NO offseason hire by Donnie Walsh delighted me more than adding Ben Jobe to a Knicks’ scouting department that features Dick McGuire (who else do you think hit upon David Lee?) and is now supervised by another Pacers import, Misho Ostarcevic. Luring Fuzzy Levane out of retirement in South Carolina would be the only way to upgrade that package . . . and increase its median age.
For those who may not have witnessed his show-stealing, arousing stories in the documentary “Black Magic,” or are simply unfamiliar with the 75-year-old black-college legend, Jobe is best known for coaching Southern University for a dozen years. Avery Johnson and Bobby Phills were his most well-known gifts to the NBA. His college teams won over 60 percent (524-333) of their games.
Walsh discovered first hand just how much Jobe knew when they assisted Frank McGuire at South Carolina. In the early ’80s, he briefly joined Walsh’s Nuggets staff.
Had Jobe stayed much longer he could have written a best-seller about all the craziness happening on a regular basis those days, nights and after hours. As it is, he may have enough material to write a book of anecdotes strictly on the “flighty” David Thompson.
As Jobe tells it, they didn’t come any more skillful or spoiled than D.T., whose five-year, 700G per contract was the deal that busted the NBA bank. Not even the advent of a salary cap allowed ownership to regain negotiating leverage over prime time or mid-level players (and their agents, of course) following that bonanza.
Despite his drastic pay raise Thompson remained unchanged, and I’m not talking for the good. He’s clean today and has been for years, but he was getting habitually sky high back then. Stoned or abstemious, D.T. was totally dependent on others to take care of his business and personal life.
“He had a guy that worked for him who did everything for David,” Jobe told me during a sit-down at last season’s All-Star Game in New Orleans.
We’re talking taxes to stocking his toiletry bag. “Whenever there was the smallest issue that needed taking care of, he’d make an emergency call to his guy,” Jobe said.
Problem was, Thompson played ball in Denver. His guy, a real life Jerome (think Morris Day) lived someplace in North Carolina, where D.T. was born (Shelby) and played college (N.C. State) ball.
One day, Thompson came to practice all upset. He told Jobe there was something wrong with his brand new Rolls Royce. It broke down suddenly and he had to leave it on the side of the road.
“I’m going to call [Jerome],” Thompson said, “and have him come out to Denver to take care of it.”
“You got to be delirious,” Jobe told him. “Your guy is thousands of miles away. Just call your Rolls dealer. Someone will attend to it immediately.”
Thompson paid no never mind. Jerome made the trek from Carolina and did, indeed, resolve the problem – the Rolls had run out of gas.
*
Do yourself a favor and check out Kevin Love‘s Trick Shots on Youtube. Seeing is disbelieving. The Timberwolves’ regal rookie nails four of ’em from 3-point range, that’s all I’m going to tell you . . . Lenny Elmore, I’m told, will be one of eight TV game analysts the Knicks will utilize this season. TNT’s Kenny Smith is not one of them.
Knicks are exceedingly close to firming up a deal with the NBA that would buy them the expansion rights to a Development League team; it would be located in Harlem . . . Warriors aren’t at all interested in trading Al Harrington for anyone the Knicks have their roster . . . Jamaal Tinsley trade is on hold while the Pacers and Nuggets argue over money. Denver demands $3 million to defray one-seventh of the locked-out point guard’s 3-year obligation.
Pacers personnel director Mel Daniels yesterday underwent his second corrective heart procedure within a couple months. Knowing the noted barrel racer, jumper, etc., he’ll be back on his 3-beat canter by tomorrow . . . Great to hear former deputy commissioner Russ Granik is back in full gear following the repair of a heart valve . . . Hopefully Marty Blake is on the road to full recovery as well. The man who assembled the 1958 St. Louis Hawks championship team and has been the NBA’s super scout forever and 48 minutes, had a heart attack a week ago.
Highlight of four days in Saratoga was a play that happened during Wednesday afternoon scrimmage. Nate Robinson‘s neat handoff found a, yipes, healthy (at least until the final practice) Jerome James wide open underneath for an easy stuff. The 7-1 center jumped, extended to about 10 feet, but, alas, got rejected by the rim.
“Don’t feel bad,” I told him later on. “The rim had a great summer. It’s getting up higher than ever before.”