HoopsAnalyst
@hoopsanalyst.bsky.social
Doing deep dives on NBA, past & present
www.hoopsanalyst.com
contact: harlanhoops at yahoo dot com
www.hoopsanalyst.com
contact: harlanhoops at yahoo dot com
Hollinger POTD Andrei Kirilenko. AK47 was drafted 24th from Russia in 99 by UTA. Versatile w/huge wingspan relative to height. Got tons of steals + even led NBA in blocks 1 yr. Went to Russia for 2011 lockout + declined quickly on return. Skill set would be great in current NBA.
February 18, 2026 at 4:49 AM
Hollinger POTD Andrei Kirilenko. AK47 was drafted 24th from Russia in 99 by UTA. Versatile w/huge wingspan relative to height. Got tons of steals + even led NBA in blocks 1 yr. Went to Russia for 2011 lockout + declined quickly on return. Skill set would be great in current NBA.
Sad Bonus Hollander COTD Doug Moe. Brooklyn hooper went to UNC & was good scorer in early ABA. Retired in 72 & went into coaching. 1st head gig was w/SA from 76-80. Then coached DEN for the entire 80s, in playoffs 9x in 10 yrs & made the 85 WCF. Teams were high scoring. RIP.
February 17, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Sad Bonus Hollander COTD Doug Moe. Brooklyn hooper went to UNC & was good scorer in early ABA. Retired in 72 & went into coaching. 1st head gig was w/SA from 76-80. Then coached DEN for the entire 80s, in playoffs 9x in 10 yrs & made the 85 WCF. Teams were high scoring. RIP.
Hollander POTD Michael Jordan. UNC legend bio from after year 3, where he put up career high 37 ppg. This was the season that made him a superstar. Was so off the charts that coach Doug Collins described MJ thusly: "it's nice to have a nuclear weapon on your side."
February 17, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Hollander POTD Michael Jordan. UNC legend bio from after year 3, where he put up career high 37 ppg. This was the season that made him a superstar. Was so off the charts that coach Doug Collins described MJ thusly: "it's nice to have a nuclear weapon on your side."
Hollinger POTD Al Harrington. NJ HS star was drafted 25th in 98 by IND. Took a few yrs but turned into a good 2-way forward. Signed w/ATL in 04 & became a better scorer (18 ppg). Also played w/GS, NY, DEN, ORL & WAS thru 2014. Peaked at 20 ppg in 08-09. Now big in cannabis biz.
February 17, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Hollinger POTD Al Harrington. NJ HS star was drafted 25th in 98 by IND. Took a few yrs but turned into a good 2-way forward. Signed w/ATL in 04 & became a better scorer (18 ppg). Also played w/GS, NY, DEN, ORL & WAS thru 2014. Peaked at 20 ppg in 08-09. Now big in cannabis biz.
Bonus Hollander POTD Gary Leonard. Missouri big emerged as draft prospect w/good senior year. Drafted 34th in 89 by expansion MIN & barely played in 89-90, had 1.5 ppg & 1 assist total. Waived after season, he had a few cameos w/ATL from 90-92. Also played in CBA & Greece.
February 16, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Bonus Hollander POTD Gary Leonard. Missouri big emerged as draft prospect w/good senior year. Drafted 34th in 89 by expansion MIN & barely played in 89-90, had 1.5 ppg & 1 assist total. Waived after season, he had a few cameos w/ATL from 90-92. Also played in CBA & Greece.
Hollander POTD Kelly Tripucka. Notre Dame SF was drafted 12th in 81 by DET. Scored 21 ppg as a rookie & peaked at 26.5 ppg in 82-83. 2x All-Star could fill it up but not a great defender. Traded to UTA in 86 where he had fewer shots. Then scored 22 ppg for expansion CHA in 88-89 but retired by 91.
February 16, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Hollander POTD Kelly Tripucka. Notre Dame SF was drafted 12th in 81 by DET. Scored 21 ppg as a rookie & peaked at 26.5 ppg in 82-83. 2x All-Star could fill it up but not a great defender. Traded to UTA in 86 where he had fewer shots. Then scored 22 ppg for expansion CHA in 88-89 but retired by 91.
Hollinger POTD Qyntel Woods. Memphis HS star was drafted 21st by POR in 02. Scored 3 ppg as a deep bench dude on POR from 02-04 & had some legal issues too. Also played w/MIA & NY thru 06. After 06, played mostly abroad thru 2019, with some good moments in Greece & Poland.
February 16, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Hollinger POTD Qyntel Woods. Memphis HS star was drafted 21st by POR in 02. Scored 3 ppg as a deep bench dude on POR from 02-04 & had some legal issues too. Also played w/MIA & NY thru 06. After 06, played mostly abroad thru 2019, with some good moments in Greece & Poland.
Bonus Hollander POTD Herb Williams. Ohio St C was drafted 14th in 81 by IND & spent 8 yrs as a starter (peaked at 19 ppg 9 rpg). Traded to DAL + started there too. In 92, at age-34, went to NY as bench guy til 99. Barely played in NY but loved by teammates + fans.
February 15, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Bonus Hollander POTD Herb Williams. Ohio St C was drafted 14th in 81 by IND & spent 8 yrs as a starter (peaked at 19 ppg 9 rpg). Traded to DAL + started there too. In 92, at age-34, went to NY as bench guy til 99. Barely played in NY but loved by teammates + fans.
Hollander POTD Mark Price. Georgia Tech PG fell to 25th in 86 draft but ended up being an all-star. Helped turn CLE into contender by 88. 4x all-star + excellent shooter (90% career FT, .402 3%). Wore down by 94+ played out string w/WAS, GS, + ORL til 98. Has a solid HOF case.
February 15, 2026 at 1:44 PM
Hollander POTD Mark Price. Georgia Tech PG fell to 25th in 86 draft but ended up being an all-star. Helped turn CLE into contender by 88. 4x all-star + excellent shooter (90% career FT, .402 3%). Wore down by 94+ played out string w/WAS, GS, + ORL til 98. Has a solid HOF case.
From "Money Players," 95-96 All-Star Saturday Night:
-NBA can't rely on stars to compete
-Grant Hill initially promises to enter the dunk contest but drops out
-Joe Smith complains the PG didn't get him the rock
-Brent Barry wins the dunk contest w/a FT line dunk & almost wore a controvesial shirt
-NBA can't rely on stars to compete
-Grant Hill initially promises to enter the dunk contest but drops out
-Joe Smith complains the PG didn't get him the rock
-Brent Barry wins the dunk contest w/a FT line dunk & almost wore a controvesial shirt
February 15, 2026 at 4:01 AM
From "Money Players," 95-96 All-Star Saturday Night:
-NBA can't rely on stars to compete
-Grant Hill initially promises to enter the dunk contest but drops out
-Joe Smith complains the PG didn't get him the rock
-Brent Barry wins the dunk contest w/a FT line dunk & almost wore a controvesial shirt
-NBA can't rely on stars to compete
-Grant Hill initially promises to enter the dunk contest but drops out
-Joe Smith complains the PG didn't get him the rock
-Brent Barry wins the dunk contest w/a FT line dunk & almost wore a controvesial shirt
Hollinger POTD Richard Hamilton. Rip was UConn SG drafted 7th in 99 by WAS. Blossomed into 20 ppg scorer then traded to DET in 02, where he was a starter for neary a decade & 3x all-star. Ran Kobe ragged in 04 Finals. Great shooter but took years to master the 3. Retired in 2013.
February 15, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Hollinger POTD Richard Hamilton. Rip was UConn SG drafted 7th in 99 by WAS. Blossomed into 20 ppg scorer then traded to DET in 02, where he was a starter for neary a decade & 3x all-star. Ran Kobe ragged in 04 Finals. Great shooter but took years to master the 3. Retired in 2013.
Bonus Hollander POTD Fred Carter. Mad Dog was 43rd pick in 69 by BAL from Mt St Mary. Scored well but traded to PHI in mid-72. Primary scorer for rebuilding PHI (19+ ppg 72-76). Retired in 77 (age 31) & coached. Head coach for PHI 92-94. Also on NBA 2Night on ESPN2 in late 90s.
February 14, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Bonus Hollander POTD Fred Carter. Mad Dog was 43rd pick in 69 by BAL from Mt St Mary. Scored well but traded to PHI in mid-72. Primary scorer for rebuilding PHI (19+ ppg 72-76). Retired in 77 (age 31) & coached. Head coach for PHI 92-94. Also on NBA 2Night on ESPN2 in late 90s.
Hollander POTD Gheorghe Muresan. Romanian big was 30th pick by WAS in 93. Was slow but had nice touch + gave everyone problems w/size. Peaked at 14.5 ppg 9.6 rpg in 95-96. Injuries ended career after 97. Per bio "his game is as pretty as sludge but is effective & produtive."
February 14, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Hollander POTD Gheorghe Muresan. Romanian big was 30th pick by WAS in 93. Was slow but had nice touch + gave everyone problems w/size. Peaked at 14.5 ppg 9.6 rpg in 95-96. Injuries ended career after 97. Per bio "his game is as pretty as sludge but is effective & produtive."
3/17/94: The Bullets have Manute & Muresan on the briefly roster at the same time but Bol never got into a game before his 10-day contract expired, missing the opportunity for a mega Twin Towers lineup: www.csmonitor.com/1994/0317/17...
February 14, 2026 at 1:55 AM
3/17/94: The Bullets have Manute & Muresan on the briefly roster at the same time but Bol never got into a game before his 10-day contract expired, missing the opportunity for a mega Twin Towers lineup: www.csmonitor.com/1994/0317/17...
Bonus Hollander POTD Tyus Edney. Small, quick UCLA PG helped win title in 94-95. Drafted 47th by SAC in 95 + had solid rokkie year (10.8 ppg, 6.1 apg). Was backup next yr, then did yr w/BOS before playing mostly abroad thru 2010 (brief return to NBA in 00-01). Now works for UCLA.
February 13, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Bonus Hollander POTD Tyus Edney. Small, quick UCLA PG helped win title in 94-95. Drafted 47th by SAC in 95 + had solid rokkie year (10.8 ppg, 6.1 apg). Was backup next yr, then did yr w/BOS before playing mostly abroad thru 2010 (brief return to NBA in 00-01). Now works for UCLA.
Hollander POTD Michael McDonald. Late blooming C started hooping formally in community college in 90 at age 21 & ended up at New Orleans. Was drafted 55th by GS in 95 but waived w/out playing in NBA. Played abroad & CBA thru 06. Did play 1 NBA game w/CHA in 97-98.
February 13, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Hollander POTD Michael McDonald. Late blooming C started hooping formally in community college in 90 at age 21 & ended up at New Orleans. Was drafted 55th by GS in 95 but waived w/out playing in NBA. Played abroad & CBA thru 06. Did play 1 NBA game w/CHA in 97-98.
From Elliott Kalb's 2004 "Who's Better, Who's Best," experts rank Bill Russell:
-Collins waffles
-Bob Ryan & Heinsohn sing Russ's praises
-Guokas votes for his teammate Wilt
-Del Harris & Thorn go MJ then Russ
-Loughery also goes Russ followed by modern players
-Collins waffles
-Bob Ryan & Heinsohn sing Russ's praises
-Guokas votes for his teammate Wilt
-Del Harris & Thorn go MJ then Russ
-Loughery also goes Russ followed by modern players
February 13, 2026 at 3:34 AM
From Elliott Kalb's 2004 "Who's Better, Who's Best," experts rank Bill Russell:
-Collins waffles
-Bob Ryan & Heinsohn sing Russ's praises
-Guokas votes for his teammate Wilt
-Del Harris & Thorn go MJ then Russ
-Loughery also goes Russ followed by modern players
-Collins waffles
-Bob Ryan & Heinsohn sing Russ's praises
-Guokas votes for his teammate Wilt
-Del Harris & Thorn go MJ then Russ
-Loughery also goes Russ followed by modern players
From the 72-73 O'Brien Handbook, the best of Bill Russell as a TV guy:
-Throws shade at DET & HOU
-Implies he liked it when Wilt was playing angry & that he was better than Wilt
-When Goodrich beat Monroe, Russ asks Goodrich if he has a "short-term lease" on Pearl
-Throws shade at DET & HOU
-Implies he liked it when Wilt was playing angry & that he was better than Wilt
-When Goodrich beat Monroe, Russ asks Goodrich if he has a "short-term lease" on Pearl
February 13, 2026 at 2:05 AM
From the 72-73 O'Brien Handbook, the best of Bill Russell as a TV guy:
-Throws shade at DET & HOU
-Implies he liked it when Wilt was playing angry & that he was better than Wilt
-When Goodrich beat Monroe, Russ asks Goodrich if he has a "short-term lease" on Pearl
-Throws shade at DET & HOU
-Implies he liked it when Wilt was playing angry & that he was better than Wilt
-When Goodrich beat Monroe, Russ asks Goodrich if he has a "short-term lease" on Pearl
Bonus Hollander POTD Dell Demps. Pacific G was undrafted in 92. Hustler played mostly in CBA & abroad thru 2000. Did have cameos w/GS & ORL as well. Longest stint in NBA was w/95-96 SA. Played only 16 gms but lasted all season on roster. After retiring, was GM of NO from 2010-19.
February 13, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Bonus Hollander POTD Dell Demps. Pacific G was undrafted in 92. Hustler played mostly in CBA & abroad thru 2000. Did have cameos w/GS & ORL as well. Longest stint in NBA was w/95-96 SA. Played only 16 gms but lasted all season on roster. After retiring, was GM of NO from 2010-19.
Hollander COTD Bill Russell. After retiring and doing some TV, Russ ran SEA from 73-77. Team hovered around .500 during that time. The best yr was 74-75 where they beat DET in the playoffs & lost to GS 4-2 in Round 2. Ran SAC in the late 80s too.
February 12, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Hollander COTD Bill Russell. After retiring and doing some TV, Russ ran SEA from 73-77. Team hovered around .500 during that time. The best yr was 74-75 where they beat DET in the playoffs & lost to GS 4-2 in Round 2. Ran SAC in the late 80s too.
Hollinger POTD Tony Battie. Texas Tech F/C was drafted 5th by DEN in 97. Had a rough rookie year & was traded to BOS where he was solid as undersized C from 98-03. Also started w/ORL thru 07 before playing out string as solid vet bench dude in NJ & PHI thru 12.
February 12, 2026 at 3:46 AM
Hollinger POTD Tony Battie. Texas Tech F/C was drafted 5th by DEN in 97. Had a rough rookie year & was traded to BOS where he was solid as undersized C from 98-03. Also started w/ORL thru 07 before playing out string as solid vet bench dude in NJ & PHI thru 12.
Bonus Hollander POTD James Silas. Stephen Austin PG signed w/ABA DAL in 72(became SA in 73). 2x ABA all-star peaking at 23.8 ppg in 75-76. Knee surgery sidelined him for 2+ yrs before he came back & was solid from 78-81. Retired in 83. Known as "Captain Late" for clutch play.
February 11, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Bonus Hollander POTD James Silas. Stephen Austin PG signed w/ABA DAL in 72(became SA in 73). 2x ABA all-star peaking at 23.8 ppg in 75-76. Knee surgery sidelined him for 2+ yrs before he came back & was solid from 78-81. Retired in 83. Known as "Captain Late" for clutch play.
Hollander POTD Larry Nance. Clemson PF was drafted 20th by PHO in 81. Became star by 84 when he won slam dunk contest. Peaked at 22.5 ppg in 86-87. Traded to CLE in 89 to help put team over title hump. Had good 5 yrs there before injuries forced retirement in 94.
February 11, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Hollander POTD Larry Nance. Clemson PF was drafted 20th by PHO in 81. Became star by 84 when he won slam dunk contest. Peaked at 22.5 ppg in 86-87. Traded to CLE in 89 to help put team over title hump. Had good 5 yrs there before injuries forced retirement in 94.
Hollinger POTD Jacque Vaughn. Kansas PG was drafted 27th in 97 by UTA. Tough defense-first backup to Stockton til 01. Shooting wasn't great (peaked at 6.6 ppg). Famously started 01-02 shooting 0-23 to start season. Nice vet w/NJ, ATL & SA til 09. Coached in ORL & NJ after.
February 11, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Hollinger POTD Jacque Vaughn. Kansas PG was drafted 27th in 97 by UTA. Tough defense-first backup to Stockton til 01. Shooting wasn't great (peaked at 6.6 ppg). Famously started 01-02 shooting 0-23 to start season. Nice vet w/NJ, ATL & SA til 09. Coached in ORL & NJ after.
Bonus Hollander POTD Darnell Mee. Western Kentucky SG was drafted 34th in 93 & ended up making DEN. Defensive specialist who had 1.9 ppg in 38 gms in 93-94. Cut in early 94-95 & went abroad after thru 2009, mostly in Australia where he was DPOY 5x. After retiring, has coached.
February 10, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Bonus Hollander POTD Darnell Mee. Western Kentucky SG was drafted 34th in 93 & ended up making DEN. Defensive specialist who had 1.9 ppg in 38 gms in 93-94. Cut in early 94-95 & went abroad after thru 2009, mostly in Australia where he was DPOY 5x. After retiring, has coached.