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Basketball from a fans perspective

I can’t get too excited

If you check most NBA mock draft sites, the 2023 NBA draft indicates the Pelicans with the Laker pick will choose the third player in the draft. Of course this is based on current play of the Lakers and the fact they are in last place in the Pacific Division. The Lakers find themselves in this spot after trading for Anthony Davis in 2019 who helped them win the 2020 NBA Championship. I cannot, no I take that back, I cannot do revisionist history as some in the media wish to do.

If the season played out as indicated thus far is there a guarantee the Pelicans have the opportunity to draft Victor Wembanyama? With the draft weighted and more ping pong balls in the hopper the odds are greater but not guaranteed. The team with the worst record is not always ensured the number one slot. I expect Laker play to improve whether it’s a natural progression or a significant trade is made. So here we are standing at the edge with a considerable number of Laker Nation claiming the woes regarding the AD trade…not this member. I’d love for the Lakers to have the opportunity to draft Wemby as he’s nicknamed but it ain’t gonna happen.

It’s easy to understand my attitude

This has been mentioned in the past, I live in Kansas City Missouri. My residence is less than two miles from State Line Road, once I cross that street, I’m in Kansas. I have no issues regarding the State of Kansas, some of my best friends live there. My issue is with the arrogance of an untold number of Kansas basketball fans. I’m forced to acknowledge the on-court success of Kansas basketball, just cause its occurred doesn’t mean I must accept it. Allow me to complain about local media, the accomplishments of Kansas basketball has forced blinders on the eyes of all.

Our locals for the most part do a great job of ignoring any news emanating from Columbia Missouri. I realize the news cycle has changed; less time is allocated for the locals to cover sports at least in the Kansas City market. The other evening one of our local guys provides viewers highlights of the Kansas game and even video, you say that’s par for the course. It might be except Mizzou played the same evening won their game and this media person failed to even mention it. As I indicated earlier there is no argument on my part Kansas basketball has certainly been more successful on the court. I don’t expect anyone in the local media to slobber over Mizzou, but I do expect equal coverage win or lose.

Kiss of death

What’s that you say, the Kings have won 5 games in a row. Not the NBA Kings of Sacramento that can’t be correct…can it? Well the sun is not rising in the west and going down in the east but that’s the story. During that streak the Kings have beaten the Cavs, Warriors and blistered the Nets for 153 points. I don’t believe the front office is entertaining playoff tickets printed however this is a vast improvement so far. You might remember at one point I said the Kings were the worst run team in the NBA. Part of the problem I believed was the revolving door of head coaches.

The Kings hired Mike Brown in May of 2022 so perhaps there are two things at work here. Brown has past experience as a head coach plus the roster of talent appears to be focused so far on this early season. Point guard De’Aaron Fox has continued developing his game and Domantas Sabonis acquired by the Kings from the Pacers last season have led the way. I’m unsure how Kings fans feel but after 16 years of losing basketball they must be smiling from ear to ear. I expect shining a light on the Kings franchise will not be a kiss of death, I believe barring injuries they will continue to play good basketball.

Depends on your perspective

Sometimes you hear one of those statements that makes you go huh. That was the case this morning while driving to work, the host on one of our local sports talk radio stations said this. “The college basketball season kinda slipped up on me, I’ve been so busy watching Mahomes and the Chiefs this season etc. etc. etc.” I didn’t fill in the balance of his comment I simply wanted to explain to you what he said.

I knew what time it was despite the fact of also being witness to Mahomes out dueling a number of other NFL quarterbacks. It’s clear to me (and this is no criticism) the guy is an NFL fan. If the sport, you love is being played you tune in. He stated for his radio audience his position what is most important to him, it certainly isn’t basketball he proved that fact. I’m a Chiefs fan as well however I was keenly aware when the NBA and college basketball season began play. If this sounds as if I’m criticizing the radio host that is not the case, my priority and maybe others is basketball.

Not real surprising

Anyone owning a sports franchise these days no matter whether its baseball, the NFL or NBA must have deep, deep pockets. We can guess probably a number of former owners couldn’t afford a franchise today. The Forbes people conducted a list of the richest sports owners, and it turns out at the top is Steve Ballmer Clippers owner. According to his bio-Ballmer was hired by Bill Gates at Microsoft in 1980, he remained on the company’s board of directors until 2014.

Ballmer was the chief executive officer of Microsoft from 2000-2014, he’s listed now as an investor and businessman, we could say the businessman part includes his purchase of the Clippers in 2014. At the time the NBA was searching for an owner Oprah Winfrey wealthy in her own right bid for the franchise with a partner before dropping out. Ballmer paid a record $2 billion for the Clipper franchise and now this. The owner is building his own arena in Inglewood in an attempt to separate his team from the Lakers who share the same city and arena.