SWISH Letter from the Editor MAGAZINE December 2006 Volume 2 Issue 3
Please bring the off-season back! PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Steve Kyler skyler@swishmagazine.com EXECUTIVE EDITORS Bill Ingram bingram@swishmagazine.com Jason Fleming jfleming@swishmagazine.com EDITORIAL STAFF Bill Ingram, Jason Fleming CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Travis Heath, Nikola Olic, Brian Robinson, Jason Fleming, Wendell Maxey, Jr., Bill Ingram, Caren Sawyer, Yael Shacham, Joel Brigham, Steve Kyler, Tommy Beer, Eric Pincus DESIGN & LAYOUT Impact Graphic Design production@swishmagazine.com PHOTOS Mike Queen, Steve Kyler, Nikola Olic (Basketball News Services) Cover Photo Bill Baptist (Getty Images/NBAE) Back Cover Photo Fernando Medina (Getty Images/NBAE) Garrett Ellwood (Getty Images/NBAE) PROMOTION AND MARKETING Steve Kyler skyler@swishmagazine.com ADVERTISING & SALES adsales@swishmagazine.com 866.430.3640
2006-2007 has arrived far too quickly, and all of the amazing parts of the NBA are in high gear. It’s hard to believe this is our 6th issue of SWISH. We wanted to put something extra in the issue. Not only will you find 60 pages of outstanding NBA news and content, but you may have noticed a better look and feel to the magazine, as we continue to grow the publication into the leading voice in print for NBA news and insight. We decided to have some fun with this book, making sure to have the right mix of Eastern Conference and Western Conference storylines, while staying focused on the idea of giving you a look at players and situations that will make a difference in the 2006-2007 season. As a publication we’ve prided ourselves on telling stories that are not being told, and this book is no exception – Peja Stojakovic got candid and personal about why he chose the Hornets and what he expects from the team… Jameer Nelson started out as a smaller story but grew into a feature story after sharing his vision for the season… and the SWISH Editors sat down and ranked all 30 teams and what we think they’ll do this season. Over the next few months, you will see a lot of new changes for us with SWISH Magazine, and our website HOOPSWORLD.com . We’ve added some amazing new writers to our team, including veteran NBA scribes like Jonathan Feigen, Chris McCosky, John Denton and Israel Gutierrez who will be producing materials for future issues of SWISH as well as regular website columns at HOOPSWORLD. We are looking forward to seeing how this year shakes out for some of the guys we’ve come to know building this book and we hope you enjoy reading about some pretty interesting guys. Enjoy this “expanded” edition of SWISH and rest assured that SWISH 7, our next “All-Star” book, will continue where this book left off and bring you more interviews, pictures and insight from around the league.
CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriber Relations subscribers@swishmagazine.com
Steve Kyler Editor & Publisher Swish Magazine skyler@swishmagazine.com
SWISH Magazine c\o Basketball News Services 12157 W. Linebaugh Ave Suite 329 Tampa FL 33626
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Table of Contents Features
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52
Young Guns The Orlando Magic handed Jameer Nelson the keys to their future, believing in his ability to be a playmaker and lead a very young team. In Los Angeles the Clippers did the same with Shaun Livingston – with the added pressure of being ready to step to the next level. Both players will be key components for many years to come.
It’s All About Relationships The most important thing to Peja Stojakovic is his relationship with people; that’s why he chose the Hornets this summer.
18
When Big Men Ruled the Paint
24
Mile High Royalty
34
The Other Guys
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Projections
Hakeem Olajuwon is reaching out to today’s young post players to teach what he knows to the next generation.
The bond between Chauncey and Rodney Billups is based on them being brothers, but strengthened through the game of basketball.
Bringing Ben Wallace to Chicago was nice, but P.J. Brown and Andres Nocioni will also contribute to the team’s success.
SWISH’s executive editors get together to break down all 30 teams for the 2006-07 season.
departments 6 7 12 14 16 22 23 28 30 32
Still Standing Most Valuable Player The Man Behind the Name Underrated & Underestimated
Sophomore Season Inside Arena Heart and Soul Visions of Winning Up Close New Beginnings
33 38 40 42 44 50 51 56 57
The Rookie The Veteran Underrated & Underestimated
Heart and Soul Up Close Sophomore Season Collectors Corner Dog With a Bone The Last Word
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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STILL STANDING
Eddie Jones
Leadership Without Boundaries By Steve Kyler When you think of Memphis guard Eddie Jones it’s easy to forget how much he has influenced the NBA. Whether it was shaping the work ethic of Laker star Kobe Bryant - who often tells stories of how Eddie taught him how to be a professional - scoring more than 13,000 points in his career, playing in three All-Star games, or appearing in 75 playoff games, Eddie Jones is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. “My peers know who I am. As far as the media, I could care less,” jokes Eddie. He has a point. The media rarely catches on his passes and teams rarely need to draw up defensive plays to fend off the beat writers. With more than 2600 assists and more than 1500 steals in his career, he has left a mark on everyone he’s played with and against. He was, after all, handpicked by Michael Jordan to represent the Nike’s Jordan Brand shoes and apparel. His game has not gone unrecognized by those that know. “He is as smart of a defensive player as you are going to find in the league,” explains Grizzlies head coach Mike Fratello. “He was a part of our threepoint weaponry last year; that was a huge part of our game. He is a leader on and off the court. He has plenty of experience in the playoffs and that is where the team depends on him greatly. He is a leader.” “I talk to my guys all the time,” Eddie explains about his leadership skills. “I don’t let them lose confidence. I let them know we have to stay together.” That kind of leadership makes Eddie indispensable to more than a handful of coaches and a guy his teammates tend to lean on in the tough situations. “When you’re a guy that has been around this game, you bring a calmness 6
and a peacefulness to the game,” says Eddie. “When things get out of hand, I explain that you should take things easy, slow it down. I help control the game out there on the floor.” Eddie’s ability to calm young players has helped Memphis’ latest crop of young guys – namely rookies Kyle Lowry
and Alexander Johnson - adjust, and it’s his veteran savvy both players point to as reasons why Eddie is a special guy. “I had to bring Eddie some doughnuts once,” recalls second round pick Johnson, who claims Eddie to be one of his biggest supporters. “He’s a real good guy. It’s good to be around him.” “Everywhere I’ve been the leadership role was put on me,” says Eddie, almost welcoming the burden of teaching the game to his younger teammates. Eddie started his career in LA with the Lakers and was ultimately replaced by Bryant. He landed in Charlotte and then SWISH MAGAZINE
in Miami. His veteran leadership made him attractive to the Grizzlies, who traded for him in August of 2005. “That is what you have to do as a veteran,” quips Eddie. “You can’t show a young kid the bad ropes, you show them - the ropes.” Eddie has seen his share of “upstart” rookies – Kobe Bryant in 1996, Baron Davis in 1999 and Dwyane Wade in 2003. “A veteran has seen everything,” explains Eddie, who may have actually “seen” everything in his extensive NBA travels. “You can’t get flustered. A veteran tries his best to keep everything calm. I have been around for a long, long time.” Eddie’s career has likely reached its apex, at the point now where injures and politics will determine how long his star can shine despite what may be left in his still spry and athletic legs. Being pushed out is something Eddie refuses to allow. “I take the off-season seriously,” he insists. “I never stop working out. I try to stay in the best condition.” Some players in Eddie’s position might start shutting things down and calling things what they are: an end to a great career. But most players could never dream of a 12-year NBA career and the chance to play with and against the best players in a generation. Eddie is not quite ready to call it a career. Why? “Just loving the game,” Eddie confides, almost defiantly. “To be honest with you, It is what you know probably more than anything else in life. I’ve just got so much love for it. That’s the motivation in itself, just to compete everyday” Here’s hoping injuries and politics don’t rob Eddie of the chance to end his career as he started it – as the leader of a playoff team. December22006
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Melo Making MVP Quality Strides
Carmelo Anthony
By Travis Heath “When that guy gets hot, he’s an assassin. He’s a tireless worker, too, and I didn’t really know that about him. After practice and before the games he’s getting extra shots up. He may not be as multidimensional as a LeBron James or Dwyane Wade - they pass the ball a little more - but that’s not his job. His job is to get buckets and he’s one of the best at it.” These comments came from the mouth of Carmelo Anthony’s Team USA teammate Elton Brand and exemplify just how far Anthony has come in a short period of time. Could this possibly be the same player most people remembered from the summer of 2004? The same player who was portrayed by the media as the poster boy for what was wrong with the NBA after he became frustrated with his limited role on the national team as led by then-Team USA head coach Larry Brown? What a difference two years can make. This summer with Team USA Anthony showed just how much he has matured both as a basketball player and as a man. He was so good this summer in Japan head coach Mike Krzyzewski called him the most valuable player on the team. Melo’s friends in Denver have taken notice as well, and to the surprise of some, there was a faction of the organization that didn’t believe Melo would make the cut during Team USA’s tryouts last July. “I remember Melo going away to USA tryouts,” said Nuggets head coach George Karl. “I won’t tell you who, but there were a couple of people in our organization who said, ‘Hey, he might not even make the team.’ Then four days Decemberw2006
fect for him. It’s a game where if you can score from 15-18 feet you are going to play well, and that’s his strength: spot-up jump shots. So I expected him to play well not only this past summer but the next two summers I expect the same thing.” “Melo played well,” added Denver forward Kenyon Martin. “He played well like he did last year. He picked up from where he played last season and he showed it in the World Championships. Melo is Melo.” Nuggets captain Marcus Camby said the most impressive part of Melo’s run in Japan was that he shined brightest on a team full of shining stars. “I think Carmelo had a heck of a summer. When you look at a team that consisted of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, from the outside looking in you would think that a guy like Carmelo would take a back-seat to those guys. But if you ask a lot of guys on that team and even the coaches they will tell you that Carmelo was the heart and soul of that team.” There is no doubt Anthony’s game has progressed on the floor, but perhaps the greatest strides he has made have taken place outside the confines of basketball. “In his first couple of years in the league he had a few off-the-court incidents, which a lot of people have, but it’s how you overcome them,” Camby explained. “He’s overcome them very well. He’s doing a great job in the community. He’s done a lot of stuff with family resources that goes unnoticed at times. Carmelo has been a great citizen to this community of Denver.” Karl added that while the perception on the outside may be Anthony doesn’t listen or respond well to criticism, the coach begs to differ. In fact, he indicated that Melo listens quite well - just in his own unique way. “What I’ve enjoyed about Carmelo more than anything else is in his hip-hop way, he listens.”
Getty Images/NBAE - Garrett Ellwood
into practices I get phone calls from some USA basketball people that I know - Jerry Colangelo, the trainer - saying Melo has been the best player on the court, had the best attitude in practice, and wants to be the captain of the team.” Karl said he, too, was surprised by how far Anthony has come in such a short period of time and that his teammates recognize just how much progress he has made. “My feeling when I talk to Marcus (Camby) and Kenyon (Martin) is they have a lot of respect for what Melo has done and where he has come. For me, I’m shocked how far he’s come.” While his head coach may have been shocked, a number of Nuggets players indicated the Melo the world saw in Japan is the same guy they see everyday in practice. “I wasn’t surprised at all by how well he played,” replied Nuggets guard Earl Boykins. “The international game is perSWISH MAGAZINE
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FEATURE
For new Hornet Peja Stojakovic, the people are everything By Nikola Olic PAY-zhuh Stoy-AH-kuh-vitch. The NBA tells you how to pronounce him, but you probably don’t know how to read him. A two-time Three-Point Shootout champ, even his rare misses are usually on mark, only perhaps too long or short. Peja is a straight shooter in more ways than one. It was a summer of contracts for the 6’10" Serbian forward. After signing a $64 million, five-year contract with the New Orleans Hornets he took the summer off from basketball, but not from basketball players. With both the NBA season and World Championships in Japan over, Peja’s friends were ready to join him. He assembled a Who’s Who of international basketball in his adopted homeland of Greece to celebrate a more important contract: getting married to long-time girlfriend Aleka. Now back in the States, he is preparing a new house for his family and a new beginning for himself. “There was a lot of discussion with everyone but New Orleans. As a free agent, you think a lot about the team you will be playing for. When my agent called me at 8 a.m. and told me of the offer, I started thinking about it quickly. It’s not all just about the money. You don’t want to be miserable at work. You want to be in a group of good people.” That is Peja’s favorite word. He fluently speaks three languages and on this sunny fall afternoon in Oklahoma City it was about people, no matter what the language. Peja found basketball success quickly, moving up through the ranks quicker than his coaches or friends, often surrounded with new basketball people to observe. So far, his new group of 15 - the Hornets - is looking good. “I watched them last year a lot and I knew their coach. I played against him in Europe and played for him in Sacramento, I know he is a straight shooter,” said Peja, emphasizing the phrase in English. “We have a very honest relationship. Like it or not, you are going to hear it. That is very important in sports. I thought about joining them for half an hour and then it was clear. Indiana also called, but the Hornets were faster - they called at 12:01.” That is a big step to make in half an hour. Peja of course still drives in style, sporting an intimidating BMW sedan with a state-of-the-art navigation system. In his new city that pleasant onboard computer voice spends more time finding interesting restaurants than avoiding traffic jams. Cruising around town he is still not recognized and will probably have a normal life until their first home game. “I can’t wait. We have a great organization; we are ready to make a great team. The team has excellent support from Oklahoma City. We have everything we need to succeed. For me, it is very important to have a nice relationship with people I work with. I look forward to getting back to the arena, seeing my coach, seeing my teammates. We have good chemistry. It is really a good atmosphere when we play together. “ 8
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There is an inconsistency when changing NBA teams, especially when changing teams in mid-season. Statistics become impossible to track, old uniform photos are cropped or deleted, and the player’s charity seating section suddenly disappears. But if you look hard enough you can still find a lot of photos of Peja Stojakovic in his Kings uniform, most of them with a big smile. He feels things will continue in his new uniform much the same. “I am happy here. This team has that same Kings’ chemistry. We have quality players. We don’t have a superstar but we have Chris Paul who is on his way to becoming one. We don’t depend on just one or two players; we depend on playing as a whole…we just have to define our roles. I love what I do. I want to have the responsibility of being the player they seek out to make this team better. I want to have the responsibility of playing well.” Peja was a part of a similar scenario in 2000. He had a breakout season with Sacramento: became a starter, established himself as a premiere three-point shooter and helped the Kings to their best season ever, winning more the 50 games for the first time since ’63. Expectations from Peja were high, with results to match: NBA All-Star, record-breaking free throw percentage, three-point champion. A superstar? He thinks not. “Fame here can be a motivating factor, but I don’t see myself as a big star. There really are some incredible players in the league. I think I am an OK player. I know how far I can go. In the NBA, the only way you can improve is if you listen to your coach. That is why I appreciate my relationship with all my coaches that taught me something” The coach he has listened to the longest in his career was the Kings’ Rick Adelman. Peja’s opportunity as a sophomore came because coach Adelman’s confidence in Peja’s outside shot and knowledge that Peja will be a fitting piece of their basketball puzzle. “Rick really had good communication in Sacramento. He knew how to show what he wanted. He had a way of letting everybody know what their roles were and how everybody was doing. That is important to us, knowing what the coach wants from us, knowing what kind of a team he wants to make.” Adelman also had confidence Peja would fit well with fellow countryman and senior King Vlade Divac. Divac, Chris Webber, Peja and the rest of Kings created an atmosphere most teams around the league envied. The ritual dance following Kings’ pregame huddles was implemented by Divac, inspired by a Serbian folk dance and adopted by many other teams. “Teams tried to copy what we had in Sacramento. We really had character. Coach was a psychologist. After two years, the Kings became a whole, a compact basketball entity. It was unbelievable. Win or lose — we were okay. We would just Decemberw2006
look at each other and know what to do. I knew where Vlade would be, he knew where Doug Christie was going to.” Stojakovic started his professional career in Red Star Belgrade, one of Serbia’s biggest sports clubs. Compared to the small club in his hometown of Slavonska Pozega, he was surrounded with more talent and with it more opinions. That is where he first experienced something that becomes a part of every NBA career — criticism. He was criticized for being too short, for having a broken leg and - no joke - for having hairy legs. “Criticism always motivated me. It helped out throughout my whole career. You have to go out on the floor and show it. I know who I am, I don’t need anybody to explain it to me. A few years ago I stole three balls at the end of a game against Dallas and I was suddenly a good defender? I did not become a good defender over night.” Soon after New Year’s when his Hornets host the Utah Jazz, you will have a chance to see Peja Stojakovic and Gordan Giricek take the floor at the same time. Looking at them closely you will see the same thing Stojakovic saw when he was being expelled out of his hometown of Slavonska Pozega: It’s hard to see a difference between a Serbian and a Croat. Civil war is not simple, especially through the eyes of a 14-yearold basketball prodigy. “It was in Slavonska Pozega. We practiced twice a week, I remember it was from 6:00 to 7:30. After a year a coach saw me at some small local competition and I ended up with Red Star in ‘91, as a civil war started breaking out. I finally went to Greece in ’93.” As topics move from the simple world of points, rebounds and leather balls, to the realities of a civil war, loss and disappointment dominate Peja’s voice. Although he was born in Croatia, by virtue of his parents’ birthplaces Peja is a Serbian. “We had an excellent social structure”, Peja recalls. He probably would not have made it to Greece or United States if history had gone differently. “I was a refugee. I can’t say that helped form me in my later life, but it was certainly an experience that helped make me more mature. It was the ‘School of Life.’ That was a very good test for who were real family members and who were real friends. Everything got shaken up and only the real people remained with me. I am not happy that this is how things ended up. Out of half a million refugees few of us had a chance to succeed in life. “ For Peja and his family that would be their second time to succeed. When the civil war started they already had a successful business and a comfortable life afforded by it. They left it all behind and moved to Belgrade, where Peja found comfort and hope in basketball and the generosity of com-
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plete strangers. Many years later he is again combining the two for his Children’s Fund. “I am helping other kids with my foundation because I went through similar things in my childhood. I got the idea from watching Vlade organize his foundation. I remembered my childhood and the many kids in my country that needed help. I can’t turn their lives completely around, but I can help them get through the next winter. The best feeling in the world is being able to do something for others, for your family, for your parents. It is easier for me to help someone than to be helped. It is easier to give than to receive. I feel strange when somebody helps me. I don’t know how to express my gratitude. I would rather help them out.” There are two choices for playing basketball in Belgrade, two opposite ends of the fan spectrum: Partizan and Red Star. Both draw their names from Serbia’s communist past, but the only thing Peja was interested in was the present. He chose Red Star because he was a fan and because of how they played basketball. Peja’s father was, however, more interested in the future. “My dad asked the Red Star coach if I would be able to go to school. I had to do something when my basketball career ended. Coach explained that if I became a top athlete I would experience things and meet people that would equal five schools. I would grow up much quicker than the rest of my generation. I would have more responsibility than my friends.” The person that asked those tough questions many years ago is still very close with Peja. In between home and road games, and being a father and a husband, Peja stays in touch with his parents, phoning them daily. “I think a lot about my parents and how they helped me. Life comes at you quicker in sports then it does in regular life. They lost everything they had over night because of our civil war, out of nowhere. With hard work and with our talents, we made ourselves into something again.” Summers are planned well in advance for any NBA player. Of course they hope to play into mid-June and don’t mind having a late start. Briefly visiting Europe does not give a true sense of the relationship Europeans have with famous people, a relationship many NBA players find liberating. But if your home is back there, as is Peja’s, you completely get it. “In Europe it’s very different. Fame is harder to establish, you can’t really just work your way into that crowd. Europeans have a different relationship with famous people. In America famous people are role models. In Europe people know who you are but they don’t bug you. It is about ego and 10
self-respect: ‘HE can come over and GIVE ME his autograph if he really wants to!’” There is not much logic in their lives, explains Peja of the NBA experience. They have problems like normal people and they solve them the way all people do, by communicating. Superstar or not, seeing NBA players as normal people is a stretch. Half a day you are an athlete, half a day a rock star. In his wife Aleka, Peja found an avid athlete, a Greek national high jump champion. After sports she followed with a successful career in broadcasting and modeling. For the first time in his life Peja found somebody who could understand both sides of him; he found somebody who could keep things logical. “Everything started with a blind date,” recalls Stojakovic, excitedly waving his arms in our tight restaurant booth. “We knew of each other and I was supposed to call her first but I couldn’t do it. We somehow went out and sensed there was chemistry between us. We started going out and I had to work hard to make her join me here in America. So I organized private jets, Las Vegas, dinners in San Francisco — the whole thing. Everything worked out great, I got exactly what I wanted.” Vlade Divac tried to explain that in the Kings locker room a few years ago, but Peja usually laughed. Visiting locker rooms are especially rough for confessions. Shortly after the game a charter bus takes you to a luxurious hotel and then you are off. A hefty $102 per diem, a new city to spend it in, far away from family, friends and your regular life in general. So when Vlade would confess how much he missed his family, Peja never understood what it meant. That is, until now. “Now I listen to Vlade. You can’t listen to the generations that came before us. Their decisions and their lives have nothing to do with my life. Vlade helped me out a lot. We always talked about everything, about life, money, our families, about our relationships with other people.” Only with great relationships can three out of Peja’s four shots come from assists. His Red Star coach helped him choose basketball, Vlade Divac helped him succeed in basketball and his parents helped him stay grounded through it all. Choosing the Hornets was an easy decision for Peja partly because of his relationship with head coach Byron Scott. They started their new careers back in ’98 with the Kings, Byron as an assistant coach and Peja as an NBA player. After two years they went their separate, albeit very successful ways. The two straight shooters are now back together with the Hornets and Peja feels it’s a start, or rather a continuation, of another good relationship. “Byron knows what he’s doing. I can’t wait for the season to start.”
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THE MAN BEHIND THE NAME Growing Up on the Court By Brian Robinson Many players enter the NBA with enough skills on the court to make it in the league. A much smaller number have similar off-the-court skills which allow them to grow, adapt, and in the end dominate. Often underappreciated are the players who enter the league ignorant of the commitment required, but later realize that physical abilities alone are not enough to achieve success in the NBA. Chris Wilcox of the Seattle Supersonics qualifies as a player forced to learn these skills in the public spotlight. Once an afterthought for the Los Angeles Clippers he has grown to understand there is a difference between simply showing up for games and doing all the little things necessary to become a dominant player. As a young player he sulked behind Clipper All-Star Elton Brand and often felt as though it was impossible for him to earn a consistent role on the team.
Chris Wilcox
SuperSonics, Wilcox seems to understand that regardless of where he sits in the rotation he needs to take responsibility for his own behavior and accept the coach’s decisions. “I’ve learned a lot,” admits Wilcox. “If it goes to the point where I’m not getting the job done then I need to be subbed out. Somebody else needs to step up and take my place. I’m all about winning.” Wilcox cites several reasons for this noticeable change in attitude. Simple maturity has played a factor: only 20 years old when he was drafted eighth overall in the 2002 draft, he now finds himself one of the oldest members of the Sonics’ young frontcourt. “On this team I’m a veteran,” Wilcox said in reference to young teammates Robert Swift and Johan Petro. “I’ve been in the league longer than a lot of these guys.” Wilcox is attempting to be a mentor to these young players, a role hard to envision in previous years. “I’m more vocal than Ray and Rashard, just getting in guys’ faces,” said Wilcox. “I’m going to get into everybody and getting everybody on the
“If it goes to the point where I’m not getting the job done then I need to be subbed out… I’m all about winning.” Chris Wilcox “In the past it was like, I’m playing behind somebody so it’s like I’m not there.” Wilcox said when asked about his Clipper days. This attitude earned Wilcox a regular spot on the bench with the Clippers and a reputation as a player with a poor attitude and work ethic. This season, after receiving a three-year contract from the Seattle 12
same page. “That’s what they’ve kind of missed in the past.” In addition Wilcox has thrived in Seattle due to a defined role and a great relationship with Head Coach Bob Hill, whose straightforward style has endeared him to Sonics players. “This organization is a great organization,” Wilcox said about the Sonics. SWISH MAGAZINE
“Coach Bob Hill, he believes in all his guys. It’s always good to have somebody that’s got your back.” Wilcox got off on the right foot with Hill this season by reporting early to training camp and in good physical condition. This is a sharp contrast from his first several years; poor conditioning was cited as a primary reason for Wilcox’ trade to Seattle last February. Coach Hill feels that Wilcox has started down the right path and counsels the still young player that he needs an even greater level of dedication and maturation if he expects to meet the increased expectations of this season. “His life has changed,” said Hill. “His responsibilities have changed. He has to become a professional basketball player now in every sense of the word. In terms of preparing himself in practice, preparing to play games, eating the right foods and getting the right rest, he needs to do all of that.” Knowing Wilcox is a dynamic offensive player Hill has demanded he make his most dramatic improvements on the defensive end of the floor. Wilcox agrees. “I want to be better on defense blocking more shots and grabbing more rebounds.” Fans may wonder if Wilcox can ever develop into a consistent defender, but the Sonics coach staff has confidence in his abilities. “Absolutely,” said Lead Assistant Coach and defensive specialist Gordon Chiesa. “He has all the tools and he is a willing learner.” “Willing learner” is likely not a term that would have been applied to Chris Wilcox early in his career. Once considered malcontent he seems to have come to understand that he needs to work harder to reach his goals. “I’ve been in the league for three or four years and we haven’t made it to the playoffs,” he said. “That’s where I want to get.” If Wilcox continues to mature both on and off the floor he may just get his wish. December22006
UNDERESTIMATED & UNDERRATED
Joel Przybilla
What a Difference a Couple Years Makes By Jason Fleming In the summer of 2004 Joel Przybilla’s phone was silent. He had just finished his rookie contract and hoped this was not the end. How could it be? Przybilla was a lottery pick, he dominated in college, and he felt like he was getting a raw deal. Then-Portland Trail Blazers’ General Manager John Nash was the only team executive to call up Przybilla and offer him a contract. Two summers later, after being a key member of the Blazers’ defense in the middle, it was a very different story. Not only did Przybilla get offers, but some of the best teams in the league like the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons made their pitches. “It was a different experience,” Przybilla laughs. “It was almost like a dream come true. It was a fun summer. The fact that now I know I’m going to be in Portland – hopefully for awhile – it’s just a comforting thing.” The contract Przybilla signed with the Trail Blazers – five years and $32 million through 2011 – should provide much comfort. When it came down to it Przybilla wanted to pay the Trail Blazers back for taking a chance on him in 2004, something he re-iterated many times over the course of last season and leading up to the free agency period. He’s a person who believes in loyalty. Is the new contract validation? “I think so. I’m the type of person who twenty years from now I don’t want to look back and regret not working every night. I want to work every night. That’s how I was raised and that’s how I’m going to continue to play.” Working hard is something Przybilla is no stranger to and doesn’t hide from. This past offseason he worked on his conditioning with a tough boxing workout for the second summer in a row. “I did a little bit of that and I did exercises – like biking - to strengthen my 14
quad for my knee. Things like that, anything I can to stay in shape.” Staying in shape is something Przybilla has to do. Even though the Trail Blazers also acquired former AllStar Jamaal Magloire in the offseason, Przybilla’s teammates depend on having him and his defensive skills down on the low block. Guards especially appreciate what Przybilla can do because
“He’s one of the great players I’ve been privileged to coach and to be around,” said Coach Stotts. “He has some gifts that are uncommon in the NBA for big men, most notably his help defense and his soft hands. He’s outstanding in the lockerroom, he’s a pleasure to coach, he takes instruction well, and he’s determined to improve.”
“It was a different experience. It was almost like a dream come true.” Joel Przybilla it makes their defense easier. “It definitely makes it easy knowing I can pressure the ball,” said starting point guard Jarrett Jack. “If I happen to get beat I have him down there and he can really alter shots. Or, he can make the guard think about it a bit and I can get back into position.” Ask any guard who has played with a dominant defensive center – a David Robinson, an Hakeem Olajuwon, a Marcus Camby, an Alonzo Mourning – and they will tell you how easy defense becomes. With the skill of a shot blocker behind them they can take those extra risks, go for those extra steals, and it makes the team better as a whole. The respect for Przybilla isn’t limited to his own locker room. Terry Stotts, the current Milwaukee Bucks head coach, was an assistant in Milwaukee for two seasons while Przybilla was there and then was the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks when he was traded there in early 2004. SWISH MAGAZINE
In 2006-07 Przybilla wants to build on that, not only being a good solider but also being a leader on his team. “Last year being a leader for me it was tough since I was injured a little bit. I’m not a vocal guy either. This year, coming in, people are pointing at me to be a leader. I know I have to step up, I know I have to voice my opinion. This summer I really sat back and looked at it after I signed here that I’ve got to come in and make some noise. If guys don’t like hearing what I’ve got to say, but it’s the truth and it makes you better I’m going to do it.” It may seem odd to think of a former lottery pick as underrated, but in the case of Joel Przybilla the description is apt. From the draft lottery to not getting a phone call to being one of the most prized free agents on the market Przybilla has run the gamut of labels a player can have. Now, after a summer like 2006, everyone finally knows his name – and his voice will be heard. December22006
SOPHMORE SEASON Thrown Into the Deep End By Wendell Maxey, Jr. Luther Head wasn’t too sure what to expect entering his first year in the NBA with the Houston Rockets. He knew things would be different, but this was crazy. One minute Head’s standing with NBA Commissioner David Stern on draft night, slipping on a Rockets fitted hat and the next he’s running the break, leaving the ball for a trailing Yao Ming. Thankfully Head was in the right place at the right time. “Last year was a surprise to me,” Head recalls about his rookie season in Houston. “I got the opportunity because of some unfortunate injuries.” Aches and pains in this league are as common as two-hour practices and pre-game shootarounds. So when backcourt veterans Rafer Alston, Bob Sura, David Wesley, and Jon Berry became the walking wounded, the eager Head used the situation to his advantage and soaked up the playing time. “I didn’t expect to play a whole lot my rookie year. I made the best of it and thought I did pretty well with the time that I had.” A 6-3 guard, Head was drafted by the Rockets as the 24th overall pick in the 2005 draft, a time the Chicago native looked forward to all his life. Looking back on his rookie season, Head put up some pretty impressive numbers. He started 27 of 80 games and averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. Head also led all NBA rookies in three-pointers made (113) and played lockdown defense, attributes which earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. That’s the storybook side of a season every rookie dreams of living out. What about when reality hits like a forearm shiver to the back from 250-pound centers half16
Luther Head
way through an 82-game season? “I hit the wall,” Head says about enduring a seven-month season. “You know there are a lot of games to play. You just don’t know how your body is going to react to it.” Luckily Head found a big brother in fellow Chicago native and Rockets veteran Juwan Howard to protect him on the court and keep him grounded off it. “A lot of people say it’s different having money and things like that. But I don’t live like that. I’m not trying to be in the spotlight or anything. My life has been the same.” Howard’s words of wisdom apparently included briefings on how to handle the intense personality of Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy. “He’s Jeff - that’s enough itself,” Head said like a kid talking about a stern father.
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“He’s a good coach and like everyone else, he wants to win. When everyone looks past his attitude you see that he wants to win and that’s the kind of coach he is. I like him. I see what he is about and I know he’s going to keep you working hard. That’s what I like.” With David Wesley now in Cleveland and Jon Berry retired, Head is set on showing last year was no fluke and already has plans on competing for the starting spot in the backcourt with Rafer Alston, John Lucas III, and Kirk Snyder. “This year I’m trying to get in the best shape possible to go through this long season. It’s not about doing things differently. It’s about doing the things I can do and playing as hard as I can. I’m just going to do the things the coaching staff want me to do.” Rockets’ management has already taken notice. After preseason wrapped up Houston General Manager Carroll Dawson picked up the option on Head, keeping him in Rockets’ red though the 2007-08 season. It’s a move fitting for a rookie who did all that was asked of him and more. “With the NBA you can only hope for the best and do what you can do to try to get to that next level,” Head said, looking ahead to what he hopes will be a long career. Many NBA analysts picked Houston as a lock to make the playoffs last season. Riddled by numerous injuries including Tracy McGrady’s lingering back problems, the Rockets crashed and burned finishing 34-48 and out of the playoff picture. This year Houston plans on sneaking up on some teams. T-Mac is healthy, Yao Ming is coming into his own, and the Rockets signed free agent swingman Bonzi Wells during the offseason. With Luther Head showing he belongs in the starting five and Houston back in the postseason, this year might even bring a smile to Jeff Van Gundy’s face. December22006
FEATURE
An NBA Legend Helps Revolutionize the Next Generation By Bill Ingram There was a time not so long ago when the name of the game in the NBA was to have the most dominant center around to catapult you to the playoffs and beyond. Whether it was Bill Russell against Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar against Robert Parish, or Hakeem Olajuwon against Patrick Ewing, the best teams were the teams with the best big men and woe to anyone trying to run the NBA gauntlet without one. Times have changed. The likes of Michael Jordan, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James have centered the focus of the action on the smaller players – those who can put the ball on the floor and create off the dribble. Most recently the rules have been changed to favor this new generation of smalls, giving those who can get to the paint and draw contact a distinct advantage over the big men waiting to stop them at the rim. Almost any contact is now a foul, which has more than leveled the playing field. Hakeem Olajuwon sees this phenomenon taking place in the wake of his retirement. The last wave of great centers has passed, but Olajuwon does not believe that the NBA can thrive on guards alone. For that reason, every August he returns to Houston to work with big men from around the world. “I don’t think the league has intentionally gone away from the center position,” says Olajuwon. “I think there are very few bona fide centers. Big men have always been the tradition in basketball. In my time we happened to have a lot of them at the same time. Historically they only come along every once in a while. When you have a good big man you can have a competitive team for 15 years. That’s always been the way. But now, it’s hard to find a true big man who can play. A true big man brings so much to the team that you want to have one. So it’s not that the league has gone away from that style of play, it’s just that there are so few dominant big men.” The league has begun to search across the globe in their quest to find the next dominant force in the paint. The Houston Rock18
ets first imported (via the University of Houston) Olajuwon to be their central figure and now have become the textbook example of a team who found what they needed overseas. “Yao Ming is a great example,” says Olajuwon. “For a guy his size he has good coordination, good hands, he runs the floor very well, gets good touches, but the mentality has to change. Yao’s different. He has to realize that he’s not coming to the NBA to fit in – he’s coming to dominate, as a big guy. It’s almost impossible to overstate his potential. What can you do with a guy in the paint who’s 7’6”?” In Yao Ming, however, the Rockets faced a new challenge. Despite his obvious physical gifts, Yao’s cultural upbringing did not easily lend itself to the NBA mentality. Yao came to the NBA looking to fit in, but Olajuwon points out the flaw in that expectation. “I think last season we started to see Yao Ming begin to understand what he has to do. That’s where the coaching and the understanding of the game comes in. Don’t try to fit in; you can’t fit in when you’re 7’6”. You’re the chief when you’re on the floor. You change the whole game. It means everything that’s coming to the basket has to go through you. How can you shoot over a guy who’s 7’6” with that kind of wingspan? Imagine just standing there on defense! And on offense he’s unstoppable. That’s why his mentality can’t be to fit in – he has to want to dominate. When teams come to play the Rockets they should think: ‘Wow, we have to face Yao Ming today.’ He has to have a psychological advantage before the game even starts. That’s the mentality that he has to develop. He has the skills, he just needs the mentality.” One of the players who was first to jump at the chance to take part in Olajuwon’s informal big man camp was the Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor. “I grew up in Houston, so I was very familiar with Hakeem, though I had never met him personally,” says Okafor. “I grew up watching him, saw the two championships, the MVP season, so
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I am very familiar with his career accomplishments. Hakeem really emphasizes the importance of keeping it simple. All you have to do is keep it simple.” “The main thing I see with big men in the NBA today is that they need some basic go-to moves,” says Olajuwon. “They lack the fundamentals in the post. They have to be able to take advantage of their size in the post. I had a lot of success in there, and I’ve found that I can help a lot of young guys develop their own post moves and become more complete players.” Having the basic fundamentals in the post doesn’t mean what it used to. It means being able to face-up, hit a jumper, maybe take a dribble or two, and make a move with the ball. It means being able to step out on the court and make something happen away from the basket. Perhaps this new multi-faceted position, largely created by Olajuwon himself, makes the few old style centers obsolete. That would explain that while traditional big men like Kelvin Cato and Michael Olowokandi were job-hunting, the Sacramento Kings turned to Loren Woods as their primary backup. “I think the reason the game has gone away from the traditional big man is just the skill level,” says Woods. “You look at guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Lamar Odom – these guys are 6’9” or 6’10” but they can handle the ball like guards. That’s the reality of it. If you want to be around this league a long time you have to have some kind of skill. Of course there are going to be guys like Shaq who are just going to be big brutes who can stand underneath the basket, but if you don’t have that kind of body you have to develop some kind of skill. That’s where the game is going now. Guys coming out of high school now are learning how to play all positions. That’s good for the game, too, because it expands the game and keeps it exciting and keeps the fans wanting to watch.” How does Woods prepare himself for the many demands that are placed on today’s big man? “The number one thing I do is take care of my body. All summer I workout hard. I’m lifting, running, and getting my conditioning right. I try to use my strengths. I don’t weigh 300 pounds, so it’s not going to be constant pounding, pounding. I use my quickness and run and get out on the break. I can’t just go in the game and stand there for 20 minutes – I have to keep moving.” It helps that Loren has a trainer who knows what it takes to be a successful NBA player. Coach David Thorpe of The Pro Training Center in Tampa, Florida has been working with big men for more than a decade. He got his start with the Florida Gators’ Dametri “Da Meat Hook” Hill, but has since helped young men like Sacramento’s Kevin Martin, Miami’s Udonis Haslem, and Woods become successful NBA players. “One major factor affecting the role of the big man in basketball is the motion offense,” explains Thorpe. “Defensive players have to extend themselves a little bit more. It’s not just
about being a back-to-the basket player any more. Young players coming up are working more on face-up plays instead of back-to-the basket moves. When Hakeem learned the game of basketball he was probably told that without a back-to-thebasket game he couldn’t help his team. The emphasis on being able to shoot the ball has dictated where we are now. “Kelvin Cato may be a great athlete in certain situations, but Woods is a much smoother player. Sacramento is going to look to cover more ground defensively, which means they need more active big men. It’s not just about blocking shots, but also covering more ground to prevent easy baskets. But they also like that he has an extremely high basketball IQ. He spent a year behind Tim Duncan at Wake Forest, then played for an outstanding coach in Lute Olson at Arizona, and has five years of NBA experience since then, and he was effective in Toronto when he got a chance to play – which wasn’t very often. Kelvin Cato, on the other hand is very one-dimensional, and when you’re really one-dimensional you have to be really good at that one dimension. He’s not.” The Bulls’ Ben Wallace is not quite as one-dimensional as Cato, but he is more of the traditional center. Known for his dominant low post defense, Wallace sees the writing on the wall. He sees that the NBA is going to demand more and more from its centers. “The new rules force you to step off the block, take more jump shots and drive the ball to the basket,” says Wallace. “It almost forces you to play like a guard. It takes away to a certain degree, but I’m confident I can adjust.”
“When you have a good big man you can have a competitive team for 15 years. That’s always been the way.” Hakeem Olajuwon
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Olajuwon insists that big men can no longer think of themselves as strictly traditional centers. To survive in today’s NBA centers have to start thinking small. “I tell them that when they’re outside they can’t think of themselves as a center,” says Dream. “When they’re outside, they’re a forward. You have to be able to make something happen out there, not just in the post. When they’re inside, then they’re a center. They have to be able to face up. If you’re given a jumper, you take it. They have to develop skills in all areas so they’re not limited to just one position.” Olajuwon was ahead of his time as a player; now he’s practically reading the minds of new-school general managers. The
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FEATURE Milwaukee Bucks’ Larry Harris breaks down center Andrew Bogut, who is moving back to his natural position this season. “When you bring in a young player at the big position physicality is going to be the first question,” says the Bucks GM. “You have to determine whether or not he can take the pounding for 82 games and how he’ll adjust. Andrew Bogut really had to adjust more than most players do because he was guarding power forwards. In the NBA you have power forwards like Dirk Nowitzki, who plays out on the floor and faces the basket. I think Andrew’s adjustments were both to the physicality of the game and also the speed and the athleticism. As his rookie season wore on he certainly represented himself very well in terms of being able to handle all three of those adjustments. I would say that he feels he needs to get a little bit stronger himself, but I think the maturation process of his body will come in time. Certainly the adjustment to the speed of the game, the physicality of the game, and the athleticism and on top of that he played all 82 games, which is a great testament to him.” Harris went on to suggest that the Dallas Mavericks, with the 7’0” Dirk Nowitzki playing outside much of the time, started the trend of big men being more versatile. Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson isn’t so sure. “I think we helped to bring that about, but I also think years ago (Robert) Horry was playing the big man position and he helped bring about this change,” says the 2006 Coach of the Year. “Obviously Dirk helped it a little bit with the way he plays. Now you just have a lot of teams that are using their threes at the four position and just going small with a (Tim) Duncan or a Yao (Ming) or how we do with (Gana) Diop or (Erick) Dampier. That’s the way the league is evolving, especially out here in the Western Conference. I don’t know if we started it, but I know it’s a big part of what we do because of Dirk. Dirk is not your prototypical power forward and a lot of teams feel they have to match up with his style of play.” Dirk Nowitzki certainly revolutionized the power forward position, much like Olajuwon did the center position a generation before. Avery Johnson would love to see some of that Dream Shake magic rub off on his starting center – also from Africa – who worked with Hakeem for a couple of weeks in August. “He talked to me mostly about having confidence,” said DeSagana Diop. “He said it’s all about confidence. He said I have the touch to be a scorer, but I just have to have the confidence that when I get out there I can do it. He taught me about footwork, about repetition, and to make my moves over and over in practice so that they will come automatically when I’m in the game.” Diop shows a lot of potential, most notably winning a starting
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role with the Mavericks last season. But at the end of the day he’s no Hakeem Olajuwon. In fact, there are no centers today who compare to Olajuwon or any of his contemporaries. Coach Thorpe offers an explanation as to why not. “One of the reasons why we don’t have too many players like Hakeem any more is because they just aren’t given the opportunities to be there. Teams can run zones, outside guys don’t shoot the ball as well as they used to, defenders can double down off of perimeter players because they just can’t make shots. Now Dwight Howard has a chance to really be a tremendous low post player. Unfortunately he has a below average low post game. He’s like Amare Stoudemire. He doesn’t know how to create an angle for himself once he gets cut off by a defender. He probably should have been working on that this summer instead of playing for Team USA.” Dwight Howard may not have reached his full potential, but he does understand the importance of a big man for a team hoping to achieve championship glory. “The game is different, but you always have to have a big man on the court if you want to win,” says Howard. “Big men control the paint and that’s something that every team needs. You can look at it with Shaq. Every team he’s been on has either won a championship or come close to winning one – mostly because they had a big presence inside.” Then again, Shaquille O’Neal didn’t win his first NBA championship until after he went to the Hakeem Olajuwon school for big men in the summer of 1995. That’s when Shaq learned that brute force was not enough. He needed some finesse in his game, and he learned it from the master. “Sometimes guys try to make too many moves,” says Olajuwon. “That’s when you pull a muscle or injure a knee, when you’re trying to do too many things at one time. Your move has to be very decisive, like a one-two punch. You have to have two or three different moves, but you can’t use three moves as part of one move. You have to simplify the game, stick with the basics, and master the fundamentals.” Hakeem Olajuwon left behind a legacy of being one of the best centers to ever play the game. He changed the way the post game was played and the ripple effects continue to be felt today. The rules have shifted the focus of the game away from the dominant big man, yet somehow at the end of the season it is still that big man who determines the ultimate outcome. The nature of the game has changed and big men have had to evolve with it. Whether it’s Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, or even Gana Diop, the top teams in the NBA still build around a talented big man. That will never change.
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INSIDE THE ARENA
The Pepsi Center
The Pepsi Center Experience: An NBA Experience Unlike Any Other By Travis Heath Every family needs a home, a place that feels familiar and comfortable. NBA teams are no exception, and the Denver Nuggets just may have the snazziest home on the NBA block. “The building is a big part of the reason USA Today has named the Nuggets the top NBA basketball experience for the past two years,” explained Brian Kitts, Senior Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Kroenke Sports Enterprises. “It’s an experience that starts when you drive onto Pepsi Center property. Parking attendants, security personnel, guestservices, everybody who works here is a fan. I think that translates to a good fan experience right off the bat.” Part of what makes the Pepsi Center experience a unique one is the way in which the building reflects the Rocky Mountain region. “The architects at Pepsi Center have done a really terrific job of trying to incorporate some of the natural elements from around Colorado and some of the historic elements from downtown Denver,” Kitts said. “When you walk into Pepsi Center you see wide-open spaces, you see all of downtown. There’s a lot of glass .So the views here are as big as anything that you’d get anywhere in Colorado. There’s a lot of the red sand22
stone look that you get in some of the geologic areas in Colorado as well as the look of some of the buildings from the 1800’s in lower downtown.” The arena also has all of the bells and whistles one would expect from a topshelf NBA building in the 21st century. “Technologically, Pepsi Center is state of the art, especially among some of the newer wave of venues,” Kitts explained. “It has all of the internet access, the JumboTrons, all of the digital fascia elements that I think you expect from a sponsorship standpoint, from a fan’s standpoint, and just the experience in general. Technologically, Pepsi Center is as good as it gets.” No matter how well constructed, a home is only as good as the inhabitants believe it is. Let’s just say that Nuggets players and coaches have very few complaints. “It’s a great facility!” Nuggets center Marcus Camby exclaimed. “When I was in New York, the practice facility was like an hour away and then we played the games at The Garden. It was a big change for me (in Denver).We get to come right upstairs and practice. We have state of the art everything here, equipment, weight room, locker room is top of the line. We have a chef here who cooks for us. They really take care of the SWISH MAGAZINE
players here in Denver.” “This is one of the nicer arenas,” added Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin. “It’s one of the newer arenas. The technology and stuff we have is pretty good. It’s not old like Continental Airlines Arena or The Garden or some of the other arenas on the east coast. It’s home for us. We don’t have to go somewhere else for practice. We practice and play here so it’s convenient.” Nuggets head coach George Karl, who has been around the NBA block a time or two as both a coach and a player, believes Pepsi Center is as good as it gets. “Having your practice facility inside your (arena) makes it comfortable for everybody. From a standpoint of nutrition, weight training, conditioning, and everything medical, we’re as first class as anyone I’ve been around. There might be people as good as we are but there’s probably no one better than we are. I always call (Pepsi Center) a clubmed health club. It’s a health club for rich people. We get to come here and hang out all day and if we want to get a light workout, anything we want to do it’s right here. I think we make it friendly. We want everybody to feel like if they want to hang around they can. We’ve got video games and a lounge that’s very comfortable.” Just having the facilities, though, is not enough. It’s the way in which the facilities are set up that makes Pepsi Center special according to twelve-year veteran Joe Smith. “The players’ lounge, we had that in Milwaukee, but no one ever took advantage of it. It seemed like everyone was always in a rush to get out of there. The way they have it set up here, it’s probably one of the best I’ve ever seen. The chef is right there. The lounge is right there. The seats are comfortable so you can get in there and relax a little bit, and it’s right outside the locker room. That’s something I think every team needs if you want to build team camaraderie.” It’s safe to say that for the Denver Nuggets, there’s truly no place like home. December22006
HEART & SOUL Taking His Responsibility to a Higher Court By Bill Ingram It’s an unfortunate truth in post 9/11 America: when some people hear the words “Islam” or “Muslim” they immediately associate it with terrorism and violence. Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon has dedicated his life to correcting that perception. “The perception that Islam teaches violence is very far from reality,” explains the two-time NBA Finals MVP. “It’s incredibly far from reality. Islam is an open book. It sets a standard and you have to practice. If you don’t practice what the Koran says it means you’re not a good Muslim. So you can’t judge one individual and say that the one person represents all of Islam. Islam is by itself. The people are something else. Everyone has their shortcomi n g s , t h e i r w e a k n e s s e s . Yo u shouldn’t blame religion for that. Religion is a standard, a code. Not everyone follows the true code. “Ever since I was playing in Houston I have been working to change the outside perception of Islam,” Olajuwon continues. “It’s not just part of a lifestyle. This is my religion; I live by the code of what Islam gives me as a human being. It makes you responsible. It keeps you away from drugs and alcohol. It makes you a family man. It makes you truthful. It makes you an honest businessman. It makes you God-conscious. It helps you to be successful, not just in basketball, but off the court, too. When your mind is clear, you’re free. If you’re playing basketball and your mind is free you’re not thinking about anything else but playing. If you have too many things to worry about off the court, how can you conDecemberw2006
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centrate on basketball? Too many people neglect this area of God-consciousness in their lives. “You can be successful in basketball and fail in your life. What Islam has to offer is how to be a human being, to be upright in the most upright way. As a human being you can’t be perfect, but you shoot for the highest goal and you exercise discipline. You can’t just say ‘I like to play basketball’ without practicing the fundamentals of basketball. Islam shows you how to practice discipline, how to humble yourself. “You see a lot of players make a lot of money and they become arrogant. They lose focus. Islam keeps you humble and helps you appreciate your position. It teaches you how
“Everyone has their shortcomings, their weaknesses. You can’t blame religion for that.” Hakeem Olajuwon
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to be respectful and to honor the rights of other individuals. You res p e c t y o u r p a r e n t s , y o u r f a m i l y, your friends. This is what I share with other people. I see it as a responsibility to be an example and a role model.” This former NBA champion is not just a champion of his faith; he is also speaking out against social injustices in his native land of Africa. “There’s a perception that Africa is a poor nation, but that’s not true,” explains Olajuwon. “Africa has many riches and resources. Corruption, taking away the rights of individuals, not developing the country – these are the real problems. People talk about sending money to Africa – we have plenty of resources. If you had honest people who were God-conscious managing the country and looking out for the well-being of the general public it would be a very different story. This is the problem that people need to understand. It goes back to being God-conscious. If someone is God-conscious he knows he’s accountable to his Creator. When someone understands that , they won’t take the rights of the people. Someone who doesn’t understand that , thinks that now is all that matters. The problem is so huge – just dealing with things like hunger, medicine, basic necessities of life, the rights of the poor – there is no spokesman who can fight for the rights of the individual. Still, it’s our responsibility to support the cause for the benefit of the general public.” Hakeem Olajuwon was always a role model when he was playing basketball for the NBA’s Houston Rockets. It’s no surprise, then, that in his life beyond the confines of the NBA Olajuwon is striving to be a role model in areas of faith and social justice. Hakeem’s heart and soul are truly in the right place – and whatever our beliefs we could all learn from the example he sets. 23
FEATURE
The story of the close relationship between Chauncey and Rodney Billups and their basketball journeys By Travis Heath “Use your index finger,” a voice yelled out to Chauncey Billups as he missed a one-handed floater in the lane in a vacant gymnasium in the dry July heat of Las Vegas. Billups nodded in agreement, picked the basketball up, and headed to the top of the key to practice the shot again. As he dribbled down the lane and shot another floater, the ball swished through the net. Then he did it again, and then a few more times just for good measure. Not that Billups, a former NBA Finals MVP and NBA All-Star last season needs a whole lot of guidance, but it takes a special kind of person to deliver useful advice to a player of his caliber. Maybe someone like Hall of Fame coach John Wooden, who coached more than his fair share of talented players, or perhaps one of the game’s all-time greatest point guards like Magic Johnson might fit the bill. While both are basketball men that Billups respects, no one knows his game better than the guy who was providing advice on this day: his younger brother Rodney. What? Chauncey’s brother who is six years his junior and plays professionally in Latvia can just openly criticize his older brother’s game? Yes, and the elder Billups embraces it. This is due in large part to the fact that Chauncey has found Rodney’s advice to be some of the best around. So does Rodney offer this kind of advice to his superstar brother often? “All the time,” Rodney exclaimed. “Every time I watch him play I’ve got something to say. That’s just our relationship. He tells me what I do wrong and I tell him what he does wrong. He tells me when I do something good and vice-versa. Of course, I’ve always got something to say.” This anecdote personifies the relationship between the two brothers. No matter how many trials and tribulations the pair has been through together there has always been one constant: the game of basketball. 24
Park Hill Pride To truly understand the psyche of the Billups brothers one needs to look no further than Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood where both were raised. Both brothers credit their neighborhood as the driving force behind what they have been able to accomplish both on and off the basketball court. “As far back as I can remember, Park Hill was always a neighborhood where it was known for not being so safe,” Rodney explained. “Because of that, you’ve got to watch this corner or that corner, and it made me tougher because I was forced to go into that. I got all of my toughness, my heart, my stamina, everything, from my neighborhood. And I respect my neighborhood so much for that because not too many people actually get out of my neighborhood.” “Yeah, that’s my neighborhood,” Chauncey added. “It was tough growing up. I crossed a lot of different paths, little trials and tribulations in my neighborhood coming up, but that’s what makes it so beautiful. I love that about it. Everyday I wear it on my arm, ‘King of The Hill’ that’s my tattoo on my arm. That’s a Park Hill thing. That’s what that’s all about.” Despite the brothers’ love for Park Hill, many residents have found it challenging to make a better life for themselves. “Just like every other neighborhood kid,” Rodney explained, “it was either basketball or drugs, and we chose basketball. Chauncey and I were the first to actually do something. I tip my hat to the guys that try, and I hope that more people will come out of the neighborhood. I love my neighborhood and I’ll never stray too far from it.” Chauncey’s journey out of Park Hill was especially difficult
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since he had to challenge all of the stereotypes with regard to there being no NBA-quality talent in Colorado. “It’s really like a football state,” Chauncey explained. “They’ve got a lot of football players that come out of there. High school football is very, very good. So I was trying to be the one to kind of . . . it’s never going to change, but at least change the perception a little bit that we can play basketball out there. I think I did a great job of that. Now, the pressure is on some of the younger guys to carry that on. But you know I did my job and I’ve got a lot of pride in my neighborhood and my state where I’m from. Even though there’s not a lot of basketball players that play in the league from there, I’ve got a lot of pride in it.”
Following in the Footsteps of a Legend Chauncey is without question the most noticeable and most talented basketball player to ever come out of the state of Colorado. He helped an entire generation of young people in the state believe they could make it to the big time. Now, imagine for a moment being the younger brother of Chauncey and attending the very same high school your older brother did six years before you. Needless to say, the pressure was immense and it was difficult for Rodney to deal with initially. “It was hard at first,” Rodney said. “When I first got to George Washington High School, he was a god. In my neighborhood, he still is a god. So it was tough getting used to it, but once I started making my own name I started to get more famous. “Growing up being in the footsteps of my brother, I was always around basketball. Coming up watching Chauncey, guys like Chucky Sprawling, and Michael Ray Richardson, and even my dad, my dad was a hood star. So basketball has always been my influence.” With basketball being so prevalent in the lives of the brothers, one can’t help but wonder whether or not the two had some epic battles growing up. “Well, he was a little too young for me and him to have fierce battles,” Chauncey explained. “It was really more of a big brother thing, and us not having too many big battles, but me teaching him most of the time, me teaching him different things in different ways to maneuver and play.” “I never really challenged him on the basketball court,” Rodney added. “He was a bigger kid than everyone in his class. So being six years younger, it was really tough.” While Rodney may not have challenged Chauncey much on the court growing up, he most certainly took advantage of his younger brother status as home. “I challenged him at home, and I had my mom and dad behind me,” Rodney joked. “He made me tough for sure at home.” Minor sibling spats aside, Chauncey couldn’t be prouder of his younger brother. “I’m proud of him. I’m really proud of him because for Decemberw2006
him to try and follow in my footsteps there was a lot of pressure. It was tough, but he played it with his poker face. He did a great job. I told everybody when he was coming up that he was good but don’t expect him to better than me. No matter what expectations that I had for him privately, I would never go public with it. I think he turned out to be a very, very good basketball player. He should be proud of that because I’m proud of him.” Chauncey can even see a little of his own game in his little brother, but he made it clear that his brother’s game has its own unique characteristics. “I see some of the things I do in him, but we’re totally different players. I’m more of a scoring point guard. He’s just a straight up true to the fullest point guard. But I do see some of my game in his, though.” Rodney, on the other hand, said he couldn’t help but take on some of his brother’s game just because of how often he was exposed to it. “I’ve been going to his workouts and helping him rebound and passing him the ball since I was young,” Rodney added. “So I’ve been watching his game and kind of mocking his game. I’ve got a lot of his game in my game.”
An Unbreakable Bond They say that blood is thicker than water. Not a truer statement could ever be spoken about the relationship between Rodney and Chauncey. “He’s always been my best friend,” Rodney acknowledged. “He’s someone I can go to with any problem. Excited, sad, mad, whatever, I can go to Chaunce.” While the two brothers were quite close growing up, they have grown even closer since Rodney started playing professional basketball in Latvia last season. “We’re best friends,” Chauncey said with a genuine twinkle in his eye. “Our relationship has always been close, but it’s gotten a little closer with him going overseas. We talked a lot more (last year), but we’re best friends.” “I definitely see our relationship progressing more-and-more as the distance gets wider by location,” Rodney added. “He’s my best friend, and he always will be. He’s always going to be my big brother.” While both brothers will always be there to support one another off the court, their communication about basketball has increased since Rodney started playing professionally as well. “When I’ve got a problem facing a certain kind of defense, I call him and let him know what my problem is and he gives me suggestions,” Rodney explained. “Like this past season in the playoffs I had a problem and he told me what to do and it worked. It’s more verbally now since it’s so far away. But this summer he’s here watching and he told me yesterday after I played last night what I needed to do. So I’m going to work on it.” The two brothers have a kind of respect for one another that is palpable and makes each feel comfortable criticizing
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FEATURE the other’s game. That said, it’s their deep love for one another that is most striking and cannot be tempered, no matter how may thousands of miles apart they may be.
Big Dreams for the Future To some, it may seem like Chauncey and Rodney have accomplished more individually than most people ever dream of accomplishing. However, neither is satisfied. Rodney played last season professionally in Latvia and had a great deal of success – that is after he was able to adjust to living in a foreign locale. “It was hard at first,” Rodney said. “It was a bit of a culture shock, but once I got used to it, basketball became a lot easier for me. Just living out there, teaching myself how to cook, just learning the culture a little bit. I had a great season. I played in the All-Star game and lead the country in votes. I had a great time.” Even though Rodney is making a name for himself on the international hardwood, his brother’s shadow is something he can never completely escape. “Even the referees give me a hard time,” Rodney said with a chuckle. “But that’s nothing I haven’t took on and I’m not going to stop taking it on. I’m just trying to make my name a household name and trying to make some money at the same time.” Rodney’s ultimate goal, though, has never wavered. He wants the chance to play on basketball’s largest and most prestigious stage. So does Rodney believe he will ever get a shot to play in the NBA? “At some point, I think so,” Rodney replied. “Man, I’m just going to keep playing hard and one day I’m going to get that chance.” The two brothers have a plan when that day arrives, too. Remember the tattoo Chauncey referenced earlier on his left shoulder which reads “King of The Hill” paying tribute to his roots in Park Hill? Well, when Rodney makes it to the big time he plans to get inked on his left shoulder as well with the phrase “Park Hill’s Prince.” However, until that day arrives, Rodney knows there is still much work to be done. If anyone can relate to Rodney’s struggle to establish himself
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in professional basketball, it’s probably his older brother whose own road to NBA stardom was a long and complicated one. “Obviously, I’m a much better player, a more seasoned player than I was when I came into the league my first two years,” Chauncey explained. “So, it was just a lot of learning, man. It took awhile. I was humbled by a lot my experiences and it made me take a step back and say, ‘Maybe I do need to work a little more on this or a little more on that.’ And I did that. I put my pride aside and it paid off for me.” Some might think that Chauncey’s goal now would be to earn respect and recognition as one of the games most talented players, something that despite all of his success, has still eluded him to some degree. “I don’t really worry about that. My peers respect what I do and respect my game, and that’s better for me than anything. I don’t really worry about the media and everybody giving me that praise and all of that. I know that from my circle and my peers, they respect my game, and they know how hard I worked to get to where I’m at.” So what is it that keeps Chauncey’s fire burning? The answer is simple: rings. Chauncey wants to win more championships and he looks forward to doing it now with all of the critics counting the Pistons out after losing Ben Wallace to the Chicago Bulls via free agency this past summer. “Yeah, we are going to miss Ben, but we’ve got to go on. We are going to see him in our division a few times. Like I said, we’re going to miss him but we’ve got to move on. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do. We’re going to be fine.” Not only does Billups believe they will be fine, but he is confident they can be better. “I see a lot of great things, man. I’m excited for us to pick up where we left off in the regular season and try and re-write the script after a bad postseason.” When asked if he sees more NBA titles in his future “The King of The Hill” responded with his trademark smile, “I think so. I think so.” The kid from Park Hill who just wanted to prove that there is legitimate basketball talent in the state of Colorado has sure come a long way, and Chauncey himself would be the first one to tell you that it’s good to be the king . . . but it’s not too bad being the prince, either.
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VISIONS OF WINNING Taking a Gamble By Caren Sawyer There lies a fine line between a calculated risk and a reckless gamble. While Geoff Petrie may appear to be a mild mannered general manager, his approach to putting together the Sacramento Kings - from his first few years through today - shows a willingness to take a few rolls of the dice. It also doesn’t hurt to work for the Maloof family (owners of the Palm Casino in Las Vegas), which has shown no aversion to taking risks. As one of only seven general managers awarded the Sporting News Executive of the Year twice, Petrie has calculated his risks quite successfully. Petrie took over the helm of the Kings in June 1994. His reputation was made with the moves he made beginning with the 199899 season when he signed Vlade Divac, Jason Williams, Peja Stojakovic and named Pete Carrill an assistant. He then hired Rick Adelman as coach and most notably took a big gamble trading Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe to Washington for malcontent Chris Webber. Petrie, while not considering himself a risk-taker, acknowledges the organization is not adverse to it. “We’ve shown we’re willing to take a risk with players, economically; and if those kind of opportunities present themselves I’m sure we will again.” Understanding Petrie’s approach begins with understanding his style and his style begins with a dedication to working together, understanding the needs of both the coaches and the players, knowing the demands of ownership and blending it together to find success. “We’re all dedicated to making the players the best players they can be and the best professionals they can be. Our job is to help them succeed. If the coaches don’t succeed and the players don’t succeed, we’re not going to succeed. So you need to support them and give them the environment that they feel is the most beneficial for them to work in and that’s what we try to do.” To succeed as a team Petrie believes: 28
Geoff Petrie
“It’s a function of talent and it’s having a core group of guys who enjoy working with each other. There’s camaraderie and they understand there’s a team concept. It’s such an interdependent game; it’s five guys who play both offense and defense and depend on each other. The chemistry, camaraderie, team concept is ultimately what makes the whole greater than the sum of the parts.” To sustain that success with his coaching staff Petrie maintains an open door policy beginning with Rick Adelman back in Portland. As former teammates and roommates, talking about the direction of the team was an everyday, ongoing conversation. That attitude carries over into Petrie’s relationship with both the Maloofs and new coach Eric Musselman.
transformation from the high-octane offensive-oriented lineup to a well-ordered, disciplined, defensive-minded team. What may appear to be major shakeups are, in Petrie’s opinion, an evolutionary process - just the moves necessary to grow from a contender to a champion. “I’m happy with where we are at the moment. We’ve made the playoffs eight straight years. We want to make it nine. We want to get in a position where we can move forward. We’re only one of two or three teams in the league that have made it that many years in a row. We’re trying with a new core; we continue to get younger and talented at the same time. We like our team.” Even when he likes his team and his players he’s shown he’s willing to take
“We’ve shown we’re willing to take a risk with players, economically; and if those kind of opportunities present themselves I’m sure we will again.” Geoff Petrie “Geoff, he’s so easy going,” says Musselman. “He’s so easy to get along with. I can’t envision ever working with anybody better. For a young coach it’s really important to have an open relationship and that’s how it is now.” This season the Kings are back at the craps table and the expectations are for Petrie to come through again. The wave of change that started in the 2004-05 season with the trade of Webber continued with the trade for Ron Artest, and ultimately the end of the Adelman era seems to have peaked with the latest calculated bet: naming Musselman as head coach. Under Musselman the Kings’ aura will undergo perhaps its final SWISH MAGAZINE
gambles, make gut-wrenching choices and execute the moves he sees as necessary to build a winning team. He’s also a realist, in a positive way. “We headed into a totally different type of coaching staff and style with a team that’s re-evolving and we’re going to get after it,” says Petrie. “Building a championship team can’t be a one-year thing. You’ve got to be a contender before being a champion. It’s very difficult to go from nowhere to there. It’s been a while since we’ve been nowhere.” Change is always risky but for Geoff Petrie it’s a gamble he will make. It could also be the way to a third Executive of the Year honor - and even better, a championship. December22006
UP CLOSE
Ron Artest
The Art of Defensive Intensity By Bill Ingram Ron Artest seemed to have the Indiana Pacers over a barrel. After the infamous brawl in Detroit the team felt they needed to distance themselves from Artest and it was the Sacramento Kings who were willing to take a chance on the “troubled” forward. The Kings were surprised and thrilled with what Artest immediately brought to the table. “He brings a lot of aggressiveness on the defensive and offensive end,” says starting guard Kevin Martin. “If you’re down by 20 he wants you to play hard…even if you’re up by 20, he wants you to play like you’re down, like it’s the last seconds of the game. If you don’t…you’ll hear from him.” The rest of his teammates agree, to a man saying that Artest’s biggest contributions are defense and intensity. “Ron brings an entire persona,” says Brad Miller. “He’s a person who’s a real good one-on-one player in that two/three spot. That’s very important because there are so many great individual players at those positions in the NBA and he can match up with any of them and give them fits. To have an asset like that really helps out the team defense.” “He brings a lot of energy,” adds Kenny Thomas. “He’s consistently trying to get better, and he’s a good role model for the younger guys. He wants to win and he’ll do whatever it takes to win.” “He’s very intense and he pushes the entire team to push it to the next level defensively,” agrees Mike Bibby. “But I have to say that defensive intensity is the number one thing he has brought to the team.” Considering Artest is coming from a situation where the point guard position was often uncertain, he has a special appreciation for what Bibby brings to the table. “Playing with Mike Bibby is fantas30
tic,” says an enthusiastic Artest. “He’s one of the best-shooting guards in the league, he’s very selfless, and he gives everything he has on the court every night. He’s the best point guard I’ve ever played with. We didn’t really have a consistent point guard in Indiana, so having someone like Mike is a real plus.”
Most of all, Artest has quickly earned the respect and trust of his new head coach. “I love coaching him,” relates Eric Musselman. “He’s an unbelievable competitor. He practices so hard - you’ve got to kick him off the practice court. Sometimes I wish the general public could watch a real NBA practice. I think there would be a great appreciation for how hard they go. I think people would be amazed that after a two and a half hour practice in the morning and SWISH MAGAZINE
a two and a half hour practice at night that a player stays another hour and a half and the coaching staff has to go out there and kick him off the floor and tell him he has to leave because we need his legs - it’s a long year. That’s how Ron is. He’s playing one-on-one with our rookie, he’s shooting - that’s how Ron is. He loves the game.” There were plenty of question marks surrounding Artest coming in, but he has proven the Kings were wise to invest in his future. For Artest it’s less about second chances and more about finding redemption. “I feel it’s not about getting another chance. It’s more that the NBA took a season away from me, you know. There was really no ‘chance’ to be given, because I didn’t do anything to have to be given another chance. I thought I was doing all the right things. The fans in Sacramento have been very accepting of me. They have welcomed me with open arms and really shown me a lot of support. That’s all behind us now. “We don’t need any motivation. We got all the motivation we needed when we lost to the Spurs last season. We’re all professionals and we know defense is important, and we’re going to focus on what’s important. We did lose Bonzi (now a Houston Rocket), and everyone knows how good Bonzi is. He’s been a great player in the NBA ever since he got drafted. Luckily we got Salmons and Kevin Martin has been doing really well, had a really good playoff last year. Shareef is back, Brad Miller’s back, Mike Bibby’s back and we should have a pretty good team.” The Kings do have a pretty good team, but can they be great? In the NBA’s Western Conference the good teams are often the teams that miss the postseason by a few games. The question is can the Kings be a great team? Clearly adding Ron Artest to the lineup was a move in that direction. December22006
NEW BEGINNINGS A Second Chance to Make a First Impression By Bill Ingram Bonzi Wells arrived in Portland as a highly-touted rookie who was expected to help the Trail Blazers continue to compete at a high level. Instead he was a part of the darkest era in that franchise’s history. He and his teammates had their share of run-ins with the law and slowly but surely a franchise that once held the league record for consecutive sell-outs
was struggling to puts fans in seats in their brand new, state-of-the-art arena. “In all seriousness, he really was erratic,” says Basketball News Services’ Jason Fleming. “Some days Bonzi would be the deciding factor in a win, some32
Bonzi Wells
times a distraction he caused would be the reason the team lost. However, I never once questioned his effort on the floor. He was always one of the better one-on-one and team defenders and he could score on anyone. He has some of the best low-post moves I’ve seen in a guard - he learned a lot of good basketball stuff from J.R. Rider. He learned other stuff, though, too...and that was the problem.” Bonzi ultimately spent six seasons in the Pacific Northwest before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He spent two and a half seasons in Memphis before they, too, passed him along – to the Sacramento Kings. It was there, ironically for the former coach (Rick Adelman) and GM (Geoff Petrie) of the Blazers, where Bonzi Wells finally flourished on and off the court. The Kings liked Bonzi and what he brought to the table. His teammates called him the consummate teammate. He pushed them to play harder, to be better. Most of all, he brought an attitude of winning. “I expect to win, like I always do,” says Wells. “I’m a winner. I ain’t never been on a losing team, so I expect to win.” Unfortunately for Bonzi an injury put him on the shelf for a while and in his absence his replacement and protégé edged him out. Kevin Martin had a superb 2005-06 starting in place of Bonzi and now Kevin is the starting two for the Kings. “When I first got to Sacramento Kevin couldn’t shoot,” says Bonzi. “As the year went by he worked so hard on his shot and understood that I wouldn’t ever close out on him until he started to hit the shot. I told him the hardest part about the NBA is transforming your practice game into the regular game. Kevin had a hard time at first because he wasn’t getting any minutes, but when I got hurt I told him that was SWISH MAGAZINE
his chance. He stepped up and made the most out of it.” Bonzi was sent shopping as a free agent and after a long summer he ultimately landed in Houston. The Rockets needed some size at the two and they needed someone to take some of the pressure off of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Bonzi feels he can fill that role nicely. “I always thought that they were small at the two-guard spot,” says Wells. “No disrespect to the guys they’ve had, but they always had (McGrady) and Yao taking the biggest part of the load and I thought I would be a good piece to fit in with them and help take some of the load off of them. As they got Shane (Battier) and a few other pieces I thought they would be a good fit for me. I looked at a few other teams and I just thought this was the team that was ready to take that next step. They had a lot of injuries hit them last year, but as I looked at the team I thought that Shane and I would be enough to get them over the hump. Coming to Houston, talking to (GM) Carroll Dawson and upper management, they gave me a good indication that if everything goes right I should be here for a long time.” Bonzi Wells has been given a clean slate. His past has been washed away and the Houston Rockets will give him the chance to start over and define himself by his present instead of his past. As for Bonzi, he’s not too concerned with what other people think. He just wants to win some games. “I don’t care what people say about me,” confirms Bonzi. “That’s the thing about me – I don’t care. I know who I am. I’m just me. I’m just Bonzi. You see what you get. I’m a roughhouser, I’m going to play hard, I’m going to play tough. I ain’t scared of nobody. I just go hard. I try to play some defense and score some points. I don’t care what people say about me because my whole motto is ‘who are they?’” With an attitude like that he should be a perfect fit for Jeff Van Gundy’s Houston Rockets. December22006
THE ROOKIE The Lucky One By Yael Shacham Many foreign players come to the US with big dreams and high hopes, especially when they have entered their name into the NBA Draft list. Most of them will go undrafted, some will be drafted deep into the second round, and some will be drafted and go back to their country for another year or two. The higher picks usually find themselves playing for a weak team. Then there is Thabo Sefolosha. The Switzerland native was initially an early entry candidate for the 2005 NBA Draft before he changed his mind and withdrew his name. This summer he was drafted at number thirteen by Philadelphia and then traded to the Chicago Bulls – going from a low-seed team to a serious championship contender in the process. Sefolosha has been playing professionally since he was seventeen; first in the Swiss league and then in France and Italy, for Angelico Biella. He could have stayed in Europe and made a lot of money, but he chose to try for the real thing: the NBA. “When you play basketball you try to see how far you can go and you try to reach the top,” says the young guard. “So when I put my name in the draft and I got drafted, it was a dream come true. It was just the best for me, playing for the NBA.” Sefolosha was happy to be selected with the thirteenth pick, and was even happier to hear about his immediate trade to the Bulls. “That was great because I came from a good workout with the Bulls and I like the organization and the team obviously, because they went to the playoffs the year before. It’s a great team with young players so it’s a very good place for me to improve.” Although he was the Bulls’ second trade on draft night (after they traded for Tyrus Thomas with Portland), he is getting more minutes and is bound to make a larger impact due to his professional experience. Decemberw2006
Thabo Sefolosha
Sefolosha doesn’t have any specific goals for this season. “Just to work hard. Usually I don’t put goals for myself, so I just work as hard as I can and see how the coach feels about me and how I’ll play. I’ll keep working hard every practice, every game, every chance I get to get on the court.” So far, Coach Scott Skiles is feeling pretty good about Sefolosha, making him a key part of the Bulls’ early season rotation. And he is learning all about the difference between the European leagues and the NBA. There is the fact that the games are eight minutes longer and there are no backto-back games, so the pressure is definitely on to stay ready. “You have to be more professional because you have so many games on the road and in a row, so you really have to be professional about resting enough and what you are eating and all that. It’s really a different world compared to Europe.” Sefolosha is excited to be a part of a club considered a title contender, but he also knows it may be a while before he actually gets a chance to make a difference. “It’s great, especially for a first season, being around those players that have been to the playoffs. That takes a lot of pressure off my back, so coming here, even though I was drafted pretty high, I still can be on the bench and other guys will do their thing. So far it’s been OK. We had a couple of games before the season, it’s been OK. You know, ups and downs and I try to get into the rhythm and so far it’s been pretty good.” SWISH MAGAZINE
The 6-7 Sefolosha is supposed to bring to the Bulls what they have been missing - a bigger guard to go with the smaller Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon. He also brings his experience from overseas and is proficient in English, which will make his adjustment much easier as opposed to players who need to take English classes when they first arrive in the US. He also brought his girlfriend with him, and his mom and brother are on their way to help make the transition smoother. In the meantime he gets a little help
from his teammates in adjusting to his new life. “All of them helped me. Luol Deng, I talk to him a lot, veteran P.J. Brown, Ben Wallace, Adrian Griffin, all of them have helped me a lot just by talking to me, telling me about things I should be aware of.” From the way things look he’ll be one of them before too long. 33
FEATURE
The Veteran – P.J. Brown Showing the Kids the Way By Joel Brigham It is probably no coincidence rookie Tyrus Thomas’ locker is positioned directly next to the one owned by P.J. Brown. When the two sit side-by-side an obvious contrast comes to light: Thomas, while leaning back in his ergonomic chair low enough to rest his head on the back of the seat, bounces and jiggles his legs with anticipation of the evening’s game; Brown on the other hand, sits upright, perfectly still. Brown was brought to Chicago this summer to augment the newlyacquired Ben Wallace in a role of leadership and veteran experience. Since the loss of Antonio Davis a couple seasons ago, the Bulls have missed that sort of presence. H e h a s b e c o m e t h e t e a m ’s newly-appointed “elder statesman,” a clichéd moniker used by media so often it could almost be the man’s nickname. But it’s not the man’s nickname; “P.J.” is. As to what those two letters stand for even Brown doesn’t know. “Peanut Butter and Jelly, Pajamas, whatever you want to put with it… Been trying to figure it out myself.” At the very least, Brown admits, “It sounds good over the P.A. system.” It’s of no real importance, anyway. That which we call a rose, by any other name, would still smell as sweet. Actions are what define the man, especially in the face of adversity, and Brown has seen plenty of that over the years. Drafted by New Jersey in 1992, Brown did not make Chuck Daly’s team, so he headed to Athens, Greece for a season of fine-tuning and refinement. “It was a little disappointing,” Brown recalls, “I had my hopes up high and I thought I deserved to be on the roster, but I’m a person who doesn’t stay down too long. I 34
didn’t let it stay on my mind and become something that worried me. I just said I’ve got to do what I do somewhere else and hopefully the opportunity will come back around.” It did, and only a year later Coach Daly came a-knockin’ to bring P.J. back to the team that drafted him a year previous. “[The Nets] were still keeping an eye on me, seeing what I was doing, and they were impressed with my progress. They saw my maturity as a player, so after one year overseas I came back and talked to [Coach Daly] and he told me he wanted to get me on the team… So we got it done.” Since then, Brown has played in over 1,000 professional games, participated in plenty of memorable playoff situations, and been named to three All-Defensive second teams. Still, seeing rookies like Thomas reminds him of his own rookie year. “I just knew it was going to be tough being a young guy trying to get some quality minutes… I just wanted to show Coach Daly I deserved to be s o m e w h e r e o n t h e f l o o r, a n d that’s what I eventually did.” His goals as a veteran have changed, however, especially now he’s become part of a Bulls team that, early on, is one of the early favorites to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. “At this stage of my career, I know that I don’t have much time left. You just know that you’ve got an opportunity to try and get into the postseason, to go deep into the postseason… That’s what you’re shooting for. As a player, I’m just trying to be as productive as possible. Even though I’m older and I’m not probably able to do all the things I used to do as a young player, I still feel like I can produce and also be a leader, you know? Be a leader for the guys, especially our younger players, guys who haven’t been here before, and be there for them when they need me.” So how do these “younger players” feel about their new veteran big man? Luol Deng, a third-year forward out of Duke, has really enjoyed working with Brown so far this season. “He’s been in the league for a while, so he’s seen
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it all. We’re a young team, so he helps out a lot, you know? The little things… He’s been so good for us so far… It’s just a mindset. He’s always ready.” Michael Sweetney, a young power forward doing all he can to learn from Brown and improve his game, added: “He knows the game. Just taking Tyrus and the other young guys under his wing and showing them what’s right and wrong. For me - and this is for everybody - just letting people know good things about the game and how to help them. I think he’s good for us.” It would be impossible to find anybody in the Chicago locker room who would disagree with either of these two, including Brown, who thinks his defensive prowess will be a tremendous help as well. “[The Bulls] have been one of the top defensive teams in the league for the last two years, and I think I can help them be an even better defensive team. I’m just coming in and giving everything I’ve got.” Many around the organization believe “everything” P.J.’s “got” is what may give the team an opportunity to win a championship. Competitiveness certainly does not wane with age; P.J. Brown, well into his 30s, is still very hungry for a championship. “To be the last man standing, the last one holding up the Holy Grail, that Larry O’Brien trophy, man, words couldn’t explain…” he said. “You sit there for thirteen seasons, and you either make it to the postseason and get knocked out, or there were a few years where I didn’t even make the postseason, and you see those teams like the Bulls here and Miami last year; you’ve seen the Spurs. Guys holding up that trophy at the end, having fun with champagne, and you always wonder how would you react? How would you be in that situation?” Perhaps he would put on his cap and t-shirt and stare astonished into the United Center rafters as confetti and balloons rained down on all sides of him. Or maybe he’d be the fist-pumping, leg-kicking, giggly guy whose emotions can be no more contained than a wild stampede of championship-winning elephants. But don’t put that champagne on ice just yet - there’s still a lot of work to do before the Bulls bring home trophy number seven, and Brown knows this. Even if he never gets a jewel-encrusted NBA championship ring, Brown hopes at the very least that he will have been able to give it his all. “I want to make sure that when it’s all said and done, and I do officially hang ‘em up, that I don’t have any regrets and I gave all I had.” There’s no doubting he’ll manage at least that, but his leadership, defense, and teaching are already bringing maturity to his young teammates. He’s not going to get much credit for it this season, but any success that comes to Chicago this year will have been brought to you in part by Mr. Collier “P.J.” Brown, Jr. Then if all goes well, the Windy City’s “elder statesman” can go by a new name: “NBA Champion.” Decemberw2006
The Up and Comer – Andres Nocioni Crossing Borders and Breaking Barriers By Nikola Olic Andres Nocioni is not a superstitious man. He has worn the number 13 since joining the Argentine national team and judging by the success they had, perhaps everybody else should wear it, too. With the Chicago Bulls since 2004, the Argentine forward is a five. You could almost call him a ‘High Five’: his game is always in high gear and that gear is very important to the Chicago Bulls. Mostly coming off the bench last season he was their fourth leading scorer. He is also an Olympic gold medalist and once dunked on Garnett so hard, the Minnesota Timberwolves star could only say ‘Wow’. Here is why. There is about the same number of teams in each of the major professional leagues, hovering around 30. NBA has 29 teams in the United States, and only one team in Canada. Changes might be coming, as the NBA has flirted over the years with expanding to Europe and possibly other continents, creating a truly international league. Nocioni has seen where the NBA wants to go. He has played in South America and Europe only to ultimately finish among the best in the world: in the NBA. “The NBA and Europe are different. NBA is more physical, more athletic, it is quicker than Euroleague. It is hard to say where it is better because Europe has totally different basketball, almost a different sport. But everybody wants to play here, it’s a dream come true to play in the NBA. There we practiced all the time and here it’s play, play, play.” The Bulls brought Nocioni over because he likes to play, play, play. Saying it once was not enough, as if to show how impatient he is when talking instead of playing basketball. He started playing even before outgrowing other kids his age, entering the Argentine league at just 15. Nocioni ultimately found his greatest basketball success with his country’s national team, winning the biggest thing of all — Olympic gold. He starts talking about it by just giving the facts, letting them simmer for a while so you can conclude what to him is so obvious. “It is all that is important to me - it’s my country, my flag. This is the biggest thing. I don’t have an NBA ring yet, so I don’t know what it’s like, but I won before, I won in Europe, I won in Argentina. But I think winning the Olympics is bigger than an NBA championship. All of Argentina went crazy. People were everywhere, dancing in the streets.” When “Chapu” - as Nocioni is known to his Argentine teammates - says that he doesn’t have an NBA ring yet, the Chicago Bulls must be happy. “That’s the type of team we’re trying to build around here,” said their general manager when they were signing Nocioni. He was the guy they really wanted to help them get back into the championship race. He wears many hats - a phrase he had not heard before - for the Bulls,
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FEATURE equally likely to jump into the stands for a loose ball as he is to dunk on anybody. He also splits his time on the court between the two forward spots, making it hard for his defenders to read him. And while the Chicago Bulls and the rest of the league find his versatility and aggressive style as a force to reckon with, Nocioni dismisses it to be anything more than as a natural survival of the fittest: He really can’t play any other way. “I am not the most talented player. I have to play physical every night to play in the NBA. I know what I have to do; I know what my role is. I always play like that, if I play any other way, I will be back on the bench. I need to keep my turnovers low and not get bad shots. Even when I am hurt, I don’t talk about it. It doesn’t matter if it hurts. I just don’t want to go to the bench. I want to be fighting for my team all the time.” History tells us Nocioni should not be so worried about the bench. He was an integral part of teams that had great international success, winning the South America Title in 2001, Spanish ‘Copa del Rey’ a year later, and of course the 2004 Olympic Gold medal with the Argentine national team. Nocioni was close to adding a World Championship medal to his résumé, but his three-pointer was short. It was against Spain, his team down by a point with seconds left. Nocioni knows his national team plays unique basketball and he welcomed the opportunity to win for his team. “I like to play basketball like this. I played with Italians; they are more controlled, more methodical. I am not like that, and we are not like that in Argentina. I actually don’t know why we play hard, we just do. It’s maybe because we are playing for the country. We want to win everything.” Different league, same success story. Last year, as a sophomore with the Bulls Nocioni started in more than half of their
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games, while almost doubling his point total from his rookie year. He was in the lineup most used by head coach Scott Skiles, joining Chris Duhon, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and Mike Sweetney - and often eclipsing them with his numbers. Helping the Bulls to a 41-41 finish and a playoff berth, Nocioni was the leading scorer an improbable 15 times, while throwing in a few dominating rebounding performances as well. “It doesn’t matter if I come off the bench or start. Of course it is nicer for me if I start but it doesn’t matter for the victory, for my team. Sometimes I do things that don’t show up in statistics, and sometimes I just have a great night and I score the most. But it is not important as winning. All I want is for my team to win.” That would be true for the Bulls or for any other team he was a part of. When he was in Japan this summer with his national team, he was joined by the other three fellow NBA Argentines: Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto and Carlos Delfino. In Japan he defended Argentina’s Blue & White with them. In the NBA he defends the Bulls’ Red & Black against them, friend and foe all at the same time. “You need to change your mind a little. On the national team we play together, to win together. Now when we are against each other it’s difficult, but it’s my job. I would still play hard, commit hard fouls. We can be friends again after the game.” And that they are. NBA arenas are big on the outside but even bigger on the inside. After a recent game against the Spurs, Ginobili, Oberto and Nocioni were sitting on some unopened boxes, basketball probably the last thing on their minds during this impromptu gathering. They had a few friends around them and were quietly talking in Spanish. Nocioni has already accomplished plenty with his Argentine friends, and all indications are that he will do the same with the Chicago Bulls as well.
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THE VETERAN NBA Maverick Finds a Home in Dallas By Bill Ingram Originally drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 1997, Anthony Johnson found his place in the NBA fairly quickly. He started 62 games as a rookie and explains playing with the legendary Mitch Richmond helped his career get off to a great start. “Mitch was a great teammate, great leader, and he set a great example for me,” says Johnson. “He and his family took me in and made things so easy. He was my role model when I was a rookie and he did a great job of showing me the ropes. My rookie year I was spoiled because I played a lot, I got a lot of starts. It made me think that the NBA life was going to be pretty easy.” Little did he know that Sacramento would be the first of seven stops leading up to the 2006-07 season. 1998-99 found Johnson in Atlanta, where the Hawks were playing some pretty good basketball. “It was a situation where I was a free agent and Atlanta stepped up with a pretty good offer. My first year we made the playoffs, which was – by the way – the last Atlanta Hawks team to make the playoffs. We lost in the second round and then they decided to blow that team up. They drafted Jason Terry and brought in Bimbo Coles, so that kind of dropped me to the third point guard. Being young, I was frustrated and I didn’t work to get better. That started me on a downward spiral where I bounced around to a bunch of teams, got traded a few times, and I didn’t make a good impression on many people.” Doc Rivers was coaching the Orlando 38
Anthony Johnson
Magic at the time, and he was the next to see something he liked in Johnson. “Doc Rivers was one of my top NBA coaches. Even though I was like the twelfth man on the squad, we worked our asses off to get a 41-41 record and missed the playoffs by one game with no real star players. At the same time, he gave me the opportunity to play almost every night even though I was the eleventh or twelfth man.” Next up was the New Jersey Nets, where Johnson played for Byron Scott and behind Jason Kidd in two NBA Finals. “Jason Kidd is definitely one of my top teammates and is the one player that I like to watch when I’m at home watching TV.
He has a lot of self-confidence and he brings his teammates up with him instead of talking guys down like other players may do. He’s always, always believing in you, and always makes the game easy so all guys have do is their specialty. He taught me that you can lead by example, just beSWISH MAGAZINE
ing quiet and making things as easy as possible for your teammates.” From Jason Kidd’s backyard Johnson found himself experiencing Miller time in Indiana to start the 2003-04 season. “Reggie was unbelievable. He would get to the gym at four in the afternoon and shoot for two or three hours before a game and that would carry over to the game. I kind of took his routine a little bit and it paid off for me. Rick Carlisle believed in me a great deal. He trusted me, probably more so than any other player he’s ever had. I was very productive in my three years there, especially last year.” It was in the 2006 playoffs that he first got the attention of scouts for the Dallas Mavericks. Mavericks coach Avery Johnson liked what he saw on tape, but also admired the journey the other AJ had been on. “I bounced around and that wasn’t a bad thing. Being what you guys call a ‘journeyman’ isn’t a bad thing. I journeyed for 16 great years. Anthony has bounced around and he’s learned a lot. He’s been with Byron Scott, Rick Carlisle…he’s seen a lot of things that work. Having played in the Eastern Conference he knows a lot about Eastern Conference basketball. I look at it as an asset.” In retrospect, Anthony Johnson sees all of his experiences as the necessary steps to get to where he is today. “There was a period of time when I didn’t work on my game at all,” admits Johnson. “I couldn’t make shots at all. I just wasn’t getting better. I had a loss of confidence, I wasn’t being productive, and I found myself out of the league. That’s when I realized that you get out of it what you put into it. During that time I wasn’t putting much into it, but I turned that around. This is my job, it’s a great living, and it’s up to me to determine what type of success I have. I turned things around and I think it has paid off for me.” December22006
UNDERESTIMATED & UNDERRATED Steering Atlanta Back on Track By Wendell Maxey, Jr. With the Atlanta Hawks trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers by a point in overtime during a preseason game, Hawks head coach Mike Woodson quickly grabbed a timeout and his dry erase clipboard. He had 1.7 seconds to work with. For Joe Johnson that was a lifetime. An inbound pass and jumper later, Johnson accomplished two feats in one: He sealed the win for the Hawks and the lips of his naysayers. This season in Atlanta, Johnson looks to make both a habit. “I think I’m on the rise right now,” the 6-7 guard boasts. “This year is going to be a big year for myself and the Hawks. I want to lead us down victory road.” For the Atlanta Hawks this is a bumpy road less traveled. Johnson, entering his fifth year in the NBA, was graduating from Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas back when Atlanta actually last sniffed the playoffs. That was the lockout-shortened season of 1998-99 and the Hawks were swept by the New York Knicks in the Conference Semifinals. Now Johnson looks to return Atlanta to the glory days of Dominique Wilkins, a task last accomplished by that illustrious Hall-of-Famer. “I try and come out and lead by example,” said the former Boston Celtics’ 10th overall pick in 2001. “And I’m starting to be more vocal. I’m going to take on a bigger role and start preparing my teammates, night in and night out. They look up to me as a leader. I have to come out and act like one.” In his first season in Atlanta, Johnson walked the walk. He led the team in six offensive categories (points, assists, steals, games, minutes played, and three point percentage) and finished the season averaging 20.2 points per game. What else do you expect from a guy who plays three spots on the floor, can handle the ball, and has Steve Smith’s threepoint range? It’s hard to believe this is 40
Joe Johnson
the same player who has been traded three times in his young career. Still, one question lingers. Can one man really be a savior for a perennially struggling franchise? This is the doubt Johnson has faced ever since he arrived in Atlanta via a sign-and-trade with the Phoenix Suns for Boris Diaw a year ago. Some NBA greats compared his versatility to Magic Johnson while sports talk radio personalities debated he was merely passing through town like Antoine Walker and Rasheed Wallace before him. Those who know Johnson’s pure talent aren’t buying the cheap talk. Besides, this game isn’t a one man show. “It’s going to take a team effort,” Johnson said about a young Hawks squad that finished a woeful 26-56 last season. “We have to come in and be
placed fracture of his orbital bone and mild concussion. Six games later he was back on the court wearing a plastic face mask, dropping 26 points on the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals. Yet Johnson’s proudest moment occurred this past summer when he was selected as a member of the US Men’s National Team where he competed at the World Championship and brought home the bronze. It was a chance to represent his country and play with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade. Through it all Johnson learned something he’ll never forget. “Wisdom,” Johnson admitted. “Being around those guys helped me out more than anything. Just to see how they go and approach the game, what they like to do, what they don’t like to do on the court. It is going to help me out. It was a
“They look up to me as a leader. I have to come out and act like one.” Joe Johnson responsible for what our job is on the court. Guys have another year underneath their belt and we have some new additions. If we come out and take care of business, there is no doubt that we will make the playoffs.” Unlike NBA novices and current Atlanta teammates Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, and Josh Childress, Johnson knows a thing or two about the postseason. Who could forget the nasty spill he took against the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals as a member of the Phoenix Suns? Johnson suffered a disSWISH MAGAZINE
great experience and I learned a lot.” It’s finally time for Joe Johnson to get the recognition he deserves. He’s more than the best player on one of the league’s worst teams, virtually lost between hardwood hardships and an e m p t y ar e n a. M ayb e t h e At la n t a Hawks aren’t ready for the postseason at this point. Then again, Johnson knows first-hand what it’s like to be slept on. All the better. One day, when the Hawks return to the playoffs, Johnson can turn to the passengers on the bandwagon and tell them how he led Atlanta down victory road. December22006
HEART & SOUL The Meaning Guiding Denver’s Favorite Big Man By Travis Heath Carmelo Anthony might be the most talented player on the Denver Nuggets roster, but make no mistake about it: Marcus Camby is the heart and soul of the team. “I’m not the leader, but one of the leaders on this team,” Camby explained modestly. “I think a lot of guys look up to me because I’m a humble guy. A lot of guys tend to come to me with problems, not with just basketball but even with stuff off the court. They know I’m all ears.” It was during his upbringing in Hartford, Connecticut that Camby initially developed this respect and concern for other people his teammates see from the man they call “M.C.” on a daily basis. Camby credits both his mother and his sisters for helping to instill these values in him as a child, and these very same values still burn deep in Camby’s soul today as an NBA veteran. These core values, along with a little inspiration from his former high school principal, helped Camby decide what he wanted to do with his life. “Being a principal has always been my dream and inspiration,” Camby said with a bright smile. “It was never really to be an NBA player. Sure, when I went to bed at night I dreamt about being an NBA player, but the chances of a guy making it are definitely slim. It helped that I grew a lot of inches over the course of my life.” Camby credits one of his earliest role models for inspiring his initial career goal. “I had a vice principal in high school named Frank DeLoretto. He was well-respected by the whole student body. He was somebody that I learned to pattern myself af42
Marcus Camby
ter. I didn’t really know what field I wanted get into once I got to college, and because of him, I decided to get into the education field. That was really where I grew fond of helping out others.” Camby - who plans to pursue a career in education once his playing days are over still takes great pride in helping others. His community work has assisted thousands of young people and has also helped to keep the NBA superstar grounded. “I’ve been doing community stuff ever since I first came into the league with Toronto and it spread when I got to New York. I started doing a lot of things. I adopted a school there. I was in the community everyday. It just stuck with me until I got out here to Denver and it got more prosperous. It started to gain a little bit more attention which is not something I seek, but it just so happened that a lot of
people are taking a liking to the programs I have been doing around the city.” Despite how far Camby has come in his life and how much he has done for other people, he has never forgotten where he’s from. He carries some reminders with him everyday on his body in the form of some very meaningful tattoos. Each one gives a little bit of insight into what truly exists in his core. “My top one means strive to be the best,” Camby said pointing to the Chinese scripture on his right shoulder. “When I go out there on the basketball court and practice, I have to go out there with a purpose and a meaning. “This one means that I love my family, which I truly do,” he continued pointing just below his right shoulder to another Chinese scripture. “I love my wife. I love my kids. I love my mom and my sisters who pretty much raised me. Getty Images/NBAE - Garrett Ellwood “This is probably my favorite one I have right here, a picture of my daughter,” he explained pointing to his right forearm. “Being an NBA player, we’re on the road so much throughout the year that I needed something . . . not just a wallet picture, but something that has a true meaning. So when I look down on my arm I can definitely see her each day. “These mean love or hate me right here,” he said pointing to three Chinese characters on his left forearm. “Throughout the course of my career, there was a lot of hate about ‘Marcus can’t do this’ or ‘Marcus can’t do that.’ I’ve been around 11 years so I’m doing something right.” Camby concluded by looking at his first tattoos which he had done on his left shoulder over fifteen years ago. “As you can see they kind of faded a little bit so I’ve got to get them touched up,” he said with a hearty laugh. While tattoos might fade, Camby’s deep love for his family, his passion for education and his fire for the game of basketball never will.
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UP CLOSE Talking the Talk By Nikola Olic Chinese astrology told the story of an NBA player centuries before United States missionaries brought basketball to their country: “Charm and good fortune follow them,” explains the Chinese Zodiac, “but their success can lead to isolation.” Yao Ming had the good fortune of being born into a basketball family, but the success, superstardom and it’s tough cousin isolation were all his.
Beyond Yao Ming the Houston Rocket is the superstardom of simply being Yao Ming. A testament to the NBA’s international reach, Visa and Apple are accomplishing with Yao what Nike started with Michael Jordan at the ’92 Barcelona Olympic Games — tapping into players’ global appeal. In those commercials much like in real life, Yao doesn’t say much. “I am not comfortable with that superfame. I don’t like it when a lot of people 44
Yao Ming
I don’t know are around me. I like a personal life better. That is one part of the career, you have the fans and companies coming to you. That is also my job. But I try to continue living a normal life; you have to do other stuff. You have to be yourself.” That advice comes from experience. In addition to 25 points and 15 rebounds per game, Yao conquered the Chinese basketball scene with humility, selflessness and modesty - core elements of both his culture and basketball. When he joined the NBA in 2002 his new league was governed more by strength, speed and aggressiveness. To lessen the culture shock Yao did what most immigrants do — work hard. Nobody has seen it closer or more often than his Houston Rockets Coach, Jeff Van Gundy. “To have seen him from his first NBA game where he went scoreless to where he is now is truly a testament of his great work ethic. Off the charts, truly. Yao just has such great qualities about him. He has improved so much over his short NBA career. If you hadn’t watched all of his NBA games, which fortunately I have, you would not believe his progress.” Yao attracted basketball scouts early on in China with his intimidating size and has kept them glued to their chairs and stat sheets with his performance. His numbers fit nicely in a spreadsheet: 10 points per game as a rookie, 20 points per game as a sophomore, and 32 points, 20 rebounds, five blocks and one championship in his fifth and final year in China. A few months later in the summer of 2002, he shook David Stern’s hand as the first pick in the NBA Draft, put on a Houston Rockets cap and went on to start his NBA career scoring two points off the bench. SWISH MAGAZINE
“I had to start over,” explained Yao. “If you want to succeed in the NBA, you have to work hard every year. Playing here in the NBA is the toughest in the world. But you can’t find any better basketball. Shaq and Carmelo and all other guys are the best players in the world and it’s great to play with them. It takes longer for international players to get adjusted to the NBA. It takes time to get used to playing in this league.” Improved ball handling reduced his turnovers and made Yao more confident with his shot selection, relying more on jump shots and less on lay-ups and dunks last season. Those are big changes for a player who is an all time blocks and dunks leader in his previous league 7,592 miles away. After establishing himself inside and outside the paint, Yao is most proud of a skill that until recently required a full-time assistant. Now without an interpreter, Yao matter-of-factly explains what his biggest improvement through four NBA seasons is. “Talking. More talking. My basketball skills got better, but I also understood how to talk. To help my teammates win games we have to communicate; we have to talk.” The Chinese All-Star game is between the north and the south; the NBA’s is between the east and the west. But the real competition is not between different sides of the same country, it’s between different types of fame. Get a good enough seat, and you might see Shaq hanging out with Jack Nicholson. And if Jackie Chan were in the audience, it would be Yao Ming asking for an autograph. “Jackie Chan is a hero,” Yao explains. “I am far behind Jackie Chan in fame. I watched his movies when I was very young, watched his movies like all other kids. He is a true superstar. I would be honored to become as big as him.” The ‘Great Wall’ wishes he could be even bigger. The Houston Rockets, the NBA and the rest of the world can hardly wait for him to get his wish. December22006
FEATURE
Season Preview
Chicago Bulls
By Steve Kyler, Bill Ingram, Jason Fleming
Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks set out to be deeper and more experienced as they prepared for the defense of their Western Conference Championship. They knew simply standing pat and making another run with the same group of guys wasn’t going to get it done. That’s not a knock on the 2005-06 team; it’s simply acknowledging improvements were needed. The team brought in championship experience with Devean George, Anthony Johnson, and Greg Buckner. They brought in more perimeter offense with those same names and also Austin Croshere. Even more importantly, the Mavericks locked in head coach Avery Johnson, free agent Jason Terry, and forward Josh Howard for the foreseeable future. This team is more experienced, has more outside shooting, and should be set for another championship run.
Detroit Pistons The Pistons could actually be better this year than last year. The focus will be more about offense, driven mainly by Chauncey Billups. Look for the Pistons to score more points and for newcomer Nazr Mohammed to be a driving force in the paint offensively. The Pistons sent four players to the AllStar Game last season; not this year, but look for Chauncey to contend for a guard spot and for Richard Hamilton to continue to be overlooked. This may end up being a make or break year for a lot of Piston issues: Does Flip Saunders survive if they fail to win a title? What will happen when Chauncey hits free agency? Can the Pistons survive with so many players who need the ball?
San Antonio Spurs Had the Spurs stopped Dirk Nowitzki from making a threepoint play they would very likely have been back in the NBA Finals fighting for their fourth championship of the Tim Duncan era. Over the summer they lost both of their starting centers and did not replace them effectively. Then again, the NBA has changed. It may not be necessary to have a true center to win since the pace of the game is going to leave many of those centers behind. Regardless of who’s in the middle the Spurs have three of the league’s premier players in Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. You can expect the three of them will have something to say about the Western Conference’s ultimate outcome this season. 46
The Bulls are significantly better as a team. They have a viable defensive presence; not just in newly-acquired Ben Wallace, but in PJ Brown and Thabo Sefolosha. Add them to a very potent lineup and the Bulls should be playing well into May. Failing to reach that goal would be a massive disappointment - not only for fans but for management. The biggest question facing the Bulls may not have anything to do with their roster: Can head coach Scott Skiles get the most out of a team with all the tools to win? Look for the Bulls to win a ton of games and make things interesting in the East, and look for Tyrus Thomas to be the best rookie in the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns The Suns are a good team without Amare Stoudemire; they proved it last season when they returned to the Western Conference Finals and almost beat the Dallas Mavericks. That said, none of the other moves this team made – extending the contracts of Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw, signing Marcus Banks – will make one bit of difference if Stoudemire is not healthy enough to be a major factor. With the news he won’t be able to go in back-to-back games and will be coming off the bench Suns fan should worry. They will still be a very good team and likely win their division, but as good as Steve Nash and Shawn Marion are they will not reach their championship goals without a healthy Stoudemire.
Miami Heat The HEAT are built for the postseason - this is going to be a team that looks bad in the early months as both Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade get extended rest early. Look for the young guys in Miami to get a bit more of a chance, especially Wayne Simien and Earl Barron. It’s sexy to believe the HEAT will repeat, but while the HEAT didn’t change much the competition did. Look for this to be the last run with Pat Riley as head coach and don’t be surprised if this is also the last run for Shaquille, as well. The HEAT are a playoff team, and likely to win their division, but the title may not be as obtainable as last year.
Los Angeles Clippers Last season the Clippers stopped taking baby steps; this season they must stay on that same path. With the age of Sam Cassell one of two things must be true for the team to continue to be successful: Either they must win now while Cassell can still be the team’s leader, or Shaun Livingston needs to be ready to fill Cassell’s void very soon. For them to excel this
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season like they did last season they also hope they signed the Phoenix Suns version of Tim Thomas, rather than the New York Knicks version. The X-factor is Corey Maggette – can he return to his production level of two seasons ago? If he can, the team will have offensive weapons at all five starting positions.
an improved year with more playing time and for Etan Thomas to continue to be a core player down the stretch. This will be a make-or-break year for Head Coach Eddie Jordan: if the Wizards are not a strong playoff contender, look for management to explore their options. Eddie has been a good coach for the club; they just need a great coach before their window closes.
New Jersey Nets The Nets have the best upside in the Eastern Conference the question is can they live up to their potential? Vince Carter’s pending free agency will be a constant distraction all year, but having a guy that talented working for his next paycheck is never a bad thing. Nenad Krstic could be an All-Star and Marcus Williams has more to prove than any other rookie from the first round. Lawrence Frank is one of the most underrated coaches in the league and Jason Kidd’s knee looks solid. This could be a strong year for the Nets if all of the questions surrounding the team fall in their favor. Brooklyn-bound or not, the Nets have a real shot at making some noise.
Sacramento Kings Forget the stadium issues, they won’t be an issue with what this team can do on the floor. Ron Artest was very vocal about wanting to keep Bonzi Wells and he didn’t get it, but he will be very pleased with what Kevin Martin brings to the table. Martin has the long arms reminding many of Doug Christie, but he has an offensive game beyond anything Christie was able to give. The Kings need to avoid the injury bug – something already striking with Mike Bibby’s thumb - if they want to compete for the Pacific Division title like they think they can. Something else to watch: Shareef Abdur-Rahim continues to insist playing time is not an issue – is that really true?
Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers are as good a pick as any to win the Eastern Conference this season. LeBron James has another year and playoff experience under his belt. They have a solid rotation at least two deep in every position with veterans like David Wesley, Scot Pollard, and Eric Snow and a wide range of players who are all in their prime. Mike Brown and his cast pushed the defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons to the brink of elimination last season; this year they should be ready to push beyond the second round . . .and maybe even the win a title. Expect LeBron to lead MVP voting and for Cleveland to be one of the top teams in the league in 2006-07.
Orlando Magic The Magic are one of the most exciting teams in the East. Dwight Howard is a legit star and Jameer Nelson is one of the best young guards in the game. With a healthy Grant Hill and Hedo Turkoglu the Magic have a chance to become a playoff team again, and if the cards fall in the right places they could have home court advantage. J.J. Redick will not get a lot of playing time as a rookie because he missed so much of the off-season. Brian Hill is as secure a head coach as anyone in the NBA. The Magic will continue to be the beneficiaries of a friendly schedule quirk that surfaced last season where most teams they face go through Miami before they get to Orlando.
Denver Nuggets
New Orleans Hornets
The Denver Nuggets are somewhat of an enigma. Carmelo Anthony realized it’s not all about him last season and then spent the summer playing for some of the top coaches in basketball. He came away with a strong sense of what it means to be a leader. The other factor for the Nuggets will be Kenyon Martin. After having differences with head coach George Karl last season the two now seem to have made up. If Martin returns to the form that helped the New Jersey Nets make it to the Finals twice and the rest of the Nuggets supporting cast fills in where needed, Denver should have no trouble winning their division…but may still be a player away from challenging for the conference title.
No team in the NBA had as strong an offseason as the Hornets. Landing Peja Stojakovic was a huge coup and being able to add some veteran advice for Chris Paul in the form of Bobby Jackson didn’t hurt either. Together Stojakovic and Jackson have been a part of one of the more dominant Western Conference teams in recent history and should help this young team get to the next level. Jannero Pargo had an outstanding preseason, Linton Johnson III looks like he may finally be ready to contribute at the NBA level, and Tyson Chandler feels like he’s getting a second chance. Expect the Hornets to keep the heat on the rest of the conference for seventh or eighth in the West.
Washington Wizards
Houston Rockets
The Wizards are one of the easiest teams to overlook. Most don’t consider them a real threat, but with Gilbert Arenas one of best impact scorers in the game - and a supporting cast that is respectable when healthy, the Wizards are a decent team…if they stay healthy. Look for Jarvis Hayes to have
Whenever someone talks about the Rockets you will hear the word “if.” The temptation to say the Rockets, powered by Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, are one of the top teams in the NBA is tempting, but the concerns about health temper the enthusiasm. If Yao and McGrady are healthy for 75 games or
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FEATURE more the Rockets will be as good as anyone in the West this season. They added perimeter shooting in rookie Steve Novak and Scott Padgett, a stabilizing veteran in Shane Battier, and guards Kirk Snyder and Bonzi Wells - all will figure prominently in the success of this team. However, if Yao’s toe issues and McGrady’s back issues persist, the Rockets could still be on the outside looking in come April.
Toronto Raptors The Raptors could have one of the best starting fives in the NBA; the challenge becomes can they all come together and stay healthy? Chris Bosh is arguably one of the best young big men in the game, and now that he’s paired with good friend T.J. Ford great things should happen. The Raptors have the talent to win now, and a ton of future flexibility to keep everyone in town. Coaching is a question mark: Sam Mitchell is a quality personality, but his future as a head coach may be decided with this season. The rebuild of the Raptors happened quickly, and the wins will likely come just as fast. This may not be Toronto’s year, but they have the tools to make things interesting.
he is learning the hard way life without a second superstar is tough going. They have a solid core in Bryant, Lamar Odom, and Vladimir Radmanovic, but more and more this is looking like a young team that needs some time. Expect Sasha Vujacic and Andrew Bynum to be up-and-comers on the Laker roster, but they’re not enough to get this team to the Western Conference’s playoff pool. Even if everyone’s healthy soon, this Lakers team will be fighting tooth and nail just to be in the running for the eighth seed in the West.
Boston Celtics This may not be Boston’s year. This may also be head coach Doc River’s last year and VP Danny Ainge might not be far behind him. The roster has some promise, but there are far too many questions and not enough proven answers. Paul Peirce is still one of the best all-purpose guards in the game and he has better options around him, but with so much unproven youth the Celtics are a long shot at best. This is a team that could come together, but at the end of the day it is more likely this is another scrub year until the club re-invents itself under new leadership.
Indiana Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Pacers may be a winning team despite themselves. No matter how bad things seem, they still seem to keep it together. This may be the last run for Jermaine O’Neal - if the Pacers don’t bring it around this season, he’ll be one of the loudest guys talking changes. Look for some of the Pacers’ younger guys to have dominating years, namely Marquis Daniels and Danny Granger. The X-Factor for Indiana may be Sarunas Jasikevicius who might have finally made a strong enough impression to get meaningful playing time - all he needs to power a team. The Pacers have the talent to be a playoff team; can they get there is another question altogether.
Love them or hate them, the Sixers are for real. This team could win a ton of games and Allen Iverson could play the best basketball of his career. Kyle Korver looks like he’ll be a team killer with his shooting and with Andre Iguodala and rookie Rodney Carney ready to play AI’s brand of basketball the 76ers could be the team to watch. Injuries are a real concern as Philly does not have the depth many others in their division have, but as long as AI stays healthy and clicking well with his teammates, Philly could win the East and shock a lot of people who saw them as a soft team in flux.
Memphis Grizzlies
Milwaukee Bucks Few teams made as many moves over the offseason as the Bucks. The team added a tremendous frontcourt presence in Charlie Villanueva, a move that was primarily designed to move Andrew Bogut back to his natural center spot. T.J. Ford will be missed, but it’s possible their point guard committee can overcome that loss. The addition of Ruben Patterson cannot be underestimated in terms of how it helps their defense and Michael Redd, Bobby Simmons, and Brian Skinner make up a formidable core group; Charlie Bell looked good for them in preseason as well. The Bucks may not be one of the top teams in the East, but expect them to vie for home court advantage if their chemistry develops the right way.
Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers were barraged with injuries as training camp and preseason progressed - that doesn’t bode well for one of the NBA’s most-watched teams. Kobe Bryant is Kobe Bryant, but 48
Memphis fans may not like to hear this, but it’s a re-building season for the Grizzlies. With Pau Gasol missing at least two months of the season with his broken foot and the trade of Shane Battier to the Houston Rockets, it’s doubtful they will even sniff the playoffs in a very difficult division and conference. The team is going to ask for a lot from young players like Hakim Warrick, Rudy Gay, Alexander Johnson, and Kyle Lowry – how they respond and how veterans like Eddie Jones and Damon Stoudamire will really set the tone for the 2006-07 season. Another key will be how long it takes Gasol to get back into the swing when he finally makes it back to the floor.
Utah Jazz Deron Williams spent some time this summer working with one of the top point guards in the history of the league. John Stockton’s advice and tutelage was already evident as Williams took the court in preseason. He averaged 15.8 points and 6.0 assists while shooting 55% from the field and 81%
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FEATURE from the foul line. Those are the numbers the Jazz will need from Williams if they have any hope of being a playoff team in the West. Carlos Boozer finally is healthy, Matt Harpring is resigned, and Andrei Kirilenko will again be one of the top defenders in the NBA. This is a solid Jazz team and may benefit from the Grizzlies’ loss of Pau Gasol in terms of finding themselves a playoff berth.
Golden State Warriors Hiring Don Nelson to be the head coach was the best thing the Warriors could have done. Their personnel are not the type who are good at nor like to play defense and Nelson also has zero interest in that end of the floor. With Nelson at the helm and players like Jason Richardson and Baron Davis to run the offense, the Warriors are going to be an immensely exciting team to watch play. Having Nelson around – and his idea of putting Troy Murphy at the center spot – may be just what Mike Dunleavy, Jr. needs to resurrect his career. Will it translate to more wins and challenging the Clippers, Lakers, Suns, and Kings for the division title and a playoff spot? Probably not.
Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Garnett has been the subject of discussion since the end of last season. Was he demanding a trade? Did he want to stay in Minnesota? That can easily become a distraction for the rest of the team when discussing their star. What we do know is the Kevin Garnett is in his prime and the Timberwolves probably have one more season before things get ugly. Adding Ricky Davis last season and Mike James over the summer make this team a playoff candidate, but at the same time the mismanagement clouding the franchise gives one reason to pause. Expect them to be competitive, but are they a contender? They’ll have to prove that. Right now Kevin McHale would probably settle for playoff spot.
Charlotte Bobcats The Bobcats have chosen a different path to build their team: they are building organically. They draft players they know won’t be All-Stars immediately but whom they believe will become very good, team-oriented players down the road – players like Emeka Okafor, Sean May, and Raymond Felton. In the expansion draft they chose players who never got a fair shake – Gerald Wallace and Primoz Brezec – and both of them are key contributors. What the Bobcats never had was a player who brought in swagger and the absolute belief they will succeed. This summer the Cats added two: Adam Morrison and Michael Jordan. The growth of Morrison and the franchise leadership of Jordan will go a long way towards deciding if there are playoffs in 2007.
Seattle SuperSonics The bad news is former lottery pick Robert Swift is going to Decemberw2006
miss the season with an ACL injury. The good news is the Sonics have plenty of very young, very raw lottery picks (Saer Sene and Johan Petro) to replace him with…perhaps they should focus on the other positions. Luke Ridnour just signed his extension and Ray Allen and Chris Wilcox are under contract as well, but the status of Rashard Lewis could linger over this season almost as much as Allen’s status two years ago. With new ownership they might be more pro-active and give Lewis the extension he is looking for - meaning the Sonics can forget everything else and focus on overcoming their gaping hole in the middle.
Atlanta Hawks Things aren’t as bad in Atlanta as everyone may believe – well, outside of the ownership situation and the lack of selling tickets. They have an All-Star and Olympian in Joe Johnson. They have a player who can fill up the stat sheet in five categories – a lá Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko – in Josh Smith. They have a very young player ready to step to the next level in Marvin Williams (after he comes back from his broken wrist). They’ve supplemented all those players with good veteran leadership this offseason with the addition of Lorenzen Wright and Speedy Claxton. It’s not enough to be a playoff contender this season, but they Hawks may finally have the solid groundwork needed to become a playoff team as early as 2008.
New York Knicks It can’t get any worse, right? With Isiah Thomas now running the team he created there is a definite sense of urgency. They will play the young guys – David Lee, Nate Robinson, and Channing Frye – but they also will try and make that work with veteran All-Stars Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. How that all works out is up to Thomas – meaning he has to get everyone consistently on the same page and buy into his vision. The Knicks definitely have the talent to win more games this season, but the talent isn’t yet distributed properly and that’s why a veteran with skills like Jalen Rose is the odd man out. Until they can get consistent effort from their frontcourt they will continue to struggle.
Portland Trail Blazers The Blazers have plenty of talent in players like Brandon Roy, Martell Webster, and Jarrett Jack. The problem with them is they seem to have decided to focus on this group as the future and the future is now – and the future is inexperienced. They still have a 20 and 10 player in the post with Zach Randolph – who looks to be fully healed from his microfracture surgery 18 months ago – but he needs to keep his game in the post, something he failed to do too often last season. If Randolph stays in the post, if the team stays healthy, and if they find themselves a leader they might surprise…the Blazers have a good plan, they just need time to execute it.
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SOPHMORE SEASON Still Not Satisfied and Hungry to Improve By Travis Heath Most everyone who watched Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams perform last season felt he met or exceeded all of the expectations thrust on him during his rookie campaign – everyone except the man himself. “I was happy with my rookie year, but at the same time I was a little disappointed. I felt I could have had a better year. I felt I could have impacted this team a little more. Some games the playing time wasn’t there of course and I was playing out of position, but that’s no excuse. I felt I could have helped this team get to the playoffs last year.” The aforementioned failure of the Jazz to make the postseason provided extra motivation this offseason for Williams while he prepared for his sophomore campaign in the Association. That’s a scary proposition for the rest of the league since Williams is a guy who possesses plenty of intrinsic motivation. “I went to work this summer,” Williams explained. “I just wanted to improve my all-around game. I didn’t want to just work on one or two things. I wanted to come back a complete player. I was going two, three times a day most of the summer. Towards the end of the summer I was working out a lot with the Mavs in Dallas. Usually I was working out with my personal trainer in the morning for an hour and a half or two hours. Then I would come back and shoot a little bit later for about an hour and a half. Then I would try to play at night.” All of Williams’ hard work this summer appears to have paid off since both Jazz coaches and players have been raving about his newfound quickness. “I’m in a lot better shape than I was last year,” Williams continued. “I’m in the best shape of my life by far. That’s what I did a lot of this summer with my strength and 50
Deron Williams
conditioning coach was work on my quickness. I improved my vertical leap I think three and a half inches. Just wanted to work on those things to make me a little bit better and give me an even bigger advantage. My strength was there so the quickness is what I needed to add.” Williams also acknowledged he learned some important lessons as a rookie that will help make his second season in the league much more productive. “I just learned about how to take care of your body, about getting your rest when
“No, I’m not worried about (a sophomore slump). I’ve worked too hard and I’ve got too much confidence right now to have a slump.” Deron Williams
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traveling. That’s definitely important for having your energy. Eating healthy and staying that way. Not trying to break those habits because that’s where you get a lot of your energy as well.” Perhaps the most important lesson Williams learned after his rookie season came from a teacher very familiar to Utah Jazz fans and NBA fans alike – a guy named John Stockton. Williams spent a great deal of time getting tutored by the future Hall of Famer this summer. “You just learn so much from him, just little things that he can key you on and help you with,” Williams explained. “It’s so simple, but you don’t really think about those things in your game. He showed me some shots that he used to shoot that are kind of awkward, but if you practice them, then they are really effective. I tried to incorporate those and practice those. It’s not something I’m going to try right now, but as I get more comfortable with them I can break them out.” With a commitment to improving his all around game, increased quickness and conditioning, and spending time in class with one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, it looks like the sky could be the limit for Williams in season number two. Just one thing, though: Williams doesn’t believe in that pesky sophomore slump which has gotten the better of a number of second-year players over the years does he? “No, I’m not worried about that. I’ve worked too hard and I’ve got too much confidence right now to have a slump. Even if I have a bad game I’m not going to let that affect me. I just move on to the next game. That’s the beautiful thing about the NBA. College, you might dwell on it because you’re only playing one or two games a week. Here, you’ve got a game the next night so you can’t think about those things.” So how good does Williams believe this Jazz team will be in 2006-07? “I feel we’re a playoff team. We can definitely make the playoffs, and we can advance in the playoffs if everything goes right.” If Williams fails to lead the Jazz to the postseason in his sophomore campaign, it certainly won’t be for lack of effort. December22006
COLLECTORS CORNER
Stadium Giveaways
Anything to Get Fans in the Building By Jason Fleming Get fans in the building – that’s the mantra of every team in every sport. Teams come up with all sorts of different incentives to get tickets sold and one of the more popular ways is to hand out something tangible as a fan walks in the building. But what makes a good stadium giveaway? And how can a giveaway be viewed as a success? If a team is giving away a specific item as incentive to buy tickets for a specific game, it better be worth it. “I think the most important thing is whether or not the fan cares about the product,” said Brian Kitts, Senior Director, Marketing and Public Relations for Kroenke Sports – the umbrella over the Denver Nuggets. “Is it something that you as a fan would like to take home and is it something that’s going to – especially if you’re a kid – is it something that’s going to sit on your shelf for the next ten years? That’s something that we really think about. Is it going to be worth anything from a sentimental standpoint for a fan?” Marketing the most popular players on the team often can be tied directly to a bottom line figure. “In terms of ROI, success is based on player popularity as well as sponsorship activation and when bouncebacks are maximized,” said Brad Stith, Senior Director of Ticket Sales for the Portland Trail Blazers. “In terms of general popularity, player usage is still a factor as well as the shelf-life of an item and utility.” Teams will sometimes sponsor these promotions themselves, but more often than not they are sponsored by specific advertisers like Verizon Wireless, CocaCola, Budweiser, Topps, Upper Deck, and a myriad of companies so localized you won’t know who they are unless you live in that market. It’s a great way for these small businesses to quickly get their name out to a large group of customers; the end result is a positive for the fan getting the product, the team selling more tickets, and the advertiser getting more customers. Decemberw2006
“Current sponsors as well as potential sponsors come to us in an effort to leverage brand equity of both brands to maximize returns and activation,” said Stith. A team gets many offers on a daily basis and picks and chooses ones making the most sense. “Anything that will help us promote the name, face and personality of our players as well as giveaways that will help enhance our current team/company brand initiatives.” “We probably get two or three either e-mailings or phone calls per day,” said Kitts. That doesn’t mean they are choices
top of trends in the collectible and pop culture markets so they don’t make a mistake. “I think the other thing that works is something that’s going to be of monetary value to fans,” said Kitts. Monetary value means not only giving something to the fans with a current value on an open market – think eBay – but the possibility for increased future value. Both the Trail Blazers and the Nuggets agree on this and experienced similar success with a recent hot trend for collectors.
“Is it something that you as a fan would like to take home…is it something that’s going to sit on your shelf for the next ten years?” Brian Kitts, Kroenke Sports the team will make – questions must be asked. “Is it a quality product? Is it something that is going to be interesting to the fan? Does it hit the price point we need it to? All of those things play a role in what gets handed out. “It’s a big business for these companies. We’ve actually got an in-house development agency that handles all of that for us. So unfortunately we don’t really respond to things like that. They may pitch an idea, but the reality is that Altitude Premium Consulting – which is our in-house group – handles all of that for us.” All teams take great care in choosing what products to give to their fans. A bad decision on a cheap product won’t sell more tickets; in fact, if a fan has a bad experience it could affect the possibility of buying future tickets. Teams stay on SWISH MAGAZINE
“Several years ago, we did a series of ten bobbleheads celebrating the history of the team…I think with Denver specifically, we were able to really focus on what was important to the fans from a historic standpoint,” said Kitts. “The bobbleheads at the time were trendy. They were something that fans really enjoyed having.” Last season the Blazers did a series of bobbleheads featuring current players and they were a hit, one of them specifically. “Our Martell Webster bobblehead was the most successful,” said Stith. Not much of a surprise considering Webster’s current popularity in the City of Roses. Check out your local team’s website to find out what promotions are being offered. The best game on the planet is not all that awaits when you take in an NBA game. 51
FEATURE
Follow the Leader By Tommy Beer Although the Magic got off to a slow start and stumbled through most of last season, they played as well as any team in the NBA down the stretch. The Magic were scorching hot over the final month, winning 12 of 13 at one point, and nearly elbowed their way into the postseason for the first time since 2003. It was no coincidence that this winning streak coincided with Jameer Nelson’s ascension to team leader. While Nelson and his teammates were encouraged with the tremendous progress they showed towards the end of last year, they were by no means satisfied. They feel confident that despite their inexperience they can be a factor in the Eastern Conference. Nelson is encouraged by the fact that the entire organization has raised its expectation level coming into the 20062007 season. “Everyone wants to win and I think it would definitely be a huge disappointment if we didn’t win,” explained Nelson. “We definitely want to feed off the things we did last year and progress by improving as a team and as a unit.” Nelson is quick to point out he and his teammates will not settle for minor improvements or moral victories this year. They feel they have just scratched the surface of what they can eventually accomplish. This time around, it’s playoffs or bust. Can Orlando reach the postseason? “Oh yes, definitely,” Nelson affirms. “We believe we are going to the playoffs and I believe I can lead us to the playoffs. It is gonna take some time and effort, and a lot of focus, but I know we can do it.” One of the main benefits of last season’s impressive surge down the stretch was the confidence it engendered throughout the team and the organization as a whole. It was valida52
tion that the hard work they put in was starting to pay off. That confidence has carried over into the start of this season. Right from the very start it became clear they brought a different attitude into camp. In addition, the continuity the team has maintained will be a big plus. Nelson believes familiarity within the organization will translate into success. “Last year we had some changes made throughout the course of the season. We also had a new coaching staff come in and put in a new system so there is definitely a different thought process coming in to start this season. Now we have a full team and pretty much all the guys are familiar with the system. Everyone knows what we have here and knows what to expect from the coaches and the other players.” When asked about the importance of the team staying healthy, Nelson discussed the importance of the team’s depth. “Well, obviously we want all our guys to be healthy and stay healthy. But whoever is out there has to play to their full capacity. That’s why I feel it’s a blessing that we are so deep right now. “ The Magic understand becoming a winning team is the result of expecting and demanding excellence at all times. Nelson drives this point home when he discusses the importance of seemingly “unimportant” preseason games. “Whenever you step out on the court, whether it’s preseason or regular season or whatever - even pickup ball - you want to win. We are competitors and we try to compete as hard as we can no matter who is out there. Regardless of the circumstances, we try to go out there and win basketball games.” Nelson is not taking anything for granted and is prepared to put in the hard work necessary to reach the ultimate goal. To that end, he was not about to wait until the preseason or even training camp to get the ball rolling. Back in September Jameer rounded up most of his teammates for a week of practice and bonding near his home in Philadelphia. He ar-
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ranged a full schedule of events that ranged from practicing, lifting weights and running, to movies and paintball competitions. While the basketball drills and conditioning were important, it was the building of team chemistry that was essential. Nelson, a natural-born leader, innately understands the importance of camaraderie on successful teams. “That just came from my experience playing basketball and knowing that the great teams love each other,” Nelson explained. “Everyone on the team may like each other, but once you get everybody on the team to trust one another and to believe in the next person, it goes down the line. It is almost like a domino effect. We want everyone to believe in each other and everyone to trust one another.” Another characteristic most great teams share in common is the presence of a strong leader. It appears the Magic have found one in Nelson – a role which he embraces. “I feel like it is a little pressure but it is pressure that I want. I tell people all the time that I accept all challenges. And this is going to be a challenge for me and my teammates. I definitely feel as though I am the leader and I have to act as though I am the leader.” Although Jameer has been influential and forceful in his short time with the Magic, he is aware there are aspects of his leadership style that need improvement. Specifically, Nelson explained that he intends to be “…more vocal. More demanding from my teammates and more demanding from myself. More demanding from my coaches. Just a whole new level.” While many feel Nelson has finally arrived, Jameer is not one to assume anything. In fact, he is not yet ready to call himself the team’s full-time starting point guard. “You still have to go out there and compete regardless of what people say, regardless of what the critics say. Jobs are still on the line. And I am going to go out there and do what I have to do to secure my job.” His humility and humble nature are the byproduct of frequent criticism from “experts” who doubted he had the wherewithal to compete against bigger, stronger opponents. Even during the months leading up to the 2004 NBA draft, critics wondered aloud if his diminutive frame could handle the rigors of an NBA schedule. Nelson refused to let the negative talk affect his confidence or performance. “Everybody knew I could play basketball. And there are still people out there today that say I can’t do this or I can’t do that. It’s not my job to go out there and prove people wrong. It’s my job to go out there and help this team win. When you win, winning takes care of everything.” With Jameer Nelson captaining a ship loaded with young, talented players it certainly appears the Magic can look forward to its fair share of winning. This organization has not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 1996, but that may be because they haven’t had a leader like Jameer Nelson to show them the way. If the key pieces can stay healthy and continue to improve, this Magic squad has a great chance to not only reach the playoffs but also make some noise once they get there. Decemberw2006
Putting in the Work By Eric Pincus Shaun Livingston is the future of the Los Angeles Clippers. For all the talent the team has had throughout the years, the modern Clippers have toiled in mediocrity without the leadership of a true point guard. While the franchise made a huge leap forward last season with the aging Sam Cassell running the show, the torch must be passed. Livingston is ready for the challenge. Coming to the NBA straight after high school, Livingston has been anxiously waiting for his thin frame to catch up to his keen basketball mind. Now 21, his body and game are starting to mature. After a dedicated offseason focused on body work and the development of a shooting touch, Livingston is set to assert himself this season as the true floor leader of the Los Angeles Clippers. “He spent two or three hours every day this summer in the gym working on his game,” says Coach Mike Dunleavy. “That’s how you develop confidence. Get a couple of thousand [shots] in and see the positive results. Soon you start believing, ‘I can do this.’” Blessed with tremendous court vision and a high basketball IQ, Livingston is still developing his craft. Leading an NBA franchise involves more than just raw talent. ”It definitely takes a little experience,” says Livingston. “First year guys coming in, they have to establish their teammates’ trust in training camp and the pre-season. It doesn’t just click like that for anybody, except for the special guys like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, who have a lot of hype coming in.“ Livingston has the benefit of playing behind two-time NBA Champion Sam Cassell. Though Cassell may be more of a scoring point guard than a pure point, he is especially adept at leading a team. Livingston constantly looks to the loquacious Cassell for guidance. “It’s tough especially for the point guard position. You’ve have to run the team,” says Livingston. “You have to put other guys who might not know where they’re supposed to be in certain spots—and they have to hear you say it. Coach is big on that, you have to be vocal. That’s one thing I’m learning from Sam. Obviously everybody in the arena can hear Sam. My voice doesn’t carry like that.” The league has quickly taken note of Livingston’s remarkable ability to set up his teammates. Unfortunately defenses have also noticed that he’s a career 42.2% shooter from the field (just 10.0% from three-point range). “The knock is that they play the pass,” says Livingston. “Being more aggressive offensively, scoring - that’s the move I’m willing to make. Not for my benefit, but for the team’s benefit. That’s something that Coach Dunleavy has done a great job of helping me work on.” Encouraging the young guard to find a niche offensively, Dunleavy reminds Livingston, “You’re 6’7”; you’re bigger than these guys. Get inside fifteen feet and just shoot over them.”
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FEATURE Dunleavy’s coaching of Livingston goes well beyond X’s and O’s. As a mentor he’s Morpheus to Livingston’s Neo. “He knows that I have it,” says Livingston. “It’s part of my raw talent and part of my potential as a player. He pushes me. Like the Matrix…he’s just trying to tap me out as far as my potential.” Dunleavy is equally supportive of his student, but refuses to take the credit for Livingston’s development. “All I did was pick up on what he already could do or what I thought he could do,” says the coach. “He’s starting to get there, to my vision of who he is.” It hasn’t been easy for Livingston coming into the league straight out of high school. Already at 6’7”, he weighed barely 185 pounds when drafted. As a rookie he missed 52 games with knee and shoulder problems. He also got a late start on his sophomore season, missing the first 21 games with a back injury. “When he came in he had a very high IQ. Physically he was way behind. He’s put on probably 15 pounds over the last two years,” says Dunleavy. “He says he’s 200, but I haven’t checked. He’s probably a couple of pounds shy, but he’d like to think he’s 200.” Playing and learning behind Cassell has been a boon for Livingston, though it was a difficult transition once he finally was healthy enough to play. “When I came back last year it was just a matter of trying to find my place. Sam did a great job getting the team off to a great start,” Livingston remembers. Though he admits he was “nervous about making the right play. Playing not to make a mistake rather than just playing. I think it kind of hurt me.” Eventually Livingston found his place, contributing to what was a phenomenal year for the team. Oftentimes Dunleavy would put both Livingston and Cassell on the floor together, making the Clippers a very difficult match up in the back court. “It’s big playing with Sam,” says Livingston. “He’s definitely grooming me and teaching me just how to lead a ball club. It’s hard at a young age because you want to do everything right,
but that’s not the case. The big point he stresses is that that are going to be some times when you’re not doing your best, but you still have to get over the hump.” If a point guard is having a bad game it impacts the entire squad. Livingston is still learning how to fight through the challenges of running the team. “It gets tough at times. Sometimes you might want to just give the ball up, let somebody else have it,” he says. “But as a point guard you have to take both the responsibility and a leadership role to make sure things get done the right way.” In addition to his growing ability to quarterback the team offensively, Livingston helps to bolster the Clippers’ perimeter defense. “He’s a very good defender. He showed that in the playoffs last year. He’s able to stay in front of people. He has good length. He has a penchant for being able to guard multiple positions,” says Dunleavy. “He’ll only get better as he gets stronger.” Confident he can rely on Livingston for big minutes because of what he can do defensively, Dunleavy is adamant Livingston becomes a more aggressive scorer. “He has to be a threat,” says Dunleavy. “When he becomes a threat that will open up the other side of his game—his ability to make plays and make other people better. The amazing thing about him is that when the shots he’s taking aren’t going in, I’m shocked. I know that in a couple of years they’re going to be going in all the time.” Livingston understands he’s just scratched the surface of his potential. “I’m never going to be where I want to be,” says Livingston. “I always want to push myself to be at the top of my potential. I just want to keep getting better, whatever that takes.” Look for him to truly assert himself this season. “I mean, I have to,” says Livingston. “You might not ever know what you can do unless you go for it.”
“That’s how you develop confidence. Get a couple of thousand [shots] in and see the positive results. Soon you start believing, ‘I can do this.” Coach Dunleavy
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SWISH SWISH MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
December22006
A DOG WITH A BONE
Chris Kaman
Chris Kaman is a Different Kind of Normal… By Eric Pincus Chris Kaman has an entourage. He may not be as suave as Vincent Chase but he’s young, wealthy, and a star in the City of Angels. The whole crew lives at Kaman’s place: the personal chef/money handler, the personal assistant, the personal assistant’s brother… “And the new guy. I don’t know what he’s going to do just yet,” says Kaman. “Just a buddy of mine who needed a place to stay.” They take care of all the little things the rest of us have to take care of ourselves like bills and dry-cleaning. Kaman is a throwback, a dinosaur; a rare “true” center in the always-evolving NBA. Not known for cavalier spending, the Clippers have enough faith in Kaman that they inked him to a $52.5 million five-year extension. He’s off to a slow start, but the team is confident he’ll be an impact player as the season progresses. An average of $10.5 million a year is a lot of dough for a man his own teammates call “KPAX,” referring to a film in which Kevin Spacey’s character believes he is from outer space. With his beard, long hair and wild energy on the court, fans have taken to calling him Kaveman. Kaman may not be of extraterrestrial origin or early man, but he is different. At the age of two he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Running through the symptoms: inattention, distraction, impulsivity, etc... Kaman is the classic case. To get through school, Kaman was put on Ritalin, but it caused him to lose weight. Eventually Adderall did the trick, though Kaman often took it begrudgingly. “I didn’t want to take a pill to determine who I was,” said Kaman. Meanwhile he was growing. 56
“I hit my spurt during my sophomore year. I was 6’1” and then 6’8” from my freshman to sophomore years,” Kaman remembers. “I grew like seven inches in one year. Then I grew three more after that.” At times he was a difficult kid, trouble at school, fights… “My teachers had a hard time with me. I’d have to sit in class all day. Two or three hours in college weren’t a big deal, but six or seven hours a day? This is ridiculous.”
sit still, I get yelled at,” he admits. “The concentrating part - if it has to happen too long I get in trouble, but the games are just two or three hours long.” Approximately two million children in America have ADHD. Treatments vary, but in Kaman’s case, medication was the right choice. “It was good for me. I don’t know what I would have done without it,” says Kaman. “It took the edge off. It made me who I was. More patient. A more intelligent listener.”
“When Coach starts to talk and I can’t sit still, I get yelled at.” Chris Kaman
When Kaman reached Central Michigan he stopped medicating. Now an adult, he found ways to adapt with ADHD. Armed with a 7’0”, 250+ pound frame, basketball just fit. Off the medication, finding a way to live with ADHD became the priority. Coach Dunleavy originally found Kaman difficult to communicate with, but when the two got on the floor together and began going through sets together a connection was made. “I’m a kinetic learner, hands on. If someone can show me I can learn anything, man,” says Kaman. “I’m great mechanically with my hands.” Not that it’s perfect… “When Coach starts to talk and I can’t SWISH MAGAZINE
Kaman’s been off the medication now for seven years and in that time he’s grown to be a man. Last season was one of the best the Clippers have ever had and he was a big part of that success. Perhaps fellow Clipper Elton Brand says it best: “He’s a great guy. But he’s actually more of a normal kind of guy than most NBA players. “Some people might say he’s different, or weird, but he’s who he is. “He’s real.” Kaman’s found a way not just to live with his limitations, but to overcome them. Yes, he’s different. We all are. December22006
THE LAST WORD Going European During the summer it was floated in NBA media circles that several Euroleague executives were talking about the idea of becoming part of the NBA. Really? Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid met with NBA commissioner David Stern in October and he was given “the pitch” by Real Madrid Vice President Jose Sanchez and newly hired head of basketball operations, Vlade Divac. David Stern’s message to them was in essence: “Show me the money.” The NBA is not closed to the idea of an all-European division. In fact, some say the NBA would love to see it happen; but some other things have to happen first. Europe is lacking the world-class basketball venues common in the United States. The key to a successful franchise is the right building and we’ve seen more than one NBA team struggle financially because of a bad building. The NBA would want assurances the very best buildings were available to a team before it would consider an expansion. The other element David Stern made clear was cash. A European expansion would cost $400 million per team, and in order to consider one, there would have to be enough teams to make a full division – so there would have to be five teams with world-class arenas willing to pay in excess of $400 million each. Is a European division coming to the NBA? Possibly, and the $2 billion dollars in expansion fees it would generate for the existing 30 owners would be more than enough to off-set the increased costs and travel expenses. Those opposing the idea cite travel as a key hurdle, but keep in mind a flight from New York to Spain is roughly 8 hours while a flight from New York to Seattle is roughly 6 hours. No one complains about traveling to play the Sonics. For $2 billion – or more than $60 million to each existing team - most ownDecemberw2006
Steve Kyler
ers would find a way to make the travel work. Considering a European expansion would easily push the NBA from the $3 billion business it is today into the $6 billion business it wants to be, the dollars make a lot of sense. Madrid, London, Moscow, Berlin and Cologne all have far too much to offer not to be taken seriously.
Officiating So much is made about “poor” officiating in the NBA on the radio, in print and TV, and most of it is flat out wrong. Annually the NBA has been allowing the media to sit down with the officials in pre-season and get taught first-hand what officials are looking for and what areas will be focused on each season. Face it, there is physical contact on every play in the NBA; if officials called every contact foul the game would be reduced to a free-throw contest. Officials have been instructed to operate under a different guidance than most critics think. The rule changes enacted over the past few years were designed to increase movement, increase athleticism and open space. The officials are charged with preserving that. So was there contact on Dwyane Wade in the NBA Finals? Yes. Did that contact impede his movement or his athletic skill or close off his open space? If so that’s a foul. Most of us have been taught that contact equals a foul – it doesn’t, not in the NBA, unless that contact restricts freedom of movement or athletic ability. Understanding what officials are looking for is an eye-opening experience and frankly the NBA does an inadequate job getting this message out to the fans. The officiating controversy has more to do with fans not understanding the rules and what officials are tasked with looking for than it does with bad officials. The officials have a very tough job. Coaches and players make it harder and harder each season to pick apart what’s a foul and what’s not. Many SWISH MAGAZINE
players spend as much time learning the gray areas as the officials do…so becomes the game of cat and mouse that gets played in NBA buildings across the country. Before you go off on officiating, realize you may not know as much about the “NBA” rule book as you think, and the NBA is not helping you understand it either. Maybe that’s the goal, to keep the discussion going… Or maybe it’s such a huge can of worms it’s better to leave it alone.
The Next Generation 2006-2007 is going to be the year of the Next Generation in the NBA… The year LeBron comes into his own as a dominant and consistent NBA playoff star… The year Dwyane Wade defends his Finals MVP crown… The year Dwight Howard becomes the Eastern Conference’s most dominant big man. The NBA will promote these young men and all their accomplishments. You’ll see them all over the TV broadcasts and in advertising. For the first time in a long time the NBA’s 2006-2007 class of stars is a group you can really wrap your arms around. Whether it’s the game transcending LeBron, who seems so ready for greatness… The amazingly gifted Dwyane Wade… Or “The Smile” that sells a thousand tickets from Dwight Howard. The NBA is in really good hands with these stars, and the timing couldn’t be better – Kobe Bryant’s star is a little tarnished… Tim Duncan has never been marketable outside of San Antonio… Allen Iverson is on the downside of his time in the NBA. Every year it’s different names… but this year’s class is worth watching, because there is substance behind their hype, there are real stars with character behind their names; and maybe, just maybe these guys will bring the masses back to basketball…. And that’s The Last Word. 57