Houston’s Rookie Yao Ming Named NBA All-Interview Second Team NEW YORK, May 9 – Eighteen-year NBA veteran Karl Malone was named to his 16th consecutive NBA All-Interview team when the NBA Public Relations Directors Association (NBAPRDA) announced the 2002-03 All-Interview teams today. Malone (22 votes) is joined on the NBA All-Interview First Team by Seattle’s Ray Allen, who led all players with 38 votes to earn his third consecutive First Team selection, nine-time NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal (26 votes) from the Los Angeles Lakers makes his second appearance and teammate Rick Fox (24 votes) his first, while Sacramento’s Chris Webber (20 votes) earns his second selection. The NBA All-Interview First Team coach is Orlando’s Doc Rivers who received the most votes (41) of any nominee as he earned his fourth consecutive All-Interview selection as a coach and his 14th overall. Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett (19 votes) makes his fourth consecutive appearance on the NBA All-Interview team earning Second Team honors. Joining Garnett on the Second Team are Orlando’s Tracy McGrady (19 votes) with his first selection, Los Angeles Clippers’ Elton Brand (18 votes) makes his second appearance, Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (17 votes) his second and the 2002 NBA Draft Top Overall Selection Yao Ming (16 votes) of the Houston Rockets. The NBA All-Interview Second Team’s coach is Milwaukee’s George Karl, who earned his 11th All-Interview team selection with 14 votes. A total of 91 players and 18 coaches were named on at least one of the 113 ballots cast. The voting panel consisted of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada who regularly cover the NBA. They were asked to vote for a coach and five players, without regard to position, based on their accessibility and ability to provide informative and interesting quotes. 2002-03 NBA ALL-INTERVIEW FIRST TEAM Player, Team Votes Ray Allen, Seattle 38 Shaquille O’Neal, LA Lakers 26 Rick Fox, LA Lakers 24 Karl Malone, Utah 22 Chris Webber, Sacramento 20 COACH: Doc Rivers, Orlando 41 2002-03 NBA ALL-INTERVIEW SECOND TEAM Player, Team Votes Kevin Garnett, Minnesota 19 Tracy McGrady, Orlando 19 Elton Brand, LA Clippers 18 Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers 17 Yao Ming, Houston 16 COACH: George Karl, Milwaukee 14 Other players receiving votes: Michael Jordan, Washington, 15; Jalen Rose, Chicago, 15; Avery Johnson, Dallas, 14; Steve Kerr, San Antonio, 14; Charles Oakley, Washington, 14; Brent Barry, Seattle, 13; Vlade Divac, Sacramento, 12; Steve Nash, Dallas, 11; David Robinson, San Antonio, 11; Sam Cassell, Milwaukee, 10; Jamal Mashburn, New Orleans, 8; Jerry Stackhouse, Washington, 8; Steve Francis, Houston, 7; P.J. Brown, New Orleans, 6; Anfernee Hardaway, Phoenix, 6; Richard Jefferson, New Jersey, 6; Shane Battier, Memphis, 5; Allen Iverson, Philadelphia, 5; Jason Kidd, New Jersey, 5; Jermaine O’Neal, Indiana, 5; Gary Payton, Milwaukee, 5; Jon Barry, Detroit, 4; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 4; Adonal Foyle, Golden State, 4; Stephon Marbury, Phoenix, 4; Malik Rose, San Antonio, 4; Latrell Sprewell, New York, 4; Maurice Taylor, Houston, 4; Gilbert Arenas, Golden State, 3; Darrell Armstrong, Orlando, 3; Ron Artest, Indiana, 3; LaPhonso Ellis, Miami, 3; Reggie Miller, Indiana, 3; Clifford Robinson, Detroit, 3; Eric Snow, Philadelphia, 3; Wally Szczerbiak, Minnesota, 3; Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Atlanta, 2; Derek Anderson, Portland, 2; Doug Christie, Sacramento, 2; Antonio Davis, Toronto, 2; Kendall Gill, Minnesota, 2; Bobby Jackson, Sacramento, 2; Mark Jackson, Utah, 2; Todd MacCulloch, Philadelphia, 2; Aaron McKie, Philadelphia, 2; Cuttino Mobley, Houston, 2; Kevin Ollie, Seattle, 2; Scottie Pippen, Portland, 2; Michael Redd, Milwaukee, 2; Jason Terry, Atlanta, 2; Nick Van Exel, Dallas, 2; Scott Williams, Phoenix, 2; Kenny Anderson, New Orleans, 1; Bruce Bowen, San Antonio, 1; Derrick Coleman, Philadelphia, 1; Jason Collins, New Jersey, 1; Michael Curry, Detroit, 1; Michael Doleac, New York, 1; Derek Fisher, LA Lakers, 1; Grant Hill, Orlando, 1; Fred Hoiberg, Chicago, 1; Allan Houston, New York, 1; Antawn Jamison, Golden State, 1; Ervin Johnson, Milwaukee, 1; Mark Madsen, LA Lakers, 1; Desmond Mason, Milwaukee, 1; Troy Murphy, Golden State, 1; Dikembe Mutombo, New Jersey, 1; Edjuardo Najera, Dallas, 1; Charles “Bo” Outlaw, Phoenix, 1; Scott Padgett, Utah, 1; Paul Pierce, Boston, 1; Mo Peterson, Toronto, 1; Brian Scalabrine, New Jersey, 1; Brian Shaw, LA Lakers, 1; Joe Smith, Minnesota, 1; Steve Smith, San Antonio, 1; John Stockton, Utah, 1; Kurt Thomas, New York, 1; Antoine Walker, Boston, 1; Ben Wallace, Detroit, 1. Other coaches receiving votes: Hubie Brown, Memphis, 7; Larry Brown, Philadelphia, 7; Isiah Thomas, Indiana, 5; Rudy Tomjanovich, Houston, 5; Jerry Sloan, Utah, 4; Doug Collins, Washington, 3; Nate McMillan, Seattle, 3; Don Nelson, Dallas, 3; Byron Scott, New Jersey, 3; Phil Jackson, LA Lakers, 2; Flip Saunders, Minnesota, 2; Paul Silas, New Orleans, 2; Rick Adelman, Sacramento, 1; Rick Carlisle, Detroit, 1; Eric Musselman, Golden State, 1; Gregg Popovich, San Antonio, 1.
you gotta be kidding me...Shaquille?? This guys says nothing but cliches and 1st grade jokes. what a joke.
Another aspect in which Yao excels much more than Steve. We need to trade Steve for Rick Fox so we can have a quality interview team...
Yup, the self proclaimed "Idiot Prankster" The only thing out of his mouth is whining or stupid and sometimes offensive remarks.
How the hell does Richard Jefferson have six votes? He's got the most annoying voice in the NBA. "Well, uh, (squeeeaak) I think we (squeeeaak) really came out and (squeeeaak) gave it our all (squeeeaak) tonight..." Does Bill Walton get to vote six times?
Exactly what I was thinking! How are we ever gonna win a title if we can't wow the crowd at a press conference with hilarious jokes and complaints about the officiating?(*cough*Shaq*cough*)
Typical Yao interview... Reporter: "What did you think of America when you got here?" Yao: "I haven't seen America yet. I've only seen Chicago." ==== Typical Amare interview: Reporter: "What do you think about the NBA so far?" Amare: "Huh?"
Good job Yao! I agree with Doc Rivers. He's an excellent speaker! Good job Steve too! Good job Mo! You deserved more though.... LOL. You know who is NBA Worse All-Interview Team.......Kenyon Martin. What's wrong with him? He like clucks when he talks.......something weird. Oh well. He's a good player. VLADE DIVAC IS THE MOST HILARIOUS SPEAKER. After that game winning 3 pointer by Robert Horry... "VVVLVUCKCY SHOT. It jus wint en. Lucky shot."
Sure did. Seriously though, I think Mobley got snubbed. He shoulda got more than 2 votes! Mobes gives a great interview. I like his style.
Man, Yao's going to be really big next year. With some rest and some experience to back him up, he's going to put up bigger numbers and is going to really help this team explode.