charles barkley interview with his friend's daughter

CHARLES BARKLEY INTERVIEW WITH HIS FRIEND'S DAUGHTER HOW TO

As detailed in the book, the two have disagreed at times over the issue of policing and the Black community, including during the Ferguson, Missouri, protests in 2014. Smith has had plenty of listening experiences alongside Barkley over their 17 years on Inside the NBA. As the book relates, Smith explained that Jordan embodied a different approach: “He’s a person who, when you beat him, he will shake your hand … Especially if he’s the mountain that you’re climbing.” Thomas, it turned out, came from an era in which such exchanges between opponents were frowned upon. Smith asked Thomas why he turned down the handshake. It left a lasting distaste in Jordan, as captured in the documentary The Last Dance. Thomas and the rest of the Pistons refused to shake hands with the Bulls. In 1991, Jordan’s Chicago Bulls upended Thomas’ Pistons en route to their first title. Later in life, listening helped Smith get to know Detroit Pistons great Thomas and learn his side of an infamous moment in NBA history. Yet he realized there was a motivation behind it, increased his efforts and earned Curran’s unhesitating recommendation that UNC accept his star player. It was hard when his high school coach Curran said he wasn’t working hard enough to reach the NBA. One is being a good listener, including when it comes to constructive criticism. In the book, Smith shares many other life lessons he has learned.

CHARLES BARKLEY INTERVIEW WITH HIS FRIEND'S DAUGHTER HOW TO

“It does not say there is not evil, not injustice, not things going on in the world, but how to react when that happens. “Whenever I’m in the mood, any kind of mood, I say it, in moments before every game,” Smith says. Smith’s mother instilled a love of the psalm in her son. The book addresses the issue of faith, including through the 23rd Psalm. It’s like a faith in God, it can be that deep.” I have to believe that my teammate is going to be there to help me when I’m on defense and I can’t see behind me. “In order to be champions,” he writes in the book, “you have to believe in things that you don’t see. In the West, I like Denver.” He explains his choices: “I think they’re complete, more complete than other teams.”

Asked for his NBA finals picks, Smith says, “in the East, I still like Boston. On the show, Smith’s has also appeared alongside Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, while host Ernie Johnson has been a mainstay throughout.

After Smith’s playing days had ended, he absorbed lessons from the late Kobe Bryant, including on a charity game to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina and from his fellow stars-turned-analysts on Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. By that time, Smith had witnessed a teammate’s transformation into a leader – Hakeem Olajuwon, whose conversion to Islam was accompanied by a growth in maturity. In Sacramento, Russell shared insights on the mindset of a champion, which proved invaluable for Smith years later, on the Rockets’ back-to-back title runs in 19. As a visiting high-schooler from Queens, Smith felt under the weather in Chapel Hill, and Jordan offered to take him to a local pharmacy. Smith was frequently on the receiving end of that competitiveness. His Tar Heels teammate was none other than Michael Jordan – who was known as “Mike Jordan” back then and drove a blue Monte Carlo, but was already showing his characteristic competitiveness on the court.

He went on to the University of North Carolina, where he was mentored by the legendary Dean Smith. Smith played high school basketball under standout coach Jack Curran at one of New York City’s premier programs, Archbishop Molloy. Collectively, he calls them “great people who did great things in their fields.”

Charles barkley interview with his friend's daughter