Roy Hibbert: 'I could never say a bad thing about Larry or the Pacers' organization'
Just two seasons ago, Roy Hibbert and the rule of verticality represented the future of modern defensive schemes, and the homegrown Indiana Pacers were the darlings of the NBA.
Since then, it's been tough sledding for Hibbert. He was razzed for his scoreless performances in the 2014 playoffs, and largely fell out of favor last season as he posted dreadful marks on offense.
The NBA's shift to small ball and its heavy emphasis on shooting has appeared to cut into Hibbert's effectiveness. He remains a barrier at the basket, but his inability to guard the perimeter and his shortcomings on offense caused his minutes and effectiveness to drop.
Ironically enough, his tenure ended this summer, as the Pacers built a small-ball team of their own. The return for the former All-Star? One measly second-round pick, along with some damning words by Pacers president Larry Bird.
But Hibbert doesn't seemed to be fazed by how things ended, and he was appreciative of Bird and the Pacers' transparency throughout the divorce.
From Hibbert's interview with David Aldridge of NBA.com:
Things happen. Like I said, I enjoyed my time there in Indy. You just have gotta move on, get ready for the next chapter ...
Larry was very up front with me. He said before the press conference that I can't promise you minutes next year, and they wanted to go in a different direction. So it wasn't like what happened came out of nowhere, what he said. I'll always say that Larry changed my life. ...
I could never say a bad thing about Larry or the Pacers' organization.
Hibbert is hoping for a fresh start in Los Angeles. With the Lakers, he'll have a new set of teammates, a different system, and, more importantly, a head coach with NBA playing experience in Byron Scott.
I wanted to play for a coach who actually played in the league if I had my own choice. Not to say that Frank (Vogel) wasn't great. I had some real good times with Frank and we played well. But I told my agent that I possibly wanted to play for a coach that played in the league.
That search criteria would rule out some pretty impressive candidates, including Gregg Popovich and Erik Spoelstra, who have a combined total of seven rings.