Matt Christensen: A Leader Of All Types

By Julia Bennett
Sports Information Student Assistant

When junior Matt Christensen was asked to talk about his most memorable moment in basketball, he recounted a Maryland contest on February 28, 1996. Played in Cole Field House on the Maryland campus, this game was decided during the final seconds, when the Blue Devils hit a three-point shot to win the game, 77-74.

That Christensen would choose this particular game was truly amazing. Although it was an exciting contest between Atlantic Coast Conference rivals that many probably remember fondly, this was not a game in which Christensen played a significant role. He was not the player who hit the final shot, nor did he make any large physical contribution that night. However, Christensen's memorable moment does reveal one of the most impressive things about him: his emphasis on the importance of the team.

Christensen started playing basketball at the age of four, but began participating in organized contests while in the third grade. Perhaps his father Clayton Christensen, a noted Rhodes Scholar, economist and former basketball player at Brigham Young University who Matt sights as his role model, influenced the younger Christensen to try out the hardwood. Of his early days in basketball, Christensen says, "I just remember thinking that basketball was really exciting. The more I played, the better I got. I just felt like I could play all day."

Christensen took his newfound love for basketball and developed it into a passion that led to an impressive high school career in his hometown of Belmont, Massachusetts. Christensen was a two-time all-state player at Belmont High School, where he led the team to an 88-11 record over his four years as a player. He was the Most Valuable Player of the Middlesex League, and was named to the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald Super Team for his accomplishments while at Belmont. His superior performance on the court coupled with an excellent academic record made him a perfect fit for Duke University and head coach Mike Krzyzewski's program.

Christensen joined Duke's basketball team as a freshman during the fall of 1995. In 1995-96, the Duke team posted an 18-13 overall record, with Christensen playing in 13 contests and averaging 1.4 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. Although as a freshman he saw limited time on the court, he continued to support his teammates and to train for his opportunity to play.

Christensen was not only preparing for basketball, however. He was also getting ready for one of the most important contest of his life -- his two year mission trip to Germany. Christensen, a Mormon, had chosen to take two years away from Duke University and basketball to answer the call to spread his faith to the people of Germany. A mission trip is not required, but the Mormon Church suggests that college-aged members of the faith spend time as missionaries.

While many athletes elect not to take this trip, Christensen was enthusiastic about spending time in Germany. He did not see his mission as an abandonment of his team, but as a way to become a better person and a stronger basketball player. His father also did a mission, and the younger Christensen was eager to experience all of the positive life changes that his father had often talked about having while on his own trip. So instead of spending two years improving his jump shot and studying economics, he rode a bicycle through Germany spreading the Mormon faith.

Christensen's trip was far from easy, however. He not only experienced the pressures of living on his own in a foreign country, but also had to deal with being separated from his teammates for two years. Indeed, many of the members of the 1995-96 Duke team had graduated from the university by the time he returned from Germany. This lost connection was particularly difficult for a player who values his team relationships as highly as Christensen does.

He concedes that "it was tough to be gone" and that he "didn't get to know as many of the guys [on the basketball team]" as he would have had he chosen to stay in Durham. However, Christensen worked to stay in contact with his teammates by writing letters to them from Germany.

His experiences in Germany contributed to the team in ways that no one could have imagined. Christensen brought what he learned about himself back to the Duke basketball team. He says "One of the things I learned that helps me in basketball is discipline." Christensen labored while in Germany, and saw the benefits of his hard work. He tries to apply this law of success to the basketball court.

"If you make an effort to succeed at something and you really worked at it," Christensen says. "Then you are a lot more inclined to work and you don't just neglect the effort that you put into it."

Christensen's desire to work hard to improve as a player is in keeping with his philosophy about Duke basketball. Of his teammates, he says that "people aren't worried about the individual things; they're worried about the team. Everyone realizes that if an individual player gets better, then the team gets better."

If each member of the team is a role-player, then Christensen sees himself as the rebounder.

"I work to be a player like Charles Oakley, going after rebounds and playing good defense." he said. "I'm not worried about individual, but how the team does. I don't need to be the essential cog to the offensive wheel. Other players have that role whereas I focus more on the little things."

Although he was not a starter last season, Christensen did see playing time in all 16 regular season ACC contests. He figures to be a key contributor off the Blue Devil bench this year as well.

Christensen's desire to see his team be successful is evident when he talks about how he is approaching his own development this season.

" As the season goes on, I don't want to take any shortcuts," he stated. "I need to work even more and put more effort into it."

Always the team player, he says that the closeness of the team "makes you want to play better, because you care about the other guys on the team."

There may be an "I" in Christensen, but his dedication to Duke basketball proves that there is no "I" in team.

Matt Christensen: A Leader Of All Types

Duke information