It's the 'Ben Knight Allstars'!

By Ryan Mobilia

Let me start by saying. I like Ben Knight, I like him as a player, and the career he has had. This column could easily have used a number of different NBL players to head line it name but I chose Knight out of respect. Sure, I have created this team and idea demonstrate the necessity of players in the League such as Ben Knight, but also to point out that to build a championship team - you need more.

31 year old Knight has played at 8 different stops around the league in his career, for 7 teams. Statistically peaking at 19pts and 10rbds per game in 2001, with career averages of 11 and 6. It could easily be called the Aaron "Good at two things: Shooting Threes and drinking bourbon!" Trahair Allstars - Knights current team mate in Singapore. But Knight imbodies that all around help out guy, who you can not win a title without.

The Ben Knight Allstars Line - glue guys that are complimentary and rarely anything more, certainly not franchise players (at least at the current stages of their careers.) Although capable of great numbers, on certain nights, generally they float around third leader on the team in most catagories. In conclusion, great teammates when the have stars around them. See: Ben Knight, Sydney Kings Era. But struggle as a first or second option, See: Scott McGregor, West Sydney Era. Sometimes it also takes a player a while figure out that they are starting five material for the Ben Knight Allstars, with a lot of things in life it is trial and era. The perfect example is our good friend Russell Hinder, who went from being the perfect compliment player in West Sydney, to more of a go to guy in the struggling Hunter Pirates out fit. Goorjian, the Sydney Kings and Rusty himself believed he was more than just a role player, but this past season saw him struggle as a focal point, and then finally thrive in a lesser position.

A "BK Allstar" is the ultimate wing-man. Who will, in the parlance of pop culture at the moment, "Take one for the team" for the greater good. Like a female at a bar who is willing to field the questions and advances towards their more attractive girlfriend, so she can be somewhat alone with the man of her choice, (perhaps a celebrity). Giving her friend time to work her magic and get them all invited to the exclusive after party for some show... A Ben Knight Allstar, will do what it takes to get to the promised land if coupled with a star. But left alone he (she) would settle for the newest offer on the table, never quite getting to the next level of sucess until, a "friend"/"teammate" pairs with them!

In the past two seasons it has been proven that Championships need "Ben Knight" allstars on their squad to win it all. Could the Tigers have one without Mottram and Hoare in 2006, or the Bullets without Mick Hill and Dillon Boucher? I seriously doubt.

Once again thier is nothing with BK Allstars but they will never be the crowd drawers of teams number one options. This is whay the Gold Coast Blaze are yet to excite me even the slightest, They are currently trotting out the ultimate BK Allstars starting five so far...

- Ben "As long as new teams keep coming in desperate for Aussies, I could play till I'm fifty" Melmeth

- Pero "Krispy Kreme" Cameron

- Scotty "Not the attractive one from Temptation" McGregor

- Casey "Another Kiwi" Frank

- "Hawk" Hawkins, 37 years old or something (import) "The Dmac of the Philo League!"

Average age of team so far 30+ ... Only time will tell, and if this comes together I will stand corrected.