My awesome interview with Mark Deeks

Mark Deeks is the British genius behind Shamsports.com - an NBA site that focuses primarily on keeping track of (a) salary data for NBA players and (b) "all players in the NBA, many who were, most who wil be, some who could be, all training campers, many summer leaguers, a lot of D-Leaguers, the best players from the Euroleague, the best players from the Eurocup, as well as some other players from around the globe that I just kind of like. "

Grantland penned a great summary of his place in the basketball writer-sphere this past summer. 

I interviewed him via e-mail and asked him some questions that were on my mind. Here were his responses:

Q: What is the most obscure player fact you know

A: Darryl Watkins's middle name is "Finesse".

Q: What is the second most obscure player fact you know

A: Tasmin Mitchell's middle name is "Olajuwon".

Q: What is the furthest fall from grace for an NBA player (for example, has anyone gone from the NBA to the second division in Syria?)

A: Cherokee Parks played in the French fourth division a few years ago. This was made doubly weird by the fact that he had not played anywhere for the previous eight years. No idea how that came about. Fun to think about, though. Who rang who first? Had Cherokee offered his services elsewhere? Did he work his way down to there, or did he start there in the hopes of working his way back up? I have only questions, not answers. 

Q: Do you think the NBA should give out yellow cards for the first technical and red cards for the second technical? I think this would be enjoyable to fans. They could attach the cards via some kind of adhesive to the players jerseys.

A: Yellow cards work when you're watching football live and need to see what's going on. The NBA has a jillion cameras and a courtside announcer, they have no need for this. It'd look as lame as the NFL flags.

Q: Two of the tallest basketball players ever were British – Alan Bannister and Neil Fingleton. Neither was very good. Do you believe you could beat either in a game of one-on-one? (http://www.thetallestman.com/images/alanbannister/alanbannister%20(4).jpg)

A: Not a chance. I have not played, and cannot play, basketball.

Q: Will Ryan Richards (2010 Spurs draft pick originally from England) play in the NBA?

A: Not now, no. He stopped developing when he was drafted.

@MarkDeeksNBA

Q: Would you expect William and Kate (who recently attended the Cavs-Nets game) to show face at a London Lions game?

A: No

Q: And if so, would they pose for a picture with Louis the Lion?

A: See above.

Q: Can you do an American accent?

A: Somewhat, as long as it's from roughly Alabama way. I can do a variety of Family Guy characters if that helps. 

Q: Joel Freeland was bagging groceries before he was convinced to quit in order to give basketball a try. Will he be back bagging groceries by this time next season?

A: If by that you mean "playing in the Spanish league", then yes.

Q: Do you miss the early 2000s when any European player over 6’9’’ who could make 60% of his three pointers in an open gym with a chair guarding him could get drafted in the late first round? (e.g. Zarko Cabarkapa, Bostjan Nachbar)

A: Somewhat. It was better than the "draft anyone athletic and hope they suddenly learn everything about the game" phase that came immediately before and afterwards. Also, Cabarkapa was pretty good until the back went.

Q: Boban Marjanovic is averaging 17.4 ppg and 10.3 rbg in the Euroleague, ahead of several former NBA players in both categories. Isn’t averaging a double-double rare for the Euroleague? I know he has some health issues related to his height, but he clearly can play. Do you think he has a shot at the NBA?

A: Yes it is and yes he does.

Q: Best team name in Europe / Best team sponsorship (I remember a few years ago Petteri Koponen played on a team called the Honka Playboys)

A: In Europe, it probably still is the Honka Playboys, though I am a fan of the name of the sadly departed Ural Great Perm. The Phillipines has a knack for serving up some belting sponsorship-based names - there was one team known as the "Licealiz Shampoo Hair Doctors". Before that, they were known as "Fash Liquid Detergent". And before that, they were known as "Hapee Toothpaste".

Q: Have you ever thrown a flare onto the pitch?

A: That's Eastern Europeans you're thinking of.

Q: If you were constructing an eight man lineup for a summer league team –who would be on it and why?

A: I'd have one athletic rebounder under instructions to do nothing but crash the glass and defend the rim, then I'd flank him with four 6'7 point guards and three lights out shooters and Grinnell it up. So that'd be Dwayne Jones at center averaging 4 points and 28 rebounds, then alongside him would be DeAndre Liggins, Anton Ponkrashov, Marko Jaric, this guy, Jon Diebler, Josh Carter and Seth Curry. I'd lose, but I'd enjoy the process.