A glance at the top of the NBA standings reveals a couple teams one would expect to be there – the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and their Eastern Conference counterparts, the Detroit Pistons. However, hovering not too far away are the usually woebegone Los Angeles Clippers. One reason for the team’s surprising start has been the play of guard Sam Cassell, who is averaging 16.3 points and 7.6 assists – very much in keeping with his numbers over his 13-year career. Equally consistent is Cassell’s ability to give a no-nonsense opinion about all things basketball.
Anthony Cotton: A lot of people around the NBA say they’re surprised at your team’s start. Are you?
Sam Cassell: Not really, man, because in training camp you could see that we had a whole lot of weapons on this ballclub. My only concern was how well, and how fast, we would jell as a team, if everyone would understand their role and would be willing to do their role. That’s all it was.
AC: What was your first reaction to getting traded?
SC: I wasn’t upset, but I was concerned. I didn’t know what the Clippers’ organization was all about. I had heard the stories, but once I talked with (coach) Mike Dunleavy, he has a whole lot of say-so as to what goes on with this franchise, and my first question to him was, “Is this franchise serious about winning?” He said that as long as he was the coach, we had better be serious about winning or both of us wouldn’t be here. It was that simple.
AC: Were you disappointed at how it played out in Minnesota? It was almost like you were the scapegoat for what happened last season.
SC: There’s no doubt about it, but that’s how this profession, this business is, where a guy has to take the blame. I was hurt; that’s classless, but that’s what cowards do – blame people when they’re not capable of doing what they’re supposed to do. I’m far from a coward. If I had played in 82 games or 75 games and the season didn’t go right, you wouldn’t have to blame me; I’d blame myself. I’m a stand-up kind of guy. I knew it would happen that way. The year before, when three of four other guys were hurt but we got to the Western Conference finals, nothing was said. I was the catalyst of that team and Kevin Garnett was the MVP. (Then-Wolves coach) Flip Saunders let me do things my way, and we won basketball games. I was hurt last year; Flip knew I was hurt. He never once complained that I was dogging it because of my contract. He just said get back when you can get back. You see the success he’s having now (with the Pistons) because they let him coach his ballclub, and he’s definitely one of the top coaches in the league.
AC: As long as you’ve been in the league, does it still surprise you that’s how the business is?
SC: The franchises that normally win at a high level don’t go through that. The franchises that are trying to get to where they need to be are the ones that go through that. (Before) you blame someone else, you’ve got to look at yourself first. There were some situations in Minnesota where they could have bettered the team and they didn’t.
AC: Like?
SC: Different trades, where they had some nice options out there. But they didn’t make them. But my whole concern ain’t with Minnesota anymore. I’m here. I love being here. California vs. Minnesota – you know what I’m saying? It’s a no-brainer.
AC: Are you surprised Spree (former Wolves teammate and free agent Latrell Sprewell) hasn’t been picked up yet?
SC: Spree hasn’t been picked up because he doesn’t want to be picked up yet.
AC: Meaning?
SC: He don’t want to play yet. Spree had three or four teams this summer – I know for a fact that Detroit wanted him this summer. Don’t get the misperception that nobody wants him. Flip loves him. One thing about Spree, he’s one of the toughest competitors in this game. In a 12 o’clock game, he might not give you nothin’, but at playoff time, he’ll definitely be there.
AC: What do you think when you look back at your career?
SC: I’ve had a magnificent career, man. I’m 36 years old and I’m still doing it at a high level. All the top point guards in this game, I respect them, but they respect me, too. And I’m 36 – that says a whole lot.
AC: How do you keep doing it?
SC: I’m a competitor. I don’t do nothin’ that I can’t do, you know what I’m saying? I don’t shoot a bunch of 3-pointers. I shoot my midrange shots that I know I’m going to make a high percentage of. And the thing I’m learning more and more is how to be a leader, how to get my guys open shots, how to get my guys a winning attitude. That’s what I’m bringing here – when we walk into a gym, we expect to win. We’re not going to win 82 games, we know that, but we know we’re going to win more than we did last year.
AC: But how do you decide? One of the things people have said about you is the line gets blurred between getting yours and helping the team.
SC: Tell me something. Look at Mike Bibby. I’ve taken 12 1/2 shots a game. Mike Bibby shoots more than me. Lots of point guards shoot more than me. Baron Davis shoots way more than me. … I’m a career 46 percent shooter, so what’s going on here? It’s the media putting a lot of stuff out there. I’ve been here, doing this, for 13 years.
AC: At 36, one would think you’re closer to the end of your career than the beginning, but I’m guessing you don’t think that way.
SC: The end? No, it’s not the end for me. You’ve got to understand, I didn’t play major minutes in the league until my fifth year. My first four I was basically a reserve, playing 20, 22 minutes a night. Then the older I got, the more I learned how to take care of my body even more. The game right now isn’t as physical as it used to be. In the ’90s it was vicious; right now, it isn’t physical at all. You can actually play a zone defense! That’s how far this league has softened up. I’ll play at least two more years at a high level. That’s not a problem.
AC: Do you like where the league is now?
SC: Yeah, the league is fine, the league is fine. It’s not as tough as it used to be, but it’s fine. I like the direction the league is going with Carmelo (Anthony), LeBron (James), Dwyane Wade, Elton Brand, all those guys. It’s their league. I’m just a guy who’s going to do my fair share to help the team I’m on win basketball games. It’s that simple.
Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-820-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
