Men Behind the Logo
The well-publicized illicit exploits of our star athletes sometimes make fans reluctant to support them wholeheartedly. And while the vast majority of NBA players are respectable human beings, the iniquity of the few creates a reputation for the many. With that in mind, the five players discussed below are presented not as exceptions, but examples, of the men behind the logo.
Eric Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers
Williams' bite is admittedly much worse than his bark. He created the "Believe In Me Foundation", an organization which provides dental care to low-income youth, to spare today's kids the teasing he endured as a child due to his own prominent profile. Luckily for his team, Williams is as generous on the court as off of it, and he has earned a reputation as a premier defender and ideal teammate. The Cavaliers thought enough of Williams to sacrifice Ricky Davis, a superior talent, to showcase Williams' inspiring presence and tough, unselfish play as an example for rookie superstar Lebron James.
Anfernee Hardaway, New York Knicks
Penny has been anything but lucky since his days of prominence with Shaquille O'Neal and the early-90's Orlando Magic. Once a first-team All-NBA guard and among the league's most popular players, Hardaway has spent a difficult near-decade futilely trying to resemble that forgotten star. While various injuries are largely responsible for his de-evolution, robbing him of the quickness and leaping ability that made him so dangerous, Penny refuses to make excuses, performing instead with a stubborn pride and dignity. He has accepted lesser roles first in Phoenix, and now with the Knicks, and is both an example and cautionary tale for the stars of today. A poignant quote reveals that his fall to obscurity has damaged Hardaway at least as much as his physical injuries; after a 28-point effort for Phoenix early in the season, he had this to say to reporters gathered around his locker: "You may not remember it, but I was a pretty good player at one time."
Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana Pacers
O'Neal deserves mention here for the mature way in which he handled the shady set of circumstances which kept him in Indiana this summer. A free agent, O'Neal was courted by many teams, among them the San Antonio Spurs, who presented an ideal situation: the chance to play with the league's best player, and contend for a championship, without leaving money on the table. Contrasted with the immature and underachieving Pacers, only months removed from a disastrous playoff performance, the decision appeared to be an easy one.
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