BBVA Compass is partnering with the Wine & Gold throughout the 2016-2017 season to bring Cavs fans closer to the game. Each month, one of your Cavaliers will be featured, offering an in-depth look into their own rookie season and how their experiences have helped to create their own Bright Future. REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS

Embracing where you started from keeps you humble, true to your authentic self and grounded during life’s inevitable storms.

Long before the Cavaliers hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy this past summer, Cavaliers assistant James Posey was one of the few native Clevelanders who’d already tasted the sweet success of a World Championship. Twice.



The Wine and Gold’s third-year assistant coach – and former Twinsburg High School and Xavier University star – was tabbed by the Denver Nuggets with the 18th overall pick in 1999, the same year his hometown Cavaliers passed over him twice earlier in the round, selecting Andre Miller and Trajan Langdon at No. 8 and No. 11, respectively.

The soft-spoken Posey played 864 games over 12 NBA seasons with the Nuggets, Rockets, Grizzlies, Heat, Celtics, Hornets and Pacers – winning Championships with the Heat in 2006 and again with Boston two years later.

Cavs.com sat down with Posey – who turned 40 last month – to talk about his freshman campaign in the Rockies in today’s installment of Bright Futures: Rookie Tales ...

As a Twinsburg native coming out in the 1999 Draft, did you think the Cavaliers might draft you?

James Posey: In that Draft, (the Cavs) had two picks. I thought it could happen. Of course, my family wanted it to happen. When those two picks went by, my mom was pretty hurt. She just forgot about the rest of the Draft. But when it happened, I was like, ‘Oh well. Let’s just wait and see what happens.’

Did you work out for them?

Posey: No, I didn’t actually. But I was still hoping it would happen. I was right there. And I would usually come up (to then-Gund Arena) from Xavier, come play with some of the guys there.

So I was there, up close and personal! But things happen for a reason.

Why did you choose Xavier?

Posey: Actually, my options were pretty slim just because my grades coming out – I was a Prop 48. So there were just a couple schools – Xavier was one, Dayton was the other.

They wanted me to come there regardless of my grades just knowing that I would be a Prop and pay for my first year and then hold a 2.5 to get a scholarship in my sophomore year. That and Coach Prosser, he just came into my home, he didn’t even talk basketball. He just talked about me getting a degree and things like that.

And it was just a wrap from there.

So you almost went to Dayton and instead went to Dayton’s most hated rival ….

Posey: Yeah. (laughs) They could never beat us at home and we could never beat them in Dayton.

So when you get drafted by the Nuggets, your first NBA head coach is NBA legend Dan Issel. What was that like for a rookie?

Posey: Well, originally I thought I was going to be coached my Mike D’Antoni. But then they fired him and they opened up the Pepsi Center and everything was just new.

So Coach Issel came in and he just preached working hard and doing what you had to do as a rookie.

Competition-wise, I was competing with Bryant Stith at the small forward position and we had some great battles. And in practice I was able to win a starting job. They drafted me for my defense, so bringing that defensive mentality wasn’t a problem.

And playing alongside guys like Antonio McDyess, Nick Van Exel and Raef LaFrentz was great. It was weird – one day you’re watching these guys on TV and then you’re playing with them. They helped me a lot – just understanding the game.

After that, I was on Cloud 9.

And also, Coach John Lucas was an assistant with that team. And he broke it down simple for me. Basically, at some point, everybody was ‘the Man’ in high school or college, but when you get (to the NBA), everybody can’t be the Man, so you’d better find your niche and fit in the best you can. That’s how you survive.

And once he told me that, I got it. And I was able to survive 12 years.

Knowing that your roots were in Cleveland, how tough was it in that first year away and how did you remain grounded?

Posey: I was out there by myself as a rookie and my family and friends would call a lot, so that helped. But they were worried as well. So they’d make the trip out there to come see me, maybe stay a couple weeks at a time.

It was lonely at times. But at the end of the day, I was in the gym most of the time, not just sitting at home.

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How real is the thin-air factor playing in Denver and how much did you use that to your advantage?

Posey: Yeah, it’s for real!

You don’t think you’re out of shape, but compared to guys that are used to it, you are out of shape. The air is thin and you’ll get short of breath doing simple things like going up and down the stairs. And it hits you right away.

So that’s an advantage that you use. When teams come in, right away they see the sign that says you’re at elevation such-and-such and then the Nuggets get to running and you’re like ‘Oh, &%#@!!’

You see the other team’s out of breath; their eyes are running. You’d see Hakeem, he’d get over to the bench and he’d get an oxygen mask. He didn’t like playing in Denver.

Yeah, most teams use those timeouts early in the first quarter in Denver.

You played in 81 of 82 games as a rookie alongside established vets. How were you able to fit right in?

Posey: For me, it wasn’t like I was a volume shooter or scorer. I got everything pretty much the way I always have – just working hard, getting out in transition and some spot-up threes here and there (which I got better at).

I always tell (DeAndre Liggins): ‘You remind me of myself a little bit.’ (He’s) not afraid of anyone, he plays great defense. But I couldn’t shoot the three, I was afraid to shoot the three. And I laugh about it now. I went from being afraid to shoot it to being a knock-down three guy that people were afraid of when I shot it.

You were a little bit of Cavs-Killer during your days with Boston and Miami – and you gave LeBron all he could handle back then. Do you two ever talk about it?

Posey: (laughs) Well, I enjoyed those battles every night. And pretty much most nights, I was guarding the best guy out there.

And I have pride as well. So you just have to make it tough. You can never stop those guys, but I wanted to make sure that my presence was felt and just compete hard. And I hope they appreciate it.

Now, I’m glad I’m on the other side with him and I hope that he didn’t take all that too personal.

Which veterans took you under their wing in Denver?

Posey: It was McDyess but it was also Nick Van Exel. And then also Avery Johnson, who we got a couple years later.

But those three guys really helped a lot. Dyess, he was a quiet guy – he led by example: working hard, being on time. And Nick was much more vocal. But they just helped me so much.

And any that were extra-tough on you?

Posey: George McCloud. He was a rough dude. He was always challenging me, making sure I was on-point. He just stayed at me!

I was like, ‘Man, leave me alone!’ But he wouldn’t leave me alone. And you know what – it was good for me. He was the one constant.

What was rookie initiation like in your day?

Posey: Back then, the rookies, we had to unload the plane. Like, put some of the gear up on there. We had to pick up everybody’s mesh bags and deliver them (to the veteran’s) rooms. And I had to get newspapers and donuts for everybody as well.

Rookies now, they don’t help with the equipment or anything. They got it pretty good these days.