Basketball from a fans perspective 

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Is it over? 

You remember the jokes made about Anthony Davis’s durability? Truth is up until the 2023-24 season he’d been missing in action for a considerable number of Laker games over two seasons. I never thought it was funny just as I never thought Kawhi Leonard missing games or “load managed” was funny either. This past summer you remember the event don’t you, Leonard was on the roster for Team USA then he wasn’t. I never understood the why, the only thing I can say is become confused by Lawrence Frank president of the Clippers. Frank expressed confusion as to why Leonard was sent home and the question is, did Frank had knowledge he wasn’t sharing with the media and public. And now this news, the Clippers announced when training camp begins tomorrow Leonard will be held out of scrimmage activities.

The announcement stated there was a concern about his surgically repaired knee. Now I’m reading in barstoolsports.com an account claiming Leonard might have undergone another procedure later this past summer. Throughout his NBA career he’s always been reluctant to talk to the media which is certainly his prerogative. The actions of Leonard continue to be quite stealthy, if this second surgery is confirmed I’m unsure what to say about this development. Some reading this might remember media person Bomani Jones from his ESPN days. The subject of Leonard came up while he was a guest on The Rich Eisen Show. Jones was as blunt as can be he said, “I think he’s done and it’s a shame, finals MVP for two different franchises.” Leonard the outstanding defender and scoring threat who just cannot seem to remain healthy for an extended period of time.

Georgetown basketball

Prior to the arrival of the late John Thompson in 1972 the Washington D.C. university was only known for its excellent educational curriculum. During Thompson’s tenure, the school was placed on the basketball map of the nation, thus began a string of NCAA tournament appearances practically every season culminating with the 1984 NCAA Championship. In the 1998-99 season Thompson decided to retire and his assistant coach took over the program. Craig Esherick would coach the Hoyas for the next five years before turning over the team to Thompsons son John Thompson III. Over the next few years Georgetown basketball experienced up and downplay until he was fired by the school.

Prior to the 2017-18 season the school hired former Georgetown alumnus Patrick Ewing, it was hoped he would return the basketball program to its glory days. Despite his name and reputation the teams won-loss record failed to improve under the former Georgetown star player. The truth of the matter the record was even worse than play under Thompson III. In March 2023 Ewing was fired and replaced by Ed Cooley longtime Providence coach. The first season under Cooley was certainly underwhelming (9-23) but more is expected in his second year at the helm. Will this hire of Cooley be the right move for the Georgetown program, only time will tell however I have serious doubts if the team is allowed to flounder for an extended period.

Another possibility

The Lakers may have solved their post play and the name might surprise some of you. His name is not Anthony Davis, he will be the starter again this upcoming season, it’s the relief I speak of. It’s not Christian Koloko who signed a two way contract but the other guy with a two way contract. If you follow the Lakers as much as most of us his name is Colin Castleton and he’s been around for an extended period. Castleton’s played in Summer League and for the South Bay Lakers for an extensive time now.

Castleton stands 6 foot 10 and 250 pounds and this is the good part for him, there is no requirement for him to play like AD just offer relief. Christian Wood is missing until December due to surgery and Jaxson Hayes has not played up to the level expected. This leaves an opening for Castleton to earn a regular season contract. In other Laker news training camp is yet to open but JJ Redick’s already announced his starting lineup. D’Lo will be starter at the point, Austin Reaves at the shooting guard, LeBron James small forward plus Rui Hachimura at power forward, that leaves Anthony Davis as the center.   

A colossal miscarriage of justice

It’s been said, “There is nothing written that life should be fair.” I certainly can agree with the statement however sometimes on occasion your life can be drastically effected. That’s the case for the late Roger Brown, Connie Hawkins and Doug Moe. These three and several others had promising careers waiting for them in the NBA that bypassed them by an event that wouldn’t occur today. It was 1961 a different time, the three named were acquainted with sports gambler Jack Molinas. College basketball was rocked with a point shaving scandal and these three and others were named. There was no trial, none of the three was ever arrested.

Despite this fact they were banned from playing in the NBA regardless of the fact Hawkins was the only one who actually received any money. He’s borrowed $200 from Molinas which was repaid prior to news of the point scandal coming to the public’s attention. All three were eventually cleared however it was too little too late. Moe met with the gamblers but turned down any attempt to draft him for the scheme. The history indicates Brown was never accused of point shaving he was only acquainted with Molinas. Years later Hawkins would sue the NBA and when the court ruled in his favor he became a 27-year old rookie. Brown never played in the NBA, Moe served as coach of the NBA Nuggets. Hawkins was eventually enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. It’s my belief such a travesty of this magnitude would never occur today.

The City of Ben Franklin & Dr. J.

Philadelphia Pennsylvania has a rich history going back to its colonial days, the days of Benjamin Franklin inventor, politician and Founding Father of the Nation. In between Ben Franklin and Dr. J. there have been others who lived, worked in the City of Brotherly Love. As for Dr. J. he thrilled residents of the city and others throughout the nation with his play on the basketball court, Franklin in a different area. What about the current mayor, what’s her influence on the city in one area? You might remember I indicated last week Mayor Cherelle Parker announced an agreement with the Sixers for their planned arena.

The only difficulty as this is written it appears the mayor and the Sixers are the only parties pleased at this juncture. Chinatown will not be demolished in order to build the arena however it’s proximity to the arena has the coalition displeased with this “agreement.” In the meantime we discover another grassroots community organization has announced they intend to fight the proposed arena as well. The portion most interesting to me the mayor and Sixers indicate there is no public funding involved in the project. Despite this fact there is a court fight brewing between the mayor’s office and at least two community groups. This is not good news for Philadelphia, If this project cannot soon be finalized will Camden NJ remain in the picture.

The Nuggets

You remember the story, Superman could only be defeated by Kryptonite? Well I’m not comparing the play of the Lakers to Superman however they have beaten the Lakers two years in a row in the playoffs. That’s the story for my Lakers however that might not be the story for the balance of Western Conference teams. In 2023 the Nuggets did a beat down on the league winning the NBA championship. Nikola “The Joker” Jokic’s skillful passing and shooting, Michael Porter Jr. along with Jamal Murray and company…you know the story. They finished the regular season with 53 wins in addition to that championship.

The Nuggets were expected to compete for a second championship, they managed to accomplish only a portion of the task. They earned a playoff berth however the Wolves knocked them out of their repeat championship effort. What occurs for the upcoming season fans of the franchise are questioning. Center/Forward DaRon Holmes II was drafted from Dayton University however he might not see a great deal of court time with the veteran Nuggets roster. The only other addition is guard Russell Westbrook, he is expected to take on a reserve role. There is no argument on my part barring major injuries the Nuggets will earn a playoff berth again. As for championship aspirations I must wait to determine whether they are prepared for a deep run. The Nuggets must believe, the ESPN headline reads: “Nuggets believe they’re still in their championship window.”

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KAT

Saturday morning came news of a blockbuster NBA trade. The Wolves Karl-Anthony Towns was traded to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, DaQuan Jefferies and a lottery-protected first round pick from the Pistons. On the surface my first reaction says the Knicks intend to battle the Celtics for Atlantic Conference supremacy. The Knicks were competitive last season as Jalen Brunson led the way for the team. KAT becomes the second blockbuster move by the Knicks in this off season, earlier they added Mikal Bridges from the Nets.

The portion of the trade I find most interesting, KAT was born in Edison but grew up in Piscataway NJ located in the New York City metro. In a sense this will be a return to home so to speak, by the way according to the NY Post KAT says he did not demand this trade be made. This trade aids the Knicks in this manner, it makes up for the loss of Isiah Hartenstein and the delayed recovery from surgery for Mitchell Robinson. On the other end does this trade make the Wolves any stronger in the Western Conference? That question will remain unanswered for now, as for the Knicks I believe they have improved with this trade.

He’s retiring

Derrick Rose is retiring after 16 years in the NBA and after playing for several teams. After a year’s play at the University of Memphis the Bulls made this Chicago area talent their first pick in 2008. By 2011 he was made MVP of the association the youngest in the leagues history. Rose would tear his ACL in his left knee in the 2012 playoffs, surgery indicated he’d be out 8-12 months. He did not return for the 2012-13 season despite being cleared by the Bulls medical staff. He did return but later suffered another devastating injury which kept him sidelined.

Rose began a journey that took him to several teams in the NBA including the Knicks twice, his last team would be the Grizzlies where he retired. It’s quite easy to lookback on his NBA career and say, “If only he’d been able to avoid injury.” Considering the two devastating injuries it’s a wonder he even played in the NBA the length of time he managed (16 seasons). Rose turns 36 years of age this month and if he’s managed money properly should be able to live the rest of his life financially secure. As for the basketball part those who missed his play in college and early in his career with the Bulls missed a treat.

Are you a hater

This is an advance warning for those who consider yourselves a Duke hater. I offer not proof  but it appears the football team doesn’t suffer the same dislike that faces Duke basketball. I am sure some of this hatred goes back to the days of Coach K. Oh well here goes, I recently read the ESPN family of channels will broadcast a substantial number of Duke basketball games this upcoming season. Rest assured there will likely be games on CBS and Fox Sports as well.

It was pointed out the university will be on television more than a number of NBA teams. I’m sure a portion of this increased coverage is due to Duke wunderkind Cooper Flagg, he will be on full display during the 2024-25 college season. The legend of Flagg has grown to epic proportions prior to him ever setting foot inside Cameron Indoor Stadium for a meaningful game. The arena is always bursting at the seams anyway since it holds less than 10,000 fanatical supporters. In conclusion you have been warned in advance of the planned television schedule.  

Slipped beneath the radar

Imagine this scenario, you are made the 57th pick in the NBA draft, there are only 60 players chosen in total. This says you are third from the bottom, a draft pick that low is a sure indication of how scouts are evaluating your talent as a potential NBA player. What if I told you that was a true story, it was no fairy tale, that player’s name was Manu Ginobili. After the 1999 NBA draft Ginobili would spend his entire career as a member of the Spurs however it was not his first professional basketball play. Ginobili was chosen that year but would not play his first game for the Spurs until 2002. What occurred between the draft and his arrival…plenty, Ginobili would play for several European teams.

This is the portion of the story most interesting, he is considered the originator of the “Euro Step” however Ginobili is from Argentina on the South American continent. His resume is quite extensive, the following represents only his NBA career. Ginobili was a 4X NBA champion with the Spurs, 2008 NBA Sixth Man of the Year. It should be of note he made a name for himself as a reserve player before eventually becoming a member of the Spurs starting lineup. In 2022 Ginobili was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in Springfield Massachusetts, he’s come a great distance not being considered a valid prospect to the ultimate prize, the hall of fame. Based on how little scouts thought of him and where he ended can we say he “Slipped beneath the radar.”

Rivalry

I’m unsure if this is actually the case, college basketball rivalries are no longer intense. Don’t misunderstand my statement they still exist but not at the blazing white hot level any longer. As an example one of the best in the nation Kansas-Missouri no longer exists. With the departure of Mizzou to the SEC it disappeared, many especially on the Kansas side will claim it still exists but not for me. If we look closely that rivalry has been replaced by Illinois, the two schools play annually a week or so before Christmas. We cannot look at Kansas-Kansas State, one party must defeat the other on occasion. A one-sided match with the Kansas Jayhawks winning every season is not a rivalry.

What about the others, at the top of most list is North Carolina-Duke. These two schools located 12 miles apart have comprised some of the best basketball talent in the nation over the years. It’s been Duke’s coach K. since 1980 on one side and now Jon Scheyer, for Carolina since 1980 its been Dean Smith for a time then Bill Gutteridge, Matt Doherty, Roy Williams and now Hubert Davis. Up next might be Louisville-Kentucky, which is an interesting one. For years Kentucky refused to play Louisville, state government had to threaten to withhold funds if this policy remained in place. There are others however I wonder if they are as intense as we might believe, who are they? How about Indiana-Purdue, Xavier-Cincinnati along with Arizona-Arizona State. Did I miss any, I'm sure there are one or two I missed.  

Basketball from a fans perspective 

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Bits n Pieces of information

September 24 NBA training camp opened for teams participating in preseason games outside North America. On Tuesday October 1 training camps begins for the balance of NBA teams. The Celtics will begin defense of their 2024 championship and attempt something not done in quite a while...repeat as NBA champions. As autumn  officially begins I can say this was an interesting summer, who says there is an off-season, with Summer League basketball and the Olympics fanatics like me had a significant amount of basketball to watch during the summer including that played by AAU teams.   

Most of you might be aware AJ Dybantsa is the number one prospect in the Class of 2025. This 6 foot 9 200 pound forward has a considerable number of schools recruiting him. Recently the number was reduced to 7, who are they you ask? They include Kansas, Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Kansas State and North Carolina. Kansas basketball is heavily recruiting Dybantsa having hosted the young man on September 6, on September 20 he visited North Carolina and Alabama September 27. It’s unclear at this point where Dybantsa might be headed however ON3.com claims there is a 20% chance Dybantsa will chose BYU over the others. I wonder if this decision might be somewhat connected to his attendance at Utah Prep Academy in Hurricane Utah.

The defending Western Conference Championship Mavs have a new addition, I’m not speaking of any rookie this is a focus on sharpshooter Klay Thompson the other half of the Splash Brothers. After playing for the Warriors 13 years he found himself traded to the Mavs in July. Thompson is 34-years old now and with two surgeries in his recent past how much is “left in the tank” for him certainly might be a question? Last season Thompson scored nearly 18 points a game as he took on a less evident role on the fortunes of the Warriors. Rest assured the Mavs are hoping Thompson becomes the missing piece to an NBA championship.

On Wednesday I published the words of Kevin Garnett regarding Duke freshman Cooper Flagg. Garnett was extremely impressed with the potential of Flagg, I affirmed his view although not in the same language he used (lol). Why am I so confident regarding the Duke youngster…that’s easy. It’s not only Garnett I could add Kevin Durant to the growing number of NBA veterans Flagg’s impressed. After a scrimmage against Team USA these are the words of Durant. “He looks like a hell of a player,” Durant said at the time. “Somebody who is only going to get better with more experience.” For me if these two and others believe that strongly in the future of Flagg they allow that certainty to stream to me and others.

Jr. College, Big Sky, SEC…now NBA

The headline is the route Dalton Knecht traveled to become the Lakers first pick in the 2024 NBA draft. This is not intended as a slam but few NBA players these days begin their journey at a junior college. In the case of Knecht it was necessary because his outlook in high school even his senior year was unimpressive. In addition he only stood 6 foot 1 adequate for junior college but not the NBA. From Northeastern Junior College it was Northern Colorado University and finally a single breakout season at the University of Tennessee. By this time Knecht had grown to 6 foot 6 inches and 215 pounds. As the draft approached Knecht was projected to be a lottery pick on several sites.

Truth is nbadraft.net listed Knecht as the number 6 choice on their mock draft site. It may have been his age (23) or something else, as name after name was announced by the commissioner the slide had begun. Imagine the Lakers surprise when they discovered Knecht was available at 17. He was chosen then NBA Summer League play, his game was only average but certainly much more is expected once the 2024-25 NBA season begins. The route traveled by Knecht is not the usual one taken by most NBA first round picks, the question is he worth it? A few short weeks ahead of training camp and prior to the season I have no idea. Despite the statement seeing the road traveled thus far I would never say never, Knecht proves he’s got work ethic and will take him a great distance.

Dr. J. wasn’t much of a shooter

Before you begin booing and hissing me allow me to explain the headline. This is the end of that headline…Boy could he soar. Folks love to talk about Air Jordan however the doctor was “Air” prior to MJ arriving on the scene. As for his shooting Dr. J. had a lifetime .506 shooting from the floor and a rather average .298 from three. I consider him one of the driving forces behind expansion which added the Nets, Pacers, Nuggets and Spurs to the NBA. He left UMass for the ABA Virgina Squires in 1971, he played for them until 1973 moving to the New York Nets. From this point on the record is muddled in that we saw a number of events occur. Dr. J. would play a few exhibition games for the Atlanta Hawks although they held no draft rights.

His rights were actually held by the Milwaukee Bucks, finally legal action forced him to return to the NBA. By this time expansion had occurred, the Nets had Dr. J. and Nate Archibald, the prospect of having these two rival the Knicks caused them consternation. The Nets were forced to pay a huge sum of money for their entry into the New York market. After first paying a fee to join the NBA and then this effort to enter the New York market Roy Boe owner could not pay Dr. J. what was promised. An event would occur that drastically affected the Knicks, with money as an issue the contract of Dr. J. was offered to the Knicks who unbelievably turned them down. At this point, the Sixers purchased his contract and the balance of this story is NBA history.

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“He said what?”

Several reading this might become offended, they will consider it racist. I can’t look inside Kevin Garnett’s mind and only attempt to explain it as I believe it might have been intended. “The Kid” as he was nicknamed has seen Cooper Flagg in action and made this statement to Basketball Network. “When it comes to being a leader, with all the exposure he has gotten in high school, he is used to leading a team, he is used to the attention. He is used to walking to the gym and people knowing who he is, that superstardom that follows you,” Garnett said. “I’m seeing kids wanting be like that and play like that. When I see him move? I’m like, okay. He has that superstar potential. We ain’t had no bad-a**cold-a** white boy like this in a long time. That’s some real sh*t.”

Excuse the language and perhaps the racial tone however Garnett was expressing his belief regarding the Flagg potential. There are a number of white superstars or potential one’s in the NBA, we could begin with The Joker, Lauri Markkanen, Luka Doncic or a number I might have overlooked writing this from memory alone. Those mentioned and others are from Europe not the U.S., we must return to Larry Bird to uncover the last white American superstar to arrive in the NBA. 

Some might disagree with this statement, Gordon Hayward was on the road however injury might have derailed his potential. Last month after a series of playing for several teams he retired. As for yours truly I believe in Cooper Flagg, the true test the NBA lies ahead. I believe Flagg can conquer the NBA too but his first trial will be this upcoming season at Duke. Provided he’s given time to adjust to NBA play and avoids major injury we just might see the first white American superstar to arrive in the NBA since the days of Larry Bird.

Dickey V

If you follow college basketball you may have noticed longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale was missing in action this past season. Health issues kept him sidelined from telecasts much of last season, I’m unsure of his 2024-25 schedule. Despite this question Dickey V manages to provide us his clever remarks on basketball talent, most of them are easy to figure out while others might cause you to ask…what’s that? Rather than provide you the names of the players and coaches on the 2024-25 season my preference is to provide the comedic name of the team and a brief explanation:

PTPers (prime-time players)- important team members 

Floor Generals-point guards or leaders performing a similar role

Low Post Enforcers- prominent centers

Marco Polo Team- noteworthy talent transferring from other teams 

Frank Lloyd Wright Team-coaches who perform double duty coaching & managing NIL

A quick history lesson for some and a reminder for others, Marco Polo was an Italian merchant who traveled from his country to Asia in the 13th century. Frank Lloyd Wright was a well-known American architect and designer (1867-1959), he created over 1,000 structures during his 70 year career.

Do you agree

A sports website provided it’s list of the NBA’s All-Time Top Passers. I’m going to list them but might ask the question, did they omit anyone you believe should have been included. With that said here goes, by the way these are not in any order:

Bob Cousy        Chris Paul                     Isiah Thomas    Jason Kidd

John Stockton  Larry Bird                      LeBron James   Magic Johnson

Nikola Jokic      Oscar Robertson           Rajon Rondo     Steve Nash

This I find most interesting for me, although their list contains 12 names it is not exclusively point guards. Forwards LeBron James and Larry Bird earn positions along with center Nikola Jokic. As for additions I’m adding Walt “Clyde” Frazier along with Gary Payton and surprise… the name of Wilt Chamberlain. This might be shocking to some, Chamberlain once led the NBA in assists (8.6) in the 1967-68 season. In conclusion do you have additional names to add?

The best

If you were asked the question, “Which HBCU school had the best record in the 2023-24 season could you answer?” We’ll I will inform you which one it ain’t, it’s not Grambling State, Prairie View, Howard University or any other HBCU institution. Truth of the matter its Langston University located in Langston Oklahoma about 50 miles north of Oklahoma City. This past season playing an NAIA schedule they lost an exhibition game against the University of Arkansas at Monticello on December 4.

They wouldn’t lose another game until NAIA Tournament time came around. Langston played for the NAIA Championship but lost to Freed-Hardeman University from Henderson Tennessee 71-67. In between those two losses Langston won 30 consecutive games and finished the season with 35 wins versus 2 losses. Expect more great basketball from Langston led by head coach Chris Wright. He managed to turn around one of the worst basketball programs in the nation going 31-3 in his first year and 35-2 in year two.

There really is no off season

Does an off season exist for the NBA and all basketball…I think not. Technically teams are not at play however news and events continue to occur from April (end of the college season). As for the NBA the league makes news 12 months of the year. As an example in June the Celtics were crowned NBA champions, we then moved to the NBA draft and then free agency. This places us near the end of July but it doesn’t end there, the balance of the summer sees NBA Summer League play. This summer was different in that a number of NBA players were active in the Olympics.

Team USA, France, Canada and the rosters of several other nations contained NBA or former league players. In the meantime over the summer a number of youth teams are active playing AAU basketball from coast to coast. In early August as students begin returning to school so do freshman, transfer and returning basketball members. Once again I make the statement I’m unsure if an “off-season” really exists for basketball at all levels. Basketball is no different from other pro and amateur sports which also operate 12 months a year. Just because the teams are not competing that fails to take into consideration there is activity on-going.

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“Never underestimate the heart of a champion”

Rudy Tomjanovich uttered the words at the time he coached the Rockets to an NBA Championship. I’ve always been led to believe it was meant to say to all no one has the ability to look inside a person and be able to determine their ability, talent or work ethic. Oftentimes all must be developed, if we look at an athlete at any particular stage we sometimes believe they were blessed with God given talent. Probably the majority were but it had to be developed. Recently I read a scouting report on the Dodgers Shoei Ohtani.

The report on Ohtani questioned if he would ever be able to hit major league pitching. This season he’s accomplished a feat no one in the 175 year history of baseball has ever done. As this is written early Sunday afternoon Ohtani’s totaled 52 home runs along with 53 stolen bases. In the NFL safety Deron Cherry of the Chiefs wasn’t drafted in 1981, it was said scouts considered him “too slow.” During his 10-year career Cherry was 3X First Team NFL, 2X Second Team and was a Pro Bowl honoree 6X. Cherry also has been honored being named to the Chiefs Hall of Fame. You’ve heard the follow story numerous times. this story numerous times, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, look at him now.

Anytime we discuss the GOAT who’s name is always part of the conversation. I might give scouts a bit of a break regarding Steph Curry after all in high school he was 5 foot 8 inches and 150 pounds. This from Dub Nation a scouting report regarding the 2009 Curry. “He is too small to guard NBA shooting guards and he shoots too much to be a NBA point guard. In the pros, he won’t have the green light to fire up as many threes as in college. In 2009, threes are still regarded as a complementary weapon but not something you can build a championship team around. It is well known in 2009 that you can’t win a trophy just shooting jump shots.” I wonder if the scout who wrote that report on Curry is still analyzing basketball talent or even if he’s still employed.

Top International player

Hoopshype published a list of the Top 40 International NBA players. There is no requirement from me to compile a list, there are only two vying for the top spot. Hakeem Olajuwon from Nigeria and Dirk Nowitzki of Germany, neither of them were the first foreign players to arrive on these shores. These two might have been the best based on their Naismith Hall of Fame enshrinement. It’s clear they have been placed on the pedestal by someone besides me. 7 foot center Olajuwon arrived on these shores and began play for the University of Houston.

That first year many thought he’d be on his way back to Nigeria, he was plain unimpressive. His work ethic prevailed while enrolled at Houston and by the end of his junior year he was ready to tackle NBA play. The Houston Rockets of the NBA with ample opportunity to witness his play chose him with the first pick in the 1984 NBA draft. Olajuwon would lead his Rockets team to back to back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. His footwork around the basket was a thing of beauty, the media even gave it a name titling it “The Dream Shake.” Olajuwon raw to the game of basketball would later claim soccer (football) was responsible for his moves around the basket. In 2008 Olajuwon was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. After a few years playing in his native Germany Dirk Nowitzki submitted his name for the 1998 NBA draft. Although he was a member of the Mavs from 1994 through 2019 they didn’t draft him. In 1998 the Bucks drafted him with the 9th pick in the first round.

Nowitzki’s rights were traded to the Mavs which turned out to be his only NBA team. Nowitzki would be a prolific scorer during his NBA career, he scored over 31,000 points during his time. In addition he helped lead the Mavs to the 2011 NBA championship. With a height of 7 feet he might have been the first to not play the post…his days were spent as a power forward. In 2023 Nowitzki was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. For me anytime a discussion revolves around the top international players these are the two names most highly regarded. Perhaps one day Victor Wembanyama might be mentioned in the same breath.

It's early

Although the Mizzou roster is ripe with a bunch of freshman players I decided to look at 2025. On3.com not only provides a name but they also provide an estimate if that prospect is headed to a particular school. As for 2025 they list Mizzou with 4 players who may or may not head to Columbia next August. On3 assigns a percentage where the prospect might be headed. With the exception of one here are the names, position they play and their rating, with that said here goes:

*Aaron Rowe 6 foot 1 165 pound point guard 4-stars

Efeosa Oliogu 6 foot 6 220 pound small forward 4-stars

Nicholas Randall 6 foot 10 230 pound power forward 3-stars

Chuck Love Jr. 6 foot 7 185 pound small forward 3-stars

*verbal commit December 2023

It’s highly likely this list will contain additions and subtractions by August 2025 when school begins. So this represents the Class of 2025 prospects associated with Mizzou.

What do you want man….

If we travel back in time some will remember this, the Lakers acquired Andre Drummond at the trade deadline in 2021. The veteran center would play 22 games before signing a free agent contract with the Sixers at the end of the season. If you remember Anthony Davis was unhappy complaining Drummond was “taking up space” he normally utilized. Drummond was then and now no offensive threat but he did clog the lane and was able to rebound the ball and take a lob pass on occasion. My hope was the Lakers would make an effort to sign him for another season and then WHAM he’s gone.

Why am I giving you this history, that’s easy we are preparing for the 2024-25 season. Davis has indicated “I’d like to play beside a center.” This comment is interesting based on the fact he’s indicated his lack of desire to play center. If the Lakers acquire Jonas Valanciunas it must occur at the trade deadline, he signed with the Wizards in the off season. The Lakers at least for a time must play Jaxson Hayes or Summer League center Colin Castleton, finally there is Christian Wood but he will be out for a time based on his surgery. I’m not sure who might be available on waivers so it would appear AD is in the post for the time being whether he likes it or not.

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It’s not what you (or me) thought

How did the nickname Dr. J. come about, it’s not what I first heard. Years ago I read he was given the nickname while playing at Harlem’s Rucker Park, it was supposed to have been done because of the manner “He operated on the court” hence a doctor. Well he tells a slightly different story how the name came about, it turns out a couple of high school friends gave nicknames to one another. He referred to his friend as “The Professor” while his friend tagged him with “Dr. J.” Much later playing in Rucker Park he was nicknamed “Black Moses” and “Houdini,” he indicates he told them to call him “Doctor.” Over time the name morphed into “Doctor Julius,” finally a future pro teammate referred to him as Dr. J. the name his friend had first given him during his high school days.    

Can he play…

Recently Creighton University made news announcing Hudson Greer Class of 2025 has given a verbal to attend the school. The 6 foot 6 inch small forward attends Montverde Academy made it known he intends to enroll at the Omaha Nebraska school. Creighton indicates Greer is the 35th highest rated prospect in the nation and Creighton’s highest ever. The portion I find most interesting is the number of schools with offers for Greer, they include Kansas, Auburn, Arizona, Cal and Alabama to name just a few.     

We continue to hear the term mid-major or Power 5 when referring to specific schools and conferences. The terms used to describe the level of play at a particular institution is so misleading in a number of aspects. My chief concern for Greer and others, can he play? That is the key, check this next portion out. Creighton has a time honored basketball history dating back generations. The school has produced over 50 NBA players over time which is a larger number than some so-called Power 5 schools. In any event expect Greer to begin play at Creighton in the fall of 2025.

The best

Several times I’ve written of my belief, Kobe Bryant was the best I ever saw play. There have been a number of others over my lifetime, as I pointed out several times it’s difficult to compare players from different eras. Bryant won a single MVP during his career, he was never honored as Finals MVP, in those instances it certainly should not be considered a failure on his part. Kobe Bryant was driven to succeed and do this at a level sometimes overlooked by fans and especially competitors. Byron Scott had an opportunity to see Bryant excel closely, first as a teammate and later as his coach.

Scott had some interesting observations regarding him. *“Kobe Bryant was not the most talented player that I’ve seen on the basketball court, Tracy McGrady was more talented, Vince Carter was more talented. But they didn’t have that oomph that Kobe had…And that’s why when he would go against those guys, he would shine.” Reading Scott’s words you might claim there is a built in bias, I could see that and wouldn’t argue the conclusion. My observations and thoughts and including those of Byron Scott we could say Kobe Bean Bryant should be included in any discussions on the GOAT in the NBA.

*NBA on ClutchPoints

Bits n Pieces of information 

And you thought the Big XII or whatever it’s named was the only conference making news. You might remember last week Washington State and Oregon State invited Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State to become members of the Pac-12. These schools will be added in 2026 but wait there’s more news or rumors at least. This is not confirmed however the conference is looking at adding Memphis and Tulane as possible conference members along with UNLV. In addition also named as possibilities are USTA, North Texas, South Florida and Texas State. Now friends we realize all of the institutions named are not necessarily going to become members of the “new” expanded Pac-12. Our count would add a total of 7 schools added to those already named. All the schools pledge earlier and the rumored schools field football teams so that area would be covered too. Now we realize it’s certainly a possibility, however, not every one of these schools will become affiliated with this new conference.

Although the mayor of Philadelphia made an announcement that the Sixers arena is not a done deal, I thought it would be a beneficial idea if I provided you some background. As most are aware the Sixers play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The arena also serves as home for the Flyers of the NHL and the Wings of the National Lacrosse League. Although I would guess the dates available for the Sixers to play are satisfactory there is an additional issue. Wells Fargo Center is owned by Comcast Spectacor an American sports and entertainment company headquartered in Philadelphia. 76 Place at Market East would become the exclusive home of the Sixers. In addition as owners the Sixers would derive income as owners rather than paying a lease. I have since discovered 76 Place is located near the Chinatown area, this impasse is not a done deal yet. The Save Chinatown Coalition indicate they intend to oppose this agreement between the mayor-city and the Sixers.

Kiyan Anthony is yet to make a decision on where he’s headed to college. He’s the son of former NBA player Carmelo Anthony and he’s got a number of scholarship offers to choose from. One might be more enticing than others it’s from Syracuse University where his dad played, of course Carmelo led the Orangemen to the 2003 NCAA Championship. Kiyan is a 6 foot 5 177 pound shooting guard, he claims neither his dad nor mom La La Anthony have placed any pressure on him to attend Syracuse. Auburn, Florida State, Ohio and Rutgers are among the other schools with offers. Kiyan is a 4 star rated prospect by most scouting sites and is in the Class of 2025.

Basketball from a fans perspective

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A slight bit confusing

A story released regarding Seattle’s NBA prospects is a slight bit confusing. This from ESPN, “Sources said if a team was to return to Seattle, the Thunder would cede the Seattle history back to the Supersonics—just as the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets reclaimed the Charlotte-era history of the New Orleans Pelicans when Charlotte switched from being the Bobcats to the Hornets in 2014.” All that might be well and good but I thought this was already in place, allow a further explanation.

I remember reading at the time there were a number of conditions Thunder ownership had to agree, one of those was the team name. Supersonics or Sonics belonged exclusively to Seattle, unlike moves of the past (Lakers, Warriors) the team would travel but the name wouldn’t accompany the team to Oklahoma City. I might have misunderstood the conditions however I thought that was the intent. In any case the NBA has no current plans for expansion prior to the 2027-28 season, by then all of us including me will have forgotten this bump.

Bits n Pieces of information 

By now you might be aware I don’t obsess over polls…they are interesting depending on the subject. In addition they are often the topic of discussion as we gather at work and other locations. In this instance the subject we are discussing are the Top 100 Players in the NBA. This is provided to us by a panel of 10 CBS Sports media people, I can say the ranking they provided us was quite interesting. This is what I noted, they place The Joker as the top player in the NBA, last season they ranked LeBron James at 12 he’s at 8 for this upcoming season. They ranked Wemby the number 12 player in the NBA going into his second year, is that too high in your view? Consider this fact alone according to the panel Wemby is placed above Kawhi Leonard (18), Paul George (20) and Kyrie Irving (25). Check out the balance of the list on the CBS NBA page if you have an opportunity.

You might have read this report circulating on Ja Morant, it seems the Grizzly combo guard wants out of Memphis. These are my words based on reports “Memphis inhibits my growth in a number of areas.” I have a huge degree of skepticism regarding the story because of the requirements. What can the Lakers possibly offer the Grizzlies…AD and three other members of their starting lineup? In other words they would be forced to break up the team in order to acquire Morant. Don’t misunderstand, despite Morant’s off the court issues I consider him a talented combo guard, he could boost the level of play for whatever team for which he might play. I just happen to believe whatever team Morant might eventually play for it ain’t gonna be my Lakers.

I’m truly going to miss him, Adrian Wojnarowski or Woj is one of the ESPN voices I listen intently. Woj has always been insightful and knowledgeable regarding the NBA and basketball in general. On Wednesday morning came the announcement he will be leaving the network to become GM for the basketball program at St. Bonaventure his alma mater. I don’t know this to be a fact at all institutions of higher education however among his duties at St. Bonaventure will be administering the NIL program for the university. He’d worked at ESPN since 2017, prior to that it was Yahoo Sports and the Record at Bergen County (New Jersey). There is no indication if ESPN intends to replace him or his duties divided between others, I can say this with the sincere form of appreciation…I will miss Woj’s reporting.

You remember the story, the Sixers wanted a new arena. Almost immediately they ran into a roadblock from residents, the area designated for the arena was to be located in the Chinatown portion of Philadelphia. Seeing the turmoil on the other side of the Delaware River Camden NJ made a move. They proposed the Sixers build their arena in Camden, incentives were included in an attempt to lure the Sixers across the river. Well that has now changed, the mayor of Philadelphia called a press conference on Wednesday announcing the Sixers would build their arena in Philadelphia. The announcement was made with few details other than the arena would be built in Center City. What I don’t know, is this proposed area near or adjacent to the Chinatown area of the city? The mayor indicated additional detail on the arena would be provided later. Of course I will attempt to update you as soon as additional news is forthcoming.

In the spotlight

This spring and summer Kansas City and Jackson County have been a news item due to its two sports teams. Royals owner John Sherman desires a downtown baseball stadium, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has been a little more guarded in his words surrounding the Chiefs and GEHA Arrowhead Stadium. I’m providing a little history based on developments next door in the State of Kansas. Star Bonds were voted in the Kansas legislature to finance a new stadium(s). Prior to the vote a legislator detailed the number of sports teams leaving the State of Missouri over time. Of those teams named the Kings stood out for me because of their struggles here.

The Kings moved to Kansas City from Cincinnati in 1972, they would move to Sacramento in 1985. In between those years citizens were witness to mostly subpar NBA play, there is no other manner to describe it. There were 5 playoff appearances in 13 years and only once did the Kings advance past the first round…can you say it loudly pathetic. Based on the poor play for the most part the team suffered at the gate, the other part which cannot be documented by me is sponsorship money. It was a different NBA back then so that cannot be documented. I guess in an attempt to promote the effort of the Star Bonds this Kansas legislator told the account of his version why sports teams including the Kings departed the State of Missouri and Kansas City.     

Basketball from a fans perspective

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This is the last time

Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas has an opinion on just about everyone who ever played in the NBA. I’ve only watched one or two of his podcasts, most times I read about his outrageous statements on the web. The chief problem for me with Arenas it seems he’s got nothing positive to say regarding any NBA player before 2001. Of course that was the year he began play for the Golden State Warriors. His latest target former Mavs and Pistons forward Mark Aguirre, I didn’t bother with reading the Arenas version for one reason. Almost immediately Aguirre came back at Arenas for what he said.

Once again the “Mouth that Roared” has struck, I wonder what’s caused him to be so negative. Is there some deep seated basis for Arenas to always appear to take the low road regarding former players? Arenas was out of the NBA far sooner than he should have been, I believe this might have occurred based on some of the drama surrounding his career. The NBA and ownership is willing to go only so far. There are others like Arenas who probably left the NBA sooner than expected primarily due to off the court behavior. I hope someone besides me reminds me, as the headline states, this is the last time I will attempt to write anything regarding Gilbert Arenas.

How clearance to play works

Thanks to ESPN staff writer Dave McMenamin he provided us medical facts most of us were probably unfamiliar with. On Monday I wrote of the Lakers signing 7-1 Christian Koloko and his past medical condition. The account created volumes of letters from NBA fans questioning the medical disorder Koloko suffered and whether he would be able to play in the upcoming season. Although the Lakers have signed him he is not cleared to play yet, according to McMenamin this requirement must be met first. Koloko must be cleared by a “fitness to play panel.” The panel is comprised of “an NBA appointed doctor, a players union appointed doctor and a mutually agreed on third doctor.” I can’t be sure but would guess the procedure is the same whenever a similar medical concern might crop up.

More than Showtime

I wasn’t there, however it’s my belief Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty was 90% inaccurate. The writer or writers took editorial freedom with several incidents that prevailed during the Showtime era. Some of the writing paralleled the actual events while other portions came strictly from the mind of the writers. I read several letters from fans applauding the HBO series, this is certainly the viewers privilege. Probably the most inaccurate portion of the series dealt with Jerry West, they painted such an inaccurate portrait West threatened to sue although he never followed through. In June 2024, The Logo as he was nicknamed passed away at the age of 86.

We read and heard such prolific story’s about West one might believe he was a BIG guard, the truth is he was quite small even for the time period he played. If West were drafted today at 6 foot 3 or 190.5 centimeters, he’d be penciled in as the point guard and not the shooting guard he played. As for his playing weight it was reported West checked in at 175 pounds or 79.3787 kilograms. His accomplishments as a basketball player and executive are far too extensive to list in detail. NBA champion, perennial NBA All-Star, 35th, 50th and 75th NBA anniversary team member, inducted in the College and Naismith Hall of Fame. As this profile on West was being completed the Lakers announce they will honor West in the upcoming season, each Laker jersey will contain a 44 patch on the shoulder portion of each.

The talent evaluator

A YouTube video contained the account of a high school assistant coach, he’s at a prestigious nationally known school. One of the terms he claims is overused is Generational Talent. Who’s fault is this rush to judgement regarding high school and in some instances college talent? If we can point a finger at someone it’s the talent evaluator, doesn’t matter if it’s Bleacher Report, ESPN Top whatever or various mock draft sites. The media then grabs the story and runs with it, we see a 15-year old Emoni Bates in action. An evaluator once claimed, “If the NBA allows high school talent he’s ready to play.” That turned out to not be the case and it wasn’t the fact Bates was impacted by injury.

Bates was High School Gatorade Player of the Year and other stuff, there were other forces at work but I hope you see where I’m going. The jury is still out regarding Bates, hopefully he is rewarded with his dream one day. The latest example of this continuing trend is phenom Cooper Flagg of Duke, he’s done nothing wrong except have several noteworthy games (Team USA scrimmage) and we decide he’s the gold standard. What did he or Bates for that matter do wrong…. absolutely nothing? We’ve got to cease being disappointed when a prospect fails to play at the level “we expect.” I tossed out the term “generational talent” early but it’s my belief they are really few in number. I don’t believe its hype to lay that tag on Victor Wembanyama, LeBron James was a generational talent, there certainly are others but those two names stand out for me.  

Basketball from a fans perspective

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And what medical school did you attend?

The reported signing of Christian Koloko by the Lakers caused quite a stir. Letter after letter questioned his medical status, it wasn’t just 4 or 5 from one website…I stopped counting at 10. My statement is simple, Koloko might not be able to help the Lakers. There might be aspects of his game the coaching staff might uncover which leave him lacking. Despite my statement it appears the vast majority of you are ready to medically disqualify him, considering the fact a blood issue caused him to miss the last 1 and ½ seasons that’s understandable. The question for many of you is simple, what medical school did you attend?

A number of you are ready to write Koloko off despite the fact you are providing an opinion without little if any medical knowledge. If I were you it might be an innovative idea to wait for a trained medical staff to fully evaluate him. In addition some of you attempted to tie his condition in with former Heat forward Chris Bosh. For those who don’t remember a similar medical issue did end his NBA career, however, you fail to consider medical advancements. Surgery is reported to have fully addressed the issue, in addition reports indicate Koloko's been working out in 5 on 5 drills. There is only one conclusion we can draw from this situation. these prospects. Take a crack at not squeezing Koloko’s condition into your limited knowledge of medicine, his case might be totally unlike Bosh.

Team USA-2028

This is a re-visit because of a later read, if you remember I gave you my list of Olympic Team USA for 2028. Evidently one NBA player doesn’t agree with me, he claims the team will lack the grit and leadership of LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. I can understand that might be true, the trio certainly were key to Team USA winning the Gold Medal. There is an area where I lack the ability, the capability to accurately project the future.

Of course I can agree with this player Team USA will be lacking the leadership of those mentioned, is he claiming this will be the basis for the failure to win Gold? He could be correct however I’m not brave enough to make that statement in 2024, I’d like to revisit this issue four years from now. In closing a website I located contained listed several names omitted from my list. Along with the names I listed earlier this added to the Team USA roster was Jalen Brunson, Jalen Suggs, Cooper Flagg, Chet Holmgren. Do you think the team can be competitive with the world? 

It’s likely he’s the only one

I came across his name while conducting research, his was Jo Jo White. It is likely White is the only basketball player from Missouri fans of Kansas basketball love. Allow for an explanation, White was born in St. Louis and attended McKinley HS. In 1965 White decided to journey across Missouri and attend Kansas University. The bio indicates White began play a semester early, in addition to an outstanding collegiate career he played a significant role in the history book of basketball.

The NCAA tournament saw Kansas facing Texas Western (now the University of Texas-El Paso) in 1966. In the first OT White hit a 35-foot shot which would have been the game winner. The game official ruled White was out of bounds when he took the shot thus a second OT. Kansas would lose to Texas Western in the second OT and the El Paso school would go on to a historic event. Texas Western with an all-black starting lineup would face all-white Kentucky, although this was 1966 the majority of major schools in the south had no black players on their rosters. White would go on to earn NCAA Second Team All American twice, he made the all-Big 8 (now Big XII) team three years. In 1969 the Celtics chose him as the 9th player in the first round of that year’s draft. White would become a key to the 1974 and 1976 NBA Championships won by the Celtics.

White played until 1979 for the Celtics but finished his last two years with the Warriors and Kansas City Kings. In addition to his NBA Championships he also won Gold in the 1967 Pan American Games and in the 1968 Olympics. In 2015 White was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. White died as a result of dementia brought on by pneumonia in 2018, he was two months past his 71st birthday. Jo Jo White a name from the past and surely the only Missouri guy Kansas fans love the memory.

It's an urban game

The title refers to the game of basketball and the fact many consider it a city game. I’m quite sure several will disagree with that hypothesis, we could look back in history and Larry Bird (French Lick, Indiana). In addition to Bird we could today point toward Cooper Flagg (Newport, Maine). Flagg’s college game is yet to be evaluated, most likely he’s the most talented high school player in the nation. Bird and Flagg and others over time acquired their basketball skills in small towns and rural portions of America. It might be a population thing, my belief it’s a space issue. Consider the fact the space required to play basketball is quite insignificant compared to other team sports.

Football, baseball and soccer require a great deal of space that is not required for basketball. In urban portions of the nation you might see a milk carton or a basketball goal attached to a utility pole in an inner city neighborhood. Lacking a park or gym enterprising youngsters can be seen holding up their game to allow vehicle traffic to pass. Next we turn to basketball courts in parks and the playground of schools, these can sometimes be filled with scores of participants. These games are often not full court so a different team could be playing directly opposite of the other. No argument the game is played in rural areas and small town America but its blossomed in urban portions of this nation. Keep in mind this is just an opinion and certainly cannot be taken as fact more an observation.   

Basketball from a fans perspective

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I just read the headline

Things to do while waiting on basketball to begin play again, at the top of the list is wasteful stuff like this. Basketball Network on Saturday morning decided to look at Spurs David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama. The idea was for the reader to decide which one to start, which to bench and which to cut in their rookie NBA season. I place this before you with my opening comment this makes little sense on any level. At this point we believe Wemby has a bright future ahead in the NBA.

We don’t know that to be a fact for Wemby based on a single but outstanding rookie season. Do you realize all three were number one picks in the NBA draft? Robinson was made the first pick in the 1987 NBA draft as was Tim Duncan in 1997, Wemby was number one last season. Considering the fact all were number one draft picks why bench or even dare cut one of them. Realizing each had to adjust to NBA play the supposition fails to register with me and I’m really unsure why I am wasting your time and mine writing about it. One more fact to consider, Robinson and Duncan are in the Naismith Hall of Fame. Of course that was far from anyone’s thoughts in 1987 and 1997.

The NBA’s latest owner

Some of you might remember the story I wrote regarding Junior Bridgeman several months back. This former Bucks player with a 10-year NBA career has parlayed his salary and has become an outstanding entrepreneur. He once owned more than 450 restaurants around the nation, in addition he owned a Coca-Cola distributorship. I have no intent to boggle your mind with numbers let’s just say he is likely somewhat financially secure.

Bridgeman retired in 1987 and as you are aware NBA salaries were nowhere close to what exists currently. How financially secure is Bridgeman at present you might ask, sound enough to afford to purchase 10% of the team he once played for. I decided to research the value of the Bucks, according to Forbes the Bucks are valued at $2.3 billion. It’s clear Bridgman an outstanding NBA player has leveraged his NBA earnings far beyond what might have been once imagined by even him. We often read so many accounts of athletes who retire from the sport and are insolvent despite all the money earned while they were active players.

He’s how tall

Awhile back I introduced to many of you Oliver Rioux, this French-Canadian youngster is now enrolled at the University of Florida. I have doubts now he sees much action in his freshman year, this limited play might be due to the adjustment from high school to the college game and his height. The chief issue is his skill set, standing 7 foot 9 inches (yes that’s what you just read) his conditioning and the need to absorb multiple facets of the game. Video of him in action fails to convey much after all in high school he was so much taller than the opposition.  

As for the height issue imagine this, Rioux’s height caused him to stand “head and shoulders” above all his classmates. In the 3rd grade Rioux stood an amazing 6 foot 1, he was 7 feet tall while in the 7th grade. This growth pattern has continued throughout his teen years, at the time Rioux signed his letter of intent for Florida he stood 7 foot 6. He’s grown an additional 3 inches since last year. Both parents are well above average height however nowhere near the height of their son. Unless you work in the medical field you might have forgotten the pituitary gland located at the base of our brain is responsible for among other body functions growth, what occurs in the future, will Rioux continue to grow?

Imagine this he’s a mere 3 inches short of 8 feet, can you envision a player of that height as you are driving toward the basket? If and that’s a might large IF he ever plays in the NBA he will officially be the tallest player in the leagues history. Rioux will eclipse the height of George Muresan who played for the Bullets and Nets (1993-2000) and Manute Bol (1985-1994) drafted by the Bullets he was also a member of the Warriors, Sixers and Heat. Muresan and Bol stood 7 feet 7 inches in height, Yao Ming was behind them at 7 feet 6 inches.

A Laker center?

Much later you will read an account of the Lakers attempt to acquire a post player. 98% of the article remains valid because this latest effort might not resolve the issue. As you might be aware the Lakers Anthony Davis wants to return to the power forward position, he’s played the center position skillfully I might say but it’s not his favorite. The Lakers might have solved his dilemma, they have reached an agreement with former Raptors second round draft pick Christian Koloko. Koloko’s not played in nearly two years due to a blood clot issue which is reported to have been rectified. As this is written he is waiting on the NBA to clear him to return.

Before you members of Laker Nation become too excited there is no guarantee he plays for the varsity, he might end up with the South Bay Lakers. A little background on Koloko, he’s originally from Cameroon on the African continent although one of the two high schools he attended was Sierra Canyon the same school as Bronny James. The 7-1 230 pound Koloko played three years at Arizona before he declared for the draft. In 2022 the Raptors made him the 33rd pick in the second round. It appears the Lakers are looking at his defense rather than a limited offensive game. He’s got a 7 foot 5 inch wingspan and appears to thrive on the defensive end, he is a lob threat but that might be the extent of his offensive effort currently. There you have it, the Lakers may or may not have resolved the question of a starting center to replace AD.