MANILA, Philippines - Basketball legend Luc Longley did some diving in Cebu, enjoyed distributing gifts to kids in evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro and was interviewed by little children in a Dusit Thani Manila Hotel function room as a prelude to conducting a series of clinics in connection with the Alaska Jr. NBA program that winds up with the selection of the top 10 campers and the Coach of the Year at the Mall of Asia tomorrow.
Longley, 43, arrived here from Australia last Thursday and graced the trade launch of the NBA.com Philippines website at the SMX Convention Center the next night. He flew to Cebu for a two-day vacation last Saturday and went to Cagayan de Oro for an NBA Cares project on Gov. Oscar Moreno’s invitation last Tuesday. Longley welcomed 50 selected players within the age range of 10 to 14 from all over the country to start the three-day Alaska Jr. NBA National Training Camp at the University of the Philippines gym yesterday. The camp continues today.
Longley retired from the NBA after the 2000-01 season and was disengaged for 10 years until he was invited to participate in a league event in Australia last year. “You know the NBA, when they do something, they do it right and I’m happy to be back doing things with the NBA,” said Longley. “With the Jr. NBA program, there’s a lot of gratification because of the instant feedback from the kids. You’re working with kids hungry for knowledge. They’re eager to learn and they’re very enthusiastic to put in the effort to do well. Obviously, in a three-day camp, you really can’t go too deep in teaching but basketball is a simple game and it’s a matter of keeping it simple. You refine a few things. You give the kids the chance to live the NBA experience. The game’s the same everywhere in the world when you break it down. The rules are the same, the height of the hoop is the same. It’s about making the kids enjoy the game they love. I think I was the first player from the Southern hemisphere to make it to the NBA. But I made a quick transition by always keeping it simple.”
Aside from championing the Jr. NBA program, Longley flew the NBA Cares banner in Cagayan de Oro. “I couldn’t believe the smiles,” he said. “I expected sad faces because we went to evacuation centers but I was surprised to be greeted by kids who were jumping all over the place. It was a wonderful demonstration of support by the NBA. We did a fun basketball clinic for about 100 kids within the age range of 3 to 13.”
Longley said he can’t understand how to this day, no Filipino has made it to the NBA. “Why not?” he wondered. “Filipinos love the game with a passion. I can see a Filipino playing in the NBA. What does it take? Talent, speed, strength. Filipinos are a strong race so there should be players who are strong, talented and quick. Good coaching is another element and I know there’s good coaching in the Philippines. The last element is exposure. Players must be exposed to international competition, perhaps getting a start in the US collegiate system. Players must go out of the country to get better, to improve, to keep in pace with the level of play overseas. I’m surprised no Filipino has made it to the NBA today and I’d be more surprised if it doesn’t happen in the near future.”
Longley said before coming to the Philippines, he couldn’t put a job position in his calling card. “I decided to just put my name, that’s it,” he said. “When I retired from the NBA, I went back to Perth. My wife is a TV cook and she’s often at work, leaving me to take care of our four teenaged kids which is almost a full-time job. I’m involved in marine conservation which is my advocacy. I collect timber and mess with furniture. I do diving and surfing. I owned part of the Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League for six years until the franchise was sold but I still help out with the team. I do special coaching work with the Boomers, the Australian national team. So you see, I keep busy.”
Early this year, Longley visited Chicago and hung out with former teammate Scottie Pippen. “I’m still in contact with Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler, Randy Brown and coach Phil Jackson,” he said. “Michael (Jordan), it’s hard to keep in touch because he’s quite busy and Dennis (Rodman), he’s not the type you talk to on the phone much.”
Longley played on three Chicago championship teams with Jordan, Pippen, Toni Kukoc and Rodman. Before moving to the NBA, the 7-2 center played four seasons with the University of New Mexico varsity. He was the Minnesota Timberwolves’ first round pick in the 1991 NBA draft. Longley suited up for Minnesota, Chicago, Phoenix and New York in a 10-year NBA career.
“The best player who ever played the game has to be Michael and David Robinson, the best center,” said Longley. “I played my first game in organized basketball when I was 13 with coach Ed Rodgers, a Hawaiian who lived in Perth. But I held my first basketball when I was about five.”