A Fan’s View of Basketball

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A unique point

Historically, professional sports teams would request new stadiums or arenas, and city, county, or sometimes state government officials would promptly initiate the process. However, the current environment has shifted significantly; municipalities are no longer readily approving such requests, and increased public opposition frequently influences outcomes, occasionally leading to compromise. Project Marvel, San Antonio's comprehensive downtown revitalization plan, includes provisions for a new arena for the Spurs and appears to have reached a significant milestone.

The advancement pertains to an agreement between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and the Spurs regarding a downtown arena. Despite this agreement, the proposal still requires formal approval and remains uncertain until such approval is secured. A primary concern is that, should the arena plan not be approved, the Spurs may consider relocation—a possibility underscored by precedent. For example, the NFL’s Raiders relocated to Las Vegas in 2020, and Major League Baseball’s Athletics are preparing to do the same; both teams were originally based in Oakland. While new stadium constructions were anticipated for these franchises, the Warriors’ move across the Bay represents a distinct scenario.

The college game on television

We have discussed the impact television played in the growth of the NBA, the same could be said for the college game. ESPN, CBS broadcast and sports network, TBS, TNT, Fox broadcast and sports network along with True TV are the key networks while the Big 10, SEC and ACC conferences provide coverage. In addition to those mentioned many of the streaming services also offer college basketball games. Once the college basketball season begins games are available 7 days a week and at all hours of the day and night.

The crème de la crème of course is the NCAA tournament a.k.a. March Madness, this 68 team tournament culminates with one team winning the championship of college basketball. What might be most interesting to readers televising college basketball began at a period when the number of viewers was quite small. The very first basketball game televised occurred February 28. 1940, a game between Pitt and Fordham was broadcast on W2XBS (later becoming WNBC). The game was played at the old Madison Square Garden since demolished, the estimated audience was measured between 400-1000. As for the game Pitt was the winner over Fordham 57-37. We must keep in mind at the time television was in its infancy and this was considered ‘experimental.’ A single game played much later would set the tone for ESPN and other networks that would later blossom. During the late 1960’s and early to mid-1970’s, UCLA was a dominate force in college basketball.

Led by All American Lew Alcindor, UCLA faced the University of Houston, led by Elvin Hayes, in a highly anticipated matchup at the Astrodome. On January 20, 1968, before an audience of 52,000 spectators, Houston secured a 71-69 victory, ending UCLA’s 47-game winning streak. At the time, Eddie Einhorn organized a consortium of television stations to create TVS Network, broadcasting the game to viewers across the nation. This overview concludes with the significant role that television has played in expanding the reach and popularity of college basketball.

A second career

Dick Barnett passed away in April at the age of 88, the 6-foot 4 left-handed guard played a significant role in the New York Knicks’ two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Earlier in his career, while attending Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State), he helped his team secure three consecutive NAIA Tournament titles. While reports indicate that academics were not initially his main focus, this area become more prominent for him following his retirement from basketball. After retiring in 1973, Barnett continued his education, earning a master’s degree from NYU and a Ph.D. from Fordham University.

Barnett authored 20 books and established the Dr. Richard Barnett Center for Sports Education, Business and Technology. He also taught Sports Management at St. John’s University during his retirement. In addition to receiving further honors such as induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame, Barnett has successfully pursued a second career in academia. His later dedication to education surly must have influenced both his personal direction and the students he taught, reflecting a transition from his athletic achievements to contributions in the academic field. This serves as a recognition of Dr. Richard Barnett’s accomplishments in both basketball and academia. In 1959 the NBA draft was much more extensive than it is at the present time, Barnett was a 5th round draft choice by the Syracuse Nationals (now Sixers).

Why the hatred exists

I would be extremely proud of all my son’s if I were LaVar Ball. After all two of his three sons are playing in the NBA and are talented. With that said allow an explanation why the father has a vendetta against the Lakers.  The first of course might be the fact the Lakers drafted but then traded eldest son Lonzo. Do we believe the words of LaVar, he claims LiAngelo middle son was still enrolled at UCLA he received a “verbal promise” from Magic Johnson. Back then Magic was still working for the Lakers and making player personnel decisions. The promise was that the Lakers would draft LiAngelo, you might not remember the complete story, this is a short sanitized version. LiAngelo and a teammate were apprehended by the police for shoplifting while the team was in China. 

Eventually the matter was resolved but UCLA suspended him for the season which upset LaVar, LiAngelo declared for the draft and left school. When the NBA draft rolled around his name was not announced, since then he’s played in Lithuania, a pro league in SoCal, the Greensboro Swarm G-League and last season in the Mexican Basketball League. So that is the shorten version of the story, LaVar Ball continues to hold a grudge against the Lakers due to them refusing to sign his middle son. I have no method to validate my statement, I believe LiAngelo is a good basketball player but he must not be NBA quality. If he were talented enough surely some NBA team would have snap him up by now. LiAngelo is 26 years old certainly not old by basketball standards but the clock is ticking on his attempt to become an NBA player.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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He chose a different path

Marcus Spears Sr. spent the majority of his National Football League career with the Dallas Cowboys, and also played one season with the Baltimore Ravens. As a 6-foot 4, 315-pound defensive end, he was selected as the Cowboys’ first-round draft pick in 2005. Currently retired, Spears Sr. serves as an NFL analyst on the ESPN network. His son has emerged as a highly promising basketball prospect, with indications that his future is more likely to be in the NBA over the NFL were his father competed. 

Spears Jr. stands 6-foot 7 and weighs 195 pounds, he’s a power forward although he might slide in at the small forward position. He’s a 5-star prospect in the Class of 2027 and is rated the number 2 prospect by 247Sports and the top prospect in ESPN’s Recruiting Data base. Home for Spears Jr. is Dynamic Prep in Dallas Texas. My first thought on hearing this was the Hill family, there might be others but they came to mind first. If you remember the father Calvin Hill played in the NFL (1969-1981) while son Grant Hill was a career NBA athlete and played from 1994-2013.

Conspiracy theorists

I read an ESPN headline regarding potential 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year candidates. The photo of Cooper Flagg an several others reminded me of a single fact, many of us have become skeptical of stuff. “How could the Mavs trade their franchise player Luka Doncic and later win the draft lottery, very suspicious.” You’ve read those statements made by the media and fans alike hinting the NBA draft lottery is fixed, of course we’ve heard that story since the “bent card” that allowed the Knicks to draft Patrick Ewing in 1985. We’ve read the card was either bent or frozen to distinguish it from the others in the hopper. It’s not just the draft it’s one NBA record in particular that has continued to be greeted with skepticism over the years. It was the 100 point game recorded by Wilt Chamberlain March 2, 1962, against the Knicks, as stated previously, no film exists and only a 4th quarter radio tape exists.

I almost forgot this one, the Big Market bias that exists in the NBA. Many contend the NBA only wants the Lakers and Celtics or Knicks playing for the NBA Championship i.e., Big Market teams. In 2002 the Lakers shot a record 27 free throws in the 4th quarter of Game Six in the Western Conference Finals. Of course this emphasis on Big Market teams is quickly quashed if we look at 2025 which had Oklahoma City winning the championship while playing Indianapolis…two small market teams. Rigged Games, periodically disgraced NBA official Tim Donaghy’s name surfaces once again. He manages to spin one more story about the outcome of selected NBA games being “controlled” by game officials. This one is new, Michael Jordan’s retirement and later the brief period he played baseball. “David Stern had received word organized crime individuals were after MJ due to his reported gambling activities.” Of course that makes little sense since MJ was certainly not hiding while playing baseball. That account and others listed make little sense however that’s common place with many of these conspiracy theories.

A trade which became the future

99% of the time it is impossible to predict the future, we have no idea what might unfold. That was the case for the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Clippers in 2018. The Hornets chose Shai-Gilgeous Alexander with the 11th pick in the first round but then traded his draft rights to the Clippers. After playing a reserve role for the Clippers SGA and a host of draft picks plus Danillo Gallinari was traded to the Thunder for Paul George. George was an NBA All Star, at that time Gallinari had more NBA credibility than SGA having been in the NBA for a time. The Clippers believed paring George with Kawhi Leonard they were on the road to a championship, of course it never arrived.

July 6, 2024, free agent George would sign a contract with the Sixers ending the goal of a Clipper championship with him in the lineup. In the intervening years SGA would become an NBA All Star and this most recent season lead his Thunder team to the 2025 NBA championship. In fairness to the Clipper brain trust they had no idea SGA would become the dynamic force he would eventually become. Adding the talented George to the crew assembled by the Clippers appeared to be a sure fire winner. The Clippers are not totally at fault, they gambled on what they believed was a future NBA championship. I use a baseball analogy for basketball, “You cannot steal second base if your foot is planted firmly on first.” In other words one must be willing to take a risk which the Clippers did.

The second round

It can’t be helped, we concentrate on the Top 10 or so picks in each year’s draft. We pay attention to the second round of the draft but not with the intent of the first round, we tend to forget there are “hidden” gems in even the second round. Want an example, how about Jordan Clarkson as proof! Clarkson arrived in the NBA in 2014 as pick 46 in the second round, NBA All-Rookie Team, NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2021). Clarkson now playing for the Jazz has managed to carve out an 11-year career in the association.

Think about this fact, there are a large number of players who are no longer in the NBA picked ahead of Clarkson at 46. At the top of this brief look has got to be Nikola Jokic a.k.a. The Joker, also in that 2014 draft. Jokic was pick 41 in the draft. Since then he’s helped make the Nuggets an NBA Championship team and from a personal perspective has been the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Next up Draymond Green, he stirs up emotion whenever his name is mentioned, hopefully this time it’s a little different. Emerging from Michigan State he was pick 35 in the second round by the Warriors, since then he’s been a four time NBA Champion, 2017 Defensive Player of the Year need I say more? Manu Ginobili formerly of the Spurs was drafted in 1999 as the 57th pick in the second round of that year’s draft. Do you realize the significance, there are at most 60 players drafted into the NBA each year. As for Ginobili, he’s earned Naismith Hall of Fame enshrinement.

The 2025 playoffs witnessed Jalen Brunson lead his Knicks team to a great deal of success although they came up short. Brunson arrived in the NBA from Villanova in 2018 with the Mavs, in 2022 he signed a free agent deal with the Knicks where his career has grown to great heights. As for positioning, Brunson was the 33rd pick by the Mavs in 2018. This is my look at what is believed to be some of the NBA’s most successful second round draft picks. Next time someone claims “There’s little talent in the second round” remind them of this exercise.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Meanwhile…..

The late Paul Allen owner of the Blazers died in 2018, since that time his sister Jody Allen has acted as executor of his estate. For unspecified reasons, the team was never placed on the market for a new buyer until May 2025. On August 13 it was announced that a tentative agreement is in place to acquire the Blazers. The prospective owner(s) are Tom Dundon, who owns the NHL Carolina Hurricanes purchased the team for a reported $4 billion from the estate of Paul Allen. Dundon has two other partners in this acquisition, they are Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital and Sheel Tyer founder and co-CEO of Collective Global. Once again I pose the question, if the NBA was such a losing proposition why are the people with vast wealth “lining up” to purchase NBA teams? Less than three months after the Blazers were placed on the market we have a prospective new owners as soon as they are approved by the NBA Board of Governors. 

Ticket holders have been banned from attending NBA games for years, I didn’t realize it until I read it on ESPN’s NBA page…Knicks owner James Dolan plays a part in banning individuals in fact he’s got an “enemies list.” You can read the piece in detail however I will provide a brief summation from what I read. We heard Ja Morant’s father being banned from FedEx Forum, the same could be said about the father of Pacer guard Tyrese Haliburton at the home arena. I’m sure there are probably other arenas throughout the NBA that have an exclusion list, I’d bet money none are as extensive as the one for Madison Square Garden. Those banned have usually been involved in legal matters against Dolan, MSG and even the NHL Rangers check this out, “over a thousand lawyers across about 90 firms have been banned since 2022.” Once an individual or the firm is banned is it in perpetuity, i.e., forever, I have no idea however it is quite interesting. It appears James Dolan holds grudges for an extended period of time.

A legacy

Depending on when this is read, Bryce James may be departing for Arizona or may have already arrived. Bryce is the youngest son of LeBron James and the brother of Bronny James, and, like his father and older brother, he has chosen to pursue basketball as his life’s pursuit. Standing at 6-foot-6, Bryce is taller than Bronny (6-foot-2), though Bronny currently weighs more (205 pounds compared to Bryce's 185). 

Upon graduating from high school, Bryce has not received as much acclaim as his older brother; he is currently rated as a three-star prospect in the Class of 2025 by Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN100. As Bryce begins his collegiate career, questions regarding his future—particularly about a potential NBA path—are likely to arise. If he demonstrates sufficient talent, progression to the NBA remains a possibility. With Arizona now part of the Big XII, there should be more than a few opportunities to observe Bryce’s development during his freshman year.

There remains time 

As for the time issue, NBA training camps don’t open until early October, there remains ample time to arrange a trade. Whom am I trading, how about Ja Morant of the Grizzlies which might be a shock to some? This is not a talent issue or even a coaching matter it’s the other stuff. For unexplained reasons Morant cannot play an entire season without suffering an injury or suspension. The injuries are one thing the suspensions are a totally different matter. There is no argument regarding his talent the mercurial Morant can do almost anything on the basketball court.

Off the court has presented problems even for his father who’s been banned from FedEx Forum for his rowdy behavior, a change of scenery might work wonders for Morant too. I cannot suggest a team for him since his budding talent indicates he could play for any of the other 29 NBA teams and play successfully. I believe Morant has a limited number of “Get out of jail” cards remaining, the Grizzlies might agree a preempted move might prove beneficial for him and the franchise. What does the future hold for Morant, a considerable number of accolades if only he curtails the other issues which have plagued him during his brilliant but short NBA career.

It might be revised

This was written weeks ago so this account might require an update by the time you read it. Currently the post position for the Lakers appears to be solidified, I can make that statement based on Deandre Ayton being picked up. He will play the bulk of minutes in the post, his backup will be Jaxson Hayes. Although Hayes brings athleticism to the position he was found to be lacking in defense toward the end of the regular season.  In the playoffs he was benched for the most part with the coach failing to play him. 

Based on this fact Christian Koloko (7-0, 225 pounds) was signed to a second two way contract. Koloko had offers but chose to re-sign with the Lakers, also in the mix to play backup is Maxi Kleber who lacks rebounding ability at 6-foot 10 and 240 pounds but is a threat from three. Will a combination of Hayes/Koloko/Kleiber be enough depth allowing the Lakers to escape the cauldron that is the Western Conference? As you can see the Lakers have several ‘warm bodies’ they can send onto the floor should Ayton suffer an injury or illness. The larger question might be can those named provide an adequate backup role which is so vital to the Lakers. The next few weeks leading up to training camp should prove interesting, are there moves still in the planning stages? It appears at least for now that the Lakers are headed into the season with this roster as constructed. 

It was reported they had an opportunity to include Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent (separately) in trade deals but refused. I cannot say in confidence there are no backroom deals being arranged but tend to believe the roster is set into the early-mid portion of the season. There are several unknowns for me, will Jake LaRavia be the shooter off the bench they expect? Will rookie forward Ado Thiero be the sparkplug defensively the coaching staff expects? The Western Conference of the NBA is so very tough aside from OKC its difficult to project any team playing for the NBA championship in June.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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I missed this

Future commitments almost always remain tentative, and there is no certainty that a particular athlete will later sign a letter of intent. Regarding recent updates, Mizzou has secured a commitment from Scottie Adkinson, a 6-foot-2-inch, 170-pound combo guard enrolled at Webster Groves High School in Webster Groves, Missouri, the city is located within the St. Louis metropolitan area. Rivals, ESPN100 and 247Sports all have awarded Adkinson four stars, although his ranking in the Class of 2027 varies across these platforms.

Adkinson became a hard commit on July 1, and this information was not previously reported; it is now confirmed. At present, it is uncertain whether Adkinson or any other incoming recruit will successfully transition to the college level. Notably, the ongoing recruiting efforts by Coach Gates and his staff are commendable and demonstrate a continued commitment to program development. Naturally with such a wide recruiting net Mizzou Nation faces the potential loss of some of the talent it recruits. This might be considered the downside of recruiting, assembling so much talent that a player or two might not see any action.  

Changes in San Antonio

Spurs basketball is played in 23 year old Frost Bank Arena, elements in the city want to replace the building. 1. It’s not located in the downtown portion of the city, 2. Having Wemby on the Spurs roster should increase attendance. 3. Fear of losing the team to population growing Austin 100 miles or so from most of Bexar County. Despite the issues raised it’s quite possible this story may be a non-issue by the time of its reading, I wouldn’t hold my breath though. How do you pay for a $1 billion arena, that’s what the City of San Antonio and Bexar County are facing. What’s been advanced to date is similar to what occurred in Kansas City, hotel users are paying a tax which goes toward T-Mobile Arena.

Although that is the plan for San Antonio this might not be a smooth effort, residents have the usual gripes. Citizen complaints are valid, the same story prevails, “building billion dollar arenas for millionaire owners.” This complaint existed in Kansas City with the Royals and Chiefs, it continued with the Sixers (location) and now citizens of the City of San Antonio and Bexar County are facing the same issues. Arena and stadium concerns will eventually be resolved with some of the parties remaining unhappy. In Kansas City financing and location have continued to drag on for several months with no resolution in sight, in Philadelphia a location change apparently has resolved the issue. As for San Antonio I could say we are at the middle of this issue, no one is arguing over location it is strictly a financial question at this time.

Reclassifying

It is not unusual for athletes to change to a prep school or reclassify in order to graduate high school early. Up till now the most recent example was Cooper Flagg, he reclassified and then enrolled at Duke. We have a similar instance here with 5 star prospect Baba Oladotun Class of 2027. He’s reclassified moved into the Class of 2026 and will graduate high school next May. 247Sports ranks him the number 8 prospect in the nation. This 6-foot 9 175 pound forward attends James Hubert Black HS in Cloverly Maryland.

I wasn’t familiar with the city so I checked Google maps, depending on where you might begin your drive Cloverly is located less than an hour from the nation’s capital Washington D.C. The list of schools recruiting Oladotun is quite extensive, Maryland, Arizona State, Georgetown, Kansas, Indiana, Louisville, Notre Dame and Mizzou. As this is written no school appears to have the inside track on recruiting the youngster. This I believe will occur, whatever campus he decides the first visit other than the practice facility will be the weight room. He is likely to be placed on a carbon rich menu which will allow him to acquire poundage. I was curious regarding his name and further research indicated Baba was born in the U.S. although his father arrived here from Nigeria to play basketball.

These guys are old, really old…at least by NBA standards

The Clippers are an old, old team, they just grew even older with this signing. It seems a brief time ago the media always took time to mention the age of the Lakers, this present Clippers roster is older than any of the Lakers. Our check begins with 40 year old Chris Paul joining the team for his second tour of duty. The probable starters Tyronn Lue utilizes is yet to be formulated, it’s been a source of speculation to date but consider this possibility. One account has Brook Lopez inserted into the starting lineup giving them Twin Towers of Lopez and Zubac. The Clippers become the oldest team in NBA history with an average age of 33.2 years of age. Keep in mind by most standards 34 is not considered old, in the world of sports that’s a different matter.

LeBron James is the exception but consider the fact that by an athletes middle thirties most in the NFL and NBA are retired or at least considering leaving the game. This Clippers team could surprise, they could win the championship although age has got to be a factor. The second issue is injury, Leonard and Beal have an injury history. You’ve got to have all hands on deck for the playoffs and a championship run, perhaps that is the ultimate plan for the Clippers compiling a group of capable replacements. I came across this From 2013-2024 the Clippers have the most regular season wins with 646, they are only exceeded in the won-loss column by the Warriors with 665 wins. Did I fail to mention that the Warriors won 4 NBA championships in those 11 years, the Clippers won zero. The Lakers as a team had several sub-par years even with Kobe Bryant in the lineup, despite the poor play they won the 2020 championship.    😳

Probable Starting lineup

Point guard James Harden (35)

Small forward Kawhi Leonard (34)

Shooting guard Bradley Beal (32)

Center Ivica Zubac (28)

Power forward John Collins (27)

Reserves

Chris Paul (40)

Brook Lopez (37)

Bogdon Bogdanovic (32)

Kris Dunn (31),

Derrick Jones Jr. (28)  

Kobe Brown (25)

Yanic Konan Niederhauser (22) 

Cam Christe (19)

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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Happy birthday

Former Celtic great Bob Cousy celebrated his 97th birthday this past Saturday. Although Cousy has long been associated with those great Celtic teams I was surprised to discover they were not his first pro team. In the 1950 NBA draft the Tri-City Blackhawks made Cousy the third pick in the first round, the history indicates he refused to report to the team and was then sent to the Celtics however there is no indication of a trade. Based on that story I was curious about the series of events that led to the Blackhawks demise and what area of the nation the team called home.   

They were founded in 1946 as the Buffalo (NY) Bison, but moved to the Tri-Cities midway through the first season. The Blackhawks were an NBL team and played in that league until 1949 when they joined the newly formed NBA. In any event Tri-City represented the cities of Moline and Rock Island Illinois along with Davenport Iowa. Moline and Rock Island are located about 5 miles apart and Davenport is located just across the Mississippi River from Rock Island an even shorter distance. There is no indication in the history if the team played in one city over the other. They struggled at the gate forcing them to move to Milwaukee after the 1950-51 season where they were renamed the Hawks. Much later 1955 to be exact the Hawks would move to St. Louis and finally in 1968 to Atlanta their present home.

When you believe in your own hype

I could use another word but I will keep it PG rated, the headline is slight bit misleading, I believe it’s always necessary to believe in yourself even if you are WRONG! My example is Stephen A. Smith ESPN media member, recently the former first lady Michelle Obama made a statement which quite displeased SAS. I’m going to paraphrase her quote, “Watching some sports talk programs like First Take is just like watching reality television, the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

All they do is yell back and forth at one another.” Naturally, SAS took offense to the statement, in his usual condescending self-responded and ended by saying “I have no argument with Michelle Obama.” As you are aware I’ve mentioned on occasion my co-workers continue to inform me to not become upset. They claim SAS, Jason Whitlock, Skip Bayless and others are for lack of another term are “entertainers.” Most often they fail to provide us vital information however they have no problem providing their opinion of a sports subject be it an athlete, owner or front office move. That becomes the chief problem, most times it’s their which often lacks verification and objectivity. Anytime someone literally says “Trust me” without providing me a basis for that trust they become even more suspect to me.     

Who are they

The top college basketball coaches in the country, what is the criteria for ranking them? For me there are a few important issues, a history of turning out winning basketball teams and adaptability to change. Notice I omitted winning NCAA championships, anyone like Dan Hurley or Bill Self who manage to win more than one should be applauded. Winning at the highest level should certainly be taken into consideration however it’s not at the top of my list.  There are 68 teams thrown into the cauldron of tournament play every season, a coach might be at his peak and some unforeseen thing occurs causing them to lose a championship game.

My thought the 1983 NCAA championship game between Houston and North Carolina State. There is no argument the Phi Slama Jama Houston Cougars were clearly the superior team but lost the game on a Lorenzo Charles dunk. Did Jim Valvano really outcoach Guy Lewis for the win…I don’t think so. The following season with essentially the same team might be knocked out in the Sweet 16 or maybe the field of 32, far too iffy a situation for me to rate a coach. With that said who are my Top 15 coaches. this is not in any order. I am quite sure some of you reading this will question at least one selection. I heard you say, “Unbelievable you placed Shaka Smart on your list and excluded Bruce Pearl!”

Dan Hurley-UConn

Bill Self-Kansas

Tom Izzo-Michigan State

Mark Few-Gonzaga

Rick Barnes-Tennessee

Shaka Smart-Marquette

Matt Painter-Purdue

Todd Golden-Florida

Jon Scheyer-Duke

Mick Cronin-UCLA

Rick Pitino-St. John's

Scott Drew-Baylor

Eric Musselman-USC

John Calipari-Arkansas

Dana Altman-Oregon

I could see this

Russell Westbrook will not return to the Nuggets, I make the statement because he is a free agent. There are few teams willing to sign him except one…the Thunder. This is not me, rather a move Dharya Sharma of the Sporting News claims could possibly occur in the off season. If you’ve read Off the Dribble any length of time you are aware I’ve not been a fan of Westbrook for a time. Who says you can’t return home after all it was the Thunder who drafted him. In 2008 Westbrook was made the 4th pick in the first round that year by the Sonics, by the time he prepared to play the team had moved to OKC. 

Westbrook would develop into a star player, the first for the Thunder franchise. He would become Mr. Triple Double as he led the NBA in that department. In 2019 he was traded to the Rockets, in 2020 Westbrook moved to the Wizards and in 2021 he joined the Lakers. It was there where I believe his career took a left turn, although LeBron wanted him the fit just didn’t work. From their it was the Clippers and in 2024 Westbrook became a Nugget. He’s 36 years old and will be 37 before the 2025-26 season ends, It’s believed a substantial majority of Thunder fans would welcome Westbrook’s return. This written by me, however, I must give Dharya Sharma credit for inspiring me to write this based on his account.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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I’m disappointed

Some of you reading this might remember the name Ethan Taylor, he’s the 7 foot 230 pound center from Shawnee (KS) in metro Kansas City. Last season he made an unofficial visit to Mizzou and I thought Dennis Gates might have an inside track signing him. Fast forward to the present, he chose Link Academy in Branson Missouri for his senior year. This Rivals 4-star prospect recently reduced his prospective schools to 6, among the schools eliminated was Mizzou. Remaining on his list Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan State, Oklahoma and Oregon. Headed into his senior year Rivals places Taylor as their number 24 prospect in the Class of 2026, they believe Taylor might be headed to Kansas to play for Bill Self.   

Load Management

If we look purely at the numbers we can say Kawhi Leonard experienced a good 2024-25 season. The statement is made despite the fact Leonard didn’t play his first game until January 4 and appeared in only 37 games. Of course he was returning from an injury and rehab which caused him to miss the early portion of the season. Leonard, who rarely talks to the media, did just that to Basketball Network and his declaration was quite significant. He said, “I wouldn’t be here right now,” he went on to state that he believed his NBA career would have ended a long time ago if not for load management.

No one can get inside Leonard’s head not you or me but he must believe what he said otherwise why mention it. For Leonard I have stated over and over with him there is no doubt in his talent. Despite what Scottie Pippen might say today Michael Jordan was the clear leader of those 90’s Bulls team, MJ willed them to win. Fast forward to 2019 and we find Leonard in a similar role to MJ, there is no argument from practically anyone in the media or NBA fans, if there were no Leonard there would be no Raptors NBA championship. Leonard managed to leave the Spurs under a cloud of suspicion, it’s been documented he refused to be evaluated by the medical staff of the team,could Leonard have returned to action at the time he played for the Spurs? We could ask a similar question as he’s been in and out of the lineup for the Clippers since his arrival. No one plays 82 games anymore, that is not the issue.

In the 5 years Leonard’s been in Los Angeles the most games he’s played occurred in the 2023-24 season when he played 68. As for the playoffs that year the number was 2. I think back to Willis Reed injured seriously in Game 6 and the belief he wouldn’t be able to play any further. He came out of the MSG tunnel to a roaring crowd took a few practice shots and was ready. Once the game started Reed hit his first two shots, dragging his leg up the court he went to the bench never to return in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals. Reed had inspired his Knick teammates to an NBA championship by appearing on the court ever how short a time it would become.  

“Don’t kill the messenger”

An idiom that means “You shouldn’t blame or punish the person who delivers bad news.” In this instance this is a report not actual fact but it is news. As some might be aware the estate of Paul Allen has announced the Blazers franchise has been placed on the market for purchase. On top of that issue is the Moda Center home of the team, it’s old by NBA standards, not MSG old but it is. The lease for the arena expires in 2030 which is only 5 years from now and that’s where the story becomes wild rumor. NBA owners appear to be in a holding pattern regarding expansion, with the television contract kicking in this fall there is no rush.

No urgency to divide the television revenue by 32 ownership individuals and groups over 30. That’s where the story grows “legs” will a new Blazer owner be obliged for the team to remain in Portland? The commissioner was about evasive as possible with his answer, “Silver did say that (that day) that the NBA’s “preference” is that the Blazers remain in Portland.” Elements in Seattle have been clamoring for a return to the city by the NBA for years it seems. It’s interesting that one of the issues holding Seattle back at one time was an arena, that exists no more. The complete interior portion of the old Key Arena has been rebuilt and is now known as Climate Pledge. Seattle’s NHL Kraken play in the building, you are left to draw your own conclusions based on the evidence presented.

rosegardenreport.com

A Fan’s View of Basketball

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It’s doggone impossible

The Thunder are basking in the sunshine of their 2025 NBA championship, nothing wrong with that, they deserved to be pleased with themselves. The difficult part will commence beginning in October, defending a championship. We haven’t had a repeat champion in the NBA since the Warriors accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2018. The actual fact they came real close to establishing a dynasty having played for the NBA championship 5 years in a row. What is a dynasty in the NBA, it was the Bill Russell and later Larry Bird Celtics. The Magic/Shaq/Kobe Lakers definitely must be considered a dynasty.

The Spurs were certainly dominant and turned out some very good teams but were never able to win back to back championships. I would be remiss if I failed to include MJ and those Bulls teams of the 1990’s in this assessment of dynasty teams. As for the present time the Thunder have a tremendous task in front of them, winning two years consecutively which has proven quite difficult in recent years. Off season moves by those teams in the Western Conference indicates it will be a ‘mine field’ for teams to navigate through the season but why? I have long held a belief that the chief culprit preventing teams from repeating is not injuries as most surmise, its player movement. Think about this a moment, all professional sports teams acquire players through the draft, a smaller number arrive through trades. In the NBA it is far different matter, nowhere does movement among talent exist like that of the NBA. A team may have the opportunity to acquire a pivotal player who enables them to reach the highest levels of competition and contend for a championship.

Alternatively, teams can achieve significant success by integrating a player selected from the collegiate ranks who becomes a key to success. Currently, most players spend minimal time in college, making it increasingly challenging to accurately evaluate their long-term potential. For example, consider league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was drafted by the Clippers and later traded to the Thunder; few could have predicted his emergence as a top player and MVP candidate within four to five seasons. While it is certainly possible for an NBA team to secure consecutive championships, establishing a sustained dynasty presents an entirely different challenge.

They are likely in the middle of the pack

I believe Kansas basketball fans and several in the media live on past glory, no argument the school has a rich winning tradition however change is evident although some refuse to believe it. Jeff Borzello of ESPN recently released his updated Top 25 preseason poll. Joshua Schulman writing for CNNSI admits to being a fan of Kansas basketball, Borzello’s list places Kansas at number 21 in the nation. Anytime a school finds itself in the Top 25 that’s a good thing except in this instance particularly the Big XII Conference. Houston is placed at 3 while BYU is listed at 6 and Texas Tech is 10, they are followed by Arizona (13) and Iowa State (18).

Keep in mind this is only a projection one or more of these schools might under perform due to injuries or some unknown issue. The bottom line, at least 3 perhaps 4 of these schools will finish the regular season with a superior record over Kansas. More and more it’s become difficult for me to understand why some of the Kansas faithful cannot see the handwriting on the wall. I repeat over and over the landscape has changed, no longer can be Bill Self park himself in the family or living room of a prospect and that youngster be wowed by him. NIL money has certainly influenced decision making among players in the last 4 years or so. To those who believe I am attacking Kansas basketball and coach Self prove me wrong. In August I declare Houston and BYU, maybe Texas Tech will finish with a better record than Kansas.

The shoe

Converse has a rich history in basketball shoes, for generations Chuck Taylor’s were the Aston Martin or Maserati of basketball shoes. The majority of high school and college players wore them so did most NBA players. Although much later they would market a leather shoe for Julius ‘Dr. J.’ Erving, that was then…this is now. In the 1980’s it was Larry Bird and Magic Johnson on the court wearing The Weapon, a Converse shoe produced for the duo. As Nike began its growth Converse began to lose its market share, eventually the company would be purchased by its archrival Nike.

At some point Chuck Taylor’s moved from a basketball shoe to one that became part of mainstream America as it became a fashion statement. Despite that statement Converse certainly hasn’t ignored NBA players, this past Thursday it was announced the SHAI 001 had been launched. This is the signature shoe for Thunder point guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. I wasn’t familiar with current NBA players sporting Converse so I decided a quick review was in order. In addition to the SGA Converse shoe they also count Warriors Draymond Green, Kelly Oubre Jr. of the Sixers and Payton Pritchard of the Celtics plus Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the Knicks and a number of other players under its umbrella. Despite the fact Converse long ago lost its top position in the shoe market it remains a viable shoe.

He is the last

Chris Paul is now a member of the Clippers, he turned 40 years old this past May. Rick Pitino was discussing basketball specifically point guards and he made a statement recently that I agree with. The St. John’s coach said, “There are no more point guards in basketball” or something quite similar. Who is masquerading as a point guard today, there are plenty of candidates. We have Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving just to name a few. Each of the athletes named can dish out assists but they are more likely shot makers over guys who pass the rock.   

All realize the success the Warriors experienced laid the foundation for the “shoot first, past second point guards.” In addition a guy by the name of Russell Westbrook aided the cause too. Once upon a time NBA teams built their rosters by acquiring a quality Big Man, next up would be a point guard. There was Bob Cousy, then Oscar Robertson plus Walt Frazier to Magic Johnson and John Stockton, I can’t leave out Isiah Thomas. Most NBA teams were loaded with quality point guards and then puff there were none. We have no pure point guards, as this was begun I mentioned Chris Paul was it…the last point guard in the NBA. The game has evolved and it will continue to change over time.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun

“They suck all the oxygen out of the room” 

Local media’s focus on Kansas basketball is disheartening for some. I get it, the basketball program in Lawrence Kansas has been very successful for generations. The arrival of Bill Self in 2003 continued the winning tradition which has created the problem. The difficulty for me and others is the Kansas City sports media, it doesn’t matter if it’s television, sports talk radio, print or podcast, they are the real culprits. Why isn’t there room for a bit more coverage of Mizzou basketball is beyond me.

For most locals remembering back to the time of coach Norm Stewart is the Jurassic period. His teams never won an NCAA championship as Kansas has but the teams were competitive. Unlike the Kansas program which has seen few coaching changes Mizzou went through a period after Stewart. In some instances it was simply the case of the wrong guy was hired to fill the position, naturally this impacted winning and far worst the recruiting effort. Notice early on I said “Kansas City sports media” because it’s my understanding this issue doesn’t exist in St. Louis and other eastern portions of the state. I have been a vocal advocate of Dennis Gates because the change he’s brought about are quite evident. Mizzou basketball recruits with several of the notable high profile programs across the nation including Kansas.

It’s a shame, I believe unless Mizzou wins an NCAA championship the Kansas City media will continue to provide superficial coverage of the program. If you’ve grown tired of me complaining about this issue that’s understandable, I have grown tired myself. In closing I’d bet money if you questioned a college basketball fan in any part of the nation and asked them which team had the better record last year 95% would claim it’s Kansas. That’s untrue, not by much but Mizzou finished with a 22-12 record while Kansas was 21-13.

He’s a voice of the NBA

Kevin Harlan does it all i.e., sports broadcasting, the NFL, college football and basketball plus the NBA. Those are the main sports he’s covered however mixed in with those have been other sporting ventures. As for the story at hand in June 2024 the NBA negotiated a new television contract, this contract would no longer include TNT. The voice of Harlan is one we have grown accustomed to hearing anytime TNT broadcast the NBA, what would occur? Would the world no longer hear during a broadcast, “LeBron James with no regard for human life.”

During a Nuggets-Wolves game, the following play was called by Harlan: “That’s intercepted. Murray, good if it goes…Got it! Got! Got! A big-time three!” This illustrates the energetic style of announcing that has become closely associated with this veteran play by play guy. Contrary to some expectations regarding his retirement, Harlan will continue his broadcasting career. Amazon Prime becoming one of the NBA broadcast partners has confirmed that Harlan has signed on as one of the announcers for NBA telecasts on Prime. His distinctly recognizable voice, which has featured in numerous NBA broadcasts, will remain a presence in the league’s media coverage moving forward. I should mention this in closing, although he wasn’t born in the Kansas City metro Harlan and family have resided in the area for several years.    

He chose baseball over basketball 

Baseball fans are aware of the talent of the late Tony Gwynn, from 1982-2001 he was one of the games' all-time great hitters. He spent his entire career as a member of the San Diego Padres where he was a 15 time All-Star and even more impressive. Gwynn was an 8 time National League batting champion, he compiled a lifetime .338 batting average is proof. We certainly could make the contention to other athletes who might have had a pro career in another sport, his would have been basketball.

While enrolled at San Diego State Gwyn a point guard set several school records in basketball. After all this time he still holds several of the school’s records. Gwynn holds the all-time record for career assists (590), single season (221). He averaged 5.5 assists during his time and in his junior year had an outstanding 8.2 assists a game. In the 1981 draft Gwynn was chosen by the San Diego (Los Angeles) Clippers and San Diego Padres. He signed with the Padres and the rest is a Hall of Fame record. To my knowledge he and Dave Winfield are the only two professional athletes to be drafted in more than one sport.   

He's even taller than Wemby

We have debated the last three seasons the height of Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. He is either 7-foot 3, 7-foot 4 or maybe 7-foot 5, despite Wemby’s huge measurements there are a few taller basketball players. One of those names was mentioned last season and then left our attention, his name is Oliver Rioux. He’s continued to grow and according to the University of Florida he’s now 7-foot 9. The reason why we lost track of Rioux last season because technically he didn’t play, this Canadian youngster was red shirted as a freshman. This little tidbit is worth sharing, Rioux put on pads and a helmet and worked out with the school’s football team.

The portion that caught my eye, it was reported despite his height (and 305 pounds) he failed to block a single field goal attempt. Football aside we should expect to see him play limited minutes this upcoming season for the Gators. We’ve had a fascination with extremely tall projects, some of you might remember Tacko Fall who played at UCF. Fall’s reported height is 7-foot 6, although he wasn’t drafted the Celtics signed him and he played for their G-League affiliate. He even made the Celtics roster for a time, in addition he played for the Cavs and their G-League affiliate. He’s also played in Australia and is presently in China, as we can see there is a difference in tall and Wemby tall.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat & Sun

Surprise, surprise

For the first time in quite a while this represents a return to a Wednesday edition of Off the Dribble. Enjoy this publication of what I hope will be continued, thanks again if you are a regular reader of this blog.

Not if…. but when

The NCAA announced there will be no expanded tournament in 2026, notice the headline. The last portion “but when.” The field will be expanded from its present number of 68 teams in the men’s and women’s tournament to an unspecified number. The motivator of course is driven by financial reward, what I am about to write is the perspective from 5-6 years ago. At that time I read the NCAA is no stable revenue source, the college football bowl games are financially profitable but nowhere near the level of the tournament.

The men’s tournament accounted for an estimated 60-70% of the NCAA’s budget. The tournament began in 1939 with 8 teams, expanded to 16 teams in 1951, and grew to 22 teams by 1953. In 1975, the field increased to 32 teams, reached 40 in 1979, and then rose to 48 the following year. In 1983, the number increased to 52 teams. The tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, added another team in 2001, and in 2011, the introduction of the play-in round brought the total to 68 teams. Projections indicate the tournament may further expand to either 72 or 76 teams in the not too distant future.

It's difficult to gauge your value

Reading LA Hub a dot com website the discussion centered on Laker Jarred Vanderbilt. The story focused on his “hard work and solid defensive ability at times” and the fact in his 7 year NBA career he’s only managed to play 70 games twice, it pointed to the fact he could be traded before the summer is over. This is where we begin, how do we assess the value of Vanderbilt or anyone else value to a team. I could single out Kawhi Leonard as the next example, the Clippers believed at the time they acquired Leonard they were on the road to an NBA championship.

Leonard is entering his seventh year with the team, and there has not yet been a championship win. A significant contributing factor has been Leonard's missed playing time due to injuries. Similarly, the Sixers have experienced absences from Joel Embiid and former Clipper Paul George this past season resulting in 24 wins and 58 losses—numbers lower than management expectations. There are additional cases that could be mentioned, but this will serve as a summary. Basketball is fundamentally a team sport, so it is not accurate to place all responsibility on one individual although fans may attribute poor performance to that player missing. Even the most skilled athletes cannot contribute if they are unavailable due to injuries. Injuries are an inherent part of the game, and both mental and physical challenges can affect a player's return to peak performance.

The best

Many basketball players enter the NBA from schools that typically do not have a high rate of sending athletes to the professional ranks. With that statement in mind let’s check out just a few of those names. By the way these are not in any order of ability, the first is Ja Morant, who plays for the Grizzlies. Ja’s NBA quest began at Murray State University located in Murray Kentucky about 230 miles south of Louisville. Next we have Steph Curry who matriculated at Davidson College, the school is located in Davidson North Carolina 23 miles north of Charlotte.

He’s helped place the Thunder on our minds, Jalen Williams or J-Dub as he is nicknamed. Williams played at Santa Clara in Santa Clara California we include Dame Lillard on our list, the Bucks point guard arrived in the NBA from Weber State in Ogden Utah. I am reluctant to include Jimmy Butler but will based on his start. It was Tyler Junior College in Tyler Texas where he began his collegiate career and later it was Marquette. Tyler is located 100 miles east of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro. The last player in this exercise is C.J. McCollum who played at Lehigh University in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. McCollum holds a distinction unlike many of the others, he is the only NBA player in the leagues history every to have played at Lehigh.

A Fan’s View of Basketball

Published Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun

He mad!

Last week Luka Doncic signed an extension that will keep him with the Lakers for 3 more years. All that could change if he decides he wants to play somewhere else. At the photo signing of the contract it appeared all his teammates were there including new center DeAndre Ayton. Missing from the photo and attendance was LeBron and Bronny James, in this instance the absence of LeBron was the story. “He mad, doesn’t want to be there,” maybe there are a dozen or so other pictures you could paint for LeBron’s lack of attendance. I remain unconcerned, just another media attempt to promote suspicion and prod a controversy.

Much later the media was informed that LeBron had video conferenced Luka and congratulated him on the new contract. He did not join the half dozen or so Laker teammates who traveled to Las Vegas for a Backstreet Boys concert. We are aware LeBron is on his way out the door, that fails to take into consideration he’s still a valuable talent and remains among the top players in the NBA. Bottom line and this represents my opinion only, LeBron has no responsibility to attend every time there is a Laker event of note. Is he upset due to the shift in dynamics for the Lakers, I don’t really know but I doubt it. More immediate concern, once the game official tosses the basketball in October he will be there, not only that he will play inspired basketball until he can’t.

Meanwhile….

On Saturday, I discussed Daryl Morey of the Sixers and his recent remarks about the 2020 NBA championship. Morey's comments prompted responses, including one from former player and current broadcaster Richard Jefferson, as reported by Basketball Network: “Richard Jefferson Refutes Daryl Morey’s Statement That The Bubble Title Was A Fluke. Tell Jimmy Butler, who almost died of exhaustion.” It is notable that Morey's statements come five years after the NBA championship. As referenced in the headline, Morey’s focus remains a topic of discussion given that he was not directly involved with the 2020 event. Rather than concern himself with a 5 year old championship it might be far better to concentrate on his Sixer team and the issues they present.

The old Big XII Conference saw Kansas basketball dominating play, the new Big XII is quite different. The Jayhawks might not have always won the post-season tournament but in the regular season they always finished in first place. Nowhere in the country did one team dominate a conference in a manner similar to Kansas. The last two seasons have been totally different, the Jayhawks finished in the top half but nowhere near the place fans expected. Those who follow the program were unaccustomed to a 6th place finish last season and 5th place the prior year. Kansas will compete this upcoming season but the Big XII is now a race to the top and it includes more than Kansas. Play is yet to begin however Houston is predicted to finish in first place for the 2025-26 season

It might be the fact that today’s NBA players are taking better care of their bodies plus a larger number of them begin play at age 18 or 19, it makes for years of longevity in the association. Our focus has been LeBron James but he is but one of a number of NBA players with double-digit years of play. Truth is there are 8 current players with 17 years played, they are Jeff Green, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan. Mike Conley and Al Horford have 18 years, Kyle Lowrey 19, Chris Paul 20 and LeBron James 22 years played. I included Westbrook and Horford in the count although as this is written neither has currently signed with any NBA team.

Is he coming or going, my statement is made regarding Dame Lillard. You remember the history, this 9 time All Star point guard while with the Blazers was traded to the Bucks. An Achilles injury sidelined him this past season and the last word we received he was headed back to the Blazers, that was what we thought. We knew he wouldn’t play this upcoming season but then a shocker came our way. Weber State, where Lillard played in college, is hiring him as General Manager, a role that quite a few universities are currently seeking to fill. Although Lillard recently re-signed with the Blazers, at 35 years of age he may be just considering future career opportunities. This might be a greater challenge than competing in the NBA…just sayin.’

He was familiar to us

The college basketball season will see a number of coaches, some new while others have moved to new programs. One of those moving was Ben McCollum at Iowa. Interesting in that he was familiar to us in Kansas City, he led Northwest Missouri State to four (4) NCAA Division II Championships. Depending on where one might live Maryville is a slight bit over 100 miles from the Kansas City metro. Basketball fans here had the opportunity in person or on television to witness McCollum’s teams in action.

As for me I questioned how long he’d remain at NWMS and finally it occurred, he was offered the head coaching position at Drake. He managed to lead the Bulldogs to a 31 win season and an NCAA berth where they beat my Mizzou Tigers. Shortly after they were eliminated McCollum was offered the head coaching position at the University of Iowa. Although a youthful 44 years of age he’s been a head coach for 16 years, during this time his teams have won 426 games losing but 95 for a .818 winning percentage. The road is going to be somewhat tougher at Iowa and Big 10 basketball, I have no doubt McCollum will continue to succeed. Check out the progress he’s made, from Division-II to mid major basketball and finally to a Power 5 school, he’s a proven winner.