Jul
22
You can have differences of opinion when it comes to what kind of player Nolan Smith is. Is he a point guard, shooting guard or combo guard? Can he be a starter in the NBA? Was he the right pick at No. 21 in the 2011 NBA Draft? These are questions that, at the very least, can be legitimately debated.
But one thing that absolutely cannot be questioned is Nolan's attitude toward his career and life in general. I've never meet person, let alone an NBA player, who, regardless of the situation, is always keeping his eye on the positive. You could dump hot coffee on his lap and he'd likely tell you, "No big deal. I was a little cold anyway."
It's that fierce allegiance to remaining positive that allows Nolan to describe sustaining a concussion in the second game of the Las Vegas Summer League as a "blessing in disguise" while actually believing the words coming out of his mouth. If I were in Nolan's situation, I'd bemoan there being no 2011 summer league (lockout), having to sit out the second half of Portland's first 2012 summer league game (ankle) and missing the final three games (concussion) after tallying 27 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists against the Rockets.
But not Nolan. Rather than wondering what he's done to bring on such rotten luck, he just keeps finding the blessing in every situation. I'm not a Christian, but I have the utmost respect and admiration for people who are truly grounded in their faith. Nolan personifies that to the fullest.