2023-24 NBA Thread

[JWags85]

Luka didn’t play Summer League. He had a full offseason of practices and NBA activities before playing his first NBA game with high level teammates and structure.  And he went 10/8/4 and shot an abysmal 5/16 and 0/5 from 3.  He averaged 22+ over his next 5 and shot much better.

Point being. It’s just 1 game. And it’s Summer League.  Wemby will be fine and likely have a couple of WOW games and stretches during Summer League

[WhiteTrash]

Luka didn’t play Summer League. He had a full offseason of practices and NBA activities before playing his first NBA game with high level teammates and structure.  And he went 10/8/4 and shot an abysmal 5/16 and 0/5 from 3.  He averaged 22+ over his next 5 and shot much better.

Point being. It’s just 1 game. And it’s Summer League.  Wemby will be fine and likely have a couple of WOW games and stretches during Summer League

One of the Ball brothers, I think the one on the Bulls (I get them confused) started Summer League with like a 3-15 game and wound up as Summer League MVP.

[MU82]

Here's The Athletic's quickie take of Wembanyama's summer debut:

In the most-hyped NBA Summer League game we can remember, Victor Wembanyama looked … mortal. With luminaries like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jerry West in the sold-out crowd, the Spurs’ No. 1 pick struggled offensively, scoring nine points on 2-of-13 shooting to go with eight rebounds and five blocks in a win over the Hornets. Cue the 2023 redrafts. (We kid.)

It was a good reminder that Wembanyama is still a 19-year-old kid transitioning to a new country, new employer and new competition. Not easy, even if you’re a wildly skilled 7-foot-4.

His first appearance showed the weight of expectation and need for patience, Marcus Thompson II writes. There’s a mental side to entering the league with more hype than any player since LeBron James. “Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing on the court tonight,” he said. “I’m trying to learn for next game.”

While Wembanyama’s best moments came on the defensive end, though the highlight of the game came at his expense when Hornets third-year center Kai Jones threw down an alley-oop over the rookie.

While it won’t be a video game every night, Wembanyama was still intriguing — and towering, Mike Vorkunov writes. That the mystique was still apparent on a night he didn’t have his shot is a sign itself that he’s special. (And just staying healthy was a win on Friday night — the Nos. 3 and 4 picks, Scoot Henderson and Amen Thompson, left the Blazers-Rockets game with injuries.)

Wembanyama’s coach certainly isn’t going anywhere. Gregg Popovich signed a five-year contract Saturday, committing to the Wemby project with a deal that will take him until he’s 79 years old.

[MuggsyB]

Wemby definitely needs to get stronger. 

[4everwarriors]

And wiser. Spears ain't just sum trailer trash fangirl, hey?

[MuggsyB]

And wiser. Spears ain't just sum trailer trash fangirl, hey?

She's old enough to be Wemby's mom!

[4everwarriors]

Aggressive women with lotsa bread usually have away of getting what they want, aina?

[MuggsyB]

Aggressive women with lotsa bread usually have away of getting what they want, aina?

Wemby likely had no earthly idea who she was. 

[4everwarriors]

Shirley, he watched Mickey Mouse Club, aina?

[brewcity77]

Shirley, he watched Mickey Mouse Club, aina?

It was cancelled a decade before Wembanyama was born.

[MuggsyB]

Shirley, he watched Mickey Mouse Club, aina?

I'm sure he's heard of her obviously but maybe he's saving himself for Madonna.

[tower912]

Wemby may be ok.

[wadesworld]

He’ll be very good. Yes, he’ll get beat up at times. But he’s incredibly skilled and incredibly tall.

[MuggsyB]

Wemby may be ok.

He has a lot of impressive skills.  He definitely needs to get stronger. 

[tower912]

Most 19 year-olds need to get stronger.

[MuggsyB]

Most 19 year-olds need to get stronger.

His ideal playing weight?

[4everwarriors]

Heel likely mary Brittany or at least goe on da honeymoon, hey?

[JWags85]

His ideal playing weight?

He's listed anywhere from 205-220.  I think 245-250 would suit him well.  He's never gonna be super thick but that will at least give him some more durability.

[Herman Cain]

His ideal playing weight?

Wemby has been quoted as saying he wants to do some lifting between now and training camp

[MuggsyB]

Will Jeff Van Gundy go to TNT now?  He was the only person canned by ESPN that surprised me. 

[Skatastrophy]

Will Jeff Van Gundy go to TNT now?  He was the only person canned by ESPN that surprised me. 

Current ESPN contract with the NBA ends in '24-'25, iirc. Hopefully TNT steals it from them. ESPN does a pretty poor job with their NBA product.

[MuggsyB]

Current ESPN contract with the NBA ends in '24-'25, iirc. Hopefully TNT steals it from them. ESPN does a pretty poor job with their NBA product.

No doubt about that.  Breen is good and that 3 man team had been together a long time.  The non broadcasters at ESPN covering  the NBA are beyond awful. 

[StillAWarrior]

Has there been any discussion of the NBA's in-season tournament (the "NBA Cup") on here? I looked but didn't see anything. Rarely does sports news like this completely sneak up on me, but I hadn't heard anything about this until my daughter mentioned it yesterday.

I think it sounds kind of cool. We'll see how it plays out.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Trying something fun at the beginning of the season. Worth a shot.

[StillAWarrior]

Trying something fun at the beginning of the season. Worth a shot.

I agree. Why not? Maybe it's fantastic. Maybe it sucks. But worth a shot. It's not like November basketball is particularly compelling. If it makes a few of the 82 games a bit more interesting -- and I think it will -- then I think it's a good thing.