According to witnesses, James Ennis threw his All-NBL First Team trophy off a Docklands pier in rage after missing out on being named MVP at the NBL awards dinner Wednesday night.
The Perth Wildcats star himself insists it was merely a water bottle he threw and that he still has the trophy, although he declined to produce the trophy from his luggage when asked by a reporter.
Did he throw the trophy? Did he throw a water bottle? Well, it doesn’t really matter, because either way we can conclude two things.
First, this is a great week for Melbourne’s treasure-hunting community.
Second, Ennis – despite a more civil take on events talking to media yesterday – was pretty miffed at not being named MVP. In addition to water-bottle-or-trophy-throwing, he took to Twitter, saying: “It’s all about scoring lol wins don’t matter.”
It’s all about scoring lol wins don’t matter..
— James Ennis (@JamesDa_Truth) April 2, 2014
Despite the fact Ennis averaged more points than eventual winner Rotnei Clarke, neither matched the points leader, Chris Goulding.
Let’s start with the obvious here. Any analysis of this situation can’t miss the fact these actions send all the wrong messages. Such carry-on for an individual award in a team game – and on the eve of a grand final, which Perth are in – has understandably rubbed people the wrong way.
The actions also carry the implication of disrespect.
“I only heard about it at the dinner and it’s extremely disrespectful,” said Melbourne Tigers star Mark Worthington. “It probably shows he doesn’t respect the league, Rotnei Clarke or Chris Goulding and gives an insight into the guy.”
You’d have been hard-pressed to find a single person in the room that night who believed any of that trio were unworthy.
That said, what Ennis did is not a hanging offence. We should all just cool down a bit. We’re talking about an athlete here who wants to get the best out of himself. An athlete who is passionate about his craft and takes pride in his performance.
In the AFL back in 2008, cameras caught a very visible wince on Gary Ablett’s face as he missed out on the Brownlow Medal for the second year running. Gazza obviously didn’t proceed to throw his All Australian medal into the Yarra that night, however the point is that disappointment in such a circumstance is understandable.
Yes, both are team games, but the team can’t succeed without individuals striving to give their best. When a player gives a contribution they feel qualifies them for individual recognition, we can forgive them for spending one night of the year being human.
In the case of Ennis, in particular, he probably set himself a goal of winning that award. Not having it on his resume could possibly – rightly or wrongly – alter perceptions of him among decision-makers in the NBA. In his own head, it would’ve been kind of a big deal.
So you can understand the disappointment. You can understand a bit of anger, too. Where he went wrong is he expressed that disappointment and anger in a highly ungracious manner. He opened himself up to accusations of being a sore loser.
He’ll have to cop everything that comes with that, because you wouldn’t accuse Gary Ablett of being disrespectful to Adam Cooney.
My only concern would be if this behaviour is a symptom of a larger issue to do with Ennis’s ego. I don’t know Ennis, so it’s not my call to make whether he does or doesn’t have an issue, but it’s fair to say he’ll have to get used to not being a star if he makes the jump to the NBA.
There’s a great interview on YouTube with former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins about how to make it in the NBA.
Our friend Sam Young even gets a mention:
The basic message is that there comes a time, after you’ve gone up through the ranks, when you’re no longer the star. The ones that survive in the NBA are the ones that swallow “their ego and their pride”, accept it, and adapt.
If Ennis struggles with losing an MVP award to a player as talented as Rotnei Clarke, this could well be an issue for him as his career goes forward.
Hopefully, though, I’m misreading that.
As for the fateful throwing incident, it’s not worthy of mass overreaction. It was a disappointing act from a disappointed man, but no one was hurt and we all got a good laugh out of it.
Like a trophy bobbing through the ports of Melbourne, we should let this issue float away.
lamontee curb
Guest
Miami should bring him in anyway with batter and ray allen and lewis retired next season ennis fits tge mold .he can create better than ennis off the heat bench like ennis um nobody with less cap room .miami better pick him up .i belive wade"james and ennis " could make there own loob city in southbeach .plus wade and james could have a sit down with ennis mold him should him the way ...hes young so he has time to get his mind " and thinking at a NBA level any body can change.with him on board the heat ship it smells title
Damien JC
Guest
As a follower of the NBL (for 20 years now) and a follower of the NBA for the past 10 years, James Ennis is exactly what the NBL not only should want in the league but NEEDS in the league. Yes agreed, he may (not that anything he has done actually bothers me personally) need to do some growing up but hey, didn't we all at his age for one reason or another. The NBL today is shit! Quality of players great, but the NBL it's self as a league is crap! No live games televised, no money in the bank, and has been trying to expand for years and really, only since the Perth Arena and the Perth Wildcats past few seasons has the NBL had any interest by people outside of the NBL fan club. Bleeding players in to the NBA via the NBL should be the whole direction the NBL takes moving forward. Imagine 16 NBA drafted players maturing via the NBL?!?! Imagine the increased quality of the league, international exposure, even fan bases growing from NBA only followers! To the points above, Ennis the best player in the NBL? If you can play, you know the answer to this - YES he is and there is no questions about it. Was he robbed? YES he was. Neither of the two players ranked above him could or will make the NBA (if the tried). P.s. i'd throw the award to, he would have high school awards from the states that have more meaning than an NBL first team! he should be the MVP not sitting on the first team.
James
Guest
Yes well its lucky most people have two eyes and a brain, and they use that to analyse a players game and then judge if they are better or worse than someone else, not simple stats and draft info.
James
Guest
What's rubbing off and on to whom?
James
Guest
So Myles, where do I start to help you out here? So many areas I could start with but Ill start with my favourite, and I quote you saying this : Myles wrote: "Imports come and imports go. None stay past a year, at the max two. Yes you get some staying for a lot of their careers, and that’s great" And the award for stupidest statement of the year goes to...you guessed it!! So what you just said is no imports stay past 1 year, and then you said some do and THEN YOU SAID some others stay for much longer?? haha Which is it? Kind of sums up your whole argument. Ridiculously hard to understand and make sense of. Like him or hate him, and its fairly obviously you are of the latter, anyone who thinks what James Ennis has brought to the league this season is not what we desperately need, obviously has a short history of following the NBL and even less idea on how to attract fans to a previously struggling league. Ennis has a PERSONALITY. You obviously like to go and watch robots play. If so all the best to you. Perhaps you can lobby to have everyone wear the same colours also so no one really stands out. Guys like Ervin, Ennis, Goulding polarise fans. If you don't understand why the league needs these types of players then there really is no point debating any further with you. 12,000 go to watch Perth games. Almost 1 in every 3-4 have an Ennis jersey. Don't see a connection there?
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
Ennis is not the MVP of the league; he's definitely not the best player in the country. Yes yes he's a pretty good player, but the league can survive without him, as they will have to next year. Imports come and imports go. None stay past a year, at the max two. Yes you get some staying for a lot of their careers, and that's great. But the bottom line is, with players, especially egomaniacs like Ennis, he will be here for likely a year and choof off to try and make the NBA. And best of luck to him. Hopefully he finds some humility along the way. I fail to see why the NBL needs anyone who isn't a superstar who's prepared to stay here for their career, or at least the bulk of it. We certainly don't need someone who thinks he is bigger than the league, that's for sure. Next year, his position as one of the league's best will be taken over by another super-athletic important, and Ennis will be forever forgotten on Australian shores. James, you claim the NBL needs this prima dona because he's..."athletic". Uh oh.
James
Guest
Ennis has 'allegedly' tossed a trophy into the river and participated in a couple of post game altercations (which we don't have any real information on even if Ennis played a major part). All of which have generated extensive press coverage and debate amongst fans (check the NBL social media related sites). He has brought a level of athleticism to the courts of the NBL that we have not seen in frequency for a long time. How can anyone say this is not the type of person that the NBL needs?? Myles, think about it. Where do you want the league to go if you don't want 'losers' like James Ennis here? Some of the way he conducts himself is not how I would personally behave. However, he is young, living a world away from his own home for the first time and openly stated he is here to grow both on and off the court. Im willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now, given all the positives he has brought to the league so far.
casey
Guest
Nice comment Matthew. I dont see any other teams sending their players to jail to do work with people there... He should have won the award, WA was once again robbed in all awards... Hope we get some bloody decent umpires for the grand final not the useless pieces of shits we have had the last few weeks.. favouring the other team and picking on ennis. Sport should be fair to ALL TEAMS
koberulz
Guest
Ennis runs completely counter to everything the Wildcats have stood for for years. And it's rubbing off on the rest of them. Guy can jump. Good for him. He's not that great a player, and he doesn't seem to be a good person, either.
koberulz
Guest
"Im still not convinced Ennis threw the award." Nobody's seen it since, which is pretty compelling. Even his story is that he threw a water bottle, which makes less sense (why would he have one on him at an event like that?) and isn't actually much better.
Matthew
Guest
Like has been stated in other Ball stories here and else where, the reason Ennis didnt win the award was he is playing with players like Beal, Knight, Wagstaff, Martin and Redhage. All pretty good players in the NBL. Im not disparaging the Hawks , they have Rotnei Clarke and .. 'others'.A Good drilled team but most people would admit Rotnei is their out and out star there. He gets noticed more thus picks up more votes. Im still not convinced Ennis threw the award. Even if he did, hes a young guy who has essentially gone overseas for the first time in his career. He has played some damn good ball, drawn in the crowds, volunteered his time in the community (Ive seen him in quite a few hospitals cheering up kids) in part of the 350 hours of community time EACH Wildcats player HAS to do. So dislike him all you want, hes provided the NBL with more public comment, more viewers and the possibility to sell more merchandise. Im looking forward to seeing who else the Miami Heat might send the Wildcats way next.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
mushi, yep that's the catch-22. Not all imports are going to have the mindset of a Rotnei Clarke or Jesse Sanders.
mushi
Guest
That's the issue right are you going to get fringe NBA talent without baggage in the NBL?
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Myles, are you really saying the cons outweigh the pros with Ennis? Because the pros seem to be include things the NBL very much needs...
Joey
Guest
Since start ithe conference Ennis is favorite to win mvp,Clarke never mention..it means in sportbet all bet goes to ennis that's why they didn't not give him the award...
Sledgeross
Roar Rookie
He's not an NBA player yet. He was drafted by an NBA team....... In that respect, hes no better or worse than Ben Pepper or Paul Rogers!
Myles Stedman
Roar Guru
Agreed. Ennis is a loser that we don't need in the NBL. That said, no more needs to be said about this incident.
koberulz
Guest
He's also thrown punches at Anthony Petrie, assaulted bench equipment, possibly started a brawl with the Tigers, and requested that fans fellate him. This is not an isolated incident.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
You're right Mark, his age and the pressure he's under must come into it too. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he plays in the GF with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and dominates.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
Nice take on the situation Michael. Ennis has had the pressure all season to be the best mainly due to the hype that he was a draft pick of Miami and if he played well then he might be in the NBA at a moments notice. He is still really young compared to other NBA players that have been in the league (Sam Young, Johnny Flynn) so he shouldn't be criticised too much for what was probably a moment of frustration (whether he did it or not). Very much looking forward to seeing him show the league why he should be MVP in the finals.