SWISH 5

SWISH Letter from the Editor MAGAZINE September 2006 Volume 2 Issue 2

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Steve Kyler skyler@swishmagazine.com EXECUTIVE EDITORS Bill Ingram bingram@swishmagazine.com Jason Fleming jfleming@hoopsworld.com EDITORIAL STAFF Bill Ingram, Jason Fleming, Steve Kyler CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bill Ingram, Tracy Graven, Wendell Maxey Jr., Brian Robinson, Steve Kyler, Jason Fleming, Travis Heath and Eric Pincus DESIGN & LAYOUT Impact Graphic Design production@swishmagazine.com

How quickly time flies… It just seems like yesterday we were putting SWISH 3 to bed and here we are at SWISH 5.

The landscape of creating a new magazine has been interesting, but the support we continue to receive from our friends and partners makes each new book a new adventure.

With all great adventures there are always great stories and I would like to share one with you: About three months ago, I was standing outside a locker room waiting for media availability to begin, chatting with some of the local “beat guys.” I had given a stack of SWISH 4’s to one of the ball boys who is a big fan of the book and he put them out for the players to see and read in the locker room.

Once the locker room opened all the media types made their way in to find virtually every player with their nose in SWISH 4, intently looking and turning pages.

It was an image you could never buy, yet all of the reporters sure thought we did.

It has been responses like those that make doing this magazine so much fun and this issue is no exception.

With our All-Star issue we launched a couple of new sections. Those sections have made their way into SWISH 5 and will continue some of the storylines we started.

We caught up with Finals MVP Dwyane Wade and asked his teammates what makes him the MVP; we caught up with Mavericks star Jason Terry fresh off of signing his $57 million deal to remain in Dallas and he explained how he got from the lottery to the Finals.

The NBA Draft yielded some interesting stories, including our cover guy Brandon Roy, who is a very special player both on the court and off – we will enjoy watching him compete for Rookie of the Year.

We spent some time learning about the offseason training programs many clubs have for their players. As a result you’ll learn all about offseason training programs in the NBA. We also took some time to update the NBDL’s expansion and what that means for the other minor leagues not affiliated with the NBA. We dubbed this issue our “Offseason Issue” and we hope you’ll enjoy how we spent our summer, going from Pre-Draft in Orlando to NBA Draft in New York to Summer League in Vegas and beyond to bring you some of the best stories not being told.

We hope you enjoy SWISH 5!

PHOTOS Cover by Sam Forencich for Getty Images/NBAE

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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09.06

Steve Kyler Basketball News Services

Table of Contents

Features

8

Adopted Sons

18

Road Less Traveled

24

Removing the “Off” from Offseason

The NBA continues to develop it’s minor league system and smaller leagues are adapting.

Brandon Roy, Cedric Simmons and Guillermo Diaz were all 2006 NBA draft picks, but the roads they took to get there are very different.

NBA players no longer relax when the season is over—instead, the next season is already starting.

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departments

5 6 12 13 14 16 22 23 27 28 30 31

Still Standing MVP The Lifestyle Sophomore Season The Man Behind the Name Inside the Arena Visions of Winning Underestimated & Underrated Heart & Soul Collectors Corner Dog With a Bone The Last Word

September22006

STILL STANDING Sometimes Size Doesn’t Matter

By Bill Ingram Size was never a consideration when Kenny Thomas was breaking records at the University of New Mexico. Though he stands just 6’7” he was the starting center for the Lobos for four seasons, and before he was finished he held the distinction of being the only player in WAC history to score 1,800 points, grab 1,000 rebounds, and block 200 shots.

The Houston Rockets got a steal with the #22 pick in the 1999 NBA Draft. He came with a list of credentials as long as his arm, including two WAC Tournament MVP trophies and three WAC First-Team honors.

“Winning those awards definitely helped me to get ready for the NBA,” says the man known to his teammates as K-9. “When you’re in the NBA and you’re not the premier guy on a team you can get lost in the shuffle a little bit because there are a lot of guys who can play in this league. When I started out in Houston it was a great situation, then I got traded to Philly and played well there.

It’s been a pretty good career for me.

I’ve played for seven seasons and I’m looking forward to many more.”

Thomas hung his hat on rebounding, but his versatility is what made him attractive to the Rockets, who were looking to groom someone behind Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley. Besides being great on the boards Thomas was a tremendous shooter and could score from just about anywhere on the court.

“Rudy T was one of those coaches who just let you play. If you show that you can do different things then he’ll pretty much just let you play freely. We would iso a lot there, especially with Steve (Francis) and Cuttino (Mobley). I wasn’t starting at the beginning and wasn’t playing at all for the first 30 games or so, but then people started getting hurt. Olajuwon, Charles Barkley – they Septemberw2006

Kenny Thomas

started getting hurt and then I got my opportunity. Ever since then I’ve just tried to never look back. When some of the guys started to get healthy I was still getting minutes; Rudy rewarded my hustle and my play. He was really a great fit for me.”

And Thomas was certainly a great fit for the Rockets. During his tenure in Houston San Antonio’s Tim Duncan called him the toughest defender in the NBA – high praise from the perennial MVP candidate. The Rockets still felt Thomas’s size presented a challenge, and the 6’9” Maurice Taylor was brought in to start ahead of him – ultimately mak-

“I think every player in the NBA has to constantly try to prove himself. I’m just always trying to get better.”

Kenny Thomas

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ing Thomas expendable. In 2002 Houston traded him to Philadelphia, where he would play for another legendary coach.

“I had Larry Brown when I first got to Philly and he was a great coach. He stayed on me all of the time. He brought a lot out of me that I didn’t know I had. I was a good rebounder in Houston, but I didn’t get to be a premier rebounder so to speak until I got to Philly. I have a lot of respect for Coach Brown.”

After Larry Brown’s departure from Philly the Sixers, too, decided they needed a little more bulk at the four. They traded Thomas to the Kings in a package that sent Chris Webber to Philly.

Thomas immediately fit in with what then-coach Rick Adelman was trying to do in Sacramento and became a regular by averaging a double-double whenever he was in the starting lineup. His threepoint shooting is not as much a part of his game as it once was, but given the long-range ability of his Sacramento teammates, that suits him just fine.

“We’re young and we’re a very exciting team. It’s exciting playing in Sac and we have a lot of great players. Mike Bibby is actually the best point guard I’ve ever played with. He just does it all, has an all-around game, and being able to play with him makes the game a lot easier. Playing with Steve Francis was more difficult because he was really a shooter first. Mike Bibby has both the scoring mentality and the passing ability, more like a true point guard.”

Thomas seems to have found a home in Sacramento, where the Kings seem to see that height isn’t everything - even at the power forward position - and that Thomas’s game is well-suited to his role.

Despite several size-related trades Kenny Thomas remains confident in his own abilities, and his belief and his hard work are paying off.

“I don’t really feel like my height has been a disadvantage. It’s one of those situations where I’m in the NBA, and I think every player in the NBA has to constantly try to prove himself. I’m just always trying to get better.”

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MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Forget “Next” – He’s An Original

By Bill Ingram Since the day Michael Jordan took off his #23 for the last time the NBA has been desperately seeking “The Next Michael Jordan.” It’s an unfair expectation of course; there will never be a “next” Michael Jordan, any more than there will be a “next” Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, or Hakeem Olajuwon. What people are really talking about when they say they’re looking for “The Next Michael Jordan” is that next player who will defy gravity, capture the imagination, and redefine the game of basketball in some small way. In the 2006 NBA Finals the player who did all of those things was the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade.

“He just took it to another level,” beamed Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley. “You all witnessed it. Players like that are very hard to come by, and to watch them grow right in front of you, he’s making his legacy in his third year.

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Dwayne Wade

We are so blessed to have him.”

When Shaquille O’Neal signed on with the Miami Heat he guaranteed the fans of Miami he would bring them a championship. Now the championship is in the books and Shaq is quick to point out that it was Wade who made good on the promise.

“I made that promise because of DWade,” said O’Neal. “I knew he was a special player. When I was making my transition from L.A. there was only really two places I wanted to go. One of the places was in the same conference and I knew I really wouldn’t get traded there and the other place was Miami, because of D-Wade. I know that being on a championship-caliber team, you’ve got to have a great one-two punch, and DWade is a fabulous player.”

Fabulous indeed. After averaging better than 27 points per game during the regular season, Wade, like so many of the league’s greatest players, got better as the stakes got higher. During the six-game NBA Finals series Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and even 3.8 assists.

“As you can see, he put up MVPtype numbers,” said O’Neal. “He was very unselfish about it. He still kept people involved.

He took the high percentage shots.

He’s a great player, great player. But DWade’s been doing it all year. He’s the best player ever.”

“Dwyane Wade played well all season long,” agreed Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Terry. “There’s no secret what Dwyane’s about. He’s a biggame player and he showed in The Finals everything he’s shown all season SWISH MAGAZINE

long. He’s very competitive and he does whatever it takes to win.”

The legendary Coach Riley agrees. ”I’ve never had a player like this, who can absolutely at times beat five guys, and then at the same time make great plays for other players. Dwyane is probably one of the most respected young players this game has had in a long time.

I think he proved a lot in the last four games (of the Finals).”

Avery Johnson may not be a legend yet, but he did win Coach of the Year and get his team to the Finals during his first full year in the coaching ranks.

He, too, recognizes something special about Wade.

“You just can’t teach some of that stuff he does. When a player is making those kinds of plays . . . He’s beating doubleteams, he’s beating triple-teams. There’s no tricks there. It’s straight isolation. He had a lot of will to win. You’ve seen a lot of players - like Jordan - a lot of players in history that have really had those types of performances. We tried a lot of different things, but he just had a lot of desire to get it done.”

Through it all Wade remained humble and appreciative of the position he was in.

“You know, we did it together,” says the 2006 Finals MVP. “Like Coach said, like we’ve all been saying, it’s been 15 strong. They gave me the opportunity by putting the ball in my hand. I proved to (my critics) I can play and that’s all I tried to do was prove the people wrong all the time.”

Michael Jordan he’s not, but then the NBA doesn’t really need another Michael Jordan. What the NBA needs is a group of players to carry on what so many others have started and Jordan himself perpetuated. What the league needs is a group of players like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Yao Ming, and Dwyane Wade – guys who will create new legends and inspire the next generation of legends. Clearly Wade has established himself as the frontrunner for that group. He’s not the next anyone. He’s the first Dwyane Wade: 2006 NBA Finals MVP. September22006

FEATURE

Expanding the NBA’s Family in 2006-07 Orphans.

Usually left out in the cold, unwanted and shunned, they often come together, forming a bond stronger than most families that originate the old-fashioned way. There’s a trust and a bond there others in the typical family environment often take for granted— and sometimes completely ignore.

Adopting.

It’s a transition many in life go through, by no fault of their own. Many blame themselves, looking in the mirror as to what went wrong and why no one wants them, then why someone would. Identities are made, then shattered, then re-made in the image of the “new family.”

The Continental Basketball Association has been adopted and orphaned more than one would want to admit, with their ugliest and most notorious separation coming when one-time owner Isiah Thomas purchased the league, bled them dry and abandoned them in their grandest time of need.

If the league were truly children he adopted, it’d be a capital crime what he did.

Resurrected by successful individual team owners the CBA became an NBA-feeding mainstay, despite the fact that some owners came and went faster than many of Joe Newman’s ABA franchises, many drowning fiscally as reality crushed well-intended dreams.

Put that onus on owners who didn’t always think things through when building their franchises. Whether it was the wrong venue, the wrong city, poor personnel decisions, or all of the above; irregardless, they summarily failed and cost themselves, and players, a shot at a dream come true.

Through it all the Dakota Wizards, Idaho Stampede, and Sioux Falls Skyforce persevered under owners like Bill Ilett, Steve D. McCormick, and D. Greg Heineman. The overseeing of the expansion Colorado 14ers, steered by former CBA commissioner Gary Hunter, began right on course for yet another successful franchise.

On June 9th of this year the aforementioned CBA teams 8 8

were adopted by the NBA Development League, forging ahead with NBA Commissioner David Stern’s plan to turn the D League into a farm system for the NBA, much like the multi-level farm teams under Major League Baseball.

With the addition of Idaho, Colorado, Dakota, and Sioux Falls - and the awarding of franchises to the cities of Anaheim and Bakersfield California while the Los Angeles Lakers fielded and funded their own development team - the NBA now boasts 12 development teams for 30 NBA franchises.

NBA teams now have their own assigned farm clubs to send raw talent to, or places for those rehabbing to test their surgically repaired body parts in before stepping onto the grandest entertainment stage in professional sports, the NBA. Most players with nominal experience - two years or less - have the possibility of ending up in the D League up to three times per season.

Thinking of the picture as a whole, now: A five-year-old farm system concept now married to the oldest professional basketball league in the world, having recently completed its 60th anniversary season. This union isn’t a May-December fling that will go with the wind anytime soon. The league and the CBA have been courting since as early as the 200102 season, according to Development League Director of Communications, Kent Partridge. ”Until last year, the CBA adopted an internal policy that allowed us to talk to individual teams,” said Partridge recently. “We’ve been interested in a lot of years in the market and bringing those teams in made for a nice four-team division in the Northwest. We’ve had conversations with other CBA teams, but these are the best groups in best markets with best arenas. They’ve consistently turned out a quality product and they were (and are) solid businesses in and of themselves.”

As far as other CBA teams like Yakama, Gary, Michigan, and Rockford, Partridge admitted, “Finances were a factor.

The team has to be financially successful, as well as successful on the court.” Fiscal acumen and an eye for the right basketball personnel are what nudged the D League in the direction of the teams chosen and what swayed them away from the ones left to champion the CBA brand.

2006 D League champion Albuquerque will be the farm system for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Phoenix Suns to maybe send players like Daniel Gibson, Sharrod Ford, Martynas Andriuskevicius, Ruben Douglas, Britton Johnsen, and Romain Sato to in order to continue development of their respective games as Thunderbirds.

Anaheim’s Arsenal will possibly be home to players like

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September22006 September22006

L.A.’s Guillermo Diaz and James Singleton, or even Portland’s Sergio Rodriguez and Orlando ‘s James Augustine.

Orlando? Isn’t that like 3,000+ miles away? “Geographically, we tried to get the closest we could as an affiliate,” said Partridge. “But we also had to go with what made sense in placing some of the other teams.”

The Arkansas RimRockers leaned on former Razorback Todd Day and Oliver Miller to get through the lean times.

Now a part of the NBA’s D League they’ll feature players from the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Miami Heat.

Austin’s Toros get the Celtics, Rockets, and Spurs.

Bakersfield’s Jam will take care of northern California ‘s teams and likely become a second home for players like Patrick O’Bryant and Jamaal Williams, or Sacramento ‘s Ronnie Price or Lou Amundson, should the team tender them offers via free agency. The Colorado 14ers will take care of the Nuggets, Nets, and Raptors, while Bismarck, North Dakota will open its players from the Bulls and Wizards with a warm welcome.

The Stampede get the Sonics and Jazz, which should draw larger crowds since the Jazz were already big in Boise, as is Jazz owner Larry Miller and his multitude of automobile dealerships. Fort Worth’s Flyers will be home to the Charlotte Bobcats, Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers.

The Lakers have their own team while Piston and Timberwolf hopefuls may appear in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with the Skyforce. The Tulsa 66ers will possibly see the likes of Marcus Fizer (New Orleans), Ime Udoka and Kenny Adeleke (both potential New York Knicks) blow through town on occasion.

Several former CBA denizens welcome the incorporation, as the general train of thought is that being under Stern’s microscope may grant them more possible NBA opportunities since the D League is Stern’s baby.

But while it seems Idaho, Colorado, Dakota, and Sioux Falls are getting the silver platter treatment, don’t expect the transition is as smooth as it sounds. At best, we’re looking at a complete culture clash here, between to very differently run systems. ”You should have seen it the first time both sides got in the same room together,” said one D League principal. “They went on and on about what was going to happen, and one of the other (principals) in the room interrupted with: ‘You guys don’t know what the (expletive) you’re doing.’”

Ahh, such is new family life.

Give it to both sides - they all know what they’re doing.

It’s just a matter of everyone compromising to the point they’re on the same page come season’s commencement. ”I think we’re in good shape,” said Ilett. “I think being there is going to be as beneficial to us (as a franchise) as it will be to the league. We’ve provided the league with some pretty good talent while we were in the CBA, and I don’t see why that would stop now. It’ll help us get people in the seats too, which is always nice.”

Others aren’t as convinced. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of something comfortable, or at least something that has served you well. ”I’ve always thought the CBA was a better system,” said Septemberw2006 Septemberw2006

Josh Davis, who has played in and out of the league with the Stampede, as well as the NBA’s Sixers, Bucks, Rockets, Suns, and Hornets.

To underscore Davis’ sentiment, historically the CBA has been one of the better minor/development leagues for providing the NBA with talent and has certainly been run within the hometown entertainment structure so concisely that fans often embrace young players as stepchildren of their own, often treating them to dinners and gifts they might not otherwise see until they get their NBA legs and paychecks.

Quite often during the tenure of the two leagues the CBA has put as many players - if not more than - into NBA cities than the D League. The CBA had 13 NBA call-ups this season, giving them 600 NBA call-ups since 1978. As the 200506 season commenced, 38 CBA alums were on NBA opening-night rosters.

“We’ve been interested for a lot of years... these are the best groups in the best markets with the best arenas.”

Kent Partridge, Development League Director of Communications On the flip side: “We had 29 players assigned - 41 assignments, some assignments multiple times for players,” said NBDL Director of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel Chris Alpert. It marked the first time it had outdone the CBA in number of call-ups and it began to make sense for the two to merge parties.

Make no mistake, this is the Commissioner’s one lasting benchmark legacy, not just a subversive outlet for high school kids to circumvent the age limit imposed by the NBA, though it seems as though if a player has the skills to pay the bills he can worm his way through a D League roster until he meets the age requirement and then have a legitimate shot at getting in the NBA without any collegiate experience.

That’s not the vision Stern had when he designed the farm system model. ”This is an opportunity for players to develop in a game environment,” said Michael Curry, the D League’s Vice President of Player Development. “It’s the most important thing

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FEATURE other than practice, really. The affiliation system helps make a quality entertainment product even better.”

Yes, being under the NBA’s umbrella can help franchises put bodies in seats that have otherwise gone unfilled, discounted, or comped to family and friends to boost attendance figures. ”Fans in our markets get to see young guys with a chance to get called up, former NBA players, and actual NBA players,” said Phil Evans, D League President. “Some will be legitimate NBA superstars. Fans will say, ‘I saw guys like…’ so-and-so when they were here. It’s exciting.”

As many as 20 former CBAers were on NBA summer league rosters this summer. Charlotte featured Marcus Campbell and James Thomas, who spent a little time in the NBA last season. Chicago looked at Ellis Myles. Cavaliers for a week included Jermaine Blackburn, Stephen Graham and Brandon Hunter. The Nuggets featured big men like Davis and Eric Chenowith in Vegas, along with Cheyne Gadson, Ralphie Holmes and Ricky Sanchez. According to agent Larry Fox, Davis is likely headed back to the Stampede or overseas, where the money is, after having a new addition to the family a few months ago.

Houston featured Matt Freije while the Lakers gave Kasib Powell a look. Orlando checked out Idaho and Michigan player Alpha Bangura and the 76ers put Steve Castleberry to work.

Chris Owens auditioned for the Suns, Noel Felix for Seattle , and Utah played Gary ‘s Brian Chase and Rockford ‘s Roger Powell, to name a few.

This thing has legs.

It has taken baby steps.

It’s going to hit its stride this year and should be sprinting by 2008-09 at the latest, possibly growing to one farm club for every NBA franchise by then. 2010 might be more realistic, but then who thought we’d have 12 teams this year after only having eight one year ago?

As far as the CBA, what will happen now? ”I think the CBA’s gonna be in good shape,” said John Brunelle, part of the Stampede’s ownership group. Of course, since then, Brunelle has resigned as General Manager of the Idaho Stampede, and the reigns handed to Steve Brandes, who’s taken hold and ridden the opportunity for all it’s worth, driving ticket sales up over last year’s totals at this time of the year.

Maybe it’s the stigma of actually being an NBA affiliate.

Maybe it’s just the fact that it’s new blood.

Either way, it pays dividends.

Growing pains are a part of the process, though, as mentioned. The Stampede are in search of a new head coach after the sudden resignation of two-year coach Joe Wolf, who was last seen in a Phoenix Suns polo at the Toshiba Vegas Summer League. The quick departure of the still-under-contract coach left Ilett bewildered, yet on the ball to plow through over 40 applications for the position.

Dakota has gone through three coaches in three seasons, but thought well enough of Dave Joerger to bring him back on board in this new venture. Joerger coached the team to four regular season championships between 2000 and 2004.

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The CBA itself has expanded, on a mission to continue its survival beyond the adoption of three of its best teams and the Broomfield , Colorado expansion franchise, as recently as July 14th. It has gone forward in adding the Butte Daredevils, Great Falls Explorers, San Jose Skyrockets to the league.

In addition, the CBA has joined forces with Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group, Inc. to incorporate the Florida Pit Bulls, Indiana Alleycats, and Southern California Legends, and two others to be named at a later time.

The draft will commence on September 26th with opening night set to tip on December 1st. Ben Fernandez has assumed duties as Chairman of the CBA’s Executive Committee. Fernandez is one of the veteran CBA owners in the league, having owned the Albany Patroons in the late 1980’s and being the driving force behind the reestablishment of the Patroons and the Washington Avenue Armory, the home of the Patroons.

Joe Clark is his Vice President, and Dennis Truax will be the league’s Director of Operations. The league has already relocated its offices from Boise, Idaho to Albany, New York, home of the Patroons, one of the most storied of CBA franchises, where it’s been proved that NBA head coaches can come from the CBA as successfully as players can.

Albany cranked out the likes of (current Los Angeles Lakers head coach) Phil Jackson, who led the Patroons to their first CBA title, and (Denver Nuggets head coach) George Karl, who boasts the highest winning percentage in CBA history at .727 (176-66) and earned two Coach of the Year awards. The CBA was also an early home for (Detroit Pistons head coach) Flip Saunders for quite a while, where Flip went 253-157 in the CBA; in fact, he ranks third all-time in league victories.

Eight other NBA head coaches have either coached or played in the CBA. Names like Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Maurice Cheeks, Seattle skipper Bob Hill, Washington Wizards head coach Eddie Jordan, Toronto’s Sam Mitchell, the Jazz’s Jerry Sloan, and Milwaukee mentor Terry Stotts. There were 37 members of NBA coaching staffs this season that had ties to the CBA. It’s because of the humble nature in which a coach and player have to interact, participate, and move forward with each and every practice and game. McDonald’s instead of Ruth’s Chris. Charted buses instead of the comforts of Blazer One. Fan-friendly autograph sessions after every game instead of brushing a kid off in an airport terminal.

For love of the game. Which is the persona and characterization that David Stern is looking to get the league grounded back to characterizing and representing on a unilateral perception.

In that, the CBA has been a fantastic contributor to the NBA. And you can attribute David Stern as a visionary as well as an astute businessman.

Rest assured, CBA fans, that David Stern is no Isiah Thomas. He knows a good thing when he sees it.

Then, he adopts and grows his family... ... and his legacy.

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September22006 September22006

THE LIFESTYLE Three’s Company, Four May Be A Crowd

By Tracy Graven

To err is human. To forgive is divine.

When it comes to officiating in professional sports, to err is abhorrent. Forgiveness? Forget about it—doesn’t even seem to be a thought in most fans’ minds.

People crucify NBA officials when their team loses and the league has an agenda, a conspiracy. For fans impassioned over their favorite teams, officials become the adversary, scapegoat, reason a team lost; which is really not even fathomable or rational once emotions reduce from a full boil to a simmer.

“Development of officials is continually going on - monitoring as well - and whether people ever realize it or not, they are really making dramatic progress from our standpoint,” said the NBA’s Director of Officiating Ronnie Nunn. “There is such a lack of education by folks on what officiating is, what it looks like, where they really look, how they go about their offense ... folks don’t really see it. Officiating should never be a determinant for a team’s wins or losses. It’s really a team’s responsibility to win and lose.”

What about the controversial call that Bennett Salvatore made against Dirk Nowitzki in the waning moments of a pivotal game in this year’s NBA Finals? Heat fans will tell you Dwyane Wade got as many trips to the line as he did because he was so aggressive going to the hoop.

Mavericks’ fans will counter Wade was the focal point of a conspiracy to anoint the NBA’s next poster child, or David Stern’s way of smacking Mark Cuban’s hand for his opinions on officiating.

The call in question was in the last microseconds, but Nunn defends the decision Salvatore made, re-affirming the call’s propriety, even amid public outcry 12

The Officials

and calls for inquisition.

“A lot of people didn’t realize the extended arm that Nowitzki had in pushing Dwyane Wade and unfortunately that clip didn’t get out (right away). Our officials are really the very best. We don’t resort to that type of thinking.

We work on habits and officials are monitoring their work.

There are errors in their work.

There are some judgment concerns. People should also know that every call, every contact thing that looks to be kind of controversial, is monitored and reviewed and scored.”

Nunn watches game tape of as many of his officials as he can and has six officials who are solidly consistent in their judgment appointed to assist him.

He grooms them through feedback and they have access to a website where their calls are posted for review.

“The culture that people believe an official does not make calls at the end of the game, that they put their whistles in their pockets, and do not want to be the reason for the outcome of the game there are times they are the reason for the outcome of the game. Not often, thank goodness, because players seem to make great plays - they don’t really need our help. We are there to make a call, if in fact it is necessary. We have to make calls, even at the end, and sometimes it’s the toughest call to make, but that’s what we’re there for. We’re there for the entire 48 minutes and if there’s a problem, even in the milliseconds at the end, we’re called upon to do something we have to do.”

Nunn challenges his crew daily: “The question is: do you see it? Can you respond to it? And can you get your air in the whistle to confirm it? That’s what we want to do, as well as saying, ‘No. I’ve seen it. I’ve processed it and the play SWISH MAGAZINE

does not warrant a whistle from me.’

That’s what we’re teaching every day.”

So, for now — back off a bit. There’s no need for an instant replay official.

“If the need for a fourth referee was ever believed to be needed in the future, then I’m all for it. There’d surely be more jobs for people, there’d be more training and we’d have to develop a new offense to ensure that we see the plays that are missed by three officials. I think the setup right now is pretty good.”

Besides, the league office’s direction has been to speed games up, let them flow into something exciting; not stop every time Jeff Van Gundy blows his stack, Mark Cuban blows another quarter million, or Phil Jackson sits back, rolls his eyes and folds his arm in disgust over a call that didn’t go their way. They get over it - so should we.

September22006

SOPHMORE SEASON

Martell Webster

Webster’s Definition of a Natural Born Leader

By Wendell Maxey, Jr. When the Portland Trail Blazers picked Martell Webster sixth overall in the 2005 NBA draft, the Seattle Prep star’s dreams became a harsh reality. After a lackluster start to his pro career and an abysmal finish to the Blazers’ league-worst 21- 61 season, the 6’7” shooting guard can’t wait for a second chance at a first impression in Portland.

So with all those long offseason hours at the Blazers’ practice facility, what has the 19-year-old been working on for his sophomore season?

“Everything.”

That’s what they all say; the difference is Martell actually means it. Webster remained adamant when pressed for the specifics of his “everything” regiment, his intensity palpable. It’s clear Webster plans to have a much bigger role for himself this year than last.

“I’m primarily the go-to guy,” Webster admits tugging on the towel draped around his neck after a game in the Vegas Summer League. “The pressure has definitely stepped up a lot more and that’s a challenge I’m willing to take on.”

Knowing what he knows now, Webster is ready for whatever may come his way.

Three months after Webster arrived in Portland he was fighting for minutes behind Juan Dixon and Darius Miles. Head coach Nate McMillan found a way to get the rookie some playing time, but it wasn’t in Portland. He’d be playing for the Fort Worth Flyers of the NBA’s Developmental League. This rude awakening is something Webster didn’t consider during the dream of draft night. One minute its team flights and luxury suites, the next its Greyhound and Howard Johnson.

The trip to Fort Worth was truly a blessing in disguise and Webster handled the adjustment gracefully.

He returned to Portland a month later and scored a career-high 24 points against the Boston Celtics. The “Definition” was Septemberw2006

as advertised: a quick-release jumper, silky-smooth first step, and a Ray Allenlike stroke from three. Although McMillan rewarded Webster with increased playing time, the Blazers went nowhere fast.

“I’m more of a vocal player this year and setting the example as a leader.”

How refreshing is this to hear? The Blazers’ player leadership has disappeared quicker than D’Angelo in recent years and considering the franchise’s absent guidance since the Rip City days of Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and

Jerome Kersey in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, Webster’s willingness to carry the dim torch is what Portland needs to return the glory days.

Blazers management can do nothing but agree.

“Martell has an A-type personality,” says Kevin Pritchard, Portland’s Director of Player Personnel. “There is no doubt about that. He wants to grow into a leader and we feel comfortable him moving into that. We feel like it’s going to happen.”

Webster finished his rookie year averagSWISH MAGAZINE

ing 6.6 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game. These numbers aren’t exactly worthy of the NBA scoring title but even Kobe Bryant only averaged 7.6 points per game his rookie year and his accomplishments are endless. Can we expect the same from Webster? Although time holds the answer, many already know Martell’s character speaks for itself, something he shares in common with his cousin, Dallas Mavericks’ guard Jason Terry. It’s Webster’s combination of talent and integrity that makes you almost forget Portland’s struggles.

Pritchard credits Martell’s growth to his strong work ethic. “The kid works his tail off. And with a guy that does that, everyone respects him because you know Martell has put in his work.”

The Blazers pray these habits will rub off on his teammates, both old and new.

Webster impressed his rookie running mates from summer league, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy, and the team also acquired Dan Dickau and Raef LaFrentz in a draft-day trade.

So much for Webster being the new kid on the block in Portland. He’s gone from the prom to the pros to the minors and back to the show. Even Webster knows every move along the way has been for the best.

“I was just waiting for my time,” Martell says before making plans to work on his everything.

“I’m still learning and being a sponge and soaking everything up. My time will come, but until then I’m just being patient.”

Blazers’ point guard Jarrett Jack believes Webster’s perseverance has already paid off from last year. “A year of experience helps with anybody,” Jack says after watching Martell at summer league. “He’s really shown that.”

It’s just a sign of things to come in the Rose City. With all the changes in Portland, Webster knows the franchise is moving in the right direction. He’s not the only one.

Faithful fans hope the new-look Blazers, Zach Randolph’s steady play, and the maturation of Martell finally move Portland from punchline to postseason. No doubt his leadership will define Portland’s success in his second season in the Association.

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THE MAN BEHIND THE NAME Not a Sideshow, Just a Winner

By Brian Robinson Despite the fact Nate Robinson won the slam dunk contest in his rookie season, stands only 5-9, and his flair for the dramatic led then-coach Larry Brown to question his overall game, Robinson is determined to build upon his rookie season and lead the New York Knicks to the playoffs in 2006-07.

Challenged on his abilities all his life, Robinson always responds. When people questioned his ability to play college basketball he answered by leading the University of Washington Hus-

“Defense equals offense. The more defense we play, the more buckets we get offensively.”

Nate Robinson kies to their most successful NCAA tournament in history, almost singlehandedly returning the sluggish program to relevance in the Seattle-area sports scene.

When he first applied for the NBA draft in 2004 Robinson was told he would never be a first-round pick and was too short to be an impact player. He returned to college and earned a first-round selection through a display of on-the-court toughness and heart, captivating NBA personnel - including his current boss Isiah Thomas. Thomas felt so strongly about Robinson he acquired his rights 14

Nate Robinson

from the Phoenix Suns rather than risk losing him to another team.

In Robinson’s first season he played more minutes than expected, demonstrated an ability to score at the NBA level, and became a fan favorite for both his hustle and the crowd-pleasing athleticism he demonstrated by jumping over former NBA player Spud Webb to win last season’s Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest. The next step is to show he can do more than entertain.

While former coach Brown questioned his ability to make the transition, Robinson recognizes it will take more than dunks to lead his team to wins.

“Straight defense,” He replied when asked how the Knicks will win more games next season. “Defense equals offense. The more defense we play, the more buckets we get offensively. So we’re trying to play like coach Isiah said.

Play square on them, don’t let them get by you and get help.

Don’t over-help, but be in a rotation and we’ll be alright.”

Robinson feels a great connection to new head coach Isiah Thomas. “He just teaches us - it’s great,” Robinson said. “I can’t really even explain it. It’s nice coming in and seeing him as a coach. Isiah is teaching us every day and being supportive of everything we’re doing. The guys that we have now, we’re going to stick together, hands down. We just play hard and we’ll win games.”

It’s clear the Knicks have big plans for Robinson: During summer league play he showed a greater level of leadership than during his rookie year. Knicks coaches hope this will continue to grow as he SWISH MAGAZINE

gains experience in the league.

“Just having a year in the league helps you,” observed assistant coach Herb Williams. “In college you play 40 games a year. In the NBA you play over 80 games. You’re on your own. You make your own schedules and you’ve got to show up at the right times, so there’s a lot of different things that you’ve got to go through in your first year that you don’t go through as a senior, or even as a sophomore or junior in college. It’s a different atmosphere.”

While off the court the expectations are simply for Robinson to adjust to the NBA lifestyle, on the court the team has more specific goals for Robinson.

“What we want him to do is pick the ball up early,” said Williams. “Put pressure on people with his ability and also to take people on the offensive end.

Because he not only can shoot the three point shot, he’s able to get by people and make plays - so he’s got to be aggressive on both ends of the ball.”

At times the team even expects Robinson’s size and quickness could become an asset in drawing fouls rather than a liability.

“We want him going to the rim and getting teams in foul trouble, and if not, getting other people shots,” said Williams.

As the season unfolds both fans and the team will be looking for more from Robinson. Can he add to his game without giving up the flair and energy that has become his trademark? It won’t be a problem for Robinson, who expects to continue energizing the Madison Square Garden despite his commitment to defense.

“I give the crowd what they want to see,” he said with a smile about his monster dunks.

Nate Robinson was not content with personal success in a 23-win season.

While critics may look at a significant improvement as unlikely for the Knicks they had better resist the urge to bet against Robinson. Just being in this league proves he’s used to beating the long odds.

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INSIDE THE ARENA

Toshiba Summer League

The Man Who Brought the NBA to Vegas…

By Steve Kyler It’s been three years since the NBA first converged on Las Vegas to showcase some of its best and brightest in a summer league. No one ever thought such a feat would happen the first time – let alone Warren LeGarie, who may well go down in history as the man who brought the NBA to Las Vegas.

“Well, I think the NBA was here before I ever got here…” joked LeGarie, the founding Executive Director of the now annual Vegas Summer League and agent for several notable coaches and executives in the NBA, including former

Nugget General Manager Kiki Vandeweghe, current L.A. Clipper Head Coach Mike Dunleavy, and Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Terry Stotts.

“We had this idea that because there were so many people already in Vegas, and they were doing a number of sort of skills camps here a lot of people felt we should probably put on a regular NBA summer league.”

Having just completed its third year in existence, the 2006 Toshiba Vegas Summer League was again a testament anything is possible: For the second year in a row 16 teams came to Las Vegas and six of the top ten 2006 Draft selections made their professional de16

buts on the Toshiba Vegas Summer League floor.

“We pursued it for about six years,” recalled LeGarie. “At first we were met with more resistance than we felt was ever gonna give us a chance to do it.

Then slowly we could feel people from the league office were interested in at least experimenting and seeing how it would come off if we did it for one year.

As it turns out, they seemed to be satisfied with what we bring here - a quality product; and there have been no incidents, which was one of the concerns.”

The inaugural Vegas Summer League was held in July of 2004 and featured six NBA teams. That success led to 16 teams in 2005, which fueled rumors that 20 teams would make their way in 2006.

In the end 16 teams came to Vegas this past July, and one would think many would come in 2007, right?

“I live and die by the good graces of the commissioner,” explained LeGarie “If they feel they should renew our league license then we’re back in business. But it’s still up to them each and every year and we just like to prove that we have earned the right to be back…”

Reebok sponsored the first two years of the VSL. This summer Toshiba took over as the title sponsor, which surprised many – starting with the league’s founder.

“Fortunately, Toshiba showed a more than casual interest and my business director Albert Hall - who is very, very good at what he does - was able to convince them this was an interesting entrée from the basketball world into their world and creating brand awareness. We actually SWISH MAGAZINE

were quite surprised but they decided to jump in. It has probably raised the level of corporate sponsorships in summer leagues. It’s never happened before. For the first time we have a mainstream company that decided they wanted to take a little flyer on this market.”

The preparation for the two-week event is a massive undertaking, especially given the year-to-year nature of the league’s agreement with the NBA. “We keep about eight people on staff full-time. It’s evolved into that level. We have all the clubs give us their commentaries on our league in September and October. We compile it, we put together what we think are some improvements and things we’re looking to do. We have dialogue with the league and then we start going at from end of November and December – and then from January on we push really hard.

“This thing probably starts out six or seven months in earnest, eight months in terms of the beginning of it. It’s almost a full-time deal now.”

The NBA’s agreement with the Vegas league is evaluated year-to-year and there are no promises the VSL will exist in 2007.

“After they see all we’re presenting in terms of our sponsorships and the number of participants - that’s not until April,” LeGarie said candidly. “We’re living on the edge. It’s a leap of faith here.

Sometimes you have to be a knight of faith and hope what you are doing is convincing enough.”

Based on the results this year the NBA would be foolish not to continue the bold experiment LeGarie has started. The Vegas Summer League has become the standard all summer leagues should be measured against.

Given that the league has also agreed to hold the 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Vegas, the summer league venue appears to have a bright future ahead.

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FEATURE

King of the Class?

Draft night in the NBA is a crapshoot at best, especially with all of the moves made in the hours prior to the first pick. The 2006 NBA draft was no different - in fact there was more volatility this year than in previous years with literally no clear-cut numberone pick.

For Brandon Roy, a polished 6’6” senior comboguard from the University of Washington, the draft was a dream come true. The fact he ended up in Portland made the day even better.

“At the end of my junior year I felt like I was ready, but there was still more I needed to show,” admitted Brandon, who declared for the draft in 2005 before ultimately deciding to go back to school and ultimately graduating rather than going through the dog and pony show in the NBA draft process.

“Coming back for my senior year there were some guys who were gone so I was able to play a little more out on the wing and really show teams that I have a perimeter game.”

In 2005, the word on Brandon was that he was a “tweener” with a limited outside game. Coming into 2006 he was a different player in most scouts’ eyes.

“After my senior year I felt like everything was complete. I was a first-team All-American, I was PAC-10 Player of the Year – I really answered a lot of questions about my ability to lead a team. I thought at the end of this year I was finally ready to be a pro.”

The Blazers agreed, but Brandon’s road to Portland was uncommon. In the world of basketball most players jump into the NBA as soon as they can. Brandon’s decision to remain for his senior year will have a lasting impact on his career.

“I just didn’t really have the exposure. I would have had to do a lot of workouts. My coach (Lorenzo Romar) said: ‘You can come back for your senior year and prove it on the floor, instead of having to prove it in maybe 30 workouts, playing in the Chicago camp and all those things.’“ 18 18

Lack of exposure was not Brandon’s problem coming into the 2006 NBA draft. After a great college season Brandon had the national spotlight and a chance to be noticed. Some players have wilted under the scrutiny of the national media; for Brandon it was an additional incentive to excel.

“It made me determined. It made me want to work harder. I worked my whole life to put myself in that position and once attention finally kind of rolled in, I realized, ‘Hey this is pressure.’ I wanted to go in the gym.

“I was going into the gym every night to shoot and to work on my ball handling, just because I wanted to live up to expectations. I think the more hype and the more pressure people put on me the better I am because I work harder and am more focused on delivering.”

Brandon’ all-around game had him pegged early in the draft process as one of the more NBA-ready players in the class - and arguably the best guard available. Brandon’s dance card filled up quickly, and the top of the draft board came calling.

“Chicago, Portland, Minnesota, Portland, Minnesota, Houston and the Lakers,” he recalled about the teams he worked out for in the draft process.

“Nobody said, ‘You’re our guy,’” noted Brandon. “I think Chicago really liked me - they were really kind of in a dilemma were they felt they had to take a big guy. Portland was really excited about me and said they were going to try to make things happen to be able to get me. At the same time they kind of needed that big, too. I got positive feedback from all the workouts. It’s just so hard for those teams to say they were gonna take you because that top six or seven was really hard to predict this year.”

On draft night in New York, Brandon was one of calmest, coolest guys in the room. Nothing seemed to faze him – the “ice-water-in-the-veins” mentality that made him so coveted to NBA teams showed through.

“Draft night was incredible,” Brandon admitted. “I was extremely excited - I think I hid it pretty well. I kept reminding myself:

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‘B, you’ve done all you can do at this point. You have no regrets.’

“I was excited that my family was with me - that was the biggest thing that I enjoyed. They were able to share that moment with me.”

There were rumors that Brandon could have gone as high as second to Chicago, who ultimately took LaMarcus Aldridge and traded him to Portland later that night. As the names were called, Brandon was nabbed by Minnesota at number six.

“Once my name got called to Minnesota, I was like: ‘Wow, maybe they did like me a lot.’ I went backstage and was doing a couple of interviews - I had made up my mind that I was going to go to Minnesota. During the third interview they said: ‘Cut it off, he’s been traded.’ When they told me it was to Portland I relaxed. That’s where I thought I was going to be in the first place.

“I was excited – that’s what I wanted to happen. I feel like with me, LaMarcus (Aldridge), and the rest of the young guys we have they are putting a lot of faith in the youth. I’m just pretty excited – I was happy when they finally said I was traded and it was done. I took my Minnesota hat off, thrilled to be with Portland.”

While the road to the NBA rarely lands players where they want to be, Brandon may not only have found the perfect situation for himself personally in Portland, but he could arguably be a top candidate for Rookie of the Year - and the catalyst for getting Portland back to respectability.

Counted Out: Cedric Simmons Cedric Simmons’ road to the draft for was tougher than most.

He was a promising 6’9 forward from NC State, a school that the year prior sent Julius Hodge to the NBA, yet Cedric was not considered by a lot of scouts to be a top selection in the 2006 NBA Draft. In fact, most mock drafts placed him as a low first-rounder. Imagine the shock, then, when the New Orleans Hornets took him with the 15th overall pick.

“I just put my name in at first to test the waters,” said a quiet Simmons. “Then I started getting comfortable with the situation, my parents started getting comfortable, and everything started going in my direction. I felt like it was the right decision.”

For most athletes, the decision to turn professional is more times than not prompted by influences outside their families, but Cedric’ influence came from his cousin.

“My cousin kept telling me to go pro,” confided Simmons.

“We always planned for me to leave next year. This year came around and looked good and I decided to take the chance.”

Cedric worked out for a number of teams who liked him and was encouraged by what he heard in those workouts.

“New York, Philly, Boston, Seattle…” recalled Simmons on the workout process. “I got a lot of good feedback that I had a lot of potential, that I was young and athletic, and that I could be a good player in this league.”

Septemberw2006 Septemberw2006

Cedric was invited by the NBA to attend the draft in New York, signaling at least one team planned to draft him in the top 15.

The day before the draft, Cedric joked with reporters he was the last guy many people thought would get a “Green Room” invite.

“I’m not saying everyone counted me out,” added Simmons. “But you know I came from North Carolina State and we really don’t get the ‘pub’ there. I didn’t have a good freshman year; my sophomore year was solid so that’s why I say I came a long way. When I first entered the draft, they were just saying low first-round.”

The Hornets made believers out of the doubters on draft night grabbing Simmons with the 15th pick, and nabbing Hilton Armstrong a few selections earlier with the 12th selection, rounding out an all front-court first round.

“I knew they were one of the teams that liked me,” said Simmons on being selected by the Hornets. “But I really didn’t have a vibe on who was gonna take me and when.”

Cedric had the chance to work out for some of the best big men in NBA history, now executives for NBA teams and they gave him valuable advice.

“Larry Bird was really confident and honest with me,” recalled Simmons on his meeting with Larry Legend and the Pacers. “In Minnesota Kevin McHale told me I needed a go-to move in the post and I’d be fine.”

For an unheralded kid from “little” NC State, Cedric has proved most of his doubters wrong by just getting drafted.

“It’s one of those things that changed my life,” added a proud Simmons. “My family was happy for me, and I was happy. It’s a big part of my life.”

Now the next big part will be making a name in the NBA.

Heart Of A Warrior: Guillermo Diaz The road to the NBA was anything but easy for the University of Miami’s Guillermo Diaz. Despite a solid collegiate career at the University of Miami, a superhuman vertical leap and an amazing shooting touch, the NBA still has questions about guards under 6’2”. Diaz stands just 6’0”.

Diaz left Miami as the school’s 10th ranked scorer and 5th ranked three-point shooter. Even with those impressive ac-

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FEATURE complishments Guillermo found himself on the outside of most NBA mock drafts, but the lack of hype did not dissuade the quiet, confident Diaz.

“After the season… I knew,” he explains. “I wasn’t thinking about it as much, you know I wanted to make the move quick. So after the season finished I made the decision. There were some people telling me I should leave, and some saying I shouldn’t. I wasn’t really listening to anybody – I ultimately made the decision for myself.”

Diaz immediately began training with well-known and respected trainer David Thorpe of Pro Training Center, refining his body and his game. After several weeks in Thorpe’s sweaty gym, Diaz started getting feelers. Teams wanted to see him up close.

“16 teams…” recalls Diaz of his whirlwind tour of NBA cities. “Golden State, Sacramento, Phoenix, Denver, Clippers, Minnesota, Houston, Memphis…I didn’t get a lot of feedback from the teams, but people were cool.”

During his workout with the Phoenix Suns early in the process Diaz recorded a 48-inch vertical leap in a test, one of the best measured jumps they have seen from any player, let alone a 6’0” guard.

“It was at the beginning,” recalls Diaz. “I was kind of fresh, everybody was doing good, I just jumped… I did the test and it was pretty high.”

As the draft got closer for Diaz the reality of the process set in. His inner circle was preparing him to not go lottery as some had hoped and maybe the first round was slipping despite a string of strong workouts.

“I was nervous. I wasn’t thinking about it. I knew a lot of things were gonna happen. This is a difficult process - things go up and down.

I wasn’t surprised where I got picked. Everyone is gonna learn and everybody gonna go through it the same. It’s just a different pick.

You got to work hard for position no matter where you get picked. I thought it was gonna be higher but it doesn’t matter.”

When the dust settled Diaz had gone 52nd overall to the Los Angeles Clippers. Now he’s completed his first NBA summer league and settling into the politics of making a NBA team as a mid-second rounder.

“I feel good being here. It’s a good environment, everybody is really nice, the staff is really nice. It’s a young team with some veterans; that helps the team. It’s pretty good.

They got real far last season. A lot of people expect a lot of good things from the team for the next couple years. I’m glad I am on a nice young team like the Clippers.”

Diaz is a bit older than some of the players drafted in 2006 and his experience with Miami in the ACC has prepared Diaz for what could be a playoff run with the Clippers.

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“The playoffs are gonna help me a lot, I am gonna see a lot. I will learn from it. The further you go the more you learn.

That’s going to be an advantage for me – If I get just the chance to be on the court, it’s going to be a lot better for me.

It’s a blessing I am here with a team like that.”

Diaz talks a lot about learning the game, mainly because basketball is fairly new to him. A star volleyball player while in Puerto Rico - which explains his amazingly leaping ability Diaz is learning the game fast.

“I was always playing basketball, I just wasn’t paying as much attention to it. In my senior year of high school that’s when I started just playing basketball. That’s when I started focusing on one sport, because I was playing both – spending more time on volleyball than basketball. It went good that year, that’s when I decided – there was more money and more competition.”

Diaz has not been part of Puerto Rico’s National team, but success at the NBA level will likely open the door for a role for Diaz.

“I played once in a little tournament. Of course I’d like to be part of it - that’s where I’m from…”

If Diaz is as successful in the NBA as many who’ve worked with him hope, he will become part of a small group of Hispanic players in the NBA, a demographic a lot of teams are hoping to tap.

“There are not that many of us. Me, Carlos Arroyo, Eddie Najera – it’s gonna help me, and it’s gonna open doors for other Hispanics. I’m thankful to just be here, I am hopeful it can help Hispanics and open doors and make things happen.”

For a smart and savvy kid from Puerto Rico, Diaz didn’t go as high as some less gifted players went. Nonetheless, Diaz is comfortable with the way things played out.

“It was OK,” Diaz says of the draft process. “It wasn’t going to be easy. Everybody told me it was not going to be easy, sometimes it’s not going to go your way. Everybody goes through the same thing. A lot of times you think it’s going to be pretty all the time, a lot of times it’s gonna get ugly. It doesn’t mean it’s been ugly for me – everybody told me it was going to be hard; you just have to be prepared for it. It’s a different environment, it’s a different life, and I just have to learn from it.”

While some in the 2006 Draft class will get a pampered existence, Guillermo Diaz is ready to earn his place in the NBA, even if that means doing it the hard way as a secondround draft pick.

The Clippers got a great athlete and a heck of a person; the only remaining question is will he get a chance to prove himself on the court.

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VISIONS OF WINNING Communication Is Key

By Jason Fleming Any relationship between people will live and die on the quality of their communication. It’s true in marriage, that is true globally between heads of state, and it’s true in the corporate world. Why should anyone think it would be any different in the sporting world?

For the Detroit Pistons and Head Coach Flip Saunders – going into his second season as Detroit’s top dog – quality communication is what separates championship contenders from the also-rans.

“You have to communicate,” says Saunders. “Players have to know the demands a coach has on them and if they have problems on those demands they have to be willing to communicate them.

For a coach, you have to be willing from your standpoint to communicate with the players, both good and bad. They ultimately have to understand the coach has the final decision about what happens on the floor – what you have to do from an offensive and defensive standpoint.”

Saunders, since even before he earned his first NBA head coaching job with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 1995, has been known as a “player’s coach.”

Some of the most respected players in the league – like Kevin Garnett and Chauncey Billups – love playing for him because of his open lines of communication.

That’s not the only thing separating him from other coaches. He has a proven philosophy – proven through five 50+ win seasons – that it’s not talent that separates the good teams from the bad.

“My philosophy is that a lot of teams have talent to win games, but very few teams have the character to win championships,” explained Saunders. “So you try and build a team where your players have character and they know what it takes, they’ve been in those types of situations, and they are the type of players who give themselves to the team and are very unselfish.”

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Flip Saunders

Saunders also takes stock of the athletes on his roster. If he has a team of thoroughbreds he’ll be more likely to run; if the talent is more suited to a slower style of play, he takes that into account, too.

“I think it’s been proven there is no one way – there are a lot of different ways you can play. I think what you have to do is look at the personnel you have to decide what’s best suited to your personnel in order to win. Some teams can’t play like Dallas or like Phoenix, how they play up-and-down; and some teams can’t play a grind-it-out defensive game like we play, or San Antonio plays. So a lot just depends on the type of personnel you have and being able to adjust your personnel to the right style of play.”

Speaking of having to adjust to a style

“…A lot of teams have talent to win games, but very few teams have the character to win championships.”

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of play, Saunders is now faced with a conundrum right in the middle of his lineup. With All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace inking a free agent contract with division rival Chicago the Pistons now need someone in the middle to do some of the things Big Ben was so successful doing. By applying his own philosophy Saunders doesn’t sound too worried.

“I think it will be good. Ben was a great player for us. He gave a lot to the organization, but as I’ve always said, when one player leaves another player has an opportunity to step up. Chauncey Billups will become the most vocal leader with our team. There are some areas we aren’t going to be as good, maybe, so there are adjustments we’ll have to make, but in some areas we are going to be better. As I told everyone, last year we thought we had five All-Stars, now we have four.”

Detroit signed free agent center Nazr Mohammed away from the San Antonio Spurs as one possibility to replace Wallace. Mohammed will bring a little more offense to the center spot, likely leading Saunders to switch up the offense and defense just a bit from last season. In addition to Mohammed, the Pistons have high hopes for a big forward they drafted last season in Jason Maxiell.

“Maxy is a younger Ben Wallace,” said Saunders. “Very aggressive-type player, long arms, much more offensiveminded, but is a very physical-type player.

We’re excited about him. We’re excited about our young kids. Will Blaylock, even though he got taken late, we think he’s got a chance.”

Between the acquisition of Mohammed and the drafting of Maxiell and Blaylock, it’s clear Saunders isn’t going to lose too much sleep over not having Ben Wallace guarding the paint for Detroit. Using his own philosophies of open communication and adapting to the personnel at his disposal, Saunders is ready to lead this Detroit Piston team to another season of contention in not only the Eastern Conference, but for the NBA championship.

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UNDERESTIMATED & UNDERRATED Underrated No More

By Bill Ingram When the Dallas Mavericks traded Antoine Walker in a package deal that landed Jason “Jet” Terry in Mavericks blue there were plenty of questions being raised around the NBA. Terry was in effect being brought in to replace Steve Nash, and many wondered whether or not this shootfirst point guard could successfully lead a perennial playoff team in Dallas. Two years later Jason has proven his critics wrong, and he credits his experience in Atlanta for preparing him to accept the challenges that awaited him in Dallas.

“Going through five years in Atlanta was pretty much oblivion, not getting to the playoffs, not having a winning record.

Still I was able to put up numbers, but in this league it’s not about numbers it’s about wins. I think being in Atlanta helped me to truly appreciate being in Dallas.”

Avery Johnson immediately took Jason under his wing, and when Avery took over as head coach at the end of the 2004-05 season, he was confident Jet was ready for liftoff.

“Avery’s done wonders for my career on and off the court,” says Jason. “He’s a father figure to me off the court and on the court he’s ‘The General.’ He’s very hands-on, he’s taught me how to play the point guard position, but the thing he’s done more than anything is instill confidence in me that I can go out there and perform at a high level if I just play my game. He’s given me that freedom.”

Of course, when you talk about the Dallas Mavericks it’s almost impossible to avoid the subject of their owner. Some say Mark Cuban is more of a distraction than a help, but Jet is quick to dispel that theory.

“Mark’s never a distraction for me because when you’re on that court nothing can really hold you back. You have to love it. You see him on the plane, in the timeouts, in the locker room, he’s so hands on. You can really appreciate it as a player when your boss is out there going through the battles with you.”

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Jason Terry

While many (including Cuban) pointed fingers at bizarre Finals officiating and conspiracy theorists found plenty of ammunition for their theories, Jet has a more direct view of why the Mavericks missed their best chance at a title in the history of the franchise.

“I look at it as we had every opportunity to win the championship this year.

We can’t blame it on anyone but ourselves. I always look at what I could have done better to lead my team to that championship. We were one or two plays away, but every team has to get down to get up. If you look at all of the great teams, they’ve gotten there, not quite done it, but then that next year

and lost to Phoenix. My second year we get to the championship and lose to Miami. The sky’s the limit next year.

We’re really looking to get back to the championship game and win it.”

“When a player and team agree that they want to work together things work very easily,” says Mavericks Director of Player Personnel Rolando Blackman. “JT could have made things really heated with the position that he was in, but it’s a good thing for him and it’s a good thing for the Mavericks. Now we get some continuity.”

So, does Jason Terry ever feel underestimated?

“There has always been a question about whether I’m a one or a two,” said Jason.

“There has always been a question about whether I’m a one or a two.

Just put me out there on the court and I’ll produce.”

Jason Terry they’ve won. I think that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

Finally, when it came time for Jet to negotiate a new contract, there was little need to negotiate. The Mavericks wanted him back, he wanted to stay, and together they made quick work of the process that landed Jet back in Dallas for the foreseeable future.

“I always said from day one that I wanted to stay in Dallas,” says Jet. “The organization is great, the team is great - with Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard we have a great nucleus. In my first year we got to the second round SWISH MAGAZINE

“Years ago Isiah Thomas told people ‘I’m just a player and I want to play.’ Put me out there on the court and I’ll produce. I always knew I could do it. Give credit to the Lord for bringing me through some hard times.

Now my family is secure, and I’m just happy to be back in Dallas. My family has grown to love the city, the city has embraced me as one of their stars, and it’s going to be a great year next year.”

With Jason Terry playing his game and playing an important role in the Mavericks’ offense, the Mavericks have every reason to believe they’ll be right back in the NBA Finals come June.

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FEATURE

Removing the “Off” from Offseason Take a Peek Inside the Summer Workouts of Some of the NBA’s Best

By Travis Heath

How many times have you heard it? A player at the end of an NBA season saying something like, “I just need to work on my game this summer and get better.” It seems as though that’s the standard line that all players, whether it’s after a great or sub-par season, are required to regurgitate. That’s not to say players do not actually work on their games in the summer; it’s just very few people have access to what players actually do to improve their games — that is until now.

It doesn’t matter if a player is an NBA rookie or a perennial All-Star - the summertime is the time when change happens.

Even a guy like Dirk Nowitzki who is coming off an MVP caliber season, still has room for improvement.

Consider the words of Dallas Mavericks’ coach Avery Johnson: “I have lofty goals for Dirk. I think there’s another level for him to go to. Coming into (last) season, I knew he could get more three-point plays in the paint. He bought into it and we’ll keep trying to push him to that next level.”

NO PAIN, NO GAIN Enter Dallas strength and conditioning coach Robert Hackett.

“I’ve been around the league,” he explained. “I’m going into my 12th season, and guys respect that. They’ve heard of my rep before I got into Dallas. That’s why they brought me to Dallas, and guys have really bought into what I do, because they’ve seen the results. I’ve had Mike Bibby, Shareef AbdurRahim, Pau Gasol. All our guys, if you go back and look on their careers, they got stronger as the season went on.

“We have old guys like Jason Terry who will tell you how easy he was dunking (last) year. A lot of people will tell you, ‘Man, I didn’t know Jason could dunk like that.’ But he’ll tell you, it was the stuff we did in the summer that he had never done before. His legs felt good throughout the year, so even in the playoffs he still has that energy and that fire in him where he’s not broke down.

Hackett explained the Mavs’ summer routine. “We do a lot of plyometric stuff in the sand, because what happens in the sand is you have to generate more strength and power to generate that force back up because the sand gives. But also you strengthen your ankle joints, your hip-flexor, your knee joints. You generate more strength and power because of that sand. We mix the running right in with the sand. So they might

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do plyometric drills in the sand for a certain amount of reps, and then go right into a 500- or 600-yard run.”

Hackett’s techniques seemed to have worked wonders with all of the Mavericks, especially Nowitzki after his amazing performance last season. However, Hackett said that Nowitzki and his coach Holger Geschwindner back in Germany deserve the lion’s share of the credit.

“Dirk does a lot of stuff back home in Germany with (Geschwinder). Dirk’s a workaholic. We’ve got to almost tell him sometimes to get out of the gym. I think the biggest thing with him is that we have to monitor his rest, because he doesn’t always take that. You always have guys like that on certain teams - you don’t think twice about him, he’s going to do what he’s supposed to do.”

No doubt, Nowitzki’s work ethic is every NBA franchise’s dream come true. However, the truth of the matter is that most NBA players aren’t like Nowitzki. Most NBA players need a good solid kick in the backside every so often during the dog days of summer. It is precisely for this reason that most NBA franchises have an individual summer workout plan designed for each of their players.

“I sit down with Avery, and he tells me what direction he wants to go in with each player,” Hackett continued. “I write up 12-15 different programs at the end of the season and give them to each guy.”

The Denver Nuggets, and strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess, also design individual workouts for each of their players. Hess, well-respected league wide, still has former Denver players like Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and many others who come back and workout with him during the summer months.

Perhaps his most important work, though, started three years ago when he was handed the keys to the Nuggets’ ver-

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sion of a Ferrari — a Ferrari by the name of Carmelo Anthony.

During the 2004-05 campaign, Hess noticed that “Melo” was getting a little too heavy. As a result, he was able to get Anthony to buy into an offseason program of epic proportions.

“Last year we started training the day after the season,” Hess said. “We took no time off because we didn’t want to get his body fat up. I feel the thing that works best for Melo is if he does not de-train. If he never gets out of shape we don’t have to get him back into shape.”

Much like Nowitzki, even after improving by leaps and bounds last season Anthony understands that he still has a lot of work to do — especially after what happened in last season’s playoff loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I’ve just got to look at it over this summer, see what they did to stop me,” Anthony said. “Last year motivated me. This year motivated me. And I’m going to keep working and try to get better. Try to get this team better.”

Intriguing rhetoric to be sure, but what is it specifically that Anthony has been doing this summer to get better?

“Melo, post-season, the first thing we’ll do is split our cardiovascular workouts into anaerobic and aerobic,” Hess explained. “Will do some non-impacting and some impacting.

For our aerobic workouts, a lot of times we’ll do some running on the grass so it’s less severe on his knees and we’ll run consistently for about 40 minutes. Then we’ll do some elliptical trainer. We’ll also do some pool running and explosive jumping - not conditioning, but for his actual form in jumping.”

Hess also touched on Anthony’s strength training regiment. “The specific weight training workout looks like this. We’ll do a full upper body and some legs, we’ll do a full legs, and then we’ll do a core stability program. It’s on a three-day split. Our repetition scheme is 15-20 reps. What I normally do, on our upper body split we’ll start off with his back and posterior delt. We’ll take three exercises from major muscle groups and two exercises from minor muscles groups. When I say legs as well, we utilize everything. So when he does a lat pull down, he does it standing with a medicine ball between his legs to get all the intrinsic muscles to fire.”

Each player has a workout designed for his own individual needs. As a result, the workouts of veteran players often differ substantially from the workouts of younger players to help avoid burnout.

Hackett touched on one Mavs veteran for whom this is very important — Jerry Stackhouse. “You don’t want him breaking down. That’s one of the pertinent things I talked to him about last summer. We’ve just got to make sure that he’s healthy and in shape, but then as we go we try to do things where we don’t break him down. We’re not trying to challenge him to do things that we’re going to have rookies do. Also, he knows

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what it takes for him to be ready. So it’s a different approach with him.”

Hess embraces the same philosophy in Denver with Nuggets’ veteran Marcus Camby.

“Marcus’ body takes a beating,” Hess emphatically stated.

“So what I do is I give him two, three weeks off. Then I would be more apt the first six to eight weeks of the summer to just lift with him and then do his conditioning. I don’t want Marcus to get too heavy because if he gets over 238 he gets plantar fasciitis, his knees start bothering him.

“With Camby his long-term, low-intensity cardiovascular work is real good. So we do more sprint work. I take him to the field, I have him go barefoot, and we run hundred (yard sprints). We’ll do twenty of those - we’ll try to do that every third day. We’ll mix in with that some elliptical trainer as well so there’s no impacting on his knees.”

Hess also discussed what he has Camby do in the weight room. “His weight training workout differs substantially from Melo’s. We do a full body split. So we’ll do lower leg with chest and arms, he’ll do upper leg with back and shoulders, and then he’ll do a full leg rotation. And we’ll add in some work that targets his hip, because he’s had some hip prob-

“A lot of people will tell you, ‘Man, I didn’t know Jason (Terry) could dunk like that.’

But he’ll tell you, it was the stuff we did in the summer . . .”

Robert Hackett lems. His repetition scheme goes 15, 12, and 10 as the weight gets progressively heavier.”

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT The diets of NBA players have become as important as any element of an effective offseason training program. The days of NBA players showing up to training camp and getting in shape as they go are over.

“Here’s the thing, that stuff about coming into training camp and getting ready in training camp, you are going to get in-

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FEATURE jured,” Hess said emphatically. “First of all, basketball is not a natural activity. Your body was not meant to run up and down the court for 40 minutes, seven months, every night. What I’m telling you right now is that if you do it slowly, allow yourself more time, you are going to be more successful. Eating and staying hydrated is such a huge component, that you’ve got to teach these guys exactly what to eat and how much of it to eat.”

In Dallas, Hackett said diet was the major catalyst for the changes you saw on the court for one member of the Mavericks last season, a player by the name of DeSagana Diop.

“What he did is change his eating habits,” Hackett explained.

“He knew how important it was to him and he took some foods out of his diet that he knew weren’t really helping him.

And he stuck to it.”

In Denver, Hess broke down the diets of both Anthony and Camby in detail.

“I would like Melo to eat between 2,000 and 2,700 (calories daily) and I would like Marcus to eat between 3,200 and 3,700,” Hess explained. “My concepts are based on glycemic index: When to eat the carbohydrates; make sure you’re eating proteins. With Melo, after 3:00 pm, we just go proteins and vegetables, making sure he’s eating his carbohydrates prior to that.

“Camby, I try and get him to eat six times a day, and eat carbohydrates, fats, and proteins all the time,” Hess continued. “I try to make sure he makes wiser choices on his carbohydrates — that would be like yams. And with his proteins, something higher on the BV scale like fish, whey protein, or egg whites as opposed to steak.”

The BV scale Hess mentioned is short for “Biological Value.”

This scale was created to help assess the quality of different sources of protein. In short, the higher rating a protein source receives on the scale, the better the quality of the protein.

Protein sources with high BV scores aide in enhancing recovery time after workouts, increase lean muscle tissue, and help increase strength.

To help in their quest to closely monitor the type and amount of food their players consume, the Denver Nuggets hired team chef Michael Osterman.

“We have a chef now who will bake up my protein, carbohydrates, and fat contents exactly like I want each player to have,” said Hess.

“I take care of the nutritional needs for the team,” Osterman added. “It’s the right balance of proteins, carbohydrates, making sure we that stay trans-fat free, and just a healthy diet.

“Generally they get a chicken dish every day. We’ll mix it up between a fish dish and a beef dish. We keep them away from pork. Definitely a green salad every day, there’s generally chicken in that as well. Also, vegetables. And then a starch, but the starches we keep could be mashed potatoes, but we don’t use any butter. It could be a pasta. If we use pasta, we do a marinara. If we use any oil, it will just be an extra virgin olive oil.”

Osterman said the club serves meals all summer long to all

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of the players who stay in Denver.

“We’ll make them three meals a day. They’ll take them home. They’ll eat a post-practice meal, and then take three meals home with them. We’ve noticed that it keeps them out of the fast food places and that’s the main thing. These are peak athletes and we need peak performance. The worst thing that can happen is they start clogging their arteries with some junk food out there. It’s a very healthy team.”

Don’t get the wrong idea here, though — this food tastes good. Osterman has learned what his players like.

“I get great input from the players,” he explained. “After working with them for 6-8 months we’ve gotten to know what they like. We know Melo’s got to have his wings, Marcus Camby with his lasagna.”

Osterman was quick to add, however, “Our wings are not fried. We bake them so they don’t get all of that extra oil.”

And the players are no doubt appreciative.

“He’s knows what I like,” Camby stated with a smile.

“His lasagna is one of my favorites. His plates of food always come in handy, especially after a long practice or game. You can always count on Mike being here with a plate of food for you.”

NO END IN SIGHT With all of the advances being made in the area of sport and human performance, it’s a forgone conclusion that NBA offseason workout programs will continue to expand. In fact, don’t be surprised to see more players staying in the cities where the play during the summer months in an effort to gain, or with veteran players, maintain a competitive edge.

“Last year, we had four starters and about six of our top eight guys in the summer working with me,” Hackett added.

While not as many Nuggets’ players can be found frequenting the Pepsi Center facilities, Nuggets’ head coach George Karl hopes that Anthony’s dedication will rub off on some of his teammates in the future.

“I think it’s a compliment to Melo, but I think our players know that we like being in the gym,” Karl explained. “We like hanging out with guys. Summertime is fun and a time to get better and work on your game and try to motivate players to add something to their game before September and October.

I would prefer to develop a culture where guys would hang out here most of the time.”

As Karl noted, the summertime just isn’t what it once was in the NBA. The league now requires a year around commitment. One could argue that the growth — or lack of growth in some cases — that takes place in June, July, and August, is more important for many players than what actually transpires during the regular season.

So just remember: next June when the NBA Finals come to a close and you get ready to use the term NBA off- season, you might want to reconsider.

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HEART & SOUL Resisting the NBA Lifestyle

By Bill Ingram A year ago Golden State Warriors forward Ike Diogu tore things up in the Vegas Summer League, starting his NBA career with a 37-point, 12-rebound effort. This year Ike wasn’t in on the action, but he was courtside to cheer on his aspiring young teammates. He took a few minutes to reflect on his rookie season and some of the complications he encountered.

“The amount of traveling and the amount of preparation that goes into each game was a challenge for me,” recalls Diogu. “You really can’t take any plays off in this league.

You’re playing against the best players in the world and it’s challenging for a young player, but at the same time it’s a lot of fun.”

One of the biggest challenges facing NBA rookies is the sudden wealth coming from becoming a professional athlete. The financial windfall is a blessing to be sure, but the onslaught of strangers seeking to “help” take care of that money can be overwhelming. Ike talked1 about how he handles some of that pressure.

“The financial aspect hasn’t been too tough, but people do come out of nowhere.

All types of people want to help you manage your money – people you’ve never met before – so you definitely have to be careful. I have my inner circle of people, mostly family members, who handle all of that.”

Once the ball starts bouncing every rookie needs a few solid veterans to help show them the ropes on and off the court. A trio of veterans helped Ike to become the best player he could be in his first season.

“It was a combination of several of the veterans like Derek Fisher, Calbert Cheaney and Adonal Foyle. Those three right there tell you how to conduct yourself on and off the court and what it really is to be a professional.”

One thing a player has to go through by himself is recovering from an injury. Other players can be supportive, but the work that goes into rehabilitation is all on the shoulders of the injured. Ike learned this Septemberw2006

Ike Diagu

lesson the hard way after breaking his arm in training camp. He also remembered to seek help from above.

“Sometimes when things are rolling really well you might put God on the back burner. But then when something bad happens you come back. In my case I broke my arm in training camp last year and I had never had a broken bone before. It brought me back down to reality. I started to realize that I wasn’t doing this by myself. Everything has been planned out and you’re doing everything according to His plan. Things like that can bring you back down to reality and remind you who’s in charge.”

Fortunately Ike already had a strong relationship with his Creator to draw upon when injury struck.

turn when temptation comes calling.

“One of the weird things about the Bible is that even though it was written so many years ago everything still pertains to things that are going on in the world today. It seems like every time I open up the Bible God’s always speaking to me. It seems like He’s speaking directly to me and it really helps me stay on the right path. Once you read His word you’re not really going to want to go out and do something stupid. Here you have the truth in front of you, so to deviate from it really doesn’t make very much sense.”

Ike has yet to find a kindred spirit among his Warriors teammates, but he respects their beliefs just as they respect his.

“We have some players who are Christians, but then we have some players who

“Sometimes when things are rolling really well you might put God on the back burner. But then when something bad happens you come back.”

Ike Diogu “When I was in fifth grade I became a Christian. I was one of those people who grew up in the church and I’ve always been around it, but I’d say in fifth grade was when I sat down and asked God to come into my heart and I got baptized and I’ve been a Christian ever since then.”

Ike’s relationship with God has also helped him to avoid some of the snares that catch so many professional athletes.

Whether the snare be alcohol, drugs, or promiscuous women, Ike knows where to SWISH MAGAZINE

are kind of ‘living the NBA lifestyle,’ so from a spiritual standpoint you’re kind of on your own. They don’t pressure me - everybody kind of knows what type of guy I am. They know what I’ll do and what I won’t do. I just basically do my own thing.”

For Ike Diogu, doing “his thing” means working hard, earning a starting spot, and keeping his faith close. He leaves his heart and soul out on the court every night and the Warriors are sure to benefit from his dedication.

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COLLECTORS CORNER Top Rookies Get Star Treatment

By Jason Fleming In today’s trading card world not all rookies are treated equally, even by the companies who create the cards. The bigtime players—Topps and Upper Deck— both have made it standard practice to sign the biggest names from each rookie class to exclusive deals, meaning only their company has the right to produce cards with the player’s autograph and memorabilia. The companies will also feature these rookies prominently in advertising.

“Each year we rise to the challenge and secure the top guys,” said Upper Deck spokesman Don Williams. “This year is no exception as we have four of the top 10 picks in the 2006 draft. The list of top ballplayers under the Upper Deck portfolio includes Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Chris Paul and now Brandon Roy, Tyrus Thomas, Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge.

“We felt these four were the most exciting players who will have collectors clamoring for their cards.”

Not to be forgotten, Topps got into the act by bringing in former Gonzaga University star forward Adam Morrison, who will be in the heart of basketball country playing for the Charlotte Bobcats.

“He was one of college basketball’s brightest stars and as a top pick in the draft, we feel he will carry over his exciting play to the NBA,” explained Topps spokesman Clay Luraschi. “He also already has a huge fan base and many will be following him for the years to come.”

Due to Morrison’s popularity in college and as a player whose primary purpose is to score points, he will resonate with many collectors who like to see rookies put up big numbers. Morrison is all but assured a starting spot on a young Bobcats team featuring Raymond Felton (who inked with Topps last year), 28

Rookie Card Deals

Sean May, and Emeka Okafor (who signed with Topps two years ago).

Topps plans on using Morrison everywhere so collectors will have no shortage of chances to pull something nice featuring him. If he lives up to the expectations of scouts, media, and his new team those cards could dominate the hot lists all season and for years to come.

“I was signing some cards with my picture and I was like, ‘Dang this is an NBA card that I’m signing!’”

Brandon Roy

Upper Deck’s choices for exclusive rookie contracts are just as obvious.

Brandon Roy was widely regarded as the most NBA-ready player in the class and could have the biggest impact on rookie cards right away. LaMarcus Aldridge, coming from the University of Texas, has a huge fan base from college—just like Morrison. Both Roy and Aldridge are now Portland Trail Blazers.

Tyrus Thomas will be playing in a huge market for collectors in Chicago, alongside stars like Ben Wallace, Ben Gordon, and Kirk Hinrich. Rudy Gay—the SWISH MAGAZINE

newest member of the Memphis Grizzlies—has the potential with his athleticism to become the biggest star out of the class—collectors love swingmen who can score in bunches and slam home highlight reel dunks (like Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, etc.)

While the card companies wanted the players, agents are a big key to getting the rookies to understand what this could mean.

“I’m kind of new to this business, and my agent said that signing exclusive deals is real good,” Roy said about inking with Upper Deck. “I’ve known about Upper Deck since I was a kid. It was an honor for them to ask me to do an exclusive deal. So I (said), yeah, of course let’s do it. I’m just happy to be in the NBA and be a part of things like that.”

A collector himself when he was younger, Roy is still trying to get over the fact his face is on the cardboard.

Instead of trying to get as many cards of his favorite player—Michael Jordan— as he could, collectors will be looking for Roy’s picture in their pack of cards.

“I still have a book full of cards and they’re all Upper Deck cards, so it’s weird how it works out,” said Roy. “15 years later, I’m on one of (those) cards.

So that’s pretty nice.

“I still haven’t really gotten used to it yet. I was signing some cards with my picture and I was like, ‘Dang this is an NBA card that I’m signing!’ So that was pretty neat, I was pretty excited about that.”

That’s a common reaction from many NBA rookies every single season. Just like collectors get geared up for a new edition of rookies each year, the rookies themselves are coming to terms with being on the other side of the Sharpie.

It’s interesting to consider—collectors, players, and card companies alike— today’s stars were once clamoring to get autographs after games and at the team hotels…and tomorrow’s stars are probably among the ones doing that very same thing now.

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A DOG WITH A BONE Can You Trust the Hot Hand?

By Eric Pincus The Los Angeles Lakers are closing out the Phoenix Suns, up three with 29 seconds left in Game Six. Steve Nash’s attempt for the tie fails, but Shawn Marion snags the rebound. He dishes to Tim Thomas who nails the three, celebrating his back-breaking basket by blowing on his piping-hot fingers.

Tim Thomas.

The man never lived up to expectations of the Milwaukee Bucks, so enticed by his potential they inked him to a $67 million contract.

Tim Thomas

Suns, cut outright by the Bulls.

“Man, that’s a long time ago,” he replies. “I’m worrying about winning a championship; you’re talking to me about Chicago. Ask me about it in the summer and I’ll tell you everything you need to know. All the ins and outs about Scott Skiles and John Paxson. Everything.”

The Suns wrap an impressive season.

It seems a lock he’ll re-sign but Thomas and the Clippers quickly agree to terms.

“It’s pretty much a family decision. I’ve been living [in LA] during the summer for three years now. To have this opportunity present itself…I had to take it.”

Coach Mike Dunleavy admits, “Our objective is to get where he just came from, the Western Conference Finals. I figure one good way to do it would be to snatch

“They were going to go with who they had, but didn’t know how to tell me. They didn’t come to me as a man and just say: ‘We have a group of young guys here that we want to develop. We need you take a back burner.’”

Tim Thomas A basketball renaissance in Phoenix after the Chicago Bulls eat the last $14 million of his Milwaukee deal; is it coincidental he’s suddenly an impact player?

Thomas is in LA celebrating a win over the Clippers, chatting about a certain music biz VIP. “Millionaires like to hang with millionaires. He’s got some money. I’ve got some money. We like to hang,” he declares.

I ask Thomas if Phoenix is where he’d like to stay long-term.

“Oh yeah, but that’s going to take care of itself when it’s time,” he replies.

“Right now I’m only about winning basketball games and trying to get this team to the championship.”

I ask him how he ended up with the 30

him away from Phoenix.”

Dunleavy notes Thomas’ impressive playoff history was key. “Our focus [is no longer] ‘if’ we’re going to make the playoffs, it’s about how far we’re going to go…”

Maybe Thomas is the perfect fit but even Dunleavy cautioned, “When you bring new guys into the mix, you have to worry about chemistry. Sometimes the oil and water can separate.”

Four trades in nine seasons plus a high priced leave of absence from the Bulls…

“Ah man I don’t want to talk about Chicago,” he replies reluctantly to my prodding. “Alright, tell me what you need.”

What happened? Why did the Bulls drop you?

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“I couldn’t really tell you but I can tell you what happened,” he responds. “I went to training camp. There were some quotes about how I’m out of shape.

“I practiced every day. I did nothing wrong. I was a good teammate, a good locker room guy.

“My wife got sideswiped by a cab in New York City. I go check on her to make sure she’s OK. “I get a call through my agent saying I can come back if I want to.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“I’m still trying to figure that out.”

So there wasn’t any big blow up?

“I talked to Scott Skiles once for about three minutes.”

So it was just your ending contract they traded for?

“Pretty much. They were going to go with who they had, but didn’t know how to tell me. They didn’t come to me as a man and just say ‘We have a group of young guys here that we want to develop. We need you take a back burner.’”

So you felt they weren’t up front with you?

“It just got ugly, to the point that I was sent home. People like you guys start writing and I couldn’t comment on anything that happened. So I look like the bad guy.

“I go to Phoenix. I start playing well – now I’m the good guy.”

So the Clippers have nothing to worry about?

“Do I look like…if you put me in a uniform on the court then I’m a problem.

Right now I’m not a problem.”

You’re a problem for the other team.

“Exactly,” he finishes with a smile that almost wins me over.

For the Clippers’ sake, I want to believe he gave Milwaukee and New York his all, and simply wasn’t given a chance in Chicago.

I want to believe he left the Suns because family is tantamount, the extra money from the Clippers a fortunate turn.

I want to believe he won’t feel restricted by Dunleavy’s structured offense.

I want to believe, but I can’t.

Not until he proves himself when money isn’t on the line.

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THE LAST WORD NICE GUYS FINISH LAST… The business of the NBA never ceases to amaze me…yet every summer there is a story that must be retold, if only to paint a clearer more balanced picture of life in pro sports.

Some of the names in this story have been removed deliberately, as to not negatively affect the personalities involved. That’s not what this is about.

This year a very promising player announced his intentions to enter the draft; he began working eight to ten hours per day on his game and his body, becoming a fine-tuned basketball machine.

Individual workouts followed and this player excelled everywhere he went in fact beating out many players who had bigger names.

The player finally got a verbal commitment from a well-known and respected executive, who told the player his club was taking him in the first round – the words every aspiring player wants to hear.

The executive followed up the verbal promise with a phone call to the agent of the player, again confirming if the player was there when his club picked the agent’s client would be selected.

The NBA Draft rolls around, the picks start coming off the board, and it finally comes down to the team that promised the player – and the team passes, leaving the player undrafted in the first round and losing out on guaranteed money and potentially devastatingly impacting his career.

The player was ultimately selected in the second round and went on to have a great summer league. He received a nice two-year deal – so at the end of the day this is not a tragedy, but yet another example of why players and agents don’t trust teams, and why everyone is so coldly reminded this is Septemberw2006

Steve Kyler

a business – typically after they have been shafted.

Every team has the right and responsibility to what’s best for the franchise and on draft night things change.

Knowing that going in, don’t make promises you don’t plan to keep.

It’s these kinds of stories that make you understand why a Carlos Boozer leaves Cleveland and why a Ben Wallace joins Chicago.

Too many times players are flat out misled by GM’s and executives and when it’s time for them to make their own decisions, they have to look out for themselves because it does not seem many executives in the NBA are concerned with honesty and loyalty unless it’s someone being honest and loyal to them.

VIVA LAS VEGAS… Summer League was fun…serious fun for a basketball junkie: Five games per day featuring six of the top ten players from the draft with a who’s who of NBA executives in the stands makes for a fun 14 days.

Watching how well received basketball was in Vegas this summer one has to wonder: What’s the hold up on getting the league into Vegas full-time?

An informed source suggests the NBA “wants” to be in Vegas and the upcoming 2007 All-Star Game, which will be held in Vegas, is proof.

The holdup is the sports betting permitted in Vegas’ casinos. Sources say all it will take for the NBA to look at Vegas permanently is the removal of NBA bets from casinos inside the Vegas city limits.

When you consider how little “action” Vegas takes in on the NBA game, removing those bets shouldn’t be as monumental a task as say, pulling the NFL (also known as the bread winner). The Maloof brothers, who own the Sacramento Kings and the Palms Hotel in Vegas, agreed to pull the NBA from their casino’s sports SWISH MAGAZINE

book and they still do a hefty amount of business.

If Vegas wants the NBA it’s not going to be hard for them to get it. In all honesty it’s not going to cost the casinos as much as they might think, especially considering that for at least 41 nights a year when 12 to 15 millionaires will be looking for something to do after a game.

GOING FOR GOLD… TEAM USA has narrowed their roster to 15 players who will travel to Japan and attempt to resurrect the image of the United States in international basketball.

In a huge shift in philosophy USA Basketball has given total control to Jerry Colangelo, who in turn tapped Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski to lead the US team back to respectability.

If there is one man on the planet who could lead the US back to the Promised Land, it’s Coach K – for one glaring reason: he never plans to coach in the NBA. He’ll never have to hear a player torch him in the media over minutes, he’ll never have to face a 50-point drudging by a former player he benched, and above all else he commands 100% respect from every player on the squad because of it. He likes them and has as secure a life as anyone on the floor. He has won more games, coached more stars, and beaten more megastars than anyone this side of Phil Jackson.

The team Coach K and Colangelo have assembled is finally the right group of guys. Unlike past teams with monster stars and egos, the TEAM USA group heading to Japan is finally a team again - and a tight knit team at that.

Add the fact this group will be together for three years and USA Basketball looks pretty smart. It makes TEAM USA look like the early favorite to win it all in Beijing in 2008.

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