Inman rarely received the credit. To the casual fan, it may appear that Inman was a failure, but
basketball insiders regard him as one of the finest talent evaluators the sport has ever seen. Inman’s
experience, coupled with research evidence, reveals that givers don’t excel only at recognizing and
developing talent; they’re also surprisingly good at moving on when their bets don’t work out.
Stu Inman spent the last four years of his life volunteering as an assistant coach for the Lake
Oswego High School basketball team in Oregon. “He had them to a T,” said Lake Oswego’s head
coach. “Not only did he have them as basketball players, he had their characters, too. He took time
not to prejudge people but to see them as they really are.” At Lake Oswego, Stu Inman helped to
groom a young player named Kevin Love, who has gone on to pursue the legacy that Sam Bowie and
LaRue Martin never fulfilled: thrive as a big man who can shoot. As a 6'10'' center, Love has made
the U.S. Olympic team and two All-Star teams in his first four seasons, been named the NBA’s most
improved player, and won the three-point shooting championship.
“If you choose to champion great talent, you will be picking one of the most altruistic things a
person can do,” writes George Anders. “In any given year, quick-hit operators may make more money
and win more recognition, at least briefly. Over time, though, that dynamic reverses.”
michael s
(Michael S)
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