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**Coatesvillain** · 07-20-2004, 05:35 AM

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Licht: Can you kind of evaluate what you saw during your first year as a pro?

West: It was mostly learning. Just kind of getting a feel for the game, understanding how to win games. I was in some games late, which is good. I had an opportunity to be in some close games, blowout games....just covering the entire spectrum of thing you’re going to go through when you’re in this league. That’s what I learned this year. The guys have been helpful. It’s been good just learning some of the ins and outs like things to do on the road, things not to do on the road, not necessarily all game stuff.

Licht: What would you say was the most surprising thing that you saw early on in your rookie season? It may be something that in the NBA’s prep program for rookies that you did not encounter or you weren’t prepared for.

West: Probably some of the business things that go on in terms of professional sports and things that go on in the NBA. The biggest thing I didn’t expect is the guys on the other teams to be as helpful as they are. I think talking to some guys after games or seeing some of the older guys before games that don’t even know me but they drop a couple of words like ‘hang in there’ or asking me things like ‘how is your rookie year going?’ ‘is it everything you expected?’ That’s been probably the biggest difference, I think, the guys from other teams, not necessarily just the Hornets but also the NBA and the players kind of sticking together and looking out for one another.

Licht: Was there anybody in particular from another team that stands out, in terms of the advice that you’ve received?

West: Rolando Blackman said something to me one day after game and I had never met him before...Jerome Williams from Chicago said something to me....Those guys I don’t even know but they just said something like ‘what’s up?’ ‘how’s it going so far?’ It’s good. It’s been real helpful. Plus, on top of that, some of the guys that I already knew like some of the older Xavier guys are real helpful as well.

Licht: Like a Brian Grant from the Miami Heat?

West: Yeah. Him and even Aaron (Williams) at New Jersey says things like ‘hang in there’ and ‘keep your head up’, ‘are you learning?’ Just making sure things are going smooth.

Licht: Do you have somebody that you would say has been a mentor on this club to you?

West: I don’t know if I can say just one guy. I’ve kind of gotten a lot from a bunch of different guys. Listening to some of the advice that Steve Smith and Stacey Augmon have, some of the older guys, P.J. (Brown). Listening to some of the things that those guys have encountered throughout their long careers and being able to let some of that stuff sink in and hopefully some of that stuff will help me in turn have a longer career as well. Those guys are really helpful. And it’s not necessarily in terms of basketball stuff. They also talk about some of the mental issues you can go through as a professional athlete. George Lynch has been helpful as well.

Licht: Can you give me an example? Has it been a mental thing?

West: I don’t know about mental. I remember very early in the year, one of the first things Stacey said to me was ‘you know, the biggest adjustment you’re going to have to make is that in college, you were on the floor for an extended period of time. You’re not going to be on the floor for an extended period of time in some games, so when you get out on the floor, do what you can do and help while you’re out there.’ Every time I get out there, I just try to be a burst of energy, tire myself out for however many minutes I’m in there and help this team.

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