The Garretts: A Basketball Family

AMES, Iowa- The vision of Willis Reed hobbling onto a frenzied Madison Square Garden court in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA Finals is securely etched into the minds of every basketball junkie. The story is for the ages. Reed, who injured his leg in Game 5 and was supposed to be out of action for the rest of the series, limps onto the hardwood during pregame warmups of the decisive game. His mere presence inspires and wills the New York Knicks to a courageous victory over the Los Angeles Lakers to claim their first title in franchise history.

Iowa State sophomore guard Diante Garrett has a personal perspective on that historic NBA moment. His father, Dick, was at the game. He wasn't in the stands with a Coke and a bag of popcorn, he was actually on the court when Reed came out of the tunnel. Dick was in his rookie season with the Lakers after an outstanding collegiate career at Southern Illinois, averaging 11.6 points during the regular season to earn NBA all-Rookie honors. He was a key player on a loaded Lakers roster.

“To be honest with you, I was so focused on my job during the game, I really did not notice Willis coming out,” Dick said. “My job was to stop Walt (Frazier). We were teammates in college and I was one of the guys assigned to guard him. That was all I was thinking about at the time.”

Dick ended up playing five seasons in the NBA, averaging a solid 10.3 ppg in 339 career games. He made it back to the NBA Finals again in his final season in 1973-74, this time with the Milwaukee Bucks, who lost in seven games to the Boston Celtics. As a young kid growing up with a love for basketball, how incredible would it be to tell your friends that your father was teammates with NBA Hall of Famers Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Bob McAdoo, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar?

“He talked about really going at it with these guys in practice and never backing down to them,” Diante said. “They all respected each other. My Dad played with Walt Frazier in college as well, and he told me that they would battle each other every day in practice. He said all of those guys were good role models for him.”

It is never easy for an athlete to live in his father's shadow. Diante, however, is writing his own chapter of success with the Cyclones. The younger Garrett, who showed incredible promise after averaging 6.3 ppg and 2.8 apg as a freshman last year, will figure prominently into the fortunes of the ISU basketball team in 2008-09.

“We are looking forward to Diante having a big year,” Dick said. “The progression he has made is immense. He has really improved. He is much more confident and he has put on some added muscle and weight.”

Diante credits his father for helping him develop into the player he is today.

“My dad has been there for me all my life helping me on everything,” Diante said. “When I first started playing basketball, he always emphasized to stay confident and to make sure nobody was working harder than you.”

The humble patriarch of the Garrett family could have spent countless hours retelling NBA stories to his sons. Instead, his advice to his oldest son Damon- who played at UW-Whitewater- and Diante was rather simple.

“I know it is a clich?, but I always told Damon and Diante to remember one thing when you are practicing or playing,” Dick said. “You can get beat, but you will never be outworked. I could handle a loss, but getting beat because you didn't put in the effort is unacceptable.”

One could only imagine the basketball games in the driveway at the Garrett house through the years. Diante vividly remembers when his father decided to quit playing one-on-one against him.

“I was in seventh grade,” Diante said. “I noticed that I was a little faster than him, so I started to use my speed to go by him. I remembered then he didn't want to play me anymore. He could beat me in HORSE or any other shooting game, but I don't think he wanted to D-me up, because I just went around him.”

Dick reluctantly agrees with Diante's recollection.

“Yeah, that is about right,” Dick said with a laugh. “I have to tell you that I had a hip replacement, so that did not help. I gave up one-on-one, but I tell both of them that I still got the best jumpshot in the house!”

For now, Diante is eager for practice to begin. ISU fans will get their first chance to see Diante's progression as a basketball player on Nov. 8, as the Cyclones take on Nebraska-Omaha in an exhibition game.

“I am really looking forward to this season,” Diante said. “It will be a lot of fun and a lot different than last year. Last year I did not start that much and I will probably be starting more this year, and I need to be ready to accept my role and try to help my team win.”

Players Mentioned

Diante Garrett

Diante Garrett

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