Terminamos este serial con los comentarios de nuestros vilipendiadores amigos de Zander Hollander, S THE COMPLETE HANDBOOK OF PRO BASKETBALL, con las apreciaciones que afectan a jugadores, viniendo de la NBA, acabaron recalando en el baloncesto español, en algún momento de la década de los 80, fundamentalmente.

En este caso, más que en el comentario pintoresco, que también, nos vamos a centrar en datos técnicos que pudieron ser corroborados, o en su caso desmontados, a raíz de su paso por canchas del basket español, sumergiéndonos en el extraño proceso de ver, a través de los ojos de los especialistas de otra cultura baloncestística, lo que pudimos observar en directo en nuestro pequeño mundo acebero.

Así pues, estos son nuestros 20 protagonistas:

SAM PELLON, un fajador que dejó buen recuerdo en Lugo, una máquina reboteadora: (Ed. 1982, Hawks) “A natural born loser, just another guy with muscles who kept the payroll down. He,s still under contract but also under suspiction“

ABDUL JEELANI, fino estilista, mala cabeza, añorado en Vitoria: (Ed. 1982, Mavs) “To friends who enjoy his whacky, good-guy nature, he,s Cool Abdul, The Shooting Fool, Who ain,t never broke the Golden Rule. Still an offensive threat, breaking loose several times last season for big fourth quarters. Not a consistent enough player, to merit starting consideration“

CLARENCE KEA, la montañita reboteadora, el profesional del control del espacio y el volumen, Orense y Murcia lo vieron, (Ed. 1982, Mavs): “Body by Robinzine.A surprise employee, since he wasn,t a high draftee. Became known as Pick, because of his penchant for dangling a toothpick from the side of his mouth.Gathered in a rebound every three minutes, an outstanding ratio“

WAYNE ROBINSON, un clásico con Jackson en el Madrid, y después Granollers; su turnaround siempre en nuestro recuerdo: ( Ed. 1982, Pistons) “Managed to get in 81 games last season, displaying some flashes of brilliance, but there doesn,t seem to be any room on the front line this season if everyone remains healthy“

RICKEY BROWN, talento infinito, lo ganó todo en Europa y pasó sus últimos días sentando cátedra en Málaga y Madrid: (Ed. 1982, Warriors) “Despite limited playing time his rookie year, he grabbed a rebound every four minutes, a very creditable average.Also showed he knows where thw basket is, hitting 51 percent of his shots“

JOE C. MERIWEATHER, jugador inconsistente, una de las varias parejas fallidas de Reggie en la Penya: (Ed. 1982, Kings). “The skeleton. Is it posible he is been around for seven years?.Hard to realize, until you look back at his suitcase with stickers from Houston,New Orleans,New York and now Kansas City. A decent lower-echelon player, but never will possess the kind of tools tostep into a starting role.A great leaper, but not much else about his game is top caliber flight.An erratic shooter who tends to foul tto much on defense“

PAT CUMMINGS, unos pocos partidos en Zaragoza, en plena decadencia de ambos: (Ed. 1982, Bucks). “A disappoinment, almost completely ignored in the playoffs,wich should make for an uneasy summer. Nelson was looking for more muscle against the 76ers, but looked right pass this bench warmer. Made 54 percent of his shots, but none of them were works of art.Not quick enough to get a shot on his own ad should be more aggressive. Nice enough guy to stay around, as long as nobody counts on him“

DeWAYNE SCALES, solo para iniciados, un año loco pero hermoso en Tenerife, clase a raudales, cerebro en busca y captura: (Ed. 1982, Knicks). “This year,s Sly Williams.Actually wasn,t selected until 36th because of his reputation as a head case.His attitude improved but his jumper didn,t. Called The Astronaut in college because of his leaping ability, but most of his NBA moves have been scrubbed“

REGGIE JOHNSON, histórico de la ACB, le tocó la época perdedora pre-Corny de la Penya, pero su increíble talento nadie puede olvidarlo, tampoco en León: ( Ed. 1982, Spurs) “Spurs may have something there.A very good scorer from his position in the corner, he has an accurate jumper, a nasty inside move to get to the hoop and the height to leap over opposing small forwards“

JAMES DONALDSON, histórico NBA, llegó a Sevilla como comunitario y, en calidad de jubilado, apenas hizo ruido: (Ed. 1982, Sonics). “A monstrous human being who just might take it as a basketball player. If not, he could go to Yellowstone Park,and work in the summer as a mountain. Has the size to intimidate the meanest man on a NBA payroll, fortunately away from the court he is a real pussycat. Unfortunately he sometimes has the same disposition on the court“

JEFF RULAND, un solo año en Barcelona, de donde se fue asqueado, para convertirse en uno de los 5 mejores centros de la NBA los años siguientes: ( Ed. 1982, Bullets). “After a year with Barcelona in the Spanish League, this soft shooting, surprisingly quick hulk is back.Could be a real steal.“ (Ed. 1984, Bullets). “The rougher, the better, captain of All Underrated Team, after all Who is going to challenge him?.Only has a move, but is difficult to stop.Passed over in the first round, because his lack of quickness, but has extraordinary first step.Hated year he spent in Spain, waiting for Wes Unseld to retire“

WALLACE BRYANT, un talento desperdiciado, se crecía en las grandes ocasiones, llegó como salvador a Huesca y dejo muestras de su jerarquía en Barcelona: (Ed. 1985, Bulls) “If he can,t make it at Chicago, where he goes next?.Played only 29 games showing more offensive potential than Jawann Oldham, but proving himself a liability in defense and under the boards.Too slow to stick with more mobile opponents“

JOHN GARRIS, jugador frío y blando, apenas dejó huella en Zaragoza: (Ed. 1985, Cavs) “Nondescript rookie season, seeing limited action on a team that needs help in the froncourt. A strong leaper, but he got lost in the shuffle when Paul Thompson asserted himself as an efficient swingman“

GRANVILLE WAITERS, un fakir vestido de jugador de basket que no desentonó en Barcelona y se llevó la pasta de Bilbao : ( Ed. 1985, Pacers) “Looked and played like an 40 year old rookie. Simply couldn,t hold his ground against the league,s dinosaurs.Didn,t disgrace himself against the smaller centers. Took Brad Branson,s place, so Pacers didn,t lose much“

JOE KOPICKI, físico de luchador grecorromano, cabeza de jugador de ajedrez, grande en Bilbao, donde se le añora: ( Ed. 1985, Bullets) “You know this type, reserve banger with no apparent skills but a lot of heart. Has surprising touch if left alone. Hit 81.3 percent from the line and has the ability to draw the foul“

KURT NIMPHIUS, pivot con pinta surfera que tras una decente carrera pro, pasó un año de vacaciones, muy bien pagadas, en las Islas afortunadas: (Ed. 1985, Mavs) “Who?, just when you start to wonder what he,s doing in the league, he,ll come off the beanch to hit a key bucket, grab a crucial rebound or swat back a shot in somebody,s face. Fans on the road may laugh, but he has been a very valuable backup and has allowed the mavs to get away without a true center the last three years“

LARRY MICHEAUX, maestro del mínimo esfuerzo, un jugador por instinto que impartió clases de baloncesto en Vitoria y no tanto Valencia: (Ed. 1985, Kings). “Mr. Mean, the silent assassin of the University of Houston,s Phi Slama Jama fraternity. Former coach Cotton Fitzsimmons said he did not have the fundamentals, adding that his high school and college,s coaches ought to be shot. Appears slow, but has deceptive quickness“

AUDIE NORRIS, mito del barcelonismo, un portento físico con una calidad de movimientos interiores, mezcla extraña de rapidez, belleza y efectividad : (Ed. 1985, Blazers). “Doesn,t have an abundance of talent, but gets the most from it. Skills are limited to scoring on the inside and rebounding. Would probably knock his grandmother into the stands if it meant getting a loose ball. Probably couldn,t guard his grandmother. Can have a long career as a role player and designated banger“

LARRY SPRIGGS, un tumulto su llegada con marchamo Laker, mucho ruido y pocas nueces a fin de cuentas: (Ed. 1985, Lakers). “Chew nails, rough and tough, but doesn,t have enough polish to be a regular in the NBA. Made club work hard in practice. If he had been two or three inches taller he.d be feared around the league“.

MARK McNAMARA, center californiano que pasó como un rayo por Málaga, y se fue lanzando pestes de los hospitales locales; volvió a Madrid años después, pero ya no era más que un fardo: ( Ed. 1985, Spurs) “As an NBA center he,d make a good actor, in fact he has acting experience. Spent a summer as a stand in for actor who played Chewbacca in Return of the Jedi. On the basketball floor he,s not much more than stand-in, either, gets his time when Artis Gilmore or Edgar Jones are either hurt or tired“

Quedan fuera de este espacio algunos jugadores como RALPH SAMPSON, GEORGE GERVIN, GEORGE JOHNSON, LEON WOOD o MEL TURPIN, por diferentes motivos, fundamentalmente el merecer sus respectivos casos un análisis más detenido, tiempo habrá para ello en próximas colaboraciones con esta página.

ARTÍCULOS RELACIONADOS
Zander Hollander: El verbo restallante

NCAA 80-81: Un Hoosier en la corte de los Reyes (capítulo I)

NCAA 80-81 (2ª Parte): The mighty have fallen (Almost)

El planeta de los simios

Operación KINGFISH

NCAA 80-81: Llegó la batalla, llegó la Final Four