University of North Carolina Athletics
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
April 27, 1998
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.-Transcript of Monday's Antawn Jamison Press Conference which also featured comments from Dean Smith and Head Coach Bill Guthridge
Jamison: "After discussions, talking with Coach Guthridge, Coach Smith, my mom and dad and especially God, I've decided to forego my senior year of college and have decided to enter my name in the NBA draft."
Question: Are you firm in your decision, no matter what happens with the NBA labor talks?
Jamison: "Coach Guthridge, Coach Smith and I made the decision last week. As far as pulling my name out of the draft or anything like that, I've decided to leave, and I'm going to stick to leaving. The most important thing for me is, no matter what happens, I will have the opportunity to graduate this summer. That was the most important thing coming to school, to get a degree, and then hopefully I would have the opportunity to play in the NBA. I was so close to getting both of them at the time, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up whatsoever."
Question: When will you be finished this summer?
Jamison: "This summer I can take two summer sessions and graduate in my class, or before."
Question: Would it have made a difference if you hadn't won all the postseason awards?
Jamison: "Not really. It's not about winning awards or things like that. It's about getting a degree. It would have been nice to have won the ultimate award, a national championship. But, if I had not been named Player-of-the-Year or anything like that, I really don't think it would have a big effect on my decision."
Question: When you kissed the floor at San Antonio, did you know then you probably would go pro?
Jamison: "When I kissed the floor, I told a lot of people that I might never have another opportunity to play in a Final Four again. But, at the same time, I probably knew that was going to be my last basketball game also. So, by me kissing the floor at the Final Four, not only myself but my teammates, we were very disappointed. Especially for me, to make it to the Final Four two years straight is almost impossible. I know it's hard to do it three times or even playing in it every year in college."
Question: Was there one specific thing that made you decide to go pro?
Jamison: "It was a combination of things. The most important thing was, I would have an opportunity to graduate this summer. The other thing was, in talking to Coach Smith and Coach Guthridge, I would be somewhere around a top 5 pick. Once you really think about it, there's not much that I can accomplish if I stay another year, expect winning the national championship. I've already won the Player-of-the-Year awards. If I would have stayed, it would have been for selfish reasons, to break records and things like that. So, it was definitely a combination of things that really pushed me up to the point of leaving. My mom and dad, they're not the reasons I'm leaving, but it's also good so they won't have to work as hard as they have these past years. They can sit back and enjoy life a little bit."
Question: How hard has this last month been on you with this decision looming?
Jamison: "It's been real, real hard. I thought if I ever had this opportunity, it would be the easiest thing I could ever come to. But, just saying goodbye to the family at Carolina; the University of North Carolina; all the secretaries; and my teammates especially that will be on this team next year -- that made it a lot more difficult. I thought it would be an easy thing to do, but when it came time to do it, it was very difficult. I knew it was in my favor to leave, but when it was time to leave, it was difficult to swallow. These three years have probably been the best three years of my life. To leave is kind of difficult. It's a lot difficult than I thought it was going to be."
Question: Will your decision have any bearing on what Vince Carter will decide to do?
Jamison: "My situation and Vince's situation are totally different. I know Vince is not going to decide on his college career, leaving early, just because of me. Vince has a whole lot of things he probably wants to accomplish. Like I said, our situations are totally different. I really think by me leaving early, it's not going to have a big effect on what he does."
Question: With the possibility of the lockout, how did that factor into the decision?
Jamison: "Coach Guthridge and Coach Smith, we all discussed that situation. Whatever happens, happens. There's no turning back now. I am aware that it can be a negative thing to have a lockout, but I'm willing to take that chance. Like I said, I put all my faith in Coach Guthridge and Coach Smith. They've done this so many years and they've been so successful at it. I don't think it's going to be a big difference now. Whatever happens with that situation happens, but only time can tell."
Question: To the coaches, what are you hearing about the labor negotiations?
Guthridge: "I've said it could be a long, bloody thing, but it also could end quickly. You get all sorts of things, and that's not going to be known until July when the draft is over."
Smith: "I have talked to the NBA offices, and certainly as Antawn said so well, it shouldn't have any bearing whatsoever on his decision. What would he do next year while the other guys go off to class and he has his degree. In a way, that's different than others. We thought sometime after his freshman year to go to both summer sessions in case this time should come. To me, it's an easy decision except for his love for teammates, the school and the student body. It really bothers me sometimes that many of the media sometimes says someone who stays in college their senior year and chooses not to go pro is a better guy than those who go pro. And, Mr. Jamison has worked two jobs and he's going to go to one, I hope. Maybe Kathy can be home with the children, but that's not the reason for Antawn's decision. They're not selfish. They want him to do what he thinks is best. I admire their decision."
Question: Do you have a what if' plan just in case the lockout situation turns sour?
Jamison: "Not really because, if you really think about it, if there is a lockout, like Coach Smith said, I would have my college degree. I really don't think the lockout will affect the whole season whatsoever. In the event that was to happen, it might affect some of the summer programs and things like that. As far as affecting the season, I don't think it's going to affect it that much at all. If it does, I'll be out of college with my degree. When that time comes, when they settle the situation, then I go to my job. In my situation, I don't think I need a what if' situation."
Smith: Nick (Linardos) has been with us all year from the Greek National Team. I'm sure he'd be happy to have Antawn."
Guthridge: "We could have him back as a manager."
Question: When will you hire an agent?
Jamison: "I haven't even thought about that yet."
Smith: "We have a day planned we call Agent Day here where the dean of the Business School and usually the dean of the Law School and myself, we entertain agents' requests why Antawn should go with them. He will not sign with an agent certainly at that time, but he may shortly after if it becomes necessary to begin some type of marketing."
Question: What will be the differences between a final year at UNC and that first year in the NBA?
Jamison: "When I made my decision, that was the most difficult part. These have been the best three years of my life. For me to come back that fourth year, I could have broken records. The friendships I've formed I'll never see again. I've made friends I'm going to stay with whether I'm in the NBA or not. The difference is, the NBA is all business. College is a little bit, but you get to enjoy yourself also. I feel ready for that step. If I came back for that fourth year, wondering what I might miss out on in that final year is what made my decision so, it wasn't difficult to make the decision, but it was difficult to say goodbye. That played a big part in that decision."
Question: Do you know when the agents will be coming to campus?
Smith: "Yes, but I don't want to announce it for several reasons. It will be within the next two weeks. Let me add, because I've said here several times, six times for sure, that all of you in the media that had an opportunity at the end of your junior year to go to Sports Illustrated for $10 million over the next three years, I'm sure you would say, No, I want to come back and have fun next year.'"
Question: How do you feel about the possibility of being drafted by a really bad team?
Jamison: "I look at it like this -- I'm a competitor, and no matter what team picks me, I plan on playing basketball. That's a situation I cannot change whatsoever. I'm going to be happy no matter what team picks me because playing in the NBA is something that I've wanted to do all my life. But, there's a lot of teams struggling out there, and the possibility of me going to one of those teams is very on the upside. I look at it like this -- I'm going in with a job to do, to make myself better and the team also."
Question: Did you talk to Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace, Tim Duncan -- people in your situation in the past?
Jamison: "I didn't talk to any of those guys because everybody's situation is totally different. My situation is definitely different from Rasheed and Stackhouse and especially Tim Duncan. I didn't think it would help to talk to them because I felt my decision and my opportunity was different."
Question: How much better prepared are you after returning for your junior season?
Jamison: "I'm a lot better prepared. If I would have left last year, it would probably have been the most difficult thing, but I'm glad I had this situation. Coach Smith really talked to me and made me realize that it was in my best interest to stay another year at the university, not only to work on being a person but also my basketball skills -- running the floor, my jump shot and things like that. Just me staying an extra year is really going to help me out a lot when I make that step. I'm totally grateful that I really sat down and talked about it with Coach Smith last year at this point and time and that I decided to stay another year."
Question: If you knew this last Wednesday, how did you tell your parents, and how did you feel about having this on you all weekend?
Jamison: "My mom and dad have been totally the best thing that ever happened to me. In the same situations, your mom and dad might push you to do one thing or another thing, but mine were great at the university, and not just in college. In high school and when I was younger, they kind of made the decision to let me make the decision. If I make a wrong choice, I learn from it. If I make the right choice, they would congratulate me. Just by me doing that in this decision that I had to make, it really helped me out a whole lot. My mom and dad have been my inspiration just to go out there and play hard. I love the game of basketball, but I also had to the opportunity to leave, and that's going to be a big sigh of relief for them. My mom and dad have worked 21 hard years, and for me to get the opportunity to pay them back a little bit, so they can enjoy life like I have for 21 years, it's something that any kid cannot put into words."
Question: When did you tell them?
Jamison: "I told them that night. When I was leaving, I went home to call them, but nobody was there. I kind of waited until bedtime to give them a call, and they were really happy about my decision. If I would have stayed, they would have been happy also. I think the biggest problem for my dad is how to get tickets now."
Question: How do you replace someone like Jamison?
Guthridge: "You don't replace someone like Antawn. You just try to regroup. We're certainly thrilled for Antawn and happy for him that he has this opportunity. We appreciate what he did for three years for our program."
Question: Who is most affected by this move as far as playing time goes?
Guthridge: "Really, I haven't thought of it in those terms. During the season, it's what is best for the team, and in the offseason it's what is best for the individual. It's a philosophy Coach Smith has always had, and we're continuing it. When Vince makes his decision, we'll go back to the drawing board and see what options are available. That will be something that is several weeks away, and we have other players in school. Of course, it will give them more opportunity and hopefully they will step up to it."
Question: Is there any big moments that stand out at this point for you?
Jamison: "As far as basketball, any time you put on that North Carolina jersey, whether we're on the road or at home, putting on that jersey and representing the history of Carolina and going out there with a target -- a lot of teams pull all their punches. Night in and night out, every team we played gave us their best, and for myself and my teammates to have that unity, and for me to play three years with the guys I played with, that's something I will cherish for the rest of my life. A lot of people would love the opportunity that only myself and my teammates had. I'm just totally grateful I had the opportunity to do that. I guess the second one is the friendships I had with the guys who played the same years I played, guys like Ademola (Okulaja), Vince and Makhtar (Ndiaye). Some of those guys, their friendships you'll never find again. Not only players, but guys like (manager) Cori (Brown) and stuff like that. I've made friendships with guys, 20 years down the road, we're still going to be friends. I'm grateful the opportunity came to me, and I have made friends with people like that -- people I respect and people who will be there years down the road."
Question: How is Jamison leaving similar to situations where Carolina guys have left early in the past?
Smith: "Number one is the fact that Antawn in graduating in three years, and that would be different. As you know, Michael Jordan, James Worthy and J.R. Reid, all three left after their junior year, came back and did secure their degree. That's why you go to college. I assume you want to learn, but you also would like to have a degree at the end of that period. So, that's different. There isn't a lot of difference. Each year, it means that team isn't going to be as good if they are eligible to come back. That's where our North Carolina fans have been very good understanding that; that we might have been better in 83 with James Worthy or so on -- 85 with Michael Jordan. We might be better next year with Antawn Jamison. It's the same category. Believe me, Coach (Guthridge) will have an inexperienced team next year, but you guys, somehow, North Carolina still gets voted (high in the ACC). It's going to be a very inexperience team, and with a lot of people gone, it's going to be a tremendous challenge.
"Let me add lastly, I echo what Coach Guthridge said. What Antawn has meant to this program, being the type of young man he is from this type of family is outstanding. We appreciate it, we thank him and then, to think some lucky pro team will have a man of his character and his work habits and his ability, they are very lucky. I don't know which team will be the lucky one. I did call all of them, at least the first 16 in the draft, and I would imagine he would be; I would be shocked if he didn't go in the top 5."
Question: How is Vince's situation similar to Jamison's situation?
Smith: "We're not talking about Vince now, are we?"
Guthridge: "That's Vince's situation. We'll deal with that later. I hope -- there's something ticking up here. I hope it isn't a bomb ..."
Smith: "We'll dive on it and save Antawn."
Question: Have the pro teams hinted that Antawn will definitely be a power forward in the NBA?
Smith: "Antawn improved and certainly can play outside. I imagine he will play outside a great deal in the future. Every pro team you talked to, he scored over Tim Duncan, and Tim really has struggled this year, hasn't he? Inside, certainly that will be a factor, too. Antawn is going to get better every year. I can't remember a player who shouldn't get better every year. I'd much rather have a 21-year-old experienced player. They'd kill in any of those McDonald's All-American games. You ever seen that? That's a joke."
