Professional basketball leagues have never rolled out the red carpet for an incoming player. All rookies must withstand the crucible, whether a free agent camp invitee or a highly coveted lottery pick.
CONSPIRACY THEORIES
Currently, Caitlin Clark is one of the hottest names in the news. On the court, undeniably, she has proficiency and potential that could vault her into the WNBA stratosphere. Off the court, the publicity surrounding her is polarizing, teeming with an undercurrent of a concept familiar to our already balkanized homeland. While factions will espouse theories that colleagues in the “W” collectively cultivate regarding her demise, there are no iron-clad vouchers to corroborate them. Secondly, to date–contrary to burgeoning belief–no public remarks or innuendos have been siphoned toward Clark regarding her sexuality or skin tone from opponents.
Moreover, rookie hazing/introduction to the league has been a staple in many sports—especially basketball—for decades. One could excel at the high school and collegiate levels and arrive at the pros, only to have their skills seemingly stalled to a grinding halt. However, a select few will adapt to the learning curve and evolve into standouts with time. Others may plateau or never live up to the lofty expectations set forth by their position in the draft. Ballyhoo and hype can only get one so far. What happens between the lines determines one’s status: being named an all-star, all-pro, or invited to participate in an international or Olympic competition. During a recent press conference, Team USA selection committee chair Jen Rizzotti commented on leaving Caitlin Clark off the Olympic roster: “It wasn’t the job of our committee to decide how many people would watch. It was our job to create the best team.”
AN OFFER IN COMPROMISE
No one has been given carte blanche throughout basketball history as a rookie. The only individual who has come close to being exempt was Julius Erving. The first time Dr. J. stepped on the practice floor as a member of the Virginia Squires, he was soaring over guys, finger-rolling and dunking as if he were playing not against professionals but against high schoolers. He was so good in rookie camp that Julius was nowhere to be found after one session, with the Squires brass in attendance to look at this phenomenon. Assistant Johnny Kerr responded, “We didn’t want him to get hurt, so we sent him home.” [1] Still, while hearing about his brilliance and experiencing it firsthand, the rest of the league treated him like any other up-and-coming player. The difference was that within a couple of seasons, the ABA realized that despite the number of stars they had accumulated, Dr. J. was the one most coveted by the NBA and was the meal ticket to a merger with the old league. Although no milquetoast defenses were set up to let him go berserk in a game, there was an implicit bylaw that no one would intentionally harm him. His new team, the New York Nets, even acquired an on-court guardian for Erving, named Wendell Ladner.
The usually mild-mannered Doc once found himself on the court as his New York Nets brawled against the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs’ backup center, Tom Owens, stood nearby while everyone threw haymakers. Uncharacteristically, Erving entered the fray and swung at the 6‘10” foe. Owens, a native New Yorker who slept with a crowbar under his bed, then turned and glared at him, stating, “Doc, don’t you know I can end your career the next time you go flying down the lane?” [1]. Erving abruptly apologized.
Keenly aware of his raised echelon amongst his peers, Erving knew he would still have to grind for every point, rebound or win.
LAW & ORDER
For nearly as long as the game has existed, most professional and collegiate teams have had players whose job is to protect and serve. While they go out and grab rebounds, set screens, and block shots, their primary goal is safeguarding the critical members on the roster. The best teams have always had someone appointed to fulfill this function. That notwithstanding, many rookies who came into the league with massive bonuses and contracts, NCAA scoring records, or endorsements and had yet to prove themselves endured a gauntlet of physicality, usually not stopping until the player took matters into their own hands. A brief list of Hall of Famers and champions who took a few months, if not seasons, of punishment before reversing fortune by force is below:
Wilt Chamberlain: A giant whose sheer size struck fear in the hearts of many. He was a target because he was a nice guy with a lucrative salary. Wilt endured hits to the groin, rib shots, and a well-placed elbow, which sent his two front teeth clear up into the roof of his mouth, causing a massive infection that almost killed him. His seminal moment occurred during the 1964 NBA Finals when he knocked out longtime 300-pound antagonist Clyde Lovellette (Boston) with a right hand on national television. (Bodyguards: Al Attles, Luke Jackson)
Bill Russell: The Boston legend certainly took a share of abuse before retaliating, having endured dustups with Ray Felix and Walter Dukes. (Bodyguards: Jim Loscutoff, Wayne Embry).
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: He was seen initially as skinny and “a relatively soft/finesse player“ until he began going after people. As a rookie, he was poked in the eye by Seattle center Bob Rule and became enraged (challenging both him and rugged forward John Tresvant). Kareem was viewed differently after training with longtime friend Bruce Lee and breaking his hand after
flooring Milwaukee center Kent Benson years later. (Bodyguards: Kermit Washington, Jim Chones).
Players deemed “White Hopes” had it no more manageable than the others. They, too, caught their share of torture, including sharp elbows, slaps, trips, chest jabs, and shoves until retaliating:
Larry Bird: His immense talent was rivaled only by his trash talk and willingness to scrap with anyone. His Boston training camp “welcoming committee” included a duo of past-prime vets–Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe–who incessantly vocalized their displeasure over his hype and skin hue without mincing words. (Bodyguards: Robert Parish, Quinn Buckner).
Bill Bradley: An accomplished collegiate player who arrived with an impressive résumé of exploits from Princeton University and was a Rhodes Scholar. His notoriety and contract (and lukewarm career start) made him a target to some briefly, both on the New York Knicks and within the league. (Bodyguard: Willis Reed)
Bill Walton: His Hall of Fame career would have reached higher heights without chronic injuries. However, during the mid-late 70s, he was at his zenith. Like Bird, he made it clear that he was not playing the role of the “White Hope.” A full-page photo was taken of Walton in the 70s by Sport Magazine. He was soaring for a rebound with only one obstacle other than gravity hindering him: a Philadelphia 76’er had a fistful of his hair. (Bodyguard: Maurice Lucas.)
