Sports Media Watch visited Turner’s NBA studios on Monday and had a chance to speak with TNT NBA analyst Chris Webber. Topics of conversation included Tim Donaghy‘s claims about the 2002 Western Conference Finals and Webber’s burgeoning career as a TV analyst.
SMW: A couple of weeks ago, [Shaquille O’Neal] was on Inside the NBA, and he made a crack about not getting any calls in Sacramento. You happened to reference Tim Donaghy after that. I was wondering, did you hear from the league after that?
Webber: No?
SMW: They weren?t a little miffed about that?
Webber: I don?t think so. I think the league knows that I respect the league and I?m thankful I have an opportunity to work with the league, but this is a democracy, man. Plus, it?s nothing but jokes anyway, at the end of the day. At the end of the day, it?s nothing but jokes. And Shaq?s a friend of mine, we joke a lot, no matter who?s listening.
SMW: That series, it?s been about eight years now, I want to know, did you give any credence to anything Donaghy said? Because you were playing in that series. That was 3-2.
Webber: Yeah, you know, that was just a while ago. That?s just ? I have my thoughts about it, but I?m happy just to be playing in the league. And to make a long story short, if Robert Horry doesn?t hit that shot [in Game 4], who cares what happens? I?d be a pretty sore loser to let something that long ago still affect me.
SMW: Let me ask you about what you?re doing now here at Turner. You?re really one of the rising stars of the analysts now, you came here a couple of years ago. Is this something you really feel that you have a real future in?
Webber: I would love to do it. I could just stay close to the game until I get the position within basketball that I want. I love it. And the great part of it is, I?ve had opportunities to work other places, but this place is like a locker room. It?s like I?m playing basketball. Because our coaches, which are our producers and everyone else ? they just want to make you better. You have a great time. And I?ve got teammates in Kenny [Smith] and Charles [Barkley] that welcome me in. I don?t even go out until I see them get up. I don?t even know the rules of most things. I follow them, and I feel safe. And then, [Ernie Johnson] is the best point guard you could have. So I?ve always liked to play with great talent, and I?m very lucky to be here on what I feel is the best basketball show on TV. So, I love it. And I hope to get a lot better, I hope to be here forever. Definitely. Or be in basketball, one or the other.
SMW: Charles and Kenny have both talked about going into the front office. You said you want a future in basketball. Is that like being a GM? Coaching?
Webber: Definitely. I?ve had talks about it before, I decided right now is not the time, because every job isn’t great at that time. And so I like it here, and being with good people and getting to study basketball for a living is just great.
