Basketball from a fans perspective

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We just don’t know

Even NBA draft experts don’t always have a clue, they have no idea if it’s a good or bad draft until 4-5 years later. Last June the 2024 version was considered “weak” in some circles…as I said we just don’t know right away. The most interesting aspect to date and it’s still early is rookie Zach Edey. I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion after declaring for the 2023 draft scouts advised him to return to Purdue. The 7-4 300 pound Edey probably had elements of his game that needed work, so he went back to school and labored on them.

This time last year mock draft sites had him chosen in the middle of the second round, some excluded his name all together. Seeing him play even during his junior year no one would mistake him for the second coming of Kareem or Shaq but he possessed potential. Edey was chosen early in the first round by the Grizzlies with the number 9 pick. His 11.1 ppg and 7 assists a game are not going to wow anyone however he’s clearly demonstrated his potential. Edey’s already had a career 25 point 12 rebound game since his NBA debut. It would be quite interesting if in May Edey is named Rookie of the Year over several higher touted players.

All American

Once upon a time it didn’t matter if it was football or basketball the term All-American carried a large degree of prestige with it. In the past we used it as a guideline to an athletes potential success as a professional. Nowadays it fails to hold the glory of years past. Despite this fact All American remains important to some and one is Jay Bilas. Bilas longtime college basketball analyst for ESPN released his All American list and one name might be a surprise. Bilas included Cooper Flagg on his first team, interesting since Flagg is yet to officially play his first game. As for the others Bilas added the names:

Center Hunter Dickinson-Kansas

Center Ryan Kalkbrenner-Creighton

Guard/Forward Cooper Flagg-Duke

Guard Mark Sears-Alabama

Guard RJ Davis-UNC

Some other notes of interest, Bilas places senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster of Grand Canyon on his second team. Grand Canyon competed on the NAIA level however they began Division I play in the 2013-14 season. They have appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times most recently in 2024. As for Gren-Foster I believe he might be the first athlete from this school accorded All-America honors by anyone. Also included on Bilas’s fourth team is Ace Bailey at Rutgers who similar to Flagg and is also a freshman. Check out his other selections but I will close with this, Jay Bilas is one of those basketball voices of logic and a member of the media I value for college basketball judgement.     

Where to begin

You are about to become the owner of an NBA franchise. You have the opportunity to choose any present day player, who do you choose? Well if we look at NBA GM’s their choice was overwhelmingly in favor of one athlete. 77% of them chose Victor Wembanyama, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Nikola Jokic were tied for second with 10% of the vote while Luka Doncic was at 3%. This report is enlightening if we remember back to the spring of 2023 shortly before the draft.

Although Wemby was listed as the top pick on multiple draft sites the skeptics informed us they weren’t quite sure. That’s understandable, for every Anthony Bennett (2013 NBA draft, 1 pick) there’s been a Nikola Jokic (2014 NBA draft 2nd round 41st pick). The Spurs last NBA championship occurred in 2014, provided the help is added it just might be possible Wemby leads the Spurs to their next championship. In closing I pose this question, who wins a championship first Wemby or SGA? Based on age alone I would have voted as the GM’s SGA would have been my second choice, he is an ever rising NBA star. 

Hmmmmm!

If you reside within a 100 mile radius of Lawrence Kansas please avoid reading this. According to a bevy of CBS panelist Bill Self at Kansas is no longer the top coach in college basketball. Who is that you might ask, it’s UConn’s Dan Hurley. As they often say don’t throw rocks at me I’m just the messenger, who are these heretics who dare issue such a proclamation moving Self from his perch? Better yet why not read David Cobb’s October 24 column?

“College basketball coach rankings: UConn’s Dan Hurley bumps Kansas’ Bill Self for No 1 in Top 25 And 1 poll.” I will save a number of you, the main reason these panelists have come to the conclusion is outcome. Hurley’s UConn team has won two consecutive NCAA championships, as for Self’s Jayhawks they have lost in the second round of the tournament twice after winning it all in 2022. There are other considerations, as mentioned earlier those in and around Lawrence Kansas will not appreciate this panel of 7.