The Bronx Journal/October-November 2001 A 1 4 S P O RT S The Present and GREG VAN VOORHIS SPORTS EDITOR PHOTO: SHARON SOHAYEGH Shammond takes time to sign autographs forfans. Shammond is nimble... PHOTO: SHARON SOHAYEGH Shammond is quick... Gary Payton and I share a hug in the Sonics locker room aftera Sonics game in New Jersey last season. Shammond dunked Shammond says with a smile. Ewing has to Payton since Payton’s rookie year in been very noticeable. Though his averages since been signed by the Orlando Magic 1990 until McMillan’s retirement in 1997, of 6.4 points and 2.5 assists in 18 minutes over a New York Knick! this off-season. has decided to give Shammond a more per game this season may seem low, they Sporting a full foot afro, Shammond defined role on his team. He used him in have doubled since McMillan has taken Williams was known more for looking like every game giving him many more minutes over the head coaching duties and are up a character straight out of “That 70’s Show” on the floor than Shammond was used to from his 5.2 points and 1.8 assists in 12 hammond Williams’ breakout game than a basketball player his rookie season in under former Sonics coach Paul Westphal, minutes per game last season. More impor- came a year ago at Madison Square ‘98... but after leading the Fila Summer fired after just 15 games last season. Other tantly, he has only received one DNP-CD Garden against the New Yo r k League in scoring last summer and scoring notable Sonics back-up point guards since (Did Not Play - Coach’s Decision), com- Knicks. 41 points and making the game-winning McMillan’s retirement have all gone on to pared to last season, when he missed 16 Shammond, the Sonics’ backup point free-throws to lead his team to a one point be successful players on other teams: Greg games for the same reason. guard and Bronxite by birth, was called win in the championship game in this year’s Anthony is now the starting point guard for Though his numbers won’t jump out at upon to play the most minutes of his career summer league tournament, Shammond has the Chicago Bulls; Eric Snow is coming off you, Shammond is a very capable 3-point when Gary Payton was ejected in the first become a hot commodity in the NBA. Oh, a trip to the NBA Finals as a starter in shooter. Last season, he shot them at over a quarter of the game. It looked as though the and by the way, he lost the afro. Philadelphia; and Moochie Norris is solid 40% clip, which was good for top ten in the Sonics were in for a long night, but A free-agent this past off - s e a s o n , playing behind Steve Francis in Houston. NBA. Although ultimately not selected, he Shammond made a name for himself as he Shammond was teamless. He was a restrict- Shammond is no stranger to taking a was considered by the league as a possible relished being on center stage and playing ed free-agent, meaning Seattle could match backseat role on his team. He played many contestant for the 3-point shooting contest in his old hometown by keeping Seattle in any offer, up to $4.5 million per season (the minutes as back-up guard to Jeff McInnis for the 2001 All-Star Break, an honor, espe- the game with his hot shooting and inside average salary in the NBA), that any other for the University of North Carolina, which cially since this contest boasts former con- scoring ability. Unfortunately, Shammond’s team might offer him. Many teams were hot boasted such names as Vince Carter and testants as Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, Craig surprising 22 points were not enough, as for Shammond including Boston, Antawn Jamison during his tenure there, so Hodges, Jeff Hornecek, and Mark Price. Seattle lost by 5, but that night marked the Cleveland, Toronto, and the Knicks, but in he has had time to learn the importance of Shammond has also shown that he has ice beginning of what seems to be the making order to land him, they would have had to coming off the bench and making his min- water in his veins, playing significant min- of Shammond Williams’bright future in the offer him more than the $4.5 per season, but utes count. After playing only two games in utes down the stretch of games, and even NBA. His most memorable play was a two all of the aforementioned teams were above his rookie campaign in 1998 for the Hawks, making a pull away three-pointer in the handed slam dunk over then-Knicks center the salary cap, making that impossible and and playing the rest of that year in Turkey, closing minute against Atlanta last season Patrick Ewing, who just played alongside giving Seattle plenty of leverage during Shammond stepped on the scene three sea- that sealed the victory for Seattle. Shammond as his Sonic teammate this sea- contract talks. Hence, Shammond remained sons ago in Seattle, where he played some Shammond was able to see more minutes son. a Sonic by signing a three-year deal report- significant minutes backing up Payton, and last year, because McMillan went on record “That day was special. Patrick talks about edly worth just over $1 million per season. even started alongside Payton in the play- stating that he wanted to feature Shammond the dunk more than I do. He always says, Understanding first hand that backing up offs. in his rotation, in which each player would ‘I’ll get you back for that one.’ And I tell Gary Payton can be frustrating, Sonics Shammond’s improved production since have to know his role on the team. him, ‘You can’t, we’re teammates now,’” Coach Nate McMillan, who played back-up the head coaching change last season have Continued on next page.