Isaiah Thomas the Prophet
By Carl Munson
“Mr. Irrelevant”? Why don’t we just stop picking on Sam Bowie. It’s been long enough.
On an alternative subject of Isaiah Thomas, a great deal has been made about his shortness of height but, if you go into the NBA History of Short Guys, while it doesn’t have many chapters, it’s not exactly thin. It has some interesting stories about young men of insignificant stature, as well front office personnel who were castigated for drafting shortness but who, in the long run, were proven right.
Short People Got Reason
Randy Newman notwithstanding, it has never been a walk-in-the-park for short people.
Spud Webb, 5’ 7” tall, was the 87th pick of the 1985 draft but played for 13 seasons.
Washington Bullets management caught hell from fans for using the 12th pick of the 1987 draft on Muggsy Bogues. Surely a mental institution awaited, fans suggested. 5’ 3”. What was management smoking? But Bogues did well. In his 14 NBA seasons, Muggsy continually overcame difficulties foreign to taller players, difficulties documented in his biography, In the Land of Giants.
"Surely a mental institution awaited, fans suggested. 5’ 3”. What was management smoking? But Bogues did well."
Earl Boykins, 5’ 5”, was never drafted but played his way into the NBA and continued to play for another 13 years.
Damon Stoudamire, although 5’ 10,” was taken as the 7th pick of the first round, played for 13 years and could have possibly gone on a little longer had he not contributed to Portland’s reputation as the Jailblazers.
And there is 5’ 8” Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson, now with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He should be around for a while. He’s one exciting player. Even on the bench.
"It all comes down this: if you can make plays, you can make plays."
Several short people have shown reason to live for NBA basketball, and Isaiah has prophesized that history will repeat itself. As Thomas has pointed out, he’s played against taller players before and is confident he will prove naysayers wrong.
What Do Scouts Do In The Off-Season?
Regardless of height, the draft can be a crap shoot. Test question (don’t use Google): Michael Thompson, Phil Ford, Rick Robey, Micheal Ray Richardson and Purvis Short were all drafted ahead of (fill in the blank) in the 1978 draft.
Bill Lambeer was the 67th pick in the 1979 draft; James Donaldson the 73rd pick.
The following year, a point guard with a catchy name would be the 141st pick, not selected until deep in the seventh round (in those days the NBA still imitated the NFL) by the Golden State Warriors. In spite of being selected so late, the 141st pick would go on to play five years in the NBA. Based on his dexterity with salmon at the Pike Place Market, he could probably still play.
The first pick of the 1998 draft was Michael Olowokandi. Who? You heard/read me. Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki would be selected a little later. Robert “Tractor” Traylor was actually picked ahead of Nowitzki. Unfortunately, Traylor was less interested in the drive-to-be-great than a great drive-through.
"The first pick of the 1998 draft was Michael Olowokandi. Who? You heard/read me. Vince Carter and Dirk Nowitzki would be selected a little later."
So, now, you ask, whatever happened to Robert Swift (No. 12 in 2004)? He plays for a team with a name that screams “oxymoron”: the Tokyo Apache. But give Robert credit. He proved beyond a doubt that epidermal graffiti doesn’t make you a better player. It’s just taking a long time for others to catch on.
Isaiah’s Prophesy
What makes a great NBA player?
Looking at NBA draft successes, particularly those selected in later rounds, two things stand-out: (unappreciated) talent and, especially, desire. It appears to be the latter that separates successful late selections from earlier busts. In that regard, like Webb, Bogues, Boykins and Stoudamire, Isaiah Thomas should last a long time in the NBA. The best word to describe Isaiah is “heart.” He has no doubt he can play at the NBA level and has said so. He once again has something to prove. And he will once again prove it.
"The best word to describe Isaiah is “heart.”"