Public praise and gaudy stats are grand goals, but to achieve them the coin of the realm in basketball is minutes played. Paeans to unsung heroes among walk-ons and also-rans notwithstanding, you can’t prosper, contribute significantly to your team’s success, or make a positive impression unless you get on the court.
How much time a player spends in action is a reflection of a number of factors – an individual’s strengths, teammates’ and opponents’ weaknesses, squad depth, a coaching staff’s assessment of what is needed to maximize unit performance. Casual observers tend to focus on offensive prowess, but a player is most valuable who can hold his own or, better, alter the terms of engagement at both ends of the court without noticeable fluctuations in effectiveness.