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THE SLAM DUNK Q: Do you have a philosophy for dunking? It’s hard to say. I don’t really have a philosophy, I just go at it. For a lot of players it just depends on who the player is. If you’re a guy with little hands and you can’t palm the ball, you really have to get the ball over the rim. You can’t dunk the ball if you’re even with the rim. But if you can palm the ball, you have big hands, you’re putting the ball IN the hoop not AT the hoop. It might not make sense, but when you’re up there and you’re doing it, it makes more sense. I’m just fortunate enough to be able to be up there and be able to try different things and just tweak it as I go. Q: Do you have a favorite dunk, or an ideal dunk? A: That would probably be the one-handed leaner, like in transition or something or coming through the paint. Q: Why is that? A: I don’t know. It just takes over. I think when you’re going over big guys in the paint, they’re bigger than you, and when they hit you you’re going to the floor. But if they hit you when you’re going up one-handed you can take the contact and still get the dunk down. Q: Do you see dunking as a creative outlet, almost like an art form? A: For me yeah, I think so. I try to… people ask me “do you think about your dunks before you do it?” I do, but what I think of isn’t always the end result. So I might think about doing a two-handed windmill, but I end up doing a reverse 360 on the fastbreak. I do consider myself creative, but the finished product is almost never what I started to do. Q: You obviously have a lot of strengths in your game. Do you mind that the dunking is the first thing that sticks out for everyone? A: I do mind, because I know that I have more to offer. But at the same time, I know that that’s what really put me on the map, All-Star weekend, and all the dunks that I was able to come up with. I know that put me on the map. Not only the dunk contest, but what I do during the year, in transition and on people. I know where it came from, so I accept it. Q: What kind of rush do you get from dunking, especially in a game situation? A: It all depends on the situation. Especially if it’s on somebody, it’s just really a momentum changer. Especially if you have that one spectacular dunk. It just sends that jolt through, not only through your body but through your team, and through the arena whether it’s home or away. Sometimes you’ll dunk on one of their players and the home fans will still cheer and you hear the oohs and aahs. VINCE'S FIRST SLAM Q: Going back, do you remember your first dunk? A: My first dunk was actually in sixth grade. Q: How did it happen? A: A bunch of kids were over on the outside courts, I remember at Ormond Beach Middle School. And we were sitting out there and everybody was trying to dunk a tennis ball and a volleyball. But I decided I’d try a basketball. So I actually threw the ball up, went off of one leg, jumped and go got it with one hand. Believe me, it was amazing. ROLE MODEL Q: When you were growing up, did you try to pattern yourself after any NBA players from back then? A: Dr. J (Julius Erving), probably. Well, Dr. J was my role model. But at the same time, there were a lot of guys in the league who were doing just crazy dunks. So if I would see a crazy dunk on ESPN or on highlights of some sort, I would go out the next day and try to imitate. I always wanted to have the latest dunk in my repertoire, so I’d at least try. Q: And going back to your Carolina days, how did your style evolve as far as dunking? A: When you have point guards like I had – I played with Jeff McInnis and then I had Ed Cota - Ed wasn’t afraid to throw the lob, and definitely Jeff was never afraid to throw the lob as well. So I was fortunate, I knew that I, if I get myself open and I get in the lane, it’s going to be up there – also Shammond Williams, I have to give him some props, he gave me a lot of lobs too – but, when we had eye contact, they trusted that I would catch it and beat my defender. LIFE IN THE NBA Q: During your rookie year, you came into the league and it was almost like, within a couple weeks you were one of the most popular guys in the league. Did you expect that kind of popularity right away? A: I knew my ability, I knew I what I was capable of, that I had the ability to be in this league, and I was set to prove it to everybody else, that was the best way to prove what I could do. Coach Carter was just one of those guys who was going to let me come out and just be who I am. And he told me “I’m going to let the world, the NBA, see what you’re made of and what you can do.” And I set alright. I’m all for it. So, he just put me in a position, and we had a great point guard in Alvin Williams who liked to push the ball and get into transition. I was able to show what I can do as far as my leaping ability and the ability to score. Q: Was it strange going up against guys who you had watched growing up? A: Oh, it was great for me. I loved Steve Smith and Stacey Augmon, and Scottie Pippen, and all those guys who were great all-around players who could do a little bit of everything, run the point, shoot the ball, defend. It was great to actually play against those guys and learn some of the tricks of the trade. Especially from Scottie and, well all three of them. And I was from Orlando so I had watched Penny and played against Penny, got to play pick-up ball against him, and then I was playing for real. So it was good for me. I enjoyed it and I learned a lot. And when I was able to actually play against him and guard him and have good games against him, that was it. I was like okay, there’s just nothing better. Q: Was there anyone who you were just starstruck playing against? A: Not really starstruck. But I just had so much respect for them. I learned from Day One from Charles Oakley the approach. I mean, you really look up to them and you appreciate them, but at the same time, if they find that you’re in awe they will eat you alive. So, it’s more so just like, I want to have a good game whoever I’m playing against. Q: You had so many great moments in Toronto. You played on some great teams, and played on some not-so-good teams. Overall, what did you learn, what did you take away from your experience there? A: Oh, a lot. You just learn how do deal with people, and how people are when you're doing well, and when you're not doing well. I learned the ins and outs of the NBA on the high side, and the low side. I learned about teammates, you see them handle different situations. So many things come out of -- good and bad times -- of winning in this league. It's all worth it though, because I've watched myself grow up through it. And I've learned in the trenches and I've been fortunate enough to have guys to learn from: Charles Oakley, who played with Michael Jordan, Kevin Willis, who played with Dominique Wilkins, Dee Brown, who played with Larry Bird, Cliffie (Robinson), who's played with Clyde Drexler, Doug Christie, who played with Magic with the Lakers for a little while and with Patrick (Ewing) on the Knicks. All these guys have seen this happen to those great superstars, so it's nice for me. I was able to just really stay focused and keep my head. JOINING THE NETS Q: Going back to last season, did coming to the Nets re-energize you? Q: It's just a chance to just start over. I mean, I feel like a rookie again. But a rookie who knows what's going on. I think that the team accepted me with open arms and the fans, the state of New Jersey really accepted me with open arms and it was just a great feeling. That was what gave me that feeling, man I want to go out and play well for these people because they really appreciate what I bring to the table. Q: Is it ever a goal to dunk over certain guys? A: You always hope. The great shot blockers in the league, especially when they block your shots, you want that challenge of going back at them. And I've been fortunate enough, I shouldn't say fortunate, I've been lucky enough to pull off a few dunks in my career on some big men who are great shot blockers that I'm pretty proud of. And that one is one of them. But it's not like I have a list that I want to dunk on this guy one day. Q: Is there anyone you won't go at? A: Oh, I can't answer that. I'll say no. Q: What has it been like playing with Jason Kidd? Well, I actually played with him before, at the Olympics and the Goodwill Games. When I was playing with him in 2000 I got spoiled. Not to take anything away from the other point guards I've played with, because I've played with a lot of great point guards. But I love playing with these guys. He's one of those guys who just makes the game so easy. He learns quickly how you like the ball, where you want it, when you want to get it. Q: Were you comfortable with him right away? A: I did play with him in 2000 and you get spoiled playing with him. After you play with him you don't want to play with nobody else. I'm so spoiled and I'll be the first one to admit it. Q: Is the chemistry still developing? A: It is. But I had played with J-Kidd and Richard Jefferson in the past. Q: On lobs, do you have signals or is it instinct? A: Nope. There's no signals. He's just always looking for it and I just have to be watching for it and I have to go get it. Actually, the first lob he threw me when I got here, it was underhand and he threw it like over the shot clock. I looked back at him and he just said "I wanted to see if you could go get it." Q: So we can expect some new dunks from you in the future? A: Yeah, but I can't say. Someone will steal them. If I get a chance and I feel good I'll break them out. Or if I'm too old to dunk anymore I'll tell you first. You guys will be the first to know.. Photo by Tony Tribble/AP |
