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E-News Sign UpQ&A With Bobby Simmons
| Posted: April 29th, 2005 |
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| Simmons poses with his MIP hardware. |
Q: Jalen Rose, Jermaine O’Neal, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, Zach Randolph and now Bobby Simmons. How does it feel to join this select group of players in receiving this award?
"It feels great. It’s a list of high-caliber guys that I have joined. Those guys put up big numbers every night because they put in the work necessary. It’s a great feeling to be recognized by the NBA as the most improved player in the league."
Q: Where were you when you heard that you won and who called to congratulate you?
"Elgin called me at my home here in Los Angeles to let me know and word must have spread quickly, because my phone has been ringing constantly with calls from family, friends, coaches, and teammates as well as former coaches and teammates. The people close to me know how hard I have worked and what this means to me so it feels great to hear from them. I also heard from Michael Jordan, which of course means a lot, because he is a guy who I have learned a great deal from both on and off the court. He told me that I have worked hard to get this and to enjoy the moment."
Q: You improved your game in numerous areas this season, but what was your biggest focus between the end of last season and the beginning of this year?
"A hip injury forced me to miss over 30 games in the second half of last season so I really wanted to be in a position to hold up throughout the season. Once the season was over, I started working right away which helped me to improve my skills. I worked on shooting, ball-handling as well as getting my weight down to be in the best shape possible. I worked on becoming quicker and more agile to be in a position to pay a lot of minutes night in and night out."
Q: You scored a career-high 30 points on 13-15 shooting opening night and never looked back. Talk about your fast start and how it helped your confidence.
"It was a great beginning to this award winning season. I knew I could shoot the ball consistently but it helped everyone’s confidence in me and guys started looking for me a lot more."
Q: While you certainly improved your offensive arsenal, the baseline jumper has become your favorite shot. How high is your comfort level on the baseline?
"The guys picked that spot for me last year and I hit some big shots off the bench down there so coming into this season they continued find me good looks on the baseline. I worked a lot on it this summer and it’s obviously the most comfortable spot on the floor for me. "
Q: You also hit several shots late in games to win, tie or force overtime. How does it feel to be tabbed as a go-to guy in situations like that?
"I would love to develop into that kind of guy throughout my career. I had a lot of confidence in my jumper and Coach Dunleavy did as well to draw up plays for me in the final seconds. I’d love to establish consistency as a clutch shooter and I think that can come with more hard work."
Q: It’s not just scoring that you improved on. You also averaged career-highs in rebounds, assists and steals. Talk about how your overall game improved this year.
"Overall, it’s playing hard every night and playing to win. That means studying the game plan, making good decisions and playing team-oriented basketball. I cherish the game and I want to play for as long as I can. In order to do that you have to play good defense and be able to rebound and pass the basketball."
Q: We have to bring it up – free agency. What is your mindset going into this period?
"No question, this is a big summer for me but I have a pretty good mind frame right now. It’s really out of my control right now. I have a lot of trust in my agent and gave him full authority to seek out the best situation. For now, I’m just going to relax for a little and take the first vacation I’ve had since I’ve been in the league. Then it’s back to work in the gym and we’ll take things from there."
Q: You have thrived here with the Clippers. Is this a place that you would like to be long term?
"Of course, I would love to be here. Los Angeles is a great city and the fans have really embraced me here. They have given me support every night and I love them for it. I also like playing for Coach Dunleavy and with the guys in that locker room. I like what I have here and would love to be back."
Q: Talk about the nucleus in place here and how you fit so well with this group of players.
"Well, we are growing together here and I have enjoyed that. I can see things going in a positive direction here and it would be fun to be a part of it. We all get jealous watching the playoffs now and it would fun to play together on a bigger stage."
Q: You are the Most Improved Player in the NBA. How do you approach this summer and how will this affect your mindset entering the 2005-06 season?
"This is done already and you can’t rest on the award or think about it. I want to continue to improve and it will take more hard work. Fortunately, I have seen what hard work can do and where it can get you in this league. My mindset won’t change next season."
Q: Wrapping up, what would you like to say to all the Clippers fans out there?
"First off, thanks for all your support during this season. It’s a great honor to win this award but my play and passion was fueled by your cheers. Every night you come out and support us and make STAPLES Center a tough place for our opposition. On behalf of all of my teammates, we thank you for being the best fans in the NBA. Hopefully there will be more to cheer about next season.”
