Basketball from a fans perspective

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It’s here

The initial round of the NBA Draft took place Wednesday evening, it would have been shocking if anyone other than Cooper Flagg had been selected as the top choice in the 2025 draft. On the morning before the draft, Today co-host Craig Melvin conducted an interview with Flagg covering various subjects. Subsequently, Melvin referred to a brief list of first-round NBA picks. He named Shaquille O’ Neal, LeBron James, Allen Iverson and Magic Johnson as if that’s not placing even more pressure on the 18 year old Flagg.

With the exception of James, who is still an active player, all those named are in the Naismith Hall of Fame, James will also be enshrined as soon as he’s eligible. Before I begin a brief venture into the past of the NBA Draft and one name in particular that pops up every year at this time, Greg Oden. He’s 37 years old now, the Blazers made him the number one pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The question was why not, 7-foot tall and 273 pounds plus this caveat. An NBA scout claimed “We are looking at the next Bill Russell” this based on his one season at Ohio State. Some report Oden as a bust, I say an emphatic no. There were a series of injuries over his brief NBA career which prevented him from playing at the level expected. In the recent past we discovered a number of guys that were just not talented enough to play in the NBA, I refuse to make that statement regarding Oden.

Meanwhile lets return to 2025 and the first round of the draft, who’s the second pick after Flagg? As for Newport Maine, the town of 3,158 souls is now officially the basketball capital of America. Dylan Harper standout Rutgers guard was made the second pick by the Spurs and with the third pick the Sixers chose guard VJ Edgecombe. The Hornets pick is Kon Knueppel at 4 from Duke, he will probably be a wing player. This report will conclude with pick number 5 by the Jazz, that would be Ace Bailey wing from Rutgers.

The second coming…perhaps

His name is Marcis Ponder, he’s from Orlando Florida and the thought might be he is the second coming of Shaquille O’ Neal. Ponder stands 6-foot 11 (or 6-foot 10 depending on your source) and he checks in at a brawny 327 pounds. As for the Shaq reference check out YouTube video of Ponder in action for West Oaks Academy High School. He bully’s opponents however his size versus 99% of his opponents must be taken into consideration. I have no idea of who Ponder’s faced but none could be close to him in size. So far 18 schools have offered him a scholarship including the likes of Tennessee, Kansas, Illinois plus Auburn and Alabama.

For me it says apparently there remains a Big Man game in basketball and several schools are willing to develop it. As this is written Ponder’s visited no campuses but that will occur at some point during his senior year of high school. There is video of him in action, check it out and see if you think his game resembles Shaquille O’ Neal. Now for the disclaimer, Ponder has yet to prove anything as I indicated earlier in this account its far easier to dominate talent at the high school level. It is less easy at the collegiate level and needless to say the NBA is a far different matter. In this instance I’m going to allow Ponder to develop his game, I intend to follow his progress into college and possibility the NBA.

As usual no evidence is provided

NBA players have no desire to play in Memphis, it’s got nothing to do with the Grizzlies. It’s a safety issue according to one Stephen A. Smith of ESPN, he claims “Cats like Jimmy Butler and others don’t feel like it’s the safest environment. I’m talking to local officials.” Ja Morant Grizzlies guard took issue with the take of Smith and naturally a response was required. Let’s did a little deeper into this story, allow me to say upfront I don’t believe Smith. Is he lying, maybe not is he embellishing the truth…perhaps. Usually Smith’s sources are never identified, this time he claims Jimmy Butler made the statement.

Well that must be affirmed by Butler, the other part I find more difficult to believe. Am I (or you) to believe officials for the City of Memphis would go on record with Smith indicating “We have a crime problem in the city?” Memphis is similar to other urban cities in the nation it contains a large share of criminal activity, there is no disagreement there. Of the two elements introduced I find one more a possibility than the other, please name the city officials you discussed this issue with. As for Morant he’s got problems of his own however I do agree with him in this instance in defending Memphis. Smith has little if any credibility with me on this subject for several reasons and this subject is closed for now.

This is news

Ethan Taylor, previously mentioned in this blog, is a local prospect from Shawnee (KS). He attended Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in the Kansas City (MO) suburb. Notice I said attended, that is past tense because at the end of the school year, Taylor has decided to enroll at Link Academy in Branson (MO) for his senior year. Just in case a number of you didn’t read the original account Taylor is a 7-foot, 230-pound center, as of now, he has not committed to any college,

Taylor’s made two unofficial visits to Columbia home of the University of MO, road miles is about 202 miles and 3 hours by car from Branson. That says to me Taylor might be able to take in a few Missouri basketball games in this upcoming season provided he desires. This is no slam dunk for Missouri, there are 8 other schools who will be waiving scholarships and NIL deals in front of Taylor’s parents in 2026. As for the fact Taylor will be playing his senior year at a prep school is not surprising. That development appears to be the norm anymore for a number of high school players across the nation.