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The Truth About Derrick Coleman
By James H. DeLorenzo [Originally published on the NBA.com/Phila. 76ers home page in December, 1996 and in late season editions of the print/Philadelphia editions of Hoop magazine.] Life in the NBA is more than just playing basketball and travelling from arena to arena. It's also about maintaining your soul, your sanity, and your personality in sometimes hostile situations. Derrick Coleman knows better than most the value of "maintenance." Ask Coleman what's the one thing people do not know about him that maybe they should know, and the answer is simple. "I want to maintain my life, my family and friends," said the 6'10" Sixers forward. "Just maintain. When people pay you money to play a sport you love, there are a lot of pressures on you and you change in many ways. What's important to me is being myself, and not letting the pressures take you to that other side. "You have to keep this life in perspective, because there are a lot of temptations out there," Coleman said. "Keeping it all in perspective is something that comes from my upbringing, from my family and my background." Coleman, born in Mobile, Alabama but raised in Detroit, Michigan, spends most summers with family and friends back in Detroit. He stays active in his hometown by coaching high school players in summer league action. During the season in Philadelphia, Coleman has found time to help his perspective by helping out with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Philadelphia as a local spokesman. He's also a doting father, with his son, Derrick, Jr. In the offing is marriage to his fiancee, Gina Cook. Coleman has lots of family and friends to count on, and that are counting on him. He also has a "reborn" Sixers franchise with great expectations for the All- Star candidate. The Sixers traded for Coleman, along with Rex Walters and Sean Higgins at the beginning of last season, giving up Shawn Bradley, Greg Graham and Tim Perry to the New Jersey Nets. The top pick in the '90 NBA Draft after an outstanding collegiate career at Syracuse University, Coleman was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1991, an All- NBA third team selection in 1993 and 1994, and a 1994 NBA All-Star. Coleman's first season with the Sixers was curtailed by injury. He started off strong, with double-doubles in his first two games with his new club. But he sprained his right ankle on December 9, and missed 27 games before his mid-February return. He then reinjured his right ankle six days later, and did not return for the remainder of what turned out to be a disappointing season not only for the Sixers but for Coleman as well. Now, the Sixers are advertising a "New Spirit, New Attitude." In the local commercials, Coleman appears, stating "And I'm Back." The Coleman that averaged 19.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in his first six NBA seasons is excited at the prospect of maintaining the new spirit. "There have been a lot of changes for me over the last year, but everything is positive," said Coleman. "Our coach (Johnny Davis) is from Detroit, we have a lot of mutual friends although I didn't know him before this season. "But after the year we had last season, to see that the fans are coming out in record numbers and embracing this new spirit is great," Coleman continued. "I can't speak for all of what happened last year, I wasn't really a part of it. That's something I don't worry too much about (criticism). I'm happy to be back playing, I'm having fun again." After the first month of the season, Coleman was averaging 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He has become the veteran leader in a clubhouse filled with youthful exuberance. Coleman, at 29, is almost an old man in a group that includes rookie sensation (and fellow #1 pick) Allen Iverson (21) and second-year Jerry Stackhouse (22). All three, along with Clarence Weatherspoon, represent the Sixers this year on the NBA All- Star ballot. It's the first time that Philadelphia has had four players on the ballot since 1991 (when Charles Barkley, Mike Gminski, Hersey Hawkins and Johnny Dawkins represented the Sixers). "It's great to be in a situation like this," Coleman said. "I enjoy it. We'll wins some games, we'll lose some games. But in the second half of the season, we'll be a better ball club. "I think Allen Iverson is going to be a great point guard in this league. He definitely sparks us on both ends of the court, and he's a competitor. We need guys like that." Stackhouse sees a lot to like in Coleman, but is waiting on a final judgement. "The biggest thing is Derrick being in shape," said the former Tar Heel. "He's still not in the shape he knows can carry us some nights. Once he's there, then he's back. Right now, he's on the way. But he's better than any big man that I've ever played with. "He's like a guard in a big man's body, almost like a point guard in the low post," Stackhouse added. "Allen, Derrick and I command double teams, and we're learning how to handle it. We're adjusting not only to each other, but to the NBA game together." "I never set personal goals like stats, you know, points, rebounds," Coleman said. "It's the team goals that I work towards, like just coming out and trying to make the playoffs with this team after such a long layoff." The last time the Sixers made the playoffs was the 1990-91 season, Coleman's rookie year in New Jersey. Coleman helped the Nets into the playoffs three times in his first four years in the league, the last time in '94, which forms an interesting counterpoint to some criticism directed at him during his career. "People were questioning my heart, and my desire, and that's the part that bothers me," Coleman said. "Basketball is something I've been playing since I was five years old. Here I was getting 35 points and 15 rebounds, and we'd still lose. What is the satisfaction in that? "I always had good numbers, but we were still losing," continued Coleman. "But because I was a high draft pick, because of the money they were paying me, that all plays into it. You have to remember that basketball is still a team sport. I don't think the fans and the press remember that sometimes." "I've always felt that I was a smart player. The game isn't as complicated as some people make it. The game is always easy. If you have a shot, take it, if somebody else is open, pass. To me, there's too much emphasis on second guessing, missed opportunities. It boils down to execution. The season's long, there are 82 games. You can worry about losing, but you can't dwell on anything because there's another game coming up." Former Sixer and current Houston Rocket Charles Barkley has never missed an opportunity to speak his mind. When asked recently about Coleman, Barkley said he'd been watching him. "He's played well all year," said Barkley, a teammate of Coleman's on the 1992 U. S. Olympic Basketball "Dream Team II." "I think Derrick has matured a lot. He ain't the same guy who was in New Jersey. He's really played well this year." Maybe Barkley and the rest of the league have found the truth about Coleman after all.
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