Longley tells Martin to follow MJ
April 19, 2012 15:11:14 UK
Retired NBA player Luc Longley has told Perth Wildcats guard Damian Martin to do what Michael Jordan did in his basketball career and give his team his all, even though he may not be completely healthy.
Martin, Shawn Redhage and Jesse Wagstaff all contracted a virus recently and were told to stay away from their team-mates so the danger of the virus' proliferation could be stopped. The Wildcats face an elimination game against New Zealand Breakers on Friday and they need all of their key players for that tie.
(Michael) Jordan had a couple of pretty famous games when he was sick, and sickness is no excuse.
Luc Longley
The Wildcats are 1.001 to win the clash, while the Breakers are 1.001 to do the same.
Longley, who was a partial owner of the Wildcats some time ago, visited his former club's practice session on Thursday and tried to lift their spirits. He gave Martin the example of his former team-mate Jordan, who is widely regarded as the greatest basketball player to ever live.
Longley said that Jordan never allowed sickness or any other personal problem to affect his on-court performance and Martin should try to do the same.
He said: "A couple of them are a bit crook but he (Martin) can inspire them out of sickness. He can use that as a tool ... 'look at me boys - I can do it and so can you'. That's the way Michael Jordan did it with us. It was a really inspirational tool. Jordan had a couple of pretty famous games when he was sick, and sickness is no excuse."
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