A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

I believe it’s safe

The Lakers won the game and this series against the Rockets 98-78. More on that follows after this brief rant, I have been told over and over some in the media love clickbait. Those statements be they printed or voiced that force guys like me to respond. As most are aware the Lakers raced out to a 3-0 lead in this series, some (not me) were talking about the need of a broom for the sweep. Not this writer, however, I did become discouraged when the Lakers lost two games in a row, especially Game Five at home.

A member of the media prior to Game Six said this; “LeBron might be destroying his legacy” indicating the Rockets come back and win this game and then a Game Seven and the series. My first thought, what an incredibly dumb statement to make, it doesn’t matter whether you like LeBron James or not his legacy is already established regardless of the outcome of this series against the Rockets. I then thought about what others had warned me over and over again….clickbait. Once that fact was established I moved on to an account of the game. Standouts, holding the Rockets to 18% shooting from three, who does that? The 15 points Austin Reaves scored in his second game back from the injury he suffered, in addition there were other contributors to this team effort.

The 21 points and 5 for 7 shooting from three by Rui Hachimura, the 16 rebounds by Deandre Ayton and the defense of Marcus Smart which I am unable to fully detail in the box score, he took by my count three charges giving the ball back to the Lakers. I almost forgot, the legacy guy, he led the scoring with 28 points plus his defense and leadership. These elements helped propel the Lakers to the series ending win 4 games to 2. Now they must prepare themselves to face the defending NBA champion Thunder, “the mountain has become even steeper.” Can they reach the peak of the mountain?

Meanwhile….

Victor Wembanyama must look up at this guy, I believe this because Olivier Rioux stands 7-feet 9 inches and is the tallest active basketball player in the world. You might remember this Canadian youngster decided to attend Florida but after arriving later discovered there were issues which he believes require a change. He is transferring to University of California-Irvine for a couple of reasons, although he was a raw freshman his time on the court for Florida was limited. He’s reported to claim that will not occur at his planned school, in addition he indicates the system Irvine utilizes will benefit his Big Man basketball plan. Irvine a mid-major school doesn’t have the profile of The University of Florida however I will do my best to follow him at his new school.

The NBA Draft Combine is scheduled for May 10-17 at the Chicago Wintrust Arena and Marriott Marquis. 73 athletes have been invited to display their skills before a bevy of NBA scouts and front office officials. Don’t think the combine is important, consider this fact. A Missouri player was on the periphery and he managed to impress scouts to the point a month later he was drafted by an NBA team. From AI Overview: “Key aspects include anthropometric measurements (height, wingspan), athletic testing (vertical, sprint), shooting drills, and 5-on-5 scrimmages.”

Hakeem Olajuwon was the first athlete from the African continent to play in the NBA. He was extremely raw when he arrived on these shores from Nigeria but other than his budding talent there was help. I recently discovered the late Moses Malone worked with him the summer between his freshman and sophomore year. This resulted in an increase from 8 points a game to 13 and that was just his scoring average. It was said Malone worked the raw Olajuwon and aided his development in college and the NBA. 12-time NBA All-Star, twice NBA champion and in the FIBA and Naismith Hall of Fame. Talent was there all along however Malone aided in the development of Olajuwon’s game. 

He said it and they did it

It was gut-check time for the Wolves, missing for the game due to injuries and ailments were Anthony “Ant” Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson. Playing at home with the large number of sidelined players it was surprising that the Wolves prevailed 110-98 over the Nuggets. For me I can only describe this series as a gut-check win for the home team. The Nuggets find themselves at a crossroads, they are not an old team however decisions must be made regarding key members on the roster. The chief one, Joker is due for an extension, does he re-sign with the Nuggets? As for the headline I watched a post-game interview with The Joker.

He was questioned by the media about the series loss by the Nuggets, this was his response to one of the questioners. “If this was Serbia (his home country) everyone would be fired.” Well it appears management was listening, before I could publish this account of the Thursday evening game came the news. The Nuggets have fired head coach David Adelman, was the implosion by the Nuggets on the shoulders of the coach? I am not in a position to answer the question however management must have believed a change was in order. After firing Mike Malone two years ago and Adelman on Friday morning there might be more than a coaching issue for these Nuggets. A search will begin immediately for a replacement, whether that’s an assistant coach or someone outside the organization. The draft will occur June 23-24 so there is time for the search to begin for a replacement head coach. 

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Coulda, woulda, shoulda 

The headline says it all, that is the dilemma facing my Lakers, by now you are aware they missed an opportunity to close out the Rockets losing 99-93. Now they face a Game Six tonight in enemy country, Houston, Texas. Can they end this series tonight and prepare to face the Thunder….that is certainly my hope. NO, not to face the Thunder but simply advance, whatever occurs I hope if the Lakers lose its by a blow-out similar to the Knicks-Hawks. Those types of games are easier for me to take, losing close games (99-93) where you had an opportunity maybe several opportunities to win turn defeat into even more disappointment for me.

The decision

Tyran Stokes, regarded as the leading high school prospect in the Class of 2026, has announced his decision. His final options were Kansas and Kentucky, while Oregon was noted as having a limited chance to secure his commitment. Approximately one month ago, an uncommon circumstance concerning Stokes was reported. He signed a deal with Nike, it turns out the Wildcats are a Nike school while Kansas is affiliated with Adidas. Most including this writer believed he was headed to Kentucky due to his Nike agreement which evidently turned out to be a non-factor, this five-star prospect is a wing at 6-foot 7 and 230 pounds. What's especially interesting is that Stokes is from Louisville, Kentucky.

How good

There appears to be some debate regarding the ability of Victor Wembanyama, I asked the question of a friend. This friend listening to his friend who informed him: “He’s (Wemby) is too soft” and had several other negative comments. As for me, listen carefully, I’m not attempting to say Wemby has replaced MJ regarding the GOAT debate. The truth of the matter he’s played too short a time to even be considered in the same conversation with Jordan and some of the other giants of the game.

As for the statement of soft I’m unsure what that might entail, today’s NBA contains no bangers….guys who will physically assault an opposing player down low. The game is different, there are no more Shaquille O’Neal’s who will physically punish an opposing play. This persons comment remains a mystery to me, what I do know is this. Wemby finished 4th in the NBA in rebounding with 736 of them, he played in 64 games due to an assortment of injuries, that certainly doesn’t say soft to me. Wemby just might be the NBA leader in what I’d like to title hustle plays, that denotes blocked shots and rebounds. I believe this individual and others hold on to an untrue belief that Wemby’s thin frame betrays him. Wemby’s gained weight every season since his entry into the NBA. He’s now up to 235 pounds spread over his 7-foot 5 frame.

In addition they hate that he shoots so many threes, for his career Wemby’s at 34.2% for his career and the percentage is headed upward. That, despite his few years Sorry friend of a friend, if you don’t like Wemby’s game I am in no position to argue in his favor. Never in all the years I’ve played as a youth and adult plus coached elementary school age plus followed the game I’ve never seen an athlete of his height with such skills.   

Meanwhile….

In a close vote the Mavs Cooper Flagg was named 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year. Based on the mid-season accelerated play of former college teammate Kon Knueppel I thought a tie was possible. As you might have read here there have been co-rookies of the year in the past. The numbers fail to provide the basis for the 19-year old but consider this history. For the first time since the days of Michael Jordan a rookie led his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals, Knueppel would finish second in rookie scoring to Flagg. With the trade of Anthony Davis and the declining time for Kyrie Irving the Mavs are building this team around Flagg.

There is another Knueppel developing in basketball—Kon's younger brother, Kager Knueppel, is making his presence known. Although younger in age, Kager, currently is a junior at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee. He is reported to stand 6 feet 10 inches, surpassing his older brother Kon’s listed height of 6 feet 6 inches. Kager has earned a 3-star rating and has received offers from several programs across the nation, including Duke where his older brother played. While he is still competing at the high school level, Kager demonstrates the exceptional three-point shooting ability that his brother Kon is known for.

In a move I oppose (but can do nothing about) the NCAA has chosen to expand the annual men’s tournament. Next season instead of 64 teams it will contain an additional number of teams totaling 76. This change will make a serious impact in several instances. It’s my belief the NIT Tournament is on “life-support,” it’s likely to cease operations at some point in the future. It’s a shame in that the NIT is older than the NCAA tournament beginning in 1938. You remember the argument in early spring in some circles claiming Auburn should be invited to the tournament, this despite the fact that their SEC regular season record was below .500. This warning from me, don’t be shocked if there are a number of “suspect” schools invited to the tournament next spring.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Hustle points

For me the headline denotes extra effort, energy expended beyond what most would do. In Sunday’s Spurs-Blazers game Wemby had 7 blocked shots and I made a joke about him being 7-foot 9. Of course we know he’s tall but not quite that height, back to the subject of blocked shots. I was curious the number he’s registered in a single game since he began NBA play. The number is 10, he accomplished this twice so far in his brief NBA career December 21, 2024, and February 12, 2024. I refer to block shots and rebounds as hustle points for one reason alone, every athlete doesn’t possess the desire.

For me it’s simple, it states: “I’m going to block every shot and grab every rebound I can.” Of course that is impossible however there are scores of athletes who play in the NBA and other sports with the same mentality. As for the NBA all-time single game record its 17 blocks in one game, the record was set by Laker Elmore Smith in an October 28, 1973, game against the Blazers. I’ve written this previously legendary Celtic great Bill Russell certainly wasn’t the first to block a shot in an NBA game but he turned it into a fine art. I’m going to paraphrase his comment; “I can’t block every shot but I can make them hesitate when they drive the lane.”

I’m not a hater

Anytime there is an attempt on my part to cover Kansas basketball this is the response. “You’re a Missouri guy, you hate the success of Bill Self and the program.” Only a portion of that statement is correct, I’ve had issues with the coach strictly for his relationship with Missouri once they left the Big 12 for the SEC. That’s all in the past now, I don’t believe (others might disagree) I wrote about any of the roster members in a negative light. Any post regarding Darryn Peterson had nothing to do with his ability if my comments were taken negatively so be it. Now for the “meat and potatoes” of this post, many in the local media appear to believe all Bill Self has to accomplish is wave his hand over this crop of incoming players and they will automatically be steeped in Jayhawk Red & Blue.

Unfortunately it doesn’t work in that manner, I make this statement unsure if number one high school prospect Tyran Stokes chooses Kansas. Self and staff did their usual thing, went out and recruited a number of talented players from several programs. The hope is this collection will mesh and be able to play competitive basketball at least by the middle of January. I am not going to indicate Self and staff will not be able to accomplish the task, this is written more for the local and to a degree national sports media. The days of rolling a basketball onto the court at Allen Fieldhouse and other arenas is a thing of the past, as long as Self is in place this will occur. Kansas will win far more games than they lose….as for the domination factor that no longer exists. We can simply check out the past three seasons for that answer, tourney invite every season….advancement to the Elite 8 or Final Four is another matter.

They did it

Sunday night the Rockets took my Lakers to the woodshed, they accomplished this spanking the Lakers rear ends. The final score was 115-96 in favor of the other guys, LeBron James took the lead for the loss. He acknowledged his turnovers were a key factor in the Rockets win. Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun led the way to the victory for the home team, they were ably assisted by Reed Sheppard. Interesting in that from the field the Lakers actually outshot the Rockets however the final score becomes the judgement.

Deandre Ayton was the high scorer for the Lakers with 19 points and 10 rebounds, unfortunately he failed to last until the end of the game. Ayton was ejected in the third quarter after receiving a flagrant 2 foul. The basis for the ejection, he’d smacked Sengun in the face with his elbow and forearm. So what occurs in tonight’s game, the Rockets could be quite engaged having won Game Four, on the other hand the Lakers might guess they missed an opportunity to close the series. Whatever occurs my hope is a good game and not one marred by violence evident in Game Four.

How do they acquire talent

The NBA will begin the process of league expansion, there are numerous issues to be resolved over the next few years prior to the entrance of the Seattle and Las Vegas franchises. One of the chief issues is acquisition of talent, how will Seattle and Las Vegas select players for their respective teams? It’s been several years in fact 2004 the last time the NBA expanded. I had to return to past records to determine how the 2004 expansion occurred. The Charlotte Bobcats (Hornets) were added to the NBA, this time there are changes to be undertaken different than previously occurred

Despite that fact let's check out that expansion for how the Bobcats acquired their talent. Back then existing teams could "protect" 8 players from the 15 on their roster. The Bobcats were allowed to select 14 players one from each team. Unrestricted free agents could not be selected or protected. Imagine this, a team like the Thunder or Pistons with a deep roster of talent must really be careful who they might expose in an expansion draft. Keep in mind that with two teams their might be a larger amount of talent Seattle and Las Vegas could choose however my guess, each team is likely to lose at best two very good players. Again this is speculative using the 2004 NBA expansion as a model. 

 

  

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

On the other hand….

It’s great the Spurs don’t have me as an advisor for one reason alone. I thought Wemby should have not played Game Four if I’m in charge, that would be my call after he suffered a concussion in Game Two. Given medical clearance and inserted into the lineup Wemby appeared slow and unable to play at his usual level. I’m not sure what his game total was for the first half however this should be of note. The Spurs found themselves 19 points behind at a stage, Blazer shot after shot found the bottom of the basket. Those shot attempts by the Spurs including Wemby turned out to be mostly misses, with 34 seconds remaining in the second quarter it was Blazers 58 Spurs 39. 

The second half of the game would see a complete turnaround, the Spurs scored 33 points in the third quarter to the Blazers 16. It was even more severe for the Blazers in the 4th quarter as Spurs shots found the bottom of the basket while that and Blazer turnovers aided the Spurs to score 40 points in the quarter. As for that Wemby guy he didn’t shoot well from three but there was no requirement, he shot 52% from the floor. That shooting produced 27 points and he snatched down 12 rebounds and contributed 7 blocked shots plus 4 steals. His presence around the basket probably mentally blocked an untold number of attempts. The focus is Wemby however the 114-93 victory was a Spurs team effort. De Aaron Fox was the leading scorer for the Spurs with 28 points along with 7 assists, Stephon Castle contributed 16 points and 8 assists. The win gave the Spurs a 3 games to 1 lead as the teams return to San Antonio to close this out.

Generations

Consider the scenario of residing in a city for decades, reaching the age of 65 or 70, without experiencing an NBA championship within your lifetime. Alternatively, one might witness a championship as a child, perhaps at age 10 or 12, but grow to adulthood and reach the age of 64 or so without celebrating another title. Over the years your team might have been successful even earning continuous playoff berths. Your team might have played for an NBA championship but never won, ask the Pacers as an example.

The experience I just described has become common place for NBA fans of the cities listed below. It is important to note that several franchises (such as the Kings, Hawks, and Clippers) are no longer based in their original locations. Nevertheless, the duration referenced remains accurate, illustrating why fans in these cities may feel dissatisfaction due to such extended periods without a championship. It was said the old Brooklyn Dodgers would play excellent baseball but fail to win a World Series until 1955. Fans of the team adopted this motto; “wait until next year” indicating there is always hope.

Kings 74 years NBA champion-1951

Hawks 67 years NBA champion-1958

Suns 57 years- not once

Clippers 55 years-not once 

Knicks 52 years NBA champion-1973

Jazz 51 years-not once

Nets 49 years-not once

Pacers 49 years-not once

This is the proof

Keldon Johnson has been one of the keys to the success of the San Antonio Spurs this season. Although prior to being named Sixth Man of the Year most NBA fans might have been unfamiliar with his name. A brief check of his background indicates he played his college basketball at Kentucky for John Calipari. Johnson was the 29th pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft by the Spurs. The 2025-26 season would be a breakout year, although a reserve he played in all 82 games during the season averaging 23 minutes a game.

Johnson’s play along with teammates was a contributing factor in the excellent season play of the Spurs. You might find this trivia interesting, Johnson becomes the second Spur to be named Sixth Man of the Year, he joins Manu Ginóbili who won the honor in 2008. The other part of Johnson was covered previously however its repeated here. The native of Chesterfield Virginia grew up near the City of Richmond, despite that fact playing for the Spurs and living in Texas he’s become a “real” cowboy. Johnson has purchased a 22-acre ranch in the hill country where he spends the majority of his off season time. The ranch includes horses, cattle, goats, llamas, and other animals. When he's not wearing a Spurs jersey, the Sixth Man dons cowboy boots and a 10-gallon hat, embodying a true cowboy off the court.

Meanwhile….

Me as with a number of other NBA fans were certainly aware of the defense of Marcus Smart. He set a tone for playing defense while a member of the Celtics. After he left the Celtics and while playing for the Grizzlies I lost track of him. At the time the Lakers signed him I questioned it, “I wonder how much gasoline is in the tank at age 32?” He’s never been a shooter although at times he was clutch with the Celtics. In any event his play with the Lakers has been exemplary. This is certainly worth mentioning, Smart became the first Laker in the teams’ history to accomplish this feat. He scored at least 20 points and recorded five steals in back-to-back games against the Rockets. Since the Lakers founding in 1947, no other player in team history has ever accomplished this.

It is often suggested that visiting teams are at a disadvantage in certain venues, resulting in losses as soon as they step onto the court. While this assertion is not entirely accurate, there are locations where it is notably challenging for opponents to secure a victory. Without looking at numbers Cameron Indoor home of the Duke Blue Devils is one of those buildings. Although the record the last few years has not been exemplary Allen Fieldhouse where the Kansas Jayhawks play should also be included in the count. For years, the opposition hated to play in Rupp Arena, the Kentucky Wildcats court where they held court (a play on words for you). Of these arenas probably lesser known is The McCarthey Athletic Center the Gonzaga Bulldogs arena, there are others across the nation but I wanted to profile just a few for you.

It’s likely you’ve read this statement over and over from me in the past, I intend for the 99th time to refrain from commenting on click bait. You know a former player or media member will make a statement which appears outlandish to me. Before I proceed everyone is entitled to their own opinion on a subject. The stuff I hope to avoid are the comparisons, “He played in the 1950’s he couldn’t play with today’s athletes be it college or the NBA.” We have no time machines allowing Player A. to return from the 1950’s to competition today. I am giving you advance notice, should I slip again you have my permission to ignore it, thanks in advance.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Different this time

I believe but offer you no proof except the final score, the result should have been different this time. I think the first two games of the playoff series was different in this manner, the Rockets were unable to win either game. There were advantages in place on Friday evening that should have led the Rockets to victory. They had a home crowd rooting for them which is always a key. I imagine they have a physical advantage over the Lakers although once again I have no method to document my belief. In addition they have Kevin Durant although once again he didn’t play due to injury.   

The final score of Game Three, Lakers 112 Rockets 108 in OT, the home team should have won in regulation, they allowed the Lakers to tie the game at the end of regulation scoring 6 points in 25 seconds. The truth of the matter, the Lakers almost won in regulation, a LeBron 3-point shot bounced off the rim as the horn sounded. In OT, the visitors outscored the home team resulting in the victory and a 3-0 games lead. The Lakers outshot the Rockets 48% to 41%, it was a sizzling 41% from three for the Lakers. The “old-man” 41 year old LeBron James led the way in playing 45 minutes with 29 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. This was a team effort however I must point toward Marcus Smart and the sensational game he played.

Smart’s specialty defense, 5 steals and 2 blocked shots and this part, 21 points on 56% shooting from the floor with 50% of it from distance. The Rockets played with Kevin Durant sidelined but Alperen Sengun played much better contributing 33 points along with 16 rebounds and 6 assists. As for the game today I’m not going to declare a winner ahead of time, this I can say with a degree of comfort. The Lakers will win this series despite the skepticism expressed by yours truly Larry Laker a little over a week ago. Austin Reaves was on the bench but didn’t play, maybe Luka will be ready for the next round although I am not going to count on it.

They are history

This certainly is not surprising news, this past Thursday AJ Dybansta BYU forward declared for the 2026 NBA draft in June. On Saturday guard Darryn Peterson announced he was leaving Kansas for the NBA. Also announcing his intention was Cameron Boozer along with Caleb Wilson and Koa Peat along with several others listed in the lottery portion of mock draft sites. Once upon a time I held a belief “If you enroll in college you remain there unless something drastic occurs.”

Well that was then, this is now….I cannot believe there is any reason for an athlete to remain in college if they have received a solid assurance of their draft stock. Years ago prior to the refinements associated with the draft this occurred, underclassman would declare and then be overlooked at draft time. That scenario almost never occurs in the NBA of today. Despite NIL funds being available to today’s athletes the lure of the NBA continues to be the crown jewel. The order is not set in stone however I believe the draft order to be in the manner indicated. 

Sorry

As a member of Mizzou Nation, I proudly declare my unwavering support for Missouri basketball, regardless of whether they win or lose. Based on this admission you can cease reading this account and go on to the next story, on the other hand you could decide to read the detail. This is no precursor of future success on the basketball court….I’m pointing out positives I see after the screeching halt by Tiger basketball in the tournament.

The transfer portal was good for Missouri, this is not just me check out CBS Sports college basketball page. The sports media site ranked transfer portals throughout the nation and guess what, they placed Missouri number 9. For me that is a solid indication on the portal recruiting effort by Gates and staff, this includes a highly rated Kansas talent being added to the roster. As for adding high school prospects 247sports places Missouri at 13 in the nation. There are no negatives in my view however concerns do exist, allow me to cover those I see. The point guard position is the chief concern I see, Missouri failed to pick up a replacement for T.O. Barrett (now at Vanderbilt). The second half of the recently completed season saw Barrett play most of the major minutes at the point so who replaces him? There is Aaron Rowe, on the roster this past season, who saw little action. Was it the adjustment from high school to Division I basketball or something else?

Jason Crowe Jr. is a stud but should the freshman combo guard be assigned the task of running the offense? In a dire situation could incoming shooting guard Jamier Jones from Providence or holdover Annor Boateng move to the point, only time will respond to that possibility. In conclusion this is no indicator of future success, I hope its treated in that manner. Despite my statement the hope is a good season and deep, deep run in the NCAA tourney.

No Wemby, no problem

At the time the Big Fella went down in game two I believe the Spurs initially panicked. Since February having Wemby in the lineup resulted in victory after victory leading into the playoffs, they registered 62 wins in the regular season. The playoffs are a far different matter, the Spurs lost focus once Wemby suffered the injury plus the Blazers played outstanding basketball resulting in a 106-103 victory. The teams traveled to Portland, the Spurs were aware ahead of time Wemby would not be playing. Rather than remain in San Antonio Wemby accompanied his team on the road. 

Steady but effective Luke Kornet started in place of Wemby and contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds but it was the trio of Spurs guards. De’Aaron Fox (18 points), Stephon Castle (33 points) plus Dylan Harper who played a magnificent game. Harper emerging from the bench scored 27 points on a sizzling 75% shooting from the floor with 80% of it from three. 10 rebounds 3 assist and 1 blocked shot completed Harper’s outstanding numbers for the game and helped lead to the 120-108 victory and a 2-1 lead in the series. Don’t mistake the headline, I am quite sure the Spurs desire Wemby to return as soon as possible, regardless of my statement these Spurs  believe in themselves.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

 Smart, Kennard & James

If you read the headline in any other source but this blog you would suppose Smart, Kennard & James are a law firm. In a sense they were as they laid down the law to the Rockets. It was Tuesday evening as the Lakers took the lead (2-0) in this series defeating the Rockets 101-94. Pause here, if you reside in Houston or elsewhere and a fan of the Rockets I don’t hate your team. This is not written with malice, its simply an explanation as to why I believe the game turned out as it did and allowed the Lakers to take the series lead.

The truth of the matter, if you asked me last week the chances of  the Lakers winning a playoff series I would have said; "Slim and none, and Slim has left town." No Luka, no Austin but who steps up….Marcus Smart for one. Smart exhibited outstanding defense, 7 steals plus 5 assists and a rare scoring binge by him. His early scoring allowed the Lakers to begin on a high note, he finished with 25 points. His effort greatly impacted the outcome but wait there is more. Sharpshooting Luke Kennard scored 23 points on 62% shooting with 50% of it beyond the arc, but it wasn’t just his scoring, he played an all around game on the defensive side as well. Lebron James led the way with 28 points despite not having his best game shooting the rock. It was the other things, 8 rebounds and 7 assists aided the Laker effort. Those three led the way however the victory was a total team effort.

The Rockets played better in this game versus Game One however their effort was just not good enough for a win. Kevin Durant scored 23 but totaled only 3 thanks to Laker double teams. In addition, he added 9 TO’s by himself. After the Tuesday evening win over the Rockets I don't know or care to speculate on the outcome tonight or this series for that matter. This I do believe, if the Rockets win this series they must bring their A game, the Lakers will not lose easily, there I said it!

New coaches required

The Help Wanted sign has been placed outside of the Bucks headquarters, this has also occurred with the Bulls, this soon might be a similar situation for the Warriors. Returning first to the Bucks Doc Rivers has stepped down after nearly three seasons. His record with the Bucks has fallen short of what fans expected so he is now history. All indications point toward Rivers retiring from the game at age 64. As for the Bulls Billy Donovan has decided in favor of sitting down also after six seasons. We don’t know if this move is a result of the front office shakeup by Bulls management or if Donovan is simply tired of coaching or seeking new coaching opportunities. We shall see if Donovan seeks a job immediately or desires to sit down for a time, if the case is a new job it is likely to occur quickly.

As for the Bay Area the Warriors situation might be somewhat different. Steve Kerr has been at the helm of the Warriors for a number of years….some of them resulting in championship basketball wins. It is not official as this is written however Kerr has given the media strong indications he might be ready to hang up his whistle. We know this for sure there will likely be two perhaps three or more additional head coaching opportunities available. Most reading this are aware there is a reluctance by management to hire a “new” coach, they always desire a head coach with experience. Despite my last statement there are exceptions, Jason Kidd moved from player to coach with little familiarity with the position, last season the Lakers also hired a former player JJ Riddick with little coaching connection.

Hit the ground running

Several reading the headline might be unsure of the content. It simply implies someone or something begins a project/effort swiftly with no delay. That is the case for Dennis Gates and his Missouri Tigers, excluding those who ran out of eligibility and portal transfers a news release listed 10 holdovers plus newcomers. That would be an indication of addressing the areas the coach and his staff believe the Tigers were or might be deficient. Arriving from Kansas is Bryson Tiller a 6-foot 11 240 pound forward, he’s got three years eligibility remaining.

Although he’d gone a different route Gates had recruited Tiller at the time he coached Cleveland State, Tiller remembered. Also coming on board for the Tigers is Jamier Jones from Providence, he’s a 6-foot 6 forward. His former coach at Providence Kim English once played for Missouri. Arriving from Tennessee is Jaylen Carey a 6-foot 8 257 pound power forward. I’m not on the staff for Gates but it would appear the roster might be complete at this point although this is not clear yet. As I have attempted to point out to a number in Mizzou Nation are displeased with Gates and the end of season results, they certainly cannot make that statement regarding recruiting. At the close of the portal 247sports.com provided a rating on the Top 50 schools in the nation, Missouri is ranked 7.  

Another serious injury

By now you are aware Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion in Game Two in the Spurs-Blazers most recent playoff game. Other than Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves missing in action for the Lakers the Wemby injury is earth shattering for the Spurs playoff hopes. The most important issue of course he fully recovers, the news release indicated he would miss 7-10 days. The good first, Wemby missed a stretch of games during the regular season, the downside of course playoff basketball is a different matter.

The record indicates back up Luke Kornet was a starter in 25 games during Wemby’s absence during the regular season. The further good news, playoff basketball is no back to back games so the missing time might not impact the Spurs in a normal manner. Mitch Johnson will not be able to play however he could revise the team’s playbook to alleviate the missing Wemby. The loss to the Blazers in my view was more to do with the Spurs “losing their way” once the game turned in the manner it did. This is playoff basketball, despite their lack of experience the remaining Spurs must adjust to playoff basketball.  

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Surprise, surprise

By the time you read this the Lakers-Rockets will have played Game Two last night of their playoff series. I have no idea of the outcome however the game played on Saturday I do, reading this the Lakers could be up two-zip or the teams could be tied 1-1. Allow me to be honest with you I hoped but didn’t expect a win by my favorite team, no Luka no Austin. I held on to my belief the Lakers would win and they did, 107-98 but it’s how they managed to achieve the win. Could a 41-year old who’s taken a “backseat” to a degree resurrect the 31-year old or younger LeBron James?

That’s exactly what the Lakers accomplished, 61% shooting for the Lakers, as for the Rockets it was 38%. You might remember on Friday I wrote an account titled Stand up, stand out….this was aimed at but one Laker player Deandre Ayton. It is time for Ayton to shine and he did, he executed to the tune of 19 points 11 rebounds. It wasn’t him alone this was a true team effort with LeBron also scoring 19 points but dishing out 13 assists as he managed to set the tone for the game. How do you tell someone to shoot the ball more, that was the case for Luke Kennard and he did it Saturday night. Kennard led the scoring for the Lakers with 27 points and a spectacular 69% shooting from the floor with 100% of it coming from behind the three line. Veteran Marcus Smart is in his first year with the Lakers, he’s one of those guys who’s always played tough defense. He’s exhibited this type of basketball throughout his NBA career.

Although Smart is on the downside of his NBA career at age 32, nevertheless he remains a tough defender and he proved it once again in this game, by the way Smart also managed to toss in 15 points too. Kevin Durant was sidelined with a right knee contusion, would the outcome have been different if he’d played? That question cannot be answered and I am sure Durant if asked would not offer his injury as an excuse. As for this member of Laker Nation it becomes one game at a time, I have no intention to “get in front of my skis.” In closing all I can say I’m surprised at the outcome but not shocked at the outcome of Game One.

DPOY

I cannot imagine any NBA fan who is surprised with the news, Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs was named Defensive Player of the Year. Not only was The Alien named DPOY he was the first in history since its inception in 1983 to be a unanimous choice. He led the NBA for the third year in a row averaging 3.1 blocks per game, there were also 168 deflections and 66 steals plus 597 contested shots. How many times did the intimidation factor occur during the season, an uncounted number? The “fear” factor was not included, I speak of the instances opposing players would drive toward the basket but withdraw due to Wemby’s presence.

Some naysayer might state, “Sure he blocks a great deal of shots….he should because he’s 8 feet tall!” For me there are more factors working in Wemby’s favor over his height, the chief one being desire. A time ago I remember reading Bill Russell’s autobiography, this statement from him that went something like this. “I know I can’t block every shot but it’s the fear having them think I can.” Wemby places that fear factor in the forefront of opposing players minds, he accomplishes this due to desire and effort. He’s extremely tall but his will to succeed towers far above him in the height department. Congratulations Wemby, you might not win Most Valuable Player this season but if a healthy career remains in your future you will eventually win one day.

He was a Brazilian basketball legend

Brazil is the largest nation on the South American continent, it was also the home of Oscar Schmidt. Most in the U.S. at this point are likely unfamiliar with his name.  Schmidt was one of the first international players to burst on the scene to become a world-wide name. As I am writing this my research indicates his nickname was Mao Santa, he passed on April 17 at the age of 68. If we travel back in time we find the 6-foot 9 Schmidt a force on the basketball court in FIBA and Olympic basketball, an outstanding basketball player who never played in the NBA

There were factors involved in his decision that caused him to bypass play in the NBA. This from AI; “Oscar Schmidt did not play in the NBA primarily because he prioritized playing for the Brazilian national team, which was prohibited by FIBA rules at the time for NBA players.” The other issue, its pointed out he was drafted in 1984 in the 6th round by the New Jersey Nets, he felt insulted drafted so late. There is no argument, he could have played successfully in the NBA at the time. Despite this fact he was likely the inspiration for Leandro Barbosa, Tiago Splitter and others to eventually play in the NBA, this Brazilian giant was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2013.

Gone are the days

At the time sports channels first began broadcasting ESPN and its family of channels dominated the airways. Others arrived on the scene but always managed to come up short. Gone are those days, I believe from a documentary standpoint Prime Video has caught ESPN’s 30 for 30 and other programming of that type the network produces. The truth of the matter in several instances they might have exceeded The Worldwide Leader in Sports. Currently there are two documentaries you should be on your list of programs to seek out.

The first one is titled; "Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association." This four-part series includes commentary from former ABA and NBA players plus broadcasters such as Bob Costas and others, they offer insight into the league's history. I can affirm that those interested in the evolution and history of professional basketball will likely appreciate this retrospective examination of the ABA. The second is titled Jerry West: The Logo, this 2-hour look into the life of Laker great Jerry West is worth the time required to view it in its entirety. By the way I receive $0 compensation for endorsing these documentaries….I just happen to believe they are excellent productions.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Sooner rather than later

Lawrence Frank president of basketball operations for the Clippers addressed the issue of Kawhi Leonard’s future with the team, this from ESPN.com. "Our plan is to win with Kawhi," Frank said. "We obviously showed as an organization that we want to continue and we are driven to win." In my view they better get started on that winning thing, Kawhi ain't gettin’ any younger, he'll be 35 near the end of next season. If you remember the Clippers began the season with unbelievably damaging play, that cannot occur again.

The team finished the season two games over .500, on paper they are in my opinion a much better team. I know, don’t remind me….teams don’t play games on paper they play them on hardwood courts. As for the slow Clipper start this past season, in addition there is the Kawhi injury history to consider, we shouldn't expect him to be playing at age 41 in a similar manner to LeBron James. Some might consider this a criticism of Kawhi however that is not the case, with little wiggle room for adding talent Frank, Lue (if he remains) and the scouting staff must figure out a method to demonstrate improved play.

He’s only a sophomore

Dylan Betts is a 7-foot-3-inch, 230-pound high school sophomore who is currently rated as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2028. Home for Betts is Englewood, Colorado, in the Denver metropolitan area, he is now enrolled at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. As he nears the end of his sophomore year, it remains to be seen whether Betts will develop the skills necessary to excel at the next level; only time will provide that answer. Meanwhile, there are additional factors to take into considerations. 

After introducing the prospect of Betts future with a co-worker, I expressed this hope. That he would receive instruction in traditional basketball fundamentals, particularly low post play. While expectations have shifted since the eras of Russell, Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar, and Malone, there is no return to the game of the past. Players like Victor Wembanyama demonstrate exceptional versatility—including reliable three-point shooting—not all post players in the NBA share these attributes. Ultimately, Betts must first prove his abilities at the collegiate level. Nevertheless, his name is one to remember for the future.

The Face of the NBA

I’m exploring this subject again based on his recent play, the HIS in this instance is Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs. A member of the media made this statement in the past; “Wemby can’t be the face of the NBA because he’s not an American.” My first thought, what a ridiculous and arrogant statement to make however from this member of the media it wasn’t really surprising. Second, I’m asking the question once again is there a requirement for an athlete to become “The Face of the NBA?” I don’t follow soccer (football) but am familiar with the names of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Until this was written I had no idea one was from  Portugal and the other Argentina. What I do know is they are two of the most famous football players of those who follow the sport.

One or the other is the face of the sport I believe. The nationality of these individuals is not the chief consideration. It’s been mentioned on numerous occasions by me basketball is now a world game, it’s no longer the exclusive property of the United States of America. LeBron James dubbed Wemby The Alien when he first began play in the NBA. Wemby stands 7-foot 4 (or 7-foot 5) and 235 pounds with guard like skills, he’s certainly not the tallest player ever in the game however he’s exhibited the greatest skill for his height. The only player close to him in ability would be Ralph Sampson who also was the same height. Sampson possessed comparable skills, but his abilities failed to approach those of Wemby. I will close with this question, is there a requirement for a face of the NBA? If there is can anyone (besides this media person) provide a valid reason why Wemby couldn’t be that face?

Meanwhile…

The NBA admitted that game officials made a mistake during a Lakers-Nuggets matchup. Such announcements aren’t uncommon; the NFL has also acknowledged errors by its officials. But is it effective to openly admit mistakes? I make that point because in an era filled with conspiracy theories, this becomes a major concern. Looking ahead, will the NFL and NBA continue the policy of reporting to errors—and does this transparency reassure fans? Another question lingers: did the mistake affect the outcome of the game, either directly or indirectly? Fans are likely to keep asking this into the future.

We discussed this issue numerous times over the years, is it a need or talent? If you are GM of a team do you draft to fill a need or is talent more important? For the Spurs its clear the direction they chose, they drafted guard Dylan Harper who played his college basketball at Rutgers. Last season the Spurs had acquired De’Aaron Fox, in addition Stephen Castle was in the middle of his rookie season. How good was Castle, good enough to be named NBA Rookie of the Year. Clearly the Spurs had an up and coming backcourt so what occurred, the objective was talent over need because they already had two quality guards on the roster. Wednesday evening June 25 with the second pick the Spurs selected Harper despite the fact of their existing backcourt.

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

It seems different every other day

Most are aware Tyran Stokes is the one, he is the top prospect in the Class of 2026 and a 5-star prospect There are three schools on his list among them Oregon although that is not likely to be his final destination. Stokes will choose between Kentucky and Kansas, both schools are jockeying back and forth for positioning. One day Kansas is in the lead with Kentucky second and two days later the selection order is reversed.

Stokes is a one n done athlete, whether its Lexington Kentucky or Lawrence Kansas he will only occupy a dorm room for a limited amount of time. This is something to consider although I am not going to hint it’s the decider. Kansas is affiliated with Adidas while Kentucky is a Nike school. Stokes has signed an NIL agreement with Nike, does he head for Kentucky on that basis? Check this out, Michael Jordan first gained a national reputation not wearing the Nike/Air Jordan brand, MJ wore Converse the entire time he played at North Carolina. As for this matter, any day now we should hear of the Stokes’ decision, your guess is___________.

I’m on his side

This has been mentioned previously but is worth a second look. Missouri has received a solid commit from Scottie Atkinson a Class of 2027 prospect. Atkinson is a 4-star combo guard, he’s enrolled at Webster Groves High School, St. Louis. We are looking ahead at the 2026-27 season and Dennis Gates is recruiting ahead of that. That’s my case in defending the coach from the naysayers, a number in Mizzou Nation are ready to replace him.

The primary reasoning is the season ending effort, the Tigers have flamed out in the first round of the NCAA tourney twice in that space of time. If we look at the history, we uncover this fact.  Under Mike Anderson and Frank Haith there were five consecutive appearances in the tourney. The last appearance for this duo occurred in 2013, as for former coach Cuonzo Martin there were more misses than hits. His Tiger teams earned two invites during his five years at the helm prior to Gates replacing him. Those in Mizzou Nation I challenge them with this statement, who do you want leading the program? I am honest here, Missouri is not a prime destination for a coach. The school is not a blue blood program, they are unable to hire a John Calipari or Dan Hurley type. If Gates is replaced, who comes in to take the seat? I mentioned this recently Dusty May at Michigan was a relative unknown after toiling at Florida Atlantic, we are acquainted with this champion coaches name after his team beat UConn.

Friends my hope is for a winning and successful program at Missouri, in closing I’m going to mention another name. I realize the situation might have been different, at the same time this is no attempt to mention Gates in the same breath as Coach K. After his first three years on the job the Duke Blue Devils had won 38 games while losing 47, what if the AD had decided to replace him? The basketball program certainly wouldn’t be the juggernaut it was to become.

Stand up, stand out

Luka Doncic gone, Austin Reaves also missing….both suffering injuries in the same game. Of course this is the absolute worst time for the Lakers to be hit with injuries….playoff time. This will be patched together Laker lineup which will face the Rockets on Saturday, the Lakers are in deep trouble with the following exception. It is Deandre Ayton time, after going on record with the media during the season it is now up to you to prove your worth. You remember his comment during the season, “They (the Lakers) want to turn me into Clint Capela.”

This was a reference to Capela who served the Rockets successfully. He scored when called on, clogged the middle, snatched down rebounds and blocked shots. That certainly doesn’t appear to be asking too much, isn’t that the responsibility most post players are required to perform? Ayton having played for the Suns and the Blazers has more playoff experience than any other Laker other than LeBron. This is the dilemma, there is talk about replacing Ayton either with a free agent or draft pick next season. This is the time for Ayton to step up, the question is he equipped for the spotlight to shine brightly on him? Yes, it is paramount he step up and stand out if the Lakers are to win this series against the Rockets.

This is a concern

NBA commissioner Adam Silver laid out a number of proposals to address teams tanking.  As you are aware this is the practice of a few NBA teams “losing games” in order to enhance their position for the NBA draft. A strange thing occurs on the road to these teams becoming improved…it doesn’t appear to always occur. If you check the history sometimes the same teams are in the lottery every season. There remains about a week or so of the season but check out last season versus this one, the first five. 2022 NBA draft saw this order, Orlando, OKC, Houston, Sacramento and Detroit.

In 2023 it was San Antonio, Charlotte, Portland, Houston and closed with Detroit. In 2024 we saw Atlanta, Washington, Houston, San Antonio and Detroit. 2025 witnessed this order Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Charlotte and Utah, the  2026 outcome is pending as this is written however it would appear this would be the order, Indiana, Brooklyn, Washington, Sacramento, Utah. Note, the Pistons, Spurs, Rockets and Hornets who appeared more than once in the lottery over a 5 year period have moved into the ranks of winners. The key offenders would appear to be the Jazz and Kings front offices. My hope this is correct, if so is there a real tanking issue other than two franchises named? If the league must place conditions in effect there is a serious problem, what do you think?

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Late bloomer

Recently I discovered on the internet there are flowers and plants that are late bloomers. They blossom in late spring and in some instances into the summer and fall. I guess we could title Keaton Wagler a late bloomer based on his ascendency to the 2026 NBA draft. He was a relatively unknown prospect and I’m unsure why, allow this explanation. Wagler’s high school teammate was well scouted, Etan Taylor is now enrolled at Link Academy in Branson Missouri. Last season Taylor and Wagler were teammates at Shawnee Mission Northwest HS in Shawnee Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City (MO).

As you are aware by now, despite the fact he received offers from several mid-major schools Wagler decided in favor of Illinois. The 6-foot 6 inch point guards play bloomed in his freshman year aiding Illinois to play deep into the recent NCAA tournament. This past Monday it became official, Wagler through his agent announced he intended to declare for the NBA draft. Check this out, nbadraft.net places Wagler number 6 while nbadraftroom.com has Wagler at 7. Finally tankathon.com has him at 6. There is no guarantee on Wagler’s NBA potential however It would appear to be decent based on this information, to place his name in the pool for the draft makes sense.  

Oversold the product

What is the cut-off point in selling a product, depends on the situation I would suppose. Is it possible the athletic department at North Carolina might be guilty of this offense i.e., overselling. As most of you are aware Hubert Davis was terminated and they quickly moved to replace him. Rather than hire a coach with a Carolina pedigree the athletic department hired Mike Malone former coach of the NBA Nuggets. Malone has plenty of experience as an assistant at several stops in addition he was the head coach when they won the 2023 NBA championship. After the praise mentioned what about the oversell question I raised at the beginning of this exercise. An X post might be giving Malone more credit than due him.

The post detailed how Malone “developed talent” which is a little misleading, allow an explanation. He was a Cavs assistant from 2005 to 2010, LeBron James was in his third season. There is no doubt he might have influenced LeBron but developed him is a Grand Canyon stretch. I could make the same statement regarding Chris Paul, he was in year six when Malone arrived as an assistant, he spent one season with the Hornets. For Steph Curry he’d been with the Warriors four years when Malone entered the picture, he was an assistant for two years with the Warriors. Finally we arrive at Denver and his impact on The Joker, Malone was hired in early June of the same year of the arrival of Nikola Jokic. I am unsure if Malone had any input in the Nuggets drafting Jokic however I am going to say….okay. As for the other athletes named, there are questions on my part how much he was responsible for developing their NBA talent.

Meanwhile….

Doc Rivers became Bucks head coach on January 26, 2024. What most believed at the time the hiring was quite odd, the team had a winning record (30-13). This past Sunday came word Rivers would be replaced as head coach, no firing, it was reported he might move to a front office position. Here’s what is documented, the Bucks finished Rivers half season with a 17-19 record. His first full season would see the team finish with a 48 win record, the recently completed season they were 32-50. The nearly three years Rivers served as head coach saw the Bucks with 97 wins and 103 losses. One issue which cannot be fully discussed is how injuries impacted the team. Giannis Antetokounmpo NBA All Pro spent parts of this recent season on the injury list but there was more. It’s being reported there was a disconnect between the coach and the team.

Take a look at the portal transfers and make your own judgement, for the most part I’m not impressed. The scoring and rebound numbers for the vast majority appear average or even slightly below that. Are they transferring due to lack of play? Coaches leave programs and sometimes recruited athletes will follow them, is that what has occurred in some instances. Is there a desire for the athlete to be a focal point of the team something that failed to occur at the school he’s departing. Finally maybe it just wasn’t a good fit, the athlete discovered after arriving he’d made the wrong choice in choosing the school he decided to attend.  

He’s 7-foot 6 inches tall, which indicates he is loftier than Victor Wembanyama, on the other hand they could be eye-balling one another. Who is this giant, first of all there is no guarantee he plays college basketball or makes it to the NBA although that’s his dream. His name is Jongkuch Mach or JK, he’s 17-years old and although he was born in Perth his parents immigrated to Australia from South Sudan. He is playing currently at the Basketball Centere of Excellence which prepares young basketball talent for success at the next level. Mach has received inquiries from a number of American colleges, we shall see how his future plays out and if he continues to grow his game. Similar to Wemby he is rail-thin and certainly needs to gain weight. The more interesting portion of this story, he is still growing upward in height.

You are ALWAYS entitled to your own opinion regarding a subject especially as it relates to sports. Some might believe I have a problem with those in the media who do so. That’s not the issue as I see it, at work and in social settings my friends and acquaintances go round and round with sports talk. The exchange of thoughts is what I truly appreciate, I’ve often changed my position by listening to an explanation by another. At this point I draw a line in the sand, in sports broadcast media they are providing us their opinion, there is no requirement for us to agree. Some of those in sports media appear to believe “there is no basis for you to disagree with the position I’ve taken.” On the other hand there is, expressing an opinion in front of a mic fails to provide anyone more knowledge than we all have when given enough facts.     

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

It’s that time again

What’s next, the college basketball season has now concluded with last Monday’s championship game, no more college play until November 2026. With last weeks ending Off the Dribble will be lacking numbers of college basketball stories to detail. Based on that fact as occurs around this time my publication dates will be reduced once again. I’ve decided that during the remainder of spring into the summer and early fall the Saturday edition will be excluded until fall. College basketball news during this period will be reported as soon as the next available publishing date. Once again thank you for being a loyal reader.      

In defense of

This is written in advance of the NCAA Division I championship. I have no idea if Michigan won or UConn however this focus is on Dusty May Michigan coach and Dennis Gates at Missouri. It was mentioned how many in Mizzou Nation were ready to run Gates out of town based on the less than expected end of the season. I’m saying now, a second look is forthcoming from yours truly and its courtesy of May. Both coaches came from similar backgrounds, they were coaching at mid-major schools prior to their hire. For May it was Florida Atlantic and Gates it was Cleveland State but this is the key in both instances. Whenever an athletic department seeks out and hires a coach the hope is “we’ve hired the right guy.”

In both cases the coaches made it into the tournament in their first year on the job. The difference at this point I can state with conviction May has been more successful to date, does that indicate he may have been the better hire over Gates, not necessarily. The key point in both instances unless a coach fails to produce after a time he should be replaced. In this instance that is not too this point Gates, although it’s been short his Missouri teams have earned tournament invites three of the four years he’s run the program. Before closing there is one other consideration, unlike at Missouri, I have no idea the talent May might have inherited. As for Gates there was none, his first team (which earned a tournament berth) was built on the fly. The nest was empty at his arrival. And finally this, Missouri cannot hire a “John Calipari” or “Dan Hurley” type name, the school doesn’t have that credentials a North Carolina or Arizona.

He did it differently 

Some reading this might remember the name Junior Bridgeman. Bridgeman played his college basketball at Louisville, this first round NBA draft pick had a 12-year NBA career. He certainly was a steadfast player during the course of his playing time but it was post-NBA I believe he made the most noise in a sense of the word. Consider the fact we are discussing the 1970’s, player salaries were nowhere close to what they are in 2026. Bridgeman claims he never earned more than $350,000 in any one season prior to his retirement.

We read of post-retirement severely impacting several athletes income with little or no preparations. That was not Bridgeman, there was a plan it was a matter of implementing it. In the off-season he worked and learned the business model of Wendy’s fast food restaurants. After retirement he became an owner of over 450 restaurants and several other business ventures. Bridgeman would continue his business enterprises over the course of his retirement. Eventually he would become a minority owner of the Bucks purchasing 10% of the team he once played for, March 11, 2025, Bridgeman suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 71. He was one of four other American athletes who would be designated a billionaire with a net worth of $1.4 billion.  

Generational talent

When discussing generational talent in sports, we refer to athletes whose physical or mental approach fundamentally alters the game. The topic is frequently revisited; most recently, attention has centered on Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, a rookie who demonstrates above-average capabilities in all aspects of play. This raises the question: Is it possible for multiple generational talents to exist simultaneously? The answer appears to be yes; Victor Wembanyama is also regarded as a generational athlete, and both he and Flagg are currently active. Furthermore, generational athletes may be defined as individuals whose performance surpasses that of the majority of their peers.

Examining other notable figures from the present and recent past, LeBron James clearly embodies the qualities of a generational talent. While opinions may vary, many consider Kobe Bryant to fit this designation as well. Similarly, Michael Jordan exemplifies the traits typically associated with this category. Historically, Oscar Robertson, known as "The Big O," and Wilt Chamberlain have also had transformative impacts on the sport. While this list is not exhaustive and some outstanding players may not be mentioned, the focus remains on those who truly reshaped and defined the game. I can think of numerous basketball talent omitted but there was a question for me, what they brought to the NBA that changed the game.

A basketball fans outlook

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

Does the NBA have an issue as well

Prior to discussing the subject of sports television allow me to state this fact, the NFL on television swamps the NBA in television broadcast numbers, despite that fact there might be an issue. The NBA regular season is throttling down with this news related to sports broadcasting. The Department of Justice is reported to be opening an investigation regarding the NFL’s TV deal. The question is “whether the NFL has violated anti-competitive practices with its television contracts that require consumers to pay subscription costs to watch some games.” As for the NBA I mentioned this last fall, I lost a significant number of available NBA games once Turner broadcasting was outbid for the NBA television rights.

A portion of NBA games were moved to Prime and Amazon which caused a number of viewers to be unable to see games. It impacted this writer as well until it was later discovered these streaming services are part of my cable package. I’m okay (for now) however there might be others this change caused major issues. The NBA, unlike the NFL, has no antitrust issue however that fails to take into account there is a problem. How about those NBA fans who must pay a subscription fee for Prime and Amazon? Fans have been priced out of the game plus there is one additional issue. Is it fair to compare last season viewership numbers versus this season? I have no method to prove my theory but believe there were more “eyes” on Turner Sports than Prime and Amazon.

The Rookie of the Year   

There are arguments on both sides of this subject, who should be the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year? The stats indicate the Mavs' Cooper Flagg and Hornets' Kon Knueppel are nearly identical to one another. In my view its likely Flagg will be the honoree because he arrived last fall as the favorite to win. I’ve mentioned this fact previously there have been three instances in the past where the NBA had co-rookies of the year, they were 1971, 1995 & 2000 why not again in 2026?

I believe we have arrived at this point once again. In my view it would be a shame if one of the players mentioned is named rookie of the year over the other, maybe the voters see what I see. How about the upside with both teams including their chief rookie? This is written in advance of the June draft however for me it’s the Hornets to date, they might be closer to competing successfully over the Mavs. The Hornets find themselves in the play-in tournament this season while the Mavs miss the cut by roughly 10 wins.

We are aware of one name already

This is a done deal, Seattle and Las Vegas are coming into the NBA according to reports as soon as 2028. This is early and certainly not official but how about team names? One is already in place, some might not be aware of this fact. When the franchise was sold, the City of Seattle retained ownership of the name. The team would have been sued if they had attempted to become the OKC Sonics, with that said we await the revival of the new Seattle Sonics team.

As for Las Vegas that’s a different story, I attempted to use my imagination in producing a team name. Below are some of the animals native to the State of Nevada, in addition I added Gamblers because that’s automatically included with Las Vegas long associated with games of chance. A question is raised with a few names and in parentheses I’m questioning, do we need another team with a similar name? We have at least two college teams nicknamed the Coyotes and Jackrabbits. I am quite sure there are a number of names I omitted.

Coyotes

Golden Eagles (NFL Eagles)

Jackrabbits

Elk

Gamblers

Aces (I am aware that’s the nickname of the WNBA team)

Red Tail Hawks (NBA Hawks)

Peregrine Falcons (NFL Falcons)

In all honesty a team name should be connectional i.e., NFL Houston Texans or Dallas Cowboys or just unique (New Orleans Pelicans), my apologies OKC fans. You have a championship NBA team but the worst name ever awarded a franchise. After all these years I continue to maintain Thunder is one of the dumbest names ever for a sports team. I make that statement based on this fact alone, everywhere in the world it rains thunder exists I believe.

Who's leading

As the 2026 college basketball season concludes, the Top 10 rankings remain largely consistent, with little changes among the leading teams. With the exception of two the majority of teams all had winning records during the recently completed season. The team records have been updated to reflect their current standings as they enter the 2026-27 basketball season. It is notable that UCLA ranks fifth all-time in wins and losses.

It’s unusual for me if I take into consideration the impressive number of winning seasons achieved during John Wooden's tenure as head coach. Prior to reviewing this Top 10 list, I anticipated UCLA would be placed third or at least fourth in terms of total wins. At one time I thought Kentucky and Kansas were closer than 19 wins apart however I could be mistaken. By the end of next season both Notre Dame and Purdue will exceed the 2,000 win mark. It should be noted each of these schools on this list has played 100+ years of competitive basketball.  

Kentucky 2,444               

Kansas 2,425               

North Carolina 2,419     

Duke 2370                   

UCLA 2,049

Temple 2,026

Syracuse 2,022

St. John’s 2,003

Notre Dame 1,991

Purdue 1,983