Santa Cruz’s Geoffrey Gilbert (right) interviewed NBA legend Jerry West when he visited the Santa Cruz Warriors, who open their season on Friday.
Hanukkah comes early for Geoffrey Gilbert, a Santa Cruz-based sports analyst. The NBA and NFL insider for ESPN radio endured a grueling summer offseason waiting for basketball to start again after watching the Santa Cruz Warriors fall in the NBA D-league finals last spring.
When the season kicks off Friday at home against the Austin Toros, Gilbert, also a nature photographer who runs SunriseSantaCruz.com, will have a lot to talk about. “In my wildest dreams I never thought Santa Cruz would get a D-League team, yet people came, people enjoyed, and I believe this year will be better because more people are talking about it,” Gilbert says.
SANTA CRUZ WEEKLY: What are the Santa Cruz Warriors’ chances this year?
GEOFFREY GILBERT: Very good. They’ve got a great coach. This guy [Casey Hill] has been coaching forever. His father coached for the Knicks, the Spurs, the Suns, the Sonics. He coached over in Japan. This organization is on the rise. They’re the hottest organization in the NBA.
Who are you hoping makes the Santa Cruz team?
I’d like to see Kiwi Gardner make this team. He’s about 5 foot 6, 5 foot 7. The kids would love him because he’s the size of everybody. I almost had to look down to him—of course, I was standing on a chair.
What roles will veterans like Maurice Baker and Taylor Griffin play?
They can be counted on down the stretch. All these players are stars. They’re all working toward one thing—to play in the NBA. A lot of them aren’t going to get the opportunity, but they can shine here, and this is as good as it gets for D-League.
What’s the shelf life for an NBA D-League player?
As long as you look forward to coming to practice. You’re making a sacrifice when you come here because the salaries are very low. The highest salary is $25,000, and they could make a lot more money in Europe. But if you’re in the D-League, and someone goes down, you’re immediately available.
What Santa Cruz Warrior are we going to miss the most?
Jeremy Tyler was definitely a force. They’d throw the ball down into the game and no one could stop him. He will be missed. The addition of Dewayne Dedmon will hopefully take his place. They’ll also miss Travis Leslie, the MVP of the D-League all-star game. You’ve gotta love a two guard with two first names.
What does Andre Iguodala bring to the Golden State Warriors?
The Warriors picked up an all-star without giving anybody up. He’s a tremendous passer. He’s averaging three or four assists already. He’s a great defensive player. His only weakness is free throw shooting, but he’s also a good person. And he has all-around game. He can play any position. That was a great pickup, and it was one of the first free agents who ever wanted to come to Golden State.
But will they miss Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry?
Jarrett Jack was fantastic last year. He actually could have been voted sixth man of the year. He played 33 minutes a game. He took all the big shots at the end of the game. He could handle the ball, allowing Steph Curry and Clay Thompson to come around the curl to hit their shots. But he took the big shots, and he made the big shots. He’ll be missed, but who knows—with his new contract, would he have played as well?
What’s going to happen to Stephen Curry’s ankles?
He’s over his ankle injuries—I’d like to think so because he’s one of the most exciting players in the NBA. Sports Illustrated had an article saying he’s the best long-range shooter of all time. His worst three-point-shooting seasons were better than Ray Allen’s best three-point-shooting seasons. He’s excitement personified, plus he’s good people. And combining him in the backcourt with Klay Thompson, who’s barely scratched the surface as a long-range shooter—when he starts taking it to the hoop and becomes a defensive stopper and starts rebounding, the future’s golden.
What will happen to Golden State Warriors ambitious arena plans around Pier 32?
It’s known as the pavilion, because they want to remain politically correct. I think it’ll go through. Basically what the Lakers are to [Southern California], Golden State wants to be to the North. They’ve got the greatest fan base in the Oracle Arena, but they want to have the greatest arena. They want a Mecca where sports fans can come. I think it will go through, but not without a fight. Joe [Lacob and a team of investors] bought the Warriors for $450. Some Silicon Valley guy invested in it, and now it’s worth $800 million. Everything Joe Lacob has touched so far, Peter Guber has turned to gold.
Who wins the NBA championship this year?
It’s very tough to three-peat. The Miami Heat are exhausted. If not physically exhausted, they could be emotionally exhausted. They’ve played 313 games in the last three years. That’s almost an extra season. If they go to the fourth straight season, that’s 450 games in four years. Indiana almost had them. San Antonio did have them. They gave it away. It’s up to LeBron James. Oklahoma City would look good, but that James Harden trade will haunt them for the next 10 years—worst trade since the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth for a bunch of Milky Ways. All because he wouldn’t shave his beard! Who knew?
Is it true some players have their heights inflated?
Years ago, the Warriors drafted 6’10 Russell Cross from Perdue. He showed up in camp. He was 6’7. He was wearing six pairs of socks or something. Small guys have played. Look at Allen Iverson, probably about 5’11. LeBron James called him pound for pound the best player in NBA history. You can be small and thrive, but you’ve got to be quick. Like myself.
Why do you take so many pictures of sunrises?
It’s all about capturing that magnificence of the color in the sky. The color rises up, no one’s seen it. Everyone’s sleeping. When I’m standing at Lighthouse Point, I get to share that with other people. If you look at the sky now, it’s dull. In the morning, it’s spectacular. They’re all different, and it’s the color, how beautiful nature can be.
