Pivot Points: Talent and the Curse Of Expectations

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

From the moment most of today's stars displayed an aptitude for basketball, an incredible burden was placed on their shoulders.

As their promise grew, so did their burden, until they were like Atlas, bearing the weight of the world.

What happened next is inevitable—either they conquered their burden, or they were crushed underneath it.

Talent can be like that because it's great if you're blessed with it. But talent can also be a curse if one is not prepared to handle the expectations that go along with possessing it.

Kwame Brown is a prime example of talent that seems cursed. Brown became the first high school player to ever be drafted with the No. 1 pick.

He was 6'11'', with a great physical build, and blessed with extraordinary athleticism. People thought that he was going to be an evolutionary type of player, one who could possibly change the game.

There were numerous factors that were working against Brown. One was that he was drafted by then-general manager, Michael Jordan.

Jordan was given the keys to the Wizards' franchise, and proceeded to show everyone that none of the skill he displayed on the court translated to the front office.

Jordan had developed a reputation for being hard on players, and with Brown, he was merciless, perhaps forgetting that Kwame was only 17 years old.

There were instances when Jordan berated Brown until he was on the verge of tears, and crybaby millionaires don't go over well in the locker room or the general public.

The reputation that Brown garnered seemed to manifest itself on the court, as he was perceived as soft, and even worse—lazy.

During his rookie season, Brown went from can't-miss phenom to monumental bust—and it wasn't really his fault.

For all his talent and untapped potential, Brown was still a 17 year old trapped in a man's body. He was nowhere near prepared for the rigors and scrutiny of NBA life.

Most observers would consider Brown's career a bust, but I choose to walk a different path.

One of the biggest things about having talent is learning to live with your own—not the ones that are made for you.

If Brown were to do a self-assessment, he would discover that he is a huge success, even by the standards we set for ourselves.

Most of us could never hope to achieve the worldly accomplishments that Brown has. He has made a decent amount of money, and has had contract extensions that still allow him to play for big money.

He is considered a legitimate player now, even if he never realizes the lofty goals that the media and fans set for him.

If Brown were to reflect, he could possibly find solace in the fact that, by all means, his life so far has been a success.

Chauncey Billups is a different side of the coin.

He was drafted third overall by the Boston Celtics in 1997. Billups was considered one of the better point guard prospects that year, but he struggled in the beginning of his career.

Boston lost favor with Billups, and he proceeded to bounce around to four different teams. In his first season, Billups had become a journeyman, and there were whispers that he was a bust.

Billups' story could end there, but it didn't because he was a different type of player.

Even though most fans perception of him had changed, Billups had the fortitude to believe in himself. His confidence never wavered, and he patiently waited for the right situation to arise.

That chance came in 2002 when the Detroit Pistons made a move to get him. He proved to be an integral piece of a changed Pistons' team that captured a crown in 2004.

Billups was named Finals MVP, and earned the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" because of his penchant for late-game heroics.

Maybe there was something inside of Billups, that Brown lacked, that made him strive to reach his full potential.

Maybe it was because Billups gave himself time to mature while at the University of Colorado, and Brown had only been subjected to inferior high school competition.

Whatever the reason may be, they are an example of two players who were blessed with talent, and crushed by the burden of having it.

Billups was able to overcome his struggles and become one of the best point guards in the league, clearly living up to his own expectations.

Brown could make that same statement, if he has made peace with the fact that he only has to live up to his own.

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