Basketball

• If You Thought Zion WIlliamson Wasn't Fit Already...

  Jul 29, 2022 SportZ 0 Comments

  

  Report: Zion Williamson's $193 million contract requires him to stay below 295 pounds (link)

   

  After many rumors regarding the situation behind Zion Williamson, the New Orleans Pelicans, and his willingness to stay, they finally agreed to a contract not too long ago. There is little doubt that Zion wants to stay, and the Pelicans want him around for a while, but only on one big condition.

  The Pelicans star signed a five-year, $193 million max contract earlier this month that could be worth as much as $231 million. According to The Times-Picayune, the contract stipulates that Williamson must weigh in at below 295 pounds periodically throughout the deal. His body fat percentage will also be monitored. Should Williamson tip the scales too much, the amount of guaranteed money in his contract can be reduced.

  It is certainly understandable from the Pelicans' point of view. The 22-year-old's weight and conditioning have been major issues, with some concerns dating back to college. One recent example was when he reported to training camp last September at "well above" 300 pounds. Even at his listed 284 pounds, Williamson is among the five heaviest players in the NBA, and the rest of his cohorts in that group are all 6-foot-10 or taller. Williamson is 6-foot-6.

  Williamson's body shape hasn't prevented him from being one of the most explosive players in the NBA when healthy, but that has been the rub. Williamson has frequently sustained lower body injuries since entering the NBA, missing 44 games as a rookie after tearing the lateral meniscus in his right knee and missing all of last season with a broken metatarsal in his right foot.

  Despite his talent, in three years, Williamson has played a total of 85 games.

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• Gene Therapy: You Gotta Travel!

  May 17, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by: Gene Clemons

   

  The high school basketball season is interesting. You go to offseason workouts, play in summer leagues, and train; all for the opportunity to try and win a region, conference, district state title. A high school basketball player will average getting home at around seven at night if they are lucky and get the early after school gym time. If they are unlucky, they either wait until later to practice and don’t get home until around nine or they must wake up at five in the morning to practice before school begins. They travel sometimes over an hour away for games during the school week and don’t crash into bed until midnight or later. Many of these student athletes do this because they want to earn an opportunity to play in college. But, for all the hard work they do, most college basketball coaches are not even paying them any attention. The college basketball season starts before the high schoolers get started and ends after high schools have already crowned a state champion. So, when would a college coach have time to leave their program in the middle of a season to go see about any players that are not local? The answer is almost never. I am sure college coaches try to slip in some time when they are on the road or maybe have a few days in between games but the majority of that time is being spent on getting the current team better. So, for all of that sweat and effort most high school seasons go relatively unnoticed by the decision makers in college basketball. So how are these young men getting recruited?

   

  If you are a basketball player and you are not traveling in the offseason with a team, then there is a good chance you will fly under the radar and be missed by potential programs who may be interested in you. Travel ball has become so popular because it is where the college coaches can actually get out and evaluate players in real game situations. Unlike football where all of the camps, combines, clinics, workshops, and 7 on 7 tournaments can’t really give a coach the understanding of what a player can do in-game, travel basketball tournaments provide a live evaluation of players participating in the same game they will play when they go to college. Football mega camps have become popular because of how many college coaches attend but in many cases, you never  see the head coaches of the bigger programs there. When you go to the sites of elite travel basketball camps, it is not shocking to see Bill Self sitting next to Juwan Howard waving at (insert famous coach’s name here). That is the normal; and it is not just a couple there, they are there in droves. Hundreds of decision makers decked out in their polo and khaki shorts or their athletics warmups with the various logos of their universities prominently displayed for everyone to see.

   

  Another reason why the travel circuit has completely replaced the high school season as the major recruiting ground is that you get to see talented players go against similarly talented competition. Everyone knows that high school is broken into the haves and have nots. Teams that are stacked with talent going up against teams who are simply fielding a team for recreational purposes. If you remember what the opposition Zion Williamson’s high school team looked like, those games were a joke most of the time. That is simply not the case in travel ball. Whether you play on a team at a specific age group or you are playing on an elite team. You are placed in groups where you are competing against teams with similar talent. This gives evaluators an even better chance to see how you compare to your contemporaries. It is something that high schools simply can not compete with. Even at tournaments that are meant to bring some of the best high school teams together, there is usually someone on the court who is not at the level of others or the teams are brought in because they have one or two elite players on them.

   

  The result is that the high school season has a true duality to it. It is the opportunity to play basketball for those who may not be at the elite level in the state or nationally. A way to represent your school, stay active during the football offseason or take a break from baseball. That’s a valuable thing. After all, high school is still about creating lifelong memories and forming bonds that could never be broken. The high school season still serves that purpose. But for the players who have aspirations of hooping in college, the high school season is nothing more than live practice reps. It is the place where you work on your game and get it polished up to showcase when the basketball live periods occur in the spring and summertime. You see big men work on their jump shot and handles. You see guards try to finish better at the rim and polish their step back three pointer. The high school season is where you see them incorporate new moves and develop different skills. That used to be reserved for AAU or YBOA 20 years ago. But now big travel ball circuits are the real season for these elite hoopers.

   

  It is a reality that most high school coaches have either embraced, or are trying to fight a losing battle. The toothpaste is out of the tube and there is no way to ever get it back. The fact that most states have still not instituted a shot clock or a college three point line means that they can’t even properly prepare these young men and women for the type of world they are going to experience when they go to college. The college game is night and day from the high school game and until they begin to make the changes necessary to implement college rules and gameplay in high school, you will never see it regain the luster it once had. The best thing for high school coaches to do is to work on developing the best student athletes possible so that they will have a chance to showcase their skills to college coaches when they start traveling.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

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• Mambacita First, Mamba Forever.

  Apr 3, 2022 Andrew Williams 0 Comments

  

   

  by Andrew Williams

   

  It was almost a year ago when the news that rattled the sneaker world and the NBA community hit the newsfeeds and timelines. Nike announced that all Kobe- related footwear and apparel will cease production. At this time the deal that Kobe locked in after his retirement in 2016 was coming to an end, and with the recent passing (at the time) of the late great player it seemed like we would never see another Nike Kobe shoe. It felt like we would have to look Devin Booker or Demar Derozan to open an eBay store before we see another Kobe shoe.  We can’t say we were aware of the reasons the deal fell through, but the Bryant camp was looking for the rare lifetime Nike deal which is currently only held by only by athletes like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Cristiano Ronaldo solely.  So this was going to be a tough sell for the Bryant camp and at that time the deal stalled out. 

   

     Oh happy day sneaker-heads on March 24 2022, Nike officially announced they will be partnering with Vanessa Bryant and the Bryant family on championing a new generation of fans focusing on youth sports.  So what that means is the first release we can expect to see will pay homage to Kobe and Gigi with the focus on Gigi Bryant.  

   

   Nike is expected to release the first shoe from this new partnership with the Bryant family. Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” which will be releasing on what would have been Gigi Bryant’s 16th birthday May 1,2022. All proceeds from the shoe will benefit the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. 

   

   So I feel it would only be right in celebration of the new future of Nike/ Bryant partnership in my first let’s kick it, shoe review I will review the Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16”.

   

   Some of us already took a peak at these shoes back in May when some photos were leaked prior to the Bryant family having a deal in place.  The Kobe 6 Protro “Mambacita Sweet 16” dresses the famous Kobe 6 silhouette in a white and textured black matching the late Gigi Bryant’s Mamba Academy uniform. The Kobe 6 silhouette is also adorned with both father and daughter name on the heel tucked right under the Mamba Academy logo. The  inside is  lined with black and white patterned fabric to give that true Mamba like feel to it. Definitely a must have shoe.  With the understated color way these Kobe 6 will be a hit on and off the court. I can see the sleek, elegant design this shoe can be dressed up from anything from a sports coat to a full tuxedo and still be the element that pops the outfit. The most impressive part was the shoe was completely designed by Vanessa Bryant to pay homage to her late husband and daughter. 

      With release dates appearing to be around the beginning of May we can be sure to find these as a summer staple for 2022 and years to come. So as I prep to devise a plan to obtain a pair of size 12  Kobe 6 Protro a part of me thinks back to that cold December night of 2020 scoping out a way to get the elusive final Grinch Kobe’s I quietly whisper to myself Mamba Forever. 

  

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  Andrew Williams is a Sports Analyst and Host of BallCourt - The World of Basketball with Coach Drew and Let's Kick It - Courtside.

   

   

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• Gene Therapy - NCAA 2022 |The Final Four: Coaches Are Everything!

  Apr 1, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  The men's and women's final four are both epic this year. On the women's side you have South Carolina trying to ascend to UConn like levels. You have UConn fighting to stave off the oncoming Lady Gamecocks and the other women's teams who keep improving yearly. Stanford is still lurking, ready to prove that they are still one of the elites in the women's game, and of course you have Louisville who keeps knocking on the door to announce themselves as a perennial women's hoop power.

   

  On the men's side you have a couple matchups that may never be topped again. Villanova will face Kansas as the two powerhouse programs duel to see who will get to add another championship to their trophy case. The other matchup is about as epic as you can get in a final four. North Carolina takes on Duke for the first time in the final four. It is a storyline that writes itself. In fact, both are. And it is rare that you get this good of a matchup without their being chalk everywhere but that is the case. Kansas is a one seed, but Duke and Nova are two seeds and UNC is an eight seed.

   

  With all due respect to the Cinderella's and upstarts, these are the matchups that we want to see in the final four. It's not just the top seeds, these are teams that have become a part of what we love about the sport. Causes being pushed and agendas driven which always makes more great storylines. Whenever someone doesn't seem to get there fairly it is news. Stars are being stars and there is always a chance for a new breakout. 

   

  

   

  The coaches are so good!

   

  On the women’s side what can be said about Geno Auriemma that has not already been said in triplicate. The UConn general has established himself as the greatest coach in the history of the women’s game. Not only has he been able to find immense success as a college coach, but he has been a dominant figure in the international game. He’s created a standard at UConn that all other coaches are continuously chasing. But as good as Auriemma is, he is not on top of the all-time wins list, that distinction belongs to Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer who has been a staple in the women’s game for 42 seasons. Her squad is also the reigning national champions. Last year she was able to best manage the bubble and lead her squad to the championship. Jeff Walz is a name that does not get enough publicity in the women’s game, but he has been great for the Cardinal bringing that team to prominence.

   

  Before Walz took over the team only had four NCAA tourney wins. In his 15 seasons, he has 37 wins in the tournament and has advanced to the final four, four times. He has also made it to the championship game twice. He has won a remarkable five straight ACC regular season titles. South Carolina’s Dawn Staley is a legend in the women’s game as a player and is quickly becoming legendary as a coach. In just 14 seasons on the job as a Gamecock she has made four, final four appearances in the last seven years and cut down the nets in 2017. All she knows is gold as a coach of Team USA and she has fiercely fought for women to be appreciated in athletics at the same level as the men. Her recruiting classes keep getting better and better as she produces top 10 WNBA picks almost yearly now.

   

  Bill Self has put together a resume envious of all who have coached the game. Over the last 24 years of his career (18 at KU) He has won over 73% of his games at every stop and that includes an over 82% winning percentage as the Jayhawks leader. He has more accolades that anyone would care to write about, and he is already a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He led the Jayhawks to the national title in 2008. Jay Wright is one of the newest members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and in his 21 years as the head coach at Villanova, he has built a monster. His squad has won two national titles. In 2016 when they cut the heart out of Tar Heel fans with a last second buzzer beater and in 2018 when they dashed the hopes of the Michigan faithful. He has found success zigging when others were zagging in recruiting by not targeting potential one and done talent but focusing on the talent that fit the style they wanted to play.

   

  With all due respect to Hubert Davis (and he deserves respect) nobody outside of Chapel Hill will be talking about him in the final four. It is worth noting that not many coaches follow a legend and have immediate success. Not many coaches go to the final four in their first season as a head coach. Most first-time coaches don’t make adjustments that change the trajectory of the team not only in the present but possibly for years to come. What Davis has done at UNC this year is applause worthy. With that being said, all eyes will be fixated on the modern era GOAT of the college coaching world Coach K as he tries to cap off an incredible career with one more national title win. Like many of the other coaches, we could run down all of his accolades but what really matters is five national titles. If he wins it again this season, he will go out with a national championship in four different decades. That level of excellence is mind blowing.

   

  This weekend is filled with storylines. Geno is looking for his 11th championship, and Coach K is zeroing in on six. VanDerveer hopes to win her fourth and Wright is trying to win his third. Self and Staley will hope to double up while Walz and Davis hope that they get to cut down the nets for the first time as coaches. Will UConn have enough to get by Stanford in a pick 'em game? Can anyone stop the freight train that is South Carolina? Can Louisville break through? Can UNC end Coach K’s career? What an epic weekend. Take a seat, grab a drink and your favorite game time snacks, and watch it all unfold.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

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• Gene Therapy: March is My Type of Madness!

  Mar 20, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  I love football. As a player, coach, and writer, football has always meant so much to me. It has opened doors that I never knew were there. I am forever grateful and indebted to the game. But anyone who really knows me, they know that I am in love with basketball. As a kid growing up in inner city Chicago, the court was the sanctuary from all of the chaos (mostly). Throughout the years, basketball has remained a constant in my life. I grew up a Carolina Tar Heels fan. I wore #15 because of Reidel Anthony in football and Vince Carter in basketball. For anyone who loves hoop, the NCAA tournament is Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year. The tournament encapsulates everything great about sports. It's the convergence of all classes and all abilities where the outcome is simply based on what happens between the lines. We have seen impossible comebacks and massive upsets. Anything is possible during the madness of March. So, what makes it great?

   

  The Cinderella Factor

   

  The most obvious reason the tournament is beloved by hard core basketball fans and novice is because is the Cinderella factor. The team who is winning despite not having the same resources or talent of other schools. 11, 12, and 13 seeds have been the prime seeds to upset an opponent seeded higher. In that process we learn so much about the team, the players, the coach and the community. Many of these teams come from conferences with a single NCAA bid. So, if they don't win their conference tournament, they won't receive an at large bid (an invitation to join the tournament without an automatic bid). There are teams in these mid major conferences that will have a fantastic season where they only lose a few games, get to their conference tournament and get upset by a team with a .500 record.  Their dreams of making it on the big stage extinguished with one loss.

   

  But for the ones that do make it in, this is their chance. Maybe that higher seeded team underestimated their abilities. Maybe a big-time player was in foul trouble or having a bad day. Maybe a player on that underdog chooses that day to turn in the performance of his life. The ball bounces funny ways and when both teams look up, that double digit underdog is tied up on leading. Then the pressure begins to build for the favorites. They are supposed to win, so the victory celebration would be minimal, but if they lose, they become a cautionary tale, a meme, and their dream of cutting down the nets is over.

   

  That underdog has nothing to lose, nobody picked them to win, and, in most cases, they are expected to get blown out. When they begin to make their move, we learn about the quirky details about their school. The hurdles they've overcome just to be there. We are introduced to families and shown rituals that only make us invest in that lower seed's outcome emotionally. When they win one game, it's a cool story but they have to prepare for another game in less than 48 hours but if they win the second game, if they make the Sweet 16, they get their chance to be celebrated for an entire week and we get to take that ride with them. Even when it comes to an end, and unfortunately it always does, we are sad for the team but appreciative of the journey they allowed us to sit shotgun on.

   

  Breakout Stars

   

  The NCAA tournament has launched the careers of countless amounts of players. When you get the chance on the big stage you must take advantage. Everyone in and out of the basketball world is watching. This becomes the opportunity for players to show they can perform when the lights are shining the brightest. It was on the NCAA stage back in 2008 that a skinny kid from North Carolina made his presence known at Davidson. Steph Curry was overlooked by all the major colleges and universities because of his lack of size but his game was huge, and, in the tournament, he was a one-man wrecking crew as people were amazed at his confidence and assassin-like accuracy. He became a household name and a top 10 pick in the NBA draft. The rest of history. Carmelo Anthony was the top recruit in the nation when he went to Syracuse. He led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA Championship his freshmen year where he was named the Most Outstanding Player. and his performance on the NCAA tournament stage had people questioning whether they should take him over Lebron James. Mateen Cleaves in 2000, Mario Chalmers in 2008, Kemba Walker in 2011, Anthony Davis in 2012 and countless others have exploded on the scene thanks to the NCAA tournament stage.

   

  The Brackets

   

  The biggest draw of the NCAA tournament has become the fascination with filling out brackets. The gambling aspect has always been a draw in sports. It is the reason why fantasy sports are so popular in the United States. What started as office building fun and turned into a billion-dollar business. Whether people are into basketball or not, the brackets become a bonding experience and an opportunity for bragging rights. ESPN reported that they had 17.3 million brackets submitted for this year's tournament. Following your bracket is just another way engagement is built and people become personally invested in the outcome of these games. A bracket challenge could be as large as what ESPN, FOX Sports, or CBS sports put on, or it could be as intimate as a few of your good friends throwing a couple dollars into a hat. The range is endless and therefore the engagement is endless. Today, even when you have a horrible first weekend with your picks, there are secondary brackets that give people a second chance to pick their winners. That way people are engaged all the way through the tournament.

   

  Some of my favorite sports memories come from the NCAA tournament. The dominance of the early 90's UNLV Runnin' Rebels, the Fab Five phenomenon, the rise of Villanova, and my love affair with the Tar Heels are all memories that I have been fortunate enough to experience in my time. I've watched Gonzaga become a power and Georgetown become an afterthought.  Who will be the next team to rise? What player will put themselves on the map? What memory will we take from this year's version of Madness? I anxiously await and welcome all outcomes.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

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