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We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators/alumni in the country. We continue our coverage with new Arizona assistant coach Jason Terry. He was an NCAA champ in 1997, an All-American in 1999, and an NBA champ in 2011. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Coach Terry about winning a pair of titles and his expectations for this year.
You played for Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona: what made him such a great coach, and how devastated were you to learn of his passing in August? He instilled a team/family culture and held us accountable: those were life lessons for me both on and off the court. It was disheartening to hear of his passing but I know that he left such a big legacy not just around Tucson but throughout the entire basketball community.
In the 1997 NCAA title game you scored 8 PTS in a 5-PT OT win over Kentucky: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? I won 2 state titles at Franklin High School in Seattle. Once I arrived in Tucson it was about winning a title here, so to contribute to that effort was a dream come true. The entire city shut down for a week to celebrate what we accomplished. Some people still recognize me around town today and will tell me that they (or their parents!) really appreciated me.
In 1999 you led the Pac-10 in PPG/APG/SPG: what is the key to being a good PG? You need a coach who understands what you bring to the team, which is another thing that I admired about Coach Olson. He empowered me to be the leader and rewarded me with the responsibility of being “the guy”, which allowed me to go out and play freely.
You finished the year by being named All-American/Pac-10 POY: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? They were tremendous honors but I give a lot of credit to guys like Damon Stoudamire/Mike Bibby who taught me a lot about work ethic. Josh Pastner, who is now head coach at Georgia Tech, would show up to the gym at 6AM to rebound for me. It gave me the confidence to perform at a high level. I also had big men like AJ Bramlett who would set every screen and make every outlet pass.
In the summer of 1999 you were drafted 10th overall by Atlanta (6 spots ahead of Ron Artest): did you see that as a validation of your hard work or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA? Both of those things. It was a tremendous accomplishment and gave me a sense of validation. Coming from the inner-city in Seattle was a struggle so it was a great honor to make the NBA.
In the decisive Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals as a player for Dallas you scored a game-high 27 PTS off the bench in a 10-PT win over Miami: how did winning an NBA title compare to an NCAA title, and what was it like to face your former college teammate Mike Bibby? I was a teenager when I won in college and was only responsible for going to class/playing basketball/having fun. Winning an NBA title was like a sigh of relief: we lost to Miami in the 2006 Finals and then put in a lot of sweat/tears to get back there. We had a special group with Hall of Famers like Jason Kidd/Dirk Nowitzki and other guys who had been in the league a long time like Shawn Marion/Peja Stojakovic. Bibby and I have a special bond and competed at the highest level for the ultimate prize: I hated that 1 of us had to lose.
In 2018 you retired with 2282 career 3PM (which remains #7 in NBA history) and 1410 games (which remains #10 in NBA history): what is the key to making shots from behind the arc, and what is the key to sticking around for 19 years? Hard work/repetition. You also need to translate it from the practice floor to the game floor “when the popcorn is popping”! I made the shots but had great PGs who gave me the ball in situations where all I had to do was catch it and let it fly. I was blessed to play for 19 years: I had faith, a great cast of supportive teammates, and a wife/5 daughters who really lifted me up. I never had any major injuries that kept me out for an extended period of time and I tried to be a good team-1st guy in the locker room.
Last May you were named an assistant coach to Sean Miller at your alma mater: why did you take the job, and how is it going so far? Once I figured out my life purpose (to impact others and help young men/women become the best version of themselves), I truly understood that being at my alma mater with Sean would allow me to have the greatest impact. He has had a Hall of Fame career and I love that he values education: he has graduated 100% of the guys who have stayed 4 years, and a couple who left early have even come back to get their degree. He cares about his players as people and his characteristics align with mine so I want to see our team grow/flourish.
Arizona freshman forward Daniel Batcho previously had a torn ACL, then had right knee surgery again last month, and will be reevaluated in late-January: how is he doing, and do you think that we will see him back on the court this season? He is in good spirits: he is always smiling and is a very smart player. He knew the roster of every single team in the NBA playoff bubble. I do not know when he will return but he is a beast inside with soft hands/high IQ.
What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? Our goal is just to get better every time that we step onto the floor. We are a young team but will set our goals high because we want to compete for a national title. We need to come to work and focus on getting better: development is key. We are going to need everyone to contribute and they will all get a lot of experience.