Jannero Pargo Q&A
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Aug. 9, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Hornets completed what is potentially their final roster addition of the 2006 offseason on Wednesday, officially signing reserve guard Jannero Pargo.
A relatively unknown player to casual basketball fans, Pargo’s path to the league was filled with obstacles. After starring at Arkansas in college, the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder went undrafted in 2002. Over four NBA seasons, Pargo has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto and Chicago – including all three teams at different stages of the 2003-04 campaign. Pargo also spent a portion of the ’03-04 season with the Long Beach Jam of the American Basketball Association.
Despite receiving sporadic playing time throughout his pro career, the 26-year-old is regarded as a prolific scorer who can put up big offensive numbers in a short amount of minutes. He has averaged 5.0 points per game over 154 NBA games, but when given extended minutes, has often displayed explosiveness at that end of the floor. As a member of the Bulls, Pargo racked up a career-high 34 points at Milwaukee on March 26, 2004, tying Chicago’s franchise record with seven 3-pointers in that game.
Pargo, who was named Jannero after his father, was introduced to the media at a press conference Wednesday. Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer later caught up with the newest Hornet for a one-on-one interview.
Eichenhofer: You were undrafted out of college and have been a player who definitely had to work to make it to the NBA and stay here. For example, during the 2003-04 season, you played for three different NBA teams, as well as an ABA team. You also have been signed to 10-day contracts. Given your background, how does it feel for you to sign a multi-year contract?
Pargo: It’s really special, because I had to come in through the back door to get in this league. To have an opportunity to be recruited by three or four teams this summer, it really felt good. I feel like all of my hard work has paid off and I just feel really blessed. Actually, last season (with Chicago) was my first guaranteed contract. And that was for one year. I’m moving in the right direction, but at the same time I’m not satisfied.
Eichenhofer: You are known for your ability to put up points in a short period of time, especially when you get hot from the perimeter. You once scored 34 points, including seven 3-pointers, vs. Milwaukee in 2004. How have you been able to produce big offensive games even when you may have been sitting on the bench all night?
Pargo: A lot of people who come in so late in the game like that are not loose. When I come in, I try to pick up fullcourt (defensively) and get myself going that way. When I get put into the game in that situation, my mindset is to go out and make something happen. A lot of times I’ve been successful doing that. You have to keep a good attitude, be happy for the guys who are playing and take advantage of the opportunity to play when you get it.
Eichenhofer: Did any of your teammates or the fans ever try to give you a nickname like “The Microwave” or something like that?
Pargo: Yeah, they’ve called me The Microwave, like Vinnie Johnson [grins]. A lot of people recognize me for that. I’m just happy to be recognized, period.
Eichenhofer: You played with the Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson, a current member of the USA Basketball team, in college at Arkansas for one season. How much of an impact has he had on your career?
Pargo: Playing with Joe Johnson really helped me out a lot. I watched some of the things he did and tried to put that into my life. Also, when I was with the Lakers, I was mentored by so many people, including Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal – a very smart guy who knows a lot about the game – Derek Fisher, Gary Payton. I’ve really been blessed to have great coaches and great teammates who helped me a lot along the way.
Eichenhofer: What was the experience like playing for a Lakers team in 2002-03 that had won three straight championships? It seemed like you were immediately put into a situation where you played in a lot of big games.
Pargo: A lot of my friends and people I knew really didn’t understand why I tried to make the Lakers team, out of all the teams that were out there. But my agent and I thought it was a great opportunity, because they had just had Tyronn Lue and he moved on to another team. We thought I could come in and do some of the things he did. It turned out to be a great situation.
Eichenhofer: You’ve previously worn No. 15 during your NBA career. Why did you change to No. 2?
Pargo: I picked it because of my little brother (Jeremy Pargo). He plays for Gonzaga and wears that number. I also did it because of Joe Johnson, who wears No. 2 for the Hawks.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Hornets completed what is potentially their final roster addition of the 2006 offseason on Wednesday, officially signing reserve guard Jannero Pargo.
A relatively unknown player to casual basketball fans, Pargo’s path to the league was filled with obstacles. After starring at Arkansas in college, the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder went undrafted in 2002. Over four NBA seasons, Pargo has played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto and Chicago – including all three teams at different stages of the 2003-04 campaign. Pargo also spent a portion of the ’03-04 season with the Long Beach Jam of the American Basketball Association.
Despite receiving sporadic playing time throughout his pro career, the 26-year-old is regarded as a prolific scorer who can put up big offensive numbers in a short amount of minutes. He has averaged 5.0 points per game over 154 NBA games, but when given extended minutes, has often displayed explosiveness at that end of the floor. As a member of the Bulls, Pargo racked up a career-high 34 points at Milwaukee on March 26, 2004, tying Chicago’s franchise record with seven 3-pointers in that game.
Pargo, who was named Jannero after his father, was introduced to the media at a press conference Wednesday. Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer later caught up with the newest Hornet for a one-on-one interview.
Eichenhofer: You were undrafted out of college and have been a player who definitely had to work to make it to the NBA and stay here. For example, during the 2003-04 season, you played for three different NBA teams, as well as an ABA team. You also have been signed to 10-day contracts. Given your background, how does it feel for you to sign a multi-year contract?
Pargo: It’s really special, because I had to come in through the back door to get in this league. To have an opportunity to be recruited by three or four teams this summer, it really felt good. I feel like all of my hard work has paid off and I just feel really blessed. Actually, last season (with Chicago) was my first guaranteed contract. And that was for one year. I’m moving in the right direction, but at the same time I’m not satisfied.
Eichenhofer: You are known for your ability to put up points in a short period of time, especially when you get hot from the perimeter. You once scored 34 points, including seven 3-pointers, vs. Milwaukee in 2004. How have you been able to produce big offensive games even when you may have been sitting on the bench all night?
Pargo: A lot of people who come in so late in the game like that are not loose. When I come in, I try to pick up fullcourt (defensively) and get myself going that way. When I get put into the game in that situation, my mindset is to go out and make something happen. A lot of times I’ve been successful doing that. You have to keep a good attitude, be happy for the guys who are playing and take advantage of the opportunity to play when you get it.
Eichenhofer: Did any of your teammates or the fans ever try to give you a nickname like “The Microwave” or something like that?
Pargo: Yeah, they’ve called me The Microwave, like Vinnie Johnson [grins]. A lot of people recognize me for that. I’m just happy to be recognized, period.
Eichenhofer: You played with the Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson, a current member of the USA Basketball team, in college at Arkansas for one season. How much of an impact has he had on your career?
Pargo: Playing with Joe Johnson really helped me out a lot. I watched some of the things he did and tried to put that into my life. Also, when I was with the Lakers, I was mentored by so many people, including Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal – a very smart guy who knows a lot about the game – Derek Fisher, Gary Payton. I’ve really been blessed to have great coaches and great teammates who helped me a lot along the way.
Eichenhofer: What was the experience like playing for a Lakers team in 2002-03 that had won three straight championships? It seemed like you were immediately put into a situation where you played in a lot of big games.
Pargo: A lot of my friends and people I knew really didn’t understand why I tried to make the Lakers team, out of all the teams that were out there. But my agent and I thought it was a great opportunity, because they had just had Tyronn Lue and he moved on to another team. We thought I could come in and do some of the things he did. It turned out to be a great situation.
Eichenhofer: You’ve previously worn No. 15 during your NBA career. Why did you change to No. 2?
Pargo: I picked it because of my little brother (Jeremy Pargo). He plays for Gonzaga and wears that number. I also did it because of Joe Johnson, who wears No. 2 for the Hawks.
