Basketball from a fans perspective

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Former NBA player Lou Williams is retired now, he will turn 37 years old the 27th of October. It was March 27, 1962, exactly 62 years ago, that was the night Wilt Chamberlain set the NBA single game scoring record. In a game against the Knicks played in Hershey Pennsylvania it occurred. Before a total of 4,000 plus Warrior fans Chamberlain would score 100 points in the game, on the other hand maybe he didn’t. Williams becomes the latest of this generation to question whether the event occurred, to compound this issue further no filmed evidence exists.

NBA games were televised in that day although the Chamberlain game was only available on radio. I can’t offer any proof the event occurred but believe it did. No video evidence film or tape exists however it’s the fact some tend to doubt it occurred. Williams wants someone to prove the scoring record was established in the March 1962 game. Nowadays there is not a single professional sports game that lacks proof it occurred. In closing I’m going to add this, several years ago archival radio tape of the last few minutes of the 4th quarter of this game was located. Of course in the day of AI someone listening to this will decide the audio has been manipulated, check it out and see what you think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Agchvbxd8A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_QjAPwlauA

Braves in the NBA

Some of you are aware the Clippers were born to the NBA on the other coast. The Braves in New York State were an expansion team who began play in 1970, the team lasted until 1978 and moved to San Diego and would become the Clippers. Despite Buffalo losing their team in a short space of time their record allowed them to draft a trio of players who could have provided them a winning record. In 1972 the Braves would draft Bob McAdoo with the 2nd pick in the first round. McAdoo moved into the NBA without missing a beat and was named 1973 rookie of the year. The following season Ernie DiGregorio was made the third pick in that year’s draft, he would be named 1974 rookie of the year.

He led the NBA in assists his rookie year, despite this glowing start a severe knee injury would see him play only 5 seasons in a Braves jersey. 1976 the Braves chose Adrian Dantley with pick number 6 in the first round, he too would be named rookie of the year in 1977. Other than the injured DiGregorio what about McAdoo and Dantley? Both would be enshrined in the College and Naismith Hall of Fame. McAdoo would also be named a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. This is no attempt at revisionist history, there were issues far beyond talent that witnessed Buffalo losing its NBA team. The point…for a brief period the Braves appeared to have a monopoly drafting talent it just didn’t aid them to wins on the court.

What’s a 2-way contract

As this is written Christian Koloko’s been signed to a two-way contract by the Lakers, they also have at least one other player signed in the same manner. What exactly is this type of agreement between team and player, I am pleased you asked the question? The following are not my words rather they are AI generated.

*An NBA two-way contract allows a player to split time between an NBA team and its G-League affiliate.

*This contract is intended for players who are still developing and don’t want to play professional basketball outside the NBA.”

*There are restrictions such as: Players must have fewer than four years’ experience

*Players can play in up to 50 NBA regular season games, and are ineligible for the NBA postseason.

*A two-way contract can be converted to a regular contract during the season

*Two-way player salaries do not count against the salary cap

These are but few key provisions, there are others involving two-way contracts, my hope was to provide key provisions of these type of contracts. Over the last several years this method has been utilized by an increasing number of NBA teams as they attempt to groom talent or fill a vital roster need. 

In other parts of the nation

The arena in Philly, 76 Place at Market East appears to be in a holding pattern as this is written, in other parts of the nation progress is ever so slowly moving. Let’s check arena development in Oklahoma City for the Thunder first. The planned opening date was to be June 2030, the timeline has been moved up to have the team play the 2028-2029 season in the arena. The location of the arena is the area occupied by the Myriad/Cox Center/Prairie Surf studio which will be demolished.

This spot is a short distance from the Bricktown entertainment district of the city. The architect is yet to be selected although Populous Architects headquartered in my hometown of Kansas City is reported to be in the lead. The report indicates a firm is likely to be chosen prior to the 2024-2025 season which says depending on my publishing schedule could be announced earlier. In this day $1 billion is not an astronomical amount based on the cost of new arenas over the last few years. This represents the latest information I could uncover regarding the replacement for Paycom Arena.