The view of a fan

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Why I ignore money

You know me by now, as a general rule I don’t discuss the salaries of athletes, the price of other stuff no problem, I will discuss those issues “till the cows come home.” The key reason I refuse to discuss money is for the following reasons. Joel Embiid is the third highest paid player in the NBA, Anthony Davis is further down the list but is in the Top 10. With all his talent if we check the numbers we’ll discover Embiid played a total of 19 games during the season, as for AD with the Lakers and Mavs it was 51 games in total. Both players are under contract as were other players who were injured during the season. 

The issue becomes the amount of pay versus the number of games played. By me simply not publishing salaries it’s not hiding any facts, if one is interested salaries can be readily sought out via the internet. What is the point of this exercise…No matter how you might feel about the salary paid an athlete you (nor I) have any control over what a team might choose to reward a player. Some reading this will be shocked to discover this fact, years ago during the off season a number of players were forced to work secondary jobs. Back then this policy of having a second job lasted until the mid ‘70’s or so, it was necessary because salaries back then were comparable to those working 40 hour a week jobs.  

The dunk will ruin college basketball

The above headline is a statement made by several folks in the middle ‘60’s, they managed to make enough noise a change was made. For those too young or unfamiliar with the events from 1967 through 1976 college basketball players were prohibited from dunking the basketball. Didn’t matter if it were warming up or during the game a team would be accessed technical fouls. The official explanation was the possibility of injury occurring if teams were allowed to dunk. This next statement I can offer no proof just what I believe was the basis. The ban was the result of UCLA’s Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) dominating basketball and this became an effective method of stopping him or at least curtailing his dominance. We are near the dawn of another college basketball season and there are issues to manage. As long as human beings are involved in something there will be issues.

Many of us continue to struggle with the Transfer Portal plus Name, Image and Likeness, it’s my belief the NCAA is directly and sometimes indirectly involved in how these series of changes developed. Am I claiming both are perfect…of course not, as with any issue as they come to the forefront they must be administered. I’ve read fan letters complaining about the amount of NIL money a particular player is receiving, that is a dangerous area for me. I would never place myself in a position to determine the financial reward of someone unless I had direct knowledge and a connection. As for the Transfer Portal I believe it should be addressed in this manner, unless there is an injury issue only two transfers should be allowed. There are instances (including Mizzou) a player might have played at 3 schools by their junior year. I realize this exercise will not satisfy many reading this and it shouldn’t. As I often attempt to explain in instances such as this it’s my opinion if you agree okay…if you don’t that’s okay too.  

If it sounds too good to be true, that just might be the case

Over the years I have made it a practice to be as accurate as possible when compiling information for Off the Dribble. I always sought to separate fact from my opinion on a subject. The history is the most important component and maybe in the information I’m about to cite perhaps the fan believed he was correct. A story on the American Basketball Association and Artis Gilmore prompted this fan responding to the “breakup” of the ABA. He claimed Jerry Reinsdorf and the Bulls held the draft rights to Gilmore. The writer claimed Reinsdorf voted against the Kentucky Colonels moving into the NBA 

Gilmore was on the roster of the Colonels and the Bulls wanted him or at least that was the claim. At this point, the story takes a left turn because only a portion of the letter written by the fan is correct. Let’s look at some dates, at the time it was not unusual for NBA teams to draft players who might be in the ABA it was commonplace, the Bulls did just that in the 1971 draft. In 1976 the NBA absorbed (I no longer use merger) four teams the Spurs, Nuggets, Pacers and Nets. Reinsdorf purchased the Bulls in 1985 exactly 14 years after the ABA was dissolved. Did the Bulls ownership in 1976 vote against adding the Colonels to the NBA I don’t know. The writer might be correct however he named the wrong culprit…it certainly wasn’t Reinsdorf based on the lapse of time. In closing as the headline reads, be careful of your source.

UConn a Blue Blood

I bet you didn’t (or maybe you did) realize UConn’s won 6 NCAA Championships in the men’s division. I had to be specific because UConn women have long dominated college basketball. As for the men I ask the question, is UConn a Blue Blood program…I believe they are for a number of reasons. At the top of the list are the total championship, their number exceeds Kansas which by all accounts is considered a Blue Blood program. UConn is tied with North Carolina so that fact alone places the them in exclusive company.

What is most interesting the in 121 seasons of basketball the championships won involve only two head coaches, Jim Calhoun and Dan Hurley. Unlike some other Blue Blood or even high profile programs UConn’s roster is never graced with McDonald’s All Americans. Winning has been accomplished recruiting talented athletes and having them buy into the system of Calhoun and now Hurley. Speaking of Hurley in some circles the guy is not well liked, he’s intense and wants to win all the time. This makes Hurley somewhat unpopular among many in the coaching fraternity. For me UConn always appears to be that team lying in the woods, the opposition is generally unsure what they might be facing. 

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Who is it that wears Celtic green in the post

A salary dump saw Kristaps Porzingis traded to the Hawks and Jrue Holliday sent to the Blazers. Reports are this was done regarding the new owner taking over the Celtics. Of course it’s the post position that’s become most intriguing, Luke Kornet left for the Spurs in a free agent deal and they are unlikely to re-sign Al Horford. The question becomes who remains to man the post position for the Celtics?  Neither Chris Boucher nor Luka Garza have extensive play in the post.

The leading candidate to play major minutes also has limited play, his name is Neemias Queta. He played 62 games last season for the Celtics averaging about 14 minutes a game primarily subbing for Porzingis. Although he’s raw Queta at 7-foot and 250 pounds has the bulk to play in the post, although he shot the ball infrequently he was a 65% shooter. His numbers while playing at Utah State were decent so apparently he’s got a bit of skill playing in the post, just in case you wondered the Celtic Big Man was born in Lisbon, Portugal. This is written weeks ahead of training camp, perhaps in desperation they decide to re-sign Horford. He’s familiar with the Celtic playbook so it's certainly possible. 

Shut down

Once again we hear podcast drama, this time Larry Bird and Kevin Durant are the subject for Patrick Beverley. Larry Legend is long since retired, in addition Durant is closing out a hall of fame career. Despite the passage of time Beverley decided now would be a good time to compare the two on his podcast. This from Beverley; “Durant was the superior player to Bird and would have averaged 50 points a game if he played back then.” His statement didn’t rest comfortably with a former player of the Bird era Eddie Johnson. Johnson had a 17 year NBA career and played during the Bird era so he should have firsthand knowledge of Larry Legend. Clearly Johnson Former Sixth Man of the Year took offense to the Beverly podcast and felt a response was required.

“You have zero clue how good Larry Bird was,” which preceded his testimonial on X. “And I will go on record and say you (Beverly) would have been in the Continental Basketball Association in the NBA in the 80’s.” The Continental Basketball Association preceded the G-League, players would hone their skills in the CBA in hopes of landing an NBA job. As you are aware this blog is written from the perspective of a fan so here goes, could Beverly have played in the NBA back then? I actually have no idea, in this instance the word of Johnson must be taken into consideration. As for witnessing his play on a number of teams including my Lakers I have never been a fan of Pat Bev, as the old saying goes, “His bark is worse than his bite.” I am guessing Pat Bev, Gilbert Arenas and others must have a daily hook to appeal to the public.   

She’s a winner

Dawn Staley’s been a winner throughout her career, first as a high school player and later at the University of Virginia and later in the WNBA. Once she became a head coach it’s my belief she’s been far more successful in this career over playing the game. Her South Carolina teams have won three NCAA championships, three Final Fours and one Runner Up. That represents just a small portion of her coaching accomplishments at South Carolina. She first tasted success while coaching at Temple where her teams compiled 172 wins versus 80 losses. Her winning basketball teams in the women’s basketball program at Temple and South Carolina has not gone unnoticed.

The Knicks decided to replace Tom Thibodeau as head coach and a search was conducted throughout the basketball world. Eventually the Knicks decided on veteran coach Mike Brown as head coach. This week Staley announced she had been interviewed for the head coaching position, despite not being hired she spoke enthusiastically regarding the opportunity. From CBS News: “Dawn Staley would have left South Carolina for New York Knicks head coaching job, she says.” Although there are several female assistant coaches none have been elevated to the first chair. The first female coach in the NBA might not be Staley however it will occur at some future date, it most certainly will occur before the first female NFL coach and MLB manager is hired. 

They listened to all the caw-caw

Some fans expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with the broadcast team, which likely influenced ABC/ESPN’s decision to reassign Doris Burke from her role as a lead broadcast analyst. She will likely team with Mark Jones or another commentator on the network’s secondary team. Former NBA player and analyst Tim Legler will move up to work alongside Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson. The exact reason for Burke’s reassignment is unclear, however, there has been speculation regarding its motivations.

I’d mentioned this previously my issues with Jeff Van Gundy’s commentary style, particularly his tendency to deviate from game analysis. For instance I remember one Laker game in particular, Van Gundy discussed the appropriateness of displaying certain championship banners in Crypto.com rather than focusing on the live action. Regardless, the network has made its decision---Burke remains employed, but some view like me view this change as less than favorable. Before you come to the wrong conclusion I like Tim Legler, he’s informative without becoming too technical in his explanation. I believe Burke was as well however it didn’t work for her. Am I going to quite watching NBA games on the network, of course not?

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Meanwhile…

This is an update on Jason Crowe Jr., the 2026 Mizzou verbal commit played this past summer for the Oakland Soldiers. He’s entered his senior year at Englewood High School in Englewood California. A scouting report reads; “Left handed scorer, he creates his own shot, makes tough shots, navigates high pick and rolls.” Crowe Jr. is a 6-foot-3 170 pound combo guard, as for his ranking. Rivals places him at 9, 247Sports-5, ESPN100-5 and Prep Hoops 7. As I wrote earlier I hope he remains committed to Mizzou…he can sign in November if he chooses.

Alperen Sengun who plays the post position as a valued member of the Rockets, how he arrived in Houston is quite an interesting story since they didn’t draft him. I located this bit of information on the web; “The Oklahoma City Thunder did not keep Alperen Sengun; they drafted him with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft but immediately traded his rights to the Houston Rockets for future draft picks. The Rockets then signed Sengun, who has since become an All-Star center, while the Thunder use the acquired picks to eventually select Ousmane Dieng in 2022 to assist their trade that landed them Chet Holmgren in the same draft.” So as you can see this turned out to be a win for the Rockets and Thunder.

Cooper Flagg Mavericks rookie, will begin his NBA career at the age of 18 years of age. He will celebrate his 19th birthday on December 21, his first year in the association will be complete before he turns 21. A number of players moved from high school or their freshman year of college and immediately made an impact in the NBA. The short list is players with the highest scoring average, will Flagg join them in his rookie year?

LeBron James 21.9 PPG

Carmelo Anthony 21.0 PPG

Luka Doncic 20.9 PPG

Kevin Durant 20.3 PPG

Some might remember his father, Sarunas Marciulionis, was one of the early Euro NBA success stories. Marciulionis had a productive career first playing in his native Lithuania and later in the NBA. He and his wife would have three children one of them would be named Augustas, he took up the game of his father. Augustas played at St. Mary’s but went undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft, left with a choice between the Bucks and Lakers he chose the latter team and signed a free agent contract. It’s likely he begins the season with the South Bay Lakers but don’t be surprised to see him on the parent club at some future date, he’s a 6-foot 4 point guard.

He was Steph before Steph

You are thinking to yourself what is that headline about? He’s been profiled previously but perhaps some missed his story the first time around, see he left the NBA at an earlier time. He didn’t leave due to injury rather it was a stance which made him unpopular with some fans and teams in the NBA. Maybe he did slam the NBA for excluding him but I never heard his voice speak it into a mic nor discuss it in print, who am I referring to…his name is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

To my knowledge he’s never expressed anger after leaving the NBA when he clearly had game remaining. Fact is at 56 years of age he is currently playing for the 3 Headed Monsters in the BIG3 basketball league. That became his name after he converted to Islam. Most are familiar with Chris Jackson, which was his birth name, in any event what about him you ask? Jackson began play at LSU in 1988 the same year Steph Curry was born, Abdul-Rauf stood at 6-foot 1 and 162 pounds but boy could he shoot the rock. When questioned Shaquille O’Neal claims he was the best shooter he’d ever seen up to that point, Shaq should have an idea since the two were teammates at LSU. What happened, why is there more known about The Big Aristotle than Abdul-Rauf you might ask, it’s simple? He stood for his beliefs and due to that fact the NBA owners banned him from the league. His was a protest against police brutality as it related to black and brown people in America. They didn’t say it out loud because they could have been a party to a lawsuit, nothing was said. What caused his rift with the Nuggets and the NBA…protest.

The National Anthem was the basis for his ban, he demonstrated no reverence for the anthem at first. When it was noticed throughout the NBA he began remaining in the locker room until the game began. It was at this point the Nuggets and the NBA believed the Abdul-Raul problem must be resolved. I cannot do justice to the story, research and read his words for yourself. You will come to the same conclusion as me, Abdul-Rauf was history in the NBA before his time had expired. Was Abul-Rauf also equivalent to Colin Kaepernick in the NFL. 

Twin Towers

After the Clippers acquired Brook Lopez it was reported rather than a backup he would play alongside Ivica Zubac. The Clippers would have two 7-footers in the lineup together. I decided to conduct a history check, the concept of Twin Towers might be older than most realize. In the 1963 NBA draft the San Francisco Warriors drafted 6-foot 11 inch Nate Thurmond with the 3rd pick in the first round. Thurmond had played the center position throughout high school and college but was forced to make a change. When he arrived occupying the post was veteran Wilt Chamberlain so Thurmond was moved to a “power” forward position. Both Big Men played together until 1965 when a trade was made moving Chamberlain to the Sixers.

There would be an interval of years before another Twin Tower duo emerged, this time it was in the college ranks. In the early 1970’s Jacksonville (FL) University played 7-foot 2 Artis Gilmore and 7-foot Pembrooke Burrows together. Despite having an overwhelming height advantage they would lose the 1970 NCAA Championship to UCLA. The NBA Rockets having previously drafted 7-foot Hakeem Olajuwon would later draft and place in the lineup 7-foot 4 Ralph Sampson. Of these pairings far and away the most successful duo on the basketball court was David Robinson and Tim Duncan of the Spurs. They managed to bring two championships to San Antonio. There are Twin Towers omitted, for my purposes an attempt was made to list those for historical purposes or had the most success. In closing if the Clippers follow through as reported you will discover this will not be the first instance two extremely tall athletes are in a team’s lineup at the same time.

 

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Poor decision making

It’s been my contention for a time that the Kansas City Kings were terrible for the most part while here. Terrible on the court and terrible in the front office/scouting staff. I’m going to skip over the fact they chose serviceable guard Ron Boone when Moses Malone was available. Let’s just say Malone was young and only had 2 pro years behind him and they were in the upstart American Basketball Association. They don’t get a break, hovering over Clyde Drexler and John Stockton yet moving to draft neither one. It’s my belief without offering any proof the Kings were also poorly run due to financial restrictions.

I’d bet money you find that difficult to believe since both players are now in the Naismith Hall of Fame. The 1984-85 season was the last one in Kansas City, Otis Thorpe the first choice was a very good player although certainly not hall of fame worthy. Let’s check out the prior 4 drafts and who the Kings drafted versus who was available. The 1983-84 season, that would be the rookie year for Ennis Whatley chosen with the 13th pick, with pick 14 the Houston Rockets chose Clyde Drexler and pick 16 was John Stockton. You remember him, Stockton to Malone who perfected the pick and roll. 1982-83, the Kings chose Brooks Steppe with the 17th pick, later chosen in that draft was Rickey Pierce and Paul Pressey. The 1981-82 season saw Steve Johnson added to the Kings lineup, after that pick came Tom Chambers, Rolando Blackman, Albert King and Larry Nance.

The 1979-80 season witnessed Hawkeye Whitney inserted into the Kings lineup, behind this pick was Larry Drew, Jeff Ruland, Rick Mahorn. After time spent with the Pistons Drew would join the Kings. With the passage of time I’m sure several of the names might be unfamiliar to you however those named had more extensive careers than those drafted by the Kings, the exception would be Otis Thorpe. If two or three of these names had been matched with continued player development the entire 13 year history of the Kings in Kansas City might have been a great deal more successful, three winning seasons in 13 years proves the Kings front office was inept.

What if….

Reading “Jabali A Kansas City Legend by David Thomas” I came across something I’d like to share. Jabali mentioned his back and knee issue which cut short his career but he also mentioned being an unknown playing at Wichita State in 1968. This is the part that stuck out for me, being drafted by the Knicks and Red Holtzman. It was made known by the former Knicks coach Jabali’s reputation had preceded him. The coach wanted no part of Jabali perhaps believing he would be disruptive to the Knicks. I decided to return to 1968, the draft that is, I wanted to check out a couple of issues.

Jabali was a 4th round draft pick, not unusual for that time period the NBA consisted of 6 rounds until 1989. For this exercise I checked the team in front and behind the Knicks pick of Jabali. The Warriors with the 43rd pick chose Edgar Lacey of UCLA, then the Knicks followed choosing Jabali, next up the Lakers with pick 45. They chose Ed Biedenbach from North Carolina State. I checked the rosters of both teams, the Warriors team finished Jabali’s rookie season with a .500 record. Jabali was talented enough to play for that Warriors team, on the other hand the Lakers were a much better team. They had Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, it’s likely Jabali would not have seen the floor except at mop up time. What does this exercise prove, absolutely nothing except to offer a what if.

It’s throwback to an earlier era

I’ve written on more than one occasion and 99% of you agree today’s game is no longer low post. That style of basketball has all but disappeared from the game. Despite my statement athletes continue to grow, the game will never return to the days of Wilt/Kareem/Shaq. Despite this statement it’s all ways been my belief if a team has a talented Big Man why not attempt to develop his game, Alperen Sengun is an example to study. The Rockets coaching staff most likely worked with him to grow all portions of his game.  

Is Sengun a throwback to an earlier period…hardly but he is enhancing his game. I must consider him a project as well, that would be former Duke center Khaman Maluach who will begin play for the Suns this fall. The University of Missouri is also in the process of developing a Big Man. His name, Trent Burns and he stands 7-foot 5 and weighs 235 pounds, he didn’t play as a freshman due to a broken foot. Burn’s been nicknamed “Baby Wemby” although until he begins to demonstrate his talent that nickname might be a bit premature. This next guy causes me all kind of issues, although Wemby plays center and stands 7-foot 4 (or 5) it’s difficult for me to place him exclusively in the Big Man category. I’m going to place him at 1 and all others as 2’s based on the parts of the Wemby game he exhibits. I’m quite anxious to discover if Yang Hansen is truly the prospect the Blazers believe he can become. Nikola Jokic a.k.a. The Joker remains the best at age 30, he does all those things for the Nuggets required and to think.

Jokic was drafted number 41 in the second round of the 2014 draft, it’s my belief there is always talent in the draft if a team is willing to develop it. The list is short because there is a dearth of talent at the post position, perhaps I’ve left someone off the list you believe should be included. As for the Lakers sanity (and me) Deandre Ayton turns his career around, the 7-foot 252 pound center can elevate his game and becomes that dominate player he was projected to become. When he first arrived in the NBA the tools were clearly evident.

Meanwhile…

“He didn’t like the game, but he liked making millions of dollars.” Those are the words of Kareem Abdul Jabbar regarding Andrew Bynum, some reading this might not be familiar with Bynum. When drafted out of high school in 2005 by the Lakers at 17 years of age he became the youngest player ever drafted in the NBA, he stood 7 feet tall and 285 pounds. The shortened version of the story, despite untold potential Abdul Jabbar claims Bynum lacked passion. Abdul Jabbar was brought on staff by Phil Jackson to mentor the youngster and for a time it helped in his development. It’s my belief it is easier to understand physical limitations of an athlete over attitude. Bynum would leave the game in 2014 at age 27 the belief was injury, there may have been another issue.

In all likelihood you might not find this list as interesting as me. Recently ESPN.com college page provided the names of the top high school players in the nation regardless of class. It would be expected their list would contain more seniors and juniors but the Class of 2028 was quite interesting for a variety of reasons. Paul Biancardi and his team identified the Top 25 players in that class, the part I find most amazing is these youngsters just finished play as freshman. It leads me to conclude if you played for a high school on the planet Mars scouts would be acquainted with you and be able to critique that prospects game.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Pay attention please, the news moves swiftly

Just a short time ago, maybe last week it appeared the Spurs planned arena was in great danger. The mayor of San Antonio appeared to not favor the project for several reasons. I believed all along eventually it was going to be built at least that was my view, I held this belief despite the gigantic boulders in front of Project Marvel as it’s named. All that appears to have changed based on Monday’s news. Rather than miss communicate information I prefer you check out the link from SI.com and my belief additional $$ appear to have removed an obstacle in front of the project. 

https://www.si.com/nba/spurs/news/san-antonio-spurs-announce-massive-2-billion-commitment-01k38jk8d2rr

Everyone has a plan

The headline references a quote attributed to former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, the complete quote is: “Everyone has a plan until he’s hit in the mouth.” While none of these rookies will experience physical hits, they will undergo significant challenges as they begin their NBA careers. This information is sourced from Fansided.com and Rucker Haringey, dated August 24. The article titled “3 NBA rookies the Lakers will wish they had drafted before 2025-26 is over” provides further details. The first rookie on Haringey’s list is Chaz Lanier, who played at Tennessee and was selected 37th by the Pistons, immediately after Ado Thiero, whom the Lakers chose at 36. This observation is not meant to criticize Lanier, as he demonstrated notable three-point shooting ability.

A consideration arises regarding whether Lanier might have a similar experience to Knecht; this statement is not intended to be negative, but it is uncertain at this time. The second player mentioned is Maxime Raynaud from Stanford, originally from France. Raynaud is a seven-foot center noted for his defensive productivity at Stanford, but according to RotoWire.com, his perimeter defense will require improvement for the NBA, especially if he transitions more toward forward than center based on his offensive skill set. This is the second area of uncertainty in Haringey’s evaluation. Lastly, Tyrese Proctor of Duke, selected 49th by the Cavaliers, is included. Proctor is recognized as a capable combo guard, although the Lakers were seeking a quality big man. It is important to note that if the Lakers had passed on Thiero, they could have chosen only one of the three players discussed.

Another Cooper Flagg...maybe

I certainly wasn’t familiar with his name, it’s Jahleel Joseph and I read about him in the Bangor Daily News. According to the newspaper he’s reported to be one of Maine’s best high school basketball players. He’s a 6-foot 4 wing and played at Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill Maine, the town has a population of nearly 1,400 persons. Mars Hill is located approximately 150 miles north of the capital city of Bangor. Perhaps it’s a competition thing similar to Flagg or something else based on his current future.

Joseph will not graduate from Central Aroostook, he is now enrolled at West Nottingham Academy a prep and boarding school in Colora, Maryland about 60 miles northeast of Baltimore. It’s certainly unfair on my part to compare Joseph to Flagg, the basis of course both young men being residents of Maine. The state of Maine is certainly not the smallest in the nation population wise (43) nevertheless it’s noteworthy in that Flagg might be responsible for college coaches scheduling flights to Maine beginning right now. This is no intent to project Joseph as a budding NBA prospect it’s just the fact the State of Maine has or will become a stopping point for college scouts.

Sometimes they miss

This is an amazing story looking back at the decision, two franchises the Blazers and Braves (now the Clippers) passed on Moses Malone. You do realize, maybe you don’t he was NBA MVP in 1979, 1982 and 1983. In addition he is enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. As for the mistake, NBA expansion had added the Pacers, Nuggets, Nets and Spurs. Players from ABA teams no longer operating were placed in a pool and a draft was held. In fairness keep in mind Malone signed out of high school and was only 19 years old but he’d played almost 2 seasons in the ABA.

At the time the dispersal draft was held the Blazers selected Malone in the 1976 draft before trading him to the Buffalo Braves. He played 2 games for the Braves before they traded him to the Rockets. Malone would win 2 league MVP’s in 6 years while a member of the Rockets, he won an additional MVP as a member of the Sixers. Over the course of his NBA career Malone certainly proved to all he had the right stuff to be considered one of the NBA’s All-Time greats. Malone would be named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary team and later in 2021 named to the 75th Anniversary Team. To top this off the Kansas City Kings had an opportunity to acquire Malone in the ABA dispersal draft, instead they chose serviceable 6-foot 2 guard Ron Boone. 

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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San Antonio Arena news

Step one in the effort to replace Frost Bank Arena is done, the city council approved the plan 7-4. With so many “moving parts” it’s my desire to provide a clear explanation of events. Although a November vote by the people remains it appears the project will now move forward, a link to news events follows:

https://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/project-marvel-spurs-20823047.php

The other “New York team”

Reading the headline some of you are asking the question…New York has another NBA team?” Well not exactly, it’s difficult to think in that manner since the team has Brooklyn on the front of their jerseys. It is easy to unfollow a team with 56 losses this past season so what did they do? First they hired Jordi Fernandez as head coach back in April, Fernandez has international and NBA experience as a coach so he’s not exactly a novice. With pick 8 in the first round they chose Egor Demin, a 6-foot 9 combo guard from BYU.

The following scouting report is from RotoWire.com, “Demin projects as a floor general at the NBA level, someone who can organize the offense and set up his teammates. How far he can go beyond that will depend on his shooting development. His size will always be an advantage, however, and other players have made it work despite minimal 3-point skills. Comparisons can be drawn to a player like Josh Giddey and Anthony Black.” I hope citizens of Salt Lake City are not expecting Demin to come in and immediately move the team to the next level. Despite that fact he is an intriguing figure regardless of only one competitive year of high level basketball at BYU.

Vintage basketball arenas

There are plenty of them across the country, basketball arenas which have built in reputations due to age. The first one to check out is Cameron Indoor Gym home of the Duke Blue Devils. Opened in 1940 the arena only seats 9,314 fans, which makes it among the smallest in the nation. In addition to coach K. and now Scheyer building talented teams there is an intimidation factor for visitors. Next up we check out Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Indiana, it opened even earlier than Cameron (1928). Although the Butler Bulldogs have not been as successful on the court as Duke in recent years there was a time when they were feared by the opposition, especially in Hinkle.

Pauley Pavilion home of the UCLA Bruins opened its doors in 1965, which makes it one of the newer basketball cathedrals. Although it’s been quite a while UCLA continues to lead the nation’s college teams in NCAA in championship wins. Was it built influenced by Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar), that is a question we cannot answer. Lawrence Kansas is home to the Kansas Jayhawks and Allen Fieldhouse, the arena was named after Dr. Forrest Clare “Phog” Allen. He alone was responsible for the winning tradition established by Kansas basketball, Allen was basketball coach from 1919-1956, a sign inside the building reads “Beware of the Phog.” Located in the Bronx New York is Rose Hill Gymnasium home of the Fordham University. The arena opened in January 1925, similar to the others its small in numbers hosting but 3,200 spectators. The Palestra located in Philadelphia, this “tiny” arena has a capacity of 8,722, it was opened in January of 1927.

The arena is home to the Penn Quakers and St. Joseph’s, in the past it’s also been the home court for Temple and LaSalle. I am closing this brief look with the following from AI. “Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, has a rich history with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, hosting 83 games and 10 Final Fours. It ranks second all-time in games hosted by a city, and is tied with Dayton for hosting the second-most NCAA tournament games overall. While it hasn’t hosted an NCAA tournament game since 1964, it remains a significant venue in the tournament’s history.”    

I don’t have the ability

Over the course of this summer a number of stories have circulated regarding LeBron James. All seem to point to the fact he “desires to play for another team.” We have no idea if that is true, it’s no secret he and Steph Curry are friends but that is almost an impossible move. LeBron remains under contract for now, this is me the only roster member I’d desire is Curry. It would serve no purpose (in my mind) to acquire Draymond Green and 3 players plus draft choices as an example. Next season might be a different matter, at that time LeBron becomes a free agent and could simply sign with another team.

Would the Lakers allow LeBron to walk away without receiving any compensation, I doubt it? The headline simply states neither you nor I have the ability to “get inside LeBron’s brain to determine what he wants.” I’ve written this previously and will cover it once again, this truly is the sunset of a brilliant NBA career for LeBron. He’s played at a high skill level far beyond any of his contemporaries of the past and present. The Lakers are building for the now, for me that says to LeBron come on with us. Despite the invitation it’s also stating, “You will no longer be the focus of the offense, you will be part of it.” I have no idea if LeBron is willing, no doubt he remains able. Nevertheless we shall see what unfolds over the next few weeks and months.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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There is no real competition

This is the time of the year for my annual declaration, I like the NFL especially Chiefs football. I have been questioned on several occasions, “Why do you publish a basketball blog 12 months of the year?” I could say for the same reason ESPN, sports talk radio is chock full of discussions on the NFL from February immediately after the Super Bowl through the spring NFL draft. This goes right through July training camp up to the start of the season, i.e. there is no off season. It’s also interesting NFL fans have no issue with trespassing on baseball but a discussion on basketball they choose to attack. You state “There’s no basketball being played yet have no issue with talking NFL football in June.” I just happen to be one of those guys who prefers the roundball game if you don’t that is truly okay. I embrace basketball as you do the NFL, both sports are awesome.

Is this the opening night roster

This Laker roster was located online, is it likely to be in place opening night? First a check of the reserves, Dalton Knecht guard, Maxi Kleber, power forward, Bronny James point guard and Christian Koloko center. The second unit will consist of Marcus Smart, guard, Jake LaRavia small forward, Jerrad Vanderbilt power forward, Jaxson Hayes center and Gabe Vincent guard. As for Laker starters they are, Luka Doncic point guard, Austin Reaves, shooting guard, Rui Hachimura forward, LeBron James forward along with Deandre Ayton center. Will opposing teams be in fear whenever the Lakers are the opposition, I have serious doubts? What they can accomplish with this lineup is to sneak up on the opponent.

The prevailing thought is to go with this bunch and see how it works out, if by the middle of the season it fails to work then make a move. Waiting in the wings is Adou Thiero, Eric Dixon, Chris Manon to name just a few additional names. The only problem I see with the second unit is their offense. Smart proved in the past he can score, is it in him to continue that role? LaRavia might be the X-factor, I’m unsure if his addition changes the power dynamics of the Lakers. There are other teams especially in the West who are probably deeper at all positions over the Lakers. The competition will be extremely tough just escaping the Western Conference finals. Will number 23 and number 77 be enough to escape the West and play for an NBA championship, only time will answer that question for us. I believe LeBron judging this is his last opportunity to win it all will provide inspirational play and leadership for the corps.

What’s the purpose I ask

Recent reports had circulated suggesting that Russell Westbrook had signed a contract to play for a team in Israel. At first glance, this appeared plausible, given the current circumstance regarding team interest and salary issues. However, upon closer inspection, this story was proven to be entirely false, lacking any factual basis. Contacted by American media the Israeli team denied any such signing occurred. I thought to myself this makes sense, in all likelihood no NBA team is prepared to pay Westbrook the money he desires. Searching the internet it turns out the story was false…it claimed not a single iota of truth to the account.

That was just the first account, this is the second one, on Thursday afternoon I read “Phil Jackson had signed a 3-year contract to coach the Lakers.” On the surface this one appeared valid too except for one question. “What happened to JJ Redick, did I miss the fact he’d been fired by the Lakers.” A farther internet check revealed this story was also unfounded. These two incidents and others prompt an important question: What motivates someone to publish a completely fabricated story? While speculation regarding trades or management decisions is common in this blog, I maintain a commitment to integrity and do not publish information know to be untrue. This serves as a reminder that internets sources are not always reliable, and it is imperative to verify information before accepting it as fact.

On closer inspection 

Recently Warren Armstrong (Jabali) was profiled in this blog. I’d expressed my belief he was and remains the best high school player ever to emerge from the Kansas City metro. It was mentioned he was the ABA Rookie of the Year in 1968 but what about college? At that time no mid-major/power 5 term was in use, college teams scheduled and played one another. Despite that fact some conferences and teams were superior to others. That was the case with Wichita State back then, playing in the tough Mo Valley Conference which exposed Armstrong to some of the toughest basketball play in the nation. His numbers might not jump out until you conducted a closer inspection, as an example his rebounds.

The three years Armstrong spent at Wichita State (freshman back then were ineligible) saw him dish out 5.5 assists along with 16.7 points and 10.8 rebounds a game. As a point guard he was distributing the rock rather than attempting to score which he could do and quite successfully. He stood 6-foot 2 and 205 pounds and his sophomore year witnessed Armstrong pulling down 12 rebounds a game…12 rebounds for a player of his height is remarkable. Despite the passage of time the all time assist record for Wichita State remains his alone. “Warren Armstrong recorded 429 career assists for Wichita State from 1965-1968, holding the Shocker record for career assists at the time of his induction into the school’s athletic hall of fame. He averaged 5.5 assists per game (mentioned above) over his career and also held records for assists in a single season (194 in 1967-68) and a single game (14 vs. Bradley in 1968).” Armstrong (Jabali) has been enshrined in the Wichita State and Kansas Hall of Fame. Why is more known of him, it was Wichita State over UCLA or Ohio State. In addition it was the ABA over the NBA and only 7 years before injuries forced him to retire at 28 years of age.

*AI

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun

“Addition by subtraction”

The term addition by subtraction in the headline was used by former Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to describe a particular period in the team’s history. According to Popovich, he believed it was necessary for the Spurs to trade Dennis Rodman in order to pursue an NBA Championship. Dennis Rodman, known as an NBA and rebounding champion, was previously traded to the Spurs after seven seasons with the Pistons, where he contributed to two NBA Championships. In contrast, Will Perdue, who was involved in the same trade, spent most of his NBA career as a reserve player, and did not achieve the same level of recognition as Rodman.

The trade between the Bulls and Spurs saw Rodman move to Chicago, where he later helped the Bulls win championships, while Perdue joined the Spurs in a reserve role. Following these changes, the Spurs secured their first championship in 1999, with Perdue listed on the team’s roster. The impact of this trade on the Spurs’ first championship remains open to interpretation. Rodman, despite his talent, was a concern for some coaches. From our reading it appears there were few if any issues with Phil Jackson as his coach, perhaps Popovich believed after two seasons this “marriage” would not work. A rebounding machine in Rodman traded for a career reserve player in Perdue, you be the judge.

The end is in sight

When the 2025-26 season begins in late October a number of players in the NBA will begin with the prospect they can see the end of their careers within a short few years. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green will retire with NBA Championship on their resume. Let’s take a glance at the others and the present age of all. 

LeBron James-40

Chris Paul-40

Steph Curry-37

Kevin Durant-36

Russell Westbrook-36

Jimmy Butler-35

James Hardin-35

Draymond Green-35

Dame Lillard-35

The remaining question for NBA fans, who moves into the void once these veterans retire? What I find most interesting none appear to have slowed, they may longer be capable of playing 48 minutes but they still have game in those “old bones.”

What couldn’t he do?

All these years later despite the doubters I might ask the question, what couldn’t he do? The NBA was a new league (1949) if we compare it in age to MLB, the NFL and the NHL. Many believe Wilt Chamberlain never received the accolades he should have at the time was due to the Celtics and Bill Russell. The Celtics of that era were a juggernaut especially with Russell anchoring the middle. I once read this from Chamberlain, “Russell had better teams than me” and it was true at the time, no matter if it was the Warriors, Sixers or Lakers he was never able to beat them during his brilliant NBA career. In 1967 as a member of the Sixers he won over the Warriors, 1972 while a member of the Lakers he won over the Knicks.

Let’s return to an earlier time, if an athlete left school as Chamberlain did back there were few professional leagues. Chamberlain spent a year playing for the Harlem Globetrotters until he was draft eligible for the NBA. The Warriors (then in Philadelphia) selected home grown talent Wilt Chamberlain. 1959-60 was unlike any rookie season before or to this day, a single player never dominated a league as he’d done. Cynics will claim there were fewer teams and they are correct however there is a statement for them. Fewer teams meant the best of the best was in the NBA, that meant it was more than Russell he would face night after night. In any event since we are enamored with numbers allow me to toss a few in your direction. Chamberlain led the NBA scoring with a 37.6 ppg average and 27.0 rebounds. In addition he was named All-Star Game MVP and League MVP plus Rookie of the Year. He singlehandedly couldn’t beat the Celtics, that’s Chamberlain’s only unattainable achievement.

Meanwhile….

I went into a sporting apparel store in Greater New York City, after checking the shelves and failing to discover an item I asked a sales associate. “Have you any Kansas City Chiefs baseball caps,” the associate look at me as if I were speaking a language he didn’t understand. That is a far out example but follow me on this account. For the most part the Nets have spent the bulk of their existence headquartered in New Jersey. From 1976 through 1977 they were playing in the city at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale on Long Island. Despite this fact once the team moved to Brooklyn I wondered if things might change, it didn’t. The television cameras catch site of Brooklyn born Spike Lee all the time at Madison Square Garden, he’s not giving up his Knicks.

In this instance we address comments made by Draymond Green of the Warriors and acknowledge his right to express his opinions. Nonetheless, I, along with a letter writer, respectfully disagree with Green’s perspective regarding Cooper Flagg being benched after playing only two summer games. The letter you are about to read is that of a fan. “I don’t understand what Draymond is talking about. He concerned about a rookie on another team not playing so they (Mavs) can have fully healthy fully rested fully available for the start of an 82 game season in which he will play 76 of them. Stop it DG you too old for this.”  It is unclear why Green, whose focus is on his own team, chose to comment on Flagg, a player not affiliated with the Warriors and yet to play his first official NBA game. This criticism of a 19-year-old athlete still awaiting his debut in the league raises questions about its necessity and appropriateness. Rather than speculate further on Green’s motives, I prefer to refrain from overanalyzing the situation involving this veteran player's remarks about an untested rookie.

It’s been a ‘minute,’ in fact it was 1990 the last time Pat Riley was associated with the Lakers. There are individuals who are only familiar with his role with the Heat, still more his tenure with the Knicks. As for older folks and those steeped in NBA history are acquainted with his Laker connection. Riles as he’s nicknamed moved from the broadcast booth of the Lakers to an assistant and finally head coach of the team. He was the primary architect of the Showtime Lakers however in fairness the team was loaded with a number of Hall of Fame athletes. All that to inform you the events to occur February 22, 2026, a statue of Riley will be unveiled alongside those of Magic, Kareem, Kobe. Quite an honor for Riley who will be on hand as the bronze statue is unveiled.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun

The mayor said, “Hold on a moment!”

Below is a story written much earlier regarding the Spurs outlook for the 2025-26 NBA season. What you are about to see is the latest news report from San Antonio. Rather than provide my view we go straight to the source, check out the video below from News 4 (WOAI) San Antonio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVcUAT8SSxg

One more check

The onset of the college basketball season will be here before we realize it. In Kansas City students, administration, alumni and fans of the University of MO-Kansas City await that one good season. UMKC now listed as Kansas City to help identify the basketball program has wallowed in the basement of division one basketball since. Let’s just say once the program was implemented again there were several years of play at the NAIA level prior to moving to division one. I have mentioned this on more than one occasion, the talk at the beginning had me (and maybe others) envisioning an urban program similar to UCLA, St. John’s and other schools located in large cities.

That was then, this is now…on the surface it appears the basketball program is stuck in neutral unable to move the column into drive. Kansas City moved into division one play in the 1994-95 season. Since that time, the most games ever won during a season was 19-12 under Billy Donlon who is no longer the head coach during the 2021-22 season. It seems whenever a coach has the team poised to succeed he’s either fired or like Donlon leaves for another school. The arena is closer to my home than T-Mobile, I could leave my home and be inside and seated in the space of no more than 30 minutes. I don’t attend the games, there is no reason with a team which appears like a rudderless ship. Am I being too harsh, no I don’t think so based on the really bad basketball played by Kansas City since 1994-95.

The look of the Spurs

From what I’ve read Wemby’s health issue has been resolved, in addition to that comes word he’s bulked up. It’s all muscle so he should be just as swift up and down the court at a hefty 245 pounds. Some will claim he’s still a lightweight based on his 7-foot 4 frame but that is not me. This is written early prior to free agency so I’m unsure if the Spurs will be full scale participants. In any event let’s check out portions of the roster, near the middle of last season they made a trade with the Kings receiving point guard DeAaron Fox. In 2024 the Spurs drafted guard Stephon Castle who turned out to be 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year, the 2025 draft saw them select 6-foot 6 shooting guard Dylan Harper with the second pick.

Also in this draft the Spurs added 6-foot 8 Carter Bryant who played his college ball at Arizona. I am unsure how coach Mitch Johnson intends to mold this collection of talent into a cohesive team. As for the subtractions with this youthful backcourt I question whether Chris Paul remains with the Spurs. There are reports he wants to be with his family in Los Angeles, would they…could the Lakers sign him as a backup? As this account was being completed the Spurs added two veteran frontcourt players, Luke Kornet who last played for the Celtics and Kelly Olynyk. Kornet stands 7-foot 1 and Olynyk is 6-foot 11, as you can see along with a healthy Wemby have gained height as a team. With this revised roster the Spurs, with a revamped lineup, should earn a playoff berth in 2026.   

The other Mavs

You are certainly familiar with the Dallas Mavericks generally shorten to Mavs. Unless you are a member of Generation X (born 1965-1980) or earlier these Mavs will be unknown to you, besides the fact their home base was Houston and not Dallas. In 1967 the Houston Mavericks were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, they were there at the beginning but not the end. By the time the NBA added 4 ABA teams the Mavericks were just an afterthought. The franchise would only last two seasons, by 1969 they were on the road to another ABA city. That first roster consisted of players from the defunct Eastern Professional League plus a few players from nearby Houston colleges. How did this glue and paste roster come together, according to the history the GM discovered funds required to be a participant in the draft hadn’t arrived.

By the time he was able to acquire the funds from other sources the draft was just about over. Despite the strange and unusual start the Mavericks managed to finish the season with a 29-49 record and earn a playoff berth where they were quickly eliminated. The community was not thrilled with the team with an average attendance of 1,500. Fast forward in the story, the team was sold with plans to move them to North Carolina although they remained in the city until the season was complete. The history indicates 49 fans attended the last game prior to the move, The following season the team was re-born as the Carolina Cougars and Houston would remain without professional basketball until 1971. That season witnessed the Rockets moving from San Diego, as for the team name it would remain in the State of Texas. In 1980 NBA expansion would see an NBA team in Dallas and it would become the Mavericks or Mavs for short.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun

The best ever

This is a brief look at what most in the metro believe to be the most talented high school basketball player to ever from the area despite the passage of time. Metro Kansas City is not small in population (2.2 million) but certainly much smaller than a New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago. Based on that fact alone a smaller number of the population has managed to make its way to the professional ranks over time. One of those who was able to accomplished the task and tasted league success was Warren Armstrong who in 1968 was named ABA Rookie of the Year. Much later Armstrong would change his last name to Jabali which confused the media and much of the public. It was believed he’d done this in the same manner of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar), that was not the case. It’s he adopted the Swahili name due to its definition, “One who has the qualities of a mountain; strong” is certainly represented of him both on and off the court. Armstrong graduated from Central High School Kansas City (MO) in 1964, in high school his athletic prowess led many to have witnessed his play refer to him even now, “The greatest high school basketball player ever produced from this area.”

Armstrong would graduate and go on to excel at Wichita State, all these years later his name remains in the school’s record book. In 1968 be drafted by the Knicks in the 4th round. It’s been mentioned that the NBA draft back then was much more extensive than the two rounds of today. It just so happened the Knicks had drafted a guy by the name of Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier the year prior. That was an issue but also the reported reputation of Armstrong. It was the 1960’s and he in a manner similar to Muhammed Ali was outspoken regarding race and issues in that time period. This next portion I offer no evidence just a belief by many at the time, Red Holtzman Knicks coach at the time didn’t want Armstrong on his team. His reputation while at Wichita State had preceded him with Holtzman and others. He would choose the ABA where he was named ABA Rookie of the Year in 1969. Could Armstrong Jabali have played at or near the same level in the NBA, that question is impossible to answer however many believe he could have. I am suggesting for additional detail seek these books, Jabali A Kansas City legend written by David Thomas. Also Thanks To You Memories of Warren Edward Armstrong Jabali written by Mary Alice Beasley his wife, both can be purchased through your usual suppliers.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLcVdlL2SF8

FIBA’s EuroBasket tourney

Luka Doncic was injured recently, what I’ve read the injury was not serious but it makes for a question. I am sure many of you believe this is written by a Laker fan but it is more than that. Also playing are Lauri Markkanen Jazz, Rockets center Alperen Sengun plus Giannis Antetokounmpo Bucks forward and Nikola Jokic Nuggets center. Each one of those named and others are valuable to their NBA teams, I don’t wish to be a harbinger of doom but there is only so much basketball to be played. We have witnessed a rash of knee, ankle and Achilles injuries in recent years to key players.

I have no background in medicine nor any type of training, despite that fact I continue to believe the human body can only take so much wear and tear. The FIBA tourney is important if for nothing other than national pride. I’m thinking NBA contract and back to a time Jay Williams was playing guard for the Bulls and not working for ESPN. His contract prohibited him from riding motorcycles yet that’s what he did in the off season, that was the cause of a devastating injury. That ended his NBA career, the Bulls paid him although he’d violated a provision of his contract. I’m wondering if it’s time particularly for Euro players to be prohibited from participating in this tournament or anything similar. Am I an alarmist, I hope not however I tend to be on the cautious side.

The Legacy

If you’ve read this blog any length of time you are aware I have a preference for Big Man basketball. From my point of view that’s an element of NBA play I believe is lacking. With that said we’ve discussed Nate Thurmond in the past but for anyone unfamiliar with Thurmond I believe there is valued information that follows. I recently read Thurmond did not want to enroll at Ohio State figuring that Jerry Lucas had the inside track to play the center position, therefore he decided to play at Bowling Green University located in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Thurmond was drafted by the (San Francisco) Warriors in 1963 with the 3rd pick in the first round. What is even more interesting the Warriors drafted the 6-foot 11 Thurmond despite having Wilt Chamberlain. Looking back on the draft the guess was that the Warriors were receiving the best player available and that indeed turned out to be the case. With Chamberlain occupying the center position Thurmond’s play was limited, he would play out of position at the forward or the post for a few minutes a game whenever Chamberlain would sit. This arrangement lasted for two seasons until Chamberlain was traded to the Sixers, with the trade Thurmond would move into the center position where he excelled for the Warriors. He would play for them 9 seasons before a trade sent him to the Bulls, he finished his NBA career with the Cavs in 1977. Thurmond would battle opposing centers of the time, Walt Bellamy, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Chamberlain and others.

Abdul Jabbar claimed Thurmond played him tougher than any other center of the period. It should be noted the first game Thurmond played for the Bulls he filled up the box score. He scored 22 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and dished out 13 assists while on defense blocked 12 shots. Thurmond is enshrined in the College and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, this legendary Big Man passed away in 2016 at the age of 74. Nate Thurmond is a name from the NBA’s rich past you should be familiar with.

Memphis basketball

The basketball team is one of the more successful college programs in the nation. The Tigers finished the 2024-25 season with a 29-6 overall record, they won the American Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season title with a 16-2 conference record. The roster is solid and they should be in contention again for another title, so what’s the problem? The Tigers appear desperate to gain membership in a Power 5 conference, they made an effort once again. This time it was the Big XII conference which rejected their application. What are the issues preventing the Tigers from a move, for one Name, Image and Likeness…it appears the school is lacking the financial clout necessary to compete.

For unknown reasons despite the on court success of the program attendance is dropping, in fact this past season it was less than 7,000 per game. That alone is difficult to determine when we take into account they only lost 6 games all season. What that says to me you can attend a game at FedEx Forum and be somewhat assured the “home team” will win the game. The Athletic Department including the basketball team has been placed on a two-year probation by the NCAA so that could seriously impact a potential move. The last area of impact is reported to be academics, so there you have the Memphis Tigers. A highly successful basketball program under coach Penny Hardaway but it appears there is no other conference interested in them becoming a member, stay tuned this story is not complete yet.