nochmal was zur guten Stimmung...
Veterans helping Knicks' rookies adjust
By MIKE DOUGHERTY
mdougher@thejournalnews.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 20, 2005)
Since the NBA is suddenly preoccupied with image, looking the part is the first step toward success.
Knicks rookies Channing Frye, Nate Robinson and David Lee got a head start on their wide-eyed peers when two veterans followed through on an obligation to help the next generation.
Stephon Marbury bought each of the newcomers 10 custom-made suits, complete with shirts and ties. Maurice Taylor got each of them a new iPod, the perfect accessory. That's a lot of goodwill.
"Oh, man, did he ever help us out," Frye said of the new clothes. "I was going to have to mix and match. I might have gone and hit a blue-light special. It shows how much he cares about this team, and I thank him every single day."
A couple of years ago, empty closets and cheap electronics were a rookie hallmark.
"That was sweet," Robinson said of the gifts.
Marbury doesn't feel comfortable discussing the generous act. Taylor shrugs it off as common decency.
"They don't have any real money," Taylor said of the rookies. "They can't buy their own suits or their own iPods yet. So it's just to make them feel welcome. You do things like that. I've been blessed to be in a very good position financially, so I'm always going to help them out from time to time, let them keep some money in their pocket."
In return the rookies are sent for sandwiches, which in most cases is a short trip down the hall of the MSG practice facility to a full-service cafeteria. They also might be asked to schlep a veteran's carry-on bag to the bus following a road game.
"It's not demanding stuff," Quentin Richardson said.
And nobody seems to mind.
"There's nothing even close to some of the stories I've heard," said Frye, who's already become a regular in a shifting rotation. "It's really no big deal."
Of course, when Marbury needs an extra ticket or Taylor needs some pregame music while getting taped, guess who's getting asked first?
"There were a few guys who helped us out," said Antonio Davis, who has been in the league for 13 seasons. "I've seen our vets have been very generous, and it's a good thing. Hopefully that's something that becomes a tradition and gets passed down. Little things like that will help all the guys end up in a better situation,"
Despite all of the newcomers getting minutes early on, the locker-room chemistry remains strong. All of the established players are seemingly willing to share tricks of the trade.
It's almost like training a successor, which in some places leads to an uncomfortable situation.
"Our vets this year are really going overboard for the young guys," Eddy Curry said. "It's really giving them a refreshing look at the league and how good it can be. A lot of guys do stuff and they don't brag about it. That's what is going to make us a strong team."
In the midst of the mounting losses and frustration over undefined roles, new friendships are being forged.
"That's big time," Robinson said. "Quentin lets me come over to his house. Jamal, he welcomed me with open arms. Everybody, all the way down the line. On the court, we're all just hustling trying to help our team win. Off the court, it's something totally different. They're going to be your friends regardless."
Ich glaub aber schon dass sich auch Rookies einen iPod leisten können. Trotzdem eine feine Sache. Marbury wird wohl einfach ein wenig verkannt. Ich ging immer davon aus er wäre eher ein Einzelgänger... hatte mich aber schonmal bei Ricky Davis mal übel verhauen was den Charakter betrifft....
Auf jeden Fall lässig dass die Jungs so gut klarkommen und den Rookies ein wenig unter die Arme greifen. Nice !