NBA Q&A: Tyrone Corbin

Courtesy of Jodie Valade

Q: You played for the Cavaliers forever ago, in 1988-89. What are some of your fondest memories of playing here?

A: Richfield Coliseum. And being cold. They had a practice facility and at that time, it was one of the only teams that had a practice facility. So I really enjoyed that. I lived in Akron, so I didn't really come to Cleveland. It was easy to go the back roads.

Q: You followed a legend by taking the Jazz coaching job after Jerry Sloan. What's the best thing about following Sloan?

A: The best thing is I had an opportunity to know who he was, and I had a chance to work with him. I learned a ton. I played for him for three years then had a chance to work with him for seven years.

Q: And the worst thing about having to follow Sloan?

A: Worst thing about it is there's always going to be comparisons, so you have to deal with those comparisons.

Q: Jerry Sloan had a reputation for being a very demanding and precise coach. Did you think that, and are you the same way?

A: I didn't think he was unreasonably demanding. This is a tough job. You know, he had to be on the guys to try to get them to do what you think gives you the best chance to win. So, I don't think his demands were unreasonable.

Q: You have a son (Tyrell) who is a freshman playing basketball for UC-Davis. How has the whole recruting process changed from the days you went to school at DePaul?

A: One of the things is the new ways of communicating with the Tweeting and the texting and the email, there are ways around the normal way of contacting. The parents are really out of the loop unless the kids put you in it, because there are other ways to get ot the kids. So a lot of times, by the time you get wind of it, they've been communicating for a while.