Avery Johnson
Avery Johnson
Avery Johnsonis an American basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team. Johnson spent 16 years in the National Basketball Association as a player, and subsequently served as the head coach of two NBA teams: the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. He led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance and to three consecutive 50+ win seasons. During his playing days, Johnson was known as the "Little General" for his...
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth25 March 1969
CityNew Orleans, LA
coaching forward game great looking plays sticks terrific turn
What a great young player. You turn over No. 6, and there's Tony's No. 9. But he's better, he's quicker, and just a terrific player. He and Timmy (Duncan) just make a great one-two punch. He plays the game the right way. He sticks to what he does very well, and I'm looking forward to coaching him on All-Star weekend.
opportunity college men
I'm passionate about coaching and being able to mentor young men in a lot of different ways. I think it's good to be able to do what you love to do. It's been in me since the beginning. I was telling my college coach what to do and he trusted me. When I got into the NBA, I started having conversations with coaches. (Coach Gregg) Popp(avich) brought a lot out in me. Coach (Don) Nelson gave me an incredible opportunity to spend some time with him and he molded me but at the same time allowed me to be myself.
aggressive area driving game mixing particular shot
When he is aggressive and mixing his game up, they don't play him for one particular area of his game. He showed up his post-up game, his driving ability, his 3-point shot and his in-between game.
consistency continues forward guy jason josh looking michael move plays terry win
We're not going to win a championship because some guy comes in and plays like Michael Jordan, ... We're going to win as a team. We're going to win when Dirk Nowitzki continues to move forward and Josh Howard and Erick Dampier and Jason Terry give the consistency I'm looking for.
hopefully next
I'm not disappointed, but it just didn't work. We'll hopefully do it in the next day or two, so it still may happen.
next opinion outside
I'm their motivation. We don't need outside opinion or perceptions to be motivation. I know how we need to play to get to the next level.
anybody ball guards guys next passes people reading spot standing three
It's those guys reading each other, Damp getting in the right spot and our guards making passes and getting him the ball. Spacing is a key. You can't get anybody the ball if three people are standing next to him.
break matter message next race supposed team trying
I don't want our team to misconstrue the message of us trying to get to the next level. We're not going to get there in one night, all right? No matter what's been said over the All-Star break or what race we're supposed to be in, it's all meaningless right now.
brag fresh good love missing practice practices prepare trying
They know I love to practice, and we don't really brag on how much we practice or how much we prepare like a lot of other situations. But they know I love to practice and I've been missing out on my good practices trying to just keep them fresh a little bit.
boils
They scored, we didn't (down the stretch). They got stops, we didn't. That's what it boils down to.
chance difference games ourselves rally team trying
It is a disappointing loss. When we come to the games we try and give ourselves a chance to win. I wasn't trying to rally the team by getting ejected; I think it was more a difference of opinion.
basketball chance forgotten guy holding instead looked mavericks mentally movement player pounding shots step team teams win
I think the Mavericks -- our team -- we've kind of forgotten who we are as basketball team and what made us successful. It wasn't shots on the offense. It wasn't holding the ball. We've kind of looked like some of our old teams with one guy pounding the ball instead of ball movement and player movement. We haven't been physical. Is that because we've been fatigued? I don't know. I know we've been a step slow. I can see that -- mentally and physically. We just need to get back to being who we are, and I think that will give us a better chance to win some of these games.
loose playing
They were playing loose and had nothing to lose.
players positive relationship scream
My relationship with the players is very important. We think that's had a positive effect, so that when I do scream every now and then, they take it the right way.