Environment is key for sporting success

ISAIAH Thomas, in an interview with E:60, claimed the Cleveland Cavaliers were in ‘panic mode’ whilst trying to trade him before the deadline on February 8th this year. After only 15 games for the Cavs he was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers, unaware “…they would pull the trigger that fast…,” he said.

Averaging 14.7 points and 4.5 assists in his short stint with Cleveland, Thomas was a shadow of his MVP self, playing with the Boston Celtics. Whilst coming back from a seven-month hip injury, struggles this season as well as others earlier in his career tell us something. You are a product of your environment.

In every decade in any sport around the world, there is one constant. The greatest players are a part of an elite and stable environment. Others will be great, but the best of the best are surrounded by the finest in their craft, from ownership and administration down to coaches and teammates. Our environment makes who we are.

In his two and a half seasons with Boston, Thomas averaged 23.3 points, including his stellar 2016-17 season where he scored 28.9 a game. In his three seasons with Sacramento, half season with Phoenix and this seasons split with Cleveland and the Lakers, he has averaged 14.8 points a game.

Many are scratching their heads as to why the drop off has been so significant for Thomas, and the answer is simple. He was an example of the Boston Celtics environment. Led by arguably the best coach in the league, Brad Stevens, a relatively stable front office and a team of talented role players, Thomas was given the keys and destined to succeed.

Compare the pair (or four) of Thomas’ former teams. Sacramento haven’t made the playoffs for 12 straight seasons, so Thomas found it hard to dominate. An example of that environment. The Phoenix Suns last relevant season was 2009-10, meaning 5’ 9” Thomas couldn’t lead a revival. An example of that environment. Cleveland is LeBron James dominated, both on and off the court, so Thomas was offered less opportunity. Once again, example of the environment. As for the Lakers, we will wait and see.

Look around professional sports. For majority of successful athletes, they are lucky to be a part of a stable and consistent organisation, leading to their high level of play.

Tom Brady was not a starting quarterback in college until his junior year, and he fell to the sixth round in the draft, taken by the New England Patriots. 18 years later, he has won five Super Bowls and three MVPs, and is seen as the greatest ever by many. He has the Patriots to thank for this to a certain extent.

Imagine Brady at the Cleveland Browns, who have not made the playoffs since 2002, have had seven different head coaches since 2004 and 26 different starting quarter backs since 2003. Unstable, poorly managed, broken.

The Patriots, however, have built a dynasty with stable coaching, a smart owner and front office and a flurry of quality signings. Tom Brady is a very good player, but is he considered the G.O.A.T if he plays for Cleveland? I doubt it. How can you with their history. He could have made them competitive, but eight Super Bowls in 18 years? I doubt it. He is an example of the environment he works in.

Go across the world to the AFL, and there are countless examples of players getting a lifeline with a different team and excelling. Josh Gibson was a talented junior, but didn’t get drafted and so began playing VFL with Port Melbourne, which included many reserves games. North Melbourne took a chance on him, and he was a good, solid player with his first club.

Fast forward eight years and he is a three-time premiership player, a best and fairest winner in two of those years and an All-Australian with Hawthorn. One of the greatest coaches ever in Alistair Clarkson, great footy minds leading the club and surrounded by superstars of the game, of course Gibson was going to succeed.

It was obvious in general game play, as he was free to run off his man and support teammates up the field, but also in the numbers, as his disposals increased to 20+ a game.

Why? He was surrounded by elite people. Luke Hodge down back, Sam Mitchell in the middle and Lance Franklin up forward, that is hard to beat. Gibson was obviously very talented and worked hard, but imagine him staying at North Melbourne. They finished 13th in his last year, so does he achieve all the accolades he did if he doesn’t leave? It is hard to see him doing so.

In sport, you need support. In every year of any sport around the world, those stars who have won championships or MVPs have been surrounded by smart, successful people who make others better. Like anything in life, those in flourishing environments become an example of it.