Let's Dispel A Myth Friday, February 23, 2007
What myth you ask? The myth of the big-time scorer.
Now you're probably really confused. What the heck is the "myth of the big-time scorer"? Let me explain.
Most players want to score a lot of points. I did. You probably do. And why not? Scoring lots of points is fun, helps get you into the starting lineup, and could help you land a college scholarship or help you make it to the pros.
So what's the all this "myth" talk? The myth is that you have to score a lot of points to be a big-time player. The myth is that if you don't score a lot of points, you aren't a very good player, won't get a scholarship, and that you'll have no chance of making it to the pros.
Well, I'm here to tell you not to believe the myth. You can be a great player, get lots of playing time, and make it to college or the pros by being a great all-around player, and not necessarily just being a scorer.
Now don't get me wrong: being able to score the basketball is important, but you don't have to average 30 points a game to get noticed and have a great career. Need some examples? Here you go:
- Jason Terry averages under 16 points a game for the Mavs, yet he is considered a top-level NBA player, and a very good scorer.
- Luke Walton starts for the Lakers and averages under 12 points a game.
- Trenton Hassell plays over 32 minutes a game for Minnesota but barely averages 7.5 points per game.
- Spurs' guard Michael Finley makes something like $15 or $16 million a year after being let go by Dallas last season, and averages only 7 points per game for San Antonio.
I can go on and on.
- Ben Wallace of the Bulls plays 34 minutes a game and averages under 7 points per game.
- Jason Collins has started 39 out of 40 games for the Nets this season and is averaging under 3 points a game.
In fact, out of the 450 players on NBA rosters right now, only 113 are averaging in double-digits. Let me say it another way: 75% of NBA players are averaging under 10 points a game. I'm sure that stat will surprise a lot of people.
So why am I telling you all of this? Simply to emphasize how important the rest of the game is. To remind you how important defense, rebounding, passing, ball handling, court sense, and attitude are.
Work on your offense. Practice your form, having a quick shot, and shooting the 3-pointer, but also remember that you can be a great basketball player, have a long career, and make lots of money playing basketball by doing things other than scoring. In fact, if all you do is try to score, you probably won't have a very long or successful career in the game.
posted by Brandon Schenz @ 8:31 AM,
