Hawks 360 Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2 by Atlanta Hawks

A COMPLETE LOOK INSIDE THE LIFESTYLE OF THE ATLANTA THRASHERS

ON THE BACKPAGE WITH

ILYA KOVALCHUK # 17 JOHAN HEDBERG’S DOMICILE ERIC BOULTON AND THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT KARI LEHTONEN’S MP3 PLAYLIST

2009 SPRING, VOLUME: 01, ISSUE: 02

ATLANTATHRASHERS.COM

A COMPLETE LOOK INSIDE THE TH LIFESTYLE OF THE ATLANTA HA WKS

Randolph the Watchman Horford is a Video Star Marvin’s MP3

Solo’s Monster Whip Bibby Inked

Zaza on the Red Carpet

‘Nique 360

Hawks Go Green All-Star Recap

No Ordinary Joe Mario’s Video Game Review

Hawks Playoff Preview

Mike Bibby’s Travel Must Haves

Hawks Community

You and Your Vert The Trout Sandwich

Joe Johnson Q & A

A-Town Dancer Profile: Leslie

THE MAGAZINE Volume 1 • Issue #2 Spring 2009 The Cover: Joe Johnson Photograph by Greg Miller HAWKS.COM

Creative Director: Peter Sorckoff Art & Design: Matty Ryan Production Manager: Matt Musgrove Senior Editor: Arthur Triche Editors: Jon Steinberg, Jason Roose Printing: Tucker-Castleberry, Atlanta, GA

Email us your idea, feedback, thoughts and suggestions at hawks360@atlantaspirit.com

Contributors: Jennifer Boxley, Kat Goduco, Chattin Hill, Micah Hart, Steve Holman, Greg Miller, Kyle Payne, Bob Rathbun, Chef Bradley Rouse Hawks game photography by Scott Cunningham

© 2007 United Parcel Service of America, Inc. UPS, the UPS brandmark, and the color brown are registered trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Avery, Marks-A-Lot, the Crown Cap Design, and all other Avery brands are trademarks of, and used here under license from, Avery Dennison Corporation. THE ATLANTA HAWKS NAME AND LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF ATLANTA HAWKS, L.P. ©2007-08 ATLANTA HAWKS, L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

WHO IS WATCHING THE WATCHMEN? Randolph Morris is. Photos courtesy of Warner Brothers pictures.

I would have to give the movie Watchmen a 3.25 out of 4. The length was the only drawback so you don’t want to bring a date with you if she is not going to be into the movie. You don’t want to have to stop and explain everything the whole time! The cinematography was good, the storyline was really great and they did a nice job adapting it from the comic. Personally I think it lived up to the hype, great fight scenes and lots of action.

Asked if any of the characters in the movie reminded him of any of his Hawks teammates:

3.25 out of 4

The Nite Owl reminded me of Mario West, he was kind of a geek and had a receding hairline too. The Comedian reminded me of Mike Bibby.

HORFORD IS A VIDEO STAR

“Ciara and her people got in touch with my agent and asked if I was interested in being in one of her music videos. I’ve always wanted to do something like that, whether it’s R&B, hip-hop or whatever. As soon as my agent brought it up, I was like ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ I’ve been listening to her music for awhile, so I was excited about getting the chance to work with her. The shoot was cool – I never realized how hard they work on those things. The day of the shoot I think they were on the set for 22 straight hours, from 6:00 am to 4:00 am the next day. I was only in there for a short period of time – we shot my part in about an hour and a half – but I was impressed by how much effort she puts into it.”

WHAT’S ON YOUR MP3 PLAYER? Marvin Williams says, “I don’t need much. I pretty much just listen to a few different people at a time, like Young Jeezy, The Game, Ne-Yo. That’s who I’ve got going right now. (Hawks video coordinator John) Beckett always keeps us up to date with new music, he’ll always give us mixes every couple weeks, so that’s how I stay current.”

WHIPPED

Solomon Jones “This is just a little something we do back home in Florida. I’m a country boy, and this is the kind of ride we like to have back home. It’s a nice ride, kind of lifted up a little bit. “When I go back home for the summer each year, all my friends have to show their cars or trucks, and it turns into a little competition. “A truck like this is good in Atlanta because there are a lot of potholes. It keeps me from bending the rims or anything like that. “My friends may have my truck beat right now, but that is why I’m working on this one. Hopefully I’ll have a little something to show them when I get home this summer.”

Mike Bibby The tattoo says 1-Z R.I.P. – It’s named after an old friend who used to watch me when I was a baby. He was a ballboy with the Sixers when my dad played with them. When I was in Vancouver, as a rookie, like 18-20 years later, we called him up, cause we had seen him on an NBA classic video. He still had the same number! We brought him out with us, and it was great to see him again. Then he ended up passing away 3-4 years later, so I got this tattoo to honor him. I wear it on my shoes as well.

Photos by Greg Miller.

EgdjY id WZ i]Z D[[^X^Va =dbZ >begdkZbZci 8dbeVcn d[ i]Z 6iaVciV =Vl`h#

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

Fashion

ISTA with Zaza Pachulia

Zaza is probably the biggest fashion maven on the Atlanta Hawks. He keeps up with all the latest trends, grades his fellow NBA players’ fashion sense every month for HOOP magazine, and tries to impart the lessons of his “Euro-style” to those around him. For this issue, we got him to give us some do’s and don’ts for one of the most critiqued fashion settings — the red carpet. 1. Coordination is key. “When you walk the red carpet, people are going to scrutinize everything you have on,” says Pachulia, who recently attended the opening of the W Hotel in midtown Atlanta and walked the (purple) carpet beforehand. “So it’s important for everything to match. Shoes, watch, suit, everything needs to be in harmony, because mismatched colors will be the first thing others notice.” 2. Dress to fit the occasion. “If you are going to something fancy like the Oscars or the Grammys, that’s going to be black tie. But other events aren’t necessarily as formal. For the opening of the W Hotel there was a purple carpet, and it was much more of a casual affair. You definitely don’t want to show up to a black tie event in jeans, and you don’t want to go to a casual evening wearing a tuxedo.” 3. Debut new threads. “This obviously depends on your budget. But if you can help it, you never want to wear the same thing twice on the red carpet.” 4. Have fun. “This is your chance to showcase your personality. If it’s a big event, there will probably be a lot of people snapping photos as you walk the carpet. So you want to make sure to smile and show that you are having a good time. If there is a carpet, then you are probably going to some kind of party — so act like you are enjoying it.” Pachulia and his wife, Tina, out last month at the opening of Atlanta’s W Hotel. 7

‘Nique by Steve Holman

It was apparent early in his playing career that Dominique Wilkins would be a great broadcaster some day. I knew it from the first time I interviewed him for the Star of the Game post game show on radio. I would tell him before we went on the air, that this would be good practice for him when he retired from playing and would move to the broadcast side. The young Dominique would just sit there and laugh, never seeing the day when he would not be playing basketball. After having the great privilege to broadcast most of his games in a Hawks uniform, here we are in the midst of a great season in 2008-09 and who is broadcasting on television but the Hawks Vice President of Basketball. In the mid-1980’s, he didn’t see the day that he would be closing in on the big 5-0 and I would be closing in on 1,700 consecutive broadcasts of Hawks basketball. Several years ago, after re-joining the team as Vice President of Basketball, Dominique didn’t like the seat he had for a game in Miami, so he sat with me at the press table. I told him he would have to provide his expert analysis over the air in exchange for the front row seat. He didn’t want to do it, but like I had years earlier, I reminded him that it would be great practice for his upcoming broadcast career. I heard that same laugh I heard 20 something years ago. It is awesome to have him with us on an everyday basis. We have lots of laughs in the back of the plane going to and from road games. Nique has such great insight into the sport of basketball, it is a pleasure to hear him break down the games we broadcast. One of my proudest moments came several years ago when I emceed the number retirement ceremony for good old number 21. While that one was very special, there are so many memorable moments with Dominique it’s hard to name them all. The famous moment is arguably game seven at Boston in 1988, although the game five win in that series was the most fun. I was also able to call the game when he became the all-time leading scorer in Hawks history. And sadly I was at the mic for his final game in a Hawks uniform before the most unfortunate trade in team history. So here we are together again. One would say full circle in our careers. I say not quite. Full circle will be when we stand together to get our championship rings with the team we both have spent most of our lives loving. As my old friend and Hawks TV announcer John Sterling would say, both as a player and now a broadcaster, “Dominique is Magnifique!”

Photo by Greg Miller.

It’s not easy being

GREEN Last spring, Philips Arena began implementing long-term solutions intended to transform the building into a model of energy efficiency and conservation. The Arena’s inaugural Green Week was held March 22-29, and provided an opportunity to educate fans about what they can do to help the environment, as well as to share what the arena has been doing to “go green” and spotlight our corporate partners’ green initiatives. Mike Bibby, Maurice Evans, Randolph Morris and Speedy Claxton joined Hawks, Thrashers and Philips Arena front office staff, alumni, mascots, dancers and The Home Depot volunteers to participate in a tree planting in Vine City, an area just west of Philips Arena that was hit by the 2008 tornado.

Photos Jennifer Boxley.

Fans attending games during Green Week were treated to giveaways including The Home Depot environmentally friendly totes and The Home Depot Eco-Options Mystery Cards for use towards the purchase of eco-friendly products.

All-Star Recap Joe Johnson

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

The Atlanta Hawks were well represented for the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix, Arizona. Hawks team captain Joe Johnson was named to his 3rd NBA All-Star Game and also participated in the H.O.R.S.E competition. Al Horford showed why he is one of the top young players in the league in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam by scoring 10 points with 8 rebounds in 19 minutes of action for the winning Sophomore squad. Mike Bibby, who is enjoying a career-best season in three-point shooting, represented the Hawks in the NBA’s Three Point Shootout.

In-arena, fans learned about Georgia Power’s “cONserve” message and renewable energy certificate programs, as well as greening tips for home and office. And in support of Earth Hour on March 28, Philips Arena turned off the lighting on the iconic “ATLANTA” building letters outside Philips Arena from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Hawks, the Thrashers and Philips Arena continue to look for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle, and to partner with those who do as well.

February 13th-15th, 2009 Al Horford

Mike Bibby

:?8E>< @J1 J:FI@E> FLI 9<JK =8I< >L8I8EK<< FE ;<CK8%:FD

Xe[ k_\e Z_\Zb `e fec`e\ fi ]ifd pfli dfY`c\ [\m`Z\% 8e[ lg$kf$k_\$j\Zfe[ kiXm\c Xc\ikj b\\g pfl i`^_k fe jZ_\[lc\% M`j`k [\ckX%Zfd kf Yffb k_\ Y\jk ]Xi\ ^lXiXek\\[ fi pfli dfe\p YXZb%!

F==@:@8C 8@IC@E< F= K?< 8KC8EK8 ?8NBJ

!I\jki`Zk`fej Xggcp kf i\]le[ f]]\i% M`j`k [\ckX%Zfd&Y\jk]Xi\ ]fi [\kX`cj% K_\ 8kcXekX ?Xnbj eXd\ Xe[ cf^f Xi\ i\^`jk\i\[ kiX[\dXibj f] 8kcXekX ?Xnbj C%G% )''/ 8kcXekX ?Xnbj C%G% 8cc i`^_kj i\j\im\[%

NO ORDINARY JOE THE NIKE COMMERCIAL We shot the commercial the day President Obama got elected. On election night, we had just finished up shooting the spot, and we were all back in the locker room just watching it unfold. It was definitely a memorable experience. It’s cool seeing the commercial on TV. It’s really not something I ever thought I’d see myself doing, getting the chance to be in a national TV commercial, so I get excited every time I see it. It’s definitely a dream come true.

THE OBAMA SHOE Showing his support for the 44th President of the United States, Joe Johnson had these Player Exclusive Air Jordan Pure Pressure sneakers designed. The shoe was a limited release which didn’t last long on the shelves. Coming in a White/Varsity Red-Midnight Navy color scheme, the Air Jordan Pure Pressure features an all white upper with images of stars and stripes on the mid-sole and accents of Midnight Navy all throughout the sneakers. To commemorate the historic event, the date, 1.20.09, is stitched onto the tongue.

VIDEO GAME REVIEW Mario West looks at NBA 2K9 Most current NBA players grew up with video games. We thought it made sense to ask Hawks guard Mario West what he thought of 2K Sports NBA franchise. “Over all I thought that the NBA 2K9 game was pretty strong. Be prepared to spend some time with it though. It’s loaded with options and to get the most out of it you’ll have to learn some multiple button/analog stick moves.”

POSITIVE

• The gameplay in general is excellent and the graphics are so real they are unreal! • The announcers calling the game and analyzing the action are great. It feels like you are playing in their broadcast. The sound effects and crowd noise are realistic and add a lot to the game play.

NEGATIVE • The controls are tricky. It takes a while to learn the button combinations to get to the players signature moves. It’s worth it when you get there though! • I was surprised to see sponsor ads flying by on the screen. I guess we all have to pay the bills!

–

MARIO’S TIP Like real NBA ball you need to call plays to get your teammates y own and the AI defense involved. It’s tough scoringg on your adapts quickly if you tryy the same things over and over again.

OVERALL ERALL REVIEW NBA 2K9 is Mario Westt approved.

13 1 3

Birthday: July 5th College: Auburn Current Profession: Executive Administrator/ Corporate Events Planner; Dancer Professional Dance Experience: Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancer (4 years); Competition judge; Dance teacher/choreographer; Citrus Bowl Halftime Show instructor; Stage Dancer for recording artists Take 5, MC Hammer and Latin artist Adassa Hobbies/Recreation: Running or anything outdoors

A-TOWN DANCER PROFILE:

Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

Favorite type of music: Hip-Hop, R&B Favorite vacation destination: Anywhere there’s a beach – Maui and St. John are my favorites. Favorite Food: Anything Italian and Sushi. Biggest Pet Peeve: People that take life too seriously. Best Quality: I notice the good qualities of other people. Three words that describe you: Easy-going, Friendly, Optimistic Favorite quote: ”Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.” – Jack Handey

Photo by Greg Miller.

For Georgia, today really is the day.

Building a stronger economy through better education.

A great economy is built on a strong foundation of educated workers. The more there are, the stronger the foundation. And since 1993, over 1 million students have had the opportunity to attend colleges and technical schools through Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HOPE Scholarship Program. Just imagine how much stronger Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy has become.

Today could be the day.

2009 NBA PLAYOFF PREVIEW by Bob Rathbun KEY PLAYERS

FIRST ROUND MATCH-UP

When the Hawks start the 2009 NBA Playoffs, they will have the luxury of depending on two playoff tested veterans. In Maurice Evans and Ronald ‘Flip’ Murray, Atlanta has two players that will play vital roles in the weeks to come.

As the Celtics found out last year, rarely is there an easy series in the playoffs. This year the Hawks will face Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat in the first-round.

vs. the Miami Heat The Hawks took two of the first three from Miami this season. Of course, the big challenge will be to try and keep Dwyane Wade under control. He has single-handedly lifted the Heat into the playoffs with an MVP-type season.

MO EVANS Evans, pressed into starting duties with Marvin Williams’ back injury, will be called on to play his usual outstanding defense when the Hawks begin the post-season. Hawks fans may not be aware of how much playoff experience Mo possesses. Over his career, Evans has played in 34 playoff games, starting 10. And if the Hawks need a big three-point field goal, they can call on Mo! In his career, Evans is a 45% three-point shooter in the playoffs!

FLIP MURRAY Murray also has an Eastern Conference finals appearance on his resume. Flip was with the Pistons in 2007. That Detroit team was eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. Overall, Flip has played in 29 playoffs games. In 2006, Murray scored 21 at Washington for the Cavaliers.

EAST

FINALS MATCHUP If the Hawks are upset, I’m favoring the Cleveland Cavaliers to represent the East. They have been so dominant at home, it would be hard for either Orlando or Boston to win a Game Seven at the Q.

WEST

The West is wide-open. The Lakers, without Andrew Bynum and a suspect bench, are vulnerable. I’ll go with the Lakers based on Kobe’s brilliance, but just barely. Then, I’ll go with Cleveland over the Lakers in six. The King will be crowned!

Bob Rathbun is in his 13th season as the television play-by-play voice for the Hawks. Rathbun calls all of the games on the Hawks’ FS South/SportSouth package.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images.

In 2006, Mo played in the Eastern Conference finals as a member of the Detroit Pistons. Detroit ended up losing to Miami in six games, as the Heat went on to the World Championship. Last year, Mo started all 10 of the Orlando Magic’s playoff games, averaging 9 points and shooting .507 from the field.

The Hawks have home court for a playoff series for the first time in a decade. It’s time again for you, our great fans, to rock Philips Arena like you did last season. The folks at the NBA told us it was arguably the loudest playoff venue of the 16 participating teams. Any Hawks player from last year will tell you that the crowd support was a major factor in the team finishing 3-0 at home! To push the Hawks into the second round, that type of atmosphere will be crucial! See you at Philips for a great playoff run!

HAWKS 360 PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST Starting with this issue, Hawks360 will have a photo caption contest for every issue (based on availability of space). Email us your best idea entitled:“Photo Caption Contest: Johnson“ at hawks360@atlantaspirit.com by Friday, June 5, 2009. The top three captions as selected by the editorial staff will be posted online at HAWKS.com. Spam, obscene, and malicious submissions will be deleted.

Material submitted for the caption contest may appear in other forms. Hawks360 reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or modify the Contest. By submitting your caption(s) to Hawks360, you agree that such caption(s) and the accompanying information will become the property of Hawks360 and you grant Hawks360 permission to publicly display and use the captions in any form or media for any and all purposes. Your submission also allows Hawks360 to edit, or adjust the caption for clarity and language.

Over the course of a season the Hawks spend upwards of 100 days on the road. Hawks 360 asked Mike Bibby what five things he can’t travel without?

1 2 3 4 5

My 160 GB iPod Classic

My wallet, of course Magazines for the plane and hotel – some of my favorites are XXL, Source and Slam

My Blackberry Curve

My headgear; both hats for the trip, and headbands for the games

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

SAY WHAT?

5 items he can’t travel without: Mike Bibby

ENTERTAIN YOUR GROUP AT PHILIPS ARENA Ranked #3 concert and event venue in the United States by Pollstar Magazine

Party & Hospitality Suites

Nuvox Business Zone

Reserve a private suite for an intimate affair or a casual hospitality suite for a social gathering!

A private meeting space with both the amenities of a conference room and the thrill of the event!

Fan Experiences

Special Group Ticket Offers

Take part in the show and gain VIP access inside the game!

WeĘźve got just the seat and price level to fit your budget!

For concerts and event listings, visit philipsarena.com For Concert Group Sales call 404-878-FUNN (3866) For game information, visit hawks.com or atlantathrashers.com For Hawks and Thrashers Group Sales call 1-866-715-1500 Option 4

Team Gear Store inside Philips Arena Get the latest Hawks & Thrashers merchandise Buy online at

philipsarenastore.com

Team Gear is now open during the day

Monday - Saturday from 10am to 5pm â&#x20AC;˘ On event days, store is open from 10am to 3pm

Out &

About T

he Hawks have been almost as busy off the court as they’ve been on the floor this spring.

The Atlanta Hawks Full Court Fest in February was one of the hottest events of the year where fans had the chance to go head-to-head with their favorite players and coaches in games including blackjack, poker, ping pong and X-box. The evening also featured an elegant dinner, music, raffle and silent auction, with all proceeds benefitting the Hawks Foundation.

Al Horford (top), Joe Johnson and Josh Smith with guest at the Hawks Annual Full Court Fest

Full Court Fest and Read to Achieve photos by Jennifer Boxley. Poetry Slam photo by Kat Goduco.

The Atlanta Hawks partnered with United Way to host its first Poetry Slam contest this season. High school students put pen to paper to explain what “live united” means to them and the winner performed her poem during halftime of the Hawks special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day game. In March, the entire Hawks roster joined students at M. Agnes Jones Elementary School in Atlanta for Team Reading Day, a special Read to Achieve event presented by Philips and Sprite. The players visited classrooms to read books and discuss the importance of literacy with the children. The team also celebrated Read to Achieve Day at Philips Arena, including a Reading Timeout in Philips Experience and a free book for the first 500 children, courtesy of Reading Tree. And in a continuation of the educational theme, the Hawks Foundation presented its ten 2009 high school senior scholarship winners with checks for $2,000 each toward their college tuition. Atlanta Hawks Poetry Slam

Zaza Pachulia (left) and Mo Evans reading to students at the M. Agnes Jones Elementary School

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. Bacardi.com

by Hawks Strength & Conditioning Coach Chattin Hill

How to Improve Your Vert How to improve your vertical leaping ability is one of the biggest questions I get asked by people. The first thing you want to work on is improving your lower-body strength, and you can do that in several ways. One is working on multiple-joint movement; leg presses, squats (you want to be careful with squats, they are difficult though very effective). Another way is to do single-leg exercises, things like lunges or single-leg presses. If you can build up a good base doing that, then you can move onto working on what we call “plyometrics” — exercises that promote explosive fast-twitch muscle fiber in your body. You can do exercises like box jumps, where you try to jump up on a box maybe 24 inches high and try to land softly on your feet. You can start by doing sets of like five, depending on how high the box is.

Trout Sandwich Sandwich 1 1 1 1 2

8 oz. filet of Georgia Mountain Trout Yellow tomato slice Red tomato slice Piece of Red leaf lettuce Remoulade Slices of bread (I like to use whole wheat or a hearty white)

Season fish with salt and pepper, and season griddle with olive oil blend. Cook the trout on a hot griddle skin side down. Cook until the fish is almost completely cooked through before flipping. (This will ensure a nice crispy skin, and to me that’s what makes the sandwich!) . Continue cooking trout after you flip it for 2-3 minutes depending on the thickness of the filet. Brush the bread with a olive oil blend and place it on a griddle, while it is cooking. Toast one side of the bread and then spread a generous portion of the remoulade on the non-toasted side of both slices. Add tomato and lettuce (always season the tomato with salt and pepper) to one of the slices of the bread. Your trout is now done, cut it, in half so you can place it properly on the bread. Assemble it with the tomato side of the sandwich. Slice and serve. rve.

One common misconception about trying to improve your vertical is that you have to strengthen your calves. Many people think calves are the catalyst in jumping higher, but that’s not really true. It’s definitely PRESENTED BY a part of it, but just working on your calves won’t make much difference in your abilities. If you really stick with your training and stay consistent with it, you will start to see some results in a month or so, but typically speaking you need three or four months before you really notice a difference. It depends on how much effort you put into it.

Chef Bradley Rouse keeps the Hawks well fed while monitoring their nutrition. In this edition of Hawks 360 he shares his one-of-a-kind Trout Sandwich! “One day I suggested the trout sandwich to Joe. Also being from the South, I had a feeling he would like it. I told him that I would have his usual chicken sandwich ready and on stand-by, just in case. The chicken sandwich did not get eaten that day, and I think I have only made Joe one chicken sandwich since! Marvin, who is a huge seafood lover, was also an instant taker to the sandwich. Word got out around the locker room and soon everyone was eating it, some customized it, some not. Josh prefers it skinless, Acie without sauce. Whatever the case I go through about five pounds of trout a day! “I am excited the guys like it so much. I get to use local products and keep menus around with items that I enjoy eating as well.”

Photo by Matty Ryan.

Remoulade ¼ cup chopped capers ¼ cup chopped gherkins ¼ cup chopped cornichons 2 cup mayonnaise (I prefer Duke’s) ½ cup extra strong Dijon Juice from 1 lemon 1 – dash Louisiana hot sauce ¼ cup chopped parsley Simply combine all ingredients. Let sit overnight. 23

QA &

with

How rewarding is it to have this kind of success compared to your first year here in 2005-2006? A:

The biggest reason this team is so successful is the way it has protected the home court. How much of an advantage do you guys have when you play in Philips Arena? A:

VITALS

Joe Johnson photo by Greg Miller. Other photos courtesy of Getty Images and Scott Cunnigham.

I don’t know, it just kind of happens. For me, the more comfortable I get the better leader I become. Every year has gotten easier and better since coming here in 2005.

Who helped you ease into the role of being a leader? A:

Height: 6’-7” Weight: 240 lbs. 7 year NBA veteran 4th season with Hawks College: Arkansas Razorbacks Three-Peat: Three time NBA All-Star

It has helped tremendously. You need veteran leadership, especially in the playoffs. Adding these guys has been great for us since day one. Thew know how to step up night-in and night-out, and show the young guys how to be a pro in this league.

You are the unquestioned leader of the team at 27 years old. When do you know that you have transitioned from a young guy to a veteran leader in this league? A:

It is like night and day. I have watched everybody grow each year. I have grown each year. It has been amazing to look at where we came from to where we are now, and it makes it all worth while.

How important have the additions of vets like Mike Bibby, Flip Murray and Mo Evans helped this team? A:

We have a huge advantage because we have one of the best home crowds in the whole league. As a player, you want to show the fans how much you appreciate their support, and the best way to do that is to play hard and to win. We have taken care of business at home, with a big assist from the fans, and we have a lot of confidence every time we play in Philips Arena.

Since you have been here you have seen guys like Josh Smith and Marvin Williams grow up a lot, how would you describe that transformation? A:

It has been great. This is the first year that we have had a winning season since I have been here. The start of the season was big getting off to a 6-0 start that set the tone for the year. We have dealt with our share of adversity with injuries and sickness to have a very successful season.

I talked to Steve Nash and Jimmy Jackson a lot, guys I had played with and looked up to in Phoenix, especially in my first year here in Atlanta. They helped me and listened to me, and made it easier for me to understand the responsibility that I had here.