Drew Gooden was once heralded as the most dominate college basketball player in the country. As a player for the Univesity of Kansas, Gooden was selected as a First-Team All American and was nicknamed “The Truth” for his intensity on the court. However, his lofty college numbers were absent during his first three years in the NBA. Gooden finally rediscovered his basketball rhythm after being traded to Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004. The team eventually shocked the sports world in 2007 after defeating the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. Gooden recently sat down with ro to discuss his feelings on NBA life, the attitudes of rookies and reaching the NBA Finals. –amir shaw
Your team basically did the unexpected last year by reaching the NBA Finals. Many people believed that it was a fluke. What did you do in the off-season to make sure that you helped prove those people wrong? We can’t concentrate on everyone else’s opinion of us. No one believed that we would have made it to the Finals last year. This summer was very important. We worked harder this off-season than any season before. We’re trying hard to get back to where we left off and reaching the pinnacle of basketball which is the NBA Finals.
How has life been for you as an NBA player? I’m blessed. This is a situation where you are allowed to take care of your family while doing what you love. On the court, my role has remained the same and I’m still a part of a winning situation. So right now, I’m happy.
How hard is it to remain focused during the 81-game season? It becomes like clockwork. This is my job so I take it day by day. You get used to the routine and you focus on getting better. Being in the NBA for six years, I have adjusted to the long schedule.
Are you working with any foundations? I have the Drew Gooden Scholarship Fund. We help underprivileged kids stay on the right track in school by mentoring them in classrooms and helping them get to college.
What do you tell rookies who come into the NBA? I think rookies have to hook up with veterans and learn. It’s also important for them to talk and ask questions. A lot of guys think they know it all when they first get into the league. But you can learn so much more when you ask questions and pay attention.
