Why Great Players Make "Turrible" Analyst

One of the most ironic aspects of basketball is the fact that great players almost never make good analyst. When they were players they could do almost anything they wanted on the court but as analyst they can barely put together complete thoughts. Growing up listening to the likes of Mark Jackson, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, and Jalen Rose (who was far from great but is a nominee for worst NBA analyst) I always wondered how these guys were ever good at the game of basketball. They never seemed like they had anything intelligent to say about the game and were constantly put on the spot because most barely spoke at all. The person who goes in most depth about this issue is Bill Simmons in The Book of Basketball. Nonetheless my belief on why great/good players always end up being terrible analyst is because they never really watched the game; they were always playing, they didn't have to work as hard as others, and never had to articulate or find the reasoning of their playing style.

Most professional basketball players can tell you who their favorite player was growing up as a child, and he might even be able to give you some stats about that one player. However, ask him some historical facts about the franchise he is playing for and 9.9 times out of 1o he will not know the answer to the question. In 2010, while being interviewed by the TNT cast of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkely, Aaron Brooks, the point guard of the Rockets, was asked who was the starting pg of the championship Rocket teams was in the 90s. Aaron replied with a smile on his face "That was Sam Cassell." Wrong, that was Kenny Smith, one of the guys interview Brooks. TNT showed a close up of The Jet and he had a "are you serious" look on his face. If you're really good at basketball you have to, of course, practice it, but doesn't also make sense that you would actually have to watch how the game is played? Apparently not. This seems evident when you have analyst such as Isaiah Thomas. Thomas was one of the analysts covering Game 6 of 1998 NBA final between the Jazz and the Bulls. This is one of the most historic games in the history of basketball, and yet the only times Isaiah spoke is when Collins asked him a direct question. And even then Thomas would sometimes give short responses. It was like he never saw a game before, but he had played in games just as important. For once Isaiah wasn't playing in a big game he was watching it and he was completely mesmerized.

All great players are known for one aspect of their game that separated them for the rest. Magic's passing, Bird's shooting, Michael's everything (I know I said one but I can't help it) but we never really appreciate the athletic prowess, size, and strength that these super athletes posses. Most are over 6'2" and are about 200 lbs; gigantic men that move like gazelles. These men were always one of the best players in their respective levels of play, and the great ones were simply the best at their positions. Why would they have to truly learn the game if they were always faster, stronger, quicker, and simply more athletic than everybody else? They don't and they didn't. Mark Jackson who is 3rd all time in assist in NBA history, is now an ESPN analyst once in a game, after an offensive rim interference was called, stated that the basketball still counts. Umm no, it actually doesn't Mark. This isn't a new rule folks and he played 17 seasons in the league! Another example is Charles Barkley. Arguably the 3rd great power forward ever, he is now famous for saying ridiculous statements about the game every Thursday night during the NBA season on TNT. What went wrong?

Nothing went wrong, they just never had to explain their game or why they did certain things against certain defenses, they just did it. It's that simple; if I do A B will happen. My favorite example of this is Magic Johnson. While ever speaking of the Show Time Lakers of the 1980s you got more "ooooos" and "uhhhhs" then actually words. This also true when he covered games. Magic never said "I looked to the left to throw off the defender and passed the ball to the right because I saw Byron Scott trailing the play after he grabbed the rebound." Nope, instead he'd simply say "looking left and throwing right." Thanks Magic that explains a lot. These men never had to think things through because their whole lives they had been doing the same thing, dominating and winning basketball games.

Great players make terrible analyst because they never truly watched the games, never had to work as hard, and never needed to find the reasoning behind their games they just played. It's just not meant to be. Great players are meant to be spoke about not to speak. They spent so much time perfecting their games they never made the time to realize they were more effective against certain player/defenses they just knew whatever they were doing worked. It is up to guys and gals like us who never made it past high school ball to break down every aspect of the game because we spend our time on the side line living vicariously through the greats. No matter how odd it may seem it is simply the truth, but I'm not mad at them. They make every winter and spring worth wild and give guys like me something to write about every week.