From: smorshea@cc.curtin.edu.au
Subject: Re: Gaze in the NBA?
Organization: Curtin University of Technology
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 02:48:40 GMT

In article <1992Sep30.170849.19262@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU>, gidi@Hilbert.Stanford.EDU (Gidi Avrahami) writes:
> CS19241099G@LUST.LATROBE.EDU.AU (CRAWFORD, TROY) writes:
>>[...] he has many attributes similar
>>to Chris Mullin, he is a good shooter, ball-handler, is unselfish and 
>>possesses good court savy.  What do you think?
> 
> I also have many attributes similar to Chris Mullin (including, but
> not limited to, being handsome and drinking much less beer than I used
> to) but that doesn't make me an NBA player.
> 
> What makes Mullin and NBA superstar is not his shooting touch or
> unselfishness.  It's his hard work, dammit.  If Andrew Gaze had half
> the dedication that Mullin has, he would have played at Seton Hall for
> at least another year; he'd work harder on all aspects of his game;
> and after being cut once, he'd hang around and try again and again to
> make it.
> 
> You think that Mullin was born with all that "good court savvy?"  No,
> he worked on it all day long and all night long for years and years.
> And so does every other kid who wants to play in the NBA.  I'm not
> saying that Gaze can't make it in the NBA -- but he'll have to want it
> very badly and be willing to make sacrifices and overcome a lot of
> frustrations.  And even then he could fail.
> 
> So what, he's a big star in division II in Italy and you think the NBA
> will come chasing after him?  They're not going to.  They got dozens
> of players like him busting their butts in summer camps hoping for a
> chance to be the twelfth man somewhere, and if they don't make it
> they'll play in the CBA and try some more.
> 
> Gaze is probably having more fun and making more money in Italy, and
> that's just fine.  He probably doesn't have the fire to want to be in
> the NBA.
> 
> Look at Drazen Petrovic.  He was a really big star in Europe (easily
> the best guard) and still it took him several years of bench time and
> frustration to make it in the NBA.  It's more than talent (and he is
> much more talented than Gaze).  It's the hard work and dedication and
> being ready to go through this mental and physical boot-camp.  Without
> it, your lovely jumpshot is just meaningless.
> 
> 
> --Gidi
> 
> 
> Your bit about Gaze only staying in the NCAA one year was slightly inaccurate.
The NCAA only gave Gaze one year, for some reason he was listed as a junior when
in fact he was a senior, and despite Seton Hall's efforts they were unable to 
get another year for him.  I think Gaze could make the NBA, but I don't think he
will make another attempt, as I don't see him getting a guaranteed contract from
anybody.  If he hadn't got the thrombosis in 1990, he would probably be in the 
NBA, he had offers from Philadelphia, Minnesota, and Seattle(?) to attend their
camps, and could have made one of their squads.
Your comments about Petrovic are somewhat inaccurate.  In his first year he 
started off with back surgery, putting him behind for the entire year.  
Compounding this was Portland's mis-use of him, he could have shown a lot more
that year.  I think he had made it by the end of his second year, certainly
he is looked at as a lot more than a role player in NJ.

Andrew
smorshea@cc.curtin.edu.au
> 
>