President of the National Basketball Retired Players' Association (NBRPA) Len Elmore, relaxes before a meeting at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny, on the weekend. - PHOTO BY CLAUDINE HOUSEN
LEN ELMORE is charged with the responsibility of looking after 900-plus former National Basketball Association (NBA) players as president of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA).
That task requires lobbying for better pensions and helping out former players who have fallen on hard times.
The 53-year-old New York native appears well qualified with a standout college career at Maryland, an eight-year ABA/NBA career and a Harvard law degree to his name.
However, Elmore, who is also a college basketball analyst with ESPN, is not only interested in the welfare of past players but also those who are currently playing in the league.
One on One caught up with the former centre at the NBRPA's annual retreat at the Starfish resort in Trelawny, on the weekend.
Q: What does the NBRPA do?
Len Elmore: We are advocates for a better pension plan (for retired players). We do wonderful things in the community, which is our mission, with charitable organisations. Most importantly we are able to help our members in need.
Q: The great centre George Mikan, who passed away recently, fell on hard times and Shaq O'Neal helped pay his funeral expenses. What was the case there?
LE: Unfortunately, George Mikan played before 1965 and that was the year the NBA Players Association came into being and that was the date the owners set for qualification for a pension plan. Unfairly, George and the pre-65ers, as they are known, were left out. We've tried to help and have advocated for them to be included in the plan.
The NBA, to its credit, has a non-qualifier plan, which gives them some support but the league and the Players' Association are under no legal obligation to help out. As an association, we are looking at how we can help through fundraisers and try to bring them into the fold.
Q: How closely do you work with the NBA Players' Association?
LE: We are a parallel organisation and we work very closely with them. Eventually members of their association will become members of ours. Billy Hunter, the executive director of the Players' Association, is very cognisant of what we can offer his association in terms of role models and mentorship because we've been through what they are going through - granted we did not get paid like them.
Q: How much clout does your organisation have with the NBA office and president David Stern?
LE: I think they have started listening to us. There was a time when they didn't but I think now they see what we can offer. They see some of us have become successful professionals and recognise how important that can be.
Q: What's your impression of today's NBA?
LE: I think some of the problems come from youth and immaturity but I think the league is moving the right way by establishing boundaries. As a parent I know how important it is to establish boundaries - I agree with the dress code 100 per cent. I also think the NBA is going back to placing the emphasis on teams rather than individuals, putting more importance on the name on the front of the jersey rather than the one on the back.
Q: Who will win this year's NBA crown?
LE: The team that plays the best defence, as you saw last year with Detroit and San Antonio. I don't know how you can bet against San Antonio. I think Miami will emerge from the East as they are even stronger this year and the loss of (coach) Larry Brown will really hurt Detroit a lot more than some people think.
Q: Who would make your all-time starting five?
LE: I'd start with Wilt Chamberlain in the middle and have Bill Russell at power forward. I'd have Michael Jordan at small forward and Oscar Robertson and Jerry West in the backcourt.
Q: What about today's best five?
LE: Shaq at centre. Tim Duncan at power forward with Tracy McGrady at small.
Allen Iverson, who has just been a tremendous player, and Dwyane Wade - I know it's early in his career but I really like his game and defence.
- Tym Glaser
