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.