A couple of years ago, I was on the verge of quitting the NBA. I've now been a fan for over 30 years and, besides the rigging, after awhile you get tired of the redundancy.
But what I've come to realize, via my affinity for Wemby, is that the NBA truly is a fan-driven league. Who's more important, the players or the organization? When it comes to filling seats, definitely the players.
I'd venture to say that you'd be hard-pressed to find a fan who can name even one or two NBA owners. An owner would have to be akin to a reality TV star to be known to the general public. And no, I'm not talking about those minority celebrity types like Jay-Z or A-Rod. I mean the big dawgs, like Cuban or Dolan.
In fact, the reason I started watching the NBA to begin with, back in '91, was due to the rise of Micheal Jordan. You know, you see dude everywhere, selling Gatorade and sneakers and shit, and after awhile wand to see what the hype is about. Then, it's up to the player to deliver. And deliver he did, time and time again.
Since then, there's been quite a few must-watch players - Lebron, Kyrie, Luka and so many others I can't mention here but most notably, imo, Shaq and Curry. Also, let's not forget Vinsanity. Hard to believe that there was a time when he was more popular, in (American) basketball circles, than even Iverson, Kobe or MJ himself(!). Granted, that was during Jordan's stint with the Wizards. But still, Carter is an interesting case study. I can't think of any other NBA superstar who went from A+ lister to obscurity, you know, like ever.
So anyway, the point I wanted to get at is it being Wemby, more than anyone else, who made me not quit the NBA. And you know, let's be honest - it isn't only about skill. There's a lot of skilled players out there who never even made an All-Star Game.
Also, whereas novelty (such as being dumb tall, super athletic, etc.) really helps a player's popularity, with Wemby it isn't all about that either. As I stated before (and later found out that Shaq said the same thing), Bol Bol was actually like a pre-Wemby. He's likewise tall AF yet, unlike any 7-footer that came before him, had the agility and skillset of a 2guard.
And that us brings to the third and arguably most important factor ultimately attributing to superstardom, the thing that made MJ an icon while conversely leading to Vince disappearing from the spotlight, why Bol Bol never got the flowers he deserved. And that, dear reader, is likability or, let's say within the context of professional sports, marketability. Lebron, Kobe and I would even venture to say Steph, no superstar since MJ has a mug as likable as Wemby. It looks almost like someone slapped a kid's head on a 7-foot body.
And let me repeat - likability matters. Let's go back to the Big Diesel for instance, you know, who the powers-that-be helped win two of those first three championships.
There was a time when he was perhaps the most hostile player in the league, which totally isn't fair when you're also the biggest and strongest. But still, fans loved him. He was one of the NBA's very first reality TV stars, in a manner of speaking. And you know, even though he may not have had the top-selling jersey or whatever and only won one MVP(!) in his career, people loving you definitely matters when, you know, it's time to rig games and shit like that.
So now you have Wemby, who's not only dominant but also has the most-marketable face of a superstar since Jordan. Even if not this year, I think it's safe to say that, barring serious injury, t's only a matter of time before he wins a championship.
And you know, it's not only about skill, dominance or rigging. Fixing games isn't the only way superstars receive favor. There's also the team itself become more popular, being able to finagle its way to a superior roster.
You see how the Spurs landed De'Aaron Fox, who appears to be just about the only player on the team who isn't adversely affected by the Knicks' defense. And as I pointed out in the last post, San Antonio, win or lose at this point, has some work to do this offseason. You see that last play of Game 4, when Anunoby was able to crash the boards despite there being three Spurs' players underneath the basket. Dudes needs somebody to hold down the middle while Wemby is out on the perimeter, trying to block jumpshots(!) and shit like that.
CONCLUSION
Thank you, Victor, for re-piquing my interest in the NBA - not only your height + skill but also making it such that dudes have to respect the post again. I was also tired of all of that threepoint shit. But please, San Antonio, get son some backup downlow and, if you lose, don't try to blame it on Castle since, as a 2guard, you shouldn't really expect him to be like your second-best post player.
Yes, it is super exciting that the Knicks appear to be on the verge of winning a championship (and would be even moreso if they won at MSG). But the biggest draw of this series, honestly, is Wembanyama.
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