The world-class speed has faded amid the inevitability of the ticking clock. Nine NBA seasons will take their toll even on the legs of a player descended from world-class sprinters.
What Darren Collison has lost in end-to-end speed, however, has been more than compensated by veteran savvy and perspective. The mind is sharper, the shooting touch more accurate, the leadership more pronounced, especially now that his journey has taken him to the right place at the right time.
The Pacers' decision to sign him to a free agent contract in June didn't excite the fan base, many of whom remembered him performing with mixed results six and seven seasons ago before losing his starting job to George Hill, and didn't attract much attention around the league.