A fans perspective

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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.”

A fans perspective

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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. 

A fans perspective

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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.

A fans perspective

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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.

A fans perspective

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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?’

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December 13, 1977

29 people boarded the chartered DC-3 for the University of Evansville, the team was bound for Nashville where they were scheduled to play Middle Tennessee at Murfreesboro. At 19:22 CST the plane crashed killing the head coach Bobby Watson and 14 members of the men’s basketball team along with several others who boarded the flight. An investigation uncovered the fact that the crash was due to pilot error.

Wikipedia: “The National Transportation Safety Board blamed the crash on the pilot's failure to remove gust locks on the right aileron and the rudder before takeoff, as well as an overloaded baggage compartment. The NTSB report said that the plane might have been able to stay airborne had only one of the problems existed. As it was, the extra baggage shifted the plane's center of gravity to the rear, and the locked rudder and aileron made it impossible to control the overweight aircraft. Tragedy would strike the campus two weeks later. David Furr an 18-year old freshman player was not on the flight, he’d suffered an ankle injury and had remained at school. Furr along with his brother were both killed in an automobile accident two weeks after the air crash.”  

I’ve witnessed both

Recently ESPN.com provided us ‘The Top 25 under 25,’ they ranked players based on their future potential. They rated Victor Wembanyama the number one player in the group, which is certainly no shock to anyone reading the account. I have no plan on stealing their thunder, I simply ask you to walk with me for a brief period. I believe my perspective on basketball and the NBA in general might be distinctive. One view of the game is clearly in the past while one is in the present and to a degree the future. With that said we shall proceed with the discussion. It is my belief the NBA is about to move into another ‘Golden Age’ period similar to the Magic/Bird/Jordan era. The Oklahoma City Thunder as this is written appear invincible of course much of the season remains plus the playoffs prior to a second championship.

For you NFL purest I have no argument with you…the NBA will not supplant the NFL in popularity however it will rise above its present stature. As I believe 99% of my view is pure assumption based on the ESPN.com account and my long held belief that the NBA is on a plan that continues to elevate. This is no attempt on my part to blow smoke in your face, anytime there are human beings involved in anything the possibility of problems will exist. An example might be the gambling issue being investigated along with player for pay issues involving the Clippers. Although you might have serious doubts about my next statement its true, NBA players of today are better conditioned than many in the past. In addition sports medicine has made giant strides over time, athletes in all sports have been able to return to action from injuries that once caused immediate retirement. Truth is I am a ‘glass half full’ guy rather than a ‘glass half empty.’ I repeat it again, I believe the best is yet to come for the NBA in the future.

Rui…Rui

Chances are real good you might never hear a Crypto.com crowd yell his name. His full name is Rui Hachimura and he plays power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers but that’s only part of his story. In 2019 Hachimura was made pick number 9 in the first round by the Washington Wizards. He spent his first 4.5 years with the Wizards, January 23, 2023, Hachimura was traded to the Lakers where he’s became a fixture at the power forward position. How he arrived with the Lakers is easy to explain, his arrival in the United States a different matter altogether.

Hachimura was born in Toyama Japan, a city on Japan’s main island, Honshu, his father is from Benin and his mother Japanese. Gonzaga University in Spokane Washington always active scouting international prospects offered him a basketball scholarship. What does Hachimura do…almost everything the Lakers ask of him. If its scoring he does that, if its shooting threes he does that as well, his lowest average from distance was the 29.6% he shot his first year with the team. If its rebounding the basketball the 6-foot 8 230 pound Hachimura can do that and in addition play tough hard nose defense. Coach JJ Redick loves the guy, he’s said on more than one occasion “Rui does whatever I ask of him.” Hachimura is not the type of player fans will chant his name…he just does all the right stuff to prove he’s a winner.

A look at the Eastern Conference

It’s early, only 25 or so games played as this is written, what is apparent thus far from my perspective? The Boston Celtics have been much more competitive than I would have thought when training camp began, no Jayson Tatum but the 15-9 won-loss record places them in third place. The Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks were expected to be near the top so their winning play so far is certainly no surprise. Surprises…there are plenty of those beginning with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In this instance I cannot provide the why of the “average” play of the Cavs to date I have only witnessed them in action twice. As for the poor effort of the Milwaukee Bucks has been two-fold, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been injured so that’s part of the problem. The other portion perhaps the team has not progressed at the level some of us might have believed.

After checking the past history the Chicago Bulls (9 wins 14 losses) are in the position we should have anticipated. Last season it was 39 wins and 43 losses, the year prior to that it was also 39-43. The Philadelphia Sixers are 13-10 but so far they appear to be no worst nor better than last season. Again the reminder, its early however a smooth start certainly is the hope of all teams. As an example last season the Lakers were somewhat stuck in neutral until February or so. Whether it was the Luka Doncic trade or something else a stretch run saw them finish with 50 wins. With that statement in mind all is not lost for any team, I’m going to use February as the starting point with this statement. If the performance is poor to average at that stage let’s just say they should begin vacation plans. Finally this note, this is written from the perspective of a fan, it represents an opinion and not fact.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday plus Friday through Sunday

Two teammates

CORRECTION: The headline should read two (former) teammates are the leaders. There are a number of NBA rookies who moved into the starting lineups for their respective teams, I’m sure there have been some ‘bumps’ however the move has been smooth for the most part. It’s still early in the season yet if we began to look at candidates for NBA Rookie of the Year there are several viable names to consider. It just so happens that the two leaders in the mind of most were once teammates, this past season home court for Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel was Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham North Carolina. As for this season it’s American Airlines Center for Flagg and the Spectrum Center for Knueppel. As you remember Flagg was made the first pick in the 2025 draft by the Dallas Mavericks while Knueppel was chosen 4th by the Charlotte Hornets.

Check out these numbers, Knueppel is ahead of Flagg in scoring with an 18 ppg average versus the 17.3 registered by Flagg. On the other hand Flagg is slightly ahead of his former teammate in rebounds with 6.3 rpg against the 5.5 of Knueppel. Both average 3.3 assist per game, shooting from the floor both are close 47.5% for Flagg and 45.9% for Knueppel. Two former teammates vying for 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year. As for the history this from AI Overview: “Two college teammates who were high NBA draft picks include UCLA's Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (No. 1) and Lucius Allen (No. 3) in 1969, and more recently, Rutgers' Dylan Harper (No. 2) and Ace Bailey (No. 5) in 2025, marking a historic first for Rutgers. Other notable pairs with high picks from the same college are UConn's Emeka Okafor (No. 2) & Ben Gordon (No. 3) in 2004, and Duke's Jay Williams (No. 2) & Mike Dunleavy (No. 3) in 2002.” 

Nike v Adidas

Allow me to introduce to several readers the name Tyran Stokes, he’s a 6-foot 7 230 pound small forward. Stokes is a 5-star prospect and considered by all scouting sites the number one basketball player in the Class of 2026, he attends Ranier High School in Seattle. Although he’s made no commitment to date his list has been reduced to three schools and then he added an additional one. They are Kentucky, Kansas, Oregon and Vanderbilt, should we suppose apparel might be as much of a draw as the coach or school for him? Stokes has signed an NIL contract with Nike, will that impact a future decision regarding his school of choice.

Kentucky is associated with the Nike brand while Kansas is linked to Adidas, as for the other two schools, Oregon and Vanderbilt are also Nike affiliated. I have no intention of leaving you in the dark, according to reports Stokes is leaning toward Kentucky with Kansas in second place followed by Oregon. Vanderbilt is not mentioned although as a late addition to the list of potential schools surely the Commodores must be included somewhere in the number. But wait there is more, at this point we discuss Name, Image and Likeness.

Since the introduction of NIL, it’s likely to have not been uncommon for it to influence, to varying degrees, the decision-making process regarding school selection. Keep in mind I’m not stating there is anything wrong here its just another example of a change in the sports world. On the other hand we could look at Cooper Flagg Dallas Mavericks rookie. The rookie forward signed a shoe deal with New Balance apparel in August of his freshman year, of course Duke is a Nike affiliated school. If we use Flagg as the guideline it provides us proof Stokes might not be affected one way or the other which school he ultimately decides to attend.   

The St. Louis Hawks

Several cities which once had NBA teams were profiled, St. Louis was one of those mentioned. The team was founded in 1946 and was a member of the National Basketball League until that league merged with BAA to become the National Basketball Association. The team began play as the Tri-City Blackhawks in 1946, three cities were the original home, Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa. In 1951 the team moved to Milwaukee and then became known simply as the Hawks, Milwaukee would remain home until 1955 when another move brought them to St. Louis.

The Gateway City would remain home until 1968 when the franchise was sold and the team moved to Atlanta their present home. Several NBA greats who eventually were enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame played for the St. Louis addition. Prior to the arrival of Wilkens was Bob Pettit who played his college ball at LSU, drafted in 1954 he would spend all 11 years of his NBA career a member of the Hawks. The Hawks won a single championship while in St. Louis however the team’s fate might have change accept for a decision that would haunt them for years. In the 1956 draft Bill Russell was chosen by the Hawks with the second pick. Ed Macauley had been an outstanding player for the Celtics and there was a connection, Macauley had played his college basketball at St. Louis University. If we look at the NBA of the 1950’s unlike today the majority of the leagues players were white.

Although it had been nearly 10 years since Jackie Robinson had broken the color barrier in baseball the racial climate might not have been conducive to a black man in Missouri at the time. The balance of the story is NBA history, Russell would take the lead for a good Celtics team and they won championship after championship. The Hawks won the 1958 NBA championship interrupting a continuous run of championships by the Celtics. The late Lenny Wilkens who recently passed was drafted by the Hawks in 1960 and played for the Hawks through the 1967-68 prior to being traded to the Seattle Sonics. This concludes a brief history of the Hawks while St. Louis was home base.

Is there an answer

The Missouri Tigers have 9 wins and only 2 losses as this is written on December 12. The record in my view is a slight bit tainted and allow for an explanation, I feel as strongly about the Tigers as I do the Lakers. Despite this fact I must call it as I see it, the 2 losses suffered thus far stand out over the 9 wins for this reason. One of the losses was against Big 10 Notre Dame, although the Fighting Irish had a plus record they were not a ranked team. Missouri lost a close game as a visitor 76-71, the second lost stings more than Notre Dame, it was against Kansas in the annual Border (whatever it’s called) match. This time Missouri suffered a beat down to the tune of 80-60.

In the non-con portion of a team’s schedule the debate has been this, “do you play a softer schedule with winning being the ultimate reward or is it a tough schedule more likely to be a conditioner to winning and overcoming adversity?” Perhaps the true answer might be a mix of softer and tougher scheduling is the key, allow me to explain further. Missouri will have played 12 games prior to their annual game with Top 25 Illinois and then SEC play. What if 4 or 5 of the 12 scheduled games were against Big 10, Big East or ACC competition? If we look at last week’s opponent Kansas this is a tiny portion of their non-con schedule. Kansas played Duke, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Tennessee and UConn…of the number Kansas won 3 of the 5 games. It serves no purpose in my estimation for Missouri to schedule games against Cleveland State, Prairie View and South Dakota. Before you begin stating I’m disparaging your program that is not the intent, I am simply stating UConn might provide stiffer competition than VMI.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday through Sunday

The Spurs are for real

The San Antonio Spurs were believed to be exploited however instead they became the exploiters. Prior to the game I thought “They are playing the Lakers at home plus the fact there would be no Wemby to block or alter Laker baskets. The game would be close however the home team would prevail over the young Spurs.” That was my view and not reality which later occurred, as I indicated it was Spurs 132 Lakers 119, the next question might be asked, exactly what occurred? 

The Lakers can score baskets, truth is they can do this with the best of the NBA. The Lakers have two deficiencies which the Spurs exploited to the max. 1. Average to poor defense against the three point line and 2. Little offensive production from the Laker bench. The positive, the Lakers still have one of the best won-loss records in the NBA. The negative…unless they address the two issues raised they earn a playoff berth but are quickly eliminated for championship contention. At this point I will leave the concerns I’ve expressed with the Laker front office, from where I sit little can be accomplished to address the issues raised.

Meanwhile…

If Karim Lopez is selected in the June draft, he will join the list of Mexican athletes who have played in the NBA. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound Lopez currently competes for the New Zealand Breakers in the National Basketball League. Multiple NBA mock draft sources project Lopez to be chosen in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft; according to nbadraft.net, he is projected at No. 8, while bleacherreport.com ranks him at No. 11. Check tankathon.com which lists him as the No. 12 pick, and nbadraftroom.com expects him to be selected at No. 24. What is most interesting is the growth of basketball in our neighbor to the south. From what I read the most popular sports in Mexico are in this order, soccer, boxing and baseball.

Several reading this might remember the name Emoni Bates, for him there is a question. Is his dream of an NBA career officially over? Bates was pronounced “Ready for the NBA” by a scout after being named National Gatorade Player of the Year while in high school. Play at two high schools, two colleges, drafted as the number 49 pick in the second round by the Cavs in 2023. He appeared only briefly with the Cavs and from there it was the Sixers who waived him prior to the start of the 2025-26 season. Where in the world is Emoni Bates, I am unable to find him on any NBA or G-League team?

Is a new wave of basketball stars preparing to make their mark, there are several following in the footsteps of their famous fathers. More recently it was Bronny James’ son of LeBron, waiting in the wings so to speak is Marcus Spears Jr. son of the former NFL player. Meanwhile Kiyan Anthony begins his journey at Syracuse, fans and scouts are watching closely for promising players who could help shape the NBA’s future. Freshman Anthony has settled into a reserve role although his coach has expressed the belief he is a budding talent. Playing 23 minutes a game his numbers are 11.3 pts and 44% shooting in his limited court time for the Orangemen.

Is there a next

Chris Paul lives in Los Angeles, for that reason alone the fact the Clippers ‘cut’ him just meant he was at home anyway. Despite the number of reports surrounding his departure from the team he claims in an interview all is well. The statement from those of us in the public might be why not. Paul is eligible to be traded after next week, will he attempt to resume his Hall of Fame NBA career? Paul is the only one to answer that question, besides the fact the 2025-26 season was supposed to be a farewell tour for him. I speculate on a great number of things involving the NBA and it’s players however this is not one of them. I can say this in truth it’s been a magnificent run for Paul despite the fact he never won a championship.

This is bittersweet in a sense because it’s my belief that the one true opportunity to win it all was prevented by the NBA. You remember the story I hope, in any event the New Orleans Hornets (Pelicans now) franchise was being operated by the league. Paul was traded to the Lakers and a few days later NBA commissioner David Stern voided the trade. He claimed at the time the decision was made “In the best interest of the league.” Just imagine a backcourt of Kobe Bryant at shooting guard and Chris Paul at the point, despite what Laker Nation desired the tandem never came about. Then again we could look at the development in this manner, Kobe and Paul two driven but gifted players may well have butted heads and the championship hopes and aspirations might have never come to fruition.

I didn’t realize

I would suppose if you don't win an NCAA championship, your name isn't considered among the top college coaches in the nation. That would be the case for Mark Few head man at Gonzaga, do you realize he’s been at the helm for 27 seasons? Did you also realize in that time his Bulldogs have never, ever not earned an NCAA invitation. Recently Few was honored by winning his 750th game as a coach a number few have attained, the All-Time winner is Coach K. with 1,202 wins. The only active coaches ahead of Few in descending order are Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Rick Barnes, Bill Self and Dana Altman.

I would consider the fact that places Few in some exclusive company. As usual Gonzaga has begun the season on a high note winning 9 of their first 10 games, the Bulldogs are ranked 8 in the AP Top 25 and 7 in the Coaches Poll. As for their BPI ranking they are second in the nation behind Duke. Few is only 62 years old which places him well below mandatory retirement age, if he should average only 25 wins over the next 5-6 years he will eclipse many legendary coaches of the past. A few of those names, how about Bob Huggins, Adolph Rupp, Dean Smith along with Jim Calhoun. Of course nothing is set in stone, Few might decide the daily grind of coaching at this level wears on a person’s psyche, we shall see.

A conundrum

I was prepared, the NBA family of channels now consisted of two not included at present. I was accustomed to TNT from the time the network first began broadcasting games. Their announcers plus studio crew was top notch, that would be gone beginning with the 2025-26 NBA season. The new streaming partners are Prime and Peacock neither one are included with my service at present. We are three weeks from the new year, the NBA season began almost two months ago and I am missing. Missing what you might ask, the ability (without NBA League Pass) to see all the games I desire.

Games broadcast on Prime and Peacock I’ve had to follow the progress on my iPhone, that method is okay but certainly nowhere close to seeing the action. Here I am faced with the dilemma, do I pay extra for Prime and Peacock or simply follow my established routine? One of the issues to consider…playoff basketball. Last season and in the past TNT broadcast a number of playoff games, what occurs for this season? Do I miss seeing vital playoff games due to the fact I have neither of the aforementioned streaming services?  I guess it’s a matter of paying for what you desire which makes me (and others maybe) glutinous consumers. What to do…what to do…the conundrum in front of me requiring a decision real soon.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday through Sunday

Wemby update

The Los Angeles Lakers have the San Antonio Spurs on the schedule for tonight. Missing from the Spurs lineup will be ‘The Alien’ a.k.a. Victor Wembanyama. Exactly where is he you are probably asking, he suffered a left calf strain in a game against the Golden State Warriors on November 14. Since that date, the Spurs have made no attempt to rush him back into action until he is fully ready to play. This week Wemby began practicing with his teammates however it’s highly unlikely he plays tonight against the Lakers.

Although I’m sure the Spurs would prefer to have Wemby back in the lineup there is no desire to abbreviate the calf strain again, the Spurs medical staff wants to approach his return slowly. In between time like many of you I expected play to be impacted with no Wemby in the lineup. Currently as of Monday the Spurs have 15 wins versus 7 losses, this places them in 5th place in the Western Conference. In the standings they are in front of the Wolves, Suns and Warriors as for the Southwest Conference of the NBA they are one game in front of the Houston Rockets. Despite the absence of Wemby for nearly a month “the wheels have no fallen off the wagon.”

Take a peek

Deandre Ayton has been an enigma since his arrival in the NBA. Drafted by the Suns in 2018 it was believed the 7-foot 250 pound center would lead the way to successful seasons which only partially occurred. As the top draft choice that year more was expected of Ayton, after 5 seasons they made a decision…a trade to the Blazers would change the outcome for both teams. We can debate the results of the trade however after two seasons another move transpired, Ayton would agree to a buy-out and then sign a two year contract with the Lakers. The hope with Luka Doncic the Lakers would have an effective pick and roll combo. After an initial adjustment period Ayton has adapted his game to his Laker teammates, he’s done what was expected of him.

Ayton has clogged the middle defensively, led the team in rebounds and scored when his number was called. Joining a team with LeBron James and Luka Doncic it would appear Ayton’s’ “disappeared.” That’s not exactly the case, the Lakers have no requirement for him to score baskets they have a number who can score. The truer test is to determine over the long haul if he is able to improve the Lakers interior defense. The area that is the Achilles heel for the Lakers is their 3-point defense, currently it ranges from 17th to 25th in the NBA. That is the one area requiring improvement and that is not Ayton’s responsibility. The Lakers have only played 21 games as this is written, the bulk of the season remains. If Ayton continues to play at the level he’s exhibited thus far for the Lakers I could infer the signing of Ayton be termed a success. The test of time however is the true indicator.

Someone did it again

They decided to profile NBA players “they believed were busts,” with a few of the names they failed to consider the injury factor. We have no idea if ESPN’s Jay Williams drafted second in 2002 would have become an NBA star. A devastating off season motorcycle accident brought his NBA hopes to a halt, he made an effort to return to the game to no avail. After briefly playing for the Austin Toros of the G-League he retired in 2006. The same statement could be made about Greg Oden, the top pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Blazers, a series of injuries kept Oden from performing at the skill level most believed possible. There were 4 years he didn’t play due to injuries, his NBA dream never materialized.

Is Zion Williamson in this category yet, the group of unfulfilled promise. Recently I came across a feature which I relayed to you, it claimed the Pelicans Williamson had missed 52% of his teams games…missing in action the result of injuries. We say all the time “Injuries are part of the game” which is true no matter the professional sport. It would appear there are several athletes more vulnerable to injury than others. Of course more games are played including the playoffs however LeBron James has managed a stellar career with no major injuries. Kobe Bryant drafted in 1996 playing a huge number of games didn’t suffer the Achilles injury until 2013. As I often point out there is no medical training in my background so the hypothesis is strictly an opinion on my part, there are athletes who are injury prone there is no way to get around the fact.

“I hate them”

In June 2025, the Thunder won their first NBA championship, capturing worldwide attention and earning applause from most Americans—except perhaps those in Indiana. As the saying goes, the Thunder quickly became “everyone’s favorite team,” though I suspect that wouldn’t last long. Similarly, when the Dodgers secured consecutive World Series titles, Southern Californians celebrated, but fans elsewhere were left disappointed. Many voiced their frustration, often simply because the Dodgers were successful. One fan remarked, “They buy all the players.” The NFL Patriots faced a comparable situation, with widespread negative comments about them, most of which seemed exaggerated or unsubstantiated.

A similar pattern has played out with the NFL’s Chiefs. Their Super Bowl win in 2020 ended a 50-year drought and was greeted with enthusiasm nationwide. However, as the Chiefs continued to win Super Bowls, they became increasingly unpopular outside Kansas City, largely due to their ongoing success. The Lakers have also been disliked by many across the country because of their winning tradition. Even before social media, the dominant “Showtime” Lakers of the 1970s were often resented. Going back even further, it's likely that the Bill Russell-era Celtics encountered similar animosity simply for being so frequently victorious. In the end, it seems fans outside a team’s region appreciate a team’s achievements only temporarily—eventually, fatigue sets in and they start rooting for someone new. No team stays on top forever, so eventually everyone gets their chance to laugh and point fingers at them.

Is there an NBA future

The Los Angeles Lakers signed Drew Timme to a two-way contract, prior to publication Christian Koloko was waived and Timme was placed on the roster of the Lakers. Does he have an NBA future might be the next question asked by most? We remember Timme as that fierce player from Gonzaga University, despite being selected an All American three years in a row he missed the draft. In 2023 he went undrafted and his journey began, first with the G-League Wisconsin Herd then it was the Stockton Kings and Long Island Nets before the Brooklyn Nets signed him for a short period. It was March 2025 and later in October the Nets waived the 6-foot 10 235 pound Timme after he played but 9 games for them. As I indicated other than Gonzaga I wasn’t sure of how NBA scouts viewed him. I almost always will check the negatives over the strengths of a player, the negatives will curtail any attempt at an NBA career. Below is from ChatGPT:

Athleticism/Mobility

Not very explosive; lacks high-end athleticism. @MavsDraft

In some scouting evaluations, his defensive mobility and ability to guard more athletic bigs is a concern. NBADraft.net+1

At the combine, his agility numbers weren’t elite; his lane agility and sprint times raised red flags.

Defensive Limitations

According to scouting, he tends to shy away from challenging rim-drives; he’s more comfortable staying in the paint than contesting at the rim. NBA. He may struggle guarding switch-heavy lineups or stretch bigs because of his lack of lateral quickness.

3-Point / Perimeter Shooting

He’s not a consistent outside shooter. Multiple reports note that he can’t reliably stretch the floor. @MavsDraft+1

His 3-point volume and effectiveness are limited — in college, he didn’t really expand his long-range game in a meaningful or consistent way. NCAA.com

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday through Sunday

I was worried

Sometimes I have been worried about an issue and it turns out to be incorrect. This time the worry was real especially when it smacked me in the face. Missouri would face Kansas in the annual Border War or Bragging Rights game, the final score read Kansas 80 Missouri 60. It was a classic beat down despite the fact Darryn Peterson presumed top NBA draft pick in 2026 didn’t play a large portion of the second half. The truth is he actually was the second leading scorer with 17 points. Tre White led the way for Kansas with 20 points along with 13 rebounds.

As most are aware this game represented a return for Peterson who’d missed several games nursing an injury. As for Missouri it was clear to all Mark Mitchell had little help, the 6-foot 9 Mitchell scored 21 points but he was the offense for Missouri. The height advantage I believe they held over Kansas went away quickly, there is no requirement to shoot successfully when you are scoring baskets. Missouri managed to shoot a paltry 34% shooting from the floor and 26% of it coming from three. Wanna know how really bad the game was for Missouri? They shot a pathetic 52% from the free-throw line. Do I appear to be a disgruntled fan, you better bet I am. Despite the disappointment of the loss I still believe in this team, they will win more games than they lose even in the tough SEC.

Did he wear out his welcome

This report is strictly speculation, no one signed off nor am I claiming this is inside information. The report is Chris Paul was welcomed at first to the Los Angeles Clippers but eventually he “wore out his welcome.” Reports have emerged he was critical of the Clippers front office and was also in the ears of teammates. One account indicates Paul and assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy clashed over coaching philosophy, one story claims head coach Ty Lue “hadn’t spoken to Paul in weeks.” With that issue aside Saturday night would witness the Clippers losing once again, this time it was the Minnesota Wolves.

The game was close, the final score read Wolves 109-Clippers 106, there is a unique break in the schedule. The Clippers don’t play again until Thursday December 11 when they face the Rockets. The Clippers had lost 5 games in a row prior to a win against the Hawks, they are now on a 2 game losing streak. I have been tough on the team, despite suffering a losing record (6-18) they are not as bad as their record indicates. As this is written the Clippers are only ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference standings. Improved performance and the possibility of higher-ranked teams playing below their current level could benefit the Clippers in the standings. They can't rely on the 2026 draft, as the Thunder hold those picks from the Paul George trade.

They can’t play him

Time has run out in my opinion, Bronny James is yet to prove he can play at a high skill level in the NBA. He’s demonstrated to a point that he can compete effectively in the G-League where to be honest the play is not as high. Despite my statement it’s my belief as long as LeBron remains a Laker Bronny remains on a rotation between the G-League South Bay Lakers and the parent club. Although I initially held concerns regarding Bronny’s ability I attempted to be patient, i.e., willing to wait, after all he’d played less than a half season while at Southern Cal. As mentioned previously Bronny indicated he was transferring, the next we knew he declared for the NBA draft. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers father and son made NBA history as father and son were on the floor at the same time.

I thought given playing time in the G-League and two Summer League appearances Bronny would be prepared for the 2025-26 season. He still appears to require additional work in the G-League. Bronny is not a shooter however that is not critical, it’s the ability to do the other things reasonably well. So far I’ve not discovered any portion of the game that I can say stands out for Bronny. I have no idea what the future holds however speculation leads me in several different directions. Once LeBron retires the Lakers waive Bronny and this becomes the fork in the road. Bronny will move permanently into the G-League or head for Europe where he can earn huge sums of money. All this is speculation however JJ Redick has a problem, he’s got a member of his roster he technically can’t play in crunch time except a dire emergency. It’s my belief Bronny has Nick Smith Jr., Gabe Vincent and maybe Chris Manon in front of him competing for time on the court.   

The All-Time winners

Which men’s basketball teams have the most wins of all time? The answer is straightforward—the so-called Blue Blood programs lead the list. Behind them are other teams that have consistently maintained successful basketball programs throughout more than a century of competition, dating back to the early 1900s and continuing through the 2024-25 season.

Kentucky – 2,422 wins

Kansas – 2,414 wins

North Carolina - 2,395 wins

Duke - 2,335 wins

UCLA - 2,025 wins

Temple – 2,010 wins

Syracuse – 2,007 wins

Notre Dame – 1,978 wins

St. John’s – 1,973 wins

Purdue – 1,953 wins

Indiana = 1,950 wins

The Top 10 list now excludes one of the hotbeds of basketball the State of Indiana, the University of Indiana earns a spot on our list at number 11. The Bloomington Indiana school has won 5 NCAA championships, 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987. The ongoing success of St. John’s and, more notably, Purdue may have led to Indiana dropping out of the Top 10 list of winningest NCAA basketball programs in the country. Are there any teams you find surprising in the Top 10? For me there are two, Temple and Notre Dame and I will explain. The late John Chaney coached Temple from 1982-83 to 2005-06, his teams almost always won 20 plus games every season. Mike Brey (2000-01 to 2022-23) had a number of seasons where his Fightin’ Irish won more than 20 games a fact I overlooked.

A re-visit

The subject of NBA Rookie of the Year was covered previously but worth another look. As was mentioned previously the history has witnessed that top pick has not always been anointed the best new player in the NBA. Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs was named 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year, he was not the first pick in the draft. Castle was the 4th pick in that draft, Zaccharie Risacher was actually the top pick in the 2024 draft by the Atlanta Hawks. In 2023 it was scripted correctly, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs was the first draft selection and he was also named rookie of the year. In 2021 Detroit Piston Cade Cunningham was selected number one however at award time Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors was accorded the honor as the top rookie.

Keep this in mind, that’s not to say the top pick should always be named NBA Rookie of the Year, in some instances the number one pick has not become NBA adjusted, there are times an athlete is required two sometimes three years to adjust to NBA play. In a number of instances we discover the fact that player at the top to put it bluntly is not that good. They might have excelled in the college game however the NBA is a whole other level. The most recent examples might be Ben Simmons (2018), Michael Carter-Williams (2014) and Tyreke Evans (2010). In the instance of this trio it’s not the fact they couldn’t play, they never reached the heights anticipated fairly or unfairly. To be fair in several instances there might be a case of wrong time, wrong team and wrong coach, that scenario can certainly impact an athletes adjustment and growth. That’s why my claim is always allow for time for a player to develop.

A fans perspective

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday through Sunday

No Luka, no LeBron…this time a different outcome

Friday night the final score read Celtics 126 Lakers 105, many in Laker Nation probably could have forecasted this one prior to the Celtics or Lakers taking the court. Losing a game is one thing, losing that game against your longtime rival is another story completely. As for those missing in action, we knew Luka was in Slovenia awaiting the birth of his second child and LeBron was “gimpy” and probably wouldn’t play, that did turn out to be the case. I hope this doesn’t appear an excuse on my part but it’s a slight bit difficult to win a game when 2 of your top 3 scorers are missing unable to play for a variety of reasons.

Austin Reaves, who is having a career year thus far, tried his best but he was a party of one with his 36 points and his dish of 8 assists but as you can determine from the score that it was certainly not enough to allow the Lakers a win. Guard Gabe Vincent chipped in with 18 points and Rui Hachimura hero from the previous nights’ game scored 13. I am hopeful help is on the way, Luka was reported to miss two games which is now the number. In addition to that maybe by the Lakers next game LeBron will have healed and be able to return to the lineup as well.

An introduction

Purdue has no monopoly but it seems the Indiana school is sometimes the destination for Big Men. Most recently 7-foot 4 Zach Edey who played at Purdue was made the 9th pick by the NBA Memphis Grizzlies in the 2024 draft. Recently the school received a commitment from Sinan Huan a 7-foot 225 pound center, Huan attends Georgetown Preparatory School in Rockville, Maryland near Washington D.C. This brief scouting report on him from 247Sports and Adam Finklestein, “He (Huan) has good size, coordination, soft hands, touch, mobility, and can run the floor well.

He’s not a finished product physically, but his frame is sturdy and should have no problem supporting plenty more muscle mass.” 247Sports rate Huan a 4-star prospect in the Class of 2026, two points I’d like to make, Big Men sometimes develop at a slower pace than others. Don’t expect him to arrive on campus and wow anyone as he adjusts to the college game. Second, profiles are provided on prospects in this blog. Everyone featured is not headed to the NBA, they might be in some cases but have a pedestrian career. Projections on athletes such as Huan and others is to identify what is believed to be future basketball talent so please keep that point in mind.

Laker news 

Los Angeles Laker coach JJ Redick has decided a 9-man rotation works best for his team, the rotation consists of starters Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton. Reserves who play to date are Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, Jaxson Hayes, Gabe Vincent and recently Maxi Kleber. missing from the rotation is Jarrad Vanderbilt. This we know, Vanderbilt is a lock-down defender but his offensive game is a mess. Allow me to state 44% shooting is not terrible, consider the fact Luka is bringing 47.8% when he’s on the court. Reserve players throughout time have supplied different elements for their team, some are offensive specialists while others (like Vanderbilt) have focused on defense. I should point out it is still early in the season and Vanderbilt has time to work on his offensive game.

It’s my belief the Lakers are going to need his defense once the Lakers reach crunch time in the playoffs even though Redick might not be completely comfortable with Vanderbilt’s limited offense game. I guess if a writer is paid huge sums of money one must always be in a writing mode, one that might stoke conversation. That is what I am about to do. I have read the headline (not the piece in depth) so-called proposals to lure Luka Doncic back to the Mavs. Never say never but a larger question might be why, although the Mavs were his initial NBA team what is the draw to return to Texas other than the imagination of a writer? In closing allow me to remind you LeBron James returned to the Cavs, more recently Chris Paul came back to the Clippers. There might be circumstances beyond my comprehension as to why a player would desire to return. As for Luka anything is possible although I highly doubt he is going to return to Texas in the near future. There are financial opportunities in California I imagine would exceed those in Texas.

A second black eye

Word came Los Angeles Clipper forward Kawhi Leonard was being paid for a no-work job. That’s the simple portion of the story without rehashing what had been reported earlier. Commissioner Adam Silver indicated the NBA would begin an investigation on the matter and a full report would be made at a future date. Based on the questionable actions of Kawhi Leonard and the  Clippers front office this is not a good look for the NBA or the Clippers…hence black eye number one. The second black eye occurred early Wednesday morning (2:00-3:00 a.m.) as Chris Paul announced he was being sent home to Los Angeles. Later Lawrence Frank vice president of the Clippers issued a statement of explanation for the move.

For most reading or hearing the words of Frank they sounded empty pointing to no official explanation why they decided to dump Chris Paul before January. As this is written a number of stories are circulating one claiming neither Paul nor head coach Tyronn Lue were talking. Paul’s gas tank is pointing toward empty, he certainly is not the player from even three years ago. Despite this fact his attempt to hold teammates and the coaching staff accountable appears to be the basis for his departure. Reports are Paul is cantankerous but he is also a professional and if he witnessed what he considered questionable actions he would address it. It’s clear his approach must have offended the coaching staff, front office and maybe some of his teammates. The Clippers despite a brand-new arena and another owner appear to have journeyed little from the days of former owner Donald Sterling.

The medical center twosome

Sometimes you read a stat that appears to be correct. I’m not going to bother checking the authenticity of it just repeat what I read, I’m doing that because it might be correct. It read, “Zion Williamson has missed 52% of his games since he began play in the NBA.” The New Orleans Pelicans drafted him in 2019, let’s do a self-examination. We can say the Pelicans have scheduled 492 games in that time, I will allow you to do the math on this one. Once again the question is asked, how valuable are you to your team when you have difficulty remaining in the lineup for an extended period? I am one of those fans who first saw highlights of Williamson while in high school, this was followed by seeing him in action for the Duke Blue Devils. His NBA play when healthy certainly provides us insight into his talent, at 6-foot 7 and 280+ pounds Williamson is that talent that any team desires however the injury issue.

Concluding there we remain in the southeast portion of the nation but move northward to Memphis Tennessee. As for Jae Morant I watched as many games as I could while Morant was enrolled at Murray State and was excited with his potential NBA impact. The Memphis Grizzlies made him their top pick in 2019 as well, the impact of his play was evident immediately. In 2020 he would be named NBA Rookie of the Year, since then his NBA impact has been up and down. Not only injuries but suspensions have kept him off the court for periods and some are questioning, is Morant’s NBA career on the decline? This is not a talent issue alone, in addition to the injuries there is a maturity factor to consider as well. There are no answers, unfortunately players cannot avoid injury but they can avoid suspension. Will maturity impact Morant more than injury, I don’t have that answer however it is troubling. This is for reading purposes only, there is nothing to be accomplished here except for Williamson and Morant for the balance of their NBA careers.’