Off the Dribble

2026-10-19T06:43:36.955-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

In court rather than on the court

Mizzou coach Dennis Gates was photographed in court while a Kentucky judge was rendering a judgement on former Mizzou forward Mark Mitchell. Meantime CJ Gunn a DePaul transfer was appearing before a Boone County (MO) judge, in both instances the athletes were attempting to gain an additional year of eligibility. I’m not going to go into the details of the why let’s just say I’ve grown tired of this exercise. I am making this statement despite the fact there are Mizzou players involved. The end result, Mitchell has gained eligibility while the Boone County judge issued a temporary restraining order which also allows Gunn to play this season as well. I realize this is “grown folks” business but this issue of eligibility has become irritating to me.

Baby Shaq

Some of you were introduced to Marcis Ponder this summer. Sources indicate the 7-foot, 328-pound freshman is nicknamed “Baby Shaq.” When we learned he was headed to Florida State, I promised to follow his progress. I’m usually skeptical of high school big men because I believe they often face opponents 3–4 inches shorter and several pounds lighter. But Ponder’s collegiate debut, though only an exhibition, was outstanding: 13 points, 21 rebounds and 3 blocks against Auburn.

It’s just one game, but I’d call that a promising start. I’m not one to rush anyone toward the NBA, but times have changed. If he sustains that level of play, expect him to declare for the 2027 NBA draft. If you’ve read this blog for a period of time you realize the type of game Ponder appears to have it is a favorite of mine. I love Big Man basketball and this is part of what I don’t understand. If a coach has a budding talent such as Ponder why not develop an inside power game? I located three additional 7 foot high school players who are in the Class of 2027, are they going to be trained to shoot three’s?

There remains the game

My old ESPN has gone the way of the American bison, the bison hunted to almost extinction has returned but certainly not to the 19th Century numbers. I believe that has become the destiny of the Entertainment Sports and Programming Network, the network is no longer interested in journalism. The truth is ESPN began drifting in this direction several years ago, I offer Pablo Torre’s Clippers investigation as proof. Torre once worked for ESPN but for unknown reasons departed several years ago. As for the network the journalism we witnessed in their 30 for 30 series and other programs provided us evidence of journalism, information and entertainment. If we believe the reported figures the two highest paid on air employees are Pat McAfee and Stephen A. Smith.

This next portion I find most interesting, in the past it seems every time the credibility of Smith is called into question his fall back response is always the same! He mentions beginning his journalism career as a beat reporter for a Philadelphia newspaper, friends there is no argument that’s where he began his journey. Smith, McAfee along with Mike Greenberg and others have become more well-known for their opinions and entertainment value over pure journalism. Is that a terrible thing….of course not however they along with those who enjoy their views fail to take into account the missing element. That element of course is the journalism, the question remains for me, will I cease watching ESPN? Of course not, there remains the game, the live action of the NBA and college basketball will always be there because that’s the entertainment for me.

Time is the true test

Of all the off-season moves (excluding LeBron James) the Lakers acquiring Walker Kessler in a trade with the Jazz might be the prime move. To offer proof he was signed to a 4-year $130 million contract, this after coming off the 2025-26 season and only 5 games played. Kessler suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder which caused him to miss the season. Were the Lakers desperate after the failed Deandre Ayton experiment? In his brief NBA history Kessler is certainly not (at least for now) on the same level as the player he replaces in the post offensively.

It’s the other things its reported that the 7-foot 2 245 pound Kessler will be an improvement. This from AI Overview; “an elite rim protector, high efficiency interior finisher, and dominant offensive rebounder.” Although Ayton certainly had skill apparently the Laker coaching staff found he was deficient in the areas mentioned. As the headline indicates time is the true test, the decider of whether this move will prove beneficial or not for the Lakers. I remember seeing Kessler in action while at Auburn, I don’t recollect any particular aspect of his game standing out. Despite that fact he’s now in the NBA, someone with more insight than me believed Kessler could play at this level.

2026-10-18T07:19:39.154-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Yet it remains

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

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

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

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

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

Meanwhile….

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

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

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

2026-10-16T06:45:04.282-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

The other son

His name is Bryce James, he is the younger brother of Bronny and son of LeBron. While Bronny only remained in college for his freshman year Bryce has taken a different route. The 6-foot 5 shooting guard was redshirted last year at Arizona so technically the 2026-27 season will be his first competitive college basketball. At the time he graduated from high school scouting sites ESPN and Rivals rated Bryce a 3-star prospect while he played at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth California.

This is but a small portion of his high school scouting report from Adam Finkelstein Director of Scouting for 247Sports. “He may not be the dynamic athlete or playmaker some expect at first, but he is a fundamentally sound player with solid perimeter size and a good early skill-set.” Now the question on the minds of most reading this, is Bryce a better talent than older brother Bronny? That question cannot be answered as this is written.

The other

I have attempted to update you on plans for new arena builds throughout the league. Naturally, the prospect of a “new” building is more exciting than one presently in existence. It requires an extensive timeline for construction to be completed, a remake of the existing building is usually less time. There are at least 5 arenas that are being refurbished or soon will be. Where are these arenas located, we begin in Portland and the Moda Center home court for the Blazers, the arena opened in 1995. The plan is a $573 million to $600 million overhaul of the arena which is yet to begin. Remaining on the west coast we journey to Salt Lake City and the Delta Center home of the Jazz.

This building first opened in October 1991 is currently in the middle of a massive, multi-year $525 million redesign. We now journey to Denver and the Ball Arena, this downtown arena home of the Nuggets opened in October 1999. The building will undergo an extensive $135 million renovation. Our next stop is the nation’s capital Washington D.C. and The Capital One Arena home to the Wizards opened its doors in 1997. This renovation is the most expensive in the NBA to date, this will be a massive $1 billion complete modernization of the existing arena. Our last stop is north of the border in Toronto Canada and the Scotiabank Arena which opened in 1999. The home court for the Raptors is undergoing what is termed a $350 million “Reimagination Project” whatever that entails. These projects have varying timelines on when they might be completed, sometimes what is old can become new again and that appears to be the case here.

This might have changed

By the time you read this there might be a change, I’m referring to Mizzou’s basketball recruiting ranking. The Class of 2026 witnessed the school finishing 7 in the nation in recruiting according to Rivals. Earlier I’d reported on two prospects who committed to Mizzou which entails the Tigers getting off to a fast start for the Class of 2027. 247.com places Mizzou 7 while On3/Rivals.com list them as the number 13 team in the nation. What does all this mean, at the top of the list the commits must turn into solid players, which is certainly no guarantee for high school talent.

I could state pressure is three-fold, on the coach his overall team and these fresh new commits. Despite the issues of NIL and the transfer portal it says to me coach Gates and staff are continuing to travel all over the nation in an attempt to build the Mizzou brand. Someone might point toward the adage “failure is not an option” oh but it is. We cannot forecast health from the aspect of avoiding injuries nor the ability for one to adjust to the college game. I love the fact there is a work in progress sign in front of Mizzou Arena at 1 Champions Drive, Columbia MO.

This is interesting

Last season Spurs guard Dylan Harper failed to play in the manner of a rookie. He would prove vital to the streaking Spurs as they would eventually play for the 2026 NBA Championship. Although Harper’s team came up short many asked the question, “how can you keep him out of the starting lineup?” Well coach Mitch Johnson may have an answer, a three-guard lineup. Recently the Spurs lineup contained DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle and the aforementioned Harper. This is not the first attempt by a team to change its lineup in an expanded manner.

The Spurs depth chart listed on ESPN contains the name of Devin Vassell at small forward, he too was key to the success of the Spurs this past season. Does he become a permanent member of the reserve squad? That issue aside consider this, Fox is the oldest member of this expanded backcourt and he’s only 28-years old. As for the others, Castle will turn 22 in November while Harper is the “baby” of the trio at age 20. This move should not be considered final however it is interesting in several aspects. The chief one of course is placing second year man Dylan Harper in the starting lineup. Adding Harper’s athleticism and will power to an ever improving Spurs team.

2026-10-14T05:43:37.062-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

LeBron James is how old

Sixers fans will see their new main man in his 24^th year in the NBA. A little trivia for you, Michael Jordan (63) is 22 years older than LeBron however LeBron is 22 years older than Cooper Flagg (19). The lengthy career of LeBron has seen him play at a time when the NBA allowed hand-checking which has been outlawed since the 2004-05 season. Understand this information, a candidate for the Naismith Hall of Fame must be retired two full seasons in order to be eligible for entry.

Bet you didn’t realize there are three players from LeBron’s draft class enshrined in the hall of fame, they are Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Bronny James had his dad as a teammate his first two years in the NBA, Bronny was born in his father’s second NBA season. Mentioning offspring how about this, there are 10 father-son’s LeBron has played against. Early in his NBA career LeBron played the fathers who are retired and now he’s matched against the sons of the fathers. How about this bit of interesting trivia on LeBron James,

Dickey V.

I wasn’t sure if one of the voices of college basketball would return. Former coach and longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale has suffered a number of health challenges the last few years. We haven’t been entertained by many of the broadcast phrases he originated when he first began broadcasting the men’s game back in 1979. Dickey V. will return to do what he loves in the 2026-27 season. He’s already announced his All Rolls Royce team for this upcoming season, as for some of his colorful phrases.

“Aircraft carrier” referencing a team’s Big Man, how about “Diaper Dandy” a reference to an outstanding freshman. Then we have “PTP’re” his definition of a prime time player and finally “In the Trifecta Zone” denoting a player who pulls up and shoots a three. Dickey V. is 87-years old now but is there such a thing as retiring especially if you love your job and its clear the pay is good but there is another reason. It’s simple he loves the game. As I indicated earlier health issues have sidelined him for the last two seasons but it appears he’s ready for action

Work ethic

The man, the myth….the legend, that what I now consider Kobe Bryant far a single reason alone. Since his passing I’ve read more about him in death than I ever did while he was living, this is just one more story. I’m sure there’s another one out there somewhere, in any event lets proceed. This again from his teammate and later head coach Byron Scott. Scott said; “Probably Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter were more talented than Kobe, he had one advantage over both, they couldn’t out work him.” Scott went on to say; “He’d (Kobe) be working out three times to their one.”

In addition we’ve heard stories about Kobe being a difficult teammate and Scott addressed that as well. Scott said, “Kobe believed he didn’t need any friends.” I cannot address any friends relationship for Kyrie Irving however Patrick Mahomes might possibly be different. From outside appearances it appears Mahomes and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce have a friends relationship. As for the question of friendship as it relates to sports is it critical to team success? My initial thought it depends, we know the history of Kobe and Shaq. We’ve read other instances where teammates were not friends as well. How about David Robinson and Dennis Rodman or Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton? There are other examples, I just wanted to point out a few.

New faces in new places

Of the major professional sports the NBA is actually the youngest, trading players was more common place in baseball over football although players did move from team to team. In 1946 as the NBA first began play it adopted the principle of trading for talent as well. All that changed in 1974 when Jim “Catfish” Hunter in baseball is recognized as the first modern free agent in professional sports. As free agency began to become the norm more and more baseball players sought out new teams in this manner.

Free agency then moved into the world of football, NFL players began seeking larger salaries and new teams in the same manner as their baseball counterparts. Although NBA teams continue to acquire talent through trades free agency has taken on a dominant role in the league. I’m unsure of the NHL although I’m sure it exists there as well. I have no method to determine an actual number, I happen to believe there are probably more free agents in the NBA than any of the other major sports. According to AI Overview “the Free Agent Tracker indicates 236 individual player movements and status update for the 2026 offseason.” So the headline above is correct through the NBA draft, trades and mostly free-agency.

2026-10-12T06:48:47.923-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Modern medicine

I didn’t see the game only read an account by someone who was there. The writer claimed Kyrie Irving showed no issues with his first game back for the Mavs. Considering ACL is major surgery it details to several points for us, advancements in medicine plus a work ethic. Those are keys to a successful return to action, we could look at the NFL Chiefs as well. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a left knee ACL and LCL tear in a game last December. He didn’t play in the preseason however in four regular season games he appears to demonstrate his previous prowess. In the same manner of the Mavs point guard Mahomes underwent extensive rehabilitation.

The point of this exercise is simple, sports medicine has come quite a distance from the past. The injuries of Irving and Mahomes maybe as recently as 20 years ago would have been career ending. Of course the key is the individuals themselves, both had a strong work ethic to return to action for the Mavs and Chiefs. I’ve certainly never suffered the type of injury of those two, the nearest might be illness. I left the hospital remained home one day and thought I was prepared to return to work. Needless to say I discovered my body had not healed to the level I believed, I thought I was ready but that was not the case.

How long….not long

By now you are aware LeBron James is going to reside in New York City and helicopter to Philadelphia for practice and games. Before I begin this look see allow me to say this is only an attempt to detail the why, whatever LeBron and the Sixers conclude is okay by me. First for those who might be geography challenged the two cities are located quite near one another. The distance between New York City and Philadelphia according to Google maps is 94-100 miles depending on your starting point.

Drive time between the cities can vary based on the weather, heavy traffic, roadwork, or rush hour, the drive could take 2.5 to 3 hours in length. LeBron in a charter helicopter (weather dependent) can leave New York City and arrive in Philadelphia in 30-45 minutes, as you can see a much shorter time. I am quite sure LeBron could find a residence to his liking in the city or suburbs, why live in New York City? In a role similar to Los Angeles my guess there are business interests that might be easier to accomplish in New York City over Philadelphia.

Are you for change

In this instance we discuss rule changes regarding NBA play, the college game is a whole different matter. This account was brought about due to a sports talk radio discussion I heard recently. Major League Baseball is the oldest professional sport, despite its founding in the 19th Century there was a belief rule changes were required. There were a number of rules MLB headquarters believed would improve the quality of the game. As an example pitchers now have a time clock on them, they must deliver the ball to the plate in a timely manner.

There are other rule changes however my desire was to provide you an example. In the NFL new rules were also instituted, the kick off rule is now changed from what had previously existed for 100 years. As for the NBA are there any rules you believe would enhance the game? This is not a rule change just a belief on my part. I’ve grown tired of the NBA offices the day after indicating officials had errored during the game. The outcome of the game will not change so what’s the purpose? My suggestion to speed up the game. Anytime there is a stoppage of play and the officials are at the monitors a decision should be rendered without delay. I’ve witnessed games a return to action has been held up almost 5 minutes in some instances.

This is it

Thoughts of mine while waiting on a FedEx delivery, this is it….what I desire of the 2026-27 basketball season both in the NBA and college. These are not in order they are strictly random thoughts:

*Luka and the Lakers exceed the ESPN projection

*Mizzou basketball earn a Final Four berth

*Wemby develop the effective inside game we are aware he is capable

*Zion Williamson fulfill the promise we envisioned when he left Duke

*Someone, anyone take control of college sports

*Pistons win the east over the LeBron led Sixers

*The Kansas-Mizzou grudge game has expired, hope for a renewal

*Eliminate the term “Mid-Major” from the vocabulary, highly unlikely

*NBA Eastern Conference basketball just as competitive as the Western Conference

*Jay Wright move from the broadcasting back to the bench somewhere for some team

2026-10-11T06:50:44.296-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

It’s a tough place to play

I came across this list from college basketball analyst Andy Katz, who has covered the sport for many years. Drawing on visits to arenas nationwide, Katz ranked the 10 toughest college venues for visiting teams. Road games are generally more difficult in college than in the NBA, and a strong home-court advantage can significantly boost a school’s record. Here is Katz’s ranking, from 1 to 10:

Allen Fieldhouse-Kansas Jayhawks

Cameron Indoor Stadium-Duke Blue Devils

Mackey Arena-Purdue Boilermakers

Madison Square Garden-St. John’s University

Hilton Coliseum-Iowa State

Bud Walton Arena-Arkansas

Breslin Center-Michigan State

The Pit-New Mexico

McKale Center-Arizona

United Supermarkets Arena-Texas Tech

Too high….too low

One year ago Noam Gumerman wrote this for Clutchpoints.com 25, best centers, in NBA history ranked. This is his list his opinion however I reserve the right to disagree, IMO he’s ranked several too high while others I believe too low. With that out of the way I shall proceed with the changes I see differently. He’s got Kareem Abdul Jabbar at number 1, no disagreement on my part with that selection. He’s ranked Shaquille O’Neal as his 3rd best all-time.

The problem for me I believe is too low, he’s got Bill Russell winner of 11 NBA championships at 4 and Nikola Jokic listed at 6. Both Shaq and The Joker are outstanding however far too high. Ranked too high for what they were able to accomplish during their brilliant NBA careers, Nate Thurmond (12) and Wes Unseld (14). Yao Ming was listed at 19 and Chris Bosh 21 both had very good careers but all-time is my question. Ming should have been ranked a bit lower and I have difficulty with Bosh as an all-time great. Gumerman placed Dikembe Mutombo at 22, his defense presence alone should rank him much lower.

Meanwhile….

I have attempted over the years to withhold my thoughts regarding the pay of an athlete for a variety of reasons. The chief purpose, we the public often have little detail on the negotiation process, we hear the final figure and number of years and that’s about it. Where am I going with this you ask….straight to a comment made by former NBA player turned analyst Blake Griffin. He’s questioning the amount of guaranteed money the Lakers are paying Bronny James as a second round draft pick. Griffin said and I paraphrase: “Unlike some 2nd round picks Bronny had NIL money when he arrived in the NBA.” For me that statement has little validity, the player (through his agent) asked for the specific amount and the team agreed to pay, case closed.

Annually Forbes publishes its list of most profitable sports teams. If you haven’t seen their 2026 list I’m going to provide you the information and I uncovered several surprises for me. If we are discussing all sports teams in the top 20 for Forbes at number one are the NFL Dallas Cowboys. As for the NBA there were 5 teams that earned distinction, I found several surprises, and it didn’t take very long. The Golden State Warriors were placed second, another shocker at 7 the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers were tied. Number 9 for Forbes were the Houston Rockets, rounding out the list it’s the Los Angeles Lakers at 18 and the Chicago Bulls number 19. This serves no purpose other than information for you the reader and it becomes a prime topic for discussion. On the other hand you might be among those with a few billion in disposable income, which allows you to purchase a share of one of the teams listed and perhaps others.

We are a people of the now, allow this brief explanation. A couple of podcasters (who appeared quite young) provided us “their list” of the best point guards in NBA history. One of the pair placed Magic Johnson at number one, the other disagreed and decided Steph Curry belonged there. I need help with this one, no disagreement on my part Curry is one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen play. As for point guard play that’s another story, clearly Magic was only an average shooter however the other things he did impacted the game more significantly than Curry. There, I said it and refuse to retreat from my statement.

To help me further in my trepidation (I like that word) for Mizzou men’s basketball 2026-27 I found this. Jeff Borzello ESPN media places Mizzou number 16 in the nation preseason. I’m unsure if I can ever remember Mizzou being ranked at this level in anyone’s preseason poll. On the other hand David Cobb of CBS Sports appears to take an opposing view, he sees the SEC race in this manner. He places Mizzou at number 8, that is the same position the Tigers finished in 2025-26. Although they received an invitation to the Big Dance that team won only 20 games, so which forecast do I take as being the most valid?

2026-10-09T06:30:16.388-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

There is no Goat

The headline comes from Julius “Dr. J” Erving, who said, “There is no one athlete who you can look at in any sport and just say that was the best that ever did it. It’s all an opinion.” These few lines are probably unlikely to change many minds, but they may persuade a few readers. After considering his statement, I agree with Dr. J. My problem with GOAT debates is simple: they compare players from different generations. Later, I will propose a way to settle the argument—have the athletes face one another on the court.

Of course we realize that’s not practical, some are in their 70s and 80s while others have passed. The NBA has changed greatly over the years; some current players are even the grandsons of former NBA players. Statistics can be compared across eras, but numbers alone prove little. In the days of Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West, the NBA was more physical than it is today. Most players from the 1950s probably would not earn a roster spot now, although a few exceptional athletes might because their talent transcended their era. I believe Chamberlain could have played in 2026, and the same may be true of West.

On second thought

Are you similar to me in this manner, you write or make a statement and then have second thoughts? That was the case in Wednesdays edition of Off the Dribble. I wrote of the Top 7 backcourts in the NBA and believe a further explanation is required. Tell us Larry Laker, “Are you saying out loud the other 23 teams have trash backcourts?” The explanation is simple, that’s not what I’m stating. Take for example the Blazers, the paring of Dame Lillard and Ja Morant positions two exciting dynamic players in the backcourt for the Blazers.

The ESPN depth chart currently places Jrue Holiday as the shooting guard and Dame at the point, where does that leave talented Ja? It’s apparent the minutes will be reduced for one of the trio…will it make for a happy team? The Blazers and several other teams have talented backcourts there is always a question regarding cohesiveness especially with these new parings. There is also a talent issue from this perspective one or more teams might possess an outstanding two guard and an average three or vice versa. So in closing please give me a break, as one of the headlines of this blog states, this is written from a fan’s perspective and not from someone with all the answers.

I’m pleased but scared

Mizzou basketball fans are “swimming in shark-infested waters.” We love that our Tigers look ready to compete at a high level, but that excitement comes with some fear. When only the Mizzou faithful were optimistic, everything felt manageable. Now, national media members are beginning to view the Tigers as a legitimate threat—dare I say, a possible Final Four team in 2027? That would be rarefied air for this program.

The latest example is veteran college basketball analyst Andy Katz, who recently ranked Mizzou No. 2 among his Top 10 Final Four dark-horse teams. My excitement is easy to understand since midsummer, I’ve believed this could be the most competitive Mizzou team in program history. The roster has depth at every position; the challenge is getting everyone to come together. The SEC remains one of the nation’s toughest conferences, and injuries are always a concern. Despite my trepidation, I’m excited and ready for the drama of SEC play this winter and into the spring of 2027.

He receives no love

A website titled HooperParadise’s Post provided us their list of Top 10 players in Lakers History. Naturally anytime a similar list is published someone always finds fault with it. In this case it involves but a single player:

James Worthy

Magic Johnson

LeBron James

George Mikan

Shaquille O’Neal

Wilt Chamberlain

Kareem Abdul Jabbar

Jerry West

Elgin Baylor

Kobe Bryant

The letters begin to pour in; “LeBron James is not an all-time Laker” and others written with a similar tone. For a variety of reasons many in Laker Nation become upset anytime LeBron’s name is mentioned. The truth is I’m unsure why so much scorn is aimed at him especially from Laker fans. I’m unsure of the basis, is it the length of time LeBron spent as a member of the Lakers? On the other hand it could have been expectations, was he expected to lead the Lakers to multiple championships?

The criticism certainly cannot be based on time spent with the Lakers: Chamberlain played five seasons in Los Angeles, compared with LeBron’s eight. Nor can it be about championships since each led the Lakers to only one title. As for me I may have hoped for more championships with the arrival of LeBron, but I cannot hold that against him simply because the Lakers won only once, in 2020. In the end, I can find no clear reason for the anger directed at him by a large contingent of fans especially those in Laker Nation; all I can say is that LeBron receives little love despite his outstanding talent.

2026-10-07T07:56:04.483-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

You are the judge

One of the dot com sites I read pronounced the pairing of LaMelo Ball and Anthony “Ant Man” Edwards “the best backcourt in the NBA.” On the surface I can agree, this will be a dynamic duo should the two newly joined backcourt mates mold together. As for the comment the best that might be a question. I took a gander at several NBA backcourts and settled on seven I believe might be taken into consideration.

Here is what I refuse to do, name the best although I have an idea of the 5-7 ranking, in this instance you become the judge. One of the keys in selection was my belief in the individuals defense, too often I believe we place far too much emphasis on the offensive aspect of the game. The defense was just as important in selecting the teams. As for the Knicks and Spurs I’m listing three players, I’m going to detail the teams and names but as for the order that’s left up to you to determine the ranking, with that statement here goes:

Wolves-LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards

Thunder-SGA and Jalen Williams

Knicks-Jalen Brunson and Mikael Bridges (Josh Hart)

Lakers-Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves

Cavs-Donovan Mitchell and James Hardin

Sixers-Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe

Spurs-DeAaron Fox and Stephen Castle (Dylan Harper)

One more story

Byron Scott played alongside Kobe Bryant in the backcourt and later served as his head coach with the Lakers. This is one more story on Bryant told by Scott. “I’ve seen three players who worked out at a greater level than any player I can remember, they were Jerry Rice, Walter Payton and Kobe Bryant. He (Bryant) would be in the gym at 4:00 a.m. 2-3 hours lifting (weights), he would then eat breakfast. He would return to the gym and put up 500 shots, he would then go to a 2.5-3 hour practice.

He said over a 5-year period players can’t catch me.” Like me you likely have read similar stories, those that claimed Kobe was a difficult teammate. It’s likely he expected everyone to work at the same level he did, of course most couldn’t or didn’t. I believe that belief is key to why he and Shaq eventually butted heads. Shaquille O’Neal was one of the most talented NBA players ever but that was part of the problem. Most likely Shaq’s work ethic fell into eventual discover with teammate Kobe. Once the rift developed who do you trade, I believe the answer is clear.

Who are they

This is my list of the top men’s college basketball coaches in the nation, depending on your location or affiliation some of the names on this list might be greeted with hisses and boos. In addition there are coaches who have never won an NCAA championship, winning it all is certainly noteworthy but there are other criteria for me that denote a successful coach. How about turning out consistent winning teams year after year after year. The list is not in specific order, you might disagree with my choices but that’s okay. This list is always at a point where it could be expanded, there are at least two names for the future. These names are not listed due to the length of time they have been successful head coaches nor in any order as well. With the disclaimer out of the way let’s begin the adventure:

Mark Few, Gonzaga University

He’s been in charge of the program since 1999, all he’s managed to do was win over 770 regular season games. How about this tidbit of news, the Bulldogs have earned an NCAA tournament invite every single year of his head coaching career. It’s also worth mentioning Few is one of a small number to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame while remaining an active coach.

Dan Hurley, UConn

Allow the booing to begin, Hurley is disliked in a great number of circles but not by his players. His teams have twice been NCAA tournament winners. Hurley has 350 wins and 180 losses for a .660 percentage. In 16 years at Wagner, Rhode Island and UConn there are only 3 losing seasons on his resume.

Bill Self, Kansas

Winner of 2 NCAA championship teams, he’s won 840 games at 3 coaching stops including the Jayhawks. Who knows how this would have turned out, Mizzou had an opportunity to hire him at a point but passed. Would his numbers have been the same, that’s an unproven factor but he’s been on the job at Kansas since the 2003-04 season. Self’s been inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Rick Pitino, St. John’s

He’s been coaching since the early 1900s, just joking although he first became a head coach in the 1975-76 season. Pitino’s won NCAA championships at Kentucky and Louisville, his win total at a number of coaching stops, 791. At age 74 he continues to coach a young man’s game and its likely he will continue so into the future. Pitino has also been inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Kelvin Sampson, Houston

Right behind Pitino at 70 years of age, don’t allow his age to fool you. Sampson is just as involved in coaching as any of his counterparts. Sampson’s teams have won 828 games at his various coaching stops. The Cougars have been a member of the Big 12 three years and his teams have finished 1st, 1st and 2nd.

Todd Golden, Florida

Here we have the “baby” of the bunch at 41-years of age, he might be young but his resume is impressive. His first year at Florida (2022-23) the Gators won 16 games while losing 17. Since then they are 24-12, 36-4 and 27-8, the 2025 team was NCAA champion. Golden’s career numbers at San Francisco and Florida, 160 wins along with 77 loses for a .675 percentage.

Nate Oats, Alabama

Anytime the Crimson Tide is mentioned the conversation is not necessarily football. After a lull in wins Oats was hired and that first team in 2019-20 finished with a 16-15 record. His third year the Tide dipped to a 19 win season but has rebounded since then. Oats is adept at recruiting and his teams are always competitive, he’s sent several players to the NBA.

Matt Painter, Purdue

Anytime Big 10 men’s basketball is discussed Tom Izzo at Michigan State is the name first mentioned. The basis for this is simple, the Spartan coach is the longest tenured coach in the conference. As for Painter his last five teams have won 30 plus games. The Boilermakers have been NCAA bound for six consecutive years.

I understand the why

I’m sure you noticed the sale price of NBA franchises lately, they have risen steadily over the last several years. I’m unsure if any single proprietors remain in the NBA comparable to the Lakers Jerry Buss or Paul Allen Blazers. Maybe Steve Ballmer Clippers owner and Knicks owner James Dolan might be the exception. The NBA is discussing expansion and the proposed franchise for Las Vegas has quite a hefty price tag attached to it.

Reports are the franchise is priced at $12 to $14 million, a mighty large sum of money. Despite the amount of money three groups are reported to be interested in purchasing the Las Vegas franchise. One of the names mentioned is Nancy Walton Laurie daughter of Bud Walton founder of Walmart. Her husband Bill Laurie is a former owner of the NHL St. Louis Blues. The Laurie’s live in Henderson, Nevada so that would further connect them to a Las Vegas NBA team. As you can see with millions of dollars required to own an NBA franchise only folks with deep, deep pockets are able to entertain ownership.

2026-10-05T06:29:40.102-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Limited pressure

The adjustment from the college game to the NBA can be quite trying. The only method to adapt to NBA play is to play, PT for Laker rookies Cameron Carr and AK Okereke and second year man Adou Thiero will not be easy. The Lakers were quite busy conducting trades and signing free agents during the summer. This is certainly not intended to place additional pressures on the three but I believe they are keys to Laker success going forward. Carr was made the 24th pick in the 1st round of the 2026 NBA draft, he’s a 6-foot 5 185 pound guard with hops.

Okereke is a 6-foot 7 244 pound power forward, he went undrafted in 2026 after play at Vanderbilt. He worked his hind end off in Summer League play which saw him added to the Laker roster. The last key to future success, Thiero is a 6-foot 7 220 pound guard/small forward, he was a 2nd round pick in 2025 by the Nets however the Lakers would later trade for his draft rights. Thiero spent most of his rookie year sidelined due to injury, Summer League play demonstrated he is ready to play this season. I could be wrong maybe none of them make a significant contribution but I hope at least one of the trio is able to secure time on the court for the Lakers.

A look ahead

We are into the early weeks of school, high school football is being played but this is a look ahead. High school basketball teams will not return to action until the first week of December or so. Despite this early September date I thought a check of the Class of 2027 would be worthy. Keep in mind I haven’t seen this youngster play, I am dependent on prospect scouting sites who’ve seen Beckam Black in action. Black is a 6-foot 4 point guard from Duncanville Texas in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

He enters his senior year at Southeastern Prep Academy located in Orlando Florida. Southeastern Prep plays a nationwide schedule which entails travel throughout the United States. Black is rated a 5-star prospect on multiple prospect sites is yet to commit to any school, he’s received offers from a number of programs throughout the nation. Just a few of them include Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Florida and Kentucky an impressive list of high profile basketball programs. Stay tuned for further developments from Black and other Class of 2027 prospects.

Tiny

The headline represents his nickname, he was given that because he was on the smallish size for a game of giants. His given name is Nate Archibald, he stands 6-foot 1 and weighs 150 pounds. All these years later there are disputes on his height and weight, several claim his height and weight might be closer to 5-foot 11 and maybe 140-145 pounds. His measurements might be disputed, however, that didn’t apply to his talent. Archibald born in the Bronx didn’t begin to blossom at DeWitt Clinton HS until 1966 when he was named All-City.

That’s quite an honor for a NYC basketball player however his sketchy academics led him to Arizona Western Community College and later to UTEP. In 1970 the Cincinnati Royals made him pick number 19 in the second round. His game began expanding, by the time the team relocated to Kansas City and renamed the Kings Archibald would become a Bonafide All Star. That first season in a Kings jersey would see him become the offense for a poor Kings team, he led them in assists and scoring. He led the NBA in minutes played, his 34 points and 11.4 assists witnessed him accomplishing a feat never duplicated again. Several years later the slower pace of Kansas City and the fact the team was not developing Archibald requested an “East Coast Trade.” The Kings would honor his request trading him to the Nets where he remained for a year and later to the Buffalo Braves. Archibald tore his Achilles and never played for the Braves, he was traded the following season to the Celtics where he resurrected his sterling NBA career. He would be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1991 and later the College Basketball Hall,

It should be noted Archibald was named a member of the 50th and 75th NBA Anniversary team. He would return to UTEP to finish his undergraduate degree just prior to the end of his NBA career. Later Archibald would acquire a master’s degree from Fordham, in addition he began a correspondent doctorate program at UCLA but indicated this method caused some difficulties for him. Archibald indicated he might complete the program at Fordham. What you just read is but a brief portion of the career and life of Nate “Tiny” Archibald.

2026-10-04T07:27:18.294-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

It’s that time

Last night it began again, the Toronto Raptors served as host to the Miami Heat. Although it was a preseason game it represented the unofficial start of the 2026-27 NBA season. Utah is at Denver today along with Golden State facing the Clippers. On Monday there are five games scheduled throughout the association. Additional preseason games will be played until the official start on Tuesday, October 20. I am excited to see basketball action once again, excited to discover which of the rookies will be standouts. So we are here, ready or not NBA action is upon us once again, begun, sit back and enjoy.

Deep history dive

If you know, you know—but this may be new information for some readers. The Knicks, Celtics, and several other teams are often described as foundational franchises dating to 1946. Most of the others folded before or soon after the merger. These clubs belonged to the Basketball Association of America (BAA). In 1949, the Knicks and Celtics along with several others entered the newly merged league that became today’s NBA.

The other league in the merger was the National Basketball League (NBL), founded in 1937. Although 38 teams played in the NBL during its existence, only a small number ultimately joined the BAA. Four moved to the BAA in 1948, a year before the merger: the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now Detroit), Indianapolis Jets (folded in 1949), Minneapolis Lakers (now Los Angeles), and Rochester Royals (now Sacramento). In 1949, seven more NBL teams joined to form the NBA: the Anderson Packers (folded in 1951), Denver Nuggets (folded in 1950), Indianapolis Olympians (folded in 1953), Sheboygan Redskins (folded in 1951), Syracuse Nationals, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, and Waterloo Hawks (folded in 1951).

Even after the two leagues merged, stability remained elusive, and several teams folded. It took years for the National Basketball Association to become firmly established as a major professional league. To give you an idea among U.S. fans at the time, baseball ranked first in popularity, followed by college football, college basketball, the NFL, and then the NBA. It’s my view the arrival of Bill Russell in 1956 and Wilt Chamberlain three years later in 1960 the league began improving its popularity and relevance for fans.

Meanwhile….

Several of you reading this might remember an earlier account regarding 7-foot 5 Cherif Millogo. Although he attends a high school in California there might be a question on that, I decided to conduct further investigation on the youngster. It turns out Millogo is originally from Burkina Faso a nation located on the western portion of the African continent. According to information I was able to uncover Millogo arrived on these shores prior to the 2024-25 basketball season. He did not play at CATS Academy in Boston due to an injury, the following year he relocated to California and St. Francis High School in La Canada Flintridge.

I’ve not written much recently on the Mavs Cooper Flagg, Rookie of the Year and the clear leader of the team. Understand this, I claim no insight of whether a player “makes it or not.” There are issues for me living in Kansas City I cannot begin to see or even contemplate. We do have a belief and that’s what I claim in this instance, I saw all but three or four games Flagg’s one season at Duke. He appeared to always be prepared to play even games he didn’t shoot particularly well, I was confident the next game would be different. Was part of his maturation due to coach Scheyer, I’m sure that certainly helped him. Cooper has spunk, for me that’s confidence in one’s ability at all times, it didn’t matter if it was doesn’t the Duke Blue Devils or the Dallas Mavericks at present. Prior to publishing this came from Cooper, his rookie year he was 6-foot 9. Over the summer he grew and now measures 6-foot 10 barefooted, he’s nearly 6-foot 11 in shoes.

Are you curious as I was, I questioned which university/college has produced the most NBA players all-time? In all likelihood the top five are probably not a surprise they become affirmation, as for the balance that might be a bit of a revelation. Would you have expected Michigan or Notre Dame to be a Top 10 producer of NBA talent? We are acquainted with the schools we just didn’t know the number, the player would have played in the NBA briefly or had a long-term career. With that said check out the following from AI Overview:

University of Kentucky 140

Duke University 107

UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) 106

University of North Carolina (UNC) 102

University of Kansas 89

Indiana University 71

University of Arizona 71

University of Michigan 70

University of Illinois 64

Notre Dame University 64

2026-10-02T06:18:36.033-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

It’s what

“An enigma is a person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or hard to understand.” That’s the definition and it appears to fit Deandre Ayton now a member of the Wizards. A look back, Ayton was a 5-star prospect and a McDonald’s All American in high school. Ayton would go on to play a single season at Arizona and then be the first draft pick in the 2018 NBA by the Suns. After 5 seasons with the Suns he moved to the Blazers for 2 seasons and then the Lakers for only 2025-26.

July 2026 saw Ayton traded once again this time to the Wizards, what occurred might be the question? I wasn’t fully aware of his time with the Suns or Blazers but despite this fact I welcomed him. For a time it seemed the 7-foot Ayton played well and then at a point his game headed south, the Lakers were eliminated in the playoffs and the whispers began. Ayton must be replaced and he was, sent to the Wizards where he can resurrect his basketball career if he desires. Notice I said if he desires, Ayton has the physical tools whether he’s got the wherewithal is another matter all together. Perhaps this latest change will move Ayton into new terriority.

They are linked

You are likely to recognize the majority of names and the school each attended. The University of Kentucky has long been a bastion of successful basketball for 100 plus years, the NBA has only been relevant since 1946 so the impact regarding the professional game has been far less. Kentucky has sent a number of players into the NBA over the course of time, in recent years the number has accelerated. Not only the players connection to Kentucky but the coach they played for. To my surprise and maybe yours as well there are enough guards alone to comprise two teams. There are 10 NBA guards—technically 11—all of whom played for John Calipari. This number totally surprised me and it might be the same for you, can you name these former Kentucky guards? Don’t worry; I’ll save you the research:

Shai-Gilgeous Alexander-Thunder

Tyrese Maxey-76ers

Devin Booker-Suns

Tyler Herro-Heat

DeAaron Fox-Spurs

Jamal Murray-Nuggets

Reed Sheppard-Rockets

Immanuel Quickly-Raptors

Rob Dillingham-Hornets

Cason Wallace -Thunder

Adou Thiero-Lakers*

*Thiero is listed as a guard/forward on the Lakers roster. Because he missed most of his rookie season, it remains unclear whether he will play primarily at the two or the three. His path to the NBA also differs from the others listed here: He began his college career at Kentucky, followed Calipari to Arkansas, and entered the NBA from there. What do these names say about Coach Cal’s ability to recruit talent?

Top 10

A slow news day, based on that fact I decided to utilize ChatGPT in an exercise. I wanted the search engine to uncover the Top 10 greatest boys basketball players in the state. I asked ChatGPT the following question; “Who are the Top 10 boys basketball athletes all-time for the State of Missouri?” Several names on this list went on to NBA careers providing us proof of their talent. As for ChatGPT the search produced several interesting names, they listed the leaders in this order:

Larry Hughes, Christian Brothers HS-St Louis

Anthony Peeler, Paseo HS-Kansas City

Warren Jabali, Central HS-Kansas City

Jon Sunvold, Blue Springs HS-Blue Springs

Bradley Beal, Chaminade HS-St Louis

Alec Burks, Grandview HS-Grandview

Ben McClemore, Wellston HS-St Louis

Tyronn Lue, Raytown HS-Raytown

Ryan Robertson, St Charles West-St Charles

This is interesting in the fact ChatGPT omitted several names I thought might be on its list of most talented high school basketball players, among the names missing are:

Jaron Rush, Pembroke HS-Kansas City

Kareem Rush, Pembroke HS-Kansas City

Anthony Bonner, Vashon HS-St Louis

Jayson Tatum, Chaminade HS-Creve Coeur

Tyler Hansborough, Poplar Bluff HS-Popular Bluff

Otto Porter Jr, Scott County Central HS-(outside Sikeston)

Bill Bradley, Crystal City HS, Crystal City

2026-09-30T06:43:36.760-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Twilight

We usually think of twilight occurring in the evening, it can also occur in the morning. “The morning twilight before the day begins,” however my preference is dusk. “The evening twilight after the sun sets. For our purposes we are going to utilize the latter definition, the Warriors Steph Curry is in the sunset or twilight of a brilliant NBA career. He will be 39-years old by the time the 2026-27 season ends. It’s been my belief that for a number of years he alone is the prime reason the three point shot has become such a valuable tool for NBA teams.

A number of players over the years have attempted to duplicate Curry but nobody ever shot it with the proficiency he did in my opinion. He will close out his Hall of Fame career playing for only one team, the Golden State Warriors. NBA history might have turned out quite differently at least for the Wolves considering their decision. The 2009 NBA draft saw the Wolves with the 5th and 6th pick that year so what occurred you ask? In succession the Wolves chose Ricky Rubio and Jonny Flynn both point guards, with the 7th pick the Warriors chose Curry. Rubio from Spain would experience a 12-year NBA career but nowhere close to that of Curry.

As for Flynn after a brief three years spent with the Wolves, Rockets and Blazers he left the NBA. I could locate no further information indicating the former Syracuse guard managed to resurrect his basketball career. There is no method all these years later to determine the mindset of the Wolves management at the time. This we believe, they missed out on what some might call a generational player by them passing over Steph Curry.

Another great

I’m late with this account, Bob Pettit died last Thursday at the age of 93. Unless you are a student of the game the name might not register with several reading this. I was unsure where to place him in the archives of the NBA, I consider him an early NBA superstar. After all he was the NBA’s first MVP in 1956 he was named again in 1959. As for his arrival prior to the NBA Pettit played his basketball at LSU graduating in 1954, drafted by the Milwaukee Hawks as the second pick in that year’s draft.

Pettit was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1955, the balance of his career was spent in St. Louis as the Hawks moved to the city after his rookie year, Pettit would be the first player in the history of the association to score 20,000 points in his 11-year career. After retirement Pettit was enshrined in the Naismith and Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. When the NBA named its 25th Anniversary Team Pettit was chosen, later he would be named to the 35th, 50th and 75th Anniversary Team’s. A giant of the game in more ways than one, Robert Lee Pettit Jr.

Hurry up and wait

The headline represents a term once used by the military, as an enlisted person I was never responsible for giving orders only accepting them. The term was used because it seemed there were duty assignments rushed to completion only to be placed on hold. The project or proposal would sometimes wind up in a holding pattern, that would appear to be the case in San Antonio. The Spurs led by Wemby made a gigantic leap in play exceeding expectations.

All of a sudden there were concerns by some in the Alamo City, “We need to ensure we keep Wemby” or “We can’t lose the franchise to Austin or some other city with a new arena.” I’m unsure if the concerns were legitimate however there were folks in San Antonio who believed they were. A gigantic rehab and new build plan was generated which included a new arena for the Spurs. Despite the fact Frost Bank Center home of the Spurs is really not ancient (2002) it’s not downtown, it’s located on the east side of San Antonio about 4 miles from downtown. Plans for the arena were rolled out and one by one the mayor’s office or someone took issue with the project or portions of it.

I believe the arena and surrounding plan will be implemented one day but this effort is certainly not moving at the pace it once did. I highly doubt (at least for now) if Wemby is hoping to play elsewhere. He could have commanded more dollars than he signed for, which is all the evidence I need. As for their I-35N neighbors it’s possible the Spurs could move to Austin although I have serious doubts if that would occur as well.

2026-09-28T06:28:43.160-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

We are not a patient people

Mizzou fans (football & basketball) are at odds with the coaches, in this instance I speak of football coach Eli Drinkwitz and men’s basketball coach Dennis Gates. This look focuses on men’s coach Gates since this is a basketball blog. Gates was hired March 22, 2022, replacing Cuonzo Martin. His won-loss record at Cleveland State and Mizzou is 125 wins versus 99 losses, at Mizzou he’s 75-59 .560 percentage which is not good enough in some circles. The coach has assembled strong recruiting classes for both 2026 and 2027. Jason Crowe Jr., a 5-star combo guard from Inglewood, CA is expected to lead this Mizzou team in the upcoming season.

The primary issue for Gates to this point is advancement in the NCAA tournament, the Tigers have received an invitation two years in a row but failed to advance past the first round. We are going to discuss an exercise for the future which could occur, what happens if history repeats itself for Mizzou? Will the school terminate Gates and if so who replaces him? Mizzou went searching for a coach after Martin was dismissed, a significant number of assistants and head coaches are toiling away at institutions across the nation. Mizzou could hire an adequate replacement but they could also hire a dud. The truer test for Gates is to not necessarily win the NCAA championship, a deep run in the tournament is key for him this upcoming SEC season.

Fan favorites

There are on occasion players that are traded or leave in free agency that become fan favorites. The hometown loves them and are extremely disappointed when they leave whatever the manner. Overtime the Lakers roster has contained those players, without any order I’m going to attempt to provide names of just a few. We might begin with Pau Gasol, the power forward was acquired in a trade with the Grizzlies, he filled a vital role becoming “Robin” to Kobe Bryant’s “Batman” when he arrived in February of 2008. Gasol with his scoring and defense were keys to winning the 2009 and 2010 NBA championship. July of 2014 he would join the Bulls as a free agent signing a 3-year contract, he would continue play ending a very successful 18-year NBA career. In 2023 Gasol was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

This Laker was nicknamed “Big Shot Rob,” his name was actually Robert Horry. January 10, 1997, Horry was acquired in a trade with the Suns, as for his nickname he was never a starter while a member of the Lakers, despite that fact as a reserve player he could always be called on to take the crucial shot. The 1997 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Kings were tied two games apiece, in Game Five the Lakers trailed by as much as 24 points but came roaring back. Horry off the bench would contribute 18 points but 3 of them became the game winner. With seconds remaining and trailing Bryant missed a driving layup, Shaq missed a close in tip, Kings center Vlade Divac swatted the ball in an attempt to run out the clock. The ball went straight to Horry at the top of the key and he calmly sank a 3-point basket, final Lakers 100 Kings 99. In 2003 he would leave the Lakers in free agency but go on to play for the Spurs securing a 17-year NBA career.

Nick Van Excel was a second round draft choice in 1993 but you might have difficulty believing that fact. Van Excel was fearless on the court and was unafraid of taking the critical shot, he sunk numerous game winners and the moniker “Nick at Night” was given him as a takeoff on the Nickelodeon channel. There are conflicting stories as to why he was traded to the Nuggets, Van Exel would continue play until 2006 retiring as a member of the Spurs. Gasol would earn hall of fame honors, the others were standout players for the Lakers during their time with the team and would become fan favorites.

How good

I saw video of the late Pete Maravich on social media recently, it prompted a question. Just how good was Maravich and could he be compared to any present day talent? Maravich was only 40-years of age when he suffered an undiagnosed congenital heart defect which caused his death. He’d retired from the game he loved at the age of 32 due to chronic, severe knee injuries. Maravich came to national prominence in 1967 playing for his father and coach Press Maravich at LSU. At LSU Pete became a sensation with his scoring and especially his passing ability. Maravich was White Chocolate long before Jason Williams arrived in the NBA, with him headed down court teammates were liable to have a pass hit them in the head unless they paid attention.

In the NBA whether it was coaching or something else he toned down his passing once he began play for the Hawks, there were issues that cropped up with teammates. In 1974 the Jazz then located in New Orleans an expansion team wanted a crowd pleaser, Maravich, a star at LSU became that player. The Jazz acquired him in a trade, although he played well the Jazz were like most expansion teams saddled with limited talent. Knee problems developed while a member of the Jazz, he moved with the team to Salt Lake City but never played much. The Jazz placed Maravich on waivers in 1980 and he signed with the Celtics where he became a part-time player. Always accurate from distance the NBA adopted three-point scoring his last season in the NBA, limited play in Utah and Boston saw him shoot 66.7% for his career. Maravich is enshrined in the Collegiate and Naismith Hall of Fame, Maravich was a star who shone brightly if only for a limited time.

2026-09-27T07:30:59.670-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

It takes more than talent

An SI.com story contained “The 25 Greatest NBA Players in the 21st Century.” After checking the names two stood out for me, they didn’t stand out because I believed they didn’t belong on the list. It was the other thing which says to me it takes more than talent. Number 17 was James Harden now playing for the Cavs which becomes team number 6 for him. Harden was the NBA’s MVP in 2018 while a member of the Rockets.

Harden is a capable shooter and willing assist man, he’s an average defender, despite what might appear for me to detail negatives I believe his next stop after retirement will be the Naismith Hall of Fame. So what’s the problem for me, talent aside doesn’t matter which of the teams we are discussing Harden disappears come playoff time when the team requires him to step up. Clutch certainly doesn’t fit behind his name, talented does. His former teammate Kawhi Leonard is placed at number 14 outside their Top 10 list. When healthy an above average defender hence the nickname The Claw. A very capable shooter from mid-range out to the three-point line. Leonard alone was the basis for “load management” being added to the lexicon of NBA conversation. If NBA players in the past rested during the season it was usually nursing an injury or preparation for the playoffs.

Leonard rested when he rested, was it his knee or some other ailment it was never very clear. Load management plus injuries were evident during Leonard’s time with the Clippers. Oh, by the way….Leonard is likely headed to the Naismith Hall of Fame as well. Am I a hater when it comes to Harden and Leonard, I will continue to believe it takes more than talent to be a successful NBA player. Sometimes it takes stuff we might find difficult to elaborate.

Don’t mess with what works

Our company trainer was at one time the track coach at one of the local high schools. During one of our training sessions Ralph told us a story which has remained with me for years. Ralph indicated he discovered one of the sprinters on the team was a natural, he timed the youngster and discovered he was running 9.9 in the 100 meter sprints with little effort. Ralph told us although he believed he was a natural with a degree of coaching he could improve his time even more. The young man took the word of his coach and began attempting to implement the tutoring into his sprints.

There was only one problem, using Ralph’s techniques the young man actually became slower which proves a point. This youngster took the coaches word to heart, the only problem his times increased significantly. In this instance coaching curtailed what was natural ability. This provided Ralph proof that if an athlete performs at a high level why attempt to change the athletes approach to the game. Of course that’s not to say coaching cannot better a player it just depends on the circumstances. In basketball I’ve compiled a list of former players with funky shots from the floor or free-throw line. Despite the fact the shot didn’t look good most of the time they were able to sink the free throw or basket, let’s begin this exercise:

Anthony Mason

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V3J4wlCxvg

Jamaal Wilkes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9lZhbKtIDQ

Bill Cartwright

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYKlLz2Cwb0

Tacko Fall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMr_R9F5jQM

Michael Adams

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGlqU1ztdHk

Meanwhile….

Which basketball conference was the strongest in the nation this past season? Was it the Big 10, ACC or the SEC? I’m pleased you asked the question because the answer follows, this is not my view or opinion of the subject. According to the NET and RPI conference metrics, the answer—unsurprisingly—is the SEC. The Big 12 ranks second, followed by the Big Ten, ACC, and Big East. What surprises me is that the much-revered Big Ten and ACC, while certainly home to outstanding teams, no longer wields the power they once did. Prior to reading this what conference do you think or believe is the best in the nation headed into the 2026-27 season?

We have basketball on our minds, I realize a significant number of you have NFL or college football in the Frontal and Temporal portions of your brain. That’s easy to understand that these two dominate the sports news at the present time however consider this fact. November 3, Mizzou plays Cleveland State….that’s 39 days from today’s date. October 5, the Lakers begin preseason play with a game against the Kings, that’s 10 days from now. I realize a number of you are questioning the “short” amount of time however its something college and the NBA have accepted. Do you realize at a point there will be baseball, football (NFL & college) along with the NHL and NBA plus the college men’s basketball overlapping one another?

Is it the Victor Wembanyama factor or is it something else, that might be the question for the sell-out of the European NBA games. The NBA announced on Wednesday the Spurs-Pelicans game in Paris France January 14 is sold out. The teams meet three days later in Manchester England and that game is also sold out. Unfamiliar with the capacity of the arenas I decided to check out the facts. Accor Arena in Paris holds about 15,000 for basketball but can seat larger crowds in other instances. As for Co-op Live in Manchester the capacity is unclear for basketball, the only figure I could uncover indicates 20,500 seating capacity. The only sport in Europe that beats the NBA in pure numbers, football (soccer).

The Bad of this account (at least for the Missouri side), the Chiefs are moving about 24 miles to a new football stadium. For those unfamiliar with the geography the team is moving from Kansas City MO to Kansas City KS, yes, there are two cities with the same name. This replacement for Arrowhead will be a dome stadium which says; yell it loudly with me, Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four in the future for the metro. According to the Chiefs front office they have placed a bid for both events for the future, the football stadium has a planned opening of 2031.

2026-09-25T07:34:03.049-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Big Man basketball

His name is Cherif Millogo, the Rivals website indicates he’s 7-foot 5 inches in height and 250 pounds. Millogo is rated a 4-star prospect in the Class of 2027, he attends St. Francis HS in La Canada Flintridge California. The youngster is yet to make a declaration on his college of choice, among the offers are Southern Cal, Arizona, BYU, Kentucky and Alabama. I’ve not witnessed his play but I’m posing the question what kind of game should we expect from him? Will it be of the low post variety or similar to most today drifting out to the 3-point line?

Are there camps today Big Men can learn to play the game at a high level. There are at least two, Rick Mahorn former NBA player operates one. Another was run by the late Pete Newell but now by a successor. Both camps focus on the same issues, footwork, the importance of balance when shooting and reverse dribble and jump stop. Passing out of the post is also emphasized. I was asked my view and used Victor Wembanyama as the example. He is the best 3-point threat based on his frame (7-5), despite that fact he’s playing down low more if I’m his coach. What do you think, is there still a requirement for low-post play in today’s game?

Family Feud

This is no reference to the long-running television quiz program….but it is a family feud in a sense. I figured it was time to check Dallas to see if there was any movement on the proposed new arena for the Mavs. Mavs ownership group had indicated they would leave American Airlines Arena when their lease expired. That was then, this is now, the proposed move is on hold and the Mavs indicate AA will remain home through the 2030-31 season. So what occurred, according to what I’ve read a real life “Family Feud.”

The City of Dallas owns the building however the partners the NBA Mavs and NHL Stars have a corporate agreement in place that indicates both teams share the lease. Dallas Sports Group, the company that has controlling interest in the Mavs sued the Stars indicating the Mavs were prepared to spend millions in upgrades however the Stars were blocking the move. “In June, a Texas judge ruled in favor of the Dallas Mavericks in their lawsuit against the Dallas Stars, handing over control of the American Airlines Center to the Mavs.” Do the Mavs still intend to build a new arena in North Dallas, stay tuned for further developments?

Exclusive club

We’ve heard the phrase for years, “Change is in the air,” nowhere is that clearer than the NBA. Last year the Lakers were sold and were the last “family” of NBA owners. The meaning of family in this instance says basketball was their only source of income, allow me to inform you of something without offering you proof. Corporate individuals and groups have long been a part of the NBA from its earliest days, however, the types of owners have changed over the last several years. Once these owners were bankers, mortgage and automobile dealership individuals or corporations. They now come from the ranks of venture capitalist, entertainment and media fields. One might ask the question, is this change bad for the NBA?

The answer would be probably not however its clear the type of NBA owner has changed. They have deep-deep pockets to spend on their teams, the downside their expectations are sometimes unreal. The worst of the bunch are those who believe “I made a billion dollars in the work place I can make an NBA team successful.” Of course it doesn’t work in that manner, instead of allowing the basketball people to run the team they become directly involved in order to attain their vision of success. This should not be considered an indictment of all “new-breed” owners however a few certainly fit that mold. Laker owner Dr. Buss once stated he’d made a trade without his GM being involved. He indicated it turned out to be successful but he vowed to never do it again, Buss said after that he left those type of decisions in the hands of his front office.

Enjoyed the game versus loving it

The NFL Chiefs have a player on their roster who reminds a few of Andrew Bynum. Bynum was among the last high school players drafted into the NBA, he was made the 10th pick by the Lakers in the 2005 NBA draft. He would become the starting center for the Lakers at the beginning of the post Shaq era. He was asked early on the difference between his play and that of Shaq; “The difference I hit my free-throws” which certainly sounded arrogant. He’s arrived in the NBA as a 17-year old the youngest ever and that might have been a contributing factor in his apparent arrogance. By his third year in the NBA he was on his way to stardom, his 7th year in the league he was selected to the All-Star Game and made the second team of NBA All-Pro.

A knee injury caused Bynum to miss the 2012-13 NBA season and upon his return was never the same player. An assortment of injuries saw him move from Cleveland to Indiana and at the end of the 2014 season he was done at 26. This from AI Overview; “Andrew Bynum’s career ended abruptly by severe reoccurring knee issues , waning motivation and off-court behavioral issues.” Take note of the underline words in the previous sentence. Was his issue maturity or the fact he enjoyed the game rather than loving it? I doubt if any fans desire someone risk their health to play the game however the expectation of any player….he’s got a work ethic. Bynum today is retired with a lucrative income and has no desire to be associated with the game which made him a wealthy person at age 25. Perhaps I’m being unfair to Bynum however a portion of what you read is fact.

2026-09-23T06:08:03.065-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Close the border

I don’t recall which sport he coached, but one Missouri coach made a statement that stayed with me: he pledged to “close the border” by recruiting every high-profile athlete in the state. We realize that is an impossible task however the statement certainly appears sound. Coach Gates never made that promise, yet he appears to be taking a similar approach. Although the 2026–27 season has yet to begin, Gates and his staff have already been busy adding talent to the roster.

Mentioned earlier was Scottie Atkinson, he’s a 6-foot 4 shooting guard, this 4-star prospect is from Webster Groves in the St. Louis metro, he committed July 1. On Monday September 21, Cameron Barnes, a 6-foot-7, four-star power forward from Lee’s Summit in the Kansas City metro, committed to Missouri. In the NIL era, Barnes and Scottie Atkinson may represent the program’s entire high school recruiting class for 2027–28. Although coach Dennis Gates never promised to “close the border,” landing both high profile in-state prospects suggests Missouri may be doing exactly that.

Is there a problem

Recently a friend approached me at a gathering, he made a statement which at first confused me. James said; “Are you going to have a problem with LA and Philadelphia?” Confused by his question I’m sure I had a bewildered look on my face, “What is he talking about?” I thought for a moment and then the lightbulb went on in my mind, “He’s talking about the fact LeBron James is now a Sixer.” I smiled and said to him, “If I have a cut anywhere on my body my blood is not red, it’s Purple and Gold” (alluding to Laker colors). I stated this earlier but am unsure if it’s been published yet.

LeBron James will not go down in history as one of the all-time great Lakers, he will be recognized for being an all-time great by me. Over LeBron’s time with the Lakers I have personally witnessed play by an NBA elder statesmen never in the history of the game. There have been a number of players who played into their 40s but none at the high skill level of LeBron. There are forces at work beyond me, there may someday be a statue of LeBron erected outside Crypto.com arena. It will join other Lakers already in place, will I object if this should occur? Of course not if those powers believe he deserves a statue far be it left up to me to be an objectional voice. LeBron James has been a generational player….one who transcends his contemporaries.

They remain

In 1962 the number of television sets that existed in the United States totaled 46 million. Population growth has occurred over the years, in 2025 the number of televisions was 125.8 million. The 1961-62 NBA season saw NBC which held the broadcast rights televise a total of 22 of the 80 games played that season. Nowadays with NBA League Pass along with Peacock, Prime plus ABC and NBC every game played is available.

In addition to that there are the numerous sports channels with nightly highlights of play. By now you are probably wondering the direction this account is headed, back to Wilt Chamberlain and the 100 point scoring game which set the NBA record. They remain, I’m going to place the Warriors Draymond Green alongside all the conspiracy theorists. Green along with many his friends continue to doubt the authenticity of the Chamberlain record. They do this despite seeing Bam Adebayo eclipse Kobe Bryant when he scored 83 points in a win against the Wizards March 10, 2026. Bryant had secured second place January 22, 2006, scoring 81. The portion of this story I find so interesting, no one to my knowledge has ever questioned Chamberlain’s 50.4 points per game average in 1961-62.

Imagine this, we leave out the scoring record he would have scored 50 points or more in 79 games that season. Historians claim Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927 but there is no video proof. Legendary athlete Jim Thorpe set a decathlon world record of 8,412 points in the 1912 Olympics, the record stood until it was broken in 1948. The question did Thorpe score that number of points since there is no evidence of any sort.

Growth of the game

The programs we consider college basketball’s Blue Bloods—Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, and others—remain among the nation’s best. But as the sport has evolved, they no longer dominate men’s basketball as they once did. As an example UCLA has won 12 NCAA men’s championships but none since 1995. North Carolina has six trophies in its case, the most recent occurred in 2017, while Kentucky has 11 but only one since 2012.

These Blue Blood programs continue to produce outstanding seasons; they simply have more competition for talent now, more so than ever. Growing interest in college basketball has helped programs such as UConn, Houston, Arizona, Purdue and Gonzaga rise to national prominence over the last few years. These schools and several others have long histories in the sport, at one time Houston and others had a national presence that waned for a time. Hiring a new coach (Kelvin Sampson) became the basis for Houston and others to become powers in their own right again. The future looks bright for the growth of many of these basketball programs.

2026-09-21T07:00:34.650-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Law & Order: LSU

Football coach Lane Kiffin and men’s basketball coach Will Wade have been a lightning rod of controversy. Both have waded far from shore into the deep water which can prove dangerous. I’m not going to detail Kiffin only Wade but the path chosen by both is similar. Understand this, ESPN’s college basketball page indicates the roster is complete. Contrast that with the roster of the school website, it only contains four players.

Wade has brought on board RJ Luis Jr., who played at St. John’s. He was the 2025 Big East Player of the Year however he’s signed multiple two-way contracts with NBA teams. There are two other 5th year players Wade hopes will be declared eligible, wait there is more. The four players listed on the school’s website are Euro prospects whom Wade hopes to be cleared to play. Wade’s been a winner at all his stops with 105 total out of 156 games played so his coaching resume is certainly solid. How would I cast Will Wade, a coach who walks as closely as he can to the edge of the cliff who manages to avoid falling off the edge.

On the east side

Our friends in St. Louis might suffer NBA withdrawals as well as many of us in Kansas City, it’s been a great deal longer for them. The Hawks departed for Atlanta in May 1968, the Kings left Kansas City in 1985. So the 18th most populated region of the 50 states is without NBA basketball. As for the St. Louis connection it goes like this, the Basketball Association of America began play in 1946 with 11 teams. Among that number in that initial season was the St. Louis Bombers. The team would play its first three seasons in the BAA and the 1949-50 season their last in the NBA. The history says the Bombers went out of business due to low attendance and poor play on the court. The team did manage to win a division title in 1948 however that appears to be the only bright spot for this club.

It wasn’t only the Bombers, the history indicates they were one of six teams that either folded or departed after the 1949-50 season. St. Louis would remain without an NBA team until 1955 when the Milwaukee Hawks relocated and began play as the St. Louis Hawks. The Bombers had one player who would distinguish himself with the Celtics and Hawks. Ed Macauley played his college basketball at St. Louis University naturally the Bombers drafted him but he would only play his rookie year in St. Louis. The next season with the team folding the Boston Celtics selected him, Macauley was chosen in the dispersal draft. In the 1956 NBA draft the Hawks selected Bill Russell with the second pick and immediately traded him to the Celtics for Macauley and Cliff Hagen.

One town, two teams

The greater Los Angeles metro contains 18.4 million souls that’s certainly a large enough population base. Attendance is not the issue but I thought I would toss that into the mix. Despite my love affair with the Lakers I don’t have a “earth-view” of events in the metro, Joey Linn does. Linn is a beat writer who covers the Clippers and he wrote a column that was insightful to me. I have no desire to steal his thunder but I want you to focus on a sentence Linn wrote. “This is an organization (Clippers), that whether they wanted to admit it or not, have operated as if they are trying to get out of the Lakers shadow.”

Is there an issue with two professional teams in one city, it depends. The baseball Yankees appear to have no problem with the Mets, we could make the same statement for the Giants-Jets. In Chicago we have the baseball White Sox and their south side neighbors the Cubs. Because were discussing Los Angeles it the Dodgers or Angels. The point in my view, these cities with two teams appear to be in more competition with the league than their city counterparts. The Clippers have resided in the shadow of the Lakers since they moved from San Diego in 1984. This from an incident during the time Doc Rivers was coach of the Clippers, this occurred. Prior to the Intuit Dome being built the Clippers and Lakers were co-tenants at Crypto.com arena then known as Staples Center. Rivers had building maintenance cover the Laker retired jerseys for Clipper home games.

They are one of the few

In March 1979, a group of schools came together to form what became the Big East Conference. What made the conference different was its foundation in basketball rather than football, the sport around which most major athletic conferences were built. The Big East remained primarily a basketball conference until 1991, when several schools were added as football-only members. At its founding, Providence, St. John’s, Georgetown, and Syracuse invited Seton Hall, UConn, Holy Cross, Rutgers, and Boston College to join. Holy Cross and Rutgers declined, while Boston College, Seton Hall, and UConn accepted.

In those early years, the conference quickly became known for primetime matchups featuring Syracuse, Georgetown, St. John’s, and others. Patrick Ewing playing for Georgetown was hated whenever his team played St. John’s in The Garden, the vitriol would change much later once Ewing began play for Knicks. The Big East is no longer the conference of its founding, schools have left while new ones have arrived. St. John’s remains a power member however Georgetown basketball has suffered and no longer is the power it once was. In recent years it’s been up to UConn to retain the prestige for the conference it once held, Bobby Hurley’s Huskies have won back to back NCAA championships in 2023 and 2024. The college basketball landscape has changed so significantly the Big East is unlikely to return to its glory days.

2026-09-20T06:11:55.716-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Will they….can they

The year was 2018 the Warriors were crowned NBA champions for the second year in a row. This was quite unusual not the championship but the fact we had a repeat champion in the NBA. The Showtime Lakers, the Russell led Celtics no longer dominate the game. Both remain competitive teams but similar to others they don’t repeat. The Lakers won in all in 2020, the Celtics 2024 but neither were able to repeat the feat in the following season. There are a variety of reasons that factor into the why there are no longer repeat NBA champions….the chief one in my view injuries. The second might be free agency, those teams that manage to come up short have secured free agents allowing them to accelerate past their rivals.

The Knicks won it all in June 2026 after last winning in 1973, the Knicks lost four players from their championship team. Mitchell Robinson, who backed up Karl-Anthony Towns was key to the win over the Spurs, he left in free agency. The Knicks signed Andre Drummond and Tacko Fall in an attempt to solidify the reserve position in relief of Karl-Anthony Towns. The 7-foot 6 Fall is a training camp signee who hopes to secure a position with the Knicks. The Knicks also added two players from the 2026 NBA draft, don’t expect either to see any minutes, the Knicks are a veteran team. The Sixers signed LeBron James to an improving team and the Celtics are laying in the weeds despite shipping Jaylen Brown off to the Sixers. It will be extremely tough but barring major injuries the Knicks could repeat if all the dominoes fall into place again. The headline “Will they….can they, the answer is yes.

Blocked shots

Bill Russell didn’t invent the blocked shot, after all his rookie season in the NBA was 1956-57. The first year of operation for the league was 1946-47, surely a number of players probably blocked shots prior to his arrival. What was the difference, Russell turned the blocked shot into an art form. He once said; “I can’t block every shot but if I make them think I can.” As you can see the intimidation factor was in full effect for Russell. Now for the problem, the NBA didn’t begin tracking blocks until the 1973-74 season.

Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, who arrived in the 1959-60 we can only guess the numbers they managed. The following numbers should be taken as speculation based on the shot-blocking ability of both. Russell was probably 8.1 blocks a game during the regular season in the playoffs it was 8-15 blocks. There are no playoff estimates for Chamberlain but his number during the regular season was guesstimated to be 8.8 blocks. As indicated once the block shot stat was added well a number of players blew the roof off. October 28, 1973, Laker center Elmore Smith set the NBA single game record with 17 blocks against the Blazers. This past season Victor Wembanyama was named Defensive Player of the Year, he also led the NBA in blocked shots. What’s that you say, its easy when you stand 7-foot 5 or whatever height Wemby stands. Blocking shots is more than height alone, I’m not picking on Brook Lopez but consider this.

Lopez is 7-foot 1 and 282 pounds yet 2.5 blocks a game is his highest total for his 18-year career and he accomplished the number four years ago, Wemby led the NBA with 4.8 blocks this past season. Why do you think the Lakers traded for Walker Kessler, he’s a productive rebounder and shot blocker. Because the height issue was mentioned what are the traits of a good shot blocker. He must have good leaping ability, timing is also important plus positioning. Added is discipline and the intimidation factor or the Russell effect is also a key. Bottom line, just being 7-feet tall is no guarantee of an athletes ability to block shots or intimidate.

Meanwhile….

ESPN is projecting a dire future for the Clippers losing 5 future first round draft choices. They use the example of the Minnesota Wolves from 26 years ago at a time they suffered a similar fate involving Joe Smith. Although it will not be an easy task I believe the punishment is nearly the same although the outcome could be quite different. As an example I believe in the draft, however, a complimentary free agent is more likely to turn a team around than a rookie draft pick. What’s the old adage; “location, location….location.” This is certainly not intended as a criticism but we are talking Southern California versus the cold, cold winters of Minnesota. The Pacific Ocean plus Hollywood movie and commercial opportunities, those might work to an advantage for the Clippers attempting to sign free agents.

My best guess is that, aside from winning an NBA championship, having your number retired ranks near the top of basketball honors. I was surprised to learn that all 30 NBA teams have retired at least one number, with the Boston Celtics leading the way at 24. The Los Angeles Clippers have the fewest with one, and even that is somewhat technical. Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson’s number 42 across the sport, and the NBA took a similar step with Celtics great Bill Russell’s number 6. That remains the only retired number credited to the Clippers. The Lakers are second behind Boston with 15 retired numbers, though technically it is 14 players because Kobe Bryant’s numbers 8 and 24 are both retired. The New Orleans Pelicans have retired two numbers: Bill Russell’s 6 and Pete Maravich’s 7. Overall, seven NBA teams have retired 10 or more jersey numbers.

I like Michael Porter Jr., much of this stems from the fact he attended and played at Mizzou briefly. I’ve followed his NBA career and pleased it appears MPJ has raised his level of play over his brief time in the association. Those are the positives. The negative for me, his opinion: He recently made headlines by saying he is unimpressed with the rebuilt Lakers roster. I’m not sure what prompted his view, but I can say with confidence that I’m equally unimpressed with his assessment.

2026-09-18T06:03:51.258-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I’m not a hater

After reading this a number of residents in Las Vegas who are readers will boycott me. I’m not a hater, I just happen to believe Las Vegas doesn’t deserve a franchise right now. By the time this is read I’m quite sure I will be unwelcomed at least in Las Vegas. As most are aware the NBA Board of Governors met this week and one of the topics on the agenda was NBA expansion. The front runners are Seattle (clearly understandable) and Las Vegas (why). Seattle is easy to understand, the NBA should have never left the Emerald City. Even the former owner has admitted selling the team to Oklahoma interests was not a good move on his part.

As for Las Vegas you noticed I question why this city should be chosen over another, there is no argument it’s one of the top tourist destinations nationally in the nation. The NBA has long embraced Las Vegas as the home of Summer League, and the city also hosts numerous youth tournaments. Those are clear positives, but the central question remains: Do Las Vegas residents want an NBA franchise of their own? I’m not sure. Consider the NFL’s Raiders: They play only once a week, so even with a struggling team, filling Allegiant Stadium is relatively manageable. Would residents consistently attend 41 home games at an arena that has yet to be built? Seattle already has an arena; Las Vegas does not. I realize these points may not make a convincing case against NBA expansion to the city however they are my points.

Big Man Basketball

Allow me to introduce to several Marcis Ponder, he’s a 7-foot 285 pound freshman post man at Florida State University. Scouting reports indicate he’s got a “physical presence and paint protection” in his arsenal. In addition to that he’s been nicknamed “Baby Shaq” which requires an additional detail. I have no skepticism in the scouting report but Ponder is dominating high school centers, most probably don’t have enough physical presence to battle him successfully. This is where we begin this latest account regarding Big Man basketball.

I have long expressed a view in the past athletes continue to grow in stature. Yes, the game has moved outside to a degree, post players are often expected to shoot three’s which is real concern for me. In the NBA with the exception of Wemby and Joel Embiid (when healthy) most centers are suspect in shooting threes. This change in the game is the fault of Steph Curry as I’ve often expressed. His shooting prowess over the course of his NBA career has witnessed “copy-cat” basketball. The Warriors until recently have been quite successful shooting three’s why not utilize their style of basketball. I intend to track the further development of Ponder, I’m going to discover if FSU turns him into a three-point specialist.

Meanwhile….

Gee, thanks ESPN for your observation of the upcoming season for my Lakers. The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network has decided the Lakers are “Two bricks short of a full load.” That’s an old adage that may or may not apply here, I just thought I would toss it in. In any event the fellas at ESPN have decided the Lakers have not improved themselves significantly in the off season. From my Man-Cave I disagree with their assessment of the upcoming season for the Lakers. Consider this fact, the Lakers have become a younger team and in addition they have taken on a more athletic and defensive mindset. Truth is in the results, I cannot truly sit here in September 2026 and forecast a May 2027 finish. Despite what I just wrote I am forecasting a better season barring major injuries than ESPN. Aside from the injury issue a starter at power forward is the only “hole” I see, but what do I know I’m just a basketball fan.

This is an interesting take this time, rather than a straight line projection ESPNs Men’s College basketball page made the SEC forecast in this style. They predict Mizzou BB finish in a Ceiling and Floor outlook, let’s check it out. As for the Ceiling ESPN projects a 30 win total and a second place finish in the SEC. They see post-season as a Final Four. On the other hand the Floor for Mizzou is 22 wins and a 7th place finish culminating with an NCAA invite. Naturally, I would prefer a ceiling finish however there are intangibles (injuries, subpar play etc.) that make it extremely difficult from where I sit to have any kind of thought as to where Mizzou might finish.

Now and again you come across a story that appears somewhat questionable. That is the case here, Spurs shooting guard Stephon Castle is reported to stand 6-foot 6 inches in height. Now the team is reporting he’s grown to 6-foot 8, he’s sprouted two inches over the summer, but wait there is an addition to this story. Wemby, the Spurs center has been listed at several heights. The Spurs record him at 7-foot 4 but most consider him a bit taller like maybe 7-foot 5. Think a moment about this bit of news, The Alien is now listed at 7-foot 7 inches in height. Just like teammate Castle he’s also grown at least two inches over the past 2-3 months. Oftentimes it’s difficult to determine whether the information you receive is correct or not, we have an opportunity to accept the information or reject it. I like the Spurs, I could make the same statement about Castle and Wemby. Despite what I just stated I don’t believe this story one iota.

2026-09-16T05:25:58.812-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

You are in charge

An 1875 poem by William Ernest Henley became famed, a portion reads; “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” I might have misread the poet but I always believed he was stating we as individuals have a large degree for our success or lack thereof. This is said based on comments by former NBA player Danilo Gallinari who made headlines recently with his comment on Kawhi Leonard. Some might remember as for others Gallinari was traded to the Thunder in order for the Clippers to obtain Paul George, who Leonard wanted as a teammate.

I had forgotten Gallinari’s name until I read his statement, he said; “Leonard altered the trajectory of my career and landed me in a mess.” He went on to state the trade (to the Thunder) severely impacted his NBA career. I had forgotten Gallinari’s name, who is now retired. I checked and his stats indicate he was having a career year with the Clippers prior to the trade. He spent one season with the Thunder and played for four other NBA teams before eventually retiring. I cannot speak to Gallinari’s career after the Thunder but I believe there is truth to the Henley poem.

NBA business

Yes, we realize the NFL season has begun in earnest, sports news coverage will begin dominating the airways. Despite that fact there remains the NBA and this week should be interesting. An NBA owners meeting is scheduled and there are numerous topics to discuss. These are not in any order just what I believe are likely to be on the agenda. With a federal investigation beginning regarding the Clippers will there be additional penalties addressed by the NBA? Also likely on the agenda is further news regarding NBA Europe, the league is scheduled to begin play next fall near this time. Expansion will also be a subject of discussion as well, this is not a guaranteed fact however the conversation surrounding Seattle and Las Vegas would indicate these cities are considered the prime candidates for expansion to the NBA.

Kansas City basketball

The city is laid back in most of its sports programs with the exception of the NFL Chiefs. Despite coming off an injury to quarterback Patrick Mahomes and missing the playoffs this past season it doesn’t hurt they have made it on an annual basis for 10 years. In addition to that winning 3 Super Bowl championships aids the cause too. The baseball Royals, the Current and Sporting KC soccer teams….is there room for basketball? The University of Missouri Kansas City or Kansas City Roos have made little noise in the past for a Division One program.

What makes a difference for the 2026-27 season, hopefully the coach and his resume. February 1, 2026, Mark Turgeon was named head coach for the men’s basketball program. Turgeon brings over 20 years’ experience as a head coach at Wichita State, Texas A&M, Jacksonville State and Maryland. The coach has a .634 winning percentage over the total of his coaching stops. The truth of the matter I really have no idea the number of wins Kansas City Roos basketball will have by next spring. My optimism is based on the coach and the possibility he is able to turn this program around. I’d mentioned my longtime desire for a successful urban basketball program similar to those of UCLA, St. John’s or others, my belief Mark Turgeon is the man for the job.

The best trade in Laker history was…..

NBA free agency has been the mechanism for teams to acquire new talent. Free agency has changed the future outlook for a number of teams over time but its new compared to trading for roster additions. Teams will often trade a player or players in an attempt to improve the team, the Lakers have certainly utilized this process over time. I got to thinking, what do you suppose might be the best trade in Laker history, there are certainly a number of blockbuster moves to choose from. How about the trade that brought them Mychal Thompson, the center/forward was a vital cog in two NBA championships. We could look at the trade with the Bucks, the Lakers would acquire the Captain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. The Lakers already had “Batman” in the lineup, his name was Kobe Bryant they needed a Robin and that’s exactly what Pau Gasol would become.

Gasol would arrive in a trade in 2008 from the Memphis Grizzlies, 2009 and 2010 the Lakers win it all. Although they are yet to reap the ultimate reward i.e. NBA championship the trade that brought them Luka Doncic February 1, 2025, was/is of the blockbuster variety. In the summer of 1968 the Lakers acquired up till that time the most prolific scorer in NBA history Wilt Chamberlain. In closing Kobe Bean Bryant must be included in this account for one reason alone….the Lakers acquired him through a trade. In the 1996 NBA draft the Charlotte Hornets drafted Kobe with the 13th pick in the first round of that draft. His rights were traded to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac. There you have it those trades (with the exception of Luka) which brought the Lakers a championship or multiple ones. Which one is the best, well for one thing I didn’t provide you the names who the Lakers traded to acquire these All Stars. With that in mind you become the judge, which in your view is the best trade in Laker history?

2026-09-14T05:14:59.229-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

You get a ~~car~~ and you get a…..

This headline references a memorable television moment that may be unfamiliar to some readers especially those abroad. On September 13, 2004, media personality Oprah Winfrey told all 276 members of her studio audience, “You get a car, and you get a car.” The giveaway was projected to cost well over $7 million. In this instance the reference is Denzel Aberdeen Florida basketball player. His attorney has filed suit against the NCAA in order for Aberdeen to gain a 5th year of eligibility.

This from ESPN’s college basketball page; “The NCAA’s refusal to honor its current eligibility framework breaches its contract with UF, which is intended to benefit student-athletes like Aberdeen,” the lawsuit said. The troubling portion of this account Aberdeen joins a growing list of players totaling 30 as this is written. Will this issue of a 5th continue to crop up every season into infinity, I don’t have the answer? As I have continued to point out as recently as last Friday’s Off the Dribble someone, somebody must take charge of this problem.

Is this franchise cursed

The question is asked of the Los Angeles Clippers, it seems there is always someone or something preventing them from reaching the championship level. Consider their birth, born in Buffalo New York as the Braves, years later sold and then moved to San Diego. New owner Donald Sterling then landlord watched the NFL Raiders move from Oakland to Los Angeles and the league sue them. Once the court ruled in favor of the Raiders Sterling decided to move his Clippers to Los Angeles in 1984. Never mind seeking NBA approval, Sterling moved them north and technically said “stop me.” He did this because Los Angeles was a larger market plus his business was located there. The Clippers were never able to compete effectively with the Lakers even during periods when the Lakers were not very good.

In the early 2000s the fortunes of the Clippers began to change, they reverted from perennial losers to consistent winners. The only problem….failure to advance to the next level. They earned playoff berths from 2012 through 2017 and again from 2019 through 2021 and followed that with a streak from 2023 through 2025. Despite the winning the Clippers only managed to play for the Western Conference championship one time, 2021. An injury to a key player or some other anomaly might occur preventing them from advancement. And now the Kawhi Leonard saga, now he’s gone a member of the Raptors. Despite his departure indirectly he’s caused the team to continue its present course. I began this exercise with the headline “Is this franchise cursed.” Despite the fact the Clippers have continued an endless cycle of never competing for the ultimate prize I don’t believe in curses. The problem of the Clippers is more of a human problem which must be resolved.

Music and basketball

This might not be true for everyone, but over the years several songs have become closely associated with basketball, whether in the NBA or college game. In some cases, I had to do a little research to learn who recorded them. The following are just 6 tunes selected we’ve heard while viewing an NBA or college game in person or on television. You might be unfamiliar with the artist however perhaps you’ve heard the tune, an example is the longtime theme tied to the Chicago Bulls’ glory days. I remember watching games on WGN Chicago, where it always played at the start of Bulls broadcasts. You may have heard it even before it became linked to the NBA and the Bulls. The song is titled Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project—check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkC_oi0ksuw&list=RDOkC_oi0ksuw&start_radio=1

Composer/musician John Tesh wrote this next tune at the time the NBA was being broadcast on NBC, it remained in hibernation until this past season when NBA games returned to the network. This was named, Roundball Hard Rock:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qCEX4scaJA

This next tune had nothing to do with basketball, it might have been played in dance halls prior to it becoming associated with basketball. The Pointer Sisters Jump was heard throughout NBA arenas across the nation anytime there was a jump ball:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyTVyCp7xrw&list=RDuyTVyCp7xrw&start_radio=1

Another example and this might be a surprise to some reading this, it’s House of Pain’s rap tune Jump Around. One group member wears a Celtics jersey in the video, so perhaps that is the basketball connection:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=house+of+pain+jump+around

This is usually heard at the beginning of a number of college basketball games, we actually don’t hear the tune but we hear the student body in the arena hum it more than sing it, here is the tune. It’s title Zombie Nation by Kernkraft 400:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5LW07FTJbI&list=RDz5LW07FTJbI&start_radio=1

Finally this exercise is closed out with a tune we only hear once a year, it’s titled One Shining Moment and generally we hear the refrain prior to hearing the late Luther Vandross provide words, it’s played at the conclusion of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament:

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

2026-09-13T06:44:05.517-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Should I

There are the occasions, you must decide between writing about a story or not. This is one of those times you’ve read plenty regarding Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers the last 3-4 weeks. This is an additional story that broke recently and I had to determine if it was worth covering. In this instance it’s the New York Times reporting the story, they claim, “A federal investigation has been opened into the Los Angeles Clippers for allegedly circumventing the salary cap to compensate Kawhi Leonard.”

Please note the word highlighted and underlined because as this is written there is nothing yet to be proven. The main reason I decided to mention it due to the possible repercussions if the named parties are found guilty. If this probe is true (and I believe it is) the entire process will likely be pending for a time. Consider the NBA’s investigation, it took the law firm roughly 11 plus months to issue a report on the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and others. Whatever occurs in the future I will attempt to update you just as soon as practical.

The truth

In this instance “truth” has nothing to do with the nickname of former Celtic Paul “The Truth” Pierce. It’s the conclusion by an athlete they must face the truth, they are unable to play at a skill level that allows them to play professionally. Recently many of us might have read Lonzo Ball’s claim that his younger brother LiAngelo had NBA skill, he said; “His (LiAngelo) game is league-worthy.” Some might remember the middle brother had several tryouts particularly with the Hornets but was unable to secure a roster spot, he even played in the G-League for two seasons. Being real or coming to a conclusion “Maybe I’m not good enough to play at this level,” there is no shame in admitting that however some might have difficulty admitting that as the truth.

Several years ago the son of a friend made an effort to sign as a free agent with the NFL Chiefs. Although he’d been a starter and played major minutes for Iowa State he failed, I believe this occurred twice. His final attempt at a pro contract was a tryout with a Canadian League Football team, he was cut once again. He might have concluded “I’m not good enough” which is certainly no reflection on him as a human being. Another example occurred when the Kings called Kansas City home and held an open tryout for free-agent talent. Carl had played for a highly competitive high school team and a small local college, but he did not earn the roster spot he hoped for. Years later, he told us, “I would hate to grow old and say to myself I never tried.” LiAngelo and the other individuals mentioned should feel no shame; they simply were not talented enough to play in the NFL or NBA, where opportunities are extremely limited—the NBA has only about 500 jobs. The key question, I believe, is: What do you pursue next?

Meanwhile….

In my view, a sports agent has one primary responsibility: securing the best possible contract for their client. That job can require tremendous effort, but it should not include doing business in a way that later creates problems for the player. That appears to be the case with “Uncle Dennis,” Dennis Robertson, the former agent and uncle of Kawhi Leonard. I use “former” because Kawhi reportedly fired him, likely connected to the defunct Aspiration Company and the fallout involving the Clippers. Stories about Robertson have circulated since he negotiated with the Lakers over a potential Kawhi Leonard contract, but I’m not going to revisit those accounts. Instead, I’ll focus on the present: Uncle Dennis has been barred for the next five years from conducting business with any NBA player or anyone associated with the league, he seemed to operate by his own set of rules.

Once upon a time there was Ruben Patterson, he was the self-appointed Kobe Stopper. He claimed his defense would curtail Kobe’s game, guess what it was more talk than anything. This is 2026 and we have the Wemby stopper, his name El Hadji Tacko Serigne Diop Fall. Most of us recognize him as the 7-foot 6 inch Tacko Fall, you might remember he played his college basketball at the University of Central Florida. He went undrafted in the 2019 draft but later signed as a free agent with the Celtics. Tacko has also played for the Cavs but the last several years have seen him play in the Chinese Basketball Association. He’s returned to the U.S. and the Sixers have signed him for training camp, in this this upcoming season a battle between 7-foot 6 Tacko and the 7-foot 5 Wemby.

2026-09-11T05:34:44.998-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

I hate to keep repeating myself

College sports (football & basketball) are out of control, this issue has existed for a time now. Nowhere is this more evident than at LSU, this Louisiana university school has been threatened by the SEC with expulsion. Despite that fact as this is written that’s not been done. As for football coach Lane Kiffin he’s indicated his intention to add two NFL players on his team’s roster although they were missing from LSU’s first game. A similar situation exists with men’s basketball at LSU, I am unsure of the number but it is being reported Will Wade has also added “pro-players” to his roster as well.

With the threat of a pending lawsuit the NCAA the governing body of college athletics has been somewhat silent. The question becomes, is there anyone in charge, from where I sit the answer would be an emphatic no. We are in an age whereby the universities and colleges have increasingly become farm systems for the NFL and NBA. Each year one more rung higher on the ladder is established. I’ve stated over and over resolution of this issue is above my paygrade and scope. I don’t know who fixes this but I will inform you who I don’t wish to become involved in….its congress. I would foresee senators or congresspersons even the president politicizing this issue for their benefit. This ends with a fix is required but by who?

Really

I’ve been reporting for a time the Sixers desire to move from Xfinity Arena to their own building. Well an agreement was reached several months ago and a decision was made to build a new arena on the same spot of the demolished Spectrum where the team once played. The plan for the building was released this past Tuesday, now for the numbers. Seating is unknown at present however it’s likely to be in the neighborhood of 20,000 occupancy. The price tag for this arena is projected to be $1.5 billion with no taxpayer funds being expended for the project.

Naturally, there are complaints and one of those I heard was this. The Xfinity Arena opened in 1996, which makes it about 30 years old, in 2019 it was remodeled to the tune of $265 million. One resident questioned the need for a new arena with the work performed at Xfinity. As a taxpayer and one who is paying for the Royals and Chiefs stadium the proposal for zero taxpayer money being expended sounds exciting to me. On the backend we have no clue what will occur or did occur for Chase Center in San Francisco or Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Chase and Intuit were built without taxpayer funds as well, who pays for the maintenance and upkeep of these buildings? I believe it’s just as important to detail that bit of information too.

Genius

Jack Molinas was reported to have a 175 IQ, this is what AI Overview says. “An IQ of 175 is well beyond standard genius thresholds and falls into the profoundly gifted category, representing an extreme rarity of roughly one in a million or fewer.” That should provide us an idea how intelligent Molinas was, he could have accomplished a multitude of tasks but he preferred a criminal protagonist as his life’s pursuit. In addition to his intelligence level Molinas was an outstanding basketball player. Molinas attended Stuyvesant High School, the school is widely considered one of the most prestigious and competitive public high schools in the United States.

Only the top 1% of New York City kids are admitted each year so that should provide evidence of the intellectual level of Molinas. After graduation he attended Columbia University and one season led the team in scoring and was team captain. It’s been reported he was involved in the 1951 college basketball betting scandal although he was never caught or charged. How good a basketball player was Molinas, well in 1953 the Fort Wayne (Detroit) Pistons made him the 3rd pick in the first round of that year’s draft. His gambling habit would eventually be his downfall, he would sometimes even place bets on his Pistons team, somehow he was caught and the NBA permanently banned him from the league. Molinas would later sue the NBA however he would lose the case and the ban would remain in effect. From 1954 to 1962 he played in the Eastern League a precursor to the G-League. After his playing career was nearing an end he enrolled at Brooklyn Law School securing a law degree. Molinas would become a central figure in the 1961 college betting scandal, this blackeye for college basketball involved over 50 players at 27 colleges and universities. Some of those names might be familiar, Connie Hawkins, Roger Brown, Doug Moe and others. In 1963 Molinas was convicted for his role in the scandal and was sentenced to 10-15 years in prison, he would be paroled in 1968 after serving but 5 years.

In 1970 Molinas moved to Los Angeles in hopes of seeing his life story portrayed on film, the project would never come to fruition as his criminal past was never far behind and would catch up with him. In 1973 Molinas was arrested and charged with interstate crimes however he didn’t stand trial. At 2:00 a.m. on August 3, 1975, Molinas was shot in the neck, his girlfriend and dog were wounded, Molinas would die from his gunshot wounds. No one was ever charged, and authorities believed his ties to organized crime may have been the motive behind his murder. Thus ended the controversial life of Jack Molinas, a man whose extraordinary intellect could have led him to success in almost any field he might have chosen. Instead, he chose a life of crime—a decision that would cost him his life at the age of 43.

2026-09-09T05:54:35.001-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

What’s next for him

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

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

Vindicated

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

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

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

This is interesting

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

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

Confused, no longer

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

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

“What the Protection Entails

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

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

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

2026-09-07T07:16:32.762-05:00

A fan’s perspective

Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Terrible NBA trades

Over time, the NBA has seen its share of terrible trades, the worst trade in NBA history actually was the result of a free agent signing. The teams involved certainly never intended for things to turn out that way, but they did. Here is a brief history as I see it. The first one that comes to mind is the 1956 Bill Russell trade. Russell, the second pick in that year’s draft, was selected by the St. Louis Hawks and immediately dealt to the Boston Celtics. Russell would go on to win 11 NBA championships. Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley enjoyed some success in the league, but nothing close to Russell’s. Verdict: this was a bad deal for the Hawks, the Celtics were the winner. How about the 1996 trade that saw the Hornets trade the draft rights to number 13 Kobe Bryant in exchange for Vlade Divac?

You are aware of the Naismith Hall of Fame Kobe, in the meantime Divac had a decent NBA career but nowhere close to that of Kobe Bryant, winner: the Lakers. In 2021 the Lakers traded three players and three draft choices to the Wizards for Russell Westbrook, the Wizards were clearly the winner here. Westbrook was not a good fit and was traded two years later. In the 2024-25 season the Mavs sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, because AD has since been traded the Lakers were the clear winners here. The acquisition of Doncic could be debated because despite him being in the lineup that have not advanced to play for an NBA championship. This essay closes with in my opinion the worst trade in NBA history….worst because of all the pieces involved. In 2019 Kawhi Leonard required a stipulation be in place if he were to sign as a free agent with the Clippers, the team must acquire Paul George which they later completed in a trade with the Thunder. The Clippers traded Danilo Gallinari along with future MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander for George. That trade in 2026 would prompt a bunch of moves which prove detrimental to the future of the Clippers.

No need of detailing the entire story you are aware the Clippers had been under investigation since September 2025 for an under the table scheme which paid Kawhi Leonard. Once details were uncovered NBA punishment was swift surrounding Leonard’s circumvented payment ploy. This is the after affect, the Clippers gave up two players with one of them being SGA to the Thunder, the resulting penalty from the Aspiration salary cap fiasco plus the Paul George trade will cost the Clippers 10 first-round draft picks beginning in 2029. Paul George is gone and so is Leonard, what did they gain with these two in the lineup….a few extra wins during the season but no NBA championship, only one occasion did the Clippers play for the Western Conference finals. Now they are left with what is the worst trade in NBA history prompted by a free agent signing.

American MVP

I was viewing NBA TV on Friday, the host and guests were entertaining several subjects, one of those was the lack of an American player winning the NBA MVP. It was pointed out the last 8 MVP’s in the league have all been international players, the last American player was James Harden in 2017 while a member of the Rockets. Are there American players who might be future candidates for league MVP? I would submit the name of Mavs forward Cooper Flagg as a prime candidate.

Also we could add Anthony “Ant” Edwards to a list, he could be a Bonafide candidate as well but wait there are others. Jalen Brunson was Finals MVP, could he parlay a series MVP into an NBA MVP, the question remains unknown for now. Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero along with Jalen Johnson could also be considered. It’s difficult to name those who are yet to see action but I could nominate AJ Dybansta, Carlos Boozer and perhaps Darryn Peterson members of the Rookie Class of 2026. There is no guarantee any of the names on this list will be named NBA MVP, they certainly could comprise a list of candidates over the next 5-7 years.

A law degree might be helpful

I have a measure of understanding regarding the ever changing status of Mark Mitchell. You remember Mitchell was headed for Kentucky then he wasn’t, currently Mitchell has been added to Mizzou’s roster, the question becomes how is this possible, they have 16 players and only 15 are allowed. From Yahoo Sports; “The program accommodated Mitchell using a roster exemption tied to the 2025 House settlement.” That is the court ruling which allowed Mitchell and others a 5th year of eligibility.

As for adding CJ Gunn who becomes roster member 17 that takes a slightly different turn, forward Annor Boateng suffered a devastating injury last season. Although Boateng remains on the roster its reported he is not ready to play this season. Mizzou is stating if Gunn is able to gain eligibility he will be added using the medical exception of Boateng. Confusing, of course it is….you did read the headline didn’t you? So now you have a clear understanding how Mizzou can claim 17 players on its roster when 15 are the maximum allowed.