Hawks coach Larry Drew says he values the leadership that veterans Jerry Stackhouse and Tracy McGrady can add to the locker room.
Yet Stackhouse and McGrady will try to make their marks as new guys on a team that’s been together a while. Or are they?
“I don’t look at as I’m a new guy on the team,” Stackhouse said. “Ain’t nothing about me new.”
Stackhouse, 37, laughed at the joke made at his own expense. McGrady is just 32 but he’s been in the league since he was drafted at 18, and he’s actually logged more career minutes (29,821) than Stackhouse (29,405)
Both players have been main cogs over their long career but they’re no longer at that point. McGrady is far removed from his league scoring title days and has found new life as a supporting player; Stackhouse is trying to show enough during training camp to earn a spot on Atlanta’s regular-season roster.
But the career accomplishments of both players stand, and Drew said that gives them credibility with their new Hawks teammates.
“Bringing in guys like that who have gone through the wars, they have a lot to add to our team from a guidance standpoint,” Drew said. “It enhances your locker room.”
The role seems to come naturally to Stackhouse because of his outgoing personality. He said it also helps that he knows the Hawks players after working out with them in the summer over the past few years.
“I enjoy it, man, because I know these guys and watched them from afar for two or three years and just felt like they were right there,” Stackhouse said. “Even when I went to Milwaukee [in 2009-10], this was a team that I felt I could bring some intangibles to it. They’ve got all the pieces, and sometimes it’s just in between the ears.
“Sometimes it’s not always about the young guys taking another step; it’s about the veterans taking another step with their leadership.”
McGrady said he’s still trying to get a feel for the team dynamics.
“You don’t really want to step on anybody’s toes,” he said. “You try to fit in the best way you can and give your take on different things about the game of basketball. That’s what I do.”
Actually, Drew said he wouldn’t mind if McGrady and Stackhouse stepped on some toes. The coach thinks the Hawks could use it.
Drew said Hawks captains Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford generally are lead-by-example types. Drew said that’s important but he also wants players to hold teammates accountable, even if might create some tension.
“That is one of the most important ingredients for veteran leadership,” Drew said. “[Regardless] of being here a short time, they are not afraid to voice their opinion, step on toes and call guys out. We haven’t had that in the past.”
Johnson predicted such an approach would be fine with the established Hawks players because “you’ve got to check your ego at the door.”
Johnson said, “I don’t think there are any hidden agendas between anybody. We are just trying to do what’s best for the Atlanta Hawks.”
It remains to be seen how the dynamic will work once the Hawks start playing games. The size of McGrady and Stackhouse’s roles may have some bearing on their ability to lead since it’s more difficult for players who don’t play to speak up.
McGrady is expected to be one of Atlanta’s top bench players. Stackhouse said he wants to be in the regular rotation but he’s “realistic” that it may not happen, so he’s trying to show his value as a locker-room presence.
Horford said Stackhouse has wasted no time taking on that role.
“I think Stack is already doing it, just kind of taking over and pulling guys to the side and talking to them,” Horford said. “We respect him. I’m happy when he does it because he sees things a different way.”
