A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun

So much media wah…wah…wah!

Unless you are a fan of The Peanuts cartoons the headline details nothing for you. The explanation for some, all the kids talked in normal voices, as for the adults that was a different story. All the viewer ever heard from adults was the wah-wah-wah above with no clear understanding of what they were saying. That’s what occurred for us, we heard so many story’s regarding Luka Doncic and his relationship with the Lakers. He’s gonna sign, then he’s not---Luka’s not happy with the Lakers. There were so many stories it was difficult at times to keep track of them.  

Well a portion of the mystery is over, as the Sunday edition was being completed this news alert came out. This is the ESPN crawl; “Lakers and Luka Doncic agree to a 3-year/$165M max extension.” I don’t believe Luka is headed anywhere except to purchase a home somewhere in metro Los Angeles. On the other hand it could be to film a commercial for some product his agent might happen onto. I believe this move signals the end for LeBron James as the alpha dog for this Lakers team, there is a new sheriff in town and his name is Luka Doncic. I will repeat what I’ve said for the last few weeks, you don’t build your team around a soon to be 41 year old. It’s built around someone much youngers say 26 years old.

Magic Johnson, KC Kings

Those familiar with NBA history may recall that Magic Johnson never played for the Kings. While this is accurate, such a scenario was nearly realized due to a pivotal moment. Upon enrolling at Michigan State University, Magic Johnson quickly displayed his exceptional basketball skills. During his freshman year in East Lansing, he averaged 17 points, 7.4 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game. This performance sparked the interest of Joe Axelson, then General Manager of the Kings. Holding the first overall pick that year, the Kings were eager to select Johnson and initiated contact. Subsequently, Johnson and his father traveled to Kansas City, where Axelson presented a proposal: the Kings were prepared to draft him and offer a six-year contract worth $200,000 annually. Magic claimed: “I’d been broke all my life I was ready to sign.”

His father would become the voice of reason, a decision of that magnitude would not be left to the son, it was Magic’s father. The elder Johnson said; “If you been broke all your life you can be broke one more year.” Naturally the story doesn’t end there, Magic returned to Michigan State led the school to the NCAA championship over Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores. The fate of the Kings and NBA basketball in Kansas City went on “life-support,” it took a few more years for the patient (Kings in this instance) to pass away. Could Magic Johnson have saved NBA basketball in Kansas City fans? That answer will remain an unknown forever, however we can envision this result. I’d like to believe that the Kings would have been successful, a team would have been built around Magic Johnson and unlike what actually occurred Kansas City would witness winning basketball. The objection of the father changed the course of history not only for the Kings but the Lakers and NBA history as well, think about it.

Gen Alpha

I truly don’t have a clue how to respond to many in the Gen Alpha generation. It seems they have a whole other set of principles in which they operate. If they didn’t see video of the event it’s their belief it just didn’t occur. What is even more interesting with AI before more prevalent each and every day can they be sure of anything they see today? That’s another issue, today it’s Wilt Chamberlain and his record setting scoring game. I saw this on social media and almost fell out of my chair laughing. A pundit wanted to know “Why is there film of the 1908 Olympics yet none exists for Chamberlain’s 100 point game in 1962.” It’s true, grainy film of events held in those early Olympic games do indeed exist however consider this fact.

We are discussing the early portion of the 20th Century but the entire world coming together for an occasion of that magnitude film cameras as crude as they were would record events. As for basketball specifically the NBA the game in 1962 had no comparison to the game of today. Information from that time and even further back to 1946 indicates the NBA was a “minor league” institution. I’ve written on this game numerous times but this is the repeat effort. Hershey and not Philadelphia was the site of the game, at that time radio was the voice of all sports. In addition a radio recording of the 4th quarter of the game exists and it’s been placed in the Smithsonian Institution. This is an exercise in needlessness because if you are a member of the Gen Alpha generation it’s likely you don’t believe me anyway.

The office of the commissioner

In a recent interview commissioner Silver was asked about the Luka Doncic trade. Naturally, any player movement of any type must be okayed by the NBA, Silver was aware of the trade prior to it being announced. Silver could have inserted his office in the middle of this trade but took no action. Why am I discussing this trade, because a different commissioner did what Silver avoided, his claim the NBA mandated his action. Chris Paul was playing for the Hornets (now Pelicans) in 2011 when the trade was made and then rescinded. Paul goes to the Lakers, Pau Gasol to the Rockets and Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic, and a 2012 first-round pick to the Hornets.

Commissioner David Stern, acting on behalf of the owners, voided the trade. The franchise in New Orleans at the time was being operated by the NBA until an owner could be secured. All these years later, this trade remains a topic of contention for many in Laker Nation. The Lakers' backcourt would have been 33-year-old Kobe Bryant at shooting guard and 26-year-old Chris Paul at point guard, it is likely that the Lakers would have had one of the best backcourts in the NBA at the time. The following season, Paul was traded to the Clippers, thus arriving in Los Angeles but joining a different team. This scenario suggests that the backcourt could have potentially led the Lakers to additional championships. During David Stern's tenure, the NBA experienced significant growth due to his leadership. Regarding the voided Chris Paul trade, it remains a subject of disappointment for many in Laker Nation.