This is a great little interview with Rachel Nichols, Scottie, and Steve Kerr. I always enjoy her work. How odd two chicks…Rachael and Doris Burke are my two favorite NBA hoops interviewers.
Scottie is probably No. 16 on my Pantheon of all-time greats depending and how I’m feeling about Isiah Thomas that particular moment. As a point forward he was the perfect compliment for Michael. He could conceivably rank higher if not for a few moments in his career when he hurt his own legacy to an extent.
But Scottie was just a great basketball player and almost got the Blazers past Kobe and Shaq and into an NBA Finals in Portland. I always think of Durant to a certain extent when I’m watching old footage of Scottie running the floor with the Bulls. Putting aside Durant’s exit from Oklahoma City…Kevin Durant is one helluva basketball player. I probably have Kevin as No. 17 on my list right now and will move him higher depending on what I see after the return from the Achilles injury.
Here’s what I say about Durant…he got Oklahoma City to four Western Conference Finals and one NBA Finals with Scott Brooks as his head coach and with Thabo, Kevin Martin, and Dion Waiters as his shooting guards. Kevin Durant did this in the rugged West and he did this with Russell losing his point guard mind at times.
Do I think if Kevin had come back in 2017 they would have beaten the Warriors?
No. Not a chance…because Russell at least to this point still doesn’t get it. I don’t think Russell is stupid or selfish. I just think in Russell’s head he’s never come to terms with the fact that in the last six minutes of playoff games against elite competition he still doesn’t trust his teammates.
Russell, the ball isn’t your best friend…your teammates are. Let’s go, dude.
Who would be the right coach for Russell?
Maybe…Steve Kerr. They could read Michelle Obama’s book together and bond. Don’t laugh. It was a great book and Russell has a signed copy of the book.