With legends Devin Thomas and Anthony Babb to his left, and Phillip Brooks and Don Morehead to his right, Chris Whitney had the perfect stage to speak the truth.
After all, he’d spent his childhood looking up to them.
And so, in front of 60-plus Men2Be students and a cadre of Hopkinsville’s parents and leaders, the former Christian County High School, Lincoln Trail College, Clemson University, 11-year NBA point guard and Charlotte Hornets assistant did just so Saturday morning at the Middle School Performing Arts Center in Hopkinsville — recapturing his more youthful days from grinding on local courts, to sharing locker rooms with “The Admiral” David Robinson and the game’s greatest-ever in Michael Jordan.
He spent less time talking about his own accolades and more time answering questions from students — eager to learn the path from here to there.
UHA star guard Gavin Grubbs asked, “Say things aren’t going your way: how do you maintain the work ethic?” He was reflecting back on a common theme throughout the program — about how one gets what one puts in to achieve goals and desires.
Understanding “things just won’t always go your way,” Whitney said, is just the beginning.
From the Colonels, to community college, to Clemson, to the world’s top collection of players, Whitney’s star only continued to rise in his career.
However, at each level of play came new surroundings. New faces all with the same mindset of having been the best at their prior station. Whitney went from averaging 14.6 points, 6.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 58 games with Clemson, to career averages of 6.5 points, 2.8 assists and 1.4 rebounds in the league.
But therein lies the key. Whitney said he remained “coachable,” doing what his teammates and coaches asked. If he needed to score, he scored, or tried. If he needed to pass or rebound, he did.
Point guards intrinsically have to find the best in other players, often deferring to make an offense and defense go. At each basketball juncture, he had to learn the difference between “being the man,” and “helping the man.”
As Whitney put it, “everyone has a role” to bring about team success.
So what if basketball hadn’t worked out for Whitney? What if his hopes, his ambitions, had been derailed by an unfortunate injury, or his practice habits hadn’t led to success? After all, less than 4,500 people in the world’s history have suited up for the NBA.
Of course, someone had to ask “The Question.” The debate that will rage on for decades to come.
Because in those final years of his professional career, Whitney had to deal with the likes of “The Answer” Allen Iverson, “The Black Mamba” Kobe Bryant — and this rookie phenom out of Akron, Ohio, by the name of LeBron James.
So. Who was better — LJ or MJ? — Whitney stayed vintage, going with his former Washington Wizards teammate.
He also once again cracked, just as he did in Washington D.C. 20 years ago: “My locker wasn’t next to his. His locker was next to mine.”
At the conclusion of Whitney’s panel, newly-elected Hopkinsville mayor JR Knight, alongside Men2Be officials, presented him with another “Key to the City” of Hopkinsville — for his efforts in giving back to the community.
About Men2Be Inc.: it’s a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization, specifically designed to help the boys of Christian County between the ages of 7-18 connect with academic and professional goals, by providing access to programming, training and leadership from other active leaders and productive citizens in the region.
Whitney’s Full Panel:
CJ Brewer Speaks:
Vice Killebrew Speaks:
Don Morehead Delivers Some History:
