SWISH Letter from the Editor MAGAZINE November 2005 Volume 1 Issue 3
PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Steve Kyler skyler@swishmagazine.com EXECUTIVE EDITORS Bill Ingram bingram@swishmagazine.com Jason Fleming jfleming@swishmagazine.com EDITORIAL STAFF Jason Fleming,Bill Ingram, Steve Kyler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bill Ingram, Greg White, Karl Schneider, Scott Church, Emmett Shaw, Jason Fleming, Dan Maymin, Steve Kyler & Eric Pincus, DESIGN & LAYOUT Impact Graphic Design production@swishmagazine.com
It’s hard to believe we’ve made it through three books. but here we are. Growing a magazine has presented its own unique set of challenges, but the feedback we’ve received from all of our readers and supporters has been fabulous. Thank you! We really hope you enjoy SWISH 3; we left no stone unturned to get some great materials for this book, including some amazing stuff from Summer League and The NBA Draft. This was a total team effort - to borrow from the Orlando Magic—and I am sure you’ll agree that we are getting better and better at this. Stick with us—we’re going places! Going forward, we hope to be expanding the book from 32 pages to 48 pages, and that’s going to be dictated more by advertising support than by content. Those of you that know us from the web know we are constantly in pursuit of excellent content. This summer went by so fast for us, it’s hard to believe we’re starting the 2005-2006 season already. but we are committed to growing SWISH into an elite magazine offering and we encourage you to drop us feedback. Thank you again, and enjoy another great book.
PHOTOS Donnie Arnick www.donniesport.com
Steve Kyler Editor & Publisher Swish Magazine
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SWISH MAGZINE is a quarterly basketball news publication, produced by Basketball News Services. With more than 50 basketball writers and contributors in almost every major basketball city, Basketball News Services offers year round coverage of basketball and the NBA. For more information please visit http://www.swishmagazine.com
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10.05
Yael Shacham
Table of Contents
Features
8
Fact or Fiction
16
Deron Williams
23
Getting in the Building
Most elite players in the NBA despise the media, and when they do speak every other word is a cliché. Has the media killed the days of honest answers in the race to “break” a story? The Utah Jazz boldly traded up to #3 to get Deron Williams. Will he be the next great point guard or just another failed replacement for John Stockton? Talent and ability will get you noticed, but what does it take to get drafted in the NBA? Getting in and staying in the building is not as easy as you might think.
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departments
6 Still Standing 12 The Lifestyle 13 The Man Behind The Name 20 Inside The Arena 21 Visions of Winning 22 Underestimated & Underrated 26 Heart and Soul 28 Collectors Corner 29 The Slide Rule 30 Dog With a Bone 31 The Last Word
November22005
Octoberw2005
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STILL STANDING Letting the Game Come to Him By Bill Ingram You see it all the time in the NBA. A player comes into the league, quickly rises to All-Star status, and then just as suddenly vanishes from the class of the league’s elite. That’s exactly what happened to Keith Van Horn, who experienced immediate success as a member of the New Jersey Nets and then found himself struggling to fit in elsewhere. Unlike many of those players who blossom quickly only to wither and fade, Van Horn has found new life. That new life began with a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Dallas Mavericks midway through the 2004-05 season.
Keith Van Horn
consistently. He also averaged just under 14 points and five rebounds per game in March, while giving Dallas 24.8 minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, Nowitzki’s minutes dropped below the 40 mark. Dirk played 38.6 minutes per game in March and 33.5 in April. “I wasn’t surprised at all by his contribution,” says Johnson. “The guy has been in the Finals, he was a starter who played big minutes and now he’s a reserve. I think once he bought into what we were trying to do, got his family all situated - because he’s a really strong family guy - once that dust settled and he began to focus on what we were doing he really started to play some good basketball.” “I really just tried to come in and not force my way into the offense,” explains Van Horn. “I tried to just fit in nicely, work hard, play good defense,
“I don’t know if we could have had the season that we had without Van Horn. He has been a welcome addition.” Mavericks Head Coach Avery Johnson The Mavericks were having a hard time getting All-Star power forward Dirk Nowitzki’s minutes down to below 45 minutes per game, which sent Mavs GM Donnie Nelson to the phones. “Keith was a big acquisition for us,” says Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson. “I don’t know if we could have had the season that we had without Van Horn. He gives us a lot of versatility. He has been a welcome addition.” Responding almost immediately to h i s n e w e n v i ro n m e n t , Va n H o rn started logging 20 minutes or more 6
and let my offense come to me. There are so many good scorers on this team that I haven’t really been worried about my offense at all. I just try to take advantage of the chances I get within the flow of the game.” While Van Horn has now played on five NBA teams, his experiences have taught him what it means to be successful. “Even though I was on different teams, I still was on playoff teams,” says Van Horn. “I’ve had some good playoff experiences. I’ve been on teams that lost in the first round, second round, and even teams that have been to the Finals, so I’ve SWISH MAGAZINE
been in a lot of different situations and I feel confident in what I see in this team’s ability to go deep into the playoffs.” F l o o r g e n e r a l J a s o n Te r ry w a s thrilled to have Van Horn join the rotation. “Keith has given us another dimension that we knew we needed, and that’s another power forward/ shooter. With Keith we have a guy who can stretch the defense when we sub Dirk (Nowitzki) out. Keith does that and demands a double-team in the post. He stretches the floor offensively, and defensively he’s solid. Dirk likes to call it that good ‘East Coast Defense.’ He’s a smart player who fits into our system well.” Nowitzki agrees. “Keith really came in and played well for us, especially the last couple of week of the regular season. He takes some of the pressure off of me so I can get a little more rest than I was able to get earlier last season. It’s great to have him here.” Having failed to find his identity in Terry Porter’s rotation in Milwaukee, a new start with the Mavericks appealed to Van Horn but there is a downside to a trade for a family man. “The most difficult thing about being traded is making the adjustment with your family,” he explains. “Being in the NBA and having to move from team to team and city to city is a challenge, but it all works out in the end. Right now my kids are still in Milwaukee. They had to finish school. This summer will really determine where I’m going to be and then they’ll be there with me.” All indications are that the Mavericks will continue what they started with Van Horn. His willingness to work hard on both ends of the floor p l a y r i g h t i n t o Av e r y J o h n s o n ’s plans, and the fact that he can get Nowitzki some valuable rest make him that much more valuable. He may have fallen from the league’s elite, but Keith Van Horn is definitely still standing…with a bright future ahead in Dallas. November22005
THE SLIDE RULE
How Much? Part II
How Much is Enough? Or Too Much?
Player
New Team >19.00
Efficiency League Avg.
Larry Hughes
Cleveland
21.85
Est. Salary for 2005/6 *
$9,871,023
By Eric Pincus Although the games are played from November to June, much of the heavy lifting is done during the NBA’s offseason. This is when talent gets reshuffled as owners reach deep into their checkbooks to acquire that coveted free agent. Landing the big fish can revitalize a franchise - like last summer’s signing of Steve Nash by the Phoenix Suns. Other free agents prove to be anchors limiting the team’s financial flexibility for years and years. Who among this summer’s crop of free agents will live up to their potential? Who will cause the owners to beg for another amnesty exception? Time will tell, but a look at the numbers can give an idea of whether a player’s salary matches his statistical performance. The NBA’s “Efficiency Formula” is used (Points + Rebounds + Assists + Steals + Blocks) – (Missed Field Goals + Missed Free throws + Turnovers) to group free agents into four performance levels. The corresponding average salaries based on 2004/5 salaries are listed for each level. These numbers suggest what a player is worth. The reality may be quite different. Teams pay on potential. They pay market value. They overpay.
$10,300,000
Ray Allen
Seattle
19.49
$13,200,000
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Cleveland
19.19
$9,200,000
16.00-19.00
League Avg. $6,198,124
Shareef Abdur-Rahim Sacramento
18.57
$5,000,000
Antoine Walker
Miami
17.65
$6,850,000
Bobby Simmons
Milwaukee
17.09
$9,200,000
Michael Redd
Milwaukee
17.19
$12.000,000
Joe Johnson
Atlanta
16.93
$12.000,000
Udonis Haslem
Miami
16.91
$5,000,000
13.00-16.00
League Avg. $5,023,335
Brevin Knight
Charlotte
15.88
$4,600,000
Tyson Chandler
Chicago
15.58
$8,500,000
Damon Stoudamire
Memphis
15.37
$3,800,000
Donyell Marshall
Cleveland
14.89
$5,000,000
Cuttino Mobley
Clippers
14.56
$7,250,000
Gary Payton
Miami
14.23
$1,138,500
The Results
Eddy Curry
New York
13.90
$7,394,663
Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas got reasonable starting salaries based on their production, though Ray Allen’s is a bit high. These statistics do not take into account injury history (like that of Ilgauskas) or contract length, but any long-term contract is a risk in itself. Seattle had better hope Allen remains a young 30. Michael Redd and Joe Johnson were paid as franchise players; thus far they haven’t put up the statistics. The Bucks and Hawks are counting on both to increase their numbers, and are thus paying them as if they already have. Two former second-round picks reaped the rewards of an impressive season. Udonis Haslem may have taken a discount out of loyalty to the Miami Heat. Bobby Simmons received a major bump-up in pay and left the Los Angeles Clippers to play closer to home in Milwaukee. Speaking of the Clippers, they landed their first significant unrestricted free-agent signing ever in Cuttino Mobley . . . even paying him more than his statistics warranted. After a down season, the Philadelphia 76ers hope that a new coach (Maurice Cheeks) will bring the best out of Samuel Dalembert. The Houston Rockets may have gotten a discount for Stromile Swift based on market value, but he would not appear to be underpaid. San Antonio has seemingly gotten the best bargain in landing Nick Van Exel for just over $1.1 million. Ultimately, old statistics and dollar figures cannot predict the future. Only time will tell which prove to be bargains and which end up dramatic miscalculations.
Marko Jaric
Minnesota
13.37
$5,300,000
Novemberw2005
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Dan Gadzuric
Milwaukee
13.20
$4,800,000
Kyle Korver
Philadelphia
13.12
$3,500,000
Damon Jones
Cleveland
13.10
$3,500,000
10.00-13.00
League Avg. $4,122,674
Samuel Dalembert
Philadelphia
Gerald Wallace
Charlotte
12.90
$4,850,000
Lee Nailon
Philadelphia
12.15
$835,810
Chris Anderson
New Orleans
12.14
Undetermined
Dan Dickau
Boston
12.13
$2,500,000
Antonio Daniels
Washington
11.85
$5,000,000
Jeff McInnis
New Jersey
11.78
$3,400,000
Vladimir Radmanovic Seattle
11.43
$3,166,166
Reggie Evans
11.33
$1,076,651
Seattle
12.94
$9,000,000
Eddie Griffin
Minnesota
11.10
$2,500,000
Stromile Swift
Houston
10.83
$5,000,000
Nick Van Exel
San Antonio
10.62
$1,138,500
Darius Songaila
Chicago
10.09
$2,200,000
Raja Bell
Phoenix
10.08
$4,000,000
Latrell Sprewell
FREE AGENT
10.08
UFA
*It is NBA policy not to disclose contract terms. These figures are well-researched estimates. UFA - Unrestricted Free Agent
7
FEATURE
By Bill Ingram
All of a sudden Stacey Augmon erupted, throwing lotion and expletives across the Orlando Magic locker room. He then tried to charge through a crowd of media and Magic personnel to get at the offending member of the press. “Why don’t you ask him yourself, m*__er fu<__r!?!” Most of us had no idea what he was all worked up about, but we were all relieved when Augmon stormed out of the locker room and into the showers. A couple of nights later Darrell Armstrong, saying he had spoken to Stacey Augmon right after the episode in Orlando, offered this explanation of Augmon’s actions: “There is a problem with the NBA saying that players must talk to the media. Some guys don’t feel comfortable talking in front of people; some people don’t want to be quoted wrong. I see media people asking questions and they don’t even write it down. The next thing you know you see your own quote in the paper and it’s quoted wrong. Some guys don’t want to be in that situation. They should have that right.” Fortunately some players respond with a little more self-control when they feel irritated at the media. Andrew Bogut had just been drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, making him the top pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. One reporter asked him if he was looking forward to playing alongside Keith Van Horn. Bogut smiled and suggested that perhaps the reporter should follow basketball a little more closely. Van Horn, of course, had been traded to the Dallas Mavericks months before. Bogut was a little more irritated when he was thrown a question about his eye, but he laughed it off with the same grace and good-natured ribbing. It was on old concern; one that was solved, again months before, with a simple clarification about his contact lenses. “Half the NBA wears contact lenses,” complained the reporter, seeing he had no story. “Why don’t you write that, my man,” responded Bogut. It should have been a big game. The Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. It wasn’t just the I-45 rivalry that everyone was looking forward to, the Mavericks were also trying to hold off the Rockets and Sacramento Kings in a quest to secure homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the injury bug had bitten. The Mavericks were without Michael Finley, Erick Dampier, and Dirk Nowitzki. The Rock8
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ets easily dispatched what was left of the Mavericks. Big surprise, right? Postgame. Mavericks coach Don Nelson emerges from the locker room, exchanges some pleasantries with the gathered reporters, and prepares to give his postgame speech. The cameras click on and the guy from Fox Sports immediately gets down to business. His insightful and analytical first question? “Coach, how did the injuries affect your team today?” Nellie paused for a moment, looking around at the rest of the media, no doubt wondering how he should respond to such a question. How could someone ask that? Nellie tried to be tactful, but in the face of such idiocy, he simply put the question back on the person who asked it. “We had three starters in street clothes, so you decide.” Surely the questions must be more insightful in the other locker room. ABC Sports was covering this game on national television, and the illustrious Jim Gray was in the Houston locker room hoping to get a few minutes with Yao Ming. Yao is one of the most accommodating superstars in the game today, and was happy to give Gray a few minutes. Gray: “What’s happened to you guys?” Yao gave Gray that “What are you talking about?” look. Gray: “I was here early in the season and you guys were really struggling. What happened to turn it around?” For the record, the Rockets completely revamped their lineup between December and the trade deadline. They sent out Jim Jackson, Bostjan Nachbar, Maurice Taylor, Reece Gaines, and Tyronn Lue to get back Mike James, David Wesley, Jon Barry, Moochie Norris, and Vin Baker. October02005 November22005
FEATURE With an almost entirely new supporting cast the Rockets went on an eightgame winning streak before All-Star. Yao’s brief response was inaudible, but was undoubtedly kind. The national media is usually somewhat clueless when it comes to covering individual teams in any meaningful way, and most players understand this. On the other side of the Rockets’ locker room is Tracy McGrady, who often gets dressed in the training room so as not to be bothered by the media. You know - those pesky folks looking to promote him. During his last season in Orlando you were hard-pressed to even see him once the team left the court. Now that he’s in Houston he will usually grant the media a few minutes of access, but questions should be asked quickly. When he decides he’s finished he leaves abruptly, sometimes in the middle of someone’s question. At least McGrady is low-key about his attitude towards the general media. Not so New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury. “Hey Steph can I get a minute?” asks a reporter visiting the New York locker room pre-game. “Nah mo*herfu@ker... I ain’t fu@kin’ with no media today,” is Marbury’s response. Another point guard from a little further South has a similar attitude. When asked for a couple of minutes pre-game, Magic point guard Steve Francis responds: “Steve-O doesn’t talk before games.” What has happened to the NBA? No one ever heard of Magic Johnson refusing an interview. It was hard to keep Charles Barkley away from a camera. Larry Bird and Julius Erving were always happy to talk about the game. Is it that players today lack the social skills necessary to be pleasant in public? Well, there is certainly some of that. Equally responsible, though, is the rise of the popularity of the NBA, which brings with it a wave of new media resources each season. All of them want a piece of the action, and the players are the ones who have to face that demand. “The volume of media coverage now is not even the same – it’s huge,” says Dallas Mavericks assistant coach (and former All-Star) Rolando Blackman. “When I was playing ESPN was just Novemberw2005
coming on. They had one little desk with a cardboard placard that said ‘ESPN’ on it. Chris Berman was talking a little bit and there were a couple of beat writers wanting to talk about the game. Now you have so many different local stations and you have national TV, radio stations, small local papers – it’s tremendous.” An increase in media coverage should have positive aspects. It should mean that more stories are being told. It should mean that one story might be approached from different angles, lending more than one view on a certain situation. In a perfect world that would be the case, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
different kinds of media. You have objective and fair and then you have wedge media. The responsible ones try to write and act responsibly; the irresponsible ones are usually the ones who don’t have as much knowledge about the game. They try to make up for their lack of knowledge by being a wedge between players and coaches, players and management, GM and owner, or whatever they can dig up. They want to try and divide and they’re going to be unfair regardless. There’s nothing you can do about that, but I blame anyone who lets the wedge media divide the team.” The “wedge media,” seems to be tak-
“A lot of the times the media are about meaningless banter,” continues Blackman. “They talk about the same subjects, ask the same questions, and some even want to stir up controversy. After the first seven or eight questions the interviews are really over. There’s nothing else to talk about after a game unless you’re trying to get into a controversial situation or to try and get someone to say something that can be used in a negative way. Eventually it gets to be harassing for the player. The same people who are praising you one day will bash you the next.” Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy shares his perspective: “You have
ing advantage – not just of the players they portray, but of the viewing public, as well. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich explains this theory: “It’s the American way. We love heroes and we love bashing them. It’s just part of the American psyche, I think. We love to have heroes and we have to have instant gratification. Rather than let someone work into hero status and have them be few and far between, making them real heroes, we want to get them quickly. We just throw all of the (crap) against the wall and see what sticks. Then we use whatever sticks.” The problem with paper heroes is that
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FEATURE sooner or later they are revealed for what they are. As Rolando Blackman noted, those same media outlets that label someone “The Next Michael Jordan” are just as quick to talk about what a miserable failure that same player is a few months later. All the while the player is an innocent victim caught in the middle. “To me it’s just a big build up so that later that young player can be the disappointment who didn’t make it up to the expectations that were written about him,” says Blackman. “The same people who put them up there are the same ones who tear them down because they have to protect themselves for making those outlandish comments to begin with. If the player doesn’t live up to it, the player takes the heat. No one gets a grace period any more to grow up and develop.” Odd that such a pattern has developed in a league that allows younger and younger players to become part of the professional world. It is probably too much to think the media will pay more attention, ask more insightful questions, and stop trying to stir up trouble. That will only change when the viewing public demands it. You, the sports fan, will dictate how the media covers sports. If you put your financial backing behind publications that glorify stupidity and put it on a national stage, those folks will continue to cover sports in an irresponsible and negative way. Teams will continue to react to the way fans feel about players and situations, which is often an artificial construct of the media. It is almost impossible to build a champion under those circumstances. That’s why teams like Miami and Phoenix trade their way into contention instead of building their team through the draft and player development. There is another solution, though, and it’s a method that has been proven successful in San Antonio. “Gregg Popovich dictates the environment in San Antonio,” says one league executive. “When the organization was talking about not re-signing Tony Parker, Popovich planted a story in the media about it and the response forced the Spurs to give Tony his money and keep him in town. That was a great move on the part of Popovich. He reminded the organization that this is his team. Clearly he was right about 10
Parker. It’s a different environment in San Antonio. The expectations are clear and there’s no getting around them. Derek Anderson didn’t suddenly become good when he joined the Spurs and he didn’t suddenly become bad when he went to Portland. The expectations in San Antonio are spelled out for you. If you don’t play hard and give 100%, you won’t be in San Antonio.” “My situation with the Spurs is a product of a lot of people caring more about the team as a whole than about themselves,” explains Popovich. “It has really been that way since the owners who took
over when I first came to San Antonio. The ownership then allowed me to do what I thought was necessary to run the program with absolutely no interference whatsoever. Ownership has changed as the years have gone by, but that has not changed about the ownership. Young players benefit from consistency. They know that if we lose a game I’m not going to leave and that my job is not in jeopardy. That makes players want to be a part of the program. That can be screwed up really easily, though. If the ego of the coach or ownership or management people gets in the way, everything goes to hell. To be successful it really has to be a selfless kind of approach where nobody cares who gets credit or praise – the final product is what’s important.” Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan agrees. “If you get players who will listen, you have a chance to coach them,” says Sloan. “If you don’t get players who have the ability to listen and understand what SWISH MAGAZINE
you’re trying to do you’re not going to succeed. That’s just how this business is, along with the fact that it’s very important to have a leader on your team that can help your team move forward. Because this is a players’ game; it’s not like college where coaches are the focus of the whole program. Here the focus is on the players, and it should be, that’s what it’s all about. But it becomes very difficult sometimes.” Sloan, too, sees the impact the media can have on the process, which is one of the difficulties he has faced in trying to get the Jazz back into the playoffs. “A lot of people judge players and know who they’re going to be, and that anxiety and anticipation creates a great deal of pressure on them when they aren’t able to play at that level. Because the media is responding in that way, people think that the player isn’t getting the right kind of coaching. There’s not enough patience to try to work some of those things out. I think a great deal of the hype is blown out of proportion, especially for the really high draft picks.” A large portion of the media is simply not covering the NBA in a responsible or even accurate way. They exaggerate and distort information given to them by players; they go into a locker room with an agenda and set about meeting it, even if it means misrepresenting the athletes; they use negativity to create wedges between players and their teammates and/or fans. What’s worse, they actually sabotage young players before they even step onto the court. They create their paper heroes and then, just as quickly, throw them to the wolves when the players can’t live up to the hype unfairly ascribed to them. This kind of reporting requires no imagination, no research, and little or no integrity and it takes a strong coach in a supportive environment to help young players overcome that influence. It is possible to change the way the media goes about their business. You, the reader dictate how we do what we do. Demand more. Refuse to give in to the negativity. Don’t support those who are out to create controversy and focus on the negative. Do you want better quality news and more truthful reporting? The power is in your hands. Show the wedge media you don’t appreciate their stupidity. Turn them off. November22005
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THE LIFESTYLE Can’t Put a Price on Friendship By Greg White
In today’s me-first, it’s-all-about-me society, it’s rare to find an athlete who puts winning and friendship above money. Many people classify this as the most selfish generation ever, and in today’s age of “Show Me the Money!” it’s hard to find a person whose priorities aren’t all about the bling-bling and being the big dog on MTV’s Cribs. Just look at the examples of Terrell Owens and Joe Johnson. After the Philadelphia Eagles showed Owens the money last summer, he wanted them to show h i m m o r e m o n e y. J o e J o h n s o n passed up a six-year, $60 million contract with the 62-win Phoenix Suns to take a five-year, $75 million deal with the 13-win Atlanta Hawks.
Udonis Haslem
at a title. Rarely does a young guy two years into the league make those same decisions. This is what Udonis Haslem did this summer with the Miami Heat. After speaking with Udonis, a few words come to mind: priorities, friendship, hard work, perspective, and desire to win. In a league where big men are at a premium and command big money, Udonis passed up possibly a $40-$50 million contract to go to a team where he might not have a chance to win, opting to re-up in Miami for a five-year contract worth around $33 million. Why? Udonis explains, “I wanted to be [in Miami] because I felt like we had a chance to be a championship team. I wanted to win a championship. And besides, $30 million is $30 million more than I ever had, so to me there is no difference between $30 million and $35 or $40 million.” Haslem continues, “One more thing that came into play with me not
“Nothing came easy for me. I wasn’t a lottery pick and I wasn’t on everyone’s radar. So to be in this position, I am grateful. I am going to cherish it and not abuse it.” In fact, it is rare to hear an athlete say things like winning championships and friendships are more important than a few extra million dollars. Gary Payton and Karl Malone did it with the Lakers a couple of years ago to get a shot at a title, and Michael Finley and Nick Van Exel took far less money in San Antonio for the chance 12
leaving is that I have had good friends here. Management has done a great job of bringing in good people. We have never had any inside distractions, everyone is good friends, and we are great off the floor together which transfers to the floor. And you can’t put a price on friendships . That was another reason why I stayed in SWISH MAGAZINE
Miami for a few less dollars is that I have friends here.” With the road that Haslem took to get into the NBA, it’s easy to see how a guy who just signed a large contract can keep his head so grounded. He had high expectations coming out of college, yet he didn’t get drafted and had to spend a year playing in France to get a shot at the NBA. How did he take the disappointment of not getting drafted? “When I didn’t get drafted I certainly felt like I was good enough,” said Haslem. “I felt I did well in NBA camps. But instead of pointing fingers at 30 NBA teams, saying these guys made a mistake, I took the opportunity to go to Europe to improve myself. I lost weight (he went from 275 in college to 225 his rookie year), improved my conditioning, made myself a lot quicker and more athletic. I put myself in a position to be an NBA player.” Instead of thinking he was owed, Udonis is “grateful to be in this position. I had to work hard to get it. Nothing came easy for me. I wasn’t a l o t t e r y p i c k a n d I w a s n ’t o n everyone’s radar. So to be in this position, I am grateful. I am going to cherish it and not abuse it.” This mindset keeps Udonis working hard. Back when he was a rookie he was told he needed to be a defender and a rebounder to stick in this league. Knowing this is his bread and butter and led to him signing a long-term deal, he still works to improve every aspect of his game. “I have worked out for three summers and every summer I have improved. That is what I am looking for: improvement. With the way the Heat prepare us, every game I go into I know I am prepared to do my job.” Haslem is, indeed, a rare athlete in 2005. He knows what a great opportunity he has and he will “do nothing to abuse it.” The Miami Heat and their fans could not ask for anything more. November22005
THE MAN BEHIND THE NAME The Return of a Model NBA Citizen By Karl Schneider It was a contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves on February 24th, 2004. With a resounding thud the Milwaukee Bucks’ T.J. Ford landed on his tailbone, the force of the fall causing his head to snap back and his body to go partially numb. Shortly thereafter he was taken off the court on a stretcher. After cervical spine surgery in May of 2004, the rehab process began. “It was tough. It got to the point where I didn’t even really enjoy basketball anymore,” said Ford of the 17month wait to play the game once again. “I couldn’t stand to watch.” Ford drew inspiration from a support group including his family, friends, the Bucks organization, and multiple teammates - both current and former. Ford also took notice of the comebacks of multiple NBA players under extreme circumstances. “You look at Antonio McDyess with the knee surgeries that he had, and what he did with the Pistons last season. DerMarr Johnson is another one with the car accident that he had, now he’s playing well for Denver. There are just so many guys, if you really think about it, in the league that have had a situation like that - to be out for a long time having real serious injuries, but they were able to bounce back.” With these motivational tools in place, Ford is now ready to overcome his own career-threatening event. The most difficult part for him?. “Being patient,” said Ford. ”I think that the hardest thing to do is be patient and follow the instructions that you were given. That’s something that was hard to do, but I know it was the best thing for me and my career.” General Manager Larry Harris placed his full trust in the Texas prodNovemberw2005
TJ Ford
uct who left school two years early as the Naismith and Wooden award winner after leading the Longhorns to their first Final Four appearance since 1947. He did not attempt to acquire another point guard this off season. The Bucks have taken large steps towards re-establishing themselves in the Eastern Conference by building around Ford and All-Star Michael Redd. The first selection of the NBA Draft in Andrew Bogut high-
“It got to the point where I didn’t even really enjoy basketball anymore.” T.J. Ford
lights the list of additions, which also includes the league’s Most Improved Player in Bobby Simmons. In high approval of these roster moves, Ford looks forward to an energetic and exciting season. “I feel the team is moving in the right direction,” he said. “We’r e spending money to get players and you have to do that in this league. They’re showing a commitment that we want win. We’re going to bring the best guys in here to the job done.” The ramp up for the 2005-06 season also included the exit of head coach Terry Porter, who was relived of his SWISH MAGAZINE
duties and replaced by Terry Stotts. In spite of the changing situation, Ford knows his talents will be relied upon greatly. “No matter what system it is I’m gonna get mine,” says the ultra-confident point guard. “I’ve been working my behind off to be in the best possible shape.” Ford averaged 7.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.09 steals as a rookie. The 5-foot-11 speedster played far beyond his age in exhibiting the passing and game management skills of a veteran. After the long layoff questions may arise in regard to his abilities, however. Ford wants to let public know he is not only the player he was before the injury, but even more dangerous. “I’m not even really in my prime yet, there is a lot more to come,” he said. “My game is better than what it was when I was playing. I haven’t lost a step.” Throughout this trying time period Ford never forgot the fans, always showing a great respect for his ability to help others. In creating the T.J. Ford Foundation last September, without knowing if he would ever play again, he is a shining example of selflessness. They recently sponsored a large event called T.J. Ford Day at Lee College in the city of Baytown, TX, where Ford is originally from. Celebrity games, rides for kids, great food and differing types of musical acts were provided to the many in attendance. Although this was a fun, entertaining event for everyone, at the core of this foundation is aiding young people by establishing educational and recreational programs with an emphasis on mentoring and sportsmanship. Taking into account the amount of adversity Ford has experienced in his short NBA career, it’s difficult to imagine he is still just 22 years old. Yet even if he hadn’t been able to pick up a basketball again, his determination and caring nature is what a great many would remember. 13
FEATURE By Scott Church with Bill Ingram
“The point guard is an extension of the coach on the floor.” That’s exactly how Illinois standout Deron (pronounced “Darein”) Williams views his new role with the Utah Jazz. The Jazz have been defined for many years as John Stockton-to-Karl Malone, with Coach Jerry Sloan running the show from the sideline, but only the coach and his tough-as-nails mentality remains. Without a point guard they feel comfortable with since Stockton’s retirement two years ago, the Jazz made Williams the number three pick in the 2005 draft. The Jazz are now confident their future at the point is secure, but the road that led Deron to Utah was not an easy one. Potential can be a scary thing. Players who show potential don’t always realize that potential, and sometimes the potential itself becomes a burden that prevents its own realization. Tommy Thomas was the head coach for The Colony in Dallas when Deron graced his doorstep for the first time, and Deron impressed his new coach from the start. “I was very excited about his potential,” said Thomas. “He already possessed great skills and competitive spirit that made him standout immediately. I could already see his passion for the game.” Though undersized as a freshman, Deron worked hard and quickly showed he could overcome his size limitations and rise above the challenges presented to him. “His potential was strictly up to him and 16
how much he was going to grow as a player,” said Coach Thomas. “He came in really small, but started hitting his growth spurt almost immediately. His work ethic and his willingness to do whatever it took to win had a profound effect on the people around him. By the time his junior year came around he was doing things that were even hard for me to believe.” Thomas believes in Deron and feels that a good coach does more than just teach players how to be athletes. That belief led Thomas to step up his involvement with Deron beyond the confines of high school.
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“I am very fortunate to have coached many great players and even great kids over 25 years,” says Thomas. “I always had very good relationships with most of my players. In many cases I was the only male role model in their lives. I have never taken that responsibility lightly. Deron came to see me in that role, and I hope he sees me in that role as a man he can trust and who will care about him long after his basketball career is over. I’ve cared about him for the past seven years just like he was one of my own kids. The ride so far has been astounding, and I can only venture to think what the next 10-15 years will be like. God has blessed Deron with many gifts, and I know he won’t take those gifts for granted.” Coach Thomas is now working for the McClaren Group, which manages Deron and former teammate Bracey Wright. Deron came out of high school as a highly recruited player. After averaging over 17 points and eight assists a game his senior year, he faced the hard choice of deciding which college he wanted to attend. After growing up between Texas and West Virginia, Deron only knew he didn’t want to play in Texas. T.J. Ford, currently of the Milwaukee Bucks, spoke with Deron at the time about the possibility of playing for the University of Texas together. “I talked to Deron before he made the decision,” confirms Ford, who is working to make his return to the NBA this season after suffering November22005
FEATURE what was thought to be a career-ending injury. “He was being recruited by the University of Texas, especially since he was a player from Texas. He was trying to get the best advice he could get about going to school and making the best decisions he could make. He’s a good player. I followed him throughout his college career and I think he will do well in the NBA.” In spite of T.J.’s urgings, Deron turned his attention to Illinois. He already had a great relationship with Illinois head coach Bill Self, who is a friend of Coach Thomas and regularly scouts The Colony, and both of them felt the Big Ten style of play and the rich history of Illinois basketball made the Fighting Illini a perfect fit for Deron. With that decision made, Deron accepted an invitation to play on the 2002 USA Basketball Men’s Junior World Championship Qualifying Team. He started all five games for the team and helped Team USA win the Bronze Medal. While there he played with future Illini teammate Dee Brown, which ultimately helped to build chemistry with his backcourt running mate and give the Illini a strong backcourt before the season even began. Deron immediately began turning heads at Illinois. The college newspaper quickly nicknamed him “The Mayor” for his outstanding defense and his ability to keep players in check. Deron proved himself to be a fearsome player who tried to make his teammates better instead of taking all the shots himself. Though a streaky shooter, Deron’s determination to keep his teammates involved in the action gave him the ability to take over a game – even when his own shot wasn’t dropping. During his freshman year he started 30 out of 32 games and ranked third in the Big Ten with an average of 10 assists per game. The Fighting Illini made it to the NIT, where they eventually lost in the second round to Notre Dame. During the summer between his freshman and sophomore years, USA Basketball again invited Deron to put his basketball skills up against players from around the world, this time for the Men’s National Junior Team. He started all eight games at the Junior World Championship, leading the team in assists. That experience and his continued diligence in working out with Coach Thomas clearly paid off. During his Novemberw2005
sophomore season with the Illini Deron was able to take his team to the Sweet 16 before ultimately losing to a strong Duke team featuring two future Chicago Bulls: Luol Deng and Chris Duhon. Deron’s outstanding season garnered him many postseason awards, including being named First-Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Tournament. Deron’s junior year at Illinois was a work of art. They lost just one game, with the catalyst being not just their point guard’s leadership qualities, but also his versatility and flexibility. “I played anywhere they needed me,” recalls Deron. “I even saw some time at power forward depending on who was on the floor with me.” The Illini enjoyed a magical season that saw them reach the NCAA Finals, where they lost to a strong North Carolina team comprised of four players taken in the 2005 NBA draft lottery. Deron was named Second Team All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, was a Wooden Award finalist and an Oscar Robertson Player of the Year finalist. “With the results in Deron rocketed to the top of everyone’s list of the best college players in the 2005 NCAA tournament.” Strangely enough, the hardest part was yet to come. While sitting on top of the world the young point guard faced the decision of whether to return to Illinois and finish what he started, or join some of his fellow Illini starters in declaring for the NBA Draft. It’s not an easy decision to make. Many times outstanding college athletes choose to stay, only to suffer a major injury that derails any hope they had of playing in the NBA. On the other hand, many a player has left college early, only to find that they weren’t as ready for the big league as they thought. College isn’t just about developing basketball skills; it’s about reaching the maturity level necessary to deal with the hardships of life on the road and under the microscope of the public eye. After consulting with his closest friends and confidantes Deron threw his name in the hat. SWISH MAGAZINE
Enter the Utah Jazz, whose meager record of 26-56 in 2004-05 (due to an unreasonable array of injuries) had them expecting to land the fourth pick in the draft. The draft gods had something else in mind, however, and they dropped down to the sixth spot. The Jazz had targeted Deron as the point guard they wanted, but were also high on Chris Paul from Wake Forest and Raymond Felton from UNC. Knowing that all three of these players would probably be drafted by the time they picked at the sixth position, the Jazz looked to trade up to get their man. The Jazz found a trade partner in the Portland Trail Blazers, who picked their point guard of the future in the 2004 draft, Sebastian Telfair. The Jazz traded two picks from the 2005 draft as well as a future draft pick from Detroit in order to move up to the third spot . . .and the rest is history. Deron is coming from a college team 17
FEATURE where he was the man to the Jazz where they are expecting him to be the man. Not only is Deron expected to be a good point guard, he is expected to lead a veteran team back to the playoffs, somewhere they have not been since John Stockton hung up his sneakers two season ago. “I look forward to the challenge,” said Deron. “I came into this league to play. That’s why they picked me number three. As far as John Stockton, he’s irreplaceable in this community and city. I’m not trying to be John Stockton; I’m trying to be Deron Williams. I hope I can be half the player he is and hope to be the player he was. I’m just going to come in and be me, and do what I do.” Though being John Stockton is not Deron’s goal, having a chance to learn from a great is not something he was willing to pass up either. “I went out to Spokane, Washington to work out with John Stockton for a week,” revealed Deron. This is something that was encouraged and arranged by Jerry Sloan. When playing for Coach Sloan, the point guard is the most important position on the team. “You are an extension of the coach; you have to be a leader,” said Stockton’s new protégé. “You have to know where everyone is supposed to go. You control the tempo of the game. I think the point guard is supposed to think pass first and shoot second. That’s not common now but that’s how I play - I never plan on changing that. It’s what you have to do to win. You try to get your teammates involved, get them in the best position to score, keep everyone happy and get a win.” Sounds a lot like college, right? Well, maybe not. “To me, the (pro) game is so much faster, everyone is bigger, stronger, faster,” said Deron, who got a rude welcome at the Rocky Mountain Revue. “You have to get the ball up the floor faster and you have to do things faster, definitely have to be conditioned for Coach Sloan. It’s tough, we play backto-back nights, we travel, you have to get used to it. I’m getting to enjoy it right now; soaking it all in; it’s a great experience. The NBA is something I have dreamed about all my life.” He also dreams about life after playing basketball. “I want to be a coach one day,” he 18
says. Being the coach on the floor for Jerry Sloan is a good start. Seeing Deron in action is like watching a young Jason Kidd. His game has been most often compared to Kidd’s because they both share excellent court vision while both struggle at times with their outside shooting. This is something Kidd has improved upon with age; something that Deron will also have to work
on over time. He has an unbelievable court sense; he can see where players are going to be before they even realize it. He is big and strong; not a super-quick point guard, but a steady distributor who does not make stupid plays. There are even moments when watching this young man do his thing that you might catch a glimpse of something fleetingly familiar. That’s not a coincidence. “I’ve stolen a couple of moves from guys that I’ve seen on TV,” says Deron with a grin on his face. “Stephon Marbury has a high SWISH MAGAZINE
crossover that I like. If I see a move I like, I’ll steal it from somebody and try it.” This could be why his game is so often compared to Kidd’s. While growing up in Texas, Deron used to watch Kidd while he played for the Dallas Mavericks and imitate his moves. The similarities don’t end with the way they handle the ball on the basketball court, either. Being an NBA rookie does have its perks off the basketball floor as well as on. EA Sports had Deron come to their studios and try NBA Live 2006 to see himself in the game. “They had me come in and play a little bit of the game,” recalls the Jazz rookie. “It was fun. It was interesting to come in there and see myself in the game so fast. It looked just like me, it was great.” Deron was not too surprised to see himself in a video game, though. For the past three seasons EA Sports NCAA March Madness games featured his likeness, but this is the first time that his name can legally be on a video game figure. While he does like video games, Deron admits that he isn’t an avid gamer. “I don’t play everyday, but I do play.” Along with getting to play the newest video games with his own image, Deron has also found some new wheels to his liking. “I bought a (Lincoln) Navigator,” he reveals. “Custom paint, custom wood, 24’s (wheels), two 12’s (speakers), it’s nice.” It’s the first big item that he ever purchased for himself. Deron’s newfound wealth also gives him the ability to find a house that “has a nice view of all the city” in the Salt Lake Valley that fits his family’s needs. Though basketball is a big part of his life, his family definitely comes first. “I like (Salt Lake City), it’s a good place to raise a family,” says Deron. “If I stay here for 10-15 years, I will definitely be happy. It’s a great place, great city, the fans are great, we have a great team and it will improve.” Utah Jazz fans have waited to hear those words from a point guard since Stockton retired and it looks like they have found their man in Williams. Pass first and shoot second is the approach Deron Williams takes to basketball and that fits his new team just fine. November22005
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19
INSIDE THE ARENA
SBC Center
The Building That Kept Tim Duncan and the Spurs in San Antonio By Emmett Shaw Last June you watched silver and black confetti flutter onto each slat of the SBC Center’s hardwood, also flecking Tim Duncan’s cropped dome. It was hard to fathom that only a few years ago the San Antonio Spurs were not at all far from moving to New Orleans, and Duncan was contemplating joining the Orlando Magic. But no - for the second time in three years, Tim beamed, holding aloft the Larry O’Brien trophy and the NBA Finals MVP award. Tim surveyed the pro basketball world from its summit in the Alamo City, literally in “the house that Duncan built.” Before turning the first spade of dirt on the new arena’s grounds in 2000, a then 24-year-old Duncan told an assembled crowd, “The SBC Center is going to be a great place to play, and I can’t wait to just get it started.” The Spurs’ marvelous $186 million dollar home is what kept the franchise, and therefore its main man, in San Antonio. Today the Spurs play in the NBA’s third newest arena, but through the 1990s the team that held forth in the league’s dead-last market in percapita income increasingly needed to relocate, either in town or to a more viable market. The Spurs were starving for revenue while playing in the massive Alamodome. Ironically, the team packed in the league’s largest – and sometimes most passionate – crowds into that hulking coliseum, but were losing financial ground every year to teams with more luxury suites and smaller venues. The business problem: fans could always get a seat at the Dome, so the Spurs were selling as few as 8,500 season tickets per year and not getting NBAsized rents for a few corporate skyboxes located halfway to the football stadium’s roof. The solution: common sense, civic cooperation and another 20
dose of that passion. The public had made clear in the late 1990s that building a purely taxpayer-funded arena was not an option, while the team reasoned that operating a modern arena with enough luxury suites was the only way for the franchise to keep operating in San Antonio. The compromise local government and the Spurs found was the area’s first major public-private building project. The charm of downtown was sacrificed for a more economical fairgrounds setting that partnered with the annual rodeo. A citizen referendum was sublimely set for NBA opening night in 1999. The ballots deciding the fate of the new arena were being counted even as the Spurs were presented with their NBA championship rings. Everyone regarded the election as all or nothing, that Duncan and the Spurs would both leave town if the public declined the deal. Tim’s primary concern was not just the new arena, but that the franchise stay put in San Antonio. Fortunately for Spurs fans, the people came through with 61 percent in favor. San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich summed up the vote that night, saying, “I’m glad the Spurs will stay in San Antonio.” SBC Center’s motto is “Something for Everyone.” The building’s primary designer was the Kansas City firm Ellerbe Becket, the people who did Indiana’s Conseco Fieldhouse and Washington’s MCI Center. The architects sought to incorporate what they called “a sense of place” instead of the “placeless generic design” of most arenas, embracing the rodeo aspect. Then they utilized the city’s River Walk atmosphere by festively decorating the concourses. The building also looks distinctive from the SWISH MAGAZINE
outside. Exposed metallic silver first catches the eye, then thick red-brick facades and glass accents. The landscaping partly resembles a Texas prairie, right down to tumbleweeds and cacti. Fans enter the SBC Center on the plaza level. That is where the Spurs’ hard-won Larry O’Brien trophies beg to be viewed. On the charter level near the floor are some of the bunker-style suites, among the closest to the floor in the NBA. The terrace level is midway up the arena, where most of the corporate suites are located. On the balcony level the seating is slightly asymmetrical. From there hourly wage earners cheer the Spurs, and the team fetes these real fans with a plush red-carpet walk at the top of each escalator. “It’s a terrific building,” says San Antonio public address announcer Stan Kelly, who has plied his lively style in all three of the franchise’s venues over the years. “The Alamodome was great from the standpoint of the number of fans. But the SBC Center recaptures the intimacy of the HemisFair Arena. And with the technology like digital video and sound, the differences are night a n d d a y. T h e f a n s g e t i n t o t h e ballgame and the intensity builds and builds and builds.” The Spurs have become a testament to small-market sports. The championship-proven SBC Center is indispensable to their fantastic story. November22005
VISIONS OF WINNING
Larry Harris
Bucks Putting Pieces in Place By Jason Fleming How does a general manager for a team in one of the smallest markets in the NBA stay competitive with teams like New York and Los Angeles, who have more resources? Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris has a vision, a plan, and the backing of an owner willing to make the plan become reality. This summer the Bucks had many possibilities with salary cap space. They had the number one pick in the draft and a superstar who wanted to stay with the franchise to build something special in a place with a feel of home. For Harris it represented the opportunity to make a big splash and change the face of his team. When the lottery balls bounced just right and the Bucks chose numBucks GM Larry Harris ber one they discussed whether it should be center Andrew Bogut or forward Marvin Williams. Many experts thought the decision should be the athletic Williams with plenty of “upside” over the “safe” pick of Bogut, a player who had proven to be a star at the college level. After much discussion only one player made sense for them: Bogut. “First we latched onto his knowledge of the game and his passion – his basketball IQ was off the charts,” said Harris. “Marvin Williams was very intelligent and everything, too, it’s just that Bogut is 7’1” and we really needed a center. We had two free agents in [Zaza] Pachulia and [Dan] Gadzuric and we didn’t know if we could get both of those guys back, so it really came down to it being a position of need.” With Pachulia choosing the Atlanta Hawks and Gadzuric re-signing it worked out well. All-Star guard Michael Redd was next on the priority list. Whenever asked, Redd said he wanted to stay in Milwaukee but no one seemed to believe him. “You look at the history of players, you look at the history of franchises, and people think ‘Hey, he’s just saying that to get the media off of him,’” Harris opines. “We felt his character, his honesty, his integrity—he’s pretty much good for his word - we wanted him to come back. At the trading deadline he said he wanted to be here and I told him we’d do whatever we could to make that happen.” The Bucks still had some money left, so team owner Senator Herb Kohl approved adding another key free agent. “With the strengths of our team we felt we wanted to add shooting and defense so Bobby Simmons was where we wanted to put most of our money.” Simmons is the reigning Most Improved Player after a stellar season with the Los Angeles Clippers and should solidify the team’s perimeter defense—taking pressure off Redd and Desmond Mason - but the key may be the return of an old face: point guard TJ Ford. “At this point TJ – knock on wood – is progressing,” reveals Harris. “He’s been working hard every day for the last three months. All the reports are encouraging.” With all the changes the Bucks weren’t positive Terry Porter was the right man to
lead, so they traded Terrys: Porter was out; Stotts is the new man in charge. “I felt if we made a change with the assistant coaches maybe that would spark a new interest within the coaching ranks, but after going through an interview process I was just not comfortable with the direction it was going and decided to make a change,” explains Harris. “I think the one thing that really impressed me with Terry Stotts was the experience he gained while being a head coach in Atlanta and then working for another head coach in Golden State with Mike Montgomery. When his team in Atlanta – a team rebuilding—played hard every night that was a great compliment to him and his coaching staff. I have found him to be an astute basketball man and don’t expect anything to be different with us.” With all these pieces in place it helps to have a solid philosophy. “The first thing is you need a commitment from your owner, which we do
“At the end of the day, if everyone has equal talent, I put character right there with chemistry.” Milwaukee Bucks General Manager Larry Harris
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have,” says Harris. “Then you have to have talent. But at the end of the day, if everyone has equal talent, I put character right there with that for chemistry. I look at talent first, then character and chemistry, and then you want to have some continuity. You want to be able to add pieces and not change all the time because you want your fan base to really have a connection with the players and the players have a connection with the city.” Commitment, talent, character, chemistry, and continuity – those are the five keys to the future to keep the Milwaukee Bucks in the thick of playoff excitement. 21
UNDERESTIMATED & UNDERRATED On the Rise By Dan Maymin
Most NBA teams holding the 26 th pick generally take either a risky player or a proven player. When the Sacramento Kings drafted Kevin Martin at 26 in the 2004 NBA draft most NBA pundits had no idea who he was, so he was labeled a risk. This year the Sacramento Kings plan to change that perception. Kevin may no longer be Underrated and Underestimated . If you’ve never heard of Kevin Martin before you’re not alone, but he will undoubtedly be the next big name out of Arco Arena. Kevin’s stellar shooting and amazing athletic ability likely influenced the Kings’ decision to let Cuttino Mobley walk as a free agent, which should tell you how much faith they have in this young man’s future. For most second-year guys the future is not clear, but for Kevin and Kings head coach Rick Adelman, his role has been clearly defined this summer. Kevin was the “showcase” piece for the Kings this summer and responded in a big way. In the 2005 Reebok Summer League in Las Vegas he proved he could be a leader, averaging 19.4 points per game and making Second Team AllLeague. No bad for the kid nobody scouted. The Kings expect more of the same this season. “This year they have a lot of high expectations for me,” Kevin said humbly of the Kings’ coaching staff. “They took me under their wing this s u m m e r. C o a c h g a v e m e s o m e tapes of Rip Hamilton to see how he creates. I’ve been looking at a lot of those. Rookie year you don’t know what to think, so I just went in there and whatever happens happened. But this year…” 22
Kevin Martin
The unheralded 2004 draft pick for the Sacramento Kings seemingly became accomplished overnight, largely because the national media never took notice of him. A 22-yearold out of Western Carolina, Kevin went under the radar throughout the draft process, despite dominating performances against other “bigger names.” It took him a while to earn serious minutes in Sacramento, but when he did crack the
“This year they have a lot of high expectations for me.” Kevin Martin
lineup the Kings realized his potential. In 45 games last season Kevin scored just under 3 points a night, but late in the season became a potent bench player. He hung 17 on Denver in January, just a glimpse of what is expected and anticipated in 2005. The expectation can be seen in the fact that the Kings didn’t even attempt to re-sign starter Cuttino Mobley this summer. With Mobley now a Clipper, the Kings have an extra 30 minutes a game to spare and Kevin knows where some of those minutes are going. “This year I gotta play extended minutes,” he said confidently. “I played great last SWISH MAGAZINE
year so this year I just got to put e v e r y t h i n g t o g e t h e r, I ’ v e b e e n working out in the summer and I’ll be ready when the season comes.” Still, it can’t be that easy. Newly acquired guard/forward Bonzi Wells seems from a distance to be the obvious recipient of those minutes. Wells is known for his shooting knack and getting to the hoop, while Kevin is first and foremost a scorer. Kevin, though, is also a practiced ball-handler with solid passing abilities. It shouldn’t be a war between these two athletes; both deserve minutes on the floor, but unintentionally the two will be contending for that starting spot. “Bonzi is athletic; he can get out and run,” Kevin acknowledges. “We have some pretty good players coming in. We have four guys on the roster opening it up…definitely good for me, Brad [Miller], Mike [Bibby], and Peja [Stojakovic] so if I’m with them I guess they [Sacramento Kings] want me.” Martin certainly enjoys playing for the Kings. “Life in the NBA for me is pretty good,” Kevin laughed. “I would not ask for any other profession. But you do gotta be smart cause you’re in the public eye so for a minute I just lay back and watch other guys. They got a lot of money. Me, I just don’t spend it away. I’m a lucky guy.” He may view himself as lucky, but the Kings view him as a steal. Its not often the 26 th pick in the NBA draft becomes something, and if any one player this summer proved he could break that trend, Kevin and his shooting could make believers out of most of the league. When the Kings swing through be sure to keep your eye on #23 – and don’t underestimate “the guy they have counted out.” It’s only a matter of time until his name is in the spotlight. November22005
FEATURE
By Steve Kyler The path to the NBA is rarely the same for any two people. Some are heralded high schoolers who find an easy path to stardom; others work their way through grueling high profile Division 1 college programs; others slide in under the radar from mid-major college programs or Europe. The one commonality is all of them go through the NBA draft process. That, in itself, is a tough road that often requires the help of experts whose sole goal is to get a promising player into the building and give them a chance to stick in the NBA. With the dollar values attached to professional players always increasing, it’s no wonder an ever-growing support system is emerging to develop and train aspiring athletes. Specialty coaches are climbing out of the woodwork, clamoring to get next to the NBA elite prospects. There are some big names in the “personal coaching” ranks that have garnered national attention working with NBA prospects, including Kiki Vandeweghe, now the general manger of the Denver Nuggets; Tim Grgurich, assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers; and Tim Grover, private trainer to stars like Michael Jordan and Antoine Walker. Legendary big man coach Pete Newell has made his legacy being a private coach; and the list goes on and on. Coach David Thorpe of Five Star Pro Training is a unique name in this game not because of his clients, but because of his process. The Five Star process focuses more on the player and his potential rather than making him fit a predetermined mold. This process has helped fringe players not only get into the building with NBA scouts and executives at draft time, it has yielded a first round draft pick in Kevin Martin in 2004, Novemberw2005
and a $30 million contract extension for Udonis Haslem this summer. “We have a couple of main focuses.” Coach Thorpe explains: “When we are getting guys ready for the draft our attitude is ‘make this the most marketable product possible.’ It’s not about getting him to be the best player he can be because the draft process is not five-onfive; it’s never more than two-on-two. We have to make sure they excel in twoon-two workouts, one-on-one workouts,
“Kevin came here at a 36 inch vertical; he was able to test at 42 inches with the Lakers and Clippers.” “When you’re going through workouts in front of executives, you want to look explosive.” “Rebounding got him in the league, 54% from the field got him a big contract.”
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and by themselves.” As Coach Thorpe explains his draft philosophy, it becomes clear that there is a science to getting drafted in the NBA. It’s a science not about being the best player, but about being the player who is best prepared for the testing teams require a prospect to endure before investing in them. “We talk about passing the ‘Eye Test,’ the physical test of what you look like as a basketball player.” says Coach Thorpe. “In the case of Kevin Martin, Kevin was bone thin. Kevin trained with me in college. We knew how his body would respond to proper weight lifting and nutrition. We got him six healthy meals a day; he lifted weights intelligently, with the right focus on what he wanted. He got here at 171; he left for his workouts 184. He put on 13 pounds. He was still skinny, but at least he wasn’t bone thin. That was a very important point where teams would recognize this is still a 21-year-old kid. He still has a chance to grow into a pretty good body.” Kevin Martin makes a good study piece for Coach Thorpe’s process. Kevin was an unheralded college player from a midmajor school. He had worked with Coach Thorpe for three seasons prior to the 2004 draft, and without the national hype that most players need to get drafted in the first round, Kevin fell into the 26th pick and looks to be a key piece of the future for the Sacramento Kings. “Going up against guys in the draft was great experience,” explains Kevin. “Especially towards the end you play a lot of oneon-ones and two-on-twos, so I was able to use all my moves, and the stuff (Thorpe) taught me.” “Kevin already had a terrific handle to his game,” confides Coach Thorpe. “He was a very good shooter. He had great 23
FEATURE triple threat stuff. All of that was there. All we had to do was fine tune him and get him ready for workouts.” “Our goal was that every drill possible that you could do, we had practiced.” Coach Thorpe explains. “If he went to Boston, Atlanta, Miami and San Antonio in one week, there was not a single drill that any of those four would do that we had not covered. When you do something in a workout situation which you had practiced before, it’s easier to be confident. That’s what the draft is all about; you have to be a confident player.” As a result, teams saw Kevin
jump every single day, drills designed to improve explosion. When you’re going through workouts in front of executives, you want to look explosive. You want to be dunking the ball hard, and be way above the rim and have that look about you that says: ‘Wow, he looks like a NBA player’ - so we focus on that for the Eye Test.” Working with young prospects is simply one part of the Five Star Training process, Coach Thorpe and his staff also works with established players to help them reach the next level of their career or secure the guarantees that make the
work out and recognized something special about him. “I saw Kevin Martin, I thought he was quite skilled and had potential.” explained Masai Ujiri, Director of International and Collegiate Scouting for the Denver Nuggets “I didn’t think he was tough enough. David toughened him up. It’s not only the technical aspect, he makes them believe in themselves. He’ll teach them how to get better, he makes them use their strengths to get to where they want to get.” “Part of that Eye Test is your physical athleticism,” clarifies Coach Thorpe “Kevin came here at a 36” vertical; he was able to test at 42” with the Lakers and Clippers, which was the best vertical jump he had. We worked on vertical
NBA lifestyle possible. In the case of Udonis Haslem of the Miami HEAT, Coach Thorpe was instrumental in working with Udonis prior to and throughout his first summer in the NBA Summer League, helping Udonis hone the skills he’d need to not only land a roster spot with the HEAT, but stick long-term. “I told Udonis, rebounding is what gets you in the league.” Coach Thorpe said bluntly “Shooting will get you paid.” “We used to do this drill,” recalls Udonis, “where he’d shoot the ball, and no matter where the hell it bounced, I had to catch it before it hit the ground. There were some balls that bounced to the three-point line, some balls to half court, that I didn’t have a chance to get
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after - that built the habit of chasing every rebound, and I took that habit with me to the NBA.” “I looked a little prophetic,” explains Coach Thorpe. “Rebounding got him in the league, 54% from the field got him paid a big contract.” “We work on my weaknesses,” says Udonis. “It’s frustrating, because sometimes you feel like you should be able to do something, and you can’t quite do it as well as you’d hope to - you miss three shots in a row, or dribble the ball off your foot or something like that. But you continue to work on your weaknesses, and turn those things into strengths and add those things to your games.” Admittedly, Coach Thorpe is not working with the mega-marquee NBA guys that some of the other specialty coaches work with. His background has been helping High Schoolers get into Division 1 programs, and that has translated into helping Division 1 players get on the NBA radar and develop. That led to helping guys get into the NBA draft, with the next step helping NBA players become All-Stars. “He trains players based on their skill, and works on what they have” explains Ujiri. “A lot of trainers just train guys based on being power forwards or being shooting guards, and just doing general training for everybody. David does it for what you are as a person. He doesn’t generalize you, in terms of your position or terms of the NBA. He not only helps kids with the NBA, but in Europe, college and high school.” “People say Orien Green is one of the best one-on-one players they have ever seen,” Coach Thorpe divulges “I said let’s get back to that with a midrange game and you’ll be awfully hard to guard. He bought into that idea, we changed the mechanics of his shot, and we got him working on the right thing every time.” “When he went back to the Celtics, he was incredibly confident,” says Coach Thorpe. “He got Roko Ukic and Jarett Jack and we told him flat-out, if you outplay those guys and you tell Danny Ainge: ‘You don’t have to draft them at 18. I’ll be here in the 50’s - just take me,’ You’ll get the same thing, just won’t have November22005
FEATURE to waste a first round pick to do it. And it worked - that’s exactly what happened.” “I think David is able to fill a void for a lot of players to get that personal attention,” said Stan Jones, Associate Head Coach of The Florida State Seminoles. “In the college game coaches are limited with the amount of time we get with our players, plus we’re dealing with 13 plus players trying to develop a team with the pressure of winning on us. David can really focus and kind of fill a mentorship void because he’s dealing with guys on a one-on-one level.” “He studies players and looks at their skills. That helps me a lot in terms of how they are going to reflect as NBA players or in other leagues,” said Ujiri. “He is very in tune with the game, and he’s very good at reading talent.” Is talent really enough to get you in the NBA? “It’s cliché to say ‘You have to be great at one thing,’” says Coach Thorpe. “I think that’s partially true it definitely helps if you’re terrific at one thing. It doesn’t necessarily get you drafted.” “The NBA doesn’t draft shooters a whole lot. Kyle Korver went in the fifties, and this is a phenomenal shooter. You can’t just be great at one thing; you have to be more than that. To be drafted you gotta have a sexiness about you. It’s sad. You gotta have a buzz or a mystique about you, that is part of the reason why underclassmen tend to get drafted before seniors. As a senior you’ve already had four years to declare - you never did now you have to come out – there’s just not the same buzz about you.” Coach Thorpe believes heavily in “The Buzz” theory, and whether it’s working with fringe guys like Udonis Haslem three summers ago, or hidden gems like Kevin Martin, Thorpe understands that being a “stand out guy” in summer league or workouts has its advantages over name power. It generates buzz. That’s what happened for Martin. Buzz is a big part of where a player gets drafted, but the confidence a player displays in workouts is almost as important as the buzz or the hype. “It’s confidence,” explains Ujiri, “making guys Novemberw2005
believe they have an NBA skill. When you have an NBA skill, you have a slight chance. It depends on how much you work on it, how much you build on it and then taking advantage of the opportunities you get. He makes them take advantages of those opportunities, and sharpens that skill.” “He has you work, he has you believe,” says Green. “He makes sure you have all your fundamentals down. When he gets you the fundamentals, and to believe in them, the sky’s the limit.” “He gave me a little bit of an edge” admits Orien Green “Him pushing me and giving me the drive to be in the gym everyday, working hard. He made sure I worked hard. He gave me the confidence I needed to go into to a workout and do my thing.” “I describe David as a new school/ old school approach to developing players,” says Jones. “A lot of this is new to players - with an overload of fundamentals. It is really an old school kind of thing. 25 to 30 years ago it was pretty common place for kids to get the repetition and the training - to focus on individual development and skill development. I think you take David’s psychological background from college it allows him to really get kids to understand why we’re doing it, not just how we’re doing it. I think that allows him to have great success with kids that are hungry to maximize their game.” It’s hard to argue with Coach Thorpe’s results. Kevin Martin, a rail thin unknown kid from Western Carolina, lands at #26 in the 2004 NBA Draft. Udonis Haslem, undrafted free agent, drops a ton of weight and lands with the Miami Heat as a rebounder; then turned that into a $30 million contract this summer. Orien Green, a star in high school, fell out of favor but lands with the Celtics, nabbing a three-year deal, even with a broken foot. Maybe there is something to his process. Maybe there is some truth to the idea that hard work in the right areas can get you in the building. One thing is for sure, every player needs a coach, and David Thorpe’s players will tell you he’s their coach for life. SWISH MAGAZINE
WHY DO PLAYERS NEED TRAINERS? “With the Heat staff we work on things I’m gonna use with the Heat,” explains Udonis Haslem, on why he continues to work with Coach Thorpe. “You know, pick-and-roll jump shots, popout shots when the big fella is getting doubled. “When I come here with Coach Thorpe, it’s stepping outside my Miami Heat body and working on everything. That’s what I do here. I have been shooting threes, ball handling - just things that if I ever need them for whatever reason, I can have them in my game. “Obviously everyone has a role in the NBA that they have to fulfill in order for their team to be successful. I know what my role is with the Heat and we do a great job at working on that and perfecting that role and being the best at that role I can be. When I come here with Coach Thorpe, I step outside of that role and I am free to work on everything and improve every part of my game.” Coach Thorpe’s process extends into the regular season, too, where he helps his players with scouting information and game tape specifically edited around his players. “He sends me videotapes and edits,” explains Udonis of his daily information from Coach Thorpe. “Defensive e-mail, offensives email, DVD’s of games, how to guard a player; how to beat a player. That is on top of the preparation from the Miami Heat, which is second to none. I can’t imagine anybody having a team more prepared and ready to play than the Miami Heat. I take all of that and what Coach Thorpe gives me as a bonus - every game I go into I am prepared for it, whether we win or lose, you never know; I know I am prepared to do my job.”
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HEART & SOUL Leading by Example By Bill Ingram They are sadly lacking in our society. People who not only define who they are, but who also demonstrate their beliefs in all that they say and do just don’t come along very often. When you find someone who is true to what they believe, you start to notice they are different. They’re not all talk. They aren’t hypocrites. You start to believe in that person. That’s exactly how Avery Johnson went from being a reserve point guard to the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks in the span of less than one NBA season.
Avery Johnson
Popovich. “He was our floor general, and the guys respected him because he had so much passion. I think he probably taught me as much or more than I ever taught him as a coach. Everything Avery does is done with deliberateness and with passion. That makes him a great leader. Guys believe in him.” Johnson talks about the path that made him the man he is today: “I grew up in the church, but I wasn’t acting like it. I think in 1989 I made a decision to give my life to the Lord and become fully committed. My life has never been the same. My faith is really what I’m all about. It’s kind of a starting point, my foundation. Everything that I am starts with my faith.” What happened in 1989? “I was just kind of sick of me,” reveals Johnson. “I
Photo provided bt Getty/AllSport and The Dallas Mavericks
“Very true, very true,” says Mavs point guard Jason Terry. “He demands great respect from the players and his staff and even with other coaches around the league. This is not a situation where it’s a new coach, an inexperienced coach. It’s almost like he’s already been here before. The way he played on the court and the way he carried himself off the court demands our respect, also. He has helped me become the true point guard that I am today.” “AJ was always an outstanding person, an outstanding leader, even when he was a player,” agrees Spurs coach Gregg 26
was sick of being in and out. I wanted to make a commitment. I still had some rough edges and some things that I needed to work on, but I’m all about commitment. Once you make the commitment you can continue to work on some of the things that you’re weak in. I had never made a commitment and that was very important to me.” Johnson’s commitment held strong, even in the face of the many temptations that life in the NBA brings with it. “It’s never easy because Jesus went through temptations and we will too,” explains SWISH MAGAZINE
Johnson. “I know if he faced temptation five or ten times then we’re going to face it five or ten thousand times. I try to stay around the right people, keep the Word in my ears a lot.” It did help that he played much of his career alongside outspoken Christian David Robinson. “We helped each other stay on the right path. Another great thing about that situation was that we were surrounded by a lot of guys who were not believers, but they respected us and never really tried to tempt us or get us off track. I really feel that if you’re a man of integrity and you walk it and live it, even people who don’t believe what you believe, they’re still going to respect it. “I’ve never been one to hammer my beliefs or hit the Bible over somebody’s head. I just try to live it. I want to make sure that I’m full of fire and concentration, commitment, and I want to make sure that I’m competent and don’t allow anybody to outwork me. That’s first and foremost because of my beliefs.” Johnson’s faith shows, helping him work with young players who are reaching out to define themselves - not only as players, but as people, too. “I think it’s all about being well-balanced,” says Johnson. “You have to approach it from a spiritual and a human standpoint. Sometimes guys are not really spiritual, so you have to talk to them in their own language in terms of what they can understand. I may be able to talk to someone like David Robinson or another strong believer about what we call ‘meat,’ but sometimes you have to give other people just milk. You have to give them basic stuff that they can understand on their level. My goal is to try to find that balance.” Whether as a player known for his work ethic and his court awareness, or as a head coach, Avery Johnson has established himself as a man who leads by example. His quick success with the Mavs, getting into the second round of playoffs after just a month at the helm, demonstrates that he is ready to take the next step. The Mavericks are clearly headed in the right direction with the “Little General” at the helm. November22005
SWISH Magazine is proud to bring you this basketball training tip, written by Rick Torbett, the lead instructor on the Better Basketball videos. You can learn more about the world famous Better Basketball DVDs, widely regarded as the most detailed basketball videos available, by visiting their website at www.betterbasketball.com or by calling 1-800-BETTER-B
1-on-1… FOR REAL Too often I see guys play 1-on-1 in such a way that they’re not preparing for real game situations. Real games are fast-paced and there’s almost always help defense in the lane. You can’t take five dribbles to get to the basket - the ball is going to be stolen from you on your second dribble. And if you do beat your man you’re going to encounter a shot blocker or charge taker. To score in a real game you have to go straight to the goal quickly and decisively. So how can you make 1-on-1 more realistic? How can you make 1-on-1 fast-paced and aggressive? How can you use 1-on-1 to prepare for real games? Here are five suggestions: (1) Start every possession from triple threat on the perimeter with a check, but limit yourself to only one-third of the court. In a real game you can’t veer around your defender; you’ll run into his helping teammate. You have to go through the defender, right off his shoulder. In addition, limit yourself to one dribble. I’ve actually charted this and in real games about 90% of baskets that are scored in the half court come off one dribble or no dribbles! (2) Let the defender pass the ball from under the goal and sprint to defend you. When the ball hits the offensive player’s hands, it’s live. But again, limit yourself to one dribble and about one-fourth of the court. By the way, this method makes it more realistic for the defense as well as the offense. In real games you’re usually closing out to play defense, not starting from a standstill. (3) Create your shot off the dribble. Begin dribbling outside the three-point arc. Once your defender says he’s ready, you’ve got a maximum of two dribbles. And again, limit yourself to one-third of the court. (4) Post just above the block with your back to the basket and spin yourself a pass. One dribble limit. You can make it even tougher by saying that you have to shoot with both feet in the lane. Give the offensive player one extra point for any offensive rebound and three extra points if he scores from a put-back. By the way, you can improve your post game with the techniques on our post video, which has 2 hours and 41 minutes of techniques on playing inside. Just check out betterbasketball.com to read about it. (5) And the best way to play REAL 1-on-1 is to play it with three players. Regardless of which of the above four versions you choose, the extra defender is in the lane, acting as a help defender. If you score behind the arc, you get 3 points. If you score inside the arc, you get 2 points. And if you can beat your man, get to the lane, and then also beat the help defender, you’ve beaten two players and so you get 4 points! Everyone rotates spots after each possession. I call this REALITY 1-on-1 because it best simulates how 1-on-1 occurs in real games against a good defensive team! Make your training as game like as possible, and you’ll see real improvement. Limit yourself to about 1/3 of the court to make 1-on-1 more realistic
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COLLECTORS CORNER Scaling Down Reality By Jason Fleming Two to three days – that’s how long it takes on average to paint a standard McFarlane Toys Sports Picks figure. “One with a more detailed uniform (like the Pacers’ pinstripes) can take longer,” says Mark Weber, the Sports Brand Manager for McFarlane Toys. Not every figure is painted by hand, but all of the prototype figures plus many pieces of all standard figures require that kind of attention. That’s quite a far cry from the Starting Lineup figures by Mattel many collected a decade ago. Mattel axed the Starting Lineup toys when the sales started to taper off and McFarlane Toys found a niche they could fill. “People think we put Starting Lineup out of business, but that’s not true,” explained Weber. “They chose to just go a different direction. Our first sports figures were the MLBPA and NHLPA lines released in 2000. These were the figures that weren’t licensed by the leagues yet and did not feature any official league logos. The detailed sculpts helped us land our MLB and NHL licenses for 2001, which helped lead to our NBA and NFL lines debut in 2002.” So how does the licensing work? The NBA contract says each team must be represented at least once every so often – exactly how often is a closely held secret, for good reason. “We’ve never announced exactly what this timeframe is - if our collectors knew they could predict our upcoming lineups with more accuracy,” says Weber. Collectors may then be less excited about new line announcements and the unveiling of pictures of each new series, something McFarlane Toys does on their website. Each new line has a planning process taking roughly nine months from start to end and players are picked 28
McFarlane Toys
with regards to their current popularity and honoring the represent-every-team clause. Todd McFarlane— the company’s founder, owner, and all-around huge sports fan—gets final say on the content of each line. Most of the time he is presented with some names everyone agrees on, but if that doesn’t fill out the requisite number of spots he also receives a list of maybes, and Todd makes the final choices.
Stephon Marbury – Courtesy of McFarlane Toys
The first basketball series featured Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Vince Carter back in March of 2002. Obviously each of those players are stars and well loved by collectors, but McFarlane Toys is careful of not making any single series too starstudded. “If we put Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, and Tracy McGrady all in the same series, how would we follow that up?” Weber says, making an excellent point. So what do players think of these lifelike images of themselves, scaled down to a detailed six-inch rendition? SWISH MAGAZINE
“Amare Stoudemire thought it was a good likeness, but his first figure we had him going to the hoop on a finger roll. He said, ‘Come on, you know I’m going to dunk that!’” Weber laughs. A second Stoudemire figure is slated for the Series 9 release this November, and he won’t be finger-rolling anything. Sometimes making sure a figure is true to real life is a real challenge. “Stephon Marbury has a lot of tattoos. We try to get everything 100% accurate, so tattoos are something that makes it difficult. If we miss one or don’t get it just right collectors are going to call us on it. Stephon has his family’s names tattooed on the inside of his arm. We wanted to make sure we got it right, but we couldn’t tell from videotape. So we called his people and ended up talking with his sister to make sure we got the right spellings and the right order. When Stephon saw the figure he did a double take. He had to look close, then he was pleasantly surprised we were able to be so accurate.” One unique aspect of the Sports Picks is variants – something many collectors love and enjoy finding in trading cards as well. Variants here are the same figure, but feature a different color scheme: maybe a home jersey instead of away, or a even a throwback. Why the variants? “That was all Todd’s idea,” explained Weber. “He wanted to do it as a little reward to the hardcore collectors who want something special, or want to have one of everything. It’s also a reward for whomever gets to the store first when our product first hits the shelves.” Variants typically have higher values on the secondary market, something that helps drive sales for McFarlane Toys. One thing is for sure – McFarlane Toys changed the landscape of sports toys and with every year their popularity continues to increase. As long as they keep on top of their game with the details, collectors will keep coming back. November22005
A DOG WITH A BONE Heart By Eric Pincus
Talking with basketball players can be somewhat predictable. The stock responses . . . the clichés. A common one is “Heart.” It may entail the player running down court, exposing the left breast . . . making it known that they do indeed possess said muscle. Perhaps I’m jaded. I met Ronny Turiaf in early July. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers (37th), he’s a part of the team’s summer league squad. Watching him play, I couldn’t help but look up at summer coach Kurt Rambis. They’re cut from the same cloth, rugged effort players who leave every game with floor burns. Rambis was a crowd favorite back in the Showtime Era. By halftime of the first summer game, the crowd had already adopted Turiaf. “To feel a part of the Lakers, I don’t think you understand how great this feels. I mean this is the Lakers,” Turiaf beams, having just signed his rookie contract. “I’m just so excited; I can’t put it into words.” This should be the end of the story. Turiaf goes on to have a nice freshman season and a long, prosperous career. No. Though various doctors had noticed something odd about his heart, Turiaf had always been cleared to play. With his contract contingent on passing a physical, the Laker doctors refuse to gloss over inconclusive test results. Further study diagnoses Turiaf with an enlarged aortic root . . . a condition that could kill him. The answer is open-heart surgery. At his press conference Turiaf was visibly shaken as he speaks of his uncertain future. “I’m scared but I just want to open my eyes after surgery . . . This is just the way my heart is, I 30
Ronny Turiaf
guess I have too big of a heart.” There’s that cliché. “I’ve been by myself since I was 14 years old, trying to make a living for my family, and today is just another setback,” says Turiaf, tapping the table nervously with his hand. “Just another hurdle I’ll have to jump over. I’ll give my heart and soul to my family and to the people that I care about. I’m going to beat that stuff up.”
“Seeing my mom being such a strong woman no matter what happened in her life, taught me at a young age to have a positive outlook on things.” Ronny Turiaf
I find myself transfixed. I mean, this is real. “It’s tough... it’s tough but you know,” his voice breaking. “I’ll get through it. I’m not gonna let my family down. You’re going to have to fight to freakin’ kill me. I’ll get through it.” A million dollar contact signed . . . now void. Instead of the NBA, Turiaf will have his chest cracked open. On July 26, 2005, he opens his eyes after six-hours of successful surgery. A month later, while recovSWISH MAGAZINE
ering in Spokane, Washington, he takes a minute to talk by phone. “The first thought when I woke up was ‘Wow, I’m alive,’” he remembers emotionally. “Then I saw my mom sitting by me.” Turiaf credits his mother, Aline C e z a r, f o r g i v i n g h i m t h e i n n e r strength that carried him through his self imposed exile. He left the Caribbean Island of Martinique for Paris as a young teen to begin his basketball career. “I’ve been on my own trying to grow up and be a man without my family around me on a daily basis. I only saw my family about twice a year until I was 18. Then when school [Gonzaga University] started, I saw them only about once a year. That’s been the biggest hurdle of my life.” “Seeing my mom being such a strong woman no matter what happened in her life, taught me at a young age to have a positive outlook on things,” he continues. “That’s where my strength comes from... I’m a mama’s boy, proud of it.” The prognosis is positive. His aorta repaired; his heart sound. He lost 25 pounds in the process, but attacks recovery full bore . . . dribbling a ball three weeks later. “I will play basketball again,” he avows. “I have faith in that.” He’ll return to Los Angeles near the end of the year, referring to the experience as simply a slight delay. His family has returned home, the isolation continues. “It lasted all those years; it can last at least one more year,” he sighs. I get it. Every loose ball, every dunk, every cheer . . . they’re not for him. “I think about losing them on a daily basis. I was so close to losing them forever. It really made me realize I really, truly love my family. Maybe I love them more than I thought.” Ronny Turiaf has heart . . . his heart is his family. November22005
THE LAST WORD Las Vegas... Have to hand it to the founders of the Las Vegas Summer League: They not only pulled off another amazingly complicated Summer League, but that helped entice the NBA to Las Vegas, whether they know it or not. It’s becoming increasingly hard to justify why the NBA is not in Las Vegas full-time. The gambling aspect has become so mainstream (with internet sports books accepting wagers on every aspect of the game) all over the world, it’s hard to say Vegas could or would negatively influence the game, which is the league’s argument. The NBA simply does not want its game to be linked to gambling in any way, but when one of the owners is a Vegas casino owner it’s hard to make the argument and not sound like a hypocrite. Las Vegas is built for the NBA. It’s one of the few places on the planet where the millions NBA players make is not very glamorous. In fact, Vegas is one of the few places on the planet NBA players can disappear and lead somewhat normal lives. The fact that every player in the league ends up in Vegas at one point during the summer only proves the NBA wants to be in Vegas, and the announcement that Vegas will host the 2007 All-Star game is even more proof. It’s the arcane belief that having the game in such proximity to a multi-billion dollar business profiting from the outcome of games is bad that is keeping the NBA out of Vegas. The revenue is there, the interest is there, and the corporate and local support of a team is there. A Vegas expansion team would likely rank third in NBA revenue within its first five years; the market is that big. It’s fear that is keeping the NBA out of Vegas full-time. With the NBA constantly looking at ways to get over the Novemberw2005
Steve Kyler
$3 billion a year revenue mark, adding another $400 million franchise in Vegas could be the cure. If you don’t believe the NBA is trying on Vegas in 2007 to see if it fits you’re crazy. Behind the scenes the NBA clearly wants to be in Vegas; it’s only a matter of time before the bridge gets crossed and basketball is in the desert all the time.
The Draft... The 2005 NBA Draft went as most expected. There was the typical mud slinging weeks before the draft, as players tried to jockey for better positioning. At the end of the day the business of the draft was unchanged. Every year we see this, in May the “pundits” start to hype the “potential” of players: every report, every expert talks about the “potential” of the stars likely to declare. In June the talk turns from “potential” to “the negatives”. Stories begin to surface of hidden and unknown medical conditions, of poor workouts, and bad conditioning - all designed to create doubt in a player. By the time the draft rolls around in late June, there is a clouded sense of unknown. Every year we see it and every year players have to endure it. Andrew Bogut averaged a doubledouble for a solid college program, he was collegiate player of the year, he was a legit forward-center – but spent the bulk of his interviews explaining a bogus story about a degenerative eye condition and why he wore contacts. It’s sad that players have to go through this every year. It’s sad that the media feels the need to tell these baseless stories, rather than find the people who know a player—or better yet talk to the player himself before repeating these things—but that’s the business of the draft. That’s how the game is played, and unfortunately nice guys get slanSWISH MAGAZINE
dered. It’s a sad part of a very amazing process.
…and Katrina On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina became the most destructive natural event to hit the United States in our history. More than 90,000 square miles of the United States was declared a natural disaster area. More than a million people have been displaced, and over $200 billion in damages are expected when all things are tallied. It has become an amazing time in our society. Just four years ago September 11 th ravaged an unsuspecting U.S. population with the threat of international terror. It is often easy to focus in solely on the devastation and the personal loss that has occurred in these tragedies. Often lost in the chaos and the struggles to make sense of these events are the real heroes that go unnamed by the media: The thousands that give financial support and invest their time and lives to help rebuild. Those are the stories we should be telling; those are the images we should be showing our children. Lost in our culture is the belief and practice of helping one another for no gain other than the betterment of our culture. It seems in times of national tragedy we will rally around an event and solidifying reason to do what we should be doing with each other every day. Being good neighbors. Being good friends. Helping those that need help—not because nature has taken from them but because it is the right thing to do. These are the lost arts. Give generously to the agencies helping those affected and displaced by Hurricane Katrina, but more importantly give generously to your community daily.
...and that’s the Last Word 31