Salmons' Summer School

As he gets deeper into his NBA career, John Salmons might look back at the summer of 2003 as the point not only when he shed his rookie status, but when the student became the teacher.

Salmons’ summer began with a vote of confidence. During his rookie 2002-03 season in which he averaged 2.1 points with 0.9 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game in 64 contests, Salmons showed flashes of his ability, but he was limited to 7.9 minutes per game.

The local product out of Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School was singled out by newly named Head Coach Randy Ayers.

“I love Johnny Salmons. I love his versatility, and he will get an opportunity to play next year,” Ayers said at the time of his introductory press conference on Friday, June 20.

Perhaps picking up on the confidence booster, Salmons came into the Sixers July summer workouts with an air of self-assurance that was noticed by Ayers.

“John looks like a veteran. He’s our best (summer league) player right now,” Ayers said at the time. “He understands situations. He’s able to talk situations to the coaches now. ‘Coach here is what I see on the floor. Here’s what we can do.’ He’s a good leader. He’s a lot more focused than he was last year. That tells me he is feeling a lot more comfortable.”

Over six games of the 2003 Reebok Pro Summer League, Salmons averaged 19.6 points and 5.8 assists per game. His week was highlighted by a 35-point, eight-assist effort in the Sixers 91-87 win over the host team and was named the league’s most outstanding player. He would follow that by helping the Sixers split squad in the Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue post a 4-1 mark.

One year after being taken in the first round of the 2002 NBA Draft, Salmons has now become comfortable enough to pass along his knowledge to youngsters in various camps and clinics this summer.

From August 17-26, Salmons made his first ever trip to Europe to work with boys and girls ages 8-15 at a camp in Bad Honnef, Germany, a small town near Cologne and Bonn. He acted as a clinician for the kids along with Atalnta’s Darvin Ham. The trip, which was facilitated by the Sixers Director of Player Personnel Tony DiLeo was a bit of an eye opener for Salmons who was making his first ever trip to Europe. He also went to Rome for sightseeing.

“It was different. It was an experience. I am glad I did it,” Salmons said after his return. “It was just different, like a (different) religion. I am too Americanized. The English was the biggest difference.

“During the trip, we went to Rome for vacation and sightseeing. I saw the Coliseum, the Forum. Now that was nice, the Coliseum was very nice. That was a good experience.”

The teacher held his own clinic on Saturday, Sept. 6 at his alma mater, Plymouth-Whitmarsh High School where his high school jersey was retired.

Salmons, who got help from teammate Marc Jackson and the Pacers James Jones, entertained 300 kids in two sessions. The youths ranged from 8-16 in age, and they participated in clinics and games. In addition to snacks and lunch courtesy of WaWa and local eatery Franzone’s, participants had the chance to win prizes and t-shirts from Adidas.

Like the children he tutored, school is back in session for Salmons as he partakes in daily workouts with teammates and other local cagers preparing for training camp at the start of October.

“We’ve got a month to go now, so, I am working out, trying to get in shape and get ready,” Salmons said as his sophomore NBA season is about to begin after a worldly teaching and learning summer experience.