The Scott Wedman Interview
By:
Michael D. McClellan
|
Sunday, November 14th, 2004
You
were selected sixth overall by the Kansas City Kings, in the 1974 NBA Draft.
That same year, you were also drafted by Memphis of the American Basketball
Association. What was it like to be drafted so highly by the Kings, and did you
ever consider signing with Memphis?
I considered Memphis.
My heart was in the NBA – it was the established league, and I wanted to play
against the best competition – but I wanted to look at all of the
possibilities. The prospect of playing professional basketball came as quite a
shock, especially for someone still learning to play the college game. I didn’t
think about the NBA until after my junior season. I was surprised to learn that
some scouts had watched me play, and that they’d shown some interest in drafting
me. The Kings sent scouts to watch me play in the Big Eight Tournament. Until
then, the NBA – or the ABA, for that matter – seemed too farfetched for me to
take seriously.
I didn’t really change anything after that. I just kept working hard and
getting ready for my senior season, and I always went out onto the court
determined to do my best. I tore my ankle with three or four games left on our
schedule. I was sure that the injury would hurt my chances of being drafted,
but the Kings flew a doctor in to examine my ankle. I passed the physical –
they cut the cast off, the doctor checked me out, and they put another cast back
on. Shortly after that, the Kings drew up a contract and I decided to play in
the NBA. My only concern at that point was being introduced at the press
conference. I wanted to walk in without limping, so I rehabbed the ankle around
the clock [laughs].
Your
first season in Kansas City was a success. The Kings won 44 games,
finishing three games out of first place. You averaged 11 points-per-game
and was named to the NBA All-Rookie team. As a professional basketball
player, what kind of adjustments did you make in order to succeed?
I didn’t
really have to make any adjustments as far as my game was concerned. It was
more of a mental challenge. Those first few games I didn’t play much, and I
was despondent because of that. It bothered me to sit on the bench and not
contribute. I was young, and I didn’t realize the importance of playing a
role on a team, especially if that role involved a lot of sitting [laughs].
Eventually I began to understand what was expected of me. I kept working
hard in practice. I kept myself ready. It paid off, because I got my
opportunity in a game against the Houston Rockets. [Kings head coach] Phil
Johnson put me in and I was doing anything to help the team win. I had
blood on both knees from diving for loose balls. After the game he singled
me out, and said that he wished he had more guys playing defense the way I
played it that night.
I never had a problem getting up for games, and the effort was always
there. It also helped to have Tiny Archibald on that team, because he was
such a great basketball player. He was exceptional – he could penetrate,
pass and score. I quickly learned where to be when he had the ball, because
if you were open the pass was coming. It didn’t matter if it were baseline
or perimeter; he drew so much attention that could penetrate and then kick
the ball out for an open shot. He was an incredible, incredible player.
Jim Walker was on that first team, and he was very supportive. It was great
to have veterans like that, guys who wanted to see me succeed and to help
make the Kings better in the process. Jim said that I was going to win the
Rookie of the Year award. I didn’t win it, of course, but it was nice to
have him rooting for me. Don Kojis was another older player who helped me a
lot.
After getting playing time, the biggest adjustment was probably on defense.
Back then there were plenty of talented forwards to contend with on a
nightly basis – guys like Rick Barry, Bingo Smith, Sydney Wicks, Chet Walker
and Curtis Rowe. You had to be prepared to play solid defense every time
you stepped onto the court against those guys.
A
teammate during your first two seasons in Kansas City was future
hall-of-famer Tiny Archibald. What memories stand out most in your mind
about Mr. Archibald?
Tiny was very
quiet. He didn’t communicate a lot back then, and I was somewhat quiet as
well. So neither of us really said a whole lot during my rookie year.
Tiny’s strengths were obvious – the speed and quickness was right there for
everyone to see, as well as the ability to pass and score. He was a most
unusual player. He was a 6’-1” left-handed guard with explosiveness, and
yet he made everything look almost effortless. He had the nickname “Nate
the Skate” because he looked so smooth dribbling the basketball. He was
uncanny at getting the ball to me in good spots. He had a great point guard
mentality.
In
January, 1980, you had a career night against Utah. You scored 45 points on
19-of-31 shooting, many of which came against NBA star Adrian Dantley. You
also had 12 rebounds and seven assists in that game. Did you feel
unstoppable when you were shooting the ball that well?
Yes. That night I
didn’t think I could miss – obviously I did miss, but every shot felt good
when it left my hands. It’s hard to describe. I had a pretty good streak
going during that season. I remember going back to Utah later that year and
hitting my first seven field goals. I was so hot that night that I took
shots that I normally wouldn’t have taken. But that’s the way it works when
you feel it. Over the course of my career I had four or five games where I
didn’t miss a shot. I just got going good and didn’t let up. The
superstars – the Larry Birds of the world – are able to step onto the court
and recreate those moments almost at will.
