Praise not lost on Powe

By Gary Dzen

June 9, 2008

1 minute to read

Leon Powe is as humble as NBA player can possibly be. He’s the kind of player that lights up when a reporter actually wants to talk to him in the locker room. To be invited up to the podium following a 21-point performance in the NBA Finals is something he certainly hadn’t planned on.

And when Phil Jackson’s mispronounces his name in a press conference minutes earlier, you can believe Powe when he says it doesn’t bother him.

“It doesn’t really matter to me,” said Powe. “I’ve got a job to do for this team, and like I said, whenever Doc calls on me, it’s my job to go out there and produce, be a constant professional. Even if he doesn’t call on me that day, get in the gym and see what’s going on out there on the floor. I’m not worried about people not pronouncing my name right. I ain’t tripping off that.”

Opponents might not know who he is, but Powe’s teammates certainly do.

“Leon is a scrappy guy,” said Kevin Garnett. “I thought Leon was really aggressive to begin with. For a moment, like Paul said, we flowed off him.”

A 15-year veteran, Celtics forward P.J. Brown has taken Powe under his wing. Powe and Brown are sharing something very special this week: It’s the first trip to the NBA Finals for both of them.

“I was very excited for him,” said Brown. “Leon’s minutes fluctuated a lot during the playoffs and there’s been some DNPs he’s got, but he’s always prepared. He’s a consummate professional, and to see him have the type of game he had tonight, I was definitely happy for him and was just flying high with him. It was a game of all games, and it will be a game to remember. He deserves it. He’s a good man, and I’m sure he’s got a few more left in him.”