A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Longtime student

For me it was baseball box scores, I discovered them at the youthful age of 10 I believe. I could uncover batting averages, earn one averages for pitchers and assorted other stuff. Much later it was the box score for basketball, throughout my life they have always interested me until recent years. Allow me to clarify, I remain interested it’s just the fact so much more has been added since the days of my youth. I might pose the question does it really aid a person in understanding what occurred in the game? I’m unsure if I have an answer however let’s check out additions to NBA box scores. These are not my definitions, they are AI generated I located on the web.    

USG% stands for usage percentage, which is a basketball statistic that estimates the percentage of a team’s offensive possessions a player uses while they are on the floor. It measures a player’s involvement in the offense by including their shooting attempts, free throw attempts, and turnovers, divided by the team’s total possessions. A player with a high USG% is heavily relied upon by their team’s offense, with star players typically having the highest usage rates.

TS% True Shooting Percentage in basketball measures a player’s scoring efficiency by accounting for field goals, 3-pointers, and free throws in one comprehensive metric.

TOV% stands for turnover, which is when a team loses possession of the ball to the opposing team before a shot is taken. While it can also refer to turnover percentage, an advanced statistic that estimates turnovers per possession, the primary meaning is the loss of the ball itself.  

PER In basketball, PER stands for Player Efficiency Rating, a single-number metric created by John Hollinger to measure a player's overall productivity per minute. It is calculated by adjusting positive and negative statistical contributions for pace and minutes played, with a league average set at 15.00. 

After you’ve studied these basketball terms don’t you feel as if your basketball knowledge has risen exponentially? That was a joke, if you judge them to be useful to you I certainly recommend they be used. On the other hand if you consider they are unneeded you certainly know what to do at this point.

A serious matter

I read the Friday morning news on ESPN’s NBA page, one of the stories I read indicated that former NBA player Damon Jones had pleaded not guilty to his involvement in the gambling scandal impacting the NBA. Jones out on bail is due to return to court on November 24. As you recall Jones plus current player Terry Rozier and Blazer coach Chauncey Billups were the most featured names in this betting/gambling probe. Despite “Nuclear Headlines” from most sources when the story first broke these three (to date) have been the only names connected thus far. At the time we received the news most probably guessed there would be a large number of players named.

To date the three named individuals are the only named connected to the NBA. At the slow pace this is developing its likely we go into 2026 with no more information than we have at present, as I wrote weeks ago this is an embarrassment to the NBA. There is nothing the NBA can accomplish attempting to speed up the process, the legal system moves at its own pace. This is a slowly developing story and there will be a time prior to it being resolved. If, for example, you are one of those who believe there is cheating going on at all levels that outlook will continue to prevail for you. There is no argument that will convince you to consider anything other than your conviction. Conversely, if you take into account the possibility that there could be some cases of misconduct you are also stating there is no large scale corruption.

It’s different

Someone who’s played the game at a high level might disagree…heck some of you who haven’t played might differ. In any event it’s always been my belief guards adapt to new teams different from other positions. Guards especially those who play the point adapt differently from other position players. All that to explain why I don’t wish the Lakers to make a trade for Ja Morant. There are rumors circulating throughout the NBA that the Grizzlies are entertaining an effort to find him a new home. Seeing him first play at Murray State (KY) it was my belief at the time he’s got NBA talent, sure enough I was proven correct.

It’s the other part of his personality I was unable to see. There is no denying the talent portion of Morant it’s the other stuff that leads me to believe he’s not good for a team. Mistakes made in the past are forgivable until one continues to build on them with others. Morant is now 26-years old no longer the baby-faced kid who embraced the NBA in 2019. Excuse the play on words, the ball is clearly in his court…there is no requirement for Morant to do anything other than make a commitment to himself. Doesn’t matter if it’s the Grizzlies or some other NBA team, my hope its not the Lakers. On the other hand I’ve seen a few knuckleheads I’d hope would never wear Purple and Gold did just that. If Morant becomes a Laker I will reluctantly accept him.

A plan   

There was a plan, the stories been told numerous times. Austin Reaves said to NBA scouts and teams, “don’t draft me, I will choose the team I want to play for.” That sounds quite arrogant for an unproven college player but that’s what he said after first playing at Wichita State and later the University of Oklahoma. Indeed he went undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft but he arrived in that first Laker training camp relatively unknown. That was then, this is now…the entire world is familiar with the name Austin Reaves. He actually came to the forefront previously but in this early season has really blossomed.

With LeBron missing first and Luka Doncic later someone had to step up and lead the way for the Lakers, that would be Austin Reaves. After 6 games he is scoring 32 points per game however it’s not only his scoring. Reaves is 91% from the free-throw line while dishing out 9 assists and grabbing nearly 4 rebounds. By the way in 38 minutes he is shooting 50.4% from the field with 36.2% behind the three line. Will he keep up this pace once LeBron returns to the lineup…not likely however he’s proven when called on he can produce. I’ve long been convinced NBA teams don’t require All NBA pros at each position on the court, they require guys willing to step up and provide whatever is needed by their team. If we look closely Austin Reaves is that guy so far this season.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

He returns

Luka Doncic returned to this patchwork lineup the Lakers have displayed recently. Luka didn’t shoot particularly well but still almost managed a triple-double. It was 35 points, 13 assists and 9 rebounds for Luka in the 118-116 victory for the Lakers over the Spurs. In my view Deandre Ayton outplayed Wemby scoring 22 points and pulling down 10 rebounds, it was more than the two members of the Lakers, it was a team effort. Rui Hachimura contributed 15 points along with stellar defense, the same could be said for Marcus Smart 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists.

The Spurs had an opportunity to tie the game with seconds remaining, Julian Champagnie on the line missed his first shot, his second attempt was a miss on purpose to attempt a tip basket. The Lakers managed to corral Wemby who would eventually foul out of the game. JJ Redick seem to push all the right buttons for the team which led to the victory. The Lakers now sit at the top of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, how long they remain in this position is an unknown. The fan in me is a slight bit worried, when LeBron returns to the lineup will he jack up the chemistry which is working so well at this point? Laker Nation can only hope with his vast experience LeBron will see the need to blend rather than orchestrate.

A sense of entitlement

Every single prospect site has Tyran Stokes listed as the top high school basketball player in the nation in the Class of 2026. 5-star prospect Stokes is listed as a 6-foot 7 230 pound small forward, Kansas, Kentucky and Oregon all have offers on the table for him. He is in his senior year of high school at Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks High School. Stokes is/was enrolled in school but there remains a question whether he plays in this his senior year. Without boring you with all the details he is/was facing disciplinary action by his school. According to reports rather than face being punished he decided to drop basketball this year.

We are almost four months into the school year and no decision has been reached by Stokes. This is the point difficult to dissect, there is certainly no desire to castigate him but it might appear to me schools might back off talent or no talent. Chances are Stokes been a highly sought talent for several years, this might lead to a sense of entitlement on his part. At this point it would seem parental guidance should come to the forefront, apparently Stokes is an accomplished basketball player. Despite that fact there are rules and regulations he must adhere the same as his teammate sitting at the end of the bench. The basketball in me says “I’d like to see him at the next level, the parent in me says; “You need to get your act together.”

It’s a green light

The traffic signal certainly now says GO in San Antonio, as an outsider the news was a little confusing. When first proposed this grand plan, which included more than an arena for the Spurs was exciting for some. Later when the nuts & bolts of the proposal were explored the entire project including the arena slowed to a crawl as there was a great deal of citizen debate. At a point even the newly elected mayor of San Antonio appeared to push back on several key issues. The November 4 elections saw voters in Bexar County approve a plan to allow officials to commit up to $311 million in venue taxes to build the arena. County officials indicate 52% of the voters approved the plan.

The Spurs indicate they will add $500 million and would also be paying rent at the new arena, and that money will help offset what is a proposed $489 million contribution from the city. The arena is a part of Project Marvel a massive effort to revitalize a section of downtown San Antonio. Should this arena be constructed it could be given a tag similar to the United Center in Chicago. For years, the Bulls played in the old Chicago Stadium (now demolished) which opened in 1929, after the arrival of Michael Jordan and the Bulls winning championships. The United Center was opened in 1994, it was said at the time that the United Center was “The House that Micheal Jordan built!” Officials in San Antonio might coin a similar nickname be applied to a Spurs arena with Victor Wembanyama in mind.

Could it occur…maybe

Victor Wembanyama, standing 7-foot-5, continues to develop his game as an NBA player. I read an account suggesting that Wemby started the season at a record-breaking pace. There was speculation about him winning several awards, including league MVP, Most Improved Player, and leading the league in blocked shots and rebounds. Based on his early performance as this is written, he could easily dominate in blocked shots and rebounds. But should Wembanyama even be considered for Most Improved Player? His numbers were already strong last season, and now he has raised the bar even higher.

Generally as an example a player raising his scoring average from 6 points a game to 20 is given prime consideration. Just the sake of discussion, let’s keep him in contention for that award. As for the MVP, that’s a tougher call—Wemby could lead in three major statistical categories and still not be named Most Valuable Player. In years past a similar situation has occurred and Player B received the MVP when most thought Player A should have won. Recently I saw a video montage of “almost” blocked shots by Wemby, opposing players were driving toward the basket but stopped short of taking a shot. Simply having Wemby nearby resulted in opponents missing shots, even if they didn't actually take them. That’s the Bill Russell factor, he once said “I can’t block every shot but I can make them think I can” or something similar.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

No Luka, no LeBron & now no Reaves

That was how it looked Monday evening as the Lakers faced the Blazers in Portland. The last time the teams faced one another in this early season saw the Blazers run the table winning the game 122-108. I had written and continue to believe, a team must adopt a “Next man up” mentality in order to win. That’s exactly what occurred at the end of the evening, the Lakers were winners 123-115. With vital members of the Lakers missing how in the world did they accomplish the task in front of them. It came from the efforts of Deandre Ayton, from Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, even Bronny James made a positive appearance. As for a few of the numbers whether it was revenge or something else Ayton led the way with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

Rui scored 28  points and Jake scored 11 points but contributed tough hard nose defense. As for Bronny he only scored 5 points but added 6 assists and a steal in 19 minutes off the bench. The mindset of the Lakers team seems to be very high at this time and I wish to include a Deandre report. He claims JJ Redick has made all the difference for him and guess what I believe him. I would be remiss if I failed to mention Nick Smith Jr., the guard picked up in September on a two-way contract certainly made his presence felt. Smith Jr. came off the Laker bench with 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting and 5 of 6 from three. It is far too early to project anything but this team certainly appears to have plenty of gumption, they must remain healthy in order to effectively compete in the tough, tough Western Conference. Currently this member of Laker Nation is quite pleased with the team in front of me.

Meanwhile….

Ja Morant despite his apparent talent has been a “wrecking ball” since his arrival in the NBA. When not injured, which has occurred often in his short career, he’s run into problems with the Grizzlies and the NBA. In his 6 year career he’s now been suspended for the third time, this latest incident was only a  one game suspension but it came about due to his interaction with the Grizzlies coaching staff. His history details an 8-game ban in 2023 and 25-games to start the 2023-24 season. You realize of course there are athletes who play their careers without a single suspension and Ja has three.  Is he history with the Grizzlies….probably not, however, how many more opportunities are they going to give him before they decide he’s not worth the problems he creates no matter the talent he displays on the court.

Why am I writing a conclusion on something that’s yet to occur? This is being done because my hope ESPN’s NCAA Bracket expert Joe Lunardi is wrong. His bracket presented before the college season begins has Mizzou earning a tournament berth. That’s the good, as for the bad the bracket he’s placed them in. Lunardi has them projected as an 8 seed, they would face number 9 Southern Cal, should they win this game comes the hammer. Mizzou would likely face the Houston Cougars who are listed at the top seed in the South Bracket. I can only hope Lunardi is right (Mizzou) earning an invite but the fact Lunardi is incorrect and Houston is placed in another bracket.

The 2025-26 college basketball season has begun with Florida attempting to win back to back championships. A small number of schools have accomplished this feat beginning with HBCU Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State), the school won 3 NAIA championships 1957, 1958, and 1959, Tennessee State is now a Division I program. At nearly the same time UCLA was winning consecutive championships so was HBCU Kentucky State. UCLA won in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. HBCU Kentucky State won 3 NAIA championships 1970, 1971 and 1972, the school is now an NCAA Division II program. As you note by the date this feat was accomplished at an earlier period, a time that witnessed the majority of players enrolled for 3-4 years rather than leave for the NBA. 

This is the NBA from a different view which is quite interesting. Point guard Jason “White Chocolate” Williams known more for his time with the Kings had an interesting observation. He played from 1998-2011 and won an NBA championship while a member of the Heat. Based on the time period Williams played he witnessed the evolution of the game. Discussing this in an interview with basketballnetwork.com Williams claims, “The NBA has more talent now.” Rest assured there are large numbers of former NBA players who are likely to come forth counter his view of the NBA then versus now. Personally I’m in the middle on this one, I believe portions of the game are played at a higher skill level while other elements have suffered.

X factor or at least one of them

This member of Laker Nation like most of you had no idea who Jake LaRavia was. If you were a student, alumni or fan of Wake Forest basketball you knew the name, as for the balance of us…that’s a different matter. In the 2022 draft the 6-foot 7 forward was drafted by the Wolves as the 19th pick in the first round, his draft rights were later traded to the Grizzlies. LaRavia would spend 2 ½ seasons in a Grizzlies jersey and in January 2025 he was traded to the Kings. July 2025 free agent witnessed LaRavia signing a 2 year contract with the Lakers. I believe Laker Nation might have adopted the stance I did, “I hope he is able to help the team.” Injuries are part of the game, at the same time the question always becomes who fills the void for injured players?

He’s registered games of 27 points, 13 and 25 in his most recent game against the Heat. This look at LaRavia is written and will be read after the Lakers Monday evening game against the Blazers. The question was posed in the headline, the experts have given the Lakers little chance of winning the West let alone the NBA championship. I have long been convinced there is no requirement for an All-Pro at every position, there are glue guys always needed. For me glue guys are those who fill the void when starters are missing in action. In addition they are always ready as reserve players, could LaRavia or Marcus Smart be that glue guy? The season is far too fresh to determine how valuable one is to their team however it’s interesting to look ahead. By the way, Ant Man injured and on the Wolves bench was reported to have said “Who is number 12,” which proves the early statement? LaRavia is an unknown name to even some in the NBA.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

The season has begun

We are witness to the fast start by the Thunder and Spurs, the defending NBA champion Thunder not a great surprise. The Spurs a bit more of a surprise, them being undefeated as this is written. The shocker if I can refer to it in that manner is the Chicago Bulls, they haven’t begun a season this spectacularly since like forever. Forgive me I exaggerate a bit, the 1996-97 Bulls began the season with a 12-0 record, they started the 2021-22 season 4-0. The 2025-26 season thus far has seen them race out to a 5-0 record as this is written Saturday morning.

I must admit to all the Bulls have been missing from the list of teams I watch on a continuous basis. Part of the problem for me the last several years they were in the “left lane” of traffic while others were passing them in the right lane. The Bulls appeared to have a collection of talent, a coach with a good reputation (Billy Donovan) but something was missing. As this is written I am unable to convince you the missing piece has been found. I began this exercise by pointing out this version of the Bulls is an unknown entity to me. This I intend to do in this early season, follow them a great deal closer to determine how they are facing the task of winning in the NBA. The United Center has been a den of rabid Bulls fans win or lose, it appears fans have even more to cheer for in this early season.

Luka magic

He returned to the lineup Friday night and resumed his role with the Lakers. Of course the reference He refers to Luka Doncic point guard for the Lakers, what did he accomplish you ask? In 39 minutes of action on the court we saw him produce 44 points on 52% shooting which resulted in 12 rebounds along with 6 assists. NBA basketball remains a team effort and his backcourt partner Austin Reaves also made a major contribution scoring 21 points along with 4 assists, the duos scoring and leadership  led the way to a 117-112 win over the Grizzlies. The Lakers playing in Memphis fell behind early but came roaring back in the 3rd and 4th quarter of the game.

The Lakers finished the game shooting 51.2% compared to the 44.1% of the Grizzlies. Ja Morant leader of the Grizzlies managed only 8 points in 31 minutes of action. The Grizzlies had a balanced scoring attack however Jaylen Wells and Jock Landale led the way with both contributing 16 points. Laker center Deandre Ayton suffered a left finger sprain and lower left leg contusion only playing 17 minutes in the game, he indicated he would be ready for the next game. Jaxson Hayes didn’t score much but managed to fill a degree of the absence of Ayton with 7 rebounds and 5 assist and 1 blocked shot. Reserve forward Jake LaRavia had 13 points on 63% shooting. It remains too difficult to consider the Laker effort with LeBron and a couple of others remaining sidelined.

This is why

Some are aware there is an NBA Academy on the African continent. It’s not just there for show it’s to train an ever increasing number of African youth the game of basketball, some might not earn an NBA invitation but the training is invaluable. If not the NBA then a U.S. college might be the destination. Over time the best of the best to emerge from the continent has got to be Hakeem Olajuwon, his college and NBA career led him to be enshrined in the Naismith and FIBA Hall of Fame, as most are aware Olajuwon is originally from Nigeria.

Also in the Naismith Hall is the late Dikembe Mutombo, his place of birth the Democratic Republic of the Congo before Georgetown and the NBA. Please note, the academy was founded long after these two retired from play. A number of NBA players were born in the U.S. after their parents immigrated here, the number is much larger than you might think. Of the number the majority probably didn’t attend the academy however a few did and are a part of the count. The following are just a few of the countries on the African continent whose players have spent time on an NBA roster. This fails to take into consideration those who played the game in college but never earned an NBA promotion, with that said here are the all-time numbers:

Nigeria 30

Senegal 14

South Sudan 9

Cameroon 7

Democratic Republic of the Congo 6

Ghana 3

Ivory Coast 3

Mali 3

Egypt 2

Gabon 2

Libya 2

Uganda 2

He begins the quest

I believe a brief wait was required prior to a glance at the Mavs Cooper Flagg. The point guard (which is confusing to me) has placed moderate numbers on the board so far, they will likely have changed by the time you read this. He’s 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on 41% shooting. These are certainly not overpowering numbers but those I believed would occur early on. I assumed Flagg would adjust to the NBA at a gradual pace, those who expected a “show” by Flagg or probably disappointed. We need to look back at his performance at Duke, he was the clear leader as a freshman.

 It appeared to me Flagg preferred the college game come to him, in my view he “dominated” the game in a different manner. I have only witnessed glimpses of his play with the Mavs so there is the adjustment to the NBA which must occur. In addition how will he appear in January-February, the period when rookies begin to wear down after playing the equivalent of a college season. The question, which is unanswered for now, will he replace Luka Doncic in the eyes of Mavs fans? For now at least that is certainly unsolvable in a mere 5 games. In my view the only area of concern for me currently is the position he plays, the Mavs have Flagg playing point guard which I have difficulty understanding the WHY despite his skill.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

I will pass for the time being

I am unsure how the international television audience is affected by the NBA broadcast change. In the U.S., the NBA family of channels now includes Peacock and Prime,  both streaming services. I have been debating since the change was first announced do I pay to view additional NBA games? Years ago I was a subscriber to NBA League Pass, my desire was to see all the Laker games. Afternoon and evenings the Lakers were not scheduled to play I was still stuck to my television, it was my belief “I’m paying extra for this and I want my investment to be worthwhile.”

The following season I changed my tune, other than the Lakers I would selectively (excluding the playoffs) choose the games I wish to see based on which network broadcast the game. I was content to alternate between ABC/ESPN, TNT and NBA TV for my basketball viewing pleasure. Now that TNT is no longer in the picture having been replaced by NBC is part of my cable package. My decision to not pay for Peacock or Prime is based on college basketball. With CBS, ABC, Fox Sports along with ESPN, SEC and ACC Network I will have large amounts of basketball in my household during the 2025-26 season. Of course there might be a correction to my plan, if I win the lottery all you just read goes right out the window. I might add the YES Network, CBS Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Kansas City and several unnamed.

A Change of ownership

The sale of the Lakers franchise was approved on Thursday by the NBA Board of Governors. Mark Walter, who owns the baseball Dodgers along with the WNBA Sparks and other sports investments purchased the Lakers for a record $10 billion. This purchase exceeds the $6.1 billion by the Celtics earlier this year. As for the Lakers the history indicates in 1979 the late Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers along with the NHL Kings, the Great Western Forum and a California ranch for $67.5 million. At the time, this most recent sale occurred it was believed Jeannie and the Buss family would no longer be involved with team ownership or day to day operations.

That is not the case according to the news release. An unknow percentage of the team will be retained by the Buss family, in addition Jeannie Buss will continue in her role as the teams Board of Governors representative for the next 5 years. This change is historic in this instance, NBA franchises have changed ownership over the course of years. It is widely regarded that the Buss family’s ownership of the Lakers may represent the longest tenure for a franchise in NBA history, spanning 56 years. Laker Nation should not expect wholesale change in operations however there is one change anticipated. It is believed the Lakers are liable to be much more active in the free agent market than the recent past, we can look at Walter’s Dodgers as the example of what might unfold going forward.

Moms who were ballers

In many discussions about NBA players' backgrounds, the father is often identified as a primary influence, such as Joe "Jellybean" Bryant with son Kobe, or LeBron James and sons Bronny and Bryce. While this is common among several NBA players there are exceptions, cases where mothers played a significant role in teaching or inspiring their sons to play basketball at a high level. We could begin this short examination with Victor Wembanyama’s parents, both had athletic backgrounds, but it was his mother, Elodie de Fautereau—who played basketball professionally and was a member of the French National team. Mom introduced the game to young Wemby while he was a child.

We’ve witnessed Zion Williamson play at Duke and later with the NBA Pelicans. Who taught young Zion how to first shoot a basketball, it was his mother Sharonda Sampson. She coached his AAU team until he reached high school, he claims “(My mom’s the) hardest coach I ever had, to this day.” Cooper Flagg's parents each played college basketball, with his mother, Kelly Flagg, taking the more active role in teaching him the game as well as managing his career and brand. Ronda Banchero, the all-time leading scorer at the University of Washington, coached and taught the game to her son Paolo. Similarly, Yvonne Adams (KJ Adams), Lisa Wilson (Jalen Wilson), and Carmen Dick (Gradey Dick) contributed to their sons’ development in basketball, and they went on to play at Kansas and later in the NBA, with the exception of KJ Adams.

Niele Ivey, was playing for the Indiana Fever when she learned of her pregnancy, later after her son was born she was instrumental in his basketball development, today Jaden Ivey is a Pistons shooting guard. The details are unclear, in several instances we might have single parent homes, in other instances mom took over responsibility from dad (Wemby & Flagg) because she had the basketball expertise. This list highlights several instances where mothers have been instrumental in their sons’ basketball journeys; there are other examples that probably exist but were omitted in this narrative. The plan was to inform you it wasn’t always a father or uncle who inspired the love and basketball tutoring. 

Mine is different

My friends on the other side of State Line Road believe bias remains for me. They claim it goes back to the Big 8/Big 12 days when Mizzou played Kansas on a regular basis. Much as I hate to admit it there is an in balance with the won-loss record, it favors Kansas however its more to the story. I believe the history on-court success has caused some in the media to rate the Jayhawks much higher than due them, example. Last season they were the pre-season number one team in the nation, by the time the final polls were revealed they were no place to be found in the Top 25. They had a bad year (the third in a row) under Bill Self so what are the prospects for this upcoming season?

Cameron Salerno CBS Sports released his list of overrated and underrated teams for the season. He places Kansas as an underrated team due to the presence of a single player. That player is freshman Darryn Peterson projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Self-claims Peterson is the best player during his time as the school’s head basketball coach, that makes a strong statement on his part but there is an issue as well. Is Self-building up Peterson hoping he can compete at a higher than normal skill level or is it something else? It’s my belief there are a handful of freshman who made the leap from high school to college and could be termed impact players. Lew Alcindor a.k.a. Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Carmelo Anthony are two names that come to mind however I am sure there are others. Perhaps Peterson is really as talented as Self projects however I prefer to adopt a wait and see approach to determine his value to Kansas basketball.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Chuck is out there

This should be about Austin Reaves but more about him later, my initial focus is Charles Barkley former NBA player and analyst for Inside the NBA. After the Laker victory over the Wolves 116-115 his commentary was aimed at center Deandre Ayton. Barkley stated his belief Ayton needed more touches especially with Luka Doncic and LeBron James out of the lineup. Despite the fact both Kenny Smith and Shaq pointed out this is impossible. Ayton needs to continue the path laid out for him in the first 5 games he’s played for the Lakers, 16 points and 9 rebounds along with shooting 62.3% from the floor and blocking shots on occasion.

Despite the fact Barkley had a Hall of Fame career he can be as wrong as two left shoes at times. As for the game Reaves made a shot as time expired allowing the Lakers to slip past the Wolves by the 116-115 score. But it wasn’t just Reaves, I’d mention earlier who steps up to replace the two super stars missing from the Laker lineup. Jake Laravia was one contributing 27 points along with 8 rebounds. Back to Ayton for a moment, he ain’t Kareem or Shaq, he possesses all the talent in the world. From what I’ve read the comment was said it was a matter of motivation for Ayton that kept him from reaching the heights projected. The season is still young, he’s only got 5 games under his belt, if he continues to play at this level this member of Laker Nation will be satisfied. As for Paul Pierce former Celtic I don’t take stock in anything he says about the Lakers.

One of a kind

Earlier I asked the question is Wemby already the best in the game? Don’t worry if you failed to respond I have decided on my own Victor Wembanyama is the NBA future based on several factors. A. He must remain relatively free of injury. B. Wemby must continue to be dialed into the game we see as evidence thus far. C. Wemby must play for an extended time. He’s now in his third season and ranks with some of the greats of the NBA. Check this comparison in Wemby’s first 120 games versus those in the Naismith Hall of Fame, Karl Malone had 1,091 rebounds Wemby has 1301. The NBA’s all time scoring leader straight out of high school LeBron James scored 2680 points, Wemby made 2738.

How about shooting three’s in his first 120 games Steph Curry had 242 3 pointers made, Wemby has 274. The last category to discuss is blocked shots, 337 were registered by Hakeem Olajuwon as for Wemby’s he’s totaled 448. By now you are probably stating “He should lead the NBA in points after all he’s 7-foot 5.” There are two effort areas that stand out for me: blocked shots and rebounds, those are parts of the game that require effort over others, the 3-point shooting also stands out. Whenever I mention Wemby to some they always focus in one area, “Does he have an inside game?” My answer is Wemby has a limited inside game. IF he ever develops a sky-hook or similar shot around the basket he will simply be unstoppable. Am I going overboard with my praise, perhaps that is the case? You be the judge based on what you just read.

Will they listen to him

If you’ve read this blog any length of time you realize my love for basketball, especially the NBA. Despite this fact there are elements I could almost place in the category of hate a word I rarely use. With that here goes, I hate Load Management which has become a part of several NBA players. A player is not injured he decides to take the night off, he does this with no regard for the fan who spends $100 to as much as $250 to see the game and him. I am not including gasoline to drive to the game, tickets, parking and concessions are expensive and rising all the time. Is it fair for that fan to sit out a game simply because he’s tired, many of us on our jobs daily despite being tired or in some instances sick. During half time of the Tuesday night NBA broadcast NBC’s Mike Tirico sat down with Michael Jordan at the half to discuss NBA issues. I’m just going to cover a bit of the wisdom I believe laid out by MJ.

“Well, it shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,” Jordan said. “You know, I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove. It was something that I felt like the fans are there that watch me play. I want to impress that guy way up on top who probably worked his (butt) off to get a ticket or to get money to buy the ticket. Jordan even said that rule applied to the people who came to games to cheer against him. Yeah, because I know he’s probably yelling at me and I want to shut him up, “ Jordan said. “You know, he’s calling me all kinds of names. I definitely want to shut him up….You have a duty that if they’re wanting to see you, and as an entertainer, I want to show. Right? A game is 2.5 hours a day, 3 hours a day. What are doing the other 21 hours?” What you just read was condensed from ESPN.com’s NBA page. Why should anyone be surprised after listening to his comments in Last Dance? MJ competes no matter what it was/is, basketball, golf, cards or other stuff. MJ the ultimate competitor.

Meanwhile….

The name Adou Thiero might be unfamiliar to some reading this. The 6-foot 8 220 pound small forward/guard was made the 36th pick by the Nets in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Lakers and that’s where he disappeared. It was determined surgery would be required before he could play, he missed Summer League play plus the Laker training camp. Despite being highly touted by the Lakers there was no opportunity to earn a roster spot due to recovery. It now appears that is in the rear view mirror, the Lakers have announced he will begin play for the G-League South Bay Lakers.   

Suspended Blazer coach Chauncey Billups has become an enigma to me. He was among three individuals associated with the FBI arrested, one current and one former player named by a Grand Jury in a gambling scandal. The principle reason I find his case so strange is based on Billups’ past. He was an NBA champion player, inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame and as mentioned NBA coach. I cited this previously Billups has a legacy…one which has been severely damaged by his formal accusation and arrest. We shall see how this matter eventually unfolds.

Tune out social media

For those who might not be familiar with the name, Josh Simmons is a rookie left tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, he began the season with a bang now he’s gone. Of course the hope is this is not a permanent issue, the Chiefs announced he experienced personal problems and that was all the public knew. We are now in the third or fourth week and fans are clamoring to know what’s occurring with Simmons. As for me I am accepting the statement made by the front office that it was personal. Despite the announcement fans have begun to grow anxious due to Simmons absence. I don’t do social media but have been led to believe his name has been circulated.

I remember once reading a veteran NBA player informed a rookie “You need to turn off social media.” The difficulty of turning off social media might be difficult for a number of us. Despite this fact I have been led to believe it can be downright brutal at times regarding a team and players. We only need to ask LeBron and Bronny James and several others throughout the NBA. On the other hand age must be a factor in how one deals with social media. I held a brief conversation with two younger members at my workplace. This is what I heard, “I will laugh at you about criticizing my play as I drive off in my Lamborghini.” That is an easy response and we must keep in mind that many of us have struggle ignoring critical remarks aimed at us. On the other hand many of us have the ability to treat unfavorable remarks like water on a ducks back, they simply allow it to roll off. We must keep that fact in mind.  

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

The Lake Show

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the Lakers facing the Wolves for the first time. After all last season in the playoffs they demolished the Lakers, it wasn’t the playoffs but the outcome was far different. The Lakers were winners 128-110 as Luka led the way to the victory, his game was 60.9% shooting from the floor with 41.7% from three. It was 49 points 11 rebounds and 8 assists as he registered an outstanding second game for the season. I’m praising Luka but it was not him alone. He led the way but the win was a team effort by all in Purple and Gold.

Austin Reaves scored 25 points along with 11 assists, Rui Hachimura chipped in with 23 points, Deandre Ayton contributed 15 points on several lob dunks and pulled down 8 rebounds. Marcus Smart only scored 3 points but his contributions defensively cannot be overlooked. The win was a team effort as the Lakers shot nearly 60% from the floor and 41% from three, the Wolves out rebounded the Lakers but it was only by a slim 40-38 margin. Next up the Lakers head north to face the Kings on Sunday, this account is published ahead of the game so an update will be available in the Monday morning edition. The Lakers now appear ready to battle Western Conference foes in pursuit of a championship, maybe they will prove the cynics wrong this season.

Part Deux-The Los Angeles Lakers managed to win the second game of the season against the Minnesota T-Wolves. Luka Doncic had led the way to the victory with 49 points but then came the news on Sunday afternoon, Luka had suffered an injury in the game and would be out at least a week. That’s a double whammy, LeBron is gone until mid-November with a sciatic issue. The Lakers faced a daunting task in front of them, who takes the lead…someone needs to step up. Will at least against the Sacramento Kings Sunday evening several “someone’s stepped up.”

The Lakers were 127-120 winners over the Kings as guard Austin Reaves almost registered a triple-double with his 51 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists a career high. Teammates Deandra Ayton scored 22 points and pulled down 15 rebounds, Rui Hachimura scored 18 points and Marcus Smart chipped in with 11. Scoring has been an issue for the Lakers but as a team they managed to shot nearly 49% from the floor and 32% from three. Zach LaVine led the way for the Kings with his 32 points, LaVine was capability assisted by DeMar DeRozen with his 21 points. The Lakers have a monumental task in front of them with LeBron and Luka out of the lineup at the same time. Next up the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday a home game which was followed by a match against the Wolves on the road this evening.

We are yet to begin play

College basketball play is about two weeks away, a number of teams have already played exhibition games as this is written. Naturally a look ahead for me is the NBA draft in June, I’m focused on the draft for one reason. The highly touted college prospects usually play but one year and they are on the way to the NBA, ask Cooper Flagg? I decided to check the mock draft sites and the usual suspects are in place in fact one site has Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybansta and Cameron Boozer projected as the top three. Guess what, all three are in their freshman year at their respective schools. As for the top pick in the 2026 draft the college season must be completed first however these names are at the top.

We check out tankathon.com which places Darryn Peterson as the number one pick, Peterson is a 6-foot 5 195 pound combo guard. Moving on to draftroom.com, they also have the Kansas guard as their top selection. If we move to nbadraft.net we find a different name as their choice, AJ Dybantsa 6-foot 9 210 pound small forward at BYU. I began this exercise by pointing to the fact the adjustment to the college game is vital for the player and not necessarily how they might impact a team. We need look no further than Rutgers as the example of that fact, the team finished the 2024-25 season with 15 wins and 17 losses. Despite the team’s poor record we saw guard Dylan Harper drafted second by the Spurs and later Harper’s teammate guard Ace Bailey was made the 5th pick by the Jazz. By the time the season ends its quite possible Boozer might move up and replace one or both…it’s occurred in the past.

Is he the best in the NBA

Victor Wembanyama missed half of his second year in the NBA due to injury, after surgery, rehab and traveling the globe this is what we discovered. This is not in order but from my memory, Wemby spent time in study with monks in the Shaolin Temple in China even shaving his head. He then worked out with former Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon and Wolves power forward Kevin Garnett. With Olajuwon it was offensive work as for Garnett it was focus on mentality and on court leadership, he also took time to return home to Paris France as well. This world-wide travel was to prepare himself to perform at a high skill level in the 2025-26 NBA season. I pose the question in the headline, is he the best in the NBA in his third year? I ask the NBA fan, I can state my impressions however I’m only a party of one.

Let’s check the stats after Wemby’s third game of the season. He’s averaging nearly 33 points a game on 57% shooting from the floor with 36.4% from three for a 7-foot 5 center. It’s easy to detail the offensive part of Wemby, how about the “effort stats”? That’s my reference to the defensive portion of his game, it’s a 13.3 rebound average along with 6 blocked shots a game. Wemby is not leading the NBA in scoring in fact he’s tied for 6 place, SGA is the scoring leader, Wemby is not leading in field goal percentage that belongs to Giannis Antetokounmpo for now. The undefeated Spurs are tied in wins with the defending champion Thunder in the Western Conference, Wemby is playing at NBA All Pro level after the first three games of the season. I don’t ski but the phrase has caught my attention, “I don’t want to get in front of my ski’s.” I guess its meant to say don’t get ahead of yourself.

I’m a Duke fan

Most of us have a favorite NBA or college team we root for. For me In the NBA win or lose it’s the Lakers, a secondary team is the Spurs especially since the arrival of Wemby. As for the college game first and foremost it’s the Missouri Tigers, right behind them are the Duke Blue Devils. What I find most interesting Duke is one of those “hated” basketball programs, the one casual fans hope for a lost no matter who they might play. For me, this love affair with Duke basketball began long before Coach K. retired, it’s continued with Jon Scheyer. There are programs that brag about the number of players they have sent into the NBA, It might exist at Duke I’ve never been privy to it.

It’s not on the coaches, it’s not only the talent produced over the decades. The arena is also part of the mystique for me too. In the day of gigantic college arenas we have Cameron Indoor Stadium on the Duke campus. This arena opened its doors January 6, 1940, it seats 9,314 rabid fans which I’m sure has aided the winning at Duke. I’ve read opposing players expressed the belief that the student body is seated inches away from the court and that might indeed be the case. I’d written this previously but it is worth mentioning once again if a coach hired today had a similar record to Coach K. after three years they would be fired. In his first three seasons Duke won 38 games while losing 47, the record there after was unbelievably successful. Duke basketball one of the most successful programs in the nation and one I find easy to root for.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

He speaks

Commissioner Silver stated he was extremely disappointed in the gambling probe and arrests. Until there are further developments he really can’t say much more. As mentioned earlier the indictments and arrests impacts NBA fans. This portion of news is almost as bad, “Members of Congress sent a letter Friday to NBA commissioner Adam Silver requesting a briefing and expressing concern over “allegations of illegal gambling and sports rigging” after Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA player and coach Damon Jones were indicted in a pair of sweeping federal investigations this week.” The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is requesting a briefing by October 31. Whatever occurs from a future standpoint Congress’s ability to impact this development is severely limited in my view.

Portions from ESPN

Rule changes

Every season the NBA adopts or revises the rule book, 2025-26 will be no different. I located this information and believed it was worth you being informed of the changes.

End-of-quarter heaves: 

Unsuccessful shots taken from at least 36 feet away with under three seconds left in the first three quarters will now count as a team attempt, not a personal one. This rule aims to encourage players to attempt these long shots without fear of hurting their shooting percentages.

Foul rules:

“High-five” rule: A player cannot be hit on the hand during their shooting motion.

Delayed contact rule: A foul can still be called even if contact occurs after the shooter has released the ball.

Coach’s Challenge: When a coach challenges an out-of-bounds call, a Replay Center official will now determine if a proximate foul should have been called, instead of the on-court crew chief. This is intended to speed up the review process.

A generation

I hadn’t thought about this until it was pointed out to me by a friend, do you realize this generation of the NBA will be retired in 5 years? It’s likely LeBron James who turns 41 in December will be the first to retire, he is certainly not alone because LeBron will be joined by a number of well-known NBA players. Who are they, you are familiar with them you have long watched them in person or on television. The were the nucleus of the last gold medal Olympic team for the U.S. The names are easily recognizable, they are:

Steph Curry

Chris Paul

Kawhi Leonard

James Harden

Kevin Durant

Russell Westbrook

Joel Embiid

Kyrie Irving

Anthony Davis

Nikola Jokic

Giannis Antetokounmpo

A couple of the names you might question if they will be retired, its possible they might play an extended period. That is indeed a possibility later you will read another account on Vince Carter, he played long after his 35th birthday. Keep this in mind everyone on the list will be 35+ in 5 years. Who replaces them or is the future in front of us currently? Is it Wemby, SGA or Ant Man or several other players I’ve failed to mention in this short account, everything must change and that includes NBA players.

Jack Molinas

Some reading this might remember the name Jack Molinas, he was one of the culprits in the 1961 college basketball betting scandal. What I found most interesting he was a very good NBA player for the period. Molinas attended Columbia University 1950-1953, he set the scoring record for the team at one time which was later broken. There are reports he was part of the college basketball point-shaving scandal in 1951 but was never caught. In any event the 1953 NBA draft would see Molinas chosen as the 3rd pick in the first round. Molinas was banned by the NBA after playing but 32 games for the Fort Wayne (Detroit) Pistons.

Molinas was barred for betting on Piston games which resulted in a lifetime suspension by the NBA. He became the first active player to receive a lifetime suspension before Jontay Porter in 2024. What I’ve always found so interesting about Molinas he was near genius with a 175 reported IQ. Unable to play in the NBA Molinas would play in the Eastern League which could be equated with the G-League however there was no connection with the NBA. This is but a shorten version of an earlier time in the NBA. What we are witnessing at present is not necessarily a new thing, it reminds me of an old idiom, “The phrase “nothing new under the sun” means that the fundamental human experiences and struggles are repeated throughout history, even though the circumstances may seem new.”

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Gambling

Sports betting, or gambling, has been present since the early days of organized sports. Recent events on Friday involved the arrest of a coach, an active player, and a retired individual by the FBI on gambling-related charges. As the story is still developing, there are no conclusions being drawn at this time, but several aspects merit attention. The situation presents significant challenges for the NBA and has become a prominent topic both within sports and broader news coverage. There are concerns about inaccurate headlines that have emerged.

For instance, it was reported on Friday that Scott Foster former NBA official who retired after 29 years, was arrested on Thursday. However, as of early Friday morning, news sources indicate no such arrest has occurred. The most perplexing part for me the possible involvement of Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, has raised notable questions. If allegations are substantiated, it could impact the proud legacy he’s established. Currently, only Billups and two additional individuals have been named, while the FBI investigation continues. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

He said it

Kelvin Sampson Houston coach performed quite a feat. At the recent Big 12 media day he laid gobs of praise on Kansas basketball, that’s all the local media needed to just lap his words up like a puppy drinking water. That was then, this is now, I must constantly remind my friends across State Line Road the days of Kansas dominating the Big 12 are over. Sure they still have Bill Self, sure they can recruit on the school’s name but the door is slowly closing on them being the best team in the conference let alone the nation. We realize media folks are not always the best source for information, I include myself at this point. I decided to check a number of preseason Big 12 polls, I stopped at four. Of that number none of the polls have placed Kansas in the top spot, that space belongs to Sampson and his Houston Cougars.

Not only is Kansas basketball not projected at the top of the conference, three sites ranked them the number 5 team in the conference, one even placed them in 6 place. The conference leadership may indirectly be responsible for Kansas basketball not being as prevalent as it once was. There was an annual appeal for teams to join the Big 12 since the departure of Nebraska, Mizzou and Colorado have made for a competitive conference. Houston mentioned previously along with Arizona and a revitalized BYU program come ready to play. If we add Cincinnati and holdovers Baylor and Texas Tech I hope you see where I’m going. This is not the end of Kansas basketball however the era of Kansas no longer dominating the conference begins. The truth of the matter It was 2016-17 the last year they won the conference outright. If Sampson believes his words, if Kansas City media believes in the invincible Jayhawks that’s okay…it’s just no longer reality.

Not my list

Recently several might remember the story regarding the All-Time Laker players. I didn’t originate it but took issue with a couple of the players the writer placed on his team. One of those he named was LeBron James. Now it’s not my intent to toss rocks at LeBron but he doesn’t belong for a number of reasons. Basketball similar to a number of others is a team sport, it requires all parties to perform at peak efficiency. We can look at the champion Thunder team as the most recent example, LeBron has been a Laker since 2018 in that time the team has won but one championship that one in 2020. The team has failed twice in that time period to qualify for the playoffs,

Those other years were playoff elimination seasons for the Lakers. In that time period only one season did they manage to play for the conference finals. The fall back is despite having LeBron on the roster the balance of Laker teammates were not talented enough to advance any further in the playoffs. Is that LeBron’s fault alone…of course not, he's a party of one. The finger of blame must also be pointed in the direction of Laker management. Whenever I contemplate All-Time Laker greats I think of those in the past who led the team to numerous championships. No argument from me LeBron James has set scoring records that will never be duplicated. Based on that fact alone he’s headed to Naismith as soon as he’s eligible. Yes, that Hall of Fame but not one that includes Laker All-Time greats.

Meanwhile….

There are 135 international athletes on 30 NBA rosters which is a record number this season. As for the numbers Canada leads with 23 players, France is second with 19 and Australia sends 13 to the association. Completing the Top 10 are the following nation and the number is included in parentheses. They are Germany (7), Serbia (6), Cameroon (4), United Kingdom (4), Bahamas (3) Croatia (3) Democratic Rep. of the Congo (3). There are a total of 21 nations represented in the international count. Without conducting any research it’s my belief the NBA comprises more international players than any other professional sport less soccer (football) and perhaps major league baseball. Despite the popularity of NFL football the sport contains few international players.

I’ve mentioned his name in the past, it’s Jay Bilas. Most of you are more familiar with his role as a college basketball analyst and color commentator for ESPN. Bilas provided us his list of All Americans for the upcoming season. One of the names he placed on his team is Yaxel Lendeborg, power/small forward at Michigan. A bit of background on the 6-foot 9 240 pound Lendeborg, he was born in Puerto Rico but moved to Pennsauken Township New Jersey a city in the Philadelphia metro. He began play at a community college prior to attending and playing for UAB, 2025 would be his first year at Michigan. He entertained the NBA draft but decided in favor of playing another season at Michigan, expect to hear his name called in the 2026 NBA draft.

There are times rules are passed that are questionable to some. Longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo expressed his displeasure with the fact that two former G-League players will be allowed to play college basketball. I understand why the coach is upset, he probably considers them professionals yet they are going to be allowed to play as “amateurs.” Speaking of fair, how about this one? Gonzaga’s Tyon Grant-Foster missed two seasons while at DePaul with heart issues while the NCAA details for all they have no heart. The NCAA denied Gonzaga’s request for an injury waiver providing us proof once again they truly lack empathy.

There is an adjustment period for rookies but not the Sixers guard VJ Edgecomb. He aided his team in edging the Celtics 117-116. In 42 minutes on the court he scored 34 points on 50% from the floor and 39% from three. The only downside to his first regular season NBA game was poor free throw shooting, he shot only 50% from the free throw line. Frank Selvy scored 35 points for the 1954 Philly Warriors, Wilt Chamberlain had 43 in his Warrior debut and then on Wednesday evening the third most scored by a rookie in Philly history with Edgecomb’s 34.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

We’re going to need a bigger boat

Movie buffs will remember the line uttered by Police Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) in the 1975 movie Jaws. Brody would make this statement after seeing the huge shark they faced. As for the Lakers on Tuesday night the “Shark” they faced that evening was the Warriors team which “bit” down on them and swallowed them whole by a score of 119-109. As you are aware there was no LeBron, he would be missing in action until mid-November but that wasn’t the chief issue, no Laker beside Luka Doncic was ready to play.

Doncic filled up the box score with 43 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists on 63% shooting from the floor, Austin Reaves added 26 points but that was about it. The balance of the Lakers were mostly invisible, fans of Dub Nation will conclude I’m not giving their team credit due them. In most instances when you win your game is a cut above the other guy and that is what occurred Tuesday. Steph Curry was a contributor with 23 points but it was the others who stepped up. Jimmy Butler led the way with 31 points and Jonathan Kuminga and reserve Buddy Hield both contributed 17 points. As for the Lakers its early yet so Laker Nation should not become too upset, I believe JJ Redick will make adjustments and hopefully they play better in their next outing.

Meanwhile….

Is this the season, the year which witnesses the Knicks contend for an NBA championship? The Celtics will have Jayson Tatum missing at least for most of the season, as for the Pacers they face a similar story. Jeff Haliburton will miss the 2025-26 season, before fans of both franchises become upset with me allow additional detail. Both teams are stocked with capable members however its my belief both will contend but come up short. That leaves the Knicks as perhaps the readiest team to move up a degree based on returning all their starters. New coach Mike Brown has a good track record and I believe this will occur. Unlike the departed Tom Thibodeau this coach will give his starters adequate rest and will utilize his reserve players. The Knicks in my view ran out of “gas” at the end of their series (4-2) against the Pacers last season, expect a different outcome this time around if the teams meet. In closing the Knicks just might become the Eastern Conference team to contend for the championship.

Duke basketball continues to contend for talent, Jon Scheyer Duke coach received a commitment  from his first Class of 2026 prospect. His name is Bryson Howard and he is a 6-foot 5 188 pound small forward, as for his rating Rivals list Howard as a 4-star prospect while 247Sports awards him 5-stars. Duke managed to win over several outstanding programs Kentucky, Baylor North Carolina and Georgetown were a sampling of schools contending for Howard’s services. Howard is from Frisco Texas a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

I came across this story on one of my social media sites, two NBA owners trade franchises. This incident occurred once in the history of the association, it could never occur today in my view. This occurred in 1978 and the teams were the Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers) and Boston Celtics. Irv Levin owner of the Celtics wanted to move his team to California but the NBA wouldn’t allow it (imagine that). By swapping franchises with John Y. Brown then owner of the Braves the switch was made. Owner Levin moved the Braves to San Diego where they were renamed Clippers. Could it occur again, I have serious doubts based on the financial interest of today.

Was there a basis for the strange and unusual lineup Ime Udoka sent out opening night against the Thunder. The Rockets lineup featured Kevin Durant 6-foot 11, Jabari Smith Jr., 6-foot 11, Steven Adams 7-foot, Alperen Sengun 6-foot 11 and “little” Amen Thompson who stands 6-foot 7. As most are aware point guard Fred VanVleet suffered a torn ACL and there is a possibility he could miss the season. Despite a lineup that averaged 6-foot 10 and outrebounding the Thunder 52-38 they were losers in double OT 125-124. Reed Sheppard is the short time answer at the point but certainly not long term, the Rockets are one of the teams considered a Western Conference contender, that might be the case but there are point guard questions.   

The Alien

As they might say, he be hooping, getting’ buckets…the street vernacular is a reference regarding Victor Wembanyama a.k.a. The Alien and his Wednesday night game. I almost forgot his defense, he blocked 3 shots and probably intimidated on a bunch of others intended by the Mavs. Wemby’s game was directly responsible for the Spurs 125 to 92 victory over the Mavs as he filled the box score. His game read 40 points scored while pulling down 15 rebounds, he accomplished this shooting .714 from the floor .500 from three while shooting 82% from the line.

Brad Boykin CBS Sports headline read; “Victor Wembanyama might have just taken over the basketball world in the first game.” As further proof Anthony Davis made a statement which might have been taken as a joke but that might not be the case. AD said; “ The NBA should implement a height limit like they do in the Philippines.” I am unfamiliar with play in that nation but evidently the height limit must be real. In any case Wemby has forced the NBA to take notice, this season a “new” Wemby will be on display. NBA teams better prepare for the 7-foot 4 (or 5) 235 pound Wemby who is prepared to take the NBA by storm. Any game featuring the Spurs and Wemby should be deemed must watch television. Although he doesn’t play the post in the traditional manner he alone might be responsible for future emphasis in that area.

A fans perspective 

Published Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

What if I told you…

In the middle of the nation lies one of the most successful basketball programs in the nation. No, I am not referring to Kansas basketball although this school is in a state sharing a border with Kansas. I will save you from guessing, its Creighton University located in Omaha Nebraska. The late Bob Gibson legendary Cardinals pitcher was a student here at one time, he even played on the basketball team although it was baseball which led to his inclusion in the hall of fame. The school of course is Creighton University and it’s men’s basketball program has been a continuous winner throughout the ages. One of the reasons it remains somewhat hidden it’s deemed a mid-major school, power 5 conference schools receive the greater amount of coverage.

For years, the school was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, the 2013-14 school year saw Creighton move into the Big East Conference. Creighton will soon begin its 106  year of competitive basketball first fielding a team in 1911-12 as an independent. Under a succession of coaches the school has won 1,705 games while losing 1081 for a .612 percentage. Despite the brilliant record Creighton is barely mentioned when a discussion of all-time programs is undertaken. What is even more interesting the school has more wins than current powerhouse teams such as Auburn, Iowa State and others. Head coach Greg McDermott has been at the helm since 2010 and has registered 350 wins versus 171 losses a .672 percentage. Next time you hold a discussion with your buddies regarding successful college basketball programs please don’t omit Creighton, the Blue Jays are a dynamite basketball program.

Oscar Schmidt

His name is one few remember or maybe are familiar with, Schmidt is 67 years old now and his days playing basketball are long over. While he played the game it was at a high skill level scoring nearly 50,000 points during his career. He stood 6-foot 9 and 243 pounds, Schimdt played both forward positions, for those unfamiliar might ask the question…”How come we don’t know him?” His home country is Brazil and his point total was accumulated in the Olympics and a long, long professional career for a number of teams. His professional career lasted from 1974 to 2003 playing for a number of pro teams in his native Brazil, Spain and Italy. Schmidt never played in the NBA but over the years the questions always remained could he? This from AI regarding the question:

“Drafted but declined: The New Jersey Nets drafted Schmidt in the sixth round of the 1984 NBA draft, and he attended their training camp. Despite performing well, he declined their offer for a full-time contract. Reasons for declining: National team priority: The most significant reason was that signing with an NBA team would have meant he could no longer represent Brazil in international competitions due to the FIBA rules at the time. Financial and respect concerns: The NBA contract was considerably less money than he was making in Italy, and he was offended by his low draft position, feeling it showed a lack of respect for his talent. Alternative choice: Schmidt chose to remain an amateur so he could continue to play for the Brazilian national team, becoming an international icon. He is now recognized as one of the greatest players to have never played in the NBA.” In 2013 Schmidt was enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, in addition he’s also in the FIBA and Italian Basketball Hall of Fame. So that’s the brief story of Oscar Schmidt who chose a basketball career other than in the NBA.

No, not yet

A dot com site selected a starting five of all time Laker players and I took exception to it. The starters were Magic Johnson at one guard and Kobe Bryant the other, they selected two centers Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Shaquille O’ Neal. Lastly they chose LeBron James at forward. This will surprise some because I don’t believe LeBron or Shaq belongs on this team, I say that with this explanation. Lifetime to me entails spending the bulk or significant career in Purple and Gold. Considering the fact ‘Big Game’ James Worthy is excluded from this list makes no sense. A closer look finds lifetime Lakers Magic and Kobe, they never played for any team besides the Lakers.

Next up there is Kareem who spent the first 6 years with the Bucks who drafted him. He was a Laker for the next 14 years on several championship teams. Next up Shaquille O’ Neal, he completed 8 years with the Lakers and 4 of them ended with NBA championships however he moved from team to team disqualifying him from my all-time team. Finally we finish with LeBron James the NBA all-time leading scorer. No argument he should be applauded for his stellar career however similar to Shaq the Lakers become his 4th team if we count him playing for the Cavs twice. Some of you reading this will decide I’m being too tough on Shaq and LeBron. Your probably saying “no one spends an entire NBA career with one team!” Guess what, I’m going to agree with you but despite that statement of truth they are excluded from my team.

KenPom

In a manner similar to many of you I pay attention to the Top 25 ranking for men’s college basketball. For me most of them are “beauty contests” in a manner of speaking, although I check them out the source for me is KenPom. KenPom takes in a bunch of stats before awarding a position to a particular team. During the season, a team can move up or down in a manner of other polls however there are 9 different rating systems utilized in order to rank a team. With that said allow me to look ahead of the season.

They have Houston ranked number one and Florida number two, this is interesting in that both competed for the 2025 NCAA championship with Florida the winner. It’s clear to me from this ranking KenPom believes Houston remains a viable and competitive team in 2025-26. At three is Purdue, other polls place them at number one, Kentucky and UConn come in at four and five. This should be of note, in the Big XII KenPom has 6 other schools ranked higher than Kansas (21). Houston as mentioned previously, Texas Tech at 12 and Iowa State 13 plus Arizona, Baylor and BYU ranked 15, 17 and 18. In the SEC they have 7 schools ranked ahead of Mizzou at 28. At the bottom of the poll, Arkansas Pine Bluff at 364 and Mississippi Valley State ranked at 365. In conclusion space and time will not allow me to list all the Division I schools however it’s of interest. 

Have you heard this

The naysayers have been around since the beginning of time, they generally want to inform us how our interpretation of a “thing” is incorrect. Oftentimes they utilize a bit of history without providing all the facts. Naturally without the complete story you are left to believe them, I site the Spurs Victor Wembanyama. I’ve read where some claim due to Wemby’s height his career might not be very long, they cite Ralph Sampson as the example. For those who might be unfamiliar with Sampson he’d played his college basketball at the University of Virginia and was National Player of the year three times.

Sampson was made the number one pick in the 1983 NBA draft by the Rockets. Up to that time period we’d never seen a player of his stature (7-foot 4) who was so agile and able to play the game in the same manner as a small forward. It was not unusual for him to snatch the rebound off the board and dribble the length of the court for a dunk or layup, Sampson’s career was cut short but it certainly wasn’t due to his inability to play the game at a high level. Knee and back injuries cut short what could have been so much more despite the brief time he played. Check out the YouTube video below to see an athlete the same height of Wemby play the game in the same manner. Despite Sampson’s shorten career he would be enshrined in the Naismith and College Basketball Hall of Fame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVjl0QRkLoI