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Basketball from a fans perspective

A money thing vs Attitude

Much has been written over the past week regarding the Lakers effort to sign Christian Wood. Wood adds an element to the team that’s lacking at the present. As for the money thing there are at least two teams that could outbid the Lakers for Wood. The Lakers only have the vet minimum available, as best I can determine that amounts to $2.6 million. That would be seen as sufficient for the majority of us but we are discussing the salary of a veteran NBA player, I believe Wood is earning in the neighborhood of $13 million. It appears the Lakers are going to come up short but wait there is more…attitude. I have been reading Wood has issues, he tends to take time off during a game.

For all the talent in the world if a player has commitment issues is he worth the amount of money it would appear he desires? I only have my view of the matter and it certainly probably doesn’t agree with the Laker management position. My desire has gone back and forth on this matter but currently I want them to sign rookie Colin Castleton to a regular season contract. The chief concern for the 6 foot 11 250 pound Castleton is his defense, I believe he could handle playing offense in the NBA. Whatever occurs I will remain a part of Laker Nation who just happens to express his belief on what should be done.

Why I quit

I have no idea what the future holds, by the time you read this I might have returned. Returning to what you ask, pay attention to local sports talk radio. I’ve mentioned in the past the difficulty of being a college basketball or NBA fan in this metro. You with your hand up, you claim I’m not correct with the college game? You say there is plenty of reporting on Kansas basketball over the airways. Okay, that might be true but what about coverage regarding Kansas State, Mizzou or others in the region? Do you have a response to my statement, thought so? As for the balance of sports coverage I realize the NFL Chiefs are at the top of the heap here as they should be. The Chiefs have competed in the Super Bowl 3 out of the last 4 years, in addition winning 2 of those games. In fact that was the issue the afternoon drivetime guy decided, some might remember the statement I wrote he made this past winter.

“The Chiefs playing into January every year it might be a good idea for the NCAA to consider starting the basketball season later.” This guy actually made that asinine statement, what was even funnier to me was the response. His co-host had no issue with his statement and affirmed his belief but there was push back. A national guy who covers college basketball provided him an emphatic NO when this proposal was mentioned. Listen I have no desire to take anything away from the Chiefs. They have assembled a talented roster, a good front office and coaching staff. I don’t have a twitter account so there was no way on my part to respond to radio guy but think about this. You read earlier there are 1,200-1,300 colleges and universities with basketball programs. According to this guy all that comes to a screeching halt due to the Chiefs deep playoff run every season, 1,300 colleges and universities should adjust their schedules in order to not conflict with the NFL playoffs and Chiefs. This guy has to be kidding, to borrow one of my favorite phrases, he must have fallen out of bed and bumped his head. NOTE: There’s been no go back to date, life has become easier for me (maybe others too).

I was called out

The statement was made in a joking manner, “Why haven’t you covered former Mizzou Tiger Kobe Brown’s summer league play?” I answered quickly “He’s playing for the wrong Los Angeles team.” I only meant it as a joke because I believe the Clippers have drafted a talented gem in Brown and given time he will adjust to NBA play. You hear the term all the time, “He’s got an NBA body” that certainly applies to the Clipper rookie. Brown is a chiseled 6-foot 8-inch 250 pound “player.” Notice the term I utilized, he is a combo power/small forward, he is quite skillful passing the rock. Does that entail playing the point, not hardly however there were times at Mizzou he did accomplish the task.

I made this statement previously without checking but believe it to be correct. Last fall Brown’s name was nowhere to be found on any NBA mock draft site, by the middle of his season at Mizzou we began to note him included on several mocks as a second-round draft pick. Imagine my surprise June 22 when the Clippers made him pick number 30 in the first round. There are a number of issues that stand out for him one of them is three-point shooting. As a freshman Brown shot 25% his freshman year, his shooting wasn’t that much better his sophomore and junior season. Brown’s senior year witnessed him shooting a mercurial 46% from three. There are a number of NBA veterans in front of Brown, will it be G-League or a final roster spot? I hope fellow Missourian Ty Lue decides to hold on to former Mizzou Tiger Kobe Brown, I hope. 

Son’s of _________

The son’s continue to follow their dad into the sport, they do this with all the pressure in the world on their shoulders. They are always faced with the “Aren’t you the son of __________”? We could ask Marcus and Jeffery Jordan sons of number 23 how their basketball careers turned out, maybe it was their youth or perhaps they just loved the game of MJ. We are aware the Jordan’s were certainly talented enough to play at the collegiate level but how about the Michael Jordan level?

Another few have taken up the game of their famous fathers, much earlier LeBron James Jr. a.k.a. Bronny is now enrolled at Southern Cal. His younger brother Bryce might be a more talented athlete than his older brother. Bryce is not the only one, we also have Kiyan Anthony son of Carmelo and also included in our count is the Boozer’s. You might remember Carlos Boozer NBA veteran, son’s Cameron and Cayden have taken up the game. Those named are the most recent offspring but certainly not the only one’s taking up the sport of their famous fathers.