Basketball from a fan’s perspective

NBA honors

The first announced NBA award winner for 2021 is Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson. The former Mizzou Tiger was named 6^th Man of the Year.  18.4 points per game and .347 from the 3, Clarkson was Mr. Instant Offense for the Jazz. Many of us first witnessed his play at Tulsa, it would continue once he transferred to Mizzou. In 2014 Clarkson was drafted in the 2^nd round with the 46^th pick by the Wizards but his rights were traded to the Lakers. There have been a few more stops prior to landing in Salt Lake City. Congratulations are due Jordan Clarkson as his NBA star continues to rise. 

One of the worst teams in the NBA

There are several candidates for this honor and the Sacramento Kings don’t have the worst won-lost record in the NBA. The foremost reason they are mentioned is the length of time the team has spent near the bottom of the NBA. We have written on the futility existing in New York with the Knicks, they appeared in the playoffs in the 2012-13 season. The last time the Kings were in the playoffs was the 2005-06 season. Is coaching the issue, since Rick Adelman departed in 2006 the team has had 10 head coaches most of whom were replaced some involuntarily. 

One of those 10 was a guy by the name of Mike Malone who took over the Nuggets and has guided them to three successive winning seasons. Reports are current coach Luke Walton is in hot water but is it all his fault trying to keep this sinking ship buoyant? The records indicate the team’s drafted 30 players since the 2006 season, if we subtract 7 players taken the last two drafts our number is 23. De’Aaron Fox selected in 2017 and Marvin Bagley in 2018 represent the only drafted players from that number remaining in Sacramento. This account fails to look at trades, but it really doesn’t matter, as you can see questionable coaching hires plus questionable draft picks.  Where does that lead us, an inept front office and ownership group. 

The man youth, the myth, the legend

Notice, because he’s only age 16 about to turn 17 “man” has been replaced by “youth” in the idiom. In this instance we speak of Mikey Williams a 6-foot 3 combo guard, after beginning play for San Ysidro High School in San Diego he plays for Lake Norman Christian School in Huntersville North Carolina now. Williams is entering his junior year of high school and 247Sports.com plus rivals.com awards him 5 stars, on 247 he’s number two and rivals list him at 5 in the Class of 2023. 

How do we figure he’s legendary, recently his AAU team We All Can Go was the featured team in the Kansas City Classic? According to reports the gathering was mostly in attendance to view Williams in action. His game versus Team Trae Young witnessed a packed HyVee Arena as no social distancing was evident in this pandemic age. He exhibited several dunks in the teams warmup preparation. This is where the disclaimer is listed, this endorsement is no prediction of future success on the court. Looking ahead is always speculative until we arrive there.

Point forward?

Former Bucks coach Don Nelson would often have Paul Pressey run the offense. Although he was listed as a forward on the roster Nelson utilized the passing skills of 6 foot 5 Pressy. For all practical purposes that’s been LeBron James, from Cleveland to South Beach to Cleveland and now Los Angeles he’s listed as a “small” forward. LeBron at 6 foot 9 and 250 is more likely a point guard in the mold of Magic Johnson,

If we wish to consider him a point forward his assists numbers throughout his career exceed those of Paul Pressey mentioned above. Last season with 10.2 assists per game he led the NBA in that department, for his career he averages 7.4, the latter number exceeds those of many point guards in the association. If we look back over the course of his Hall of Fame career (I know he’s not there yet) we see his assist total was 5.9 as a rookie. It’s interesting in a sense most don’t see LeBron James as who he is a pure point guard.

Finding your niche

Drafted by the Magic from Duke, when JJ Redick arrived in the NBA in 2006 a great career was projected for him. As this is written he’s injured and out for the season, Redick is 36-years old now on the downhill side of his NBA career. The run has been great but nothing close to what was envisioned, Redick has made the rounds throughout the NBA but there is a reason. He’s been a dependable distance shooter especially from 3-point range.

I believe he is an athlete a little slow of foot but fits a niche, a shooter. That’s what Redick’s provided throughout his NBA career. Now with the Mavs and we don’t know if this is the end or not. This we do know with a $6 million annual salary whenever he retires, he and his family should be able to live comfortably the balance of his life. He’s got a podcast company, so Redick is certainly looking to the future beyond basketball. Talented shooter JJ Redick an athlete who “discovered” his niche in the NBA.