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.