Johnny Dawkins Interview

Usually by one of the all-time great blue Devils is now the head coach of UCF nine Johnny Duncan is here. The last dance Michael Jordan Dr. you series ESPN's running it's going to launch the first two episodes on Sunday night I heard MJ with Robin Roberts this morning on good morning America talking to MJ and the thing that I found interesting about his comments. He was talking about the 1982 shot that he had against Georgetown and he said that was the moment he became Michael Jordan from just be a Mike Johnny you played against Jordan. The following year, so he heads the game-winning shot against Georgetown, you arrived at Duke. Later that year, and before the season starts and you're playing each other in the fall pick up games at Cameron and also at Carmichael. What do you remember your first impression of MJ being my first impression was that Mdm. no product through that in the international sports but which would be a great event to equate for the father felt playfully, but he and God walk in play in we compete against each other.

Thumb watching all the clerk but walking to the hearty plates I watch them you know regarding competing and at time he was out and look at him about fixing the boy but more like for and sold on my Mac.

If you played what you know a lot about past the glaze allowed desire and so then I walked with a shot of course, like everyone. I want to make the shop versus Georgetown and so ironically I'm going to do for you that Carol so that summer.

You know that falls among some bloated play pickup all and I wanted to make freshmen with in the same class I was in I would go to his room and we got a look at a Mike may look a lot taller and bigger and you gave your idea grown. You really, really good at death the Mike Nock and Madrigal began to get a few more inches on the first time you actually seeing him and and how much it changed over that year, then you have to figure out how that transfers into the actual game. When you are facing him later on into in 1983. It would be to the person face Michael. He goes for 32 I was a career-high for him. How soon into that game. Did you realize you and your team might be having issues. That night, but where plan will play well against them for the for the most part and what with the incredible thing about the game was what you do all of his whole career was when I was closing, the game coming down the stretch AMI immediate notable reggae music.

Shot after shot, and ironically like that. We played a lot of pickup on the somersault you know why again quickly. You know my payment to be a came in the first game and so you back no danger for philology get a plague and so everybody can fit in the same area.

And, no, talk a little bit.

Time to play again with law so Michael would always get other side of Jim and Camberley went all the way all you could go without being outside and use it around anybody and so we knew we wanted next game and will come back motivated people come back and really try to put if you know put a stamp on his game and planned game and so we score Michael score. We score micro school, we score 5 or square with back and forth like that to 11 point game. I wish to say no.

We miss a few he never met me.

You must've all you must hit every shot. In that game that we played in and of beating us. Of course, in that next game but it just goes to show, like we was now competitive. He was driven was because again you mentioned in the same way you played that game like you wouldn't be able to tell the Beth Hardy competed no matter what he did so. That game is 32 coming down the stretch as we call him visually taken over again like a football quarterback with a two-minute drill marching down the no field and and in making every play necessary to to win a game and Natalie was able to do that night in terms of athletic feats. What's the craziest thing you ever saw him doing a basketball floor because one particular block shot and four head against the backboard comes to mind for me immediately told me not you know when it is that you not push the ball in transition and knows one got back and I knew I had enough momentum to go by the player and I was running by the player and so the idea that look back to Conoco at the feet of a virus trailing and I just saw him I thought you put that one put down in a Mike I knew I could be anything but if you maneuvered him but you know we playing MD noted nothing going to get. You will learn everything that's always so much fun competing because you want it and you will give Gogarty for physical and everything possession when you competing a short and so I thought I put plant semi-okay. Come in slotted I have something for nothing around more on the backboard a medical laid low Malayan half leg Volvos have a clue about Rick going overtop backboard not let it come in softly and he went got that ball, but he would get to to go get the basketball you to jump so hard that he actually hit it with the backboard and you know we came down on the applicable block unthinkable get it there. We came down I was worried about Mike.

Note that you know that I quickly Made clear. Hey like that might know the okay of course he was, but anybody you notice at any level you know make a play like that, you know.

And so it was, it was incredible block know my teammates were you with a lot of method game and they know I'm like okay you know God like you not want to say no… That was the goal can you give the rest go call the coach ended in my teammates like not you really got that one clean star labs at the legality anyway so I doubt that was incredible played by him to show his desire not to call pensively but it but what do you know what is going to be to you as well. It's UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins with the seer on sports are trying.

We were talking the Mike will bond earlier in the week and his one of his memories of Jordan talking about the pride he had playing for the Tar Heels and Dean Smith.

He remembered always. Jordan always given it to Georgetown guys when he was in the league talking trash with Pat Ewing to of course he beat the 82 championship game that even translated to guys like Allen Iverson to stop translating to a guy like Alonzo mourning, so I have to believe this also applied the Duke guys as well. Do you remember in your days in the league.

Any trash talk North Carolina related between you and Mike you too much you know that we had gone back you know if offering what you could go back from you.

If they run across them in high school where you berated Eric no collateral. The first, ran across each other so always and always a very competitive guy, always a really good guy and you know in that regard, but capable talking trash your pick of all and so forth. You want to hear of you know you got a hold will again Dr. Tolley is in love. Love your spirit.

You know you love if you know you can tell, you know, he played the game for one thing, played again because you love it you know you could be played with passion and desire to write up, thrown out again because we walk and not shown it in matter like the front of the stadium with 20,000 people, or your pickup game and nowhere else in the gym. It was about to change the way he was going to go out and compete in Nashville. I think all of God that I can operatory with what you play with and against them know know the things you always take with you that that Howie approached the game and so yeah definitely would do Carolina rivalry. That's always going to be there but it was always always know go with me as part of how we competed talk for sure. But you know, so I thought everyone else but no one requires no situations and they just compete, but I do love you because you know you can bring out the best in every body and become effect on the floor. See your around young people all the time, young basketball players. The head coach of UCF so I've noticed a lot of younger people suggest that Kobe Bryant or Lebron James might be the greatest player to ever play. What do you say to the people who might suggest MJ isn't the greatest. You know I would have to disagree with you know it did not you, not and I don't know Claritin all right and I guess is hardly no right players because of your time. Everybody has their time when you got when you got note caliber player sure is hard to pick any one guy because is a different generation each time. But for me and ignore my money in my generation, you know both Michael Jordan think he was greatest basketball ever play you know me and my son we go throughout all the time because you know they they play in they they have a nosecone for you guys know if Toy Story was Lebron and and I respect that you left there, me and my you know what I saw no witness no competing against them and witnessed you watching him play. You know I go with both Michael Jordan is Johnny Dawkins and he's on twitter@coach_dockets before I let you go.

This is a big story that people were talking about in basketball today, jailing green one of the top players in the number one player ESPN had on the ESPN 100 decides between a couple of college teams to go to the MBA G league 10 just reporting about an elevated Pro pathway program that the MBA setting up with the G league list two schools of thought on this. There's some people who set all college basketball needs to get it together know Mike suggests geek has said your former coach, we've asked him about this, that he just wants everything to be congruent and aligned and you need to see avenues like the G league is competition potentially to college basketball. But there's another school of thought that hey, if you're going to get rid of the one and done one day. These are the type of guys who are going to be leaving any way to the MBA. So maybe this is as big of a deal as people are making it.

What do you say you know I really study what you're talking about, you know my my initial impression is that the way you know it became going to go and meet him and one operatory, not everyone wants to go to college. Not everyone knows that made to go to college in order to further their career. People go to military people who specialize in different things and and a take that path. You know, so I don't think he knows no athletes or basketball players should be made to follow that script that will be to God, or do they desire to start a professional career. Early if there's a pathway for that you know nothing more power to them. They should have that ability to be able coach just mentioned in my first time hearing it as long as everything is consistent with what they're doing it be the new model, then I think everyone will just not the way will recruit Natalie will will handle it and those young people USA no know what that opportunity played lovely one of your plan. MBA and you want to get there as quickly as possible. There's a new pathway for them and it works out.

You know, got out like a family know that drinking, I'll be very selfish, you know, if I didn't think that way out. I live my dream to make my choices to do it. I want to do with regards to collagen MBA and I like you. Those young people have the same opportunity and have those same choices he's pushed for a big thing is having a commissioner for college basketball somebody that you specifically has their interest in my I can't think coach can ever figure say I've done enough in the college game coaching.

Maybe not something I want to take on. I could see him be imperfect representing everybody. I also presented at the J. Millicent J responded with well does it pay more if only I were your date back of the like, you know what I think you know you have the commitment someone overtop of no no collegiate basketball have someone that everyone can turn to and fighting for the best interest of you know I threw Natalie and I think it I think is a good idea has some merit.

You know that there someone in that position but I don't know you know no wintry a lot of people that would be excited about an opportunity like that anymore and capable of doing a job well find someone up. If that comes to fruition that I can help continue to grow again to make it the best game in the world.

Johnny I really hope things are going well with you. So good to hear your voice. Thank you for spending time in North Carolina today.

You're welcome. Thank God for help if they think. Take care