12th Man Glad To Be There Deep Reserves Insecure, But Most Accept Their Roles

No matter how many games he played for the Utah Jazz, Andy Toolson would sometimes still feel like an impostor when he drove his car into the Delta Center parking lot.

Unlike Karl Malone, John Stockton or most of his other teammates, Toolson, who had a fairly prominent career at nearby Brigham Young, needed to pull out his wallet and show his I.D. to gain entry. And even that might not satisfy the security guards.

“Who are you?”

“I play for the Utah Jazz.”

“Oh, OK.”

With that, Toolson could enter the arena and suit up as the 12th man for the Jazz. It’s another experience a little-used reserve like Toolson faces that the Malones and Stocktons never encounter.

But there are many players in the NBA like Toolson, often making millions per year less than their colleagues and always fighting just to stay on the roster. Rarely, if ever, do they feel secure about their jobs.

They could be a team’s 10th, 11th or 12th man, usually making around the league minimum of $200,000. It is more than enough to live on comfortably, but most of these players never know how long they’ll be making it.

Toolson is a case study of the vagabond existence these players often live. He played for Utah in the 1990-91 season, then spent the next four seasons bouncing around Italy, Spain and the CBA.

Finally, last June, the Jazz resigned him. But by December, they released him. Believing his season was over, Toolson was on vacation with his wife in January, when the phone rang. It was the Jazz again, and they offered a 10-day contract.

He accepted, knowing in advance the Jazz probably would not ask him to remain once the contract was up. So midway through his 10 days, Toolson left to play in Greece.

“My whole career I won’t make as much as Karl Malone in one year,” Toolson said. “It’s frustrating to sit and not play and it’s tough to get in there and be confident.

“Then again, how many people would like to have your job? I think it’s a fun way to make a living.”

The Jazz also gets something in return with guys like Toolson: a dependable player who understands his role, knows the offense, works hard and won’t cause problems.

“It’s very difficult to find guys that will work and aren’t looking for star minutes,” Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. “The biggest problem is guys expect to play star minutes.”

This is one reason a team is likely to stick with a reliable low-profile reserve, rather than take a chance on a player who will not adapt to such an inconspicuous assignment.

The Lakers and Clippers are no different. They have players who make about the league minimum, push teammates in practice and don’t throw a tantrum if they go a week without playing.

“I’m not going to make waves,” Clippers center Keith Tower said. “I know what the alternative is.”

Lakers coach Del Harris spent three years in Milwaukee coaching forward Fred Roberts. When the Lakers needed a proven reserve to add depth, Harris jumped at the chance to bring Roberts aboard.

“He gave me a chance,” Roberts said. “At my age (34), it’s tough to get picked up. I’d probably be done if not for the Lakers.”

Roberts has been in the league 12 years. His first three, he made the then-minimum salary of $70,000.

“I learned right away I couldn’t hang around (the superstars),” Roberts said. “(They were) buying nice clothes and nice cars. You come into this league thinking you’ll play 10 years, and you can get caught up with the other guys on the team.”

Roberts said of his 12 seasons, he entered only two or three where he felt secure about making the team before training camp. Only one of his contracts was guaranteed.

“It was really stressful,” he said. “I was always looking over my shoulder. I put a lot of pressure on myself. Looking back, I think ‘Gosh, I wish I could have enjoyed this a little bit more.”’

As a Laker, Roberts makes $225,000. It’s 7 percent of starting center Vlade Divac’s salary.

Roberts knows he has to be frugal - at least in comparison to his teammates. He is supporting himself in L.A. and his wife and four kids in Milwaukee. That means a house and apartment payment.

There’s also constant moving expenses. Roberts has played for, in order, San Antonio, Utah, Boston, Milwaukee, Cleveland and the Lakers. He also spent a season in Barcelona.

Once he arrives in a new city, he might have to rent furniture, a car or other incidentals. There’s also $5,000 for union dues and agent fees. By playing for the Lakers, he has the higher cost of living problems associated with Los Angeles.

“I’d save an extra $50,000 if I was living in Milwaukee,” Roberts said. “This year if I were making the league minimum, I’d be losing money.”

But Roberts is not complaining. He knows his lengthy tenure is unique for journeyman (career averages: 7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds).

“You have to make yourself be ready (to play),” Roberts said. “That’s the biggest key to my longevity. Somehow you have to realize the year is so long, that with injuries, the coach could say, ‘Hey! You’re in right now.”’

Although he never achieved star status, Roberts said he had no problems fitting in with his teammates.

Except once.

“The most difficult place was Boston,” said Roberts, who played there in 1986-88. “Our first five were great players, they had a mystique. I don’t know if they respected the bench players or felt they could play.

“There I felt like, we’re not really part of this.”

When Magic Johnson returned last month, Roberts immediately went on the injured list with a back injury. He now spends home games working up a sweat during pregame drills before changing into street clothes for the game.

“I feel like this is a bonus year for me,” Roberts said before going on the injured list. “People are really surprised (I’m with the Lakers). They say ‘Did you play basketball?’ And I say ‘Yeah, I did.”’

Most important to players of Roberts’ level, his salary is guaranteed whether he plays another game or not this season, because he was on the roster past the Jan. 10 deadline. But even if the Lakers released Roberts, it is likely another club would be willing to add him to the roster.

“I wish we had him,” Dallas coach Dick Motta said.

Keith Tower not only knows what a good 12th man should be, he does his homework.

A free agent who played in only 11 games in 1-1/2 years with the Orlando Magic, Tower studied NBA rosters last summer before signing with the L.A. Clippers.

He ended up becoming the Clippers’ discovery of training camp.

Tower knew the Clippers had only one healthy established center (Brian Williams) and the chronically injured Stanley Roberts as his backup.

“I actually looked at it as a team I might be able to play with,” he said.

It was the perfect situation and the Clippers have gotten more than the $225,000 they are paying the Notre Dame graduate.

Tower has been the only Clippers center healthy for all 50 games. He scored a career-high 19 points against Milwaukee in December, more than he had had in his entire NBA career.

But most nights, he gets only a few minutes, or may not play at all. While most Clippers go home after a game, Tower heads straight for the weight room to work out.

“You’ve got to be willing to do anything to keep your job,” he said.