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.