Courtesy: Yahoo Sports
Upon hearing that the late great Dean Smith had passed, a weird feeling began to settle in the pit of my stomach. It wasn’t a feeling of sadness or heartbreak, but a feeling of satisfaction. This may sound crazy but hear me out.
Growing up in the inner city of New York, the majority of my friends (and myself) all dreamed of someday playing in the NBA. At that time, no one had dared to make the jump from prep to pro, so we all decided to focus our attention on the next step in our journey, the NCAA! Receiving a scholarship from one of our local Universities (St. John’s, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Villanova or Syracuse) just wasn’t enough for us.
Not because they weren’t reputable schools, but we just felt that playing for the Tar heels and Coach Dean Smith would better prepare us for a life in the NBA. Think about it, playing for the man who basically invented the “four corners”! The man who can take an individual superstar and turn him into the ultimate team player. The man who coaches and teaches the game the right way. The man who exemplifies excellence and teaches lifelong lessons.
Although only a few of us (Stephon Marbury, Rafer Alston, Smush Parker, and Jamaal Tinsley) actually made it to our ultimate goal of playing in the NBA, the blueprint that many of us followed was laid by Coach Dean Smith. In some of my past articles, I’ve often criticized the NCAA and their coaches for concentrating on profits instead of teaching. Although those views were just my personal observances, I’ve never heard anyone accuse Dean Smith of having an ulterior motive.
It’s always been about the kids and then the University. Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Phil Ford, Walter Davis, Hubert Davis, Kenny Smith, Brad Daugherty and countless others have benefited from the basketball wizardry of Coach Dean Smith. His impact was immeasurable, and his legacy will forever be ICONIC.
R.I.P. Dean Smith.
