Hall of Fame Media Availability - September 24

Brown

Opening statement from Larry Brown
I hope I am just what I was before I got started, somebody who is doing exactly what they wanted to do. Again, I have said it many times, I never thought I would be on this level. I thought I would be coaching some sport, teaching young people. I feel pretty lucky about that.

On the influence of Coach John McLendon:
He offered me my first coaching job at Kentucky State. I played for him. He was one of the Olympic coaches when I played in 1964. He took a team to Russia that I played on. I kind of established a relationship with him. He has been an amazing man. He was in the ABA when I played, and when I went to the University of Kansas, he used to tell me stories about Kansas. But I kind of did not put them together until I went there and saw his picture on the wall, contributors to their program that had been in the Hall of Fame. And then as a coach, I started meeting a lot of the people that he coached in basketball and the influence he had on them. I always maintained a relationship with him.

He coached some great players, when black kids couldn’t play anywhere but the Big 10 and Missouri Valley. But the thing that impressed me more than that…was all the coaches he put through. I don’t think people are aware. Coaches turning out other coaches. Mr. (Hank) Iba had numerous guys who went into the profession that he coached. But I don’t think that he had as many as Coach Mac.

On his name being in the Hall of Fame:
I can’t imagine that my name would be on the same level. I might be in the same organization they’re in. You didn’t mention Frank McGuire either, but it’s mind boggling to me. Phil (Jasner from the “Philadelphia Daily News”) asked me a question earlier today about people I think who deserve to be in there, and the list is too numerous to mention. It blows me away to be honest. I told Phil a story. I remember when I was a young coach at Chapel Hill in 1966. I went to my first Final Four as a coach, and it was the year UTEP won. Prior to the games, I went to a hotel with Coach (Dean) Smith, and I walked into a room and Mr. Iba was there and Adolph Rupp and Coach McGuire, Pete Newell, Jack Gardner, Ben Carnevale. It just blew me away. Those guys were there sharing ideas and joking with each other. Then when I started reading about the Hall of Fame, I realized that all of those guys were in it. In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would be in this position. I didn’t get into coaching expecting that or looking forward to it. I just got in it because I loved it.

On where “playing the right way” came from:
I think it came from the fact that the people I played for, all they did in their own way was talk about that. And I think it’s because of the respect they had for this sport and the people that they coached. The nature of our game, I’ve always said this, our game is the best team game if it’s played the right way, and it can be one of the ugliest games if it is not. I think this summer was a wake up call for a lot of people in our country because when you watched the World Championships on our home turf, the remarks I heard were that we played as bunch of individuals and other countries played as a team sport. That’s been a concern of mine for a while. But the people that I learned from made me aware on a daily basis that we had to play the right way. Basically, play unselfishly, play hard and try to make your teammates better. I think that’s one things since I’ve been coaching we’ve always tried to do. Sometimes, we’ve fallen short, but I’ve never lost sight of that fact.

On any character trait that he has exhibited:
I never thought about that. Again, I just think so much of the reason that I am here is because of the people I coached under or played under, guys I coached with, or the players I had the opportunity to coach. I don’t think anybody gets to this point without having a lot of people contribute, and I’ve been very, very fortunate in that regard.

On the one thing missing to his resume – an NBA Championship:
It is something I would like to be a part of, especially since I’ve been in this league for such a long time. I was with Jerry West a couple weeks ago, and we were talking about how the Lakers were pretty excited this year, and as great a year that (New) Jersey had, they were one of 28 teams that probably were disappointed this summer. I truly believe as a coach, I’ve gotten a lot of satisfaction out of teams that did not win a lot of games because I felt they played up to their potential, or they played the right way. When all is said and done, I am an NBA coach because I want to be part of an NBA championship team. If doesn’t happen, I am going to look back at my career and not think I did not have an unbelievable ride or I wasn’t really blessed. I don’t think that will change. It’s one of the things that motivates me.

On if coming to Philadelphia and going to the NBA Finals Accelerated this Honor:
I don’t know. I have no idea. I don’t know what the criteria is for getting there….what made me really aware of this Hall of Fame was when Mo (Cheeks) got nominated when I was with him two years ago, and his comment to me was how excited he was just to get nominated. And then it happened to me last year when (Temple) Coach (John) Chaney got in. I think I had somewhat the same kind of feeling as Mo had. Because somebody told me there’s only 246 or so people in there. A lot of people played this game and made contributions to this game. So, I don’t think coming to Philly hurt me in any way because this is an unbelievable basketball community on every level and it’s been a great experience for me just being part of it.

On Magic Johnson:
….when you talk about playing that right way, he exemplifies that as much as any player I could have imagined. You talk about a guy who makes his teammates better, who respected the game, who respected his teammates, played the right way, he’s got to be at the top of the list. I wish that more kids would go back and watch the way he performed. We would have a much better game.



Harvey Pollack Media Availability - September 24
What NBA era stands out in your mind?
The era that stands out is when Wilt (Chamberlain) was here. The things he did and the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia Warriors; there’s never been anything like that. I don’t think there ever will be because you need two stars like Bill Russell and Wilt to spotlight.

What was your favorite moment or game?
When we won the title in 1967. That was a real title. When we won the first title in 1946-47, the first year in the league…it was the first year of the league and there was no history.

What is it about Larry Brown that makes him such a great coach?
He’s dedicated to the game and he’s dedicated to, as he says, having the game played the right way. If you go to practices and see it, he is really determined to see that things are done properly. I’ve seen him stay late after practice with players just to help them. He is a teacher. He’s a teacher of the game first and then a coach himself. Mo Cheeks credits him with making him the coach that he is today. He’s one of a kind; a different kind of coach. I’ve seen a lot of coaches in this league and Larry Brown would be at the top.