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Basketball from a fans perspective

Why   

If you checked the career points total of Julius ‘Dr. J.’ Erving in the NBA records you will discover during his Hall of Fame career he scored 18,365 points but is that all? His actual professional scoring total is 30,026, prior to entry into the NBA he scored 11,662 points for the ABA Nets and Virginia Squires. How about Moses Malone, we uncover this fact he scored 27,409 points but the question is asked again…is that all. He would score another 2,171 points for a total of 29,580. Like me we are asking the question why the discrepancy? These two are not the only former ABA players impacted by a strange decision but perhaps the most visible based on their name recognition.

This is one more example I continue to maintain that there was actually no ABA-NBA merger. For example in football when there was an actual merger in 1966 all AFL teams moved into the older NFL forming a single league. That was not the case for the ABA, six teams existed in 1976 but only four survived. The Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets and San Antonio Spurs shifted into the NBA, the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis were folded. Rosters from the two franchises that went out of business were placed in a dispersal draft to be chosen by NBA teams. As for the football merger I will leave that to someone else to uncover whether player stats were transferred to the NFL. As for the NBA apparently they saw no requirement to continue honoring ABA numbers.

In closing I have continued to maintain the Kansas City Kings due to finances likely made an error that likely impacted their tenure here. The Kings with the third pick in the ABA disposal draft chose Ron Boone a serviceable 6-foot 2-inch shooting guard, with pick number 5 the Blazers chose future Hall of Fame player Moses Malone. Malone was entering his third season but was only approaching 20 years of age, he was the first in the modern era to enter professional basketball directly from high school. Is this revisionist history on my part…perhaps but I maintain its possible the Kings are still here with Malone providing the anchor for franchise stability.

An extension

By now most reading this are aware the Lakers have extended Anthony Davis. I read the headline but not the account, it was claimed they signed the deal without consideration for AD’s injury history. Later I saw video of a WNBA player claiming the Clippers need to extend Kawhi Leonard. We have no idea if there is behind the scenes negotiation occurring but there’s been no news as this is written. This is rare for me to venture into the area of pay and make a statement. There is no argument from me that Kawhi Leonard is one of the most talented players in the NBA.

What keeps me from placing him nearer the top is his injury history. I don’t believe in luck but Leonard appears to have something working against him. When healthy and able to play as I stated he’s one of the best but then we must deal with his injury history. I believe this next statement to be correct, Leonard has managed to play in 41% of Clipper games since he signed with them in 2019. I have no intention of detailing the injuries but believe this fact. Clipper management must take into consideration Leonard wants to play when healthy. As Rod Tidwell once screamed loudly, “Show me the money,” you are familiar with Tidwell I hope.

Sonny

Perhaps you watched the movie “Air” starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, it dealt with Sonny Vaccaro and Nikes pursuit of Michael Jordan for a shoe deal. The movie was okay however I had a little difficulty seeing Damon as Vacarro and Affleck as Nike head Phil Knight. I might suggest for your viewing the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the background of John Paul Vincent Vacarro a.k.a. Sonny.  

Although he’s not as visible now the 83-year-old was the driving force behind Nike and later Adidas. Vaccaro was high school basketball long before Rivals, McDonalds All Americans and others came into existence. Vaccaro co-founded the first high school all-star game, the Dapper Dan Classic played in Pittsburg Pennsylvania from 1984-2007. See the documentary, it can provide for more information than I could or you might gain from viewing the Damon-Affleck movie “Air.”

He’s entitled to his opinion, I just happen to disagree

I’d mentioned this before but wanted to briefly cover it again. I along with several others worked a community event recently. Young and old, children and babies were in attendance, I noted 4-5 individuals with Mizzou shirts of all types. That number certainly is not huge but contrast with the fact I saw zero shirts representing KU or the University of Kansas. Kansas City on the Missouri side of State Line Road has divided loyalty and that’s okay, my resentment is aimed at much of the Kansas City media. Neal Jones KCTV 5 sports was discussing the conference moves regarding the Big XII, Big 10 and Pac-12.

I’m unsure how the subject moved to Mizzou sports however this paraphrases the comment of Jones. “Mizzou sports is not as popular in Kansas City as it once was with the move to the SEC.” This media person is entitled to his opinion, I just happen to disagree with it. Jones gives us the impression in 2013 that all the Mizzou fans in Kansas City on the Missouri side began rooting for programs other than Mizzou. That view is simply untrue, I monitor sports reporting and it is certainly one-sided although that was not always the case. Despite the view of Jones there are plenty of Mizzou fans in Kansas City on the Missouri side of State Line Road.