Q. What suggestions have you made to your players for the off-season?

A. "I told them to keep working on their game and to keep believing in themselves. If this is truly the career that they would like to pursue, then they cannot listen to anyone saying that they can’t do it. They have to go out and believe in themselves. Nobody is going to believe in you more than yourself. Your must have that confidence in yourself.”

Q. Why is the off-season so important to a basketball player?

A. “That is the time that you can get better, bigger, and stronger. During the season it is more difficult to work on quickness and build muscle. The summertime is the time to work on those things. In the off-season, you can take a few weeks to let your body get some rest, but then it’s time to jump back into it.”

Q. What memories will you take with you from the D-Fenders inaugural season?

A. “I will take the whole experience with me because it was the first year of this
team. It is kind of like you are a part of history. When they
show that first team picture of the D-Fenders I am going to
be in it. Also, I will always remember our first win.”

D-Fenders assistant coach Chucky Brown speaks to players during a D-League tryout session. Juan Ocampo/NBAE/Getty Images

Q. What did you learn about yourself as a coach this season?

A. "I learned that you have to be more patient with players because players today are different from when I played. Players today are more sensitive. They are getting younger and younger coming out, so there is a lot more teaching that you have to do.”