Sam Jones, NBA Hall of Famer

We mentioned to you earlier that next Wednesday. It will be ball the privilege and an honor from Michael and me -- service call AMC's of the tradition at the TD Banknorth Garden. It is an opportunity we've we've been blessed to do the last several years and we get an opportunity to sit and talk with some of the greats of the new England sports team. Our next guest will be honored next Wednesday he will be inducted into the England sports Hall of Fame. On his son will be one of its present here's the other will be Bill Russell he is. Ten time NBA champion Boston Celtic great Sam Jones joining us on the eighteenth -- hotline AT&T your world delivered Sam -- Michael in Boston how --

I have -- I guess I -- but. Since you're gonna be hosting. What is the proper address for that night.

I'd wear suits them but. I'll let you know well I'll know I don't have to wear whatever you want. Yeah yeah yeah. You did honored you can you can log in gene slacks -- sure whatever you want.

Pay no way -- up back would never let that happen.

It is it's such a unique night and I don't even know you've had a chance to see one of these Sam but it's it's so much fun. To see the greats of the Celtics in the Bruins in the Red Sox in the patriots in one place at one time what did you think when they called and said -- we want you to be there this year.

But let it develop about it really rude surprise because I had no idea I know that minute -- Moments ago which I don't know maybe four -- five years ago I had been approached by date -- when. Who outbreak was working with the New Haven Hall of Fame museum -- He was told me all about it how proud he was. Is that what they have they have opportunity. To be a part of this could be it really. They gave had a lot to do with it.

sailboat when dale introduced you and he talked about you winning ten championships. I kept thinking. How -- those guys stay motivated. To win championships year after year to year when you hear. Today that some teams this slip off. When they win a championship or even two in a row how did you guys I keep that edge -- in consecutive years.

Well first of all I have to give a lot of credit to our coach show read out back and bit I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates. Especially Bob cousy and Bill Russell long would build shaman. Poverty right and -- that's -- this case because they all. And had something to do with us when he championship it was all about being. Unselfish. Because this was the epitome of the best basketball team to play the game not worry about points. But how we played on the court and in terms indeed fit it all started and Bill Russell. He was planned well he made us play better on the offensive end it was -- Who knew from every place that we took a shot. If you were in that position you would always. Get the ball boxes. And I've looked at John Stockton admitted those people would. Just to hold -- So we have achieved that. The wind but did not matter about who scored more sports.

You know rush -- Bill Russell once that. I can't remember what year is the third year Fortier somewhere. He decided I want to averaged twenty points a game and he went to the Nazis it's Allen averaged twenty and he thought about it. He said what really gonna help -- by average money so what I'll do instead is increased my rebounding. And that's going to help us when did you have any. Type of bus soul searching like that where you said I want to do something individually and then you scaled it back for the good of the thing.

open the outlook it would take more shots that would JPEG coming right. -- that threat that it had been do it would have -- needed to --

So it's a Tommy was the quick shooter.

Well -- shut 37 -- woodgate. And out but they'll also. And I knew that I can do that. In that -- I wanted to do dead -- shot 33 times. And I would check shot 42. -- told I could not believe that so what it take it more shots. That I had economical. Oh. I'm not even go to jail because have a jacket I hit the worst may. That we ever had it professional basketball. A real shot 75 shots. In detaining only shot of hundred. And five shots. They've really -- by eight point that we were also. Address say that we we look awful because they didn't keep. Statistics back you know based and I am so glad I -- thirty some points. Have a ticket forty some points but I bet we didn't shoot 33%.

In in this day and age in the NBA if a guy -- a shot off the glass the joke is -- call glass it was a mistake I mean people people joke about it. You all don't do that shot off the -- why don't people more.

Well I only remember talking to coach wooden and you feel it. In all of this clears practice -- not a backboard. But I do watch conducted. From San Antonio the spurs. -- he's got off. Great shut off debate would he uses it quite often and I have a chance to talk with. Dwyane Wade from the Miami Heat. And now he's beginning to shoot the shot of the bank would also.

and I'm glad you mentioned like the players of the past some players of today because we've been having this ridiculous debate here at the station is it seems like the date and the debate you're going to offer two weeks seems like direct -- And the debate is. Who's better. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant I'm -- take out feel about it I I want to hear your take since you've played the same position as those guys.

Check back. -- they acted too hot strip -- about what to guard bimbo I -- jury rip I got regarded Oscar Robinson about both Beirut. -- attitude backcourt. Play it in my era. But I watch. Michael Jordan and -- watched Kobe Bryant. And I. In that matter I wondered. How could that stop the real that you -- Viewed it which weathered the best. It's taught to -- Because they've both won championships. Even though. Kobe has what Wal-Mart was once -- I've back going to -- I just think they're both great players.

You're just wait to diplomatic care.

I don't have been better if I -- came -- George Michael is from my home state of North Carolina.

We gotta go on them. Gotta go Jordan asked the right answer about.

Way to go about Jordan Black belt -- look over it is what they if what they'd do for the team. In outlets co written -- off about -- red ball and setting up players and I do believe pick Kolby. Did the same as Michael. They both made the play is -- Around. And edit. I gotta wait.

In 1996. The NBA in celebration of its anniversary name the fifty greatest players. In the history of the -- you were one of those fifty greatest players. You're one of the 25. One of the players on the 25 anniversary team is well. It seems mind boggling to me. That your one of the fifty greatest players in the history of the NBA and yet your under rated. -- and I think that's -- that's what happened you get overlooked at times because of some of the names that you mentioned earlier the ever feel like. You never quite quite got the -- that you deserve out there.

I just feel like the thirteenth may have on a trip may have basketball team. Credit but truth carefully. It -- darn it they haven't done nobody all right this is. I will always favored aptly with the greatest people apple -- Because of what we accomplish. A plate with the greatest coach ever coached basketball. I can I congratulate. -- Jack. Well what he has done with his team. But we did it with one team. He did it with -- Soviet Egypt -- younger people. As we got although we still succeeded. So I feel they did it he compared. Changing coaches. It was great Whitfield did break the record and I am the one -- stores say. Congratulations.

Because of that team that you talked about and the stretch that you had. I mean I got to be honest I gotta believe practices were harder for you the games were most nights.

Are. You want to practice -- epic it was the big free training that really put us through I'll always say that. Of all the professional -- football basketball and hockey. That we were the most. Condition -- the best condition he ever played it exports. Just pulled weaponry at Protestant training once we got through the training the rest was very very.

Is there I know you guys love to win and you won ten titles Lewis is this is almost an unfair question but I'll ask it anyway. Is there one championship. That is more gratifying than the other.

Yeah. Good question did make -- sixty and by the last year. It was the first have been attacking. Because it have a fourth placed team to be in the playoffs. And naturally we had a lot of injuries in doing that yet on that season. And we finished in four -- Into what the first had all of arcade had to be overweight from the Boston garden. And we beat they'll go oh yeah and though it. -- the team that was supposed to be the best team in the east and these in the New York Knicks. It would be the team. That was supposed to win the championship. In that was the lakers would wilt Chamberlain Elgin Baylor injure wet. But only our brand and our team. Bought it because we had nobody else in the country. Gave -- But we knew. The player that we. Well I'll always -- Brady Howell Don Nelson. Both gas and make contributions. -- and that awaited report. Larry Siegfried and keep it quiet. And it -- eight championships. Not even an all afraid. What I outstanding. All ports. -- Would bet that came up about what happened they'd have a -- because he's one of the problem Bill Russell. I don't happen -- because he always contributed. To what media. Would be welcome equity LA. I was so proud. Not only winning but -- proud that he. Who never did we could do it. And we did so make you think that probably the greatest of all the chip -- out so when we walked out of the lakers hold court in the seventh game. And it. Just if Ted two years and ride it out so elated. To have that championship.

I'm sure Bill Russell knew that was going to be his last game did you know. Before the series started -- before the playoffs started that you were going to retire.

Oh yes I really want it recovered grip grip but. Russell BA what about best red -- we just spoke. About two days ago. The F me. He -- took effect is that he's going to be our coach. And I think this is before it was announced. That you won't be -- he would like for me to play. And when leadoff -- I just knew I was going to quit on him and we came back it went to war with him. I was so elated that I had an opportunity. Two. Lead. As a winner and indeed. Had to deal bill looks to be successful.

You're gonna be presented next Wednesday by bill who we just mentioned and also by your son. What does that mean today.

It's a lot of course the ball very I just told -- he's got to be there -- Even if he didn't present me I just wanted him to be a part of that because I know he's he's already in and my foot is me go a lot to be I have three but he's the oldest so I had to give him that opportunity. What the -- it. Realize that I got two daughters that I I really loved it even by youngest daughter could have done the same thing I know ballclub would have -- I just thought my foot but oldest let's do it.

Last year when we did this John -- was was inducted and Bobby Knight was there to present them. And just certain in in the living room there with with Bobby -- and John have attacked pavlik -- and -- and basketball. Was so much Monica had done that all might on kind of open that's what it's gonna be like when you and bill sit there and talk basketball.

Well if there's going to be different because they know about alcohol attacked. Ed what we we talk about family code red light because. -- we almost started together and ended together he was there only six months before me. And we we share a lot in common. And so. Did talk to bill -- just like. Adopted two abruptly. Because we we we do it so often yeah I would be told we developed what his best rare double shocked. We're gonna do want to be -- pedestrian that is what would be of -- And so we will talk to report kind of tomorrow. And it felt would veto it that's very easy very competent well.

As a quick question for you what your former teammates. Wayne Embry once told me that you always said. Too late baby when a defender came about.

That definitely will shape pollutants -- I couldn't believe what look at that picture soon and go around uptick in you know you've got open shut these income and you're just. -- to -- I'd like to do it. And hit like he would read in the way of Fed up ready.

Did you say anything else. That -- or is that your it was natural ally.

That was -- they got it what -- while it tried to. Embarrassed anybody I just like they did too late in other words you've got -- just a little bit too great. Like dead issue at all and I hope to build bid.

Does that anybody in today's game. Right remind -- will at all mean he is such a note for those of us -- seen him play live. -- ease ease the stories are larger than life there is almost like stories from mythology is anybody. Come close. -- wilt Chamberlain to remind you of of will or at either either will strength. Or or -- all around skills and.

The only guy he becomes popular expression he had indeed been. Is Nate -- Who played with Doug golden state of the -- of the warriors AFP he was only person but what -- but it probably. Petty put in my what. Could have been big greatest player ever to ask. But we didn't put it -- what do these look to be your best rebounding you don't do that you want to be the best. Score when he scored fifty portable game was just. Unbelievable. Something that I don't think -- be broken. And then when you he would he would be windy assist record he did that but -- put all of that together. It's double the speed at best in -- I do think that he could have that he was just that great ballplayer.

While he wasn't focused and he was still average of fifty can't get. What would happen mobile what do you think will stop them from from what it altogether if you.

I have no idea he was haven't and indeed it did when he voted to do and that's why I was so proud of Bill Russell because. They talk about he would have been both chambers matchup. Bad it was a great matchup but they went after each other and yet they were cleared in the in the press but there were any me. But all the port you have no prints. Everybody -- it'd be except those in the same colored uniform that you have. And so. I enjoyed it which have we played so abruptly but because they had such a good -- about what they've made us better. We keep playing gives great players. You've become much -- that you become. More into the -- same thing is clearly gives Jerry -- clearly get off rabbits. You know they've -- school. Which you've got to be -- of the play deflating way they played with the same intensity. That they can push you know they want to win and they won't be joke but.

I can't wait for next Wednesday a day it's a great night anyway in Boston sports but I'm really looking forward to meeting you in person and getting the chance to talk -- up there at thank you so much for taken a few minutes with us here today.

Paid the other Michael thank you don't question you -- Dave van every -- and I just want to say. The worst all the New England people they came to -- yes it's still -- were supported the Boston Celtics wished him all the best.

We'll see you next Wimbledon support to a next week. Take care. That is Boston Celtics greats and Jones joining us on the eighteenth he -- eighteen T your world delivered.