Potapenko is a physical presence in the lane. Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

That hasn’t been difficult for most of his season and a half in Seattle. When Potapenko was acquired from the Boston Celtics, the big story was who the Sonics were getting rid of – forward Vin Baker – not who they were acquiring. It helped that Potapenko was injured, rehabilitating the left ACL he tore before the 2002 playoffs while with the Celtics, and wouldn’t make his Sonics debut until late December. Still working his way into playing shape, Potapenko saw his playing time usurped by the trio of Predrag Drobnjak, Jerome James and Elden Campbell.

This season saw more of the same. After Drobnjak’s departure, Sonics Coach Nate McMillan felt he needed to give James and Calvin Booth first crack at the center position, as he told Potapenko.

“I talked to Vitaly at the beginning of the year,” McMillan recalled before this Tuesday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. “I told him I had two centers I had to give an opportunity to. They’re going to have to play themselves out. Because I was partly responsible for them being there, I had to give them an opportunity to play. Once we did that, we’d get him in there. He understood that, he accepted that, and he’s been ready to play.”

Potapenko appreciated his coach’s candor.

“I think we should all be up front,” he said. “I think coaches and players should trust each other.

“I think it’s important to get a fair chance. All three of us got a fair chance. If you don’t perform, then somebody else will do it.”

Inevitably, Potapenko has gotten his opportunities this season. And because he maintained a positive attitude instead of sulking because of his limited role, Potapenko has been ready for those opportunities, particularly during the month of January. Four times this month, Potapenko has scored double-digits, something he did just twice in 26 games last season.

“It’s all about your mental state, your mind, how you want to look at it,” Potapenko says about the fluctuating minutes. “Even when I go for two-three minutes, I don’t try to rush in, show what I can do in three minutes, score a lot. I think it works. I follow the speed of the game, what’s going on, following the course of the game. I blend in and if I have to grab two rebounds, make defensive stops without even touching the ball in three minutes, it is what it is. I have to do it. That’s what’s required for the good of the team.”

The offense, as Potapenko alludes, is nice, but he isn’t in the lineup for his scoring. What McMillan wants Potapenko to do is use his 6-10, 285 frame to bang on the opposition’s best post scorer.

There has never been a more perfect opportunity for Potapenko to show off his skills than last Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Clippers All-Star power forward Elton Brand started off the game on fire, making his first six shots and scoring 14 points in the first quarter working against Booth and James. Potapenko came in and cooled Brand off, holding him to 12 points the remainder of the game – and just two in the fourth quarter. Potapenko finished with the modest stat line of four points and seven rebounds, but many observers credited him with winning the game for the Sonics.

The downside? Potapenko blew his cover. He was prominently featured in local beat writers’ accounts of the game, and they had plenty of Potapenko quotes to choose from.

“I don't how many points he scored,” said Sonics guard Antonio Daniels. “I don't now how many rebounds he had. I just know he played a hell of a game.”

McMillan concurred, saying, “I thought he just had good position on Elton. He’s stronger and basically kept him out of the paint. He contained him. Calvin game him too much space, Jerome was too close and basically Vitaly played him in between. He wouldn’t give him deep post position.”

As a reward for his performance against the Clippers, Potapenko made just his second start of the season against the Mavericks. While the first start, against the Boston Celtics, was because James was being punished, this looks to be a more permanent position.

Despite a seeming mismatch against the run-and-gun Mavericks, Potapenko came through with a terrific effort, scoring a Sonics-high 16 points and connecting on seven of eight shots. An evening later, Potapenko faced the challenge of Lakers All-Star Shaquille O’Neal. Making his return from a calf injury, O’Neal connected on just one of four shot attempts, and Potapenko also grabbed seven rebounds.

The following day at practice, Potapenko spoke about the need to take different approaches against different players.

“You know his strong sides, his favorite moves, his forte,” Potapenko said. “You have to match it. Elton Brand, he likes to play physical, he’s a hard worker, he never stops. You have to match him. You have to concentrate, always keep moving your feet, get in position between him and the basket. Shaq is different. You use different strategies against different players, so it all depends on the personnel.”

No matter the matchup, Potapenko prides himself on his defense.

“It’s good,” he said about shutting down an opponent. “First, it’s good that I can help the team. Second, it’s personal satisfaction because you got the job done.

“It requires work, dedication, concentration. I enjoy it because I take it personally – not allow my player to score, and score over him.”

Even if it means the spotlight eventually works its way to him.