A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

Highway to the Danger Zone

This piece does not pertain to Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (portrayed by Tom Cruise) or the 1986 song performed by Kenny Loggins. Rather, it presents a discussion on social media and poses the question: Is social media a blessing or a curse? While I leave that determination to the reader, I would like to highlight an incident that prompted my perspective. I encountered a report written in the form of a news story involving Lakers coach JJ Redick, along with LeBron and Bronny James.

The account concluded with the claim that “Redick had apologized to LeBron.” Upon review, the credibility of this narrative appeared questionable, as there was no substantiating evidence provided. This is what I determined, the writer took from a portion of an event that occurred and then “spiced it up” by adding his spin to the story. As such we can say the described event might have occurred however it most likely is the product of this writers speculation. With this in mind, I invite you and your peers to consider and discuss whether social media serves as a benefit or a detriment to sports writing or anything else for that matter.

My concern

This time last season I was anxious to see how Missouri would compete in the SEC. They were coming off a losing season however there were issues believed to have been contributing factors to the poor record. Although Dennis Gates led the Tigers to a better than expected season (22-11) they were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Drake 67-57. Over the summer and early fall I looked forward to the 2025-26 season for the Tigers, that excitement has changed to a worry. Check this out, Missouri’s NET Ranking is certainly nothing to become excited about. Being ranked number 92 in the nation is a concern of mine.

As an example headed into the SEC regular season Missouri has played two Quad 1 teams suffering losses against Kansas and Illinois and one Quad 2 team Notre Dame, another loss. The 10 wins so far looks good…the three losses not so much. Where does Missouri go from here with number 22 Florida upcoming on January 3? I will repeat an earlier assessment, Dennis Gates is certainly secure but my belief is he’s on a tight rope. How his Tigers perform this season is key, the highly regarded Class of 2026 prospects will be added to the roster. My argument, effective recruiting serves little if you as a coach are unable to transition those high school and portal players successfully to your team. If this appears to be a surrender on my part that is not the case, the headline reads: “My concern.”

‘The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated’

19th Century author, essayist and humorist Mark Twain is responsible for the headline. Reports of his death had circulated and his response was the headline you just read. It certainly wasn’t anything as serious as death however I wrote at one point “Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers should consider retirement.” I’m going to defend myself with this statement, the health of Kawhi has been a question over the last several years. Sunday night after his game against the Detroit Pistons he told me and everyone else who questioned him should just shut up.

Kawhi Leonard, widely recognized for his defensive abilities, significantly contributed offensively in this performance. At the conclusion of the game, he recorded 55 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 5 steals. He achieved these statistics while shooting an impressive 65% from the field, including 50% from three-point range. Notably, these accomplishments came against the Detroit Pistons, who now hold a 24-8 record after the game, as opposed to a lower-ranked NBA team. This display underscores Kawhi's evolving skill set and the notable impact he continues to have on both ends of the court. I can state this loudly, he’s made a believer out of me again.

Meanwhile….

I am not asserting any claims, but rather reporting findings from my research. I have long held the belief, contrary to common belief, there was not a true merger between the leagues in 1976. Instead, the NBA selectively incorporated certain ABA teams—specifically, the Denver Nuggets, New York (Brooklyn) Nets, San Antonio Spurs, and Indiana Pacers—while excluding others. During my investigation, I encountered information from AI Overview stating: “1976: The NBA absorbs teams from the American Basketball Association (ABA).” Notably, the term "absorbs" is highlighted in bold and underlined.   

Recently ESPN.com’s college journalists Jeremy Woo and Jeff Borzello profiled Darryn Peterson Kansas guard, Cameron Boozer Duke power forward and BYU’s AJ Dybantsa small forward. The article was a point-counter point i.e., why each should be the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft and what might prevent it. I’m not going to steal from their work simply point to something I agree with. Oftentimes even fans like me have difficulty assessing the potential of an NBA draft pick. I attempt to check out the portion of an athletes game that requires production, that which says ‘I need to work on this’ in order to improve my draft ability. I believe this aids in determining an athletes promise.  

On Monday December 22 the NBA and FIBA announced that talks will soon began on the ‘NBA Europe’ plan. The announcement provides no clear cut start date of the new league but there is movement no matter how slight. At this point I’m sure like me you have more questions than answers. Will Real Madrid, Panathinaikos or Virtus Bolonga cease to exist or will they be simply folded into NBA Europe? As I mentioned at one time the proposal announced on Monday is the dream first placed before us by the late David Stern then NBA commissioner who believed in exporting the NBA brand world-wide.

Is this the answer

One game really proves nothing however could it be a start. I have lamented about the lack of defense by this version of the Los Angeles Lakers, they can score with any team in the association. It’s the scoring from the bench and defense which has been the culprit in a number of the losses. Sunday evening a different story prevailed, yes I realize the Sacramento Kings are not very good however there was evidence of a different Laker team. The usual suspects led the way in the 125-101 victory over the Kings but it was the other that was most exciting.

The other I speak of was Nick Smith Jr. emerging from the Laker bench scoring 21 points and grabbing 3 rebounds in 24 minutes of action. It was also the ‘Invisible Man,’ Jarred Vanderbilt, he too came off the Laker bench playing 22 minutes. Vanderbilt only scored 5 points but I would guess he impacted the defensive effort by the reserves and a few of the starters. What develops for the future, I’m sure the coach is hoping for consistency from these two and other reserve players. The Lakers cannot seriously entertain any hope of advancing in the playoffs unless improvement is forthcoming in reserve scoring and defense, I can claim this might be a start no matter who the competition was.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

Meanwhile….

“He’s got no inside game,” what might appear to be negative was not intended in the manner it was expressed. A couple of veteran players were discussing the play of Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and this is what I heard. “He’s got no inside game, he’s really a guard and can shoot jump shots.” I remember early on Shaq was critical of the fact Wemby had no inside game even though he’s now changed his tune on that aspect. When you can effectively shoot jumpers is there really a requirement for an inside game. Besides the fact the NBA has changed to the degree Shaq and some of the others of his generation have disappeared from the NBA. In my opinion is there really a need in this day for a center to have an inside presence.

It’s difficult for me to remain entertained by college basketball based on a number of factors. A few G-League players have been ok’d to return to college and play again. Just the other day I mentioned the NCAA had given its blessing to Baylor adding a player to its roster in late December. This player was a 4 year veteran of Euro ball been drafted into the NBA even played Summer League. I guess because it a technical sense he’d never signed an NBA contract the NCAA approved him eligible to play. The other issue, some appearing to remain active forever it seems. An injury season is one thing players with 6 or 7 years eligibility is ludicrous. An old idiom says; “It’s difficult to close the barn door when the cow has already gotten out.” Change is always evident, however, its far easier in some instances to accept the new circumstance.    

Team USA

A few weeks back, I wondered aloud what Team USA might look like in the 2028 Olympics. I based the question on the fact that the majority of the 2024 team could be retired while others might not be interested in playing. Who are the roster members who could be gone, LeBron James most certainly retired by 2028 but there are others. Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry and Joel Embiid are just a few of the names who could be missing. This is an early look but who replaces those named against an ever increasing number of talented Euro teams? From the perspective of people in this country, the situation may not seem as disastrous as it initially appears.

Certainly, there are questions regarding the return to action of Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton however I am going to pencil them in for 2028 but there are others. Although not selected Donovan Mitchell-Cleveland Cavs expressed a desire to play in 2024, he should still have “enough gas in the tank” for 2028. Those named are pure speculation on my part, they include Paolo Banchero-Orlando Magic, Devin Booker-Phoenix Suns, AJ Dybansta-BYU, Cooper Flagg-Dallas Mavs. We could include Anthony Edwards-Minnesota Wolves, Cade Cunningham-Detroit Pistons. What position is missed, probably a legitimate Big Man however that might not be as critical a need as we might believe. Chet Holmgren-OKC Thunder or Bam Adebayo-Miami Heat are possibilities to play the position. This was a quick look and as I indicated this is strictly speculation, in addition perhaps this year or maybe the following year additional names could be projected as possibilities.

Who are they

The impact of a rookie in the NBA can differ greatly—some become starters start right away, while others need more time. For example, Kobe Bryant was drafted straight out of high school and, after his rights were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, saw limited minutes initially. Although he may have had the occasional spot start, the Lakers were an experienced team in 1996, and Kobe didn’t become a regular starter until his third season. But what about other rookies? Looking at the 2025 NBA draft, several new players have stepped directly into starting roles.

Cooper Flagg, selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks, is one such player. Dylan Harper went second to the San Antonio Spurs. The Philadelphia 76ers picked VJ Edgecombe at number three, while Kon Knueppel joined the Charlotte Hornets as the fourth pick. Tre Johnson landed with the Washington Wizards at six, and Jeremiah Fears was chosen seventh by the New Orleans Pelicans. Rounding out this list, Derek Queen, the thirteenth pick, was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks before his rights were traded to the Pelicans. This overview highlights those draft picks who have already become starters for their teams, although it’s possible that some rookies might follow a path similar to Kobe Bryant’s, waiting a bit longer before securing a starting spot.

A Changing NBA TV Landscape

The phrase "Who are those guys?"—I borrowed from the 1969 western classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid—describes the current state of NBA TV. Just as the movie featured a group of lawmen relentlessly pursuing Butch and Sundance, the NBA season has ushered in a new era marked by a near-complete transformation of its television crew. While local broadcasts of games continue as usual, the overarching changes to studio personnel are notable. For longtime fans such as me, this shift can be jarring.

Many of the faces now appearing on NBA TV are unfamiliar, often labeled as "internet personalities" when searched online. The presence of a few seasoned figures, such as former player and coach Sam Mitchell, and veteran NBA reporter Frank Isola, provides a thread of continuity. However, the majority of studio members are new, reflecting the changing nature of sports media. This evolution may be a generational experience, as some viewers—me included—find comfort in absorbing content from recognized and trusted individuals. The rise of internet personalities, who are less easily identified, can feel unsettling to those accustomed to familiar voices and perspectives. Ultimately, the challenge lies in adapting to this new landscape, even when it means stepping outside one's comfort zone.

 

 

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

He chose a different path

Marcus Spears, distinguished by his 13-year career in the NFL as a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, made a significant impact on the football field with his imposing stature of 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds. However, his son, Marcus Spears Jr., opted not to follow directly in his father's footsteps, instead choosing to pursue basketball. At 6-foot-7 and 195 pounds, Spears Jr. brings a different build and athletic profile to his sport of choice. On Saturday afternoon, with a national television audience watching on NBA TV and other platforms, I had the opportunity to see Spears Jr. display his basketball skills during the Jordan Classic.

Representing Dynamic Prep from Arlington, Texas, Spears Jr.'s team secured a 75-63 victory against Roman Catholic Cahallite High School from Philadelphia. This marked the second occasion I have observed Spears Jr. in action, and once again, he did not disappoint. He has earned a 5-star rating and is widely regarded as the top prospect in the Class of 2027. While high school performances can be difficult to translate into future success, Spears Jr. consistently demonstrates the focus and commitment that indicate he is fully engaged in the game. It should be of note although he only scored 15 points he played an all-around game. Currently, he holds offers from ten different schools, but as he is still in the middle of his junior year, he has yet to decide where he will continue his basketball journey at the collegiate level.

The Future Ahead  

This is my attempt to address the critics who allege that "The NBA could shut down at any moment." While some challenges within the NBA are acknowledged, it is important to recognize that any organization involving people will inevitably experience occasional setbacks or incidents that may be uncomfortable for players, teams, and the league itself. Such occurrences have happened in the past and are likely to continue in the future. Nevertheless, there are clear indications that the NBA remains strong and well-positioned whether you wish to acknowledge it or not.

1.The record-breaking television contract now in effect with partners NBC/Peacock, Prime and ABC/ESPN. TNT wanted to remain a partner, however, the guess is the financial clout required was beyond the amount they were willing to pay. 2. Every season there is a crop of newly minted players anxiously looking toward an NBA future. All will not succeed, some will have limited success and others become budding superstars. I could name a few names but you might have others in mind, NBA champion Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Austin Reaves are both 27 years old. Cooper Flagg just experienced his 19th birthday while Anthony Edwards is 24 and Victor Wembanyama is 21 years old. All those named are on the cusp of an NBA All Pro career but they are not alone, they represent the names that come to mind for this account. 3. The NBA is positioned in a unique standing I believe, NFL football is clearly the leader in fan appeal however the NBA is not a great deal behind.

It’s my belief without offering you a shred of evidence that the game might be just as popular or might exceed baseball in fan appeal. 4. NBA apparel sales consistently surpass those of other professional sports, with the possible exception of the NFL. To verify this observation, one could conduct an independent survey of fan attire to assess its validity. 5. The discussion concludes with a brief consideration of NBA franchise ownership. Contrary to prior sentiments such as "No one is watching the NBA" or "I stopped following games after Michael Jordan retired," current trends demonstrate continued high interest in the league. Notably, NBA franchises remain highly valued, with numerous individuals and investment groups expressing interest whenever a team becomes available for purchase. This ongoing demand suggests that NBA team ownership continues to be perceived as a sound investment. 5A. This is additional proof from a world perspective, I’d bet money if you took along a photo of Michael Jordan and Jayden Daniels to a basketball game in Paris or Berlin and ask fans this question, who is this? I’d bet huge sums of money the 62-year old Jordan would be easier to identify over the 25-year old QB of the NFL Commanders.

The concern

College basketball fans are familiar with the name Darryn Peterson, NBA scouts too. If you check a number of 2026 NBA mock draft sites most have this 6-foot 6 Kansas wing listed as the top pick while others place him second or third. Based on this fact alone you gather there is a belief he is “NBA ready.” Despite the platitudes in his direction there is a real concern beyond his ability to play the game. It’s the injury bug, as an example this is written December 27, Kansas has won 10 of the 13 games on its schedule thus far.

Peterson has played but four of those games, he’s clearly demonstrated his skill scoring nearly 20 points a game while shooting 53% from the floor. An assortment of injuries have been the culprit which has kept him off the floor for an extended period. At that point, an ESPN report reveals that Peterson’s family has become involved in addressing his health condition. Despite missing from the lineup others on the roster of Kansas have stepped up. Its apparent with or without Peterson Kansas is facing a huge task in the Big 12 conference, other than the SEC the Big 12 might be the second toughest in the country. Arizona, BYU, Iowa State and Houston are just four of the power teams in the conference. Rest assured Bill Self is optimistic Peterson should be able to return to the lineup soon, he’s needed.

He is a surprise no longer

I attempt to avoid the hype machine surrounding teams and players as much as possible, despite my best intentions I surrender on occasion. I claim to have done this with the Spurs Victor Wembanyama, so far ‘The Alien’ has lived up to the hype surrounding his NBA play despite a couple of hiccups. He is the future of the NBA provided he is able to avoid serious injury which certainly would curtail this account. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder burst on the scene somewhat different but is also there. On Tuesday evening fans of the Mavs and a national television audience were treated to the Cooper Flagg Show. The 19-year old led the way to the 131-130 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

For Flagg it was 33 points and understand this, he shot 66.7% from the floor with 66.7% of it coming from the three line. There was also 9 rebounds and 9 assists providing us proof that the 6-foot 9 youngster has an all-around game. I had been critical early in the season of Jason Kidd, the coach placed Flagg at the point. It was explained during the game why the move was made and I am now satisfied. In addition to my satisfaction I intend to leave the coaching up to the guys who get paid, which is not me. This next statement was made by yours truly recently and I will repeat it. It’s my belief with the youthful talent (SGA, Wemby & Flagg) the NBA is about to enter another period similar to that which occurred during the Magic/Bird/Jordan era. Could I be wrong, of course that’s possible however I don’t believe that to be the case.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

I listen

There are numerous times I have been critical of the ‘talking heads,’ these are members of the media who cover the sport. Often they appear to be listening to the sound of their voice especially those on television. I have no issue with opinion as long as the individual is providing information. My statement has always been, tell me what you know not what you think. As basketball fans we often have friendly arguments where our opinions are expressed. Nothing in the world wrong with that until you decide your friend is incorrect because he doesn’t agree with your take. Now for the ‘meat and potatoes’ of my take, the Spurs-Thunder and a comment made without the hype of some members of the media.

The Christmas Day game was the only one of the three Spurs-Thunder games I was able to see in its entirety, the other two only clips of the win by the Spurs. On Friday after reviewing video of the Thursday game I listened to the question posed by NBA TV host MJ Acosta-Ruiz made toward former coach David Fizdale his thoughts on the Spurs win. For those who might be unfamiliar with Fizdale there have been stops as an assistant coach for several franchises, in addition he’s served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and the New York Knicks for a time. I’m going to paraphrase the comment made by Fizdale, “They are a match up problem for the Thunder. They have speed at every position plus they have Wemby.” I’m sure there are others in the media with opinions however Fizdale is the first I’ve heard detail his view on the Spurs advantage (if there is one) over the Thunder.

He’s the real deal

Did I mention the number of games NBA and college on television, just in case I didn’t know now you do? Because BYU games are in the Mountain Time Zone I have yet to see AJ Dybantsa in action. BYU is a member of the Big 12 and with the conference race soon beginning I should have several opportunities to see him in action. I am making that statement because there is no doubt in my mind his name will be among the top three Adam Silver declares in the June NBA draft. I am sure without confirmation NBA scouts have followed his progress so far in Provo Utah and whenever BYU is on the road.

Recently Dybansta at age 18 became the youngest player in NCAA history to register a 30+ point triple-double. In 36 minutes of action the 6-foot 8 Dybansta scored 33 points 10 assists and 10 rebounds against Eastern Washington in the 109-81 victory. If the season ended as this is written let’s check the websites, nbadraft.net has the Atlanta Hawks with the first pick in the 2026 NBA draft. They have Dybansta with the first pick. As for others tankathon.com place him at three with the Kings choosing him. Finally nbadraftroom.com has him second and chosen by the Hawks. The draft position of each team will change over time, in addition its possible Dybansta could wind up number one on all three mock sites.

Plus/minus

I acknowledge that when I write about players, I tend to focus mainly on points. Depending on the player's position, I also discuss rebounds, blocked shots, assists, or steals. Most of you, I believe, are aware ESPN and other sources include a plus/minus number after a player's name. I attempted an explanation previously and thought it might be a good idea to write about this tool once again. Now, let's look at an AI Overview:

NBA Plus/Minus (+/-) in a box score shows your team's score difference while a player is on the court; a "+5" means the team outscored opponents by 5 points with them in, a "-3" means they were outscored by 3, reflecting on-court impact beyond points, assists, and rebounds, but it's affected by teammates/opponents and can be noisy, though advanced stats like Box Plus/Minus (BPM) refine it using regression to estimate overall value.”

Most times I fail to mention this information because it remains somewhat confusing to me. I intend to use this as an example, Michael Porter Jr. and Noah Clowney of the Nets and their 114-106 victory over the Sixers. MPJ led the way for the Nets with 29 points but registered a +7, as for Clowney it was 13 points but he exceeded MPJ with a +10. If we travel down the roster we discover Day’ Ron Sharpe came off the Nets bench scoring 9 points and 11 rebounds with a +16 number. If you believe this tool to be important continue to utilize it, as for me I intend to utilize it occasionally but certainly not on a regular basis.

Arena Status Update

I thought it time to check the progress on planned arenas around the NBA, the shorten version of the story it would appear the Oklahoma City project is the only proposal that’s moving smoothly. The city plans a February groundbreaking ceremony with a 2028 opening. MANCIA Architecture a Kansas City based firm has been hired as the designer of the arena, the projected cost $900 million. It should be noted this arena will seat 17,000 fans which makes it slightly smaller than the existing Paycom Arena. As an outside observer it would appear the new arena for the Thunder is moving along at a steady pace. The arena for the San Antonio Spurs part of Project Marvel is moving but much slower than earlier in the year.

Again from my position it will get done for at least one reason…competition. I’ve read there are some who are concerned about the possibility of the Spurs moving to Austin if this arena project is not accomplished. Las Vegas doesn’t have an NBA team however league expansion has been discussed and Seattle and Las Vegas are the two cities mentioned. Seattle is already done, a new Sonics team would play in refurbished Climate Pledge Arena the former Key Arena. Back to Las Vegas, although the NBA utilizes T-Mobile and Thomas & Mack Arena two groups are discussing building arenas which is a slight bit confusing. We conclude with Dallas and the Mavericks, the new owners have expressed a desire for an arena to replace American Airlines Center who’s lease expires in 2031. Ownership desires a site inside Dallas and a target date of early 2026 is reported.   

NCAA has gone full circle

The manner of operations by the ‘old’ NCAA was dictatorial in nature in my view. Once NIL and some of the other changes have been implemented its gone completely the opposite direction…anything goes. I believe all of us realize the distance between amateur and pro has narrowed over time. The Olympics as an example, once upon a time participants had to maintain a strict status as an amateur athlete there was no way of getting around that. The NCAA was in the forefront of this operation and then BAM all that changed not overnight but it was rather quick considering. What was done at one time is almost cartoonish by today’s standards, I can cite a few examples.

Bo Jackson was declared ineligible by the NCAA to participate in baseball during his senior year at Auburn University due to his visit to the NFL's Tampa Bay team, with the team covering his travel expenses. I’ve mentioned in the past the two Mizzou basketball transfers, both enrolled at nearly the same time, one was declared eligible to play the other had to sit out a semester. Those are but two examples of the autocratic rule of the NCAA that existed at one time. I just wrote the other day regarding James Nnaji enrolled at Baylor recently and added to the roster. Nnaji has played four years of Euro ball been drafted into the NBA and even played Summer League. He’s never signed an NBA contract which technically makes him a pro. So what does the NCAA do…allows him to play despite his basketball history.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

Christmas and the NBA

Yesterday saw five NBA games played; however, this discussion will focus on the history of these games being televised. In recent years, the NFL has begun to schedule games on a date that was once primarily associated with the NBA. The inaugural NFL game on this holiday occurred in 1971 with a playoff game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins. Typically when the date coincided with a Saturday, Sunday, or Monday an NFL game would be played. The NFL has a larger television audience and based on this fact alone began scheduling Christmas Day games. 

Regarding the NBA, its association with the holiday dates to 1947, the league’s first year, although only one game was played that year. Historically, the main broadcast originated from Madison Square Garden, featuring the New York Knicks and their scheduled opponents. Over time, the Knicks have participated in the most Christmas Day games, with 58 appearances including yesterday’s contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Excluding the most recent game, their record stands at 25 wins and 32 losses. Throughout the years, the number of NBA games held on Christmas Day has steadily increased. While the NFL’s presence has grown, it is important to note that the holiday was never exclusively reserved for the NBA.

Kryptonite

Most of you are familiar with the story, Superman was impervious to everything on earth except one thing. That one thing was Kryptonite a fictional radioactive material from his home planet of Krypton. Criminal elements including Lex Luthor tried to obtain the rock in order to defeat or at least neutralize Superman’s’ power. For the third time this season the ‘baby’ San Antonio Spurs have beaten the Oklahoma City Thunder again. The Christmas day game would see the Spurs victorious 117-102 and understand this, from the seat in my Man Cave the game didn’t appear close except maybe the middle portion of the first half.

Victor Wembanyama still on a minutes restriction had a good but unspectacular game (19 pts, 11 rebounds). It was the Spurs backcourt of De’Aaron Fox (29 pts) and Stephon Castle (19 pts, 7 assts) who led the way to the victory. 54% shooting from the floor with 38% coming from three certainly aided the cause for the Spurs. As for the defending NBA champions Thunder it was 39% from the floor and 25% from three, it seemed all game long that the Spurs caused the Thunder to ‘speed up’ their offense effort forcing them into a variety of bad shots. SGA led for the Thunder but he even appeared to be caught in this accelerated game. The Thunder have run roughshod through the NBA except for the Spurs, although the calendar has not turned to January I believe the Warriors all-time won-loss record is safe.

There are exceptions, I guess….

James Nnaji is a 6-foot-11, 250-pound center who has recently been declared immediately eligible and awarded four years of eligibility, he’s been added to the roster of Baylor University. While his eligibility might initially appear typical, the details of his career trajectory set his case apart. Nnaji previously spent four years playing for Barcelona in the ACB—a tenure that is uncommon. A few players have spent time playing Euro basketball but to my knowledge it’s been no more than one perhaps two seasons. 

Further complicating the narrative, Nnaji was selected 31st overall in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. His rights were subsequently traded to the Charlotte Hornets and later to the New York Knicks. In what appears to be a bizarre case the NCAA granted him permission and immediate eligibility to play at Baylor. All this despite the facts laid out above and also that Nnaji has been playing professionally since 2019, it is indeed a strange world we live in now.

End of the year

College teams have been at play for several weeks, near the end of the year I thought it might be fruitful to check the rankings of teams. The true test of course is the first Monday in April, that will tell the tale as the NCAA champion is crowned. Which team is actually the best college team in the nation in between time, this is the poll for the week of 8 of the 2025-26 basketball season. Prior to April we must satisfy ourselves with Top 25 rankings, BPI and other methods of measurement. This interesting, the AP and Coaches poll both place Iowa State as the number three team in the nation, as for their top that’s different.

The AP Top 25 places Arizona in the top slot while the Coaches poll has Michigan at the top. As for the number two team, Michigan is two while in the Coaches poll they are ranked number one. Many believe in the BPI poll because the criteria required of each of the teams is more detailed. This poll also takes into account the strength of schedule, sometimes a won-loss record can be misleading. I could use the Mizzou Tigers as the example, as this is written they have won 10 games versus 3 losses. The issue none of the wins have been quad one wins, as for their top five in order they are Duke, Gonzaga, Michigan, Arizona and Houston.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

Missouri debacle

There were no highlights to present only lowlights if you are part of Mizzou Nation as I am. What can I say, Illinois had a 20-6 run in the first half of the annual Braggin’ Rights game on Monday, that allowed them to lead 41-25 at the half. Mizzou managed to shoot 28% to Illinois’s 51% shooting from the floor in the first half. The second half of the game didn’t improve any for the Black & Gold, Mizzou was a loser with the final score of 91-48. They did improve their shooting a bit from the first half raising it to 29% for the game, the only problem Illinois raised theirs as well improving to 52%.

It’s difficult to detail when one team was completely outclassed by the other. I almost forgot, Mizzou had 10 TO’s to Illinois’s 11 so they exceeded them in that department. After this spanking Dennis Gates has got to gather the troops together and clarify for them they cannot continue to perform at this level. I’ve heard it said, “It’s easier for a team to recover from a blowout loss than a game of one or two points.” I don’t agree with anyone who could come to that conclusion. For me it’s the other way around, it’s easier to recover from the latter type of game. The consolation in a close game, a missed shot or free throw. A critical TO or a miss at the buzzer, those would be far easier for me to recover, this game Mizzou was outclassed from the center jump.

The biggest disappointment to me is the coach, I have defended Dennis Gates in the past when others were shouting for him to be replaced. Although they came up short in the NCAA field they were a much better team than most of the so-called experts predicted last season. It serves no real purpose to continue outstanding recruiting (which Gates has done) only to see them come up short in Big Games. The players were on the floor but this loss I pin on the coach, his teams seemed unprepared and whose job is that? There, I wrote far more than was intended based on this beat-down received by Mizzou. I feel much better now after venting my frustration.

Four games

Victor Wembanyama has made his return to the San Antonio Spurs lineup on a time-limited basis. Since his return to the lineup the most minutes he’s played in a single game was the 25 minutes in the Emirates championship game. During his absence, the young Spurs demonstrated admirable play. Wemby has resumed his role with the team leading them in scoring, rebounds and blocked shots although not from the record keeping standpoint. See current NBA regulations require individuals to meet specific criteria to be eligible for postseason honors. Wemby is focused primarily on team success however I’m sure individual honors remain significant goals. For further information about these rule changes, refer to the resources below.

This from AI Overview: “The NBA's 65-game rule, introduced in the 2023-24 season, requires players to participate in at least 65 regular-season games (with at least 20 minutes played in all but two) to be eligible for major individual awards like MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and All-NBA teams, aiming to curb excessive "load management" and reward player availability, but it significantly impacts contracts and award races. Players who miss too many games, even due to injury, risk missing out on substantial contract bonuses tied to making All-NBA teams.”  As of late December, given that Wemby has already missed 14 games, he can only afford to miss four more for the balance of the remaining Spurs games. As we always say injuries are part of the game but consider this fact if the Spurs play deep into the playoffs or win it all Wemby will be all right with that development.

Pay me

Los Angeles Laker guard Austin Reaves is not making the demand as this is written. Let’s just say his action on the court is representative of a huge pay increase. He is having a career year in all aspects of his game, either the Lakers trade him or pay him. I hope they decide to keep him because the trifecta of the Lakers has become Luka/LeBron/Austin. It is amazing to witness the growth of his game from 2021 when he first joined the Lakers. I said ‘joined’ not drafted, some might say it was confidence others might claim arrogance but this is how it unfolded. Either through his agent or him speaking the NBA was placed on notice, “Don’t draft me…I want to choose the team I intend to play for.”

Reaves would sign a two-way contract with the Lakers and the balance of the story is recorded in the Lakers annals as Reaves earned a spot on the roster. Playing first as a reserve and occasional spot starter, he played 19 games in his rookie year as a starter. After the trade deadline in February 2023 Reaves moved into the role of as the Lakers permanent starter at shooting guard. From AI Overview: “Austin Reaves is on a 4-year, $54 million deal signed in 2023, currently in its third season (2025-26), and he has a player option for the 2026-27 season, which he is widely expected to decline to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026 for a much larger contract, having already turned down a $89.2 million extension offer from the Lakers.” At this point it’s unclear of Reaves intention except to play good basketball, the other issue will be determined in the summer.

Meanwhile…

Last season, many considered the SEC to be the nation's top basketball conference. Will the 2025-26 season bring a repeat? The latest AP Top 25 poll suggests it might, as seven SEC teams—Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, and Georgia—earned spots in the rankings. The Big 12 follows with six representatives: Arizona, Iowa State, Houston, BYU, Kansas, and Texas Tech. Next, the Big Ten claims five teams: Michigan, Purdue, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Indiana. The ACC features four schools: Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, and Virginia. UConn and St. John’s represent the Big East, while Gonzaga holds the spotlight for the West Coast Conference.

JJ Redick has a problem on his hands by the name of Jarred Vanderbilt. No, as far as I am aware the wing player has not made any demands on his coach. Vanderbilt has been removed from the rotation due to his poor shooting. Notice nowhere in that statement did I mention defense, he is a standout defensive player. His below par shooting has been the problem but it wasn’t recently against the Suns. Inserted into the Laker lineup again he provided proof of his defensive prowess. If only he can improve his shooting in order to hear his number called more often by Redick.

Cooper Flagg former Duke standout is not the only one experiencing a strong rookie season. Flagg’s Duke teammate Kon Knueppel is undergoing a solid rookie season as well for the Charlotte Hornets, they made him the number 4 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Reports indicate that Knueppel’s 466 points over his first 25 games set a new rookie scoring record for the franchise. Notably, Knueppel has surpassed previous records held by notable prior Hornets such as Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Emeka Okafor, and Brandon Miller. His performance places him among an elite group of former Hornets distinguished by their early success. On the topic of Flagg, his influence on the NBA is already evident. How do I know? At my workplace, where many members of the public come in daily, I recently saw a visitor wearing a Cooper Flagg T-shirt. You might wonder if that's noteworthy—it definitely is, given that my office is in Kansas City, Missouri, not Dallas, Texas.

This account came about by chance. I found a social media site listing the names and years of top scorers for boys' basketball teams on Long Island, New York. Several of the names went on to play college and in some instances in the NBA. A couple of the names stood out requiring a double check. Jim Brown led Manhasset High School in scoring with a 38.1 ppg average in 1953, surely that can’t be THE Jim Brown legendary running back of the Cleveland Browns, enshrined in the College and NFL Hall of Fame. That was indeed the case it was that Jim Brown. The next name was Carl Yastrzemski, that’s not a common name so it had to be the Hall of Fame Red Sox player. Yas as he was nicknamed led Bridgehampton High School in scoring in 1957 with a 31.1 ppg average. As you can see their professional careers took them away from the basketball court however it offers us proof, they were genuine all around athletes. Who knowns, They might have played professionally in the NBA if they had decided in favor of pursuing basketball as a career.

A fans perspective

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It’s that time of the year

One of the events Missouri and Illinois basketball fans look forward to at this time of the year is the Annual Braggin’ Rights game between the two schools. This year the game will be more of a test for Missouri over Illinois which is ranked number 18 in the nation. This is not an end of the world scenario for Missouri however it is very important they compete with Illinois, there are questions surrounding Missouri and its ability to compete against high profile teams. Illinois the number 18 team certainly qualifies as a high profile team. The game will be played at its usual location the 18,000 seat Enterprise Center Arena located in St. Louis. It's a sellout as it usually is however its available on several television outlets, Fox One, Fox Sports, FUBO and Sling TV, game time is 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. At the end of the evening I will be in as celebratory mood or down in the dumps.

No further explanation necessary

Before the renewed Battle of Los Angeles, I knew in advance the Lakers would be missing key players while the Clippers had their full roster available for the game. As for the Lakers Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton were both out, and earlier Austin Reaves had already been listed with an injury. In the first half, Luka Doncic sustained a left leg contusion and was unable to play in the second half of the game. With these injuries, the Lakers struggled to compete and ultimately suffered a disappointing defeat.

The final score read Clippers 103 Lakers 88, as for LeBron James he continues to defy Father Time leading the way with 36 points. At this stage it’s a bit difficult to determine who is available to play for the Lakers in upcoming games. In the meantime let’s talk trade. I will go on record, I really dislike the prospect of losing Austin Reaves in a trade but that is a real possibility. As I’ve mentioned in the past the Lakers can score with any team in the NBA, the chief issue for them is defense. The headline above says it all, no explanation necessary or no excuse is offered for what you witnessed on NBA TV or League Pass.

Duke…who

That might have been the comment by the Texas Tech Red Raiders going into their match. After being down by 16 points at a time they came roaring back for an 82-81 win over the Duke Blue Devils. The game was played at neutral court Madison Square Garden nevertheless Duke was the prohibited favorite. Texas Tech registered 8 wins ahead of this one while Duke was undefeated with an 11-0 record. From the middle of the first half until roughly the mid portion of the second half it appeared the Blue Devils were on the road to their 12th victory instead the game became their first loss of the season.

There are bits and pieces of every game I believe can change the outcome, a missed shot…a turnover or failure to properly box out the opposition. I’ve only named a few there are many other occurrences that can cause one team to be victorious over another and that’s what occurred Saturday. Duke was led by Cameron Boozer with his 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, as for Tech it was the combination of JT Toppin (19 pts, 10 rebs) plus LeJuan Watts and his 20 points. Christian Anderson contributed 27 points to the Tech effort leading to the victory. If the two teams meet a couple of days later would the outcome be the same? That is a question I cannot answer however we certainly could expect a similar type of game. It was an excellent game which came down to the final few seconds, Duke had a winning shot miss as the clock expired.

Maybe I was wrong 

I’m unsure how often I’ve made this statement, it goes something like this. “Cooper Flagg will not wow anyone with his scoring, he will do the little things which will allow the Mavs to win.” That’s partially correct except for the scoring part, the 19 year old scored 24 points on Saturday although his team lost to the Sixers 121-114. Flagg’s last ten games have seen him average 24 points a game while shooting 51.8% from the floor. Despite the pluses there is always someone around to reduce in importance the success one might attain.

In this instance I am referring to Ace Bailey of the Utah Jazz but more on that later. Recently the Dallas Mavericks succumbed to the Utah Jazz in an OT game 140-133, the Mavs would likely have won in regulation if not for the outstanding game registered by the Mavs Cooper Flagg. Days short of his 19th birthday he became the youngest player in NBA history to score more than 40 points in a game. He exceeded the record established by LeBron James, consider these key issues for the Mavs. There was no Anthony Davis in the lineup, Kyrie Irving remains sidelined due to injury and the Mavs refuse to play D’Angelo Russell. There were others left to pick up the slack but I hope you see where I’m headed.

Despite the Herculean effort by Flagg it turns out Bailey of the Jazz wasn’t impressed. This from the Jazz rookie, “I’d rather score seven points in a close win than drop 42 in a loss. You can pad the stats all you want, but winning is what matters.” On the surface that statement makes sense except for the fact Bailey was the one with 7 points and Flagg had the 42. The Mavs missing key players needed all those points Flagg managed to score however they came up short at the end. Baileys’ point is somewhat valid but not completely in my view.

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The pupil beat the teacher

Rick Pitino has been coaching for several decades, this includes stops at quite a few schools across the nation. The 73-year old Pitino began his resume at Boston University (5 seasons), then it was Providence (2 seasons) and 8 seasons at Kentucky. Pitino remained in the State of Kentucky as he took charge of the program at Louisville for 16 seasons. It was then a 3 year break and a move to Iona where he remained for a 3 year stint. 

The coach has spent the last 3 seasons as the head coach at St. John’s University. Given his extensive coaching career, it's unsurprising that he's worked with a great number athletes, including Mark Pope now head coach at Kentucky. Yesterday the two schools faced one another with Kentucky securing the win over number 22 St. John’s 78-66. I’m unsure if Pitino has ever coached against one of his former players before Saturday so this could have been a first. For those unaware of this news Pope played his college basketball at Kentucky where that same Rick Pitino once coached. 

The Big Ticket

That was the nickname given Kevin Garnett, he was the franchise of the Minnesota Timberwolves. After he left in a trade his number 21 jersey was never retired. To my knowledge he never spoke anything positive regarding his tenure in Minnesota, an impasse formed between the franchise player and the owner. More recently owner Taylor would place a For Sale sign on the Wolves and after time new ownership took over. Change in ownership and change in the franchise player too, Garnett has made peace with the Wolves the team he first displayed his NBA talent for the world.

It was announced recently that the now retired Garnett will become part of the Wolves front office in a number of capacities. This newly created position involves business, community efforts and content development which might cover a wide range of areas. We have now come full circle, Kevin Garnett was made the 5th pick in the 1995 NBA draft by the Wolves from Farragut Academy in Chicago. At that time, the NBA allowed high school players in the draft. There is a classic novel written by Thomas Wolfe published in 1940, titled ‘You Can’t Go Home Again.’ The web view of the title simply states; ‘Recognizes that we are changed as we journey through time and so returning to a place can be a letdown-not meeting nostalgic expectations.’ In the instance of Garnett I believe this is not the case, he ‘Can Go Home Again.’

There was time

Despite complaints from many of us television is the primary reason for the growth of basketball. Doesn’t matter if it’s the NBA, college or even high school, all levels have been telecast over time. This is written Saturday afternoon, I’ve switched  from the CBS Network coverage of the St. Johns-Kentucky game to NBA TV and its coverage of the G-League South Bay Lakers and Sioux Fall Skyforce. Up next on CBS is the Ohio State-North Carolina game and later it’s NBA TV again for the game between the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets. During the course of the season ESPN will schedule a number of high profile high school games and later the McDonalds All American game. I believe the college game was the driving force for the change, after all it was February 1940 when a game between Fordham and Pitt was telecast from Madison Square Garden.

Professional basketball existed but nothing like that of today, you think the G-League is minor league…so was pro ball in the 1930’s and 1940’s. In 1946 once the Basketball Association of America began play the television cameras were there. It would be October 1954 before the first national telecast of an NBA game occurred, a match between the Boston Celtics and Rochester Royals. The Game of the Century or at least that was the title given back in 1968 to the first college basketball game broadcast on a national basis. This game between the Houston Cougars with Elvin Hayes and Lew Alcindor’s UCLA Bruins was the brainchild of 32-year old Eddie Einhorn and his TVS Network. Einhorn was able to string together a number of independent and network stations to broadcast the game throughout the nation. The story of basketball and television continues to evolve this is but a brief portion of the history.

This was a surprise

A number of you reading this might remember the name Kendall Gill. He was the 5th pick in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets, he would play for a number of NBA teams over his 15-year career. Keep in mind Gill would have guarded a number of the all-time greats of the period. Asked to name the top five players of the ‘90’s who provided him the most difficulty defending I was slightly surprised. Although he acknowledged Michael Jordan’s greatness he was not at the top of Gill’s list, he placed Grant Hill in the number three position while MJ was ranked second.

The guard Gill claimed was most difficult for him to defend was Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf the former Chris Jackson. Gill says “Abdul-Rauf was like (boxer) Manny Pacquiao throwing punches you didn’t see coming, that was Abdul-Raul he was so quick you didn’t see his offense coming.” Some might remember the account written a time ago on Abdul-Rauf the LSU sharpshooter. AI Overview: “Shaquille O’Neal has consistently praised his former LSU teammate Chris Jackson (now Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf), calling him one of the best college players ever, highlighting his incredible scoring (50+ points multiple times as a freshman/sophomore), and advocating for LSU to retire his jersey, viewing Jackson as a dynamic, Steph Curry-esque guard who was essential to their dominant team.”

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Lonzo

We cannot be sure but it appears the career of Lonzo Ball might soon be over. I’m quite sure he would be willing to return at least half of his salary for health and the ability to play NBA basketball at a high skill level. Over his 9 year NBA career Ball has never played an 82 game season through stints with the Lakers, Pelicans, Bulls and now Cavs. Ball missed the 2022-2023 and 2023-24 seasons while he was a member of the Bulls. In 2017 the Lakers made Ball the number two pick, they could have chosen Jayson Tatum however that is another story in itself.

Despite his scoring being limited he was found to be capable in the assist department however the Lakers decided to make a change. Essentially Ball would be traded to the Pelicans in exchange for Anthony Davis, of course this trade would indirectly lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship. Ball is now in his first season with the Cavs however in 21 games has likely not played at the level the team would hope. What does the future hold for Lonzo Ball at this point, only he probably knows for sure. No matter what lies ahead for Ball, it's almost certain that his future will look nothing like what his 20-year-old self-imagined back in 2017.

NBA champion precursor

The Knicks are winners, they won the emirates cup championship overcoming a Spurs lead. The final score read Knicks 124 to the Spurs 113 Tuesday evening. Although he was not his teams’ high scorer point guard Jalen Brunson was named game MVP. Jordan Clarkson former Mizzou baller came off the Knick bench and provided scoring and defense in the win. As reported earlier unlike the previous coach Mike Brown utilizes his bench, 8 players registered major time on the court. What does this championship entail for the Knicks you might ask?

Not a great deal because much of the NBA season must be played out then the playoffs before a June champion is known. I hope this doesn’t appear to be negative on my part, the Knicks are true winners having survive the gauntlet of this run leading up to Tuesday evening. I am sure going forward the Knicks will attempt to use this win as a diagram for the future including a June championship. That is the portion of the story at least for now remains an unknown. As for other news from Las Vegas without laying out specifics commissioner Silver indicated the NBA will ‘seriously’ look at expansion in 2026. That is likely to witness Seattle and Las Vegas being awarded franchises at a future date.

What about them

Prior to this attempt to discuss BYU basketball I was forced to check the history being unfamiliar with a portion. The Cougars have played competitive basketball for 124 seasons, they are not The New Kids on the Block. Part of the reason so little focus might be several reasons. The first, BYU is located in the western United States and the State of Utah. BYU has reigned as conference champion 25 times, over time BYU has won 1,974 games versus 1,158 losses for a .630 percentage. For our purpose we are not going back to the early 1900’s but more recently and it begins with former coach Dave Rose. Rose teams’ won 348 games over the 14 seasons he sat in the first chair.

Next up was Mark Pope who continued the winning ways at BYU, its highly likely Pope would have remained at BYU except for a coaching change at his alma mater. John Calipari left Kentucky and the school reached out to Pope a former Kentucky basketball player to head the program. Kevin Young assumed leadership, leveraging his strong rapport with prospects to secure AJ Dybantsa, a notable athlete from the Class of 2025. He’s made an immediate impact and is set to compete for the Cougars during his freshman year only. The 6-foot 9 Dybantsa is on his way to the NBA rated the number one or two prospect on most mock draft sites. With the move of BYU into the competitive Big 12 Kevin Young must continue to recruit bringing in talent to the Provo Utah school.

Please NO with emphasis

It wasn't too long ago, the summer of 2019 to be exact. Kawhi Leonard was the hot commodity on the free agent market having indicated he would not re-sign with the Toronto Raptors. All indications that summer led the media to believe he wanted to return home to Southern California and his team of preference would be my Lakers...and then at some point Uncle Dennis brokered a deal with the Clippers and he left the Lakers at the altar, that was then this is now. Reports are circulating this week that the Lakers might be contemplating a trade to acquire Kawhi. I seriously hope the report is untrue for a variety of reasons. Kawhi is now 34-years old with a great deal of basketball mileage on his body. 

In addition to that fact he’s got a history of injuries many of those of the lengthy variety. He remains an outstanding basketball talent however it fails to aid the Clippers or the Lakers if he is always on the injured list. Few realize this fact, Kawhi Leonard is partially responsible for the term ‘load management’ becoming part of our NBA lexicon. A history of injuries plus age, in addition to that the Lakers breaking up their team for a 2-3 year run by Kawhi. That is far too scary for me to even begin to contemplate. Should a decision be made whereby Kawhi Leonard is acquired there is nothing I can do as a fan of Laker Nation, accept it or reject it. As this is written December 19 the Lakers have won 19 games, last season the win total didn’t occur until January 2. The Lakers are not light years better than last season however the thought of breaking up this team to acquire Kawhi just doesn’t make sense to me. 

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A white rookie of the year

I figured the headline would grab your attention, you would be forced to read the first few sentences of this account. I declare, the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year will be named Cooper Flagg or Kon Knueppel both former stars at Duke and both white. It’s possible someone else will come to the forefront however at the end of December these are clearly the leaders. By all accounts, the NBA is comprised of 70-75% black players so I hope you see where I’m headed. I’ve conducted the research but you have the opportunity to guess unless you have the answer in advance. 

Okay, here goes…can you name the white player who was named rookie of the year and the time? Tick…tick…tick…tick…times up, the year was 1980 and the player named NBA Rookie of the Year was Larry Bird a.k.a. Larry Legend of the Boston Celtics. Surely there must have been a white player since that time accorded the honor. In 2002 Pau Gasol was named rookie of the year, this was followed in 2019 with Luka Doncic with the honor, both are white however one is from Spain and the other from Slovenia. Where am I going with this account, straight to Austin Reaves who arrived in the NBA and proved he could play basketball at this level. He was confident enough in his ability he informed NBA teams, “don’t draft me…I will choose the team of my choice.” Reaves when on to prove he can play competitive basketball at a high skill level. I am claiming there are scores of talented white basketball players native to the United States. 

We have Reed Shephard, Grayson Allen, Payton Pritchard, Chet Holmgren and a host of other white players who have proven their mantle and competitiveness. The key is can you play at this level rather than a players skin color being paramount to his success. There are some who might question my list of players, there are certainly a few I might have omitted who should be included but here it stands. I will repeat the statement, “play the game at a high skill level, that’s really the only intangible an NBA team requires"   

Meanwhile….

College basketball has captured a portion of the spotlight for about a month, we have witnessed a number of high profile athletes in action. Despite what I just wrote the June NBA draft is on my mind and who the top choice might become number one. Three candidates stand out as the likely first pick, they are small forward AJ Dybansta at BYU, Cameron Boozer Duke power forward and Darryn Peterson combo guard at Kansas. One of the three named will likely be chosen number one, each will bring a different dynamic to the NBA. As for their ability to play at the next level there are considerations, the chief one…location…location…location. Secondary, the ability to move into the starting lineup almost immediately. On the other hand another name might come to the forefront prior to the June draft, that is always a possibility.

Victor Wembanyama has returned to the Spurs lineup, he remains on a minutes restriction. Looking at his thin frame its still difficult for me to imagine the 236 pound Wemby is at the same weight classification of Los Angeles Charger Quarterback Justin Herbert who stands 6-foot 6 inches in height and 236 pounds. Some of you might remember the name Mr. T., the actor is 5-feet 11 inches tall and is also 236 pounds. As for Wemby his weight is stretched over a 7-foot 5 inch frame, consider this brief bit of research. In an American home 80 inches (6-foot 8 inches) The most common height for interior and exterior doors, 84 inches (7 foot) Often used in homes with 9-foot ceiling for a grander look. Finally this, 96 inches (8 foot) found in luxury homes or entryways with very high ceilings. This provides us a glimpse of Wemby’s height and a reminder, a basketball rim is 10 feet above the floor.

Christmas Arrives Early for the Lakers

According to a story featured on heavy.com, Christmas came early for the Los Angeles Lakers roster and staff thanks to an extraordinary gesture by Luka Doncic. Demonstrating his commitment to the team, Doncic purchased 103 electric bikes for players and staff members, according to estimates Doncic would have spent about $304,000 for the purchase. This act not only reflects Doncic's generosity but also shows how deeply he has embraced his role on the team and his connection with both teammates and staff.

While this lavish gift was widely appreciated by all, a friend reminded me of a very serious accident in the past. This incident severely impacted the future for former Duke basketball player Jay Williams. For those unfamiliar with Williams an off season motorcycle accident ended his hope to play long term in the NBA. After his basketball career was interrupted Williams went to work for ESPN as an analyst, he covers college basketball for the network. The incident involving Williams highlights potential risks associated with riding motorized bikes, even when intended as gifts. It's a thoughtful gesture by Doncic, but hopefully it serves as a reminder to balance generosity with safety concerns.

Submitted for your analysis…the Tier

This is mine alone, it is partially based on a portion of study. I propose there are three tiers of college coaches which will be explained in this manner. Bill Self is not leaving Kansas (at least for now), I place him in the category of a Tier 1 coach, when he is replaced a Roy Williams will not be given the opportunity due to a single factor. Williams had a wealth of basketball when hired by Kansas but it was all as an assistant coach at North Carolina. The replacement for Self is likely to be a John Calipari, Tom Izzo or Rick Barnes clone. He is a coach with a high profile program who’s been doing it successfully for a number of years. Okay Larry Laker, exactly who is a Tier 2 coach by your standards?

That is a coach who while successful has established himself as a longtime winner at a mid-major school. A coach can move up, we could use Ben McCollum as the example. Success at Division II Northwest Missouri State, he moved to mid-major Drake and is now the head coach at the University of Iowa. Can he and others continue ascending, only time will tell that story. Tier 3 coaches are assistant coaches and in some instances head coaches at Division II and NAIA or community colleges. Although it might appear they are at the bottom of pool it might not hold true for their career. There are a number of head coaches who were once on the staff of a high profile head coach. Coach K. had on his staff, Tommy Amaker, Johnny Dawkins, Quin Snyder and Jeff Capel to name a few. As for Larry Brown the names are John Calipari, Bill Self, Gregg Popovich, Alvin Gentry and several others.

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What’s his difficulty

The headline is asking the question regarding the Suns Dillon Brooks, the final score read Los Angeles Lakers 116 Phoenix Suns 114. At one point the Lakers held a huge lead and saw a run by the home team evaporate, as for Brooks the final score was revealed either from the radio account or a teammate. You see, Brooks wasn’t around for the end having been assessed a second technical for chest-bumping LeBron James. Allow me to say for some of you, Brooks has had a long running feud with LeBron and a number of other players throughout the NBA.

Brooks raised concerns with game officials prior to receiving his second technical foul. Although video evidence is inconclusive, it appears that LeBron may have initiated the contact. The officials did not call a foul for this incident, as they only observed Brooks making chest-to-chest contact with LeBron. Brooks is a capable defender; however, his approach to defense has been subject to criticism among some NBA fans. If I said fight to win the game that is a “play on words.” It simply describes whatever the endeavor you are attempting ensure it is your top effort. Enough on Brooks as for the game it was a scramble at the end, the Lakers held a 20 point lead before the Suns came roaring back. With no Austin Reaves who would step up offensively, how about Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes Laker centers? Ayton scored 20 points on 10 for 11 shooting from the floor, in addition he pulled down 13 rebounds. I have been rather tough on Hayes in the past but Sunday night he came through relieving Ayton, he scored 12 points along with 9 rebounds.

Luka Doncic didn’t shoot particularly well but led the way for the Lakers with 29 points along with 6 assists, LeBron had 26 points. As for the Suns Devin Booker led the way with 27 points, Mark Williams scored 20 and Brooks in his Dennis Rodman imitation would total 18 points. Did Brooks antics affect the outcome of the game…that could be a yes or no answer on this question. Regardless this represented a good win for the Lakers for a single reason, the Suns could have…maybe they should have won however the Lakers prevailed. The Lakers may not be the better team however they were Sunday night in Phoenix.

He’s changed his tune

Unlike his co-host partner Charles Barkley it should be of note that Shaquille O’Neal appears to change his position. He was somewhat critical of Victor Wembanyama early on. I am not going to attempt to quote him but Shaq expressed concern about the lack of an inside game by the 7-foot 5 Wemby. Shaq was critical of the number of three point shots Wemby took during the course of a game. It’s been reported previously how the off season was spent including a time spent with Hakeem Olajuwon learning we assume the inside game. Once the 2024-25 season began we saw a different Wemby which was evident until he suffered the calf injury which sidelined him for 12 games.

Shaq was quoted claiming Wemby could learn more from tutoring by Olajuwon than he could from him. The Spurs being on the cautious side probably kept him on the injured list for an extended time hoping to prevent further aggravation of the calf. A stat check is required however I believe prior to being sidelined Wemby had taken fewer three point attempts over his first two seasons. It was noted at the beginning of the season Wemby was up to 236 pounds a huge increase over his rookie season 2023-24. Wemby appears to have his ‘head’ in the game and wants to improve his play, as long as he maintains this mindset the sky is the limit on his NBA potential. How do I reason he will continue this growth, I’m sure he’s read what Shaq’s said about him and rest assured he takes it to heart.

An accomplished athlete

The late Bob Gibson was profiled previously but his name continues to pop up during my research. If you are familiar with baseball you are aware this Hall of Fame pitcher spent his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals. From 1959 to 1975 he was one of the most competitive athletes in the game, he finished with exceptional numbers. 251 victories, 3,117 strikeouts, and a 2.91 earned run average over his 17-years in the major leagues. By now you are wondering why all this baseball stuff, this is a basketball blog…indeed it is and I am coming to that part. Prior to the Cardinals Gibson, played baseball and basketball at Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska. Despite the fact Gibson stood only 6-foot 1 he was an outstanding athlete in basketball as well.

How good was he at basketball, although he concluded college in 1957 his name is still listed as one of the school’s all-time greats in a sport that few realize he even played. Despite the passage of time Gibson is ranked 21st in all-time scoring in Creighton’s Basketball Hall of Fame. He also holds a place in the top five for free throws made, free throw attempts, and maintains an impressive career scoring average of 20.19 points per game. For a time he played both sports, minor league baseball for the Cardinals and basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters. Gibson would give up play with the Globetrotters believing the game he wanted was more competitive than what he saw. He was never drafted by any NBA team however there is a report indicating the Minneapolis Lakers were interested in him. Could Gibson have played professionally, there is no doubt in my mind.

Is it time to blow up this team

Has panic set in for Clipper Nation, maybe not yet but it might soon be on the horizon for many. On Monday, the Memphis Grizzlies dealt the Los Angeles Clippers a 121-103 defeat, this left the Clippers with their 20th loss of the season. Check this out, in their last 10 games they have only managed one win. You might remember a week or so ago I noted the season was still young, teams in front of the Clippers could begin losing. In addition to that the win record would increase allowing the Clippers to leap ahead in the standings over others, this would allow them to earn a playoff berth.

That was then, this is now…I am not exactly sure that scenario will play itself out. Last season loss number 20 occurred January 27, this is written December 16 for a comparison. Perhaps members of the team are distracted by all the non-basketball activity, example the recent release of Chris Paul and the controversy surrounding Kawhi Leonard. Despite the questions surrounding Leonard he is in the lineup, the poor play by his Clippers certainly cannot all be laid at his feet. What about my home boy Tyronn Lue, the coach has got to be frustrated based on the play he’s witnessed thus far. I posed the question earlier, is it too late for change? The quick answer is NO, however, someone has got to decide to lay out the future for this Clippers team, if not there could be early vacations for all.

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The game of the season (so far)

As you are aware ‘The Baby’ Spurs performed a beatdown on my Lakers in the NBA Cup quarterfinals 132-119. After the Wemby-less Spurs won the game so convincingly I said to my co-workers, “this Spurs team is for real” and must be dealt with now and into the future. The Spurs had a monumental task in front of them on Saturday evening, they would face the defending champion Thunder. Imagine this, the Thunder were browbeating every team on their schedule, they were many who voiced the comment they might eclipse the Warriors all-time won loss record with a 24-1 start. Wemby would return to the Spurs lineup after missing 12 games with a left calf strain and he was placed on a minutes restriction. The final score Spurs 111 Thunder 109, keep in mind we have a long season in front of us plus the playoffs.

This victory is certainly an outstanding win for the Spurs however I’m sure they are only celebrating the victory and not claiming superiority over the Thunder. Wemby on a minutes restriction made his presence known, 22 points including sinking his only 3-point basket. In addition ‘The Alien’ pulled down 9 rebounds and blocked 2 shots. The trio of De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassel and Stephon Castle certainly made their presence known in the game with 22, 23 and 22 points respectively, in addition the trio compiled 10 assists. There is no attempt on my part to ignore the defending champions, the Thunder played an outstanding game offensively and defensively. They came up short at the end however SGA and crew are just as dangerous today as they were on Saturday night. Don’t allow the glitch of Saturday night to lead you to conclusion this Thunder team is not as competitive or dangerous as they have been so far this season.

Meanwhile….

You’ve seen them I’m sure, I speak of the imaginary trade proposals dreamt up by members of the media. The truth of the matter, trades must ‘balance’ salary wise in order to be successful in the NBA. A team can’t simply decide “I’m gonna trade our power forward for their combo guard,” it doesn’t work like that. Based on that fact whenever I come across one I look at and think to myself, that could possibly work but it ain’t happening. There is an old idiom that says, “It must be a slow news day” which implies there is nothing stirring in the news department so why not contemplate something to write, there is someone or several someone’s sitting at their laptop dreaming up a trade that will never come to culmination.

I’m sitting and writing at the same time, Texas-UConn is on my television set and for the life of me I cannot remember who heads the program at Texas. My mind has gone blank, I had to go to quickly research my question, then I became reacquainted with Sean Miller. Miller took over the Texas program in March 2025 after Rodney Terry was fired. Miller has been a winner at several stops, Xavier on two separate occasions and more recently Arizona. In 20 seasons as a head coach Miller’s registered 487 wins versus 196 losses for a .713 winning percentage. If we check his coaching resume there is only a single losing record at Xavier and Arizona. Number 5 UConn was the eventual winner by a score of 71 to 63.

Mike Brown will not be given credit for the teams’ success. I speak of the New York Knicks who advanced in the NBA Cup Series by beating the Orlando Magic 132-120, now they move onto the semifinals. In fairness I can say Brown inherited a good team at the time he was hired. Despite being fired Tom Thibodeau is a good coach but history says he’s got one issue regarding his coaching. Like a millstone hung around his neck the fact that Thibs always has his starters on the floor for too many minutes in the majority of games. For Thibs its never about winning, the man walks, talks and sleeps basketball…it’s the other thing that’s caused him continuous coaching problems. At the conclusion of the season and into the playoffs the media and fans are unlikely to credit the coaching of Brown who is also a good coach for any success the Knicks might have.

The Missouri Valley Conference was established in the 1907-08 season, originally comprising six institutions: the Universities of Nebraska, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, and Drake. This conference has a long-standing history, with connections between schools such as Kansas and Missouri that predate their participation in the Big 6, Big 8, and eventually the Big 12 Conference. As for the present Washington University currently competes at the Division III level. Nebraska in the Big 12 and now Big 10 and Iowa State now a Big 12 school, while Drake University stands out for its exceptional longevity within the Missouri Valley Conference. Beginning with the 2025-26 season, Drake will have been a continuous member of the Missouri Valley Conference for 118 years of basketball competition. That might be a record for the longest continuous affiliation with a single conference.

Maybe I was wrong, do you remember what I wrote once upon a time? I believe it was something along these lines. “Cooper Flagg will not dominate, he will sink the needed basket, grab a crucial rebound or make a spectacular assist.” Is it possible to stand out as a key player in a different manner?  Flagg’s numbers for the last 10 games have risen exponentially, he’s shooting 51.6% from the field with 6.2 rebounds and nearly 4 assists a game. This is pure speculation on my part so consider it just that, I wonder if adjusting to NBA play along with playing point guard early affected the growth of his game. Then again consider the fact that on the 21st of December Flagg will turn 19 years old, technically he should be in the middle of his freshman year of college. This is no prediction of his future however Mavs fans might one day be saying ‘Luka who?’