Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA's MVP Award - (All Pro Reels photo)

Nikola Jokic - (NBA - photo)

Sophie Cunningham goes on the offensive - (John Mack - photo)

Dallas Mavericks owner Israeli Miriam Adelson plays the American political game well. Here she receives an honor bestowed upon her by US President Donald Trump who she donated $200 to milllion to his recent presidential campaign fund. WHO IS MIRIAM ADELSON?

Bill Walton played through pain and injuries. He was rewarded late in his career being a member of the 1986 NBA championship Boston Celtics team. It was his second NBA title - (Steve Lipofsky photo) BILL WALTON REMEMBERED

For those in the know the former LA/Minneapolis Lakers great Elgin Baylor is the best pound for pound NBA player ever. Better Than Jordan? ELGIN BAYLOR!!!

Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics

SPORTS NOTES EXTRA - NBA & WNBA go ROCK-EM & SOCK-EM

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander NBA's MVP - The EXPESIVE NBA ANKLE SPRIAN ISSUE - WNBA BLASTS OFF with the Chicago Sky's Angel Reese and Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark at it again - WNBA Attendance through the roof - WNBA's Sophie Cunningham is being run through the ringer - Grizzlies Anthony Edwards is a BAD BOY - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Thursday May 22, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander NBA's MVP

Deservedly so, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA's MVP Award. Nikola Jokic placed 2nd. Since his first season in the league with the LA Clippers Shai has honed his craft during his now seven seasons in the league. He has matured into a supreme player and has matured as the young Oklahoma City Thunder team's leader. He led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game.

Jokic was the MVP three times 2021, 2022 and 2024. The 30-year-old Serbian and the Nuggets won the NBA title in 2023. Basically, he's done it all. What stands out about his play above all the rest in the league is he plays so hard and tough he has the toughness and skill set that makes him and ALL EARA PLAYER.

The Celtics Bill Russell was the player that was most believed to be the player one would select to build a team around. Jokic has that type of skill. Basically, he's the player I would select to build a team around. He does it all, dribbles up the court, sets up plays, plays the high post where his teammates cut and he delivers assists. He follows up his shots, which is rare today. His nose also takes a beating as he goes to the boards for rebounds while his face gets bashed. This man is one of the best of ALL TIME.

A CUT ABOVE IT ALL

It seems that former UCLA coach John Wooden had it right when it came to insisting that his players tie their basketball sneakers carefully. It was something that blurted out of his mouths without my asking of former players Keith Erickson and Walt Hazzard. It brought a smile to their faces as they reminisced. It was if that was the pointiest memory of Wooden's advice.

In those days players focused on playing the game and not being a fashion show. There was no such thing as wearing a pair of Jordans. Players at all levels primarily wore Converse Chuck Taylor brand in either black or white colors. The dominating Boston Celtics of the 60's that won every title except 1967 during that decade, wore black. As memory serves me correctly, they were the only NBA team to do so.

The point being in those days players played through injuries. Today it seems too many players are missing too many games due to ankle sprains. It raises the question if the sport shoes of the day fail to protect the player…. Why not?

Back in the day, players believed that wearing high to sneakers protected the ankles better. Very few if any wore the low-cut type. Today it seems more than 50% of the players wear low cuts. Could that be the reason why so many injuries occur today?

Back in the day very few players were as athletic is today's NBA players. Elgin Baylor was the first we recall as being a player that generated HANG TIME. He would jump in the air and stay up it seems forever. He also had the most deceptive moves to the basket.

Back in the day the league had more rules for behavior and dress. One time around 1976, I came across the Celtics in transit at the Dallas airport and the ENTIRE TEAM wore gray suites with matching maroon ties. For players today that star players are being' paid $30 to $50 million a season shouldn't they be more concerned about their footwear for safety and NOT FASHION?

WNBA BLASTS OFF

The WNBA is off a great start this season with record numbers. The rivalry between the Chicago Sky's Angel Reese and Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark resumes. Clark gave Reese a hard foul across the arms as Reese was driving to the basket. It knocked Reese to the floor which prompted her to jump up a go after Clark. It was ruled a flagrant one foul. The Fever romped to the win 98 to 53.

The leagues benefit from this rivalry and will continue to flair up throughout the season providing injuries don't get in the way.

The game drew 2.7 million TV viewers and 17,274 fans in the stadium. The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty game drew an average of 1.3 million viewers and 17,344 through the turnstiles.

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SPEAKS

Clarks Indiana Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham is believed by many as being the best-looking player in the WNBA. After six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, she signed with Indiana this season. She's currently in the news for the wrong reasons being accused of having a relationship with a CEO of the Phoenix basketball franchises which is against league rules.

The accusations came from a disgruntled ex-employee of the Phoenix franchises Mercury and the NBA's Sun. The 27-year-old Cunningham says his accusations are false.

It will be interesting to see how this story develops legally and how the leagues handle it. Cunningham is currently recovering from an ankle injury.

BAD BOY $$$

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was fined $50,000 for "using profane language during a media interview." The leagues total discipline bill came to $430,000 for the season. The 23-year-old Edwards earns $42 million a season so... it's pocket change to him.

NBA GAME CHANGE SUGGESTIONS:

Make a rule where a team can only take 30 three-point shots a game. This will create more strategy. A shot clock can be doubled in two sections where one side is about 3-point shots taken and the other being the 24 second clock.

COMING: THE NBA ALL STAR GAME ABORTION

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

May 22, 1963 The NBA approved the franchise shift of the Syracuse Nationals to Philadelphia. The franchise was purchased by Philadelphia’s Irv Kosloff and Ike Richman earlier that spring.

May 22, 1988 Dominique Wilkins and Larry Bird traded bucket for bucket in the fourth quarter of Game 7 of the 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals until Boston escaped with a 118-116 victory. Wilkins finished with 47 points and Bird had 34 -- with 20 of his points tallied in the fourth quarter. “The basket was like a well,” remembered Wilkins. “I couldn’t miss. He couldn’t miss. That’s the greatest game I’ve ever played in or seen played. It was two guys who just did not want to lose.” The teams shot a combined .588 percent from the field, the second highest mark in playoff history.

May 22, 1994 Toronto, scheduled to enter the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1995-96, unveiled Raptors as the team’s nickname.