A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Be scared, be very scared

The headline is a warning for opponents of the Spurs this upcoming season. The alien is the nickname LeBron James hung on Spurs center Victor Wembanyama because his play gave the impression he was from another planet. He was on the road to exceed his rookie numbers when BAM he went out with an injury. In February 2025 deep vein thrombosis a (blood clot) in his right shoulder ended an outstanding sophomore season. Over the summer after receiving medical clearance Wemby began to work out and the results are certainly interesting.

There’s been debate on his height since he arrived in the NBA, last season the Spurs roster listed him at 7-feet 3 inches and 213 pounds. He is now measured at 7-feet 4 and 236 pounds, with that opponents have been issued a warning. They need to be very, very scared especially with the weight increase, draft night Wemby was listed between 209-210 pounds. He now ties the Grizzlies Zach Edey as the tallest player in the NBA at 7-feet 4. One additional note I came across, someone asked the question “How tall was he at 10-years of age?” As a 10 year old Wemby stood 5-feet 10 inches, he might have been as tall or even taller than his schoolteacher.

Eyewear

Anthony Davis has announced that he will wear protective eyewear for the remainder of his career following an eye injury. While this adjustment represents a change for Davis personally, it is by no means an uncommon practice in the NBA. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was among the earliest and most notable players to adopt the routine use of goggles, beginning after he suffered a scratched cornea during his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. Over time, Abdul-Jabbar experimented with various types of eyewear before selecting the pair now iconic in historical footage and photographs.

Other prominent players have also utilized protective eyewear for different reasons. For example, James Worthy, Abdul-Jabbar's teammate, regularly wore goggles, as did Horace Grant, whose prescription lenses addressed nearsightedness and improved his on-court vision. There were additional athletes such as Bo Outlaw, Buck Williams, Thurl Bailey, and Antoine Carr are also remembered for donning protective goggles during their NBA careers. In summary, Anthony Davis’s decision to adopt protective eyewear aligns with the precedent set by numerous NBA players throughout the league's history. This is the dilemma faced sometimes by taller players such as AD.

Tony Gwynn played basketball

It certainly is not uncommon for athletes to play multiple sports, the late Tony Gwynn is one. Most of us are familiar with his illustrious baseball career (1982-2001) all 20 years spent as a member of the San Diego Padres. I was aware he’d played basketball along with baseball at San Diego State prior to his major league baseball career. This is the portion new to me, he played baseball three years but basketball all four years while enrolled at San Diego State. This you might find interesting, Gwynn received scholarship offers to play basketball but none for baseball.

After all these years he still holds the single game record for assists (18), season (221) and career (590). Gwynn was named to the All-WAC second team twice, his senior year he averaged 8.8 assists a game. This was the portion pointed out to me by a friend and it details how outstanding a hitter he became once he reached the major leagues. In a 20 year baseball career he struck out fewer times (434) than his assist total at San Diego State. Now the question, could Gwynn have played in the NBA, that subject will remain forever unanswered? The statement can be made in truth, he was a prolific hitter in baseball over a long career. In addition to that fact Gwynn was an outstanding collegiate player as a point guard and perhaps in the NBA.   

For the first time

The NBA season begins officially October 21, 2025, this will be the 79th year of NBA play. This season will be unlike others because of one reason, for the first time since the 1996-97 season Gregg Popovich will not be prowling the sidelines for the Spurs. The longest tenured coach in NBA history suffered a stroke November 2, 2024. It was believed at the time coach Pop would be able to return to coach the team through the balance of the season. Finally in February it was made known Pop would be sidelined for the balance of the 2024-25 season.

May 2, 2025, the Spurs announced Pop would step down as head coach, Mitch Johnson who became interim head coach would now take over the team with the interim tag removed. Pop is not riding off into the sunset, he’s taken on the role of Spurs president. After 29 years serving as head man he will no longer run the Spurs program on the court, that is now Johnson’s responsibility. I for one will miss Gregg Popovich whenever I tune into a Spurs game. Beneath that rough gruff exterior beat a heart of gold, just like Phil Jackson. I’ve yet to read a negative comment by anyone who played for Jackson or Pop. Just one other note, do you realize he was a “losing” coach? At Pomona-Pitzer (Division III) Pop won 76 games while losing 129.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

I didn’t know that

The late Jim Brown is an NFL legendary running back, he should have won a Heisman Trophy but that’s another story. He was a member of the Browns championship team, get this back then his first four years the NFL only played 12-game seasons, his last five they were 14-games played. Today running backs play 17-game seasons, although he played a lesser number of games and only 9 seasons he still ranks 11th all-time in rushing with 12,312 yards. Brown is also enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. I believe most of us were aware of his exploits on the gridiron but this is the Brown few of us were aware. Just this year, 2025 I discovered while also playing football and lacrosse at Syracuse he was on the basketball team.

How good was Brown on the basketball court, good enough to be drafted into the NBA. Standing 6-foot 2 and 231 pounds I imagine few would be brave enough to take a charge from him. In the past the NBA draft contained a much larger number of rounds than today, in the 1957 NBA the draft comprised a total of 14 rounds. Brown was chosen as the 68th pick in the 9th round by the Syracuse Nationals (Philadelphia Sixers now). So you discover that along with me Brown might have played in the NBA back then. It certainly was quite possible, there existed a great deal more separation of professional seasons than now. Look him up, Gene Conley, he was drafted by the Celtics in 1952 but he was also a baseball pitcher he played for a time with the Boston Red Sox and also was a reserve forward for the Boston Celtics in the same season.

NBA Watch Guide

The season will be upon us before we realize. As most of you are aware there are new broadcast partners and hence a change in days of the week. Mark this on your calendar or whatever you keep track of important stuff. The NBA preseason begins on Thursday, Oct. 2 which features the Knicks and the Sixers from Abu Dhabi, UAE. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET. The teams will play again of Saturday, Oct. 4. Tipoff for that game will will take place at 11:00 a.m. With that said here goes, by the way this is subject to change:  

Sunday-ABC afternoon NBC Peacock night

Monday-Peacock

Tuesday-NBC early game Peacock late game

Wednesday-ESPN

Thursday-Prime

Friday-Prime early game ESPN late game

Saturday-Prime early game ABC late game

Who wins in April

Last year near this time the men’s college basketball poll had Florida as the number 21 team in the nation and Kansas at 1. Of course we know how that turned out, so what happens this upcoming season? Check back the first Monday in April and you will discover the winner. In between time there are plenty of contenders and this is interesting, Kansas is not one of them according to SB Nation. Who are the potential NCAA champions according to them:

UConn Huskies

Florida Gators

BYU Cougars

Kentucky Wildcats

Michigan Wolverines

St. John’s Red Storm

Duke Blue Devils

Purdue Boilermakers

Houston Cougars 

I misjudged this move

Near the middle of last season Jimmy Butler was making lots of noise, he wanted out of Miami. He even dared go to war against Pat Riley paterfamilias of the NBA and the Heat, February 5 he received his wish. The Heat traded him to the Warriors in a multi team trade, the Warriors were struggling and I wrote “How is Butler going to help them when they are lacking height and rebounders?” I am admitting to you I was wrong, the Warriors did show improvement advancing to the Western Conference playoffs defeating the Grizzlies before eventually losing to the Wolves.

So as you might surmise the Warriors have proven me wrong once, do I make a dire prediction again and they win the Western Conference. Okay that might be a gigantic reach however this team will continue to go as far as Steph Curry’s lights out shooting and mercurial Draymond Green’s defensive presence. There is still the issue surrounding Jonathan Kuminga, for now there are too many moving parts to this story which makes this too difficult to call. He could be traded or he could sign an extension. After wallowing around the first portion of last season the addition of Butler and better play saw them win 48 games and finish in 3rd place in the Pacific Division, can they win 48 games in this upcoming season, the division looks mighty tough and I just don’t know.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Did you see this

You may have seen this already, ESPN presented its Top 10 player rankings for the 2025-26 season. Do you believe Wemby has moved into this list without playing three seasons? What about Luka, do you think ESPN’s rated him too high? Does Jalen Brunson belong on a list of the top players in the NBA? Who do you believe was left off the list, where is Jayson Tatum (injury aside) or Jaylin Brown? Tatum and Brown were the clear leaders to the Celtics 2024 championship. The list has no Karl-Anthony Towns, James Harden or Donovan Mitchell, in any event below is the complete list:

  1. Jokic

  2. SGA

  3. Luka

  4. Giannis

  5. Wemby

  6. Ant

  7. Curry

  8. LeBron

  9. KD

10. Brunson

Meanwhile….

The basketball landscape has changed in 20 short years. Let’s check out the ACC, it once contained 11 teams in the 2004-05 season. The ACC now consists of 18 teams, added since 2005 are Boston College, Cal, SMU, Louisville, Stanford, Notre Dame, Pitt and Syracuse. The SEC back then was a 12 team conference, it’s now 16 teams having added Texas A&M, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. I have no intention of going through this conference by conference. The Big 12 has also seen change during this period, in that year there were 12 teams. Since then Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas A&M have all departed. They have been replaced by Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah plus BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, TCU, UCF and West Virginia. The plan is to detail the changes in a short space of time. As for the Pac-12 this conference remains on life-support hoping to sustain itself. 

I ain’t no hater, I can be critical of an athlete, an individual and an organization at times. I could use our local hero Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, for every 10 fans here and maybe across the nation there are 5-6 who dislike him for no apparent principle. They are tired of the Super Bowl wins, the commercials and plus the fact his Chiefs beat their favorites. The Lakers are in the same category, they haven’t won it outright since 2020 yet there are a legion of fans downplaying that championship season. They use all kinds of excuses to justify their position which boiled down is simple hatred. I would never root against an opposing player hoping for an injury or something similar to take him out of the game…that’s hating for no practical reason.

Have you seen the photos of Zion Williamson yet from media day? The Pelicans power forward has been on a strict campaign this off season to tone his body including slimming down. As you might be aware his injury history has kept him from performing at the level the Pelicans and most of the NBA community expected. At one time Williamson was reported to be in the neighborhood of 284+ pounds. That weight is not uncommon for many centers in the past and present, for a guy who is 6-foot 7 and maybe an inch smaller the extra pounds may have been a contributing factor in his injury history since his arrival in the NBA. The photos I’ve seen display a slim, trim Zion Williamson, he’s reported to have lost 40 pounds which should place him somewhere between 244-246 pounds.

I remember last season, it was June 2024 in fact, the Lakers were chasing Dan Hurley UConn head coach. “On June 10, coach Dan Hurley turned down a reported six-year, $70 million contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers to remain the head coach at the University of Connecticut.”  I was extremely disappointed in the fact Hurley had turned the Lakers down, it was clear they needed veteran leadership at the first chair. On June 24, 2024, the team announced they were hiring former NBA player JJ Redick, I was extremely upset with the hire because Redick had never served as a head coach anywhere. A short time later I’m not sure of the date decided I would give him some “rope” because he’d hire veteran assistants who previously were head coaches. Fast forward to September 25, 2025, the Lakers announced Redick was signing a contract extension, he’s proven in the short space of time he's turned out to be a very good NBA head coach. He was better prepared for the opportunity to coach than what I first thought.

The all-time Lakers

I found this interesting I hope you do as well. The MO Sports Networks’ Myron Beena Goodson put together his all-time list of the top 5 NBA players at each position. This is the portion I discovered most interesting, the Lakers failed to land a player on his power forward team as for the others that was a different matter. At the point he placed Magic Johnson, certainly not shocking considering he was the bus that drove the Showtime Lakers. The small forward position had Elgin Baylor and also included LeBron James. At the center position there was the smooth Kareem Abdul Jabbar and his skyhook plus Shaquille O’ Neal and his bruising play. The shooting guard’s on Goodson’s team was comprised of Jerry West and the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant.

I had written earlier one of the keys to success of the Lakers was an abundance of talent. All of the names listed are enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame with James being the exception, he will earn a spot just as soon as he retires. You might wonder about the power forward position and why no Lakers earned a spot on Goodson’s list. Most of you reading this might not be familiar with Vern Mikkelsen, he played for the Minneapolis edition from 1949-1959. Mikkelsen is enshrined in the College and Naismith Hall of Fame. After checking the list I could nominate Pau Gasol, he too is in the Naismith Hall of Fame. The other greats played for the Lakers but were near the end of their careers as an example Connie Hawkins and Karl Malone. What do you think, are there other former Lakers at any position Goodson missed?

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Who is Mark Walter

If you are a fan of Dodgers baseball you are familiar with Mark Walter, he purchased controlling interest in the team in 2012 for $2.15 billion. More recently the NBA world was shocked when Jeannie Buss announced the sale of the Lakers to Walter, what about his background besides sports. This from Wikipedia, “Walter is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a privately held global financial services firm with more than $345 billion in assets under management. He is also the CEO and co-chairman of TWG Global.”

It is reported the Buss family is somewhat cash short compared to other NBA owners due to the Lakers being their sole source of income. Walter is reported to be able to spend somewhat freely by comparison to Jeannie Buss and the Buss family. Everything is so new in Laker Nation no one really has a clue how this change in ownership will impact the team. We could look toward the Dodgers to provide us a clue on how operations for the Lakers will function soon. Some reading this might not be aware of this fact, the Dodgers spend huge sums of money to acquire the best baseball talent available. Will that be the Modis operandi of the Lakers we shall soon discover the approach Walter intends to go about this task.

The NBA will never return

The NBA will never return to my hometown of Kansas City for details presented to you over the next several paragraphs. I’ve concluded a 5-hour drive to Oklahoma City or an hour flight to Dallas on occasion must suffice. If you are questioning why the NBA never returns I have plenty of evidence as to why. I will begin with the “New Kids” on the block…not the Boy Band of the ‘80’s the Kansas City Current Women’s soccer team. This metro area is super excited about having a professional women’s soccer team, they have a dedicated stadium built exclusively for them. While we are discussing soccer I cannot leave out Sporting Kansas City the men’s soccer team. Although they have not experienced the success recently, Sporting’s attendance remains steady for them. I have no idea of the bottom line but the thought might be how can minor league baseball exist in the same metro as the major league version.

This is not New York, Los Angeles or Chicago with their huge population base yet the Kansas City Monarchs survive. Now we arrive at the guys that have called Kansas City home for the longest time period the Chiefs and Royals. The NFL began a boom period shortly after the Dallas Texans moved here in 1964 and were rebranded the Kansas City Chiefs. There have been a number of down years however this always playoff bound team and former Super Bowl Champions have continued to experience record attendance despite continued price increases for tickets. In 1969 baseball expansion brought the Kansas City Royals into existence to replace the A’s who’d left the city for greener pastures in Oakland. As you might surmise with 5 professional sports plus college football and basketball nearby is there a need for the NBA? I believe there is but I am a party of one, could today’s NBA survive in Kansas City with 41 games played annually? I’d like to say yes however that question might require additional study.

Is it possible

A member of the media for CBS Sports wrote this “Projecting top 25 college basketball programs of next 25 years.” I read it with curiosity and thought that’s interesting, can a school lay a foundation that might last that length of time? My Mizzou Tigers are nowhere close to having a foundation although I hope under Dennis Gates there is a plan. Kansas basketball has managed to sustain winning over numerous generations. Bill Self is part of this effort but it began long before the present coach was born, it goes back to James A. Naismith. You remember him don’t you…the “inventor” of basketball. Sidebar for some, unlike sports such as football and baseball the game of basketball came about due to weather. Dr. Naismith a Springfield YMCA instructor needed an activity for his students in the cold New England weather.

You remember the story a peach basket was placed at the lip of the upper floor of the gym which turned out to be 10 feet high. Fast forward to 1899, Naismith began his tenure as basketball coach which lasted to 1907. This tidbit you might find interesting, in the history of Kansas basketball Naismith has the only losing record (55-60) in the history of the school. Self has the most wins with 624 however Phog Allen who recruited but never coached Wilt Chamberlain was a 590 game winning coach. Ted Owens won 530 games and Roy Williams 519 providing us proof of a coaching legacy that continued generationally. There were the 203 games Dick Harp won from 1957-1964, Larry Brown was only head coach for 5 years but managed to win 179 games and an NCAA championship. For the most part years spent as head coach was not mentioned however the victory totals provide you a clue of longevity of the program plus recruiting talent to Lawrence Kansas. I don’t know if you consider it luck, good coaching, talent or something else however Kansas basketball has managed to continue victorious overtime.

“Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes he eats you”

You know by now from reading this blog for a time I am full of movie references and metaphors. The headline is a metaphor which hints, “In life, there are times when you are successful and times when you are defeated.” The story begins in 2019 and Kawhi Leonard’s meeting and signing with the Clippers. As a condition of Leonard signing with them he indicated he wanted to play alongside Paul George with the Thunder at the time. The Clippers said okay and arranged a trade with the Thunder trading a host of players to acquire George, one of those Clipper players who was made a part of the trade was Shai-Gilgeous Alexander who’d just completed his rookie year with the team.

Word is they were reluctant to include SGA in the trade however they believed in acquiring Paul to play alongside Leonard they would be on the road to an NBA championship. Okay we can now fast forward to the present day, George spent 4 years with the Clippers before signing a free agent contract with the Sixers in 2024. As for SGA he began adjusting to the NBA and raised his level of play ever season thereafter and in June 2025 reaped the ultimate reward for an NBA player a championship. Not only was he an NBA Champion but we also witnessed him being named NBA and Finals MVP. As for Leonard he played well for the Clippers last season but was only in action for 37 games after January 1. Leonard remains with the Clippers however the team has never won a championship, at this point I could say “the bear might be waiting for his second helping of Leonard.” On the other hand I could be wrong and the final act is yet to be completed, the Clippers breakthrough and win the 2026 NBA Championship…maybe.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

The best

Another post that originated at work and yours truly was the culprit. I asked a couple of co-workers who was the best “Little Big Man” in NBA history. Naturally, some of the names we had no opportunity to see in action, based on that fact I decided to do a 6-foot 2 inch height cut-off. None of the players on the list stand any taller than the height mentioned, in addition rather than place them in order their names will simply be listed. We begin with Allen Iverson (6-feet), he spent his best years as a member of the Sixers. At his height and weight of 150 pounds he should have been a pure point guard, coach Larry Brown moved him to the shooting guard due to his prolific scoring. The Bad Boys of the Detroit Pistons had Isiah Thomas (6-foot 1) driving the bus, there is no doubt the Pistons would have not gone as far as they did without Thomas orchestrating the offense.

A few years prior to Thomas the Kansas City Kings and later Celtics had Nate ‘Tiny’ Archibald (6-foot 1) playing for them. He remains the only player to ever lead the NBA in scoring and assists in the same season, by the way it’s my belief Tiny was closer to 5-foot 11. How about Spud Webb who stood 5-foot 6 and won the 1986 Slam Dunk Championship at the All-Star weekend. Muggsy Bogues was only 5-foot 3 but managed a 14-year NBA career mostly for the Charlotte Hornets. We come upon Nate Robinson (5-foot 9), he won the 2006 Slam Dunk contest beating Andre Iguodala. Several of these mighty mites are still playing such as Chris Paul who is 6-foot tall, he’s now a member of the Clippers. Also injured and expected to miss the season is 6-foot Fred Van Vleet of the Rockets, this critique is closed mentioning the greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history…his name Steph Curry. He’s listed as 6-foot 2 however there is a question in my mind, I believe he’s at least an inch or two shorter.

Class of 2026

Coach Gates and his staff secured another commitment on Sunday: Aiden Chronister, a 6-foot-7, 180-pound wing and 4-star prospect in the Class of 2026. Chronister attends Sunrise Christian Academy in the Wichita, Kansas metropolitan area and is originally from Rogers, Arkansas. He was recruited by several programs, including Arkansas, Indiana State, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The addition is notable as Mizzou was able to attract Chronister despite competition from John Calipari at Arkansas. Mizzou continues to pursue basketball talent nationally. Recruiting in-state remains valuable, a broad national approach is particularly significant. Rivals and 247Sports both place Mizzou basketball recruiting number one in the nation for 2026, of course we are still early in this process.

There is a possibility they might not remain in this position at the end of summer 2026, regardless of that fact they are first place this time of the year is certainly noteworthy. As I have indicated the recruiting uptick is well and good however there is one needed essential. Mizzou needs to play deep, deep into the NCAA Tournament in the upcoming season and every season thereafter establishing that foundation mentioned by another 2026 commit.  As evidence of the past let’s delve into the past briefly, since the move from the Big 12 to the SEC the record is not good. Since 2012 Mizzou has gone 84-148 (36.2% in league games. They have finished with a losing record in 7 of their 13 seasons in the SEC along with having 4 coaches over that period including Gates. This certainly points out the need of building a successful basketball program, in addition to maintaining a successful high skill program such as Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State and others.

A revisit

A number of you might remember Karim Lopez, previously profiled last year. As an update for those reading about him for the first time he’s an 18-year-old basketball player originally from Hermosillo, Mexico, a city located in the central portion of the country. Lopez would began his professional career in 2022 with Joventut Badalona’s “B” team and was subsequently promoted to the senior squad, where he appeared in four games before moving to the NBL. During the most recent season, he played for the New Zealand Breakers and continued to demonstrate significant potential.

Analysis of several reputable NBA mock draft sources provides us valuable insight into the prospects for Lopez. According to nbadraft.net, Lopez is projected as the 13th pick in the 2026 draft. In two other sites, nbadraftroom.com ranks him number 8 in their draft while tankathon.com places Lopez at number 5. Standing 6-foot 8 and 220 pounds he is projected as a small forward. It should be noted that Lopez must maintain a high level of performance to secure his position in the draft; nonetheless, it is noteworthy that all three mock draft sites currently project him as a first-round selection, suggesting he has made a favorable impression on NBA scouts. As for the question about his status, he was born on the North American continent which says no…he’s not an international player in my view.

A bold trade for Chief (and McHale)

That was his nickname, I would bet money today even in Boston it’s believe Robert Parish was always a Celtic. If not that he played a year or two for another NBA team. The truth of the matter, the Warriors made him the 8th pick in the 1976 NBA draft. Parish actually played 4 years for the Warriors and after a slow rookie season was on the road to becoming an outstanding player. “In 307 games over four season, Parish averaged 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.8 block with the Warriors.” This is what unfolded, center Dave Cowans had retired after the 1979-80 season and Larry Bird had finished his rookie year with the Celtics. The team needed a replacement at the center position and that’s when Red Auerbach went to work.

Prior to the 1980 draft Auerbach dealt the top overall pick and an additional first-round pick to the Warriors for Parish and the Warriors’ first-round pick, the third overall. With that pick, the Celtics chose Kevin McHale while the Warriors selected Joe Barry Carroll with the first pick. This is not intended to denigrate Carroll however his NBA career was nowhere near that of Parish and McHale. Auerbach and the Celtics certainly didn’t realize it at the time but the foundation for those ‘80’s championships was laid in front of them with the trade. Of course Larry Bird was the clear leader of those Celtics teams but he certainly couldn’t have accomplished it without the aid of two hall of fame players Parish and McHale. NBA teams arrange trades routinely, the hope by both sides is for a winner. Sometimes the trade is totally lopsided in favor of one team over the other, that certainly is the case here.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Is it fair

I have no intention to attack Charles Barkley in this instance for speaking his belief. The former NBA player and current television analyst is concerned regarding the manner NBA fans are being treated. According to Barkley the new television package that goes into effect in October will leave a portion of the audience unable to view games. The “old” partner is ESPN/ABC, the “new” partner is actually an old one, games were once broadcast on the NBC Network which will occur again. In addition games will also be broadcast on Peacock, the streaming service of NBC. The “new” partner will be Amazon Prime Video, gone is the partnership with TNT.

A closer look is Barkley correct in his observation, sort of but the history says something quite different. TNT begin broadcasting the NBA during the 1989-90 season unless one was a cable or satellite customer you missed seeing those games. ESPN began broadcasting the NBA in 1982 and held the rights until 1984. Beginning with the 2002-03 season ESPN began broadcasting once again if you were not a cable or satellite customer you missed those games. Does the consumer always lose…pretty much that might be the case. I’m unsure if this is correct however in addition to the networks NFL games are available on Fubo, DirecTV, and Prime Video in addition to YouTube. In closing as I mentioned earlier the consumer is forced to pick and choose what he or she wishes to pay based on the level of service they desire. Is the Barkley complaint valid, yes it is however there is absolutely nothing NBA fans can do about this development.

Confused

The headline might be a slight bit misleading, I will explain near the close. Duke basketball and Jon Scheyer continue to attract talent to the Durham North Carolina school, in May 2025 he committed. He is an international prospect named Elhadji Dame Sarr although he’s more easily identified by his middle name, Sarr, he’s from Italy, his parents immigrated to the country from Senegal. The line between pro and amateur, especially regarding international players, has become even more confusing to me. In any event Sarr played for FC Barcelona of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. This 19-year old stands 6-foot 8 and weighs 190 pounds, he is listed as a guard/forward on Duke’s roster, I mentioned earlier the pro/amateur designation.

There is another area of confusion for me, Sarr like other international players is given the same rating as if he attended an American high school. As an example 247Sports rated him a 5-star prospect however his name is not included in the Class of 2025 in any other sites other than the one listed above, you might understand my confusion now. He’s not there yet however Aziz Olajuwon a Class of 2026 prospect committed to Stanford. If the last name sounds familiar it should. He is one of the son’s of former Rockets center Hakeem, Aziz stands 6-foot 7 and is projected as a small forward. Young Olajuwon ha offers from Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, and his father’s alma mater Houston. In addition Virginia, Xavier, TCU and Virginia Tech had offers. Aziz is rated a 4-star prospect, closing this out I wonder if dad worked on the Dream Shake with Aziz.   

I don’t have all the details

The Lakers acquiring Luka Doncic in the middle of last season caught me (and I am sure most others) completely off guard. At the time of the Anthony Davis trade it wasn’t as much of a shock at all, most in Laker Nation were aware a quality Big Man was required. This time it’s different and based on that fact alone I am unsure, I try to refrain from commenting on pending trades until they are consummated but this time it’s different. Practically all summer and today being the first day of fall I’ve listened to plenty of conversation regarding the Lakers acquiring Andrew Wiggins.

This veteran wing could provide depth for the Lakers and ensure they are able to compete, however, at what cost? Reports indicate the Heat want Dalton Knecht, Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura plus a first round draft choice. As the headline reads I don’t have all the details but it would appear the Heat are attempting a robbery on a huge scale. If I sit in Rod Pelinka’s chair this is my statement to the Heat, “We can trade you Knecht, Vincent and Hachimura and a second round draft pick for Wiggins.” I would hesitate including Rui in any type of deal based on what he brings to the table for the Lakers when on the floor. Should the deal go through and include Rui the Heat must give up another player besides Wiggins. The Heat and Lakers continue to talk whether there is progress is another story altogether.  

We didn’t know

Shaquille O’ Neal is recognized for his prestigious basketball career in college and the NBA, he’s honored by his enshrinement in the FIBA, Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame. Shaq is often recognized for his powerful playing style, he might be comparable to Wilt Chamberlain in strength. During his NBA career from 1992 to 2011, he faced numerous skilled centers and forwards in the paint. In a recent interview with Matt Barnes on his podcast O’Neal listed opponents who he considered particularly challenging. The names on O’Neal’s list surprised me to a point, Malik Rose, primarily known for his defensive capabilities, played many of his best seasons with the Spurs, Despite being 6-foot-7 compared to O’Neal’s 7-foot-1, his 250 pound frame and defense stood out to O’Neal. Bryant Reeves, known as “Big Country,” spent six seasons with the Grizzlies when they played in Vancouver.

Standing 7 feet tall and weighing 290 pounds, Reeves was able to physically match up with O’Neal until injuries led to his premature retirement in 2001. Rik Smits, who was 7-foot 4 and 265 pounds, played his entire career with the Pacers from 1988 to 2000, contributing significantly to the team’s achievements during that time. Kevin Duckworth, another prominent center during that time played for the Blazers and matched up against O’Neal and other centers with his 7-foot, 300 pound stature. Bill Wennington, remember by many as the center for the Bulls during much of their championship seasons, he played several roles for various other NBA teams but it was his time with the Bulls that stands out. At 7-feet tall and 265 pounds, Wennington provided necessary support for his teams. Much of O’Neal’s offensive arsenal was power play basketball, driving the lane an opposing player’s life was in danger if he dare chose to take a charge near the basket. According to O’Neal, each the players’ presented here provided distinctive challenges for him defensively throughout his career.

The view of a fan

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

“Don’t let your mouth write a check your body can’t cash”

Some reading the headline above might have a confused look on their face, what is he talking about? The header is a warning metaphor against boasting, making empty threats, or promising something you are unable to deliver.” Where am I going with this, straight to Europe not all but one player in particular. He stated his belief that “Euro basketball play was superior to that played currently in the NBA.” There was a time not too long ago Euro players were not part of the NBA, their level of play was below that of most American players. That was then, this is now, the present crop of international players are light years better today. The explanation as to why they are better is far too numerous to evaluate in this short space.

That changed might have begun with Drazen Petrovic, whose life was cut short in an auto accident at the age of 28 in 1993. There is no telling how great Petrovic might have become. I love the fact that the NBA game is offered to all players, I’ve long held the belief there are numerous Euro athletes who play the game at a high skill level. I love that Luka Doncic now plays for my favorite NBA team, I admire multiple time MVP winner Nikola “The Joker" Jokic. Of course I would be remiss if I omitted Giannis Antetokounmpo or Victor Wembanyama. I could state I love this players brazenness, maybe he is correct…perhaps one day Euro players will eclipse home grown American talent. I happen to believe we are not there at the present time, at this point I have learned to never say never. Perhaps Euro talent in the NBA will pass that of Americans.   

Just me

I looked at the names they were all familiar to me, “Draft Day Disasters, All-Time Biggest Busts” it was titled. Two of the four are suspect to me although it isn’t my list. The bust would be Darko Milic, in the 2003 NBA draft the Pistons made him the second choice in the first round. In that draft with the third pick the Nuggets chose Carmelo Anthony and pick number five was Dwayne Wade by the Heat, two future Hall of Fame players. There were other players in that draft with outstanding NBA careers although not as worthy as the two named. As for Milic despite standing 7 feet tall and 250 pounds he struggled throughout his NBA career which ended in 2020, he was a journeyman playing for another 5 NBA teams. Kwame Brown drafted number one by the Wizards, taken out of high school in 2001, immediately behind him…Hall of Fame player Pau Gasol.

Brown simply was overmatched and unequipped to play at this level, he retired at the close of the 2013 season.  As for the two I call questionable they are Sam Bowie and Greg Oden, first Bowie. The Blazers made this 7 foot center the second pick in the 1984 draft, with the third pick the Bulls selected a guy named Michael Jordan. On those occasions Bowie was injury free he produced good numbers, the problem he couldn’t remain healthy for an extended period, he retired in 1995. As for Oden this has been mentioned on more than one occasion he was a defensive marvel at Ohio State. The Blazers (again) believed they had secured the center position for an extended time after drafting Oden in 2007, his NBA career ended with the Heat in 2014 although he would play an additional year in China. So there you have it, I must state again with the exception of Milic my view of these athletes is quite different from the author. 

Laugh if you will

Mizzou Nation is certainly excited about this upcoming season, that excitement will extend into 2026. Mizzou should have two (2) Top 5 prospects on the roster for the 2026-27 season, having two athletes in the same season is not that unusual for Duke, Carolina or Kansas. For Mizzou it’s a big deal that’s why I titled this account laugh if you will because this type of recruiting has never occurred in the past. In an earlier account it was mentioned there is a belief Dennis Gates and staff are in the “building business.” They are busy constructing a basketball program for now and into the future.

I’ve long held the belief a basketball program can be successful without McDonald’s All American or 5-star prospects. Having talent of that caliber on a roster certainly provides an edge but not always. If you are a fan of Rutgers basketball this is not intended to shine negatively on the program but this is what occurred. The Scarlet Knights roster this past season contained Dylan Harper (2 in the draft) and Ace Bailey (5th in the draft). Despite the fact these two were high NBA draft picks the Scarlet Knights finished 2024-25 overall with a 15-17 record and they were 8-12 in the Big Ten. In fairness to Rutgers perhaps there were issues that seriously impacted their season despite the fact of having Harper and Bailey as members of the team. Mizzou’s two 5-star prospects must be able to hit the ground running so to speak.

Meanwhile….

While conducting research I came across some information that at first was confusing. I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion history details the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) merged in 1949. A social media site listing NBA Rookies of the Year contained the name Don Meinke as the first rookie of the year in the 1953-54 season. To gain additional information I decided to check basketball-reference.com which listed three names in front of Meinke. Alex Groza (1949-50) and Paul Arizin (1950-51) and for the 1951-52 season there is a tie between Bill Tosheff and Mel Hutchins. After a bit more research the issue was resolved to my satisfaction, it turns out the rookie of the year honor was not adopted by the NBA until the 1953-54 season Meinke’s first.  

I am offering an apology upfront, this is done because I am old school. I love seeing back to the basket post play by Big Men, I love the dunks, jump hooks and the entire arsenal of shots in the paint. After expressing my love this is what I hate…Big Men constantly taking 3-point shots. The statement is made up front because an introduction is forthcoming, his name is Arafa Diane, he’s rated number 9 in Rivals 2026 Class of prospects. He’s 7-foot 1 and checks in at 280 pounds and plays for Iowa United Prep located in Des Moines, Iowa. With his size say it with me, “Could he be the second coming of Shaquille O’ Neal?” Okay I’m going to slow down I am getting way ahead of myself, in any event this youngster who hails from Guinea in West Africa has several schools attempting to secure his services. He’s managed to reduce his list of prospective schools to 5, they are Kentucky, Houston, Indiana, Virginia and Arkansas.

Let’s just say there is no love between former Laker D’Angelo Russell and former player and coach Byron Scott. I have always been a fan of D’Angelo Russell however he’s experienced difficulties remaining a Laker. He was drafted by the Lakers in 2015 as the second pick in the first round, in 2017 Russell was traded to the Nets and from there it was Golden State and then the Wolves and 2023 back to the Lakers. Russell’s second excursion with the team witnessed him being traded once again. In fairness to both parties this time Scott was no longer his coach but the animosity between the two remains based on what you are about to read. “He’s an idiot,” Russell says of his (former) coach. Russell felt Scott often yanked him in close contests purely to spark controversy and attention for his postgame media availability.”  “Byron Scott said D’Angelo Russell would show up to practice just 5 minutes before it started----while Kobe was already in the gym 90 minutes early, making 500 shots.” It’s clear the two butted heads as player and coach and wanted no part of one another.

The view of a fan

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Not even close

I heard a member of the media denoting it as a black eye for the NBA. He was referring to the NBA’s investigation of Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers and of course the defunct company Aspiration. NFL, MLB and any professional league has no desire for a story to shine negative light on it. I thought about his comment for a moment and thought, this is not close to the worst incident in the NBA’s history. How about the incident the press dubbed “The Malice at the Palace” which occurred March 19, 2004? The brawl involved Piston and Pacer players along with several fans who were involved in a fight which started on the court and into the stands. Not only the brawl itself but the lingering effects, this from AI.

“Nine players were suspended for a total of 146 games, with Ron Artest receiving the longest suspension in NBA history for an on-court incident (73 games). Players lost over $11 million in salaries due to the suspensions. Five players faced assault charges and were sentenced to probation and community service. Five fans also faced criminal charges and were banned from Pistons home games for life. The incident led to the implementation of a league-wide dress code (since revised) and had a lasting negative effect on the NBA’s reputation.” As you are aware the NBA investigation regarding Kawhi Leonard the Clippers and Aspiration is yet to be completed. This investigation when complete could turn out to be devastating too but certainly nothing on the scale of “The Malice at the Palace” the now demolished home of the Detroit Pistons. Two teams involved plus nine players suspended, I could go on but I hope you see where I’m going.

Meanwhile…

A few weeks ago, this blog discussed the possibility of NBA Europe. At that time, limited information was available; however a recent report from the Associated Press on September 18 has provided more details.  NBA Europe was discussed in this blog. Although not a great many details were available at the time of publication you can now be updated. The Associated Press September 18 contained a bit more information which is being shared. Commissioner Silver noted that NBA Europe could potentially launch in 2027 or 2028, this is certainly earlier than expected. One challenge identified is arena space, with the possibility of utilizing existing arenas across Europe initially until more modern infrastructure is developed. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available. 

The Class of 2026 prospect Jason Crowe Jr. is listed as a combo guard by 247Sports while ESPN list him as a point guard. His size (6-3, 170 pounds) could be compared to Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, hold on a moment before you go rushing off informing folks I’m claiming he’s the second coming of SGA. I didn’t bother checking other sites however they give us the impression he can score the ball just as easily as distributing it. This smooth left-hander has committed to Mizzou in the Class of 2026. We must return to 2017, Michael Porter Jr. (now with the Nets) was the number one prospect in the nation that year. At the time Jason Crowe Jr. steps on campus next summer/fall he will become the second highest rated prospect in the school’s basketball history since Porter Jr.

The former CEO of Aspiration claims there was no special deal in place for the Clippers Kawhi Leonard. The player was required to perform services for the company in order to be paid, if this is true the subject of circumventing the salary cap becomes null and void. This investigation is yet to be completed and that information could turn out to be correct. There remains a questionable instance regarding a payment made to Leonard and this appears to be documented. Dennis Wong a limited Clippers partner invested $1.99 million in Aspiration 9 days before an over payment of $1.75 million was made to Leonard…was this simply a coincidence? Unless there is a so called smoking gun owner Steve Ballmer, Leonard and the Clippers walk away without suffering any penalty.

I don’t believe anyone would disagree, the 2024-25 college basketball season would see SEC Men the best basketball conference top to bottom. The University of Florida certainly speaks well of that fact but there are others who played top notch basketball. Auburn, Alabama and Tennessee. The 16-team conference strength of schedule aside 10 teams won 20+ games and 3 eclipsed the 30 win mark. Coming behind the SEC was the Big XII conference, Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars battled the Florida Gators for the national championship. Then it was the Big 10 and Big East Conference, I’m sure members of the ACC might argue in favor of their conference being included especially with the manner Duke and Cooper Flagg played.             

The Portland Trail Blazers have announced a change in ownership, of course this is pending approval by the NBA Board of Governors---a process that is likely to be just a formality. Tom Dundon, a veteran owner who acquired a majority stake in the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in 2018, is set to become the new proprietor of the Blazers. Dundon joins the ranks of billionaire NBA owners; he serves as chairman and managing partner of Dundon Capital Partners and is also the chairman of pickleball.com. The team was sold by the estate of Paul Allen for a reported $4 billion.

“From Heroes to Villains”  

The headline is taken from WBUR-FM, the PBS radio station in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1950 college basketball experienced a once in a lifetime event, City College of New York did it. For the first (and last time) a school won the NCAA Tournament and the National Invitation Tournament in the same season. That might not appear impressive but allow a further explanation, back then the NIT Tournament was held in the same esteem of the NCAA Tournament. The growth of the NCAA with the addition of an increased number of teams has left the NIT today a watered down version of what existed in 1950. There were 12 teams in the NIT Tournament in 1950, CCNY won it all beating Bradley University 69-61 on March 18. This was no attempt by CCNY on its own to win a championship…the school was invited to the tournament. The NCAA Tournament consisted of 8 teams and would began play on March 23, the championship game was played March 28. For the second time within a few days CCNY faced an opponent again to determine who was the best team.

The adversary for CCNY was Bradley, they would be victorious over Bradley once again, 71-68. Ponder this for a minute, the school was able to win two championships in a short space of time, there is a question, why is this accomplishment barely mentioned? The reason so little is stated about this championship is likely due to a dishonor that erupted in 1951, a point shaving scandal was uncovered. The shorten version of the story from Wikipedia, “On October 27, 1951, Frank Hogan officially closed the investigation into the point-shaving scandal. In total thirty-five players from seven colleges admitted to taking bribes between 1947 and 1950 to fix eighty-six games in seventeen states, with varying results and punishments being given out to each player at hand. All thirty-five players involved were permanently banned from the NBA, with some players also banned from other professional sports leagues as well.” Of the schools named in the formal accusation CCNY was one of them. Adjustments were made by the administration, CCNY began by dropping its basketball program from Division I to Division III which they compete at the present time.

The view of a fan

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

He’s going to play football

We have a wide receiver who checks in at 6-foot 8 and 245 pounds, in the NFL that might be average size. In high school it says giant receiver but there is an additional explanation. His name is Tyran Stokes, on most websites he’s listed as the top prospect in the Class of 2026 in basketball and not football. Stokes has not decided where he wants to play basketball but the number of schools with offers totals 24. Among the many schools named are Southern Cal, Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville and Arkansas just to name a few. 

Stokes has entered his senior year at Notre Dame Sherman Oaks High School, last season as a junior he scored 21 points along with 9.3 rebounds and dished out nearly 4 assists a game. That’s the basketball stuff as far as football this is his first attempt to play the sport in high school, the report indicates Stokes has 10 practices remaining to become eligible to play this season. Some might remember LeBron James played football while in high school, without checking I believe James had more than one season wearing football cleats and running pass routes, he was a wide receiver as well.

It’s not just me

On a weekly basis you are liable to read more stories about the Lakers in this blog than the Thunder. Sure the Thunder were the best in the NBA as they moved swiftly through the competition to win it all. Despite being NBA Champions, they ain’t the Lakers, see you thought I was just writing all this stuff because I’m a fan. Sure enough that is indeed the case but there is more there, it’s not just me. Often at the time I am searching the web for a story generally there will be something written about the Lakers for me to read and ponder if I wish to cover it.

The Celtics have one more NBA Championship Trophies (18) in their case but they still come in second place to the Lakers on media coverage. Part of it could be an entertainment thing after all Hollywood is there, the former movie capital of the world. I make that statement because more movies are filmed elsewhere all though we still think of Hollywood and Southern California in that manner. Can you say star quality, yes that enters into the picture as well, over the decades the Lakers certainly have had star quality. This goes back to 1960 their first season in Los Angeles, rookie Jerry West arrived and teamed with Elgin Baylor to formulate a dynamic duo. From their it was names like Magic, Kareem, Worthy and others…. they would be dubbed the Showtime Lakers another nod to entertainment. The Celtics had Bird, McHale and The Chief however the Lakers had Showtime. Jerry West retired and moved into the front office, he saw a skinny Kobe Bryant and decided the Lakers had to draft him at all cost, they would trade Vlade Divac to the Hornets for the draft rights to Kobe.

Later the Lakers would pair Kobe with Shaquille O’ Neal and the two produced several more NBA Championships. The Celtics were winning too, they just weren’t winning like the Lakers. Much later free agent LeBron James looking for a team chose the Lakers, they didn’t choose him, with Anthony Davis they won another championship. Then it occurred again, the northern hemisphere suffer a seismic jolt when Luka Doncic was acquired in a trade last February for that same Anthony Davis. What does the future hold for the Lakers, I have no idea however you can bet money they will continue to be the subject of NBA conversation, that is guaranteed.

Where is he headed

I’m going to introduce to several reading this the name Jongkuch Mach, he’s a youthful 17 years of age who by all accounts is an upcoming prospect although admittedly extremely raw as this is introduction is presented. So what does the future hold for Mach, that is a rather difficult question to answer at this stage? Allow for a further explanation, Mach is a member of the Rio Tinto Perth Wildcats Academy in Australia. Unlike a number of prospects this Sudanese Australian prospect has two choices in front of him to begin his career, he can choose the NBA or college. Because he’s an International player Mach is eligible for the 2026 NBA draft despite his youthful age.

I mentioned the fact he is very green so it remains possible he could head off to a university somewhere in the U.S. As for the question of his weight that is a guesstimate, it’s reported he’s in the neighborhood of 240-250 pounds although this is yet to be confirmed.  I was able to locate YouTube video of Mach in action, in one of the videos’ he is wearing jersey number 18 and in the other he’s wearing number 25. I also might point out we have the “Wemby” factor at work with this youngster, we are unsure of his actual height. There is a website indicating Mach could be a towering 7-foot 6 inches in height however other websites list him as much shorter anywhere from 7-3 to 7-4.  It appears he might be a name to store in your memory bank for the June draft or possible college entry. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LllqbP32S-4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHQ1gE2O6ro

Greed

In the 1987 film Wall Street, Gordon Gekko famously said, “Greed, for lack of another word is good.” This raises the question: at what point does wealth become greed? While I seldom discuss player salaries, it's notable that part of Kawhi Leonard's income goes to community projects, though the exact amount is an unknown. This portion we have detailed information, Leonard’s known earnings include a 3-year, $149 million contract with the Clippers in 2019 and an endorsement deal from New Balance reportedly worth another $22 million, but the length of the latter contract is undisclosed. There is no information I was able to determine the duration of his New Balance contract, it is reasonable to conclude that payment is likely not made in a lump sum manner.

As for the company that was brought to our attention Aspiration, they set up an arrangement to pay Leonard $28 million in April 2022, by all accounts he’s received all of the money with the exception of $7 million due him. In addition to the community effort on the plus side there might have been financial remuneration made to family members. Should an athlete (or anyone) be entitled to earn all the income they can…of course however how this income is derived is the key question. Several individuals with whom I have discussed this matter believe that Leonard should have the opportunity to maximize his earnings. While I can appreciate this perspective, my concern lies with the ethical implications—specifically, the notion of rewarding someone for work not performed due to lack of requirement. Personally, I would find it challenging to accept compensation I consider unearned however this matter is not resolved. Commissioner Silver has stated, “The burden is on the NBA to show violation by the Clippers.” Do you see no ethical problem should it be determined Leonard was paid under the table?

The view of a fan

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Best Cities for basketball

What locales in the United States are best for basketball? We always gravitate to urban parts of the country but that’s now always the case, the love of basketball exists in small towns and the country as well. I came across an article on MSN by Carina Sandoval, she identified the 17 best cities for the game we love. I must confess several were to be expected while some others were a little surprising at least for me, note these cities are not in any order. Her list includes NBA cities and those containing college basketball teams.

The surprises for me, she selected Spokane, Phoenix and Miami as basketball popular cities. I’m sure with Gonzaga being a perennial college basketball power that must be the contributing factor to the game’s popularity in Spokane. I suppose with Arizona State being in close proximity to Phoenix plus the Suns it makes for the games popularity in the city. I hope residents of Miami will not be upset with me, I’ve always considered the NFL Dolphins and not the Heat the most popular sport. My opinion in this instance doesn’t really matter, it’s not my list. Once you get to the bottom of her list are there cities or towns she might have not listed from your view?

Boston

Los Angeles

Chicago

New York City

San Antonio

Philadelphia

Miami

Detroit

Indianapolis

Durham (NC)

Chapel Hill (NC)

Lexington (KY)

Lawrence (KS)

Spokane (WA)

Memphis

Phoenix

Portland

MSN.com

The sport might have been different

Recently I saw video of LeBron James in action on the football field, of course it was high school. I’d forgotten he’d played wide receiver at St. Vincent-St. Mary-High School in Akron Ohio. Can you imagine him running a route over the middle at 6-foot 9 and 250 pounds, defensive backs would be in fear of their lives. Of course we know James would choose basketball where he’s had a hall of fame career. It was also mentioned that Allen Iverson was an All-State football player and All-State in basketball in Virginia. In 1992 Iverson won a state championship in football at Bethel High School, the very next year 1993 it was basketball. Unlike James I am sure his stature (6 ft and 150 pounds) made him a suspect quarterback if he’d chosen the sport in college certainly the NFL.

We must go back in time to unveil the name of Dave Winfield, his professional sport was baseball but he holds one record. Winfield was drafted by four leagues after college the NBA, ABA, NFL and MLB. Winfield was a first ballot entry in the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown New York, it was basketball at the University of Minnesota he garnered attention from the sports world. We often forget Michael Jordan played minor league baseball although the time spent was relatively small-scale compared to the time period by others mentioned in this account. Although the time might be ancient by comparison the great Jackie Robinson must be listed. He played four sports while enrolled at UCLA, it’s been reported that he was quite a basketball player, despite being only 5-foot 11 in height. It was reported it was Robinson’s strength that allowed him to play forward at UCLA when he must have been matched against much taller players. This is just a short list, there are other athletes who played multiple sports, all played basketball however a number chose another sport for their career.  

Triumphant over the giant

Sidney Wicks is a relatively unknown name from the past today to some of you, his 10 year NBA career saw him win NBA Rookie of the Year in 1972 for the Blazers. As for his play in college that was a far different matter, he stood 6-foot 8 and 225 pounds, he was a three time NCAA Champion while playing at UCLA. Although many accolades came his way including inclusion in the College Basketball Hall of Fame this single game would perhaps be the high water mark of his brilliant collegiate career. The 1970 NCAA Championship game saw his UCLA Bruins matched against Jacksonville University and standout center Artis Gilmore all 7-feet 2 inches and 240 pounds. Steve Patterson was a serviceable starter at center (6-foot 9) for UCLA but facing Gilmore would be a much truer test of his ability. 

This game witnessed Patterson being thoroughly outplayed by the taller and stronger Gilmore, the Jacksonville center dominated play at the beginning of the game. Gilmore led his team to an early 22-13 lead scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Wooden made a change assigning the 6-foot 8 Wilkes against the Jacksonville “Giant.” Then it occurred, on a drive to the basket Wicks stuffed the ball over Gilmore, back then the dunk had been eliminated from the college game. Officials assessed a technical foul against UCLA but that single effort appeared to inspire not only Wicks but the UCLA team as well. Wicks went on to block five shots and held Gilmore to 5 points and 6 rebounds the balance of the game, Wickes had 18 rebounds of his own. The final score saw UCLA win the 1970 NCAA Championship game 80-69, a classic championship game from the collegiate past. Despite losing this game Gilmore went on to register an ABA/NBA career that enabled him to be voted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Speculation 

There are times when formulating stories for Off the Dribble the basis is something I’ve read or heard prompts an end depth look at the subject matter. That is the origin for what you are about to read. An account in cbssports.com college basketball page I read prompted this exploration. Each of us realize college basketball programs rise and sink over the course of time, this flow is dependent on the success of a head coach as much as athletes the school recruits. The question of course, can a basketball program lay the foundation that endures into infinity, well that’s a little extensive but I hope you get my point.

With this account in mind I decided to look at the Top 10 from 1975 and compare it to the Top 10 for 2025. For some the legacy appears to continue into the future, as an example we see Alabama and Maryland on both polls. Without checking I would guess there may have been down years for these programs (and others) in between but they have continued to produce winners. Surely both Alabama and Maryland have changed coaches during this 50 year period, that to me says a solid foundation may have been the basis for continued success. This I found interesting, despite the fact Kansas basketball is considered a Blue Blood program the Jayhawks failed to make either list. Most are aware it was a down season for the Jayhawks evidently the 1974-75 season was too. 

Top 10-1975                                                            Top 10-2025

UCLA                                                                       Florida

Kentucky                                                                  Houston

Indiana                                                                     Duke                                                              

Louisville                                                                  Auburn

Maryland                                                                 Tennessee

Syracuse                                                                  Alabama

NC State                                                                  Michigan State

Arizona State                                                           Texas Tech    

North Carolina                                                         Maryland 

Alabama                                                                  Michigan