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NBA LEGEND CHATS LIVE ON NBA.COM One-on-One with Wayne Embry |
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From 1985 to 1992, he served as vice president and general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers. From 1992 to 1994, he served as executive vice president of the Cavaliers, also serving as general manager from 1992 to 1999. In 1994, he became the NBA's first African American team president with the Cavaliers. In Cleveland's first 16 years, the Cavaliers averaged 31 wins and four playoff appearances. Over the last 12 years under Embry, the Cavs have averaged 45 wins and had nine playoff appearances. For his efforts, The Sporting News named him NBA Executive of the Year in 1992 and 1998. Embry stopped by NBA.com to answer fan questions in a live chat on Sept. 29. Here's what he had to say: Jake D at 12:00pm ET Where do you see your career taking you from here?  Wayne Embry at 12:01pm ET I'd like to think that I have some time left -- I have a year left on my contract in Cleveland, and after that, I'd still like to be involved in the game. I have a great passion for the NBA, but I'll just wait and see what happens at the end of the year. james at 12:01pm ET What was your greatest achievement as a player and as a GM? Wayne Embry at 12:03pm ET I've always played the game to win, so I guess winning the Championship in 1968 with the Celtics was my greatest achievement as a player. And what really made it special was that the Sixers were favored, and we were down 3-1 in the Conference Finals, then we came back to beat them and go on to face the Lakers. As a GM, in 1974, we got to the seventh game of the Finals, and that was a memorable year because we played that series against Boston without our starting backcourt and we were able to take them seven games. That was probably Larry Costello's best coaching year. jd at 12:03pm ET When you were playing, was becoming a GM something you thought about or did it come about after your playing career? Wayne Embry at 12:04pm ET I never thought about a front office position as a player. At the end of my career, I went to Boston and became director of recreation for the city. That lasted about 15 months, and then I found myself back in Milwaukee as an assistant. It never occurred to me that I could be a GM, but then I got a call telling me that I was being named GM of the Bucks at the age of 33. Marcus in Alabama at 12:04pm ET I know that during 1968 playoffs, Dr. King was assassinated ... how did this affect the team and you personally? Wayne Embry at 12:05pm ET Actually, Dr. King was assassinated during the series between Boston and Philadelphia, and we postponed a couple games to commemmorate what Dr. King had done for our country. It was a very emotional time for all of us because we had great respect for him, and to have that happen unexpectedly during that series was very traumatic. So we did postpone a couple games in memory of Dr. King. Bob Evans at 12:06pm ET Did you ever consider becoming a coach? Wayne Embry at 12:07pm ET I never did. I never thought about it. I guess - I jokingly say - the reason is that I didn't want to be removed from the actual competition. I don't know if I'd have been able to restrain myself if I were sitting on the bench during the games. People ask me why I choose to stay in the tunnels during games -- two reasons -- I wanted to be able to take a walk if I wanted to, and - I'm ashamed to admit - I can't fit in the seats anymore! I feel that as a GM, I've been close enough to influence the coaches and motivate the players, and I've just been pleased with the career I've had. john at 12:08pm ET How did you feel when you heard that you were going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame? Wayne Embry at 12:09pm ET When I got the call that I was elected, I was overwhelmed. As a trustee, I saw the list of nominees, and I looked at the company I was in, and I figured, no way. When I got the call, I was shocked, I was overwhelmed, and I guess it's just a highlight of my career and a very special moment in my life. Seattle's Best at 12:09pm ET What do you see as the main difference between the NBA of your era and today's league? Wayne Embry at 12:12pm ET I think the game is the same. The players are perhaps better in a lot of ways, and not as good in other ways. In my era, there weren't as many teams, and we faced each other more often, and there weren't that many jobs, so in order to make a team, you really had to be good. As time has passed, we've gotten more teams, and I guess one could say the talent is dilluted. But players are very talented, and I will continue to promote team basketball as opposed to individual achievement, and I think we see a lot of the opposite today. I'd like to see us get back to promoting teams. I think it just makes for a better product. I try to make the 12th man as important as our star players. That's something I learned from Red Auerbach years ago. He'd say, you do what you can for my team, and I'll do what I can to use it. And he'd always pick something significant that you did in a game that contributed to a win, and that made you feel very much a part of the team. Moe at 12:12pm ET Which player or coach influenced you most as a person? Wayne Embry at 12:13pm ET I think at the collegiate level, Phil Rohr, my college coach. At the professional level, although I didn't play for him, Red Auerbach had a great influence on me as both a player and a person, and now as a GM. I've been fortunate to be around people like that in my career. Jack at 12:13pm ET Where do you see the NBA in 10 years? Wayne Embry at 12:14pm ET (laughs) Well. The NBA is the greatest league in professional sports, and we've always found a way to show progress. I just hope that we can continue to grow, and I hope we get back to promoting team basketball. I think we're probably going to be a global league one of these days. mike at 12:14pm ET What made you work so hard at what you do. Wayne Embry at 12:16pm ET I learned early on that you must commit to what you do, and I also learned that you have to perservere through many adversities. I have always been driven to succeed in whatever I attempted to do, and I'm not afraid to fail. I'm driven by criticism as well. I become even more determined. And as I reflect on my career, I get great joy in my achievements over the years. I could have taken the wrong fork in the road years ago. History quite often dictated what I could or couldn't do while I was growing up, but I accepted the advice from my parents and grandparents -- don't allow that to discourage you... make history. And I just continued down that path. Wayne Embry at 12:18pm ET Basketball is a great sport. I have a great deal of passion for the game, and I hope that I've made some impact. What I've enjoyed the most is working with the players. I've always told them, you are a diverse group coming together to work for a common goal. Show respect for each other, respect for the game, respect for the NBA, and respect for the fans who support us. And just continue to contribute to the game rather than take from it. |
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