WNBA: Van Chancellor on the legacy of the Houston Comets’ Kim Perrot

If anybody epitomized the expression “There is no such thing as a I in group,” it was Kim Perrot. The fierce level guard from Lafayette, LA was 5-foot-5 and weighed 132 kilos. She might have been tiny in stature, however she was large in presence.

Though the massive three of Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper and Tina Thompson most frequently had been within the highlight, Perrot was the glue behind the Houston Comets dynasty of the late Nineties, simply as girls’s skilled basketball started a brand new period. Which is why her passing from lung most cancers on the age of 32 on Aug. 19, 1999 left such an enormous void. The loss was felt exhausting amongst the group, throughout town of Houston and particularly in head coach Van Chancellor.

Photograph by Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle through Getty Photographs

“She was the glue that held us collectively. She had the respect of all people,” he stated in an interview with Swish Attraction. “I’ve by no means seen a participant play and had the respect of everybody. She had such a piece ethic that’s simply unbelievable. When she got here to apply, I’ve by no means seen anybody apply more durable.”

Curiously sufficient, Chancellor initially didn’t need Perrot on the group after they had been holding open tryouts at St. Thomas Excessive Faculty in Houston earlier than the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997. “All people within the group preferred Kim Perrot, besides me,” he stated. “I didn’t need her. Everybody stated she may win.”

Perrot made the group, however was driving the bench. After a recreation through which the Comets guards struggled towards the New York Liberty at Madison Sq. Backyard, Chancellor made the choice to go along with Perrot as the place to begin guard. After enjoying six seasons in Europe, she made her WNBA debut on June 21, 1997 towards the Cleveland Rockers. She had two factors, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. From there, Perrot was the place to begin guard and have become a fan favourite.

She was the outgoing, feisty and vocal chief who acquired everybody on the identical web page. Every time Swoopes, Cooper or Thompson had spats, she was there to settle it. Chancellor says no one on the group had any in poor health will in direction of her. “She had the respect of all people,” he stated. “All people simply liked her.”

Perrot was finest mates with Cooper. She and Chancellor additionally developed a robust bond, usually unusual between a participant and coach. They might host coaching periods collectively and he acquired to see first hand simply how humorous she could possibly be after they had been off the courtroom. “Cynthia would watch me and Kim play dominoes,” he stated. “She stated, ‘Coop, I do know my coach is dishonest me. I don’t understand how he’s dishonest me.’”

The whole lot was going effectively till Feb. 1999, when Perrot was identified with lung most cancers. Chancellor discovered when he was on the golf course. “I’m on the thirteenth gap enjoying golf and my coach known as me and stated, ‘You should go to the clubhouse and name me,’” he stated. “I assumed anyone in my household had died and I would like you to know that Kim has most cancers.”

Although she was going by grueling chemotherapy, Perrot remained a relentless presence at practices and video games, by no means relinquishing her function because the glue. “To observe her simply deteriorate and drop a few pounds and all of that was exhausting on all people,” Chancellor stated. “She was such an inspiration to us all and we stored preventing by. I don’t perceive how we acquired by.”

The Comets acquired by as finest they may, contending for his or her third consecutive championship after Perrot’s passing. They made it to the Finals towards the Liberty. All through the Finals followers would come into the Compaq Heart in Houston with indicators saying “#3 for #10.” The Comets would win their third-straight title in three video games, however for Chancellor, it was a bittersweet victory. “From a private viewpoint, profitable the third championship didn’t appear as almost as essential as dropping Kim,” he stated. “I used to be tremendously unhappy that Kim wasn’t there to take pleasure in us.”

Photograph by Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle through Getty Photographs

Kim Perrot’s contributions had been acknowledged by the league within the type of the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, which is given to the participant who most “exemplifies the beliefs of sportsmanship on the courtroom, moral habits, truthful play and integrity.” Exterior of basketball, the MD Anderson Kids’s Most cancers Heart in Houston has “Kim’s Place” in her honor, which offers a sanctuary for kids with most cancers.

For Chancellor, her legacy additionally ought to embody her selfless, team-first spirit, a mannequin for the present technology of gamers. “Kim Perrot is a superb instance of utilizing your whole talents and placing the group first,” he stated. “She stated, ‘If I shoot, we don’t have sufficient basketballs for Sheryl, Coop and Tina.’ Kim Perrot had the center. Stop worrying about your stats. On the finish of day, what number of championships did you win? Most inspirational participant to ever play.”