Christian Laettner's 2011 Jacksonville Giants Buzzer Beater

December 4, 2011
By: Christian Laettner

CHRISTIAN LAETTNER PARTICIPATES IN ANOTHER BUZZER BEATER

DECEMBER 3, 2011 ABA JACKSONVILLE GIANTS

CHRISTIAN LAETTNER TO MIKE POLYTE TO CURRYE TODD

I am still a little in shock!! In my very first game with the Jacksonville Giants of the ABA, I was lucky enough to be involved in another game winning buzzer beater!!  Reality is truly stranger than fiction.  No one could have scripted a better ending to my first game back from competitive play in six years!!




". . . my first game back from competitive play in six years!!"

In a very tight game against a good Gulf Coast Flash team, we found ourselves down 2 points with 3 seconds left. The Flash had just scored the go ahead bucket---it was my man who hit the shot---right in my face!! I immediately felt so bad for the guys on my team--I had let them down, as I couldn't defend the quicker, younger flash players without giving up a contested jumper!! 

At my age, I can't take away all the offensive players' options!! So I headed to the huddle a little depressed, but yet hopeful . . . cuz of all people . . . I should know that strange,  incredible things can happen  (think 1992).  I was really happy when Coach Waters 

". . . sometimes the game of basketball comes down to who wants the ball the most!!!"

did not ask me to shoot the final shot, but yet he did include me in the final play as I was currently in the game! He drew up a great play with me taking the ball out of bounds.  Now, I was in the position of Grant Hill from the Kentucky shot - totally cool and fun!!

I was supposed to make a pass to our big center Kenny Walker from Alabama at the half court line. He was then to pass the ball ahead to our dead ringer 3 point shooter Currye Todd (formerly with the 2011 National Champion South Eastern Texas Mavericks). That is how Head Coach Kevin Waters designed the play in the huddle. However, my pass to half court was a little off, and Kenny came too far in front of the half court line.  This all resulted in a "free ball" situation.  And, thank heavens that our supreme athlete Mike Polyte "pursued the ball" at all costs!!

This is a huge teaching point that I always try to make when I am instructing players and teams.  And, that is, sometimes the game of basketball comes down to "who wants the ball the most."  It doesn't always come down to x's and o's and skill plays and execution. Most of the time, it comes down to fighting for the ball, desiring to have that ball of "gold" in your hands!

"Christian . . . go get the ball!!"

RICHARD MILLER, CHRISTIAN LAETTNER, DONTE' HILL
Photo by: B. Luthin All Rights Reserved

I remember a few times when Coach K and Coach Gaudet at Duke could see that I was depressed from not getting the ball enough on offense.  And, this is what they would say to me:   "Christian . . . go get the ball!"  Notice how they did not say:  "Oh, Christian, we will make sure we get the ball to you more and run more plays for you to get the ball in your hands." No, . . . they did not say that! They said:  "Too bad son, stop complaining and get more loose balls, get more steals and blocks and rebounds, and then you will have the ball more! Go get the ball, just go get it and stop complaining!"  Awesome advice, needless to say. Actually, the best advice!

So, anyway, back to the Jacksonville Giants game.  Mike Polyte makes an incredible play and gets that free ball (loose ball) in his hands and passes it ahead to our dead ringer shooter, Currye Todd, who unleashes a rainbow 28 footer from the right wing that hits nothing but the bottom of the net! I think we all knew it was going in because Currye is that type of shooter!

Then all pandemonium broke loose!! 

"all pandemonium broke loose!!"

LAETTNER HIGH FIVES FANS AFTER WIN

Everyone yelling and screaming and celebrating and hugging!! What a game.  What an opportunity for us as a team and me personally to be able to be a part of another buzzer beater and the first with my new team, the Jacksonville Giants!  I hope the fans enjoyed the evening as much as we did!

2011-2012 Jacksonville Giants

Congratulations to the Jacksonville Giants team, the organization and to the guy who made it all happen, and that is Mike Polyte! The entire play, the buzzer beater, none of that fun we all experienced last night at the game happens if Mike Polyte doesn't "pursue the ball!" Sure, Currye Todd made an incredible shot, and he should be commended.  But, he does not make that shot and we don't win if Mike doesn't get the ball in his hands!   Way to go Mike, way to be aggressive!

Great play and evening.  Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

Christian Laettner has developed a method of teaching skills and techniques learned over the years and reinforced by playing NBA and Olympic basketball which will improve any players game and aid in coaching.  If you would like to attend one of Laettner's camps or schedule a special camp exclusively for your group or event,  please visit www.Laettnerbball.com

LISTEN TO LAETTNER AS HE DISCUSSES HIS NEW POSITION WITH THE NBA DEVELOPMENT TEAM IN FT. WAYNE, INDIANA, THE MAD ANTS.  http://downtownjax.firstcoastnews.com/news/people/71275-nba-star-christian-laettner-discusses-nba-development-league

Edited by: Joseph and Bonnie Miller

Photographs by: Bonnie L. Miller

Permissions: email: joe@appwright.com 

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