Ex-NBAer Mo Williams on LeBron, coaching travel ball and more
MORE: Rivals Roundtable
Travel basketball has taken on some large pundits of late. Everyone from Kobe Bryant to Kevin Garnett has had some type of opinion on how ugly things have gotten and how it has destroyed the game. Some of dissected it for its lack of development while others have stated that it takes the value out of winning.
What most of these critics have in common is the fact that they have never given back to the grassroots level, whether it be with their time or their own money. Mo Williams is not part of that group and, after finishing up his 13-year NBA career, the former Alabama standout is back on the sidelines this spring. Now coaching the RM5 Elite 17-under team on the Nike EYBL circuit and having funded others teams in the past, including Mo Williams Academy, the 34-year-old Williams sat down to discuss his part in making travel basketball better, what’s in the cards for his future and who he took the most from during his time within the NBA’s doors.
What is the objective in coming back and coaching travel basketball?
MW: "To me, it is just a passion of mine. Playing at the highest level for 14 years, I am able to go back to these kids I coach against and those within my program. They are pros, or have the potential to be pros, so to put them in an environment to teach them some things that, if they do get the opportunity, to be well-seasoned and to see what is really going on."
Everyone seems to have an opinion on travel basketball and the pluses and minuses of it all. Where do you stand on things?
MW: "I have my own program. I know I built my program the right way. I try to put my kids in the right situation. Not only that, I try to keep them away from those types of situations. That is why I do what I do with my kids. This is a one-stop shop with me. You’re going to be able to train with me and get coached by me."
Do you take it personal a bit that, guys that don’t do what you do, the NBA guys that come out with an opinion, but really don’t know what goes into travel ball?
MW: "To be honest with you, I don’t pay it much mind. It would be saying that all guys in the NBA blow their money. That is not everybody, it is just a few. There are going to be some guys that abuse the system and there are going to be some guys that do it right."
A lot of past players that have coached or given back to this level, have gone onto the college level. Is that on your mind at all?
MW: "Absolutely. I love the high school level right now. I am not sure what opportunities will come up with college situations, but I am enjoying the hell out of what I am doing right now."
Jason Terry was up for the UAB job last spring, has anyone reached out to you about any jobs?
MW: "Yeah, I have had some people that I have talked to me, but right now, I am just leaving my options open but we will see."
What is the top piece of advice you can give kids today?
MW: "Adjust to your role. That is the one thing that I tell the kids that I coach. Be a star in your role and that is what I tried to do in all of my years in the NBA; to just be a star in your role."
Who is the one guy in the NBA that you learned the most from?
MW: "I would say Chauncey Billups. For one, Chauncey took a liking to me when I was really young during my first or second year in the league. A lot of training and a lot of talking to; he is a real good guy. Obviously, Desmond Mason is another guy."
You played two separate stints with LeBron James in Cleveland. What is the thing that you took away from him?
MW: "The way that he prepares. The way that he knows everything because he prepared for it. That’s one thing that I learned from him, so when I do things with my group and with my coaches, I take that preparation seriously and that’s the only way that I know how to perform is being over prepared for every situation."