Sam Perkins, one of the all-time greats to play at the University of North Carolina, spoke to the Gaston Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday as part of the club’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Perkins, currently the Indiana Pacers vice president of player relations, visited Gastonia before the Pacers’ Wednesday night game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Arena.
Perkins, who played on the Tar Heels’ 1982 National Championship team and is still UNC’s all-time leading rebounder (1,167), spoke to the children at the Boys and Girls Club about the virtues of education and physical fitness.
Before Perkins - nicknamed “Big Smooth” - headed to Charlotte, Gazette sports editor Gabe Whisnant interviewed the retired 15-year NBA veteran.
Here’s the Q&A:
GW: How does it feel to be back in North Carolina?
SP: It’s always good to be back here where everything started for me in some ways. I come back during the summers and do the camps that I have. Coming back here for this was a no-brainer for me. I do whatever I can for a fellow Tar Heel in Joe Stroman (Gastonia native, UNC basketball manager in the 1980’s). This is fun. This is easy.
GW: What’s your lasting memory as a player at UNC?
SP: People might think it would be the accolades and all the things we did, but my lasting memory would be Dean Smith. He made it all possible. He gave me the opportunity to play and get my education at the university. When you play for that university, good things happen. You meet good people and build good relationships. I always think about Dean Smith and what follows that is all of the guys I played with.
GW: How are you liking your current role with the Pacers?
SP: It’s something different. I never envisioned doing this. A lot of people felt like I had the persona for dealing with players through my career. They thought it was a good idea to bring me back to help educate some of the guys we have on our squad.
GW: Do you see yourself as a GM someday?
SP: I don’t know. I want to continue to grow and establish myself while I’m in player development. My predecessor implemented some great programs, so I want to do the same before I move on to something else.
GW: What’s it like to work for Larry Bird (Pacers president of basketball operations)?
SP: That’s a story in itself. I have great respect for Larry. I’ve learned the more championships you win, the more respect you earn. He has the respect. He’s very respected in Indiana … that’s his homeland. He gave me another opportunity to showcase my personality.
GW: What do you think about the job Michael Jordan as GM of the Bobcats?
SP: He’s doing what he has to do. He’s been in this role before, but it’s still kind of new to him. You grow and make mistakes as a GM. When you make decisions, you have to take responsibility for the good and bad. They say it takes three years to be a good NBA player, and I think it takes a while to get acclimated to any new kind of role.
GW: Have you been able to listen to James Worthy as an announcer for the Lakers?
SP: He gets better and better every year. He’s feeling more comfortable. He knows the team and the personality of the whole roster. He’s in a city that he loves.
GW: What was the best NBA team you played for?
SP: It was probably Seattle or L.A. Lakers, but Indiana is right there, too.
