Michael Finley is 1 of those guys who succeeded at every level of basketball. As a senior at Proviso East High School he won the 1991 IHSA Class AA boys basketball tournament. At Wisconsin he was a 2-time 1st-team All-Big 10 pick and set the school’s all-time scoring record. In the NBA he was named to the All-Rookie 1st-Team, made back-to-back All-Star appearances, and won a title in 2007. He currently works for Dallas as assistant general manager/vice president of basketball operations. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with him about being a great scorer and winning an NBA title. Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Michael’s 1st NBA All-Star appearance on February 13, 2000, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishments.
In 1995 you completed your Wisconsin career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2147 PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer, and how did you feel when Alando Tucker passed you in 2007? There is no secret: it is just a matter of hard work/determination. Being part of a team/culture that believes in you also helps. Alando is a good player who had a good career…but it took him a few more games to do it!
That summer you were drafted 21st overall by Phoenix (3 spots behind Theo Ratliff): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was a dream come true. Growing up on the playgrounds of Maywood, IL, everyone wants to make the NBA. It was a celebration of all my hard work and great for both me/my family.
You played all 82 games as a rookie, scored 15 PPG, and were named to the 1996 All-Rookie 1st-Team: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? I was prepared both on and off the court by staying 4 years in college. My college coaches (Stu Jackson/Stan Van Gundy) had NBA experience, which gave me a step up on some other guys. My NBA coaches (Paul Westphal/Cotton Fitzsimmons) believed in me and gave me a chance to produce.
You were traded to Dallas in 1996: how long did it take for you to figure out that your new teammates Steve Nash/Dirk Nowitzki would turn into Hall of Famers? At the time I did not see Hall of Famers: just a pair of guys who could become the best players from their respective countries and perennial All-Stars. I am so proud of both of them: I just wish that we could have played together longer in Dallas.
You were named an All-Star in 2000/2001: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was a great accolade: I was not voted in by the fans but to have the coaches select me made me feel even better.
On January 23, 2001, you tied an NBA record with 8 STL in a half in a 16-PT loss to Philly: what is the key to being a great defender? Playing against bad offensive guys! I was just in the right place at the right time in an unusual game. You need the intent to defend the best players in the game and hopefully your good nights will outweigh your bad nights.
Take me through the magical 2007 NBA playoffs with San Antonio:
In Game 5 of the Western Conference 1st round against Denver you scored 26 PTS and set a team record by making 8-9 3PM in a series-clinching win: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Every shot I took that night I thought was going in. My teammates gave me great looks at the basket: you wish you could have that every single night.
In the closing minute of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals, your former teammate Nash was shoved into the press table by Robert Horry, Amare Stoudemire/Boris Diaw left the Suns’ bench, and they were subsequently suspended for Game 5 (which you won by 3 PTS): how big a deal was it at the time, and do you think that incident changed the outcome of the series? I still feel that we had the better team and would have beaten them anyway. It was an unusual situation for me because Steve was 1 of my best friends in the league: most of my career was spent protecting him but that night I was going against him.
In the NBA Finals you swept Cleveland to win the title: what did it mean to you to finally win a title? To receive the trophy and celebrate with my guys in the locker room was surreal and something that I will always cherish.
You played 15 years, led the league in games played during 5 different seasons, and your 37,996 minutes remains in the top-60 all-time: how were you able to stay healthy and stick around for such a long time? Just taking care of your body and maintaining your work ethic on and off the court. Eat right, get the proper rest, and take pride in being a professional athlete at all times. To compete at the highest level comes with a great deal of responsibility.
After retiring in 2010 you became a producer for many films (including Lee Daniels’ The Butler and American Made): how did you get into the movie industry, and what is your next project? I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and wanted to be sure that I was ready for the next step. I talked to someone in the industry and wanted to become part of it. It has been a great experience and hopefully I can continue to do it. We have a documentary that debuted on Fox called “They Fight”, the 1st time that they featured a documentary. It is about African-American kids in Philly and their life inside/outside the ring.
You are currently the VP of Basketball Operations for the Mavericks: how do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? It has been great to work for Mark Cuban/Donnie Nelson while learning as much as I can from a front office perspective. As a player you think that you know everything but I continue to try to put the Mavericks on the map and work as hard as I can.
