BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT--In his prime Mitch Richmond was one of the best ballers out there. Injuries, father-time and lack of playing time has taken its toll on Mitch but, he is not only grateful but he isn't done cuz the fat lady hasn't sung. Though Richmond received only a cameo appearance in the final minute of the Lakers final championship game, the jumper he swished through the nets capped off a glorious career that befits a consummate professional. As you will read in his own words, Mitch went from Richmond to a rich man.

A BASN exclusive with Mitch Richmond in the locker room minutes after the world champion Lakers swept the Nets.

BR; Mitch describe how you felt when your shot went through the hoop.

MR; It felt good. I've been out there before but I was still nervous, no doubt. Thank God it went in (laughing).

BR; Was Isaih Thomas right when he sang the Ohio Players, "Heaven must be like this, it must be like this?"

MR; (laughing) He was right about that, this is beautiful, you can't go any further. I have an Olympic ring, now I have a championship ring; man this is a beautiful feeling.

BR; You didn't play much this season, do you feel you made the right decision coming to the Lakers?

MR; Even though I didn't play the minutes I wanted to play, I've said all along that I felt that I made the right decision coming to the Lakers. I wouldn't change anything that happened, I've really enjoyed my time of being around the guys.

BR; Has winning your first NBA championship sunk in yet?

MR; No doubt but I think in a couple of days it will really sink in.

BR; How did you feel when Phil Jackson called your number to go in?

MR; I felt a little nervous but I was ready to go in. I'll tell you a secret to what really happened, Phil didn't want me to tell anybody. He called me in the hotel last night and said he wanted me to play 48 minutes. I told him no Kobe's been doing it all year, let Kobe play. Phil said but I really need you. I said, I know you do but just let Kobe play. (Laughing, no I'm just kidding!)

BR; When you went in did you feel the guys would be looking for you?

MR; Yeah, before the game Shaq said when you get in we're going to let you do your thing. If you remember when I got the ball on the wing, Shaq was in the post, then he went weak side and told me to go and the shot went through the hole.

BR; The big man has much respect for you to handle things like that.

MR; He thought of me the whole game, the whole series, that hopefully I would get a chance to play and he wants me to shoot the ball when I got in. Actually the guys where cheering from the bench the whole time. It was great and a whole team effort, they wanted to see me get in there and make a shot.

BR; What does it all mean to you?

MR; I can say that this is what I wanted, to have an opportunity to get a ring. I have the Olympic ring, now I have a NBA ring; it's a great feeling.

BR; You starred in the days of the great run by the champion Bulls, how does this team measure up?

MR; I've watched the Bulls play but this is the best team I've ever been on. They make it look not easy but really, really smooth. It's been a blessing all year. There have been some tough times this year but I still had to stay positive and keep my head up.

BR; Feel sorry for the Nets?

MR; (laughing) No, I've been on teams where we were getting kicked and teams really tried to put you under. I don't feel sorry for anybody when you're on the top you want to stay on the top. When you on the bottom, no one felt sorry for us. They knew that if they played well then they would get a victory and sometimes they didn't have to play well and would still get a victory, so no I don't feel sorry. You have to enjoy while it's there because you never know when it might end.

BR; What do you think about the Nets team?

MR; They played well all year, even tonight they played well. They didn't lay down. They could've easily stopped playing after we blitzed them in the first quarter but they had a different game plan than we expected. Kenyon Martin was a beast; he was really asserting himself on the offensive end. Kidd came on late in the game to give them spurts. I think they have a fine team.

BR; As Boyz II Men would say, is this "the end of the road" for you?

MR; No I haven't played that many minutes this year, I want to play next year.

BR; Mitch congratulations on your first ring and to this day a wonderful career.

MR; Thank you very much.

Please send your comments to Bobby Ramos at bobbyramos@blackathlete.com

6-25-02