Being a "good player" vs being a "good teammate"

Much has been said recently regarding the way David Beckham joined the the LA Galaxy. His manager demanding that he be named team captain and he was not only paid more than any other player in the league, but twice as much as any other player in the league.

“All that we care about at a minimum is that he is committed. Show up and train hard. Show up and play hard. Maybe he's not a leader, maybe he's not a real captain. Fair enough. But at a minimum you should bust your butt every day.

'That hasn't happened. And I don't think that's too much for us to expect. I can't even say he's a good teammate any more. He's not shown that. I can't think of another guy where I'd say he wasn't a good team-mate, he didn't give everything.”

- Landon Donovan

LA Galaxy captain prior to Beckham's arrival, and one of the most important players on the U.S. Men's National Team on teammate David Beckham

There is a MAJOR difference between being a good player and being a good teammate.

A “good player” may have game, but may also be a major disruption to the overall chemistry of the team. Whereas a “good teammate” may or may not have game, but being a good teammate helps the team to become the best they are capable of becoming.