Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | Oct. 13, 2004
Seattle SuperSonics training-camp invitee Carl English comes to the Sonics with an entire province behind him. A native of Newfoundland, Canada, English has been supported by fans back home as his basketball career has taken him from Canada to the University of Hawaii, where he starred, to Indiana Pacers training camp last fall, Charleston of the NBDL and now Seattle. SUPERSONICS.COM spoke briefly with English about that support, amongst other things, at Sonics Media Day.
English starred for the Pacers 2003 summer-league squad.
Kent Horner/NBAE/Getty
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SUPERSONICS.COM What's it like playing with the kind of support you've gotten from your native Newfoundland?
Carl English: It's always good when people support you. You go through a lot of ups and downs in your career; the longer you play, the more support you get. You always appreciate everybody for the things they do for you.
What was training camp like last year with the Indiana Pacers?
English: It was a lot different. I signed with Indiana early, in July, and I had some guarantees and things there, but I was going into camp and there were 16 guys, including myself, under contract. It was a different situation. It was a great camp. I had some good games and things and it just never worked out. It was a numbers thing. I never let it get me down and I just went on. I'm fortunate I got a shot to come here to Seattle. I think I'm in a great situation.
You moved on to play in the NBDL. How was your season there?
English: The NBDL's a different league. It's a competitive league, there's a lot of good guys there, but, on the other hand, you've got 10 individuals who play like individuals and it's a lot harder to have a team concept. It was a job. I play well in a system, with other guys around me. If your five guys on the floor aren't on the same page, you're not going to win any games. It was a tough league in that sense. But I used my time to help me develop my weaknesses that I thought would help me get back to where I am now. I used it as a positive experience.
What do you think of your chances during camp?
English: I'm positive. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't. I think we need a couple of spots - we need some shooters, some guys that can get out there, some tough guys who can play some defense. I'm here. I think my chances are real good. Like I said, I wouldn't be here. Hopefully I get the opportunity to get out there and play and show people the things I can do.
You're known for your shooting. Do you feel a need to prove during training camp that you can be a defender as well?
English: There's a lot of other things I can do. Shooting is what gets me noticed. I'm known as a three-point shooter, but there's a lot of other things I can do and bring to the team and I want to show those aspects of my game. Whatever I have to do to make the team, that's what I'm going to do.
