Basketball from a fans perspective   

Published Monday through Friday

How about this one?

Numerous times we have news story’s which pose interesting questions, this is one of them. A story broke on Wednesday which sounds interesting, if you’ve not heard the story, we must place it in the category of true points and speculative points, it will be broken down in that manner. Speculation: Ben Simmons is traded to Brooklyn for James Hardin. A trade of this magnitude to occur but with so many moving parts will entail major work on the part of both teams.

True, Hardin did not sign an extension with the Nets. True, Hardin played for Daryl Morey now in Philly and they have a relationship from their days in Houston. Speculation, Hardin is reported to be tired of all the drama surrounding Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Speculation, if this trade were to occur Simmons would sit out the balance of the season. What occurs should the Nets win the NBA Championship; would Hardin be okay with a trade from a championship team to one (Philly) hoping to win it all.

Timing is everything

It’s been mentioned in the past how important it is to be in the right place at the right time. A further statement might say timing is everything and that always applies. A few of the stories you read in Off the Dribble are not fresh, i.e., historical reports could be written a week ahead of the published date. On the other hand, there are stories in this blog you had no opportunity to read! Why did this occur you might ask, events occurring prior to publication cause the story or parts of it to no longer be precise. In addition to that a closer inspection of the story by the editor (me) might decide “this story is not as relevant as I believed when first written.” Despite the difficulties in attempting to publish this blog the hope is to provide stories of interest regarding the game we all love…basketball.

This is the now  

It was said awhile back an NBA rule change would and allow high school talent in the NBA Draft again. It was further stated Emoni Bates would become the first high school player drafted into the NBA since 2005. That was then this is now; we are into 2022 the NBA rule never changed however the landscape changed from the time Bates was a high school freshman. There is a gigantic difference now versus four years ago. These are not in order of priority just as its written. Option 1, four years ago, the NBA G-League existed but Team Elite did not. As you are aware most members of Team Elite are recent high school graduates, those who the scouts deem NBA ready will be drafted in 2022.

Option 2, we have the National Basketball League of Australia, LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton left for the land down under after graduation. Both players would become NBA first round draft choices in 2020. Option 3, Overtime Elite or OTE is a startup league beginning in the fall of 2020, the league places no restrictions on entry in fact there is no requirement for a player to have graduated high school. What’s most interesting Euro basketball has never made the impact one might believe? We have change although not the change that might have been anticipated four years ago. In closing the One n Done phase continues to occur, outstanding prospects attend college for one year and then declare for the NBA Draft. Technically this could be considered Option 4 now that players can earn income through Name, Image & Likeness.

The Dream Shake

It’s believed Hakeem Olajuwon was the first athlete from the African continent to play in the NBA. He arrived on these shores from Nigeria in 1980, extremely raw he was red-shirted in the 1980-81 season by the University of Houston. The following season he would become the Cougars 6^th man but wanting to improve his game led him to seek out Moses Malone. Olajuwon would work out during the summer with Malone then playing for the Houston Rockets.

The next few years would see Olajuwon increase his skill in the game for the Cougars and this would extend into his NBA career. He would become a 2X NBA Champion with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995 and 2X Finals MVP. Olajuwon become the man of many moves; he credited these moves to his youth when he played soccer in his native Nigeria. Olajuwon would spend his final NBA season 2000-2001 as a member of the Raptors. As for the “Dream Shake” this is a reminder for some and an introduction to others. For a 7-foot 255-pound athlete Olajuwon had the smoothest moves for a player his size, check out the YouTube video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J-WJ5739Tg&t=14s