Well, they still played a season, didn’t they? And they still had a champion. San Antonio averaged as many points as the Chicago Bulls. The game goes on. Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson or anybody else might leave, but the game goes on.

8. Compare the NBA today to the way it was when you played.

One thing has not changed and never will change: in order to win, you have to play defense and you have to rebound. Otherwise, I think the fundamentals have broken down in today’s game. The game has become more specialized, so if you play the “2” guard or the “3” forward and you’re asked to play the “1” guard or the “4” forward, you may not have the skills to play those positions. So I don’t think players today are as versatile or as flexible in being able to fit into what their teams need at any given time. I think we had more complete players - you just played the game and did whatever was asked of you. Also, I’m not sure the intelligence level is as high. Basketball isn’t just about athletic skill, it’s about being able to make the right decisions on the court in a split second. I don’t see as many players with that capability. Scoring is down. Will anyone ever average a triple double again? I don’t know. Will anyone ever average 50 points a game as Wilt did? I doubt it. Will anyone ever score 100 points in a game, as Wilt did? I doubt it.

9. In what ways has the NBA game improved? Deteriorated? What about college basketball?

I certainly don’t think it has improved. I think it has deteriorated in that the focus today is more on individual effort, less on a team concept. For example, the pick and roll has been around forever. If you run a successful pick and roll today, people think it’s a jewel. As far as the colleges, same thing. It’s become a muscle game. Work the ball inside. No movement on the court. Some college games are exciting, most of them are boring. I think the coaches want total control instead of letting the talent dictate the way you play. I think recruiting has become totally professional. Why should a 17 year old kid have to sign a contract, one year at a time?