A basketball fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The Boston Strangler

He should be in the Naismith Hall of Fame, his name is Andrew Toney. As for the headline it’s the nickname given this former Sixer shooting guard due to the prolific scoring games he registered against the Celtics. Toney played in the NBA for 8 seasons but only 5 of them was he healthy but he was a lights out scorer for the Sixers during those years. Consider this fact, the starting lineup for the Sixers contained 4 hall of fame players. Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones. This quartet along with Toney was a juggernaut and would win the 1985 NBA championship thanks in part to the scoring ability of Toney, the question might be why is Toney a virtual unknown? The injury, although there were issues proving it to the medical staff of the Sixers he’d suffered stress fractures in both feet.

Toney was unable to exhibit his prior scoring ability on the court due to the injury, he would retire at the age of 30 and move to Atlanta where he began teaching elementary school. His issues with the Sixers medical staff caused a huge rift for him, bitterness kept him apart from any connection to the team. Toney would remain away from anything connected with the Sixers for 24 years only returning when the 1985 championship team was honored. His coach Billy Cunningham said, “He had a hall of fame career,” it, so did teammate Dr. J., He would have been enshrined in the hall of fame if not for the injury.” Charles Barkley says “He (Toney) was the best player he ever teamed up with.” Pat Riley said; “Toney was the greatest clutch player I’ve ever seen. I’m unsure if Toney is still teaching he’s 68-years old now, I’d bet money few of his students over the course of his tenure as an educator had any idea of his previous life.

I believe this is true

The Lakers have been my favorite NBA team for more years than I can count, I guess by now you are aware of this. Despite the fact I am a card carrying member of Laker Nation I’ve always had a second team. Another NBA team I root for except when they play my Lakers, I believe this is true. This subject is being discussed due to the recent NBA Finals, I was squarely in the Spurs corner for the Finals. I have a friend who is just like me a loyal member of Laker Nation, when I mentioned my love affair for the Spurs his response was quick.

“I can’t root for them (the Spurs), not with the history between the two teams.” He was referring specifically to the Tim Duncan/Manu Ginobili/Tony Parker Spurs. Those Spurs were always in an MMA match against the Kobe Bryant/Shaquille O’Neal/Rick Fox Lakers, later subtract Shaq’s name and replace it with Paul Gasol. Those were exciting playoff series between the two teams. For me that is the past, this is 2026 and old grudges no longer apply from this corner. I enjoy the skillful manner of play plus the mental aspects of Victor Wembanyama’s game. It’s not just a single player on the Spurs roster, it’s also Stephon Castle and I’ve added Dylan Harper to the list. I will have no problem rooting for them or the Lakers until they play one another.

Arena update

I thought it time to update you on developments regarding new buildings in the NBA. Earlier you might remember reading a report on the Continental Coliseum in Oklahoma City. This project is moving along smoothly and if there are delays I will attempt to update you, it has a planned opening of late summer 2028. As for other arenas this is the latest information I have available and we begin in San Antonio. The timeline for the Spurs to begin play in their new arena is the 2032-33 season, it appears from this outsider that the $1.3 billion arena will not be impacted by Project Marvel.

If you remember from an earlier reading Project Marvel is a major downtown redevelopment plan, the arena will be separated in some manner from the greater project. As was noted earlier Las Vegas will see an expansion team begin play by 2028, Las Vegas is different in that two proposals exists. One proposal is for a 21,000 seat arena while the other will seat 25,000 souls. The last update is in Philadelphia and the new home of the Sixers, this arena will be located in South Philadelphia rather than the original location in the Chinatown entertainment district. There are upgrades either begun or planned for existing arenas around the nation. What I find most interesting there are no plans to replace Madison Square Garden, the oldest arena in use first opened in February 1968.

12 championship rings

His name is never mentioned anytime all-time greats are discussed. It’s probably due to several factors, he wasn’t flashy and his scoring average was subpar, despite what you just read he was a winner. The late KC Jones arrived in the NBA with the Celtics, he brought along an NCAA championship and Olympic Gold Medal. He played in 8 Finals with the Celtics and was a winner in all 8 but wait there is more. Once he retired he added two championships as an assistant, he was the coach of Larry Bird’s two NBA championships.

When the counting was complete Jones had a total of 12 rings as a player and coach, a number few can touch. In addition he is a triple-crown winner, NCAA champion, won an Olympic Gold Medal and is an NBA champion. That’s a resume fare beyond what most might believe possible but he accomplished this. In addition to all the accomplishments detailed previously Jones has been enshrined in the College and Naismith Hall of Fame. That is quite a summary for a former player nobody ever discusses as an all-time great.

A basketball fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Meanwhile….

The Kawhi Leonard-Aspiration fiasco should be over by the end of summer. That’s the deadline commissioner Adam Silver has placed on the investigation of the work around method of paying the former Clipper forward. I believe (and I could be wrong) if the judgement is rendered in favor of the NBA the Raptors should face no penalty. It’s the Clippers who will face punishment. Whatever occurs I believe the trade will be consummated and Leonard will play for the Raptors again. 

The Wizards shut down No. 1 draft pick AJ Dybansta after only two games, but the decision was not injury-related, it was simply a matter of caution. The Wizards had already seen enough of him to know Dybansta could handle himself on the court. His brief showing offered all the evidence needed that he was ready for the rough-and-tumble world of the NBA. Of course Dybansta’s play is in Summer League but it does provide us a degree of his ability.

Da Bulls, some might be surprised with this news, the Bulls have the 4th best NBA championship record. If we begin a count of NBA championships it’s the Celtics (18), Lakers (17) Warriors (7) and Bulls (6). Each of the teams has won it all more recently than the Bulls, who last won an NBA championship in 1998. Since Michael Jordan and company left the Windy City the team has changed coaches 7 times, drafted and traded for a number of players but has failed to compete for a championship. During this time the best record by the Bulls was the 2010-11 season, they won 62 games but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. Are they a historic NBA franchise, I believe they are based on the number of championships?

There are times you have the opportunity to do good without expectations of a return. That is the case with this story, the Lakers drafted Ronny Turiaf in 2005 from Gonzaga. During training camp it was discovered Turiaf had a heart condition, according to Gary Vitti longtime Laker trainer the team was yet to sign Turiaf to a contract. Despite this issue Dr. Buss owner of the team paid for the surgery out of his pocket close to $1 million according to Vitti. Turiaf recovered from the surgery played for the Lakers three seasons and a total of 10 years in the NBA. This from Wikipedia, “In August 2009, Turiaf set up his “Heart to Heart” Foundation to provide medical care to children who do not have health insurance and cannot afford the care they need.” Turiaf began paying it forward after his retirement.

NBA Europe 

Speaking of the Lakers comes this brief bit of news I found quite interesting. We discussed NBA Europe and the indication the league will begin play in the fall of 2027. The news report indicated the league was seeking owners for its franchises and the Buss name made the news. As most are aware the late Dr. Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers and they remained in the family after his death with daughter Jeanie heading operations. A little over a year ago the Buss family sold the team to Mark Walter of TWG Global a diversified holding company.

Jeanie remained in the role of NBA Governor despite last year’s sale. Regardless of the fact the Lakers are now in the hands of a new ownership group it appears the family is not out of the basketball business altogether. Joey and Jesse Buss brothers of Jeanie have placed an ownership bid to purchase the London franchise. Locating a team in the capital of the nation should prove interesting from several aspects. I’ve read (and maybe you as well) basketball is not as popular in England as teams on the continent, perhaps the indirect connection to the NBA will grow the game. Check you “Why UK is So Bad At Basketball” from The Hoop Files on YouTube.

What’s the best path

As we’ve discussed the college basketball landscape is ever evolving. Almost immediately after the end of the college season a significant number of athletes announce they are transferring to other institutions. With the advent of portal transfer and immediate eligibility we’ve seen an increasing number decide the “fit” at a particular school is not good for them. In checking the resume of several players it is not unusual to discover by their junior year they have played at three schools. Of course the chief reason portal players have become so important there is little if any lag time. Unlike a former high school senior making the leap to Division I it’s quite different.

Portal players have experienced one to three years of collegiate play, there is still adjustment required but nothing close to what an incoming freshman player might face. With that said how about recruiting high school talent, does it remain paramount for coaches? Only a coach can truly answer that question however my belief is simple, it’s a 50-50 proposition. A coach needs to place equal value in both areas of recruiting, portal and high school. I have been an advocate for a commissioner of college sports for a time, one person at the top will not resolve all the ills of college sports however it can began a very serious study on how to fix stuff. That’s one area not presently being covered in my opinion, what do you think?

A basketball fan’s perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Who’s at the top now

Marcus Spears Jr. was the number one prospect in the Class of 2027. As noted here and in other accounts Spears Jr. reclassified and is now headed to the University of Texas next month, who takes his place in the top position now you ask? Well it depends on which prospect site you decide to check. Spears Jr. has been replaced by Beckham Black a 6-foot 3 point guard who is playing at Southeastern Prep Academy in Orlando Florida. Black hails from Duncanville Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

247 Sports and ESPN place Black in the top slot for 2027 however Rivals has another player in its top position. Rivals ranks CJ Rosser, a 6-foot-9 power forward, as its number one prospect. In an interesting twist, Rosser is Black’s teammate at Southeastern Prep, though he calls Rocky Mount, North Carolina, home. As whether this duo remains in the present position is another matter, classes begin next month, with basketball season soon to follow. There you have it, the top prospect for the Class of 2027, its either Beckham Black or CJ Rosser depending on your source.

I don’t do money

If you’ve read this blog any length of time you are aware of this fact, I don’t do money! Correction, it is a topic from time to time but never from the point of stating an athlete needs to be paid a certain amount, in addition I’ve never stated a team regardless of the sport should pay a specified amount to an individual.  Despite my love affair with basketball those in the NBA are vastly overpaid compared to first responders, medical and law enforcement including educators. This is where I’m headed, Victor Wembanyama signed an extension and essentially left money on the table, i.e., he failed to secure the max of what he could have received.

Plenty of folks have decided “in their minds this sets a dangerous tendency for others in the NBA.” Wemby is not the first athlete to take less money at contract time, we could use Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as our first example although he is unlikely the first as well. Over his time in the NFL the Chiefs have continued to reward him financially as it seems every season. The Chiefs indicate this tactic has been utilized to allow the team to secure additional talent. This type of financial arrangement was also used in the NBA in the past up to the present, the Spurs Tim Duncan did it so did Dirk Nowitzki of the Mavs. The most recent example to check would be Jalen Brunson, his move in taking less money is reported to have allowed the Knicks to acquire additional talent. The Wemby move is objectionable to former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins and he's voiced as much. 

Unlike the dinosaur

Science claims a meteorite was responsible for decimating the dinosaur population that once ruled the earth. Fast forward a few million years, we find ourselves at the point of extinction of the Pac-12. A number of teams managed to escape as if a meteorite were about to strike the western portion of the United States. A strange thing occurred with someone or somebody associated with what was left of the Pac-12, “We are not going to become the latest conference to dissolve like the Southwest and Metro Conferences did. We intend to stay and fight” and fight they did, after longtime members such a Southern Cal, UCLA and others departed replacements were located.   

Holdovers Oregon State and Washington State have been joined by Gonzaga, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State and Texas State. The revised Pac-12 now has 9 members and though some are referring to the conference as a “mid-major” those words have little meaning to me. I have no intention to project a conference leader, however, it should be pointed out the successful won-loss record of Gonzaga and coach Mark Few. I would be remiss if I failed to mention Boise State as well, they certainly have tasted on court basketball success too. If I overlooked your school forgive me, space and time will not allow me to conduct a deep dive discussion. The Pac-12 ain’t going nowhere and will continue into the future.

Retired numbers

There are several players with retired jerseys despite the fact they never played for that team. As an example you would expect the Bulls to have retired Michael Jordan’s number however the Heat have also retired his jersey. The same could be said for Kobe Bryant, his Laker jersey is retired but so is one the Mavs retired. Pete Maravich has three retired jerseys one each from the Hawks, Jazz and Pelicans, he first played for the Hawks and the Jazz while New Orleans was home, of course he never was a member of the Pelicans.

Wilt Chamberlain also has three retired jerseys however he played for the Warriors, Lakers and Sixers. Oscar Robertson is interesting in that he never played for the Kings yet they retired his number. He was drafted by and spent a major portion of his career playing for the Cincinnati Royals, by the time the team moved to Kansas City becoming the Kings he’d been traded to the Bucks who retired his jersey as well. Bob Lanier, Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley and Kareem Abdul Jabbar all have two jerseys retired. They competed as players for each of the teams they represented.  

A basketball fan’s perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Movin’ On

The headline references a 1978 tune by jazz artist George Duke, it could easily apply to LeBron James as well. LeBron probably saw the handwriting on the wall, the Lakers were moving on from him. I happen to believe it was more an age thing, it certainly wasn’t production, especially in the playoffs. I’ve said over and over never in the history of the game has there been a 41-year old play at the skill level of LeBron James. The Lakers were building for the future, this was a transition to the Lakers becoming Luka Dončić’s team.

Added were Cameron Carr in the 2026 draft, Adou Thiero from 2025 and maybe two-way rookie Arthur Kaluma appear to be the future, the issue of course can these rookies raise their level of play to the NBA. Each of the three appear to have an offensive game, my chief concern do they have a defensive posture? The Lakers are in a “win-now” attitude based on the free agent and trade moves that have been made thus far. I am looking beyond the 2026-27 NBA season, are the trio (and others) prepared for the long haul? With Luka and AR-15 plus others I believe the Lakers have no issue scoring baskets it’s the defense….defense….defense. Can the trio play defense as reserves plus score aiding the team in the tough Western Conference?

This is different

Once the basketball season begins in the fall we’ll see new coaches in unusual positions. Sure they will be head coaches however the location is what is significant in Dallas and Chapel Hill (NC). The Mavs will have a veteran but first time NBA coach….his name Dusty May and he was the head man at the University of Michigan. Although May is a first timer in the NBA as mentioned he’s spent 8 years as a head coach most of it at Florida Atlantic.

A basketball bounces across the floor in the same manner however there is a vast amount of difference between the college and NBA game. North Carolina always hires family but went outside this time hiring Mike Malone former Nuggets coach. Malone has over 20 years of NBA coaching experience with 12 years of it serving as head coach with the Kings and the Nuggets, in 2023 his Nuggets team won the NBA championship. In the case of May and Malone both have extensive coaching experience on their resume. The question, can they translate their college and NBA success to this new venue?

Meanwhile….

NBA fans, don’t be concerned if the names Aaron Nkrumah and Bryce Harris are unfamiliar. Both guards went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, but Nkrumah, from Tennessee State, and Harris, from Howard, signed free-agent deals with Denver and Oklahoma City, respectively. If either earns a roster spot, they will help renew the NBA’s connection to HBCU programs. HBCUs once produced large numbers of NBA players, but over time fewer prospects have developed their basketball skills at those institutions. The last few seasons have seen no NBA players from HBCUs on any NBA roster.

There is frequent discussion about how many NBA players began under Coach Cal. John Calipari has sent numerous players to the league from UMass, Memphis, Kentucky, and now Arkansas, and his long coaching career brings him plenty of attention. Jay Wright, though retired, also built a strong NBA pipeline at Villanova. Knicks Finals MVP Jalen Brunson played for him, as did teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. Donte DiVincenzo, Collin Gillespie, and Kyle Lowry are also part of a group that referred to Wright as coach. This is not a complete list, but it offers a brief look at Wright, a two-time NCAA championship-winning coach and one I believe could still lead young men if he desired.

It’s just me, as reported here a number of times Jason Crowe Jr. is the second highest rated Mizzou prospect since Michael Porter Jr. arrived at the school back in 2017 as the top prospect in the nation. Based on my belief Crowe Jr. is a one n done athlete I began checking 2027 NBA mock draft sites. They are all over the map, as an example 2-3 mock sites fail to list Crowe Jr. in either the first or second round. I located his name and ranking in several others however, Jeremy Woo ESPN places him number 8 while nbadraft.net has Crowe Jr. at 3. Cameron Salerno cbssports.com specifies him at number 17 while another mock site, nbadraftroom.com fails to list his name but claims and I quote; “he is a possible first round pick.” As a card carrying member of Mizzou Nation it’s likely he returns for his sophomore year….In truth that is only a hope!

Too much….maybe

I’ve covered arena plans throughout the NBA, one of the number of new buildings being planned is in San Antonio. Much of the new construction involving stadiums/arenas says, “we must build an entertainment district surrounding the building.” That will be the case in San Antonio however there is additional information for us outsiders to ponder. Dell Technologies is one of the larger corporations in the world producing computers, printers and associated hardware. Several years ago Michael Dell purchased 10% of the Spurs which is an unknown dollar figure.

The planned arena for the Spurs will be part government and part Spurs ownership to underwrite construction. Recently Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones created a shock when she suggested Dell fund the arena in a substantial manner. I don’t have the amount of money the Spurs plan on providing, this I know, the arena is projected to be in the neighborhood of $1.2 billion. Michael Dell is reported to have a net worth of $249 million, the mayor didn’t indicate she wanted Dell to pay for the entire cost of the construction….she wants him to provide more money. My question for you, do you think the mayor exceeded her authority or do you believe rich people like Dell need to step up and assume responsibility? 

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Buyer beware 

For anyone unfamiliar with Pablo Torre, he is a journalist who contributes to ESPN, MS Now, and other outlets. He’s one who I view with confidence in his reporting however I have a question on Sunday afternoon. There is a four minute video Torre is discussing the Kawhi Leonard trade and he uses the term “Buyer Beware.” He points to his belief the results of the NBA investigation is going to fall not where most of us believe it would. Torre indicates it’s the Raptors who will suffer the repercussions of the Aspiration investigation. Now keep in mind this is written from what I’ve read, the amount of documents Torre might have access to I’m unable to view.

Let’s briefly entertain a few facts, the Clippers have gone on record indicating Aspiration and Joseph Sandbern duped them. June 2026 witnessed Sandberg being sentenced to 14 years in prison for defrauding investors and lenders to the tune of $248 million for falsifying bank statements and financial documents. This “pay-for no work” scheme was hatched between Kawhi Leonard’s representatives and Aspiration in an effort to circumvent the salary cap as I attempted to explain to a co-worker. I don’t believe there is any provision prohibiting an athlete from outside income, this was a “pay for no work.” Back to Torre, my difficulty is understanding why he believes this matter falls in the lap of the Raptors. We should see how this eventually unfolds in the next few weeks and the NBA will okay the trade, what do you think?

Combo versus point

There are few point guards in the NBA in this age, even college and the international game we see more combo guards. Recently retired Chris Paul might be the only point guard remaining in the NBA, before him Rajon Rondo retired even earlier. These two and others always looked toward running their team’s offense, when called on they would score but that was not their primary intent. When did we began to see combo rather than pure point guards, that question is easily answered. I’m unsure who the second combo guard was its my contention the first was Oscar Robertson, The Big O. He arrived in the NBA in 1960 a time most teams contained point guards, how was The Big O different from those around him….he could score and distribute the basketball.

In his rookie year he dished out 9.7 assists a game and scored 30.5 ppg which placed his numbers alongside the high volume scorers of the period. During Robertson’s career most of it with the Cincinnati Royals (Kings) he was double digit in assists while scoring 30 plus points six times during his brilliant NBA career. We failed to use the term combo until recent years but nowadays NBA teams contain them over Bonafide point guards. They are named Melo Ball, Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson and a host of others who can score just as easily as setting up a teammate for a basket. The original combo guard Oscar Robertson is 87-years old currently, there is no requirement for me to detail the list of honors let’s just say they are quite extensive.

No. 1 Picks and the Hall of Fame: Part II

This second installment picks up with the first overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft. The pick would be John Wall who spent the bulk of his career with the Wizards who drafted him, I believe he deserves consideration for the hall of fame. We now move into the group of players who are still active beginning with Kyrie Irving. In 2011 Irving was the choice of the Cavs, still active despite coming off an injury he too deserves consideration. Up next is Anthony Davis in 2012, the injury factor aside AD deserves to be given attention.

In 2013 Anthony Bennett was chosen by the Cavs and he was a bust so the answer is evident regarding his status. 2014 and 2015 would see Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns selected number one, this is a no and a maybe. Wiggins has been a steady player throughout his career however I’m unsure if he is hall of fame worthy. The maybe for Karl-Anthony, his NBA championship although recent places him in the conversation. I’m going to stop at this point, a number of the remaining draft picks have not played long enough to be considered. The disclaimer, those names mentioned in both portions represent my observation alone. I remember once being asked if a certain player would be selected for the hall of fame, I said “no way” he is too one-dimensional. Well needless to say those with voting power (not me) nominated this player for the Naismith Hall of Fame.

NBA Summer League

If you live or happen to be vacationing in Las Vegas NBA Summer League basketball might be on your must see list. As for others of us the games are television only and in most instances even that is limited viewing. As an example I always attempt to follow Laker action for several reasons, to witness the newly drafted players in action for the first time. Despite having a full roster there are only two Lakers who are slotted to be added to the fall lineup. They are Cameron Carr drafted last month and Adou Thiero who was a 2025 draft choice but only played 25 games due to injury.

The Lakers have high hopes for both, as for the balance of their summer roster that’s another matter. I’m always looking for that athlete who exhibits strong enough play to receive a training camp invitation. Headed into the season with the free agent moves and trades I’m always on the lookout for defenders. The Lakers can score baskets, just as critical is the ability to defend. Carr and Thiero can score baskets, each proved that ability at Baylor and Arkansas respectively, the more anticipated question can they defend? Who are the others, my guess those on the regular season roster, they will likely spend part of their season with the parent club. Peter Suder, a 6-foot 4 guard from Miami (OH), a 3-point specialist and OK Okereke a 6-foot 7 244 pound defensive forward who last played at Vanderbilt. Finally there is 6-foot 4 guard Chris Manon who spent G-League and time with the parent club last season. 

A basketball fans perspective

Sunday, Monday, Wednesday & Friday

They showed up

In attendance were Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Cooper Flagg, Jalen Williams, Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and others were seen in Thursday night. The gathering at Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas was to watch top pick AJ Dybantsa of the Wizards and number two pick Darryn Peterson of the Jazz in action. The Wizards would prevail in the Summer League game 92-88.

Most everyone in attendance was to witness the top two picks in the 2026 NBA draft in action. Neither player shot particularly well from three (2-12) but overall it was 27 points for Dybansta in 26 minutes of action and 24 points by Peterson. These two rivals met on the court while playing for BYU and Kansas, they had also faced one another in high school. Rest assured fans of the Wizards and Jazz are excited regarding the upcoming NBA season and the future of these teams.   

Meanwhile….

His name has been mentioned in this blog previously, he is the son of former NFL player Marcus Spears Sr. Despite the path of his father Marcus Spears Jr. chose basketball, he’s quite outstanding at the game. The 6-foot 10 prospect was designated the top high school prospect in the Class of 2027 but wait there’s been a huge change. This past Thursday Spears Jr. not only reclassified but also made his commitment known, he is headed to the University of Texas to play for Sean Miller. Spears Jr. should aid the competitive nature of Texas basketball for at least two years, his youthful age will prevent him from the 2027 NBA draft.

This is a “what if” question and it makes perfect sense although there is no clear-cut answer. What if in searching for that perfect team LeBron’s championship aspirations fall short. Consider the fact he’s won NBA championships with the Heat, Cavs and Lakers however what becomes of his legacy if he fails to win at this final stop? My belief is simple, the legacy of LeBron James has already been firmly established, anything from this point into the future fails to affect it one way or another. For some fans it might be a disappointment i.e., no championship, as for others that’s a different matter.

For those unfamiliar with him his name is Nikola Kusturica, he’s a 17-year-old prospect from Serbia who will enroll at UCLA in the fall. Standing 6-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Kusturica projects as either a shooting guard or small forward. Recently he demonstrated his basketball prowess during the recent FIBA Under-17 World Cup games held in Türkiye, but just like Spears Jr., his age affects his NBA timeline if that is his goal. Regardless of how he performs as a freshman at UCLA, Kusturica must remain at UCLA through his sophomore season and therefore will not be eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft. Spears Jr. and Kusturica are two prospects we did not expect to see in college basketball this upcoming season.

Use your imagination, instead of Jalen Suggs playing point guard for the Magic this might have occurred. He’s tossing TDs to a WR in the NFL, it could have occurred after all he was Mr. Basketball & Mr. Football for the State of Minnesota while attending Minnehaha High School in Minneapolis Minnesota. Suggs could be tossing TD passes to LeBron James who played WR at St Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron Ohio. How about Zion Williamson at QB, which he did play as a youth, I would imagine at 6-foot 6 and 284 pounds he would have been moved to the defensive side of the ball. Russell Westbrook as a running back or linebacker which he played while growing up. Anthony Edwards gained a reputation as one of the best running backs in Pop Warner football. There are other NBA players who might have chosen the NFL over an NBA career, the names listed represent just a few.

A basketball fans perspective

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

We await a decision

Free agent signings and trades continue to occur as this is written. There is one move that is yet to be consummated, the trade of Kawhi Leonard from the Clippers back to the Raptors. The holdup on this trade is awaiting the results of an investigation. The quick explanation, Kawhi Leonard was reported to have signed a contract calling for “No Work” but he would receive payment from Aspiration. This was reported as a method by the Clippers and Leonard to circumvent the NBA salary cap. As this is written no decision has been rendered by the NBA as the league office continues to wait answers from the investigated body they hired.

If we look over the history of the NBA there have been numerous instances of violations requiring the league office to render a decision. To my knowledge this is the first instance of payment made to a player in this type of arrangement. A co-worker asked my thoughts on this matter and I was forced to confess I had no idea what the NBA might do if the Clippers and Kawhi are found guilty. Clipper owner Steve Ballmer is pleading innocent to the charge they attempted to bypass the NBAs salary cap. This from ESPN; “The Clippers on Thursday again said they did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration and they were victims of a fraud initiated by (Aspiration co-founder Joe) Sanberg. Sanberg has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.” A decision should occur before the end of summer due to the length of time this investigation has been conducted.

No precursor

I believe this member of Laker Nation remains an eternal optimist. Offer me a sense you are attempting a thing and if it appears feasible I’m gonna buy into it, that’s me and the 2026-27 version of the Lakers. I’m taking this bold stance on July 8 without the roster finalized and long before the NBA season begins. The basis for the why is the roster assembly to date, yes the heartbeat LeBron James has left. As all believe LeBron was a vital part of this team over the last eight seasons. If not for his talented play well, what can I say.

The Lakers were missing the playoffs until his arrival, he helped bring an NBA championship and playoff basketball every one of those eight seasons, that was then, this is now. The change, Mark Walter is majority-owner of the Lakers now, his ownership group has been quite active in its operation of the Dodgers baseball team. The owners have spent huge sums of money to acquire talent and the result has meant playoff and Worlds Series winning teams. Several in the media have indicated their belief the Lakers have “overpaid” in signing a number of players over the free agent/trading period. At this point we can only declare success at the end of the season, is there an NBA championship in the Lakers future?  

It’s just an opinion

The term “Generational Talent” has come into our vocabulary recently, by no means is it a new term. For an unknown reason I’ve only heard it applied to budding basketball talent, perhaps you’ve heard it related to other sports. In any event I conducted one of my unscientific polls at work, the question: “Is Cooper Flagg a generational talent?” One co-worker answered my question with an emphatic yes while another said; “I must see him play a degree longer.” What is the definition for the word, “In demographics, it generally spans a 20-30 year period.” If we use that as a description is it possible to have two generational talents arrive into the NBA in a short span of time?

I offer you no proof only an observation, I believe that is the case. We have Victor Wembanyama who reached the NBA in 2023 and the aforementioned Flagg in 2025. Although an international player we first saw Wemby as a 19-year old, as for Flagg he turned 19 last December after beginning play at Duke as a 17-year old. There are literally hundreds of thousands of youth playing basketball around the globe however just like cream a few rise to the top. Some might remember we held this discussion earlier and the answer is yes, there could be more than a single athlete at a time. At this time next season will there be a standout in the 2026 draft we uncover as a generational talent, of course we must wait to discover if or who that might be.    

He requested the Lakers

The problem with LeBron James was simple, I believe the great majority of Laker fans never fully embraced him. The question might be why there is no single reason but a bunch. Chief I believe is how he arrived in Los Angeles. If we go back in time consider this, the late Jerry West drafted Magic Johnson, there was James Worthy….then he saw a 17-year old Kobe Bryant and arranged a draft trade to acquire him. Shortly thereafter Shaquille O’Neal was signed in free agency after West went after him. Free agent LeBron James said; “I want the Lakers,” do you see the difference here? Each of the names (and others) the Lakers sought, LeBron James wanted the Lakers and they said okay, we’ll sign you.

Of course that is an over simplification of the events that brought LeBron James to Southern California. Over the period he was a Laker I read more than my share of complaints and guess what? The overwhelming majority of these criticisms had little to do with his production on the basketball court. The Lakers drafting of Bronny would only add “fuel to the already existing fire.” This is a shorten version of my belief why LeBron James is no longer a Laker, my hope….the divorce wouldn’t be so contemptuous. Maybe the breakup would have turned out much smoother if the Lakers had pursued LeBron all those years ago instead of the other way around.

A basketball fans perspective

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

What is it

At a different time NBA players signed standard contracts, over time agreements between the players association and owners has brought about change. I was familiar with the contracts but not the details, because a number of you have the same degree of knowledge I thought it necessary to do a deep dive on these contracts. This exercise began with me reading the Lakers had signed several players to Exhibit 10 contracts, while others received two-way deals. Although my interest began with the Lakers, other NBA teams utilize these agreements as well.

I thought they were worth exploring because I was not fully sure what each contract involved. According to information I found online, an Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum-salary NBA deal, usually used to bring undrafted rookies or free agents into training camp and Summer League. A two-way contract, meanwhile, allows a player to split time between an NBA team and its G League affiliate. Each NBA team may carry up to three two-way players, who earn a set salary equal to half the rookie minimum and are not eligible for postseason play.

A common thread

Derrick Rose, John Wall, DeAaron Fox and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, names familiar to all NBA fans. Those are point guards who began their NBA careers after playing in college for one coach, who might that coach be is the question. Before I provide the answer some of you are excellent detectives, you have the name in advance of me providing it. His name, John Calipari and currently he’s head basketball coach at Arkansas and we can debate how much or how little he contributed but all those point guards played for Calipari at Memphis, Kentucky and soon Arkansas. You are trying to figure out….Arkansas?

He is Darius Acuff Jr. and he too is a point guard who played for Calipari, as for Acuff Jr. he was chosen the number 7 pick by the Kings in the June draft. As for the coach his journey has led him from UMass to Memphis then Kentucky and now Arkansas. He’s been at this love for 32 years, I use the term love to describe what this coach has accomplished, Calipari’s record at these stops total 905 wins and 286 losses (.760). The coach has his detractors, many claim “He’s a great recruiter but not good at the X’s and O’s of the game.” They also point toward the wins vacated while he was at UMass and Memphis as examples of him skirting the rules. Sorry if you expected this to be a formal accusation against Coach Cal, he’s one of the coaches I believe continues to excel at his craft.

No. 1 Picks and the Hall of Fame: Part I

What connection exists between the top NBA draft pick and the Naismith Hall of Fame? For this discussion, I think it’s only fair to exclude players drafted in 2021 or later, so I’ll use 2000-2020 as the measuring period. Let’s begin. In 2000, the New Jersey Nets made Kenyon Martin the number one pick. He became a solid NBA player, but not one likely to be enshrined. In 2001, the Wizards selected Kwame Brown first overall; again, a good player, but not Hall of Fame material. Yao Ming, chosen by the Rockets in 2002, is already in the Naismith Hall.

LeBron James, selected by the Cavaliers in 2003, clearly has one foot in the door. In 2004, the Magic took Dwight Howard first overall; whether he belongs is, in my opinion, open for debate. Andrew Bogut was first and to the Bucks in 2005, and while he had a good career, the Hall of Fame answer is no. The same applies to Andrea Bargnani, Toronto’s choice in 2006. In 2007, injuries cut short Greg Oden’s potential career. Derrick Rose went first to the Bulls in 2008, followed by Blake Griffin to the Clippers in 2009; in both cases, you can be the judge. That covers the top picks through 2009, the players selected from 2010-2020 will be discussed in a later edition.

The return

When it was announced Austin Reaves was returning to the Lakers I thought it was good news. There are defensive issues in his game but I believe he brings a great deal more to the table offsetting that one issue. That’s the good for the Lakers, up to this point there is no bad just a question on my part. Last season I found myself excited with the prospect of adding Big Man Deandre Ayton to the Lakers roster. After a good early season start it appeared he regressed, I cannot provide a day or date. Ayton’s production was mostly roller-coaster good game-bad game and this trend continued to his media comment. The Laker post man indicated he didn’t want to be a Clint Capela or similar words.

What I found personally concerning was this fact, Capela at one time was a consistent double-double performer for the Hawks and early with the Rockets. He led the NBA in rebounding for the 2020-21 season. That provides you a basis for why I believe Ayton’s attitude was questionable, then the playoffs began. He would play good in the team’s win over the Rockets but all but disappear against the Thunder. In fairness to Ayton the Thunder are a very good team however he didn’t appear motivated at times during the series. Fast forward to the present day and pending free agency, Ayton opted in with the Lakers, this move places him on the team for the time being. As this was being completed word came Jaxson Hayes signed a deal with the Jazz and is no longer a Laker, this move leaves Ayton as backup for now if he remains on the roster. NOTE: Ayton was traded soon after this was written.

A basketball fans perspective

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

You can’t get there from here

The free agent moves of the Lakers have been called into question by many among them ESPNs Stephen A. Smith. I’m not going to detail individual players, my task here is to discuss the why. This is written Friday July 3, 2026, it’s my understanding the Lakers have little cap room remaining. With that statement I have no idea who will comprise the remainder of the roster. Training camp for NBA teams begins in late September, which is about three months from now, the league will commence play in October and the 2027 NBA playoffs will begin in April.  I hope you understand where I am headed with this rant, there are far too many intangibles at work to determine whether the Lakers have assembled an NBA championship roster.

The first area of concern is injuries: As much as we hate to discuss the issue player availability is a major portion of the game, and as an example how about the playoffs. There is no method for us to determine whether a healthy Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James could have beaten the Thunder in the playoffs. The second issue I’d like to add is cohesiveness: can this patch work roster, especially the newly acquired players, play together as a team? The third, and perhaps final, factor is competition from other NBA teams. The only team failing to make a move at least through the free agent period is the Warriors, time remains for even them up till Monday. All NBA teams remain immense competition for a playoff spot, an NBA championship is a whole other story. Don’t misunderstand, a number of issues raised by these individuals are valid. Despite that fact it’s a little difficult to decide who is to become the 2027 NBA champion since we are early in July 2026….hence the basis for the headline of this account.

Proof to her (and me)

I’m going to fall back on my overused line “what do I know….I’m just a basketball fan.” More on me later, you remember the comment Becky Hammon made regarding Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. I’m not going to repeat it word for word just the fact she expressed a belief a “little guard” could not lead his team to an NBA championship or something similar. After the Knicks became NBA champs by sinking the Spurs hopes Hammon did back up to a degree. She said her opinion was wrong and referred to Brunson as an “outlier” a term totally unfamiliar to me.

This is the definition I uncovered: “An outlier is a person, thing, or data point that stands apart from others because it is radically different. The term generally describes something that falls outside the main grouping or normal pattern.” Brunson’s name is added next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas two small guards with NBA championships on their resume. I never questioned Brunson’s leadership skills I did however underestimate his bulldog determination to succeed. In a sense perhaps Hammon and I shared the same perspective to a degree, in my instance let’s just say I am in a full scale retreat from my earlier observation.

He did it again

I read Stephen A. Smith’s statement and initially planned to leave it alone. But the more I thought about it, the more I felt he was wrong and that it needed to be addressed. For anyone unfamiliar with the situation, free agency and a trade brought several new players to the Lakers. Training camp has not even begun, so we do not yet know who will start, other than Walker Kessler. Based on the addition of Kessler and two other white players, Smith concluded, “They can’t win with these guys, this ain’t golf,” or words to that effect. The information I uncovered most of you are familiar with, it indicates “Black athletes make up about 78% to 80% of the NBA.” Consider the reverse: what if a white media member made a similar comment about a hockey team adding three Black athletes, or a soccer (football) team doing the same?

What makes Smith’s statement even more puzzling is that, in the same remarks, he mentioned Larry Bird’s greatness and even included Cooper Flagg’s name. Consider this fact, the 2004 Lakers had four future hall of fame players, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton. These Lakers failed to win a championship despite the fact of these four very talented black athletes. This brief response will not change Stephen A. Smith’s mind, or the minds of those who agree with him. Over time, the NBA has taken questionable actions that appeared racially biased, and I cannot deny that. Still, I believe a harmful or misguided message can be worse of all, it provides a misleading or unhealthy view of a matter some or unable or unwilling to see. Early in his media career Smith had a degree of credibility for me, he was bombastic but entertaining, all that’s changed now. He’s become trapped in this media driven frenzy he’s created, it's a shame the discussion of race must continue to permeate the thoughts and beliefs of some. 

It might be over

Mizzou coach Dennis Gates during a radio interview indicated the Mizzou-Kansas game might be over. Contractually the December 2026 game will be the last played unless the school’s decide to renew. Gates indicates he is interested in the game remaining on Mizzou’s schedule however athletic department changes or coach Bill Self on the Kansas side might not be interested in continuing the series. For those unfamiliar with the history these schools were longtime rivals dating back to the first game played in the 1906-07 season. All that changed in 2012 when Mizzou moved to the SEC while Kansas remained a member of the Big 12.

There is speculation on my part (unproven) Bill Self was upset at the move and avoided scheduling this longtime rival for a non-conference game. The final conference game between the schools saw Kansas win an overtime thriller February 25, 2012, 87-86 in Allen Fieldhouse. The two school’s would not play one another until December 11, 2021, Kansas was a winner 106-65 once again playing on its home court. As conference foes and later in the SEC Mizzou has been at a deficit in the won-loss department. If you ask the question what do I think, at a point there was a strong desire on my part for the rivalry to continue, the years have seen me less interested in playing Kansas. We shall see how this rivalry eventually resolves itself because it’s clear Dennis Gates wants it to continue.

A basketball fans perspective

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

Fast & Furious

This has nothing to do with the movie series rather it involves the fast & furious moves of the Lakers. Allow me to explain it in this manner, day one of free agency not a peep from them. There was plenty of media talk but nothing substantial emanating from the Lakers camp. On day two mid-morning central time ……BAM! First came this report, Walker Kessler had been obtained in a sign and trade deal with the Jazz. Although Deandre Ayton remains on the team the 7-foot 2 245 pound Kessler is expected to supplant Ayton in the post.

Kessler is a rim-protector rebounder and lob threat, reports indicate Ayton might be a better defender than Kessler although in and around the basket Kessler is the better custodian. As for the further moves in quick succession it was reported Sandro Mamukelashvili power forward/center would be signed along with Quentin Grimes shooting guard/small forward and Collin Sexton combo guard. With the exception of Kessler all three are expected to take on reserve roles with the Lakers. The key of course to these moves is the health of Luka Doncic, he must be on the floor however the minutes might have taken a toll on his body in the past. Optimistically, Austin Reaves along with Collin Sexton can reduce the length of time Luka spends on the court.

Meanwhile….

I checked ESPN’s NBA page on Wednesday, I was curious how the Blazers depth chart would appear after the arrival of Ja Morant. Here goes, Scoot Henderson is listed at the point, Jrue Holiday at shooting guard, backing Henderson is Morant. Dame Lillard’s name was not listed anywhere, perhaps that’s due to him coming off an injury however he’s got to play somewhere don’t you think? I certainly have no intention of trimming the Blazers backcourt that is the responsibility of the Blazer coaching staff, despite my statement it appears the team is operating with more guards than required if other reserves are included in the count, its overload. Of course newly acquired Morant will play and most likely Henderson too so that leaves Dame and Henderson questionable for some sort of role with the team.

I know, there is no reason to remind me….they don’t play basketball games on paper, in addition if you are not from around here the significance will be lost. ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 teams was checked, listed as the number 21 team in the nation Missouri’s Tigers. At 23 we find the Kansas Jayhawks, in the past Mizzou has not been as highly rated in any preseason poll as Kansas basketball. There is no requirement to detail the why. The rating is earned on the basis of the talent ESPN believes Mizzou will place on the court, this despite the fact Kansas will have the number one high school prospect in the nation Tyran Stokes.  

We have questions, okay maybe it’s only me with questions I can’t really speak for you. The prospect of NBA Europe brought about numerous reservations on my part, the chief one. How will the Euroleague adapt to having an NBA team “next door” instead of a continent away? Apparently much better than I first thought, according to ESPN the NBA has received over 20 groups vying to own a team. “Multiple bids exceeded $1 billion” according to the report which to me is much stronger evidence than I believed at a point in time. Where would these 12 teams play might be your next question and currently these are the cities. London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Munich, Milan, Rome and Istanbul. Also Barcelona, Manchester England and Lyon France and Athens Greece, NBA Europe is prepped to begin play in October 2027.

The Kobe Stopper

The headline, that’s the nicknamed Reuben Patterson daubed himself. I’m sure many you reading never witnessed Kobe Bryant’s play, you are stuck with YouTube videos and discussions of this type by those who saw him in action. He certainly was the real deal and many opposing players did their best to hinder his scoring, one of them being Reuben Patterson. He actually began his NBA career with the Lakers after they drafted him in 1998, he would only spend his rookie year with them. From their it was the Sonics, Blazers and several other NBA teams, I believe this occurred while Patterson was with the Sonics, he proclaimed himself “The Kobe Stopper.”

Friends, Kobe Bryant didn’t score 81 points every time he walked onto a basketball court, despite his declaration Patterson managed to do very little stopping as evidence by this. During the course of his career in 23 games Kobe averaged 29.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists. The main reason I bring this ancient story to light was a Mavs website. They wrote and I paraphrase: “We have the Wemby Stopper” a reference to Dereck Lively II, in the article the writer alluded to the success Lively II experienced against Victor Wembanyama. This is not an argument claiming the Mavs center didn’t perform in the manner mentioned its simply the age old argument….in the NBA no one is really a stopper. Defending an opposing player you attempt to make him work harder or the shots he takes more difficult. At this level no one truly stops anyone from scoring but what do I know….I’m just a basketball fan.

A basketball fans perspective

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

“Everything Must Change”

For some who might be unfamiliar the headline is a song title recorded by several artists in the past. The names are known primarily in the jazz field, they include the late Nina Simone, George Benson, Oleta Adams and others. Change must occur in Lakerland as well, LeBron James is headed elsewhere, the belief is probably the Warriors. Let’s check the past, in 2018 when he arrived in Los Angeles LeBron had already punched his ticket to the Naismith Hall of Fame several years earlier. The Lakers one of the premier teams in the NBA were suffering at the time LeBron arrived, they had missed the playoffs six consecutive years.

Play of that type was certainly un-Laker like based on their history. In six seasons of eight with the Lakers they would be a playoff team and they added an NBA championship (2020), LeBron certainly was a key to that championship. There were missteps regarding at least two of the coaches hired at the time LeBron arrived, Frank Vogel who led them to the championship shouldn’t have been fired IMO. Darvin Ham had a winning record but circumstances proved to some in Laker Nation (me included) he needed to be replaced. The jury remains out on JJ Redick whom I believe is a good choice but must prove to everyone else. Here I am going to go fast-forward to the recent playoffs, no Luka and no Reaves, who led the way to the victory over the Rockets, it was 41-year old LeBron James. At the same time, the handwriting was on the wall, apparently the Lakers were looking down the road minus LeBron. A friend called me on Tuesday, he said something like “Did you hear LeBron James is leaving the Lakers?” I informed him the news had made its way to me earlier, he said; “You got a pipeline to the front office?” Of course that is not the case. 

I believe it was more than age, LeBron wore out his welcome in Lakerland. Despite that last statement he will forever be among the Laker favorites for me. I believe it wouldn’t end like this, my hope LeBron Raymone James Sr. would retire a Laker but that would not occur. The window is closing on his hall of fame career and I can state this with conviction, I’ve never witnessed a basketball player his age still resemble the one most of us first witnessed play at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron Ohio all those years ago. To top off his Laker career he would become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

The house cleaning continues

NBA talent Ja Morant has almost become an afterthought, in 2019 Morant was made the second pick in that year’s draft. Almost immediately he proved his value as he was named Rookie of the Year in the NBA in 2020. Since that year Morant has mostly endured headlines that have a negative tone attached to them. Suspensions, injuries have caused his “star” to become somewhat tarnished. No one but Grizzlies management had a clue as to what was about to unfold. Management had begun moving members of the roster placing them with other teams. The biggest name prior to what you are about to read was Jaren Jackson Jr. The Grizzly Big Man along with three others was traded to the Jazz back in February. 

The team would miss the playoffs and soon after the season ended all sorts of speculation had Morant headed almost everywhere except Memphis. On Monday came unofficial word, Morant had been traded to the Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Despite his talent the number of injuries have severely impacted his career. The injuries are part of the game the suspensions over his career are different. There is no requirement to detail them for you except to state hopefully the trade will work in his favor, notice nowhere did I state he was lacking skill. The injuries are just that, the suspensions are his responsibility to curtail. Now the downside of this move, Dame Lillard remains a talent and is still a member of the Blazers, in addition he and Morant will represent a “small NBA backcourt.”

Deep, deep pockets 

The NBA intends to return to Seattle and also place a team in Las Vegas. For this account, the goings on in Las Vegas will be the focus. A number of you are aware LeBron James had expressed interest at one time of becoming an NBA owner, particularly in Las Vegas. Who are the players wanting to purchase the expansion franchise, well there is Bill Foley who owns the NHL Golden Knights who refer to Las Vegas home. We also have Bob Iger former Disney CEO and Joshua Kushner businessman and venture capitalist plus a guy by the name of Magic Johnson.

These are the reported parties that will vye for the Las Vegas franchise once the NBA performs its due diligence. I uncovered this while surfing the net, “The owners are looking at an expenditure of $7-$10 billion to secure a team.” What continues to amaze me, those individuals who make statements like; “Nobody is watching the NBA” WRONG! Anytime folks want to purchase a team at the figure mentioned they have deep, deep pockets. They could choose to spend their money in a number of other areas. Because I have no ability to see the books I have serious doubts if any NBA owner is “losing” money. By the way, the last communication from the camp of LeBron James indicated he was no longer interested.   

The “other” NBA team  

I realize in a technical sense the Nets can be titled “New York’s other team,” most NBA fans probably believe the Knicks are the only game in town despite the fact the Nets have referred to the Brooklyn borough as home since 2012. The franchise has suffered over the years moving from place to place since the days it first began play in the ABA back in 1967 as the New Jersey Americans. It was believed by some the new Barclays Center plus the prospect of new team in town would endear the Nets to Brooklyn and the other boroughs but alas that appears to not be the case. As an outsider to this subject I believe (and I could be wrong) winning an NBA championship or even playing for one will increase the Nets credibility.

The problem is they haven’t won anything since the glory days of the ABA, they won championships in 1974 and 1976 a long, long time ago. More recently the Nets have experienced three losing seasons consecutively, before that they were on a roller-coaster in the won-loss department. The population of Brooklyn alone (2,600,000) is equivalent to that of the Kansas City MO metro. Part of the problem lies in Manhattan, the team with New York on the front of their jerseys. We might conclude that the Nets will always remain New Yorks “other” team with the built in loyalty of that team. Now with NBA champions in front of their name do the Nets even stand a chance with an above average performance on the court? It’s a genuine problem when the Knicks number one celebrity fan continues to live in Brooklyn, need I say more?