I left out Sabonis because his knees were already shot by the time he joined the NBA. In his halcyon days, Sabonis was a terrific low-post player whose primary offensive weapon was a wheeling hook shot with either hand. He was also one of the best-passing big men ever to play anywhere, and his outside shot was reliable.
By the time he made his debut with Portland in 1995, he was 31 and prematurely aged. Gone was his ability to move freely in the pivot, as well as his youthful elevation. With the Blazers, he was mostly a high-post player whose perimeter shooting, decision-making and pinpoint passing were extremely valuable. If he couldn't move laterally on defense, at 7-foot-3, 330 pounds, Sabonis still occupied lots of space in the lane. Also, he was the only opponent in the league who had sufficient bulk and strength to be able to absorb the initial bump that Shaq used to employ to set up his shots.
Had he grown up in the NBA, there's no question that Sabonis would have been a perpetual All-Star.
Travels with Charley
Given that Kenny Natt is now the head coach of the Kings, this tale is worth repeating.
The Natt-Man played for me in Rockford in the CBA, and aside from his crab-like scuttling up and down the court, his most notable characteristic was his fondness for shooting.
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We were at the end of a disastrous road trip — where we'd been blown out of three consecutive games by 20-point margins and more. Kenny's contribution to those three lop-sides losses had been taking 99 shots and making only 33 — numbers that are easily recalled.
We were en route to Albany, N.Y., for a game with the Patroons when Kenny pulled on my coat in the airport. "Charley," he said, "do you know why we lost those games so badly?"
Bad defense, bad shot selection, lack of hustle and the absence of a quality big man all came to mind. But I said, "No."
"It's because I didn't get enough shots."
Thirty-three shots per game weren't enough?
Natt was put off when I disagreed with his argument, and we had a slight tiff.
He didn't show up for the game in Albany and never played in the CBA again.
Now that he's in the command seat, I wonder how Kenny would respond if one of his players offered the same reason for the Kings suffering a losing streak. Once a shooter, always a shooter — so perhaps he'd agree.
