Kyle Lowry is not fat | MAD BALLIN'

Although I knew he was built, for some reason, not until Game 2 of Portland-Houston did I notice it visually. When I first noticed that Kyle Lowry is thick-framed, at first I thought he was fat. Like Khalid El-Amin fat. But then I came to my senses and realized that he's not.

So if any of you had reactions like mine regarding the Houston Rockets backup point guard, repeat after me :

Kyle Lowry is not fat.


But Lowry had me wondering about what being in shape was all about, because the whole epiphanic experience reminded me of a great college point guard who didn't make the NBA.

Said point guard barnstormed, globetrotted, eventually found his way to Australia, and got cut by the National Basketball League's Perth Wildcats in October 2007 after just five games because he was fat and out of shape.

I'm talking about Detroit Titans and NCAA Tournament hero Rashad Phillips, who was compared to Allen Iverson in his college days for his scoring ability and quickness. And yes, Phillips was cut from Australia. Not America. Not Spain. Not Italy. Not Greece. But Australia, where kangaroos, koalas and Aussie Rules Football reign supreme.

Not long after his release, a report from The Sunday Times (Perth, Australia) stated that Phillips retaliated against then-Wildcat coach Scott Fisher by releasing a YouTube video containing a photo of his shirtless "physique."

I took a look at the infamous video, which is actually a highlight reel of Phillips' NBL stint, and I must say that it's painful to watch. The formerly 162-lb "Baby Iverson" had clearly gotten pudgy around the cheeks and waist and retained none of his trademark quicksilver speed.

And he was still gunning without remorse.


The video clearly backfired on little AI, as it only confirmed Coach Fisher's candid reasons for releasing Phillips :

We were concerned when he arrived in Australia so out of shape. He assured us he could get fit quickly, and he showed us enough skills to lead us to believe he deserved every opportunity to prove his worth.

Unfortunately, Rashad never really showed us the athleticism or intensity needed to make himself or those around him better. Plus, he never really contributed to the defensive side of things.

He lacked the leadership and on-court management that this group needs. So we felt it was in the best interest of the club to delist him.

Ouch!

To Rashad Phillips, I have this to say :

Rashad, just man up and admit that you were wrong if you haven't already. Even in your glory days, you were never a floor general, which means that you have to be even more active and conditioned than your pass-first counterparts to maintain the energy levels needed to score.

And just lay off the damn fast food, would ya?