May 28, 2004
Scott Press Conference Transcript
BOB BASS
It’s good to be up here today and not have to say (the media) no comment. Today, we get to comment. About a week ago, we talked about some things in a press conference. Mr. Shinn stepped forward and said we’re going to get a proven coach and we’ve done that. He said he’s going to spend some money and he’s done that. He made a promise and I think he fulfilled the promise and we’ve signed a coach we’re extremely excited about. He’s really got a good track record as a player, a great track record as a coach and we’re surely excited about it. Now, I’ll turn things over to Mr. George Shinn…
GEORGE SHINN
Bob I appreciate you and we were going out on this search, not being a basketball person, Bob reminded me of that and he started quizzing me on what kind of questions are you going to ask. You just can’t ask (the coaching candidate) how many children he has, where he went to college and things like that. This is not a normal interview. So Bob gave me a long list, several pages of questions I had to ask prospects. And, quite frankly, it made me look like I knew what I was doing on the interviews. Bob, I appreciate all the effort you’ve given us over the years and the effort and involvement that you had in making this deal work. Without you, it could not have happened. I love you and appreciate you, partner.
This is a great day for me. We set out to accomplish a goal and the goal was very simple: it was to get better. And at getting better, we might say winning and accomplishing certain goals comes from winning and that our goal was to get a proven coach and we feel like that we have accomplished that goal. Byron Scott was a winner as a player. He’s a proven winner as a coach and, to me, he’s a proven winner as a human being. When he came down and we had our visit and I met Byron and his lovely wife Anita, I was so impressed with his demeanor, his attitude, he’s a handsome guy, he dresses great…all of those things are just positive things for me and I just like him. And I said ‘This guy’s not only going to be a great coach, he’s going to look good on the bench.’ We add all these things up and it just helps us accomplish our goals. We’re very happy to have Byron as our head coach and a new member of the Hornets family. Byron, if you would come up here....
BYRON SCOTT
First of all, it’s Arizona State University and three children since you didn’t ask me that in the interview process (laughing) but I’ll let you know that right now. I’m very excited to be here. It’s a great opportunity, a great organization…The word that struck me, I was so impressed with Mr. Shinn and Mr. Bass and Mr. Bristow that when we sat down and talked and he said he was committed. He was committed to bringing a winner here in New Orleans and he was going to do whatever it took to do that. That struck me as a man that really wanted to do what it took. I was very happy to hear him say those words and happy to be here today because I think this organization is one of the finer organizations in the league. I think Mr. Shinn is definitely committed to winning and we’re going to try and put a product on the floor that you guys can be very proud of, especially the fans here in New Orleans. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, obviously, moving to the Western Conference so I have to get started pretty soon even though my other gig with ABC is going to interfere with some of the things we have to do for a little while but again I couldn’t be more ecstatic about being here in New Orleans and getting this Hornet team a chance to be exactly what they should be and that’s winners.
(on how much input he’ll have in personnel decisions)
We’re going to all sit down and we’re going to all make decisions together. That’s what it’s all about. This is not about one person coming in here and trying to make all the final decisions. This is a team and this organization is a team and we’re going to try to sit down and try and put the best people in place to make us a successful basketball team so myself and Mr. Shinn and Mr. Bass as long as he’s here....and that’s the one thing I regret is the fact that he’s leaving because I know a bunch of his buddies around the league that have nothing but a tremendous amount of respect for him as a basketball man but I’m glad he’s going to stay on board for a while until we can get this thing going, and Mr. Bristow...We’re all just going to sit down and try to make sure that we find the best basketball players to come in and make us successful as a basketball team.
(on the differences in the East and West Conferences)
I’m a West coast type coach and I think everybody knows that and it doesn’t matter where you coach. When I went to New Jersey, I still wanted to run the ball up and down the floor, wanted to be very good on the defensive end. We were able to accomplish those two goals so the same situation applies here in New Orleans. I think Baron Davis, at 25 years old, is probably the best young point guard in this league and we have to surround him with players who can get up and down the floor so the style of play that I want to put on the basketball court is an up and down style of basketball. I think, number one, it’s exciting for the fans. I think most players in the league like to play that way and then, obviously, on the defensive end, we’ve got to defend people and rebound the ball. The objective is very simple. Coming from the school of Pat Riley, he kept it pretty simple as well. It’s just defend, rebound and let’s get up and down the floor.
(on how long it took him to accept the job once he got the call)
About 15 minutes. I had to wait for him to stop talking to try to convince me (laughing). I was already convinced. To be honest with you, when I first came out here and we met and Mr. Shinn and I and Mr. Bristow and Mr. Bass sat down in a room for a couple of hours, I was pretty convinced then. I understand the process and I know you have to interview other candidates and I’m positive that Mr. Shinn went through that so when they called me and we kind of started talking again, I was just waiting around. But when he called me back, I was ready to do the deal.
(on the team getting younger and more athletic to suit his style of play)
Those are two things that we’ve talked about. Again, we really haven’t had a chance to sit down as a group. When we do that, then we’ll decide which direction we’re going to go in.
(on the situation with the Lakers being an issue)
It wasn’t an issue. Mr. Shinn asked me that too. It wasn’t an issue. When I feel comfortable about a situation, then I’m ready to react to it. The Laker job...Nobody knows when that job will be open and I don’t have a crystal ball. And like I said, when I left the meeting, my wife and I got on a plane and she asked me about it and she said would you take the job if they offered it to you today and I said yes I would. And I was pretty convinced right then.
(on who influenced him to get into coaching)
A couple of people. Larry Brown who’s in Detroit, was the first guy that told me he felt that I would be a very good coach in this league and Pat Riley. When you’re playing for somebody for that many years and you had the type of success that we had, it kind of rubs off on you a little bit.
(on what he’ll demand from his players)
First thing is you’ve always got to be on time. Can’t be late. I don’t have a whole lot of rules. Second thing is we’re going to play hard and we’re going to compete every single night.
(on being one of Baron Davis’ favorite players growing up)
That’s a great feeling. That means he was a kid growing up in Los Angeles and he was able to see a lot of Laker games when I was playing and that’s great. I think Baron and I are going to have a great relationship. I think he’s starting to understand what it takes to be successful in this league and sometimes you just need an extra boost and hopefully we can give that to him.
(on what kind of standard/expectations he might be held to)
I don’t know. I was fired after going to two championship series, so I don’t know. I have no idea but I know this, when Mr. Shinn and I talked I told him how much I was committed to him and this organization and he told me how much he was committed to me and putting out the type of product to be successful so I don’t look down the line. I look at the future and that’s getting this team ready for the season coming up.
(on what else influenced his decision to take the job)
I’m a big fan of Baron Davis. I think Jamaal Magloire is a center and at 25 years old, you’ve got some youth there. I’m a big fan of P.J. Brown. I just like his professionalism and the way that he defends on the post. I’m a big fan of Jamal Mashburn who can score down there and, as I told Mr. Shinn and Mr. Bass, they’ve got some pieces here in place that are pretty good. We just need to add some other ones.
(on if he’s concerned if he’ll have a good relationship with his players)
I have no concern whatsoever of that. Is it important? Of course it’s important. Hopefully, we can all be on the same page and understand that we’re all trying to do one thing and that’s win games and win championships and that’s the number one objective. Sometimes we’ll agree to disagree and if we can get along that way and can understand that we’re here for one reason and that’s to win then we’ll be fine.
(on what he feels that he took from New Jersey that’ll make him a better coach)
I thought each year I got better as a basketball coach and, like I said, getting to the Finals the last couple of seasons, I think I’ve grown a lot as a basketball coach. I think as far as I’m concerned, every year, you’re going to learn. You’re going to continue to learn as a coach. I think Larry Brown wouldn’t be coaching still or Phil Jackson wouldn’t be coaching still if they thought they knew it all. You can always learn a little more each and every season. Not only am I hoping to teach these guys what it takes to win and teach them some things about the game of basketball, they’re going to be able to teach me as well.
(on how the game and player/coach relationships have changed)
It’s changed. I think everybody understands that. This is a different generation and we have to change with it as well. Some of us as coaches are a little stubborn at times and players are the same way, but you’ve just got to learn to get along with one another because, like I said, it’s all about coming together as a unit and just winning basketball games but I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.
(on what he thinks of low scoring games in the league today)
It makes me want to throw up. 60’s and 70’s....Mr. (Kenney) Gattison and I were used to those games when they were in the hundreds, and that’s probably on a bad day. I don’t think that has to do with the game. I think it has to do with the players that are playing the game. I don’t think our players are as great as the players we had back then. We have a lot of guys that are ‘specialties’ now. They can play defense, but they can’t score. They can rebound, but they can’t score. They can shoot threes, but they can’t dribble. And that’s our job, so obviously as coaches we haven’t done a great job of making sure that these guys can continue to grow as basketball players and we have to get back to the teaching aspect of the game.
(on the fact that a Hornets General Managers hasn’t been named yet)
No concern at all. I never really thought about it, to be honest with you.
(on if he’s thought about what he’ll look for in a staff)
Yes, I’ve though about that and current assistant coaches will be considered.
(on Jamal Mashburn’s style of play fitting in with his)
I think Jamal is a guy that can obviously get you 20 points a game and I think that’s big, especially in our league today. But does he fit our style? Yeah, he does. Anytime you can get a guy who can score, especially in the league today, he can fit any style. Like I said, we still want to push the ball and he’s a guy that can rebound and push it himself so it makes us a little bit more dangerous.
It’s good to be up here today and not have to say (the media) no comment. Today, we get to comment. About a week ago, we talked about some things in a press conference. Mr. Shinn stepped forward and said we’re going to get a proven coach and we’ve done that. He said he’s going to spend some money and he’s done that. He made a promise and I think he fulfilled the promise and we’ve signed a coach we’re extremely excited about. He’s really got a good track record as a player, a great track record as a coach and we’re surely excited about it. Now, I’ll turn things over to Mr. George Shinn…
|
Bob I appreciate you and we were going out on this search, not being a basketball person, Bob reminded me of that and he started quizzing me on what kind of questions are you going to ask. You just can’t ask (the coaching candidate) how many children he has, where he went to college and things like that. This is not a normal interview. So Bob gave me a long list, several pages of questions I had to ask prospects. And, quite frankly, it made me look like I knew what I was doing on the interviews. Bob, I appreciate all the effort you’ve given us over the years and the effort and involvement that you had in making this deal work. Without you, it could not have happened. I love you and appreciate you, partner.
This is a great day for me. We set out to accomplish a goal and the goal was very simple: it was to get better. And at getting better, we might say winning and accomplishing certain goals comes from winning and that our goal was to get a proven coach and we feel like that we have accomplished that goal. Byron Scott was a winner as a player. He’s a proven winner as a coach and, to me, he’s a proven winner as a human being. When he came down and we had our visit and I met Byron and his lovely wife Anita, I was so impressed with his demeanor, his attitude, he’s a handsome guy, he dresses great…all of those things are just positive things for me and I just like him. And I said ‘This guy’s not only going to be a great coach, he’s going to look good on the bench.’ We add all these things up and it just helps us accomplish our goals. We’re very happy to have Byron as our head coach and a new member of the Hornets family. Byron, if you would come up here....
BYRON SCOTT
First of all, it’s Arizona State University and three children since you didn’t ask me that in the interview process (laughing) but I’ll let you know that right now. I’m very excited to be here. It’s a great opportunity, a great organization…The word that struck me, I was so impressed with Mr. Shinn and Mr. Bass and Mr. Bristow that when we sat down and talked and he said he was committed. He was committed to bringing a winner here in New Orleans and he was going to do whatever it took to do that. That struck me as a man that really wanted to do what it took. I was very happy to hear him say those words and happy to be here today because I think this organization is one of the finer organizations in the league. I think Mr. Shinn is definitely committed to winning and we’re going to try and put a product on the floor that you guys can be very proud of, especially the fans here in New Orleans. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, obviously, moving to the Western Conference so I have to get started pretty soon even though my other gig with ABC is going to interfere with some of the things we have to do for a little while but again I couldn’t be more ecstatic about being here in New Orleans and getting this Hornet team a chance to be exactly what they should be and that’s winners.
|
We’re going to all sit down and we’re going to all make decisions together. That’s what it’s all about. This is not about one person coming in here and trying to make all the final decisions. This is a team and this organization is a team and we’re going to try to sit down and try and put the best people in place to make us a successful basketball team so myself and Mr. Shinn and Mr. Bass as long as he’s here....and that’s the one thing I regret is the fact that he’s leaving because I know a bunch of his buddies around the league that have nothing but a tremendous amount of respect for him as a basketball man but I’m glad he’s going to stay on board for a while until we can get this thing going, and Mr. Bristow...We’re all just going to sit down and try to make sure that we find the best basketball players to come in and make us successful as a basketball team.
(on the differences in the East and West Conferences)
I’m a West coast type coach and I think everybody knows that and it doesn’t matter where you coach. When I went to New Jersey, I still wanted to run the ball up and down the floor, wanted to be very good on the defensive end. We were able to accomplish those two goals so the same situation applies here in New Orleans. I think Baron Davis, at 25 years old, is probably the best young point guard in this league and we have to surround him with players who can get up and down the floor so the style of play that I want to put on the basketball court is an up and down style of basketball. I think, number one, it’s exciting for the fans. I think most players in the league like to play that way and then, obviously, on the defensive end, we’ve got to defend people and rebound the ball. The objective is very simple. Coming from the school of Pat Riley, he kept it pretty simple as well. It’s just defend, rebound and let’s get up and down the floor.
(on how long it took him to accept the job once he got the call)
About 15 minutes. I had to wait for him to stop talking to try to convince me (laughing). I was already convinced. To be honest with you, when I first came out here and we met and Mr. Shinn and I and Mr. Bristow and Mr. Bass sat down in a room for a couple of hours, I was pretty convinced then. I understand the process and I know you have to interview other candidates and I’m positive that Mr. Shinn went through that so when they called me and we kind of started talking again, I was just waiting around. But when he called me back, I was ready to do the deal.
(on the team getting younger and more athletic to suit his style of play)
Those are two things that we’ve talked about. Again, we really haven’t had a chance to sit down as a group. When we do that, then we’ll decide which direction we’re going to go in.
(on the situation with the Lakers being an issue)
It wasn’t an issue. Mr. Shinn asked me that too. It wasn’t an issue. When I feel comfortable about a situation, then I’m ready to react to it. The Laker job...Nobody knows when that job will be open and I don’t have a crystal ball. And like I said, when I left the meeting, my wife and I got on a plane and she asked me about it and she said would you take the job if they offered it to you today and I said yes I would. And I was pretty convinced right then.
(on who influenced him to get into coaching)
A couple of people. Larry Brown who’s in Detroit, was the first guy that told me he felt that I would be a very good coach in this league and Pat Riley. When you’re playing for somebody for that many years and you had the type of success that we had, it kind of rubs off on you a little bit.
(on what he’ll demand from his players)
First thing is you’ve always got to be on time. Can’t be late. I don’t have a whole lot of rules. Second thing is we’re going to play hard and we’re going to compete every single night.
(on being one of Baron Davis’ favorite players growing up)
That’s a great feeling. That means he was a kid growing up in Los Angeles and he was able to see a lot of Laker games when I was playing and that’s great. I think Baron and I are going to have a great relationship. I think he’s starting to understand what it takes to be successful in this league and sometimes you just need an extra boost and hopefully we can give that to him.
(on what kind of standard/expectations he might be held to)
I don’t know. I was fired after going to two championship series, so I don’t know. I have no idea but I know this, when Mr. Shinn and I talked I told him how much I was committed to him and this organization and he told me how much he was committed to me and putting out the type of product to be successful so I don’t look down the line. I look at the future and that’s getting this team ready for the season coming up.
|
I’m a big fan of Baron Davis. I think Jamaal Magloire is a center and at 25 years old, you’ve got some youth there. I’m a big fan of P.J. Brown. I just like his professionalism and the way that he defends on the post. I’m a big fan of Jamal Mashburn who can score down there and, as I told Mr. Shinn and Mr. Bass, they’ve got some pieces here in place that are pretty good. We just need to add some other ones.
(on if he’s concerned if he’ll have a good relationship with his players)
I have no concern whatsoever of that. Is it important? Of course it’s important. Hopefully, we can all be on the same page and understand that we’re all trying to do one thing and that’s win games and win championships and that’s the number one objective. Sometimes we’ll agree to disagree and if we can get along that way and can understand that we’re here for one reason and that’s to win then we’ll be fine.
(on what he feels that he took from New Jersey that’ll make him a better coach)
I thought each year I got better as a basketball coach and, like I said, getting to the Finals the last couple of seasons, I think I’ve grown a lot as a basketball coach. I think as far as I’m concerned, every year, you’re going to learn. You’re going to continue to learn as a coach. I think Larry Brown wouldn’t be coaching still or Phil Jackson wouldn’t be coaching still if they thought they knew it all. You can always learn a little more each and every season. Not only am I hoping to teach these guys what it takes to win and teach them some things about the game of basketball, they’re going to be able to teach me as well.
(on how the game and player/coach relationships have changed)
It’s changed. I think everybody understands that. This is a different generation and we have to change with it as well. Some of us as coaches are a little stubborn at times and players are the same way, but you’ve just got to learn to get along with one another because, like I said, it’s all about coming together as a unit and just winning basketball games but I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.
(on what he thinks of low scoring games in the league today)
It makes me want to throw up. 60’s and 70’s....Mr. (Kenney) Gattison and I were used to those games when they were in the hundreds, and that’s probably on a bad day. I don’t think that has to do with the game. I think it has to do with the players that are playing the game. I don’t think our players are as great as the players we had back then. We have a lot of guys that are ‘specialties’ now. They can play defense, but they can’t score. They can rebound, but they can’t score. They can shoot threes, but they can’t dribble. And that’s our job, so obviously as coaches we haven’t done a great job of making sure that these guys can continue to grow as basketball players and we have to get back to the teaching aspect of the game.
(on the fact that a Hornets General Managers hasn’t been named yet)
No concern at all. I never really thought about it, to be honest with you.
(on if he’s thought about what he’ll look for in a staff)
Yes, I’ve though about that and current assistant coaches will be considered.
(on Jamal Mashburn’s style of play fitting in with his)
I think Jamal is a guy that can obviously get you 20 points a game and I think that’s big, especially in our league today. But does he fit our style? Yeah, he does. Anytime you can get a guy who can score, especially in the league today, he can fit any style. Like I said, we still want to push the ball and he’s a guy that can rebound and push it himself so it makes us a little bit more dangerous.
