A Perspective On Coach Sydney Lowe

One of the most interesting facets of the NBA Draft Combine is one can see NBA executives in their natural habitat. What do I mean by that? They're comfortable. Having a great time. Weaving in and out and shooting the breeze with the media. Not so much as giving interviews but just chatting it up. It's an awesome sight to see. Everyone should be able to see the human side of NBA execs and get to see this.

During this time, Amar and I, saw Shareef Abdur-Rahim, formerly of the Vancouver Grizzlies and now part of the coaching staff of the Sacramento Kings. We decided to ask him a few questions and get his opinion on his former coach Sydney Lowe.

Amar

Obviously you were coached under Sydney Lowe. How did he help you develop as a young player?

Shareef Abdur-Rahim

Obviously he's got a wealth a knowledge of the game. Has seen a lot from his time as a player and coach. And one just being able to spread the attitude to the players. I thought when ... As I played for him, he was a really good coach and thought offensively he did a lot of things to help me make the game easier. So just simply there are a lot of things he can do to teach the guys to make the game easier. He's been in a lot of different situations as a player, he was a really good high school player, really good college player, was good enough to be a short time as a professional player, been a coach on a number of levels. He has a wealth of knowledge where he can really help guys and share with guys.

Mychal

Who's better looking?

Shareef

Between who?

Mychal

Between you and Lowe.

Shareef

You gotta love yourself.

[Laughter]

Amar

You remember going through all of this. You were a really high draft pick. You were part of an expansion team. Is that a challenge? Is that something you want as a player?

Shareef

Well ... I think it kinda comes with being a higher pick, right? Ya know, ya know, the way the lottery works is that the teams that are down at the time are the teams that have the higher picks so you take it as a challenge to, uh, help the organization and improve and get better. I think, ya know, there's more that goes into it than just the guys that are just drafted and go in to it. You don't realize that as a young player. You take it as a challenge. Definitely.

Amar

Awesome. I really appreciate this dialogue. I don't want to take away too much of your time. But do you think that there will be ... well ... we don't have a team in Seattle, we don't have a team in Vancouver, do you think the NBA should go back there?

Shareef

Well both of them were great, ya know ... Seattle is a great city. Vancouver, I love Vancouver. Ya know, I had a great time there. Ya know, how logistically and how that works out I'm not sure. I think both markets, both cities, and both fan bases deserve to have a team.