Killer Crossover, page 27
I’d have to imagine it’s the same for most pro players as well. It takes a lot to make it to the top of your craft in any field, which is why I have so much respect for past generations and those 281still achieving greatness today. Some of the former legends that used to get me geeked were Jerry West and Julius Erving. One time when I was in maybe sixth grade, Dr. J signed a napkin for me after a game in Chicago. I didn’t have a piece of paper, but I wanted his signature so bad that I found a napkin. Then I lost it 20 minutes later! But what I remember most was seeing Doc dunk in the Chicago Arena. I was in heaven! That’s why I stood outside in the cold waiting for him.
Guys I enjoy watching today include LeBron James (I remember seeing him when he was sixteen years old playing pickup in Chicago, he jumped from the free-throw line in a game and it was like a cartoon), James Harden (who uses my crossover every game), Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Ja Morant, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green. It’s players like that who make me think the NBA will be full of talent and stars for years to come. But people have short memories. And that’s why I wanted to do this book. To tell my story in full, to show how I grew up and what I had to do to achieve greatness and deal with the ups and downs of life, all my bumps and bruises. I feel good today, though I know there is always room for improvement. If there’s one thing for sure about me it’s that I’m not ashamed to admit where I need to get better.
Life doesn’t stop. I’m grateful for every morning I wake up and can greet the day. I’m a grandpa now, which I adore. It’s all about family for me these days. I know that I’ve done enough in my life. I’m just trying to stay healthy, work out, stay away from too much beer, enjoy a cigar here and there, and be there for my kids and granddaughter. My parents are still alive and in their eighties, which is a blessing. My father is doing well today. We have a good relationship, thank God. He knows that I don’t forget those early years, but I can and do forgive them. Alcoholism 282is a disease and, sadly, it’s taken some great people. He’s worked hard to overcome it.
During the NBA season, I do radio for FOX Sports 1, as well as some speaking engagements around the country, along with summer camps and traveling for the league. I just went to Singapore to teach the game of basketball to kids, which was great fun. I never turn down a chance to see the world, meet young fans, and show them the fundamentals. The best players in the world have their fundamentals down, so that tells you how important they are. In life—just as in ball—they’re key, which is why I’m glad my parents instilled in me a sense of street smarts and frugality. I’m also the vice president of Banneker watches, if you’re looking for a timepiece!
Truly, all things considered, I can’t complain. When I look back on my time in the NBA, what I loved most was the camaraderie, the competition, crossing people over, making big buckets, and recovering from the failures that are part of any career. Growth is more important than success. I was a five-time All-Star and All-NBA player, an MVP finalist in 1997, an Olympic gold medalist, and now a Hall of Famer. My number is retired in high school, college, and the pros. I made the fourth most threes in the entire 1990s and dished the fourth most assists as well. On top of that, I was the 1989 WAC Player of the Year at UTEP, and invented a signature move.
There were other achievements along the way, but my head’s plenty big at the moment! What I’ll remember most when I’m a hundred years old and in a nursing home is the Run-TMC days and all those victories with my Miami Heat brothers. But the most important part of my life has been the ability to go from one side to the other. From the gangs of Chicago to the solace 283of El Paso. From an abusive home to the NBA. From west coast to east. From expressing hate toward the LGBTQ community to being a big proponent of human rights. From a pushy dad to a supportive one. From zero scholarships to a lottery pick. From injured to the NBA’s best point guard.
* * *
Every summer these days, I make a trip out to Cincinnati, Ohio. A few years ago, one of my brother’s friends asked if I would hold a basketball camp in the city, which I was happy to do. Cincy used to have the Royals, an NBA team with greats like Oscar Robertson and Tiny Archibald. But now, the only basketball presence they have are universities like Cincinnati and Xavier. Today, we get so many kids signing up that it’s almost overwhelming. But we have a lot of fun. We have some great counselors, too. I love talking to the campers about how they work on their game. At times, though, some will tell me they aren’t able to work on their game on their own.
I know they don’t mean anything negative by it, but it always hurts my heart to hear somebody say that. If you really, truly want to improve, get better, be your best, you will find a way to do the work on your own. I worked on my game on my own tirelessly as a youngin. I rode my bike—which was always missing its seat—to basketball courts. Climbed up the pole and put my own net on the rims and worked the entire court with dribbling drills, shooting drills, sprints, and everything else, inventing imaginary defenders and last-second scenarios. Basketball is a sport—maybe the only sport—that you can get better at on your own like that.
284 In the Chicago elements, I worked on layups, floaters, stop and pops, coming off pretend screen and rolls, in and out moves, free throws, half-court shots, sprints from sideline to sideline— all on concrete. During the day, when the summer sun was burning or the winter winds were frigid! All of those are things you can do, too. You don’t need a fancy gym, hardwood court, new nets, pristine leather basketballs. You just need yourself and the will to improve. It’s because of this work that, when people ask me today about my career, I can tell them I’m satisfied. There are always ways to criticize a guy like me who never won a championship, but a ring doesn’t make you.
If Charles Barkley was on the 1997 Bulls instead of Dennis Rodman, would that make him any different? Same with Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Reggie Miller, Allen Iverson, John Stockton, or Karl Malone. What you can’t take away from someone is the hard work they put in every day. The willingness to get better and stay great. The fortitude and confidence to put in the effort. Everything else? Let the chips fall where they may. I made headlines in the NBA at 5-foot-11-and-three-quarters. I gave people something to cheer for every night. That’s my win. Home or away, the audience wanted to see that shake and bake. That killer crossover.
285
Index
A
Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem, 102
Abdul-Rauf, Mahmoud, 58, 182
Adelman, Rick, 134, 135, 137
Adkins, Yolanda, vii, 28, 29, 34, 42, 43, 52, 53, 58, 77, 80, 82, 84, 94, 117, 121, 122, 146, 147, 227, 228, 242, 258, 278, 279
Aguirre, Mark, 19
Albert, Marv, 172, 203
Allen, Ray, 213, 228
Amaechi, John, xvii, 264, 265, 274
Anderson, Mitchel J. J., vii, 11, 19
Anderson, Nick, 35, 36, 66, 160
Archibald, Nate “Tiny”, 31, 45, 54, 55, 278, 283
Arison, Micky, 157, 160, 162, 279
Armstrong, B. J., 51, 62, 63, 133, 134
Armstrong, Darrell, 235
Artest, Ron, 237
Askins, Keith, 154, 156, 194
Atlanta Hawks, 172, 255
Attles, Al, 101, 135
Auerbach, Red, 64, 79
Austin, Isaac, 149, 156, 157, 158, 159, 175, 183, 184, 188
B
Barkley, Charles, xiv, 96, 112, 120, 180, 284
Barron, Billy, 48, 55
Barry, Brent, 183, 192
Barry, Rick, 101
Bavetta, Dick, 211
Beilein, John, 246, 247
Billups, Chauncey, 182
Bird, Larry, xiv, 61, 64, 96, 104, 105, 112, 114, 123, 180, 212
Blaylock, Mookie 62
Bogues, Muggsy, 75, 96
Bol, Manute, 65, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 83, 87, 89
Bosh, Chris, 69, 143
Boston Celtics, 61, 64, 79, 80, 186, 237, 257
Bowen, Bruce, 207, 224
Bradburd, Rus, 31, 32, 38
Brickman, Darren, 37
Brown, Larry, 181, 217
286Brown, P. J., 146, 149, 153, 154, 161, 163, 166, 167, 168, 169, 184, 189, 193, 197, 201, 205, 209, 222, 226
Burke, Doris, 258
Burke, Trey, 248, 249
Butler, Jimmy, 35, 143
C
Camby, Marcus, 192
Carlesimo, P. J., 56, 192
Carter, Anthony, 206, 207, 208, 209, 229, 230
Carter, Vince, 204, 213, 214, 215, 218, 226
Carver High School, vii, ix, 23, 27, 32, 33, 34, 39, 42, 245, 277
Cash, Swin, 279
Ceballos, Cedric, 224, 225
Chamberlain, Wilt, 101
Chapman, Rex, 96, 138, 152, 153
Charlotte Hornets, 96, 97, 136, 141, 142, 153, 154, 163, 178, 187, 222, 226, 227, 229
Cheeks, Mo, 11, 18, 37, 55
Chicago Bulls, 63, 68, 112, 134, 135, 142, 146, 153, 155, 166, 172, 173, 184, 196, 284
Chicago State University Pro-Am, 18, 37, 38, 66, 71, 82, 83
Childs, Chris, 145, 153, 165, 166, 167, 170, 178, 186, 187, 198, 203
Colangelo, Jerry, 144, 279
Coles, Bimbo, 136
College of Alameda, 71
Collins, Doug, 63
Collins, Jason, 273
Common, 133
Cook, John, 272
Cooper, Michael, 102
Crawford, Jamal, 182
Culp, Ron, 181
Cummings, Terry, 11, 18, 66
Cureton, Earl, 96
Curry, Dell, 96, 142
Curry, Stephen, xix, 92, 93, 107, 109, 144, 182, 281
D
Dallas Mavericks, 81, 105, 139, 144, 149, 154, 163, 227, 229, 230, 231, 233, 238, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259
Davis, Anthony, 217
Davis, Antonio, 50, 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 72
Davis, Baron, 226, 227
Davis, Marc, 234, 235
Davis, Ricky, 255
Denver Nuggets, 81, 89, 107, 109, 196, 226, 233, 234, 235, 236, 238, 239
Detroit Pistons, xxi, 71, 99, 129, 178, 197, 204, 225, 249, 251, 252, 254, 255, 256, 259, 277
287Divac, Vlade, 102
Dončić, Luka, 91, 92, 144, 255, 257, 259
Donovan, Billy, 247
Douglas, Sherman, 62
Dream Team, 116, 123, 212, 217
Drexler, Clyde, 96, 97, 98, 112, 120, 134
Duke University, 59, 237, 246, 247
Duncan, Tim, 66, 179, 201
E
EA Sports, 131
Eaton, Mark, 92
El Paso, Texas, 31, 38, 40, 44, 52, 60, 61, 72, 77, 272, 283
Elliott, Sean, 50, 101, 120
Ellis, Dale, 80, 81
Elman, Peter, 108
English, Alex, 107
Equal Marriage Florida, 273
Erving, Julius, 281
Eubanks, Minnie E., 94, 95, 270
Evans, Mike, 238
Ewing, Patrick, 96, 112, 136, 153, 164, 165, 166, 168, 169, 170, 185, 188, 191, 192, 199, 205, 206, 209, 210, 284
F
Fab Five, 125
Fenger High School, 23
Finley, Michael, 232, 257
Fitzgerald, John, 99
Florida Pit Bulls, 250
Floyd, Tim, 31, 45
Foran, Bill, 181
Foster, Greg, 57, 58
Foster, Jeff, 237
G
Garland, Winston, 71, 72, 86
Garnett, Kevin, 131, 158, 179, 213, 214, 215, 218
Gatling, Chris, 76, 116, 137, 138, 139, 224
Georgetown University, 47, 166
Gervin, George, 255
Geschwindner, Holger, 232
Gilgeous-Alexander, Shai, 258
Gill, Kendall, 96
Ginóbili, Manu, 111, 279
Glucosamine Chondrotin, 96
Golden State Warriors, xi, xiii, xix, xx, xxi, 11, 63, 64, 65, 70, 71, 75, 79, 82, 83, 85, 86, 88, 91, 95, 101, 103, 104, 106, 107, 111, 117, 121, 124, 126, 127, 128, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 144, 146, 147, 148, 150, 154, 155, 163, 174, 177, 215, 241, 245, 280
Grandy’s, 44
Grant, Brian, 222, 224
Green, A. C., 222
288Green, Rickey, 11, 18
Gregory, Ed, 128
Gugliotta, Tom, 127, 128, 191
H
Haith, Frank, 247
Handy, Phil, 70
Hardaway, Anfernee “Penny”, 121, 160, 161, 162, 179, 191
Hardaway, Donald “Duck”, vii, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 67, 95, 117, 195
Hardaway Jr., Donald, vii, 2, 3, 5, 7, 15, 94, 117, 278, 283
Hardaway, Gwendolyn, vii, xii, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 23, 28, 30, 41, 58, 67, 94, 95, 261
Hardaway, Julia, 7, 95, 270
Hardaway, Nia, vii, 227, 228, 236, 259
Hardaway, Nina, 227, 228, 254, 259
Hardaway Jr., Tim, vii, xvi, 107, 126, 169, 170, 228, 236, 240, 241, 242, 243, 246, 247, 249, 250, 255, 257, 259, 260
Harden, James, 144, 182, 281
Harold’s Chicken, 18
Harper, Ron, 173
Harrison, Nico, 258
Haskins, Don, 31, 32, 38, 39, 45, 46, 47, 50, 52, 56, 58, 59, 145, 272, 279
Hawkins, Hersey, 47, 97
Haywood, Spencer, 255
Hibbett Sports, 132
Higgins, Rod, 18, 65, 66, 71, 73, 74, 82, 89, 90, 100, 107
Hill, Grant, 155, 179, 197, 204
Hill, Tyrone, 99, 100, 108
Hodges, Craig, 66, 97
Houston, Allan, 154, 164, 166, 169, 170, 178, 189, 190, 191, 192, 200, 202, 207, 213, 217
Houston Rockets, 75, 76, 80, 163, 206
Howard, Juwan, 125, 149, 171, 233
I
Illinois Institute Tech, 66
Irving, Kyrie, 182
Issel, Dan, 107, 238
Italian Fiesta, 17
Iverson, Allen, 104, 181, 182, 284
J
Jackson, Jee, 48, 49, 52, 55, 56
Jackson, Mark, 81, 86
Jackson, Phil, 112, 173, 230
James, LeBron, 143, 211, 217, 254, 281
Johnson, Avery, 124, 129, 233
Johnson, Eddie, 37, 38
289Johnson, Kevin, 81, 96, 130, 180, 182, 212
Johnson, Larry, 110, 120, 130, 142, 153, 154, 166, 187, 192, 199, 201, 212
Johnson, Magic, xix, xx, xxii, 3, 96, 98, 101, 102, 103, 104, 112, 113, 114, 116, 143, 150, 159, 212, 219, 268
Jokić, Nikola, 91
Jones, Eddie, 222, 224, 226
Jordan, Michael, xxii, 19, 63, 66, 70, 96, 104, 105, 110, 112, 113, 120, 130, 132, 134, 142, 143, 155, 172, 173, 179, 180, 186, 190, 196, 212, 258
K
Karl, George, 65, 279
Kemp, Shawn, 70, 115, 116, 120, 130, 133, 179, 191, 212
Kersey, Jerome, 134
Kidd, Jason, 65, 82, 213, 215, 216, 231, 256, 258
Knight, Bob, 59, 251
Knight, Brandon, 247
Korean Basketball League, 245
Kukoč, Toni, 173
L
LaFrentz, Raef, 233, 238
Laimbeer, Bill, xxi
Lanier, Bob, 129, 134
Last Dance, The, 179
Le Batard, Dan, xvii, xviii 264, 265, 266, 268, 269, 271, 273, 277
Leckner, Eric, 56
Lee, Spike, 39, 131, 180
Lenard, Voshon, 138, 148, 156, 160, 166, 176, 186, 193, 203, 224, 234
Leon’s Barbeque, 18
Leonard, Kawhi, 281
Lister, Alton, 116
Los Angeles Clippers, 182, 237
Los Angeles Lakers, xix, xxi, 70, 101, 102, 103, 106, 112, 125, 129, 136, 143, 159, 160, 162, 173, 186, 251, 252, 259
Louisville University, 249
LSU, 58
Luby’s, 44
M
Maggette, Corey, 237
Majerle, Dan, 112–113, 120, 146, 149, 153–154, 156, 162, 163, 169, 176, 185–186, 188, 191, 197, 200, 206–207, 210, 227
Malone, Karl, 92, 96–97, 112, 113, 123–121, 155–156, 179, 191, 195–196, 217, 284
Malone, Moses, 104, 252–253
Marčiulionis, Šarūnas, 70, 90, 99–100, 104–105, 110–111, 118, 121, 124, 129, 215, 216
290Martin, Frank, 246
Mashburn, Jamal, 121, 149, 156, 161, 176, 177–178, 205, 210–211, 222, 226
Mason, Anthony, 222–224, 227
McAdoo, Bob, 140
McCloud, George, 62
McDaniel, Xavier, 80
McDyess, Antonio, 213, 215–216, 234
McKinney, Yvette, 262–2563
Meadows, Alonzo, 18
Miami Heat, xiii, xx, xxii–xxiii, 59, 83, 128–211, 219, 222, 224, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 240, 244–245, 252, 280, 282
Miami Palmetto High School, 246
Miller, Reggie, 65, 176–177, 179, 191, 192, 212, 218, 237, 284
Mills, Terry, 59, 175
Milwaukee Bucks, 65, 87, 129, 227
Minnesota Timberwolves, 62, 63, 65, 111, 128
Mitchell, Donovan, 182
Mokeski, Paul, 87, 105, 105
Mourning, Alonzo, xx, xxiii, 130, 136–137, 138, 140–143, 149, 153, 154, 155, 156–158, 159, 161, 163, 164, 166, 167, 169, 171, 175, 176, 178–179, 184, 185, 186, 187–188, 189, 191, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 201, 203, 205, 206, 209, 210, 212, 213, 215, 217, 218, 219, 220–222, 224–226, 245, 251, 279
MTV, 133
Mullin, Chris, xi–xiv, xix, xx, 65, 66, 71, 73, 74, 79–80, 85–105, 106–107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 115, 116, 118, 120–121, 125, 126, 154, 129, 131, 134, 137, 138, 140, 212, 232, 277, 279, 284
Musselman, Bill, 63, 64
Musselman, Eric, 64
N
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, xx, 276, 277
Nash, Steve, 144, 227, 230–232
NBA Jam, 131
Nelson, Don, xiii, 64, 65, 68, 70–72, 74–75, 76, 77, 79–80, 82, 85–86, 100, 108, 110, 112, 119–120, 121, 125–127, 128, 131, 133, 144, 150, 152, 178, 212, 227, 230, 231, 233, 234, 279
