Basketball from a Fan’s Perspective

Published Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun

Steve ‘Money’ Ballmer  

It’s not official as I’m writing this, Bradley Beal will receive a buyout from the Suns and join the Clippers. That’s just the latest move by this team to compete for the 2026 NBA Championship. Since July 1 they have added (not in order) Brook Lopez former Bucks center, traded for John Collins power forward who played for the Jazz. In addition they add shooting guard Bradley Beal to the cast. Which player including the holdovers sacrifices their game for the benefit of the team? Is it James Harden, could it be Ivica Zubac or maybe Kawhi Leonard? 

The June draft saw them choose 7 foot 250 pound Yanic Konan Niederhauser from Penn State. While watching a Clippers Summer League game, the play-by-play announcer noted that Niederhauser could be utilized as a sub for Zubac. With veteran Lopez on the team I have serious doubts Niederhauser will see much action except in a blowout win (or loss). I’m going to leave this group to coach Tyronn Lue to determine who plays and who becomes the top reserve. It would appear my Missouri guy Kobe Brown ain’t getting off the bench for the Clippers, his best option might be free agency and play for another team allowing him the opportunity to play. All I can say, this team better win an NBA Championship for Ballmer.

This is yet to be confirmed

Do you remember, I most certainly do…the subject of NBA expansion being discussed from the middle part of last season up to the present. The NBA would be expanding from 30 to 32 teams, the two cities believed to be in the forefront for a franchise were Seattle and Las Vegas. Others were reported to be under consideration but mentioned most were the two named. As I always say that was then this is now, unconfirmed reports indicate the possibility of expansion will be placed on hold for a time. Naturally, this was such a hot topic at one time what occurred to delay adding two new teams? 

The almighty dollar is reported to be the basis for this change, the NBA signed a 10 year $76 billion contract with its family of television networks. If the league had expanded at this juncture owners of the two franchises would be included in the financial compensation so that’s the short story. Sharing $76 billion travels a greater distance divided by 30 rather than 32. NBA expansion will occur one day however it’s going to be later than expected. The owners will sit down and discuss expansion plus the sale of the Lakers and Celtics and additional topics. For now at least expansion of the NBA will likely be placed on hold.

I almost didn't post this

An on-line story indicated Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s Skyhook had been blocked twice by Wilt Chamberlain, the account went on to indicate this had occurred in the same game. Then the letters began pouring in with various individuals claiming (without documentation) the number of players who blocked Kareem’s Skyhook. The main reason I almost didn’t post this was based on the following, one or two letters contained names the others failed to mention. How could I really be sure which was correct without the ability to authenticate any of them. There is YouTube video of Chamberlain in action against Kareem, the two blocks occurred in the video but were they in the same game…I hope so. In the meantime over the course of 20 years of NBA play I’m sure Kareem didn’t sink every shot taken by his dominate hand but a bunch certainly were sunk. Kareem scored 38,387 points over his 20 year NBA career which ended after the 1988-89 season, 

This represents 14 years with the Lakers and the 6 seasons he played for the Bucks. For his career Kareem shot an amazing 559% from the floor but most certainly it wasn’t all Skyhook’s, he was 1 for 18 from the three line. The all-time NBA scoring record would last until January 7, 2023, when LeBron James broke it an incredible 34 years. It’s always been my contention whenever GOAT conversation exist Kareem’s name is rarely mentioned and it should be. He won three New York City Catholic Championships at Power Memorial High School. “He led the team to a 71-game winning streak and three consecutive championships in the Catholic High School Athletic Association.” In addition Kareem (then Lew Alcindor) was a three time NCAA Champion at UCLA and 6 time NBA Champion one with the Bucks and 5 with the Lakers. There are 6 NBA MVP’s on his resume but I will stop at this point. One question has remained, traditional post play is a thing of the past. Despite that fact I wonder why no one has decided to add the Skyhook to their repertoire of shots.

Wikipedia

The Phoenix   

We are now at the point that the west becomes east, not quite but this almost exists. The demise of the Pac-12 dissolving with Southern Cal, UCLA and others leaving and the conference effort to remain solvent has witnessed a wealth of change. Leadership has worked diligently to add teams making the conference viable and a power once again.  The opening sentence is not true however I doubt if anyone expected to ever see a Texas team closer to the Atlantic Ocean than Pacific a member of the conference.

Well that’s occurred recently, Texas State University in San Marcos has changed its mind and accepted an invitation to join the Pac-12. Most recently the school was a member of the Sun Belt Conference. This move by Texas State does not go into effect until July 1, 2026, but as you can see the Pac-12 has risen just like a phoenix from the burning ashes. Below will become the new Pac-12 once all the dust settles. Based on conference realignment across the nation I’d bet money it fails to remain a 9 member conference always and forever. I could foresee at least three additional schools being added at some date in the future.

Boise State

Colorado State

Fresno State

Gonzaga (all sports except football)

Oregon State

San Diego State

Texas State

Utah State  

Washington State