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Basketball from a fans perspective

This is interesting

Searching for stuff to write about I came across this bit of information. I was looking at the Kansas City Roos roster and focused on a name, Abdullah Olajuwon a 6-foot 4 freshman guard. My first thought “Is he related to Hakeem”, after checking Hakeem’s bio it was confirmed? The bio confirmed my belief, he is the son of Hall of Fame center Hakeem. I attempted to research Abdullah however not a great deal of information is available. Abdullah represents one additional player I will attempt to follow in the 2022-23 college season.

$100,000

It’s my contention the Kings now called Sacramento home in lieu of $100,000. That is not a great deal of capital today however in 1976 it was, a cash convertor indicates in 2022 we are talking $523,746.92. I’m not going to detail inflation and other factors raising the amount. This discussion centers on the ABA dispersal draft. There is no doubt management of the Kansas City Kings wanted players but only based on what they could manage to pay for. The Nuggets, Spurs, Pacers and Nets were absorbed into the NBA, players from the remaining teams were placed in a pool.

The existing NBA teams were allowed to draft from this pool, the Kansas City Kings would choose third based on their won-loss record. They chose 29-year-old Ron Boone a very good player but a guard. Keep in mind the NBA of that era was a Big Man’s league. Every team was vying for a quality center and the Blazers with the 5^th pick secured that player. Although he didn’t remain with them the Blazers, they chose the late Moses Malone. Keep in mind Malone had come off a rookie campaign for the ABA Utah Stars, drafted directly from high school there was little need for adjustment to professional play. Malone’s rookie year with the Stars saw him score at an 18.8 point a clip along with 14.6 rebounds a game.

The Kings signed talented Boone for $250,000 while the Blazers added Malone to their roster for $350,000. If Malone surrounded by additional talent with the Kings, it’s no telling what might have been the future for the franchise in Kansas City. Malone would go on to a stellar NBA career eventually being enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. As for Boone it would be a highly successful 13-year NBA career but nowhere close to what Malone was able to accomplish. Hey, I’ve caught myself once again conducting revisionist history I apologize.

24-hours

This is written within 24 hours of the Mizzou victory; it will not be published within the window. I said on Friday morning Mizzou Nation had a narrow window to celebrate the victory. On Wednesday the Tigers will face another Top 25 team, number 19 Kentucky will be in Columbia. Kobe Brown was the clear leader in the Illinois win but there was plenty of help by his teammates.  Coach Gates continued his pattern of playing his roster, 9 Tigers saw action in this game against Illinois. D Moi Hodge contributed 20 points and DeAndre Gholston emerged off the bench scoring 15 points. Ronnie De Gray III only scored 10 points but the 6 foot 6 De Gray III played a key defensive game. Mizzou got off to a slow start against UCF, that would not be the case against Illinois. Although they raced out to a lead Illinois did rebound and at one point tied the game 10-10.

From that point on Mizzou sprinted ahead playing tough defense first and then timely shooting racing out to a lead over Illinois they would never relinquish. My only concern looking ahead Mizzou is an under-sized team. On the roster but not on the floor for game action is Mohammed Diarra 6 foot 10 from Garden City Community College and 7 foot 2 Mabor Majak who arrived from Cleveland State. Maybe both need additional seasoning to prepare themselves for Division I play, it sure would be an outstanding addition if either one can begin contributing. The road is certainly going to be tougher ahead, I certainly don’t expect an “Illinois game” every time Mizzou is on the court. I was a Cuonzo Martin fan, but there was a need for change. There were plenty of naysayers at the time Dennis Gates was hired…I was not among that number. Is Mizzou a Top 25 team, its my contention they belong in the number. They were laughed at based on their early season schedule, then beat Wichita State and UCF. They lost their game against the 2022 NCAA champions but beat number 16 Illinois.

Is this the right time?

I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage “Timing is everything.” That might indeed be the case for the Lakers Wenyen Gabriel, don’t worry if the name is unfamiliar to you. Gabriel is a 6-foot 9-inch power forward; he played his college basketball at Kentucky but only played two years before declaring for the NBA draft. Gabriel went undrafted and then his basketball journey began as he moved from point to point. It was the NBA Kings then Stockton in the G-League and from there it was the NBA Blazers and Pelicans. He then moved to the G-League Herd from there to the NBA Nets, the NBA Clippers and the Pelicans.

In March 2022 Gabriel signed a two-way contract with the Lakers which he later signed a standard contract through the season. LeBron James indicates he’s going to help Gabriel as much as possible. I’m going to read the mind of James and say, “He sees the raw talent and potential ability of Gabriel.” The bio for Gabriel indicates he arrived at the University of Kentucky from Massachusetts, but the journey began much further. He was born in South Sudan and the family moved to Egypt due to the civil war, from there it was immigration to the U.S. From all the moves it appears likely the timing wasn’t right or there were too many bodies in front of him preventing play.