Wizards Get One in Giddy All-Star
Everything surrounding Mitch Richmond at this moment is quintessential California, from the warm sun streaming through the window to the tangle of freeways below to Richmond’s attire of beachcomber shorts, gym shoes and loose-fitting tennis shirt. But Richmond’s smile is generated by the vision of something 3,000 miles away, a vision of cold weather, hard-nosed basketball and a team for which there are expectations not only to make the playoffs but be a force in them.
“It’s time,” he said of last week’s trade that sent him and Sacramento King teammate Otis Thorpe to the Washington Wizards for Chris Webber. “I wish it had happened earlier in my career. I’m ready for the move. Every day I get more excited about it, as I learn more about D.C. and the team and the things I won’t have to go through.”
For fans who have dreamed of the team making a title run even Richmond warns, “I’m not saying I’m the answer.” But for those who were disheartened last season by the Wizards’ stars making tons of money and giving lackluster efforts or failing to score clutch baskets or missing team functions, Richmond is the antidote.
Richmond, visiting Los Angeles for a taping of a Saturday morning basketball program for kids called “Hang Time,” talked Monday about the challenges this move will present. They include taking a leadership role on a brand-new team and convincing Wizards fans that a thirtysomething guard whose game is built on grit and guile is a worthwhile exchange for a hard-dunking, supremely gifted 25-year-old forward.
“Definitely acquiring me has changed the outlook as far as playing above the rim,” Richmond said, laughing. “When I got into the league I had some pretty good ‘ups,’ I’ve got tape to prove it. But now I can’t do that. I’ve had to adjust my game to below the rim. And I know [above the rim] is what people want to see. I go in there sometimes and try to jam it, but two points is the same no matter how you get it.”
Richmond says the Wizards could be a dangerous force with a nucleus of himself, free agent-to-be point guard Rod Strickland and forward Juwan Howard, but he made it clear Strickland is the linchpin.
“Everyone says, ‘That’s a great situation but they have to sign Rod back.’ And that was my first reaction too,” Richmond said.
Richmond is well aware that a move to the Eastern Conference after spending the first 10 seasons of his career in the West will mean a major style change on the floor, even though Wizard Coach Bernie Bickerstaff uses a West Coast combination of up-tempo offense and assignment-switching defense.
“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” he said. “I go back [home to Florida] in the summertime and I visit, so I know the East Coast vibe . . . You have to be tough-minded.”
Richmond became a six-time all-star using his 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame and excellent stamina. That’s why he dismisses concerns about his age--he’ll be 33 in June.
“I figure if I played hard in times that weren’t so good, and now you look at something at the end of the tunnel, it won’t be hard to be motivated,” he said. “I look at Karl Malone and I feel I still have four good years left in me. You just have to take care of yourself.”
Richmond is remarkably unassuming in some ways, such as when he talked about his meager salary--by NBA standards--next season ($2.5 million) or the thrill of learning he’ll be a guest on George Michael’s “Sports Machine” later this week.
He’s looking forward to not having every team base its game plan solely on stopping him.
“I’m at that age, I want help,” he said. “You can’t really focus on Rod, you can’t really focus on me and if Juwan is there you can’t really focus on him.”
He considers punctuality and attending such events as part of being a team leader, and is well aware the Wizards are looking to him for that.
“I told Bernie I’m not an outspoken guy,” he said. “I try to lead by the way I handle myself off the court and on the court, in a respectful manner. Hopefully I can bring leadership that way. And I know I have to set my alarm clock early. Mitch can’t be late now.”