A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I wonder why

Cut day saw the Lakers waive Dalton Knecht but keep Bronny James on the roster. I am just as confused as you, I thought for sure a decision would be made in favor of Knecht. The main reason at least while in college Knecht proved he could score baskets, during his tenure with the Lakers that component was missing from his skill set. Coach JJ Redick even went on record detailing the fact Bronny had a poor (my words, not the coach) preseason when he was on the floor. I cannot explain why Knecht is gone and Bronny remains, there is no conspiracy as I read.

I actually came across what you are about to read. “LeBron James is paying the Lakers to keep Bronny on the roster.” There is no doubt in my mind the manner young James arrived in Purple and Gold had his daddy’s fingerprints all over it. I have serious, serious doubts that LeBron has enough clout to keep his son on the Laker roster. My issue with Bronny is simple, his game has not developed in the manner expected of a third year player. I understood the why Bronny was drafted (LeBron), I understood why he remained on the roster. What I fail to understand now is the why, at this point I’m unsure if there is anything Bronny does well enough to be considered an NBA talent. Am I being too tough on the youngster….perhaps but I must call this as I see it.

Top 10-New York City

There is a rich high school boys basketball tradition in New York City. I thought an exercise of the best would prove interesting, this time it’s not me….its AI Overview. If you are a student of the game many of the names will be familiar to you, familiar because there were careers that eventually led them to the Naismith Hall of Fame. With that said let’s see who AI Overview names 1 through 10:

Kareem Abdul Jabbar (Lew Alcindor)-Power Memorial-Manhattan

Kenny Anderson-Archbishop Molly High-Queens

Connie Hawkins-Boys High-Brooklyn

Chris Mullen-Xaverian High-Brooklyn

Stephon Marbury-Lincoln High-Brooklyn

Lance Stephenson-Lincoln High-Brooklyn

Dwayne “Pearl” Washington-Boys and Girls High-Brooklyn

Bob Cousy-Andrew Jackson High-Queens

Nate “Tiny” Archibald-DeWitt Clinton High-The Bronx

Felipe Lopez-Rice High-Manhattan 

Who’s missing, how about these and maybe several others: 

Julius “Dr. J.” Erving

Bernard King

Lenny Wilkins

Rodger Brown

Billy Cunningham

Earl Manigault

Walter Berry

Echoes of Wilt Chamberlain

The Lakers won their first game of the season 127-105 over the Warriors. There were several impressive events that occurred during the game, one of them was Laker Big Man Walker Kessler. The 7-foot 2 inch 245 pound Kessler filled up the box with 26 points on 12 of 12 shooting from the field along with 2 blocked shots and 9 rebounds. The scoring by Kessler were all lobs from Luka Doncic and this allowed him to join an exclusive group. Wilt Chamberlain was the last Laker to have a perfect shooting game from the floor, he accomplished this in a 1969 game.

Of Kessler’s scoring 10 were dunks which placed him alongside Shaquille O’Neal in the Laker record department. I’ve mentioned Laker Big Men Chamberlain and O’Neal, please don’t confuse this post however it does one thing. It places Kessler in the company of two hall of fame players. Now the warning, this was the first game for the former Utah Jazz player there are many more games to go. Several of you might remember I was plenty excited this time last season with the acquisition of Deandre Ayton. I believed at the time Ayton would resolve Laker post play and expressed as much, as you are aware that didn’t turn out to be the case. Hopefully, Kessler will be the Big Man that solves the issue.

Making a name

Metro Kansas City is hardly alone in producing elite AAU youth basketball talent. There’s been one AAU team that’s excelled over others that would be MOKAN Elite. Over the course of time, many MOKAN players have advanced to college basketball, with some later playing professionally in Europe or the NBA. The following are just a few who developed their skills with the local AAU program before reaching the NBA. Veterans include the likes of Trae Young who later played for Oklahoma, he’s now with the Wizards.

Mizzou’s Michael Porter Jr. of the Nets and his teammate Ochai Agbaji former Kansas Jayhawk. Christian Braun later would play for Kansas and he was drafted by the Nuggets, he counts MOKAN as a stepping stone to the league. Joining NBA rosters as rookies this season are Tarris Reed Jr. of the Spurs and Cameron Carr of the Lakers. MOKAN has also produced former NBA players Shake Milton, Alec Burks and Semi Ojeleye. This list likely omits other deserving names, but its purpose is to highlight several players who suited up for MOKAN Elite before reaching the college level or experienced either professional play in Europe or in the NBA.