A fans perspectives

Published Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

It’s difficult

I could name about 25 things I am vitally interested in, these “things” are exciting to me and important. Due to this fact writing about them becomes easy, as someone once wrote “It’s a labor of love.” As for the annual NBA All Star game it’s become passe for me, it no longer holds the interest it once did. After years of tinkering with the product to make it better I’m unsure at this point if I enjoyed the game. The Saturday night events (slam dunk, 3-pt shootout & other proceedings) always draw my attention. The Sunday game could easily be skipped and it has been for the past several years. This self-confused NBA fan has avoided watching the game but apparently others have as well. If that were not the case why the continuous changes. With the new format in place I decided for the first time in a while to view the game, several players stood out due to the competitive nature they exhibited during the games.

As you are aware Team Stars won 47-21 over Team Stripes. The game MVP Anthony Edwards, Victor Wembanyama and Kawhi Leonard are three that come to mind who were playing at a high skill level. Prior to the start I was quite anxious to see Team World in action. Many in the media have claimed the world is catching up to American talent in the NBA. Well that might be true but it wasn’t evident Sunday, Team World lost first to Team Stars 37-35 in OT. Later Team World lost the match against Team Stripes 48-45. For anyone reading this claiming I am downplaying the results Team World provided that is not the case. As for the round-robin style of the games it was an improvement over years past. Several in the media who get paid are voicing praise for this new effort by the NBA, I don’t get paid and I wasn’t impressed.

New Sheriff(s) in town

The Big 12 Men’s Conference might be the best in the nation. Last season it was the SEC which was best in my opinion, many of the SEC members found themselves in the Top 25. This season it is different the Big 12 is the best, with Iowa State’s win over Houston check out the latest standings. We find Houston at the top with an 11-2 record, Arizona is 10-2, Iowa State is 10-3. They are followed by Kansas and Texas Tech both with 9-3 records. It’s okay, those in Jayhawk Nation who are rabid fans I believe you are prepared for the change.

The days of winning the Big 12 regular season conference 10 or so years consecutively are over. It’s not that Bill Self has forgotten how to coach or that the school fails to attract the best talent change is evident. NIL and the transfer portal have affected the Kansas program significantly. The other change is the conference adding competitive teams recently, as an example, Houston (2023) and Arizona (2024) should be of note. As for many of the other schools they have added coaches who hit the ground running, they want to win and the prospect of playing in Allen Fieldhouse no longer has the dread it once did. Am I disrespecting Kansas basketball and Bill Self, I say NO…Kansas will remain competitive however they must deal with the new sheriff(s) in town. 

Hall of Fame

There are numerous hall of fames across the nation, the focus here is only two. They are the Naismith Hall of Fame which is located in Springfield Massachusetts and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in Kansas City Missouri. The older of the two is Naismith, which opened its doors February 17, 1968, however it failed to remain in its original location. In 1985 a new, larger arena opened where it stands at the present time, its located at 1000 Hall of Fame Avenue. Unlike the building in Kansas City Naismith honors those who played in the NBA, college and international athletes along with a number of teams and individuals. Those named have played a vital role in the growth of the game in this nation and world-wide. There are names we’d expect to find there such as Dr. James A. Naismith the inventor of basketball, on the other hand there are names which might surprise.

Amos Alonzo Stagg a name associated with the founding of the NFL however he’s been enshrined. In addition to him, Charles ‘Chuck’ Taylor, shoe salesman. He didn’t invent the Converse Chuck Taylor but was involved in the development of the shoe. For years that would be the shoe worn by Olympic basketball players along with numerous colleges and NBA teams. The College Basketball Hall of Fame is fairly new having first opened in October 2007. Unlike Naismith the college hall contains only coaches, individuals, players and teams contributing at the collegiate level. There are a few individuals that have been enshrined in both such as Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson. The hall of fame is located at 1401 Grand Blvd, Kansas City MO 64106. The operating hours are subject to change, based on that fact it’s not being provided. If you plan on visiting either location it might be good to check hours prior to scheduling your visit.

Looking ahead

If this account appears similar to others you’ve read in this blog chances it is, I have been a cheerleader for the future of the NBA. Sure there are problems and issues to be resolved, however, just looking at the association from a talent standpoint it is exciting. The talent on display currently and the that which might arrive in the near future are the basis for my enthusiasm. Who are they, well there is Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, up the road in Texas we have Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks. On the east coach there is Kon Knueppel Charlotte Hornets, out west we have Ace Bailey Utah Jazz guard and VJ Edgecomb Philadelphia 76ers.

We have Cedric Coward Memphis Grizzlies and Derik Queen New Orleans Pelicans. At this point I’m going to stop and make this statement, the names mentioned represent just a sample of the rookie talent that’s arrived in the 2025 NBA draft. We haven’t begun to discuss the pending 2026 draft yet, it also contains potential future NBA talent. One name, AJ Dybansta at BYU who appears to lead the way. The only reason I’m placing him in front of Darryn Peterson is because of the continuing leg injuries he’s suffered while at Kansas. I must list Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Kingston Flemings at Houston in the conversation as well. Keep in mind it’s difficult for me and the people who get paid to analyze talent, despite that fact I believe there is a miniscule degree of insight on my part.