The NBA connection: The conversation that proved a ‘turning point’ for Charlie Cameron

This is the story about how Charlie Cameron learnt to smile again, with some help – in a roundabout way – from NBA superstar Tim Duncan.

Cameron, a four-goal hero in Brisbane’s 47-point demolition of Geelong on Saturday as they became back-to-back AFL premiers, was as shattered as any Lion after their crushing qualifying final defeat three weeks ago to those same Cats.

The dual All-Australian forward won a career-low two disposals that night, which followed a patchy home-and-away season where he failed to reach the same lofty heights he was accustomed to.

Cameron went searching for advice, and ended up in Chris Fagan’s office, chatting to four-time Olympic basketballer and champion coach Phil Smyth, who has served as Fagan’s sounding board for the past six years.

This time, it was a 31-year-old goalsneak whom Smyth was trying to help. Smyth’s advice for Cameron was simple, but took him back two decades to a chat he had with Duncan in San Francisco, during one of the ex-San Antonio Spur’s rare rough patches.

Duncan, who is famous for being emotionless and stoic, had approached Smyth through their mutual associate Brett Brown, a former Australian Boomers coach, to chat about his form.

Smyth gave Duncan the same advice he passed on to Cameron, who describes that chat as his “turning point”.

“Probably the key message was, ‘Mate, you need to smile and enjoy yourself a little bit more. You’re putting too much pressure on yourself’,” Smyth told this masthead.

“He’s a high-calibre player, and he puts a lot of pressure on himself to perform. He sets a high standard, and if he doesn’t get there, he gets frustrated with himself. Sometimes, that can compound, so it was just about trying to get back to doing the things he enjoys – and he did it. He was unbelievable today.”

Cameron ignited from the time he swooped on the loose Sherrin and drilled a magnificent goal from the boundary about seven minutes into the second term.

He capped that magic moment with a planned celebration in honour of American rapper Snoop Dogg – the league’s headline entertainment act for this year’s grand final – as the John Denver song synonymous with his goals, Take Me Home, Country Roads, played in the background.

Cameron had three more opportunities to celebrate, too.

He out-bodied Jhye Clark to mark and kick his second; received a handball off Kai Lohmann for his third; then marked low to the ground before launching Brisbane’s nine-goal final-quarter binge.

“I did hear [the critics] a bit, but I just had to get back to doing what I do best, and back myself. I knew what I was capable of and the job I could do,” Cameron told this masthead.

“I had a great chat with Phil Smyth about my game, and that was probably a turning point. He told me a story about Tim Duncan, and it was all about having more fun and enjoying yourself. There’s a fair bit of expectation [on me], but I’ve got a lot of great support around me.”

Cameron is just one redemption story in a club full of them, after a year riddled with injuries, shock losses at their Gabba fortress and a nightmare fixture.

To him, last year’s premiership – his first – will always be the “sweetest”, but this one still holds a special place in his heart.

“It’s unreal. I didn’t know how to react afterwards because it’s the second one,” Cameron said.

“The first one is the sweetest one, and they’re different, but it’s been a tough year, with a lot of injuries, and so many players had to come in and step up. Everyone just played their role and there were no egos, and this win is all about our system and culture.”

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