Q&A: USA Men's National Team Director Sean Ford

One Great Season is marking its one-year anniversary this week with several Q&A-style interviews. Today's subject is USA Men's Basketball National Team Director Sean Ford. Feel free to suggest future interview subjects by clicking here.

By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season

One Great Season: Considering the lack of proven big men available, how disappointing was it when the Knicks called and said they didn't want to insure Stoudemire?
Sean Ford: We were very disappointed.

OGS: Is that why Javale McGee is getting a look?
SF: Definitely. He was brought in after summer league. He did real well there and we thought he'd earned a chance.

OGS: Usually, summer league is for younger or less-experienced guys trying to improve their NBA standing. How often does it happen that a diamond shines through the rough and earns a Team USA look?
SF: It does happen sometimes. We need to get deeper at that position as we're trying to put our team together. Sometimes in the summer guys aren't in their best shape, but we know he's in great condition right now. We know he's been playing and playing well.

OGS: You've got 34 guys on the roster and you need to cut almost two thirds of those guys in the next couple of weeks before you head to Turkey for the World Championships. Where does the squad stand right now?
SF: We do have 34 guys on the roster but only 19 are particpating in this mini camp right now. We'll probably take 15 to New York and then pick 12 to take to Turkey.

OGS: What kind of intensity do you expect at final tryouts in New York in a few weeks?
SF: We don't look at it as a final round of tryouts. We look at it as part of our overall training camp as we try to get ready for Turkey.

OGS: Considering the amounts of money a lot of these guys are making through their basketball and endorsement contracts, as well as a lot of guys who have side interests away from basketball, does it feel like some members of this newer generation might not get what it means to represent their country in international competition?
SF: I think sometimes it's harder because people are focused on their NBA careers, but we've done a good job of showing these guys what a good opportunity it is and what it should mean to them. And we try to emphasize those messages to the players on our junior teams as well.

OGS: What did you think of the whole LeBron circus?
SF: I was fine with his decision to go to Miami. He needs to do what's best for him, but there was probably a better way to do it.

OGS: In light of Adrian Wojnarowski's recent recount of the last few years in the life of LeBron, one couldn't help but wonder if there was indeed some friction between Team USA and LeBron the last few summers?
SF: No, I don't think there was. I know there wasn't. We've always had a good relationahip with LeBron even going back to high school, back in 2001. I'm happy for him. I think he's a great player and I hope he continues to have a great career.

OGS: On "Jim Rome Is Burning" Thursday, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo wouldn't elaborate any further than to tell Rome that three players were addressed privately about putting team goals ahead of personal wants. Was LeBron one of those three?
SF: I'm not sure, to be honest with you. I think that's something for Jerry. I think there are a lot of things that are said to players when we're together to give them direction, and I don't know if LeBron was in that mix. I do know that there's a lot of coaching and things that go on on and off the court with the players. It's a matter of letting people know what the expectations are. If any of those conversations went on, then they were obviously helpful because everything that happened on the court in Beijing in 2008 was great and we're all better off for it, including me.