Hornets.com’s 1-on-1: Minnesota’s Mike James, Billy McKinney
November 24, 2006
Hornets.com’s Cris Quintana caught up with Minnesota guard Mike James at the Ford Center on Friday evening. Meanwhile, Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer discussed the Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett’s future with radio analyst Billy McKinney.
James was the NBA’s 20th-leading scorer as a member of the Toronto Raptors in 2005-06, then signed a long-term contract with the Timberwolves this summer. McKinney is in his 29th NBA season as a player, coach, scout, administrator or broadcaster. He played seven seasons in the league, beginning in 1977.
Minnesota guard Mike James
Q. How does it feel to have cemented yourself as a starting point guard after playing for six different teams?
A. If you ask any of the coaches that I’ve had on those teams if I deserved to be where I’m at, they’d tell you I do. So, it’s nothing against my skills or how I play the game; it’s just been their decision to trade me. I’ve always thought I was good enough to be a starting point guard in this league.
Q: How does it feel to be with the Minnesota Timberwolves after signing as a free agent this past offseason?
A: I’m excited about our future. I believe that we’ve got a chance to be really good this year. We just have to figure out how to get on the same page. I think we’re slowly coming around.
Q: What does it say about you being in the top 20 in scoring last season, the only player in that group who wasn’t drafted?
A: That just lets you know that there are some good players that haven’t been drafted. I just kept working hard and getting better and that always pays off.
Q: What’s your impression of Chris Paul and the impact he’s had on the Hornets in his brief career?
A: Good player, has a lot of upside. Young and talented. God has really gifted him and he’s gonna continue getting better.
Q: How does it feel to play with Kevin Garnett?
A: He’s one of the best players in the league and has been for years. He’s one of the main reasons why signing with Minnesota was the right choice for my career and for my family.
Minnesota broadcaster Billy McKinney
Q: The Timberwolves have experienced an up-and-down first month of the season. From what you’ve seen so far, do you believe this is a playoff team?
A: Well, if they play like they did in their first couple games [Minnesota started 2-0 prior tos a 2-6 stretch], definitely. But the Western Conference is so tough and everyone has improved. Even though the Wolves have made some acquisitions to upgrade their backcourt, they’re going to have to play more consistently on the road and establish some dominance at home to be a playoff team.
Q: What do you expect will happen with Kevin Garnett? There have been a multitude of rumors that if the Wolves don’t improve soon, he could be dealt before the trade deadline.
A: I don’t think he’ll be traded. I think that’s a lot of speculation and rumors being started by hopeful general managers, who’d like to entice the Wolves into making a trade, or push the Wolves into trading him. But Kevin Garnett has been very loyal to this franchise. As long as his teammates play hard and he sees the effort from the front office to make the team better (Garnett will be content). Kevin is a very loyal player.
Q: Do you believe he is happy with his situation right now? Realistically, it’s difficult to see this Timberwolves team contending anytime soon. He has repeatedly said he wants to be a Timberwolf his entire career, but do you see that changing?
A: The only thing I can base my response to that on is what Kevin has said. Kevin is a guy who says what he means, and means what he says. That’s what I would anticipate (that Garnett will be a career Timberwolf). But that is going to be a matter of when his contract is up, the team will have some decisions to make as far as re-signing him. And who knows what other trades could be made to try to fortify the team?
Q: Your TV broadcasters discussed this at length during Wednesday’s game against the Knicks. How much different would things have been for the Timberwolves franchise and Garnett if point guard Stephon Marbury had not forced his way out of Minnesota?
A: You know, when people go through hypothetical situations, they always look at the best-case scenario. But you don’t know if Stephon Marbury would have been injured or something like that. So you really never know. On paper, if Marbury would have stayed and with those two players being as talented as they were, it would have given the Wolves a dynamic one-two punch, but I guess we’ll never know what would have happened.
Q: After watching guard Randy Foye in summer league, many analysts predicted he would be a Rookie of the Year candidate, but he is only averaging 12.5 minutes per game. Are you surprised he isn’t playing more? Is it a situation where his playing time will increase later in the season?
A: I expect he’ll be a bigger part of the rotation as the season progresses, but people have to remember that this is a veteran team that has a very crowded backcourt. So Randy’s got to earn his playing time right now. I think the luxury that coach Dwayne Casey has with so many guys in his backcourt, is that the guys who are willing to play the way he wants them to play – with integrity and intensity every night – are the guys who will get playing time. Randy Foye strikes me as a guy who will continue to do that.
Q: What is your opinion of the Hornets, who are off to an 8-4 start? Did you expect them to play well this early, given how many new players are on the roster?
A: I thought they were one of the most improved teams this summer. The acquisition of Peja Stojakovic this summer, I really liked it. But the move that is kind of under the radar was the signing of Bobby Jackson. That certainly helped. And Tyson Chandler has been playing very well for this team. So I think they’re one of the most improved teams in the league right now. Byron Scott is doing a great job, and when you have a dynamic young point guard like Chris Paul who really understands the position, you have a chance to go a long way.
Hornets.com’s Cris Quintana caught up with Minnesota guard Mike James at the Ford Center on Friday evening. Meanwhile, Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer discussed the Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett’s future with radio analyst Billy McKinney.
James was the NBA’s 20th-leading scorer as a member of the Toronto Raptors in 2005-06, then signed a long-term contract with the Timberwolves this summer. McKinney is in his 29th NBA season as a player, coach, scout, administrator or broadcaster. He played seven seasons in the league, beginning in 1977.
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Q. How does it feel to have cemented yourself as a starting point guard after playing for six different teams?
A. If you ask any of the coaches that I’ve had on those teams if I deserved to be where I’m at, they’d tell you I do. So, it’s nothing against my skills or how I play the game; it’s just been their decision to trade me. I’ve always thought I was good enough to be a starting point guard in this league.
Q: How does it feel to be with the Minnesota Timberwolves after signing as a free agent this past offseason?
A: I’m excited about our future. I believe that we’ve got a chance to be really good this year. We just have to figure out how to get on the same page. I think we’re slowly coming around.
Q: What does it say about you being in the top 20 in scoring last season, the only player in that group who wasn’t drafted?
A: That just lets you know that there are some good players that haven’t been drafted. I just kept working hard and getting better and that always pays off.
Q: What’s your impression of Chris Paul and the impact he’s had on the Hornets in his brief career?
A: Good player, has a lot of upside. Young and talented. God has really gifted him and he’s gonna continue getting better.
Q: How does it feel to play with Kevin Garnett?
A: He’s one of the best players in the league and has been for years. He’s one of the main reasons why signing with Minnesota was the right choice for my career and for my family.
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Q: The Timberwolves have experienced an up-and-down first month of the season. From what you’ve seen so far, do you believe this is a playoff team?
A: Well, if they play like they did in their first couple games [Minnesota started 2-0 prior tos a 2-6 stretch], definitely. But the Western Conference is so tough and everyone has improved. Even though the Wolves have made some acquisitions to upgrade their backcourt, they’re going to have to play more consistently on the road and establish some dominance at home to be a playoff team.
Q: What do you expect will happen with Kevin Garnett? There have been a multitude of rumors that if the Wolves don’t improve soon, he could be dealt before the trade deadline.
A: I don’t think he’ll be traded. I think that’s a lot of speculation and rumors being started by hopeful general managers, who’d like to entice the Wolves into making a trade, or push the Wolves into trading him. But Kevin Garnett has been very loyal to this franchise. As long as his teammates play hard and he sees the effort from the front office to make the team better (Garnett will be content). Kevin is a very loyal player.
Q: Do you believe he is happy with his situation right now? Realistically, it’s difficult to see this Timberwolves team contending anytime soon. He has repeatedly said he wants to be a Timberwolf his entire career, but do you see that changing?
A: The only thing I can base my response to that on is what Kevin has said. Kevin is a guy who says what he means, and means what he says. That’s what I would anticipate (that Garnett will be a career Timberwolf). But that is going to be a matter of when his contract is up, the team will have some decisions to make as far as re-signing him. And who knows what other trades could be made to try to fortify the team?
Q: Your TV broadcasters discussed this at length during Wednesday’s game against the Knicks. How much different would things have been for the Timberwolves franchise and Garnett if point guard Stephon Marbury had not forced his way out of Minnesota?
A: You know, when people go through hypothetical situations, they always look at the best-case scenario. But you don’t know if Stephon Marbury would have been injured or something like that. So you really never know. On paper, if Marbury would have stayed and with those two players being as talented as they were, it would have given the Wolves a dynamic one-two punch, but I guess we’ll never know what would have happened.
Q: After watching guard Randy Foye in summer league, many analysts predicted he would be a Rookie of the Year candidate, but he is only averaging 12.5 minutes per game. Are you surprised he isn’t playing more? Is it a situation where his playing time will increase later in the season?
A: I expect he’ll be a bigger part of the rotation as the season progresses, but people have to remember that this is a veteran team that has a very crowded backcourt. So Randy’s got to earn his playing time right now. I think the luxury that coach Dwayne Casey has with so many guys in his backcourt, is that the guys who are willing to play the way he wants them to play – with integrity and intensity every night – are the guys who will get playing time. Randy Foye strikes me as a guy who will continue to do that.
Q: What is your opinion of the Hornets, who are off to an 8-4 start? Did you expect them to play well this early, given how many new players are on the roster?
A: I thought they were one of the most improved teams this summer. The acquisition of Peja Stojakovic this summer, I really liked it. But the move that is kind of under the radar was the signing of Bobby Jackson. That certainly helped. And Tyson Chandler has been playing very well for this team. So I think they’re one of the most improved teams in the league right now. Byron Scott is doing a great job, and when you have a dynamic young point guard like Chris Paul who really understands the position, you have a chance to go a long way.
