2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year: Cope Creatif

City’s Big man makes music on the defensive end

The 2021-22 Gr3g League Defensive Player of the Year, the City of Bridges Basketball Club‘s big man, Cope Creatif.

It was a mid-summer Tuesday evening over on Grand Rapids’ southeast side when we first met Cope. The sun was setting a little low in the western sky and the guys shooting toward the east bucket over on Michael Sanders Memorial Court at Wilcox Park definitely had an advantage not dealing with the twilight.

Do you know that feeling when you know the other team has to deal with something like a bent rim, overly cracked pavement, the tree branch, or the sun? It’s not subtle. You’ve got an advantage. And it’ll break down your hustle.

That’s what happened that day in the park. Cope happened.

but he also plays “without contacts” offense

He didn’t overwork to get to his spot. He didn’t lunge to get the steal. He wouldn’t bite on the pump fake. What did he do? He continued a defensive assault on the opposing team. Wait for the opposition to attack and thwart away the efforts like a fly.

We knew very early in Summer League what to expect in the regular season.

When the “2021 Draft” took place, it was obvious to the team ambassadors to keep the continuity from the Summer League teams together on the floor and found City to be the best option. Cope, Trav Waylaa, Jose XIX and Weston (IR, return in 2022-23 likely) joined up with D Nags and Kid A to form a formidable new look Bridges.

Cope did the dirty work for the Bad Boys in Blue all year long. You can look at the yearly stats and see that he scored 10 points over 13 games this past season, but that doesn’t tell the story at all.

The League doesn’t currently keep (read: who wants to watch some YouTube games & do the book?) defensive stats like rebounds, blocks, steals and turnovers forced. This year, we didn’t need them.

Every game this year, Cope owned the middle of the floor on the defensive end. His abundant rebounding numbers and the numerous shots blocked were high on the mind of the voters (most of whom had been victim to the Creatif’D).

“He plays a no-contact type of defense that takes away an opponents ability to body up and control the narrative”, his biggest fan in the League told us earlier this year, “no need to be more than DPOY”.

“Yeah, but he also plays “without contacts” offense and we could use some easy buckets”, another player chimed in.

No player in the league did more to effect the opponents as a whole that Cope did this season.

Congratulations, Cope Creatif!

Keep making that music! 

 

Check out his work off court:

https://www.facebook.com/lescreatifmusic

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6
Name
Cope
Position
Center
Member Status
Lifetime
Height
6-3
Weight
180
Current Team
Rhythm
Past Teams
City
Leagues
2nd Ward Division, 3rd Ward Division, the GR3G league
Seasons
2021 Playoffs, 2021 Season, 2022 Season, 2023 Season, 2024 Season
Age
38

2nd Ward Division

SeasonTeamMVP RaceGFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%GRMGRA3G%PTSPPGZEBREBZPGASTSTLBLKFTMFTAFT%OFFDEFTOPFGSRPGAPGSPGBPGEFF
2023 SeasonRhythm021425.011100.000031.51300.0333000000020.01.51.51.59
2024 SeasonRhythm022366.71250.000052.51400.0113000000020.00.50.51.59
Total-043742.92315000081.12700.4446000000040.00.40.40.720

3rd Ward Division

SeasonTeamMVP RaceGFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%GRMGRA3G%PTSPPGZEBREBZPGASTSTLBLKFTMFTAFT%OFFDEFTOPFGSRPGAPGSPGBPGEFF
2022 SeasonRhythm03040.0010.000000.0000.0000000000030.00.00.00.0-4
Total-03040.001000000.0000.0000000000030.00.00.00.3-5

the GR3G league

SeasonTeamMVP RaceGFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%GRMGRA3G%PTSPPGZEBREBZPGASTSTLBLKFTMFTAFT%OFFDEFTOPFGSRPGAPGSPGBPGEFF
2021 SeasonCity013000000000100.8040.30040000000130.00.00.00.314
2022 SeasonRhythm081119.1020.000020.3000.0000000000080.00.00.00.0-8
2023 SeasonRhythm012132065.01520.000090.810200.09990000000120.00.80.80.829
2024 SeasonRhythm042366.71250.000051.31900.0214000000040.00.50.31.011
Total-037163447.12970000260.712140.11110170000000370.00.30.30.546

Career Total

SeasonMVP RaceGFGMFGAFG%3PM3PA3P%GRMGRA3G%PTSPPGZEBREBZPGASTSTLBLKFTMFTAFT%OFFDEFTOPFGSRPGAPGSPGBPGEFF
2021 Playoffs0300000000000.0000.0000000000030.00.00.00.00
2021 Season013000000000100.8040.30040000000130.00.00.00.314
2022 Season081119.1020.000020.3000.0000000000080.00.00.00.0-8
2023 Season012132065.01520.000090.810200.09990000000120.00.80.80.829
2024 Season042366.71250.000051.31900.0214000000040.00.50.31.011
Total040163447.12970000260.712140.11110170000000400.00.30.30.546