Pre-Season Thoughts

Summer Activities, 2001

I traveled across Europe for a month, visiting various places in Spain and Italy. I started off in Barcelona, Spain and then flew to Rome, Italy, where I joined a cruise ship that sailed along the Italian and French Riviera and back to Barcelona. It was a great trip, and I really enjoyed visiting all of the historic sites as well as experiencing the cultures and food of the Mediterranean. After Europe I flew to the Caribbean where I represented my teammates at the NBPA union meetings in the Bahamas and visited my family on Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

However during all my travels basketball was never far from my mind, and I made it a point to find a gym wherever I went in order to stay in shape. When I returned to California, I worked out everyday with Clifford Ray at the Warriors practice facility. I also went to a basketball camp that Cliff was teaching in Florida with Robert Parrish. I learned so much in such a short period - they taught me all the ins and outs of the big man's game and the secrets to how they played when they were in the league. I asked Robert how he managed to last so long in the league, and he stressed the importance of stretching, good teammates and working very hard. I feel very privileged that he was able to impart some of his knowledge to me. I think that as a result of that camp and the rest of my summer workout, you are going to see me more offensively active this year. I've spent a lot of time this summer shooting the ball, putting it on the floor, and just being comfortable with the ball. My jump shot is out to 15 feet, and I've put a lot of emphasis on executing a consistent foul shot. I feel that there has been a definite improvement in my all-around game, which you will see reflected in the upcoming season.

Team Outlook

I am very excited about the coming season for the Golden State Warriors. I know I have said this in the past, but this year I feel especially optimistic for a number of reasons. The number one factor is our team's health. For the first time in the four years that I have been with the Warriors, all of our players are healthy - Erick Dampier and Chris Mills are back after being out for most of last year, and Danny Fortson, who signed with the Warriors last year but didn't play due to a stress fracture is now also back on the roster. It's just great to see that all of our players are healthy again and making a legitimate effort to make this season a great one. Four other plusses are our new rookies who are playing above and beyond expectations. Jason Richardson will be a great player for the fans to watch with his fancy court moves. With Troy Murphy, you get consistency, great shooting and athleticism. Gilbert Arenas brings speed, good decision-making, lots of defense, and definitely raises the tempo of the game when he's on the floor. And then you have Dean Oliver who is a very hard worker - he goes after the ball, pressures the ball, and runs the offense for our team. These guys definitely make our team better.

I'm sure that if our team stays healthy we will have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs - no ifs, ands, or buts. And I hope that comes about. I truly believe that we can compete with just about any team in this league. We have the young talent, blended in with talented veterans and we have speed - these are the foundations of a great team, and I know that everyone on my team realizes that. I hope that we continue to fight and get better and make basketball fun once again for the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. Look out for a really exciting year!

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