Bottom line on @Candace_Parker: It was clear she'd be a Hall of Famer before she even got to the @WNBA. She's won every title and award worth winning and still works to improve. She's been motivated by constructive criticism but not deterred by petty, cheap-shot stuff. ...

She gives insightful answers to media questions, not rote "one-game-at-time" stuff."There is a "realness" to her responses that I think all media appreciate, or should. She has always praised the coaches who helped her, and she shouldn't have to pay homage to those who didn't ...

Her visibility as someone who has developed a respected career outside the WNBA has been an enormous boost for the league. Even the jerks know that she knows what she's talking about in analyzing *any* level of basketball. Being good at that on TV is harder than people think ...

Great players in any sport tend to be the most analyzed, and in Parker's case, everything she does is micro-analyzed. She's actually stood up remarkably well to that scrutiny. I'm not sure many players would, frankly. She is able to describe her *own* flaws, which is tough. ...

. @LadyVol_Hoops fans recall a few times I criticized her in columns early in her career. It was never because I didn't respect her, just the opposite. Sometimes as writers, we do offer some criticism. Sometimes it's warranted, sometimes it's not. Great players deal with it ...

Because they understand the media's role, and also because NO ONE is a harsher critic of them than they are of themselves. And great players also know if certain fan bases don't like them, that's actually the biggest of compliments. It's part of what makes sports fun. ...

Just my thoughts. Parker won defensive player of the year in a vote just like every player who's ever won it. It's hers. She earned it. Coaches made a different decision with all-def teams. OK, so folks will debate that ... but not Parker's status in WBB history. That's settled.