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.