Post by hammi on Sept 7, 2005 15:28:55 GMT -5
At the table...
Reporter: Wallace, last night it was made official that you'll be playing for the Lakers this season. GM Hamadani has informed us that you're willing to cut your contract salary in half to make more room for additions this off season.
Ben Wallace: Im the kind of person that doesn't care about the money. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem being rich, but I am that already and I don't see why I should be getting paid more for the same job, if I could give some of my money to players that can contribute to the team in the ways I can't. I love this organization so I'll do just about anything. You think you've seen me play hard in Detroit, you haven't seen anything. Like Kobe said, I guarantee the city of Los Angeles a championship this year.
Reporter: Did you find a home yet?
Ben Wallace: Yeah man, down on Beverly Hills boulevard...Kobe let me crash at his house yesteday until I signed all the contracts and stuff. Im happy man, LA is full of opportunities, and Im thinking about going back to college. The only thing now that's ahead of me is work hard during the off season offensively and new furniture. This is going to be a great year man.
Reporter: Ray, were you surprised that the Lakers picked you 5th overall, because the UBL draft scouts had you just inside the top 10.
Ray Felton: Nah man, I received a call from Hamadani saying that he'll pick me if Im still available. The Lakers were my choice as well so it was a win-win situation. Now it's time to prove. Im'a show every team that didn't pick me what they could have gotten. Im sure their happy with their selections but in my mind, there's nobody better than me. You need this kind of confidence to get better, just look at Kobe.
Reporter: Speaking of Kobe, how are you doing this off season? What's your state of mind?
Kobe Bryant: How do you think I feel? C'mon man, last year was nothing but experiments after experiments. Im done wasting years of my career and ready for titles. Loosing is the only thing I hate in basketball, and I think that will be fixed this year. Hamadani brought in 3 guys that will be a major factor to this teams' success, and I don't see this team going anywere than up. This is the most confident I've been about any team I've been in, and that says a lot.
Reporter: You've missed a few games because of your knee, is that any concern right now?
Kobe Bryant: That was a small injury, nothing to worry about. The first game I came back in I felt like before, so I knew from then on that my abilities haven't changed and I can still work on them. Of course every UBL player is sore as hell after every game, but you learn and adapt to the pain and turn it into strength. That's why you see players over 40 years still run up and down the court for 30 minutes. Health is the number one key to stay in this league, it doesn't matter if you're the best or not. But yeah, back tot he question, my knee is feeling great and isn't going to bother me during the job.
Reporter: Is it finally official that you'll be a Laker this year?
Starbury: Yeah, I think I've signed everything required so yeah, #3 will be on the Lakers.
Reporter: What's going to be different from NY and LA?
Starbury: It's basically the same thing man... both are big cities where the players get hated on real quick if they make a mistake. Both cities put pressure on the management and both cities are great to play in. LA will be a fun experience to say the least, and I can't wait to put on the jersey eventually.
Reporter: Rumors are going around that you'll be a Shooting guard, and have Felton run the ball.
Starbury: I have no problem with that. I've played shooting guard in high school and loved it. It's not going to be much different because I'll still dribble the ball as much as I have been at the 1. Felton is a great PG and I look forward to playing with him. It's gonna benefit us both because Kobe will teach me SG tricks, and I'll teach Felton what I still have left in the trunk.
Reporter: Hamadani, where will this off season lead you and the team at the end of the year?
Hamadani: Im not done yet... there's still a couple of holes to be filled before the season starts. Our bench is pretty weak right now and Im going to look into the Free Agency for a wihle. If nothing comes up, then I'll be making some moves for sure. As far as the season, the pacific division got a little stronger, and so did we, so the page will have to unfold first for me to say anything. The Kings, Blazers and the Suns look like contenders, and we'll wait and see. We already swept the Kings in exhibition games before we aquired Mr. Marbury. Kobe's position change to SF will be easier for him because the most talented position in the league is SG. Now he'll be up against the LeBrons, Pejas, Pierce's and Artests. He'll do just fine there. Marbury at the SG will give him the same amount of passing lanes that he would get at the PG. He's a great outside shooter as well as penetrator. This season should be fun to watch with the crowd.
Reporter: Wallace, last night it was made official that you'll be playing for the Lakers this season. GM Hamadani has informed us that you're willing to cut your contract salary in half to make more room for additions this off season.
Ben Wallace: Im the kind of person that doesn't care about the money. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem being rich, but I am that already and I don't see why I should be getting paid more for the same job, if I could give some of my money to players that can contribute to the team in the ways I can't. I love this organization so I'll do just about anything. You think you've seen me play hard in Detroit, you haven't seen anything. Like Kobe said, I guarantee the city of Los Angeles a championship this year.
Reporter: Did you find a home yet?
Ben Wallace: Yeah man, down on Beverly Hills boulevard...Kobe let me crash at his house yesteday until I signed all the contracts and stuff. Im happy man, LA is full of opportunities, and Im thinking about going back to college. The only thing now that's ahead of me is work hard during the off season offensively and new furniture. This is going to be a great year man.
Reporter: Ray, were you surprised that the Lakers picked you 5th overall, because the UBL draft scouts had you just inside the top 10.
Ray Felton: Nah man, I received a call from Hamadani saying that he'll pick me if Im still available. The Lakers were my choice as well so it was a win-win situation. Now it's time to prove. Im'a show every team that didn't pick me what they could have gotten. Im sure their happy with their selections but in my mind, there's nobody better than me. You need this kind of confidence to get better, just look at Kobe.
Reporter: Speaking of Kobe, how are you doing this off season? What's your state of mind?
Kobe Bryant: How do you think I feel? C'mon man, last year was nothing but experiments after experiments. Im done wasting years of my career and ready for titles. Loosing is the only thing I hate in basketball, and I think that will be fixed this year. Hamadani brought in 3 guys that will be a major factor to this teams' success, and I don't see this team going anywere than up. This is the most confident I've been about any team I've been in, and that says a lot.
Reporter: You've missed a few games because of your knee, is that any concern right now?
Kobe Bryant: That was a small injury, nothing to worry about. The first game I came back in I felt like before, so I knew from then on that my abilities haven't changed and I can still work on them. Of course every UBL player is sore as hell after every game, but you learn and adapt to the pain and turn it into strength. That's why you see players over 40 years still run up and down the court for 30 minutes. Health is the number one key to stay in this league, it doesn't matter if you're the best or not. But yeah, back tot he question, my knee is feeling great and isn't going to bother me during the job.
Reporter: Is it finally official that you'll be a Laker this year?
Starbury: Yeah, I think I've signed everything required so yeah, #3 will be on the Lakers.
Reporter: What's going to be different from NY and LA?
Starbury: It's basically the same thing man... both are big cities where the players get hated on real quick if they make a mistake. Both cities put pressure on the management and both cities are great to play in. LA will be a fun experience to say the least, and I can't wait to put on the jersey eventually.
Reporter: Rumors are going around that you'll be a Shooting guard, and have Felton run the ball.
Starbury: I have no problem with that. I've played shooting guard in high school and loved it. It's not going to be much different because I'll still dribble the ball as much as I have been at the 1. Felton is a great PG and I look forward to playing with him. It's gonna benefit us both because Kobe will teach me SG tricks, and I'll teach Felton what I still have left in the trunk.
Reporter: Hamadani, where will this off season lead you and the team at the end of the year?
Hamadani: Im not done yet... there's still a couple of holes to be filled before the season starts. Our bench is pretty weak right now and Im going to look into the Free Agency for a wihle. If nothing comes up, then I'll be making some moves for sure. As far as the season, the pacific division got a little stronger, and so did we, so the page will have to unfold first for me to say anything. The Kings, Blazers and the Suns look like contenders, and we'll wait and see. We already swept the Kings in exhibition games before we aquired Mr. Marbury. Kobe's position change to SF will be easier for him because the most talented position in the league is SG. Now he'll be up against the LeBrons, Pejas, Pierce's and Artests. He'll do just fine there. Marbury at the SG will give him the same amount of passing lanes that he would get at the PG. He's a great outside shooter as well as penetrator. This season should be fun to watch with the crowd.
