LOUISVILLE (Steve Goldberg's Wheel World) - Among all the Paralympians here in the Bluegrass State for the 68th Annual NWBA National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament two teams claim most of them.
 
Twenty-four of the athletes competing are playing or have played for their national teams in the Paralympics. That’s plural because one of them is the known Canadian gold medal hoarder Patrick Anderson (2000, 04, 08, 12) – he’s got three and a silver.
 
The other is Marieke Miller, Germany’s 2012 gold medal winner who has returned to the United States where she plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, not far from where she was a national collegiate champion at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
 
Mit Miller – you like my bisschen Deutsch there? - are Becca Murray (2008, 2012) and Desiree Miller (2012).

It's Miller time! The Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks Desiree Miller and Mareike Miller are two parts of the three-edged blade of female Paralympic veterans who compete for the team in the organization's top men's division. Photo: Steve Goldberg/SCS Media

The firm of Miller, Miller and Murray has been a very successful one. Together at Whitewater they won three straight NWBA Intercollegiate titles from 2012 to 2014. Later in 2012 Marieke was able to show off the gold medal she won in London to which Murray said, that’s nice, let me see how it compares to the one I won in Beijing.
 
At that point I can only imagine that Desi Miller invoked the shiny gold one she intends to capture in Rio, which would be good for Murray as she will be there with her, and not so good for the other Miller who will be speaking German most of the time.
 
And it can't go without mentioning that this triple-edged sword just guided the Milwaukee Lady Bucks to the NWBA Women's Division title with a 66-36 over the Lady Rolling Nuggets. So that's one trophy already in the case.
 
Like a late-night television infomercial, I now get to say, “But wait, there’s more!” Along with former player and current UWW men’s coach Jeremy Lade (2004, 2008, 2012), are Melvin Juette (1996, 2000), Nate Hinze (2012), Matt Lesperance (2008).

The Milwaukee Wheelchair Bucks Jeremy "Opie" Lade brings the ball up at the 68th NWBA National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, carefully watching where former USA Paralympic teammate and Miami Heat Wheels opponent Paul Schulte is. Photo: Steve Goldberg/SCS Media

As if that wasn’t enough, the Bucks are led by former Paralympic men’s coach Steve Wilson (2008).
 
One more observation about the Bucks; they look primed to give the defending NWBA Championship Division titleholders Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks and 2014 trophy winning New York Rollin’ Knicks a run for the roses as they like to say here in Louisville, the home of the famous Kentucky Derby horse race.
 
Speaking of Dallas, the Mavericks looked like the Harlem Globetrotters against the Washington Generals in their first game with a swagger of "Showtime" to their game with a pressing, passing perpetual attack that looks like the Barcelona soccer team on wheels.
 
The Mavs have three Paralympians on the squad including Jason Nelms (2012), Jermell Pennie (2004) and Willie Hernandez (2000).

Dallas Wheelchair Mavericks point guard Jay Nelms has already won one national title as coach of the UTA Lady Movin' Mavs college team. Now he's gunning for another in the 68th NWBA National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.Photo: Steve Goldberg/SCS Media

Dallas won't see the Bucks until the final and that's only if they get by the Knicks who have but half of the Canadian crew that delivered them to the top of the podium in 2014. According to multiple sources here, David Eng (2004, 2008, 2012) is out with a torn bicep which could be a lot worse for Canada in September than it is for the Knicks right now. Canada won't have internationally retired Anderson in Brazil but the Knicks do here and since he's arguably still the world's best player, that is a solid check on the plus side.
 
So who else here has marched in a Paralympic opening ceremony? Here's who:
Joseph Chambers, Sacramento Rolling Kings (2008, 2012)
Jacob Counts, Cincinnati Royals (2008 Beijing)
Chuck Gill, Golden State Road Warriors (1996, 2000)
Jeff Griffin, Utah Wheelin’ Jazz (2004)
Trevon Jenifer, Bay City (2012)
Lee Montgomery, Mary Free Bed Pacers (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 all in sitting volleyball)
Mike Schlappi, Utah Wheelin’ Jazz (1996, 2000)
Darlene Hunter, DFW Freewheelers (2012)
Ian Lynch, Cincinnati Royals (2012)
Paul Schulte, Miami Heat Wheels (2000, 2008, 2012)
Will Waller, Cleveland Wheelchair Cavaliers (2000, 2012)
Andrea Woodson-Smith, Charlottesville Cardinals (2012)
 
And then there's David Kiley, here with the Charlotte Rollin’ Hornets (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 both Summer and Winter) who is already in the NWBA Hall of Fame. Dave has announced that this will mark his last tournament. A Paralympian six times as an athlete, he's been there twice as a coach, as a USA men's assistant in Sydney and as USA Women's head coach in 2012. He is respected around the world and I'm proud to call him a friend.

Starting in 1976, David Kiley (left) represented the USA in five summer and one winter Paralympic Games and is regarded as one of the best wheelchair basketball players of all time. He is seen here with USA National Team veteran Trooper Johnson who will be in inducted into the NWBA Hall of Fame this weekend. Photo: Steve Goldberg/SCS Media

Organizers say the 2016 NWBT is the largest ever with 88 teams covering five adult and junior divisions with 976 athletes registered. , and will feature a total of 176 games on 12 courts all under one roof which makes for a whole lot of basketball. A total of 84 games were played yesterday and I feel like I saw all of them in my day which started at the courts at 7 a.m. and hasn't finished yet (which has now become Friday).
 
Only 92 to go.

 
Steve Goldberg

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