NBA Superlatives: Jannero Pargo
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OKLAHOMA CITY - OCTOBER 10: Janero Pargo #2 of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets signals a play to his teammates during a pre-season game against the Dallas Mavericks on October 10, 2006 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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October 17, 2006
Most memorable moment in the NBA: “When Michael Jordan asked me for my autograph. It was actually for Michael’s son, but Michael asked me [grins]. I guess I was one of his son’s favorite players. He asked me for it at a Bulls game that he went to when I was playing for Chicago.”
Most surprising thing about the NBA as a rookie: “How big everybody was. The guys are a lot bigger in person than what you see on TV.”
Toughest player to face at his position: Allen Iverson. “He’s always attacking the basket and always looking to score whenever he gets the ball. That makes him really tough to guard.”
Favorite road arena: Staples Center in Los Angeles. “Because you never know who might be in the crowd. There are always all kinds of celebrities.”
Favorite road trip, based on the city: Los Angeles. “Because I played there (with the Lakers) and I know a lot of different people out there. L.A. is a whole different world.”
Best trash-talker in the NBA: “That’s easy, a real easy one to answer: Gary Payton! I remember when it was Linton Johnson’s rookie in year in Chicago and we were both on the Bulls. Linton blocked Gary Payton’s shot and told him to ‘Get that stuff out of here.’ For the next four trips down the floor, Gary was talking to Linton, saying all types of stuff. He was saying to Linton, ‘You probably won’t even be in the league after this season.’ It was brutal.”
Best heckler story: “There’s this fan in Philadelphia who doesn’t really say anything, but he has this little board that he writes stuff on and holds it up so you can read it. One time there was a game where I didn’t get to play at all, and he wrote that I was stealing money (from the Bulls), because I didn’t get in the game. That was pretty funny.”
Change he’d make if he were NBA commissioner: “I’d change it back to having two referees instead of three. There are too many foul calls slowing the game down. I’d rather see them let us play.”
Most memorable moment in the NBA: “When Michael Jordan asked me for my autograph. It was actually for Michael’s son, but Michael asked me [grins]. I guess I was one of his son’s favorite players. He asked me for it at a Bulls game that he went to when I was playing for Chicago.”
Most surprising thing about the NBA as a rookie: “How big everybody was. The guys are a lot bigger in person than what you see on TV.”
Toughest player to face at his position: Allen Iverson. “He’s always attacking the basket and always looking to score whenever he gets the ball. That makes him really tough to guard.”
Favorite road arena: Staples Center in Los Angeles. “Because you never know who might be in the crowd. There are always all kinds of celebrities.”
Favorite road trip, based on the city: Los Angeles. “Because I played there (with the Lakers) and I know a lot of different people out there. L.A. is a whole different world.”
Best trash-talker in the NBA: “That’s easy, a real easy one to answer: Gary Payton! I remember when it was Linton Johnson’s rookie in year in Chicago and we were both on the Bulls. Linton blocked Gary Payton’s shot and told him to ‘Get that stuff out of here.’ For the next four trips down the floor, Gary was talking to Linton, saying all types of stuff. He was saying to Linton, ‘You probably won’t even be in the league after this season.’ It was brutal.”
Best heckler story: “There’s this fan in Philadelphia who doesn’t really say anything, but he has this little board that he writes stuff on and holds it up so you can read it. One time there was a game where I didn’t get to play at all, and he wrote that I was stealing money (from the Bulls), because I didn’t get in the game. That was pretty funny.”
Change he’d make if he were NBA commissioner: “I’d change it back to having two referees instead of three. There are too many foul calls slowing the game down. I’d rather see them let us play.”
