A throwback to an earlier age, Snow rarely shoots but makes his mark with his ballhandling and defense. Snow is considered by experts one of the NBA’s top three points at the defensive end of the court, joining a couple of elite players, Jason Kidd and former Sonics teammate Gary Payton. With 6.9 assists per game, Snow is in the league’s top ten despite the fact that backcourt-mate Allen Iverson handles the ball so frequently in the Philadelphia offense. And while Snow’s scoring is still considered a weakness, he is averaging a career-high 13.2 points per game this season while shooting 45.6% from the field and 86.7% from the line.

Snow throws down a dunk during his rookie season. Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty Images

It’s hard to believe that the Sonics expected quite that level of success when they traded for him on June 28, 1995. Snow was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 43rd pick and traded shortly afterwards to the Sonics for the rights to Aurelijius Zukaukas, their 54th pick, and a 1996 second-rounder. With two-time All-Star Payton starting at the point and dependable veteran Nate McMillan as the backup, the Sonics weren’t looking for an instant contribution from Snow. Instead, they hoped he’d serve as insurance in case one of the veterans went down while learning the NBA game. For Snow’s part, he was happy to get drafted after a stellar four-year career at Michigan State University, where he teamed with 1995 lottery pick Shawn Respert. “I was just excited to be going anywhere in the NBA,” Snow recalls. He knew of the Sonics depth at the position, but instead of viewing it as an obstacle, he looked at it as an opportunity. “I was just coming in here ready and willing to listen and learn,” he explains.

There was a lot of listening, learning, and especially watching during Snow’s rookie season. Despite an impressive preseason performance that guaranteed his spot on the roster, Snow saw just 389 minutes of action over 43 games. He did have his moments. On Mar. 13 against the Orlando Magic, with Payton ejected and McMillan injured, Snow came in for the conclusion of a 100-99 comeback win. Two nights later, with Payton suspended by the NBA, Snow started at the point against Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks. Behind his 13 assists, the Sonics swamped the Mavs 120-97. That was Snow’s only start of the season, but he played in 10 games as the Sonics advanced to the NBA Finals for only the third time in team history.

A year later, Snow played a larger role because of McMillan’s increasing injury problems. In his second year, Snow played in 67 games and more than doubled his minutes played to 775. Just as always, Snow did not overwhelm anyone with his scoring average of 3.0 points per game. More impressive were his 2.4 assists – nearly 10 per 48 minutes, a better ratio than Payton’s – and a 3.31 assist/turnover ratio. With McMillan able to play just three games in the playoffs, Snow was a key part of the rotation as the Sonics battled Houston to game seven of the Conference Semi-finals before falling. In 48 playoff minutes, Snow handed out 12 assists and did not commit a turnover.

Snow is known for his defense. Here, he blankets another former Sonics point guard, Earl Watson. Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images

Snow’s heady playmaking and strong defense led many in Seattle to wonder if he could be paired in the starting lineup with Payton following the departure of Hersey Hawkins. Whether Payton would play some shooting guard or not, more minutes seemed to be in the offing for Snow when he re-upped with the Sonics for two more years during the summer of 1997.

Then, suddenly, everything changed a week into training camp. On Oct. 7, 1997, the Sonics signed free agent point guard Greg Anthony. Anthony, a six-year veteran at the time, had started the last two seasons for the Vancouver Grizzlies and led the team in scoring during its inaugural season. Suddenly, Snow was forced into a battle for the backup point guard job, with the possibility of being demoted to fourth-string when McMillan returned to action. To Snow, the reason for the move was clear. “George Karl wanted a veteran,” he says of the former Sonics coach, never known for his fondness for young players. “I understand that,” Snow concludes of the move now that time has given him perspective.

Anthony ended up winning the training camp battle to back up Payton, and Snow was relegated to the end of the bench. He played just 17 games and 74 minutes before being stashed on the injured list in mid-January. A day later, he was gone, traded to the 76ers in exchange for a second-round pick in either 1998 or 1999. Though disappointed to leave Seattle, Snow was still pleased with the deal. “I was going into my third year and I needed to play,” he recalls.

At first, it wasn’t evident whether Snow would find that much more playing time in Philadelphia, given that the 76ers were starting Iverson at point guard at the time. Quickly, Philadelphia Coach Larry Brown realized that the potential was there to team the two in the backcourt. With Snow bringing the ball up, Iverson would be free to concentrate on finding his shot. Defensively, Snow’s physical style would allow him to defend shooting guards while the 6-0 Iverson continued to play against points. The arrangement was used on a trial basis during the final 47 games of the 1997-98 season, with Snow playing nearly 20 minutes per game in reserve.

That was the last Snow would see of the bench. By the beginning of the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, Brown had installed Snow as a starter. Coincidentally or not, the 76ers took off. After winning just 31 games during 1997-98, the 76ers won 28 against 22 losses in 1998-99 and made the playoffs, where they upset the Orlando Magic and advanced to the second round. Snow averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 assists per game in addition to his stellar defense, firmly establishing himself as an NBA starter. He started all 82 games the following season as the 76ers returned to the playoffs.

Snow hosts a father and son from the Philadelphia area at each 76ers game. Sixers Photos

2000-01 was a trying year for Snow personally because of injuries, but as a team Philadelphia achieved its greatest glory in decades. With Snow playing the point despite a broken ankle, the 76ers advanced to the NBA Finals. Last season, he played and started in 61 games as Philadelphia made the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

As he approaches his 30th birthday, Snow is playing the best basketball of his career. He has managed to improve his shooting to the point where he is an asset in that regard instead of a liability. Given his defense and ballhandling, this makes Snow a very valuable player. He’s also the only guard yet to succeed starting alongside Iverson, with players like Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes and Speedy Claxton all ending up getting traded because of their inability to co-exist with the former MVP. Snow attributes this to his ability to complement Iverson’s skills. “They didn’t let him be the scorer that he is,” Iverson says. “I was the only one to do that.”

As for the rest of his game, Snow gives a lot of credit to his former teammates with the Sonics, McMillan and Payton. “We talked a lot,” he recalls. “They led me in the right direction, put me in the situation where I was able to handle a trade, handle playing a lot when I left here.” Snow has also followed the lead of these players and Hawkins in terms of his reputation as one of the NBA’s better people. He was awarded the league’s Sportsmanship Award for the 1999-00 season. Still, he downplays the importance of any such accolades. “I’m not doing it for recognition,” he says. “It’s who I am.”

On the court or off it, Snow is a true professional in this league. That’s why it’s little surprise Sonics fans occasionally imagine him still in the green and gold.