Unlike the crowds for most NBA exhibition games, Sunday’s in Allen Fieldhouse had three things for which to root: 1. A good game for Kirk Hinrich; 2. A strong performance by Nick Collison; 3. A game that ends in regulation, so the agony of having to watch NBA exhibition basketball is not prolonged.

Most only get to root for No. 3 on that list.

Hinrich and Collison supplied their share of highlights, and most were intentional. Collison was responsible for the funniest: a lob pass that went through the hoop and gave him credit for a three-point field goal in the Bulls’ 110-105 overtime victory.

As is usually the case, Hinrich looked like the quickest player on the floor. Discussion of his basketball brilliance always seems to center on him willing it to happen through endless work.

It’s a nice story line, inspirational for those who feel short-changed on talent, but it’s only partially reality-based. By all accounts, he has worked extremely hard on his body and game through the years. So have a number of others you’ve never heard of because they weren’t born with great physical gifts.

The theory that Hinrich never has gotten the credit he deserves for his natural athletic ability was run past a high school basketball coach who ought to know, his father, Jim Hinrich.

Coaches doubling as spectators tend to be easy to spot. They wear faces made for poker. Watching a game is more an intellectual endeavor than an emotional one. Often, they watch what’s happening away from the ball.

Coach Hinrich, as he does for many Kansas University games, sat behind the home team’s bench, which for this afternoon was occupied by the Bulls. He didn’t embrace the nature-over-nurture theory.

“You’ve got to have a lot of ability to play in the NBA,” said Jim Hinrich, coach of North Kansas City High. “But probably at every level except high school, Kirk has had to work at getting a spot and getting recognition. But that’s OK, because that way once you get it, it means even more to you.”

Asked to name the son’s greatest ability, the father didn’t pick quickness, speed, ballhandling, passing or shooting.

“I would say his biggest attribute is his knowledge of the game,” Jim Hinrich said. “I think also he might be unselfish to a fault. He makes everybody around him better.”

He stopped himself.

“I’m kind of sounding like a dad,” he said. “I really don’t like talking about him a lot because I come across as bragging. I’ve always tried to instill in him you don’t need to tell people how good you are. Anybody who knows anything about it is going to know anyway.”

Taken back to his son’s natural gifts – speed, quickness, strength and agility – Jim Hinrich again pointed to the role nurture had in maximizing nature.

“He works at them,” he said. “He’s been involved in good acceleration programs. He had a good lifting program in high school. His best friend at Kansas was Jonas Sahratian, the strength coordinator. He’s always stayed in excellent shape, and the quickness and stuff he’s had, he has enhanced in the weight room.”

A compromise is in order: Great genes and an exceptional work ethic have had equal parts in Hinrich playing like a potential NBA All-Star.