Basketball from a fans perspective

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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