Ex-hoops star Vandeweghe shares thoughts on ’95 title

Ex-hoops star Vandeweghe shares thoughts on ’95 title

Former Clipper reflects on Bruin career, memories

By Eric Branch

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

Kiki Vandeweghe was a four- year basketball letterman and
All-Pac-10 forward for UCLA from 1977-80. Vandeweghe led the Bruins
to three straight Pac-10 championships and to the 1980 NCAA
championship game against Louisville. The 1980 squad was the last
Bruin team to appear in a Final Four until this year’s edition and
Vandeweghe captained that squad while leading it in scoring and
rebounding. He was also a two-time Academic All-American during his
tenure. After leaving UCLA, Kiki was an NBA first-round draft
choice and enjoyed a successful 13-year career, playing for Denver,
Portland, New York and the L.A. Clippers. In 1994 Vandeweghe was
inducted into the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame. Kiki currently is a
successful businessman and is chief executive officer of Pro Team
Inc.

Recently the Daily Bruin sat down with Vandeweghe and got his
thoughts on UCLA’s first national title in 20 years, among other
things:

Daily Bruin: How did this year’s Bruin team compare to the
runner-up team you played on in 1980?

Kiki Vandeweghe: I think this team has more talent. They’re a
quicker team and more athletic. We played a different type of game
that was much more controlled. We played more of a half court type
of game although we opened it up with the passing game. We just
didn’t have the athletes this year’s team had, so it didn’t make
sense for us to run all the time.

DB: Was there the same pressure to win at UCLA when you
played?

KV: I actually think there was more pressure to win when I was
playing. We weren’t that far removed from the Wooden days and all
the national championships ­ so we were expected to continue
that tradition. I don’t think that recently UCLA has truly had a
national championship caliber club. People have expected them to do
well, but I don’t think anyone was expecting titles. Obviously that
situation changed this season and they clearly handled the pressure
and expectations very well.

DB: How do you feel about Jim Harrick finally being relieved of
all the criticism he has endured ?

KV: It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy. He is
just a guy who has worked and worked and worked and now he’s on
top. Throughout that tournament you saw him make great coaching
move after great coaching move. He brilliantly switched up defenses
and matchups. The fact that they outplayed Arkansas in the finals
without Edney is a testament to what a disciplined team he put
together.

DB: What do you you think about Edney’s future in the NBA?

KV: I’m positive that Tyus Edney is an NBA player, especially
after the tournament he had. The question now becomes, is he going
to be a superstar or just a good player? I don’t think anyone
harbors any doubt whether he will be an NBA player or not ­ he
has tremendous quickness and knowledge.

DB: What was the highlight of your UCLA career?

KV: Believe it or not, it was my first scrimmage as a freshman
when I got the chance to play against Marques Johnson. To me that
was unbelievable. I couldn’t believe I was wearing a UCLA practice
jersey in Pauley Pavilion scrimmaging against Marques Johnson. Even
though I was the last one picked to get in the scrimmage it was
great. It didn’t even matter that Marques dunked on me 10 times in
five minutes.

DB: Did you have a similar moment in the NBA?

KV: Yeah, I think it would have to be the first time I guarded
Dr. J. I mean what do you do? A few years before, I was a kid who
didn’t have a college scholarship and now I’m starting in the NBA
and guarding Julius Erving. It was kind of like ‘stick me with a
pin ­ this can’t be happening.’

DB: Was Erving the best player you ever played against?

KV: No, it was Wilt (Chamberlain). Definitely playing against
Wilt down in Men’s Gym. I last played against him about five or six
years ago and he was just amazing. Don’t let anyone tell you he
can’t play anymore ­ his ego is warranted.

DB: Was being inducted into the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame another
highlight for you?

KV: Yeah it was, it was a real surprise actually. I took someone
by there the other day and I had forgotten I was in it and I was
showing him Kareem and Walton and all the other great players. All
of the sudden he said, ‘Hey you’re in here.’ After that I stopped
and it finally hit me that I was in the Hall of Fame. I don’t
deserve to be in there with Kareem and the rest of them, but I’ll
take it. I’m not going to give it back.

DB: How much did playing at UCLA help you in the NBA?

KV: I don’t think I would have been in the NBA if I hadn’t gone
to UCLA. I had the opportunity to play against superstar players
every day in practice like Keith Wilkes and Rod Foster. That along
with the coaching and education I got was indispensible. It takes a
little more than talent to play in the NBA and at UCLA I learned
how to beat guys who might have had more talent than I had.

DB: How did UCLA prepare you for your current post-NBA life in
the business world?

KV: The most important thing I learned at UCLA was to be
responsible for your actions. I learned how to stand up and be
accountable from all the great coaches and players I was surrounded
by. I came out of UCLA knowing the importance of being a stand up
person, I think that’s unique.