In college they used to call Seattle SuperSonics guard Brent Barry "the condor."

Either that, or "preying mantis." "I think it was because I had this little tiny body with these big, long limbs," Barry said.

If teammates want to give Barry new nickname, maybe "Coyote" would fit, as in "Wile E."

Barry has one of the best basketball minds on the Sonics, and perhaps in the NBA. It's the main reason he will open the season as the Sonics starting shooting guard, allowing second-year pro Desmond Mason to develop, and learn, behind Barry.