http://www.nba.com/hornets/news/lynch_feature040517.html Making Sacrifices and Being a Team Player Have Been the Keys to Success Throughout George Lynch's Basketball Career Whatever It Takes: George Lynch by: Chris DuPree, Hornets.com Imagine waking up, knowing that you'll match up against Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce or any of the main offensive weapons the opposing team has to offer. That's the life Hornets forward George Lynch lives each and every gameday; the price he pays for being a defensive specialist. "My niche in this league, from day one, has been guarding the toughest offensive player," said Lynch. Whether coming off the bench or placed into the starting lineup, Lynch has shown not only the ability to defend some of the top scorers in the league but also the versatility and skill to play two positions (shooting guard/small forward) whenever called upon to do so. "I think in order for me to be successful and help (the Hornets) be successful, I have to be that type of guy who, whenever the coach calls on me, has to be able to adjust and play a different position." "To be here (in the league) to play as many years as I've played, you've got to be flexible," he added. "Not everyone can be a superstar. Not everyone is going to be seven-feet tall. So, my niche in this league, in order for me to stay around as long as I have, is to be flexible." Being flexible and versatile is something that has been a trademark of Lynch since he was a kid growing up in Virginia. "It started when I was young. I got the attitude of being a team player and doing whatever it takes for the team to win," said Lynch. Sports were always a part of Lynch's life, but it was football, not basketball, that was his passion as a young boy. That quickly changed, though, once he headed to high school at Flint Hill Preparatory School in Virginia. "(As a kid), I was a pretty good football player and basketball was kind on one of those sports I was just good at," Lynch recalled. "It was one of those situations where I started getting recruited for basketball when I was about 15 years old and I decided that when I got to high school, I wasn't going to play football anymore." From Virginia, Lynch headed south to "Tobacco Road" to be a part of the storied basketball program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Under the tutelage of head coach Dean Smith, Lynch not only grew as a basketball player but as a leader. At Carolina, Lynch was known as the consummate team player with great defensive and rebounding abilities. He finished his career as one of only two players in ACC history to compile at least 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 200 steals and 200 assists and ranks second in Carolina history in both rebounds and steals. Lynch’s collegiate career climaxed on April 5, 1993 when the senior forward led his North Carolina squad against Chris Webber and Michigan's "Fab Five" lineup in the NCAA Championship game played in, of all places, New Orleans. It's a game most college basketball fans still remember. Michigan was down by two with 36 seconds left to play. Webber dribbled just past half court, was swarmed by Carolina players and called a timeout. But it was a timeout that Michigan did not have. Sound familiar? Michigan had a technical foul called on them, Carolina hit the subsequent free throws and went on to win the 1993 NCAA Championship 77-71. Lynch not only had a double-double in that championship with 12 points and 10 rebounds, he averaged a double-double over the last four games of the NCAA Tournament with 17.5 points and 11.0 rebounds. This helped Lynch to be named the Most Outstanding Player of the East Regional and a member of the Final Four All-Tournament team. After graduation in 1993, Lynch went from the NCAA to the NBA when he was selected in the first-round of the '93 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He started slowly in his rookie campaign, waiting his turn on the bench behind James Worthy and Doug Christie at the small forward position. In his first 22 games, Lynch averaged 4.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in only 9.2 minutes per game. But when Christie went down with an ankle injury at midseason, Lakers Head Coach Randy Pfund inserted Lynch into the starting lineup. Lynch played so well that he kept his starting job even when Christie returned. In 44 consecutive starts between January and April of 1994, Lynch averaged 12.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting .506 from the field. Lynch went on to play three years with the Lakers before being traded to the expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in July of 1996. Lynch missed half of his first season there with an abdominal strain. He recovered to have a nice 1997-98 campaign where he appeared in all 82 games and had his best shooting season (.481 from the field) since his rookie year. After two seasons, Lynch moved on, signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. There, his role changed dramatically. No longer was he part of the reserves as he stepped into the starting small forward spot for Philadelphia. Lynch went on to start in 198 of the 200 games he appeared in over three seasons with the 76ers, averaging the most points, minutes, rebounds, steals and assists he had since his rookie season with the Lakers. He also filled his role and lived up to the George Lynch of his days back in Carolina, where he was a tough rebounder and defender. Lynch's days in Philadelphia culminated with an NBA Finals appearance during the 2000-01 season, when he faced his old team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The 76ers were defeated in the best-of-seven series, four games to one and in the fall of 2001, Lynch was on the move once again, this time traded to the Hornets as part of a three-team deal. In his tenure with the Hornets, which is now in its third season, Lynch has mainly served as the number one or two options off the bench to spell Jamal Mashburn. But, as you saw this season, Lynch has also filled in admirably as a starter when Mashburn has been out with injuries. (to be continued...) --

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