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ABM · 08-08-2006, 10:32 AM

Nor sure if this has been posted already, but....

From: Trail Blazers.com

Thought this portion was rather interesting Wasn't aware of it..........

Quote:

Bayno’s first coaching job came as a graduate assistant for P.J. Carlisimo at Seton Hall. After that, it was on to Kansas, where he accepted a similar position under Larry Brown. It was there he met a young freshman point guard, and took the player under his wing. The player was Kevin Pritchard, the current director of player personnel for the Trail Blazers. Pritchard ended up leading the Jayhawks to the 1987 NCAA National Championship.

“I was 23, and Kevin was 19,” remembers Bayno. “We had a unique relationship. KP and I spent hours playing together. We developed a bond that has stayed through to this day. Kevin is like a brother to me.”

Pritchard, who played on that title team at Kansas with Danny Manning, gives Bayno a lot of credit for his success as a player.

“Right away I felt Billy had a special quality, in that you trust him,” says Pritchard. “He has a great way of building players’ trust, not only on but off the court. I’ve known him now for over 20 years, and I would say he’s a big reason why I was able to make it to the NBA. He was always pushing me to be better.”

Two years ago, with that feeling still fresh in his mind, Pritchard set out to team up with Bayno once again, this time with the Trail Blazers. After Pritchard served as the Blazers interim head coach late in the 2004-05 season, following the dismissal of Maurice Cheeks, he needed someone to coach the Blazers’ youngsters at the Las Vegas Summer League. He called his old friend, who accepted the short assignment.

Perhaps the most important thing to come out of the summer league experience, was the fact that Bayno was able to develop a relationship with new-Blazers coach Nate McMillan, who was hired after the summer league was already underway. This summer, McMillan was happy enough with what he saw of Bayno the previous summer in Las Vegas, that the offered him the position of player development coach. “I’ll be eternally grateful to Nate for believing in me, and for giving me this chance, says Bayno.”....

**gatorpops** · 08-08-2006, 11:04 AM

Great article! Thanks ABM.

The O would be well served to do insightful articles on the lives of the Blazer personel instead of judging everyone. They and their readers might learn some of the "whys" of actions, both good and bad and do a service to the community as well. (I want to say "Idiots" but I won't because it demeans "Idiots")

gatorpops

**B_&_B** · 08-08-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorpops

Great article! Thanks ABM.

The O would be well served to do insightful articles on the lives of the Blazer personel instead of judging everyone. They and their readers might learn some of the "whys" of actions, both good and bad and do a service to the community as well. (I want to say "Idiots" but I won't because it demeans "Idiots")

gatorpops

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