As we embark on the 2009 NBA Finals, Thursday, most eyes are focused upon Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.
And although the majority of attention on the Black Mamba and Superman is rightfully due, there are other storylines that need to be unearthed. You see, this piece is devoted to an unsung hero who was thrusted into the spotlight thanks to a win-win trade, born from necessity. The rise of Orlando Magic's newest point guard Rafer Alston came soon after his getting traded from the Houston Rockets to the Magic at the February trade deadline -- which coincidentally came after Magic All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson going down indefinitely with a shoulder separation.
Since the transaction, Alston has righted a ship many didn't think could be righted. Perhaps it was the fact that the former streetball legend was now on his fifth NBA team. Or perhaps because people still see him as "Skip To My Lou", Alston's blacktop alter-ego. Or perhaps because Nelson was that good and the Magic faithful couldn't fathom anyone filling his shoes. Whatever the reason, Alston has not only kept Orlando afloat but he has spearheaded them to its second-ever NBA Finals appearance -- his first. And no one has been happier -- or his biggest fan -- than Alston's former high school coach at the famed Cardozo High, Ron Naclerio.
"It's been a joy to watch where he is now," said Naclerio, who only coached Alston for 10 games during Alston's junior and senior years. "He had his problems like most kids in this area and didn't follow through on things but that's what makes me so proud now [because of his success]."
The two have a special bond, which allowed Naclerio to "put up" with so much of Alston's trials and tribulations -- much of them self-imposed. Naclerio's love for his former pupil isn't just because Alston averaged 31 points during those 10 games but because the coach always saw something special in his player. A will, spirit, and determination to be great was what Coach saw.
"I could see special in him. I knew it was there. He just needed prodding and turned in the right direction," said Naclerio. "See, with troubled kids in the inner city -- or anywhere where there's struggle -- they really want to just be loved and showed that people care. And it shows in Rafer now, too, because he's the one that's always back during the summers coaching kids and openly telling them what to do and not to do. He's special."
Naturally, Naclerio is beaming about one of his faves because it was the coach who perhaps put in the most work in helping Alston get this far. It was Naclerio who gave Alston a job as an assistant coach at Cardozo after the Milwaukee Bucks cut him following the 2001-02 season. Alston barely played 100 games [nine starts] with the Bucks, after they selected him 38th overall in the 1999 Draft. After being released, he was a little down on himself but it was Naclerio who was still his biggest supporter even though some league executives still could only see Alston as a streetballer who couldn't make the transformation to a "structured point guard."
It wasn't until he got to Miami and played in every game in his lone season with the Heat ['03-'04], did the doubters start to fall back. And by the time he reached Houston for the '05-'06 campaign he was a polished quarterback of having run actual set offenses. Sure, he still has the sick handle and can break an ankle or two, but now he's under more control and looks to get others involved first, rather than just get his. During his Rockets tenure -- and now in Orlando -- he's been a constant 12 points and six assists per game player. His steadying demeanor on and off the floor matched Nelson's. And although he may not ever make people say "Jameer Who?", Alston's Magic head coach, Stan Van Gundy, still thinks Alston doesn't get as much credit as he deserves.
"People got really excited about our start [to the season] and then when Jameer went down the expectations went down," Van Gundy said soon after the Magic conquered the Cavs. "What's made [Alston's] career is he's a good defender as a point guard, he has good energy and he pushes the pace. [General Manager] Otis [Smith] made a heck of a move to get him and it hasn't gotten the same attention that a lot of the other moves have."
Alston is certainly worthy of the attention now. He's been so much a distraction for opposing teams that they generally sic their best defensive wing player on him. And when that happens, it's still usually a mismatch for the Magic, because it then frees up stellar wings Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Just ask LeBron James how did that strategy work out for the Cleveland Cavaliers. By focusing so much of his attention on Alston, it left Turkoglu and Lewis to do their things. And maybe Alston isn't the main reason why Orlando is in the Finals but Howard's, Turkoglu's, and Lewis's success were byproducts of the once maligned point.
"This is by far one of the best moments in basketball for me," Alston said while donning a fitted Eastern Conference Champion hat.
He has gone from a me-first scoring point to a stablizing force on an up-and-coming team. But rest assured, the quiet, once-troubled youth from Bayside, Queens says he isn't done yet. He has the Magic on track and more importantly, his career on the right track.
Lakers, you've been warned.
-- By Tony Williams --
twilliams@basketballbeat.com
Booo to that. I am coming back strong.
I am not that impressed
Great story. I've been following Rafer since high school here in the tri-state. He's a great study in persistence.
As a Lakers fan I was never really worried about them overcoming the Nuggs.
But as a Lakers fan, Im actually worried about how the Lakers will handle the Magic--because D.Howard aint no Yao Ming and the Magic have nothing to prove whereas the Lakers (Kobe) does.