Basketball from a fan’s perspective

The Porter’s

Every time I see Michael Porter Jr. in action I think…Cuonzo Martin might still be the coach. As you are aware Martin is no longer coaching Mizzou because he couldn’t produce a continuous list of talent. MPJ might have been his greatest capture but it wouldn’t last. Despite the nearly 17 points and 7 rebounds he contributes to the Nuggets it’s the other stuff he does so well. He was the number one high school player in the nation when he arrived at Mizzou that fall. So what happened, his father is a basketball coach, in high school his coach was former NBA player Brandon Roy. As you can see he’s received valuable teaching lessons from those two before arriving at Mizzou…so what happened. MPJ hurt his back requiring surgery in the first game of the 2017-18 season.

He was able to return at the end of the season playing two games, there it is a total of three games for Mizzou. He was going to be a one and done athlete but missing most of the season my hope he returns for his sophomore year. As some are aware that would not be the case as he later declared for the NBA. Due to his back MPJ slipped to number 14 and picked by the Nuggets. They were aware he’d miss the upcoming season however they were okay with that. It was not only this Porter but younger brother Jontay, he was bigger in length (6-11) and heavier 240 pounds he played but certainly was raw but detailed evidence of talent. Just like his older brother he too sustained an injury and left Mizzou for the NBA with little serious time on the court. The Porter’s left Mizzou with so much promise but so little demonstration of that talent on the court.

The return of the Big Man?

Notice the question mark behind the headline, I ain’t sayin’ it’s coming but check this out. It is too early in the process except for one player Zach Edey. If they declare for the NBA draft we could have 4 Big Men in the 2024 draft including senior Edey, who are the others you ask? Donovan Clingan the UConn center, 7-2 and 265 pounds in the middle of his sophomore year, he could remain in school. We could also check Kyle Filipowski Duke center, Filipowski stands 7 feet and 248 pounds and is a sophomore.

This account is closed adding the name Kel’El Ware added to the mix of names, Ware is 7 foot and 223 pounds and he’s also in his sophomore year of school. Senior Edey is the largest player in this group of Big Men, he stands 7-4 and 300 pounds. Those named are draft projections anywhere between pick 13 up to number 33. The first thought, will the lure of the NBA plus large sums of money lead these pending college juniors to declare for the draft? It will be at least the middle of April the earliest we can expect a decision. The NCAA Tourney will be complete and that’s the time we should expect an answer on one or more of these players. There might be others but those named appear to be at the top of most lists.

The NBA banned list

This popped up on my news feed, a list of players and individuals receiving lifetime bans from the NBA. For these purposes I’m not going back to the 1950’s for a key reason. There was a miscarriage of justice for several players during this period. I’m going to begin in the 1980’s because it’s my belief these names are more widely known.

Permanently banned

John Drew – Hawks, Jazz

Eddie Johnson – Sonics

Chris Washburn – Warriors, Hawks

Roy Tarpley – Mavs

Richard Dumas – Suns, Sixers

Donald Sterling – Clippers owner

OJ Mayo – Bucks

Permanently banned but later reinstated

Tyreke Evans – reinstated in Feb 2022 but never returned to the NBA.

All the players listed were banned due to substance abuse, as for Donald Sterling it was a different manner. Conduct that was detrimental to the league is my term. Robert Sarver former owner of the Suns might have earned a spot. He was suspended for a year but later sold his interest in the Suns.

Breaking Barriers

Thanks to thousands of sources most American’s are familiar with the role Jack Roosevelt Robinson played in breaking the color barrier in baseball. For generations major league baseball refused to allow black players to play alongside or against white players. What is most interesting there was no rule in place prohibiting play by blacks it was an unwritten rule. In 1946 Branch Rickey of the Dodgers would sign Robinson and begin the process to integrate America’s game. That’s what it was back then the most popular sport in the nation. April 15, 1947, Robinson would make his major league debut and the balance of trepidation he suffered that first year is detailed in books and the 2013 movie 42.

Thus begins the change in America, the NBA referred to itself as a major league but not in the eyes of most. In order of popularity was baseball, college football, NFL and college basketball and the NBA. Perhaps due to its place when three black players begin play in 1950 they didn’t create the chaos of a Jackie Robinson. They certainly don’t have the notoriety of Robinson but they played just as vital a role in American history. Who played in the first game or who was drafted is not as important as the names. All have since passed away, they are Earl Lloyd playing for the Washington Capitols, Chuck Cooper Celtics, Nate ‘Sweetwater’ Clifton Knicks. All three have been honored and enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts, because they broke barriers we should be familiar with the effort of these trailblazers.

Bits n Pieces     

If this was any other year Thunder power forward Chet Holmgren would be named NBA Rookie of the Year. He’s stepped into the lineup and certainly only occasionally plays like a first-year player. Check this out, as of March 21 the numbers are certainly outstanding. 17.1 ppg along with 8 rebounds and nearly 3 assists on sparkling 54% shooting from the floor, he is also shooting a sizzling 39% from the three line. It’s really too bad in a sense, this is not the year for Holmgren to be saluted not with Wemby on the scene. He’s got one clear advantage over his counterpart, the NBA playoffs are looming in his immediate future. That certainly is not the case for Wemby. 

Arkansas Gatorade Boys Player of the Year, that would be Annor Boateng. As noted earlier Boateng is a 6-5 205-pound shooting guard and hails from Little Rock Arkansas. It should also be of note this 5-star prospect is headed to Columbia in the fall to play for Mizzou. I along with the rest of Mizzou Nation certainly are quite anxious to see Boateng in action despite the fact I’m sure there will be a freshman learning curve.   

For a guy who stood 6 feet 5 and ½ inches Charles Barkley was prolific rebounding the basketball. I bet you didn’t realize during his NBA career and considering his height averaged 11.7 rebounds a game. How did he accomplish the feat, it’s better if he explains it. “I always laugh when people ask me about rebounding techniques. I’ve got a technique. It’s called just go get the damn ball.” He was nicknamed “The Round Mound of Rebound” due to packing 252 pounds on his frame.