Around the NBA:2025-6

[kekgeek]

Luka hurts his hamstring tonight

[60WinTim]

Luka hurts his hamstring tonight

You made me tune back in, rewind, and watch it.

He tweaked something in the 1st quarter, and seemed to be favoring just a bit afterwards. Is it the same injury? Or did that tweak affect the hamstring? I don't know. But he could be out awhile.

Reaves also strained his side in the 1st quarter also, but seemed able to play through it.

[kekgeek]

Luka hurts his hamstring tonight

You made me tune back in, rewind, and watch it.

He tweaked something in the 1st quarter, and seemed to be favoring just a bit afterwards. Is it the same injury? Or did that tweak affect the hamstring? I don't know. But he could be out awhile.

Reaves also strained his side in the 1st quarter also, but seemed able to play through it.

That I’m not sure. Legit fell asleep at 6 today after work and it was the first thing I saw when I woke up, haha

If Luka misses the rest of the year he is also ineligible for all NBA. This is good, we want Chet to make it to hurt the Thunder (also this rule will be against next year you have to think).

*like ant and Cade have played more minutes than Wemby this year but Wemby is still eligible due to games played

[Monster]

I think there are plenty of players to support 2 expansion teams, but Aussie is right about the way the US is not developing players correctly. If you haven't done it, I would encourage you to go watch a high level AAU tournament and see how the game is being played. You would be amazed at how many players play a similar style to Ant, only without the talent. If you get your hands on the ball, you better do something with it. After all college scouts are watching and scholarships + NIL dollars are at stake. What you don't see is the free flowing, fast break, pressure defense, while making cuts and setting screens in the half court basketball that I love. Other countries are beating us at our own game.

Hell... AAU is problematic at ALL levels.

We often talk about the me-first style at the highest levels... but I find the AAU structure even more alarming at lower levels where 97% of the kids will never play college ball.

It's a money grab in every way. But today's model makes it seem like the kids are missing out on "development" if they don't play.

I mean, it has been that way for 3+ decades. They just got sick of arguing about it, and made it all legal.

This is a good discussion. I don't have the type of involvement in sports as Cool does. To me the US is now at an in between stage. People desperately held on to the idea of the college athlete and athletics. Some still do but that's been gone in the major sports for idk like 20 years. The reality was it was a massive money making thing and young players should have the ability to work towards their future career. In those other countries like in Europe people can go pro at what like 16? To me it's not just players playing selfishly it's others that are also doing what they are doing to make the most money. Not everyone is all about the cash but it's absolutely the driver.

Meanwhile in Europe yeah you can make some money now but the organizations still have a lot of the power in what the players do but yet those players aren't totally locked in. They can be loaned to another team etc etc. should everyone be looking to turn pro at 16? Absolutely not but some guys it's pretty clear that's most likely in their future. Cool I'd be curious what your idea might for a system that would be better all around.

I just watched a pro Women's volleyball game. There are 2 pro women's volleyball leagues. That's getting legit traction. Women's pro soccer is a thing. WNBA just took a massive step forward as a league. What's the next sport that becomes a potential money maker? Please tell me so I can invest!!! Lol But seriously athletes ability to make money doing their thing is becoming more and more of a thing. What's the best way to develop players and grow the sport. I agree with Cool other countries likely are doing it better and not just in basketball.

[FNG]

Luka hurts his hamstring tonight

You made me tune back in, rewind, and watch it.

He tweaked something in the 1st quarter, and seemed to be favoring just a bit afterwards. Is it the same injury? Or did that tweak affect the hamstring? I don't know. But he could be out awhile.

Reaves also strained his side in the 1st quarter also, but seemed able to play through it.

I just went back and watched the moment he went down...didn't look good at all. I don't like Luka personally...he's an insufferable whiner...but you hate to see this happen to a guy arguably having the best March in the history of the league.

But being a Wolves fan, my thoughts immediately went to "what does this mean for us?". And it's very good for us. Even if Luka misses the last five games of the season, I still see them finishing 3rd ahead of Denver...their schedule is much softer, and they hold the tie breaker. And we are likely to face them in a 3/6 matchup, and with all due respect to Cool who with good reason fears their "home cookin'", it's a good matchup for us. The "defense" they showed against OkC is what we would see in the playoffs. And if Luka is still hampered by the hammy, I don't see them giving us much of a fight.

So yeah, I'm getting ahead of myself...but I'm already game planning Wemby...

[Phenom]

Luka hurts his hamstring tonight

You made me tune back in, rewind, and watch it.

He tweaked something in the 1st quarter, and seemed to be favoring just a bit afterwards. Is it the same injury? Or did that tweak affect the hamstring? I don't know. But he could be out awhile.

Reaves also strained his side in the 1st quarter also, but seemed able to play through it.

I just went back and watched the moment he went down...didn't look good at all. I don't like Luka personally...he's an insufferable whiner...but you hate to see this happen to a guy arguably having the best March in the history of the league.

But being a Wolves fan, my thoughts immediately went to "what does this mean for us?". And it's very good for us. Even if Luka misses the last five games of the season, I still see them finishing 3rd ahead of Denver...their schedule is much softer, and they hold the tie breaker. And we are likely to face them in a 3/6 matchup, and with all due respect to Cool who with good reason fears their "home cookin'", it's a good matchup for us. The "defense" they showed against OkC is what we would see in the playoffs. And if Luka is still hampered by the hammy, I don't see them giving us much of a fight.

So yeah, I'm getting ahead of myself...but I'm already game planning Wemby...

Time to get some guys extra rest for the playoffs.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Hell... AAU is problematic at ALL levels.

We often talk about the me-first style at the highest levels... but I find the AAU structure even more alarming at lower levels where 97% of the kids will never play college ball.

It's a money grab in every way. But today's model makes it seem like the kids are missing out on "development" if they don't play.

I mean, it has been that way for 3+ decades. They just got sick of arguing about it, and made it all legal.

This is a good discussion. I don't have the type of involvement in sports as Cool does. To me the US is now at an in between stage. People desperately held on to the idea of the college athlete and athletics. Some still do but that's been gone in the major sports for idk like 20 years. The reality was it was a massive money making thing and young players should have the ability to work towards their future career. In those other countries like in Europe people can go pro at what like 16? To me it's not just players playing selfishly it's others that are also doing what they are doing to make the most money. Not everyone is all about the cash but it's absolutely the driver.

Meanwhile in Europe yeah you can make some money now but the organizations still have a lot of the power in what the players do but yet those players aren't totally locked in. They can be loaned to another team etc etc. should everyone be looking to turn pro at 16? Absolutely not but some guys it's pretty clear that's most likely in their future. Cool I'd be curious what your idea might for a system that would be better all around.

I just watched a pro Women's volleyball game. There are 2 pro women's volleyball leagues. That's getting legit traction. Women's pro soccer is a thing. WNBA just took a massive step forward as a league. What's the next sport that becomes a potential money maker? Please tell me so I can invest!!! Lol But seriously athletes ability to make money doing their thing is becoming more and more of a thing. What's the best way to develop players and grow the sport. I agree with Cool other countries likely are doing it better and not just in basketball.

Volleyball is booming. Youth volleyball is growing 20% annually. Some larger area HS programs have 60 or 70 girls trying out for teams while basketball programs have numbers less than 1/2 that. I don't know if it's the lack of contact and physicality or the opportunity to pick it up a bit faster than hoops... but it's a legit trend in many places.

And if those girls are in year-round programs... those families are spending $10k+ pretty easily and also traveling all over the country.

Now that boys volleyball is a sanctioned HS sport, it's growing exponentially, too and I'm guessing the year-round stuff has already started. Maybe start in on that... and take a note from AAU basketball...

- Schedule 3 days of games for every team in every tournament.
- Make every team play each of the 3 days.
- Charge $15 for every person to enter the facilities (usually to watch ONE game).
- Stuff as many teams into the tournament as you can.
- Rinse and repeat the next weekend.
- Count your money.

[kekgeek]

I mean, it has been that way for 3+ decades. They just got sick of arguing about it, and made it all legal.

This is a good discussion. I don't have the type of involvement in sports as Cool does. To me the US is now at an in between stage. People desperately held on to the idea of the college athlete and athletics. Some still do but that's been gone in the major sports for idk like 20 years. The reality was it was a massive money making thing and young players should have the ability to work towards their future career. In those other countries like in Europe people can go pro at what like 16? To me it's not just players playing selfishly it's others that are also doing what they are doing to make the most money. Not everyone is all about the cash but it's absolutely the driver.

Meanwhile in Europe yeah you can make some money now but the organizations still have a lot of the power in what the players do but yet those players aren't totally locked in. They can be loaned to another team etc etc. should everyone be looking to turn pro at 16? Absolutely not but some guys it's pretty clear that's most likely in their future. Cool I'd be curious what your idea might for a system that would be better all around.

I just watched a pro Women's volleyball game. There are 2 pro women's volleyball leagues. That's getting legit traction. Women's pro soccer is a thing. WNBA just took a massive step forward as a league. What's the next sport that becomes a potential money maker? Please tell me so I can invest!!! Lol But seriously athletes ability to make money doing their thing is becoming more and more of a thing. What's the best way to develop players and grow the sport. I agree with Cool other countries likely are doing it better and not just in basketball.

Volleyball is booming. Youth volleyball is growing 20% annually. Some larger area HS programs have 60 or 70 girls trying out for teams while basketball programs have numbers less than 1/2 that. I don't know if it's the lack of contact and physicality or the opportunity to pick it up a bit faster than hoops... but it's a legit trend in many places.

And if those girls are in year-round programs... those families are spending $10k+ pretty easily and also traveling all over the country.

Now that boys volleyball is a sanctioned HS sport, it's growing exponentially, too and I'm guessing the year-round stuff has already started. Maybe start in on that... and take a note from AAU basketball...

- Schedule 3 days of games for every team in every tournament.
- Make every team play each of the 3 days.
- Charge $15 for every person to enter the facilities (usually to watch ONE game).
- Stuff as many teams into the tournament as you can.
- Rinse and repeat the next weekend.
- Count your money.

Just a couple of things on AAU, for context I’m in my mid 30s. My cousin played on a team that made in to state in 4A this year and I can’t stand watching them play basketball. They play the most gross brand of basketball I’ve ever seen, if you can’t turn the opponent over on BS half ass defense they really struggle and then it’s a 2 pass chuck a contested NBA 3. All my cousins teammates have been playing AAU for ever and my cousin is the only rotation player that is not in the AAU cycle (my cousin is a legit FCS football prospect and has multiple D1 golf offers so basketball is his worst sport). I am not shocked that the state title game was Chaska and Apple Valley because they were the 2 programs that actually had a offensive and defensive system unlike Tartan, Maple Grove, Wyzata, Alexandria even though schools probably have more individual talent.

I honestly think that is why I have fallen in love with the girls game so much these last few years because it’s team basketball that have so many different ways to win not this junk non aesthetically pleasing AAU crap.

But I will say the AAU money grab is in girls basketball also. My best friends wife is the head coach of a 4A program here in the state. Their daughter is in 3rd grade. She is already in AAU and is traveling and practicing every weekend. They debated having her play AAU this young because they don’t want burnout and the daughter isn’t playing other sports because she is not as good at them. But what my buddy says “we wanted to give her everything in our power to succeed and do what we can, and having her on that second best woman’s AAU team can do that” so they are spending thousands of dollars for her to play 3rd grade AAU basketball when who knows if she will be any good.

[TheFuture]

Hell... AAU is problematic at ALL levels.

We often talk about the me-first style at the highest levels... but I find the AAU structure even more alarming at lower levels where 97% of the kids will never play college ball.

It's a money grab in every way. But today's model makes it seem like the kids are missing out on "development" if they don't play.

I mean, it has been that way for 3+ decades. They just got sick of arguing about it, and made it all legal.

This is a good discussion. I don't have the type of involvement in sports as Cool does. To me the US is now at an in between stage. People desperately held on to the idea of the college athlete and athletics. Some still do but that's been gone in the major sports for idk like 20 years. The reality was it was a massive money making thing and young players should have the ability to work towards their future career. In those other countries like in Europe people can go pro at what like 16? To me it's not just players playing selfishly it's others that are also doing what they are doing to make the most money. Not everyone is all about the cash but it's absolutely the driver.

Meanwhile in Europe yeah you can make some money now but the organizations still have a lot of the power in what the players do but yet those players aren't totally locked in. They can be loaned to another team etc etc. should everyone be looking to turn pro at 16? Absolutely not but some guys it's pretty clear that's most likely in their future. Cool I'd be curious what your idea might for a system that would be better all around.

I just watched a pro Women's volleyball game. There are 2 pro women's volleyball leagues. That's getting legit traction. Women's pro soccer is a thing. WNBA just took a massive step forward as a league. What's the next sport that becomes a potential money maker? Please tell me so I can invest!!! Lol But seriously athletes ability to make money doing their thing is becoming more and more of a thing. What's the best way to develop players and grow the sport. I agree with Cool other countries likely are doing it better and not just in basketball.

I am 2 decades removed from AAU and such. I played for Osseo. Even back then, on the AAU circuit, money was circulating in Junior High and Highschool.

Redistricting happened every year just in school ball. From players way out of the area they competed in.

When you got to AAU, you had players playing for random teams all over. It was some parents taking the highest bid.

My parents were "offered" for me to join "Gold" at the time. My parents allowed me the choice. I refused because I had my allegiance with my team who I also played baseball and football with.

We faced teams like the 'Supreme Team', 'The North', the 'Stars', the 'Gold' and the 'Silver. Etc.

All these players were pulled from various areas and their parents were compensated.

It isn't new, just now legal.

I don't disagree with the ruling on the college level. Though it is bullshit in my opinion. They just couldn't escape their money grab excuses anymore. They were making money hand over fist off of college athletes. Yet, they kept raising tuition every year. Still do.. At many schools, the profit margins were/are astronomical.

They were so asinine that they wouldn't allow player names to be used in video games. Yet, they used those players to rake in millions every year.

To me, I understand that you're giving me a free 15,000-50,000 per year education, but why should you make plenty over double that investment on me under the guise of education? We both know I can skip it and I'll still pass and be able to play..

Complete scam/scheme from 12 years old+.

Reality is, we live in America. Capitalism. Capitalize on everything. Greed runs rampant.

The correct thing to do, would be to let athletes generate profit (because humans are an entertainment seeking type) for these colleges who decided they are no longer pro-education just pro-profit, and make 4 years of education free for all. It makes the most sense, but they won't do it because 2 million a year in their pocket is more than 1 million.

That is America.

[AbeVigodaLive]

This is a good discussion. I don't have the type of involvement in sports as Cool does. To me the US is now at an in between stage. People desperately held on to the idea of the college athlete and athletics. Some still do but that's been gone in the major sports for idk like 20 years. The reality was it was a massive money making thing and young players should have the ability to work towards their future career. In those other countries like in Europe people can go pro at what like 16? To me it's not just players playing selfishly it's others that are also doing what they are doing to make the most money. Not everyone is all about the cash but it's absolutely the driver.

Meanwhile in Europe yeah you can make some money now but the organizations still have a lot of the power in what the players do but yet those players aren't totally locked in. They can be loaned to another team etc etc. should everyone be looking to turn pro at 16? Absolutely not but some guys it's pretty clear that's most likely in their future. Cool I'd be curious what your idea might for a system that would be better all around.

I just watched a pro Women's volleyball game. There are 2 pro women's volleyball leagues. That's getting legit traction. Women's pro soccer is a thing. WNBA just took a massive step forward as a league. What's the next sport that becomes a potential money maker? Please tell me so I can invest!!! Lol But seriously athletes ability to make money doing their thing is becoming more and more of a thing. What's the best way to develop players and grow the sport. I agree with Cool other countries likely are doing it better and not just in basketball.

Volleyball is booming. Youth volleyball is growing 20% annually. Some larger area HS programs have 60 or 70 girls trying out for teams while basketball programs have numbers less than 1/2 that. I don't know if it's the lack of contact and physicality or the opportunity to pick it up a bit faster than hoops... but it's a legit trend in many places.

And if those girls are in year-round programs... those families are spending $10k+ pretty easily and also traveling all over the country.

Now that boys volleyball is a sanctioned HS sport, it's growing exponentially, too and I'm guessing the year-round stuff has already started. Maybe start in on that... and take a note from AAU basketball...

- Schedule 3 days of games for every team in every tournament.
- Make every team play each of the 3 days.
- Charge $15 for every person to enter the facilities (usually to watch ONE game).
- Stuff as many teams into the tournament as you can.
- Rinse and repeat the next weekend.
- Count your money.

Just a couple of things on AAU, for context I’m in my mid 30s. My cousin played on a team that made in to state in 4A this year and I can’t stand watching them play basketball. They play the most gross brand of basketball I’ve ever seen, if you can’t turn the opponent over on BS half ass defense they really struggle and then it’s a 2 pass chuck a contested NBA 3. All my cousins teammates have been playing AAU for ever and my cousin is the only rotation player that is not in the AAU cycle (my cousin is a legit FCS football prospect and has multiple D1 golf offers so basketball is his worst sport). I am not shocked that the state title game was Chaska and Apple Valley because they were the 2 programs that actually had a offensive and defensive system unlike Tartan, Maple Grove, Wyzata, Alexandria even though schools probably have more individual talent.

I honestly think that is why I have fallen in love with the girls game so much these last few years because it’s team basketball that have so many different ways to win not this junk non aesthetically pleasing AAU crap.

But I will say the AAU money grab is in girls basketball also. My best friends wife is the head coach of a 4A program here in the state. Their daughter is in 3rd grade. She is already in AAU and is traveling and practicing every weekend. They debated having her play AAU this young because they don’t want burnout and the daughter isn’t playing other sports because she is not as good at them. But what my buddy says “we wanted to give her everything in our power to succeed and do what we can, and having her on that second best woman’s AAU team can do that” so they are spending thousands of dollars for her to play 3rd grade AAU basketball when who knows if she will be any good.

Yep.

Last spring, I ran into an acquaintance I know at the first AAU tournament of the season. Turns out, he coached high-level HS hoops for 35 years. Who knew! Anyway, we watched the game together. About 10 minutes in, he muttered "This is rough." And then a bit later, "This is really rough."

It's as you described. There's no place for moving the ball in today's AAU circuits. No extra passes. No swinging the ball. No help D unless you're going for a block. It's... well... it's a rough watch.

And I don't really blame the kids either. It's the coaching. This type of play is encouraged. The games I watched with that former coach were not the highest levels. For the most part, they were the 2nd tier kids. The ones who have to move the ball and play hard in HS to stay in the rotation.

Yet... even though all of them would be better served as being glue guys, they all wanted to be THE guy. Maybe because they couldn't be the guy on their HS team? And very importantly, the coaches are encouraging it. There's no reward for making the extra pass or closeout on defense. Maybe because it's tough as a short-timer coach without any real clout (just a guy to these paying kids/families) and in part because they also came through the AAU system just a few years prior. (Most of the coaches are young.)

In any event, it's not fun to watch. And this style of play had been ingrained in all of them through playing years of AAU basketball.

As for the girls... there's not a ton of difference. Still a money grab. The only rub is that physical limitations sometimes forces girls to play a different style.

___________________

A side note. Even for the kids with potential to play college basketball... how much investment (for those families who don't get to do AAU for free because their kid is THAT good)... is worth it? Paying $10K a year for 8 years just to get your kid into a low-level D2 school (or D3 without much of a scholarship) vs. just investing $80k and using that to send your kid to college?

Case in point: Just a few years ago, a friend had a kid who played for arguably the top HS team in the state. I asked him about AAU the summer before the kid's senior year. He said "Nah, we're done with that nonsense." Then I asked about the kid and college ball.

"Why? I own my own business. I have money. My kid is smart. Do I want to send him to SW Illinois Peoria State for basketball... or Purdue or Georgetown for an education?"