SPECIAL EDITION

This is a shocking development. Earlier reports suggested the NBA had found no wrongdoing by the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard, or any connection to the defunct company Aspiration. That was what I wrote a few weeks ago, well that has changed. That account was then; this account is now. On Wednesday, word broke that the NBA was lowering the boom. The Clippers are being fined $30 million, and owner Steve Ballmer will be suspended for one year.

In addition president of business operations Gillian Zucker also receives a one-year suspension without pay, while president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank receives six months without pay. The Clippers must forfeit first-round picks in 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033. Add the picks sent to Oklahoma City to acquire Paul George and secure Kawhi Leonard, and the total climbs to 10 first-round picks. Kawhi Leonard is reportedly required to repay $700,000 in restitution for receiving improper benefits. In addition the NBA will monitor front office operations of the Clippers for the next 5 years. As for the infamous uncle/agent Dennis Robertson also did not escape the NBA’s wrath: “Dennis Robertson will be prohibited from conducting business or otherwise engaging with NBA teams and their affiliates on behalf of or with respect to any player, employee, or other league or team personnel.” His suspension will last five years. To date, Kawhi Leonard appears to be the only party admitting guilt, while owner Steve Ballmer and perhaps others may appeal their suspensions.

This is a major black eye for the NBA however one they eventually will overcome, but I believe the punishment is justified. Over the years, many have described Adam Silver as a weak commissioner. Whatever occurs regarding the appeals, Silver has shown he can act forcefully when required. Rest assured, there will remain defenders who will say they saw nothing wrong with the actions of Ballmer and company however it makes little difference in what they think or believe. The NBA operating in its best interest made a historic decision. Finally, Kawhi Leonard might be in the best shape of all, no suspension which should have occurred. 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Curiouser and curiouser

Perhaps you read the book or saw the Disney movie, the headline is from the Lewis Carroll classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or shorten to Alice in Wonderland. There really is no such word as curiouser, it’s believed Carroll wrote it to detail the bewildered state Alice found herself in. This might be the view of much of Mizzou Nation and maybe basketball fans in general, Mark Mitchell is returning to Mizzou. If you continue to read you will uncover the why Mitchell’s outlook has changed from just a few weeks ago, we must return to June 2026 to begin this investigation. Mitchell had extinguished his eligibility, he was not drafted but played for the NBA Nuggets in Summer League.

More recently Mitchell along with others were granted a 5th year of eligibility by the courts but here the issue becomes tricky. Mitchell indicated he was headed to Kentucky to play for Mark Pope and BAM, just like that he’s not. He can play, however, not for Kentucky, SEC rules indicate he didn’t submit his name in time for the transfer portal. Mitchell is ineligible to play at Kentucky but could play for Mizzou. Now the waters become murky, Mizzou’s roster is full, a player must be red-shirted in order for Mitchell to return. The question becomes on August 31, 2026, will Mitchell return to Mizzou and if so who is red-shirted? Without including the 6-foot 9 Mitchell in the count consider this fact, the team has 5 players on the roster 6-foot 10 or taller. The tallest roster member is 7-foot 5 260 pound Trent Burns, there should be few games Mizzou might be outrebounded.

Is this the current roster     

The Lakers have been quite active over the summer, in some instances players such as LeBron James, Jaxson Hayes and Marcus Smart decided to depart on their own through free agency. In other instances the Laker front office signed free agents or made trades adding talent. The Laker roster is just about finalized, the list of players with the exception of rookies appears to be somewhat complete. Among the last of the acquisitions is Zaire Williams, a 6-foot 9 inch 3-and-D wing who played this past season for the Nets.

Also added was Matisse Thybulle a defensive guard from the Blazers to a 1-year agreement as well. There are holdovers whom I believe will be traded or released before the beginning of the season. This is speculation only so I am going to omit the names I believe might be history with the Lakers. JJ Redick and the coaching staff have a monumental task in front of them, they must coach this squad of new players to the Laker play book. Expect bumps early in the season but I would anticipate by January they should be a cohesive team and all on the same page. Of the additions only Walker Kessler in the post is likely a starter, as this is written power forward remain a mystery to me as to who starts versus who sits.

The keys of course, who scores and who plays lockdown defense off the bench which is vital for a deep playoff run by these Lakers. Despite the fact several in the media appear to not be impressed with the “new look” Lakers, I am however and this is the basis. The Lakers have become a revitalized version of themselves and this was accomplished without adding aging talent. At present the oldest player on the roster are the aforementioned Matisse Thybulle who turned 29 years old in March and Kevon Looney who had birthday 30 in February. The roster is comprised of players the Lakers believe they can develop for the future, despite many of the naysayers I’m ready in September for the NBA season to begin.

Did you cry

Although it’s rare for me anymore, I listened to a discussion on sports talk radio about decisive college basketball games. The conversation surrounded games played in the NCAA tournament, after all during the regular season a team could have a heartbreaking loss on Saturday and a big time win the following Monday or Wednesday. As for the tournament it’s always been win or go home. What about the opening games, teams have played all season only to be eliminated and forced to return home after a loss. How about the big time programs upset by smaller, less well known schools?

March 20, 2010, Northern Iowa a number 9 seed beat the number 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks 69-67 in the second round. How about this one, in 2023 number 15 seed Princeton beat number 2 seed Arizona 59-55 or a year earlier 15 seed Saint Peters over number 2 Kentucky 85-79. There are probably scores of others I omitted that have occurred over time. As a Mizzou fan my Tigers have not tasted much success in the tournament, one year they had a really good team. This is unlike many of the earlier stories, both Mizzou and UCLA were well known plus UCLA was the higher seed. In 1995 the two faced each other, UCLA a number 1 and Mizzou number 8. To this day the loss in this game is too difficult for me to describe, check out the YouTube video of the closing action.

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

It’s unknown

This account is prompted by a story I saw on one of the many social media platforms. The focus was NBA career block shot leaders, at the top of the list was Hakeem Olajuwon with 3,830 blocks followed by Dikembe Mutombo and his 3,289. Missing from the list was the name of Wilton Felton Chamberlain and there is a reason why. Chamberlain one of the most prolific scorers and rebounders arrived in the NBA in the 1959-60 season.

The last season Chamberlain played was 1973-74 making a total of 14 seasons. The following season (1974-75) the NBA began tracking blocked shots, as for rebounds it was Chamberlains last season. Unofficially the league researched 112 games from later in his career, he was measured at 8.8 blocks a game. Researchers claim Chamberlain would have recorded 9,000-11,000 rebounds, of course that is a projection and is unproven. He’s become the man of myth and legend, did he score 100 points in a single game? Did Chamberlain snatch down a minimum of 9,000 rebounds? We have no method to accurately detail what the totals might have been in those 14 seasons.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Pay me or miss games

As we begin the countdown to Tuesday October 20, 2026, I am prepared this time around. For nearly 1/3 of the season I missed NBA games broadcast by Peacock and Prime, neither of those streaming services were part of my cable package. For me it was ESPN or the networks of ABC, NBC or NBA TV, I didn’t believe last season I was missing much….but I was. This was an “itch” I couldn’t scratch, it seemed early Peacock or Prime was broadcasting a game I wanted to see. This is what convinced me, Thanksgiving weekend the Lakers were on Prime, my son had the streaming service so Friday evening I watched the game while out of town.

When I returned home there was no rush on my part, sometime in January I added Prime and shortly thereafter Peacock. From roughly February through the playoffs including the NBA championship I had wall to wall NBA action which was much different in one aspect. My wife loves the NFL Chiefs, she follows the Royals but basketball has been a different matter until last season. It was during the playoffs, my wife sat down and began watching the games, she did this right through the Knicks winning the NBA championships over the Spurs. I’m not sure how this upcoming season will unfold, I don’t know if my wife retains her interest in the NBA however this I know, this time around I decided to pay rather than miss games.

School’s begun

Students are in school, that includes the student-athletes especially those who play football. Several school’s began their football on August 29 while others will began play much later, can basketball be very far behind? There are a large number of college basketball players with NBA aspirations, who are they you might ask? If we look at NBA mock draft sites round one is comprised of mostly freshman so unless you saw them play in high school you might only see them briefly in college before the NBA. 

As I’ve often stated over and over, the changing landscape has caused us to see these athletes demonstrate their skill at the high school level but we haven’t a clue about college. In addition we have the words of others to evaluate their NBA possibilities. With that said I decided to check just one site, nbadraftnet.com is my information source for this little exercise. Last season most of us were made aware headed into the season AJ Dybansta at BYU and Darryn Peterson at Kansas were considered the top two picks, early it was believed it would be Peterson and then perhaps Dybansta. The evening of the draft told a far different story with Dybansta first and Peterson second, Peterson’s freshman season was  a contributing factor we guess. We believed both would be high draft picks and that indeed turned out to be the case, with that said let’s check the names because we have no idea which NBA team picks where. At the top of the draft is the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas.

*Alijah Arenas 6-foot 6 shooting guard Southern Cal

*Jason Crowe 6-foot 4 point guard Missouri

*Jordan Smith 6-foot 2 combo guard Arkansas

*Kanon Catchings 6-foot 9 small forward Georgia

*Tyran Stokes 6-foot 8 shooting guard Kansas

*Stefan Joksimovic 6-foot 4 shooting guard Slovenia (International)

*Amari Allen 6-foot 6 combo guard Alabama

*Davis Fogle 6-foot 7 shooting guard Gonzaga

*Braylon Mullins 6-foot 5 shooting guard UConn

*Caleb Holt 6-foot 5 combo guard Arizona

Four of the 10 are sophomores while the remainder named are freshman along with a single international athlete. You might have heard the old adage “Youth will be served” which certainly applies to the NBA draft nowadays, it is rare to see a junior or senior’s name listed in the lower portion of the draft every season. I read one team in the NBA considered a prospect “old” if his 23rd or 24th birthday had occurred prior to draft night.

This is interesting

A trend I’m unsure where it began has cropped up, my question does it serve any purpose? The explanation, we read or hear a former NBA player one who usually retired in recent years. This former player without providing any evidence other than his opinion claims a 1950s or 1960s athlete couldn’t play in today’s NBA. Usually they will see film from the time period as a basis for their conclusion, they provide you the reader or listener no proof whatsoever. In 2026 sports medicine is at its best ever, players in all sports have suffered devastating injuries. That 1950s player would have been forced to retire, the 2026 player has surgery plus rehab and he returns to the court.

Jason Tatum suffered a torn right Achilles tendon during the 2025 NBA playoffs and missed most of the 2025-26 season before returning in March 2026. My favorite player Kobe Bryant suffered a left Achilles tendon rupture on April 12, 2013, he returned to the Lakers December 8, 2013. Today’s athletes are better conditioned plus they have the benefit of sports medicine non-existent in the past. That’s only part of the story of today’s athletes, as for the play itself consider this belief. I offer you no proof however Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, John Havlicek, Elgin Baylor and several others I believe could have played competitively in the 2026 NBA. This exercise is for my benefit only, recently retired NBA players will continue to express their belief the early NBA was “plumbers and carpenters” as one cynic claimed. 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

One more look

The subject of Jonathan Kuminga will be discussed once more prior to the start of the NBA season. By now you are fully aware the wing player so highly coveted by the Lakers decided in favor the Wolves, we take a closer look at the decision that saw him move from the Warriors to the Hawks and now the Wolves. Naturally at the top of the list is a question which cannot be addressed at this time, with the ball dominate LaMelo Ball and Anthony “Ant” Edwards how many touches for Kuminga?   

I cannot spend your money and I certainly won’t attempt that however I might have a question regarding your decision. If we return to Kuminga’s Warrior days this is what was reported. The Warriors offered him $75 million and a 3-year extension with a team option, he turned down the team drafting him forcing a trade to the Hawks. All this past summer word circulated in print and discussion Kuminga was entertaining offers from a number of teams including my Lakers, one by one these parties dropped to the wayside with the exception of the Wolves and Lakers. There were two offers on the table from the Lakers, a $20 million 2-year contract or a $36 million 3-year, there are no indications if either offer had stipulations which failed to meet the demands of Kuminga.

At the end Kuminga decided in favor of a $13 million 2-year contract with the Wolves which is reported to provide him the options he desired. Finally this quote from Kobe Bryant, “If I need to convince you to come here, to carry that legacy forward, then you ain’t the one to be it.” Some will question the legacy portion of the Kobe statement, other than the Celtics there is no other team in NBA history with the collection of NBA championships of the Lakers.

You imagine there’s no problem

Several of you reading this probably believe there’s no challenge ….but there is. Men’s college basketball has become quite difficult to administer. The play on the court is fine, it’s the other stuff, we have more action in one court over the other. Court rulings have led to anarchy in a number of instances, is there anyone outside the legal system able to stand up and declare “I’ll fix it!” The question, who is available to address the issues. I will say this at the beginning there is no issue with me and the college players, they are securing interests that are best for their future.

Some might remember reading Dusty May’s explanation why he left Michigan for the Dallas Mavs of the NBA. Although I’ve never read anything I believe Jay Wright left Villanova for the same reason, the ever changing landscape has made it extremely difficult to recruit and coach college basketball in this age. This is written while I’m in my Man-Cave, I can see the issues from here. I’m not naming names just wondering why there is no one apparently willing to address the issues. There is NIL to consider plus the  Transfer-Portal and a myriad of other issues that require someone, anyone to step up and say, “I’ll fix it!”

Once upon a time….

Buffalo New York serves as home for the NFL Bills, Buffalo is also home to the NHL Sabres, Buffalo once had the NBA Braves. Did you notice the fact the first two professional teams named are in the present tense while the Braves are in the past tense. The explanation is this, the Braves now call Los Angeles home i.e., the Clippers but more on that later. How an NBA team on the east coast made its way across the country to the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The Braves came into the NBA as an expansion team in 1970 and lasted in the city until 1978 when they relocated to San Diego and were renamed the Clippers. What occurred in the intervening years that caused the team to move, a series of events. Games were played at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in downtown Buffalo.

The arena had first opened its doors in October 1940 so the building was 30 years old before the first Braves jump ball. In addition play dates were shared with the NHL team along with local college basketball teams that had used the auditorium for years previously. As with most expansion teams their won-loss record was terrible finishing that first season with 22 wins and 60 losses. The history indicates that by the 1976-77 season the Braves were a modest success but despite this issue trouble was brewing. Scheduling games continued to prove problematic sharing dates with the NHL Sabres and college basketball Griffins. Without going into detail a great number of issues finally forced the sale of the team and the eventual move to San Diego. Much later former owner Donald Sterling decided on his own to move the team to Los Angeles without NBA permission.

Changing landscape

Several reading this account might be familiar with the name Xaivian Lee, he’s a Canadian-American basketball player. Lee played at Princeton and Florida before landing at Gonzaga, yet went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft. In June 2026, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cavaliers and played for Cleveland in Summer League. Despite that brief step into professional basketball, Lee is now back at Gonzaga and expected to suit up for the Bulldogs this fall and winter.

How did this unusual situation happen? In 2026, it seems as if the rulebook has been tossed out the window. “In August 2026, Lee was granted a temporary restraining order against the NCAA and, as a result, received a fifth season of eligibility after filing a lawsuit in California. He entered the NCAA transfer portal. That same month, he transferred to Gonzaga for his fifth season.” So once again, we have an amateur athlete who briefly played professionally yet is returning to amateur status. I can understand the student-athlete, Lee and others are only attempting to improve their prospects be it another school or a professional start.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The sun no longer shines

Tragedy has struck in Los Angeles, the sun no longer shines and you remember this, “Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria.” The latter portion was the line uttered by Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray) in the 1984 movie classic Ghostbusters. Of course the disaster is not quite on that scale, however, the fact Jonathan Kuminga is signing with the Wolves after appearing to want the Lakers is a bit disappointing. I’m not going to deal with the money only the fact it’s a two year signing versus three the Lakers offered. For me attempting to sign Kuminga was different in a manner of speaking, I claim no scouting expertise but confusion reigned supreme for me.

With limited opportunities to see Kuminga in action is he really that good? Beginning in late October all will soon have an answer including me. If this appears to be negative commentary that is not the case, I remain unsure about his potential. Now that the issue has been resolved what do the Lakers do going forward? Rui Hachimura has moved to the Intuit Dome, apparently the Lakers believe he didn’t fully address the needs they required. The power forward position is wide open now, possibly too late to seek help on the open market. The Lakers currently have 5 candidates who play the position, the most athletic of the group is second year man Adou Thiero and Arthur Kaluma off his Summer League play. There is definitely a “Help Wanted” sign placed at the position and we shall see what occurs once the season begins.  

What’s a mid-major

Many in the media continue to apply the term “major” vs “mid-major” in college basketball discussions, I’ve long believed it’s not factual. If for example your favorite team plays in the Big 10, SEC, Big 12 or ACC the media considers them a major team. On the other hand if you attend Akron (Mid-America) or Hawaii (Mountain West) your school is considered a mid-major. Last season Michigan (major) won the NCAA men’s championship, 2024 and 2023 witnessed UConn winning it all. I’m unsure where UConn fits in this conversation having won two NCAA championships in a row and three overall. 2016 and 2018 Villanova coached by Jay Wright won, is Villanova considered a major or mid-major?

You’ve heard the old adage, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and that is the case here. I didn’t bother checking the opposition however I am willing to bet large sums of money these so-called mid-majors beat teams considered majors. I have long had issues with the practice by some using mid versus mid-major. I could concede one particular conference could be stronger than another but not always the teams. If we care to we could travel further back in time, it was December 23, 1982, it was a championship for the winner. Chaminade competed at the NAIA level when they upset the University of Virginia in the Maui Invitational Tournament that year. The basketball is rolled onto the court in the 6,000 seat mid-major arena and the 22,000 Dean Dome in the same manner.

The NBA on television

I cannot speak for the world, the NBA is available on television however I’m unsure how its delivered. Here in the U.S. it’s a different story, this was covered to a degree prior to the start of the season. Talking to some friends regarding the NBA their chief complaint was the television package. This past season with a new family of channels in place the NBA was on a number of outlets. ABC/ESPN continued however TNT was no longer a partner replaced by NBC along with Peacock and Prime. The argument I heard from my friends, “The NBA makes you pay to see games.” The statement is only partially correct, the NBA available on broadcast television ventured into cable in the early days.

USA Network, WGN (Bulls), TBS and later TNT, a cable package was required for the networks listed previously. A check of the other professional sports (excepting MSL and NHL) are as follows. The NFL is broadcast on over the air networks CBS, NBC and ABC. Football is available on the NFL Network, ESPN and now Prime broadcast Thursday Night Football and Peacock. As for baseball, there is the MLB Network, ESPN, Local free baseball however some baseball teams have exclusive packages (Royals baseball network as an example). If I were in charge every sport would be broadcast free but that’s no longer the manner of operation in today’s world. I’m unsure who led the way to the “new broadcast standard” however the NBA has either led or followed the leader.

Could they follow suit

On Wednesday, August 26 the NFL announced the annual Pro Bowl would no longer be played. I certainly claim no expertise here but it’s my understanding an increasing number of NFL players declined to play in the game. A local radio host indicated one year a third string quarterback earned an invitation. The NFL further indicated players would be selected all pro they just would not play the game. Will the NBA at some point follow the lead of the NFL at some future date perhaps? I don’t have that answer however this acknowledged NBA fan has grown tired of what is exhibited on my television set at All-Star time.

The Saturday afternoon and evening action is far more television ready for me over the game itself. There are a couple of problems I see, one year there was no separation. We saw eastern all-stars on the same team as western conference all-stars. That’s one issue, the other for me….little if any team defense played by the West or East teams. If this were cancelled I would miss the Slam-Dunk, 3-point shoot out and other Saturday events, the game not so much. I’m a party of one, perhaps you remained glued into the NBA All-Star game no matter the format. A co-worker claimed the NBA All-Star game remains a money maker so that certainly is key to it being continued.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Mistake

I read a story on a social media site so I decided to explore the 2017 NBA draft. Lonzo Ball’s NBA career is likely over but this is not the question I’m posing, with the 2nd pick the Lakers chose Ball but could they have selected someone else? I know this is revisionist history on my part but bear with me. I’ve mentioned the Ball pick, right behind him at 3 the Celtics chose Jayson Tatum (NBA Champion). Between the Tatum pick a number of players were selected who in my view had average to subpar careers. At 13 we saw the Jazz select Donovan Mitchell (NBA All-Star), the following pick was Bam Adebayo who’s been invaluable to the Heat.

March 10, 2026, Adebayo scored 83 points for the Heat in a game against the Wizards. Last season Adebayo supplanted Kobe Bryant with the second highest single game scoring accomplishment. With the 23rd pick by the Raptors they chose OG Anunoby, on December 30, 2023, the Raptors traded Anunoby to the Knicks. If we fast forward to the 2026 NBA Championship the Knicks don’t win without the invaluable contributions of Anunoby scoring and defense. There are some who contend the Finals MVP could have been Anunoby and practically no one would disagree. Some of you reading this might assert I’m being unfair to Ball, they claim his play at UCLA was the basis for him being made the 2nd pick. Injury aside I believe the Lakers could have gone a different route in the 2017 NBA draft, think about it.

They have vast resources

I’m unsure about you so I will only speak for me. I’ve grown tired of billionaire NBA owners in some instances holding a city and fans hostage. This especially is true when I come across a list of NBA billionaire owners and this was only the top 10. At the top is Steve Ballmer Clippers owner and at number 10 is Tony Ressler. There is no reason to feel sorry for Ressler, the guy is worth huge sums of money and that’s where the issue for me begins. I am relaying information as I believe it exists, research additionally if you have questions. The first location for us to check is San Antonio and their rush to the top.

The Spurs with the Wemby factor at work are wanting to build a new arena. I discovered Michael Dell owner of Dell Computers and a bunch of other stuff is a minority stock holder in the Spurs. San Antonio’s mayor asked the question, “Why can’t Mr. Dell provide additional funds for the arena project from the Spurs side?” Recently I brought to your attention the dilemma in Portland, new Blazers owner Tom Dundon is pressuring the City of Portland for repair costs to the Moda Center. There certainly is additional detail to both stories but I hope you understand where I’m headed, billionaire owners want taxpayers to underwrite construction or repair costs to arenas for teams they own exclusively. Maybe I have this entire thing wrong, I certainly believe there is another side, please help me understand.

Houston, we've had a problem here

The headline is actually the correct quote from astronaut Jim Lovell in the Apollo 13 lunar mission. The 1995 movie provided us a misquote but that’s not the problem---we do have a problem and it’s reference is college basketball not lunar missions. We have been slowly drifting toward anarchy for a number of years regarding the collegiate game. The latest revelation was the legal judgement that allowed a small number of athletes an additional year of eligibility.

In addition we’ve witnessed two collegiate athletes who played professional basketball be placed on college basketball rosters for a time with one even suiting up and playing in a game. We then have the NIL issue and the question becomes who owes what? Darryn Peterson now in the NBA had an unspectacular season at Kansas despite being the potential number one NBA draft pick pre-season. We know now despite what occurred at Kansas Peterson was made the number two pick in the 2026 NBA draft. What’s the problem you ask, I’ve read and heard a number of complaints about the amount of NIL money Peterson received. Several in Jayhawk Nation pointed out “We didn’t receive the return expected. The transfer portal is also an issue for some, they say, “There’s no loyalty anymore!” That might be true, allow me to cite an example, Dusty May won a national championship then recruited kids for the Michigan program.

As soon as the Dallas Mavs approached him and provided a $$$ number he could agree to he’s history and I could ask the question what about the athletes May recruited? The NCAA appears to be unable to provide any leadership on a number of these issue due to their hands being dirty over aspects that forced several of these issues to the forefront. If this appears to be a doom and gloom report that is not what its intended to be, my desire was to point out quite a few issues concerning the college game which are a troubling to me.

What you are about to read

I offer you no proof whatsoever, these are a collection of my thoughts regarding the Clippers, and the Steve Ballmer-Kawhi Leonard farce. As reported earlier the NBA announced they were unable to uncover conclusive evidence there were improprieties between the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard the defunct company Aspirations. There would be no punishment for the Clippers and the Kawhi trade to the Raptors can be completed, what if there is more? Steve Ballmer is the richest owner in the NBA and sometimes an effort to win can be overwhelming especially to the Ballmer’s of the world.

If Ballmer had been found guilty short of forcing him to sell the team he would have been suspended. Suspension and a monetary fine would be in my opinion an embarrassment for the NBA, this would certainly be news the league wouldn’t desire. Kawhi Leonard when healthy continues to be one of the best players in the NBA, Kawhi Leonard suspended provides no eyes on the Raptors or the NBA. With both parties found not guilty the NBA can continue operating unabated. A cloud of suspension will hang over the Clippers and to a degree Kawhi Leonard, soon it will be seen in everyone’s rear view mirror as other NBA news becomes more viable.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Research is vital

I have always strived to ensure information contained in Off the Dribble is accurate as possible. This account you are reading is 100% accurate and correct. That is the title of the account, research is vital before providing information. I am laying the groundwork for a social network feed I came across. The host tested his partner in naming “The original 8 teams of the NBA.” Well fans there are several issues picky me found in watching the video which I am about to correct. In 1946 technically speaking there was no NBA as he stated, he was actually referring to the Basketball Association of America and even with that his video was incorrect.

The BAA began play with 11 teams, not 8 as this host indicated to the viewers. In addition, the host identified the Minneapolis Lakers as one of the “original 8,” which was another mistake, and then placed the team in Minnesota. In 1946, the Detroit Gems began play in the National Basketball League. The following year, the franchise moved to Minneapolis and became the Lakers. On August 3, 1949, the National Basketball League merged with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association we recognize today. The social network site may reach more readers than Off the Dribble, but those who read this blog will at least come away with the correct history. If you read a story and it appears questionable research it, doesn’t matter who wrote it….even me!

The Dampier’s

If you are a certain age you might remember the name Erick Dampier. He was drafted by the Pacers in the first round in 1996, over his 16-year career in addition to time with the Pacers he played for four other teams. The 6-foot 11 Dampier has two sons who took up the sport of their NBA father. The eldest son Erick Dampier Jr. enters his junior year this month at Madison-Ridgeland Academy located in Madison Mississippi. Junior is a 6-foot 10 230 pound center, most scouting sites rate Jr. a 5-star prospect.

Although he is entering his junior year of high school as this is written there are 5 schools with offers, Mississippi State (his father’s alma mater), Purdue, Kentucky, Florida State and Alabama. But wait there is more to the story of the Dampier family. Our focus is 10-year old Derrick Dampier, he’s also taken up the sport of his father and older sibling. Derrick has quite a bit of growth both with his game and his body, although still very young he stands nearly 6-feet in height. We’ll track the basketball progress of both Dampier brothers over the next several years.

The End

I borrowed the title from a 1967 classic by The Doors, a rock band of the era. It was written as a breakup tune by lead singer Jim Morrison about his girlfriend. We are at the point of another breakup or The End, this time it involves basketball. This upcoming basketball season will see the final edition of the Kansas-Missouri Border War (we don’t like to use war to describe it). I’ve written of the history on several occasions but a brief return, the two schools have played over 100 years of basketball. All that changed once Mizzou moved to the SEC while Kansas remained in the Big 12.

I’m not going to point fingers however after years of non-play between the two schools a 6-year contract was signed. The two schools would play one another during the non-con portion of their schedule alternating home courts. It will be T-Mobile in Kansas City and we are almost there. Sunday December 6, 2027, the schools will face each other for the last time, the series will have ended and there is no indication it will be renewed. It’s being reported Mizzou’s Dennis Gates want’s the series to continue however Bill Self Kansas head man appears less enthusiastic about extending the series. Gates has limited ability to continue on the other hand the same cannot be said for Self. As for my view I am really neutral, if the series is renewed I’m okay, if not I remain okay.

Meanwhile….

I must applaud former NBA player Patrick Beverly, he went undrafted yet managed to parlay his limited skill into a 12-year NBA career with several teams. The other portion of him I must just shake my head, it would appear Beverly has commentary on practically anything and everything related to the NBA. I’m unsure how it occurs, it seems either members of the media are seeking him out or vice-versa. On the surface one could state he’s voicing his opinion on a particular matter, that’s okay in a sense. Four days a week you read this blog where I’m offering you my view of a subject, 99% of the time I have no first-hand knowledge either. The difference of course he’s got “street cred” because he played, I didn’t.

The court ruled in favor of former Mizzou Tiger Mark Mitchell, this is the conundrum that’s become of college basketball today. Originally Mitchell and others were reported to have secured a 5th year of eligibility which is where the issue first cropped up. Mizzou had no room on its roster, with high school and transfer members plus returners no room on the roster existed without movement. One present member must be redshirted, which is certainly unfair to someone assuming they would receive a degree of play. Mitchell moved on to Kentucky although with the ruling he will be a Kentucky Wildcat this fall and winter. I hope you understand this rant is not aimed at Mitchell, the problem is much larger than him and others. Someone smarter than me can lead college basketball out of this malaise it’s become in recent years.  

Based mostly on an NBA championship (2025) and other factors OKC moved quickly to replace Paycom Center with the yet to be constructed Continental Coliseum. The project is moving along without any impediments or turmoil, as for other portions of the nation that sentiment is not the same. In San Antonio, the Spurs improved play also witnessed a desire for a Frost Bank Center replacement along with additional urban development. This project has not moved as swiftly as that of OKC due to some pushback. This past Monday the city council voted to reject a proposal for a public vote on city funds to subsidize the arena, stay tuned for additional developments on this story.

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

New team with an old name

The Monarchs name has deep roots in Kansas City. The original team was a charter member of the Negro Leagues, beginning play in 1920 and lasting until 1948. Jackie Robinson briefly played for the Monarchs before breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier. His arrival helped open MLB rosters to Black players, which also contributed to the decline of the original Monarchs. In 2021, the minor league Kansas City T-Bones team adopted the famous Monarchs name.

You might be wondering what two baseball teams have to do with basketball, glad you asked. The newest Kansas City Monarchs is a basketball prep school focused on developing elite talent. According to its website, “Monarch Academy partners with TPH Academy to deliver a blended academic program designed around the student-athlete schedule. Monarch Academy will compete in the Nike EYBL Scholastic League.” Because the team will play a national schedule, there is a good chance they will appear somewhere near you in 2026-27.

It’s Blue

If you say Kentucky generally two thoughts come to mind for most, the annual Kentucky Derby horse race and Kentucky’s  love affair with basketball. Basketball is as Blue in Kentucky as it is in the nickname, The Blue Grass State. How did it all begin, can you say James A. Naismith, no the inventor of the game did not coach at the university however there is this connection. Adolph Rupp was head coach 41 seasons 1930 to 1972, his Wildcats won nearly 900 games and 4 NCAA Championships the last in 1958. Rupp was a student of Naismith at Kansas although reports indicate he was a reserve player. Rupp would not be the only player of marginal success as an athlete shine brightly in the role of head coach. The basketball landscape began changing in the 1950s and 1960s as more institutions began recruiting black players.

March 19, 1966, historical change would occur, Texas Western now the University of Texas-El Paso with 5 black starters played Kentucky with their all-white team. It should be of note Don Haskins Texas Western team was comprised of white players however his starting lineup was all black players. The undefeated Kentucky Wildcats finished the season with a 27-1 record, the one loss---Texas Western 72-65 in the championship game. Rupp was a product of the times, teams in the south simply didn’t recruit black players. That would change in 1969 as Kentucky added its first black player to its roster. This brief history of Kentucky basketball concludes here but there is certainly much more to this rich basketball program at the school. Just a thought, we refer to outstanding basketball institutions as Blue Blood, I wonder if it has anything to do with Kentucky basketball and its dominance at a point in the games history.

No power game

We discover for the second consecutive summer Victor Wembanyama is training with former Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon to improve his footwork. Working out and dedication to the craft is required to become a better performer no matter the occupation. I believe those are two key elements that comprise a major portion of Wemby’s continuing developing game. Until I am proven wrong expect to see an improved version over the play we saw of Wemby last season. Before I go any further allow me to lay this out before you, there will be no Kareem/Shaq version of Wemby. Some elements of Wemby’s game exceeds both of these hall of fame performers in my view.

As for the other stuff former NBA player Chris Bosh issued a warning, Wemby should remain on his medication. Some might remember blood clots caused Bosh to retire earlier than plan. As for Wemby you might remember a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder in February 2025 caused him to miss the balance of that season. No such issues were detected this past season, we don’t know for sure but tend to believe he is adhering to the medical advice he was given. With the budding potential of talent plus other Spurs it’s easy to understand why the Spurs have developed plans for a new arena to display Wemby and the team’s talent.

From the land down under

Jongkuch Mach is 18 years old and believe it or not Wemby would be forced to look up at him, he stands 7-foot-6. Born and raised in Perth, Australia, he is the son of parents who emigrated from South Sudan. Mach currently plays for the BA Centre of Excellence in the NBL1 East, Australia’s second-tier senior league. My best guess it could be compared to high school level competition in the United States. Reports indicate Mach has received offers from LSU, Colorado and Santa Clara.

Video of Mach in action details clearly there are areas requiring improvement even to play at the collegiate level. One of these can be fix easily his thin frame, nutritionist can bulk him up with high carb meals. The other area he appears extremely raw, dedicated training and coaching can address that issue. AI reports list him at 197 pounds, so he has quite a bit of work ahead for him in both skill development and adding weight to his boney frame. And to think all this time you thought Victor Wembanyama was the skinniest basketball player you’d ever seen.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Hollywood drama

The City of Los Angeles contains the entertainment capital of the world, Hollywood. Over several generations numerous movie and entertainment productions have come to fruition. The current action is drama however its unaccustomed to what occurs normally. The two NBA teams in the city, the Lakers and Clippers are in the middle of controversial drama. Each is going to be dealt with on a separate basis, first Steve Ballmer’s Clippers. There’s been no official word from the NBA however it appears the Kawhi Leonard investigation has concluded. Unofficially its being reported the league could find no evidence the Clippers circumvented the salary cap in order to provide additional funding for Leonard.

Before I begin allow me to state I offer you 0 proof only my belief. You might remember the beginning, media guy Pablo Torres is given credit for bringing this issue to light. Torres claimed a defunct company paid Leonard under a “no-work contract.” Let’s play worst case advocate, suppose parties had been found guilty….this would have been extremely embarrassing for the NBA. It could see Ballmer possibly suspended and fined, the Leonard trade to Toronto would be voided. I continue to claim to be no conspiracy theorist and I maintain that posture. I have a difficult time accepting this verdict, what about you? This entire story might have concluded but not for me, I will question the circumstances why Leonard signed with the Clippers rather than the Lakers.

Two stories become one

Laker Nation and the NBA world was shocked a little over a year ago. The Buss family owned Lakers were sold to Mark Walter billionaire guy who also owns the baseball Dodgers. Jeanie Buss would continue in her role as NBA Governor for the team. Fast forward to the present, a magnitude earthquake 6 to 7 on the Richter scale occurred. The Lakers would be sold to a partnership of Kushner and Iger, that was just the tip of the iceberg. The Buss family decided to sell their 17.8% share of the Lakers, the problem….apparently no one bothered to inform Jeanie Buss of their intention to sell. In any event this caused a further rift in the family, we had Jeanie Buss on one side opposing her three brothers and one sister.

How does this conundrum eventually play out, no one knows for sure however there is background to consider. In 2017 Jeanie had “fired” Jim Buss and later Joey and Jesse in 2025. This from AI on the judicial ruling; “The legal ruling mandated that the co-trustees (Buss family) vote annually to keep Jeanie Buss as the franchise’s controlling owner for her lifetime, absent any legal motivation.” It would be apparent Jeanie Buss will utilize this ruling to prevent her brothers and sister from selling the remainder of the team. There is no method to determine how this family feud will eventually turn out, they could appeal the 2017 ruling. I mentioned in the earlier account regarding the Clippers this was Hollywood, it certainly is----it’s got soap opera written all over it. This is only the beginning of the story stay connected for further developments.

I will have forgotten

By the time the NBA season begins in October I will have forgotten the schedule. Because the NBA presented it to us I’m going to provide it for you:

Sunday: ABC, NBC/Peacock

Monday: Peacock/NBCSN

Tuesday: NBC/Peacock

Wednesday: ESPN

Thursday: Prime

Friday: Prime/ESPN

Saturday: Prime/ABC 

The Knicks, Spurs, Sixers and Lakers will be in action 34 times, the Thunder for 30. To check a few other teams the Celtics will make 27 appearances while the playoff Pistons and Cavs only appear 19 and 17 times, respectively. At this point apparently the Clippers are no longer the draw they were with no Kawhi Leonard on the roster, they will play 8 times. The Bucks minus Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Grizzlies with no Jae Morant will only appear twice the same as the Pelicans and Kings.

Jeopardy

The headline above references the long-running television quiz show Jeopardy!, where contestants must respond in the form of a question. With that in mind, I’ll say, “I’ll take things you have no control over for $400.” Since the Lakers were sold again less than a year after the previous purchase, several podcasters and media members have questioned it. The news surprised me too, and I said as much, but I’ve moved on.

Unless someone was prepared to offer Mark Walter a larger purchase price—just kidding, folks—there is little reason to keep questioning the sale. There are plenty of issues, some daily, that we cannot control. We discuss them, then move on, and that applies here. The sale is still too recent to know what will happen under the Kushner/Iger ownership group. This is only my speculation, but I don’t believe they bought the Lakers to move the team to Las Vegas. Like the Celtics or Knicks, the Lakers occupy a place in the NBA that makes relocation almost unthinkable. Future updates will be provided as notable developments occur.

 

MA fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Who Do You Trust  

During the golden age of television a quiz show with the above title was aired from 1956-1963. “Married couples would compete to answer questions; the husband decides whether he or his wife will answer.” That sentence from Wikipedia provides you an idea how 1950s the program was, the husband had to decide etc., etc. One of the hosts was Johnny Carson who would later make his mark as the host of NBCs long running Tonight Show. This account is not about television programs however it could be a quiz, who do you trust.

As this is written there’s been no official word from the NBA. Unsure of when the league offices might sign off on the findings I wanted to get in front of the revelation. It’s being reported the NBA has no proof that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer circumvented the salary cap by funneling money through team sponsors in order to pay Kawhi Leonard. That leaves one question: who should we believe—the NBA, or media member Pablo Torres, who uncovered the payment story? I would never label myself a conspiracy theorist but if the early report is correct someone managed to avoid a major fine. If early reports are true does Torres lose a degree of credibility?

I ain’t no hater

David Suggs of The Sporting News wrote an article which I’d like to discuss with you. Suggs put together his list of Top 10 Sixers over time. Number 10 for Suggs was Maurice Cheeks (1978-1993), he placed Hal Greer (1958-1973) at 9, number 8 he listed Dolph Schayes (1949-1964). It should be pointed out Schayes began his career at the time the team’s home base was Syracuse (NY), Schayes ended his career shortly after the move to Philadelphia. As for others it was Joel Embiid (2017-present) along with Allen Iverson (1996-2010) Charles Barkley (1984-2000) then Julius Erving (1971-1987), Wilt Chamberlain (1959-1973). Suggs has LeBron James (2003-present) as his number one choice as the best Sixer player ever.  

Before I move to the “meat & potatoes” of his account for an odd reason Suggs failed to list at player at 7.  As for me, Moses Malone (1982-1986 & briefly 1993-1994) should fit somewhere in a Sixer top ten or perhaps Bobby Jones. LeBron James is an NBA all-time great, he’s the all-time scoring leader. Depending on who is in the conversation he is considered the GOAT in some circles. Despite the accolades of this generational player I have a tough time listing James as an all-time great Sixer. As this is written he’s yet to play a single game in a Sixer jersey, he’s not scored one point in practice or under game conditions. Will this change once he begins scoring and playing for the Sixers, not for me? It will be necessary for him to play 5-6 seasons to be included in my list of all-time greats for this team, I guess that makes me a hater.

Is he under pressure

The jury is still out regarding Darryn Peterson, the former Kansas guard who had a checkered freshman season at Kansas. Peterson arrived in Lawrence Kansas last fall as the top potential draft pick in the majority of NBA mock draft sites. His freshman year was a roller coaster ride, more down than up. From the letters and commentary a large segment of Jayhawk Nation was upset with the on-court production they witnessed. The vast majority of complaints from fans was likely based on NIL money Peterson was paid. As you are aware Peterson left Kansas for the NBA and was made the second pick by the Jazz in the 2026 draft.

For the second year in a row coach Bill Self was able to recruit the top high school player in the nation, his name Tyran Stokes. Stokes is a 6-foot 7 230 pound wing and will be inserted in the starting lineup day one. As I often mention it’s difficult for me to discuss money anytime we are deliberating an athlete’s ability. By all indications Stokes is being paid a larger sum of money over that Peterson received. The comparison between Peterson and Stokes is remarkably similar, both McDonald’s All Americans, both 5-star prospects and there are others. Does the time Peterson spent off the court affect how Jayhawk Nation and many in the media might sense about Stokes? That issue becomes the basis for the headline you read above.

All-Time greats

With 17 NBA championships in the record book the Lakers are second behind the 18 won by the Celtics. In order to win that number of championships requires contributions by outstanding talent. The franchise in the same manner as others have drafted or traded for players who came up short in the talent department. The names associated with those championships reads like a who’s who of NBA greats. Most of them have been enshrined in the Naismith, College or FIBA Halls of Fame. One dot.com site selected 20 names for its list, they are placed in the following order.

Kobe Bryant

Magic Johnson

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Shaquille O’Neal

Jerry West

Wilt Chamberlain

Elgin Baylor

LeBron James

James Worthy

Pau Gasol

I highly object to placing LeBron James above “Big” Game James Worthy and the explanation follows. Worthy helped the cause in winning three championships for the Lakers (1985, 1987, and 1988). In addition he was named Finals MVP in the 1988 win, Worthy was a key contributor to the Showtime Lakers. Several reading this are probably saying out loud I’m discounting the contributions of LeBron James and that is not the case. LeBron was the ring leader in the Lakers winning number 17, for a variety of reasons that was it. The criteria for this was NBA champions which is the formula I utilized. Now someone might argue why Elgin Baylor is ranked so high when he failed to win a single championship, that’s a discussion for another time.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The departure

Our headline this morning has nothing to do with a movie, a musical refrain or anything of that nature. The title simply implies a change for me in writing what you are about to read. Since commencing Off the Dribble I’ve covered controversies involving basketball but generally (not at all times) avoided money and politics. This is going to be political and I hope the last instance, the departure is caused by several issues I’ve seen raised regarding the sale of the Lakers.

This time it’s not the surprise of the sale rather it’s the WHO. It’s been pointed out one of the purchasing partners has the same last name as the president of the United States son-in-law, Jared and Josh Kushner are brothers. I have read stories indicating the president’s hands were involved in the sale or a federal investigation of the prior owner prompted this speedy sale of the team. All sorts of speculation surrounding this move have cropped up, the question might be how this member of Laker Nation sees it. From my perspective not very far, did the president have anything to do with this sale? To those who believe he did please raise your hands high enough in order for us to see them. I am not the least bit concerned about this move UNLESS an impropriety might have occurred. I am not the least bit concerned for the future of the Lakers unless this ownership group should prove to be less than competent.

In closing this is for those who tend to believe “He’s only writing this because of his allegiance to the Lakers!” That’s only partially true, a similar account would be placed in front of you if this occurred for the Wolves, Spurs or Pelicans franchise. If you are one of the many conspiracy theorist around so be it, I’ve always attempted to adopt the state motto “I’m from Missouri, you’ve got to Show Me.” I categorically refuse to indict someone due to their last name

KG

The headline above denotes his nickname, he was also referred to as The Big Ticket. I speak of Kevin Garnett, an NBA champion with the Celtics, he would later play briefly with the Nets. It was with the Wolves he made his name known throughout the NBA world. Another noteworthy point, Garnett was one of 5 high school players drafted into the NBA who would eventually be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. He retired from the game in 2016, several years later (2022) the Celtics retired his jersey number 5.

KG wasn’t issued 21 in Boston, that number belonged to Bill Sharman legendary Celtic guard. As for the Wolves and why KG was traded we don’t know the entire story. A rift developed between KG and former owner Glen Taylor which lasted until Taylor sold the team. KG indicated his issue with his former team would continue until he met with owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. So, the rift that existed has been healed, February 28 KG’s number 21 will be retired and hoisted to the top of the Target Center. KG intends to be a “team ambassador” for the Wolves.

Is this true, well….

I’m debating if I should communicate this story if I do a number of you will refuse to believe it. The basis for your disbelief no film/video or taped radio broadcast exists. Okay, you twisted my arm enough I’ll tell the story. What do you suppose was Wilt Chamberlain’s best game, was it the night he scored 100 points, maybe it was the 55 rebound game of his? It’s my contention those could certainly be considered noteworthy however I think of another game.

Some are aware as for others the NBA didn’t began tracking steals and blocked shots until near the end of Chamberlain’s career. Based on that fact we must take the late Harvey Pollack’s stats as official, he was responsible for Philadelphia record keeping during this period. The date of this significant event occurred March 18, 1968, and it occurred while Chamberlain played for the Sixers. What is evening more interesting this game occurred against my Lakers, in the summer of that year Chamberlain  would later be traded that same year. These are the Chamberlain numbers from that game, he scored 53 points pulled down 32 rebounds had 14 assists, 24 blocked shots and 11 steals. The Sixers won the game 158 to 128.

From the box we gather these figures, the Lakers were led by Mel Counts with 26 points and Archie Clark scoring 25, all five starters for the Lakers scored in double figures. This game was played at Convention Hall in Philadelphia which has been demolished, only 3,491 spectators attended the game however it could hold 9,000 folks. The building was home for the Warriors (1952-1962) and Sixers (1963-1968), opened in 1931, closed in 1996 and was demolished in 2005.

Short timer

His 64th birthday will have occurred prior to Kansas concluding the 2026-2027 college basketball season, of course that would be Bill Self. Depending on your view his age is certainly not an issue, many veteran coaches have continued past that number. There do remain a number of questions, the first of course is the change in college basketball’s landscape. Recently in Off the Dribble you read a story on Dusty May and why he left Michigan for the NBA after winning an NCAA championship. This past season the fortunes of Kansas basketball were greatly affected by NIL regarding the departed Darryn Peterson, the other issue the portal transfer.

Kansas lost two highly touted Big Men to other programs. Once upon a time Self indicated “he’d be retired by the time he reached his 60th birthday or a slightly older number, of course that’s not what occurred. It’s become more difficult for a teaching coach such as Self to remain productive. In addition the transfer portal has left many a coach questioning how to reach today’s youngsters. I’m unsure of the timetable for his retirement however I doubt if he recruits anyone from the Class of 2031. If it appears I am pushing Self out the door that is not the case, my question is simple. What remains for him at this point with the exception of another NCAA championship? He’s already in the Naismith Hall of Fame only the College Basketball Hall awaits him.

 

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Go bag

Your definition might be different from mine, for me a go bag is a suitcase containing items allowing you to travel from home within a short space of time. Does Dennis Schröder have a go bag, we don’t know for sure but that might be a good guess. Schröder is about to join NBA team number 12 as the Cavs have traded him to the Hornets. You might ask now which teams Schröder has played.  After playing in Europe he was drafted by the NBA Hawks in the first round of the 2013 NBA draft, from that point on Schröder moved to a succession of teams. He spent 5 seasons in Atlanta, then two with the Thunder, a single season with the Celtics, he divided the next two seasons between the Rockets and Lakers. 

Schröder's time was divided once again during the next two seasons between the Raptors, Nets and Warriors. Time was split over the next three seasons with the Pistons, Kings, Cavs and when training camp opens in the fall it will be the Hornets. Over his lengthy career I’ve never read or heard any negative reports regarding Schröder’s conduct, it just appeared he would often become part of a trade. By the way Schröder does not hold the NBA record for most teams played, that belongs to Ish Smith with 13 teams. With only one team behind Smith it might be a good idea for Schröder to pack a go bag. Here's the oddity for me, in the summer of 2021 the Lakers offered him a 4-year contract I believe. He turned it down believing he could earn more on the free agent market, it was at that point his NBA journey began.  

It’s for life

Nothing is set in stone however Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. indicates Steph Curry is likely to finish his career with the Warriors. We can associate the names of Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Magic Johnson who spent their careers with the team that drafted them. There are certainly others but without additional those named come to mind which I can provide without the need of research. As for other All Star NBA players their careers have been quite different. There are several so closely associated with one team most fans believe that is the only team the individual was a member. We begin this exercise with the name of Michael Jordan.

MJ is so closely identified with the Bulls its often forgotten he retired then unretired and began play for the Wizards. Patrick Ewing is always associated with the Knicks although late in his career he played for the Sonics, and Magic. The Dream, Hakeem Olajuwon is thought of as a Rocket, he left Houston to play for the Raptors for a season. Some of the all-time greats have traveled extensively playing for a succession of NBA teams. Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and LeBron James have played for a considerable number of teams and their moves had nothing to do with their on-court talent. The majority of these frequent moves occurred through free-agency rather than trades as it once did.    

Which one earns it

This is not set in stone but check out the story anyway, LeBron is gone but not Bronny. At least that would be the case as this is written August 10, what you are about to read is certainly not official. It does not come from JJ Redick or any member of the Laker coaching staff. Chris Mañon is the competition for Bronny for what might be the final guard position on the roster, you are familiar with Bronny’s bio but not his opposition. Mañon is on a two-way contract with the Lakers, he played at Cornell and Vanderbilt but went undrafted in 2025.

Because I am unfamiliar with Mañon’s play at the collegiate level I have only his time there as judgement. The numbers at both schools would appear average or slightly below that. Last season while playing for the Warriors Summer League team he scored 55 points in a single game. We know the story regarding Bronny and this is what I read a few weeks ago. There are a few in the media who expressed the belief he would have benefited by an additional summer of play. This would prove interesting, if Bronny wins the roster position we’ll know it’s not due to his father who is no longer on the roster. The battle for the final spot in training camp should prove interesting.

Nothing’s getting fixed 

The headline represents the words of former Michigan basketball coach Dusty May, the question, was success at the college level too difficult to maintain? It was his decision but I wondered why May (other than money) would leave a successful Michigan basketball program. This move was made within a short time of his Wolverines winning the 2026 NCAA championship. Of course most reading this are aware the Dallas Mavs decided to change coaches, Jason Kidd was let go and he was replaced by May. The coach indicated he was so excited about attending Big 10 spring meetings. “We’re going to find some solutions.” I go there and I was just like, “Oh my God, nothing’s getting fixed. Ever.”

The issue May referred to was NIL and the transfer portal, both of which now play major roles in college basketball recruiting. As May put it: “Even when you sign prospects, you’re not really signed; to me, that is the biggest issue.” Colleges no longer lose players only to graduation, academic eligibility, or similar circumstances. Today, players can simply walk away from a program because they believe it gives them a better chance to secure their future. I have no problem with athletes trying to look out for themselves, but NIL and the portal appear to have created a problem of enormous proportions. Do I have an answer? Of course not—I’m not that smart. Still, I believe men’s college basketball faces a serious issue in this era unless there are decisions to be made by those in charge.

 

From a fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Boy, that was quick

The news broke quickly while I was preparing this edition of Off the Dribble. My Lakers have been sold again, I’m unsure of the time without checking the date but that’s not critical. Mark Walter who also owns the baseball Dodgers reportedly paid $10 billion to the Buss family to purchase the Lakers a little over a year ago. Walter has now sold his interest in the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for a described $12 billion purchase so Walter made a cool $2.5 billion in a short space of time. It’s being reported the partners were focused on an expansion franchise for Las Vegas but made the pivot when the Lakers ownership became available.

Only the seller and buyers are familiar with all the particulars but a closer look might uncover a basis for the sale. Former owner Walter is facing regulatory and federal scrutiny over his business and insurance operations. The Lakers under the Buss family have been among the lengthiest ownership group in the NBA’s history. Now they will have three owners (Buss, Walter & Kushner/Iger) in the last two years, which is quite a departure for this very stable team. As for the new owners if the name Bob Iger sounds familiar it probably should to several reading this. Iger once served as CEO of the Walt Disney company on two occasions.

Meanwhile….

We are not there yet, i.e., NBA training camp. I’m unsure of the number however the Lakers have a new team waiting for fans in Crypto.com this season. Based on that fact along Luka Dončić in an attempt to bond and create harmony this is what he proposes. He’s invited the entire Laker roster including the two-way players to his native Slovenia for a “Meet n Greet.” And guess what, Luka is doing this on his dime, It’s my understanding roster members including two-way players have accepted the invitation. The only no show has an excuse, rookie Cameron Carr will be attending mandatory NBA instruction.

Chaos reigns supreme in college basketball, some are aware of a recent ruling that is difficult to explain in a few sentences. The quick story a judge ruled a handful of college basketball players will be allowed an additional year of play. One of those is Mark Mitchell who played at Mizzou, with this ruling there was talk of him returning for year five but there is a problem. Mizzou’s roster is full, a roster member must be red-shirted to allow Mitchell play. I am always in the athletes corner until a ruling of this type, college sports desperately needs a commissioner stat.

For many readers, this may be an introduction to Wu Jiahao, a Chinese basketball prospect. He might not reach the NBA, but as I wrote recently, China has not produced a successful NBA player since Yao Ming’s breakthrough back in 2002. Some reports suggest the gap is partly tied to training methods in China, and Jiahao could certainly help change that. The 6-foot-9 prospect will head to Spain next year to play in Liga ACB’s U22 league, making him a potential test case for whether Chinese players can develop their games internationally and possibly earn playing time in the NBA.

Sometimes it’s difficult

Are we end the NBA off-season, sometimes it is difficult to believe based on a steady stream of news. On Wednesday mid-day it was announced Russell Westbrook would not play in 2026-27. He is retiring from the NBA after an 18-year career. In 2008 the Seattle Sonics made him the 4th overall pick that year, he never wore a Sonics jersey, the team moved to OKC and were rebranded as the Thunder. It was OKC where he first began his triple-double game despite standing only 6-foot 4. In 2019 Westbrook was traded to the Rockets and from that point on his suitcase was always ready at the door. It was the Rockets then the Wizards and later the Lakers. In succession it became the Clippers, Nuggets and Kings and the Kings would be his last team.   

A basketball fan’s perspective 

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I have a request

If you’ve followed Off the Dribble for any length of time, I hope my love for the game has come through. I began this labor of love in 2011 with the goal of covering as much basketball, at every level, as possible while allowing the blog to grow and evolve. Over the years, there have been many basketball-related stories I couldn’t publish because time and space simply wouldn’t allow it. Still, I’ve tried to provide as much coverage as I can through research and writing. If you enjoy reading Off the Dribble, please share it with family and friends who might have the same affection for basketball. My opinion has never been intended as the final word, and if you disagree with something I’ve written, that’s okay too. To those who have remained faithful through the years, and to brand-new readers as well, thank you.

Nellie

We learned Sunday former NBA player and long-time head coach Don Nelson had passed. Nelson would spend a life-time playing in the NBA for the Celtics and coaching four NBA teams. He was an innovator as an NBA  coach and is given credit for “Nellie Ball,” ball or point-forward. As a player for the Celtics he was a 5 time NBA champion and while conducting research I didn’t realize he briefly played for the Lakers prior to becoming a Boston Celtic.

As for coaching Nelson was named NBA Coach of the Year three times and All-Star coach twice. His name is listed as one of the Top 10 Coaches in the NBA, in 2012 Nelson was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame. His coaching and executive career ran from 1976-2010. After All-American honors at the University of Iowa he was drafted by the Chicago Zephyrs (Wizards) in 1962, he would later find his way to the Lakers and then the Celtics where he would become a valued reserve player for them. Below is video of the shot which directly led the Celtics to the 1969 NBA championship win against the Lakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7u2-jOi2-0

Christmas Day games

Once upon a time the December 25th Christmas Day games were the property of the NBA exclusively. The NFL has played games on the date in the past however infrequently. More recently with NFL games butting up against the NBA they have become the viewership leader. That’s really okay with me because I believe true NBA fans will see “their” games and only check a few NFL games. In any event the NBA did its best to place hot ticket games in front of us. We have the defending champion Knicks matched against their Finals opponent the Spurs, but wait there is more. We’ll see LeBron James of the Sixers in action against his former Laker teammates, the balance of the matches will see the Heat at the Celtics, Thunder vs the Wolves and the Nuggets against the Warriors. The family of NBA networks will be primed and ready to entertain.  

The first jump ball 

NBA Europe is scheduled to begin play in October 2027 with 16 teams: 12 of them permanent clubs and four open spots the NBA plans to fill through a promotion system. Qualified Slots: Four spots will be awarded annually based on performance, including finalists from the FIBA Basketball Champions League. This was a  dream of the late David Stern while he served as NBA commissioner, the league would come into fruition but probably not in the manner he might have envisioned.

Stern, while serving as commissioner of the NBA was a proponent of extending NBA basketball play to the European continent. As additional detail is provided I will deliver continued updates until the launch of the league. 55 questions are more cannot be answered until we arrive close to the date however there is a question for me, will NBA Europe embraced the same period of play as NBA USA does, stay tuned for that answer? I mentioned the cities that were bidding for a franchise, in case you missed the earlier story located below are the proposed nations and cities as this is written:

England: London, Manchester

France: Paris, Lyon

Spain: Madrid, Barcelona

Germany: Berlin, Munich

Italy: Milan, Rome

Türkiye: Istanbul

Greece: Athens