Here’s a transcript of what I heard from Adonal Foyle on Monday at Media Day.
On Dwight Howard’s development
"Dwight obviously is a phenomenal talent but I think last year probably did more for his game than anything else. Dwight has a good game and he has proven it but when you are capable of dunking the ball every single time, you don’t think you have to use a lot of the other stuff you’ve learned. But I think from the experiences from playoffs and the finals, I think what that did is just show him that you use these skills not because you have to but because you should because when you do need them, you have to be able to call upon them. That’s more than anything what I think he will get from the experience from last year. Not being able to do what he wanted to do and having 10 people sitting in his lap and forcing him to do something different. He will understand that when we push him and when we tell him, “you’re not getting a dunk, I’m not going to let you get a dunk,” it’s not about me just trying to be mean, it’s me making sure that he can walk with these other big guys.He takes my head off; I try to take his head off. It’s a mutually beat each other up day in practice every day."
On Dwight’s jump shot
"Dwight has had that new jump shot since I got here. He developed it but he just never shoots it because he can dunk every single time he wants. And that’s the thing, he has to be confident enough – it’s hard to tell a player when you can get to the basket and dunk like nine out of 10 times, it’s hard to tell a player, “No, shoot a jump shot that’s like 30% when you can make a dunk that’s 100%.” He needs to have it and I think he does have it in his repertoire and I think you’ll see it."
Dwight’s next step
"Simply leadership. He has to continue to be a leader but also understand that the dirty work of rebounding and blocking shots are just as important as the 360 slam dunk. Probably better than Vince. No. I don’t know… (laughs)"
On his role as a veteran
"Well I think it always is important to have veteran leadership. When I first came into the league, I had many of those. From Felton Spencer to Terry Cummings who taught me the game and taught me how to approach opponents. Those things are very important but I just think most importantly in the locker room and just going out and having a professional approach. In a lot ways, a veteran’s model for younger guys without having to let younger guys know you’re modeling for them. It’s just the way you do things because the younger guys are always watching. Good and bad, so it’s important to know."
You just do it so it rubs off on them?
"Yeah. And you do it because it’s the right way to do it and sooner or later if they don’t learn to do it, they won’t be around. That’s the way the business works. It’s a brutal business but if you’re a quick learner, you’ll be around for a while and you have the skills and talent."
Adonal was very well-spoken, very kind and extremely knowledgeable. In fact, when I first walked up to Adonal, he was talking to some fellow media members and bloggers about ending poverty in the world.
It’s no wonder the Magic wanted to keep this veteran around.
Next up: Point Guard Anthony Johnson.
(Andrew Melnick is Howard the Dunk’s lead blogger. Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)