Larry Brown questions people around Michael Jordan
New SMU Mustangs basketball coach Larry Brown joined the show to talk about why he took the new gig and look back at some of his former jobs.
Brown had strong comments about Michael Jordan and the Bobcats. He said there were communication problems when he was the coach and Jordan was running the show. He said that too often he had to deal with people around Jordan. And he said they weren’t competent and didn’t challenge Jordan. “He’s around people who don’t have a clue,” Brown said.
Brown went on about his interactions with Jordan’s people. “It was almost like there were spies wondering what you were doing and getting back to him,” Brown said. “I do see a passion. I think he’s just hurt right now.”
Brown said that he felt disconnected to Jordan and wish he had more time one-on-one. “A coach, a GM and a president all have to be attached at the hip,” Brown said.
Dan asked Brown how much the game has changed since he was at Kansas in the 1980s. Brown said he’s studying for a compliance test right now, which he never had to do. He also said he used to talk to the kid, his parents and the guidance counselor. Now there are a lot more layers.
Dan asked if it was harder to coach or not coach. “It was tough watching other people coach,” Brown said. Brown said he watched Jay Wright coach at Villanova, the local school.
“I never even thought about retiring,” Brown said. “I was going to do something in basketball.”