№41: Firing away at the man known as Big Shot Rob (Robert Horry)
February 4, 2022
Welcome to the tedi.substack.com weekly newsletter! At the end of each week1, this newsletter will touch on any number of entertaining, informative, or (possibly) useful topics.
The focus on this week’s newsletter is on 16-year NBA veteran Robert Horry. Originally published on NBA.com/Philippines on October 14, 2013, the article is based on an impromptu interview with former Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs forward inside (what was then) the flagship store of Adidas in SM Mall of Asia.
More after the jump.
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Firing away at the man known as Big Shot Rob
Words by: Dr. Tedi Gustilo Villasor
Whenever the name of NBA Legend Robert Horry comes up in basketball discussions, it is not uncommon to hear people talk about his good fortune in winning seven NBA championships, his ability to hit clutch three pointers, or even his uncanny resemblance to movie star Will Smith. But last Tuesday (October 8, 2013), public opinion was finally put to rest when during a private Adidas event at the Mall of Asia, the retired 16-year NBA veteran put his career in perspective, “I was very fortunate to be at the right place at the right time and I like to say that teams were very fortunate to have me at the right place and at the right time.”
The two-time Manila visitor was also asked about his trip to the Philippines, “Well actually this is my second trip. The first time I had the pleasure of coming here was during the Asian Tour that we did maybe two years ago2. My biggest thrill was that we actually got to play where the Thrilla in Manila was and so all the guys were like, “Wow! This was where the Thrilla in Manila was.” So we had fun doing that. That was Dominique Wilkins, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Hardaway, Vlade Divac, and a couple of D-Leaguers3. This trip, you know, I feel like a vet now. I’ve been here. We know where a lot of things are, been to the mall before, and experienced a lot and I just know that the biggest thrill is coming to a place like this where basketball is love. I mean this is almost like being in the state of Kentucky. Kentucky is like a basketball state but this whole country is basketball love. Every corner there is a basketball goal so it is always exciting to play in front of people who love the game, who love the sport, who is knowledgeable in the sport.”
During the Adidas event, I also had the chance to ask the 7-time NBA champion the following questions:
Tedi Villasor (TGV): Robert, I’m Dr. Tedi Villasor, NBA.com/Philippines. You’ve won 7 championships and played for a number of years. My question is: We have a lot of aspiring high school, collegiate, and professional basketball players, what qualities should they possess in order for them to be successful?
Robert Horry (RH): “I remember when we played that game here that I was very impressed by the Philippine players because they were lighting us up from three but that’s the thing, you’ve got to keep playing. You’ve got to get. I always tell, it don’t matter who you are, you’ve got to have a base, you’ve got to have a foundation, you’ve got to have the skill sets: from passing, shooting, and dribbling. Know those three basic things and then expand on them. So, my whole thing with that is you got to keep aspiring to be what you want to be. Practicing everyday, practicing the right way, and become very knowledgeable.
That is what makes Kobe Bryant so good is that he is one of the most knowledgeable players in the game not by the current players, but the past players and he takes things from them and adds it to his game to make him better. And that’s the thing, you have to always be evolving as a player you’ve got to always keep on striving to get better. You know, there is always a lot of players that say, “Oh, I’m this good. I’m this good. That’s all I am going to work on.” But you know the great ones work on everything. So you always got to keep trying to improve yourself, evolve yourself, and become a better player. You just always have to practice.”
TGV: Of your seven championships, which one is your favorite?
RH: “I have two that are my favorite. In 1995, when I was with the Houston Rockets, we swept the Orlando Magic in the Finals. But that journey to the Finals was extraordinary because we were 6th seed. We didn’t have home court—not one moment during the playoffs—and we started out in Utah. Everybody who plays in the NBA knows how hard it is to win in Utah. So we won Game 5 in the 1st round. (Today’s NBA) there is Game 7 in the 1st round. Back then, there was only Game 5 and we won Game 5 in Utah. That was special because we beat John Stockton and Karl Malone.
In the next round, we went to Phoenix. Started off in Phoenix and beat Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson, A.C. Green, and that group and then we went on to San Antonio who was like our rival. I mean they owned us that season where we only won like—zero games *laughs*. During the regular season they was like 5-0 over us. But we went into San Antonio and beat them in the first two games there. Came home and lost two and was like “Oh man, maybe they got their mojo back.” But we went back to San Antonio and won another game and closed it out at home so we won the Western Conference Finals against our rivals the Spurs.
Then we went on to Orlando. Here is the funny thing about playing Orlando, even though in 94’ we were the defending champions, we were so mad at Orlando because they were on TV everyday and like, “we were the defending champions and we don’t get any respect.” We were like the Rodney Dangerfield’s. We got no respect. So we went out and swept them and it was the most amazing feeling to go out and go into Orlando and show everybody that even though we were the 6th seed, we were the defending champions. Rudy T said it best, “Never underestimate the heart of a champion.”
2001 was special because we only lost one playoff game. Guys never talk about it but you can feel it in the air. We only lost one playoff game, the first game of the Finals against the Sixers (Philadelphia 76ers). That was very disappointing because we wanted to go perfect. We went 16-1 and that is the record that won’t be tied, won’t be beat. So we are very honored by going 16-1. Those are my two favorite championships: 1995 and 2001.”
TGV: You played for Rudy Tomjanovich, Gregg Popovich, and Phil Jackson during your time in the league. Could you share with us something that you’ve learned from all of them?
RH: “Each coach believe in defense and it was always easy playing on each one of those teams because you had a great shot blocker. I had Dream (Hakeem Olajuwon) the first time; Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) the second time; and Tim Duncan the third time. They all stretch (the) defense and that was the biggest thing about winning championships: You had to have defense. If I had to rank those coaches, from one-to-two, I had to start off with Rudy T as my favorite coach. I’m not saying better, I’m saying favorite. Then Phil and Pop are tied up.
I put Rudy T first because he drafted me. He believed in me when nobody else would and plus I love coaches who come to the bench and ask the players what do they see, what do they want to do, and trust in their knowledge of the game. A lot of coaches nowadays just go out there and say, “We’re going to run this, this, and this.” Rudy T was like, “What do you all feel comfortable with? What do you all see? What do you all hear?” That’s the biggest thing in translating things to your coach what you see and hear on the court.
Each coach was great in his own right, but I just love Rudy T.”
***
About the author: Dr. Tedi Gustilo Villasor obtained his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (2009) and Masters of Science in Guidance and Counseling (2002) from De La Salle University-Manila (DLSU). He has also completed a Certificate in Sports Counseling (2006) from San Diego University for Integrative Studies (SDUIS). Aside from his private practice at the Makati Medical Center, Dr. Villasor was a columnist for Baby Magazine wherein his column, "Rules of Engagement" (formerly known as “Understanding Your Child”), focused on children 10 years of age and above. For more, you can visit his website at www.tedi31.com or follow him on Twitter or Instagram. ■
About
Tedi Gustilo Villasor, Ph.D. is a former columnist for Baby Magazine (Philippines) as well as a past contributor to NBA.com/Philippines. His other works include the indie comic books Lindol and OBIsessions.
Click here for more information on his work as a psychologist.
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Unless something exciting comes up that necessitates an additional entry.
Horry was referring to the 2009 NBA Asia Challenge that happened at the Araneta Coliseum on September 11, 2011.
The NBA Developmental League (D-League) players that participated in the 2009 NBA Asia Challenge were Derrick Dial, Chris Ellis, Marcus Hubbard, Russell Robinson, Lanny Smith, and Billy Thomas.
Again, only if something of interest comes up which would require an additional post.