Context is key when reading any story. Even facts can be misleading if they are presented without context.
For example, Nigel Spikes is only averaging four minutes per game this season for the Miami Heat’s D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Spikes has appeared in two of the team’s first four games and has amassed five points and two rebounds in his eight minutes played. While that doesn’t appear noteworthy on the surface, they do not begin to tell the story of Spikes’ remarkable journey to this point.
The D-League is not the peak of professional basketball. In fact, the opposite might be true for most — the league is a stepping stone to bigger and better opportunities, whether it’s the NBA or overseas. But for Spikes, this is the bigger and better, at least for now.
Spikes is a 6-10 power forward who played four years at Marshall University. And after graduating in 2013, Spikes was looking forward to hearing his name called during the NBA Draft. While he only averaged 5.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks his senior season, there was some interest in the athletic big man around the league.
It wasn’t meant to be, however, as five days before he was scheduled to hold pre-draft workouts, Spikes suffered what was later diagnosed as a freak heart attack.
Imagine being 23-years-old, in immaculate health and on your way to a professional basketball career, only to have it come crashing down in one fell swoop. We often hear cliched statements of you never know what you have until it’s gone or there are more important things in life than sports, but until that moment hits, it’s impossible understand the context of those very real statements.
“I almost stopped playing completely,” Spikes told U&M. “Something freaky like this happens and you just aren’t sure, you don’t know what will happen next, so it was tough.”
After the heart attack, Nigel took the year off to recuperate and make sure he was fully healthy. The worst part of the whole ordeal? “The doctors had no idea why or how it happened,” Spikes says. Hardship in life is inevitable, but most times there is a reason, an explanation of sorts. In this instance, Spikes’ mind was left to wander.
After his year off, Spikes decided that his love for the game had not been lost with this catastrophe, so he signed to play in the Canadian NBL. Spikes played 18 games with the Halifax Rainmen, posting 7.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 16 minutes per night. The team went 13-5 in the games he played and while appreciative of the opportunity, he didn’t feel as though he was in an environment where he could improve.
“I’m gaining knowledge of the NBA game and the NBA style. Last year in Canada, I was just getting my rhythm back. This year is my real coming out party.”
This offseason, Spike talked to an old friend from Marshall to help a new opportunity: Hassan Whiteside, who played one game for Sioux Falls last year on assignment from the Heat. Whiteside turned out to be instrumental in getting Spikes to try the D-League, and he made the Skyforce as an open tryout invitee.
“I’m friends with Hassan,” Spikes said. “We still talk and he definitely helped me in making the decision to try out for the D-League.”
So, what kind of player is Spikes? When watching film of him from last season, you can see that he moves very well for a big man, and his anticipation on defense is paramount to his success moving forward. Big men can be clunky and ill-equipped to make spontaneous plays like the one below, but Spikes has the wherewithal and athleticism to make it happen.
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Here’s another great clip of Spikes running the floor, beating the guards down court and finishing with authority. He looks smaller than his 6-10 frame when he’s running the break because he does it so effortlessly. It just looks natural for him.
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This gives us a glimpse into his rebounding prowess on the offensive end. Watch him toss the opposing big aside with a swift move and finish with the vicious put back.
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The most telling aspect of Spikes’ game is that he’s still very raw. These clips show skills that are natural to him and Spikes is capable of making big plays in spades. The encouraging news is he works hard whenever he takes the court, giving him plenty of room to improve. Nigel isn’t necessarily NBA-ready at this point, but with all he’s been through, he’s not taking any of this for granted — his goals have not changed since the heart attack.
“I want to develop, become a great player and make the NBA,” says Spikes. “I want to play at the top of my game and I believe when I get to that point, I can play in the NBA.”
Most will read this story and think Spikes has already won by overcoming what he’s had to deal with. Nigel would disagree. Even given his journey to this point, Nigel still has goals to accomplish and he isn’t letting some freak heart attack get in the way of that.
That’s the context of this story.