During what seemed like a regular scrimmage at St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois, likely no one realized that two future NBA players, Isiah Thomas and Jeff Hornacek, stood on the same team.
Even fewer could have guessed that one particular play from that day would stick with the latter for years. In a July 2016 interview, shortly after he became the head coach of the New York Knicks -- the NBA team where Thomas had previously held several positions -- "Horny" reflected on the moment.
"I was a little kid out there, running underneath the basket, getting out of the way. In the corner of my eye, I saw the ball, put my hand up, caught it, reversed it, and laid it in. That one play stuck in my head forever. My defender wasn't looking at me. Isiah threw it over his shoulder, and I got a layup," recalled Hornacek, per the New York Post.
The connection between "Horny" and "Zeke"
The young duo of Hornacek and Thomas didn't scrimmage together by mere coincidence. Instead, this connection was made possible because Jeff's father, John, coached at the same Illinois high school that Isiah, a Chicago native, attended.
It's fair to say that on that day, "Horny" saw something that many NBA fans would also come to admire: the exceptional passing skills of one of the greatest point guards in history, Thomas. The Hall of Famer demonstrated this skill time and again throughout his impressive 12-time All-Star career, which lasted from 1981 to 1994.
Notably, "Zeke" earned the title of assist leader in 1985 and currently ranks 10th on the NBA's all-time assists list. Additionally, the former 6'1" playmaker holds the record for the most assists in Detroit Pistons history.
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The art of the assist
While Hornacek gained recognition on the court for different reasons, especially his impressive sharpshooting, watching a young Thomas deliver that perfect pass taught him an important lesson. The Utah Jazz legend noted, "In this game, you have to be a good passer."
Therefore, after the one-time All-Star retired in 2000 and subsequently transitioned into coaching, he made it a point to share that wisdom with his players.
"I tried to use it in teaching my players to pass when they're open," Jeff emphasized.
This approach is spot on because a well-timed pass can create numerous easy scoring opportunities. To make this happen, ball handlers need to be aware not only of their own scoring options but also of their teammates, especially when they're unguarded.
When executed correctly, this connection can bring satisfaction to both the passer, who gets an assist, and the scorer, who adds points to the scoreboard. Just ask Thomas's former teammates -- after seeing it happen countless times, they can share more than enough.
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