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Basketball from a fans perspective

Bits n Pieces 

Sometimes the news must be reported without providing commentary. This is one of those occasions and Kyrie Irving is the basis for my statement. The Nets point guard has requested the team trade him prior to the trade deadline which occurs February 9. Do the Nets or should they agree to his demand becomes the question at hand. No argument on this in, Irving remains a tremendous basketball talent. Good luck, I know you have an appropriate answer.

I wrote as recently as Friday the Big XII might look different next season. This was based on a belief Texas and Oklahoma would leave the conference one year earlier. Well just like the quiz show The Price is Right we might say “Come on down” as Texas and Oklahoma are joined at the table. Included in the negotiations are ESPN, Fox Sports and the Big XII Conference. Reports are negotiations reached a point whereby a resolution could not be concluded. It appears Texas and Oklahoma will be members of the conference until 2025.

Why must I be the Don Quixote of the basketball world? I read or hear dumb stuff and though I could ignore believe it’s my responsibility to respond. One of the latest Bronny James earning a place on the McDonalds All American team. One letter writer posed the question, “Wonder how much LeBron paid to get his son on the team.” That and numerous others asking why Bronny over player A or B? I cannot answer the question because I’m not privy to inside information. Suppose we approach the question in this manner…LeBron paid for Bronny’s McDonalds selection. Will it serve a purpose with that announcement? You have the information in front of you, will you refuse to watch the game? Better yet will you stop eating at McDonalds, those are the questions I want answered.

This is a real head scratcher, over the course of time as a member of Laker Nation I’ve seen a number of trades. For the most part my view has always been, “The move is to improve the team.” August 2022 the Jazz traded Randy Beverley to the Lakers for Stanley Johnson and Talen-Horton Tucker, I was especially concerned with the decision on Tucker based on my belief he was the future for the Lakers. 

Beverley is a defensive specialist who is most often unable to toss the ball into the ocean. Besides that issue I’ve always seen him having a pit-bull mentality. Where are we at present, it’s February 1 and it seems at least once a week I read or hear the Lakers are “looking to trade him.” The latest report indicates Beverley will be traded before the NBA trade deadline expires February 9. If I could corner vice-president Rob Pelinka I’d like to ask, what the heck were you trying to do trading a promising Tucker for journeyman Beverley.

It’s been reported should he choose to leave Eastern Michigan Emoni Bates will be drafted in 2023 if he chooses to leave school. According to reports he could be drafted “Anywhere from 20 to 45”. If that would occur that would place Bates in the middle of the first round or into round two. NBA scouts see his outstanding offense (29 points in the first half of a recent game) and are excited but question what else can he do? This is the quandary I spoke of recently, is he able to make teammates around him better? His assist totals are really low but playing on poor team there are questions. The games I’ve seen on television it appears there is a problem for him in passing the basketball. The hindrance might be the difficulty teammates have scoring baskets off Bates potential assists.

Once the NBA expands the franchise in Seattle will probably have Chris Hansen’s investment group involved in the ownership. That takes care of the Pacific Northwest team which will occupy Climate Pledge Arena (re-built Key Arena). The only portion of this arena remaining from its 1962 opening is the iconic roof line. The other city reported to be in the running for an expansion franchise is Las Vegas. A new arena is under construction expected to open in 2025, that would be the All Net Resort and Arena. 

This 23,000-seat arena is being led by Jackie Robinson who would be a member of the ownership group. All indications point toward LeBron James being a member of the ownership group too. Although I’m sure the NBA strongly desires him to be part of an ownership group many in the public arena think otherwise. Unlike Michael Jordan to some LeBron James is a lightning rod of controversy. His take on social and civil rights issues is upsetting to a percentage of the population. As for me LeBron’s stance on issues is not my concern, he should be free to speak his mind as we all do. 

I was curious, Rui Hachimura wore number 8 while a member of the Wizards, after the trade to the Lakers what number would he choose? I spotted a change immediately the first time he came onto the court wearing a Laker jersey, it was 28. I figured he decided to change numbers as players sometimes do. The significance of the change was Hachimura’s idea allow an explanation. He informed Laker owner Jeanie Buss he wanted number 28, the 2 representing Gianna’s number, and 8 which Kobe wore for his first few years in the NBA before switching to number 24.

Records are made to be broken

History will be made in the NBA in a week or so, we might see it in person on television or video. Believe you me we’ll see LeBron James break the NBA points total established by Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1984. Kareem broke the record set by Wilt Chamberlin in 1973. Therein lies an oddity, although each of the three played for other franchises the points total was established while they wore purple and gold of the Lakers. Just in case you are wondering whose record Chamberlain broke that would be Bob Pettit.

Pettit began his career with the Milwaukee Hawks and remained with them through their tenure in St. Louis, Pettit scored 20,880 points during his 11-year NBA career he retired in 1965. This is what I find most interesting, several players would later eclipse the point total of Pettit. After Chamberlain established the record which Kareem later broke, we had this occurrence. Five players have exceeded the point total of Chamberlain who once held the record, they are in the following order. We have Dirk Nowitzki then Michael Jordan followed by Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone and LeBron James.