Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

The Journey

I was watching the recent game between the Warriors and Blazers; the game was played in Chase Center and believed a re-visit was noteworthy. According to Forbes the $1.6 billion Chase Center allowed the Warriors to move into second place. They bumped the Lakers down to the number three position in value, of course the Knicks are still the NBA’s most $$$ franchise. Back to our focus the Warriors, the team moved from Philadelphia to San Francisco in 1962. From that year until 2019 when Chase Center opened the team has experienced a journey playing in various buildings around the bay area.

There was a continuing problem finding a home arena, allow a brief explanation. The Warriors would play in the Cow Palace from 1962-1964 and again from 1966-1971. Home during a part of time was the Civic Auditorium (now Bill Graham Civic). In 1971 the San Francisco Warriors moved to Oakland and began play in the arena that underwent three name changes, the building is now titled Oracle Arena. Could the Warriors have remained in Oakland, the answer is probably. The present ownership group wanted a return to San Francisco where the team began play in 1962. It should be of note all the NBA Championships apart from 1947 and 1956 were won in Oakland.

Do I dare watch?

The Kansas Jayhawks and Mizzou Tigers played an exhibition game in 2017 to help hurricane relief. This was the first time the longtime rivals faced one another since Mizzou left for the SEC in 2012. Mizzou fans over Kansas wanted the rival game to continue although both teams were in separate conferences. Mizzou fans believe (including this writer) Bill Self was opposed to the teams ever meeting again, why lingers on as a mystery. Fast forward to the present the two agreed to play a home and home series with the first game played at Sprint Center (now T-Mobile) in Kansas City. The arrival of covid-19 prevented that game from being played.

The two teams will face one another on Saturday with the game being played in Allen Fieldhouse home of the Kansas Jayhawks, next season’s game will be played in Columbia. After that we are unsure if this series will continue. As for the present most in Mizzou Nation are probably as apprehensive as me, the timing is just not right for the adversaries currently. It would appear to be a better match if last season Tigers team had faced the team Kansas fielded at the same time. Mizzou has struggled in practically all the games they have played while Kansas has but one blemish on their record. The game scheduled Saturday afternoon might not be much of a match, I intend to watch it with my hand on the remote…that is all.

An adjustment

Emoni Bates begin his college career on a high note, lately the tune is somewhat subdued. In recent games he’s requested Coach Penny place him with the second unit. It’s being reported and this is a paraphrase Bates says coming off the bench allows him to study the flow of the game. We should not become too excited about this development after all technically Bates should be a senior in high school. He’s averaging almost 12 points a game however his field goal percentage could stand improvement. This might appear to be critical of the Memphis first-year student however I hope this not viewed in that manner. We are reporting the pitfalls the talented Bates must endure while adjusting to the college game.

Why are you broke?

Recently it was noted Grant Hill made a concerted effort to preserve a budget over the first NBA contract he received. Hill is but one NBA players who managed to grow his money during and after his career ended. Certainly, at the top of our list would be Michael Jordan, it was once reported Nike was paying MJ more than the Bulls. His salary plus Nike/Air Jordan revenue have allowed MJ to be listed in Forbes as a billionaire. After first gaining a minority interest in the Hornets MJ is now considered the sole owner of this NBA franchise. Next up would-be Magic Johnson whose net worth is reported to be about $600 million. Magic owns restaurants, movie theaters and other investments accounting for his wealth.

This must be a common figure, the late Kobe Bryant’s Nike income, salary and investments list his estate at $600 million. Shaquille O’Neal was quoted recently, “I’m rich not my kids.” Shaq is correct investments plus his NBA salary list him about $400 million. The Kid, Kevin Garnett is reported to be in the $190 million range from shoe deals, salaries and investments. LeBron James net worth is reported to be $480 million through his shoe deal, investments plus salary. Back in the day the most Junior Bridgeman earned during his 12-year NBA career was $350,000, through business dealings he’s managed to gain a net worth of $600 million. There are others omitted from this brief account, the hope was to detail the financial gains made by those profiled. Next time you read of an NBA player broke after retirement remember this. The wise invested a part of their income, as for the others.

A star in the making

After seeing Mikal Bridges in action for Villanova him being drafted in 2018 was no surprise for any of us. He played his college basketball at home and was all set to begin his NBA career at home, his name was called by the Sixers with the 10^th pick. How first playing at home in college and now the city’s NBA team but that was not to occur. Draft night saw Bridges rights being traded to the Suns. In his third season we see Bridges as a key contributor to the swift start by the Suns. As for his numbers they are not going to WOW us, but he does all the things necessary to aid his team. Bridges has been aided in his development having Chris Paul as his point guard.