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.