A fan’s perspective

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What’s next for him

I realize several grew tired of me writing about the exploits of the Spurs Victor Wembanyama. Based on his 2024-25 season being cut short due to injury he came roaring back last season. He led the Spurs to the NBA Championship although they came up short, the question what do we expect after his  breakout 2025-26 year. At age 22 he became the youngest player in NBA history at 22 years of age to be named NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the previous winner was Dwight Howard who was 23 years old the first time he won the honor. Wemby’s surprised him on the age chart that’s clear but there is more.

Most Blocks in an NBA Playoff Game, that record was held by three players. Hakeem Olajuwon, Mark Eaton and Andrew Bynum all had 10 blocks….Wemby had 12. How about this other playoff game record, Wemby became the youngest player to record a 40-point, 20-rebound game, he accomplished this at 22-years of age, the previous record holder was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at age 23-years. Most Career Games With 5+ Blocks before age 23, Shaquille O’Neal accomplished this in 45 games…Wemby its 46. There are other records but I will stop here with this, Wemby became the first unanimous DPOY in history. He received 100 of 100 votes cast, the nearest to him was Ben Wallace who finished with 116 of 120 votes.

Vindicated

Several reading this are familiar with Pablo Torre and his reporting. Before I delve into the topic at hand allow a brief explanation from me, I have no issues with the media. I do have issues with certain members who in reporting the story become THE STORY by their over the top reporting, Torre is not among that number. One year ago, September 2025 he broke a story regarding the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and Aspiration Company. He reported the player had circumvented the salary cap thanks in part to his Clippers team.

I’m unsure what most believed at the time however there must have been enough evidence for the NBA, they hired an outside legal agency  to begin conducting an investigation. For the next 11 months the public heard little except there was progress being made. At a point in August came a report indicating “No judgement was forthcoming for the Clippers owner Ballmer or Leonard.” It’s now believed the Clippers might have funneled this report to ESPN who in turn ran with the story. I along with several others assumed it was being reported so it must be correct. We reported what was revealed by this story, Of course all that changed September 2, 2026, as the NBA made a major announcement indicating the Clippers were guilty of wrongdoing. The league issued major punishment to Ballmer, two front office individuals plus Kawhi and his agent. Was this close to a “Death Penalty,” you be the judge, 5 consecutive first round draft picks beginning in 2029. You’ve read plenty on the outcome my focus is Torre, he was roundly criticized in some circles initially after the all clean report was generated.

After September 2, his labor has been vindicated and he’s proven once again the value of investigative reporting. I’ve seen him on television from time to time over the last year, no pontificating in front of the television cameras. Torre calmly lays out his view of the subject matter and reports what he’s discovered.  Torre would become a 2026 Pulitzer winner for his Audio Reporting podcast investigation on the Clippers. This should provide proof there is always a requirement for reliable and forthright investigative reporting no matter what area is under discussion.

This is interesting  

I didn’t generate what you are about to read, it’s an Instagram author, despite that fact I believe you will find it quite interesting. The following is his list of the “15 Men Who Changed Basketball Forever.” Number one is easy to understand, he placed James A. Naismith in the top slot. There would be no basketball without his desire and innovation to provide a winter sport for his classes. George Mikan Minneapolis Lakers Big Man was selected number two, he was listed as the NBA’s first superstar. There is no intent to list all 15 simply point out several I found interesting.

Bill Russell was four while Wilt Chamberlain earned a 5 slot, Julius Erving was listed at 7. Two on-court adversaries who were certainly responsible for growth of the NBA game Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were listed 8 and 9. The writer placed the innovative Pete Maravich at 12, does he belong on the list in your view? Dirk Nowitzki also earned a spot, he was not the first international star he was listed at 13. Steph Curry was placed at 14 the only current active player and finally Kareem Abdul Jabbar was 15. Keep this in mind, I believe the writer was not compiling this list from a talent standpoint, it appears to be a selected number of athletes who impacted and changed how the NBA game was played.

Confused, no longer

The ever changing landscape of rules and regulations inside the NBA is sometimes confusing to fans. That is the case for me (and maybe you as well), I hear the term protected or unprotected used regarding the NBA draft. In simple terms the definition or meaning of the words are understandable but the question remains for me, how does this relate to the NBA draft? Since I was unsure of how it was utilized I sought help, I did this because I ain’t too smart, what you are about to read is AI generated and not my words. In the 2027 NBA draft where do my Lakers stand is the question? Based on what you are about to read you will understand the confusion and it will provide the answer most of us are inquiring.

“Lakers own a top-4 projected or protected pick in 2027 actually reflects the inverse: the Los Angeles Lakers traded their 2027 first-round pick to the Utah Jazz (via the Russell Westbrook trade), and that pick is top-4 protected.”  

“What the Protection Entails

If the pick lands 1 through 4: The Lakers keep their pick.

If the pick lands 5 or lower (5th to 30th): It conveys to the Utah Jazz.

Because the first-round pick fails to convey, it transforms into a 2027 second-round pick sent to Utah instead.”