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FEATURE // MARK BLOUNT Playing & MasteringBall the Fundamentals Former NBA player and current Hobe Sound resident Mark Blount reveals the unwritten rules of the game—and how they apply to life. BY IKE CRUMPLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT HOLLAND 80 DECEMBER 2015 gulfstreammediagroup.com gulfstreammediagroup.com DECEMBER 2015 81 FEATURE // MARK BLOUNT ver the years, several NBA slo- Mark Blount’s entry into the pros. family moved to Summer- gans have sought to capture “I was a young, snotty-nose punk,” ville, South Carolina, and the love fans feel for the game Blount remembers. “[I’d] been cut every- that’s where he had “that of basketball. Some swished: where and was trying to make the team. moment.” “NBA…It’s FANtastic,” “I Love [I] didn’t know anything. I was still trying “First year of varsity, OThis Game,” and “Where Amazing Hap- to learn the game.” they pulled me up from pens.” Others, such as “It’s All Good,” The game was a humbling teacher. JV,” he says. “Playing bricked like a bad shot. Blount’s journey from NBA rejection to a against some of the varsity But the unoffcial phrase, “It’s a make- steady and respectable pro career involves guys—that’s when I knew.” or-miss league,”—a favorite of coaches, more twists than a dunk contest. The les- He knew he could broadcasters and legends—best describes sons learned along the way made lasting play. After moving to impressions, and they shine through when Virginia, he played on a the retired athlete talks about his career, two-time national cham- business pursuits, charitable interests and pionship team at Oak Hill his current life in Hobe Sound. Academy. When the family later moved back to New Everyone is bad when they’re a beginner— York, the now 7-footer and some beginners are worse than others. dominated at Dobbs Ferry Growing up in Yonkers, New York, High School. Averaging 24 Blount’s mom put his little brother in points, 14 rebounds and basketball to help him lose some weight. six blocks per game, he Blount tagged along. Even at 6-foot was named Gannett Sub- 11-inches, Blount didn’t fool anyone into urban Newspapers Player thinking he had skills. Then one day, the of the Year, Mr. Basketball teams were short a man. for Westchester County “They put me in,” he says. “I’d be run- and a Parade All-American. ning up and down the court. Didn’t know where the ball was. They’d hit me in the Talent is great. So is luck. back of the head with the ball.” Sometimes, your luck is Still, he stuck with it, playing whenev- someone else’s misery. er possible. At the start of high school, his After two years at the University of Pittsburgh, with strong interest from Mark Blount poses with an offcer from the Martin County scouts, he expected to go Sheriff’s Offce. early in the 1997 draft. He didn’t. Nor did he go early in the next round. Finally, the landed a full contract. Seattle SuperSonics selected him as the 54th pick of the That frst year, he swatted down 76 shots, a team re- second round. After weeks of grueling workouts, he failed cord for rookies beat only by Kevin McHale. to make fnal cut. Unbowed, Blount spent the next three years playing in Forget everything you think you know, except all the stuff the Continental Basketball League (Yakima Sun Kings and that you can’t afford to forget. La Crosse Bobcats), the United States Basketball League Only a few traits from his high school and college (Atlantic City Seagulls and New Jersey Shore Cats), the In- playing days mattered in the pros. ternational Basketball League (Baltimore Bayrunners) and “Everything you’ve learned, throw it out the window,” in France. Finally, he got that shot with the Boston Celt- Blount says. “If you know how to shoot, and can do a ics. His short-term contract nearly ran out before starting two-dribble pull up, you’re ahead of the game.” center Tony Battie got hurt in practice. With that, Blount His strong jump shot served him well, saving him some 82 DECEMBER 2015 gulfstreammediagroup.com gulfstreammediagroup.com DECEMBER 2015 83 FEATURE // MARK BLOUNT banging with the big guys under the boards. But as Stay fexible, versatile and ft—especially if your a 7-footer, he was obligated to play in the “painted post-playing job involves sampling pretzels and area” under the basket, where the brutal physicality cinnamon buns. of the game often goes overlooked by casual fans. Blount counts fellow NBA veteran and Pitt “It’s football,” Blount says, “without the pads. graduate Charles Smith as a close friend and per- I’ve seen knees go out, fngers dislocated, elbows sonal role model, and he chose a good one. A Big dislocated. It’s war down there.” East Player of the Year who played nine seasons in That war for positioning beneath the basket the pros, Smith is a picture of post-NBA success. can infict serious wounds, especially to pride. Retiring 18 years ago, Smith returned to col- “My rookie year I tried to go down the lane lege to earn his master’s and founded a center in and (All-Star New York Knicks legend) Patrick Ew- his hometown where inner-city kids can study after ing just knocked the s--- out of me,” he says. school. As executive director of the National Bas- Although impressed by the style and sharp ketball Retired Players Association, Smith created shooting of Stephen Curry, league MVP of the the transition assistance program—a frst for the championship Golden State Warriors, Blount pre- NBA—to help players prepare fnancially for re- fers performances by veterans of the game. tirement. Many reports show 60 percent of NBA “Kobe,” he cites as one of his favorites. “He’s players suffer bankruptcy or fnancial distress with- methodical in everything he’s doing.” in fve years of leaving the game. For nine years, Blount played on four NBA On Smith’s advice to look into food fran- teams, including the Boston Celtics, Denver Nug- chising, Blount owns a Cinnabon at the Treasure gets, Celtics again, Minnesota Timberwolves and Coast Square Mall in Jensen Beach. In West Palm the Miami Heat. Little wonder he refused to name Beach, he owns one Auntie Anne’s and one Auntie a favorite team. Anne’s-Cinnabon combo—one of few in the coun- 84 DECEMBER 2015 gulfstreammediagroup.com gulfstreammediagroup.com DECEMBER 2015 85 FEATURE // MARK BLOUNT Mark Blount plays basketball try. Closely involved with the day-to-day reason needed. In addition to donating food through Cinnabon to In June, he wowed kids in Port Salerno by showing up with kids during the Martin activities at the shops, he cites how tru- No grand strategy unites Blount’s United Way of Martin County’s Day of Caring, Blount to play ball with them at the New Monrovia Communi- County Sheriff’s Offce New Monrovia Community Sum- isms from the playing arena translate to the broad-based philanthropy. For him, it’s re- surprised Carol Hodnett with a crateful of toys—which ty Summertime Kickoff. He loves charity golf events, too, mertime Kickoff event in Port business arena. ally very simple. took four people to carry—for the White Doves Holiday though he admits this is one sport where he has no game. Salerno. “(On the court) I did the work and put “Just, if you think you can help,” he says. Project. He’s the only pro athlete who’s ever support- “I’m horrible,” he says. “But I love going out. I hit the time in, and that goes right into busi- During the past few Thanksgivings, he’s ed the charity, which enables local families in need to two good shots every time I go out.” ness,” he says. “Knowing how to lead, and given away thousands of turkeys to ten- “shop” for Christmas gifts for their children. being part of a team. As the CEO, you know ants who live in the residential properties “That absolutely was a treat,” says Hodnett, vice Always have a quiet place to rest your head. the accountant, you know the shift leaders that he owns in Palm Beach Gardens. He’s president of community impact with the United Way of The NBA travel schedule is grueling. In the 82-game and the mangers, and the lawyers. I may given away turkeys to soup kitchens and Martin County. “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is just season, 41 games are played on the road. have the vision, but if I don’t have my team, churches—anywhere with need. Last year so cool.’ I was a little panicked as to how we were go- “That’s the hardest thing—time, managing time for I’m nothing.” he showed up at the Dunbar Center, which ing to get all those toys home. Thank goodness I didn’t yourself and for your family,” says the family man. To stay in shape, he works out in front of provides child-care programs in Hobe get pulled over driving home from Palm Beach because I Since moving out of Palm Beach Gardens, he’s em- his house, running a series of short sprints— Sound, with a carload of turkeys. had very little room to see out my windows.” braced the laid-back lifestyle of Hobe Sound. He loves throwback drills from his playing days. “I helped him unload,” remembers Lori Blount is also a big supporter of Habitat for William G.

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