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

If anybody epitomized the expression “There isn’t 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 have 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 laborious amongst the group, throughout town of Houston and particularly in head coach Van Chancellor.

Photograph by Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle by way of Getty Photographs

“She was the glue that held us collectively. She had the respect of all people,” he mentioned 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 follow, I’ve by no means seen anybody follow more durable.”

Apparently sufficient, Chancellor initially didn’t need Perrot on the group once they have been holding open tryouts at St. Thomas Excessive College in Houston earlier than the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997. “Everyone within the group preferred Kim Perrot, besides me,” he mentioned. “I didn’t need her. Everybody mentioned she might 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 taking part in 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 obtained everybody on the identical web page. Every time Swoopes, Cooper or Thompson had spats, she was there to settle it. Chancellor says no person on the group had any unwell will in the direction of her. “She had the respect of all people,” he mentioned. “Everyone simply cherished her.”

Perrot was greatest buddies with Cooper. She and Chancellor additionally developed a robust bond, sometimes unusual between a participant and coach. They’d host coaching periods collectively and he obtained to see first hand simply how humorous she might be once they have been off the courtroom. “Cynthia would watch me and Kim play dominoes,” he mentioned. “She mentioned, ‘Coop, I do know my coach is dishonest me. I don’t know the way he’s dishonest me.’”

Every part was going properly till Feb. 1999, when Perrot was recognized with lung most cancers. Chancellor discovered when he was on the golf course. “I’m on the thirteenth gap taking part in golf and my coach referred to as me and mentioned, ‘You could go to the clubhouse and name me,’” he mentioned. “I believed any individual in my household had died and I need you to know that Kim has most cancers.”

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

The Comets obtained by means of as greatest they might, 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 standpoint, successful the third championship didn’t appear as practically as vital as dropping Kim,” he mentioned. “I used to be tremendously unhappy that Kim wasn’t there to take pleasure in us.”

Photograph by Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle by way of Getty Photographs

Kim Perrot’s contributions have 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, honest play and integrity.” Outdoors of basketball, the MD Anderson Kids’s Most cancers Heart in Houston has “Kim’s Place” in her honor, which supplies a sanctuary for youngsters with most cancers.

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