MLK Day Interview With J.R. Inman

Martin Luther King Jr. had an impact on us all

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day everyone! Hope you had a good day celebrating a man that would back down from nothing to stand up for what he believed was right. If you think about everything that Martin Luther King Jr. has done for this country it is phenomenal. I look up to him because of his strength, leadership and compassion for people. He has helped make this country better for people of all ages. Thank you Dr. King for all your well doings and happy birthday! On such a special day, I had a phone interview with J.R. Inman to ask him about how feels about Dr. King and of course, basketball! Read below for my Q&A session with J.R. Inman. As always, I welcome your comments.

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Mike: Well, today, being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, how did Martin Luther King affect you?

JR: Well, I think that Dr. King not only affected me, and obviously the other minority people of color, he affected our whole society -- people from various cultural backgrounds, that have different upbringings  and come from different ways of life. More than anything, I think that Dr. King represented unity. I believe that as a nation, as a country, and as a people --because of people like Dr. King-- we’ve been able to be a stronger nation, we’ve been able to get many things accomplished, and it speaks volumes about the type of person that he was. His message of nonviolence in a time of civil disobedience  is something that I not only respect, but I use that as motivation for all of my endeavors, because in the 1960s, there were a lot of things going on in our country. What he was able to accomplish was incredible. So, certainly given the roadblocks that he had, if he can make those accomplishments during his life in the 60s, certainly we should be able follow him and do the same thing in 2014.

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Mike: The Knicks-Nets game is going to be on in just a bit. Which team are you routing for and which team do you think will win?

JR: I think the Knicks are playing a little better right now, but I would like to see the Nets win. I can’t say I’m a die-hard fan of either, but I do support all New York teams. And, if I had the opportunity, I would love to play for either one, but if I had to choose between the two, it would probably be the Nets.

Nets defeat Knicks 103-80

Mike: How would you characterize your experience in the D-League so far?

JR: It’s been quite an experience. I have had the opportunity to play with, and against, current and former NBA players. So, you know, they talk about the Developmental League being a farm-seeded link, some  even say a direct link, between amateur basketball and basketball at the highest level, the NBA.  Personally, it has given me the opportunity to play in front of NBA scouts every night and to build some relationships and networking opportunities with some of the biggest people in the business.           

Mike: I see that in 6 games you averaged a double-double with 11.5 PPG and 10.0 RPG. How long do you think you can keep up this level of play?

JR: Well now, that statistic was dating back, but now I’ve played around 15 games. Right now I am actually currently inactive, which means I am still practicing with the team, I’m still on the roster, but I am not playing in the actual games. For instance, we have a game today that I will not be playing. We have about 12 or 13 guys on the roster currently, and for game day situations you can only play or suit up 10 guys, so it is a situation where I would hope to get back on the floor as soon as possible.


Mike: To date, what would you say would be your highlight of the season?

JR: My highlight of the season? I can only speak on the best statistical game I had where we played against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and I had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 3 assists. I was scoring in multiple ways, inside, outside, really showing my full skillset and it was an exciting game. It was a pleasant experience because it was so far, and my signature game that I had, in terms of efficiency.

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Mike: Out of the 16 games that you have played, you have only had 6 games without at least one block. Defense is apparently important to you. Do you think continuing this type of play will help your team win more games?

JR: Well, I know that having a defensive mindset certainly helps you compete in the games. You know, sometimes, at this level, the difference between winning and losing tight games comes down to possessions. I do not believe our team has executed well enough in these trying situations for us to be able to turn it over. I think that we have had at least 10 games where we have lost by under 5 points and when you look at those particular games, you see that we kind of lost the same way. It's a situation where we had the lead the whole time, and then we in the late 3rd or 4th quarter at some point we just didn’t make the proper plays down the stretch and that is why we did not come out on top. So, certainly I think that my defensive-minded style of play is an asset to the team. But in terms of wins, there are some big adjustments we have to make from an execution standpoint before we can talk about turning the losses into wins.

Mike: There have been various times this season where you have been moved to the center position and you have had to play against bigger and stronger guys but you have been able to contain them. What gives you the momentum to go up against these bigger and stronger guys and being able to stop them?

JR: I think that my experience playing in the Big East basketball conference, combined with my professional experiences abroad, have equipped me with the skills and the knowledge to be able to play against big guys. If you look at the NBA all-time defensive centers, like Ben Wallace, who at 6’9” was the defensive player of the year at the center position, being able to guard guys like Shaq and you say how does he do that? Defense is about desire and discipline, but it is also about technique and leverage. If you can simply get lower than your man, and you can hit him first to initiate contact, even if he is bigger and stronger than you, you can counter balance his strength with your technique. It’s science. Basketball, more than anything is a science, and that is why I have been able to do what I do when I play against guys who are bigger and stronger than me. I use my speed and I use my leverage to try to get lower, and I also initiate contact to push him out of the paint so he doesn’t have easy post position.

Mike: You have started 14 of your 16 games this season, and have really made an impact on the court. Your efficiency rating has been at +11.62, which is the third highest on your team. How are you keeping yourself so consistent?

JR: Overall, I am just trying to find my game. A lot of times, especially on this level, when guys are trying to make the NBA, sometimes people are overly aggressive and they try to do things that they are not overly comfortable with to try to impress scouts. In reality, a scout that is looking at you is either going to like your game or not.  And at this level, if they are even looking at you, they have some interest in you. It does add some pressure but I just go out and play my game and not worry about trying to impress anybody, but it is actually very interesting that you just told me that stat that I had the third highest efficiency rating in the team. There are so many aspects and there are so many variables that go into each and every game, each and every player being out on the floor that, no, it is not always the best guy, it is not always the most team-oriented guy on the court. There are so many factors that can determine the outcome of the game, the outcome of a team, and its construct. It is just important not to focus on those factors and just to focus on readiness and being prepared and waiting for your opportunity.

Mike: That is all I got. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

JR: I would like to say that we have been struggling in terms of win/loss however, this is an experience that I will never forget. I am appreciative, but you know, I came a long way, I was the 8th round draft pick in the D-League draft. I went from being the 8th round pick to starting 14 of my 16 games. Most players that we drafted are not even on our team anymore. In fact, we only have four players currently, from the original training camp roster, that are still with us. So, the fact that I was able to defy the odds by going from an 8th round pick to becoming a starter in just a month span, it speaks volumes of my work ethic and I just think that is something in itself and an example for young children to understand. Some kids, especially in the high school level, they may say, "Oh coach doesn’t like me because I don’t get much playing time" but where you are at today has nothing to do with where you will be at tomorrow or the next day. As long as you put your best foot forward each and every day, you can continue to work hard to reach your goals and aspirations. I believe there is a saying that the crane always rises to the top and that is what happened with me and the 87ers.



Thanks for reading and please comment!

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