'Big Shot Rob'

Lakers appreciate Horry's many unsung contributions

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Lakers had just swept the Nets to win the NBA title Wednesday when Lakers forward Robert Horry pulled aside teammates Shaquille O’Neal and Brian Shaw for a quick history lesson.

According to Shaw, Horry told them that before Wednesday there had been only five players in NBA history who had been members of two teams involved in Finals sweeps.

With their triumph over New Jersey in Game 4, Horry informed them, that select group had now been expanded by two: Shaw and O’Neal, teammates on the Magic team that got swept by Horry’s Rockets in 1995.

"But then he reminded us that there was only one guy who was on the right side both times," Shaw said with a chuckle before providing the answer. "Him."

Who can blame the normally modest-to-a-fault Horry for tooting his own horn a little? After all, he might be as responsible as Shaq and Kobe for the Lakers’ three-peat. Had Horry not slayed the Kings with that buzzer-beating 3-pointer in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, L.A. might never have made it to the Finals.

"That’s Big Shot Rob," a jubilant Kobe Bryant said. "When the game’s on the line, he’s going to get us kick-started."

One for the Thumb Players with five championship rings Player  Team(s), Seasons  Michael Cooper  Lakers, '80, '82, '85, '87-88  Robert Horry   Rockets, '94-95; Lakers, '00-02  Magic Johnson  Lakers, '80, '82, '85, '87-88  Slater Martin  Lakers, '49, '52-54; Hawks, '58  George Mikan  Lakers, '49-50, '52-54  Don Nelson  Boston, '66, '68-69, '74, '76  Jim Pollard  Lakers, '49-50, '52-54  Dennis Rodman  Pistons '89-90; Bulls '96-98  Larry Siegfried  Celtics, 65-66, '68-69   Click here for the complete list of players with five rings or more.

As the jubilant Lakers sprayed champagne all over one another, Horry’s unsung contributions to their three-peat kept coming up. Through all three titles, the 31-year-old power forward seemingly was always there to hit the big shot, grab the key rebound, make the right entry pass and do the little things needed to set up the superstars.

"There are a lot of people who don’t have the ability to walk down the street," shrugged Horry, the father of a handicapped daughter. "I’m just glad God gave me the ability to walk down the street, [let alone] make shots."

Horry’s contributions in L.A.’s Game 4 clincher against the Nets were similarly modest: 12 points, four rebounds and six assists in 44 minutes. His defense wasn’t anything special. Nets forward Kenyon Martin torched him several times on the way to a game-high 35 points.

But, as has been the case so often in his pro career, Horry was there when it counted. He scored seven points during the Lakers' key third-quarter run when they took control and put the Nets on their heels.

He hit a 3-pointer from the corner to give L.A. its first lead of the second half at 64-63. Then he put the ball on the floor, drawing a foul that resulted in two free throws and a 69-67 Lakers lead. Finally, in a play that was typical Horry, he found himself with the ball in the low post after a scrambled Lakers possession. Aware that the shot clock was winding down, he backed down Martin and buried a tough 11-foot turnaround jumper for a 71-67 lead.

After 10 NBA seasons and five NBA championships, Horry has learned how to make contributions that don’t show up in the box score. Late in the third, Martin faced up Horry on the side and spun inside toward the rim. As Martin went by him, Horry gave him a little hack on the arm, low and subtle, the kind not often seen by the refs. Martin missed the shot.

"Rob is five-for-five in the Finals," Shaw said. "That in itself says it all. He’s a winner. If I’m in a war or I’m in a fox hole, he’d be one of the first guys I’d pick. He’ll make big plays and big shots. He’s very humble and unassuming. He’s probably the most respected guy on the team, including Shaq and Kobe, because he is so clutch and he takes care of business."

This year’s Lakers championship will be remembered for Shaq’s dominance and Kobe’s all-around brilliance, but L.A.’s players won’t forget the contributions of their easy-going "Big Shot."

"After Rob salvaged Game 4 against Sacramento," Lakers forward Rick Fox said when asked when he knew his team was going to win another title. "With that shot, we were warned that it was time to get things going. After that, we played the way we’ve played the last three years."

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.

 

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