The other NBA Finals MVP: The 75-year-old security guard who won the heart of Kobe, Curry, Shai…

Indiana Pacers - English Kobe Bryant - English NBA - English NBA Playoffs - English Oklahoma City Thunder - English Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - English Sports Stephen Curry - English

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Williams, Pascal Siakam… everyone knows who the stars are in the seventh and final game of the NBA Finals that will be played between the Thunder and the Pacers to decide the champion. But in Oklahoma there is another character, Marvin Mack, who in his own way, always away from the spotlight, has become a star in the shadows.

Many will not be familiar with his name, not even his nickname, ‘Coach Mack’. He is the Thunder’s security guard, who has been keeping order and peace for 22 seasons in the locker room area of the Paycom Center (then called the Ford Center), and in all that time he has won the hearts of all the players and coaches who have passed through Oklahoma and also of all the visiting teams that have passed through there.

Exquisite manners and maximum courtesy

‘Coach Mack’ has earned the respect and affection of everyone who passes through the Paycom Center locker room with his ‘weapons’: his good manners, exquisite manners, education and extreme courtesy. At 75 years of age, he is still going strong and gave an interview to the American media Anscape in which he looks back on his career and talks about the great legendary players with whom he has struck up friendships thanks to his extraordinary work, such as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kevin Garnett and a host of stars.

I guess the whole country knows ‘Coach Mack’. It’s not bragging. When you show affection, people give it back to you. They are my guests and I treat them as if they were coming to my house

‘Coach Mack’ (Guardia de seguridad de los Thunder)

“I guess everybody knows ‘Coach Mack’ across the country. It’s not bragging. When you show love to people, people give it back to you,” says the veteran security guard. “When they get to the locker room, the opposing teams, I always say, ‘Welcome to Oklahoma City, guys’. Some are more receptive than others, but according to Webster’s dictionary, for me, customer service involves having a relationship with who? With your guests. Those are my guests. So treat them like they’re coming to your house. And that guest relations training has prepared me better, and I try to do it by giving it my personal touch to make it even better.”

Everyone welcomes him with open arms

“I have the best of both worlds,” Mack said. “I show love in the visitors’ hallway. And even more so in the Thunder hallway. And all those kids welcome me with open arms.” Thunder power forward Jaylin Williams was blown away when he met him: “When I got there, everyone was calling him ‘Coach’. I didn’t really know why. But the more I come to the pavilion, the more advice he gives me about the game.”

When I arrived, everyone was calling him ‘Coach’. I didn’t know why. But the more I come to the pavilion, the more advice he gives me about the game

Jaylin Williams (Jugador de los Thunder)

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault applauds his work: “Mack gives me advice from time to time and I take it into account. He now works in the visiting team section and we want this to be a great basketball environment and a great experience for everyone, whether they play with us or not, I think it contributes to that, even if it’s just a little bit, in the most subtle way. He’s a guy that’s great to interact with. He treats everyone with respect and dignity. I love spending time with him.”

Mack gives me advice from time to time and I take it into account. He’s a great guy to interact with. He treats everyone with respect and dignity. I love spending time with him

Mark Daigneault (Entrenador de los Thunder)

“I just build a good relationship with those young guys. It’s rewarding for them to have someone take them under their wing,” says Mack, who has met many great players over the past 22 years. Mack was with the Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals, alongside Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. He was in awe of Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics and struck up a good relationship with former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, 76, a contemporary of his.

The day Kobe Bryant asked for a photo

But of all Mack’s moments outside the visitors’ locker room, none fills him with pride like his story with the late Kobe Bryant. After his last game in Oklahoma City, on April 11, 2016, the Lakers legend asked to have his picture taken with him… and Mack accepted: “It was incredible, in his last game here there was an enthusiastic crowd, with journalists everywhere. I was trying to direct traffic and keep things flowing, making sure everything was done properly, with decorum and order. And suddenly, I heard my name in the crowd at the end of the hallway: ‘Coach Mack.'”

Somebody came over and said, ‘Coach Mack?, Kobe wants to know if he can have a picture with you.’ I thought about it because you’re not supposed to take pictures according to the manual… but I agreed: ‘Sure’. And I’m glad I did

‘Coach Mack’ (Guardia de seguridad de los Thunder)

“I didn’t know whose voice it was,” he said. “I said, ‘Who the hell is calling me in such a crowd?’ And someone came up to me and said, ‘Coach Mack?, Kobe wants to know if he can have his picture taken with you’. I thought about it because I’m not supposed to have my picture taken. And I said, ‘Well, the manual says…, but I agreed: ‘Sure’. And I’m so glad I did’. And he wasn’t the only one who wanted to pose with him. Another superstar like Stephen Curry also requested it.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder star and man of the moment, also praises him: “He’s special. You get completely absorbed in your own world as an NBA player and people like ‘Coach Mack’ are a breath of fresh air. You come in very serious, thinking about your game, and he’s happy to be there, happy to open the door for you, the simple things in life,” the Canadian explains. “Over the years, I’ve been able to get closer to him. I met his granddaughter. He’s a great guy. I’m glad to have him around. He keeps everything calm around here. He’s an important part of what we do.”

“Coach Mack is a breath of fresh air. He’s happy to be there, happy to open the door for you, the simple things in life. He’s a cool guy. I’m glad to have him around. He keeps everything calm. He’s an important part of what we do.”

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Jugador de los Thunder)

At 75, he is still not thinking about retirement: “When God says my purpose is done, I’ll be done,” he said. “But I love my job. I wake up for it. I’m looking forward to getting into the arena because I know someone is coming in who might need a word of encouragement, because everyday life is tough, especially for young people of color.”

Tonight he will be, as always, at his post next to the Pacers’ locker room, hoping his team will win its first championship. “We’re just one game away from winning it all, you just have to stay humble and have a positive attitude,” Mack told Andscape. “Don’t let it pass you by. Don’t let it go. Let it come and accept it at once. That would be the speech I would give them”.If the Thunder wins the title, a little bit of that ring, even if it’s very small, will also belong to ‘Coach Mack’.

This news was originally published on this post .

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Indiana Pacers - English Kobe Bryant - English NBA - English NBA Playoffs - English Oklahoma City Thunder - English Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - English Stephen Curry - English

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