Collected Wisdom: Alvan Adams
Alvan Adams, the former basketball star for the Putnam City Pirates, Oklahoma Sooners and Phoenix Suns, is still involved with the NBA team as vice president for facility management at the US Airway Center.
After being a two-time All-American at OU, Adams was the fourth player picked in the 1975 NBA draft. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1976, leading Phoenix to the NBA Finals. He spent his entire 13-year pro career with the Suns, retiring in 1988. He is the team's career leader in games, rebounds and steals.
After we lost (in the NBA playoffs) again this year, I told my wife, "Don't let me watch anymore of the playoffs this year.' But, of course, I'm watching every game and she goes, You told me not to let you watch,' and I said, I know. I just like the NBA a lot.'”
Now we've got the two storied franchises, the Lakers and the Celtics. I always kind of root for the West. As much as the Lakers are big rivals of the Phoenix Suns, you can't help but be impressed with them, whether it was the West, Baylor, Chamberlain years or the Magic, Worthy, Kareem years and now the Jackson, Kobe, supporting cast. Those guys are playing so well. I hate to admit it. I'm jealous.
If I had to pick somebody I'd probably say the Lakers. I see them more often. They've progressively gotten better and better. The Celtics have a better record and they've got the home court (advantage), which means something, but not as much as most people think. It would be nice to see a real exciting seven-game series, but I'm thinking maybe the Lakers are a shade better right now.
I think Phil Jackson has done a masterful job. Some people will argue, ‘Well, he always has the talent.' But you've got to manage the talent, too, and I think he's a masterful coach.
Back when I played, I remember there being big, strong, slow guys or shorter, quicker guys, and now there's a combination of those two attributes in every player. Look at the guard named LeBron James. He's a guard? He's 6-7, 248 or something.
These guys are such incredible athletes. The overall physical ability of the players is so much better (than when he played). I mean, we had guys who could set picks or guys who could run down the floor or guys who could bang. Now they can do it all.
It's the greatest game to watch. I don't watch cricket, so I'm not comparing it to cricket. But it's the greatest sport to watch. Yeah, a lot of us tuned in for the Stanley Cup finals, but not until the finals. And, yeah, we all like to watch football, but that only happens once a week. But for sheer athleticism, tune in to your favorite college team or especially the NBA.
I made it back (to Oklahoma City) for one (Hornets) game and, wow, what support they gave them... They have a great coach and a phenomenal point guard... I thought Steve Nash was a magician. Look at Chris Paul. Wow. And he's younger and look at him go past Tony Parker and look at what he does against all these guys.
First of all, the seats were filled (for the Hornets game he saw in Oklahoma City). There are a few teams around where the seats are not filled. Not even close to being filled. I'm not talking about tickets sold. I deal with how many people are in the seats and enjoying the game.
The (Oklahoma City) fans were all over that, loving it. Before it happened you kind of thought, ‘Well, this is a college state, whether it's football or basketball or baseball or women's basketball. Pro sports probably won't work here.' But Oklahoma proved it can.”
