I just met Marty Blake. What an unbelievable man. If you don’t know who he is, his Web site bills him as “legendary basketball executive and scout,” and trust me, that ain’t doing the man justice.
The stories he had to tell…
Of course, me being me, I asked if he’d seen Mike yet. Seeing as how he arranges invites for the nation’s top under-appreciated senior talent to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and then to Chicago or Orlando, wherever the NBA’s pre-draft camp is now held. Orlando, I think.
Anyway, he said he doesn’t even bother with those types of guys. Later, I asked about Bill. He said Mr. Walker is a heck of a talent, but then I asked if he was ready for the NBA.
“He’s no more ready than you are,” he said.
Apparently, he was smitten enough – Thursday and before – to extend an invite to Portsmouth to Colorado guard Marcus Hall, who has been exceptional of late.
Other observations:
- He likes the Sprint because the P.A. system “can be heard.” He’s a little up there in age, by the way; his Wikipedia page says he was born in 1927, which means he is at least 80 years old.
- He thinks the money being tossed around for these college players is absurd. But he understands why they leave early – he just wishes people would be more patient.
- He said it takes three years for young prospects to find their way in the NBA.
- Unfortunately, he won’t be around the whole weekend. In fact, when I came back out in the second half, after our conversation that lasted the entire halftime intermission, he was gone. I’m bummed.