Mark Aguirre Q&A

Q: You had quite a whirlwind year. What has the offseason been like?
A: I got to spend a lot of time with my family, who is still in Dallas. The last few weeks I have begun traveling around to meet with our players and work them out where they are. We spent time with Nazr Mohammed in Chicago, and will spend time in Texas with guys like Othella [Harrington] and Mike Sweetney in the coming weeks. This off season is critical for our big guys to continue to develop, so that’s what I will be doing.

Q: You had spent a lot of your career in Dallas and Detroit, and then got involved in coaching with Isiah Thomas in Indiana. What was it like coming to the Knicks?
A: It was probably the biggest surprise of my professional career. I had always been aware of how special Madison Square Garden was and what the fans were like, but until you are in it every day, you never realize how great it is. This move has been quite a revelation.

Q: What was the biggest surprise when you got here?
A: Definitely the commitment that the fans and the organization had to help us win. We have been given the tools to get things done, from a first class practice facility to a legendary arena, and the players responded as the season went along. Now we have to take that base to the next level, and this offseason is going to be key for our younger players to develop.

Q: Speaking of players, you spend a great deal of time developing big men, and your success with big men in Indiana is well documented. What are your impressions of big men like Mohammed and Sweetney?
A: They have great skills and have just gotten started as far as maximizing their potential. They have to continue to show the year-round commitment to improve their all-around game, and if they do, they will be very solid pros. So far, so good, but we are just getting started.

Q: What is the greatest challenge you see as an assistant coach?
A: With all the changes that took place, we never really got a chance to mold into a style of play, one that Lenny [Wilkens] has been successful with throughout his legendary career. It is the job of all of us as a staff to take that direction from Lenny and mold the team to that style. The offseason and the preseason will be critical for us to do that.

Q: Much has been made of your relationship with Isiah, and you have spent a great deal of time, both as a player and as a coach, with him. How does that relationship work?
A: It’s pretty simple. He was a great quarterback on the floor and has been a success everywhere he has been. I see my job here as working to do whatever the organization needs me to do to be successful. Isiah has the overall vision, Lenny is the implementor of the game strategy, and I am here with the rest of the coaches to do the little things to help make us a success.

Q: You were a key member of the “Bad Boys” in Detroit. How did this year’s Pistons resemble your group that won back-to-back champions?
A: I think it is always unfair to compare eras. However this year’s team is well coached, has great balance and is a very solid defensive and rebounding team. All of those are traits which we had during our run, and I am proud of what those guys have done as Pistons.

Q: What will the rest of your summer be like?
A: I will spend a great deal of time with our frontcourt players, going from place to place and then following up with them again. It is critical if we are to be a success next season, and I believe we can be a success, that our guys use this offseason as a learning tool to hone their skills. The more they improve now, the better chance we have of getting off to a good start in the fall.

Q: Are you looking forward to being a head coach in this league someday?
A: (laughs). Hey, right now I am totally dedicated to one goal, and that’s doing whatever I can to make the Knicks a winner and rewarding the fans and the organization for the chance that they have given us as coaches and players. Being a success as a part of the organization here is all I am worried about. This will be my greatest challenge, and it can be a great reward for all of us.