Never one to talk about himself to any great extent, it was refreshing and unique to see Hydaburg’s Sid Edenshaw speak at his All Native Basketball Tournament (ANBT) Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night.
A Haida Warrior ceremonial dance by members of his team capped off a terrific night for the big man. Just 24 hours later, Edenshaw captured the 2015 ANBT Masters championship with that same team.
The reverence and adoration that fill his peers’ voices when they speak of him is unmatched in any modern player still playing the game.
“It’s impressive when you consider his age (51) that he’s still able to compete against guys who are 20 years younger than him,” said Hydaburg teammate and basketball apprentice Matt Carle.
“The Hall of Fame induction ... meant a lot to me personally and to our community because it recognizes somebody that we consider the best player of all time at this tournament so it was really a night to remember.”
Edenshaw scored 13 points in the final versus Old Massett, but it’s not all about the numbers. Even if it was, Edenshaw’s credentials more than gain him a pass to elite ANBT status.
“I talked about it in my speech but I missed all the friendships. The first year we weren’t here I struggled all week, every day. It was just a big struggle and it bothered me for quite awhile to not be here, but it’s definitely good to be back,” said the big man after winning.
His career, spanning four decades, and winning 20 titles with MVP nods in seven of those years, Edenshaw transformed the game and the modern ANBT player into what many see now – an athlete who not only can put up points, but can play defence, call out plays and really think about the game at a higher level than what the audience or even his mates and opposition on the court can perceive.
The Haida Warrior has been to a lot of big-name basketball tournaments across North America, but his induction at the ANBT in 2015 will leave a lasting impression on the athlete who revolutionized what it meant to be a native basketball player.
“It’s a very proud day and it’s a big honour,” he said.
“I’ve been playing ball here for a lot of years and it’s one of the biggest honours in basketball I’ve ever received.”