Basketball Blog

What better way to kick off my first post here on InsideHoops.com’s blog by writing about the NBA Summer League! Admit it – after a lackluster NBA Finals, you couldn’t wait for some lower grade NBA competition to begin again. Especially with such an intriguing draft class featuring players the likes of Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Mike Conley Jr., Jeff Green, and the ever so mysterious Yi Jianliahn.

If you are brave enough to withstand the monster they call 115 degree desert heat in Las Vegas, I advise you to go check it out during the next 8 days. Players, coaches, and GM’s are just hanging out all throughout the arena meaning easy access for the fans, autograph seekers,and groupies. There are games going on all day and seats are first come, first serve – meaning front row seats if you weren’t out partying with the ballers the night before and wake up early enough. But if you can’t make it, you can just watch it on NBA TV or NBA.com in an air conditioned room like me.

I’ve had many memories of past summer leagues that I have attended in person. Some that you would not believe unless you were there.

I remember the time Magic Johnson had to use the restroom. It would have been uneventful had not what seemed like every kid in the building was running in right behind him like it was nobody’s business.

I remember the time when Bo Outlaw was the first ever inductee into the Long Beach Pro Summer League Hall of Fame. Yes, the same Bo Outlaw that last year averaged 2 points and 2.6 rebounds a game with a career average of 5.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. If you need any indication of the level of play in summer league, one only needs to point to one of Bo’s summer league game, where he scored 45 points, blocked six shots and grabbed nine rebounds in 43 minutes… and that’s just a typical game.

I remember the time when Ricky Davis, playing with a bunch of no names, scored 57 points, on his way to a triple double and his team still lost. On every offensive possession when one of his teammates had the ball, you could hear Ricky shouting his own name “Ricky! Ricky!” True story.

The summer league does have its pros and cons.

You get a first hand look at what the new rookies on your team can do. Only to find out they can’t do much.

You get to see 2nd and 3rd year players dominate and give you hope that this will be their breakout year. Only to be frustrated midseason when they can’t even crack their team’s rotation and you wasted a 3rd Round pick in your Fantasy Draft.

It gives hope that the Kobe talk, ridiculous KG trade scenarios, and Craig Sager’s wardrobe will finally come to an end. Only to find out they have only just begun.

Oh the joys of Summer League. A moment of time that gives a glimmer of hope, excitement, and then we are brought right back to reality. And yet I still watch it. I watch for that one special player the defies all logic of summer league play. The player that dominates the league and carries it on to the regular season. I watch because there can never be too much basketball. I am a basketballholic and this is the first step to recovery.