Durant’s spiritual connection

The US Olympic men’s basketball team chaplain has developed a strong spiritual connection with Oklahoma City star forward Kevin Durant and continues to advise the NBA’s MVP on matters related to the soul.

Morris Michalski met Durant during the FIBA World Championships, now called the World Cup, in Istanbul four years ago. “God put us together in an amazing, striking way and we’ve grown as men together ever since,” said Michalski who is coming to Manila as coach of the Athletes In Action (AIA) NCAA Division I All-Stars for a series of exhibition games on July 24-Aug. 4.

Michalski said Durant hasn’t strayed from walking the straight path. “He has been faithful to let me in among all the competing voices for his attention,” said Michalski who boasts of 36 years of head coaching experience at various levels. “I advise Kevin according to all the great ways that he showed the world during his MVP acceptance speech. What real Biblical manhood looks like, how to follow Jesus, deny oneself and take your cross daily, how to read the Bible for all that it’s worth, how to pray and serve, love and forgive and move past failure, how to look at the world, others and self properly, how to deal with temptation and success, how to walk humbly with God.”

Michalski said his advice is spiritually-based and centers on what God has declared as His Word, the Bible and how it applies to life. “Kevin loves that journey and humbly receives the Word of life and truth,” he continued. “There are other good men weighing in, to be sure. I play a distinct part.”

Another athlete whom Michalski advises is former Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft whose father John is half-Filipino. Craft, 23, finished his four-year varsity career as a three-time Academic All-America pick. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 32.6 minutes in 148 games with the Buckeyes. Craft applied for the recent NBA draft but wasn’t picked.

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“I greatly suspected he would go undrafted because of his size and his underdeveloped offensive potency,” said Michalski. “However, he is currently developing these skills and is overhauling his perimeter shot. We will see how much he will continue to grow. There is no question about his defensive ability and court leadership, coachability and mind and heart for the game. He attended quite a few closed workouts with NBA teams like Atlanta, Utah, Phoenix and Charlotte to name a few.”

Michalski vouched for Craft. “Aaron’s a fantastic young man,” he said. “He is exceptionally intelligent, extremely competitive, balanced in his interests, morally upright and pure consistently, fears God more than most men, is Christ-centered, inquisitive, friendly, well-rooted in family, sacrificial in spirit, respectful of all. I love the way God has made and grown this young man. He is exceptional in spirit. I am acquainted with his father John who is a good, strong and principled man. We get along well and I enjoy being in his company. Same for his mom Wendy and fiancée Amber.”

Michalski said Craft and his girlfriend Amber will be married on Aug. 26 and called it “a great matchup.” Asked if Craft would be interested to play in the PBA, Michalski said he will find out when it is appropriate. “Let’s let things play out and see what God does,” he said. Michalski inquired about the timing of the PBA draft and how long it would take before a Fil-Am like Craft is able to obtain dual citizenship. He was informed that documents relating to a Fil-Am’s Filipino citizenship must be confirmed by the Bureau of Immigration and certified by the Department of Justice. As for eligibility to join the PBA draft, a Fil-Am must play at least two conferences in the D-League or he must be 27 and over to be exempt from the engagement.

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Regarding the coming AIA tour, Michalski said the team’s goals are special. “We want to build new and real friendships, advance the work and visibility of the AIA Philippines team under the direction of Toti Andes and see Christ-followers on every team in the world,” he said. “Our purpose is to come and serve, build stronger cultural awareness, to grow the game of basketball and serve its people, helping others towards God as we do. We take the last words of Jesus about going into the entire world and making disciples seriously. This fulfills much of the purpose for which we’ve been created.”

In concrete terms, Michalski said AIA intends to play “very competitive” games with the Philippines’ best squads in the PBA and UAAP, conduct clinics for coaches, stage camps to give back to the people, bring compassionate aid like food, clothing and sports supplies to the needy, and support the indigenous work of AIA within the country.

The visiting AIA team expects to play at least eight games in the country. Heading the lineup is 6-2 point guard Traevon Jackson who averaged 12.6 points with the University of Wisconsin varsity this past season. Others in the cast are 6-0 Quincey Taylor and 6-8 Lotanna Nwogbo of Longwood, 6-6 Kellen Dunham of Butler, 6-4 Toddrick Gotcher of Texas Tech, 6-5 Alex Caruso of Texas A&M, 6-5 Jerome Hill of Gardner-Webb, 6-7 Demonte Flannigan and 6-9 Aaron Scales of Cleveland State, 6-10 Michael Bradley of Samford and 6-7 Sam Dekker of Wisconsin.