I think it should be a factor but it usually isn't. Not because I don't value it, but because I can't measure it. I used to play competitive basketball and I can attest to the value of a good...
I think it should be a factor but it usually isn't. Not because I don't value it, but because I can't measure it. I used to play competitive basketball and I can attest to the value of a good teammate, but it's really hard to measure how good of a teammate a player is, especially when I don't play with them or against them.
For example, if you look at the Spurs of 2000-2010, just by looking at their game I can't necessarily say Tim Duncan is a better teammate than say, Manu Ginobili.
I"m not very familiar with basketball but there are some examples to be found in baseball. For me, a player being a good teammate is important but is only a piece of the puzzle. Barry Bonds is...
I"m not very familiar with basketball but there are some examples to be found in baseball.
For me, a player being a good teammate is important but is only a piece of the puzzle.
Barry Bonds is considered to be one of, if not the greatest hitter of all time, PED use notwithstanding. But during his playing career, he was notoriously standoffish towards both his teammates and the media.
This article does a good job of explaining how Bonds was during his playing days but the short of it was that he didn't appreciate how, early in his career, he had to carry a Pirates team with his own performance. Eventually, he grew to resent that and he built up a shell around himself. When he was with the Giants, his teammates tried to break that shell down so Bonds tried to be more friendly and personable but Bonds had grown so accustomed to his way that his hitting suffered. For whatever reason, Nice Bonds couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.. Baseball is an incredibly mental game and success or failure often predicated on how well a player can or can't stick to his "process". Bonds teammates eventually told him that they wanted the old Bonds back so that he would start hitting again. Bonds reverted to his old self, got his edge back, and immediately started hitting the cover off the ball again.
Alex Rodriguez was also considered to be a bad teammate, at times at least, over the course of his career but in a different way than Bonds was. A-Rod was more full of himself and narcissistic. For example, during Game 4 the 2007 World Series, A-Rod and his agent Scott Boras announced that A-Rod was opting out of his massive contract. While A-Rod was within his contractual rights to do so, the move was roundly criticized as an attempt by A-Rod to distract attention from the World Series, particularly as the Yankees rival, the Red Sox, were well on their way to a possible sweep of the World Series. Such announcements, traditionally, were made after the conclusion of the Series, so as not to take attention away from baseballs premier event.
Despite their general attitudes and behavior, however, both players were considered to be too good to be replaced. The Yankees had, publicly, stated that, while they were willing to work an extension with A-Rod to keep him in the Bronx, they would not resign him if he opted out of his deal. They did anyway because A-Rod was just that good at the time. And the rumor was, A-Rod would consider signing with the Red Sox. The Yankees couldn't allow A-Rod to go to their hated rival fresh off another World Series win.
At least in these examples, the players were poor teammates(Bonds being a loner who wanted little to do with his teammates, A-Rod being the quintessential "Me First" teammate) but elite performers and as such, teams were willing to put up with their behavior in exchange for that performance.
For me, it doesn't take away from how good a player is or was. Ultimately, their job is NOT to be a good teammate. That's a bonus. It's certainly preferred. Mariano Rivera was the first unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame, mostly due to his performance as a pitcher but also because he was so well known as a likable and friendly teammate who also treated the media nicely.
But a players first priority is to perform to the best of their ability. To win games. It doesn't matter what sport we're talking about, no fan will ever say "Well they lost again but they're all such great teammates so it's ok". And no player will ever say "Hey we're 0-16 but we're all good buddies so no big deal".
I think it should be a factor but it usually isn't. Not because I don't value it, but because I can't measure it. I used to play competitive basketball and I can attest to the value of a good teammate, but it's really hard to measure how good of a teammate a player is, especially when I don't play with them or against them.
For example, if you look at the Spurs of 2000-2010, just by looking at their game I can't necessarily say Tim Duncan is a better teammate than say, Manu Ginobili.
I"m not very familiar with basketball but there are some examples to be found in baseball.
For me, a player being a good teammate is important but is only a piece of the puzzle.
Barry Bonds is considered to be one of, if not the greatest hitter of all time, PED use notwithstanding. But during his playing career, he was notoriously standoffish towards both his teammates and the media.
https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/barry-bonds-escalated-standoffish-attitude-mlb-career/story?id=42549035
This article does a good job of explaining how Bonds was during his playing days but the short of it was that he didn't appreciate how, early in his career, he had to carry a Pirates team with his own performance. Eventually, he grew to resent that and he built up a shell around himself. When he was with the Giants, his teammates tried to break that shell down so Bonds tried to be more friendly and personable but Bonds had grown so accustomed to his way that his hitting suffered. For whatever reason, Nice Bonds couldn't hit the broad side of a barn.. Baseball is an incredibly mental game and success or failure often predicated on how well a player can or can't stick to his "process". Bonds teammates eventually told him that they wanted the old Bonds back so that he would start hitting again. Bonds reverted to his old self, got his edge back, and immediately started hitting the cover off the ball again.
Alex Rodriguez was also considered to be a bad teammate, at times at least, over the course of his career but in a different way than Bonds was. A-Rod was more full of himself and narcissistic. For example, during Game 4 the 2007 World Series, A-Rod and his agent Scott Boras announced that A-Rod was opting out of his massive contract. While A-Rod was within his contractual rights to do so, the move was roundly criticized as an attempt by A-Rod to distract attention from the World Series, particularly as the Yankees rival, the Red Sox, were well on their way to a possible sweep of the World Series. Such announcements, traditionally, were made after the conclusion of the Series, so as not to take attention away from baseballs premier event.
Despite their general attitudes and behavior, however, both players were considered to be too good to be replaced. The Yankees had, publicly, stated that, while they were willing to work an extension with A-Rod to keep him in the Bronx, they would not resign him if he opted out of his deal. They did anyway because A-Rod was just that good at the time. And the rumor was, A-Rod would consider signing with the Red Sox. The Yankees couldn't allow A-Rod to go to their hated rival fresh off another World Series win.
At least in these examples, the players were poor teammates(Bonds being a loner who wanted little to do with his teammates, A-Rod being the quintessential "Me First" teammate) but elite performers and as such, teams were willing to put up with their behavior in exchange for that performance.
For me, it doesn't take away from how good a player is or was. Ultimately, their job is NOT to be a good teammate. That's a bonus. It's certainly preferred. Mariano Rivera was the first unanimous selection to the Hall of Fame, mostly due to his performance as a pitcher but also because he was so well known as a likable and friendly teammate who also treated the media nicely.
But a players first priority is to perform to the best of their ability. To win games. It doesn't matter what sport we're talking about, no fan will ever say "Well they lost again but they're all such great teammates so it's ok". And no player will ever say "Hey we're 0-16 but we're all good buddies so no big deal".