We don’t know whether the Phoenix Suns or Milwaukee Bucks will win this year’s NBA Finals. What we do know is that one of two former Notre Dame captains will be hoisting the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy when it’s over. Mike Brey is over the moon about the battle between Suns coach Monty Williams and Bucks guard Pat Connaughton:
Two former @NDmbb captains take the court for the @NBA Finals tonight.
Two great ambassadors of the game, two amazing competitors and way too close to call! pic.twitter.com/kfQakqZKzk
— Mike Brey (@NDMikeBrey) July 6, 2021
Before learning whether Williams’ brain or Connaughton’s brawn will help determine the outcome of this series, let’s go back to their respective times in South Bend. Williams played there from 1989 to 1994, while Connaughton was around from 2011 to 2015. Here’s how their Irish careers compare from a numbers standpoint:
Statistically, Williams was the better player in most areas against better competition. He also played one less season for Notre Dame, sitting out two others during his tenure because of a heart condition. Meanwhile, Connaughton was a key cog on a 2015 Irish team that came agonizingly close to the Final Four.
You’ve got two Notre Dame alumni with two different skill sets and two different types of collegiate careers playing in two different eras. Now, they come together on basketball’s biggest stage. May the man with the better team win.