Being a NBA fan in a city without a franchise is tough. The St. Louis Hawks departed town in 1968, long before my wide-eyed entrance into the world was ever even imagined. Therefore my only connection to the Hawks is that Dominique Wilkins just happens to be my favorite player of all-time. Otherwise, the only pro hoops I’ve witnessed have been of the pre-season variety or have taken place while visiting other cities. Therefore, I can admit, when it comes to professional basketball, my team allegiance is flimsy and fleeting.
When you don’t have a home team, allegiance is often tied to players. Over the years, I’ve rooted for the Atlanta Hawks (Wilkins), Detroit Pistons (Isaiah Thomas), Chicago Bulls (Michael Jordan), Utah Jazz (Karl Malone), Orlando Magic (Shaquille O’Neal) and most recently the Dallas Mavericks (Dirk Nowitzki). With Nowitzki getting long in the tooth and Mavs owner Mark Cuban making more head-scratching moves by the minute, I have a feeling my days as an all-out Mavericks fan are numbered. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not demanding a trade or refusing to complete my fan obligations in 2013-14. At season’s end however, I’m entering fan free-agency.
Where should I sign? The possibilities remain endless. From a geographical standpoint, my best three options are the Bulls, the Memphis Grizzlies or the Indiana Pacers. All three cities are within 300 miles of St. Louis, meaning a live, regular-season game is just a gas tank away. With the right playlist, the time goes by quicker than Derrick Rose’s pre-surgery first step.
Speaking of Rose, the Bulls field a team centered around the former MVP but not completely reliant upon him. Other young stars such as Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Jimmy Butler have tons of upside and even 31-year-old Carlos Boozer, who currently leads the team in scoring, has plenty of tread left on the tires. If healthy, the Bulls should remain a viable championship contender for the next several years. Noah’s game is odd and quirky enough to always find entertaining, as is Rose’s indefatigable will to get to the bucket.
Down in Memphis, the small-market Grizzlies have put together some surprisingly strong seasons the past few years on the backs of Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. Memphis has a similar feel as St. Louis, and it would be easy to root for a fellow underdog town. Of course, the Cardinals/Redbirds connection makes Memphis a natural fit, but we’re talking hoops here. The Grizzlies aren’t a flashy team, but they get it done. Randolph is a double-double monster and Conley gets better every season.
In Indianapolis, the Pacers are another team who has surprised hoop heads everywhere by ascending into a legitimate title contender. Last year, Paul George and Co. pushed the eventual champion Miami Heat team to the brink of elimination in the Eastern Conference Finals. The-23 year-old George is a monster who reminds me of Tracy McGrady minus the back problems. The uber-talented athletic freak is surrounded by a nice mixture of young talent such as Roy Hibbert, Lance Stephenson and George Hill and crafty, skilled veterans including David West and Luis Scola. If Danny Granger can ever get healthy, the Pacers will undoubtedly be the deepest team in the league, and an exciting bunch to watch.
Let’s not pretend that geography is the only factor in choosing a favorite team though. After all, Dallas isn’t exactly a hop, skip and a jump from the Gateway Arch. Ask any of the Lakers fans scattered around the city how often they head to Los Angeles for a game. Stars sell teams.
Should I decide to ship my allegiance out of the Midwest once again, the options are limitless. I’m a big fan of the dangerous and dynamic duo out in Oklahoma City. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are almost polar opposites in demeanor and skillsets, but they complement each other very well. In Miami, LeBron James rules the roost as the best player in basketball. I was a big fan of the King in training during his Cleveland days but couldn’t make the trip to South Beach. Though it’s well overdue to forgive and forget ‘”The Decision” debacle and enjoy his greatness while it lasts. Brooklyn has a dynamic squad and an outgoing, enthusiastic owner who’s hell-bent on winning at all costs.
Lastly, I never thought I’d utter these words, but the Los Angeles Clippers might just have the most crowd-pleasing style of basketball with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the rest of the “Lob City” cast of characters.
Even though I’d much rather have a home team to root for, that’s not happening anytime soon. Whoever said “home is where the heart is” must have lived in a city without a major sports team. The future of my basketball heart lies in the wings. It’s an amazing time to be a NBA fan. It’ll be even better once my rooting roots are re-planted in a city near you.
Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk and on Google+.
