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Basketball from a fans perspective

Shut down for the season…now he is

“Scoot” Henderson teen phenom, yes, there is another teen in the 2023 draft besides Victor Wenbanyama has yet to announce his intentions. As I write this, I’m unsure what remains of the G-League schedule but whatever the case Henderson doesn’t intend to play it. This news certainly isn’t really shocking, after his early season injury word traveled around in lieu of the NBA draft he wouldn’t return to the court. Henderson proclaimed there were no such plans for him.

At present we stand a little more than three months from the draft so apparently; he’s unwilling to take a chance on an injury prior to June 22. One other interesting facet of the 2023 draft if this were any other year the 6-foot 3 combo guard would be the top pick most believe. In any event Henderson will become the second pick in the 2023 NBA Draft is year’s and earn himself a ton of money. His given name is Sterling, you might wonder how this Marietta Georgia teen became known as “Scoot.” According to his bio he was given the nickname as a toddler; his family claims it was the manner he scooted across the floor.

Are they just actors

You might remember one of the locals in KC Sports Talk radio was yakking about college basketball starting its season later. It was his contention the NFL was front and center with sports fans. I can tear that argument to shreds however I’d like to take his words above and toss them right back at him. College basketball, the day after Selection Sunday discussions centers on which team was selected, which one was overlooked etc., etc. Then it occurs, in the middle of this news the NFL announced a trade or something similar.

This from our radio guy, “The NFL kicks college basketball off the front page.” My question for him, we are in the middle of March the Super Bowl’s over by almost a month. Who is intruding on who’s season at this point in time? Don’t misunderstand me, I realize the NFL is number one with sports fans here it’s the other thing. Who is intruding on who’s season, Mr. Radio Guy you want the college basketball season to begin later right? Can you guarantee there would be no intrusion by the NFL or other winter sports, of course you can’t. There are times I believe these guys are not always expressing their true feelings. They are only trying to stoke guys like me…I guess they sometimes succeed.

I remain unconvinced

Isiah Thomas had an All-Star NBA career playing for the Piston’s. Zeke as he was nicknamed led the Pistons to a couple of NBA Championships…he’s a Naismith Hall of Fame honoree. Recently I read of a podcast interview of his duration with the Knicks. After reading his view of events as coach and general manager I failed to understand his opinion of his time. Thomas admits the Knicks failed to win a championship while he was part of the team. I’m unsure if that’s the mark of success, allow an explanation. If there appeared the team was on an upward trend that’s okay, but it never occurred.

As coach the Knicks never finished above .500 in the two seasons, he was at the helm. At the same time in this podcast Thomas looks at players drafted or acquired in trade as a mark of success. He listed five names who later won NBA Championships for NBA teams but not one of them for the Knicks. My question for you how is that a reflection of your accomplishment? Shaquille O’Neal won championships for the Lakers and Heat, is that a consideration he once played for the Magic, they did draft him however he left in free agency? In closing allow this to sink in, Thomas claims fans quit attending games because the team was so bad. I cannot return to the past to prove or disprove the statement however it is confusing to those of us hearing his comments.   

The spotlight doesn’t shine as brightly now

Did you know its older than the NCAA Tournament? What’s older you might ask, how about the one run by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes.  The NAIA Tournament was first played in 1937, although its grown in size and scope the NCAA Tournament was not played until 1939. Understand this too, the founder of the NAIA was no other than James A. Naismith inventor of the game, Naismith wanted a tournament for smaller colleges and universities.

The tournament has a connection with Kansas City Missouri, it’s been played here every year except 1944 during World War II and the Covid year of 2020. The NAIA sent a number of outstanding players to the NBA Willis Reed was one of them. More recently the tournament has lost some of its luster as Louisville, Missouri State, San Diego State and other schools moved from NAIA play to Division I. The NAIA Tournament fails to hold the glitz and glamour that exists for the NCAA Tournament. Despite that fact the NAIA continues to continue to co-exist with it’s larger Big Brother.

The question, is it that important?

Recently I came across a website containing the Top 10 HS Basketball Players in the State of Missouri. I checked out the names and tried to stow them away in my mind for future reference. Then I made a tragic mistake, I began reading letters from several readers which caused me to ponder the content. The first one, “None of these guys are headed for Mizzou.” That could be important but not critical, to date it appears Dennis Gates is recruiting the guys he wants…check.

Two additional letters were almost duplicates as each writer said, echoed one another. “None of these players are from Missouri.” I returned to the article and sure enough they were correct, 5 of the 10 players enrolled at the prep school were from other areas of the country they didn’t grow up in Missouri. My question for the masses, is the fact these prospects are not local is that really an issue? I asked based on checking out the number of players at Oak Hill Academy, IMG or Montverde. One of the prep schools mentioned is in Virginia the other two in Florida.