The Bronx Journal/October-November 2001 S P O RT S A 1 5 Future of Seattle “Whoever is playing hard and playing well will play, and those who are not will sit, but everyone will have a chance to play” says McMillan who has already been able to cut down Gary Payton’s minutes, a move that Westphal never had the guts to make. “I don’t care if you’re an All-Star (Rashard Lewis), an Olympian (Gary Payton and Vin Baker), one of the 50 Greatest of All-Time (Patrick Ewing), or if you’re in a contract year (Ruben Patterson). If you aren’t producing, you’ll sit. That’s it,” explains McMillan about his no-non- sense approach to coaching. This gives the hard-working Shammond the chance to have a break-out season and rewards him for his steady improvement and contribu- tions to his team. “You’ve got to be ready every day in the NBA. It’s hard playing behind [Payton] but I’m learning a lot. I just want PHOTO: SHARON SOHAYEGH everyone to know Shammond poses fora picture with me aftera Sonics/Nets game. that I’m a winner. That’s all that matters to me: winning!” - Shammond Williams “You’ve got to be ready every day in the NBA. It’s hard playing behind [Payton] but I’m learning a lot. I just want everyone to know that I’m a winner. That’s all that mat- ters to me: winning,” says Shammond. “He’s not going to be the ‘go-to-guy’ on this team,” explains Payton. “It’s not that kind of a team. But he does have the skills to be a great player in the NBA. I can defi- nitely see him leading a team in the future,” Payton adds. McMillan seconds that, “I envision a future starting line-up featuring Shammond, Desmond, Rashard, Vladimir, and Booth.” With endorsements like those from the ever-critical Gary Payton and head coach Nate McMillan, there’s no reason that Shammond Williams will not go far. After the first game under McMillan, a Sonics win, Shammond dribbled the ball out as the game ended, having just played his most productive minutes of the season. Before he made it to the bench to walk in to the locker room, McMillan greeted him onto the floor and said quietly to him, “Now that’s what I’m talking about!”.