The Illusion of Average
A story, quote, and lesson about why mastery isn’t always loud
Respect the bench.
That’s the lesson a few cocky Boston locals learned the hard way in 2013, when they stepped up to challenge retired NBA role player Brian Scalabrine in a one-on-one showdown known as The Scallenge.
At first glance, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Scalabrine had spent most of his NBA career on the bench, averaging just 3.1 points per game. A human victory cigar, some joked. Surely a few former college hoopers or gym legends could give him a run for his money, maybe even beat him.
They were wrong. Very wrong.
Scalabrine didn’t just win, he dominated. One after another, challengers were crushed. He played four games and won each by a combined score of 44–6. They couldn’t stop him. They couldn’t score. And they certainly couldn’t believe just how wide the gap was.
What they had failed to grasp, and what many still don’t, is how deep the well of mastery runs in professionals, even those at the perceived “bottom” of the pyramid.
It wasn’t arrogance, it was math. It was truth.
Scalabrine had spent over a decade training, playing, and competing at the absolute highest level of basketball. That meant thousands of hours refining his shot, strengthening his body, studying plays, and going toe-to-toe with elite talent. Every detail mattered. Every rep counted. That kind of mastery doesn’t disappear just because you weren’t the star of the show.
It’s easy to look at someone like Scalabrine and assume they were “just a benchwarmer.” But even NBA benchwarmers are among the top 0.01% of basketball players on the planet. The gap between them and your average rec league all-star is not just big, it’s a canyon.
“I’m closer to LeBron than you are to me.”
- Brian Scalabrine
The Scallenge wasn’t just an exhibition. It was a reminder.
In any field, whether it’s sports, music, programming, or writing, there exists a level of dedication and refinement that’s invisible to the casual observer. You don’t always see the sacrifices, the repetition, the failures, the grind. But mastery has a way of revealing itself when it matters.
And it applies to your own life, too.
Maybe you’re not at the top of your game yet. Maybe you’re quietly building your skills, day after day, without much recognition. But that time isn’t wasted. Every rep counts. Every lesson matters. Like Scalabrine, you might not be in the spotlight, but when your moment comes, you’ll be ready.
So now I ask you:
Where in your life are you quietly mastering your craft, without even realizing just how far ahead you already are?
Great article. It applies to many th9ngs in life. One that comes to mind is Parenting. You are always trained to be a SON or DAUGHTER but never to be parent. But all that training is mastering your skills for when the time comes to be a parent. And there you demonstrate the fundamentals learned.
Your wonderful tips to build up on every lesson and wait for the right time to shine is extremely important to build our self esteem. Thanks for your inspiration.