Basketball from a fans perspective

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I am subject to pushback

My list of Top 10 Duke players was missing one Kyrie Irving, this was pointed out to me after publishing. The first criteria I utilized in compiling my list had nothing to do with NBA success or lack of. The second topic, length of time they played for Duke. In this day with One n Done athletes over the last 10-15 years no one remains in school for 4 years. The list contains the name of Zion Williamson but omits Kyrie Irving, in this instance my decision was based on length of time.

Williamson played an entire season before declaring for the NBA draft. In the case of Irving he appeared in only 11 games 8 of which he was the starter in the 2010-11 season, a toe injury caused him to miss 26 games his freshman year. At the end of that first season Irving declared for the NBA draft, just like Bronny James earlier this year. Irving was not ready to play in the NBA or at least that’s what I believed at the time. Of course Irving would prove me wrong…maybe in the case of Bronny James it happens again. Irving might be the most talented of the Duke bunch although he failed to make the final cut. I could say all around ability Grant Hill might give Irving a run for his money, Hill could be included in a discussion on talent.

A different Summer League

I admit it, the 2024 Summer League was different for me this time around. My schedule prevented me from seeing as many games as I intended. In addition my concentration was focused on Bronny James. As much as I attempted to avoid this it existed, with only highlights I didn’t see him often the him is Emoni Bates of the Cavs. I have often said offensive stats are our only measurement at times. That fact alone often betrays an athletes net worth. Michael Cooper of the Lakers is being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame despite an 8.9 ppg average, he was a defensive stalwart for the Showtime Lakers.

The point is stat numbers don’t always provide us an accurate picture. Back to the subject of Bates. As for his Summer League play his 17.2 and 6 rebounds a game were decent numbers, he failed to take a volume of shots but his 40% from three is outstanding. His TO number was also acceptable, the one area I’m unable to see is his decision making. That seem to be the primary concern of the coaching staff but that’s somewhat questionable. It was mentioned Bates has had three head coaches in the last year which can create confusion and mixed messages. I keep rooting for the kid I first read of when he was a high school sophomore, the one who was High School Gatorade Player of the Year.

Be careful, be incredibly careful    

Reports are circulating again that the Lakers are attempting to trade D’Angelo Russell. If this should occur it will be the second time they have traded the talented point guard. If a player is released its far different from a trade in my view, a trade should be for both teams to satisfy a need. As for Russell I hope a trade helps the Lakers, in their history I believe they have traded a few players too soon. Just a few names of past members who exited too soon in my view.

JaVale McGee, he and Dwight Howard were key to Laker success in the post in 2020. What are the Lakers searching for in 2024…a post player? Guard Jordan Clarkson, Sixth Man of the Year for the Jazz in 2021, no more to say here. Did I say center, how about Ivica Zubac despite his limited time they traded him to the Clippers in 2019 where he continues to perform adequately. How about point guard Nick “At Night” Van Exel and Eddie Jones? I probably have bored you already so I’m going to stop at this point. Let’s just say there are a number of players the Lakers should have kept.

He is known for the dunk

Frederick Weis is the name, unless you are a basketball fanatic his name might be unknown. Weis is 47-years old now, the 7-foot 2 260-pound giant has long since retired from basketball. As for the dunk it occurred at the 2000 Olympics and for all the world to see, it was Weis who was posterized. Vince Carter had a reputation as a high fly dunk artist and that would be the case here. Carter got the ball on a steal with only Weis standing in his path, the 6-foot 6-inch Carter spread his legs and went “over the top” of his 7-2 opponent. The French media tagged it, ‘le dunk de la mort” or “the dunk of death.” Aside from the dunk what occurred for Weis, a bunch of upset Knick fans.

In the 1999 draft Ron Artest (from Queens) had gone on to play for St. John’s, he was a worthy choice for the Knicks. What occurred, with the number 15 pick in the first round the Knicks chose Weis, pick number 16 would be Artest by the Bulls. The history says Weis played in the NBA Summer League but never signed a contract. His agent was a minority owner of CSP Limoges and encouraged Weis to remain in France. Over the next few years Weis would play for a number of teams all in Europe. Life can sometimes be a roller coaster and it was for Weis dealing with a number of life altering events. Today he is a television analyst for French league games, could an NBA career have been possible for Weis, it certainly was conceivable we just don’t have the answer.

The explanation is simple

If you watched Team USA versus Serbia you heard booing when Joel Embiid entered the game or touched the basketball. Perhaps you heard the explanation of the announcer or what was written here or another publication. Embiid is originally from the central African nation of Cameroon. Not counting return trips Embiid has been in the U.S. since the age of 16, he’s now 30 years of age. A history explanation not connected to basketball, In colonial times the nation of Embiid’s birth was first a German colony, after World War I the nation was divided between France and Great Britain.

January 1, 1960, Cameroon gained its independence from France, in addition to the native languages spoken French also became an official language. Embiid and his countryman grew up speaking multiple languages including French. Several years ago Embiid indicated he would represent France in the Olympics. Two years or so in the past Joel Embiid became an American citizen, although he holds dual citizenship he chose to play for Team USA. The change he made upset a segment of the French population thus the booing. Expect the boos to continue as Team USA continues to advance to the next round.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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A beginning

Unlike most in the basketball world I might be overly cautious, I don’t expect Team USA to win routinely. I have stated over and over the field is slowly being leveled. I continue to believe the best basketball is still played in the U.S., despite my belief I can see an ever-increasing number of players from Europe, Africa and Australia. The balance might change one day but not now. With that intricate disclaimer I will now begin. Team USA managed to overcome a stubborn persistent Team Serbia 110 to 84.

Team USA must play at peak level in these games. LeBron James was himself however it was Kevin Durant who was en Fuego. After struggling with an injury he emerged from the bench scoring 23 points, check me on this. I only counted one missed shot by Durant in his time on the court. Next up Team USA will face the team from South Sudan on Wednesday. Some of you might remember what occurred the last time Team USA faced South Sudan. Jackass Gilbert Arenas made a number of crude comments about the team from South Sudan, he later offered a half-hearted apology when called out by several in the media including former NBA players. 

By the way after the Team USA-Serbia game I discovered that same South Sudan team Arenas ridiculed managed to pound Puerto Rico 90-79. South Sudan might be one of the youngest nations in the world only gaining its independence in July 9, 2011. Am I apologizing for poor play from Team USA…certainly not however I’m not going to become stunned as some have become at times. I believe the conditions of basketball around the world have changed, this is no longer 1992. We can no longer win international games at the jump circle. Team USA must play a total game if it intends to continue playing Gold Medal winning basketball.

Why are you surprised…I’m not

Coach Cal’s first Arkansas recruit has made his commitment known, the prospect is Darius Acuff from Detroit. Acuff is a 6-foot 2 175-pound guard who attends IMG Academy in Florida, I located this information on the youngster. He is rated a 5- star prospect by Rivals and number 9 on their list, 247 Sports also awards 5 stars and places him at number 4. On3.com awards Acuff 4-stars and the number 18 position on their list. Although no one has any idea if he is able to make the transition smoothly a number of high-profile schools made offers.

Among the schools with offers were Bill Self at Kansas and his home state University of Michigan and UConn. Imagine this, the defending NCAA champions twice and you choose Arkansas. The headline says it all, you can choose to love him or hate him Coach Cal manages to attract talent no matter his location. Certainly one of the keys is his NBA connection, annually he is always in attendance at the NBA draft. I’m sure there are former players Cal coached at UMass, Memphis and Kentucky that had little if any NBA aspirations. If a prospect has the NBA in his future Cal is certainly one of the coaches a prospect gravitates toward.

What does the future hold

Kansas City and St. Louis have become “fly over country” for the NBA. Whenever there is discussion on NBA expansion both are generally mentioned but that’s about all. Why is that, both Kansas City and St. Louis were once home to the Kings and Hawks franchises. The Kings called Kansas City home from 1972-1985 but the question remains why did they leave? I located one on-line source only partially correct, it claims “poor attendance” which is somewhat correct however a brief look at that. I checked the history from 1972 through 1985 the Kings had four winning seasons. No matter how loyal a fan you are paying dollars to see your hometown team consistently lose is depressing. It was said at a point attendees would seek out games of the Lakers, Knicks and Bucks in the majority of instances.

St. Louis acquired the Hawks franchise when it relocated to the city in 1955. At that time, the sports dollar was divided between Cardinals baseball and Hawks basketball. In the middle 1960’s all that changed, the NFL Cardinals arrived, the NHL Blues and a North American Soccer League team. The Hawks were sold to an Atlanta group and moved in 1968. This is the most amazing part to me, unlike what occurred in Kansas City with the Kings the Hawks were Western Division Champions with a 56-26 record yet they averaged less than 7,000 fans that season. How bad was it, the history says they played 6 games in Miami that year. Of course that was long before the expansion Heat began play. The move to Atlanta came 10 years after the Hawks won the 1958 NBA Championship. So there you have the brief history why Kansas City and St. Louis became “fly over country” for the NBA and maybe why the league never intends to return. It’s probably just as well, each city has an abundance of other professional sports today.  

Top 10 Duke players

I’m unsure of the date however a list of the Top 10 UCLA basketball players was presented for you. There have been a number of colleges and universities that lead the way in producing quality basketball players. UCLA, Kansas and now Duke have been in the front position of talented college teams for years. For these purposes you can agree or disagree with my list, did I leave someone off that should have been included? You make that call, as for the NBA that’s explained at the end of this account. I should also point out they athletes are not placed in any particular order just the all-time Top 10, with that said here goes:

 

 1. Christian Laettner

 2. Grant Hill

 3. Jay Williams

 4. Zion Williamson

 5. JJ Redick

 6. Johnny Dawkins

 7. Danny Ferry

 8. Elton Brand

 9. Shane Battier

10. Bobby Hurley

I’m sure by now you are checking out the list and saying to yourself. “________ didn’t have much of an NBA career” and you might be correct. This is what the athlete accomplished while playing at Duke. With the exception of Zion Williamson all the names played more than two years at Duke. In addition to that some of those named were placed on All American teams. Next up for your review is the Top 10 players for the University of Kentucky.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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The Alien Report

This is not an account of extraterrestrials from another galaxy nor an alien abduction. In addition this is not a report of someone owing allegiance to another nation. The Alien in this instance is the recently released Wemby signature shoe by Nike. Naturally, I don’t have the draft rights so I cannot provide a photo of it in this blog. As for the name it was LeBron James who seeing Victor Wembanyama in action dubbed him “The Alien.”

Apparently the name registered with Nike executives and they decided to seize on this opportunity and utilize the name. Who knows, LeBron wears the Nike brand too, you suppose he might receive a percentage based on supplying the idea for the name. Second to that what I find interesting these $170 shoes were made available online and sold out within minutes of release. The bulk of the purchasers of this shoe released May 15 must be sneakerheads. The shoe is described as Apple Green and Black, the back and inside sole of the shoe contains an alien looking image. You can locate photos of it online if curious.

I thought it was over

The long-awaited television deal with the NBA was announced as complete. TNT is no longer a broadcast collaborator having been “dropped” in favor of Amazon. The reported 11-year $77 billion agreement consists of partners NBC, ESPN and of course Amazon. We are too early into the agreement to determine the manner of how the games will be divided, the new package will begin in the 2026-27 NBA season.

With that I can say all is done…maybe, maybe not. TNT’s parent company was given an opportunity to match the offer, later it was revealed the matching offer had been rejected. It was claimed TNT’s effort came up short or that’s the news being reported. Apparently TNT is now saying to the NBA “We’ll see you in court.” I ain’t no attorney but if a decision has been finalized what can TNT accomplish at this point? There are a number of fans upset with the possible change, the fact that Inside the NBA is likely to disappear from our view. I am a believer the game is larger than 3-4 individuals, if this agreement is implemented many claim they will boycott the NBA. If this is their view I certainly would make no attempt to change their mind.

I will monitor the possible legal action and attempt to keep you informed. In other associated news one Charles Barkley has expressed his concern regarding TNT eliminated from the package. If you care you can join me in welcoming Barkley into the real world. Barkley’s upset because TNT apparently is out of the broadcast picture. Mr. Barkley, I’d like to welcome you into the real world, a world where we don’t always receive what we desire. We are often disappointed however we keep on moving.

ESPN agenda

I personally don’t have an Instagram account, the news was brought to me by a dot.com site. Because I am unfamiliar with how it operates I sought out information. This from Wikipedia, “Instagram is a photo and video sharing social networking service etc. etc. etc.” Okay now it’s become clear to me as the why. It’s a social media thing which caused ESPN to place an account regarding Victor Wembanyama and Bronny James together.

This from the Worldwide leader and I paraphrase, “Despite the fact there is a foot difference in height both players weigh 210 pounds.” Again without access to the story I’m unsure if there was anything else added except what you just read. What is wrong with this picture, plenty in my view beginning with the premise. We have a budding NBA All Pro compared to a player attempting to earn his stripes probably in the G-League. Unlike some up till now I’ve never pointed a finger at ESPN…this time I will. ESPN is a business which must derive income in whatever areas it can. My hope is Bronny James is an NBA success on his own and requires no comparison to another player.  

The best ever

Who is the best basketball player from each state, in this instance I’m looking at high school to the NBA. This is based on an article I read online this is a shortened version of the article. The author said, “At the time he was considered the best high school player to ever come out of the state of Michigan.” This is 2024 and in my view he’s still the best, what about others? A task of this magnitude requires research and opinion. Just in case some of the names are unfamiliar to you take time to research them.

I also need to add this is the state the player was born not where they later played and came into prominence. We’ll begin with Michigan and Magic Johnson, my home state Missouri has Bill Bradley. New York has got to be Lew Alcindor, a later name change he became Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Pennsylvania is represented by Wilt Chamberlain and for Ohio its LeBron James. I could have added Gus Johnson and Nate Thurmond to the Ohio list. In Texas we add the name Bill Sharman to our list. In the state of Kansas I have a tie between Alvan Adams and Larry Drew. In California I selected Bill Walton who was closely followed by Gail Goodrich. I’m stopping at this point, this is a far more challenging task than I first thought, I encourage you to begin your own list.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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When does the NBA and college basketball begin

Naismith and College Hall of Fame center Nate Thurmond’s been covered previously. I might be the first to make this claim, Thurmond placed Akron Ohio on the basketball map long before that other guy…you know his name. In any event I came across an interesting bit of information regarding Thurmond to share. He could score but that was not his primary intent, his forte was defense and rebounding the ball. During the course of his brilliant NBA career he collected 14,464 rebounds and 14,437 points, a difference of 27. In 1974 he became the first player to record a quadruple-double when he scored 22 points 14 rebounds 13 assists and 12 blocked shots.

That first draft held July 1, 1947, consisted of players chosen in 9 rounds. This first BAA (NBA) draft witnessed this 10 teams choosing a select number of players. That first draft saw the Pittsburg (Pennsylvania) Ironmen select Clifton McNeely from Texas Wesleyan. This 5-foot 10-inch guard was not interested in playing basketball in this new league. He didn’t divorce himself completely from basketball. He was a long-time head basketball coach at Pampa HS in Pampa Texas. McNeely was the first of two number one draft choices who did not play in the NBA.

The familiar voice of college basketball analyst Bill Raftery has been heard on the Team USA telecast. Raft turned 81 years old in April and it appears there are no plans for him to slow down or retire. Looking at the gray haired Raftery some might find it difficult to believe once upon a time he was Mr. Basketball USA in 1959 and a First Team Parade All American that same year. The 6 foot 4 Raftery was drafted by the Knicks in the 14th round in 1963 but never played in the NBA. From coaching the game at the collegiate level and then the broadcast booth, that’s Bill Raftery. He begins each game with his signature line….” MANTOMAN” uttered so rapidly it sounds like one word. Of course it’s an indication a team is playing man to man defense.

This week news of a revealing nature was made by Paul George. I remember as if it was yesterday, PG expressed a desire to return “home” he wanted to play for the team he grew up rooting for i.e., the Lakers. I thought at the time this was a slam dunk, imagine my shock when the news revealed he’d signed with the other Los Angeles team. Color me disappointed however that was the team of his choice. Fast forward a few years and free agent PG decided he wanted winning and money although in which order is unclear. He chose to sign with the Sixers over remaining a Clipper thus placing Los Angeles in his rear-view mirror. The news, PG says “When I signed with the Clippers I felt like I’d signed with the B team.” To me that is a denunciation of him and the Clippers.

He's an idiot

If you’ve read this blog over time you are more informed than former NBA player Gilbert Arenas. Arenas has a podcast and rather than criticize poor play of Team USA he decided to attack South Sudan. He spouted out some rather derogatory remarks most of which had nothing to do with basketball. I’m not going to detail his comments for you, if you care they are available on his podcast, let’s just say they were better off unsaid. Back to the beginning and my explanation why you are probably more informed than Arenas.

You remember reading on Monday July 22 the fact South Sudan has a head coach who is an NBA assistant, he also played in the NBA for years. One of his assistants was a 15-year NBA veteran and the majority of the team spent time either on an NBA roster or playing professionally. This is not the first time Arenas has managed to open his mouth and stick his foot in. My chief issue with Arenas and others with similar mindsets is simple, they are never wrong. Of course they are incorrect numerous times but they in a manner similar to Arenas offer a half-hearted apology that appears to lack any remorse. That is the case for Arenas.   

Move over there is a new palace

Pistons basketball is now played in Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit which opened in the fall of 2017. From 1988 until 2017 the Pistons played their games at the Palace of Auburn Hills or the Palace. There is a new “palace” located in Inglewood, and there is a further story. I held a conversation years ago shortly after Steve Ballmer purchased the Clippers. I informed a friend “Ballmer intends to build his own arena, he wants out of Staples Center (Crypto.com arena).” I remember the conversation as if it occurred yesterday.

Robert said to me, “There is not enough land area to build an arena in the Greater Los Angeles metro.” My friend was unfamiliar with the Ballmer effect, not only did he manage to acquire the land an opulent basketball arena with the corporate name Intuit Dome will open this fall. Ballmer’s Clippers will soon begin play in the NBA’s newest “palace” in Inglewood. I’m jealous in a sense, the public has no knowledge of the complete project but understand this. A $2 billion arena constructed with no taxpayer assistance, beautiful. I don’t own the rights to the YouTube video I just saw so I cannot link it. Check it out yourself, this palace places the other palace in the rear-view mirror.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Thoughts before basketball practice begins officially

You remember Kawhi Leonard and Team USA, it was reported “The Team” decided to send Leonard home. Of course his injury issue certainly might have been a consideration but wait there is more. Kevin Durant is yet to play due to injury. Coach Kerr’s gone on record indicating there are no plans to replace him…. Hmmmm.

I informed you over a week or so ago I intended to wait. The new NBA television contract, although resolved by some in the media was not officially approved. As you are aware TNT was on the outside looking in, they would lose their place. Well that is not quite the case on Monday came word their parent company matched the bid of Amazon so for now we remain in a holding pattern for now.

He’s either age 12, 16 or 27

His name was mentioned previously however I believe a revisit on his story was in order. You might remember in late spring many of us were introduced to Mohamed Dabone who plays for FC Barcelona in the U15 division. For unknown reasons we have his height at 6 foot 10 but no figure for his weight. His physical appearance is that of a lanky youngster, as for the notoriety in late spring 2024 stories were floating all over the web. The headline gives us an idea of the events, we have been unable to determine his age, one publication claims “He would be draft eligible in 2031.”

That would make him age 11 with his 12th birthday this year, Euroleague stats list him as a 13-year-old. The basis for the excitement NBA scouts are thrilled by the skill he displays on the basketball court. His age is important only in its possible relationship to the NBA draft, beyond that is it really important? I conducted brief research on the matter and according to the web his home country of Burkina Faso in West Africa utilizes birth certificates. The question of Dabone’s age is easily addressed for his future. Official documentation of some sort will be required if the youngster hopes to play in the United States either college or the NBA.  

Be Quick

Most basketball fans are familiar with the name John Wooden. He was the legendary basketball coach at UCLA and he left us with a considerable number of outstanding quotes. Most are favorites of mine however one especially stands out to me. “Be quick but don’t hurry,” what the heck was the coach trying to instill in his basketball players? How can one resolve a problem without attempting to get to the bottom of it quickly?

I presume the coach may believe sometimes in our effort to settle a problem or issue we are guilty of making it worst…how come. Our effort exacerbates the problem because we didn’t take the time to analyze all of the elements. Perhaps this was an indication from the coach to his players he wanted them to make quick decisions and move deliberately but to not rush, the rush might create additional errors. Maybe in a manner similar to mine you to have compiled a number of quotes from Wooden, from time to time I intend to include them because many are so insightful.   

Shaq 2.0

I hope this doesn’t place pressure on the youngster. Allow me to introduce you to Peyton Marshall, he’s the freshman post player for the Mizzou Tigers. Marshall is huge, he stands 7 feet tall and checks in at 300 pounds, that was no typo he is gigantic. He was awarded 4-stars by Rivals and 247 Sports, Marshall must now prove the rating by both scouting sites was valid. Video on YouTube is really inconclusive because most of it consists of Marshall in action against much smaller competition. In the SEC it’s likely he will not face a rival his size however the competition will be so much better.

Opposing coaching staffs will map out various junk defenses to contest him around the basket. I remember reading coach Dale Brown told Shaquille O’ Neal he should declare for the NBA draft. Many games Shaq’s junior year he was often double sometimes triple teamed. Maybe that’s how Shaq became so adept at passing the basketball once he arrived in the NBA. Back to Marshall for a time, I expect his development to be slow. It takes a great deal of coaching to play the post sufficiently. So part of the equation is aimed directly at Marshall, he must be a willing learner and adaptable to coaching suggestions. At the beginning I said my hope is to not place undue pressure on the youngster, Mizzou fans should be patient with his development if it appears slow.

It's being discussed again

Unofficially the subject of NBA basketball in Las Vegas is a topic of discussion once again. By now you are fully aware LeBron James desires to be an owner, whether it’s Las Vegas or somewhere else. If it’s Vegas it’s going to take some mighty, mighty deep pockets, the rumored cost for the franchise is a reported $7 billion which includes an arena. The $$$$ are not required upfront however a substantial portion might be. I certainly don’t have privy to his bank statement but believe this will occur, the franchise could be a single proprietorship with James as the owner. Why possibly risk financial failure, its far easier to locate partners which is what I believe will occur.

If we look around the NBA there are few single proprietorships most teams have 3-4 owners. That’s only part of the effort to secure a franchise. Reports are there are more potential bidders for the franchise than James, I’m sure for the image of the league the preference would be awarding the team to him. According to Adam Silver the only delay in work on expansion was due to the television contract. As this is written there is no official announcement however the subject of television is no longer a holdup on expansion. Besides Las Vegas will it be a return of the Seattle Sonics or a team in Mexico City? My belief, Mexico City will be included in the second-tier expansion plan. With an uneven number of teams who comes into the NBA along with Mexico City to provide balance.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Team USA

In an exhibition match on Saturday night Team USA squeezed past South Sudan 101-100, a layup by LeBron James proved to be the winner. Allow me to say this, I was dressing for an outing while watching the game so I’m sure there are aspects I missed. Team USA would register a couple of significant runs and I thought, “This is over.” Team Sudan would come roaring back, fact is they led at points in the game. You know me, the line from the movie classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid…” Who are those guys?” Before writing this I decided research was in order, has the world caught up with the NBA this quickly was my first thought? Royal Ivey is the head coach of Team Sudan, he is an American.

After playing at Texas he spent 10 years in the NBA and is currently an assistant coach with the NBA Rockets, wait there is more. One of his assistant coaches is Luol Deng who played at Duke and spent 15 years playing for a number of NBA teams. Hold on there a minute there remains several additional college and NBA connections. Of the 12 players for South Sudan I discovered 6 of them played at American colleges or in the NBA. The remainder were playing as pros either in Europe or Australia. This is not an attempt to lessen the almost loss it’s to prove a point I have been trying to hammer out for months. We have a stream of international players arriving on our shores hoping to gain skill playing the game we love. We’d better become accustomed to close games in the Olympics, Pan American and FIBA games from here on out.

A disclaimer

I have utilized two primary sources regarding information on NBA draft prospects. As for high school prospects up till now no matter where they might be headed there were only two sources. This includes those who might be headed to college, G-League, OT Elite or Australia. Over the weekend I added On3.com, although this site covers more than high school prospects it appears promising to add to our library of information. As for the headline it is meant to point to the fact I have no connection with On3 in any fashion. Keep an eye out for future references from On3 informants to appear along with those of Rivals and 247Sports. This continues my effort to provide you the reader with all the information I can gather from various recruiting sources.

This is scary

We really have no idea how the Western Conference race in the NBA turns out next season. Based on a July 2024 critique it could be rough for some teams, on paper this season could be right out of a Stephen King novel. It should be of note that the Wolves, Nuggets, Mavs should be the main contenders for playoff berths. I would consider the Pelicans and Kings as second tier in the race for the championship. As for the others expect the Grizzlies to play much better this season. They will have the benefit of Ja Morant who missed all of last season, don’t expect the Grizzlies to play as they did in the past.

In addition to that the young and improving Rockets and the Chris Paul led Spurs (I didn’t mention the other guy) should also be upgraded. Who remains, we have the Suns, Clippers, Lakers, Jazz and Blazers that’s it. Of course there is the play-in tournament to consider. There are always injuries to take into account, that’s hardly a subject for now but we realize one or more of these teams will be seriously impacted by injury. I don’t know what to say beyond what’s already been pointed out. I’m going to change the line Bette Davis used in the 1950 movie classic All About Eve because it fits better. “Hang on its going to be a bumpy night ride,” this completes a middle of the year assessment of the Western Conference of the NBA. 

Bruno Mars is first

Are you a fan of Bruno Mars, no matter he’s up first. I don’t have the rights to the video but I can point you toward it, not Mars but owner Steve Ballmer and the YouTube video. Ballmer is sitting with Terrance Mann and an unidentified female discussing the stuff contained in the Intuit Dome. The multi-billion-dollar arena in Inglewood is a thing of great beauty. It brought about a question from me, I wonder if this series of events unfolded. Ballmer met with architects and said, this is what I want…did he go into great detail who knows. The Clippers play might be a notch below that of this past season however Clipper fans and a few Laker fans will flock to Inglewood anyway.

They will do this based on the fact this arena defies the wildest imagination of everyone. Words fail to provide evidence of the greatness of the Intuit Dome so one might be left with wonderment unable to adequately describe what they just witnessed. I’m quite sure owner Ballmer is pleased being able to extricate himself and his team from Crypto.com arena, his Clipper team will now separate themselves from the Lakers. The NBA schedule is in the rudimentary stage, the first game is yet to be announced however this date is solid. Pop star Bruno Mars will open the arena August 15 and 16, later dates in August up through November will see other entertainment acts before the first basketball is tossed up in the air.

Eddie Bird

Bet you didn’t know Larry Bird had 4 brothers, the youngest being Eddie. He was the baby brother of the siblings 10 years younger than his more well-known brother. The 6-foot 6-inch Eddie probably influenced by his elder brother took up the game as well, how good was he you ask? He attended the same high school of his brother in French Lick Indiana, Eddie scored nearly 22 points a game as he led the school to 18 victories out of 24 played his senior year.

He even attended Indiana State the same school of his older brother however while he certainly was good he was nowhere near the level of Larry. He averaged 14 points game a year during his three years at Indiana State. Eddie was passed over in the 1991 NBA draft but was chosen by a team in the defunct USBL. That same season he attended a Sacramento Kings free-agent camp probably hoping to be signed by the Kings however the end of the camp saw him leave with no contract. Eddie Bird probably had the desire to play the game but must have lacked the talent to play at the NBA level. There was a report he could have gone to Europe to play but that would not be the case. 

Basketball from a fans perspective

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End of the Road

By now you realize my continuing fascination with tying a basketball story to a movie or music. That is the case here, In 1992 the R&B group Boyz II Men had a smash hit titled End of the Road, but in 2024 the question is asked again. Has Russell Westbrook reached the End of the Road for his NBA career? The leagues former MVP has slipped several notches since that time, as example the latest. The Clippers and Jazz agreed to a sign and trade deal, it is being reported Westbrook will be waived and he will then join the Nuggets. How many teams is it now, allow a count.

Drafted by the Thunder in 2008, it was later the Rockets, then the Wizards, Lakers and Clippers and now Jazz then Nuggets. Will Westbrook help the Nuggets of course he will but the player we witnessed play for the Thunder no longer exists. He will turn 36-years old during the season and the question is asked again. Westbrook has more games behind him than in front of him. As for when he eventually signs with the Nuggets I said he’d help. If he is expected to replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope I have my doubts. The area missing most from his game is shooting…the only way Westbrook scores now is drives to the basket. Teams now fail to cover him from distance realizing one fact. He was never a good shooter, over time whatever was left has disappeared.

The before and the after 

Bronny James followed his “breakout game” with another sterling effort. In this game against the Cavs it was 13 points on 5 for 10 from the floor. Keep in mind the numbers are not going to boggle you however it appears…it appears Bronny’s made adjustments. After appearing lost and sometimes confused early in his first few games the last two Summer League games have been wins for the team and Bronny. Check this out, it was 4.3 ppg and 23% from the floor.

It’s now 12.5 ppg and 48% shooting. Please don’t become confused in this account, I continue to believe what most in sports media are saying Bronny will spend the bulk of his year with the South Bay Lakers. If this sounds as an excuse so be it and I’m repeating it again. As a reserve player at Southern Cal he hardly saw the court, Bronny must spend major minutes in the G-League adjusting to the NBA game. He appears to have all the tools to play at the NBA level but again the warning. Don’t expect him to duplicate the game of his father, they are two far different basketball players.

Yes it’s me, but maybe you too

As a basketball fan I’ve always been preoccupied with height. The game, at least in the modern era, has traveled in that direction, what I’ve read it was the late 1940’s before a players stature became important. I suppose back then it was “Can you play the game.” I came across this in reading and wanted to share it with you. While playing with Team USA Kevin Durant declared Joel Embiid is not 7 feet tall. Durant stated he’s 6 foot 9 and Embiid cannot be that tall. This is what I find interesting about the statement, I’ve been reading for years opposing players have claimed Durant is 6 foot 11 and not the 6 foot 9 listed on his bio. Around this same time the photo of the French Olympic team was released.

I said if Rudy Gobert is actually 7 foot 1 then Wemby is closer to 7 foot 5, on the other hand is Gobert as tall as indicated? There are numerous other examples, Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey measures 7 foot 4 but is he really that tall? At the University of Florida 7 foot 9 Oliver Rioux has arrived on campus ready to play in the fall. I’m going to close this exercise, Mizzou freshman Peyton Marshall measures 7 feet tall although one sight claims he’s actually 6 foot 10. I’ve told this story before and its repeated here regarding Willis Reed. While the Knick great was attending college at Grambling his coach once asked him, “How tall are you?” Reed was reported to have said “6 foot 9.” The coach made this statement, “You are 6 foot 10, they (NBA) will pay you more at that height.” Maybe you are like me fixated with the height of Big Men basketball players.

The French Invasion

If you thought we witnessed the last of the French imports in the NBA draft you can forget that. I was looking ahead to the 2025 draft and discovered there are a couple of more prospects on the way. At this point I have no idea if 2024 picks Zaccharie Risacher or Alex Sarr will become stars, despite this fact some decision maker must have thought they had ability since they were drafted 1 and 2 in the first round. Guess what, there are two more French players projected as lottery choices.

They are Nolan Traore who is a 6-foot 4 185-pound point guard. Traore is from Chennevieres-sur-Marne which I’ve read is a commune in the southeastern suburbs of Paris. The mock draft site nbadraft.net projects him as the 6th pick in 2025. He is joined by Noa Essengue a 6-foot 10 200 pound forward, home for Essengue is Orleans in North Central France, he’s projected as the 11th pick in the first round. As you can see French prospects are going to continue to arrive on these shores.  

How many…..a bunch

I actually begin this account in another direction but shifted the focus. How many college basketball coaches do you believe are presently serving, is the total number 600 or maybe it’s 900 or more? By the information I uncovered there are more than 1,300 men’s coaches across the landscape of the nation. Even more interesting, the most high-profile Division I programs are not the largest number. D-I is represented by Duke, UCLA, Kansas and others.

There are 362 coaches and programs at present at Division I. The next level is Division II, there are 304 coaches and programs, we have West Virginia State, Southern Nazarene, University of MO-St. Louis and more. This next level is what I found most surprising, Division III which I believe offers no scholarships total 424. Schools at this level are NYU, Randolph-Macon, Keene State and more the largest single number. There are 230 NAIA coaches and programs, examples at this level of competition are Arkansas Baptist, Baker University, Central Methodist University and more. 

Basketball from a fans perspective

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Breakout game

How do I consider 12 points and 5 for 11 shooting from the floor a breakout game. As you are aware the Lakers Bronny James has struggled in his attempt to earn his NBA stripes in Summer League play. The problem for him is LeBron James, the father is not pressuring the son however the son feels pressure. Here’s my take on the matter, there will be no one satisfied even with this game. They will expect Bronny to dominate in a manner of his famous father and that is not possible.

He doesn’t possess the physical prowess of LeBron and certainly unfairly he will be compared to his father. Bronny must ignore social media and the comments of NBA players. As for the others, Stephen A. Smith, Jason Whitlock and others are just a great deal of talk. They have never played the game at this level although they desire us to believe they are informed enough to impart aspects of it. More likely they are ill-informed, it was mentioned a few weeks ago but it bears repeating. I wanted the Lakers to draft someone who would benefit the team right now. That is not Bronny James although it could be one day if he’s given time to adjust to NBA play.

Unequal justice

I have no answers just plenty of questions, this represents the series of events. As most of you are aware by now Jontay Porter formerly of the Raptors received a lifetime ban by the NBA for betting on games…okay that portion is clear. A federal judge ruled Porter cannot play in Greece, Porter is yet to be sentenced however there is more here, does the arm of the NBA extend this far? How is he expected to earn a living if he’s prohibited from playing basketball?

In the past several NBA players have received similar bans but to my knowledge none were prohibited from play in Europe. In addition I’ve read several letters from fans questioning the NBA’s decision on a lifetime ban. They point to the fact that in the NBA, NFL and other sports players have been charged and in some instances convicted of domestic violence. Despite the charge eventually the player is allowed to return to the game again. I have no answer, although the NBA has embraced sports betting they look at this different from domestic violence. I’m not saying this view is correct I am only pointing toward what appears to be the case.

A hire

JJ Redick added to his Laker coaching staff with the hire of Lindsey Harding on Tuesday. Harding and Redick have a connection going back to their days at Duke and later with the Sixers according to information detailed. She was a scout and player development coach for the Sixers, as for the new Laker assistant coach she arrives from Stockton where she was named G-League Coach of the Year. She represents one of the few instances a female has served as head coach of a men’s team. After playing basketball at Duke Harding had a 9-year playing career in the WNBA and would later move into the coaching ranks.

In 2019 she took on her first role as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, from there it was Mexico and then Stockton in the NBA G-League. At this time I’m unsure if the staff is complete however Harding becomes the 4th assistant coach hired since JJ Redick took over. A detailed look at the Lakers for the 2024-25 season is in the works soon so, stand by as I attempt to look at the Lakers on paper for the season. Before Harding was published came news of another assistant, his name Bob Beyer. Beyer arrives from the Hornets although he’s got an extensive amount of time in the role at more than one stop, I believe the coaching staff is now complete

What!

As you are aware by now Kawhi Leonard was replaced on Team USA by Derrick White. A strange thing on the way to Paris occurred recently and requires an explanation. I wasn’t sure of the complete details however since Leonard doesn’t publicly talk we just don’t know. Lawrence Frank president of basketball operations said; “The team was disappointed with USA basketball’s decision to replace Kawhi Leonard.” Frank claimed Leonard was prepared to play for Team USA. He further stated he did not suffer a setback with his surgically repaired knee.

“No, it was USAB’s call and I was quite frankly very disappointed with the decision, Kawhi wanted to play.” Now we are left with questions, did the coaching staff witness something in Leonard’s play that led them to replace him? Remember he played in the first two games against the Mavs in the playoffs but missed the final three games. I posed this question previously, Kawhi Leonard is the ultimate decider on his future in the NBA. Perhaps this occurred, he met with Steve Kerr and other members of the coaching staff and indicated he wasn’t ready to play. Keep in mind this is all speculation on my part, this conversation may or may not have occurred.

Bevo Francis award

I came across the Bevo Francis award while conducting research, it’s an honor probably little known presented to the outstanding small college basketball player. There’s a bunch of criteria necessary for one to qualify for the award but I was more curious who was honored in this manner. Checking the list of past winners I discovered they played at the Division II level or NAIA. Clarence “Bevo” Francis was born September 4, 1932, in Hammonsville Ohio. Bevo played his college basketball at Rio Grande College (now the University of Rio Grande) from 1952-1954. In 1953 the 6 foot 9 Bevo averaged an amazing 48.3 points a game, the note indicate Francis actually score 50.1 points a game.

The NCAA exclude some of the games played because they were against junior college teams. We can only guess scheduling of that type must have been common for small colleges of the era. The following season Francis averaged 48 points including a single game scoring record of 113 points. That total remained the highest in NCAA history until 2012 when Jack Taylor of Grinnell scored 138 points in a game. Francis was Third Team All-American in 1953 and the following year he was named second Team All-American. The portion I find most interesting is his basketball post college, he signed with the Boston Whirlwinds a barnstorming team matched against the Harlem Globetrotters. Francis was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors but must have decided he wanted no part of the NBA. Life after basketball was work at an Ohio steel mill, he worked there 20 years and was six months from his pension when the plant closed. Francis died in 2015 at the age of 82, Bevo Francis is a basketball name few are familiar with however you are.    

Class of 2030

That is no typo, we are discussing the Class of 2030. The prospect in this instance is in the 7th grade which causes you to go WOW. Josh Carter stands 6 foot 6 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds, he plays AAU basketball for Rondo Elite. Rajon Rondo former NBA player has several AAU teams and Rondo Elite contains kids around the Louisville area of Kentucky. After reading about this youngster my first thought, “I wonder how tall I was and my weight in the 7th grade, of course it was nowhere even close to this youngster. His game is described as somewhat similar to Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.

I would imagine that might be the case as he’s head and shoulders taller and much larger than his competition. At 12 years of age he is in the fundamental stage of basketball development. Several issues could develop over the next few years which might impact him, despite his height and weight the competition will begin to grow as well. Perhaps he might develop a love for another sport, I’m thinking football with his growth pattern. Carter might not develop love for the game, talent plus skill will only get you so far. Despite the play we see at the professional level the athlete must have love for the game to continue playing a kids game as an adult. Of course the pay, especially in the NBA, helps I would guess.  

Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

RIP

In case you missed this report Joe Bryant died on Tuesday at the age of 69. For those who might not be familiar with the name he was the father of Kobe Bryant. In the NBA, the elder Bryant played for the Sixers. San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets. His bio indicates he played for a number of teams in Europe before retirement and becoming a coach. 2005-2007 saw Bryant serve as head coach for the WNBA Sparks. Bryant had a rather ordinary NBA career unlike son Kobe who reached legendary status in the association. It’s reported Bryant had suffered a stroke so it’s unclear as this is written an autopsy report of his death. R.I.P. Joe “Jellybean” Bryant.  

He’s making waves too

A group of us at work held a discussion on the struggles of Bronny James the other day. Somehow the conversation morphed into another subject, one co-worker said, “Wait until you see Carmelo Anthony’s son, he’s got game.” I thought for moment and then realize I’d written several accounts regarding Bronny James…I’d even written about the sons (Cameron & Cayden) of former NBA player Carlos Boozer also in the Class of 2025. I’m am sure Kiyan Carmelo Anthony had never been covered in this blog.

Kiyan is smaller in stature than his dad, he’s a 6 foot 5-177-pound shooting guard. Keep in mind he is likely to grow in height and weight. Kiyan attends Long Island Lutheran HS in Glen Head New York an internet search reveals Glen Head is a hamlet on Long Island in the New York City metro. 247Sports and Rivals award Kiyan 4 stars and he is rated a Top 32 prospect by one site and Top 34 in the other. Kiyan’s yet to make a decision regarding which school he will attend however of the 14 schools with offers its highly likely Kiyan heads to Syracuse. I could toss out the possibility he goes to Australia to play.     

A revisit

It’s not often I’m correct on anything, seeing the struggles of Bronny James I located this account published April 6, 2024. The font has changed however the prediction has not, it’s unnecessary to read the entire article I will highlight the portion I want you to pay particular attention to. 

Isn’t this an interesting development

While working on the Saturday edition came this breaking news, Bronny James declared for the NBA Draft while exploring the transfer portal. This makes sense on several levels, he can meet with teams obtain feedback prior to making a decision. We cannot determine the future without adequate comment which its hoped Bronny receives. There are several scenarios that could be developed but I’m not going there totally.

In closing allow me to express my concern, I am going to assume the Bronny health issue will be monitored but he’s played limited minutes during his freshman year. The move of his coach at USC certainly played a part in this move however my hope he would return to school. I am no draft expert but believe he is not ready for the rough and tumble world of the NBA. I was on the “Wemby Watch” early, although he was only 19 years of age Wemby had experienced play as a pro, Bronny has basketball skill but little to back up his desire. This is another story that will be monitored over the next few months whether the destination is the NBA or another college.

Could there be more   

I have written on this subject previously, the NBA continues to be diverse in its hiring practices more than any other professional sports. The NFL was bragging about having a female official for the recent Super Bowl. How about this history, the NBA hired two female officials in 1997, one remained on the job long enough to retire. There are 4 female assistant coaches in the NBA, a total of 15 have served in that role over time. Becky Hammon was the first being hired by the Spurs in 2014.

Nancy Lieberman became the first head coach when she was at the helm for the G-League Texas Legends in 2010. The day-to-day operations are difficult to determine and how much decision making is involved but in the association according to 2023 figures 18% of the owners and CEOs in the NBA were women. A recent Summer League game between the Wizards and Hawks, the GM’s of both teams were interviewed at the half. Both teams have black men serving in this role however there are a number of others spread throughout the NBA. This also includes those working in 17 NBA offices throughout the world.

I’m not going to cover the sum of bench coaches you are likely familiar with the name. The answer to the title of this account is yes, there could always be more diversity in hiring. My point was to provide you proof that the NBA is head and shoulders above the others when it comes to hiring practices. This is not one sided, with the exception of NHL hockey which I’m unfamiliar with all other professional sports including the NFL have embraced diversity in their hiring and promotions,

John Wooden

There remains two questions for me regarding the late John Wooden. Was he a great coach or just a great motivator for his UCLA teams all those years, better yet maybe he was a combination of both. In fairness a coach must have superior talent, having a Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton and others certainly helps. 620 wins versus 147 losses (.808) at UCLA including 10 NCAA Championships, his teams won 300 games in the NCAA Post-Season and only 67 losses (.817).

One of the areas of my focus has always been the magnificent quotes he left for us to ponder. This is one of those quotes I’ve posted in the past but believed it was significant enough to repeat it again. I’m sure he must have communicated this to his UCLA teams at times while running practice sessions. “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think about you?” Think about the words and how they might reflect on you personally.

“Ant” 

Can you imagine Anthony Edwards as a running back, corner back or quarterback? It’s been said that while playing youth sports football was his favorite sport. He only switched to basketball after seeing his brothers play the game and “thought it would be fun.” After attending two high schools in his native Atlanta Georgia he was named a 5-star prospect by Rivals and a McDonalds All American in 2019. He stayed close to home enrolling at the University of Georgia in Athens. The consensus of opinion he would be a one and done player headed for the NBA which made him stand out over others on the roster.

Sure enough after one season he declared for the NBA draft but back up a minute here. By reputation I was anxious to see Edwards play, I don’t remember whether the game was played in Columbia or Athens however I was disappointed. Edwards scored 20+ points but took a considerable number of shots which caused yours truly to question his ability. I know it’s not safe to see a player once and decide they can’t play, that was not the issue the thought was maybe he doesn’t have the skill set I’d read and heard about. If you fast forward to the present you realize I was wrong, he was the driving force in the Wolves playoff run. Standing 6 foot 4- and 225-pounds Edwards is rock-solid. Expect important things to occur for Edwards over the next few years as he continues to make his mark in the NBA. Anthony Edwards, “Ant-Man” or “Ant” one of the NBA’s bright stars.