For the second time in three years, the Golden State Warriors opened their seven-daytraining camp at BYU-Hawaii on Tuesday, October 5, in the Cannon Activities Center.
Just how exactly does a professional basketball organization learn about thefacilities at one of the most remote universities in the U.S.?
Brandyn Akana, assistant basketball coach for the university, provided thescoop.
It all started with Hall of Fame coach and "basketball guru" PeterNewell, who has run a "Big Man" basketball camp for 28 years, invitingNBA players and staff from all over the league. Akana and his brother, Jarinn,have worked at Newell's camps for the last several years while coachingat BYU-Hawaii (Brandyn is currently an assistant coach for the Seasiders; Jarinnmade a jump to the NBA in 2000, and is currently with the Denver Nuggets).
It was at one of these camps when Newell had a conversation with executivesfrom the Warriors basketball team and learned that they were hunting for anew placeto hold training camp.
"Coach Newell told these basketball executives that they should tryHawaii," saidAkana. "Not the University of Hawaii. That was already taken by the LosAngeles Lakers. He told them there was another university they should lookinto on the North Shore, away from the city and the nightlife."
Enter BYU-Hawaii.
"Newell said we had a clean campus with great facilities, and that itwas fit for an NBA training camp," said Akana.
The team executives then spoke with the brothers Akana, inquiring aboutthis "otheruniversity" in Hawaii.
"Professional athletes are surrounded by many things that can distractthem," saidAkana. "The executives were looking for an ideal location thatcould give them a bit more control with their players; a place away fromallthe distractions,where the players could focus on basketball."
After chatting with them, Akana said, it seemed like BYU-Hawaii and thesurrounding communities could offer what they needed, "especiallythe isolation, a much different scene when compared to the media-frenzyat UH that followstheirrivals, the Lakers."
It wasn't long before BYU-Hawaii Athletic Director and Head BasketballCoach, Ken Wagner, received a call from the Warriors' front office,who expressed their intentions to pay a visit to Laie and scout the facilitiesin order to gauge whether they were up to par for a professional basketballtrainingcamp.
"They took a look at what our university had to offer and they weresold," saidWagner. "They seemed impressed with our facilities and how well-keptthey were."
In 2003, the team made their BYU-Hawaii NBA training camp debut. "Now they'reback again," said Wagner, "and it looks like this couldbe a long-term relationship."
"The team likes the privacy they get here," he added. "It gives thema chance to focus on the upcoming season and what they want to accomplish. Plus,it's nice for us to get a chance to host a professional sports team onour campus. It's a win/win for everyone."
The Warriors agree.
When asked his initial reaction after learning the location of the team's training camp, Chris Mullin, executive VP of basketball operations, said, "You say Hawaii, and I'm good."
"Seriously though, this Hawaii is the real Hawaii," he continued. "The Hawaii in your mind. It has the beaches, the laid-back feel; this is where it's at."
Derek Fisher, who spent eight years with the Lakers and joined the Warriors before the 2004-05 season, is the only member of the team who has been at both UH and BYU-Hawaii training camp locations.
"It seems like there is more of a family atmosphere here," Fisher said. "Everywhere I look, people are in groups, just hanging out. You can tell there are good people here on campus, and around the area. This side of the island and the university have what I call the 'real Hawaii.' I like the feel of the North Shore. I like the feel of this university."
"The campus serves as a perfect location to hold an NBA training camp," saysWarriors.com, the team's official site. BYU-Hawaii is within close proximity to the hotel, has a nice facility,ensures privacy, and "provides a great opportunity for players to bondand find out more about their teammates, especially the rookies," itsays.
"The Warriors realize they are in Hawaii to work and accomplish a lot onthe basketball court, which this setting certainly provides," Warriors.com continues.
The Warrior's entourage includes 18 players, coaches and front office executives.Training camp serves as a time for coaches to learn who they're keepingand to get the players prepared for the regular season. Everyone has to learnthe system and the plays, get familiar with new teammates and coaches, and improvetheir skills. Younger players especially want to prove themselves, knowing atthe end of camp there are about 4-5 players that won'tmake the roster.
Practices are closed to the general public, but you can see theWarriors in preseason action at the UH Stan Sheriff Centeras they face theLos AngelesLakers October11 and 12.