Steven Delano ‘Steve’ Smith is a retired American basketball player who played for several teams during his 14-season National Basketball Association (NBA) career, including the Miami Heat, the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs. He is perhaps best known for his five-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks, which included an All-Star Game appearance in 1998. He won a championship with the Spurs in 2003. Smith was widely regarded as an excellent three-point shooter and an experienced veteran. He is one of three players to have made seven three-pointers in a quarter.
In an interview with Samikshan Dutta Choudhury of Indian Sports News, he spoke about the NBA and India, his experience and more. Excerpts:
ISN: Welcome to India. How do you like the country?
Steve: Thanks a lot. I am already in love with this country. I am having a great time and getting to learn about a new culture. And yes, I love the food here.
ISN: What do you think of the association between the NBA and Indian basketball?
Steve: It is a great partnership. It would really open up chances for Indian players in the NBA.
ISN: Is this partnership for the larger benefit of basketball as a whole, or is it merely a promotion of the NBA in India?
Steve: I would say basketball. The NBA is the highest level of basketball in the world, so Indian basketball would really benefit from the presence of the NBA.
ISN: You were a champion in your playing days. What do you see lacking in Indian players?
Steve: Well, I would say experience. To be honest, India lacks exposure to the game. Other countries that have excelled in the game have always had ample exposure. So India needs to work on this if it wants to be a champion in the sport.
ISN: How do you think exposure to the game could be increased in India?
Steve: A lot of work needs to be done at the grassroots level. Basketball should be included in schools and colleges. Basketball clinics need to be organised widely to educate young people about the game.
ISN: Satnam is seen as one player who would surely make it to the NBA. What do you say?
Steve: I guess people say that because of his height. But it takes more than height to make it in basketball. Height is just an added advantage. Talking about Satnam, he is a talented player and very passionate about the game. All he needs is a scholarship that would enable him to get into a sports university, and that would bring him on a par with the best techniques in basketball.
ISN: India lacks infrastructure, and that has been seen as a major hindrance to the development of the game. What do you say?
Steve: Yes, that is there, but it cannot be seen as the sole reason. I grew up playing on the streets, but that never stopped my wish and desire to be what I wanted to be. If you want to be something, work for it and then complain about it. Good facilities and infrastructure come a lot later. The roots always have to be strong.
ISN: How much do you think Kenny Natt’s association with Indian basketball will help the cause?
Steve: Well, it is a very good move. I have known him since my playing days and I am very well aware of his character. It is a great opportunity for India, and if the Indian players cash in on his experience, it would be really beneficial for them.
ISN: Your take on Troy Justice as an administrator?
Steve: He is a great ambassador for the sport and has done a great job. He loves India, and I am quite sure that by the time he leaves India he will have done a great deal for the cause of Indian basketball.
ISN: You have played for so many great teams. Which has been your personal favourite?
Steve: Well, I liked all the teams I played for and they were all great. I liked the Spurs, with whom I won the championship. But my personal favourite has to be the Miami Heat.
ISN: Who is the greatest: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?
Steve: Well, I always get that question. There are lots of great players in the NBA. LeBron and Jordan are two different players and poles apart. They played in different generations and both are very good at what they do. But when it comes to who is the greatest, it has to be Michael Jordan, without doubt. For me he is the greatest player, even though I played against him a lot.
ISN: Your message to aspiring players?
Steve: Absorb the game. Support the game and the system.
