A Fan’s View of Basketball

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“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.