George O'Brien
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Finally I can wear your jersey again! Did you change your number because of Charles Barkley going into the Ring of Honor?
-- Morty, Oslo, Norway
McDyess: Yes, my number was 24, but Googs had that. Charles’ No. 34 was getting retired so the next best thing I thought was 14. No reason. I just saw an opening there.
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What did you miss most about Phoenix while you were away? Also, do you still have your clothing line you started a few years back?
-- Kim, Phoenix
McDyess: I missed the warm weather, an organization that treated me well and people I got to know here. Those were the most important things. I let the clothing line go. It was too much of a hassle. Playing basketball and starting a clothing line was too much.
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Mr. McDyess. How are you feeling and how soon do you think that you will start playing again?
-- Mirta, Phoenix
McDyess: Hopefully right after the All-Star break. I’ve had no pain. I just tried to take a break and get my leg stronger.
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What is it like to be playing for Mike D’Antoni again?
-- Merlin, Lincolnwood, IL
McDyess: It’s great. Mike is a great coach, a player’s coach. He knows so much about basketball, that’s it’s been great for me.
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Do you keep up wiht the league on the internet or in newspapers?
-- Ed, New York
McDyess: I try not to get into reading papers, because some of them are so negative. I try to stay positive.
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How has the Valley of the Sun changed since the last time you were here, and what is your favorite thing to do in town in your free time?
-- John, Phoenix
McDyess: It really hasn’t changed much. The only thing that’s changed is the team, and that’s because we’re much younger. I’m not used to coming into the locker room and seeing so many young faces. My favorite thing is to go bowling, so I can do that anytime we have a few days off.
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What line of business would you be in if you were not a basketball player?
-- Andrew, Clay, OK
McDyess: That’s a trick question because I like a lot of things, like decorating houses. And I know that sounds silly, but I like that. Getting into houses, property, real estate, so I think the real estate business.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who was your mentor when you first came into the league and are you still in touch with them?
-- Owen, PA
McDyess: My high-school coach Sammy Smith. He surely was a big influence on me, on and off the court. Every week we hold a conversation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What about your basketball career are you most proud of?
-- Jim, Phoenix
McDyess: I’m most proud of going to the Olympics. That was always a dream of mine. I watched the first Dream Team with Michael, Charles, Magic and they won the gold medal. I wanted to be in that position, and it happened. That’s my big highlight in my career.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How can a player get better in terms of rebounding?
-- Jun, Toronto
McDyess: Instinct is the key. Once the ball’s up there, you just can’t watch it in the air. You have to find your man, box him out and once the ball hits the rim, then you look at the ball and react off instinct.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What kind of pregame routine do you have?
-- Adam, Anchorage, Alaska
McDyess: I’m superstitious. I have to get my left leg taped first and then my right leg second. Then I go pray. I go out and shoot and then I come back in again and pray again. Then I pray during the national anthem. Then I have to touch six seats before I step on the court. I’m a superstitious guy. It’s been working for me all these years so I’ve stuck with it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who is your all-time favorite teammate?
--LaVincent, Laurel, MS
McDyess: George McCloud. We became such good friends when we were playing together. We still are in contact to this day. He’s been a big influence on me. He always took me under his wing as his brother, and he’s a great friend of mine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What can we expect from you when you recover from your injury?
-- Victor, San Diego
McDyess: Just be patient with me. I’m not going to get you a lot of minutes because of my leg. Look forward to me trying to come back as the old Antonio and just fitting in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who’s the No. 1 forward in the league right now?
-- Nir, Tel Aviv, Israel
McDyess: Kevin Garnett. It’s a toss up between KG and Tim Duncan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who in your opinion is the Rookie of the Year so far?
-- Nathan, Hanover, NH
McDyess: I want to say Carmelo Anthony, because it’s not only him but since he’s on a team where he’s turned them around big time. That’s a big improvement for them, not making the playoffs and now they’re sixth or seventh place in the league. That’s a big turnaround, so I’ll say Carmelo.
Finally I can wear your jersey again! Did you change your number because of Charles Barkley going into the Ring of Honor?
-- Morty, Oslo, Norway
McDyess: Yes, my number was 24, but Googs had that. Charles’ No. 34 was getting retired so the next best thing I thought was 14. No reason. I just saw an opening there.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What did you miss most about Phoenix while you were away? Also, do you still have your clothing line you started a few years back?
-- Kim, Phoenix
McDyess: I missed the warm weather, an organization that treated me well and people I got to know here. Those were the most important things. I let the clothing line go. It was too much of a hassle. Playing basketball and starting a clothing line was too much.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. McDyess. How are you feeling and how soon do you think that you will start playing again?
-- Mirta, Phoenix
McDyess: Hopefully right after the All-Star break. I’ve had no pain. I just tried to take a break and get my leg stronger.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is it like to be playing for Mike D’Antoni again?
-- Merlin, Lincolnwood, IL
McDyess: It’s great. Mike is a great coach, a player’s coach. He knows so much about basketball, that’s it’s been great for me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you keep up wiht the league on the internet or in newspapers?
-- Ed, New York
McDyess: I try not to get into reading papers, because some of them are so negative. I try to stay positive.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How has the Valley of the Sun changed since the last time you were here, and what is your favorite thing to do in town in your free time?
-- John, Phoenix
McDyess: It really hasn’t changed much. The only thing that’s changed is the team, and that’s because we’re much younger. I’m not used to coming into the locker room and seeing so many young faces. My favorite thing is to go bowling, so I can do that anytime we have a few days off.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What line of business would you be in if you were not a basketball player?
-- Andrew, Clay, OK
McDyess: That’s a trick question because I like a lot of things, like decorating houses. And I know that sounds silly, but I like that. Getting into houses, property, real estate, so I think the real estate business.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who was your mentor when you first came into the league and are you still in touch with them?
-- Owen, PA
McDyess: My high-school coach Sammy Smith. He surely was a big influence on me, on and off the court. Every week we hold a conversation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What about your basketball career are you most proud of?
-- Jim, Phoenix
McDyess: I’m most proud of going to the Olympics. That was always a dream of mine. I watched the first Dream Team with Michael, Charles, Magic and they won the gold medal. I wanted to be in that position, and it happened. That’s my big highlight in my career.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How can a player get better in terms of rebounding?
-- Jun, Toronto
McDyess: Instinct is the key. Once the ball’s up there, you just can’t watch it in the air. You have to find your man, box him out and once the ball hits the rim, then you look at the ball and react off instinct.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What kind of pregame routine do you have?
-- Adam, Anchorage, Alaska
McDyess: I’m superstitious. I have to get my left leg taped first and then my right leg second. Then I go pray. I go out and shoot and then I come back in again and pray again. Then I pray during the national anthem. Then I have to touch six seats before I step on the court. I’m a superstitious guy. It’s been working for me all these years so I’ve stuck with it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who is your all-time favorite teammate?
--LaVincent, Laurel, MS
McDyess: George McCloud. We became such good friends when we were playing together. We still are in contact to this day. He’s been a big influence on me. He always took me under his wing as his brother, and he’s a great friend of mine.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What can we expect from you when you recover from your injury?
-- Victor, San Diego
McDyess: Just be patient with me. I’m not going to get you a lot of minutes because of my leg. Look forward to me trying to come back as the old Antonio and just fitting in.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who’s the No. 1 forward in the league right now?
-- Nir, Tel Aviv, Israel
McDyess: Kevin Garnett. It’s a toss up between KG and Tim Duncan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who in your opinion is the Rookie of the Year so far?
-- Nathan, Hanover, NH
McDyess: I want to say Carmelo Anthony, because it’s not only him but since he’s on a team where he’s turned them around big time. That’s a big improvement for them, not making the playoffs and now they’re sixth or seventh place in the league. That’s a big turnaround, so I’ll say Carmelo.
