Why such an unproven player is generating this much publicity would normally be a mystery, but not in this case. While the IBL recognizes him as Percy Miller, forward for the San Diego Stingrays, the rest of the world knows him as Master P-- rapper, producer, and entrepreneur extraordinaire. Miller, the President and CEO of No Limit Enterprises, insists this venture into basketball is no publicity stunt. Recent history is on his side. Before the 1998-99 NBA season, Master P was invited to the Charlotte Hornets' training camp, but was eventually cut. And before the start of this season, he survived until the last round of cuts at the Toronto Raptors' training camp.
In his mind, he belongs in the NBA. "They (Toronto) had nightmares getting rid of me," he quipped. "I think that I just got caught up in the numbers thing. There was a lot of other players there I thought I was better than, but they had guaranteed contracts, and that's something you can't change."
While some may debate Master P's motives for pursuing professional basketball, salary should not be considered one of them. He's ranked number eleven on Forbes Magazine's list of "the top one hundred richest entertainers in America," and his estimated $56.5 million in earnings last year places him second among all musical acts, behind only The Rolling Stones. He still makes more than any other player in the IBL (the man has his pride!), but the money pales in comparison to having the chance to play regularly. "When you make money, you gotta find something else to do, and basketball does that for me," he said. "It's my passion, it's my love. It's something I've been doing before I was doing the music thing."
But the music is what he's known for, among other things. While Master P, "Renaissance Man," is a bit of a stretch, you have to give the man credit for what he's accomplished in so many different fields. In addition to being one of rap's biggest performing stars, he's also one of the music industry's most successful record producers, an aspiring filmmaker (even though "I Got the Hook Up" failed to garner an Oscar nomination), and most recently, a sports agent. No Limit Sports Agency is currently under contract with New Orleans Saints running back Ricky Williams, in addition to Ron Mercer of the Boston Celtics, and Derek Anderson of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Make no mistake, Master P is a businessman first, and an athlete second. In 1998, he ended an eight-game stint with the Ft. Wayne Fury, of the Canadian Basketball Association, to begin production on "Hookup". That was two years ago. So now, after being so close to the NBA two seasons in a row, how high on the list of priorities IS professional basketball? "I mean, basketball is up there on my list," he said. "You know, my business is up there… but basketball is a real focus for me right now… real high on the charts."
The men who share that court with Master P couldn't be happier. Life as a San Diego Stingray is unlike being a member of any other IBL team; that is, of course, unless constant media exposure and playing in crowded arenas are common to most semi-pro caliber basketball teams. However, it would be understandable for Master P's teammates to feel slighted over the attention he receives, while their on-court contributions are just as important. While it would be understandable, and even acceptable, it is simply not the case.
"It's fun. Obviously he gets a lot of attention," said Stingrays' guard Pete Philo. "Everywhere we go, a lot of media, a lot of fans. And it makes the game fun cause we have so many people to play in front of."
"I think it's hilarious," added forward Matt Garrison. "Everywhere we go, there's fans… I think it's great."
Although the Stingrays' players feel privileged to be around and play alongside their celebrity teammate, they say they are not in awe of him. Percy Miller, or "P," as they refer to him, is just another guy on the team with dreams of making the NBA, just like them.
"You give him a lot of respect because of what he's done in life," said Philo. "But as far as on the court, he's just another player."
Master P didn't discuss the depths of the relationships he shares with his teammates. However, according to some players, building friendships has been difficult thus far, due to the rigors of the schedule. Life on the road in the IBL isn't easy-- the eight-team league features clubs as far west as San Diego and Las Vegas, and as far east as Trenton, New Jersey and Richmond, Virginia. Master P does travel with the Stingrays, though he never does so alone; bodyguards follow him wherever he goes. They're the guys with the hood ornament-sized gold and diamond-laced No Limit Sports tags around their necks. Master P treats his employees very well.
"He's the kind of kid you want as a son, because he's gotta lot of money," joked Stingrays' Head Coach Smokey Gaines.
But putting aside the issues of his money, the bodyguards, the fans, and the media, the basic question still remains: "Can Master P really play?" Well, at press time, he's averaging only 7.0 points per game, and is shooting just 20% from the field, 10% from three-point range-- not the kind of numbers that land you a spot on an NBA roster. He says he's really not in game shape yet, that he's still adjusting, and that it will take at least ten games for him to gauge where he's really at as a pro player. You have to give him the benefit of the doubt. NBA teams really have nothing to gain by keeping a prospect until the last cut of training camp, unless they really crave that extra 20-second spot during Sportscenter.
The man has some raw talent, but will that be enough? His coach and his teammates weighed in with noncommittal predictions. "If he works hard, he's got a shot," said Gaines. Philo said, "if he keeps working hard, who knows? Sky's the limit." They said the same thing about Michael Jordan as a member of the Birmingham Barons. At age 29, time is running out on Master P, much as it did on "His Airness." But also like Jordan, Master P has something very substantial to fall back on. The bottom line is, while making the NBA has been a life-long dream of his, in the end, it's reduced merely to yet another self-imposed challenge. "My whole world's not gonna stop if I don't make it," he said. "Some dreams you make, some you don't."
So far, Master P's "making-dreams-come-true-percentage" has been pretty high. Unfortunately, NBA scouts look at field goal percentage. If his doesn't increase pretty soon, well, his whole world's not gonna stop, but his NBA hoop dreams just might.