Basketball from a fans perspective

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Production meeting

I have no expertise in the broadcast field, since I was a youth I’ve listened and viewed personalities over that time. Some of you might have more information than me on this subject…production meetings. On occasion I’ve heard mention “a production meeting” prior to going on the air. That was television but I wonder if it exists in sports talk radio, allow me to inform you where I’m going with this latest rant. 

We have in KC Sports talk radio two dummy’s and I am being nice with the word. Whenever they hold a discussion regarding basketball they become even dumber. The latest was last week’s Duke-Kansas game and I am paraphrasing what I heard. One of the hosts said, “I’m not hating on him (Cooper Flagg) but I can’t see him as the top pick in the NBA draft.” My response is simple, I’m pleased you are not conducting the draft for an NBA team because you don’t have a clue. Seth Greenberg ESPN college basketball analyst detailed video of Flagg double-teamed practically every time he touched the basketball in the Kansas game. Greenberg pointed out Duke must do a better job with their floor spacing.  

This caveat from Greenberg, when asked if Flagg would be the top pick in 2025 he said, “Of course.” He went on to explain floor spacing in the NBA will be much different than in college. In closing I wonder if Dumb and Dumber schedule production meetings? We can have different opinions however they should be to a degree based on valid information. I cannot in truth watch a single game and decide the future status of someone, that’s ludicrous.

Continuing to progress

I found this interesting and wanted to share, the NBA for years has been the most diverse pro sports league in its hiring practices. From coaching to front office positions to its game officials. We could look at one particular area, game officials. The 2024-25 season witnesses a record number of women serving as NBA referees, there are 8 which is the most in the history of the league. Some might scoff at the number taking into account the number of NBA teams in operation (30).

If we contrast that number with other sports we can see there is much catching up to do by the others. Currently there are 3 female officials in the NFL, in baseball there is no female officiating at the major league level, the NHL currently has a single woman serving in this role. Does this provide us proof that the NBA is superior over other professional sports? That’s not the intent here, it’s simply to point out the league has made a concerted effort in the area of hiring game officials.

This is unusual

Pat Riley once served as coach of the Heat, for more years than I can count he’s been president of basketball operations for the team. The complete bio indicates we must travel back in time to 1995, that gives you an idea the length of time he’s been associated with the Heat. Based on that fact alone we are about to witness an unusual event in his life. Without a check I’ve lost track of the number of statues surrounding Crypto.com arena, in the future there will be at least one additional. A statue honoring Patrick James Riley will join the others placed there earlier.

Unless you are a certain age you might not realize the impact Riley made on Laker basketball history. He was a novice coach when first hired yet he was able to lead the Lakers to victory after victory. Don’t misunderstand a team must first have talented players and he did, Kareem, Worthy, Coop and the Magic man to name just a few. We hear the word 3-peat often, most recently it’s been applied to the NFL Chiefs as they attempt to win their third consecutive Super Bowl. The phrase came into common usage from Riley as his Laker team accomplished the feat, the Lakers were 5 time NBA champions under his leadership. This is but a brief explanation why there will be an additional statue erected…one of Pat Riley at Crypto.com.

The right place and right time

Ochai Agbaji was born in Milwaukee but grew up in Kansas City MO. He would attend Oak Park High School and later Kansas University, I had more than enough opportunity to see Agbaji in action based on these facts. I believed in 2022 he was a legitimate NBA prospect, that turned out to be the case. He was made the 14th pick in the first round of that year’s draft. It may have been the right time (first round) but it wasn’t the right place (Utah), because the Jazz are on television so infrequently I never got much of an opportunity to see him in action. Like the majority of rookies there was an adjustment period for Agbaji including a stint in the G-League.

I believe once he returned to the varsity team the reserve role kept him on the bench for the most part, then it occurred. Last February Agbaji was part of a trade package where he ended up in Toronto. Perhaps his talent is now fully evident, he’s been placed in the starting lineup by the Raptors. In addition to that the NBA depth chart on the ESPN NBA page list Agbaji as the starter at small forward although its likely he’s a shooting guard. It’s still early but if we check out his numbers they are double what he registered while a member of the Jazz. We must see if this pattern continues and Kansas City has two in the NBA Clipper coach Ty Lue and Agbaji. Early on draft night I stated it was the right time, now in Toronto maybe it’s the right place as well…we shall see.