Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
DOB: June 24, 1984 In: Cookeville, TN
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 200
Childhood Heroes: I’ll say Davey Crockett, Michael Jordan and Brett Favre.
Hobbies/Interests: Video games. I love Halo 2. I play online. I also like to write poetry. And I also like four TV shows – Lost, 24, The OC and Entourage [smiles].
Nickname: JJ’s a nickname [laughs]. So that’s what everybody calls me (Jonathan Clay).
Favorite Movies: Legends Of The Fall. Boondock Saints. Gladiator. Anchor Man.
Musical Tastes: I like everything from Bruce Springsteen to Talib Qawi to Tupac to Coldplay.
Early Basketball Memory: First team I was on I was eight, we went 0-15 [laughs].
Pre-Game Feeling: I’m usually not really nervous. It’s kind of rare if I do get butterflies. Mainly what I’m focused on is making plays to help my team win.
First Job: I think I worked at a snack bar at my pool [laughs] (age 13).
First Car: 1984 Honda Accord (gray).
Favorite Meal: Oooh… that would have to be barbecued pork, macaroni and cheese, fried okra, hush puppies and sweet tea.
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: Cracklin Oat Bran.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies and cream.
Greatest Career Moment (so far): I’d say the two ACC Championships – tournament championships.
Most Painful Moment: Losing to UConn in the Final Four (79-78 in San Antonio in 2004).
Toughest Competitors Encountered: I’d say Justin Gray from Wake Forest. Raymond Felton from Carolina. I’ll go with those two guys.
Embarrassing Basketball Memory: Yeah, eleven and under state tournament, first play of the game I scored on the wrong basket. Which made it worse is that I had like the tube socks pulled up to my knees. I just looked ridiculous [laughs].
Favorite Athletes To Watch: Ray Allen. Steve Nash. Allen Iverson. Those are like my three favorite basketball players. Then I love Manny Ramirez and I love Brett Favre. (NHL?) Sidney Crosby. I guess I don’t know many hockey players. (Golf?) Tiger obviously. (Tennis?) Federer.
People Qualities Most Admired: Loyalty. Courage. Strength.
Career Accomplishments: ESPN NBA analyst; NBA guard from 2006-2021 fr Orlando, Milwaukee, LA Clippers, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Dallas; NCAA National College Player Of The Year 2006; Career scoring average 12.8 points per game.
