Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

“Take care of your money”

The headline is certainly words of wisdom, they come from former NBA player Grant Hill. Hill in 1994 at the age of 22 signed a contract for $2.75 million. That sum probably appears minor compared to the contracts of today’s athletes. Despite that fact he made a pledge to himself to learn money management. He further wrote down he placed himself on a strict budget to prevent his money from simply “walking away.” Hill admits all his investments did not pay off; he lost money on investments.

Hill’s warning to al within earshot, “Be cautious about your inner circle.” We know of at least one NBA player who refused to be alert to his circle of friends. As for Hill after his NBA career ended, he took on new challenges. Today he offers commentary on the NBA for television, Hill’s a partial owner of the Atlanta Hawks. Despite these efforts to increase his personal fortune he’s taken time and energy for civic and philanthropic programs around the nation. Today Grant Hill’s net worth far exceeds that $2.75 million contract he signed back in 1994.

The Greatest

No, this is not an account of Muhammad Ali although he was the athlete most identified as The Greatest. The Greatest in this instance refers to the top Kansas City high school basketball player in history. In this case we are discussing the late Warren Armstrong who would later change his last name to Jabali. Those who saw him play claim he was the greatest high school basketball player all-time in the Kansas City metro. This story was prompted by a documentary premiered in early fall. The documentarian looked at a period in high school basketball titled “From Paseo to Pembroke: Kansas City’s Golden Era.” There is no argument on my part there were talented players during the period of his focus. Because Armstrong played in the middle 1960’s and with no video he was omitted from the documentary. It is impossible to discuss Kansas City high school basketball without mentioning the name Warren Armstrong. Those who saw Armstrong insist he is the best basketball player produced in the metro, since that time there’s been a constant disagreement as to who was the best.

Fans will argue it was Jaron Rush who played at Pembroke, others claim it was Earl Watson at Washington High School. There is the camp that say the honor belongs to Anthony Peeler at Paseo or Wyandotte High School’s Lucius Allen, perhaps its Raytown High School which produced Tyronn Lue. There are others omitted in this account but for those who saw him play the distinction belongs to Warren Armstrong. He was no giant standing 6 foot 2 but a rock solid 215 pounds, nobody lifted weights in the middle ‘60’s but he could have fooled you if you looked at his body. Growing up in Kansas City Kansas he was bound to attend powerhouse Sumner High school, somehow his family moved across state line to Kansas City Missouri where he enrolled at Central High School. He arrived as a sophomore which was a good thing, back then first-year students were prohibited from playing on the varsity, he made his presence known as an undergraduate who the seniors on the team looked to for leadership in all sides of the game. After scoring 44 points in a game against Sumner in his senior year it was reported offers came from around the country.

Armstrong would choose Wichita State for two reasons, he identified with the black players on the team and at that time the Missouri Valley Conference was the best basketball in the nation. Jabali’s pro career was cut short (7 seasons) due to knee problems, he retired at the age of 28. You might wonder why he chose the ABA over the well-established NBA? The Knicks had his rights in 1968 when he became draft eligible, they had taken Walt Frazier the previous year so perhaps they believed they didn’t need two guards who played the same position. The other issue, it was the time, Knicks management might have believed his Black Power posture would cause problems for the team. Jabali cast his fortune with the ABA Oakland Oaks. What did he do in his rookie season, how about Rookie of the Year scoring at 21.5 ppg and despite being 6-foot 2 averaged 9.7 rebounds a game? After his playing days concluded Jabali became a high school teacher, he died at the age of 65 in 2012. The argument will continue into infinity but those who saw him play profess the best Kansas City high school basketball player ever was Warren Jabali.

Is this it?

Will (or better yet can) Gonzaga win its first NCAA Championship in the spring? It’s early December far too early to be fully aware of the landscape the first Monday in April. As for the Bulldogs they appear to be fully reloaded and ready to play. You know they added the top prospect in the nation Chet Holmgren, he reminds us to a degree of Mavs forward Kristaps Porzingis. This is his first year so the bar shouldn’t be set too high for him although the 7 foot 1 Holmgren appears to be the real deal with his all-around game.

Also coming on board is first year man 6-foot 5 combo guard Hunter Sallis. Returning from last year’s 31-win team is Drew Timme 6 foot 10 forward along with part-time starter Andrew Nembhard. The Bulldogs have 6 freshmen in uniform so it will be interesting to see if Coach Few can mold this roster into a cohesive unit. I don’t know any more than you, but I wouldn’t count them out from a successful season. Afterall that’s what Gonzaga does; they play hard nose competitive basketball. The results haven’t led to an NCAA Championship but don’t shortchange those who play for this Spokane Washington team this just might be the year.

Where is Kyrie Irving?

I am one to refrain for the most part making predictions, in early December I have no idea if Kyrie Irving intends to return this season or simply decide to ride this wave. It seems strange in a sense he’s missed so many games to injury as a pro. With no injury he’s not playing due to his non-belief in the COVID vaccine for the nation, at this point our curiosity is peaked on his Net teammates. 

Should we presume the Nets are unsuccessful in competing for the NBA Championship the stance taken by Irving be well received by his teammates? We’ve mentioned this previously, despite his tremendous talent Irving is one who marches to the drum beat he alone dictates. COVID figures in the nation have fluctuated however with the increased number of citizens immunized the end of this pandemic might be over in the future. Despite the stance taken by Irving it’s estimated nearly 60% of this nation’s population has been vaccinated.