Pistons Will Robinson Anecdotes

roscoe36 · May 16, 2007

Pretty interesting segment from an ongoing series on Truehoop about Leandro Barbosa and his pre-draft handler.

Rolling With Leandro: Gregory Dole's Barbosa File, Part Four

As I scan the Pistons dressing room, in walks Willie Green. For the love of God, I think. Not this guy again. Green is not a good matchup in a game of one on one or two on two. The kid is tough as nails, as blue-collar as American kids can be. He is the definition of athlete. And he is knocking down jump-shots non-stop.

Bad timing for the Brazilian. Another butt-kicking later, I am hoping that Leandrinho quickly forgets this episode and moves on from it. Green did not miss a shot from behind the arc for the entire workout. I don't know the scouting report on him, but I doubt he would have gone to the University of Detroit if he always shot the ball like Larry Bird. With all due respect to Detroit.

Perhaps the most interesting moment of the day comes from listening to the old man who works for the Pistons club. He tells me he is some 90 years old. Has been in basketball forever. When I ask about the then European sensation, Darko Milicic, his response is priceless: "I don't care who he played against in Europe. Let's see if he can play with black kids."

We later meet with Pistons President Joe Dumars. He is one of the coolest guys in the basketball world -- a former NBA star who has long since left the past behind. The sort of person who, if you did not know much about the NBA, would never bring up that he used to be big star.

Dumars is a fan of Leandrinho, saying "I have watched you play. I really like your game. You are going to do well in this league." Simple words of wisdom. After the workout, we head to lunch with the Pistons staff. Top to bottom, the Pistons crew is classy.

As we leave the lunch area to get into our limo to the airport, the Pistons' resident old man throws out another chestnut. "Willie, I hope to see you back here with the Pistons. Won't happen, but it should and it's a damn shame. You keep playing son."

History has proven the old man to be right. The lightly-regarded Green has since carved out a nice NBA career for himself.

I'm pretty sure the old guy is Will Robinson.

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Pistons Will Robinson Anecdotes

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Pistons Will Robinson Anecdotes

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