Brian Scalabrine is more than just a basketball player, I’ll forever stand by that statement. When it comes to popular basketball players whom don’t have much statistics to be worth mentioning, Brian Scalabrine is at the top of the list. Though all his career averages are in the single digits (3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg, & 0.8 apg), Brian Scalabrine has made over 20 million dollars, and made fans out of all of us. What makes him such an icon? Its a variety of things.

1. He practices hard and plays hard, every time he’s on the court. He is mentally prepared and physically prepared for any situation. Brian’s advice to us all is to stretch thoroughly, breathe properly, and think positively.
2. Brian has a bad case of luck, which is a good thing for every team he has ever been on. Upon being drafted to the NBA in 2001 by the former New Jersey Nets (Brooklyn Nets), he helped his team make it to the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. In 2007 when he signed with the Boston Celtics, Brian Scalabrine earned an NBA championship, getting his revenge on the Los Angeles Lakers receiving the title “The White Mamba” (Killer Contrast to Kobe Bryant’s The Black Mamba”).
3. Brian has the flexibility of an 8 year old gymnast, and shows it on the regular. During the NBA Finals (regardless of him knowing that Coach Doc Rivers didn’t plan on putting him in the game) he showcased his incredible stretching talent, leaving Doris Burke speechless. He also held his own basketball camp, where during free time he showed the kids how to moonwalk like Michael Jackson (by the way, only very talented people can do such move). Dancing has relived Brian of his restless legs while he sits on the bench, so after a great play happens for his team, he does a shimmy antoine walker would be proud of. Only an Icon can have so much confidence.
4. Confidence. Brian’s confidence can only be matched by likes of Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and other incredible athletes. How does that work? Brian is 6’9 with white skin and red hair. He has no shame in his appearance, game, and work ethic. He embraces everything thrown at him and that makes him a basketball great. When a reporter asked him how it felt to not play a single minute in the NBA Finals he addressed the reporter exuding so much confidence that for a second, everyone in the room went blind. Brian told the reporter “Why would you think thats funny? I tell you! It’s not that difficult to do because GUESS WHAT?! Maybe now you can say i didn’t play a second, but in 5 years, you guys are going to forget, in 10 years i’ll still be a CHAMP, in 20 years i’ll tell my kids i probably STARTED, and in 30 years i’ll tell them i got the MVP, I’m really not too worried about it”.
5. Intelligence. Brian is so far ahead of everyone when he plays basketball. Why? Because he carefully exams and dissects every move as he sits on the bench, and when he goes in he already knows what’s going to happen at the end of the quarter. He’ll already know he scored that 3 and slammed that dunk, he’ll know he took a charge and he will get knocked out for a while, but he does it with pride. There has been times when Brian tried to surpass his incredible talent of telling the future and messed up. He tried dunking on Derrick Rose and he failed, as the point guard threw it away, also he tried inbounding the ball to Rajon Rondo but he thought Rajon was going one way and Brian threw it the other way, incidentally to an opposite player, as the opposite player scored 2 points before the buzzer rang. It’s alright Brian, nobody’s perfect, but you’re damn close.
6. His personal life. Brian is not only an incredible athlete, he is also a devoted husband and father. He married his wife in Hawaii, like all real men do. They have two children who are destined to be either presidents, hall of fame athletes, or Adam Sandler’s kids best friends. Regardless he loves his family. When Brian had a hamstring injury, he quickly tried healing it by his own remedy, not the teams doctor remedy. He flew to the islands of Fiji on his own, and perfected the art of yoga while only eating fish he’s caught, boar he’s hunted, and water he’s found deep inside the island where fresh water tastes like heaven. Brian has tasted the difference between bottled Fiji water and real Fiji water, he said “it’s the best water in the world, and before I left I gathered gallons of the fresh water and brought it back home. I’ve learned how to brew it, and soon after I retire, I will show the people of this good world what real fiji water tastes like.”
7. Athlete’s for Hope. Brian is a member of ‘Athlete’s for Hope’, which is an organization where athlete’s share their time, talent, and wealth with people all over the world. It’s a prestigious group of successful athletes including the likes of: Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Steve Nash, Jeff Gordon, Tony Hawk, Alonzo Mourning, and of course Brian Scalabrine.

Brian, you have inspired basketball fans all over the world to be better athletes, people, and lovers. ‘The White Mamba’ is a living legend, an icon, and a friend to all the citizens of this world. If there are a few sporting games you have to attend before you die or run out of money, attend a Yankee’s vs Red Sox game, a game between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Peyton Manning vs Eli Manning, and a game where Brian Scalabrine shows you his greatness on and off the court. Thank you Brian Scalabrine, White Mamba, Chuck Norris’s long lost nephew. I hope a team picks you up soon, enjoy this offseason with your family, stay flexible my friend. 

Here are some Brian Scalabrine Memes, Enjoy!