Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
Friday, May 13, 2005, Washington Post

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

The Wizards are battling the Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association playoffs. Right now, the Wizards could use another big, strong player such as Kwame Brown to match up against Shaquille O'Neal, the Heat's bruising center.

But the Wizards suspended Brown during their series with the Chicago Bulls. The Wizards were tired of Brown missing practices and complaining about not playing enough. Brown even complained about the fans at MCI Center booing him.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Four years ago, the Wizards selected Brown as the first pick in the NBA draft. Brown was a young player with a superhero's body who could run like a deer and jump right out of the gym. Even though he was coming straight out of high school, the Wizards figured that Brown would grow up to be a star like Kevin Garnett or Tracy McGrady.

Brown did not grow up. This season (his fourth), Brown averaged only 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. (By his fourth season, Garnett was averaging more than 20 points and 10 rebounds a game.) Brown looked like a star for a game or two. Then he would get injured or get in trouble with his coaches and teammates.

Kwame Brown shows that it takes more than a great body to be a great athlete. Sure, it helps to be big, strong and fast. But athletes have to be willing to work hard to get better. Pro ballplayers also have to be tough and determined when things don't go exactly as they expected.

The Wizards' roster is full of tough, hard-working, team-oriented players.

Gilbert Arenas is the same age (23) as Kwame Brown. The difference is that Arenas works and practices as hard as any player in the NBA. Maybe that's why Arenas is an all-star.

Or how about Juan Dixon? He had a terrible game against Chicago, making just one of 10 shots. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, Dixon went to the gym and took 1,400 practice shots. The next game, Dixon scored 35 points and led the Wizards to a big win.

Or what about Michael Ruffin? Kwame Brown has far more athletic ability than Ruffin. But Ruffin has made himself useful to the Wizards by doing the thankless jobs of rebounding, setting picks and playing defense.

I hope Kwame Brown grows up and becomes a big star. He seems like a nice enough guy. And it is always sad to see a possibly terrific player waste his talent. But Brown will not become the best he can be until he stops making excuses and starts working as hard at basketball as his Wizards teammates do.