A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Chuck is out there

This should be about Austin Reaves but more about him later, my initial focus is Charles Barkley former NBA player and analyst for Inside the NBA. After the Laker victory over the Wolves 116-115 his commentary was aimed at center Deandre Ayton. Barkley stated his belief Ayton needed more touches especially with Luka Doncic and LeBron James out of the lineup. Despite the fact both Kenny Smith and Shaq pointed out this is impossible. Ayton needs to continue the path laid out for him in the first 5 games he’s played for the Lakers, 16 points and 9 rebounds along with shooting 62.3% from the floor and blocking shots on occasion.

Despite the fact Barkley had a Hall of Fame career he can be as wrong as two left shoes at times. As for the game Reaves made a shot as time expired allowing the Lakers to slip past the Wolves by the 116-115 score. But it wasn’t just Reaves, I’d mention earlier who steps up to replace the two super stars missing from the Laker lineup. Jake Laravia was one contributing 27 points along with 8 rebounds. Back to Ayton for a moment, he ain’t Kareem or Shaq, he possesses all the talent in the world. From what I’ve read the comment was said it was a matter of motivation for Ayton that kept him from reaching the heights projected. The season is still young, he’s only got 5 games under his belt, if he continues to play at this level this member of Laker Nation will be satisfied. As for Paul Pierce former Celtic I don’t take stock in anything he says about the Lakers.

One of a kind

Earlier I asked the question is Wemby already the best in the game? Don’t worry if you failed to respond I have decided on my own Victor Wembanyama is the NBA future based on several factors. A. He must remain relatively free of injury. B. Wemby must continue to be dialed into the game we see as evidence thus far. C. Wemby must play for an extended time. He’s now in his third season and ranks with some of the greats of the NBA. Check this comparison in Wemby’s first 120 games versus those in the Naismith Hall of Fame, Karl Malone had 1,091 rebounds Wemby has 1301. The NBA’s all time scoring leader straight out of high school LeBron James scored 2680 points, Wemby made 2738.

How about shooting three’s in his first 120 games Steph Curry had 242 3 pointers made, Wemby has 274. The last category to discuss is blocked shots, 337 were registered by Hakeem Olajuwon as for Wemby’s he’s totaled 448. By now you are probably stating “He should lead the NBA in points after all he’s 7-foot 5.” There are two effort areas that stand out for me: blocked shots and rebounds, those are parts of the game that require effort over others, the 3-point shooting also stands out. Whenever I mention Wemby to some they always focus in one area, “Does he have an inside game?” My answer is Wemby has a limited inside game. IF he ever develops a sky-hook or similar shot around the basket he will simply be unstoppable. Am I going overboard with my praise, perhaps that is the case? You be the judge based on what you just read.

Will they listen to him

If you’ve read this blog any length of time you realize my love for basketball, especially the NBA. Despite this fact there are elements I could almost place in the category of hate a word I rarely use. With that here goes, I hate Load Management which has become a part of several NBA players. A player is not injured he decides to take the night off, he does this with no regard for the fan who spends $100 to as much as $250 to see the game and him. I am not including gasoline to drive to the game, tickets, parking and concessions are expensive and rising all the time. Is it fair for that fan to sit out a game simply because he’s tired, many of us on our jobs daily despite being tired or in some instances sick. During half time of the Tuesday night NBA broadcast NBC’s Mike Tirico sat down with Michael Jordan at the half to discuss NBA issues. I’m just going to cover a bit of the wisdom I believe laid out by MJ.

“Well, it shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,” Jordan said. “You know, I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove. It was something that I felt like the fans are there that watch me play. I want to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his (butt) off to get a ticket or to get money to buy the ticket. Jordan even said that rule applied to the people who came to games to cheer against him. Yeah, because I know he’s probably yelling at me and I want to shut him up, “ Jordan said. “You know, he’s calling me all kinds of names. I definitely want to shut him up….You have a duty that if they’re wanting to see you, and as an entertainer, I want to show. Right? A game is 2.5 hours a day, 3 hours a day. What are doing the other 21 hours?” What you just read was condensed from ESPN.com’s NBA page. Why should anyone be surprised after listening to his comments in Last Dance? MJ competes no matter what it was/is, basketball, golf, cards or other stuff. MJ the ultimate competitor.

Meanwhile….

The name Adou Thiero might be unfamiliar to some reading this. The 6-foot 8 220 pound small forward/guard was made the 36th pick by the Nets in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Lakers and that’s where he disappeared. It was determined surgery would be required before he could play, he missed Summer League play plus the Laker training camp. Despite being highly touted by the Lakers there was no opportunity to earn a roster spot due to recovery. It now appears that is in the rear view mirror, the Lakers have announced he will begin play for the G-League South Bay Lakers.   

Suspended Blazer coach Chauncey Billups has become an enigma to me. He was among three individuals associated with the FBI arrested, one current and one former player named by a Grand Jury in a gambling scandal. The principle reason I find his case so strange is based on Billups’ past. He was an NBA champion player, inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame and as mentioned NBA coach. I cited this previously Billups has a legacy…one which has been severely damaged by his formal accusation and arrest. We shall see how this matter eventually unfolds.

Tune out social media

For those who might not be familiar with the name, Josh Simmons is a rookie left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, he began the season with a bang now he’s gone. Of course the hope is this is not a permanent issue, the Chiefs announced he experienced personal problems and that was all the public knew. We are now in the third or fourth week and fans are clamoring to know what’s occurring with Simmons. As for me I am accepting the statement made by the front office that it was personal. Despite the announcement fans have begun to grow anxious due to Simmons absence. I don’t do social media but have been led to believe his name has been circulated.

I remember once reading a veteran NBA player informed a rookie “You need to turn off social media.” The difficulty of turning off social media might be difficult for a number of us. Despite this fact I have been led to believe it can be downright brutal at times regarding a team and players. We only need to ask LeBron and Bronny James and several others throughout the NBA. On the other hand age must be a factor in how one deals with social media. I held a brief conversation with two younger members at my workplace. This is what I heard, “I will laugh at you about criticizing my play as I drive off in my Lamborghini.” That is an easy response and we must keep in mind that many of us have struggle ignoring critical remarks aimed at us. On the other hand many of us have the ability to treat unfavorable remarks like water on a ducks back, they simply allow it to roll off. We must keep that fact in mind.  

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

The Lake Show

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the Lakers facing the Wolves for the first time. After all last season in the playoffs they demolished the Lakers, it wasn’t the playoffs but the outcome was far different. The Lakers were winners 128-110 as Luka led the way to the victory, his game was 60.9% shooting from the floor with 41.7% from three. It was 49 points 11 rebounds and 8 assists as he registered an outstanding second game for the season. I’m praising Luka but it was not him alone. He led the way but the win was a team effort by all in Purple and Gold.

Austin Reaves scored 25 points along with 11 assists, Rui Hachimura chipped in with 23 points, Deandre Ayton contributed 15 points on several lob dunks and pulled down 8 rebounds. Marcus Smart only scored 3 points but his contributions defensively cannot be overlooked. The win was a team effort as the Lakers shot nearly 60% from the floor and 41% from three, the Wolves out rebounded the Lakers but it was only by a slim 40-38 margin. Next up the Lakers head north to face the Kings on Sunday, this account is published ahead of the game so an update will be available in the Monday morning edition. The Lakers now appear ready to battle Western Conference foes in pursuit of a championship, maybe they will prove the cynics wrong this season.

Part Deux-The Los Angeles Lakers managed to win the second game of the season against the Minnesota T-Wolves. Luka Doncic had led the way to the victory with 49 points but then came the news on Sunday afternoon, Luka had suffered an injury in the game and would be out at least a week. That’s a double whammy, LeBron is gone until mid-November with a sciatic issue. The Lakers faced a daunting task in front of them, who takes the lead…someone needs to step up. Will at least against the Sacramento Kings Sunday evening several “someone’s stepped up.”

The Lakers were 127-120 winners over the Kings as guard Austin Reaves almost registered a triple-double with his 51 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists a career high. Teammates Deandra Ayton scored 22 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, Rui Hachimura scored 18 points and Marcus Smart chipped in with 11. Scoring has been an issue for the Lakers but as a team they managed to shot nearly 49% from the floor and 32% from three. Zach LaVine led the way for the Kings with his 32 points, LaVine was capability assisted by DeMar DeRozen with his 21 points. The Lakers have a monumental task in front of them with LeBron and Luka out of the lineup at the same time. Next up the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday a home game which was followed by a match against the Wolves on the road this evening.

We are yet to begin play

College basketball play is about two weeks away, a number of teams have already played exhibition games as this is written. Naturally a look ahead for me is the NBA draft in June, I’m focused on the draft for one reason. The highly touted college prospects usually play but one year and they are on the way to the NBA, ask Cooper Flagg? I decided to check the mock draft sites and the usual suspects are in place in fact one site has Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybansta and Cameron Boozer projected as the top three. Guess what, all three are in their freshman year at their respective schools. As for the top pick in the 2026 draft the college season must be completed first however these names are at the top.

We check out tankathon.com which places Darryn Peterson as the number one pick, Peterson is a 6-foot 5 195 pound combo guard. Moving on to draftroom.com, they also have the Kansas guard as their top selection. If we move to nbadraft.net we find a different name as their choice, AJ Dybantsa 6-foot 9 210 pound small forward at BYU. I began this exercise by pointing to the fact the adjustment to the college game is vital for the player and not necessarily how they might impact a team. We need look no further than Rutgers as the example of that fact, the team finished the 2024-25 season with 15 wins and 17 losses. Despite the team’s poor record we saw guard Dylan Harper drafted second by the Spurs and later Harper’s teammate guard Ace Bailey was made the 5th pick by the Jazz. By the time the season ends its quite possible Boozer might move up and replace one or both…it’s occurred in the past.

Is he the best in the NBA

Victor Wembanyama missed half of his second year in the NBA due to injury, after surgery, rehab and traveling the globe this is what we discovered. This is not in order but from my memory, Wemby spent time in study with monks in the Shaolin Temple in China even shaving his head. He then worked out with former Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon and Wolves power forward Kevin Garnett. With Olajuwon it was offensive work as for Garnett it was focus on mentality and on court leadership, he also took time to return home to Paris France as well. This world-wide travel was to prepare himself to perform at a high skill level in the 2025-26 NBA season. I pose the question in the headline, is he the best in the NBA in his third year? I ask the NBA fan, I can state my impressions however I’m only a party of one.

Let’s check the stats after Wemby’s third game of the season. He’s averaging nearly 33 points a game on 57% shooting from the floor with 36.4% from three for a 7-foot 5 center. It’s easy to detail the offensive part of Wemby, how about the “effort stats”? That’s my reference to the defensive portion of his game, it’s a 13.3 rebound average along with 6 blocked shots a game. Wemby is not leading the NBA in scoring in fact he’s tied for 6 place, SGA is the scoring leader, Wemby is not leading in field goal percentage that belongs to Giannis Antetokounmpo for now. The undefeated Spurs are tied in wins with the defending champion Thunder in the Western Conference, Wemby is playing at NBA All Pro level after the first three games of the season. I don’t ski but the phrase has caught my attention, “I don’t want to get in front of my ski’s.” I guess its meant to say don’t get ahead of yourself.

I’m a Duke fan

Most of us have a favorite NBA or college team we root for. For me In the NBA win or lose it’s the Lakers, a secondary team is the Spurs especially since the arrival of Wemby. As for the college game first and foremost it’s the Missouri Tigers, right behind them are the Duke Blue Devils. What I find most interesting Duke is one of those “hated” basketball programs, the one casual fans hope for a lost no matter who they might play. For me, this love affair with Duke basketball began long before Coach K. retired, it’s continued with Jon Scheyer. There are programs that brag about the number of players they have sent into the NBA, It might exist at Duke I’ve never been privy to it.

It’s not on the coaches, it’s not only the talent produced over the decades. The arena is also part of the mystique for me too. In the day of gigantic college arenas we have Cameron Indoor Stadium on the Duke campus. This arena opened its doors January 6, 1940, it seats 9,314 rabid fans which I’m sure has aided the winning at Duke. I’ve read opposing players expressed the belief that the student body is seated inches away from the court and that might indeed be the case. I’d written this previously but it is worth mentioning once again if a coach hired today had a similar record to Coach K. after three years they would be fired. In his first three seasons Duke won 38 games while losing 47, the record there after was unbelievably successful. Duke basketball one of the most successful programs in the nation and one I find easy to root for.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

He speaks

Commissioner Silver stated he was extremely disappointed in the gambling probe and arrests. Until there are further developments he really can’t say much more. As mentioned earlier the indictments and arrests impacts NBA fans. This portion of news is almost as bad, “Members of Congress sent a letter Friday to NBA commissioner Adam Silver requesting a briefing and expressing concern over “allegations of illegal gambling and sports rigging” after Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones were indicted in a pair of sweeping federal investigations this week.” The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is requesting a briefing by October 31. Whatever occurs from a future standpoint Congress’s ability to impact this development is severely limited in my view.

Portions from ESPN

Rule changes

Every season the NBA adopts or revises the rule book, 2025-26 will be no different. I located this information and believed it was worth you being informed of the changes.

End-of-quarter heaves: 

Unsuccessful shots taken from at least 36 feet away with under three seconds left in the first three quarters will now count as a team attempt, not a personal one. This rule aims to encourage players to attempt these long shots without fear of hurting their shooting percentages.

Foul rules:

“High-five” rule: A player cannot be hit on the hand during their shooting motion.

Delayed contact rule: A foul can still be called even if contact occurs after the shooter has released the ball.

Coach’s Challenge: When a coach challenges an out-of-bounds call, a Replay Center official will now determine if a proximate foul should have been called, instead of the on-court crew chief. This is intended to speed up the review process.

A generation

I hadn’t thought about this until it was pointed out to me by a friend, do you realize this generation of the NBA will be retired in 5 years? It’s likely LeBron James who turns 41 in December will be the first to retire, he is certainly not alone because LeBron will be joined by a number of well-known NBA players. Who are they, you are familiar with them you have long watched them in person or on television. The were the nucleus of the last gold medal Olympic team for the U.S. The names are easily recognizable, they are:

Steph Curry

Chris Paul

Kawhi Leonard

James Harden

Kevin Durant

Russell Westbrook

Joel Embiid

Kyrie Irving

Anthony Davis

Nikola Jokic

Giannis Antetokounmpo

A couple of the names you might question if they will be retired, its possible they might play an extended period. That is indeed a possibility later you will read another account on Vince Carter, he played long after his 35th birthday. Keep this in mind everyone on the list will be 35+ in 5 years. Who replaces them or is the future in front of us currently? Is it Wemby, SGA or Ant Man or several other players I’ve failed to mention in this short account, everything must change and that includes NBA players.

Jack Molinas

Some reading this might remember the name Jack Molinas, he was one of the culprits in the 1961 college basketball betting scandal. What I found most interesting he was a very good NBA player for the period. Molinas attended Columbia University 1950-1953, he set the scoring record for the team at one time which was later broken. There are reports he was part of the college basketball point-shaving scandal in 1951 but was never caught. In any event the 1953 NBA draft would see Molinas chosen as the 3rd pick in the first round. Molinas was banned by the NBA after playing but 32 games for the Fort Wayne (Detroit) Pistons.

Molinas was barred for betting on Piston games which resulted in a lifetime suspension by the NBA. He became the first active player to receive a lifetime suspension before Jontay Porter in 2024. What I’ve always found so interesting about Molinas he was near genius with a 175 reported IQ. Unable to play in the NBA Molinas would play in the Eastern League which could be equated with the G-League however there was no connection with the NBA. This is but a shorten version of an earlier time in the NBA. What we are witnessing at present is not necessarily a new thing, it reminds me of an old idiom, “The phrase “nothing new under the sun” means that the fundamental human experiences and struggles are repeated throughout history, even though the circumstances may seem new.”

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Gambling

Sports betting, or gambling, has been present since the early days of organized sports. Recent events on Friday involved the arrest of a coach, an active player, and a retired individual by the FBI on gambling-related charges. As the story is still developing, there are no conclusions being drawn at this time, but several aspects merit attention. The situation presents significant challenges for the NBA and has become a prominent topic both within sports and broader news coverage. There are concerns about inaccurate headlines that have emerged.

For instance, it was reported on Friday that Scott Foster former NBA official who retired after 29 years, was arrested on Thursday. However, as of early Friday morning, news sources indicate no such arrest has occurred. The most perplexing part for me the possible involvement of Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, has raised notable questions. If allegations are substantiated, it could impact the proud legacy he’s established. Currently, only Billups and two additional individuals have been named, while the FBI investigation continues. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

He said it

Kelvin Sampson Houston coach performed quite a feat. At the recent Big 12 media day he laid gobs of praise on Kansas basketball, that’s all the local media needed to just lap his words up like a puppy drinking water. That was then, this is now, I must constantly remind my friends across State Line Road the days of Kansas dominating the Big 12 are over. Sure they still have Bill Self, sure they can recruit on the school’s name but the door is slowly closing on them being the best team in the conference let alone the nation. We realize media folks are not always the best source for information, I include myself at this point. I decided to check a number of preseason Big 12 polls, I stopped at four. Of that number none of the polls have placed Kansas in the top spot, that space belongs to Sampson and his Houston Cougars.

Not only is Kansas basketball not projected at the top of the conference, three sites ranked them the number 5 team in the conference, one even placed them in 6 place. The conference leadership may indirectly be responsible for Kansas basketball not being as prevalent as it once was. There was an annual appeal for teams to join the Big 12 since the departure of Nebraska, Mizzou and Colorado have made for a competitive conference. Houston mentioned previously along with Arizona and a revitalized BYU program come ready to play. If we add Cincinnati and holdovers Baylor and Texas Tech I hope you see where I’m going. This is not the end of Kansas basketball however the era of Kansas no longer dominating the conference begins. The truth of the matter It was 2016-17 the last year they won the conference outright. If Sampson believes his words, if Kansas City media believes in the invincible Jayhawks that’s okay…it’s just no longer reality.

Not my list

Recently several might remember the story regarding the All-Time Laker players. I didn’t originate it but took issue with a couple of the players the writer placed on his team. One of those he named was LeBron James. Now it’s not my intent to toss rocks at LeBron but he doesn’t belong for a number of reasons. Basketball similar to a number of others is a team sport, it requires all parties to perform at peak efficiency. We can look at the champion Thunder team as the most recent example, LeBron has been a Laker since 2018 in that time the team has won but one championship that one in 2020. The team has failed twice in that time period to qualify for the playoffs,

Those other years were playoff elimination seasons for the Lakers. In that time period only one season did they manage to play for the conference finals. The fall back is despite having LeBron on the roster the balance of Laker teammates were not talented enough to advance any further in the playoffs. Is that LeBron’s fault alone…of course not, he's a party of one. The finger of blame must also be pointed in the direction of Laker management. Whenever I contemplate All-Time Laker greats I think of those in the past who led the team to numerous championships. No argument from me LeBron James has set scoring records that will never be duplicated. Based on that fact alone he’s headed to Naismith as soon as he’s eligible. Yes, that Hall of Fame but not one that includes Laker All-Time greats.

Meanwhile….

There are 135 international athletes on 30 NBA rosters which is a record number this season. As for the numbers Canada leads with 23 players, France is second with 19 and Australia sends 13 to the association. Completing the Top 10 are the following nation and the number is included in parentheses. They are Germany (7), Serbia (6), Cameroon (4), United Kingdom (4), Bahamas (3) Croatia (3) Democratic Rep. of the Congo (3). There are a total of 21 nations represented in the international count. Without conducting any research it’s my belief the NBA comprises more international players than any other professional sport less soccer (football) and perhaps major league baseball. Despite the popularity of NFL football the sport contains few international players.

I’ve mentioned his name in the past, it’s Jay Bilas. Most of you are more familiar with his role as a college basketball analyst and color commentator for ESPN. Bilas provided us his list of All Americans for the upcoming season. One of the names he placed on his team is Yaxel Lendeborg, power/small forward at Michigan. A bit of background on the 6-foot 9 240 pound Lendeborg, he was born in Puerto Rico but moved to Pennsauken Township New Jersey a city in the Philadelphia metro. He began play at a community college prior to attending and playing for UAB, 2025 would be his first year at Michigan. He entertained the NBA draft but decided in favor of playing another season at Michigan, expect to hear his name called in the 2026 NBA draft.

There are times rules are passed that are questionable to some. Longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo expressed his displeasure with the fact that two former G-League players will be allowed to play college basketball. I understand why the coach is upset, he probably considers them professionals yet they are going to be allowed to play as “amateurs.” Speaking of fair, how about this one? Gonzaga’s Tyon Grant-Foster missed two seasons while at DePaul with heart issues while the NCAA details for all they have no heart. The NCAA denied Gonzaga’s request for an injury waiver providing us proof once again they truly lack empathy.

There is an adjustment period for rookies but not the Sixers guard VJ Edgecomb. He aided his team in edging the Celtics 117-116. In 42 minutes on the court he scored 34 points on 50% from the floor and 39% from three. The only downside to his first regular season NBA game was poor free throw shooting, he shot only 50% from the free throw line. Frank Selvy scored 35 points for the 1954 Philly Warriors, Wilt Chamberlain had 43 in his Warrior debut and then on Wednesday evening the third most scored by a rookie in Philly history with Edgecomb’s 34.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

We’re going to need a bigger boat

Movie buffs will remember the line uttered by Police Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) in the 1975 movie Jaws. Brody would make this statement after seeing the huge shark they faced. As for the Lakers on Tuesday night the “Shark” they faced that evening was the Warriors team which “bit” down on them and swallowed them whole by a score of 119-109. As you are aware there was no LeBron, he would be missing in action until mid-November but that wasn’t the chief issue, no Laker beside Luka Doncic was ready to play.

Doncic filled up the box score with 43 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists on 63% shooting from the floor, Austin Reaves added 26 points but that was about it. The balance of the Lakers were mostly invisible, fans of Dub Nation will conclude I’m not giving their team credit due them. In most instances when you win your game is a cut above the other guy and that is what occurred Tuesday. Steph Curry was a contributor with 23 points but it was the others who stepped up. Jimmy Butler led the way with 31 points and Jonathan Kuminga and reserve Buddy Hield both contributed 17 points. As for the Lakers its early yet so Laker Nation should not become too upset, I believe JJ Redick will make adjustments and hopefully they play better in their next outing.

Meanwhile….

Is this the season, the year which witnesses the Knicks contend for an NBA championship? The Celtics will have Jayson Tatum missing at least for most of the season, as for the Pacers they face a similar story. Jeff Haliburton will miss the 2025-26 season, before fans of both franchises become upset with me allow additional detail. Both teams are stocked with capable members however its my belief both will contend but come up short. That leaves the Knicks as perhaps the readiest team to move up a degree based on returning all their starters. New coach Mike Brown has a good track record and I believe this will occur. Unlike the departed Tom Thibodeau this coach will give his starters adequate rest and will utilize his reserve players. The Knicks in my view ran out of “gas” at the end of their series (4-2) against the Pacers last season, expect a different outcome this time around if the teams meet. In closing the Knicks just might become the Eastern Conference team to contend for the championship.

Duke basketball continues to contend for talent, Jon Scheyer Duke coach received a commitment  from his first Class of 2026 prospect. His name is Bryson Howard and he is a 6-foot 5 188 pound small forward, as for his rating Rivals list Howard as a 4-star prospect while 247Sports awards him 5-stars. Duke managed to win over several outstanding programs Kentucky, Baylor North Carolina and Georgetown were a sampling of schools contending for Howard’s services. Howard is from Frisco Texas a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

I came across this story on one of my social media sites, two NBA owners trade franchises. This incident occurred once in the history of the association, it could never occur today in my view. This occurred in 1978 and the teams were the Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers) and Boston Celtics. Irv Levin owner of the Celtics wanted to move his team to California but the NBA wouldn’t allow it (imagine that). By swapping franchises with John Y. Brown then owner of the Braves the switch was made. Owner Levin moved the Braves to San Diego where they were renamed Clippers. Could it occur again, I have serious doubts based on the financial interest of today.

Was there a basis for the strange and unusual lineup Ime Udoka sent out opening night against the Thunder. The Rockets lineup featured Kevin Durant 6-foot 11, Jabari Smith Jr., 6-foot 11, Steven Adams 7-foot, Alperen Sengun 6-foot 11 and “little” Amen Thompson who stands 6-foot 7. As most are aware point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL and there is a possibility he could miss the season. Despite a lineup that averaged 6-foot 10 and outrebounding the Thunder 52-38 they were losers in double OT 125-124. Reed Sheppard is the short time answer at the point but certainly not long term, the Rockets are one of the teams considered a Western Conference contender, that might be the case but there are point guard questions.   

The Alien

As they might say, he be hooping, getting’ buckets…the street vernacular is a reference regarding Victor Wembanyama a.k.a. The Alien and his Wednesday night game. I almost forgot his defense, he blocked 3 shots and probably intimidated on a bunch of others intended by the Mavs. Wemby’s game was directly responsible for the Spurs 125 to 92 victory over the Mavs as he filled the box score. His game read 40 points scored while pulling down 15 rebounds, he accomplished this shooting .714 from the floor .500 from three while shooting 82% from the line.

Brad Boykin CBS Sports headline read; “Victor Wembanyama might have just taken over the basketball world in the first game.” As further proof Anthony Davis made a statement which might have been taken as a joke but that might not be the case. AD said; “ The NBA should implement a height limit like they do in the Philippines.” I am unfamiliar with play in that nation but evidently the height limit must be real. In any case Wemby has forced the NBA to take notice, this season a “new” Wemby will be on display. NBA teams better prepare for the 7-foot 4 (or 5) 235 pound Wemby who is prepared to take the NBA by storm. Any game featuring the Spurs and Wemby should be deemed must watch television. Although he doesn’t play the post in the traditional manner he alone might be responsible for future emphasis in that area.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

What if I told you…

In the middle of the nation lies one of the most successful basketball programs in the nation. No, I am not referring to Kansas basketball although this school is in a state sharing a border with Kansas. I will save you from guessing, its Creighton University located in Omaha Nebraska. The late Bob Gibson legendary Cardinals pitcher was a student here at one time, he even played on the basketball team although it was baseball which led to his inclusion in the hall of fame. The school of course is Creighton University and it’s men’s basketball program has been a continuous winner throughout the ages. One of the reasons it remains somewhat hidden it’s deemed a mid-major school, power 5 conference schools receive the greater amount of coverage.

For years, the school was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, the 2013-14 school year saw Creighton move into the Big East Conference. Creighton will soon begin its 106  year of competitive basketball first fielding a team in 1911-12 as an independent. Under a succession of coaches the school has won 1,705 games while losing 1081 for a .612 percentage. Despite the brilliant record Creighton is barely mentioned when a discussion of all-time programs is undertaken. What is even more interesting the school has more wins than current powerhouse teams such as Auburn, Iowa State and others. Head coach Greg McDermott has been at the helm since 2010 and has registered 350 wins versus 171 losses a .672 percentage. Next time you hold a discussion with your buddies regarding successful college basketball programs please don’t omit Creighton, the Blue Jays are a dynamite basketball program.

Oscar Schmidt

His name is one few remember or maybe are familiar with, Schmidt is 67 years old now and his days playing basketball are long over. While he played the game it was at a high skill level scoring nearly 50,000 points during his career. He stood 6-foot 9 and 243 pounds, Schimdt played both forward positions, for those unfamiliar might ask the question…”How come we don’t know him?” His home country is Brazil and his point total was accumulated in the Olympics and a long, long professional career for a number of teams. His professional career lasted from 1974 to 2003 playing for a number of pro teams in his native Brazil, Spain and Italy. Schmidt never played in the NBA but over the years the questions always remained could he? This from AI regarding the question:

“Drafted but declined: The New Jersey Nets drafted Schmidt in the sixth round of the 1984 NBA draft, and he attended their training camp. Despite performing well, he declined their offer for a full-time contract. Reasons for declining: National team priority: The most significant reason was that signing with an NBA team would have meant he could no longer represent Brazil in international competitions due to the FIBA rules at the time. Financial and respect concerns: The NBA contract was considerably less money than he was making in Italy, and he was offended by his low draft position, feeling it showed a lack of respect for his talent. Alternative choice: Schmidt chose to remain an amateur so he could continue to play for the Brazilian national team, becoming an international icon. He is now recognized as one of the greatest players to have never played in the NBA.” In 2013 Schmidt was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, in addition he’s also in the FIBA and Italian Basketball Hall of Fame. So that’s the brief story of Oscar Schmidt who chose a basketball career other than in the NBA.

No, not yet

A dot com site selected a starting five of all time Laker players and I took exception to it. The starters were Magic Johnson at one guard and Kobe Bryant the other, they selected two centers Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Shaquille O’ Neal. Lastly they chose LeBron James at forward. This will surprise some because I don’t believe LeBron or Shaq belongs on this team, I say that with this explanation. Lifetime to me entails spending the bulk or significant career in Purple and Gold. Considering the fact ‘Big Game’ James Worthy is excluded from this list makes no sense. A closer look finds lifetime Lakers Magic and Kobe, they never played for any team besides the Lakers.

Next up there is Kareem who spent the first 6 years with the Bucks who drafted him. He was a Laker for the next 14 years on several championship teams. Next up Shaquille O’ Neal, he completed 8 years with the Lakers and 4 of them ended with NBA championships however he moved from team to team disqualifying him from my all-time team. Finally we finish with LeBron James the NBA all-time leading scorer. No argument he should be applauded for his stellar career however similar to Shaq the Lakers become his 4th team if we count him playing for the Cavs twice. Some of you reading this will decide I’m being too tough on Shaq and LeBron. Your probably saying “no one spends an entire NBA career with one team!” Guess what, I’m going to agree with you but despite that statement of truth they are excluded from my team.

KenPom

In a manner similar to many of you I pay attention to the Top 25 ranking for men’s college basketball. For me most of them are “beauty contests” in a manner of speaking, although I check them out the source for me is KenPom. KenPom takes in a bunch of stats before awarding a position to a particular team. During the season, a team can move up or down in a manner of other polls however there are 9 different rating systems utilized in order to rank a team. With that said allow me to look ahead of the season.

They have Houston ranked number one and Florida number two, this is interesting in that both competed for the 2025 NCAA championship with Florida the winner. It’s clear to me from this ranking KenPom believes Houston remains a viable and competitive team in 2025-26. At three is Purdue, other polls place them at number one, Kentucky and UConn come in at four and five. This should be of note, in the Big XII KenPom has 6 other schools ranked higher than Kansas (21). Houston as mentioned previously, Texas Tech at 12 and Iowa State 13 plus Arizona, Baylor and BYU ranked 15, 17 and 18. In the SEC they have 7 schools ranked ahead of Mizzou at 28. At the bottom of the poll, Arkansas Pine Bluff at 364 and Mississippi Valley State ranked at 365. In conclusion space and time will not allow me to list all the Division I schools however it’s of interest. 

Have you heard this

The naysayers have been around since the beginning of time, they generally want to inform us how our interpretation of a “thing” is incorrect. Oftentimes they utilize a bit of history without providing all the facts. Naturally without the complete story you are left to believe them, I site the Spurs Victor Wembanyama. I’ve read where some claim due to Wemby’s height his career might not be very long, they cite Ralph Sampson as the example. For those who might be unfamiliar with Sampson he’d played his college basketball at the University of Virginia and was National Player of the year three times.

Sampson was made the number one pick in the 1983 NBA draft by the Rockets. Up to that time period we’d never seen a player of his stature (7-foot 4) who was so agile and able to play the game in the same manner as a small forward. It was not unusual for him to snatch the rebound off the board and dribble the length of the court for a dunk or layup, Sampson’s career was cut short but it certainly wasn’t due to his inability to play the game at a high level. Knee and back injuries cut short what could have been so much more despite the brief time he played. Check out the YouTube video below to see an athlete the same height of Wemby play the game in the same manner. Despite Sampson’s shorten career he would be enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVjl0QRkLoI

A fans perspective 

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Can he continue

Xavian Lee played three years at Princeton, although his production increased after his freshman year we tend to question the skill set of Ivy League athletes. Although Lee was a 2-time first team all-Ivy League my guess he wanted tougher competition, therefore he transferred to Florida and will soon be playing for Todd Golden. As for his physical makeup Lee is a 6-foot 4 180 pound point guard who raised his numbers as he adjusted to the college game. His bio indicates he was born in Toronto but has dual citizenship in the U.S. and Canada. What lies in the future for Lee after play at Florida for this point guard? Well nbadraft.net places him in the second round of the 2026 NBA draft, nbadraftroom.net indicates (at least for now) the same status.

Did you know

I read a story on the Clippers and this upcoming season, while studying it I discovered information that should have been familiar to me but wasn’t. I posed the question in another story I wrote, the query, will the Clippers play for an NBA championship in the 2025-26 season? If they accomplish the task in front of them the number will be reduced to four…you are wondering what number am I referencing? I “discovered” there are 5 NBA teams who never have made it to the NBA Finals however the Clippers are not unique in this instance. Also sharing the record with them are the T-Wolves (1989-90), Hornets (1989-90), Grizzlies (1995-96) and Pelicans (2002-03). The season behind each team is the first year they began play in the NBA. Keep in mind the league started in 1946 so this month becomes the 79th year for the NBA, in that time we have witnessed the Celtics winning 18 championships while the Lakers have 17 trophies in their display case. That’s an astounding 35 championships between the two storied franchises of the NBA.

Who am I

Check out the information below, who am I? Based on the time indicated you can safely conclude I played in the ABA and NBA. “My jersey has been retired by two NBA teams, number 2 by one team and 24 for the other. In addition I was voted a member of the 50th and 75th Anniversary NBA team. I was given the nickname “Chairmen of the Boards” for my rebounding prowess. “I was notable for rebounding and scoring off my own misses, possessing the strength, quickness, and zeal to recover the ball before my opponents. This led to some contending that I intentionally missed shots to pad my rebounding statistics. I was not a very good passer. When an assistant coach suggested I needed to improve my passing this was my response, "They ain't paying me to pass.” Who am I?

NBA champion 1983

NBA Finals MVP 1983

3× NBA Most Valuable Player 1979, 1982, 1983

12× NBA All-Star 1978–1989

ABA All-Star 1975

4× All-NBA First Team 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985

4× All-NBA Second Team 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987

NBA All-Defensive First Team 1983

NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1979

ABA All-Rookie Team 1975

6× NBA rebounding leader 1979, 1981–1985

NBA anniversary team 50th, 75th

ABA All-Time Team

No. 2 retired by Philadelphia 76ers

No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets

National high school player of the year 1974

First-team Parade All-American 1974

Fourth-team Parade All-American 1973

My name is:

__   __  S __ __        __ A__ __ N ___

My Top 10 NYC basketball players

Over the generations New York City basketball has turned out a virtual who’s who list of outstanding basketball talent over the years.  Once upon a time the great majority of the city’s talent remained in the metro, they attended St. John’s, Columbia, Iona, Rutgers, and other schools.  All that’s changed now in more recent years, high school talent has left the city in droves for other programs throughout the country. Despite that fact Metro NYC continues to produce some of the best basketball talent in the nation it’s just visible elsewhere in the nation. As for the history, even basketball hotbeds like Chicago, Los Angeles and others cannot compete with this list I’ve compiled.  Keep in mind we are discussing high school talent; we are excluding any pro career they might have experienced.  

   1.Kareem Abdul Jabbar

    2.Julius Erving

    3.Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald

    4.Kenny Smith

    5.Kenny Anderson

    6.Stephon Marbury

    7.Billy Cunningham

    8.Roger Brown

    9.Connie Hawkins

  10.Bernard King

My list represents the top 10 athletes believed to be the best of the best high school basketball talent in the metro ever.  There are several others who could have been included but were omitted, it certainly wasn’t intentional your list might contain them.  We could have included Albert King, Felipe Lopez, Lance Stephenson, Sebastian Telfair, Rafer Alston and Ron Artest who barely missed my cut.  Although my decision was difficult I must state the names mentioned and perhaps others were excluded due to space rather than talent in choosing my Top 10 All-Time greatest list.  

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Who is the tallest

Basketball remains a game of height, i.e. “Who’s got the tallest players?” This information I located on the net, it represents the 2024-25 season. This past season there were “16 players who stood 7’0” or taller, the highest count in NBA history, only 6 players measured under 6’0”, down from 12 in 2015.” The top 5 teams that season in height were:

 

Lakers 6'7.68"

Nuggets 6'7.13"

Blazers 6'7.08"

Bucks 6’6.95”

Hawks 6’6.81”

The tallest active players 2025-26 are:

Victor Wembanyama Spurs 7’5”

Zach Edey Grizzlies 7’4”

Bol Bol Suns 7’3”

Dereck Lively II Mavs 7’3”

There are others

This occurs every NBA season, we look at the top pick in the draft and figure “This is our Rookie of the Year” however that is not always the case. In 2024 the top pick was the Hawks Zaccharie Risacher, his rookie season was good however he didn’t win the honor. Instead it was Spurs guard Stephon Castle the 4th pick who was named 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year. Just because Cooper Flagg was the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft guarantees nothing. He might be considered the odds on favorite to win Rookie of the Year however there are others who should be given consideration too, who are they besides Flagg?

We have shooting guard Dylan Harper of the Spurs (2), his former college teammate small forward Ace Bailey (5) now a member of the Jazz. There is Tre Johnson Wizards shooting guard (6) and 6-foot 9 combo guard Egor Demin (8) who will suit up for the Nets. Those named along with Flagg are considered the top candidates to win the honor. Despite the fact there is likely to be another unnamed rookie who just might eclipse all those named including Flagg. More and more it seems annually there is never a shortage of talented athletes desiring to earn an NBA paycheck. Tell me, will one of the names listed be named 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year or might it be someone unidentified?

Every game matters

I believe this to be correct, excluding pre-season and holidays the NFL Chiefs have played every day of the week except Tuesday and Wednesday. Despite the schedule dates the NFL continues to remain a once a week sport. As you are aware NBA teams play every night of the week and on occasion there might be back to back games. This discussion leads into the Christmas games by both leagues, December 25 once belonged exclusively to the NBA but no more. The NFL is pleased with the viewership last Christmas and continues that plan into the future. What about games played, do they matter? Of course they matter in the NBA its’s 82 versus 17 in the NFL regular season excluding playoffs.

You say every game counts, of course it does in both leagues however here is the difference. With the limited number of NFL games played each week losses carry significant weight on a team’s possible playoff berth. An NBA team could have a losing record in the middle of January yet play inspired basketball the balance of the regular season and earn a playoff berth in April. Every game played in the NFL is critical to the outcome, with 82 games in the NBA it’s less so. I’m making this comparison because some believe there is competition for the sports dollar. I don’t believe that to truly be the case, NFL games love their sport and the same could be said for NBA fans as well. Is there crossover appeal, of course there is but don’t assume one sport is more popular than the other using the NFL as the barometer.

The NBA draft

The 2026 nbadraft.net projection is no different from past years, it is top heavy with freshman and international players. As an example of the Top 10 players on their site 8 of those named are freshman, the other two are sophomores. That provides you the why a college senior might be considered “old” by NBA standards. That college senior might arrive at an NBA training camp at 22 or 23 years of age, contrast that with an 18 or 19 year old competing for the same job. Sometimes there is a reluctance on my part adapting to change and this is one of those areas. Once upon a time I held the belief that if an athlete decided to play for the university he remained there until his eligibility expired.

Over time the landscape changed and continued in that manner as we witnessed an increasing number of freshman leave for the NBA. There has been a revision in this area, no longer are they leaving school and not being drafted. I’m sure there are isolated cases but generally if a player declares he’s drafted. As for the change on my part, the education will always remain if that player choses to return to school. We’ve witnessed a number of players return to complete their education pursuit for personal reasons. Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Vince Carter are names that come to mind, these former players and others completed the path which had begun long before they became NBA icons. Change is uncomfortable for us however sometimes it ain’t so bad.

Is she correct

Pat Summit was one of the great women’s basketball coaches of the past. So too was C. Vivian Stringer and Muffet McGraw from an earlier time. All have been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame but there is room also for Dawn Staley South Carolina coach. As most are aware Staley interview for the Knicks head coaching job earlier but was not hired. Later she claimed, “If the Knicks had offered me the job I would have left immediately.” More recently Staley made news again with this quote. “Dawn Staley said she is convinced that NBA teams might never be ready to hire a woman as a head coach after her recent experience with the New York Knicks.” Some might argue Staley is incorrect in her observation of NBA hiring practice regarding women.

The NBA I believe was the first professional sport to hire a women as an assistant coach. Former Coach Pop of the Spurs hired Becky Hammon in 2014 and after that several others have since followed suit. Although Hammon would later interview for at least one head coaching position she too was passed over for consideration as an NBA head coach. As much as the NBA might be considered progressive compared to other professional sports there are areas that women might never cross. Is coaching men in the NBA as a head coach that role? I could cite as an example Doris Burke of ESPN, we read and heard numerous complaints about her broadcasting skill. I believe the vast majority of males were uncomfortable with hearing Burke as an analyst. I make this statement despite the fact she like other analysts played the game, it just so happened she played the girl’s game. I am sure several of you reading this will disagree with my observation and that’s okay.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

It’s not just LeBron

The world is aware there is a sciatic problem that’s sidelined LeBron James, latest word indicates it will be mid-November before he makes his season debut. Despite the fact the focus has been on LeBron there are others unavailable next week. Piston’s guard Jaden Ivey’s had right knee surgery, he will be out a minimum of four weeks. Sixer Paul George will miss the season opener after having off season knee surgery as well. Unlike Ivey who surgery was more recent George is expected in the Sixer lineup sooner, his arthroscopic procedure on his left knee occurred in July.

Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan will miss the season opener having suffered a sprain left wrist. Also missing at least the opener for the Spurs De’Aaron Fox with a strained hamstring. Out for an extended period is the Celtics Jayson Tatum plus Darius Garland and Max Strus of the Cavs. Kyrie Irving Mavs guard and Fred VanVleet of the Rockets, Tyler Hero Heat, TJ McConnell and Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers. This list should not be considered complete, there are a host of others out for an extended period of time.

I sure hope that is not the case

Whenever Joe Lunardi presents an update I always check it. You are familiar with Lunardi I hope, for those who might not be acquainted with him he is ESPN’s guru behind the NCAA Field of 68 teams for the tournament. Of course his approach is just that a projection however over time he’s been generally correct and that is a concern for this member of Mizzou Nation. I checked the field to locate Mizzou, he placed the Tigers in the South Regional. They could play Kansas which he also places in the regional.

Both teams might have a tough time because also in the regional is the pre-season number one team in the nation the Houston Cougars. Mizzou would play Southern Cal in Oklahoma City while Kansas would face McNeese, the downside at least for Mizzou would be playing Houston should they get pass Cal. It seems since the Tigers have been members of the SEC the pre-season estimate is always low, based on that fact alone it appears to the media they have exceeded when its more than that in my view. As an example they are predicted to finish in 7th place this upcoming season. Last season they finished in a 6th place tie with Kentucky and Ole Miss, the season ended with a 22 win record. They must prove it but I believe this Mizzou team is better than one they placed on the court last season.

Will this be the last game played

Mizzou and Kansas will renew their basketball rivalry on December 7, 2025. After Mizzou departed for the SEC these longtime rivals never played one another, you want to know how intense a rivalry existed? It was said legendary Mizzou coach Norm Stewart refused to spend a nickel in the State of Kansas. The Mizzou team would take a bus ride from Columbia the night before a game and would stay at a Kansas City MO hotel, they would then be bused to Lawrence the day of the game. That’s just one of many stories regarding this intense and longtime rivalry.

The question remains will this be the last based on an agreement made between the two schools, one game was played in Lawrence then one in Columbia. The series would be culminated by playing at the T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City. Some might not consider T-Mobile a neutral site, although the arena is on the Missouri side it is closer to Lawrence (Est 50 miles) than Columbia (Est 150 miles). In any event regardless of the outcome of the game I hope the rivalry will continue into the future. Rutgers had a rival school, I’m unsure if it was Rutgers or the opponent however this is what the schools decided. They would play a home and home game every basketball season, it would be great if Mizzou and Kansas could come to a similar type of agreement. I certainly hope this rivalry doesn’t end on December 7.  

Don’t worry he’s got a job

I’ve read more letters from fans over statements made by NBA teams. “Why doesn’t Russell Westbrook have a job” or “How could ________ be signed to a contract and Westbrook remains without a team.” Those are just two examples of the type of letter I read and continued to read until today. Late this afternoon came word the Kings of Sacramento have signed the veteran guard to a 1-year contract. I cannot be sure of anything, however, this has got to be his last trip around the association. I make the statement based on three factors, two of which can be proven.

Westbrook is 36 and will turn 37 before the season ends, you probably saying “LeBron is still playing and he will be 41 in December.” My response is simple, Westbrook ain’t LeBron which brings us to the second issue. Westbrook was never a prolific shooter but his range from deep doesn’t exist anymore. Teams back off from him daring him to shoot it and most of the time he misses. The last issue I will place in the category of “I heard” or “I read.” What you are about to read must be placed in the category of a rumor, it is reported he’s been a problem in the clubhouse. Some reading this will refer to me as a Westbrook hater, that is not the case. I just happen to believe his time as a productive player in the NBA is over, as they say, “Father Time remains undefeated.”