A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Yet it remains

Despite what some might believe these days high school recruiting of talent remains important. The days of NIL and the transfer portal leads some to judge that part to be crucial to a team’s growth. While it remains a vital piece high school talent is just as important. Mizzou has the 2026-27 season to contend yet coach Gates is looking ahead toward the future. Two commits from the Class of 2027 have indicated they are headed to Columbia next fall.

On Friday Mizzou received another commit, his name Devin Cleveland. Cleveland is a 6-foot 3 point guard and 247Sports rates him a 4-star prospect. In the same manner as others sites 247Sports places a rating on recruiting classes. Based on the commitment of Cleveland the scouting site moves Mizzou up to number two in the nation only behind Houston at this time. Friends, this ranking means diddly if the prospects cannot or discovered to be unable to play at the level expected of them. Naturally as a member of Mizzou Nation my hope is that is not the case. Basketball games are won on the court not on paper so that factor must be considered as well.

Coming to a screeching halt…..at least a pause

NBA fans in Seattle began a slow clap when the league announced, “Expansion was on the horizon.” In addition Seattle and Las Vegas were mentioned in the next breath, we are a time from that announcement and in Seattle there is not as much joy. Residents in Seattle figured the NBA was trying to address an issue many believed they played a role, moving the franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma City. If Seattle was one, Las Vegas was two in discussions, now the roles have been reversed. The NBA appears to be concerned about the financing for a Seattle franchise. They have even hinted Mexico City might replace Seattle in the expansion plans.

Mexico City has been on the NBAs radar for a time, there are numerous reasons why, chief among them the time zone. At the time this is written its 4:20 p.m. Central Daylight Saving Time and 3:20 p.m. in Mexico City. The peso is solid compared to the dollar plus there is a ready-made NBA fan base in a city of 9 million, in addition Arena CDMX has a max population of 22,300 spectators. The negatives for a franchise in Mexico City, at the top of the list is the fact it’s a Spanish speaking nation which is not what you might first believe. If the NBA intends to build NBA Europe rest assured every fan in Turkey or Italy doesn’t speak English. At the top of the list for negatives is the cities altitude, consider the fact Mexico City has a higher elevation than Denver. In closing Mexico City might eventually receive a franchise but not before Seattle.

Meanwhile….

You might remember back in July when you read this account, a teen had purchased a Wilt Chamberlain jacket from the 1972 NBA Finals at a thrift store. The purchase price he paid for the jersey was a mere $3.07 and later it was sold at auction for $89,000. Well there is another story we have just been made aware. A Bulls road jersey worn by Michael Jordan in the 1998 NBA Finals was located. The MJ jersey sold for an even larger number at auction, $14 million. My initial question, who is able to purchase sports memorabilia at such a staggering number? I thought this back in July about visiting thrift stores but I’m serious now, Kansas City thrift stores here I come.

SEC media predicts Mizzou men’s basketball to finish 8^th in the conference. That well could occur however I happen to be a dissenting voice. There is no disagreement that the SEC is one of the toughest men’s basketball conferences in the nation, its stacked from top to bottom. It’s more than 5-star prospect Jason Crowe Jr., on paper they have one of the deepest rosters in the school’s history whether Mark Mitchell becomes eligible or not. On the other hand basketball games are not played on paper, the proof is in the end result. Oh well, just consider me a member of Mizzou Nation and end it here.

Euroleague representatives say; “Thanks but we have no desire to be part of you.” Of course I speak of NBA Europe and FIBA’s effort to establish a footprint on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The NO reasons for the Euroleague to align with NBA Europe are too numerous to detail however it appears for now the NBA and FIBA will proceed without Euroleague being part of the expansion. The plan is two franchises in the United Kingdom, London and Manchester along with two in Spain, Madrid and Barcelona. There will be two teams in France Paris and Lyon, in Germany Berlin and Munich. Completing the list will be Italy with teams in Milan and Rome plus Greece with a team located in Athens and Turkey with its team in Istanbul.