All Things Basketball with GD - Week 6 Roundup and Player Spotlight, Pete Maravich

Week 6 roundup (00:32)

Mon, 11/22

LeBron James suspended 1 game & Isaiah Stewart 2 games

Questioning whether other players fear LeBron as opposed to Jordan

LeBron's NBA is vastly different than Jordan's

Jaylen Brown return from hamstring injury

Alvin Gentry loses in his debut as SAC coach after Luke Walton firing

Tue, 11/23

NYK beating LeBron-less LAL

Tyler Herro impressive for MIA; Most Improved Player & 6th Man of the Year winner?

Luka Doncic returns (knee & ankle sprains)

Wed, 11/24

LeBron James 39 pts in his return in OT

Disappointed in being suspended & "devastated" missing NYK game

There's a difference: coming in as a visitor vs. being one who plays 41 home games

BKN blows out BOS; Kevin Durant passes Allen Iverson for 25th on the all time scoring list

No games for Thu, 11/25 (Thanksgiving)

Fri, 11/26

HOU's rookie Jalen Green to miss at least one week (hamstring)

NOP's Zion Williamson cleared to practice fully (foot)

PHO blows out NYK at MSG 118-97; 15th straight win

Ja Morant (MEM) suffers a left ankle sprain; out several weeks

LAL lose 3-OT thriller to SAC 141-137

Sat, 11/27

PHI's Joel Embiid returns after missing 9 games (COVID); 42 pts & 14 rebs

CLE's Evan Mobley returns (elbow) being out 4 games

NYK travels to ATL getting the win 99-90

PHO goes to BKN & beat them 113-107; 16 straight wins

MIA goes to CHI & wins 107-104

Sun, 11/28

MIL, already thin at center, signs DeMarcus Cousins

ATL's Bogdan Bogdanovic out 2 wks (ankle) & Cam Reddish (wrist) day-to-day

Goran Dragic leaves TOR to deal with personal matters

John Wall talks with HOU & his return to lineup unlikely

GSW's Klay Thompson & James Wiseman rehabbing in G League

TEAM OF THE WEEK: Phoenix Suns (3-0)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephen Curry (GSW)

UPCOMING GAMES

GSW at PHO

NYK at BKN

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Pete Maravich (24:13)

Born in Aliquppa, PA on 6/22/47

Son of Press Maravich, former NBA player

Played HS ball in NC before attending LSU to play for his father

Averaged 43.6 PPG for freshman team

Moved to varsity club averaging 43.8, 44.2 & 44.5 PPG

Before the advent of the 3pt shot; his records still stands

Playing style looked down upon during his day

Perfect player comparison: an offensive minded Jason Williams

Drafted 3rd overall in 1970 draft

Not well received because of rookie contract ($1.9M overall)

Played with Lou Hudson, Walt Bellamy & Walt Hazzard

As a rookie: 23.2 PPG (9th in league) & a 36-46 record

Sophomore season: 19.3 PPG & leaned more on Hudson but same record

Dealt to the expansion team New Orleans Jazz for Dean Meminger, Bob Kauffman & future draft picks (David Thompson & Alex English)

Needed a marquee player to sell tickets; already a legend from LSU days

1st season for NOJ: shot only 41.9% FG

1975-76 season: in only 62 games shot a career best 45.9% & 25.9 PPG (3rd overall)

1976-77 season: led the league with 31.1 PPG; had a 68 pt game against NYK

1977-78 season: played in only 50 games due to knee issues; 27 PPG

1978-79 season: play diminished (knees); 22.6 PPG & made All Star team

Moved from New Orleans to Utah; phased out of him in favor of Adrian Dantley (LAL)

Waived in mid-season; picked up by BOS

Transformed into a more complementary player getting to playoffs with rookie Larry Bird

Retired from the game because of his bad knees

Struggled with bouts of depression & alcoholism before coming to Christ

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1987

Died 1/5/88 of a heart attack brought on by an unidentified heart condition while playing pick-up ball in Pasedena, CA