When most fans hear the name Allan Houston, they immediately think of a prolific scorer, a silky smooth jump shot, that big last second runner to take down the Miami Heat and an incredible 9 year run with the New York Knicks. By the time you are finished reading about the discussion I was blessed to have with him today, those will be the furthest things from your mind. Father, Son, Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy are the words that embody every fiber of who Allan Houston is, ever was, or ever will be on and off the court. It is those core ideals and beliefs that mean more than anything to Mr. Houston. They are embedded in the deepest parts of his soul, making their presence known with every word and thought he speaks. This article is about way more than a basketball player. We spent very little time speaking on his NBA career because as is evident in the times we are in today, life is so much more important than that.
From a young age growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Allan Houston was surrounded by success and greatness especially when it came to basketball. ” My father was an assistant coach at Louisville so I was fortunate to be around many great teams from age 6 or 7. Before I was a sophomore in High School, I had been to 4 Final Fours and 2 National Championships”. Basketball had always played a big role in his life and he credits his development in high school to the enviornment he was in. “I would practice with a lot of the Louisville players who would come back when I was in High School , so I knew by the time I was ready to go to Tennessee, that I could compete at a high level and be successful” . It was not until his freshman year at Tennessee however that the thought of the NBA became more of a reality than a dream. Allan’s father, Wade was his head coach at the University of Tennessee and some of the proudest moments of his life were ” When I could find my father after a big game and we would share a hug”.
Mr. Houston spoke of the mindset that drove him throughout these years in college and the NBA. ” There is a fine line between confidence and humility. It is razor sharp. Hard work was never the issue for me. You have to have confidence in anything that you do in order to be successful but always using that line as guidance”. He graduated the University of Tennessee as their all time leading scorer. Preparing for the NBA draft was relatively easy using these tools and that mindset. “I didn’t care what different people around the country would say about whether I should go 1st overall or 11th overall or 20th. I knew my worth both as a human being and as a basketball player”. He was drafted 11th overall to the Detroit Pistons. In 1996, his rookie contract expired and Allan Houston would hit free agency. He would ultimately choose to play for the New York Knicks, where he would spend the rest of his career. I asked what New York has meant to him both as a player and executive (he is currently special assistant to the GM of The New York Knicks) to which he responded ” New York and my time there has made me the man I am today. I was blessed throughout my career to be surrounded by players and coaches/mentors who were winners and made me part of a winning culture”. New York is also where he would find his calling off the court through his foundations and projects.
His career was stopped short after a knee injury hindered his ability to play any longer at a high level. Now, many question this injury and say that Houston took the money and ran. Well, considering that the man only missed 10 games in 10 seasons prior to that, I would say the bitterness is substantially unwarranted. While working as an executive with the Knicks and devoting time to various community service projects, Houston had also founded the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation which was wearing him pretty thin. ” I had to sit my family down and as a family we had to decide what we wanted our legacy to be and what our mission was , which is where the idea for FISLL was born”. Mr. Houston is a man of profound Christian faith so there is no doubt that is where the first principle comes from. ” My faith has made me who I am, being a father as well as a son of God is at the root of everything I am and believe in”. Along with Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy, “this led us to refer to them as the Fundamentals of Life and incorporating the 3 dimensions of mind, body and spirit”. None of this would even be conceivable or possible had it not been for one particular person being the driving force in Houston’s life. “My mother, she is such an inspirational and spirit filled person. So much of our foundation of faith and values came from her words every day.” The mission of FISLL is to engage, equip and inspire leaders using those core values as their teaching point through combing digital and experiential learning. It is truly an unbelievable mission and one Allan takes great pride in knowing it is those fundamental principles that made him the man he is today.
When asked about fatherhood, Houston replied “Along with getting married, it is one of those feelings that unless you have experienced it, one cannot describe it to you. I have 7 kids so it seems every day, every month and every year I am learning new profound things about myself as a father and as a man through each one of them”. When speaking on this particular subject as well as the faith he practices, I could almost feel the energy of love coming through the phone as undoubtedly he was smiling ear to ear. The love he has for his family and God is at the forefront of every message he shares. I asked about some of his defining moments in his life/career and at the top of his list were “Getting married, every time I became a father , every moment I can spend with my mother and father, and when I ultimately get to spend a few moments alone with God”. Of course right up there as well was “Winning a gold medal, and the magical run of the 1999 Finals team as well as all my years in the league”.
Using one of the words from his “Fundamentals of Life” and the entire basis of this article, Legacy, I asked him “After all is said and done, what is it you hope YOUR lasting legacy is?” He paused for just a moment and spoke “I want to be known as a great son, a great father and a great husband, but also just like in my career, I want to be known as the one that could be trusted in the biggest moments, when it all came down to it, I was the one everyone trusted to make the best decision possible”. Wow. An absolutely powerful statement and one I think we all strive in one way or another to be a part of our own legacy as well. One thing that Mr. Houston said in our conversation that I keep repeating over and over in my head is a message I think we all need to hear during these uncertain times, especially this aspiring sports journalist. “Use this time to its full potential. Find out who you are at your core and what motivates you. When this is over, and it will be over, it is that which is going to define you and set the course for the rest of your life”. Thank you Mr. Allan Houston for that message and for all that you do inspiring, motivating and teaching everyone you come in contact with whether you know it or not.
To The Rack With Mac 