Building The Perfect NBA Player Part IV: Basketball IQ
Welcome to Building The Perfect NBA Player Part IV: Basketball IQ. This is the fourth installment of a 10-part series in which we’ll be building an NBA player from scratch, using 10 different categories to create our player. If you want to keep an eye out for the other parts, check out the “Building” homepage.
What Makes Good Basketball IQ?
In the traditional sense, intelligence quotient (IQ) is a score that’s taken from different standardized tests in order to determine one’s intelligence. Since basketball doesn’t have those tests, we’re going to talk about a couple of very important things to consider when talking about basketball IQ.
A good basketball IQ means the player is more than just a genetic freak. The player has to have the mental aspect of the game nearly mastered. That means being in the right position, making other players better and avoiding making silly mistakes (that means you, JaVale McGee). It also means keeping their head and not costing their team points because of their lack of control (DeMarcus Cousins).
Say what you will about his nightmare of a 2012-13 season. Say what you will about the fact that his man-to-man defense makes turnstiles look downright stingy. What you can’t say is that Nash isn’t (at least offensively) a genius that makes the players around him much better.
Nash doesn’t have elite physical gifts. He never has. But what he does have is such a good basketball acumen that he can overcome those more athletically gifted. Watching him go one-on-one against Dirk Nowitzki is a thing of beauty. Seeing that he routinely makes the right decision to help his team is something Phoenix Suns fans got to see for the better part of a decade. He may be on the back end of his career, but he’s definitely one that’s worthy for our list.
When we’re talking about the best fundamentally sound players in the NBA, Duncan’s name always comes up. There aren’t too many players in the NBA with the nickname “The Big Fundamental.” It doesn’t hurt that he’s been coached by the finest NBA mind in the league today in Gregg Popovich.
His emotional control on the court is second-to-none. He’s always on an even keel, whether his team is up or down by 20 points. It’s because of this that he’s able to remain focused on the task at hand. He’s always in the right position defensively and on the offensive end, he’s as solid as they come. The fact that he’s just had one of his finest seasons at age 37 is further proof that he’s one of the smartest in the NBA.
Phil Jackson has made a number of comments about Bryant earlier in his career in reference to his (non) partying habits. Instead of going out with the guys, Bryant would routinely stay in the hotel to study up on the next opponent. Bryant is definitely the cerebral assassin (h/t WWE’s HHH) of the NBA.
Bryant certainly has the physical skills as well, but watching how he’s changed his game over the years says a lot about how strong Bryant’s basketball IQ is. As he continues to age and his explosiveness wanes, he has tailored his game to still be effective. Bryant even made a radical change to be more of a facilitator during the 2012-13 season and probably could have led the league had he continued.
Spacing and positioning on the court is extremely important. It’s the reason why players like Battier are still in the NBA. Battier was never a gifted athlete and definitely wouldn’t be winning any foot races against most of the NBA today. Still, it’s extremely rare when Battier is on the court and in the wrong position.
Players know players best. When Battier’s Miami Heat teammates speak so highly of his basketball sense, it’s worth noting. How many times has Battier stepped in to take a charge? How many times has he been in perfect position, waiting for the pass to nail that corner 3? He’s also a strong motivator, which part of that is being smart enough to know what the team needs, when they need it and how he should deliver the message.
Paul is a veteran in NBA terms, as he’s just completed his eighth season. Still, he’s only 28 years old and is still improving. Paul isn’t on the level of Nash as far as making his teammates better, but he’s a close second. Paul has made players like Tyson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan viable offensive options because of his prowess in the pick-and-roll.
Defensively, there’s a reason why Paul has led the league in steals per game for five of the last six seasons. He’s smart enough to know when to attack the passing lanes and he’s well-versed in his opponent’s tendencies. It takes a studious player to do both of those things.
Building The Perfect NBA Player Part IV: Basketball IQ Winner Is…
Tim Duncan
The Big Fundamental. Still going strong at age 37. (NBA.com photo)