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I was reading an article last week about Spencer Hawes, the second year center with the Sacramento Kings.

I have a great deal of interest in Spencer.  I played in college with his uncle, Steve Hawes, who went on to a fine NBA career; I have also known his dad, Jeff, since he was a senior in high school.  Both men remain close friends.  I watched Spencer during his high school years, and then I got to know Spencer during his one year at the University of Washington, so you can see why I have interest in how he is doing.

I found parts of the article interesting, and it brought back some memories of the tougher things involved in coaching.    Spencer was confused, at times, why he was not getting more time.  Such a common malady.  Let me make a simple statement.  I have never run across a coach who would not play a player if he thought that player could help win games. Winning means everything to coaches.  It is the only stat they have.  If a player can help the team win, the coach is going to play him.  I have heard from too many players, parents, and agents that the coach has something against the player, and that’s why he’s not playing.  Not true. Play well and that player will get minutes.  I wish more players would concentrate on why he is not playing, instead of why the coach is not playing him.

I find that there is nothing wrong with a player talking with the coach, if he truly wants the truth.  Most of the time the coach will tell him, play better and you’ll get more time, though most coaches sugar coat it some.  I always liked the player who didn’t ask why he wasn’t playing, but would ask, what can I do to get more time?   What do I have to work on, to improve and then, get more time?

When I was in Detroit, I had a player come to me about playing more.  The truth was, he just was not as good as the players in front of him.  He was a veteran, who had proved through the years that he wasn’t as good as the others.  Really, the only way he could get more time was for an injury to occur to one of the players.  Should I have told him that?  That would have been pretty cold.  Instead, I told him to work to get better, to really concentrate on some of the things that would help us win, and to stay ready. I really liked the guy.  He was a true pro, but he just wasn’t as good.

In Spencer’s case, it did not surprise me that he didn’t get more time last year.  Before the draft, I had told him I did not think he was ready, physically ready for the NBA. Playing center in the NBA is a manly occupation.

Hopefully, he has matured and improved his strength.  I think, eventually, that he can be a very good player in the league. Potentially an All-Star, but not without a lot of work.

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