Out of Bounds

chamrochinski

Welcome to Out of Bounds…A weekly series that dives deeper into the issues fans might not know the whole story about. Our Hornets players will give you insight into topics like traveling, hobbies, injuries, trades and everything in between throughout the NBA season. 

The NBA fraternity is comprised of hundreds of players who spent time at a wide range of universities and colleges, each one of them with his own unique experiences and reflections about what that time meant personally before coming into the league. With the NCAA tournament winding down, a handful of Hornets shared their own collegiate experiences and what the relationship is like between other players in the NBA from their alma mater.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was just 17 years old when he stepped onto the campus at the University of Kentucky, which historically has been one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the history of the NCAA, although it had been in a championship drought since 1998. Along with future first-rounds picks Anthony Davis, Terrence Jones and Marquis Teague, Kidd-Gilchrist and the Wildcats took the NCAA by storm during the 2011-12 season with a dominating 38-2 record and a victory over the Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA Championship game. Three years later, the Hornets forward reflected on the magical season in Lexington.

“I had committed there at first but didn't know what it was like at Kentucky,” admitted MKG. “I went to the campus and was like ‘Whoa, it’s like its own little city, own little town’. There were fans everywhere and it just kept us going the whole season. All the support, all the love [and] all the fans, man, it was mind-blowing.”

The Kentucky program has also churned out more NBA talent than any other school in the last five years, most notably of which include John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Brandon Knight and Davis, along with Kidd-Gilchrist. MKG provided some insight on the relationship between the Kentucky players in the NBA even if they didn’t necessarily attend school concurrently.

“It’s a family between us. There’s a lot of respect from all the guys – from Wall to Knight to Davis to me,” said MKG. “There’s a lot of respect. We give a lot of respect to each other and a lot of praise… It’s really like a brotherhood.”

When Marvin Williams signed with the Hornets last offseason, it also meant returning to the state where he won an NCAA Championship with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2004-05 season. Like Kidd-Gilchrist, Williams also played at a very established college basketball program that he had his eyes on from the first time he picked up a basketball while growing up in Bremerton, Washington.

“For me to be a Tar Heel [was] a dream come true,” said Williams. “Growing up, my father was raised in North Carolina, so Carolina basketball was all he taught me. I remember watching Head Coach Dean Smith instructional videos when I was a kid in the living room doing the things we was telling us to do. I remember wearing Carolina sweatsuits when I was growing up. So it means a little bit more to me to be an alumni from Carolina – to be able to play at that program and to have a degree from that university.”

After playing in the NBA for over a decade now, Williams has certainly seen his role shift to that of a seasoned veteran, which he exemplifies not only on the Hornets team, but also towards incoming rookies throughout the league – particularly from UNC.

“Its kind of fun to be one of the older guys now,” Williams laughed. “I remember when I was one of the younger guys and the older guys [like] Antawn Jamison and Brendan Haywood were checking in on me. Now its kind of our duty to check in on [players like] Kendall Marshall, John Henson, Harrison Barnes and even Tyler [Hansbrough]…I just ate dinner with Tyler when he came into town and he and I have developed a great relationship over the years. It is fun to see those guys – like P.J. Hairston – grow up and live out their dream since us vets have all kind of done the same thing,”  

Williams also added it doesn’t take too long for the rookies to be called upon for advice when they become second-year players, especially at a school that produces such a large amount of NBA talent.

“The young guys now are doing the same thing,” he said. “Tyler, John, Harrison are always checking in on P.J. and Reggie [Bullock of the Los Angeles Clippers] and seeing how they're doing, and next years wave of guys will get the same treatment from P.J. and those guys.” 

Sometimes overlooked in the myriad Hornets players from big-time college programs is Troy Daniels who played at Virginia Commonwealth University during its surprising run to the NCAA Final Four in 2011 despite barely qualifying for the tournament in the first place. Daniels was a sophomore at VCU then and takes special pride in being part of the run that few college basketball fans predicted.

“[That season meant] a lot. Its something that’s going to follow me and that I’m going to cherish for the rest of my life,” he said. “We were definitely not picked to go into the tournament and [as an] an 11 seed we had to play [in the First Four just] to get into the tournament. We had to overcome a lot of adversity and I think thats what we did and it means a lot,” says Daniels. 

Despite going undrafted in 2013, Daniels went on to become only one of seven NBA players to ever come out of the nationally-emerging mid-major program at Virginia Commonwealth. Daniels admitted the achievement is not lost on him, as he also got help along the way from former-VCU and NBA players, Eric Maynor and Larry Sanders.

“[Coming from VCU] means a lot. Its been a fun journey. I'm actually the first NBA player (VCU Head Coach) Shaka Smart has coached and that means a lot to me too,” said Daniels. “I just feel like I have to hold my end of the bargain and show guys there are different ways to get to the league than getting drafted.”

In an era where it’s perceived that one-and-done collegiate players are more concerned with just using the NCAA as a stepping stone to the NBA, there truly is an exceptional amount of school pride with any player you ask, regardless of what the experience or longevity was at their respective programs. A player’s school spirit can perhaps be viewed as a unique characteristic of a player’s personality in a league where the environments are rightfully catered more towards the team and less towards the individual. Based on the feedback from these Hornets, fans can sometimes be quick to dismiss the true importance and meaningfulness of the time spent by NBA players at the collegiate level and to which regard they hold those experiences even after years in the league. 

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Out of Bounds - 3/31/15

Quinton Wash

Recently, we talked to a pair of Steve Clifford’s former players, Chuck Hayes of the Toronto Raptors and Marcin Gortat of the Washington Wizards, about what their experiences were like playing under the Hornets coach earlier in their own careers. Now, in the second half of a two-part special, we hear from another former player in All-Star Pau Gasol and two former co-assistant coaches, Tom Thibodeau and Mark Price, on what their own relationships are like with Steve Clifford. 

After Head Coach Stan Van Gundy was relieved of his duties in Orlando at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season, Clifford joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant on Mike Brown’s staff for one season. Pau Gasol, now with the Chicago Bulls, was a member of the Lakers from 2008-14 and was able to shed some light on what his relationship was like with Clifford during their lone season together in Los Angeles.  

“My first impressions were good. He was a good positive coach,” said Gasol. “He loved to talk to me about soccer. That was how he related to me. He's actually talked about different players that he's coached and how he had a closer relationship through him soccer, mainly international players. Overall, I was happy that he got the head coaching job opportunity and he's done pretty well for himself here (in Charlotte).”    

Clifford’s arrival in Los Angeles came at the end of a busy Lakers offseason highlighted by the acquisitions of two-time MVP Steve Nash and All-Star Dwight Howard. Amidst high expectations, the Lakers stumbled out of the gate and opened the season 1-4, causing Brown to be fired and replaced by Bernie Bickerstaff who was then eventually replaced by Mike D’Antoni. Gasol admitted the turmoil that season in Los Angeles limited his ability to develop a strong relationship with Clifford, although he was pleased to hear Charlotte offered him its head coaching position prior to the 2013-14 season.

“Overall, I was happy that he got the head coaching job opportunity [in Charlotte] and he's done pretty well for himself,” said Gasol. “You’re always happy when guys get opportunities, especially when they get opportunities and they do well as Cliff has done here. I hope he can remain doing a good job here. He's a good guy. A hard-working guy. A good coach that means well, that cares and deserves to do well.”

Former Allies, Now Rivals but Always Friends 

While numerous players have had the opportunity to call him their coach at some point in their careers, Clifford’s closest relationships in the NBA are the ones he has developed with the different coaches he has worked alongside during his time in the league. One of his co-assistant coaches in Houston for four seasons, Tom Thibodeau, has been the head coach of the Chicago Bulls since 2010 and is regarded by Clifford as one of his closest friends in the NBA. The Hornets recently took on the Detroit Pistons (now coached by Stan Van Gundy) as well as the Chicago Bulls, which pitted the former colleagues against each other. Although, Clifford admitted they were not games he had circled on his calendar despite his competitive nature.

“It’s not fun obviously, because they’re two of my mentors and also two of my closest friends,” said Clifford implying that there seems to be no personal satisfaction in beating those he used to work with during his NBA coaching career. “It’s not something I like forward to.” 

Thibodeau echoed similar sentiments when asked about his relationship with Clifford and what it means going against each other now that they are both NBA head coaches. 

“We worked together a long time. We’re close friends. I've got great respect for him,” said Thibodeau. “I know how competitive he is so when the game starts you put all that stuff aside. That’s sort of the nature of it but he's done an unbelievable job here. [I’m] very proud of him. Great guy. Great coach.”

Current Hornets assistant coach Mark Price, who also worked alongside Clifford in Orlando, offered his take on why there doesn’t seem to be any of that vengefulness factor in play when Clifford goes against his former mentors.  

 “Its always interesting when we play those teams [like Detroit and Chicago],” said Price. “I'm sure its kind of mixed emotions with him. You want to win obviously, but when you're playing your best friends, it always brings a little bit of a different take on the game. I think its more than just somebody you coached with. I think they're really good friends and I think that brings on a little bit of different [feelings]. Yeah, you want to win, but you always have mixed feeling going into situations like that.”

Steve Clifford continues to garner respect from many different players and coaches that he's crossed paths with around the NBA over the past 15 years. The small sample of people interviewed for this feature on Clifford have had nothing but high praises and admiration for the Hornets head coach who continues to make a positive impact on countless players and coaches throughout the league. Despite the understandable resistance at times in going against his friends and former colleagues, these feelings seem to be only evidence of the strong relationships and brotherhood Steve Clifford has developed with others during his journey as a basketball lifer in the NBA. 

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Out of Bounds - 3/23/15

More than three decades of hard work and dedication to the game of basketball was what coach Steve Clifford brought to the table when he joined the Charlotte Hornets organization before the beginning of the 2013-14 season. Like most head coaches around the NBA, Clifford worked on numerous teams and with countless players and fellow coaches, all of whom had some role in shaping the Charlotte Hornets into the team they are today. This week, in the first of another two-part special, two of Clifford’s former players talk about what their relationship was like working with the Hornets coach during the early part of their own careers.  

Amongst the handful of stops Clifford made in the NBA before he got to Charlotte was with the Houston Rockets, where he was an assistant coach on Jeff Van Gundy’s staff from 2003-07. With no current Hornets players having played under Clifford prior to his arrival in Charlotte, veteran Chuck Hayes of the Toronto Raptors was able to shed some light on what his early years in the NBA were like playing under the Hornets head coach during his time in Houston.

“Jeff Van Gundy designated [Coach Clifford] to me,” said Hayes. “Practice would be at 11 a.m. but he and I would meet at 9 a.m. and have a full-blown hour workout before practice, putting me through drills and watching film. We trained, worked out and watched film. It’s all we ever did. He was always in my head.”

Hayes also stressed some of the most important things he learned during his time with Clifford in Houston.  

“Learning guys tendencies – coach and [Rockets teammate] Shane Battier really helped me out in terms of preparation and learning the scouting report,” said Hayes. “[Also] being there early and seeing [things] before [they] happen was important.”

According to Hayes, the current Hornets team would be the kind of team he would have envisioned Clifford someday coaching in terms of defense, hard-nosed play and rebounding. “Absolutely,” the Raptors power forward now in his 10th NBA season stated with a smile. “I thought Cliff hated me. He’s a great guy though. I love him to death. I am happy he got this opportunity last year and [Charlotte’s] playing well.”  

After leaving Houston, Clifford joined the Orlando Magic coaching staff where he was an assistant under Jeff Van Gundy’s brother, Stan, from 2007-12. Clifford was the lead assistant coach on a team that made the playoffs in all five seasons he was there, including an appearance in the 2009 NBA Finals. Now with the Washington Wizards, Marcin Gortat played under Clifford in Orlando from 2007-10 and echoed Hayes’ sentiments. 

“He’s a great, great guy. This is an example of a guy that paid his dues to be in this league for a long, long time,” Gortat stated. “You can see how he turned this Charlotte Hornets team around in the past year and now this year. He’s doing a tremendous job. He’s a great, great person. Great personality [and] I love this thing about him - when he has to be the bad guy, he's going to be the bad guy. When he has to be the guy who's going to support you, he’s going to support you. He was tremendous. I’ve got nothing but good things to say about him.” 

As for the most lasting thing Clifford taught him in Orlando, Gortat says it wasn’t so much one particular thing he took away but rather the manner in how Clifford approached him and worked with him in order to help improve his game. 

“He was really direct with everything he was telling me. He didn't [mess] around with me,” Gortat recalled. “He came down and would say ‘You’re not doing this. You have to learn this, this and this.’ I remember the days after the NBA Summer League he came down to me and said ‘Listen young fellow, if you want to be in this league you have to do this, this and this and you got to cut out this, this and this.’ He was really direct. Direct as anybody can be. He came to me and said directly to my face certain things. Bottom line, I didn't take it personally. I really took it as a sign that I have to change something in my game and have to get better. I think his personality is great and when he has to, he can laugh with you and talk to you about everything.”

Like Hayes, Gortat’s admiration and respect for Clifford was abundantly clear, even if at times his relationship with him was challenging.  

“I can’t tell you anything bad about him,” Gortat said. “The most impressive thing was everyday at 5 a.m. he was coming into the office with coffee in his hand. Repetition, consistency and hard work [is] everything he does. I love him. He’s a [heck] of a coach.”  

After hearing from ex-players this week, we'll talk next with former and current coaching colleagues as they weigh in on their own relationships with the Hornets coach. Steve Clifford himself will also reflect on the relationships with his former mentors and what it’s like squaring off against them and former co-assistants in the NBA today.

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Out of Bounds - 3/10/15

Last week, Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo discussed what it was like the first time they went up against players like Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett whom they idolized growing up. In the second of a two-part special, rookie Noah Vonleh and veteran Al Jefferson open up about their own basketball idols and what it was like to finally play on the same level with them in the NBA. 

Noah Vonleh was only 12 years old when Kevin Durant made his debut for the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007 and was just a freshman in high school when Durant made his first NBA All-Star Game, his first All-NBA First Team and won his first scoring title. The Hornets rookie has tried to adapt a lot of what Durant does on the basketball court to his own game.

“I like modeling my game after really versatile guys [like] Kevin Durant. [I like to] be able to handle the ball, post up if I need to and shoot," said Vonleh. "Kevin Durant is a great player who can do all those things." 

The 19-year-old also said there haven't been any hesitations about going against seasoned NBA veterans, no matter who they are. 

“Growing up watching [those players], you’re like ‘Man, its going to be crazy playing against those guys.' I remember when we were playing the Spurs, playing against Tim Duncan and Boris Diaw," the Hornets rookie said. "I didn't care who they were. I forgot their names when I was out there playing and just trying to help my team win."

Like any other aspiring NBA player growing up, Al Jefferson also had that one player he modeled his game after and can vividly recall going head-to-head with early on in his career when the Hornets center was rookie in 2004 with the Boston Celtics. 

“I remember when I first came into the league, I was a big Shaquille O’Neal fan. When I got a chance to not only play against him but stand beside him for the first time, it was amazing,” said Jefferson. “I remember that as a player, it meant a lot because you grow up looking up to these guys. When you finally get on the court with them, they become less of your hero. You still respect them but they become more of a guy you got to compete against and want to beat. So it was dramatic change but it was fun."

Jefferson jokingly admits there was a particular moment during an early matchup against the future Hall-of-Famer O’Neal that for all intents and purposes represented his "welcome-to-the-NBA moment."

“[Everything] quickly came to reality when Shaq dunked on me,” Jefferson laughed. “Getting dunked on by the player I always looked up to and respected and the guy I always wanted to be like was an honor [although it] was embarrassing in the moment."

Jefferson also reflected on his veteran role in the NBA and recognizes the dynamic has shifted a bit in that he is now become the guy that younger players coming into the league are aspiring to be like growing up, including teammate Bismack Biyombo.   

“To be that guy that younger guys coming [into the NBA] look up to, that means a lot too. It lets me know the things that I have done are rubbing off on the young guys,” added Jefferson. 

Making it to the NBA is the ultimate achievement for many aspiring basketball players as they finally get to suit up side-by-side and against their idols on the sport’s biggest stage. Rookies, veterans and everyone in-between seem to remember what it was like stepping on the court for the first time against that one player they had always aspired to be like and modeled their own game after for as long as they can remember. While the feeling of first playing against their idols in the NBA is ingrained in many players as a surreal and unforgettable moment in their own careers, most soon recognized their role model was just another guy on the basketball court they needed to beat in order to help their team win and ultimately succeed.

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Out of Bounds – 03/04/15

Imagine what it must be like for an NBA rookie trying to guard the future Hall-of-Famer they’ve idolized for years and modeled their own game after?  Yeah, the guy who was playing in All-Star Games before they were playing in high school games. For the select players that do make it to the NBA, squaring off against the guy who’s been posterized on their bedroom wall (literally) for years can be somewhat of a surreal and unforgettable moment. In the first of a two-part special, Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo reveal what it was like going up against their NBA role models for the first time in their careers. 

One of the best players of his generation, the Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki has always been a role model for the Hornets Cody Zeller, who vividly recalls going up against the future Hall-of-Famer during his rookie season for the first time. 

“I’ve grown up watching Dirk Nowitzki. He’s a big guy that can shoot really well. He’s not the most athletic guy but finds a way to get it done,” said the longtime admirer Zeller. “Offensively, he’s a lot of fun to watch. Its definitely weird, especially the first time playing with a lot of these guys I grew up watching, playing with on video games and wearing their jerseys sometimes when I was real little. It’s a lot different. It’s almost like you’re starstruck and honored to be on the same court with them to start with.” 

Despite some initial nerves and craziness, the ‘wow’ factor eventually wore off for Zeller once he got used to squaring off against NBA stars on a nightly basis.   

“After playing against them a time or two, you realize you can compete with them,” said the Hornets second-year forward. “It’s crazy. You start figuring out their weaknesses and a couple things you can do to force them into this move or take away that move. It’s definitely a lot different. You get a different perspective once you play against them.”

Zeller brought up another great point about how following these current NBA stars for so long throughout their careers gives the younger generation of up-and-coming NBA players somewhat of a leg up when they go head-to-head with their role models. 

“I think it’s almost an advantage watching [Nowitzki] my whole life,” said Zeller. “I know what moves he wants to go to. If there’s anyone I know the scouting report on, it’s him. (But it’s) easier said than done. I’m not going to go out there and shut him down, but just to try and make it tough on him.”  

All indications are that Zeller might have been being a bit modest after his most recent showdown against Nowitzki at the beginning of Charlotte’s four-game road trip, which started in Dallas on Feb. 22. Despite the 92-81 Hornets loss, Zeller helped hold Nowitzki to just eight points, which marked the first time the 13-time NBA All-Star has been held to single-digit points this season.   

This dynamic is even more surreal for somebody like Bismack Biyombo, who spent much of his childhood growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where access to watching NBA games was limited. Despite playing on the other side of the world, aspiring basketball players like Biyombo were not unaware of the possibility of playing professionally, largely because of the successes of countryman Dikembe Mutombo, who was an eight-time NBA All-Star and widely regarded as one of the best defensive players in NBA history. 

“We all knew that the NBA [was] the best league in the world, and obviously it is a dream of every kid to play in the league. Growing up, because of Mutombo, everybody was always talking about him and we got to watch some of these things,” said Biyombo. “Along the way [came] Hakeem Olajuwon, who had a really big impact on young kids in Africa. All that became a motivation to me at a certain level.”

Upon first entering the league in 2011, Biyombo quickly realized playing against current idols like Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard was a bit different than just watching them on television.   

“I [watched] Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard and Al Jefferson on television. I watched them all,” said Biyombo. “Obviously, when you first get into the league compared to what you see on television, its a whole different story when you get to matchup with those players. I remember my rookie year when I was going against Garnett, its like ‘I love watching KG. I love his activity. I love his passion for the game. I love his anger to win every game.’ That has impacted me.”

Like Zeller, Biyombo was also able to quickly get over any feelings of being starstruck once the games got under way. 

“I remember my first matchup my rookie year was Dwight Howard. When I was going against him, my thought was never ‘Dwight Howard is the best center. This is Dwight Howard [I’m] going against,’” said Biyombo. “It was never to me about who I was going against. Once the ball goes into the air, you’re just another player, you’te just a guy.” Surprisingly, it was that guy that the Hornets fourth-year center notched the first double-double of his career against on Jan. 17, 2012 during his rookie season. 

Although recently sidelined with a knee injury, Biyombo is in the midst of a breakout season for Charlotte and has proved he can hang offensively and especially defensively with some of the NBA’s best big men. He tallied nine points and seven rebounds against the Rockets on Dec. 31 while holding Dwight Howard below his season averages with 11 points and eight rebounds. Biyombo also had one of his best performances of the season against Tim Duncan and the Spurs on Jan. 14 finishing with 12 points and a season-high 15 rebounds. 

We’ll take a look at Hornets rookie Noah Vonleh, learn who he models his game after and what its like going against NBA superstars for the first time in his career. 

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Out of Bounds – 02/23/15

The All-Star festivities may be over but the NBA’s annual midseason break continues as the Hornets still have five days to go before returning to the court on Saturday, Feb. 21 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This week, current and former players shine light on their own All-Star experiences and what players can expect to deal with the time off being extended for the first time this season.  

Prior to heading to New York to take part in the 2015 Rising Stars Challenge for the first time in his career, Hornets forward Cody Zeller reflected on his nomination to the team which holds special significance after not being selected during his rookie season last year.

“I don’t worry about individual accolades or All-Star Games or anything like that…[although] not making it last year, it was something I wanted to make this year. I feel like I’ve been playing better and the team’s been winning so it was a nice honor,” says Zeller.

One of the highlights of playing in the Rising Stars Challenge for Zeller was suiting up alongside former Indiana Hoosier teammate and current Orlando Magic guard, Victor Oladipo, as well as in front of his parents, Steve and Lorri Zeller, who flew in from Indiana to see their son play. 

“It’ll definitely be fun to play with Vic again, just spend time with him and everyone else,” Zeller said prior to leaving for New York. “It will be fun to get out there and kind of play around in a not-so-meaningful game,” he added.  

Zeller would ultimately finish his Rising Stars debut with 12 points, four rebounds and three steals as Team U.S.A. fell to Team World, 121-112.

Zeller also added that longer break this season could be really beneficial to the Hornets as they have numerous players making their way back from injury, which could be a key factor in Charlotte's ability to make a run to the playoffs for the second straight season.

“The All-Star Break is good. It kind of makes you reset a few days. I know last year I came back with a lot more energy and it just gives you some time to get away. Last year was only three or four days and this year is a lot longer, which is really nice. I think everyone will like having a few days off [to] come back for a playoff push,” Zeller said. 

NBA veteran and current Hornets’ community ambassador, Matt Carroll, was also able to give a player’s perspective on the All-Star Break and how it might be different this year with the NBA extending the time off to a full week now.

“I think looking at this year, its different. We've never had an All-Star Break as long as the one thats happening this year,” Carroll says. “I think its great for the guys that are participating in the All-Star festivities, All-Star Game, Skills Challenge, whatever it might be because they [didn’t] get a rest [in years past]. To get a couple days after that and to get their rest then, it'll be great from them,” he added.

For the players who didn't make it to New York this past weekend, the break offers even more much-needed time off although Carroll admits there is a fine line between getting rested and getting rusty.

“The guys that aren’t going there, I still think its a good idea because they're going to get their rest. When they're ready to come back to start running, shooting or doing whatever they need to do to keep their conditioning up, they can do that and have more time to take if they need it,” Carroll says. “Now if theres a guy who doesn't do anything for eight days, he’ll be behind the eight ball a little bit there. I think if you're disciplined and do it the right way, [the break] can help you as you transpire into the end of the season,” he added.  

Perennial All-Star on the Bench For Charlotte

The Hornets are fortunate enough to have a long-time NBA All-Star working on their coaching staff in assistant, Patrick Ewing. It’s a mild change in dynamic for the Hall-of-Fame center who was at the forefront of NBA superstardom during his playing days, which included 15 seasons with the New York Knicks from 1985-2000. Ewing made his first All-Star Game during his rookie season in 1986 and then made ten consecutive appearances from 1988-1997, a handful of which alongside Hornets owner Michael Jordan and fellow Hornets assistant coach, Mark Price.  

“I’ve played in a lot of them so it was good experience for me playing with and against those guys. Playing with Michael [Jordan], playing with Scottie [Pippen], playing with Mark [Price], playing with Charles [Barkley],” Ewing says. 

Although playing in nearly a dozen All-Star Games all together, the former Knicks center says there are a couple games that stick out particularly.

“There was one I should have won the MVP, but didn’t get it,” Ewing says with a smile. With a quick internet search, one can find a multitude of All-Star performances by Ewing which could have been deemed worthy of MVP selection. Among them include the 1990 All-Star Game where Ewing posted a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in a 130-113 East win and the 1991 All-Star Game where Ewing led the East to a 116-114 victory with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Or perhaps the snubbing took could have taken place three years later, when Ewing tallied 20 points and eight rebounds in a 127-118 East victory at the 1994 All-Star Game.

Despite his numerous statistical conquests, Ewing admits there is one particular All-Star Game that stands above the rest.

“I remember my first year making it was Julius Erving’s [second-to-last] year and just having the opportunity to be in the locker room with some of those great guys who I watched in college and watched in high school. Coming straight from college and seeing those guys [like] Moses [Malone], Dr. J (Erving), [Robert] Parrish, [Larry] Bird and all those guys who I've watched for so many years. It was great to be in the locker room with them. I thought it was a great experience,” Ewing says. 

The NBA’s midseason All-Star Break is a time to honor the best players around the league in a showcase event regardless of whether they are starting in the All-Star Game, taking part in the Skills Competition or playing in the Rising Stars Challenge. Whether its somebody like Patrick Ewing who made 11 appearances at All-Star Weekend or Cody Zeller making his first, being chosen to participate in the NBA’s marquee event is a special honor no matter how many times it happens throughout a player’s career. As we learned last week though, the NBA is a league where repetition and routine dominate much of the daily lifestyle and the extended time off this season will be an interesting dynamic to consider when play gets going again later this week. Not only is the All-Star Break a time for recovery for players around the league, it also marks a potential turning point for many teams in the NBA, including the Charlotte Hornets, who are looking to take advantage of the time off with their sights set on a late-season run to the playoffs.