Larry Brown Keeps It Real About Steph Curry, Tim Floyd and Jrue Holiday
June 11, 2009 – 7:15 am by Will Brinson
Larry Brown is such a bizarre figure, because he’s an incredibly smart and talented basketball coach (he’s won at every level, really) but yet he almost always seems to leave a situation awkwardly.
Either he bounces early or has some sort of spat with a big name player who he ends up claiming to love. But he’s been pretty quiet while in Charlotte, and impressively successful to boot. And the Bobcats have a very important draft coming up, because one more piece to their puzzle — via a successful draft — could really make them a playoff team. So Larry got on the phone with the folks at KLAC to talk about the upcoming draft and Tim Floyd’s situation in USC.
On Stephen Curry being successful:
“I think he’s going to be great. You know his dad works with us and I got to see him a lot, but he also came and worked out with us — we had a great group. We had Gerald Henderson, the kid Douglas from Florida State and a bunch of really, really, good, athletic kids. Steph didn’t look phenomenal in the drills but once we started playing, he’s got a great feel, he can pass — I think he’s going to be fine. Everyone in our league talks about what kids can’t do, instead of accentuating what they can do, but he can make a shot, he can pass and he’s a great kid.”
On Tim Floyd leaving USC:
“I think now with their new facility and the fact that, you know, UCLA isn’t getting everybody, that area always has terrific kids who fall through the cracks. I think it’s an appealing job, but I just feel bad because Tim Floyd’s always been a close friend and I think he’s a hell of a coach and I’m really disappointed with what’s gone down. But again, a lot of these kids when they play AAU ball — people get attached to these kids and I don’t think they all have the best interests of the kid. And they go to school with the understanding that they’re getting out right away and a lot of crazy stuff happens.”
On Jrue Holiday’s skyrocketing draft status:
“Well, I watched him in Chicago and you know, you shook your head. And I talked to him — he averaged eight points a game at UCLA — and they didn’t know if he was a point guard or an off guard, but, you know, the body of work in high school is what excites the kid and he has a great body and he’s a great kid and he’s got great feet … I’ve heard him anywhere from four to 15 and from what I understand I doubt he’ll be there when we pick at 10.”
Listen to Larry Brown on KLAC with Chris Myers and Steve Hartman
Tags: Jrue Holliday, NBA, NCAA, Southern Cal, Stephen Curry, Tim Floyd, USC
