Bill Bradley and others like Pete Maravich violated my Celtics fan code growing up. I couldn't root against them.
John McPhee profiled Bradley in A Sense of Where You Are. Princeton had a magical run to the Final Four in 1965, led by Bradley, a banker's son. Most superstars don't come from that side of the tracks.
What comes to mind when I think of Bradley?
- College and NBA star, NBA Champion with the New York Knicks
- Rhodes Scholar
- Senator from New Jersey
- Disciplined work ethic from age 12 pursuing his basketball dream
- Integrity
- Final Four single game scoring record (58 points) in the long-departed consolation game
- Hall of Famer
- Compete against the 'imaginary' pro
- Easy - Game to 11, shooter hoops count 1, misses add 3 for "Bill" - to win you have to make at least 11/14
- Hard - Game to 15, shooter hoops count 1 misses add 1 for "Bill"
Bill Bradley’s journey and discipline are captured so vividly in A Sense of Where You Are by John McPhee. Here are some memorable quotes from the book that highlight his focus, work ethic, and character:
On Bradley’s unparalleled dedication:
“You could lock him in a gym for twenty-four hours, and he would come out the next day better than he was when he went in.”
On his ability to elevate his play under pressure:
“Bradley doesn’t merely get by when the pressure is on. The greater the pressure, the better he plays.”
On his intellectual and physical synchronization:
“He was as quick mentally as he was physically, and he played basketball with both a natural grace and the rigor of a scholar.”
On Bradley’s precise practice routines:
“Bradley divided the court into precise segments and practiced from each, over and over, until his shots seemed as inevitable as gravity.”
On his sense of humility:
“There was a modesty about him that had nothing to do with self-effacement and everything to do with self-respect.”
On the ethos that defined his game:
“Bradley seemed to see the court not just as it was but as it would be a few seconds later. It was as if the game unfolded in slow motion for him while everyone else was moving at full speed.”
"But even a tightly knit force can be compromised by a single person."
Lagniappe 3. Make it about our team.
"The sign of a great player is not how much he scores, but how much he lifts his teammates performance"
— Coach Mac 🏀 (@BballCoachMac) January 14, 2025
- Red Holzman pic.twitter.com/UOpyif436p
