Updated: May 19, 2006, 11:22 AM ET
Steve Nash and Bill Russell are one and the same
By Bill Walton
ESPN Insider
The similarities between Steve Nash (my favorite current player) and Bill Russell (my all-time favorite player) are astounding.
Both were born in remote outposts of civilization that were wracked by unconscionable racial hatred and segregation. Both of their families spirited them off to more favorable environs at a very early age.
Both came to basketball comparatively late in life.
Neither one was a highly regarded high school player.
Each received only one college scholarship offer -- to different, but similarly small, Jesuit schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Neither one was expected or predicted to excel in the NBA.
Both were traded early in their careers.
Both were told at early stages in their careers that they would have little to no chance of being successful in basketball.
Both are the most unlikely multiple-MVP award winners in the NBA's illustrious history.
Both play a totally unique game -- completely focused on the successes of their teammates.
Both are wrongly considered one-dimensional players, supposedly with serious deficiencies in at least half of what the game is about.
Both are relatively undersized and ungifted physical specimens who would never be considered winners of the genetic lottery.
Both are very quiet, soft-spoken personalities who always let their game do their talking for them.
Both are driven and guided by an extremely strong moral and social compass.
Neither one has ever been remotely interested in individual recognition or credit.
Neither ever tries to draw attention to himself.
In their respective careers there was not a single other player in the entire league remotely like them in terms of style and/or substance.
Both do endless amounts of charitable work that they never reveal to the world.
Even though their games could not be more different from each other's, they both lead or led teams that defined their era's brilliance and popularity.
Both have stood tall in the face of outrageous adversity and have spoken out strongly about the world's maddening injustices.
Neither one ever blames other people or forces for their own failures, shortcomings or mistakes.
Both Nash and Russell won MVP awards while generally acknowledged as not being the best player in the NBA.
Both shared one clear attribute … their biggest impact was that they made the other four guys on the court better players.
Neither one of these guys ever "coasted" in a game … they only knew how to play with total focus.
Steve Nash and Bill Russell are one and the same
By Bill Walton
ESPN Insider
The similarities between Steve Nash (my favorite current player) and Bill Russell (my all-time favorite player) are astounding.
Both were born in remote outposts of civilization that were wracked by unconscionable racial hatred and segregation. Both of their families spirited them off to more favorable environs at a very early age.
Both came to basketball comparatively late in life.
Neither one was a highly regarded high school player.
Each received only one college scholarship offer -- to different, but similarly small, Jesuit schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. Neither one was expected or predicted to excel in the NBA.
Both were traded early in their careers.
Both were told at early stages in their careers that they would have little to no chance of being successful in basketball.
Both are the most unlikely multiple-MVP award winners in the NBA's illustrious history.
Both play a totally unique game -- completely focused on the successes of their teammates.
Both are wrongly considered one-dimensional players, supposedly with serious deficiencies in at least half of what the game is about.
Both are relatively undersized and ungifted physical specimens who would never be considered winners of the genetic lottery.
Both are very quiet, soft-spoken personalities who always let their game do their talking for them.
Both are driven and guided by an extremely strong moral and social compass.
Neither one has ever been remotely interested in individual recognition or credit.
Neither ever tries to draw attention to himself.
In their respective careers there was not a single other player in the entire league remotely like them in terms of style and/or substance.
Both do endless amounts of charitable work that they never reveal to the world.
Even though their games could not be more different from each other's, they both lead or led teams that defined their era's brilliance and popularity.
Both have stood tall in the face of outrageous adversity and have spoken out strongly about the world's maddening injustices.
Neither one ever blames other people or forces for their own failures, shortcomings or mistakes.
Both Nash and Russell won MVP awards while generally acknowledged as not being the best player in the NBA.
Both shared one clear attribute … their biggest impact was that they made the other four guys on the court better players.
Neither one of these guys ever "coasted" in a game … they only knew how to play with total focus.
