly not eye-popping there.  Based on his production the NBA said “Thanks but no thanks” ignoring the 6-foot 7-inch guard/forward in the 2018 NBA Draft.  He spent a season in the G-League after signing a Summer League contract with the Heat.  Robinson would come to the forefront in the Heat’s run to compete for the 2020 NBA Championship.  Although losing to the Lakers in 6 games Robinson proved he belongs in the NBA.  Proof the ultimate destination is most important versus where you begin the journey.   

We continue to read stories indicating high school phenom Emoni Bates intends to reclassify.  Bates is a junior however if he graduates in 2022 its all good for Michigan State with other high-profile prospects arriving in the fall of 2021.  Commitment letters have been signed by Max Christie shooting guard, Jaden Akins point guard and Pierre Brooks small forward.  If Bates arrives with this group, it will be quite a coup for Coach Tom Izzo.      

We’ve got sons of former NBA players playing the game in college.  The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have 6-foot-6-inch Ron Harper Jr. playing for them, his dad played for the Cavs and was an integral part of championship teams for the Bulls and Lakers. Scotty Pippen Jr. at Vanderbilt is “only” 6-foot 3 much smaller in stature than his 6-foot 8-inch father Scotty Pippen Sr.  Dad played for championship Bulls teams during his NBA career.  Is the NBA in the future for either son, that will be determined at some point in the future?