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Basketball from a fans perspective

It occurred

This account is yet to be confirmed but I believe it’s transpired, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnaroski is the source of the report. He’s reporting the Lakers have signed the 6-foot 10-inch Christian Wood to a 2-year contract. Over and over again since the free agent period I continued to say this wouldn’t happen, I said this based on the amount of money the Lakers were reported to be able to offer. As I often say, I’m only as good as the information I receive. So what occurs now, does Wood move into the post position and AD returns as power forward which he prefers. The late addition of this news story is incomplete, allow additional detail in the Thursday edition.  

The smaller Aristotle

Shaquille O’Neal once dubbed himself The Big Aristotle, according to information he’s provided that nickname should no longer exist. The headline of course reflects his weight loss, Shaq indicates he’s loss 55 pounds and is now a svelte 315 pounds. If the number is correct we are led to believe Shaq now weighs about the same as he did at LSU back in the day. Based on Shaq’s statement he weighed 370 pounds.

The survivors

As you are aware the conference technically has fallen apart, one team after another are headed elsewhere. Only Oregon State and Washington State remain of the Pac-12, with only those two schools remaining it’s actually become the 2-Pac, sorry about that bad joke I saw it somewhere and decided to use it. On a serious note the Mountain West has approached both schools with offers to join them. Conference affiliation is important in this age, there are few independents. Independents are always seeking conference affiliation. Since I am unfamiliar with all conference members of the Mountain West I thought a quick check was necessary for you and me. The Mountain West is an 11-team conference with headquarters in Colorado Springs, current full-time members are:

San Jose State

Fresno State

San Diego State

UNLV

Nevada

Boise State

Utah State

Wyoming

Air Force

Colorado State

New Mexico

The Admiral

David Robinson hoped for a career in the U.S. Navy, in fact we read he wanted duty aboard a submarine. Later both failed to occur, the future at sea and due to his height submarine service. Oh there was a third issue his growth in height plus athletic ability changed his future. You might have read or maybe familiar with the fact enrollment at Annapolis his plebe (freshman year) Robinson was 6 feet 6 inches in height. By the time he graduated four years later he was 7 foot 1. In addition to a growth spurt there was a spurt in his basketball talent as well.

In any event Robinson holds the longest record of draft night versus his first NBA game. The Spurs holding the first pick made him the top pick on June 22, 1987, Robinson played his first NBA game November 4, 1989. Cadets entering military academies are pledged to serve active-duty commitments for 5 years and Robinson was required to finish his naval obligation. Instead of the normal 5 years he was only obligated to serve 2 years. David Robinson, College All American and NBA Champion, his career is well documented now having been enshrined in the Naismith and FIBA Hall of Fame certainly nothing he might have envisioned at one time in his life.

NBL

No that is not a typo headline, it is the National Basketball League. Once upon a time the NBL existed in this nation but merged with the BAA to become the NBA. This account covers the professional basketball league in Australia which has now become the NBL. I’m unsure if there was a basketball league in the nation previously however NBL began play in 1979. The NBL is a 10-team league with 9 Australian teams and one in New Zealand. League play is October-April summer in the southern hemisphere, the summer schedule was chosen to avoid competing with winter sports in Australia. Similar to the development of professional basketball in the U.S. there were also “bumps” with NBL development. There are teams no longer in operation, the city of Melbourne has two teams. Below are the current league members: 

Adelaide 36ers

Cairns Taipans

Brisbane Bullets

Illawarra Hawks

Melbourne United

New Zealand Breakers

Perth Wildcats

S.E. Melbourne Phoenix

Sydney Kings

Tasmania JackJumpers

History places the Perth Wildcats at the top of the heap winning 10 NBL Championships, Melbourne United is second with 6. A host of Australian players have journeyed to the NBA the first being Luc Longley who played for a number of Bulls teams, we could also include the name Andrew Bogut. The best current player from Australia might be Josh Giddey who plays for the Thunder. Although LaMelo Ball is an American who traveled to Australia after high school to begin play in the NBL prior to being drafted by the Hornets. Those are but a few players who spent time in the NBL however just like Euro basketball the NBL has become the future for aspiring NBA players.