There were some great stories out of the National Basketball Association this season, such as the improvement of players Kevin Gamble, Scott Skiles, Kenny Smith and the finds from Europe, the Continental Basketball Association and the World Basketball League who made an impact (Haywoode Workman in Washington, John Starks in New York, Mario Elie in Golden State, Henry James in Cleveland and Micheal Williams in Indiana, who may be the team`s point guard of the future).
The Pacers were Williams` sixth team-five in the NBA and one in the CBA-in three years. But after the Pacers pushed the Celtics to five games, Larry Bird said: ”If they don`t win 50 games next season, something is wrong because that kid can flat out play.”
”We thought he`d be good,” said Pacers General Manager Donnie Walsh.
”But this good? Truthfully, no. You never know how young players will respond to top front-line competition.”
The best story of this season might be that of the local kid, Niles` Jim Les (Notre Dame High School and Bradley).
After failing with Utah, the Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte, he went to the CBA with the idea of hooking on as an assistant coach and giving up playing. But the Sacramento Kings signed him as an emergency replacement in January and he went on to lead the NBA in three-point shooting. And this after hitting one three-point field goal in two seasons in the NBA. He was 71 of 154 this season.
He also had two four-point plays, averaged a career-best 7.2 points and 5.4 assists in 25 minutes per game, was the team`s best free-throw shooter at 83.5 percent and scored in double figures 16 times. This came after averaging 1.6 points in his only full season in the NBA.
The Kings are angling to pick Georgia Tech point guard Kenny Anderson in the draft, but team officials say Les has a place.
– Skiles breaks mold: Speaking of Skiles, Orlando General Manager Pat Williams called it ”Wally Pipp all over again” as Skiles, almost released after last season, hung on and made Sam Vincent a permanent bench-warmer after signing a $7 million deal over four years.
”I got hurt my rookie year in Milwaukee and didn`t play,” Skiles explained after averaging 17.2 points and 8.4 assists this season. ”I had surgery when I was in Indiana and I got stereotyped as a backup point guard. It`s very difficult when you want to get out of something like that.”
Here are some of the other recent deals: Dennis Rodman, a four-year extension worth $2.45 million per year; Scott Brooks, four more guaranteed years at almost $500,000 per season; Jerry Reynolds, four more years at $1.5 million per year; Benoit Benjamin, five years at $3 million, not including a $2 million signing bonus.
And what can John Paxson and Bill Cartwright be worth? Scottie Pippen should get his soon, to the tune of just more than $3.5 million per season starting in 1993-94.
– Hornets` deal: The draft`s wild card, the No. 1 pick, is held by the wildest organization, the loony Charlotte Hornets. Loony because owner George Shinn has such a major role in personnel decisions. And he insists on North Carolina guys.
Which is why there`s lots of talk the Hornets will trade the pick and Dell Curry or Muggsy Bogues to the Lakers for James Worthy, and perhaps Clemson`s Elden Campbell.
The Hornets probably would be wise to pick Anderson-he`s a Nate Archibald-type and a point guard generally is regarded second in importance to a center. They could move Kendall Gill back to shooting guard and have an impressive three-guard rotation with Rex Chapman.
Most scouts are talking up Billy Owens of Syracuse and Larry Johnson of UNLV as Nos. 1 and 2, so it`s anybody`s guess who Charlotte might take.
– Sampson desire: One guess is Ralph Sampson won`t be back in Sacramento.
At the end of the season, he offered various expletives about the team and the town and said he wouldn`t be back despite two more years on his contract. Who told him? ”I told myself,” he said.
Sampson says his knees are good enough to help a team and said last week he would like to realize a dream and play in Los Angeles with Magic Johnson.
”I think I`ve got a lot left,” he said.
– Clippers will make a point: The other Los Angeles guys, the Clippers, figure to be active. They have a hit list of point guards they`re seeking, including Isiah Thomas, Derek Harper, Doc Rivers, Pooh Richardson and Jay Humphries. Most likely to go: Illinois` Ken Norman.
”I`m an afterthought,” says Norman. ”I can`t explain it.”
– Body building: The Cavaliers also are in search of a shooting guard, but they`re pleased Danny Ferry`s summer routine includes a new body.
”I know I need to get stronger,” said Ferry after a disappointing rookie season (8.6 points a game on 43 percent shooting).
”He`s a skilled player,” says Cleveland General Manager Wayne Embry.
”We`ll be a better team once he gets acclimated to playing with better guys. He`s an exceptional passer.”
– Cheers from press box? As if the Nuggets` season wasn`t crazy enough, GM Bernie Bickerstaff finished it by suggesting the media get on board.
”My observation would be that the Denver Nuggets and the Denver media need a mental cleansing to divest themselves of all the petty feuding and posturing,” said Bickerstaff. ”It is time for those who are capable to manifest professionalism. Neither party is doing anything to enhance the success of this franchise. I feel very comfortable that we all have the same, common goal.”
– Around the league: In case you forgot to keep your newspapers, here were the Las Vegas odds on who would win the NBA title at the start of the season: Pistons 4-1, Lakers 5-1, Suns 7-1, Trail Blazers 8-1, Spurs 9-1, Bulls 10-1. . . . The Knicks seem intent on holding on to Patrick Ewing, especially if Pat Riley is on board as coach. But they did get an offer of Danny Manning, Charles Smith, Benoit Benjamin and three No. 1 picks for Ewing and Charles Oakley at the trading deadline. . . . Bill Laimbeer said when he retires he would like to host a sports show in which he takes athletes hunting and fishing.
