Basketball from a fans perspective

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It ain’t the NBA

Guerschon Yabusele had an outstanding Olympics for Team France. Although his name might have been unfamiliar to most he played for a time in the NBA. Yabusele was drafted by the Celtics with pick 16 in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft. Despite being a high draft pick it was only two years before he left the NBA. Although I don’t remember Yabusele as well, he played on two occasions for the Main Red Claws the G-League affiliate of the Celtics.

Yabusele would play a total of 71 games before he left the Celtics to play in China. From there it was time spent playing for a French team and in 2021 he began play for Real Madrid in Spain. Standing 6 foot 8 and 271 pounds he certainly has the girth to play power forward in the NBA. After distinguishing himself in the Olympics Yabusele indicates he is ready to return to the NBA. I’m unsure regarding his status but believe the Celtics no longer retain his rights. It would appear a team might be willing to take a chance and sign him.  

A modest life 

James Naismith died in November 1939 at age 78, that would indicate he lived long enough to see his game played at every level. In addition basketball was first played at the 1936 Olympics and has been a main stay since then. Naismith was able to see the game he “invented” played at a level he probably never dreamed as a 30-year old. Most of you are familiar with the story, Naismith a physical education teacher was looking for a winter exercise for his YMCA teams in Springfield Massachusetts. The cold New England winters meant the sport must be played indoors.

Imagine what that first game December 21, 1891, appeared, few had any idea what to do. That first game certainly look nothing like what we witness today. The players attempt to toss the soccer ball into the peach basket above them. Peach baskets were attached to the railing on the YMCA running track. Have you ever wondered about the height between the floor and a basketball goal? The track was exactly 10 feet above the gym floor. Although much of the game has changed over time the basketball goal still remains at the 10 foot level established at the time the first basketball game was played. Later Naismith would leave Massachusetts and in 1898 he would initiate the basketball program at the University of Kansas. He would teach the game to legendary coach Phog Allen who would go on to serve as head basketball coach from 1919-1956 at Kansas.

There are large sums of Naismith history space and time will not permit a full scale look at his life. If your curiosity is peaked seek out additional sources on his life, James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. In 1959 Naismith was enshrined in the Hall of Fame that bears his name. At the time the college basketball Hall of Fame came into existence he was honored there as well in 2006. As for the headline despite the fact overtime many have made millions playing the game there is no indication Naismith reaped any great riches from his invention.

Just the facts

Sometimes when compiling information undocumented sources are used. In other words the information provided is valid, how about NBA revenue? Is the league in decent shape financially might be the question. The NFL is king, there is no argument in this corner, I’m unsure if there are more NFL fans however the revenue the league derives is far above MLB and the NBA. Because this is a basketball blog that will be the focus of this account, with that statement here we go. In 2023 the NBA derived $10.9 billion from all its sources revenue is broken down in this manner.

National TV/Media (41%), Ticket Sales (26%), local TV/Media (13%), Team Sponsor (12%) and we close with Concessions/Parking (8%). Okay now that we’ve managed to digest this information what’s the objective? It’s to offer an argument we often hear from non-NBA fans. I’m sure you’ve heard it too, “Nobody is watching the NBA,” my objective is to not get into an argument with these folks but I am tempted to ask them to prove their theory. As I’ve often stated you are always entitled to your own opinion on practically everything, you are not entitled to your own set of facts. If you don’t like NBA basketball that’s your prerogative, you cannot decide if anyone is watching it just because you fail to do so.

The unwritten rules

Over the years I’ve heard a number of statements made about basketball that might require clarification or additional information. For the most part they are rather nondescript although a number I believe defy explanation, that certainly applies to all.     

1. Never match players from different eras against one another.

2. A nickname is given, a player cannot bestow a handle on himself.

3. Comparing draft choice ensure the player you use as the example is well known.

4. Become well acquainted with basketball abbreviations or phrase.

5. Research high school prospect sites periodically, they are a valuable source.

6. NBA mock draft sites are a reference tool only, an analyst opinion.

7. Don’t attempt to invoke humor discussing a serious event or person.