Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

An argument of epic proportion

I had no intent to begin a dispute but that appears to be the case. My reference is the recent story on the Pete Maravich-Travis Grant career scoring issue is just that, I uncovered more information to share with you. Maravich scored his 3,667 points in three seasons, at that time first-year student-athletes were ineligible to play varsity at NCAA institutions. On the other hand, NAIA basketball rules were  different, as far as I can figure out incoming student-athletes at these schools were always eligible to play four seasons.

Grant registered his 4,045 points in four seasons at Kentucky State. Neither player had benefit of the 3-point line, that change went into effect in April 1986 long after both had left school. I have no intent to take anything away from either player, each experienced greatness while enrolled at LSU and Kentucky State. Research is wonderful especially when you discover something you didn’t know. Grant’s record has been eclipsed too, Phil Hutcheson and John Pierce both roared past Travis Grant, Pierce would score 4,230 points for his career. Both Hutcheson and Pierce played at John Lipscomb University now an NCAA Division I program, when the later two played at the school it was an NAIA member.

Interesting note

We hear scores of complaints from Laker Nation about the durability of Anthony Davis. This latest injury last Friday continues the pattern of the Laker Big Man missing games. Did you realize over the last three seasons Jimmy Butler of the Heat has missed just about the same number of games as AD? It is difficult to keep a modern-day NBA player on the floor, as written earlier the injury AD suffered on Friday was not due to him doing something unusual or difficult. A Wolves player (not intentionally) was the cause of the MCL sprain to his left leg. Unfortunately, we cannot bubble wrap AD, Jimmy Butler or other NBA players, as they say about all sport, injuries are part of the game. That statement will fail to satisfy Laker Nation however it’s the truth and nothing can be done to negate it.

Player of the Year

Ochai Agbaji might be the single best college basketball player in the nation this season, he’s got a great deal of competition but is clearly the leader in the middle of December. Once again Kansas has cornered the basketball market on talent, and they have a good one with this Kansas City Missouri youngster. Ochai Agbaji’s numbers are astonishing at this point of the season, and he might be the single reason Kansas has but one loss as this is written.

How about these numbers 22.4 points a game on 63.2% from the floor with 49.3% coming from three? Naturally, no prediction of future success in the NBA or any other professional league is projected. The 6-foot 5 shooting guard will be coveted by teams throughout the NBA come draft time in June. Agbaji has gone from a relative unknown playing for Park Hill High School to the present day. A day in the future we might hear Commissioner Silver step to the podium at the draft and say, “With the _______ pick the _______ select Ochai Agbaji from the University of Kansas.” We shall see what eventually prevails for this young man and is the NBA in his future.

A presence

The history of Asian players in the NBA goes back to the beginning. The 1947-48 season the late Wataru Misaka played for the Knicks the very first Asian player in the NBA. Since the arrival of Yao Ming and his outstanding play with the Rockets the NBA has wanted to increase its presence in Asia. After Yao retired it was thought the arrival of Jeremy Lin would be a driving force for an increased presence of Asian players in the NBA. Unfortunate although talented Lin was never able to sustain his play in the NBA. This American born son of Taiwanese parents is now playing for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association.

We introduced to a number Kai Sotto from the Philippines, although he would attend a part of his high school in the U.S. and play in the G-League. Currently Sotto is playing for the Adelaide 36ers in the Australian Basketball League, most likely he is still on the radar of NBA scouts at 7 feet tall and with a degree of talent. Playing for Davidson University is Hyunjung Lee a 6-foot 7-inch forward from South Korea. In addition, we have shooting guard Isaiah Wong at Miami, his great-great grandfather is of Chinese heritage. In the G-League we find 6-foot 11-inch Fanbo Zeng from Harbin China.

Currently in the NBA is Rui Hachimura from Yuta Watanabe both from Japan, Hachimura is with the Wizards and Watanabe the Raptors. At play for UCLA is Johnny Juzang a 6-foot 7-inch shooting guard, he was born in Tarzana California although his parents are from Vietnam. Jordan Clarkson is not thought of as being Asian however his mother hails from the Philippines while his father is African American. Also of note is 7-foot 4 295-pound Zach Edey freshman Purdue center, this youngsters mom is Canadian-Asian. There are names omitted here but it’s hoped you realize there are players of Asian heritage who love the game and play it at a high skill level. The plan is to continue developing this talent for play in the NBA one day.

A rivalry no more

Rivalries die for a variety of reasons as an example in the NFL Chiefs against the Broncos and Raiders. Earlier this month the Chiefs beat the Broncos for the 12^th consecutive time, in my view it’s no longer a rivalry when the other guy never wins. We could make the same statement about the Raiders series although lopsided they have beaten the Chiefs but not very often. In the NBA it was Celtics-Lakers or Lakers-Celtics rivalry but that no longer exists. Once upon a time it was Magic-Bird or Worthy-McHale, Kareem against Chief. These two franchises faced off against the other in 12 NBA Championship series in the past an NBA record.

The rivalry between these two teams existed during the regular season too playing home and home games. The days of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s no longer exist as the rivalry has only been played once (2010) for the NBA Championship, perhaps it is due to key players from both sides have retired. Time has also played a role in this once bitter rivalry, today’s Lakers and Celtics see it as “just another basketball game.” It’s no longer Kevin McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis or Magic Johnson tossing his “junior-junior” skyhook to win a decisive championship game. When the Celtics beat the Lakers on November 19 it was “just” a regular season victory for them, the same for December 7 when the Lakers returned the favor each winning team at home.