Rumors

So to better understand the man he was often compared to, the Serbian center did his own research. He looked up Chamberlain's highlights on YouTube. "Of course I did," said Jokic, who broke Chamberlain's records for triple-doubles by a center, although Chamberlain would have had countless more if blocks were an official stat during his career. "But I didn't really focus and study his game, let's say like that. Yeah, just to see how he looked, how he moved. Just to see, to have in my mind." Jokic saw one of the most unique big men to step foot on an NBA floor. Chamberlain was listed at 7-foot-1, 275 pounds and was a track and field star at Overbrook High and Kansas University, competing in sprints, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus and setting a Big Eight indoor record in the high jump. "He was definitely athletic. He was definitely athletic," Jokic said. "I think he can definitely play still in this era. [Watching Chamberlain's highlights] was just to see how he's faster, bigger, and stronger than everybody else and still a talent. So, I think he could still play in this era."

ESPN

John Erickson, who served as executive director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletics and later as director of basketball operations and assistant commissioner for the Big Eight conference in Kansas City, died Wednesday. He was 92.

Kansas City Star

Jim Davis, an integral part of the University of Colorado basketball team that won back-to-back Big Eight titles in the early 1960s, passed away Thursday (Dec. 27) from complications due to cancer. He was 77. Davis had been hospitalized recently in Windsor, Ontario, and was surrounded by his family when he died. After his professional days in the National Basketball Association came to an end with the Detroit Pistons, he had remained in the area, eventually moving across the border to Canada.

kktv.com