Jim Cleamons Quotations

I wasn't going to part with anyone in our organization until Michael Finley was part of the deal. He was the linchpin.

He has the ability to reach out and integrate personalities and let each guy know that he has a part to play, and that the part is important. He's good at what he does, and one of the reasons is because he cares about his players as individuals.

This is just another brick in the wall, and there will be others. I don't see this as being significant except that we're trying to improve our basketball team.

Phil's a great person. He'll take the high road. And Kobe's an outstanding player. I'm quite sure they will work through their differences.

With Michael and Scottie, we didn't let you get into your offense. They took away your first and second options.

This isn't about personalities. This is a business deal. Anyone reading anything else into it is wrong.

A lot of people have knowledge, but they don't have the wisdom of when to apply that knowledge.

To run any system, you've got to grow your personnel and your players have to have a certain skill set.

Any coach certainly wants to have the opportunity to have some input over the personnel that he's coaching.