Basketball from a fan's perspective

Carmelo Anthony, owner

No, it’s not an NBA team but he will become owner of an NBL team. For those who might be unfamiliar the NBL is the 9-team professional basketball league in Australia. Over time a number of NBA players began their professional careers in the NBL. To name just a few, LaMelo Ball Hornets point guard who arrived from Australia and became NBA Rookie of the Year started his pro career in Australia, so did Ousmane Dieng and Josh Giddey current members of the Thunder. Of course,  Anthony hopes one day to see his name and have NBA Governor behind it.

Hollywood at work once again

Have you seen the video teasers for Clipped or maybe you’ve seen the series, this is a fictional account of Clippers history on F/X/Hulu. The series has an interesting cast, Ed O’Neil plays former owner Donald Sterling, Laurence Fishburn appears as Doc Rivers. Both actors have outstanding resumes but that’s about all I can state positive about the production. It’s clear someone or somebody was influenced by HBO’s Showtime series about the Lakers. Unlike the HBO series many viewers of the Lakers at the period covered were yet to be born or were youngsters, the fiction of Showtime became reality for them. 

This production is different, the series of events portrayed occurred as recently as 2014, its fresh in everyone’s mind young and old. I find this production to be a “filler,” in the summer months television is in full-scale rerun mold. There is little in the way of updated content for viewers, why not place something before them brand new? In addition, there are elements of the story that scream loudly for some, see me. Although I didn’t have HBO at the time I saw several episodes of Showtime. I didn’t believe it was worth my time based on the complaints registered by Jerry West and others. My recommendation, you can skip Clipped, I have serious doubts if it is worth your time. On the other hand if you have time and have nothing else on your agenda check it out.

He's a big dude

The latest from Rock M. Nation Mizzou’s fan website contains a story on Josh Gray and his arrival at Mizzou. He signed his paperwork on Monday so he is now official but what does the future hold for him and the program? Dennis Gates is excited and indicates “He fills a role for us.” Standing 7 foot and 265 pounds he certainly would appear imposing to the opposition but I need to see him in action. The reason I’m not as enthralled as the coach is simple, in 4 years at South Carolina Gray was never a starter. That makes for a gigantic question on my part.

Check out just a portion from the coach, *“With our last opening, we sought out a player with a physical presence who can provide rim protection. Not only is Josh capable of filling that role, but with his four years of SEC experience, he has proved to be a top rebounder in this league. He has immense size and is a prototypical SEC big that will complement our roster perfectly in 2024-25.” As you can see the coach is ready for the season to begin immediately. The number of returnees plus the incoming crop of transfers and freshman Gray is the only one who leaves me with questions. Oh well, I’m not the coach so I am going to shift that responsibility over to coach Gates.

*Rock M Nation 6/3/2024

His shoes are homage

Did you notice his shoes, these are the basketball shoes worn by Kyrie Irving during the playoffs. They are to honor his family ancestry. His father is African American however his late mother was African American and Native American, she was a member of the Standing Rock Lakota Tribe, Irving’s mother passed away at the age of 29 from a skin disease.   

                                     

                   

They fooled us

Anytime an athlete is drafted it’s never truly known if they will be successful. This account is a little different because of what is attempted. Beginning in 1990 there have been players named NBA Rookie of the Year who flamed out. Their rookie season was the highpoint, keep this in mind injuries aside. There are Rookie of the Year winners such as Brandon Roy (2007) injuries would not allow him to continue play. As for the others it was a far different matter, before continuing consider this fact. If a player has a mediocre career but is paid NBA money for 10-12 years can we truly question the degree of success? In any event here goes. The 2000 winner was shared between Elton Brand and Steve Francis, our focus is Francis.

After winning ROY with the Rockets in 1999 he managed to play for two other teams before closing out his NBA career in a return to the team that drafted him, Francis was active 9 seasons. Next up Emeka Okafor drafted by the Bobcats (Hornets), he earned ROY in 2005. What is most interesting during his 14-year career he never approached the numbers of his rookie season. Tyreke Hill is only 34-years old, he could be playing at the end of his NBA career but that is not the case. After winning ROY in 2010 he's been out of the league since 2019 due to violation of the NBA’s drug policy. Michael Carter-Williams was ROY in 2014 for the Sixers, by 2023 he was out of the league. Similar to others mentioned the high-water numbers were experienced his rookie season. There are two others I will reference, both remain active…Andrew Wiggins (2015) and Ben Simmons (2018). Is it the system or something else, both appear far more talented than the numbers they exhibit to date.