AJC interview with Grunfeld
SEC TOURNAMENT: Q&A / ERNIE GRUNFELD: 'Every game was huge'
Steve Wyche - Staff
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Staff writer Steve Wyche caught up with former Tennessee star Ernie Grunfeld, whose personnel moves as president of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards have turned one of the NBA's most long-suffering franchises into a playoff contender.
Q: When you played, there was no SEC tournament. How much importance did that add to the regular season?
A: Our tournament came against the likes of Kentucky, Alabama and Vanderbilt because they had some pretty good teams back then, too. Every regular-season game was huge, especially against the top teams in the conference. We were good enough to make it to the NCAAs in '76 and '77.
Q: You and Bernard King --- "The Ernie and Bernie Show" --- formed one of the highest-scoring tandems in the nation. What made you guys so special?
A: We were sort of unique because we averaged about 25 points per game. We both came from New York and we played in the South. There have been some other combinations that have been good, but we were unique. We played a different kind of basketball.
Q: As a talent evaluator, how much do you look at the caliber of overall competition to help judge a player?
A: You have to put a whole package together. If a player is a dominant player in a major conference, that speaks well for that player. But that doesn't mean that a player that dominates in a lesser conference can't be as good at the pro level. The SEC is now, and has always been, known as an extremely competitive league that's always produced outstanding athletes and very good pros. So that's definitely one of the conferences we pay attention to.
Q: Former Georgia star Jarvis Hayes is with the Wizards and had a big rookie season. What's your take on his future?
A: Unfortunately, early on, he sprained his thumb but played through it and helped us win a lot of ballgames. Recently, he had a knee injury and will be out for a month. We really like him. He's a multi-dimensional player. He has a terrific attitude and has a bright future in the NBA.
Q: You're Tennessee's second all-time leading scorer (2,249 points), behind Allan Houston (2,801). Does that reflect how good you were or that the Vols just haven't been able to recruit anyone after you who could light it up?
A: We brought in Dale Ellis, Reggie Johnson. Bernard King was recruited after me, so come on. As far as averages go, Bernard averaged the most points per game in a season, but he left after three years. I enjoyed what I accomplished at Tennessee, but Tennessee has had a lot of outstanding players since then.
Q: Since you've been involved with running NBA franchises for so long, are you involved at all with Tennessee other than visiting to scout players?
A: I'm not involved with the program per se, but I have been down there on a few occasions. I've spoken with Buzz Peterson, their coach, on several different occasions. I'm still a big supporter of the program.
that Davis is interested in the job. 
