Kenny Smith talking on TNT:
Kenny Smith, the former Houston Rockets point guard and current TNT analyst, was talking about current Celtics point guard Sam Cassell being drafted by the Rockets in 1993 to possibly replace him. Things could have been tense, but Smith, the veteran leader, pulled Cassell aside and told him, “You never have to worry about me rooting against you when I’m on the bench, I’ll always have your back.”
The result? Both guards hit numerous big shots while leading the Rockets to back-to-back NBA Championships. Cassell said that it was Smith’s leadership that allowed him to mature so quickly.
Fast forward 10 years later. Cassell had just been traded to the Clippers when the team drafted Shaun Livingston, the point guard of the future who would eventually replace Cassell. Livingston was drafted out of high school so he didn’t play a lot his first year. However, by his 3rd year he was more than ready to play. So much so that he started to take a lot of Cassell’s minutes. Cassell, the veteran leader, pulled Livingston aside and told him, “You never have to worry about me rooting against you when I’m on the bench, I’ll always have your back.”
Just this last week, Cassell was signed by the Celtics to backup Rajon Rondo, the young, inexperienced 2nd year point guard out of Kentucky. Many NBA analysts, commentators, general managers, and talk show hosts have said that the Celtics needed to add a playoff-tested point guard because of Rondo’s lack of playoff experience. What could have been a tough situation for the young man was quickly dealt with by Cassell who immediately talked to Rondo. Cassell told him that he (Cassell) would take a back seat and do whatever he could to help the 2nd year guard out.
Now when Shaun Livingston and Rajon Rondo are veterans and past their prime 10-15 years from now, hopefully they can pass down the same lessons that Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell handed down to their young teammates.
Kenny Smith, the former Houston Rockets point guard and current TNT analyst, was talking about current Celtics point guard Sam Cassell being drafted by the Rockets in 1993 to possibly replace him. Things could have been tense, but Smith, the veteran leader, pulled Cassell aside and told him, “You never have to worry about me rooting against you when I’m on the bench, I’ll always have your back.”
The result? Both guards hit numerous big shots while leading the Rockets to back-to-back NBA Championships. Cassell said that it was Smith’s leadership that allowed him to mature so quickly.
Fast forward 10 years later. Cassell had just been traded to the Clippers when the team drafted Shaun Livingston, the point guard of the future who would eventually replace Cassell. Livingston was drafted out of high school so he didn’t play a lot his first year. However, by his 3rd year he was more than ready to play. So much so that he started to take a lot of Cassell’s minutes. Cassell, the veteran leader, pulled Livingston aside and told him, “You never have to worry about me rooting against you when I’m on the bench, I’ll always have your back.”
Just this last week, Cassell was signed by the Celtics to backup Rajon Rondo, the young, inexperienced 2nd year point guard out of Kentucky. Many NBA analysts, commentators, general managers, and talk show hosts have said that the Celtics needed to add a playoff-tested point guard because of Rondo’s lack of playoff experience. What could have been a tough situation for the young man was quickly dealt with by Cassell who immediately talked to Rondo. Cassell told him that he (Cassell) would take a back seat and do whatever he could to help the 2nd year guard out.
Now when Shaun Livingston and Rajon Rondo are veterans and past their prime 10-15 years from now, hopefully they can pass down the same lessons that Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell handed down to their young teammates.
