![]() Then there was this from Carril that stuck with Webber: “You’re going to change the way the game is played.” “People want to continue to say you’ve got to be a big brute in basketball, and basically, they’re saying you have skill.” And one of the rumors is going to be you’re going to be soft because you’re not going to be in the post. We talked a lot about criticism we talked a lot about being quiet and learning to laugh at yourself, laugh at the rumors. “He told me people are going to criticize you here. “That’s back when he would have his one or two cigars a day,” Webber told The Athletic over the summer. Carril unlocked nuggets of wisdom, and it was in these conversations that he prepared Webber not only for the noise that would come but also for the best basketball of his career. Carril knew a lot about basketball, but he also knew a lot about life, which is what many of their conversations revolved around. He was a historian with an unorthodox basketball mind who also held on to traditional basketball principles. Where some might have scoffed at putting Webber in an offense that played to the strengths of non-scholarship players in the Ivy League, Carril, or “Coachie,” saw the possibility for unique ways to use Webber. Webber later was sent from Washington to Sacramento before the 1998-99 season. The first time was after his rookie season after he feuded with coach Don Nelson, who shipped Webber to Washington. It took some time, and bumps along the way, for Webber to reach the pinnacle of his greatness. Webber led the NBA in rebounding during the 1998-99 season, averaging 13 per game, and he ultimately was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. 1 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft by Orlando and having his draft rights traded to Golden State. He was a five-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA selection and the 1994 Rookie of the Year after being the No. Webber averaged 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 15 seasons - good all-around numbers for a great all-around player. Webber could do so much, and it’s why he is No. Teammates and opponents marveled at the size of Webber’s hands, which seemed to snag the ball anytime it was within reach with a loud thud that made it sound as if he could squeeze the air out of it. Webber did a lot in his Hall of Fame NBA career, and with encouragement from the right people, he dared to be different and not fit into the stereotypical play of power forwards before him. Webber could play physically in the post, which was expected of a 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward with an array of ways to score.īut while Webber was physically imposing, he also was skilled and nimble on the court. “I think that’s where Chris pushed the envelope and was unafraid to say ‘I can do this.’” They like a comfort zone and rather than say, ‘Let’s think about it, why not?’ they say, ‘You can’t do that.’ “It’s just a testament to life,” said Steve Fisher, who coached Webber at Michigan. ![]() ![]() But if Webber had done that, we might not have seen one of the greatest players in NBA history help redefine how to play power forward. Sometimes it’s easier to do what’s expected.
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