Basketball from a fans perspective

Published Tuesday, Thursday plus Saturday & Sunday

The dawn of a new age? 

On Thursday evening I would picture a worldwide audience tuned into this particular summer game. I have no idea of the television numbers but for those in attendance at Thomas & Mack Arena it appeared to be a sellout. For the most part Summer League games are well attended but nothing close to a box-office hit, this game might have been the exception. It was the debut of Cooper Flagg to the Mavs and the NBA, the former Duke prospect and top pick would face the Lakers and Bronny James.

The final score read Mavs 87 Lakers 85 however neither Flagg nor James for that matter made the greatest impact in the game that was left to others. I tuned in to the game as others might have desiring to see Flagg’s first pro game, as for me the bar is set low due to circumstances. Summer League teams have few opportunities to mold themselves in the same manner as the regular season, little if any team practice and it shone at times. The box score for Flagg was only 10 points, he took several shots he missed that in my opinion were good. Although Flagg wasn’t pleased saying; “One of the worst games in my life” clearly provides us proof of his belief in himself and his game. I only remember one shot he took I would consider questionable. His aggressiveness offensively provided us proof he’s ready to compete.

As for other aspects of Flagg’s game he appeared into the flow of the game, rebounding, making defensive efforts and distributing the basketball throughout the game. These were traits most of us who read scouting reports believe existed prior to this first NBA game. As for the future of Flagg it would appear the Mavs will be competitive with him in the lineup and a hopeful return to form by Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and others who missed time. As for the headline I’m not being futuristic here, we could see the arrival (and success) of Cooper Flagg and the beginning of a new age for the NBA.

I’m not taking sides here

This account is about Memphis and Tennessee, but before delving into that discussion, it is worth considering a brief look at a couple other basketball programs. Missouri and Kansas had been rivals for nearly 100 years but Missouri left for the SEC Kansas and Bill Self refused to schedule these longtime rivals. In a manner of speaking that’s understandable, although they share a border they are universities in two different states. As for the State of Kansas that’s a different matter, Kansas State is in the Big XII too. Fellow conference members Kansas must play their in-state rival as for Wichita State that’s another matter.

For reasons only known to Kansas and Bill Self they refuse to schedule Wichita State, the one time they played in recent years was the NCAA Tournament. There are two other in-state schools, Memphis and Tennessee with the same issue neither schedules the other. The difference Memphis and Tennessee have played one another in the past. They were scheduled to play one another and then Covid struck the nation but apparently it was more than that. I’m unsure how Rick Barnes secured the information, he would claim a number of Memphis players had not been vaccinated against Covid. Needless to say the teams will not meet in the 2025-26 season beyond this upcoming season beyond that is an unknown.  

NBA Governor

Most of us are aware the Buss Family has decided to sell its majority share in the Lakers ownership. Mark Walter (already a minor owner) will become the principle owner of the team but not it’s governor. At the time the sale of the team was announced to the media it was also announced that Jeannie Buss would continue her role as the team’s governor, with that I thought it might be important to determine how the NBA views this role, the following information was located on the web. “The NBA officially shifted away from using the term “owner” to “governor “(or “alternate governor”) to describe those with controlling interest in a team.”

“The Board of Governors holds significant power, making decision on league rules, regulations, and overall direction, impacting the league’s financial success and competitive balance.” Notice the language that says those with controlling interest in a team. My Business Law 101 and 102 says that is no longer Jeannie Buss yet she will continue to “run things” for the foreseeable future. After reading this you might be questioning the length of time Jeannie Buss will continue in her present role. This next portion is concerned unconfirmed so consider that first, she will hold the position for the next five years. That would necessitate Jeannie Buss continuing to be the decision maker until 2030. As for Walter he built his wealth by consistently making decisions that aligned with both his comfort and the interests of his business.

His story popped up again

This came up on one of my social media sites. His given name was Cornelius Lance “Connie” Hawkins, to the basketball world he was Connie. All the years he was banned from playing in the NBA he never expressed it publicly. Hawk as he was also nicknamed would become a 27 year old rookie when he played his first game in the NBA. He came out of Brooklyn New York a legend, he was Dr. J. before Dr. J., his hands were so huge the ball appeared as a grapefruit in his hand. What delayed his entrance into the NBA could never occur today based on the history. Jack Molinas was a very good basketball player, respectable enough he played briefly in the NBA before he was banned for gambling. Molinas was acquainted with quite a few high school players at the time including Hawk.

It was more a case of guilt by association for Hawk and others. Hawks brother confessed he’d received a loan from Molinas but paid it back prior to the point shaving scandal erupting. Despite little if any proof of guilt Hawk’s freshman year saw the University of Iowa expel him, shortly thereafter he was banned from play in the NBA. This was done without offering one shred of evidence of his guilt. He would play in the American Basketball League until the league folded, later it would be the American Basketball Association where he distinguished himself with outstanding play. In 1969 Hawk began play with the Suns in the NBA as a 27 year old. Unlike Dr. J., Hawk had a great deal of mileage on his body prior to beginning play in the association. In 1992 he was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame an honor long overdue. In 1972 Dave Wolf ‘s publisher released Foul: The Connie Hawkins Story, I’ve read his book, read it and you will discover this was a case of justice denied for a number of years.