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.