HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Dee Brown

Do you think it’s time the NBA forms expansion teams in Europe to counter the Euroleague  pirating players from the NBA?

I think the NBA is the best league in the world, which means the best players will be in the NBA. The problem with having an expansion in Europe would be the logistics of scheduling and travelling across the Atlantic Ocean and even Pacific Ocean if you have teams in Asia. Players dream of coming to America and playing in the NBA. European teams can and will continue to pay top dollar for talented players, but as long as the NBA is the best basketball league in the world the best players will stay here.

If a Euroleague team came in for one of the NBA’s two best players, do you believe that they would accept? If it came to this, could you see the NBA having a higher salary cap?

Again, it would be just be about the money. A Euroleague team could throw an absurd amount of money at LeBron or Kobe, and can they entertain the offers and say it would be for the worldwide growth of basketball if they accepted the offer. But I really don’t think they would. These players make so much money now in salaries and off-the-court endorsements that leaving for one or two years would not change their lifestyles except that they would not be in the American spotlight anymore. I understand the competition level is increasing in Europe but it’s not at the level of the NBA. The top-tier players in the NBA like the challenges and are the ultimate competitors. If that is taking away by playing in Europe, it would defeat who they are and their inner drive to be the best. The only way the NBA changes its salary cap structure is if the league generates more revenue in other areas not because a Euroleague team would offer a top player $30-$50 million a year. You would be sacrificing the fabric of the game if the NBA did that and it doesn’t translate to the bottom line, which is winning a championship. Look at MLS Soccer and the LA Galaxy with David Beckham. Outstanding player. Good for the growth of game in America, but the team is still losing. It’s still a team sport.

Do you think the differences in style of play between the NBA and Europe contributed to Josh Childress’s decision to leave the Atlanta Hawks?

No, it had tall to do with the money that he was offered in Europe. And it’s a lifestyle decision. Maybe you play twice a week. Everything is paid for, like your house and car. You have a maid/butler and chauffeur. It’s still basketball, some of the rules are slightly different but it was going to happen with some quality NBA players sooner or later because the competition is very high in the NBA and jobs and big dollars are hard to come by.

I use to wonder what you did to have such vertical leap… What kind of work you did to have those hops?

A lot of it was natural and God-given ability. Like anything you want to get better at, you repeat over and over again. I always use to jump up and down on boxes before it was called plyometrics. I stayed on the court trying to touch the net, then the rubber on the backboard, then the backboard, the rim, then the square. I always set high (no pun attended) goals to reach and just kept doing it until I felt I achieved. I did no elaborate exercises or took any special powder or drinks. I just jumped all the time.

Do you think that the Rockets have now completed their goal bringing in Ron Artest? And will he be the guy they are looking for or he’s the same old Artest from The Palace?

I think the Rockets were always looking for that third option to complement T-Mac and Yao. He’s tough. He can defend and he’s not afraid to be the bad guy. Every team needs one bad guy. Look at the Celtics. Three top players. Lakers, Pistons, Spurs. They all have three top-tier players. You need that, especially in the Western Conference, where they were very good last year and got that huge winning streak. This moves put them right at the top of the list in the West with Lakers, Hornets and Spurs. The wild card comes in if Artest loses control and they can’t handle him in a positive way for the team.

Throughout the past few years a few problems have arisen regarding corruption in the NBA – Van Gundy (who was ordered to shut his mouth), Cuban (who was ordered to shut his mouth) and on a somewhat different level Donaghy’s recent charges. As a spectator it’s easy to take these stories and run, spreading rumors about how corrupt the organization is. As a player, however, I’m sure you have a much better perspective of what really goes on.  What is your opinion with regard to how much of a role management has in terms of deciding who wins games (for good storylines, more marketable teams, etcetera)?

I will keep the answer very simple. It doesn’t! The NBA is a huge industry and like every industry you have things that happen within that you can’t control. Like human behaviors: greed, envy, jealously, etc. Also like any major industry, you want the best bang for your buck. Was it great this year that the Lakers-Celtics were back in the Finals. Of course it was. A marketing and financial juggernaut for the league and both teams. But think of this… Those were the best two teams in the NBA last year also. Players have enough trouble trying to win games. It would be harder if the league tried to dictate who won or lost games. So as a former player, things get settled on the court. Management have to look at the big picture of how the business of basketball is operated. But the only way each team management can decide who wins or loses games is the largely based on the product the put on the court.

Dee, what do you think the Bulls will do with Ben Gordon? What big man can we get who can score down on the blocks for us? What kind of season do you see Tyrus Thomas having this year?

I think the Ben Gordon scenario is getting ugly and he’s seeking a sign-and-trade. He wants Deng dollars because he was the leading scorer and the Bulls don’t want to pay him that much. You already have a crowded backcourt with the addition of Rose, having Larry Hughes. And the Bulls refuse to part with Hinrich. That leaves Gordon hanging. With the acquisition of Drew Gooden, he should help with some inside scoring and veteran presence. But that will take minutes from Ty Thomas and maybe Noah. If Ty Thomas becomes a superb energy guy and develops a consistent 15-foot jump shot, he could be a guy that help bridge the gap from the starters and bench.

I’m curious as to how you enjoyed your time spent playing for the Toronto Raptors? Not just the organization, but how was playing in Canada and living in the city of Toronto in relation to all of the years you spent in the States?

I tell people all the time that Toronto was the one the best cities not only in the NBA but in the world! It was so diverse. The people was very nice. The city was unbelievably clean and there was hardly any crime. I lived downtown near the ACC, so I was walking distance from everything. I also went to Bloor to go shopping. It’s like NYC with all the theaters, restaurants and nightlife. When I got there, we were still playing in Skydome and then we moved to ACC. The fans were awesoma and I remember when Jordan came to Skydome, it was the craziest scene to see a baseball stadium full to watch a basketball game. Being a part of the first playoff team and still holding a few records there keep the Raptors close to my heart.

I’m from Toronto and I have to ask you about your thoughts on the new look Raps with JO in the middle. Are we a contender in the East? I like the low post/high post combo with lots of perimeter firepower (Kapono, Bargnani, AP even Calderon). What do you think? Can we get past Detroit, Boston and even Philly?

I like the addition of JO and he will be a great addition next to Bosh. Because JO has been hurt lately, people forget how talented he is and that he was once considered a top-tier player in the league. He’s still young in age but has been around for a while. Maybe the change of scenery will do him good like it happens with most great players. I think this team is a contender because you upgraded your talent… But so did a lot of team in the East. Plus you have the same cast of characters with Boston and Detroit. I really like what Colangelo is doing in Toronto. The key is if Calderon can be a full-time point guard and if the shooting guard position with Parker will be enough to compete.

I wanted to ask Dee I just saw him at SeaWorld in Orlando and he looks in good shape… Why did he end his career so early?

Great question. The reason why is so I can go to SeaWorld and enjoy it without thinking about training camps. No seriously, I stopped playing because I had so many things that I wanted to do while I was still young. I had several companies that I was running in the later part of my career and wanted to spend more time with my family. I played 12 years and I wanted to leave when I thought I couldn’t give 100 percent every night on the court, not because of my skills or not being in great shape (thanks for the compliment, by the way). Mentally you get so drained. I went into the front office of the Magic for a few years, coached in the WNBA for a few years and now do radio and TV for the NBA and ESPN. I also have a training facility in Orlando and I get to train and teach middle and high school players the game. I also train some NBA players like Grant Hill, Chuck Atkins and Drew Gooden. That’s what keeps me in such great shape. So I’m still connected to the leaguem but it’s on my time. By the way, the next day I was at Disney, then Universal! Ha-ha!

How about you for Bulls coach? You were a floor leader. Would Pippen be a good choice?

Thanks for the endorsement but I have no interest in getting back into coaching at this time. Pippen would be a person for mystique, but doesn’t have any coaching experience and hasn’t expressed interest in everyday coaching.

Should Shannon Brown and Larry Hughes be coached to be the Bulls’ point guard? Hinrich cannot penetrate or pass to the post. Is that the reason Chandler was a flop in Chicago?

Neither one of those guys are pure or natural point guards so you’re better off sticking with Hinrich and seeing if he improves his point guard skills. A couple of years ago, before injuries, he was a very good point guard and was invited to USA Basketball tryouts. Chandler wasn’t a flop in Chicago. He was young and inexperienced and still developing as a player. Chris Paul is so good for him. The system in New Orleans is great for him also.

After all these years, what is you feeling towards the Wellesley police department for the way they treated you? Was it racial profiling?

I had no ill feelings towards Wellesley police then and still don’t. Things like that happen all the time to regular African- Americans and other minorities but doesn’t garner media attention if there’s no celebrity involved. Racial profiling is in our society, but I think that event was more of mistaken identity than racial profiling. Even after the event, I chose to stay in Wellesley and became good friends with the police department and community leaders.

Could you have done a better job running the Knicks than Isiah did if you were blind-folded for the entire 4 1/2 years just as you were blind-folded during your Slam Dunk Contest victory?

Funny! Everyone can say they would have done a lot of things different after you see the mess that the Knicks are in now. It goes back to Scott Layden, the GM before Isiah, and snowballed after that. Isiah made some bad personnel decisions, but he did draft well. When you’re over the salary cap and play in New York, people want results now. So Isiah tried to do that, but the pieces didn’t fit together and he didn’t do a good job coaching them. We’ll see what Mike D’Antoni does with the same pieces.

Is it a good solution for the Phoenix Suns to add a new coach instead of Mike D’Antoni?

If the coach doesn’t feel wanted or doesn’t have the support of upper management after very successful years there, then it’s time for all parties to move on. And that’s what D’Antoni did by going to the Knicks. It’s going to be interesting who they hire to play that style… Or a different style because of the age of Nash and O’Neal.

I have a question… I consider Tim Duncan the best power forward ever, but many would laugh at that opinion. What is your opinion on Tim. Is he better than Sir Charles, Malone and McHale?

I would have to put him in the Top 2 slightly behind McHale. I played with McHale and he was unstoppable in the post. And was a great defender. And think of the players he played against in those days. Sir Charles, Malone, Worthy, Horace Grant, Rodman, Tom Chambers, Oakley… There is a big list of great players that played power forwards on offense and defense during the 80s and early 90s. Duncan has four rings and McHale has three rings. Love Duncan, but McHale is my man.

I wanted to know your opinion on Steve Nash. As I reflect on his past seasons, especially his playoff series, I often wonder why his play is to held to such high regard. He no longer can consistently outscore the opposing point guard and defensively he is a liability. Why is he a perennial All-NBAer and All-Star when his defensive play is non-existent?

I think it is what he did for the Suns team. He made players better. The system was perfect for him and he used it to his advantage. Nash has never been a great defender, so that’s not new. I used to love playing against Nash because he wasn’t a great defender and had my best games against him. He got better as he got older, but the key is that he’s getting older. Fans like him and that’s why he gets voted in. He does make the Suns go, so he deserves all the awards and accomplishments he has received.

Do you feel that the basketball sideshow And1 sends a bad message to the young kids? It shows the kids that trying to over dribble and throwing the basketball off of people’s heads is more important than learning how to hit a mid-range jump shot. Or do people understand that it’s more of a circus sideshow rather than basketball?

I think it’s basketball entertainment, but not how you want kids to view the way the game is played. It shows bad habits and things you can’t do in a real game. It’s fun to watch if you use it as that. The guys who play are very talented and know the game, but they understand that is entertainment also. So if young kids want to learn fundamentals by watching a game, I suggest they watch women’s college basketball.

What is it like playing in the NBA? What was your drive in succeeding in this league? In addition, what was your food meal plan like (in terms of calories, categories of food) during the season and playoff series?

Playing in the NBA is the best of everything. The best players, arenas and fans. My motivation and drive was that I wanted to be the best that I could be and if that got me to NBA that was great. And once I got there, I knew other players wanted to be in my position, so I had to always work extra hard to make sure I was at the top of my game. You eat as healthy as possible to maintain your weight during the season because you lost so much playing over 100 games a year. You ate good carbs and and tried to refuel before and after the games. Recovery was the key to being a successful player because the games and practices where everyday for eight months.

This year’s playoffs have been the most physical playoffs in a long time, and I’m loving it. It seems nowadays that players, refs and even announcers overreact to hard fouls and physical play. Do you feel that the league should try to move back a little to a more physical style of play that would create more rivalries? And how do you think todays NBA stars would handle a more physical game? Guys like MJ, Malone and Barkley would go right at the physical play. How would LBJ and Chris Paul react if they got the physical abuse that those former NBA stars received?

There’s a difference between physical and dirty play. When I played in the 90s, the game was very physical. Players drove to basket and knew there was going to be some contact and layups were not allowed against very good teams. Because of the rule changes and the way fans view the game, they don’t want much physical play. They want more flowing basketball games, which takes out the physical nature of players at times and then when you see a hard foul, it’s called a flagrant. MJ, Bird and Magic played in those physical days and that was how the game was played. The game nowadays would be easy for them because they would live at the foul line. Guys like Barkley, Oakley, Rodman, Xavier McDaniel and those types of players would be in foul trouble now because the game is not as physical. Guys like LBJ, Kobe and Paul could adapt to that play because they are very special players and would use those rules to benefit them.

The biggest story still going on before the 2007-08 NBA season jumps is who is going to win the Kobe Bryant sweepstakes. It has been back and forth with Kobe and the Zen Master. And now Jerry Buss has chimed in and said that he will listen to trade offers for the Laker star.

What?

Kobe is the most individually dynamic. I love LeBron, Nash, and other superstars around the league and what they do for their teams. But we are talking about a guy who scored 81 in an NBA game. He fills every arena he goes to. Fans just sit on the edge of their seats waiting for him to do something unbelievable. But that’s where the problem lies… He’s an individual and the last time I checked, basketball was a team game.

Here is an old NBA question…What is the best backcourt in NBA history?

Answer: Michael Jordan and whoever.

Jordan was so good that he made every backcourt mate a better player, a better shooter and a champion. Can Kobe be the type of player that does that for his backcourt mate? That’s is the question that 29 teams are asking themselves, but only a few can really be serious in addressing. The three teams that have been named are the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks.

Eddie Johnson explained it beautifully and I will expand a little. Which team is willing to depart with practically their entire core for one guy? Remember Kobe is a perimeter player. He’s not Shaq, Chamberlain or Abdul-Jabbar in terms of inside presence and pure dominance. If those guys were traded, anybody can be traded. But at what price? The Mavs and the Suns would have to give up their respected superstar or a combination or All-Star players to even have a chance to get Kobe. And why would the Lakers trade him in the same conference. That wouldn’t be pretty at all.

The Bulls seems like the best fit. They are a Eastern Conference team. They have been looking for a replacement for His Airness since Jerry Krause disbanded the team. They have enough young assets to maybe package something together and still have enough left so Kobe wouldn’t feel like he is in a worse situation than he was back with the Lakers. Sounds great, but could he co-exist with Scott Skiles and his tough minded approach? I think so. Could he relish and not feel all the pressure that the city of Chicago would put on him to get them back to the promise land a la Jordan. Kobe loves that type of pressure! He wants to say, “I put this franchise on my back and got them a back as a legit championship team.”

And as long as the Cubs are still in town, he still has some leverage for at least the next 100 years. Ouch, low blow. My bad, Cubs fans.

So to sum it up, who wouldn’t want Kobe? If I’m a GM, I’m taking a quick look at the possibility. But are these teams willing to pay top dollar for the meat or just sit back, observe and stay vegetarians all season long?