by Ben Austin
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America)
In case you haven’t noticed, there are times that we here at ‘Overtime on ETIN’ take our sports discussions very seriously, and – on rare occasions – personally. This is one of those times. For those of you who didn’t tune in to our Jan. 30 show (shame on you), you missed a very good comeback victory by Ryan Pfleiderer during the Coin Toss. However, while Ryan deserved the victory, I will say that I believe Ryan stole a very valuable point from me, and I want it back!
In discussing whether or not Blake Griffin should have been named a starter in this year’s All-Star game (he should have), I referenced Chauncey Billups – not Carmelo Anthony – as the leader of the Denver Nuggets. Both Ben Barker, who was dishing out the oh-so-valuable points, and Ryan Pfleiderer adamantly opposed this idea. So, in order to defend myself (and out of curiosity, boredom, and pride), I decided to look into what characteristics are fundamental in the making of a great leader.
Above all, a leader in any sport needs to be consistent. Even a player with all the talent in the world can be limited by inconsistencies in their game. They need to be dependable at all points throughout a quarter, game, or season, and if they aren’t stable their team could fall apart around them. A leader also needs to lead by example. They need to know how to win, and be able to take over the game when necessary. A leader is also someone who makes the players around them better. Even the best player in the world may end up hurting their team with selfish play ( Hello, Kobe). And finally, a true leader must be dedicated to their team and the team’s goals. They need to be on par with the coaching staff and fellow players, and be able to do what is best for the team as a whole.
After analyzing these traits, I re-assert my initial statement that, in the case of the Denver Nuggets, Chauncey Billups is not only the captain, but the emotional leader. Anthony, while being a dominant scorer, lacks the fundamental characteristics that make up a leader. He has never been seriously considered as an MVP candidate, has never won a title (or Western Conference title for that matter), and has shown that he is neither consistent nor on the same page as the rest of his team.
With that said, let’s take a look at some players who are considered to be leaders on their teams, and why these guys stand out.
Chauncey Billups – Just because he was the focus of the discussion, we’ll throw him in here first. Billups has been a veteran leader in the NBA for some time now. As a former finals MVP, he’s shown that he can step up when his team needs him to. He is also not only the captain of his current team, but was the captain of Team USA that brought home the gold in last summer’s FIBA world championship. As a 34-year-old point guard, he has remained statistically consistent, continuing to put up career highs even in the twilight of his career.
Tim Duncan – Probably one of the most underrated players of the last decade, Tim Duncan is the NBA’s definition of a leader. He has quietly averaged 20-and-10 throughout his career, with four championship rings weighing down his non-shooting hand. This guy leads by example, and knows what it takes to win. Even today, in his 13th NBA season, he is the un-questioned leader and most important player on the NBA’s top ranked squad.
Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett – Yes, I’m picking two veteran leaders on the same team, and no, you can’t stop me. I would question the sanity of anyone who said the Celtics are not Paul Pierce’s team, but on the other hand, you have to recognize that Kevin Garnett sets the tone for Boston’s defense. Both of these guys can flawlessly control the pace of a game, can shut down the best player on an opposing team, and have stood out in the past as consistent leaders on sub-par teams. Since joining forces, these guys have only missed the NBA Finals once. Enough said.
Dwyane Wade – Sure, go ahead and argue that LeBron is the leader of this Miami Heat team. I’m sticking with Dwyane Wade. Everyone in Miami knows that this is Wade’s team: including LeBron. Wade has been extremely consistent throughout his career, scoring at least 24 points per game in all but his rookie season, as well as adding 5 rebounds and 6.5 assists a game. Even when Shaq was in Miami, D-Wade asserted himself as a young leader and ended up taking home a finals MVP trophy along with his ring. Not to mention the fact that the only season the Miami Heat didn’t make the playoffs since they drafted him was ’07, when he was injured. All in all, this guy is an unselfish impact player who sets the pace for the other all-stars on his team.
Steve Nash – You can’t talk about efficiency or consistency in the NBA without talking about Steve Nash. The guy has averaged a double-double and over 50% from the field every year since moved back to Phoenix. He doesn’t only control the pace of his own team, but forces other teams to change their usual game plan just to keep up. Although he’s never won a title, his teams have made quite a bit of noise in a decade where the Western Conference has been dominated by Tim Duncan’s Spurs and Kobe Bryant’s Lakers.
Overtime on ETIN 