What do you think the Hawks need to do to start winning more games and what specifically do you think you can bring to the team?
I watched a couple of their games and the couple that I watched they were pretty close ... I think the last quarters and just having to close out games. They pass the ball well but it seems that the last quarter we haven’t been closing out games. I’m just going to come in and do whatever I can, whatever it is I need to do to close out games. Whether that’s get an assist, get the guys going, just bring some excitement and confidence I think. Just bring that leadership that I can bring into the fourth quarter. I think that I have a never say die attitude, just bring just my game and my personality to the team and try to get them over the hump.
Speaking of fourth quarters, you’re known as one of the league’s clutch performers. What does it take to have the confidence to take that game-winning shot?
I take the pressure off of myself, I don’t look at it as a game winning shot. I kind of psych myself out and remember that I’ve shot hundreds and hundreds of those shots. I don’t look at it as I’ve got to take the last shot, (because) I’m going to tighten up. I look at it as if I have it I’m going to take it because I’ve made hundreds and hundreds in practice. And that repetition brings confidence.
Who are you most looking forward to playing with on the Hawks and why?
It’s all of them, man. It’s actually those veteran guys. Sav (Glen Saville ) and (Mat) Cambell, just learning from them. They have many, many, many, many, many, many games in this league. More than I’ve ever played. Just learning from them, learning the system. I mean. They’ve been here their whole careers I think. Just learning from them, helping them get better and for them to help me get better.
It’s somewhat ironic that your first game with the Hawks will be against Melbourne. Given the manner of your departure from the Tigers, that must give you extra motivation to play against them?
I think so, but it’s kind of weird because I have nothing against the coaches and players, I just have something against Seamus (McPeake, majority team owner), that’s about it. It’ll definitely be weird playing against them, but of course you want to play well against your old club. Guys you played with last week, now you’re playing against them next week. So it’s definitely going to be a weird game. I’m pretty good at hiding my emotions when it comes to basketball. I love those guys and I miss them, but on the court you have no friends. I mean after the game there’s hugs, but during the game, it’s on.
Have you got a message for the Tigers fans, given you didn’t really get a chance to say goodbye to them?
Yeah, I put it on Twitter, I miss the fans. The fans are great, everything is great. My teammates, the coaches, supporters, they’re all great. I only got a problem with one guy. The fans are great in Melbourne, the office staff, Adam (Fountain, Tigers GM), everyone in the office they were great, I haven’t got anything bad to say about them. It was just an unfortunate situation with one owner, but I’ve got to move forward now. I loved my time there but life goes on, you can’t dwell in the past. You’ve got to take every day as its own day. Obstacles come up, you have to overcome obstacles, things that come your way. That’s what I’ve lived my whole life. With difficult situations, you just overcome them. It’s just another bump in the road that will be forgotten soon.
You must feel like you’ve landed on your feet, finding a new club so quickly. Given the circumstances, are you happy with how things have panned out?
Oh definitely, definitely. This is the ideal club. The style of play suits what I can bring to be successful at. Gordie (McLeod) is a real player’s coach and it seems like he’s a real teacher and I love to play for somebody like that. I was fortunate to play for three good coaches before – Fearney (Aaron Fearne), Gleeson and Joey (Wright). I was fortunate to play for them, and now I’m fortunate enough tom play for another good coach. I’ve been blessed in the NBL, to be able to play for good clubs.
