Q&A With Kevin Ollie
It was long overdue but I finally got in touch with Kevin Ollie, the veteran point guard the Thunder signed on Aug. 1 to add stability and leadership to the lead guard position. Throughout our 18-minute conversation, Ollie talked about why he joined the Thunder, why he thinks something special is being built in Oklahoma City, his goals of a coaching future, the impact of assistant coach Maurice Cheeks’ addition and how he plans on mentoring Russell Westbrook while competing with Shaun Livingston for backup minutes.
Ollie, who turns 37 in late December, is regarded as one of the classiest guys in basketball and that characterization was evident in our brief chat. He was thankful for the opportunity to continue his career and eager to meet his new teammates and start training camp. He was insightful, introspective, eloquent, humble and gave the impression of being an extremely hard worker. Thunder fans definitely will take a liking to Ollie’s personality, and if he provides anything of value on the court this season that will just be icing on the cake.
DM: What attracted you to the Thunder?
KO: From Day One they gave me a call and expressed interest and had a strong belief in me and my talents and what I can bring as an asset to the team. So I really appreciate their involvement from Day One. And once I met Sam Presti and coach Brooks I just fell in love with the organization. They do everything in a classy way, and I just believe that they’re building a winning program there that I wanted to be a part of.
DM: I know you went out to Vegas during the summer league and met with team officials back in mid-July. What do you remember about the Thunder’s recruiting process?
KO: Their recruiting process is great. It was informative. They were straight up with me by saying what they expect of me and how they believe in me as a basketball player but most importantly as a person. Coming in there and being a mentor to some of the young guys and being a veteran, which I am, just trying to shed some light on the experiences that I’ve been through in this league, the ups and downs and how to continue to stay mentally and physically prepared for the challenge ahead. That’s what I’ve tried to do throughout my whole career. And that’s what I’ll try to convey to the young guys on the team and just bring that veteran leadership that I try to display each and every season.
DM: Is there anything that stood out in their recruiting efforts? Can you give me a behind-the-scenes look at anything they did that sort of stood out?
KO: Just how they believe in their players and believe in their vision. I think if you don’t have a vision you don’t have hope and everything is going to perish. But they have a vision and a plan of what they want to do and are going out and executing that vision. And I just really like that. It might not show to the other people, but they have a vision and they believe in themselves and have standards that they’re going to uphold. That’s what I believe in life, that you have to stand on your convictions and sometimes you have to be alone. It might not agree with everybody. But if you have your own convictions and your own dreams of where your organization wants to go and believe in your organization and you believe in what you’re doing I’m all for that. Because after my playing career I might want to go into coaching or in the front office and I could learn how they’re building their program around their convictions and their standards.
DM: I understand you’re not coming to OKC looking at automatic third-string duty. You’re going to come in and compete with Shaun Livingston for the backup spot, correct?
KO: Yeah. Shaun wouldn’t have it no other way and Russell wouldn’t have it no other way. I’m the old guy on the team, but I still think I have some life in these legs and I definitely believe in myself. That’s all I wanted when I started the recruiting process, an opportunity to compete for minutes. Either way it goes, if Brooks says I’m not qualified to get those minutes I’m going to keep working hard to try to get qualified to get those minutes. But I wanted to have the opportunity and they said they were going to give me that opportunity. And that’s the only thing you ask as a player and everything else is on you.
DM: You saw the Thunder a lot as a member of the Wolves last season. What were your impressions of this team?
KO: They played hard and they showed a lot of resiliency through a difficult season. But you always knew that they were going to play hard. We caught them on one of their worst nights when they came to Minnesota and didn’t play well, but the next night they responded again. And that’s what shows character. A lot of people can jump and high-five when you’re up 20. But can you do the same thing when you’re down 20 or down 25. That shows the character of the team, when you believe in yourself in the tough times. And that’s what I saw out of the Thunder, they always played hard. And I know coach Brooks is trying to make that a staple and a teaching lesson every day in practice.
DM: Do you know any of the current players personally? Have you had a chance to develop a relationship with any of these guys off the court?
KO: No. I don’t know any of them personally. I know Etan Thomas from the Big East and playing against him throughout my career. But I don’t know any of them. I’m definitely going to get to know them. I’m going to come out in early September and spend a couple of days getting to know the guys a little bit better. But during this training camp coming up we’re going to have a lot of time to spend with one another and I look forward to it. I’ve just been hearing so many positive things about their work ethic and how they believe in themselves and go out there and perform each and every day and put in the extra work. And that’s right up my alley. I’m just looking forward to spending good, quality time with all the young guys because they make me feel young. I’m going on 37, but being around those guys and looking at their passion and their motivation every day gets me going and gets me back to feeling like I’m 23 again.
DM: When will you arrive permanently for the start of camp or to look for a place and get settled and things like that?
KO: Probably the first week of September. I’m going to come down and look for a place and spend a couple of days getting acclimated to the city. I have two children and my wife who are going to stay back in Connecticut. So I’m going to go back to Connecticut and make sure I spend some time with them and make sure I’m there for the first day of school and get them going in their schoolwork and things like that. And then I’ll probably be back the last week of September getting ready for training camp for good.
DM: Can you describe your game to the fans out here who might not be familiar with you?
KO: I’m just a hard worker. If they like hard work and bringing energy, that’s what I try to do each and every day. I try to change the tempo. I’m a defensive-minded guard. I like to get up in my opponent and challenge him on the defensive end. And I just try to push the ball and be one of the leaders out there directing. I’m a facilitator and I’m going to be an extension of the coach. I want the coach to believe in me that I’m not going to be the one that turns the ball over and I’ll be a rock and a pillar for him on and off the basketball floor. I’m sure they’ll expect that of me, and I’m going to expect that of myself each and every day.
DM: What’s your approach to mentoring these young guys?
KO: I just want to be there for them. I don’t want to harp to them about what I did back in the day. I want to first gain their trust and know that I believe in them. And if they have any questions about any experiences I’ve been through in this league, I’m willing and able to give them everything they need. So I just want to spend time with them and get to know them. But I want to gain their trust and get them to know that I’m there for their best benefit. And hopefully I push them in practice, too. I’m going to push the guards and work hard and I’m not going to take any shortcuts. And hopefully they can learn something from the great coaching staff we have and all the great players we have around them.
DM: Were there any promises from this coaching staff or front office in terms of helping you transition into coaching?
KO: No. It wasn’t any promises. They said you’re a basketball player first. We’re not having you come in to be a fifth coach. They want me to get out there and prove myself and earn some minutes and that’s what I wanted to hear. I’m not a coach yet. But this is a good opportunity for me to understand the coaching staff that I have and continue to learn. I know that my career is at the end and I’ve got to make that transition. I’ve got to see how certain things work, how they talk and how they communicate with their players. That’s for me to grasp. And I’m going to do that. I’m a sponge. I try to gain as much knowledge as I can from people who I know have great basketball knowledge.
DM: When the team was recruiting you they had yet to announce they had hired Maurice Cheeks. But there were reports that the Thunder was interested in him. Did you know at the time that the organization was looking at him?
KO: There was some buzz out there. But it wasn’t anything definite. There wasn’t a signed contract. But that was one of the great things knowing that they were recruiting Mo Cheeks and coach Cheeks had an interest in the team. It just shows what kind of character and what kind of winning tradition they’re trying to build here in Oklahoma City. Just knowing I’m going to be around coach Cheeks for another season is just a great thing and a learning tool for me as a person but also as a basketball player to be under his tutelage again. Him, coach Adams who I know, coach Bryant, they’ve just got a great coaching staff assembled. If you can’t learn from these guys you might as well give it up.
DM: What will Cheeks bring to this team as an assistant?
KO: Just his personality. Just being personable. Just his work ethic. But just a friend. He was my coach but you can go and talk to coach Cheeks about anything. He’s always open, always honest. He’s a man full of integrity, full of pride and he’s just a great teacher and a great motivator. But the thing I took away from coach Cheeks during my time with him was the time off the basketball court. We’d just sit and talk. Or he’d bring us in the middle after practice and just talk for 30 minutes, not even about basketball but about life and the decisions you make. How the decisions you make today are going to affect your tomorrow. He talked a lot about always knowing that you could be better, a better basketball player but most importantly a better person. And that’s what I take from coach Cheeks, his integrity, his honesty and he was always straight forward with you as a coach.
DM: There seems to be a little debate about whether this is your 12th team and ties you with Tony Massenburg, Chucky Brown and Jim Jackson for the NBA record of playing with the most teams. The league counts Oklahoma City as the Seattle franchise, which you’ve already played for and keeps you at 11 different teams for your career. But what do you think about closing in on that record? Is the distinction of being the most journeyed player in NBA history something you actually want?
KO: Yeah. If that’s the title then that’s the title. But I don’t get caught up in titles. It’s been a great experience for me to meet different people, organizations, different players. I have some great friends that I’ve met throughout my career. If that’s what I’m defined by then that’s what I’m defined by. But anybody who knows me knows what kind of person I am. I don’t even brag about being in the league 13 years after not getting drafted. I believe that I’m a God-fearing man, that I love the Lord and that I’m a great husband. And I hope that’s my legacy and people will know me for that more than spending 13 years in the league and being on 12 or 14 different teams. I don’t care about that. Just know that I’m a God-fearing man, that I’m a great husband and I’m a great father to my kids. That’s what I want to be known for.
-DM-
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Comments
I am glad that we are signing quaility players and coaches and not who is the big name or best talent. Honest, good character guys that work hard will win games also. Without all the drama of drugs or thugs.
Great interview dm. Thats journalism. I don’t know what all these other writers write about…mostly garbage. But you keep the standard high. They just wish they could write an article like that.
Congratulations to OKC. You have added one of the finest gentlemen in the NBA. Not only will he mentor your younger players, he will add some important minutes off the bench.
( From a Connecticut resident who has rooted for the Huskies since the 1960′s, and is the #1 Sooner fan in New England!)
[...] Darnell Mayberry has a Q&A with Kevin Ollie: ”DM: Is there anything that stood out in their recruiting efforts? Can you give me a behind-the-scenes look at anything they did that sort of stood out? Kevin Ollie: Just how they believe in their players and believe in their vision. I think if you don’t have a vision you don’t have hope and everything is going to perish. But they have a vision and a plan of what they want to do and are going out and executing that vision. And I just really like that. It might not show to the other people, but they have a vision and they believe in themselves and have standards that they’re going to uphold. That’s what I believe in life, that you have to stand on your convictions and sometimes you have to be alone. It might not agree with everybody. But if you have your own convictions and your own dreams of where your organization wants to go and believe in your organization and you believe in what you’re doing I’m all for that. Because after my playing career I might want to go into coaching or in the front office and I could learn how they’re building their program around their convictions and their standards.” [...]
He’s going to be the guard that we insert in the 4th quarter to maintain the lead and not make any stupid turnovers.
Another outstanding read by DM. And Geebanga I agree 100%. And I look forward to having those kinds of leads.
GO THUNDER
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Great interview. I love this guy already.