Kirk Snyder Draft Q&A
June 28, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY – After playing a bit role in the Hornets’ rotation early in 2005-06, Hornets guard Kirk Snyder started 40 consecutive games from Jan. 2 through March 27. During the early portion of that stretch, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard played an instrumental role as New Orleans/Oklahoma City went 19-9 to move as high as fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
Symbolic of an individual and team roller-coaster season, however, Snyder’s minutes were reduced significantly in April; he did not start any of the club’s final 13 games. Still, the Nevada product’s sophomore effort represented major progress from his rookie campaign with the Utah Jazz, when he took up residence in head coach Jerry Sloan’s doghouse.
In his first year in teal and gold, Snyder upped his production across the board, in points (5.0 to 8.0 per), rebounds (1.8 to 2.4) and assists (0.5 to 1.5). Perhaps most importantly from the 23-year-old’s perspective, his minutes increased from 13.3 a night to 19.3.
During Snyder’s visit Wednesday night to the Hornets’ draft party in Oklahoma City, the shooting guard chatted with Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer about the past season and what he expects in 2006-07:
Eichenhofer: A couple months have passed since the regular season ended. When you look back at last season, how do you perceive it? Were you happy with how it went?
Snyder: At this stage of my career, I want to be in the playoffs. If we had cleaned up our record a little bit, we would have been in the playoffs. But it’s like Coach Scott says, if everybody can get one point better, we’ll be a lot better as a team next season.
Eichenhofer: Individually, how much happier were you with last season than your rookie year in Utah?
Snyder: Oh, man. It was a big difference. I went from not playing, to being depended on to make baskets and be a good teammate. I just wanted to help. I just wanted to be a part of the team.
Eichenhofer: What have you been working on since the season ended?
Snyder: Just things that can complement my game as a player. I look at it like I only have so much time to get better. I’ve got to get it out of myself now. I’ve been working on shooting the ball a lot more. As you get older, you shoot better, so I want to capitalize on that.
Eichenhofer: When you look ahead to 2006-07, what are some of your specific goals, things that you think you have to accomplish to be able to say you had a successful season?
Snyder: I have individual goals, such as shooting free throws better [Snyder shot 74 percent last season] and being a little bit more aggressive all the time and more consistent. I want to play the whole season like I played during that one stretch in the middle of the season. You know it’s not always going to go that way, but you just want to have that feeling that any game you can (be very productive offensively).
Eichenhofer: What do you see as the biggest keys for the Hornets to make another significant step next season as a team?
Snyder: It’s just going to be important to understand that we’re a young team and we’re going to make a lot of mistakes at times. Just to keep going. That’s going to be the big thing, can people be more mature. Because if you look at our ages compared to other teams, we’re not supposed to be in the playoffs in the West. Guys have to realize that things aren’t always going to go our way all the time, so you have to stick with it and believe in each other as teammates.
Eichenhofer: Do you look at the end of last season as something that could actually help the team from a mental standpoint? Meaning that the team went through a lot of adversity over the last six weeks of the season, due to poor play and some untimely injuries.
Snyder: Yeah, I do. It was something to get better from. I think that’s a big part of our maturity as a basketball team. It will show next season.
OKLAHOMA CITY – After playing a bit role in the Hornets’ rotation early in 2005-06, Hornets guard Kirk Snyder started 40 consecutive games from Jan. 2 through March 27. During the early portion of that stretch, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard played an instrumental role as New Orleans/Oklahoma City went 19-9 to move as high as fifth place in the Western Conference standings.
Symbolic of an individual and team roller-coaster season, however, Snyder’s minutes were reduced significantly in April; he did not start any of the club’s final 13 games. Still, the Nevada product’s sophomore effort represented major progress from his rookie campaign with the Utah Jazz, when he took up residence in head coach Jerry Sloan’s doghouse.
In his first year in teal and gold, Snyder upped his production across the board, in points (5.0 to 8.0 per), rebounds (1.8 to 2.4) and assists (0.5 to 1.5). Perhaps most importantly from the 23-year-old’s perspective, his minutes increased from 13.3 a night to 19.3.
During Snyder’s visit Wednesday night to the Hornets’ draft party in Oklahoma City, the shooting guard chatted with Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer about the past season and what he expects in 2006-07:
Eichenhofer: A couple months have passed since the regular season ended. When you look back at last season, how do you perceive it? Were you happy with how it went?
Snyder: At this stage of my career, I want to be in the playoffs. If we had cleaned up our record a little bit, we would have been in the playoffs. But it’s like Coach Scott says, if everybody can get one point better, we’ll be a lot better as a team next season.
Eichenhofer: Individually, how much happier were you with last season than your rookie year in Utah?
Snyder: Oh, man. It was a big difference. I went from not playing, to being depended on to make baskets and be a good teammate. I just wanted to help. I just wanted to be a part of the team.
Eichenhofer: What have you been working on since the season ended?
Snyder: Just things that can complement my game as a player. I look at it like I only have so much time to get better. I’ve got to get it out of myself now. I’ve been working on shooting the ball a lot more. As you get older, you shoot better, so I want to capitalize on that.
Eichenhofer: When you look ahead to 2006-07, what are some of your specific goals, things that you think you have to accomplish to be able to say you had a successful season?
Snyder: I have individual goals, such as shooting free throws better [Snyder shot 74 percent last season] and being a little bit more aggressive all the time and more consistent. I want to play the whole season like I played during that one stretch in the middle of the season. You know it’s not always going to go that way, but you just want to have that feeling that any game you can (be very productive offensively).
Eichenhofer: What do you see as the biggest keys for the Hornets to make another significant step next season as a team?
Snyder: It’s just going to be important to understand that we’re a young team and we’re going to make a lot of mistakes at times. Just to keep going. That’s going to be the big thing, can people be more mature. Because if you look at our ages compared to other teams, we’re not supposed to be in the playoffs in the West. Guys have to realize that things aren’t always going to go our way all the time, so you have to stick with it and believe in each other as teammates.
Eichenhofer: Do you look at the end of last season as something that could actually help the team from a mental standpoint? Meaning that the team went through a lot of adversity over the last six weeks of the season, due to poor play and some untimely injuries.
Snyder: Yeah, I do. It was something to get better from. I think that’s a big part of our maturity as a basketball team. It will show next season.
