Savage: Foyle Continues to Contribute Off the Court
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By Dan Savage
December 9, 2010
He has reached the NBA Finals.
He holds a franchise’s record for career blocked shots.
But for Adonal Foyle, basketball has always meant more than achieving records on the court. Instead, he’s viewed the game as an outlet to reach out to others.
That’s why it’s only fitting that on a night dedicated to celebrating his basketball career, Foyle still found a way to give back.
Along with commemorating his league legacy on Tuesday night, the 13-year NBA veteran hosted a holiday reception that helped raise money for the Kerosene Lamp Foundation (KFL), an organization he founded in 2005 that uses sports to help empower at-risk youth.
“It’s about getting kids aware and bringing them up to the level where they can have choices,” Foyle explained. “It’s about giving kids the tools necessary to be extraordinary young men and young women.”
However, the foundation is not the only altruistic endeavor that Folye is involved in since he announced his retirement in mid-August.
Along with maintaining his position with the KFL, Foyle recently accepted a role as the Magic’s Director of Player Development.
The position allows Foyle to still be around the game he loves, while also helping players on Orlando’s roster.
For Magic President of Basketball of Operations Otis Smith, the decision to bring Foyle aboard was an easy one.
Since their time together with the Golden State Warriors organization in the late 1990s, Smith has observed the intangibles the former player brought to his teams.
That’s why Smith kept Foyle on the Magic’s bench the past two seasons, even though he could have filled his roster spot with a younger and potentially more physically gifted athlete.
“Teams that he’s been on have always had a higher basketball IQ,” Smith explained to the reception’s audience on Tuesday night.
That’s because even in his former role as a player, Foyle was making an effort to help those around him.
As someone who did not touch a basketball until he 15 years old and was overwhelmed coming into the league, Foyle relied upon NBA veterans such as Terry Cummings, Felton Spencer and Muggsy Bogues when he was drafted by Golden State in 1997.
They taught him how to examine the game, prepare for on-the-court action and to keep a level head regardless of the circumstances around him.
As a result, Foyle has always felt responsible to share those gifts with other players.
“I felt compelled when I become the veteran to pass on that gift that was given to me,” he explained. “The game is not mine to hold to, it’s a gift that must be passed along to everybody else.”
One of the athletes touched by Foyle is current Orlando backup center Marcin Gortat.
During their time together with the Magic, Foyle explained to Polish prodigy how to play hard, become mentally tough and stay focused.
“He’s diamond in the water,” Gortat said. “He’s a great teammate and teacher. You can count on him anytime. He’s a great leader and a great professor of the game.”
Along with teaching him how to perform on the court, Foyle instilled Gortat with life lessons focused on behaving off the basketball floor, investing money wisely and grasping the concept of the NBA as a business.
“If it wasn’t for him, I would be different player and person,” Gortat explained. “I would be a guy living from check to check trying to survive, because I would be making stupid moves. I would definitely be in a different situation than I am now.”
That’s why Gortat sees Foyle as the perfect fit for his new position with the Magic.
“I don’t think you could find a better one,” he explained. “You have a guy who knows the game, who knows the basketball life and who knows a lot of people in and around the league. When he talks to you about certain things, you know he’s already experienced it.”
Although Director of Player Development is not final stop on Foyle’s career path – as Smith pointed out, “some people are meant to do greater things,” – it’s a role he relishes for the time being as he deals with learning how to live life after basketball.
“It’s weird,” Foyle explained about the sensation of his playing days being over at such a young age. “I equate the unfairness to a musician or a golfer, who at 35 are just hitting their peak, but in basketball we are done.”
While his life on the basketball floor is over, his journey off the court continues on. And for that, the world is likely to become an even better place.
For more information on the Kerosene Lamp Foundation click here.
December 9, 2010
He has reached the NBA Finals.
He holds a franchise’s record for career blocked shots.
But for Adonal Foyle, basketball has always meant more than achieving records on the court. Instead, he’s viewed the game as an outlet to reach out to others.
That’s why it’s only fitting that on a night dedicated to celebrating his basketball career, Foyle still found a way to give back.
Along with commemorating his league legacy on Tuesday night, the 13-year NBA veteran hosted a holiday reception that helped raise money for the Kerosene Lamp Foundation (KFL), an organization he founded in 2005 that uses sports to help empower at-risk youth.
“It’s about getting kids aware and bringing them up to the level where they can have choices,” Foyle explained. “It’s about giving kids the tools necessary to be extraordinary young men and young women.”
However, the foundation is not the only altruistic endeavor that Folye is involved in since he announced his retirement in mid-August.
Along with maintaining his position with the KFL, Foyle recently accepted a role as the Magic’s Director of Player Development.
The position allows Foyle to still be around the game he loves, while also helping players on Orlando’s roster.
For Magic President of Basketball of Operations Otis Smith, the decision to bring Foyle aboard was an easy one.
Since their time together with the Golden State Warriors organization in the late 1990s, Smith has observed the intangibles the former player brought to his teams.
That’s why Smith kept Foyle on the Magic’s bench the past two seasons, even though he could have filled his roster spot with a younger and potentially more physically gifted athlete.
“Teams that he’s been on have always had a higher basketball IQ,” Smith explained to the reception’s audience on Tuesday night.
That’s because even in his former role as a player, Foyle was making an effort to help those around him.
As someone who did not touch a basketball until he 15 years old and was overwhelmed coming into the league, Foyle relied upon NBA veterans such as Terry Cummings, Felton Spencer and Muggsy Bogues when he was drafted by Golden State in 1997.
They taught him how to examine the game, prepare for on-the-court action and to keep a level head regardless of the circumstances around him.
As a result, Foyle has always felt responsible to share those gifts with other players.
“I felt compelled when I become the veteran to pass on that gift that was given to me,” he explained. “The game is not mine to hold to, it’s a gift that must be passed along to everybody else.”
One of the athletes touched by Foyle is current Orlando backup center Marcin Gortat.
During their time together with the Magic, Foyle explained to Polish prodigy how to play hard, become mentally tough and stay focused.
“He’s diamond in the water,” Gortat said. “He’s a great teammate and teacher. You can count on him anytime. He’s a great leader and a great professor of the game.”
Along with teaching him how to perform on the court, Foyle instilled Gortat with life lessons focused on behaving off the basketball floor, investing money wisely and grasping the concept of the NBA as a business.
“If it wasn’t for him, I would be different player and person,” Gortat explained. “I would be a guy living from check to check trying to survive, because I would be making stupid moves. I would definitely be in a different situation than I am now.”
That’s why Gortat sees Foyle as the perfect fit for his new position with the Magic.
“I don’t think you could find a better one,” he explained. “You have a guy who knows the game, who knows the basketball life and who knows a lot of people in and around the league. When he talks to you about certain things, you know he’s already experienced it.”
Although Director of Player Development is not final stop on Foyle’s career path – as Smith pointed out, “some people are meant to do greater things,” – it’s a role he relishes for the time being as he deals with learning how to live life after basketball.
“It’s weird,” Foyle explained about the sensation of his playing days being over at such a young age. “I equate the unfairness to a musician or a golfer, who at 35 are just hitting their peak, but in basketball we are done.”
While his life on the basketball floor is over, his journey off the court continues on. And for that, the world is likely to become an even better place.
For more information on the Kerosene Lamp Foundation click here.
