A fans perspectives

Published Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sunday

An adjustment was required

Portland Trail Blazer fans are very familiar with Deni Avdija although he might be unknown to many NBA fans. This focus is on Avdija because he is having a breakout year for his Blazer team…he’s been so good this season he should win most improved player in the NBA for 2025-26. What’s Avdija’s done so far through the middle of January:

Scored more points than James Harden

Has more assists than Shai-Gilgeous Alexander

More rebounds than Draymond Green

Has more threes than Kevin Durant

Made more free throws than Luka Doncic

You can see the type of year he’s experienced thus far, 26.1 ppg and 6.9 assists per game provide the evidence. Where and how, the where is Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel where he began his pro career prior to being drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2020. Avdija was the 9th pick in the first round of that draft. The how, the fact the Wizards were either unable or unwilling to see an adjustment plus time was required for the first Israeli player to be drafted into the NBA. 

IMO

This is written in the middle of January, I have no idea if the Los Angeles Lakers win the NBA championship. Whatever the outcome of the 2025-26 season for the Lakers in my opinion its time. Time for LeBron James to retire because despite his outstanding play over a 20 year plus NBA career he’s become a ‘millstone’ around the neck of the Lakers. He is the all-time NBA scoring champion, several of his records will never be eclipsed, LeBron is a four time NBA champion one of those, the 2020 with the Lakers. I could go on with the accolades this Akron Ohio native has compiled over the course of his brilliant NBA career.

The chief reason retirement should be in the forefront is a single reason, he is delaying his replacement. Let me re-state that, no one replaces LeBron, a rookie or veteran player would move into the position LeBron presently holds. I remember reading Kobe Bryant was a difficult teammate, I have no idea if the statement was true however the same might be evident for LeBron. Players of great talent have difficulty understanding why some not all around them don’t play at the same level as they do. I wouldn’t attempt to point out a possible replacement just say once again its time for retirement. The big difference, several NBA all-pros had farewell tours around the NBA. To date there’s been no planned farewell tour for LeBron although this is certainly no requirement. We shall see what eventually develops but now you know my view.

These issues require attention

Problems facing the college game have by mentioned by several in the media. I thought I would discuss this because it’s my belief these issues are compelling factors why some believe the college game is no longer the ideal product it once was. Over the last decades bunches of change have come into effect but from my view there have been none that have made the game a better product. Let’s take a look at some of the problems the college game faces, below are those I believe are causing issues for most fans:

 

*Name, Image & Likeness (NIL)

*Transfer Portal

*Euro professional players in college

*Eligibility

The NCAA is directly responsible for Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) coming into use across the nation. Should athletes be financially compensated is the question? Technically it’s a fine line between amateur and professional play however good or bad it’s become the law of the land. The transfer portal has got to be addressed fully, there should be a limit on the number of transfers. As an example an athlete in his junior year was enrolled in his third school in three years. Unless there are extenuating circumstances an athlete should be limited to two (2) transfers only. Athletes transferring from school to school need to end. Euro players in college is a gray area, for several years we’ve witnessed “pro” players enrolled and playing college competition.

There have been Euro players who arrived on these shores and begin play at  American high schools and then college. This will be mentioned once again, anytime a player is drafted into the NBA there is no allowance for him to play college basketball. The same for the two G-League players now enrolled and playing college basketball. More and more it’s my belief that a College Basketball Commissioner would handle these issues much better than the hodge podge method in place at present. I realize some issues have been missed while others were not detailed enough, I hope you see there is a huge problem facing college basketball today.

I informed you I don’t know

As this is written I have no idea how good a defender Kon Knueppel Charlotte Hornets guard is. I do know this at least for now, he can sink baskets and this is the proof. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons tied Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Wolves for most three-point baskets made in consecutive games. Edwards set the standard with 14 in his rookie year, more recently Ivey tied the record but it now belongs to neither player anymore. Knueppel has set the new standard with 16 consecutive games sinking a three-point basket.

As far as Draymond’s Green questioning Knueppel’s defensive chops I said it before, Green needs to allow the youngster to fully adjust to the NBA. I believe this was stated by me previously, the spotlight was shining brightly last season on Cooper Flagg at Duke. That’s understandable, Flagg arrived on campus as a hype-machine with 99% of it media driven. Knueppel was content to play ‘Robin’ to Flagg’s ‘Batman’ probably content in his ability to play the game at a high skill level. Both players were fortunate in a manner of speaking, high draft choices allowed to move into their team’s starting lineup day one. I might have written this previously but will repeat it, if not for Flagg coming into the NBA at the same time Knueppel might have been deemed NBA Rookie of the Year.