scotsman13
Registered User
Bob Young
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 22, 2004 12:00 AM
DENVER - The Suns have offered center Scott Williams an assistant coaching job, which he could take immediately, but the 13-year NBA veteran wants to keep playing.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that," Williams said, smiling, when asked about the offer.
"There will come a time when I'll be ready to step into another role in basketball, but right now all I've known is being a player. That's what I'm comfortable with, and that's what I want to continue to do. But an opportunity to enter coaching at this level is a fantastic opportunity that has to be seriously considered."
Williams said it would be a difficult adjustment in the middle of a season.
"It would be a strange transition going from banging alongside the guys, then all of a sudden yelling at them for not running back on defense," he said. "You can't start yelling at somebody for trying to short-cut a drill when I was doing it a week ago.
"I'm enjoying playing right now, and that's what I want to continue to do however much time I have left - whether it's three months or a year or two years. I'll be upset with myself five, 10, 15 years down the road if I didn't think I tried to maximize everything I possibly could.
"There are thousands of people that would like to do what I do for a week, playing in the NBA. I don't think I want to pass up any of that."
Williams, who is on the injured list because of back spasms, realizes he may not be activated again this season as the Suns have gone with a youth movement.
"It's been hard from the standpoint I'm a competitor - I want to go out and help the team win," he said. "I don't feel as if I have a role in that right now. I do feel I can help some of these younger players understand the NBA game, bond with one another."
Diceman cometh
Antonio McDyess was back in the Pepsi Center for the first time since being traded by the Nuggets to the Knicks, and subsequently to the Suns. He has missed most of the past two seasons with knee injuries, first a torn patella tendon and then a fractured patella - kneecap - on his left knee.
But McDyess said he is progressing in his strength program to rehabilitate the knee, and admitted he felt a need to return early when he was playing in New York.
"There was a lot of pressure on me and the people who traded for me," he said.
Coach Mike D'Antoni said the club is hoping that McDyess will be ready to return after the NBA All-Star break, Feb. 13-15.
Stoudemire update
A magnetic resonance imaging test on the left ankle of forward Amare Stoudemire was normal, trainer Aaron Nelson said. The Suns expect that he will be able to play Friday night against San Antonio
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 22, 2004 12:00 AM
DENVER - The Suns have offered center Scott Williams an assistant coaching job, which he could take immediately, but the 13-year NBA veteran wants to keep playing.
"I can neither confirm nor deny that," Williams said, smiling, when asked about the offer.
"There will come a time when I'll be ready to step into another role in basketball, but right now all I've known is being a player. That's what I'm comfortable with, and that's what I want to continue to do. But an opportunity to enter coaching at this level is a fantastic opportunity that has to be seriously considered."
Williams said it would be a difficult adjustment in the middle of a season.
"It would be a strange transition going from banging alongside the guys, then all of a sudden yelling at them for not running back on defense," he said. "You can't start yelling at somebody for trying to short-cut a drill when I was doing it a week ago.
"I'm enjoying playing right now, and that's what I want to continue to do however much time I have left - whether it's three months or a year or two years. I'll be upset with myself five, 10, 15 years down the road if I didn't think I tried to maximize everything I possibly could.
"There are thousands of people that would like to do what I do for a week, playing in the NBA. I don't think I want to pass up any of that."
Williams, who is on the injured list because of back spasms, realizes he may not be activated again this season as the Suns have gone with a youth movement.
"It's been hard from the standpoint I'm a competitor - I want to go out and help the team win," he said. "I don't feel as if I have a role in that right now. I do feel I can help some of these younger players understand the NBA game, bond with one another."
Diceman cometh
Antonio McDyess was back in the Pepsi Center for the first time since being traded by the Nuggets to the Knicks, and subsequently to the Suns. He has missed most of the past two seasons with knee injuries, first a torn patella tendon and then a fractured patella - kneecap - on his left knee.
But McDyess said he is progressing in his strength program to rehabilitate the knee, and admitted he felt a need to return early when he was playing in New York.
"There was a lot of pressure on me and the people who traded for me," he said.
Coach Mike D'Antoni said the club is hoping that McDyess will be ready to return after the NBA All-Star break, Feb. 13-15.
Stoudemire update
A magnetic resonance imaging test on the left ankle of forward Amare Stoudemire was normal, trainer Aaron Nelson said. The Suns expect that he will be able to play Friday night against San Antonio
