| | Associated Press
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| Mullin |
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Chris Mullin left his heart in Oakland,
and on Thursday, he returned to where his career began.
Mullin agreed to a one-year contract with the Golden State
Warriors, assuring he will finish his NBA playing days in the same
place he played his first 12 seasons. The four-time All-Star was
waived by the Indiana Pacers two weeks ago.
"Every time I came back here to play, I felt like this place
was special and that I was going to come back here some time in the
future," Mullin said.
Mullin holds franchise records for games played (787) and steals
(1,344), while ranking fourth in points (16,120), fourth in assists
(3,127) and second in 3-pointers (571).
Saying it was "a special day for everyone in the Warriors'
organization," Golden State GM Garry St. Jean intimated that
Mullin will find a front-office position waiting for him when he
finishes playing.
"He's in the twilight of his career, but I think he has his own
short-term goals," coach Dave Cowens said. "Also, the long-term
situation is important to Chris."
Mullin's return came together last week when he was in the Bay
Area. He scrimmaged with several Warriors players and discovered he
was energized by Golden State's youth and potential -- and the
direction the franchise is headed under Cowens.
"I've known Chris for a very long time and consider him like a
brother," St. Jean said. "Over the years and over the past
months, we have talked about what his game plan was. We talked last
week while he was here playing with some of the guys."
St. Jean said five players asked him to sign Mullin and that he
expects Mullin to serve as a mentor to forward Antawn Jamison.
"I was taught a long time ago that you listen to your
players," St. Jean said. "That meant a lot in the decision-making
process."
Mullin said he isn't sure what his role will be with the
Warriors, but "there's not a lot I haven't done, from being the
No. 1 option to the No. 12 option."
"One night it might be a flashback night, and I'll get hot,"
he said with a grin.
Mullin, 37, averaged more than 25 points for five straight
seasons with the Warriors, including a career-high 26.5 in 1988-89.
With Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond, he formed the "Run T-M-C"
unit that brought Golden State some of the best times in its fairly
ordinary recent years.
Mullin, an All-NBA first-teamer in 1991-92, has been a fan
favorite in Oakland ever since he was the seventh overall pick in
the 1985 draft. He even received standing ovations when he returned
from a stint in alcohol rehab that caused him to miss 22 games in
1987-88.
A two-time Olympian and a member of the original Dream Team in
1992, Mullin was traded to Indiana for Erick Dampier and Duane
Ferrell in 1997. As usual, the Warriors were going nowhere, and
Mullin wanted a shot at an NBA title.
He played for three seasons under coach Larry Bird, a Dream Team
teammate. But Mullin's playing time drastically decreased last
season as the Pacers made their first NBA Finals and became a more
uptempo team led by Jalen Rose.
Mullin requested his release earlier this month to allow him to
catch on with another team. He secretly hoped that team would be
the Warriors, a feeling that was reinforced after his visit to
Golden State's training gym in downtown Oakland.
"Last week while I was here, I got a good feeling about the
young guys here," said Mullin, sounding like a future coach. "I
see players that want to be here, and I have the feeling they want
direction." | |
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