Terry: Lute 'the most influential person in my life'; no snub intended
After the halftime video tribute to Jason Terry during Thursday’s USC-Arizona basketball game, he was told he had roughly three minutes to give a speech that would’ve required 10 minutes to say all he wanted to say.
So in a rush, he didn’t say a word about Lute Olson, who was standing a few feet to his side.
By Friday afternoon, it had become Topic A in Tucson: Did Terry diss Olson? And why?
The easiest guess was that Terry has always been close to former UA assistant coach Jim Rosborough, who was shockingly fired in what proved to be a career-ending goof up by Olson in 2007. Terry insisted that Rosborough be on the court during Thursday’s ceremony; Rosborough and Olson remain estranged. They stood far apart near center court.
After Terry flew to Houston on Friday, preparing for that night’s Houston Rockets-Dallas Mavericks game, he became aware of the growing controversy.
Here’s what he told me: He couldn’t beat the clock. Time ran out before he could properly thank everyone.
“Coach Olson has been the most influential person in my life, on and off the court,” he said. “From the first day I set foot on the UA campus, Coach O has been more than just a coach to me. He’s been a father figure, mentor and my guiding light.”
In his long NBA career, Terry has been coached by Hall of Famers Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson and now Kevin McHale.
So what he says about Olson carries significant weight.
“Lute instilled the core values of sacrifice, discipline and patience in me, and those very values are why I am the husband, father, and role model I am today,” Terry told me.
“Since I’ve left the UA, Lute has never stopped supporting me. Whether it’s been late-night phone conversations about the previous game, court-side appearances at my NBA games, or just a friendly email to say ‘Hi,’ he’s always been there for me.
“I am very blessed and honored to say I’ve played for the greatest coach to ever coach the game.”
Before Thursday’s game, Terry spoke to a group of donors in the Jim Click Hall of Champions, and spoke of his respect for Olson at length.
That should put a nice bow on Terry’s jersey-retirement night and keep his relationship with Olson in perspective.
The one loose end from Olson’s remarkable career that hasn’t been secured is for him to take the steps necessary to let Rosborough know what a mistake it was to let him go.
