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CELTIC-NATION
Danny Ainge, your former teammate and the current
president of basketball operations with the Celtics, had
this to say about you following that performance: “He’s
a great shooter. We can use that. We can use his
shooting and his flair with the ball, as Pistol Pete
Maravich had. He reminds me of Pistol Pete, with his
long hair, his outside shooting, and his behind the back
passes.” Looking back, how does it feel to be thought
of so highly by someone like Danny Ainge?
CONNER HENRY
 It’s a wonderful compliment. I saw Danny this past
summer in Vegas. We were both there scouting players –
I believe he was there to watch Dwight Howard – and were
able to sit down and have a brief conversation. For
Danny to compare me to Pistol Pete, that’s something
I’ll always cherish. My dad really liked Maravich, and
growing up I had a Pistol Pete poster on my bedroom
wall. I still have the clipping where Danny made that
comment. It means a lot, especially because Maravich
was my idol. I felt my game was similar to his in many
respects (no where that good though)– while I was best
known for my shooting, I considered passing my best
skill. I felt that I did a good job of seeing the
action develop in front of me, and that I instinctively
knew what to do with the basketball.
I’m excited to see Danny back in Boston. He’s received
a small amount of criticism in the early-going, and much
of it may be unjustified. He knows that the team needs
change in order to win another championship, and he’s
unafraid to make the controversial move. It’s going to
take him time to turn things around but I hope he can
bring the Celtics back to the very competitive days.
CELTIC-NATION
February 18th, 1987: The Celtics traveled to
Dallas and defeated the Mavericks, 113-96. You were
3-of-4 in that game, including 2-for-2 from behind the
arc. Were you always comfortable shooting from long
range?
CONNER HENRY
Always – I was very fortunate to have good instruction
at a very early age. As a young child I followed the
classic approach, starting close to the basket and
working my way out, but along the way I was taught to
shoot the ball properly. I was taught to groove my
stroke at a certain range, get comfortable and confident
with it, and then move back and start the process all
over again. Naturally, my range increased as my size
and strength increased.
Being so sleight physically – a good breeze could
probably knock me down [laughs] – I didn’t challenge the
bigger guys underneath the basket. Shooting was the
thing that helped me to make a name for myself. And the
farther out the better. When I joined the Celtics, K.C.
Jones was very supportive of me in this regard. He gave
me his blessing to launch those shots from downtown, as
long as they came within the flow of the offense – and
as long as they went in [laughs].
CELTIC-NATION
Let’s talk music. In 1987, were into rhythm and blues,
soul, and southern rock. Some of your favorite artists
included Lynard Skynard, John Cougar Mellancamp and the
Rolling Stones. Has your taste in music changed over
the years, and what do you listen to now?
CONNER HENRY
My musical tastes have evolved over the years. I still
listen to a lot of classic rock, but my tastes have
grown to include a broad range of music – I listen to
Van Morrison, rhythm & blues, Earth, Wind & Fire, good
country, Train, Creed, too. When I’m in my car I find
myself listening more and more to talk radio, which has
to do with being a father and getting older. Being an
assistant coach I also hear all the current music that
the boys play in the gym. Music still is a big part of
my life.
CELTIC-NATION
You once said that if you went to the moon, one of the
people you’d take with you would be Dennis Johnson,
because DJ would keep everybody laughing. Please tell
me about Dennis Johnson.
CONNER HENRY
Dennis was great to me when I arrived in Boston. He
helped me acclimate myself to the team and to the city.
As it turned out, DJ was the first cousin of a good
friend in California, so he sort of took me under his
wing and took care of me. I lived with him that first
month in Boston. He helped me understood what the team
was trying to accomplish within the offensive and
defensive schemes and the overall mentality.
Dennis was a very complex person – he could be funny,
serious or encouraging with me, depending on the
situation. He showed the same attributes with team, and
was very good in his role as a team leader. He had a
tremendous amount of character and the players fed off
of that. I have great admiration for Dennis Johnson as
a player and person.
CELTIC-NATION
The Celtics swept past the Chicago Bulls in the opening
round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs. What was Michael Jordan
like in that series?
CONNER HENRY
At that point in his career, Michael Jordan was the most
physically dominating player in the game. He relied so
much on his physical attributes – he simply jumped over,
around or through the opposition, depending on what was
needed to reach the hoop. The Bulls at that time were
still a work in progress – the Celtics simply had too
many weapons for them to overcome – but they were never
out of a game with Michael Jordan on the floor. He
brought that tongue-wagging confidence to the court.
I remember playing in the old Chicago Stadium and facing
the Bulls – Kevin McHale was unstoppable in the low
post, I think he finished with 52. He was pumped up and
Larry told him to play some “D”. It was hilarious
because the next time we played the Bulls Larry had 36
at half time and the game was basically over. There was
a lot of smack being talked on and off the court which
kept all of us loose. Watching Kevin and Larry play
that year was as exciting as watching Jordan almost
(laughs).
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