Memories of MJ: HoopsHD interviews Jay Guidinger

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Jon Teitel

When the NCAA tourney got canceled in March we entered a whole new world, which included a sports void the likes of which we have never seen before. The fine folks at ESPN came to the rescue in mid-April with “The Last Dance”, a 10-part miniseries about the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their quest to win a 6th NBA title in an 8-year span before Coach Phil Jackson and most of his star players all went their separate ways. While it has been comforting to spend the past several Sunday nights with behind-the-scenes stories from Steve Kerr/Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman, the star of the show as always is Michael Jordan. Even though the documentary concluded on May 17th, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has dug through his archives and discovered oodles of unpublished interviews about Jordan’s career, from his early days as the leading scorer for team USA at the 1983 Pan Am Games to a 55-PT playoff performance during Chicago’s final title run in 1998. We continue our trip down memory lane by chatting with Jay Guidinger about losing to Jordan in the 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals and having Phil Jackson constantly complain about him to the officials.

You were born/raised in Wisconsin: what made you choose Minnesota Duluth? I was born/raised in Milwaukee. In February of my senior season in high school I tore the ACL in my left knee so my college choice was essentially made for me when that injury occurred. It is interesting to note that I was aspiring to play D-1 basketball. Marquette came to watch me practice the week prior to me tearing my ACL. After practice I was essentially offered a “preferred walk-on” opportunity…but the interest from the D-1 level evaporated entirely after the knee injury. At the time of my injury my older brother Jeff was a senior playing at Minnesota Duluth. Head coach Dale Race and his staff had been heavily recruiting me since my junior year of high school but time and again I delayed making a commitment to UMD. After my knee injury I thought that I had lost all my options. I was truly grateful that Coach Race was still willing to give me an opportunity to play college basketball despite the severity of my knee injury. My high school career was very-average-to-boring and I did not achieve any conference awards or other recognition that I recall. However, Coach Race saw something in me that I did not see in myself: I am eternally grateful to him for the opportunity that he gave me.

You started each of your 126 games in college and set school records with 1953 PTS/1095 REB/195 BLK: what is the key to being a good post player? Footwork/spacing/timing/balance. A great set of hands helps, as well as the ability to communicate with those hands, and also your facial expressions. Balance is important: not just your own physical balance (which is important in the post) but understanding how to keep the floor balanced by how you move. Being a “good post player” requires you to be a “good basketball player”. Just like dribbling/shooting/passing are so important to being considered a well-rounded triple-threat basketball player, being comfortable while playing with your back to the basket, utilizing your pivot foot from a stationary position, and understanding weak side movement/timing (without the ball) are equally significant to being a great basketball player. Everyone needs to pay attention to spacing and timing. Anyone that finds themselves playing “in the post” needs to be comfortable making basketball decisions, both with and without the ball, while not seeing the basket. A great pass out of the post area that shifts the defense is a great offensive weapon. Weak side screens on the “help defense” creates havoc for the defense. Those teams that take the time to instruct all of their players on fundamental footwork and body positioning used in the post area to seal a defender/sustain gaps/create diversions are teams that will compete at a high level. The fundamental footwork/spacing/timing/balance for working in the post area are transferable to setting effective screens. This is another area of playing in the post that I thought I did well at. The better the screen/screener interaction, the more opportunities I created for myself on offense. Not just interior screening but also at the 3-PT line as well as in the open court. It is a thing of beauty when a primary ball handler and screener interact effectively: the defense is helpless when the timing and spacing is synchronized. This takes practice, patience, and communication (both verbal and non-verbal).

You were a 3-time NAIA All-American center and the 1st person to be named Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference POY for 3 straight seasons: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? I was, and still am, very grateful for that recognition. My individual success was a byproduct of the culture created by Dale Race, his staff, and the quality of the players I was fortunate to call my teammates. As I said earlier, I received no high school awards/honors/recognition from either my conference or my state. Not that I thought I deserved any: just that I was not accustomed to being viewed as such a good player. Honestly, at times I was a bit embarrassed by all of the individual recognition. I truly could not have received these individual honors had I not played with really good, high IQ, basketball players and had excellent coaches. We worked together as a team at a high level and achieved many wins. Our coach Dale Race always told us: “The greatest team you will ever be on is the one that you call home and with whomever you call family. If you are not pulling your weight and doing your part for that team, it is going to show up on the basketball court and in the classroom. Be a great team player at home first and the rest will take care of itself.” That is a philosophy that has stuck with me to this day and is a concept that I have shared with as many young players as often as I could.

After having reconstructive surgery on both of your knees prior to your initial tryout you signed with Cleveland in October of 1992 as an undrafted rookie: how bad were your knees, and what did it mean to you to sign a pro contract? Signing an NBA contract was something that I never ever seriously thought was in the realm of possibility for me. When it happened, and under the circumstances in which it happened, it was an unbelievable experience. I tore my right ACL coming out of high school…and then 4 years later at the NBA Portsmouth Invitational camp I tore my left ACL. Most people might think, “You had a good run kid but it is time to hang it up”. My knees were probably worse than I thought at the time but I never thought about having “bad knees”. Don’t get me wrong: I was disappointed/devastated each time that I tore my ACL.  I shed many tears and felt sorry for myself. Each time I felt “so close” to knowing whether I was “good enough” but when I thought that I was about to find out I kept having setbacks. I think that is what drove me: I needed to know whether I was good enough to actually play at the highest level in the world with the best players in the world. I always felt that I could improve: I just had to stay healthy. That mindset is probably what got me through the adversity of rehab. What I did not realize was how much time I was spending and how hard I was working just to be healthy/strong enough to play at a high level. I simply wanted to compete WITH the best: I did not come into Veteran Camp wondering who I was going to beat out. I was focused on 2 things: showing them that I could play the game the right way at a high level with the best players, and trying to be the last guy they cut. I guess I accomplished 1 of those 2 goals: they did not cut me on the last day! I was focused on understanding and playing the game at the highest level with the world’s best players. I was fortunate to have Lenny Wilkens as a head coach and Wayne Embry as a general manager: they both have brilliant basketball minds and are tremendous human beings. I think they saw how hard I was working to play the game at a high level with my teammates and that I was not worried about showcasing my game. They knew what they needed in a player for the position so they eventually signed me and I was fortunate to be healthy enough (both mentally/physically) to accept the position. In the end my mindset of “needing to know” seemed to work for me. There are other people that helped me get the Cavs Veteran Camp tryout: I am forever grateful to both my late agent (Don DeJardin) as well as a Cavs scout whose name escapes me.

In the decisive Game 4 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Chicago, Michael Jordan made the series-sweeping shot at the buzzer: what was it like to face the 2-time defending champs, and did you think the shot was going in? Playing against the Bulls in the old Chicago Stadium was magical. As for the shot going in, I was hopeful that he would miss it but my prayers were not answered. I was fortunate to play in the old Forum in LA, the old Boston Garden, and Madison Square Garden in NYC. The history of those places coupled with the great players from that era of the NBA was like winning the lottery. I talk about being on the same court as Jordan and actually playing in an official game with him but I do not have many words that can capture that feeling or memory other than “grateful” for an experience that very few people can claim. However, I had to make sure not to be in awe too much because we had a job to do. Every day I took the court for practice with my Cavs teammates I was among some of the best, most consistent, highest-producing players in the NBA. I was not dwelling on the fact that I was on the world’s largest basketball stage because I thought that it would last for many more years: I thought that I would have more time in the NBA than I actually ended up getting.

You played in 32 games with the Cavaliers followed by a few games in the CBA with the Rapid City Thrillers: what is your favorite memory from your time in the NBA, and what was the biggest difference between the NBA and CBA? Everything about being with the Cavs for two seasons (and the CBA Thrillers for a brief stint) was a great chapter in my life. I played for Mike Fratello in my second year with the Cavs: another great NBA mind. Both Lenny/Mike had amazing assistant coaches who were all great to be around. Eric Musselman coached me with the Thrillers. Although I only had a brief stint with the Thrillers Eric kept me focused and playing at a high level, which eventually got me back to the NBA with the Cavs. I have probably forgotten more special moments than I will ever remember but occasionally something will randomly come back to me: I am grateful that they make me smile rather than frown. I was blessed to have Lenny teach me NBA basketball but also privileged to listen to his stories from his time in NBA, the people he knew, and the social problems he faced. I played with 2 great teammates that passed away too soon in Bobby Phills/John “Hot Rod” Williams. In 2 short years with the Cavs I could go down the list of teammates/coaches/front office staff/facility personnel and think of a memory that makes me smile. What stands out to me was a game against the Bulls in Chicago during my 2nd season with the Cavs with Hubie Brown calling the game on TV. I played significant minutes that game and if my memory is correct we won. I know that I was frustrating Horace Grant/Phil Jackson because they were constantly complaining about me to the officials. More than likely they probably thought Fratello pulled me out the stands, gave me $20 and a uniform, and said, “You got 6 fouls: go use them!” The reality was that I just played the game, got in Horace’s way, disrupted the triangle offense, and tried to do whatever I could to help us win. After the game in the concourse, Hubie (whom I do not know) randomly walked up to me and said something like, “You did a good job tonight kid: I like the way you play the game so keep working hard because you can play in this league” and then walked away. I never met Hubie before that encounter and unfortunately I have never had the chance to speak with him again. I do recall that I thanked him before he walked away. Interestingly, it would only be a few days later that my basketball career would be over forever.

After retiring from basketball you spent a few years as a college assistant coach, and you currently work as a Vice President/General Manager for Lamar Advertising: how did you like coaching, and how do you like advertising? I love basketball. I love being around the players, the game strategy, and the business of the game at all levels (both men’s and women’s). Since basketball did so much for me as a player, I naturally thought that I would become a coach after my playing career ended. What has worked out in terms of the path that I walked and am currently walking is God’s plan. I was blessed to have opportunities to stay in coaching as a career but opportunities outside of basketball also presented themselves to me. Why? I have no explanation but by the Grace of God. I guess that I pursued these opportunities away from basketball because I “needed to know” if I was good enough to be successful without basketball. Lamar Advertising is a great company to work for and work with. Advertising in general is a lot like training to be an athlete: if you do not constantly train/practice you will lose your conditioning and your skills will diminish. You cannot stockpile fitness and skill. In that same regard you cannot “store” market awareness. The less you promote your brand and/or offerings, the fewer opportunities you will have.

In 2001 you were inducted into your school’s Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? This was a great honor and a testament to the players/coaches I had around me during my college years. It came long after my playing career ended when someone would be thinking about receiving an award. It is very special because it helped me put into perspective all of the great things that had happened in my life up to that point and how I would use those experiences to live out the rest of my life. My acceptance speech was titled “Realizing potential”. I am on a journey now to help my children and anyone else I am associated with to realize their potential in whatever way that may be.

Your wife Khai played basketball at your alma mater and your daughter Jinda plays basketball at Western Illinois: who is the best athlete in the family? I have to be careful with this answer! Athletically, our children are much better athletes than either me or my wife. They are better basketball players than we were at the same ages, and arguably better students. Hopefully that has something to do with us helping our kids realize their potential. I could not be more grateful/proud/blessed to be happily married for 25 years and have 3 healthy children. My daughter Jinda is in her 2nd year with Western Illinois as a pre-med student who plays basketball. She played a lot as a freshman and put up good numbers on both ends of the floor based on her minutes played. This year she has been nursing a nagging muscle strain/tendinitis all season. She played through the injury in a supporting role this season and the Leathernecks were 1 of the best teams in the Summit League. My oldest son Gabe is a senior at Central York High School in York, PA. We relocated to York from Pewaukee, WI after Gabe’s sophomore year in 2018. He earned a starting spot on the varsity for the Pewaukee Pirates, which is the same school that the Watt family attended….as in JJ/Derek/TJ! Gabe is closing out his senior campaign and has decided to go to college at St. John’s University in Minnesota. The timing of my relocation was not the best for Gabe’s college exposure but at least he will play college basketball somewhere. Central York was ranked 12th in the state of Pennsylvania. Gabe is 6’5” with a 6’8” wingspan and can score at all 3 levels on the court. He has great hops and hands and is a defensive mastermind who can guard the 1-4 spots (and the 5 spot if needed). Our youngest son Greg is finishing 8th grade and has played on the Central York freshman team the last 2 years. He is 6’5” at age 14 and is very skilled: he handles the ball so well, which he gets from his mom. He runs the point and dishes like a true point guard: also from his mother. He has college 3-PT range, a nice mid-range game, and great footwork in the low post. He is a threat at all 3 levels.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? Hopefully they will say, “Good ball player, great teammate!”

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Memories of MJ: HoopsHD interviews Buck Williams

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Jon Teitel

When the NCAA tourney got canceled in March we entered a whole new world, which included a sports void the likes of which we have never seen before. The fine folks at ESPN came to the rescue in mid-April with “The Last Dance”, a 10-part miniseries about the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their quest to win a 6th NBA title in an 8-year span before Coach Phil Jackson and most of his star players all went their separate ways. While it has been comforting to spend the past several Sunday nights with behind-the-scenes stories from Steve Kerr/Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman, the star of the show as always is Michael Jordan. Even though the documentary concluded on May 17th, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has dug through his archives and discovered oodles of unpublished interviews about Jordan’s career, from his early days as the leading scorer for team USA at the 1983 Pan Am Games to a 55-PT playoff performance during Chicago’s final title run in 1998. We continue our trip down memory lane by chatting with Buck Williams about facing Jordan in the 1992 NBA Finals as a player for Portland.

Your 1st name is Charles but your nickname is “Buck”: who gave it to you, and how did you get your trademark goggles? A friend of my family in North Carolina commented on how big I was as a child by saying that I was as “Big as a Buck” so my friends called me “Charlie Buck”, which was later shortened to “Buck”. I got elbowed in the eye by James Donaldson in the 1990 playoffs and afterward the doctor recommended that I wear the goggles.

You were named 1979 ACC ROY at Maryland and 1982 NBA ROY with New Jersey: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start in both college and the pros? I was able to go to the right teams. I did not start playing organized basketball until the 9th grade so I had to bring my skill set up to speed. My mom was a huge UNC fan but I figured I would get a better chance to play at Maryland.

In 1980 you were selected to the US Olympic basketball team but never got to travel to Moscow due to the American boycott: how excited were you to be chosen, and how frustrated were you when you learned that the team would not be participating? After the Olympic trials the coaches told all of the players to stick around even though we wanted to get home. After I flew home to North Carolina my high school coach told me that I had made the team! It was a great honor to be selected along with other guys like Mark Aguirre/Isiah Thomas. It was disappointing to not go to Moscow but it worked out much better for me as a player to scrimmage against some pro players.

In 1980/1981 you lost a pair of ACC tourney title games by a single point: how competitive was the conference tourney back in the day? It was highly competitive. The year we lost to Duke was on an infamous play. I went up for the game-winning shot but got undercut and no foul was called: I might have missed the FTs. That game changed everything for me: Maryland fans still remember that play just like it was yesterday. I came to college as a PF but later had to play the center position so I faced guys like Ralph Sampson at Virginia/Larry Nance at Clemson, which worked out really well for me.

You made the NBA Finals with Portland in 1990 & 1992: how close did you come to winning a title? We were close during that entire 3-year stretch. We were tied with Detroit before Vinnie Johnson got hot (www.youtube.com/watch?v=44j-teKPsaQ): it was incredible for us to come together like that in only 1 year. In 1992 we lost to the Bulls: Michael Jordan was the X-factor and bailed them out during every close game. We were up big in Game 6 but he won it almost by himself: he was such a phenomenal player and always took the last shot, which I admired. He was a cold-blooded big-shot maker.

You were named to the All-Defensive team 4 times in a 5-year span from 1988-1992: how did you balance your offense with your defense? Everyone talks about my rebounding but I was no slouch on offense either! I scored about 18,000 PTS and was a very good offensive player who could hold my own. At the PF you are a gatekeeper and have to be the most unselfish/tough player on the team. I matched up with some of the toughest offensive guys ever like Karl Malone and I took a lot of pride in making him work for every basket he ever had. I tried to play every facet of the game.

Your 13,017 career REB still remains in the top-20 all-time: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? It is like life: you have to be persistent and go for it every time. I had the foresight to know where the ball was going and how to box out/position myself. Clyde Drexler’s shot would rebound long while Otis Birdsong’s would not. Every time the ball hit the rim I was always in the air chasing it: I was relentless, just like Dennis Rodman.

You spent 17 years in pro basketball and played in 1307 career games: what was the key to your longevity? I was blessed but took good care of my body and had great teammates. I stayed focused on my task of being successful. My parents instilled an incredible work ethic in me but I was never obsessed with basketball: I attribute all of my success to my role models.

You served as president of the NBA Players Association from 1994-1997: why did you take the job, and what were you able to accomplish? Foots Walker nominated me to be the Nets’ player representative early in my career. It thrust me into a leadership position and I enjoyed it: I read about business/labor disputes and tried to look out for the players’ benefits/grievances. I was in a meeting 1 year when Isiah Thomas’ term was going to end: he nominated me (which caught me off guard) but I agreed to do it. We negotiated some great collective bargaining agreements and certified the union. We increased salaries in the early 1990s and you can still see those benefits today: it was my way to give back to the game, just like other players had done so before me.

In 2001 you were inducted into the Maryland Hall of Fame and in 2002 you were named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary men’s basketball team: where do these rank among the highlights of your career? Probably #1 & #2: I also got inducted into the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. I was 1 of 7 players who averaged a double-double for my career (along with legends like Bill Russell/Wilt Chamberlain) and I think that will stand out as 1 of my greatest accomplishments. I will go to my grave relishing that honor: to accomplish that as an undersized PF and retire 10th all-time in rebounding made me very proud. To see guys like Rodman/Maurice Cheeks make the Hall of Fame in recent years was also great: they could have been great scorers but sacrificed that aspect of the game to do other things to help their teams win championships.

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Memories of MJ: HoopsHD interviews 2-time NBA All-Star Terrell Brandon

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Jon Teitel

When the NCAA tourney got canceled in March we entered a whole new world, which included a sports void the likes of which we have never seen before. The fine folks at ESPN came to the rescue in mid-April with “The Last Dance”, a 10-part miniseries about the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their quest to win a 6th NBA title in an 8-year span before Coach Phil Jackson and most of his star players all went their separate ways. While it has been comforting to spend the past several Sunday nights with behind-the-scenes stories from Steve Kerr/Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman, the star of the show as always is Michael Jordan. Even though the documentary concluded on May 17th, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has dug through his archives and discovered oodles of unpublished interviews about Jordan’s career, from his early days as the leading scorer for team USA at the 1983 Pan Am Games to a 55-PT playoff performance during Chicago’s final title run in 1998. We continue our trip down memory lane by chatting with 2-time NBA All-Star Terrell Brandon about playing against Jordan in the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals and later becoming his Eastern Conference All-Star teammate.

At Grant High School you won a pair of Oregon Class AAA state titles in 1986 & 1988 and lost the title game in 1987: what did it mean to you to win 2 titles, and how close did you come to winning 3 in a row? We came really close. It was a roller coaster for me: after winning it as a sophomore I thought we would just keep winning every year but I got a reality check during my junior year that it was not as easy as it looked. It taught me to stay focused and do what you have to do.

In 1988 you were named Oregon high school POY: what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor? I think that every high school player wants to be known as the best in their own state. It meant a lot to me because I was able to come back and win the award even after breaking my ankle.

In 1991 at Oregon you averaged 26.6 PPG (the 3rd-highest average in conference history) and were named All-American/conference POY: do you feel like you are 1 of the best players in Pac-10/Pac-12 history? I hope so: when people break my game down they will see that my stats were pretty good and we made it to the 1990 NIT. However, we never made the NCAA tourney and I did not stay there for 4 years so I might be forgotten.

In the summer of 1991 you were selected 11th overall by Cleveland (6 spots behind Steve Smith): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? Considering I was coming out of Oregon and foregoing my senior year, it was remarkable for my family and our basketball program. I will always appreciate the Cavaliers for drafting me and believing in me.

Take me through the 1992 playoffs:
You beat the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals (the final game of Larry Bird’s career): how excited was the city of Cleveland after that win? We were extremely excited to beat the Big 3 of Bird/Robert Parish/Kevin McHale and it was extra-special for us to beat them in Boston. Boston coach Chris Ford sent Bird back into the game in the last minute to get 1 final standing ovation. Coach Lenny Wilkens sent me over to check into the game as well and Bird looked at me and said, “Well, I guess that’s it for me but it looks like you’re going to be a nice player someday”. He told me to try to stick around for 10 years: for a legend like him to pay attention to a rookie like me gave me a lot of confidence.

Michael Jordan/Scottie Pippen each scored 29 PTS in a 5-PT win by the eventual champion Bulls in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals: what was it like to play against Chicago in the middle of their 1st 3-peat? It was exciting…but also basketball hell! We wanted to beat them so bad but they were just so good. People ask me about those games against the Bulls and I tell them that it was just an honor to play against the best player ever and 1 of the best teams of all time.

After being a teammate of Jordan’s at the 1996 All-Star Game, you had 10 PTS/8 AST in 17 minutes at the 1997 All-Star Game at Gund Arena: what was it like to play so well in an All-Star Game on your home court? It meant a lot to me because I made it to back-to-back All-Star games in 1996/1997. The 1st time that you get selected people just feel like you had 1 good year…but the 2nd time that you get chosen it feels like you get accepted into the fraternity. My adopted hometown of Cleveland treated me great: it was also the 50th anniversary of the All-Star Game so all the great players from the past came back for a reunion. It also helped that we won the game, which is the main part of the weekend.

In 1997 Sports Illustrated labeled you “The Best Point Guard in the NBA” and you were awarded the NBA Sportsmanship Award for your work with children: which of these 2 things meant more to you? The Sportsmanship Award meant more to me. It probably means more than anything else I have ever accomplished because it represents what I did as a man off the court. It was important because I got to represent all of the Brandons across the country.

Even though your career was cut short due to recurring knee injuries you still rank in the top-70 all-time in both career APG/SPG: how frustrating was it to not be able to go out on your own terms? Every player wants to go out on their own terms. You can envision saying goodbye because it occasionally creeps into your mind. I thought about signing with the Cavs and maybe playing 1 final game in Cleveland before retiring. However, nobody can predict when they are going to get hurt and when the doctor says that your playing days are over it is just meant to be. I played a long time for a guy who was only 5’11”!

Your career 87.3 FT% remains in the top-25 all-time: what is your secret for FT shooting? I give the credit to my dad. I missed some FTs in a game back when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade and when I got home that night he asked me why I missed them. I told him that I could not make them all…but he did not like that answer! He explained that they are FREE so I should not miss that many if nobody is guarding me. He got in my head and I figured that I should make at least 85%. An important part of it is psychological but you also have to put in the hard work.

After retiring you opened a barbershop in 1 of Portland’s poorest neighborhoods that has since become a trendy area: why did you choose that neighborhood, and do you have any NBA players as customers? I grew up in this neighborhood so it was a no-brainer for me. This community in Northeast Portland needed help so I stayed here. I have had some Trail Blazers come in as well as opposing players/coaches/broadcasters. I am glad that they trust the fellowship/relationship: we all know how important it is to a player to get his hair cut!

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Memories of MJ: HoopsHD interviews Darrell Hedric about Ron Harper

Posted on May 24, 2020 by Jon Teitel

When the NCAA tourney got canceled in March we entered a whole new world, which included a sports void the likes of which we have never seen before. The fine folks at ESPN came to the rescue in mid-April with “The Last Dance”, a 10-part miniseries about the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their quest to win a 6th NBA title in an 8-year span before Coach Phil Jackson and most of his star players all went their separate ways. While it has been comforting to spend the past several Sunday nights with behind-the-scenes stories from Steve Kerr/Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman, the star of the show as always is Michael Jordan. Even though the documentary concluded on May 17th, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has dug through his archives and discovered oodles of unpublished interviews about Jordan’s career, from his early days as the leading scorer for team USA at the 1983 Pan Am Games to a 55-PT playoff performance during Chicago’s final title run in 1998. We continue our trip down memory lane by chatting with Ron Harper’s college coach Darrell Hedric about Ron losing to Jordan in the 1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals and winning 3 straight titles with Jordan in Chicago from 1996-1998.

 (photo credit: ohiobasketballhalloffame.com)

In the 1985 MAC tourney semifinals as a player at Miami Ohio Ron scored a career-high 45 PTS and had 18 REB in a win over Ball State en route to being named tourney MVP: where does that rank among the most impressive performances that you have ever seen? I coached Ron during his 1st 2 years and that was 1 of the greatest games we have ever had here at Miami.

In the 1985 NCAA tourney in Dayton he scored 26 PTS in a 1-PT OT loss to Maryland: how good a player was Len Bias (25 PTS)? Len was good enough to be 1 of the top picks in the 1986 NBA draft.

What are your memories of the 1986 NCAA tourney (Ron had 17 PTS/13 REB but Jeff Hornacek made a 26-foot jumper at the buzzer in a 2-PT OT win by Iowa State)? I was the assistant AD at the time and sitting right on press row. You could tell the shot was good when it left his hand: I remember it very well.

Ron was a 2-time MAC POY/1986 All-American: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors? It meant a lot to him. He came up the hard way with a bit of a speech impediment but worked to overcome it. He also worked hard on the court and improved with every single game that he played. He had all the skills you needed on both ends of the court. The bigger the game, the better the performance that Harp gave you.

In the summer of 1986 he was selected 8th overall by Cleveland in the NBA draft: did he see that as a validation of his college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? He is 1 of the highest draft picks in MAC history and he worked so hard for it because he wanted to play in the NBA.

In March of 1987 he set a rookie single-game record with 10 STL in a loss to Philadelphia, and his 1716 career STL remains in the top-25 all-time: what was his secret for being a great defender? He had great anticipation and a tremendous reach. He was 6’6” but played around 6’8”. He was a great leaper and would have had even a better career had he not hurt his knee.

He started 82 games and averaged 22.9 PPG/2.5 SPG as a rookie (the only other rookies to average 20+ PPG and 2+ SPG are Michael Jordan/Allen Iverson), but finished 2nd to Chuck Person for ROY: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from college to the NBA? He was 1 of the top college players in the nation even though he played in the MAC, which is why he was drafted so high. He could have played anywhere in the country.

What are your memories of Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference 1st round (even though the Cavs swept the Bulls 6-0 during the regular season, Jordan scored 44 PTS in a 1-PT series-clinching win after making his famous shot at the buzzer while hanging over Craig Ehlo in mid-air)? I remember it very well. Cleveland had a great team with Larry Nance/Mark Price but just could not beat Chicago/Jordan: then again, neither could anyone else! Harp did end up winning 5 NBA titles.

In the 1993 Western Conference 1st round as a player for the Clippers he had 19 PTS/6 STL/3 BLK in a 4-PT loss to Houston in the decisive 5th game: how frustrating was it for him to keep getting to the playoffs and then losing in the decisive game of the 1st round year after year? I think that it bothered him. He was not the type of guy who liked moral victories so winning his 1st title in 1996 finally got the monkey off his back.

Take me through the 1996 Finals as a player with the Bulls:
His team set an NBA record with 72 regular season wins that year: could you have imagined that was even possible? You could imagine it if you had the talent…but it is almost unheard of. An 82-game season is a long hard grind.

He suffered an injury late in the season but returned to the starting lineup during the Finals to help beat the Sonics: how bad was the injury, and what did it mean to him to win the title? The thing that made him so good is that he had a total all-around game. When he hurt his knee he really changed his game and focused on being a team player rather than a high scorer. The fact that he was still able to win titles like that helped him have a great career:  he was a really tough competitor.

In Game 1 of the 1997 Finals vs. Utah Jordan hit a 20-foot jumper at the buzzer for a 2-PT win: how did Ron like playing with such a clutch superstar? He had no problems with it at all: I think that it was actually kind of a blessing. He adjusted his game from driving/hitting the boards to playing defense, which complemented Jordan really well. He enjoyed playing with him and I think that Jordan would tell you the same thing about Ron.

In Game 6 of the 1998 Finals vs. Utah Jordan made the series-winning shot with 5.2 seconds left: do you think that he should have been called for an offensive foul after pushing off of Bryon Russell? I remember watching the shot on TV. I think that it was obviously a foul but it was not called by the refs.

Take me through the 2000 playoffs as a player for the Lakers:
Kobe Bryant made a game-winning shot in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals and a game-saving block on Arvydas Sabonis in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals: where does Kobe rank among the most clutch players you have ever seen? Right at the top. He came right out of high school and was just made to play basketball: you have to list him as 1 of the all-time greats.

In Game 2 of the Finals Ron entered the game in the 2nd quarter after Kobe sprained his ankle and ended up scoring 21 PTS in a 7-PT win over Indiana (Larry Bird’s “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy resulted in Shaq shooting a Finals-record 39 FT): what kind of relationship did he have with Coach Phil Jackson that allowed Phil to trust him to come to the rescue when it mattered the most? They had a great relationship. Ron learned the triple-post offense that Phil ran and knew what all of the positions were supposed to do. He fit in really well with that offense because he played team basketball: Ron respected Phil a lot.

When people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? Here at Miami he is a legend and is viewed as 1 of the top MAC players ever. He had a great pro career and was a team player. You would not have predicted it coming out of high school but he worked hard and was a great athlete.

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Memories of MJ: HoopsHD interviews Chris Dudley

Posted on May 23, 2020 by Jon Teitel

When the NCAA tourney got canceled in March we entered a whole new world, which included a sports void the likes of which we have never seen before. The fine folks at ESPN came to the rescue in mid-April with “The Last Dance”, a 10-part miniseries about the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their quest to win a 6th NBA title in an 8-year span before Coach Phil Jackson and most of his star players all went their separate ways. While it has been comforting to spend the past several Sunday nights with behind-the-scenes stories from Steve Kerr/Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman, the star of the show as always is Michael Jordan. Even though the documentary concluded on May 17th, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has dug through his archives and discovered oodles of unpublished interviews about Jordan’s career, from his early days as the leading scorer for team USA at the 1983 Pan Am Games to a 55-PT playoff performance during Chicago’s final title run in 1998. We continue our trip down memory lane by chatting with Chris Dudley about playing pickup games against Jordan in North Carolina and later playing for Cleveland in the 1989 Eastern Conference 1st round when Jordan made his famous shot at the buzzer while hanging over Craig Ehlo in mid-air.

Your great-grandmother Anne was a leading activist in the women’s suffrage movement, your grandfather Guilford was US ambassador to Denmark under Presidents Nixon/Ford, and your parents/grandfather/uncle all went to Yale: did you feel more pressure to go to Yale or to continue your family’s history of success? I never received a hard sell on going to Yale even though my dad certainly wanted me to go there. It was not easy to get in so maybe that was the most pressure!

You were a 3-time 1st-team All-Ivy performer: how were you able to dominate throughout your college career? I was a classic late-bloomer. I entered as a skinny freshman but eventually started to fill out and had a great summer going into my 3rd year after my body caught up with me.

As a senior you averaged 13.3 RPG (#2 in the nation behind Pitt’s Jerome Lane): what was your secret for being a great rebounder? You just have to go after every ball and be relentless. You also can get a feel for where the ball is going. The key is getting position before the shot goes up and breaking away so that you can beat your opponent to the spot.

In the summer of 1987 you were drafted in the 4th round by Cleveland: did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I knew that I was going to get drafted and it was a culmination of my hard work. There are no guarantees in the 4th round. I used to play down in North Carolina during the summers, which were some of the best pickup games in the country with guys like Michael Jordan/Brad Daugherty, so I knew that I could play pro basketball.

What are your memories of Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference 1st round (after sweeping the Bulls 6-0 during the regular season, Michael Jordan scored 44 PTS in a 1-PT series-clinching win after making his famous shot at the buzzer while hanging over Craig Ehlo in mid-air)? I remember being on the bench: it was brutal. We had a great team that year with great chemistry and were actually the favorite: we had the best record in the league until Mark Price got hurt.

In April of 1990 you broke Wilt Chamberlain’s NBA record by missing 13 consecutive FT (and finished that year with a league-worst 31.9 FT%): were your problems at the FT line more mental, or physical, or a combination of both? I would say it was a combination. For whatever reason my shoulder gave me a hard time shooting a set-shot, and the physical part carried over and affected my confidence. Frankly, not getting to the line that often did not help me get into a rhythm.

When your Nets teammate Drazen Petrovic was killed in an auto accident in the spring of 1993 you traveled to Croatia for the funeral: how big a hero was Petrovic in his homeland, and what made him such a great player? This is true of most players: it comes back to their work ethic. We lived in the same apartment complex in Secaucus, NJ, and would share rides to games and work out together. He was such a hard worker because he was driven to succeed. He was a national hero in Croatia. I remember getting off of the plane and seeing soldiers walking around with Uzis but the outpouring of grief was unbelievable. I still remember the anguish in his mother’s voice.

What are your memories of Game 5 of the 1996 Western Conference 1st round with Portland (your team shot 33% from the field and had a 37-11 FT disparity in a 102-64 loss to Utah, which set a record for fewest PTS in a playoff game)? That was brutal, especially because we went into it with high expectations due to our momentum. Utah was always a tough place to play thanks to guys like John Stockton/Karl Malone.

Take me through the 1999 playoffs with Knicks:
In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference 1st round Allan Houston scored 12 PTS including a 14-foot runner off the rim/backboard with 0.8 seconds left in a 1-PT win over Miami on the road: where does that rank among the most clutch shots you have ever seen, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? That Miami-New York series was such a big rivalry, with the history of Pat Riley leaving the Knicks in 1995 to coach the Heat. We were a big underdog but knew that we could beat them. It was 1 of the more memorable shots in NBA history in my mind. It was truly a team where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. We liked each other and had each other’s backs.

In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals Larry Johnson scored 26 PTS and made his famous 4-PT play with 5.7 seconds left in a 1-PT win over Indiana: did you think that the foul called on Antonio Davis was correct, and do you think that Jess Kersey should have allowed the basket to count due to continuation? Yes and yes…but I am biased. He had no business fouling him, and if you do then make sure he does not get the shot off! That place went wild and it was huge to win the game. Larry was 1 of the best teammates that I ever had.

You were the 1st #8-seed to ever make the Finals but you lost to the Spurs in 5 games: do you think that you could have won if Patrick Ewing had not missed the series with an Achilles tendon injury and Larry Johnson did not have an injured knee? San Antonio was a great team and they were rolling but I would have liked our chances if we were healthy. Chris Childs was hurting as well and I could not straighten my elbow.

You played 16 years in the NBA (which remains in the top-50 all-time and #1 among all Ivy League alumni): how were you able to stick around for such a long time, and do you think that we will ever see another Ivy alum have a long-term NBA career? I do think that there could be another Ivy alum to have a long career. You have to be lucky to overcome injuries and also take care of yourself. I took it seriously as my profession and worked out hard in the off-season. I often got to play under 30 minutes/game, which also helped keep me fresh.

You 1027 career BLK remains in the top-100 all-time: what was your secret for being a great shot blocker? Anticipation: I was more of a weak-side blocker who would slide over and help out.

Your Chris Dudley Foundation helps improve the lives of diabetic children and you also gave $100,000 to Gales Creek Camp (1 of the few camps that is geared solely to kids with diabetes): why is it so important to fight diabetes, and do you think more athletes should give back to those who are less fortunate? Giving back was something I learned to do while being brought up: my grandfather was a pastor who taught me to give back. I have had diabetes since age 16 so when I signed my 1st contract I started the Foundation, which is still going strong. I think that a lot of athletes do give back and get involved.

In 2005 you became a volunteer assistant coach at Lake Oswego High School where you mentored Kevin Love: what was the most important thing you ever taught him, and does he give you a lot of credit for helping him to become such a great player? I taught him how to rebound…and he still does not give me enough credit! He had a great foundation in his father Stan and was well on his way to being a good player. We worked on rebounding/positioning/defense as well as the approach to the game and getting your body right. He is such a hard worker and I have enjoyed watching him develop: he has exceeded even my own expectations.

In 2010 you won 39% of the vote in a crowded Republican primary to win the GOP nomination for governor of Oregon but lost a close election (49%–48%) to former governor John Kitzhaber: do you want to give politics another shot or try something else in the future? If you ask my wife: no way! Politics was a part of the equation (along with the Foundation) of making an impact. I have enjoyed the non-profit world but I saw a need in the public world. It is a tremendous sacrifice on your family when you get into the political ring so it would have to be a family decision. I will remain politically involved 1 way or the other.

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Memories of MJ: HoopsHD interviews David Dumars about his Hall of Fame brother Joe

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Jon Teitel

When the NCAA tourney got canceled in March we entered a whole new world, which included a sports void the likes of which we have never seen before. The fine folks at ESPN came to the rescue in mid-April with “The Last Dance”, a 10-part miniseries about the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their quest to win a 6th NBA title in an 8-year span before Coach Phil Jackson and most of his star players all went their separate ways. While it has been comforting to spend the past several Sunday nights with behind-the-scenes stories from Steve Kerr/Scottie Pippen/Dennis Rodman, the star of the show as always is Michael Jordan. Even though the documentary concluded on May 17th, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel has dug through his archives and discovered oodles of unpublished interviews about Jordan’s career, from his early days as the leading scorer for team USA at the 1983 Pan Am Games to a 55-PT playoff performance during Chicago’s final title run in 1998. We continue our trip down memory lane by chatting with David Dumars about Detroit using “The Jordan Rules” to beat Chicago in the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals and Jordan later calling his brother Joe “the best NBA defender I ever faced”.

In 1985 your brother Joe became the 1st men’s basketball player in Southland history to be named 4-time 1st-team all-conference, and he remains the only 4-time All-Southland tournament selection: how was he able to come in as a freshman and contribute right from the start and then continue to dominate throughout the rest of his college career? He had a strong mindset and worked on it a lot. He was confident and just came out and played.

He graduated from McNeese State as the 11th-leading scorer in NCAA history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player he was? I was off playing football but I heard that my little brother was putting up some big numbers. I knew that he could score but never realized how high he was on the list. Scoring was always going to be there but in the NBA he focused on his defense.

Take me through the legendary 1987 Eastern Conference Finals as a member of the Pistons:
After Boston won the 1st 2 games at home, Detroit won the next 2 games at home by a combined 44 PTS: what do you remember about the bench-clearing brawl between Bill Laimbeer and Larry Bird in Game 3? I actually remember a brawl between Laimbeer and Robert Parish that took place right under the basket (www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7A9-21vRGw).

Boston had a 1-PT win in Game 5 on Bird’s famous last-second steal/assist to Dennis Johnson: did you realize at the time how famous the play would become? No. I remember that the Pistons had that game wrapped up in Boston Garden and would have went back to Detroit up 3-2 in the series. It was a huge turnaround because I think that they would have won it all that year.

In the 1988 Eastern Conference semifinals Detroit used “The Jordan Rules” to beat Chicago in 5 games: what was Joe’s reaction when Michael Jordan later called him “the best NBA defender I ever faced”? I have talked to Joe about that. He admits that he played him tough but no 1 person could stop Jordan: it took a whole team! He knew that he would have to play defense to make the team: most guys just want to be a scorer.

In 1989 he won his 1st NBA title and was voted Finals MVP after scoring 27.3 PPG in the series: what did it mean to him to win a title, and how was he able to play his best when it mattered the most? When those opportunities come along you have to give it your all. We grew up watching the Lakers-Celtics battles on TV so he had all the motivation he needed to beat the Lakers.

In 1990 he won his 2nd-straight title despite learning after Game 3 that your father passed away (he prepared to return home until your mother told him to finish the job): how hard was it for him to get back on the court after your father died, and did you feel like he honored your father’s memory by winning the title? My father would have wanted him to keep playing: when Joe got drafted my dad told him to treat it like a job. He always instilled in us the value of doing the best that we could do. It was a hard thing but we learned growing up to do our job.

In 1994 he was a tri-captain for team USA at the FIBA World Championship (along with Reggie Miller/Shaquille O’Neal): what did it mean to him to represent his country, and what did it mean to him to win a gold medal? Every kid would love the chance to represent their country. My dad always taught us to be humble and never talk about ourselves because if we did a good job then other people would talk about us. Joe was proud just to be on the team and it was a very powerful moment for all of us.

In 1996 he became the 1st recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award, which has since been re-named the Joe Dumars Trophy: why was sportsmanship so important to him, and how did it feel to have the award named after him? It goes back to the way that we were brought up: we did not showboat and just played the game the right way. He respected his opponent but also had a killer instinct. To have that trophy named after him was a great reflection on our family and 1 of his proudest accomplishments.

He spent his entire 14-year career with Detroit (becoming 1 of only a handful of guys to play 1000+ games with their original NBA team), where he was a 6-time All-Star/5-time All-Defensive player: why did he stay there his entire career, and why don’t more players remain loyal to their 1st team? Everything you have asked about goes back to my dad: he was on the job for 37 years and it is a reflection of him. He taught us not to chase anything because we could do a great job wherever we are. Joe just made the best of his time in Detroit and raised his family there.

In 2006 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? As a guy who did it the right way. He was never in trouble and was a really humble player who was hard-working/dedicated.

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