BRAMA, Jan 26, 2004, 10:00 am ET
Ukrainian Titans - Seattle Supersonics' Vitaly Potapenko's Critical Role
– by Max Pyziur
– interviews by Hanya Krill
Vitaly Potapenko (file)
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Most days you think that professional sports would be a meritocracy -- the best players getting the most playing time helping their respective teams win.
The Seattle Supersonics have found a way to confound this thesis in spite of popular opinion, especially when playing its three centers - Jerome James, Calvin Booth, and Ukraine national, Vitaly Potapenko.
Invariably at the start of the season Coach Nate McMillan would start Jerome James, then relieve him with Calvin Booth leaving Vitaly, an NBA veteran of over 7 seasons, playing few if any minutes. Production-wise neither James nor Booth are outstanding and in some cases a liability. By the 12th game of the season (hosting the Washington Wizards) Coach McMillan, to his apparent reluctance, started putting Vitaly into the rotation almost mechanically - James would start and play 5 minutes, then Booth for a few, then Vitaly, repeating this circular sequence over the course of subsequent games.
Seattle Sonics' Coach Nate McMillan (file)
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When Coach McMillan is asked why he doesn't play Potapenko more his stock reply is that he wants "to go to his young players" (12/9/03). 
All three centers are within a year of each other in age; Vitaly has the most experience, but Calvin and Jerome have been playing in the NBA for at least 4 years.
When asked to comment on this, Vitaly's stock stoic reply is, "I gotta do my job ... that's all" (12/9/03).
When he began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1996 Vitaly's role was as offensive as it was defensive registering statistics in both the points category as well as the rebounds one. Although he can register acceptable scoring numbers (on January 9th hosting Memphis Vitaly was 3/5 in field goals, 8/12 in free throws for 14 points in 13 minutes of play) these days he's known more for the amount he keeps the offense from scoring. These activities go under the indelicate phrases of "throwing bodies on the opponents" and "clogging the middle." At 6' 11", 285 lbs and known to his fellow players as a weight room warrior, Vitaly is an exemplary practitioner of the craft doing everything the referee won't call as fouls. This includes knotting arms, executing picks, and dislodging his opponents to keep them off balance.
Vitaly Potapenko stretching before the game (file)
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During Saturday's game (January 25th) against the Los Angeles Clippers Coach McMillan's frustration with "young player" Calvin Booth's inability to keep Clippers' Power Forward Elliot Brand from doing as he pleased resulted in putting Vitaly in the game. Vitaly instantly shut Brand down (won praise from "popular opinion" such as the Seattle Times and Tacoma News Tribune) and opened up the game for teammate Ray Allen's strong shooting. Vitaly went on to score 2 for 5, make 7 rebounds, and get 2 steals on 22 minutes of playing.
When asked about his low blocking and stealing stats Vitaly said that his concern was on "maintaining position ... given that big men are the last line of defense" (12/9/03).
So what do you want - the "failings of youth" or the "benefits of maturity?"
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