INTERVIEW : HAKIM WARRICK Interview by: Jeff McMenamin HTV: What was life like for you growing up in Philadelphia? WARRICK: It was tough coming from a tough neighborhood. There was a lot of crime and things like that so that's why I kind of went to basketball so I could get away from all of that. HTV: How much love do you have for Philly? WARRICK: I've got a lot of love for the city. Just with the good tradition of basketball and it's where I developed my game. I think I got most of my skills from watching some of the older players that grew up in the area. HTV: What parks or rec centers did you play at growing up? WARRICK: Wallace (Playground) in the West Philadelphia area. That's where I started out. Then I branched out to all the leagues like Sonny Hill and Huntington Park. ** **Editor's Note: The playground courts at 33rd & Wallace in West Philadelphia, a.k.a the "Wallace Courts" that Warrick is referring to were dedicated to Hakim "Skinny" Warrick in 2005 for his time spent on the courts and for the generous way he gives back to the community in West Philly. Warrick's nickname growing up and in high school was "Skinny" because of his long, very thin build. To this day people in Philly still call him by that name. HTV: Was there any specific player you looked up to or modeled your game after? WARRICK: Just my cousin Fred Warrick who went to Coppin State I always looked up to him and Rasheed Brokenborough he went to Temple, Craig Wise. They were all guys who grew up in my West Philadelphia area and I just always wanted to go to college like they did. They were all guys I looked up to. HTV: When did you know that basketball was the right sport for you? WARRICK: I'd say about fourth grade. Growing up I played all sports, but I kept getting banged up in football so I figured I would stay away from that and just stick with basketball. HTV: Do you remember the first time you dunked? WARRICK: Yeah my first dunk was in a game and I actually fractured my wrist on the play so that's why I remember that.
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HTV: What specifically happened on that first dunk?
WARRICK: I came down the middle and got a dunk and when I came down I fell right on my wrist and fractured it so it was a shame that I couldn't celebrate my first dunk in a game.
HTV: Well, you must have gotten better at dunking quickly because you earned the nickname "The Helicopter" based on your ability to throw it down. When did you get that nickname?
WARRICK: I got that nickname in college at Syracuse. A few people had some signs than the next thing you know people started calling me that.
HTV: Did you play any AAU ball growing up?
WARRICK: Yeah. I played with a couple of teams. I played with Huntington Park (Phila., PA) and Philly Elite.
HTV: Were there any other notable players on those AAU squads?
WARRICK: Yeah. I played with Eddie Griffin, and all the top players around the area pretty much. Mike Cook, Maurice Rice and a lot of other guys.
HTV: What was your reaction to Eddie Griffin's death?
WARRICK: It was tough to look back and remember growing up with him and playing with him and against him. To die like that, just the way it happened was tough. That lets you know that you can't take anything for granted and I'm trying to not take anything for granted and just live my life to the fullest everyday.
For high school Warrick (#21 above) attended Friends Central, a small, private Quaker school in suburban Philly with a strong academic reputation.
HTV: You attended Friends Central, a small, private high school that is quite a drive from West Philadelphia where you lived growing up. Why did you decide it was the right fit for you?
WARRICK: I just thought it would better prepare me for college. Like I said I spent a lot of time playing around Philadelphia and I saw a lot of players go through the system who were good enough to play but didn't have the grades and weren't academically eligible so I didn't want to go through that and at Friends Central it definitely prepared me in that aspect for college.
HTV: What did you take out of your time at Friends Central?
WARRICK: I think it really prepared me for college after growing up in Philadelphia and going to all the neighborhood schools. There wasn't a lot of diversity there so it definitely was a culture shock for me when I first got there. It was diverse and seeing that really prepared me for what college was.
HTV: Usually big name local talents get a lot of scouting from local colleges. Were a lot of colleges in the Philly area showing interest before you picked Syracuse?
WARRICK: Until I went to Nike Camp (Nike All-American Camp in Indianapolis, IN) I really wasn't getting that much recruiting locally, but by my senior year pretty much every local area school was recruiting me but I wanted to get the full college experience and get away from home so I went with Syracuse.
HTV: What made you choose Syracuse?
WARRICK: Just going up there and being in the atmosphere. I think I went to my first college football game when I was up there. It was a Michael Vick game and just seeing that atmosphere I just felt like I wanted to be a part of it and be a part of the program.
HTV: As a freshman you played Temple in the final four of the NIT and had a bad day from the free-throw line where you only hit 2-12. What went through your mind after that loss?
WARRICK: It was tough. Them being my home team and me being a freshman as well. It was tough and I really struggled that game playing in Madison Square Garden which is close to home. It was tough for me but I definitely think that made me a better player just to experience something like that. I made it a priority that summer to work on my free throw shooting and I think I improved just about every year since then. Getting to the line and converting on those opportunities is something I still work on..
"The Block" of Michael Lee's shot is forever a part of Syracuse basketball lore.
HTV: In your sophomore year you won the Big East Most Improved Player Award. What factors can you attribute to picking up that award?
WARRICK: A lot of hard work and just opportunities as well. The opportunity to play a lot more was an advantage to me. I think that really helped me that being my Sophomore year and getting the players that we had that year with 'Melo and Gerry. I think that's also something that helped me, my teammates and just being able to play with those guys.
HTV: Like you said in your sophomore year, 'Melo and Gerry joined the team. Did you know from the get go that these guys were something special?
WARRICK: Yeah. I think the first time that I played with them that they were going to be something special. 'Melo was coming in as an All-American and I didn't realize how good he was going to be until the first time that I got to play with him and also G-Mac and I could tell that they were not like most freshman.
HTV: Did you try to persuade 'Melo to stay at all after his freshman season?
WARRICK: No. Not at all. I knew it was time for him coming off of the National Championship win and just the way he performed I think it would've been selfish for me to ask him to stay. I think pretty much everyone knew that he was going to leave.
HTV: How much easier did Gerry make your job on the court?
WARRICK: Oh a lot easier. You know to have that guy when they double me that you can kick the ball out to and make them pay on the perimeter where he definitely did that. Plus just being a point guard and finding me underneath where I could get him assists made my job a whole lot easier.
HTV: You will forever be enshrined into the Syracuse history books for your block on Michael Lee of Kansas to win the National Championship. What were you thinking when you saw Lee wide open in the corner?
WARRICK: I just wanted to get out there and try to contest the shot. I didn't think I was going to block the shot but as I got out there I saw that it was a possibility that I could block the shot and I just tried to make sure that I didn't get the foul and to turn my body and I was able to do that and the rest is history.
HTV: On draft day 2005 you were the last man in the green room when you finally got selected at # 19 by the Grizzlies. At that point are you just hoping any team calls your name?
WARRICK: At that point yeah. But actually Danny Granger luckily was in there with me for most of it and was picked two picks before me so it wasn't that bad of a wait but at that point I was just happy to go anywhere..
At the 2005 NBA Draft, Warrick had the unfortunate experience of being the last man remaining in the green room.
HTV: As a rookie you participated in the Slam Dunk Contest. What did you do to prepare yourself for the big night?
WARRICK: Nothing really. I just went out there and tried to have fun and I really winged it. I didn't practice or anything like that I just went out there and tried to have fun with it.
HTV: What was it like to learn from Pau Gasol as a rookie?
WARRICK: It was good just to be able to have an all-star like that on your team and to play with an all-star. Not that many people get the chance to do that so it was cool.
HTV: In your second season with the Grizzlies you started more than half of the games and had career numbers across the board. Were you upset not to play as much of a starting role in the seasons following?
WARRICK: That was tough 'cause when Pau went down I was able to play big minutes but then the next year we had new coaching and not being able to play that role was tough on me. No matter what I always try to stay prepared in case my number is called. Even if you don't get as much minutes I think you can still be a special player.
HTV: There was a lot of talk that you might sign with the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, why did you decide to jump to Milwaukee instead?
WARRICK: It was a tough decision. Philadelphia came and offered me an opportunity to play for my hometown and it was definitely a tough decision but I just felt like I would have a better opportunity to play in Milwaukee. I think that the style in which the Bucks play is better fit for me.
HTV: How has the Milwaukee franchise welcomed you so far?
WARRICK: They've shown that they're very excited to have me and I'm excited to be there. You can see the excitement on the coaches and the GM's face so it's good to see that coming in.
HTV: You've had a solid career so far in the NBA. What do you expect to accomplish next season?
WARRICK: Just to capitalize on the opportunity. Hopefully I can show them a few things so that I get to play more. I look forward to just playing a game with these guys and it's kind of like a fresh start for me.
Warrick is looking forward to a fresh start in Milwaukee.
HTV: What have you been doing to prepare for your first season in Milwaukee?
WARRICK: Just working out every day in the summer. I think I try to improve every year on something and that's something that I make a priority in the off-season.
HTV: Is there any gym in particular where you like to work out at in the Philly area during the off-season?
WARRICK: I work out over in Jersey in Voorhees at Next Level Sports.
HTV: What's your favorite thing to do at home in Philly?
WARRICK: Probably play some video games, I watch a lot of movies too and there's always something out.
HTV: You frequently give back to the community back home. What do you get out of helping around the area?
WARRICK: I just think it's great to give back just knowing that you can help out and put a smile on someone's face. To help a kid better his future I think is all I need, knowing that you were able to help someone gives me a lot of satisfaction.
HTV: You're from Philly, yet you're a Vikings fan. How did that happen?
WARRICK: Just growing up my Uncle and Aunt were big Eagles fans and a few of my cousins were Cowboys fans. They tried to make me an Eagles fan but me and my cousins kind of rebelled and I went with my own team and I was a big Warren Moon fan at the time so when he went to Minnesota that was my team. Plus when Randy Moss came later I just kept following the team and I've just always been a big Minnesota fan.
HTV: What car have you been driving recently?
WARRICK: I've got my Bentley and I've had it for about a year and a half
HTV: Have you bought any big ticket items lately?
WARRICK: Nah not really. Clothes but that's pretty much it.
HTV: What artist have you been listening to on your iPod recently?
WARRICK: Fab mostly (Philly native Fabolous). That's about it though.
It doesn't matter if you know him as "Skinny" or "The Helicopter" just get out of the way when Warrick rises up for the flush.
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