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Interview with Lance Allred of the Cleveland Cavaliers

Interview with Lance Allred of the Cleveland Cavaliers
Mar 13, 2008, 09:47 pm
3022


Twice in his career Lance Allred has gotten a chance to play. In college he transferred out of an uncomfortable situation at Utah and shined at Weber State averaging nearly 18 points and 12 rebounds. Then, last year, a series of events unfolded that moved him from being the 4th String center to the starter on one of the better teams in the NBA Development League, the Idaho Stampede. This year, along with teammate and fellow D-League All-Star Randy Livingston, he averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds and lead his team to the best record in the league, and just today earned himself a call-up with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. A few weeks ago at the All-Star game in New Orleans I had the opportunity to speak with Lance about his rise within the league and his chances of getting called up or heading to Europe.

Richard Walker: At the end of last season it seemed like you turned into a 20-10 machine. What lead to that?

Lance Allred: You just have to wait for your opportunity, and I was basically the fourth string center last year behind Peter John Ramos, Jeff Graves and Mouhamed Sene and then all within one week in March they all left. Mouhamed got called up, Pete broke his leg and Jeff got called to Turkey and so by default I was the lone center. One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity and if I didn’t take advantage of that then shame on me.

Richard Walker: It seems like you really capitalized on it this year. Obviously you’ve become an All-Star.

Lance Allred: Yeah, it’s been a great ride. It’s been a great season. All-Star games are All-Star games, and obviously it would have been nice had we played better and won, but it’s just the fact that you get to be here and be a part of it. The [Idaho] Stampede were rewarded and Randy [Livingston], Cory [Violette] and I, along with the coaching staff, were here and it’s been a great experience for everybody. That’s the most important thing, that you have a good time while you’re here.

Richard Walker: I thought you played really well for the [Boston] Celtics this summer. What was that like for you?

Lance Allred: It went well, and I did everything they asked me to, but so did Glen Davis, and he was their second round pick so they’ve got to follow through with that. He’s been great with them this year, and it is what it is.

Richard Walker: I’ve heard that you got a lot of offers [after summer league] from European teams, is that true?

Lance Allred: Yeah, but I just felt the need to give it one more year in the D-League so I had no regrets, no what-ifs, so I could at least say to myself I did the best I possibly could.

Richard Walker: Is Europe something you would consider in the future then?

Lance Allred: Yeah, if nothing comes up here. This is pretty much my last year in the D-League – two years is plenty enough – and after that if nothing happens then I’ll have to go overseas. I was a European History major in college so I’m not intimidated by any aspect of going overseas.

Richard Walker: A lot of players I speak with are completely terrified with the language barrier and stuff like that, but it doesn’t seem like it will be an issue for you.

Do you get feedback on what they’re looking for from you in order to get called up?


Lance Allred: All I hear is that I have to be patient. At this point you just have to wait, and keep an even keel, and keep showing up to work each day, and playing hard. Most of it is just timing.

Richard Walker: Is there any rumors you’ve been hearing during this weekend?

Lance Allred: Yeah, but you’ve got to maintain that even keel because it can be emotionally draining to buy into it. Just up and down, and up and down. If you buy into it you get too high, you get too low.

Richard Walker: Definitely. Great, thanks a lot.

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