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Monday January 5, 2009 3:38 PM

Deke Speaks


Mutombo talks leadership, navigating team through tough times

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff Writer

Philadelphia - Dikembe Mutombo rejoined the Rockets during their toughest stretch of the season. The team is slumping, having lost five of its last seven games, and frustration is high. But there's also an optimism that things will turn around and Mutombo's presence certainly has something to do with that. So following today's practice in Philadelphia, Rockets.com sat down with Deke to discuss the importance of leadership and to get his thoughts on the current state of the team.

JCF: Let’s talk a little bit about leadership - I feel like that’s a big reason why you’re here right now. Do you agree?

DM: Yes. I received numerous calls from players on the team and a lot of them expressed their frustration, and they wanted me to help bring some order to the team. A few things happened and they felt like their big brother needed to be here.

JCF: What were they so frustrated about? I know it’s been a tough stretch of late, but the majority of the guys here now were the same ones who seemed to have such great chemistry during the 22-game winning streak, when different guys stepped up every night and everyone seemed on the same page and so unified.

DM: I think it has to do with injuries. You know, it’s been only 48 hours since I’ve been here, but I’ve seen their frustration about injuries and a lot of them are frustrated because maybe their role has never been defined – with so many players hurt, it’s hard to know when you’re going to play and how much.

That’s something I need to talk to a lot of them about and ask each one of them if they feel like that. Because if that’s how they’re feeling today, then they need to go in and talk to the coaches; don’t sit back and say, ‘I don’t know what’s going on, I can’t prepare myself to play the game.’

When you get yourself caught up with so many doubts, you can have a horrible, horrible season, go home and never get a phone call to come back in the league. It’s tough for the young guys to learn that. They need someone to talk to them everyday to teach them that everything’s not going to be perfect 24 hours a day. There will be moments when things might not go your way, but you know that you’re still getting paid and you have to find a way to stay mentally fit whenever your name gets called.

JCF: Have you noticed a difference in the guys' outlook and demeanor just in the short time you’ve been back?

DM: I can see that there’s a change in our spirit. Guys look like they are more awake and they are happy. I can just tell from that game in Atlanta; our bench was up and guys were into the game even though we didn’t have Tracy and Artest out there.

But you can just tell the way young guys respond. And I got a chance to address the team after the game and tell them that I was very, very pleased the way guys responded to the call of the coaches – the spirit of the guys was very, very high.

That was something that, when I got signed, I got a call from the owner (Leslie Alexander) and he said, ‘Deke, one of the reasons I’m bringing you back is I want you to give this team their spirit back. They need that.’ And I can see that right now. You can see it at practice today, guys are feeling more comfortable with themselves and they know that it’s time for this team to turn it around.

JCF: Do you find it kind of interesting that a team would look to you to help bring that spirit back? Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t that often have to come from the guys who are the superstars?

DM: No, no, no. I don’t agree with that. It has to come from someone who has accomplished a lot. And if you look at our team, the guy who has accomplished the most – it’s me. I’ve been in the Finals, I’ve won so many playoff games, I’ve won so many defensive awards – you name it. So I think that’s what places me in this leadership role. Young men can sit down and say, ‘What has Deke ever accomplished in this league for him to have the guts to talk to me like that?’ Well, all they have to do is just look at my resume. And I think that’s why you see guys saying, ‘Deke, we’ve been waiting for you. You’re the only one who can speak.’ So when you hear that from guys in the league, it’s such a sign of respect – that means a lot. They know who you are.

JCF: What about Tracy McGrady? Obviously, he’s going through a difficult stretch right now and I know how frustrated he is. Have you had a chance to really sit down and talk to him yet?

DM: I haven’t had a good chance to talk to him yet. I talked to Artest, trying to get him to find a way to let us know when and how he’s going to be playing with all of this pain he has, because we need him out there.

I haven’t had a chance to talk to Tracy yet because my wife and kids live here, so I’ve been spending more time at home with my kids. But I’m going to get a chance to talk to him and try to find out what is going in. I know it’s very hard for him right now with his injury and surgery. But I’m not rushing to make judgments on anyone. It’s going to take me maybe a week or two to get more familiar with what is happening here. I need to be around these guys some more. But I liked what I saw today at practice. Guys were playing very, very hard.

JCF: So I guess it goes without saying that you believe things are going to turn around?

DM: I think so, because the last year we learned a great lesson. We went through a situation where we had a few injuries and guys were able to respond every time their name was called. And those are the same things we can translate to our ballclub this year: If you want to be part of our success to come, then you need to step up.

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