White NBA Player Not Physically Gifted, But Really Has A Head For The Game

DENVER--Kyle Wohlers, backup center for the Denver Nuggets, may not be the fastest or the strongest person on the court, but he makes up for it with his instincts. While the white Wohlers is not physically gifted, he really has a head for the game.

Wohlers was drafted in the second round of last year’s draft out of University of Kansas by the Milwaukee Bucks. Two weeks later, he was sent to Denver for a player to be named later. In Wohlers, the Nuggets know they are getting a lunchpail kind of guy with a great understanding of the game.

“This white player is going to add a lot of depth to our bench,” says Kiki Vandewehge, Nuggets GM. “Yea, he’s not a flashy guy. You won’t see him do any 360 dunks or anything. That’s not his style. He’s just a grinder who sees the court really well, has a great understanding of the game, and relies on his smarts to make plays. Sort of like John Stockton.”

Wohlers is a seven-footer whom the Nuggets hope will help beef up their interior defense. His footwork is average, his hands are decent, and he’s good at getting himself in a position where he can do some damage under the basket.

“I don’t know what it is,” says Vandewehge. “But he reminds me a bit of Jeff Hornacek. I can’t put my finger on why, especially since Hornacek was a forward and Wohlers is a center. Their games are nothing alike. But he’s just got that same…something that Hornacek has.”

One of the things Wohlers' new coach likes about him is his determination. He doesn’t let his lack of physical talent prevent him from contributing on the court.

“It’s amazing, really,” says Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik. “You see him out there with these other guys who are bigger and stronger and faster and have more natural physical gifts, and he just holds his own because he’s got such a great head for the game. He’s kind of a throwback really. He’s one of those guys that should have played in the 50’s with Bob Cousy and John Havlichek. He would have fit in back then.”

Wohlers' admirers also love his strong grasp of fundamentals. He is an excellent free throw shooter and has a nice short-range jumper. He’s also incredibly unselfish, often choosing to dish it off to his teammates in lieu of taking the shot himself. It’s that kind of selfless play that’s earned him the respect of his teammates.

“Oh yea, Mark’s great,” says teammate Marcus Camby. “He just gets under, gets the ball, and dishes it off to one of us. He doesn’t try to do anything stupid and shoot it himself. His job is to give it to us and step out of the way. He reminds me a little of that Scott Pollard guy from Sacramento. I don’t know why. Just something about him.”

Wohlers says he prides himself on being ready to play every day and being the hardest worker on the team. He doesn’t mind letting his teammates get all the glory while he quietly stays in the background. Not a trash talker, Wohlers has a respect for the game that’s missing in many of today’s stars.

“I guess I’m kind of a throwback,” says Wohlers. “A throwback to the days where a lay-up was just as good as a slam dunk, and team work was more important that selling athletic sneakers. I would’ve fit in a lot better back then because well...because those guy were all, you know…they were all white. There. I said it, OK?”

Players and coaches throughout the league have nothing but compliments for Wohlers. Anyone who is asked will sing his praises.

Says Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves: “Wohlers? Never heard of him. He a white dude? Well then he must be a physically awkward player who gets by on wits and intelligence rather than physical agility. Even though I have no idea who he is, I think he reminds me of Dan Majerle. Yea, that’s it. He’s got the same kind of game as Majerle.”

Wohlers is flattered by all the comparisons. He says he modeled his game after some of the great non-physically gifted players that came before him.

“Rick Barry, Larry Bird, Kurt Rambis, Laimbeer. People like that are who I modeled my game after,” says Wohlers. “They always had a certain appeal to me. I guess I could relate to them because they all had great heads for the game even though they weren’t physically gifted. I'm also a fan of Raef Lafrentz and Keith Van Horn. I don’t know what it is about those guys, but I can really relate to them”

And you can add ESPN’s David Aldridge to the list of Wohlers' fans. Aldridge, upon hearing Wohlers' name, immediately began to draw comparisons to some similar players.

“Kyle Wohlers – that sounds like a white guy’s name. If it is, he reminds me a lot of Kevin McHale. Or maybe even Tom Chambers. Those guys are all cut from the same cloth – a white one.”