He’s as huge in Chicago as Derrick Rose is and that’s saying a lot for a guy who averages about 4.4 minutes per game this year and just 13.0 in his career. But whoever he may roam, Brian Scalabrine is loved by all. In New Jersey, Boston and Chicago he get standing ovations that rival that of Derrick Rose.
That’s saying a lot too. Usually when a guy never plays and he gets an ovation it’s a sarcastic gesture. But Scalabrine may be one of the only guys in all of sports that gets a genuine show of appreciation and utter love when he steps foot on the court.
He’s a legend, a myth and a hero all rolled into one.
He’s got nicknames, fan sites, t-shirts with his face plastered on them. Brian Scalabrine is the Rocky Horror Picture Show of the NBA, he’s got a wicked cult following and his followers will pretty much do anything for him.
Scalabrine is an O.G. in the fullest meaning of the term. The dude doesn’t even play but he’s got more fans then most mid-level NBA stars and he’s got NBA Championship rings. If Chuck Norris wants an egg for breakfast he cracks open a chicken, but it Brian Scalabrine wants breakfast he cracks open Chuck Norris.
But after a decade in the NBA, Brian Scalabrine is nearing the end of his cult career. Last season Scalabrine stated that if the NBA was to have a lockout, he’d walk to Europe and play there. And knowing the legend of Scalabrine, he most likely literally could walk to Europe.
In all seriousness, the question is becoming how much longer the White Mamba can stick around — more importantly how much longer does he wasn’t to stick around? He rarely plays which lengthens his longevity as a player, but Scalabrine also doesn’t want to become a clown. He’s an NBA player and to keep his career going just to be a sideshow on the bench isn’t something anyone wants to do.
But Scalabrine is more important then that. He provides a calm on the Bulls bench. He’s like Mr. Miyagi, his presence provides a balance in team chemistry. This team works, it can win and if you think Scalabrine is not an equal part of that because he doesn’t get minutes then you’re dead wrong.
However after this season the 34 year old Scalabrine is an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign wherever he wants. The Bulls will most likely make a play at re-signing him since his contract is only worth 1.4 million and what he’s worth in terms of chemistry far exceeds that.
It’s all up to Scal. If he wants to come back you’d be hard pressed to say he doesn’t return to Chicago, but if he wants to walk, he most likely will but it’ll be into the sunset.
This championship run may be the last for Scalabrine and that only heightens the intensity of this playoff run for the Bulls. He may not retire since he very well could have at least 5 more years left in him but who knows what Scalabrine is thinking. He’s got a degree in History from USC (which was easy for him to get since he invented history) so he’s not totally reliant on basketball.
He’ll be welcome in Chicago as long as he wants to stay. If this is the last run for Scalabrine, then it can very well be the climactic end to his career that would be very fitting to the man, the myth and the legend that is Brian Scalabrine.