Muggsy Bogues: 'I wanna make sure that every kid recognize what their gift is.'

Last April, NBA star Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues, formerly of the Washington Bullets, Charlotte Hornets, Golden State Warriors, and Toronto Raptors, came to the Philippines for the Jr. NBA Camp. Muggsy, the shortest player to ever play in the NBA, stands at just 5’3”, a far cry from the six-footers in the league, but he never allowed his height to keep him from living his dream.

He was drafted to the Washington Bullets as the 12th overall pick in the 1987 Draft and played in the league from 1987 to 2001. Despite his size, he was able to make an impact in the NBA, making 6,858 points, 6,726 assists, and 1,369 steals in his 14-year career.
 

During his visit, “Sports Pilipinas” host Chino Trinidad caught up with him to talk about how he achieved success in a sport where many believe that height is might, and what legacy he would like to leave behind.


 

Read the full transcript below.
 

Chino Trinidad (CT): They’ve talked, they’ve discussed your size, your height, everything. Everyone has talked about that, but anyone has actually asked you if there’s anyone who actually measured the size of your heart?
 

Muggsy Bogues (MB): Not yet. I’d say I got a big heart. I believe more than anyone, and that’s something that probably allowed me in this situation today because I didn’t take one opinion. I didn’t believe that someone had (a say on) what my life should be about. When I was going through this process, it was a matter of me, out there, trying to prove what other people didn’t think was possible and each level I played it against, I came out way gratified, satisfied, that I had some success against these taller players that I played against. But you know, each level I kept going up, I started getting confident. I started believing in myself, and then I got into a point that it didn’t matter what anyone said. No matter if I have a good game or bad game, but I understood what that meant, but at the same time, I just focused on how I had to play.
 

CT: They say you are either born with that big heart or you’re born without it. But I know you could act as an inspiration for all sorts of people. You know what you remind me of? A modern day David. He slew a giant with one shot. I mean, to me that’s who you are, that’s what you embody. Was it really an inspiration for you growing up? The story of David?
 

MB: Well, you know, we did a commercial, David and Goliath. We did a Sprite commercial, it was like David and Goliath running between… but it’s exactly right. That’s the message you gotta carry on your head when you are not as normal in other people’s eyes and it’s not supposed to be meant for guys of your size of sorts, but I didn’t believe that. I just said, ‘In on one ear, out the other.’ Because it was something I wanted, it was a passion, a desire and I won’t let anyone stop me. Those obstacles came in a way because of me pushing through, me understanding what it took to not let what folks see as what supposed to be the game of basketball. The game of basketball is for who had the ability and the skill to do so.
 

CT: You know what you did is, people see it as a disadvantage but you used it to your advantage.
 

MB: Absolutely, and that’s one of the gift God gave me. Understanding, recognizing, what he’s given me. I saw the game to my eyes totally different with everybody else looked at it as. I saw myself as this player (who can) change the perception of a coach. Because the coaches, all the coaches (wanted) big guards, big guards, big guards. So how can I change this perception of this man who’s been thinking like that? Only way you’re gonna do (it) is by demonstrating, showing that you have a different way. Just like a bigger guy, bigger point guard with a different way of doing things, but at the end of it, it’s the same result which is success in terms of how to run your team, how to make guys know you better, how to keep in front, how to become the extension of the coach. So I had that information, I knew that, so that’s what allowed me to stand on the floor for long periods of time.
 

CT: Now done in your career, of course a long time over, but they still look at you as an inspiration. Like, you go to the Philippines where we’re like all the same size, fun size, perfect, fun size, and they say it’s always an excuse for them not to perform at the level. I know you’re gonna teach a lot of kids a lot of stuff you have learned, you have acquired through the years. How do you leave that kind of heart, that kind of dedication, that kind of mental focus once you leave these kids that you work with that this thing of Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues will be imprinted inside their hearts?
 

MB: I hope that’s the case, because that’s what I’m about. In a span, making sure that one reaches full potential because no one has an idea, no control of a person’s capabilities, his potentials, they don’t know that, no understanding of one person’s capabilities are. A little push, a little confidence will make a total difference in a kid’s life, which did for me. Little confidence, little support coming from outside, where you never thought would come from. Give you that “Yeah, I can do this,” “Yeah, I can do that.” So now they got a living testimony. They got a guy who’s actually walked the path, did it, who’s humble, as fast as they come, and understands what God has given him. I’m not saying that basketball may be your journey. It’s out of life, out of passion, out of things, because we all have that gift. I just wanna make sure that every kid, every youth, individual recognize what their gift is, because we miss that gift that God has given us. People don’t understand that God’s given all of us a gift.
 

CT: What you’re teaching us is appreciation of the things you have and not what you don’t have.
 

MB: Absolutely. You can’t miss what you don’t have, so I’ll dwell on that. You know, focus on the things in front of you, things that (are) in your control, things that you wanna… and I’m a living proof, and I also wanna make sure that they have a high spiritual foundation. You gotta have that first - spiritual foundation. Because that’s also a key measurement going forward, being humble and grounded.
 

CT: You know these things of bullying and all these things, they bully people because of the size. I mean the color of the skin or your sexual orientation, but to be like you, the fun size, and being bullied because of your size, how tough was that?
 

MB: That was tough. You know, I have a foundation I just launched last week in Charlotte North Carolina. Always been, always believe… these facilities, computer labs, but this, I tweaked it and there’s less kids vulnerable to bullying. We’re going after this bullying because it’s amazing this thing happening to these kids, not being able to be who they are because of another individual telling them. So demanding, being fearful of them. And it’s not them, it’s you… Once you had that understanding that you let him bully you, you allow that person to bully you because you don’t have that self-confidence. Once you get that confidence in you, that bullying goes out of the window. It goes away because you’re not that fearful kid, person anymore. You got this self-confidence in yourself, that those are only words that this person is saying, there’s nothing directed towards me that’s threatening. Those are his words because he’s unhappy, she’s unhappy, and they’re not feeling happy about themselves and they’re taking it out on you, trying to make you feel unhappy and unworthy. So that’s where the mess is coming (from). When I got that belief in me, when I got that self-confidence in me, it’s regardless of what you’re going through, I’m not gonna allow you to bring me, measure me.
 

CT: When all that begins, and the foundation you said, you need to have a solid spiritual foundation.
 

MB: You have to. You gotta have someone above, because we say, man, woman, they let you down everyday. But that man upstairs, He’ll watch you through thick and thin and those are the things that you need to truly understand because He will… when you call on (Him), He’ll be there for you.
 

CT: Unbelievable. Truly an inspiration. It’s a great honor and I hope you continue to inspire more people. And towards this one, towards the end of everything, what is left for Muggsy to achieve? I mean you achieved everything. Is there any mountain you want to scale?
 

MB: This foundation I’m setting right now by these kids. I’m trying to make sure that they reach their potential. Just being able to live life the way they’re supposed to live it: freely. And have an understanding that life is precious. We take it for granted. Unfortunately, I lost my mom and dad, so I neither have one with me. I have my kids, teaching them right things, values in  life, because being a great citizen, that’s what life is all about, helping others.
 

CT: And that’s your true legacy. Thank you.


- Grace Gaddi/CM, GMA News