Hometown Handyman - basketball players - Brief Article

Basketball Digest, Summer, 2001 by Donald Hunt

THERE ARE A LOT OF NBA SIXTH men who provide hot shooting, defense, rebounding, or passing--in fact, it appears that every sixth man has one specialty. However, Aaron McKie, BASKETBALL DIGEST'S 2000-01 Best Sixth Man, gives the Philadelphia 76ers a little bit of everything.

McKie is one of the most fundamentally sound players in the NBA. He knows how to hit the open man, spot up from three-point range, and play good defense. As a result, Sixers coach Larry Brown has used him at three different positions: point guard, shooting guard, and small forward.

"Aaron just knows how to play the game," Brown says. "He's shot the ball very well. He's played in a lot of different places for us. I really like Aaron's defense--he's done a great job playing against some of the league's best players. He comes in and just provides our team with a big lift, and he does things so unselfishly."

The 6'5" McKie knows his role. Ironically, though, it was his brilliant play as a starter this year that caught the eyes of fans around the league. He replaced starting point guard Eric Snow, who missed 32 games after right ankle surgery on December 9.

During that time, the Sixers went 22-10 with McKie in the starting lineup. In Snow's absence, McKie led the team in assists in nine consecutive games and in 20 of 32 games overall. In four of the six games All-Star guard and NBA scoring champion Allen Iverson missed this season, McKie led the team in scoring.

"I know my role on this team," McKie says. "I tried to help the team out when Eric was hurt I knew he was going to be out for a long time. Then again, I knew he was coming back. When he returned, I was ready to come off the bench. The same-thing happened with Allen.

"We don't have a lot of superstars on this team. We all have a job to do. Everybody has to pitch in and do what they do. I just try to stay ready all the time."

After the Sixers sent Theo Ratliff, Nazr Mohammed, Toni Kukoc, and Pepe Sanchez to the Atlanta Hawks for Dikembe Mutombo and Roshown McLeod, McKie became the team's primary scoring threat off the bench, averaging 11.6 points per game on 47.3% shooting and chipping in solid rebounds (4.1 rpg) and assists (5.0 apg). He also was Philadelphia's second-best three-point shooter (31.2%).

As a flexible player who provides just what his team needs, McKie has become quite a fan favorite. He grew up in Philly and played with Portland Trail Blazers star Rasheed Wallace at Simon Gratz High School under head coach Bill Ellerbee. He didn't move far after his high school career, playing at Temple for head coach John Chaney. During his career with the Owls, he played on three consecutive NCAA Tournament teams with Eddie Jones (Miami Heat) and Rick Brunson (New York Knicks).

"I've been very fortunate to be surrounded by good people," McKie says. "Mr. El [Ellerbee] gave me a lot of encouragement. He spent a lot of time working on my game. He's a person I've known for quite awhile. Coach Chaney helped take my game to another level. He taught me a lot about basketball, but even more about life. The good thing about me playing for the Sixers is that I can get in touch with them almost any time."

The 28-year-old McKie will be a free agent this offseason but would like to finish his NBA career in his hometown. McKie is one of several former Philadelphia-area schoolboy players in the league, including Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Cuttino Mobley (Houston Rockets), Alvin Williams (Toronto Raptors), Malik Rose (San Antonio Spurs), Richard Hamilton (Washington Wizards), and Wallace.

"I'm really proud of all the Philly guys," Wallace says. "They all seem to be doing a good job, and that's good news for the city. But Aaron is blessed to be able to play for the Sixers. It's a team he grew up watching. You can tell the fans like him. He's a guy who plays hard all the time."

BASKETBALL DIGEST'S Best Sixth Men

Year       Player           Team                   Position

2000-01    Aaron McKie      Philadelphia 76ers     Guard
1994-95    Dell Curry       Charlotte Hornets      Guard
1993-94    Nate McMillan    Seattle SuperSonics    Guard
1991-92    Dan Majerle      Phoenix Suns           Guard
1990-91    Ricky Pierce     Seattle SuperSonics    Guard
1989-90    Ricky Pierce     Milwaukee Bucks        Guard
1988-89    Thurl Bailey     Utah Jazz              Forward