Muggsy inspires kids in Alaska Jr. NBA camp

MANILA, Philippines - It looked like NBA veteran Tyrone (Muggsy) Bogues was one of the 50 boys in the 10-14 age group selected for the Alaska Jr. NBA National Training Camp that got underway at the UP Gym in Diliman yesterday.

Standing only 5-3, Bogues is in the record books as the shortest NBA player ever. In a game where height is might, Bogues was a rarity. He was Washington’s first round pick in the 1987 NBA draft and suited up for Washington, Charlotte, Golden State and Toronto in a 14-year career in the majors. Bogues, 48, remains Charlotte’s all-time leader in minutes played, assists and steals. In 1993-94, he averaged a double-double with 10.8 points and 10.1 assists in 77 games as the Hornets starting point guard.

Bogues spoke at the tip-off program for the National Training Camp and encouraged the boys to believe in themselves as he did in himself in making basketball a career despite his size. “It’s all about self-confidence,” said Bogues. “Visualize your goals, believe in yourself because if you don’t, you can’t expect the guy next to you to believe in you. Don’t be what you aren’t. Understand your limitations and play to your strengths.” Bogues said hard work, dedication and perseverance are the keys to success in a team game where every player must understand his role. He also stressed the appreciation of the STAR values of sportsmanship, teamwork, positive attitude and respect.

Bogues is in town to conduct the three-day boot camp with Jr. NBA coach Sefu Bernard and PBA legend Jojo Lastimosa. He will coach Team Muggsy in the first-ever Jr. NBA Alumni All-Star Game at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia tomorrow. Bogues will be opposed by Lastimosa who is coaching Team Jolas. The contest will feature 22 graduates of the Jr. NBA program from 2007 to 2012, including UST’s Aljun Mariano and UP’s Henry Asilum.

“I’m excited to be part of the Alaska Jr. NBA program,” said Bogues in a STAR interview. “I was told the program is now on its sixth year and going strong. I think the partnership between the NBA and Alaska is a bond that reflects a vision to develop kids to become not just good players but also good persons living a healthy life.”

Bogues shrugged off the notion that because the average Filipino is short, it’s next to impossible to break into the NBA. “Is there a chance for a Filipino to play in the NBA?” said Bogues. “Why not? It starts with setting a goal, visualizing what you want to be. It’s about making your dream come true like I did mine. It will take a lot of hard work, a lot of steps to get to where you want to go. But look at me, who ever thought I’d make it to the NBA?”

The shortest player ever in the PBA was 5-5 Billy Abarrientos who was even taller than Bogues. But Bogues never made his lack of size a handicap. “People ask why I didn’t get disappointed about being left out or being called too short, why I just didn’t give up and walk away from all that abuse,” said Bogues in his book “In the Land of Giants,” referring to his boyhood in the Baltimore projects. “I didn’t give up because I knew I was good at it. All I needed was a chance to show my stuff and once I got it, I got respect. That’s why I’ve always been so passionate about basketball. I love the game itself but I also love that it earned me the respect of people who doubted me. Other kids still made jokes about my size but now it was with admiration and that made all the difference.”

A Jr. NBA camper who’s shorter than Bogues is 5-1 Juan Carlo Garcia, 14. He has made it to three straight National Training Camps but was never picked among the top 10. Whether he is named to the top 10 or not this year isn’t a priority for Garcia although it would be an honor to be chosen. His focus is to improve his game through the guidance of Bogues, Bernard and Lastimosa and the incoming junior hopes to show his progress with the UE high school varsity.

Bogues said none of his three children got involved in basketball. “I never pushed any of my kids to play,” he said. “I wanted them to develop on their own. I have two daughters Tyeisha who’s 30 and Brittany who’s 26. My son Tyrone Jr. is 22. He grew up with Steph Curty whom I’m known since he was in diapers. Steph’s father Dell was my teammate in the NBA. My son played the game but never really took it to the highest level. He concentrated on school work.”

The youngest of four children, Bogues was raised in a tough neighborhood. When he was five, Bogues was sprayed with shotgun pellets in his right arm and right leg. Today, he still carries lead in his right arm. Bogues was only 12 when his father Richard was jailed for armed robbery. “As a kid, basketball was my savior,” he said, quoted by Tzvi Twersky. “I picked it up as my main game when I was probably around 13 or 14. Before that, I used to wrestle and ran track.”

Bogues singled out Curry was the NBA player who had the most impact in his career. “We complemented each other,” he said. “Dell was the shooter, I was the facilitator. Larry Johnson was another player who had a big impact on my career.” He said he is grateful to former Charlotte coach Allan Bristow for believing in his ability to lead the team with an up-tempo style.

“Looking back, I have absolutely no regrets in my NBA career,” he said. “Some people felt I should’ve scored more and I could’ve but my role was to distribute the ball, get my teammates involved. If I had a choice of which players to play with, I would pick Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell at center although I enjoyed playing with Moses Malone and Alonzo Mourning, Charles Barkley at power forward, George Gervin at small forward and Michael Jordan at two-guard. Another guy I played with in the NBA was Bernard King who was great at the three position.”