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One-on-One with Ronnie Brewer
By Travis Heath
for HOOPSWORLD.com
Oct 29, 2006, 22:38
When the Utah Jazz selected Ronnie Brewer in last June's draft many fans
had high expectations. After seeing him show flashes in the preseason,
those expectations seem to be justified. Like any rookie, though, Brewer's
adjustment to the NBA has had some early pitfalls. Not to mention the fact
that Jerry Sloan is his head coach, a guy not every rookie would embrace
playing for. But Brewer is not your average rookie. He's embraced
everything about being a freshman in the NBA, and he couldn't be happier to
be a member of the Utah Jazz.
Basketball News Services' Travis Heath recently went one-on-one with Brewer
and discussed his adjustment to the professional game, playing for coach
Sloan, and much more.
I was just talking to your teammate Paul Millsap a little bit about what it's
like being a rookie. I know you've only experienced preseason so far, but
what's that experience been like?
It's been a good experience. You learn a lot. Me, Paul, Dee Brown, the
other rookies, we're just trying to make this transition as easy as possible
and just try to contribute to this team as much as possible. We're trying to
get us back into the playoffs and win some extra games. Everything right now
is a learning experience and that's why the preseason has been helpful for
everybody because it gives you a little taste of what the NBA season is going
to be like. Like I said, everything's a learning experience and we're just
trying to make the transition as easy as possible.
This team, I know Deron (Williams) is only in his second-year, but he's a
solid point guard, a good leader. You've got guys like Andrei (Kirilenko)
and Carlos (Boozer). What have the veterans told you so far about how you
can have a prosperous NBA career?
Just to play hard. I talk to Deron all the time, and I just ask him what he
went through his rookie year, the ups and downs, when he hit the wall, and
how he got out of that. He just told me to play as hard as possible and make
the easy plays. He told me play defense and rebound and the offensive plays
will come easy. Me personally, I just try to go out there and make steals
and do the simple things to stay on the court and get myself some minutes.
The older guys they really help me a lot, and that's why I'm thankful that
I got drafted here because you can reach out to those guys and ask them any
question and feel comfortable asking.
You mentioned that rookie wall. Is that something that you fear hitting?
Do you think that it is something real or just something created by the media?
I definitely think it's real because the average college season is like 30
some games. The NBA season is 82 regular season (games), plus preseason and
playoffs. So the fatigue factor is definitely going to hit, but that's what
your training is for to get you ready for this. I think if you're just
strong mentally, you can overcome the physical aspect of it and get through
it. So I think it's real, but I think it's possible to overcome it.
You mentioned doing the little things like getting a steal. Last game I saw
you make a solid backdoor cut for a lay-up. Then you made a steal and went
around the back and nailed the shot, and I mean the around the back and the
shot aren't little things, but the steal was and the backdoor cut. Have you
found that in this locker room -- especially with coach Sloan -- that the
little things are what's going to get you that playing time?
Definitely! I definitely think the fundamental parts of basketball will help
me out with the Utah Jazz and coach Sloan. Playing defense, knowing the
schemes, going over screens, going under screens, defending, rebounding,
making solid plays, not turning the ball over, little things like that will
keep you on the court. Those things are noticed by the coach, so I definitely
try and do the little things, knock down open shots, try to defend as hard as
I possibly can and get back on defense. Those things will get noticed and can
help the team out and help you win games. I'm just trying to do everything
possible to win games for this team.
You know, coach Sloan is kind of an old school guy. He'll get on you a
little bit, and he's not really a rah-rah guy on the sideline, either.
Has it been tough adjusting to playing for him?
Definitely, but I think every basketball player should be able to adjust to
the coaching style, and you should be able to have a good relationship with
your coach. I mean, coach Sloan is a great coach. He's a Hall of Fame coach,
so I definitely feel that I can learn a lot from him as well as these other
guys on this team. It's been a little bit difficult to adjust because you've
had your different style of coaches with your upbringing. Coming from
(The University of Arkansas) our coach was a lot younger and more excited a
little bit, but at the same time I think it makes me a better player being
with coach Sloan.
A lot of people on draft day were asking is Ronnie a one, or a two, or a
three, where does he play? Do you feel more comfortable at one particular
spot or do you feel that you are versatile enough to thrive in all of those
spots?
Me personally, I think I'm versatile enough to thrive in all those positions
especially in our offense. We run a dribble situation where the wing-guy
comes up and handles the ball a lot, and he has to be able to get into the
offense and pass. It really helps me out as far being able to push the ball,
getting rebounds and getting us into the offense as well. So I think being
able to play the one, two, and three definitely helps me out, helps me get on
the court, and helps this team out.
I asked Paul the same question, I said give me some kind of prediction. How
good do you think you guys can be? He said he didn't want to jinx it, but
he thought you guys were good enough to make the playoffs. Do you see you
guys being a playoff team?
I definitely think so. They were one or two games out of the playoffs last
year. I think we've got a lot of guys healthy so far. I think if our team
is healthy enough throughout the entire year that we definitely can get in
the playoffs. If we stay together, play hard, listen to coach, and stay on
the same page throughout the season, I think have enough talent here and
enough leadership to get in the playoffs.
What has been your impression of Salt Lake City so far, because it's not
usually seen as a premiere NBA destination. What are your thoughts about
it so far?
To me, any location is fine. It doesn't matter. To have the opportunity to
go play NBA basketball with the situation I'm in, it wouldn't really matter
where I went. But I'm happy I'm in Salt Lake City. It's a great town to me.
There's a lot of mountains, great scenery, and there's great people to be
around. This organization is a great organization. There's great coaches
and great players. I mean coming from Arkansas, we don't have mountains like
this! It's something new, and I'm enjoying it so far.
Appreciate it, man.
No problem, man.
For a league that too often gets a reputation for being completely dominated
by selfish millionaires, Brewer is a welcome breath of fresh air. He's a
small town kid whose big time NBA dream has been realized in Utah. On the
court, he seems to get better every game. He also seems to be a fairly quick
learner who is picking up on what Sloan wants him to do on both ends of the
floor. Whether he has a real chance to contribute in volume this season
remains to be seen, but he's definitely a guy that has a chance to start
alongside point guard Deron Williams in the future for a long time to come.
http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_19169.shtml
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