A basketball fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

It was 1980

All these years later we hear this story for the first time, it was 1980, 46 years ago and this is brand new. Do we believe it, Hakeem Olajuwon arrived on these shores from Nigeria in 1980, there was no one to greet him at the airport. He went outside and the cold, cold wind of New York City hit him. He returned to the terminal and caught an airport employee who happen to be from Nigeria. Olajuwon had three tickets, one to Louisville, the other Providence Rhode Island and the third Houston Texas. He asked the question, “Which location is closer to the weather in Lagos (Nigeria).” Olajuwon was informed it was Houston so he boarded a flight for Texas.

Thus begins the story of his time at the University of Houston. Let’s dissect the story a bit, we must transport our minds back to 1980, at that time not a single player from the African continent had ever played in the NBA. NBA scouting is at a different level now, a name might be unknown to most basketball fans but not scouts. Talent from the continent has been thoroughly scouted unlike back in 1980. Of course Olajuwon would go on to become a two time NBA champion, MVP (1994) and twice be named Finals MVP. Retirement would see Olajuwon enshrined in the FIBA and Naismith Hall of Fame all this due to Houston being a warmer climate than Louisville or Providence. Of course talent and a work ethic certainly impacted Olajuwon as a professional. The question in closing, do you believe the airport story?

If it occurs

As a member of Laker Nation the ongoing drama surrounding Jonathan Kuminga has driven me bonkers. Is this power forward worth the phenomenon that swirls about him? This is written early Monday morning July 27, by Wednesday will the Lakers have signed him or maybe Friday? I have no idea however I thought it might be a good idea to understand the holdup on Kuminga signing with the Lakers, Cavs or anyone else. What you are about to read below is from Lakers Buzz PH. I cannot verify the accuracy of however it certainly sounds plausible based on the series of events that appear to be swirling about, check it out.

Jonathan Kuminga Saga Explained

— Lakers are willing to pay around $15–16 million per year in a sign-and-trade.

— ATL are willing to facilitate a deal centered around Vando + draft compensation.

— Trade Structure: Vando (via TPE) + 2 second rounders to the Bucks, Dalton Knecht + 1 second rounder to the Hawks, and JK to the Lakers.

— But Kuminga wants over $20M, and if he takes less money, he only wants a 1-year deal.

— Trade talks have paused because NBA sign-and-trade rules require a minimum 3-year contract, preventing Kuminga from signing the 1-year deal he prefers.

— Jonathan Kuminga needs the Lakers as much, than the Lakers need Jonathan Kuminga.

Who is really at fault

There are complaints about basketball skills no longer being taught in this nation, is it true? Probably depends on who you ask the question. I have no inside information only answers from several sources, most believe the biggest offender is AAU basketball. A young co-worker of mine claims that view is in error so that is the basis for the differences in opinion. An individual claims that for every AAU coach attempting to teach fundamentals there are others who simply roll the basketball onto the court expecting play, there is no strategy and little teaching.

Let me take that back, there remain old school coaches, the problem there are more Millennials/Gen Z coaches on the scene than ever. Is it possible to begin teaching the fundamentals of the game….of course it is however there is a problem. That problem is winning, the shoe company sponsors desire a winning product be exhibited. Until American coaches decide to change an increasing number of Euro players skilled in fundamentals of the game will continue to arrive on these shores. There will be no point when American players no longer comprise the bulk of college and NBA talent. These American players are less likely to dominate the game in the same manner their grandfathers and fathers once did, better be prepared for the future unless there are changes.

What didn’t work

Our focus has been planned arenas but how about the one’s that didn’t work? A number of these former homes for NBA basketball have been demolished while others have found different usage after the NBA left. The few to be covered are the “football stadiums,” as you are aware the NCAA championship game is played in a football stadium but that’s only one game. How about playing 41 home games in a building built for football? For a brief period that was the Sonics, Pistons and Spurs.

The Kingdome in Seattle was built for Mariners baseball and Seahawks football, the basketball team had difficulty in one home for a time. The Kingdome would be home from 1978-1985, the Sonics would move to Key Center and the Kingdome would be demolished in March of 2000. On the other side of the country we had the Silverdome home of the Pistons, it was actually located in Pontiac and not Detroit. The building could hold 60,000 for basketball although most times the Pistons had fewer numbers, the Silverdome was the Pistons home from 1978-1988 and was replaced by The Palace at Auburn Hills. As for the stadium it was eventually closed and demolished in two stages the first occurring in 2017 and then 2018. The last football stadium is the only building still in use, the Alamodome in San Antonio. The stadium was built with the hope that the NFL would place a franchise in the city which never occurred.

The Spurs played their basketball at the HemisFair Arena (now closed) beginning with their ABA days (1973), once they moved into the NBA the team continued play in the building until 1993. The Spurs moved to the Alamodome in 1993 and played there until 2002 when they moved to the SBC Center (now Frost Bank Arena). These buildings were not terrible, the issue was simple, they were designed for football/baseball play not the close up play of basketball. In addition as indicated earlier a single game (NCAA championship) is workable, 41 home games makes for a tremendous difference.