Basketball from a fans perspective

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He played basketball too…and must have been pretty good 

The baseball journey of Jackie Robinson became known to much of the general populace in 2013. This statement is based on the late Chadwick Boseman portraying Robinson in the movie titled 42. It dealt with the time frame when Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball and provided a glimpse of the turmoil Robinson faced in 1947 America. The part unknown to many is Robinson was a generational athlete, in fact many claim baseball was not his best sport. He played football, ran track and yes Robinson also played basketball at UCLA. While playing basketball Robinson led the Southern Division in the Pacific Coast Conference in scoring in 1940 and 1941.

Check out these quotes from the Sporting News; “Robinson formed the nucleus of a fast-breaking attack, stated the 1941 UCLA Yearbook.” And this one, “The first player who I ever saw dunking as part of his game was Jackie Robinson, former New York Renaissance player John Isaacs stated.” Finally, “A lighting dribbler and glue-fingered ball handler, his terrific speed makes it impossible for one man to hold him in check.” When Robinson returned from World War II, he would resume his baseball career but not much is publicized about his other sport or even mentioned. When the Monarchs season concluded Robinson would join the pro Los Angeles Red Devils.

This pro basketball team was working toward joining the National Basketball League. Standing 5 foot 11 Robinson was a starter for the Red Devils at the forward position. How good was he, its reported Abe Saperstein then owner of the Globetrotters offered Robinson $10,000 to play for his team about $132,000 in today’s money? White teams had been playing black teams for years and many black players had received invitations from pro leagues. In 1947 America baseball was the nations favorite pastime and the opportunity to play baseball rather than basketball must have prevailed with Robinson. Thus concludes the brief history of Jack Roosevelt Robinson and his basketball background. Was Robinson talented enough to have played pro basketball, the question is unanswered but those who saw him play claim he was that good.

The end

This is written at the end of July, so nothing’s been finalized. Perhaps Jay Huff signing an Exhibit 10 contract just might signal the end of Dwight Howard’s time with the Lakers, allow a brief introduction to Huff. He’s a 23-year-old 7-foot 1 center, Huff played collegiately at Virginia and split time between the South Bay Lakers and the parent club. It was mentioned earlier the acquisition of centers Thomas Bryant (age 24) and Damian Jones (age 27) during the free agent signing period. In addition to these centers there is Anthony Davis also available to be the backup, backup center.

The statement is made because AD’s made it known playing center is not one of favorites. He’s reluctantly indicated if called on he would fill the position. If we exclude AD, we could state the Lakers are raw but young at the center position. Huff might be a long shot to earn a roster spot, he might spend the majority of his season with the South Bay Lakers. With AD available the Lakers are probably not going to carry three centers this upcoming season. At the center position apparently its youth being served it’s likely 36-year-old Dwight Howard might not be re-signed. This is certainly not to say Howard’s NBA career is over, this just might be The end of his time with the Lakers.  

It’s not too late

Why did Emoni Bates wind up at Eastern Michigan rather than Michigan State or some other program after leaving Memphis? This is not intended as a knock at the school, but why here? We continue to read reports indicating Bates became a prima donna in name only. It’s okay to talk the talk but you must be able to walk the walk as well, we read he fails to work at his craft. These reports are unconfirmed, so we have no method to document them. In addition, there is the father factor that might have brought about a portion of Bates issues, there are two aspects that stand out thus far. Dad pulling him out of Lincoln High School and enrolling Bates at Ypsi Prep Academy a school begun by his father. As a high school sophomore Bates had won the Gatorade National Player of the Year.

Reclassification, this occurs all the time, an athlete moves up one level in order to be immediately eligible to play in college. If Bates remained at his previous level, he would have graduated in the Class of 2022. He just might have been overmatched as a 17-year-old entering college at Memphis. That’s the bad, now for the good part. Bates is still incredibly young; he will not turn 19 until January 2023 which gives him adequate time to make changes to his game and improve his work ethic. I hate to admit this, LaVar Ball did an incredibly decent job training his offspring, few can claim two son’s in the NBA as Ball is able to claim. As parents we desire the best for our children, it appears Elgin Bates should back away from his son and allow Stan Heath and staff to coach his son. Finally, the youngster must refine his game to fit the best interests of Eastern Michigan rather than Emoni Bates.

Headed to Michigan State

Xavier Booker a 5-star prospect and number one in Rivals 2023 class has made his decision.  The 6-foot 11 215-pound power forward from Indianapolis has decided it’s Michigan State to play for coach Tom Izzo. Booker joins 4-star prospect and number 61 Jeremy Fears Jr. a 6-foot 160-pound point guard. Reported to be “leaning” toward Michigan State is Devin Royal a 6 foot 6 inch small forward, he’s also a Class of 2023 prospect and number 87 on Rivals list.       

A few might remember our discussion on scouting 

We don’t know this to be a fact however it appears Victor Wembanyama will be at the top of the 2023 NBA draft. The 7-foot 3-inch power forward checks in at 230 pounds and has a 7-foot 9-inch wingspan, a few are referring to him as a generational player. Some claim he might be the best prospect since LeBron James, is he overhyped? You must be the judge of this however it appears all the tools are in place except in a few eyes. Check the following, two observations from scouts and their assessment of the French youngster.

Scouting Report A: “Think Rudy Gobert mixed with Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis. That’s what Wembanyama is projected to be. If you think that comp is too outrageous, then how about a larger Giannis Antetokounmpo without any weaknesses.”

Scouting Report B: “Currently there is not enough information to project Wemby’s NBA future with high confidence since he has such a polarizing profile and is still so young (18 years). (“2023 NBA Mock Draft 1.0: Predicting both rounds, starting with Victor ...”) But the one thing that is clear is that he is not a generational prospect.”

Surely the scouting report from the two must lie somewhere in between. If we look at the Report B we could ask the question, “why must a future athlete be a generational prospect?” Further yet, how many generational players have there been over the years? We could certainly consider LeBron James and the late Kobe Bryant in that category. Much earlier we might count Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson and Bill Russell in the number.

Are there more, of course we may have omitted a few however the number is quite minor compared to the total who played the game in the past up to the present day? In the recent past Isiah Thomas was a front office executive with the Raptors. Tracy McGrady declared for the draft out of high school, and this was Thomas. He’d missed drafting a prospect previously and indicated he was determined to not allow a potential talent to pass. What did Thomas do when it came the Raptors turn to draft, you got it, his choice was McGrady. 

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Are we led to believe there is smoke somewhere?

Several reading this might not be familiar with the saying, “Where there’s smoke there is fire.” In lay terms it simply states if you suspect something it might be true. That is the case for Bill Self and Kansas basketball, allow a further explanation. Mr. College Basketball Dick Vitale says enough is enough, he claims if the NCAA cannot (or will not) charge the basketball team with any wrongdoing they should drop the charges. Strange as it might seem this Mizzou fan agrees with Dickey V. with the following exceptions. The NCAA originally charged Kansas basketball with five (5) level one violations five being the most serious.

Yet in nearly four years the NCAA has done absolutely nothing which says is there really anything of substance? On the other hand, this is the bother to many, and you will read and hear it in some circles. “The NCAA loves to punish the many Podunk Universities throughout the nation but won’t dare touch blue blood basketball programs like Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and North Carolina.” I make this statement with tentative reservations and state I must agree with Vitale, the NCAA has proven nothing they should drop the case. If they have evidence of wrongdoing to present to Self, Kansas basketball and college basketball fans across the nation they need to produce it.

How to determine

There are many examples to factors for us to determine if a player has made it in the NBA. Being drafted certainly must be at the top of the list but even that can be somewhat misleading depending on the circumstances. As an example, Austin Reaves of the Lakers and Fred VanVleet Raptors guard were not drafted yet earned roster positions, that can determine you’ve made it as well. There are likely other examples overlooked but there is a single key in my view.

A signature shoe might be a determining factor, after all of the 400+ NBA players every season very few have their own shoe. For me, a shoe determines you've made it, Air Jordan, LeBron 19, KD 14 plus Kobe’s and numerous others are examples. It would be difficult to finalize the total however the number of signature shoes is nowhere near 400. We now have another signature shoe on the market, the Jordan Luka 1 has been introduced. Yes, number 77 Luka Doncic of the Mavs now has his own shoe.

Serbia in da house

I didn’t realize 35 players from Serbia have been drafted by NBA teams. The 2022 draft was no different except the one player chosen, his name sounds similar to that of Nikola Jokic a.k.a. “The Joker.” NBA fans are very familiar with Jokic who’s been an integral part of Nuggets success. “The Joker” as he’s nicknamed has won two NBA MVP’s in a row. There are a number of Serbians in the NBA but this one’s name is really close to that of Jokic.

The June draft saw the Miami Heat select Nikola Jovic as the 27^th pick in the first round. Jokic is a skillful passer and 3-point threat, as for fellow countryman Jovic he stands 6 foot 10 223 pounds and plays the small forward position. What is most interesting Jokic was born in Sombor, in the northwest section of this eastern European nation. As for Jovic technically we could claim he’s British however that is not the case. Although he was born in Leicester England, he grew up in Serbia. Jovic’s father was playing basketball at the time and the youngster was born in 2003.   

The Lakers

This is written before or after Russell Westbrook, he could be history by the time you read this. On the other hand, he could still be a Laker (which is the case) by the time you read this. We could make the same statement about Kyrie Irving he might be or maybe not. Both might represent the short-term outlook but unlike some in Laker Nation I’m looking ahead. So far ahead LeBron James might be retired and is presently the owner of the Las Vegas NBA franchise. Well maybe not quite that far but if we look at the team on July 6 it is quite interesting. The Lakers have gone from a dinosaur team to a more youthful version.

Of all the roster additions to date Juan Toscano-Anderson picked up from the Warriors is the oldest at an “elderly” 29 years of age. With a youth plan in full effect will the Lakers be a factor in the Western Conference race. This answer, it depends on a number of factors which cannot be detailed in this short space. It’s my belief the Lakers are a “tweener” team at this point, they are light years younger than last season but also have a veteran presence with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and others. This will be Darvin Ham’s team win or lose, I prefer to accentuate the positive with the emphasis on wins. Barring major injuries this Laker team will compete, they will earn a playoff berth. There is no method at this point to assess beyond a playoff berth.

That was the future, as for the present Russell Westbrook remains a Laker, this despite the apparent effort to trade him. What should occur if the Lakers are “forced” to play him in the upcoming season? New coach Darvin Ham claims at least to the media “He’s pleased having Westbrook on his team.” This story contains a bunch of moving parts and the one most enticing is the following. Did you realize the trio of LeBron, AD and Westbrook played a grand total of 21 games last season? This is certainly no excuse for the poor shooting of Westbrook, but he was forced by default to be the focal point of the Laker offense.  

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Mark your calendar

Mizzou’s Dennis Gates will coach his first Braggin Rights Game on Thursday, December 22nd. The   annual game will be played at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. For those unacquainted the game takes place every basketball season between the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri the two states which share a border. The December game is the 53^rd meeting between the teams, Illinois is the all-time leader with 33 wins versus 19 losses. Despite the heavy favor of Illinois in the series Mizzou’s won three of the last four games.

What now

That might be the question surrounding Talen-Horton Tucker at this time.  Tucker was a second-round pick in the 2019 draft, despite almost missing the draft (46^th) the Lakers securing him in a trade led us to believe the Iowa State guard/small forward was a budding talent. Since that time, we are unsure exactly how Tucker fits into the long-range plans of the Lakers. He is still only 21 years of age despite now having three NBA seasons in his brief career.

The question is raised regarding Tucker for this reason alone, two years ago the Lakers had three untouchables on the roster. They were LeBron, AD and Tucker but that appears to have changed. Several trade scenarios have Tuckers name mentioned in various draft proposals, has time run out for the 6-foot 4 235-pound prospect? Speaking of the Lakers as this was being completed came this word. On the Monday edition I wrote my belief Shareef O’Neal was not ready to play for the parent club, sure enough that is the case. Late Monday afternoon an announcement was made O’Neal has signed with G-League Team Elite.

The Full Monty

This is really no reference to the 1997 hit movie, this Full Monty is a brief profile of Suns coach Monty Williams. The team has agreed on a long-time extension, the coach was in the second year of a five contract. The Suns were treading water at the time Williams took over, they hadn’t drowned but were close. 19 wins the previous season became 39 wins under the new coach, from that point on its been onward and upward. Although the Suns failed to play for the NBA championship for the second year in a row, they actually exceeded their win total.

The Suns went from 51 wins the previous year to 64 this past season. Monty Williams is a player’s coach however don’t allow that statement to fool you, he will confront a player he believes needs correction, ask DeAndre Ayton. He once was head coach of the Pelicans but was fired because the team did not improve under his leadership. Williams also proves to us a firing doesn’t entail the end of the world, just check out his present status. It’s my belief each stop would become a growth life station for the coach. After his firing he became an assistant at Oklahoma City and then Philadelphia prior to taking over the Suns. Monty Williams, a winner in more than basketball.

A record never matched

Whenever we discuss records about to be eclipsed there is always excitement whether it’s an individual or team record. We make note the significance of the accomplishment and it ends there. A considerable number of records exist in all sports, some of which we can loudly proclaim, “That record will never be broken.”    Recently we uncovered one held by former NBA great Hakeem Olajuwon who spent the bulk of his career as a member of the Houston Rockets. The record was set in 1994 and there are several belonging to Olajuwon set that year. The records are not unique it’s the fact they were established in that 1994 season.

NBA MVP

NBA Defensive Player of the Year

NBA Finals MVP

NBA Champion

 In addition to the honors noted above Olajuwon was honored in another area, he was elected to the NBA’s 50^th and 75 Anniversary Team’s.

Bits n Pieces 

Where is he, the “he” in this instance is a reference to 7-foot 3 Kai Sotto, based on reports we read and heard we didn’t expect him to be drafted last month. Despite that belief we expected an NBA team would sign him to a 2-way contract and we’d see him in action in summer play. That didn’t occur either so his effort to be the first native born Filipino in the NBA is sidetracked for a period of time. Sotto represents an NBA change, the modern version has become more suited to stretch four Big Men. Despite the change there is a belief there is room for him at the NBA level. We don’t know this to be a fact however Tacko Fall remains a member of the Utah Jazz, surely Sotto is near the same stage in development. We continue to search for news regarding Sotto and will provide future updates.

The Suns wrote DeAndre Ayton a huge check, i.e., signing him to an extension. Ayton was a free agent and the Pacers reached out to him offering a contract. Rather than allowing him to walk the Suns decided to match the offer assuring number 22 would remain in The Valley of the Sun. The unusual part of the story for me is the set of circumstances. We read there was displeasure with the effort made by Ayton in the playoffs. One report indicates he and coach Monty Williams had a verbal confrontation. That and maybe other issues appear “over” as Ayton has expressed, he is happy with remaining with the Suns. The future of the Suns rest almost entirely on the shoulders of Chris Paul, similar to LeBron he’s one year older. Can Ayton play up to the level of a quality Big Man, we shall see how this turns out next season.

What is an Exhibit 10 contract, since I had no idea didn’t research was required? Perhaps a number of you were familiar with it, as for me and others this is the definition, I was able to locate:

“An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, minimum salary NBA contract. The deal has a particular Exhibit 10 attached to it and bonuses come along with it. This attachment is included in the contract after both the sides (team and the player) have agreed to it.”

 “An Exhibit 10 contract gives a franchise the flexibility to convert it into a two-way deal, but the team has to ensure that it happens before the commencement of the regular season. Exhibit 10 deals are usually non-guaranteed, which means the team can waive the player and get the cap hit off their payroll.” *

*https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/what-exhibit-10-contract-nba

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Eddyville

This is a town of 2,500 souls located 40 some miles east of Paducah Kentucky. Despite the population apparently Eddyville is home to one of the best basketball players in the State of Kentucky. That player would be Travis Perry entering his junior year at Lyon County High School in the fall, Rivals.com rates Perry a 4-star prospect in the Class of 2024. The 6-foot 2-inch point guard has 13 scholarship offers waiting for him? The most significant offer might be from his home state Kentucky Wildcats but wait there is more. Recently one of the schools with an offer for Perry is the University of Missouri. Good ole Mizzou right in the middle of Big Blue Nation attempting to entice one of their native son’s to Columbia.

We are quite a distance from 2024 but this is the significance of the effort, the continued aggressiveness of Dennis Gates and staff in recruiting potential talent. Take it from this member of Mizzou Nation memory says there might not have been a single coach in history attempt to recruit a Kentucky athlete. This number would include long-time coach Norm Stewart. In all likelihood Perry decides on Kentucky or somewhere else among the many offers. Mark this down, we don’t know whether Gates will produce a winner, this we do know…he and his staff are quite aggressive attempting to recruit talent. Because a prospect lives in a particular state fails to take into consideration, he’s bound to attend that school. We can look at incoming Mizzou freshman Aiden Shaw from Stillwell Kansas in metro Kansas City. 

He's not ready

I attempted to provide an assessment of Lakers who might possibly be added to the parent clubs regular season roster based on summer play. One of the names you might have noted missing from the list was Shareef O’Neal. There is certainly no intent on my part to claim he’s limited or no talent; young O’Neal has size and bulk (6 foot 10 & 225 pounds). The issue, we are unsure how much his heart surgery might have impacted his development as a player.

His dad certainly was not thrilled with the idea of Shareef attempting an NBA career at least at this point. I will be shocked if he earns a spot on the parent club, with that said we could entertain several alternatives for O’Neal. The first of course would be to play for the G-League South Bay Lakers, the second would be an either-or scenario, he could head for Australia or Europe to continue developing his game. O’Neal is yet to reach the crossroads of his very brief career, but he must prove to NBA GM’s he’s got skill enough to play at this level even in a reserve role.

Kansas City Kings?

I know, the franchise left my hometown in 1985, it’s been my contention for a number of years they made a huge mistake. That mistake indirectly led them to leave for the greener pastures of Sacramento, allow this explanation. The American Basketball Association was going out of business in 1976 there is no doubt, the league had been hemorrhaging money in an attempt to compete with the established NBA. As mentioned previously the Nets, Pacers, Spurs and Nuggets were absorbed into the NBA. What about the remaining players, a number of exceptionally talented players whose teams folded had and uncertain future in front of them. The NBA decided a dispersal draft was necessary for the remaining players, the names were placed in a pool. The draft would be conducted in this manner, the NBA team with the worst record would draw first and so forth and so on. 

The Bulls, Blazers and Kansas City Kings were one, two, three that season. The Bulls would draft Artis Gilmore who was 26-years old at the time. Gilmore would provide the Bulls outstanding play as a 7-foot 2-inch scoring and defensive center. Next up the Blazers who chose power forward Maurice Lucas he might have been one of the strongest players in the league. Some years later Lucas would be one of the key members who aided the Blazers in winning their only NBA championship to date. It was a different NBA back then, why choose a guard when there were so many quality Big Men available? That’s exactly what the Kings did, they picked a very serviceable Ron Boone who stood 6 foot 2 inches. 

Boone provided valuable play to the Kings but compared to what Moses Malone would accomplish brought his team and NBA championship and him into the Hall of Fame. The Pistons made their pick choosing Marvin Barnes and then the Blazers turn again. They chose 6-foot 10 inch 21-year-old Moses Malone, although they didn’t keep him Malone would go on to a Hall of Fame career with the Rockets and Sixers. It’s my contention Kings management believed a Ron Boone would not be as cost prohibitive as a Moses Malone. I can only imagine what might have occurred if the Kings made the right choice in 1976. The team might have eventually become a contender and Sacramento could still be wishing for an NBA franchise. Oh well, revisionist history only placates me (and maybe others in the city).  

You heard the same story’s I heard

A large number of people claim the late Kobe Bryant was not a good teammate. They were quite critical despite having little if any firsthand information. Laker coach Phil Handy provided us insight into the Mamba mentality with these words. “I (Handy) asked him why he was such an as*hole. He said “some teammates don’t understand the work. I see dudes walk in 10 mins before practice & leave right after. Why the fu*k am I gonna pass them the ball?

I don’t respect their work ethic. I’m busting my as* & they don’t wanna work.” We know how that works don’t we, this was posted just recently. Kobe passed in January 2020 yet in reading Handy’s words in 2022 there are many who continue to find fault with the mentality Kobe possessed. How about being the best version of yourself possible? Even that might be difficult for some. From my perch I can only say this, confidence in some instances is perceived as arrogance. That is not always the case there are some who work on a higher plane, the part I could see Kobe might be guilty, he didn’t raise the level of many of his teammates around him as much as he should have. 

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You don’t say

Recently it was brought to our attention Ben Wallace is in the Naismith Hall of Fame, he went undrafted. Wallace played college basketball, but it was the NBA where he distinguished himself. Not too unusual a number of players have managed NBA careers without being drafted. This one is certainly unusual, but a further explanation unfolds, an athlete playing Division I basketball with no high school play in his past. That is the case for Ken Olewiler who will begin play this fall at New Mexico State as a walk-on athlete.

The account is not quite as impossible as it might first seem. According to an account there was a basketball background, the 6 foot 4 Olewiler played JV for three years but didn’t play his senior year due to a transfer issue. We are further informed he was an AAU player throughout his high school years and played at a Division II school for a season. Similar to many Olewiler believed he was more skilled hence the transfer to NMSU. So never say never, anything is possible. 

In his image?

It appears Danny Ainge is re-making the Utah Jazz in his “own” image. The first move might be that of long-time coach Quin Snyder, he resigned but possibly forced out of his job. The next move was trading perennial All-Star Rudy Gobert to the Wolves. In a holding pattern is All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell who is waiting in the wings to be traded. These are the series of events over the last year, June 2, 2021, Ainge announced his retirement from the Celtics. Ainge announced Brad Stevens would take over in his place as president of basketball operations for the Celtics. Six months later December 2021 Ainge was hired as CEO of basketball operations for the Jazz.

As you can see by the dates Ainge took over operations after the 2021-22 season had started, from this December date up to the June resignation (or firing) of Snyder, Ainge apparently made moves he believed needed to occur. Later during the free agent period Gobert was traded, roughly from that point up to this account Mitchell’s name has been mentioned in a multitude of possible trades. Whether Mitchell returns or not has yet to be determined. With the moves covered including the hire of a new coach we can see the Jazz have been molded in the manner Ainge sees proper. As for the future success that’s a matter of production on the court. We are unsure if there will be a repeat 49-33 record or anywhere close to it.

We understand but…

The Royals and Chiefs made news off the field, both teams envision new stadiums in their future. These moves might cause catastrophe problems in Kansas City Missouri. Elements across State Line have made overtures regarding the team move to the Kansas side of the metro, naturally civic elements on the Missouri side are not pleased although nothing is yet to be finalized. This move is light years different from that of the Royals, the baseball team wants a downtown stadium which is also understandable. The Power & Light District has revitalized downtown but the problem in building a new baseball stadium who pays? So far Royals owner John Sherman has expressed his desire for this new venue but as far as we know has pledged no dollars to any building effort.

The next portion we discuss contains accounts discussed much earlier, the Warriors Chase Center which opened in 2019 was constructed with no public funds, the Intuit Dome which is the future home of the Clippers is being built. No public funds are being expended in this project, now a new project has been announced. The Sixers are looking at a move from Wells Fargo center their home since 1996. A development plan was revealed for a new arena to possibly open in 2031-32, this new arena would be constructed with no public funds to be expended.

Do you see a similar theme in this account, three arenas one in operation one under construction and another planned for the future? Citizens have not (Chase Center & Intuit Dome) spent a dime of their tax money to date, the same story will occur in Philadelphia should this project be finalized. Back to Kansas City a moment, GEHA Arrowhead and Kaufmann Stadium are 50 years old. Each has been renovated over the years however team owners envision additional revenue should they move to a new location. Owners have a financial investment in their teams and that is understandable, on the other hand taxpayers have often been held hostage if they don’t succumb to owners demands for new buildings or additions. In neither account Chiefs nor Royals have we’ve heard a commitment from ownership indicating they were willing to pay all or any portion of construction costs.

???

Steph Curry is a future Hall of Fame member no doubt. Despite the statement he’s off base in my opinion on this subject, allow an explanation. According to him the Kevin Durant Warriors 2017 edition could have beaten the 2001 Lakers. Curry claimed that Warriors team could have beaten the Lakers, well almost anything is possible. Almost anything except beating the 2001 Lakers, think not…consider this fact. There is no way Draymond Green, or JaVale McGee would have stopped a dominating Shaq down low.

Perhaps Curry fails to take into consideration the game was different back then. Unlike now the game was inside-out rather than outside-in as now. That Warriors team certainly could shoot the 3 at a more efficient level than the Lakers but wait there is more. Klay Thompson contending with a young healthy Kobe Bryant, would they simply neutralize one another. Ron Harper arrived at the same time of coach Phil Jackson, Harper at the point would contend with the swift and efficient Curry. Several might not be aware or as a reminder to others Harper was a great defender. Certainly not as fast as Curry but maybe a better defender. Who guards Durant…that might be the one area the Warriors have a clear advantage?

Would it be enough of an advantage to beat those Lakers…I don’t think so? There is one area we cannot expound in great detail, the reserve units for both teams. How about team defense, the Warriors won their recent championship offensively and especially defending the ball. They might not have ever seen the type of stifling defense a Phil Jackson team can hang on its opponents. Sorry Mr. Curry many of us believe you are off course on this one. This comment was made which has no direct connection, despite this I believe it was worth closing the story. “Karl-Anthony Towns says he and teammate Anthony Edwards need to play at “Shaq and Kobe” level.” That just about says it all for me and others, I’m sure.  

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Inactive Time

We’ve reached the Inactive Time; college coaches have been hired in addition the prospects for those universities and colleges have made their decision. In the NBA, the draft and free agency are behind us so too is summer basketball. For all practical purposes not, much will occur between now and the start of NBA and college training camps. In most instances in the college and pro ranks many are working out as this is written. What’s the purpose of this account, it’s to inform you Off the Dribble will begin shrinking for a period of time, the number of articles will be reduced? Face it there’s only so much basketball history to uncover and detail. Once October arrives expect a ramp up in coverage once again, hopefully you will continue to read and enjoy the content published.

Despite title, Wiggins regrets getting vaccinated  

The above is the headline to a story regarding the Warriors Andrew Wiggins. Keep in mind we are still in the middle of covid as it continues to ebb and flow like the tides of the ocean. Our northern neighbor Canada has strict guidelines, you are not vaccinated you don’t enter the country. The Kansas City Royals found this out recently as 10 players and several coaches were forced to remain at home. In the NBA it remains an issue, we are aware Kyrie Irving played but that only occurred after New York City lifted its ban. If it’s the Nets, Lakers or someone else Irving will be unable to play in Canada in the 2022-23 NBA season. Yet another voice is heard that of Andrew Wiggins of the NBA champion Warriors.

Wiggins is stating he regrets being vaccinated, keep in mind apparently, he’s suffering no ill effects. In his words, “But for my body, I just don’t like putting all that stuff in my body.”  His words are quite interesting considering he’s probably had a polio shot, perhaps a flu, diphtheria and a host of other inoculations might have been received. Rest assured with Wiggins growing up in Canada I’m unsure of the nation’s requirements. In the U.S. in at least most school districts there are a battery of shots required to attend school. I understand the part about Wiggins claiming he was forced, the portion I don’t understand, the last part of his statement. He said, “putting all that stuff in my body”, come on Wiggins, do you have any idea of the “stuff” in any of the shots you’ve had since you were an infant until now?

He's the other guy 

Earlier we mentioned Víctor Wembanyama’s name as the possible top candidate in the 2023 NBA draft. One site nbadraft.net placed him in the number two slot rather than in first place as other mock sites. Who is in first place you ask; his name is Scoot Henderson? Henderson is a 6-foot 2 195-pound point guard and plays in the G-League. This is the most telling part of his bio, he finished high school early but decided rather than college it would be a pro start. Henderson played last season as a pro and as a then 17-year-old the numbers were astounding.

Play against many veteran G-League opponents saw him at 14.7 points 4.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists a game. These are not astonishing numbers but considering his age and last season was his first as a pro clearly indicate the youngster is super talented. Henderson will qualify for the NBA draft because it will have been two years since his high school class will have graduated. In a manner similar to 2022 there will be another teen in the draft, the commissioner will likely announce the name of Scoot Henderson as either the top or second choice in the 2023 draft.

All-time greats

We are not discussing order but just the belief in All-Time greats. Our discussion almost always centers around Big Men, after all the game especially in the NBA is taller than average guys. We might begin with Wilt or Kareem; we’d move on to those of lesser statue the Magic’s, the Bird’s and Jordan’s. Generally, that’s where our conversation ends, few “little guys” are mentioned in a discussion of All-Time greats or those who manage to change the game. We could begin with Bob Cousy, “Tiny” Archibald and certainly John Stockton are part of the conversation. These greats and other smaller guys impacted the game but nothing like the Warriors Steph Curry.

Curry is nowhere close to Cousy, Archibald and certainly Stockton in passing the rock. He might exceed all three combined with his shooting ability. We begin this by discussing those who changed the game. The lane was widen because of Wilt, the dunk was outlawed in college because of Kareem. Teams saw the success of Magic and Bird and tried to duplicate it with 6 foot 9 guys with great passing skills. Nobody absolutely nobody has the shooting skills of Curry. Many have copied it few successfully. There is one more factor that places Curry in the conversation of All-Time greats, its rings and more rings. Curry now has 4 championship rings, that places him alongside Kareem, Magic, Bird, Jordan and others.

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Lakers NBA Summer League

Allow for a correction and addendum to an earlier report. It was stated previously Scotty Pippen Jr. would earn a roster position, allow a clarification. Pippen Jr. is on a two-way contract so he might not make the regular season roster, the revision says he will likely spend more time with the parent club over the South Bay Lakers. Next up is Cole Swider who seemingly appears to be a lights out shooter especially from three. Now we realize the youngster is not facing regular season defenses, but his shooting thus far has been impressive.

Carmelo Anthony had a good season for the Lakers however given a choice of the two I’m going with the youngster. On the outside more than Pippen Jr. and Swider is Jay Huff. The 7-foot Huff’s spent time in the G-League last season. He’s played well in summer play however covid might have impacted a yes/no decision on Huff earning a roster spot. This is the part most interesting, despite their on-court record the Lakers have done an exemplary job of uncovering “hidden” talent in the past. The difficulty most of the youthful talent has been utilized in trades, there remains a question if this has been beneficial for them. In closing I will repeat, when asked for an assessment of the Lakers I said, “I’d much rather lose with youngsters than win with oldsters.”

Speaking of

A number of draft choices played one or two Summer League games and then were shut down. This makes sense for a principal reason and it’s this. Most believe the lottery choices and those chosen up to 24 or 25 are believed to be the best of the best i.e., above average talent. Why take a chance on a career ending injury for one of these prospects before they have the opportunity to begin an NBA career? We could cite the example of the Pistons draft picks Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duran, both suffered injuries.

Rather than allow them time to heal and return to the court Pistons management decided it would be better to shut them down for the summer. Rest assured NBA Summer League is good publicity for the league however consider this one fact. These future prospects especially those from the college ranks have faced one another in the past, summer play might be more intended for fans over management. Based on this we might see a future change; prospects might play two or three games and then be seated for the balance of the summer.

Superman

We are not sure where it began, someplace in time Shaquille O’Neal anointed himself Superman. Truth is he might have been close to the fictional character with his strength. Over the years we’ve read stories regarding the power of Wilt Chamberlain, he might be the only player of Shaq’s equal in might. There are references to his immense power this is one story. In this particular game Chamberlain had demonstrated thunderous dunks the first half of this game. At the beginning of the second half an inspection noted the basket rim contained a break; it had been severed. The game was held up while the maintenance staff replaced the rim.

Now was it Chamberlain’s dunks alone, you are the judge. As for Shaq there was his bank shot however the strength of Shaq was his ability to play bully ball and dunk. Do you think anyone dare take a charge from this 7-foot 1 325-pound behemoth? If we placed Shaq in the NBA of 2022 he might not even be as good as we might believe. The large one played in the NBA at a time the league allowed more aggressive play than today. Although Shaq played for several teams it’s the period, he played for the Lakers that manage to place a stamp on his legacy in the view of many.

There was his 3-peat championship with the Lakers winning in 2000, 2001 and 2002, in 2006 Shaq was a winner again this time with the Heat. The only negative on his outstanding NBA career might be the feud between he and Kobe, many believe this combo could have won a minimum of 5 or more championships. Shaq was 33-years old when traded to the Heat, he managed to play five more years although some might question the effectiveness of his play. The Shaq that arrived in the NBA with the Magic in 1994 through his time with the Lakers, he might have been the most dominating Big Man of that era. Check out the YouTube video below which is fuzzy, but you can see the end result.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxKodu_a-n0

Carolina Blue

The Tarheels finished last season with a 29-10 (15-5 in the conference) record. The Tarheels stretch run found them playing for the NCAA championship, they would lose the game to the Kansas Jayhawks 72-69. We are going to look briefly at the coach Hubert Davis in his first season at the helm. Was Davis the first choice when Roy Williams decided to retire, we don’t have the answer however this is probably true. If for some reason the coach thought this might not be a good hire Williams could have vetoed the hire.

Davis will continue to be successful for a couple of reasons, he’s got the historic connection of Carolina basketball behind him, and he will grow in the job. Davis has 9 years behind him as an assistant coach under Williams. We are unsure what becomes of the ACC with all the talk of teams changing conferences, this we believe to be true. Hubert Davis will be successful in his role; just consider this fact the team was wallowing around mid-season with barely a winning record. The stretch run they made from that point to the end of the season is proof with talent this coach can win.

Twin Towers…sort of

A familiar name returned to the Lakers in Thomas Bryant. Bryant is a 6-foot 10 250-pound center who arrives after four seasons with the Wizards. He was drafted in the second round by the Lakers in 2017, his rookie year was split between the South Bay Lakers and the NBA Lakers. In July 2018, the Wizards claimed Bryant from the waiver wire. Bryant has developed an offensive game especially from the 3-line, he’s not a great defender but that’s where help arrives. He is coming off missing parts of two seasons with a torn ACL but claims he is 100% healthy now.

6-foot 11-inch 250-pound Damian Jones enters the photo, as mentioned previously the Lakers had Jones on a couple of 10-day contracts however he later signed with the Kings. Jones offers limited offensive skills; he is more suited as a defensive specialist who can score with lobs and other shots on occasion. The Lakers now have two, a 24- and 27-year-old center plus 36-year-old Dwight Howard. Does Howard remain on the roster, that would appear to be the case although nothing is set in stone at this point. With this latest Twin Tower addition plus adding Howard do we have a repeat of the 2019-20 championship team with Howard and JaVale McGee at center? We don’t have an answer, but this development should be interesting.

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“Curiouser and Curiouser! “

The headline is a statement made by Alice in the classic novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll in 1865. It appears Russell Westbrook’s time with the Lakers has become to borrow the phrase curiouser and curiouser. I have personally gone back and forth on this player but finally believed new coach, new direction perhaps he stays. That is not the case intended according to Westbrook’s agent.

News broke he’s divorced his longtime agent; his agent used the term “irreconcilable differences” which certainly sounds like a divorce to me. The best course for Westbrook according to his former agent is for the player to remain with the Lakers and new coach Darvin Ham. It appears that is not the road Westbrook intends to travel, the caveat to this mess the possibility of adding Kyrie Irving which I certainly am opposed. What can I do if Irving comes on board, NOTHING? I have been a long-time member of Laker Nation; I didn’t want Dennis Rodman either.

Is 36 teams too many? 

When, not if NBA expansion begins, Seattle and perhaps Las Vegas will be at the front of the line for new franchises. The NBA would then consist of 32 teams but not for very long, 4-8 years later two additional teams will be added, and the league will increase to 34. 2-4 years after that two additional teams could arrive making a total of 36. Although cities like Louisville, Richmond and Nashville would certainly qualify based on population they would likely not be included in the second or third wave of expansion. What cities would be in a second wave, the NBA probably desires a Canadian franchise, that will either be a return to Vancouver or Montreal.

In the instance of both cities, they have lost professional teams however their large population base make them prime targets for NBA expansion. The second wave would place a franchise in Kansas City, yes, the Kings once called the city home and also left but that was then, this is now. The city sits smack dab in the middle of the nation with the nearest NBA team some 345 road miles from Kansas City. The city is being mentioned in NBA circles however not in the same manner of Seattle or Vegas.

The city nearest KC with an NBA team is Oklahoma City, the furthest driving distance might be Chicago about 510 miles while Memphis and Minnesota are 400+ miles away. The city has the NFL Chiefs, baseball Royals and Sporting Kansas City Soccer so there is a sports base here. There is no right away however it’s my belief a Canadian franchise and one in Kansas City will be added making for 34 teams, which is the second wave expansion. The third wave would add Montreal (or Vancouver) plus Pittsburgh maybe which makes the NBA a 36-team league. Although the number of teams is even the geography isn’t, at least three conferences must contain 6 teams for a time. So, the expansion question is resolved, what do you think?

No love

Mizzou basketball gets no love from ESPN period, as proof we offer this glimpse of a recent story featuring LSU’s Matt McMahon. It was titled; “How LSU’s Matt McMahon assembled a roster from scratch in 47 days.” You remember the story; coach Will Wade was let go by the school because of improprieties with his basketball program. Further north in the State of Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin was relieved of his duties due to lack of wins.

With Martin’s departure came a host of transfers from the program to other destinations. Coach Dennis Gates when hired had to hit the ground running with only 3 roster members remaining. We did not count the days however Mizzou will head into the 2022-23 season with a complete roster as well. Is LSU better than Mizzou, we don’t know but figure this one out. McMahon arrives at LSU from Murray State, Gates from Cleveland State, both arriving from mid-major programs. To borrow the Rodney Dangerfield line, Mizzou basketball “don’t get no respect” even on the occasion of a positive news story.

I hate this

I realize “hate” is a strong word, maybe it would be better if I stated a strong dislike. We read stories in Yahoo.com NBA teams tanking with the intent of drafting a particular player(s). That’s what is pending for the 2023 draft, we realize we just completed the 2022 version. His name is Víctor Wembanyama, and he stands 7 foot 3 and a thin 209 pounds (think Chet Holmgren). The youngster is described as a point-forward and he’s got a 7-foot 9-inch wingspan.

What do the mock drafts think of him since few of us have seen him in action? The first is nbadraftroom.com which places Wembanyama as the top pick in 2023, nbadraft.net has him at two, 247sports.com places him at number one. This youngster turned 18 this past January and will be eligible next June for the 2023 NBA draft as an international player. Home for Wembanyama is Le Chesney, a city in a Paris suburb. So, we are left with the question posed by Yahoo Sports, will there be a small number of NBA teams who lose on purpose in order to draft Wembanyama? In closing it should be of note Wembanyama signed a two-year contract with the Metropolitans 92 of the Pro A in June.

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CORRECTION

This is a correction to our Friday account of ABA veterans being included in a new pension plan. Those past players covered under this new agreement must have played a minimum of three (3) years. If for a number of reasons, a player not picked up by an NBA team would not be covered. This ruling might leave a number of players without a pension although we guess the number would be much smaller than the 100+ now covered thanks to the agreement. 

“He’s still working”?

A while back we discussed the AARP group, those who could have long ago retired. They continue to work in a number of capacities covering the college and NBA game. Naturally on occasion a name or two is missed, in this instance the name is Bill Bertka, and he turns 95-years of age at the end of August. Technically he’s “retired”, according to his bio it indicates he last worked as an assistant coach for the Lakers in 2001 but that’s not totally correct. Bertka covers so many generations of basketball it's impossible to fully evaluate them all. 

The basis for this short account Bertka was interviewed on one of the NBA Summer League games at halftime. Bertka indicated to the play-by-play announcer he’d been in Las Vegas “covering” the tournament since it started a week ago. As for Bertka’s basketball journey it began back in 1951-52 where he served as head basketball coach at Kent Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio. From that point there were several coaching stops before Bertka was hired as an assistant coach for the Lakers in 1971. 

Bertka would serve in this role of assistant coach until 1974 (the first time), there was even a brief time as interim head coach. He’s been on the sidelines as a championship coach for 7 of the Laker championships, in 2019 Bertka was honored with the Tex Winter Lifetime Impact Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association. The soon to be 95-year-old is not headed to work 5 days a week however he's still active in the game he's love since his youth. Despite this fact the Lakers continue to utilize the knowledge of a man who coached players from Wilt Chamberlain through Kobe Bryant.

His words (and mine)

Ballslife.com: “Do you think players today are better in your time period as far as total package?”

Scottie Pippen: “I would say Yes…I think this is a tougher era to be successful in.”

No disagreement on my part with the Pippen statement except in one instance which has been mentioned previously. A 30-year-old having never seen Hal Greer play (1958-1973) decides he doesn’t belong on the 75^th Anniversary NBA team due to the era he played. This fan determined Dwight Howard should replace Greer on the team. Why do a portion of fans decide because Player A. didn’t play in my time “he must not have been good?”

The Emoni Bates Condition 

Recently the Nike Tournament of Champions made a stop in Kansas City. Among the teams participating in the three-day tourney was Strive for Greatness AAU team featuring Bronny James. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend any of the games but one of my chief scouts managed to see Strive for Greatness and young James in action. I was curious for a couple of reasons, in the eyes of scouts Bronny’s game has not reached the level some expected. In fact, his rating is lower in July 2022 than July 2021.

Bronny’s numbers through 12 games are certainly not very significant, 10.5 points per game 35.6% from the floor and 29.8% from the three line. Also included in his number are 3.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists. When I asked Ken for an assessment of the game, he was blunt, he informed me “I wasn’t impressed with Bronny James.” He went into further detail, and I said, he might be suffering the “Emoni Bates Condition.” He ask me for an explanation and its simple, a player is overhyped by some who see them in action. That’s what occurred with Emoni Bates, and it just might occur with Bronny James, skillful players but expected to play on a higher level. James is still young and has time to grow his game, we could make the same statement regarding Bates too.

Junior NBA

On Thursday, the NBA announced the formation of a national network of youth boys and girls basketball. Age for the kids is 6-14 and the league has selected 11 cities to serve as host.  The cities selected by the NBA contain a few with teams such as San Antonio, Philadelphia and New Orleans. On the other hand, Louisville, Boise and my home Kansas City are among those selected areas without NBA teams.

Sacramento

Washington D.C.

Boise

Louisville

New Orleans

Kansas City

Omaha

Las Vegas

Philadelphia

San Antonio

Seattle

The league will commence operations on November 11, as additional details are made known more detail will appear in Off the Dribble.

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A long-ago issue has finally been addressed

A while back this blog contained an account of former ABA players. It was pointed out these former players either failed to latch onto an NBA team or did play after the ABA-NBA merger in 1976. For a number of reasons, a group of players missed the qualifications for a pension. These were the few who didn't play long enough or in some instances not picked up by an NBA team. 

The NBA and NBPA have come to an agreement and these former players about 115 will soon begin receiving monetary compensation. For a number this comes too late, illness and death preceded this agreement. Although payments are far below the salaries of today’s NBA players it is an effort to rectify a long overdue insight. Although it is very late for the survivors it does represent compensation after all these years.  

He’s moved into the Stephen A. Smith territory

The draft is over, many athletes have found their way to Las Vegas for the summer. There is a question we certainly cannot answer, “Can any of those drafted and free agents play successfully at the NBA level?” There is no adequate response until the regular season begins, in some instances the question might remain unanswered for at least 2-3 years. It’s easy to become excited about summer play but it is not the deciding factor. As for the headline, I have a neutral opinion of Shannon Sharpe of Fox Sports, he’s a former NFL veteran attempting to resolve a basketball matter.

These are somewhat along the lines of Sharp’s statement, some were referencing the Thunders Chet Holmgren and comparing him (unfairly in my view) to Kevin Durant. Sharpe’s words paraphrased, “I don’t see a 20 and 10 guy”, as for the comparison you might remember this from 2015. Stephen A. Smith on First Take went ballistic when the Knicks made Kristaps Porzingis their top pick that year. Rather than waiting to see if Porzingis could play Smith decided before the player ever set foot on an NBA floor “he couldn’t play at this level.” Back to Sharpe, he well could be correct, perhaps Holmgren has no NBA skills. It sure would be considerate to determine if his play on the court equals projections before pronouncing a player unable to play at this level. Shame on you Shannon, why not stick to NFL issues. 

Tacko Tuesday

We know, the game was played on Monday however every time Tacko Fall is on the basketball court it becomes a “Tacko Tuesday.” there was a Tacko sighting recently. We remain unsure if 7-foot 6 inch 311-pound Tacko Fall ever have an NBA career. Currently Tacko remains the tallest player in the NBA, despite this fact Tacko went undrafted in 2019, he was signed by the Celtics as a free agent moved on to the Cavs and now is with the Jazz.

With center Rudy Gobert traded will the Jazz allow Tacko time to develop his game further in the NBA of small ball. That’s a question, let’s check the depth chart for the Jazz at present. Hassan Whiteside is listed as the starting center with rookie Walker Kessler his backup, in addition there is Udoka Azubuike and rookie Big Man Kofi Cockburn. As for Monday’s Summer League action Tacko’s game was notable, 12 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocked shots as his Jazz beat the Mavs 83-82. 

It’s just television 

When it comes to halftime programming on NBA telecasts which network do you favor? The TNT crew of Ernie, Shaq, Kenny and Charles or the changing assembly on ESPN/ABC? The ESPN crew has “point guard” Mike Greenberg along with former NBA (and knowledgeable) player Jalen Rose. We include Michael Wilbon along with the always pontificating Stephen A. Smith who loves the sound of his voice.

This is a confession for me, although I never ever tune into a game to watch the pre or post game portion the Inside the NBA gang has it far above the other guys. We are curious what occurred to ESPN the network cannot appear to stabilize itself with a permanent broadcast crew? Perhaps ESPN/ABC is working it as best they can considering its past personnel issues. We should expect changes next season and a sidebar here. Dear ESPN/ABC, it’s not necessary to place Stephen A. Smith on every broadcast of the network.

Bill Walton

I don’t remember if I watched a single game that Bill Walton provided color commentary this past season. You are familiar with Walton, he’s the guy covering college basketball for ESPN. At least once during a telecast he mentions the rock group The Grateful Dead. The television camera would always catch him with one of his tie dyed tee shirts, Walton might be the last Hippie in the nation. What is interesting most watching/listening to the over-the-top Walton have no idea how good a basketball player he once was. Walton was made the top choice in the 1974 NBA draft by the Blazers. After being named an All American three times the UCLA Bruins were led to two NCAA championships while Walton was there.

The NBA would be a far different matter for Walton, he played outstanding basketball but the injuries, the injuries. Walton could not remain healthy for an extended period of time. He did manage to remain healthy enough to aid the Blazers in their only NBA championship to date. The 1977 team was matched against Dr. J.’s Sixers, Walton and his teammates were NBA champions 4 Games to 2. In the final game Walton scored 20 points along with 23 rebounds, 7 assists and 8 blocked shots. From this point going forward his career was seriously impacted throughout the remainder of time. Injuries forced Walton to miss three seasons, 78-79, 80-81 and 81-82. Over the remainder of his NBA career Walton would be reduced to a reserve role for the Clippers and Celtics. Despite early success Walton was unable to avoid injury, his career numbers might have been greater than his 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds a game.

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What about Zeke?

Isiah (Zeke) Thomas was one of the best point guards in the history of the NBA, since his playing days ended his post NBA career has seen a number of moves. Thomas was a head coach for the Pacers, Knicks and Florida International University. There were front office positions for the Raptors and Knicks, but the promise of ownership with the Pistons never materialized. For a time, Thomas’s been visible as an analyst on NBA TV and that might be the problem in our view. No hint of an NBA job and his hatred of the Lakers going back to his playing days.

Thomas made news with his take on the future of the Lakers, we in Laker Nation require no reminder how bad the team played last season. With the recent draft and free agent signing the team is attempting a makeover. We have no idea if these moves (plus any in the future) will allow them to experience an improved 2022-23 season. This part we know and are quite sure, Thomas remains bitter anytime the Lakers are mentioned in conversation. He will not admit his disdain toward the Lakers publicly, but it is clearly there. As for the upcoming NBA season we realize Western Conference teams have improved with the draft and free agency, the defending champion Warriors plus changes by the Wolves and others.

This from Thomas when asked about the upcoming season. “There’s no easy games in the Western Conference…If you’re looking at an easy game, maybe the Lakers.” Thomas is certainly entitled to his own opinion however his statement is a little off base in the view of Laker Nation. We question whether Thomas checked the previous season record before uttering his statement, there were four teams that finished behind the Lakers in win totals. All four teams including the Lakers could experience improved play in the upcoming season. Despite this fact we cannot foresee an easy game in the NBA unless we are describing team play at the end of a long road trip. This member of Laker Nation no longer cares what Zeke Thomas has to say about anyone or anything connected to the NBA.

He's got much to prove

Chet Holmgren has been in the national spotlight for at least two seasons. He first came to our attention as a high school senior at Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis. Truth is most of us tuned into his first nationally telecast game on ESPN to see him face phenom Emoni Bates. We saw the skinny 7-footer outshoot and plain outperform the highly touted Bates. Once the two began college play Holmgren at Gonzaga and Bates at Memphis the fortunes of Holmgren accelerated further ahead of Bates. It didn’t help Bates would later be injured and miss considerable time. Fast forward, Holmgren declared for the NBA draft while Bates didn’t qualify due to his age.

The Thunder have chosen The Thin Man with the second pick in the draft. Despite this position there are probably more questions about Holmgren over any other prospect. 7-feet tall but a thin 195 pounds says Holmgren could be pushed around on the court. One fan compared him to Shawn Bradley, for those unfamiliar with the name allow a brief explanation. Bradley stood 7 foot 6 inches was the number two pick in the 1993 draft. Despite his height and 275 pounds he never reached the level expected, he retired after playing in the NBA for 12 years. Holmgren had a 3-point shot in college, a slight adjustment to the NBA range might not be too much to manage. The key, Holmgren’s cannot allow himself to be intimidated whether in the paint or perimeter. Holmgren’s name was called by commissioner Silver as the second choice by the Thunder, there are only two questions. What is his draft position, and can he adjust to the rough and tumble play of the NBA?

It was no giant leap

To borrow from Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong this was No Giant Leap for Mankind however it was noteworthy. We saw Warrior center James Wiseman in action Sunday evening versus the Spurs. The Big Man had been missing in action it seems like forever with various injuries slowing his progress and adjustment to the NBA. Wiseman drafted in 2020 with the second pick has seen limited action (39 games) during his brief NBA career.

The 7-foot center looked rusty, and he admitted as much after the game but there was promise shown. Okay this is Summer League, but it was meaningful action for the youngster his first in quite a while. Wiseman scored but 11 points in 19 minutes however the stat sheet looked good. Along with the points was a 3-point basket along with 2 blocked shots and 2 rebounds. This is not a second coming of anything just a promise of improved play as he adjusts to the NBA, in addition avoiding the injury bug that’s plagued him throughout his brief play to date.

Our only ability of measure

We’ve discussed in the past there is no one thing to measure talent or the ability of an athlete. Doesn’t matter the sport, in this instance we are discussing basketball and Mizzou recruiting. Dennis Gates and staff are looking ahead, we realize the 2022-23 season must be played first however it’s the Class of 2023 in focus. 4-star Rivals prospect Trent Pierce a 6-foot 6-inch 185-pound wing from Tulsa verbally committed to Mizzou on Tuesday.

Earlier 6-foot 2 150-pound point guard Anthony Robinson II from Tallahassee Florida verbally committed too, he’s a 3-star Rivals prospect in the Class of 2023. Two considerations, these are verbal, and each youngster will have plenty of time to reflect on their decision. It’s possible one or both could change their mind although the hope in Mizzou Nation they remain committed. The second is Rivals awarding stars as an assessment of talent. We have no method to determine the degree of talent except in this manner, it’s our only ability of measure.

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Bits n Pieces-Summer League edition

What is the most confusing part of NBA Summer League to date for me? How in the heck do you spell the first name of Scottie Pippen’s son? You probably think I am joking, there have been some websites spelling the youngsters name Scotty while others spell it as if he’s named after his Hall of Fame father. Back in the early days of John Travolta’s career he played a teen Vinnie Barbarino on a television program Welcome Back Kotter. There was a classic line in almost every episode, something or someone would cause him to state, “I’m so confused.” That term certainly applies to yours truly I guess research is required for an answer.

For the first time the NBA Summer League championship team will receive rings acknowledging their first-place finish, I’m not sure as this is written my feelings about this development. Yes, we can attest to the fact summer play has grown exponentially over the years but are rings a requirement to signify winning the whole thing? Oh well, in the big picture I guess its not going to affect anything or anyone one way or another.

The Cavs Ochai Agbaji had an outstanding NBA debut, of course its only Summer League play. We need not become too excited however Agbaji’s first game was certainly noteworthy. There were 16 points, 4 of which were 3-pointers (so much for the college vs the NBA distance) and 3 rebounds along with 2 assists. The only problem for Agbaji is youth, the Cavs have several outstanding guards on the roster, and they are also young. Did the Cavs decide to draft the best player available regardless of position?

We have no idea of the relationship of these two, one website pointed to this fact in the Lakers-Suns game on Friday evening. Russell Westbrook was seated on the floor near the players bench, LeBron James was in an end zone seat. Why the two were not sitting together is anyone’s guess. Wasn’t LeBron supposed to have campaigned for the Lakers to acquire Westbrook, that’s what we read last season?

16

The schedule date is yet to be finalized but it will occur in the 2022-23 NBA season. The Lakers announced this past season the number 16 jersey of Pau Gasol will be retired and placed next to the other Laker greats. I know there are some who might question this, but I believe it’s an honor long overdue. Consider this fact alone, the Laker ring of honor has seen a number of talented players honored, Of that number none to date have been power forwards the position Gasol played.

I realize we are moving away from position basketball, but Gasol was a power forward. He was a key to the back-to-back championships the Lakers won in 2009 and 2010. In the 7^th game of the 2010 finals Gasol’s 19-point 18 rebound game helped cement the championship. The 7-foot 1 Gasol operated down low while Kobe Bryant worked up top. After leaving the Lakers he played for several other NBA teams and is still playing at age 42 for FC Barcelona in his native Spain. We are informed Gasol intends to retire this season; at that point, the Lakers will retire his jersey number 16.

The Bulls are number three

While researching material I came across information published earlier. In case you missed it I believe it’s NBA history that will allow you to win trivia among your friends. Did you realize the Bulls are the third team with Chicago on the front of their visitors jerseys? If you are a certain age, you probably believed the Bulls were the only NBA team to represent the city. If we work backwards in time the Bulls came into the NBA as an expansion team for the 1966-67 season.

The Wizards now in Washington D.C. actually began life as the expansion Chicago Packers in the 1961-62 season. Year two would see the team renamed as the Zephyrs and by year three they would move to Baltimore where they became the Bullets. Years later the team would move to the nation’s capital Washington D.C. The first team was the Chicago Stags who were an inaugural member of the Basketball Association of America the predecessor to the NBA. The Stags began play in 1946 but went out of business in 1950. This concludes the brief history of Chicago professional basketball in the NBA, you now have information a number in Chicagoland don’t have.

Mid-major

Due to the increasing number of Euro players, we have seen a reduced number of mid-major draft picks enter the NBA in recent times. Despite this fact talent continues to exist at all levels of basketball, it doesn’t matter if it’s a mid-major or Power 5 conference. Let’s take a look at the current best of the best NBA players who arrived in the league from mid-major schools. There are additional athletes who could be included in this account, talent can be located sometimes in the most unlikely places.

Active NBA

Steph Curry-Davidson

Kawhi Leonard-San Diego State

Damian Lillard-Weber State

Paul George-Fresno State

Gordon Hayward-Butler

C.J. McCollum-Lehigh

Paul Millsap-Louisiana Tech

Retired NBA

Bill Russell-USF*

Larry Bird-Indiana State*

Julius Erving-UMass*

Karl Malone-Louisiana Tech*

Dwayne Wade-Marquette*

Jack Sikma-Illinois Wesleyan

Rik Smits-Marist

*75^th Anniversary NBA Team