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Michigan State Basketball: Constructing all-athlete team from Tom Izzo era

By Connor Muldowney

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 21: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans slam dunk the basketball against the Long Beach State 49ers at Breslin Center on December 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 21: Miles Bridges #22 of the Michigan State Spartans slam dunk the basketball against the Long Beach State 49ers at Breslin Center on December 21, 2017 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 11: Kalin Lucas #1 of the Michigan State Spartans calls on the fans as he wals off the court after Michigan State won 74-56 against the Purdue Boilermakers during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 11, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 11: Kalin Lucas #1 of the Michigan State Spartans calls on the fans as he wals off the court after Michigan State won 74-56 against the Purdue Boilermakers during the quarterfinals of the 2011 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 11, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /

Point Guard

Starter: Kalin Lucas
Backup: Tum Tum Nairn

Some may not remember just how athletic Kalin Lucas was. He was as fast as any point guard in the country during his time at Michigan State and had one of the best careers of any Spartan in the Tom Izzo era.

There was even talk before his senior year about Lucas getting his No. 1 retired at some point. He averaged 14.7 and 14.8 points during his sophomore and junior seasons, respectively, but missed most of the 2010 NCAA Tournament with a torn Achilles. He was never truly as athletic or overall effective as he was before the injury which dampens people’s perspective toward him.

Lucas was still not only one of the best point guards in the Izzo era, but the best athlete at the position as well.

Not far behind is Tum Tum Nairn who didn’t have an overly productive career in East Lansing as an offensive enigma. He never averaged more than 3.5 points per game during any of his four seasons which is a shame because he was the fastest kid on the floor at all times and could blow by defenders with ease. He was an absolute blur.

If he just developed an offensive game, we might be talking about him as more than just a great teammate.

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