Basketball from a fan’s perspective

A Generational Player

We say a generation is 20 years, when we speak of a generational player this is the criteria. A player who excels at the game at a high skill level, in a sense he might re-invent portions of the game. Although we claim 20 years I believe we can have generational players in the same timeframe the following is the example. Bill Russell arrived in the NBA in 1956 with the Celtics, Wilt Chamberlain in 1959, both would change the game. Russell with his defensive ability primarily shot blocking and Chamberlain the prolific scorer. Two players arriving in the NBA at nearly the same time with both being generational but there are others. You might disagree with my choices however there are perhaps 11 players in the history of the NBA I would consider generational, 3 could be added to our total. With that here goes, LeBron James, he was the one anointed King James at the time he first set foot on a basketball court. There might be a question why I am including Allen Iverson in the count, if I’m not mistaken he didn’t bring the crossover to the NBA but he certainly perfected it.

At 6 foot tall and 150 pounds AI was fearless on the court, he wasn’t afraid of any opposing player. Michael Jordan, MJ the player who forced the Pistons to invent “The Jordan Rules.” What can I say about Magic Johnson, a 6-foot 9-point guard who was by his name magical in distributing the basketball. Next up Elgin Baylor, he played small forward at 6 foot 5 and despite his stature was a scoring and rebounding machine. Some might question the inclusion of George Mikan however he was beyond a doubt the NBA’s first Big Man and a scoring machine for the Minneapolis Lakers. He began as Lew Alcindor and later became Kareem Abdul Jabbar, how good was he? The NCAA had a no dunk rule put in place while he was in college. Later in the NBA he would eclipse Chamberlains all-time scoring record before LeBron broke it recently. You say you need a shooter, how about Steph Curry? He is the most accurate 3-point shooter maybe in NBA history.

Need someone to take the shot with seconds remaining in the game…Steph’s your man. They nicknamed him the doctor because it was said, “Watch him operate on the court.” His given name is Julius Erving but the world knows him as Dr. J. This next player comes with an asterisk, it has nothing to do with his ability rather it was his start. Kobe Bean Bryant warmed the Laker bench for the first year or so of his NBA career. Once he was inserted into the lineup he became one of the best shooting guards of all time, can we say he was driven…I think that fits. Shaquille O’ Neal 7 foot 1 and 350 pounds, he played a power game and intimidated many opposing centers? How much power did he have, Shaq destroyed at least two NBA backboards. O’ Neal was responsible for the NBA adapting the collapsible rim. This account of generational players ends with the inclusion of Victor Wembanyama. I can hear you now, “Larry what are you doing including a player who’s only played ½ a season?” He is included for one reason alone, he is 7 feet 4 inches of budding talent and potential. IF he manages to avoid major injury the sky is the limit for Wemby, I believe he’s just that good. By now the wheels are turning, why didn’t you include Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Giannis Antetokounmpo or others. My answer is simple each of those names are outstanding players however their impact was lesser than those named, they were difficult to defend and had mad skills however they failed to change the game.

Mike Price

I wasn’t familiar with the name Mike Price, allow me to explain his connection to what you are about to read. If you are a friend or relative of Price this is not intended as a slam at him it’s intent is to point out an error in judgement. There was a story published regarding Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald, he’s in the College and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. A New York reader said, “I wish the Knicks had drafted Archibald instead of Price. I researched the 1970 NBA Draft, with the 17 pick in that’s year’s draft the Knicks settled on Price.

Two picks later at 19 the Cincinnati Royals (Kansas City Kings) chose Tiny.  Price had a 2-year career with the Knicks and another year with the ABA Pacers that was it. The numbers registered at Illinois by Price appear good however not exceptional. As for Tiny’s numbers at UTEP they were superior to those registered by Price. Walk with me on this, Price played in the Big 10 while Tiny was enrolled at mid major UTEP. As for my New York City guy the information I just provided is likely the reason the Knicks went the direction they did. What’s always said, “Hindsight is better than foresight.” The last portion is most telling, Tiny is a NYC guy, he played his high school basketball at DeWitt Clinton HS in the Bronx.

“The loudest one in the room is the weakest one in the room”

Portions of this were written in the recent past, if you remember it I won’t be offended if you decide to skip it. I have a friend who admitted to me “I like Stephen A. Smith,” why don’t you like him? This is not a hate issue because that is a word I rarely use, let’s just say his persona offends me and I will explain. Is Smith wrong in his view of the basketball world, of course not? Although it’s been rare there are occasions when Smith’s expressed a belief I agree with, if that is truly the case Larry Laker exactly what’s your issue with the guy?

 There is more than one issue, he’s a New York guy if he wants what is best for the Knicks so be it. It’s my opinion he might visit a particular subject and just pontificate it until you scream STOP, mute the sound or change channels. We are often given his view of NBA stuff through “his sources.” There have been many of these type stories in the past, one late last year involved Pacer guard Tyrese Haliburton. I’d mentioned this previously, Smith claimed to have contacted a front office person with the Knicks prior to the 2020 draft. He points out he told this person the Knicks needed to draft Haliburton. Of course that failed to occur as the Knicks would draft Obi Toppin (from Brooklyn) who is now a member of the Pacers. Two things occurred, the person he contacted had no authority to make for a change or Smith is making up the story.

He is doing this because Haliburton is having a career year and he knows the Knicks could have drafted him. In closing perhaps it’s a New York City thing, have you witnessed Smith increasing his volume in a number of discussions? This is the impression I get, “I’m gonna get as loud as I can to compensate for my point.” I’m sure the crew managing the board must adjust the mic for Smith, the louder he becomes the more a decrease in volume is required for him. As for the headline, it’s Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) from the movie American Gangster.