A feature on Ramon Sessions

It's perplexing why certain NBA teams go after certain players when there is a visible conflict between the team playing style and the strengths of the player. Terry Pluto offers a feature here on Ramon Sessions and explains why Cleveland is a much better fit for Sessions than Minnesota.

More Thursday links

The Cache Valley Daily has a ton of photos from last night's game here.

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Bill Sproat seemingly has some competition for King of the Aggie fan-dom here.

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Is it Armon and Ramon or Ramon and Armon? Chris Murray provides the evidence here.

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Diamond Leung offers an interview with SJSU's Adrian Oliver here.

A couple more Chris Murray - Nevada basketball links

Chris Murray has a column chock full of notes, including a recruiting prospect at the game last night, here. Plus, a feature here on Ramon Sessions return 'home -- so to speak.

Ramon Sessions or Allan Iverson?

Wow. Whoever thought such a headline would be appropriate? A relatively unknown young man out of South Carolina and the University of Nevada with an unwavering faith in his abilities versus The Answer. What's the best move for the Knicks?

Knicks' options are Sessions, Iverson
Frank Isola
New York Daily News
July 31, 2009

Ramon Sessions could receive a contract offer from the Knicks as early as Friday, assuming they don't have a change of heart and shift their point-guard focus to Allen Iverson...

Go here for the remainder.

Updates on WAC NBA hopefuls

The Draft Express site should be a daily visit for all basketball fans -- it certainly is for us. Here's the latest on summer league ball a couple of former WAC stars.

"Las Vegas Summer League Day Five
Matt Kamalsky, Mike Schmidt
DraftExpress.com
July 16, 2008

Coby Karl: 18 Points, 5-13 FG, 3-7 3FG, 5-6 FT, 1 Rebound, 2 Assists, 1 Steal, 3 Turnovers

Karl had a nice game today, but spent quite a bit of time on the floor. He’s a gritty player, but has no issue taking his lumps. He made his fair share of impressive plays today, splitting a double team with a bounce pass for an assist, ripping the ball away from a couple of jump shooters, and getting an and one around two would be shot blockers by shielding the ball with his body. Karl is a tremendously cerebral player, he thinks the game like a veteran. His shot was falling today, and that allowed him to do a lot of damage from three point range. He’s got great form and his range allows him to get his shot off even when he’s facing a lot of pressure defensively. Though Karl wasn’t able to carry his team to a win, this was easily his best individual performance, showcasing his offensive skills. Karl took a beating today, and it is clear that he’s one of the most competitive guys here in Vegas."

Plus this:

"Ramon Sessions: 21 Points, 6-11 FG, 0-1 3FG, 9-12 FT, 6 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Turnovers

Sessions had a great game today, carrying his team over Detroit in a defensive battle. He solidified his spot on the Bucks’ roster last season, and has been a standout all week here in Vegas. He’s got tremendous quickness and very good ball handling ability, allowing him to get into the lane at will. This game was just another instance of Sessions making a move at the top of the key and getting to the rim. Though he’s not going to play above the rim, he gets to the line at a high rate, and shows a lot of savvy attacking the basket. Sessions is a good rebounder for a point guard, and played solid defense throughout this game against Detroit’s lesser guards. Sessions has developed quite a bit since his days in the D-League, and given Milwaukee’s positive feelings about him, may get more playing time than most would expect."

Here's a little more on Ramon Sessions, this time from ESPN:

"Summer League: Midway Point Awards
Maurice Brooks
ESPN
July 16, 2008

BEST PLAYMAKER: Ramon Sessions, Bucks

He is very good at changing up the speed of play, controlling the game and taking what the defense gives him. Against the Grizzlies, he took just four shots, but handed out a game-high nine assists. He was more shot-oriented yesterday against the Pistons, scoring 21 points on 6-for-11 from the field, but still found time to give out four helpers, while reducing his turnovers from seven to two."

Ramon Sessions has the last laugh

Ramon Sessions was the young man most people thought was the longest shot to make it coming out of the WAC after last season, yet...

It is helpful to be in the right situation at the right time, as in Sessions' case, but putting in the necessary work to take advantage of the opportunity -- as he obviously did -- is all credit to him.

Sessions' hard work pays off
Paul Flies
Reno Gazette-Journal
May 29, 2008

Fresh off his first season in the NBA, Ramon Sessions had no problem identifying the biggest difference between college and the big leagues at an NBA Development League appearance at the Eldorado Hotel-Casino on Wednesday.
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"In the NBA, speed is the main difference," Sessions said. "The big men run like guards and the guards run like track stars."

The former Nevada standout declared for the 2007 NBA draft following his junior season. The Milwaukee Bucks selected Sessions with the 56th overall pick. Sessions started the season with the Bucks' D-league affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, to work on his game.

He was later called up and played so well he said Wednesday he has already been told he will start this next season on the Bucks' roster and not in the D-League...

Go here for the remainder.

Ramon Sessions is prospering

Hindsight being 20/20 and all that, Ramon Sessions certainly made the right decision to depart from Nevada when he did, immensely aided by making wise choices when faced with the multiple obstacles he encountered during his initial year in professional basketball. It's not coincidental that making a series of smart decisions, even when all is not going the way one wishes, can position oneself for success.


Sessions' play is opening eyes around the NBA
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette Journal
April 15, 2008

Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Bill Peterson knows a good point guard when he sees one. And when he looks at former Nevada Wolf Pack standout and current Bucks pupil Ramon Sessions, that's exactly what he sees.

"I could see him becoming a starter on a playoff team," Peterson said. "That's how good he could become."

Peterson, who is in charge of player development for the Bucks, should know. He worked with Steve Nash during his early years with the Dallas Mavericks and saw the two-time NBA MVP make mistake after mistake.

"If you only knew," Peterson said of Nash's early struggles. "Guys don't just start out in this league and they're lights out. I can remember nights when Nash was booed unmercifully. There were nights when they would boo him every time he touched the ball. I told Sess, 'Look where he is now. All it takes is hard work and dedication.' And Sess has that."

Sessions started putting in his hard work for the NBA Development League's Tulsa 66ers, and it's starting to pay NBA dividends.

He is averaging nearly a double-double this month, including a 20-point and franchise-record 24-assist game Monday. Sessions said the recent success wouldn't have been possible without his D-League stint.

When the 22-year-old -- his birthday was Friday -- was demoted in early November, he didn't complain.

He didn't feel sorry for himself, and he didn't regret his decision to leave the University of Nevada after his junior season. He wasn't even disappointed...

Go here for the remainder.

Ramon Sessions must feel jinxed

You come early out of college when so many are saying stay for your final season and then you shine in the Developmental League, enough so that the NBA team that drafted you calls you up.

Unfortunately, Ramon Sessions has injured his hand, during practice no less. Yes, timing is everything, well, at least in this case:

Sessions breaks hand in return to Bucks
STAFF REPORT
2/4/2008

Former Nevada basketball player Ramon Sessions was one day removed from being recalled from the NBA's Development League when he sustained a left hand fracture on Friday.

Sessions, who played three seasons with the Wolf Pack before declaring for the NBA draft, was practicing with the Milwaukee Bucks when he broke his hand. Sessions had been assigned to the Tulsa 66ers on Nov. 8. He was recalled by the Bucks on Thursday.

The rookie guard is expected to miss at least six weeks, according to Bucks general manager Larry Harris.

Ramon Sessions to The Big Show

Congrats to Ramon Sessions for his recent elevation to the Bucks:

D-league: Bucks call Sessions to return to big club
Reno Gazette Journal
STAFF REPORT
2/2/2008

On Friday, former Pack player Ramon Sessions was called back by the Milwaukee Bucks, general manager Larry Harris said.

Sessions was the 57th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He was assigned to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League on Nov. 8, two weeks into the 2007-08 NBA season, though he did not see playing time with the Bucks.

He officially re-joins the Bucks today, at home, when they host the Houston Rockets.

"Coming back here, I was feeling it in practice, I was so excited to be here," Sessions said in a podcast on the team's web site. "Once I get here, out on the court, I'll be a little nervous, but I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy every minute of it."

Sessions appeared in 24 games with Tulsa, averaging a team-high 21.1 points (sixth in the D-League), a team-high 7.6 assists (third) and 6.5 rebounds in 36.2 minutes per game. Nevada teammate Nick Fazekas, the 34th overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, is the 66ers second-leading scorer and leading rebounder, with 18.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game.

"It was a great experience, by far, getting a lot of game minutes and a lot of experience..." Sessions said.

The 6-foot-3 guard left Nevada last year, a season early, while Fazekas played four years for the Pack.

Sessions played in five preseason games with the Bucks, averaging 1.4 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 7.0 minutes of action.

Fazekas and Sessions are teammates again

Dallas has farmed out Nick Fazekas to Tulsa of the Developmental League, where he will be re-joining his former Wolf Pack teammate Ramon Sessions.

Sessions was sent to Tulsa earlier by Milwaukee.

Again, this demonstrates the large leap it really is in going from high level college basketball to The Show. Fazekas was the Western Athletic Conference for three straight seasons yet...

Actually, unlike Sessions, Fazekas' arrival in Tulsa town is not due to the need for further skill development. What Fazekas needs to improve on is how to lessen the disadvantage of his average athletic ability when matched up nightly against superior athleticism.

The WAC is getting whacked and other notes

First to some notes before the cleaning lady mistakes them for scribbles to be disposed of properly -- in the trash:

As expected, former Nevada point Ramon Sessions has been sent to the Tulsa 66ers of the Developmental league. He needs to play and hadn't seen any court time in the young NBA season to date. There will be those who will disagree but Sessions going up against opponents in Tulsa will be much better for his progression than if he had returned for his senior season in Reno. Let's hope he keeps his head up and uses the playing time to better his skills set...

...Fresno signs a big who actually plays in the paint!!! Sure, we're being facetious but 6-8 240 Joey Cameron out of Chipola JC (Florida). Raisintown will be Cameron's fourth or fifth stop since high school so hopefully he will finally be in a place and situation that works for him...

...6-11 Shawn Taylor looks to be out of the rotation at Fresno. He's a 6-11 senior (also out of Chipola, like Cameron, and Alabama before that) who originally signed with LA TECH but ultimately landed with Steve Cleveland. Taylor hasn't been able to develop the basketball skills that match his athletic prowess. He has played four minutes this season so far and this is with Rekalin Sims still out for disciplinary reasons...

...Who is going to step forward and become THE point guard at New Meixco State? The position is for the taking. JayDee Luster is a freshman and there should be no expectations that he be able to step right in to the job. Chris Cole has a redshirt season with the system behind him and a fairly successful year at Hartford prior to that -- he would be our pick at this point to win the point guard derby but had five TOs against Duke. Let's call that an anomaly. Fred Peete is putting in major minutes at the point but would be better off as the two guard. Will anyone step up as this is a postion not generally filled by committee?...

...What is up with the WAC this season? Have any of the teams won a game they weren't supposed to so far?

Fresno State loses 89-72 to San Diego State. Hawaii falls at home to San Diego 73-72. Central Florida beats Nevada 63-60. New Mexico State loses 80-72 on the road to Ohio and then gets smacked at Duke 86-61. Mississippi State plays rude host to Louisiana Tech 75-45 and Utah State gets beat by in-state rival Weber State 78-71 in Ogden.

The WAC RPI number is taking an early beating and getting anyone other than the tourney winner into The Big Dance just may require some of the league members to both start coming out on top in some games where such is unexpected but to also be winners in the games that should go into the win column. But it's early and a turnaround is certainly possible. But otherwise, it's going to be a down year for the WAC in men's basketball.

Four WAC players make NBA rosters

Four former stars in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) have landed on the rosters of various NBA teams. None look to play that much this season and will probably 'enjoy' some court time in the Developmental League but 15-man NBA rosters allow for this.

Nevada's Nick Fazekas made it with Dallas but could see himself in lights in Tulsa while trying to develop his game and resist rustiness. Making it with such a top team is quite the achievement plus his status also indicates how big a jump it is from Division One college basketball to the NBA. A second-rounder who was the 34th pick in the draft, Fazekas has a two-year contract with the first season guaranteed at the NBA minimum $427,163. Dallas holds the option for the the 2008-09 season, at a salary of $711,517. F azekas played in each of the Mavs' preseason gamesm gaining with one start and averaging 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17-plus minutes a game.

Point guard Ramon Sessions, a former teammate of Fazekas, is currently on the inactive list with Milwaukee and, irony of ironies, he may also be headed to Tulsa to keep his sharpness. 'Sessions passes to Fazekas' may not just be an old Wolf Pack play-by-play phrase yet.

Dominic McGuire is getting a few minutes a game with Washington. He jumped out of Fresno State after playing one season there and is already being lauded as the best defender on the Wizards bench.

The other WAC player who landed on an NBA roster is Boise State's Coby Karl, who is a Los Angeles Laker. Karl was a walk-on in Boise and a NBA free agent so there is a pattern here. Here's an article on his pro debut. He is also making the NBA minimum of $427,163.

Quinton Hosley didn't make the Big Show and is now playing in Turkey. The 6-6 former Fresno Stater plays for Karsiyaka and recently scored 20 points along with 14 rebounds in leading his team to its fourth win.

This is quite an achievement for the underrated WAC. Let's see how many make the jump after the soon-to-be season.