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One-on-One with Sam Lacey

By Andrew Stephens, legendsofbasketball.com
January 19, 2007
 
How did you get involved with the game of basketball?
 
I didn’t start playing basketball until I was 14 years old. Growing up, I was a die-hard Brooklyn 

Former teammates & best friends Ron Behagen and Sam Lacey
Photo By Dexter Jones 
Dodger fan.  My natural positions were shortstop and pitcher. The basketball coach for Gentry High convinced me one day to come out for the team. As a freshman, I was 5’11” and my strength was rebounding and playing defense. I entered my sophomore year at 6’1” and eventually hit a major growth spurt between the months of May and August. I entered my junior year at 6’9”, and from that season forward, there was no looking back. I had a solid junior year and a very dominant senior year averaging over 35 points per game and double-digit rebounds.
 
What is your most memorable moment(s)?
 
NCAA:  We lost to UCLA my senior year. I hurt my ankle about five minutes into the game and that was it. I ended up with 11 points and 15 rebounds. The idea of getting to the Final 4 was a major accomplishment. For the first time in my senior year we were in a different bracket than UCLA, which allowed us to face them in a Final 4 showdown.
 
NBA:  The traveling and the friendships I made from playing in the league is what meant the most to me. My closest friend to this day from my playing career is Ron Behagen. Ron has been there for me during the good times and bad, and that’s the strength of a true friend. We made a very impressive post-season run in 1981, upsetting Portland in a best-of-three first-round series, and then shocking Phoenix in the Western Conference Semifinals. We eventually lost to Houston in five games, but it was the fight in the team that was remarkable.  Each series more players were going down to injury, and we managed to rally together and step our games up to keep our post-season run alive.

What legends did you admire growing up?
 
I was a huge Wilt Chamberlain fan growing up. Once I got into the league, I really admired Oscar Robertson and Dave Bing…those two guys were the epitome of class and were genuine about everything they did.
 
Funniest story you can share from your playing career?
 
We played in Boston the night before, and we get up the next morning to play the Buffalo Braves. I get up early and talk to the trainer, and he told me to go back to my room and relax because guys were still checking in. To this day I’m a very sound sleeper; when I’m out, there’s nothing that can wake me up. I ended up sleeping for about three hours straight and missed the plane. I gathered my things and ran over to catch the shuttle, only to find out I wasn’t the only person that missed the flight.  I’m not a betting man, but on that day I was willing to put money on the line that it was my teammate Ron Behagen. I get to the airport and there he was sitting in the waiting room…I couldn’t help but laugh. We took the heat for oversleeping and missing our flight when we landed.  Ron and I got fined and had to take the whole team out for dinner. I played 13 years and that was the only flight I ever missed. I was always on time…but not on that day.
 
 
NBA TODAY - “Words of Wisdom”
 
Which players of today remind you of yourself?
 
Kareem-Abdul Jabar & Andrew Bynum
NBAE/Getty Images 

 
My game was rebounding and defense. I was a cross between Ben Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Dwight Howard. The biggest difference was I scored less than both of them.
 
What are your thoughts on the development of two of the NBA’s up-and-coming traditional centers, Eddie Curry (via the assistance of Knicks Assistant, Mark Aguirre) and Andrew Bynum (via the assistance of Lakers Assistant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)? 
 
Bynum has the best teacher because Kareem can tell him more about the total big man game. I can tell Bynum is a good listener because he has developed into his own this season. He was considered a project, and Kareem has been able to mold him into something special. I haven’t gotten a chance to see Eddie as much, but I like his game. Mark has to be commended for teaching Eddie some of the tricks and techniques he used as a player.  Curry has a very imposing frame at 6’11” 280 plus. The more Mark works with him, the scarier he will be for opposing centers.
 
If you were playing in the league today, what player would you want to play with? 
 
The player I would love to play with is Steve Nash. I don’t want to jinx him, but I think he’s the MVP again. 
 
POST NBA - “Life After Basketball”
 
What are you currently doing?
 
I’m in the process of launching a cartoon in March of 2007. It’s based on the game of basketball, touches on community, lessons in life and showcases players of all different ethnic backgrounds. The unveiling will be around March Madness.

FUN FACTS:
 
If you did not play basketball, what would have been your alternate career?
 
Kings Legend Sam Lacey
NBAE./Getty Images 

 
My mother wanted me to be a singer. People might not know this about me, but I have a decent voice. If it weren’t for basketball, I would have explored something in entertainment.
 
Did you ever have any rituals or superstitions during your playing career?
 
I always put my left shoe on first, ate no later than 1:30 pm and got to the arena about 3:30 pm because I wanted to be the first one to get taped up. I didn’t like to wait around for anything. Even to this day, when I go to the barbershop, I have to be the first one in the chair.
 
MUST SEE TV…What programs do you watch religiously?
 
I’m not a big TV series fan, but I enjoy watching “60 Minutes,” Fox News and CNN. On the basketball side, I catch most of the Grizzlies and Hawks games because those are the two cities I’m in the most.
 
What do you like to do in your spare time?
 
I enjoy reading, writing and working out everyday.
 
During your playing career, you had your share of bumps and bruises.  For the most part, it’s safe to say you have given more than taken. What’s the hardest shot you have taken from an opposing player?
 
No question, Dave DeBusschere (God rest his soul) when he played for the Knicks. He set a back pick on me, and I was hearing bells, seeing stars and couldn’t stand straight. It was so bad I had to call a timeout – back then rookies weren’t allowed to call timeout. I can laugh about it now, but it was like an out-of-body experience.