If Ronald Reagan played basketball: small forward, rated 78

Ronald Reagan as a basketball player: scouting report

Ronald Reagan spent his teenage summers as a lifeguard at Lowell Park on the Rock River in Illinois, where he was credited with dozens of rescues, and a lifeguard's habit of scanning the whole picture is what a good team defender does on every possession. That is why he plays small forward. His basketball IQ is the top mark on his card and his defense is next, so he rotates early, talks constantly and is in the right spot when the ball swings.

He played football at Eureka College, then called Chicago Cubs games on the radio in Des Moines, recreating the action from telegraph reports, so he understands a game from both sides of the microphone. In Hollywood he played George Gipp in Knute Rockne, All American, and he later served as president of the Screen Actors Guild. His card is unusually even: passing, athleticism and shooting all sit close together, which makes him a glue player who fits almost any lineup without needing plays run for him.

Rebounding is the lowest mark on his card, though it is not far below the rest. He would rather close out on a shooter than battle bigger forwards on the glass, so he should be paired with a physical rebounder. Shooting guard and power forward are both close fits, which makes him a handy piece for a drafter who wants to fill gaps late. Take him in the middle rounds, put him beside a ball dominant guard and a strong center, and let him do the small things that win close games.

Plays like A steady, versatile wing who does a little bit of everything

Put Ronald Reagan in your lineup

8 rolls, a starting five and a bench, 82 games. Can you go 82-0? Free, no account.