April 28 , 2006

Upon further review...

By RANDY PETIT
rtp001@marietta.edu

In the competitive sport of Basketball, when one thinks of an amazing player, they think of spectacular, gravity defying dunks, and a ridiculous shooting range. But what truly makes an outstanding star, is their ability to make, everyone else around them better. 

This rings true for many sports, but especially in basketball. Lebron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, personifies this admirable role. 

Night in and night out, you can see him on ESPN’s Top Plays for his spectacular dunks and clutch shots, but also for his wide variety of passes. 

Every night he battles for a Triple Double, (double digit stats in three different categories).  By averaging just over thirty points per game this season, he always has the points. And by handing out over 10 assist in a single night shows, he has the ability to make his teammates step up and play on a higher level. This is an integral part of the game that many players lack.

Another ability the James shows, that has many basketball analysts proclaiming him to be the best player ever, is his stifling defense.  Because of his strength, he is able to body up much smaller guards and frustrate them. 

If you watch any NBA basketball games at all, you will see a player on a break away and no one else is around them because the defenders gave up on the play.  Well James has a reputation for chasing players down and blocking their shots as if they weren’t even trying. Because he plays at such a high level, he never gives up on a play.

The ability to encompass your whole team in efforts to win every night is what makes an ordinary player extra-ordinary. Steve Nash, of the Phoenix Suns, won the MVP award last year, and on Wednesday night it was reported that he won the award this year.  You will never see him on the nightly highlights for a dunk or an alley-oop, but you will see his team win.

As a point guard it is your job to distribute the ball to the scorers on your team, and he does just that. Pioneer Basketball player, Matt Phillips, said of Nash, “The Sun’s had all the players they had now, but before [Nash] they were doody.” 

So the next time you see an amazing dunk on ESPN, look for the player who gave the ball up so that the play could happen.  That is the player that should be getting the credit, and chances are you might see that player at one point will be hoisting the MVP award above their head.