January 5 1996
Video begins with an interview. Highlights begin at 4:25 if you wish to skip.
Tom Gugliotta has an amazing game against his former employer, the Golden State Warriors, shooting 14 for 17, on his way to a season high 36 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals. Had to feel good in such a personal game for Googs, after the Warriors shipped him off after just 40 games in Golden State, the feelings of being gave up on by management present. Hell yeah, Tom. I love me some personal performances.
"This was personal."-Michael Jordan
Tom Gugliotta in an interview with Golden State's broadcast discusses being traded to Golden State for Chris Webber, and then being traded again after just 40 games to the Timberwolves for Donyell Marshall, in which he describes as a "tough time in his professional career". Next, he lists his reasons for re-signing with Minnesota, describing the team as having a high upside, with Kevin McHale as GM and the new owner, Glen Taylor. After this, Gugliotta discusses the make up of the Timberwolves, pushing for his teammates to have their talents work together for victories, and heavily praises then-interim coach Flip Saunders for his coaching abilities. Gugliotta then lauds Christian Laettner and his current teammates for their leadership roles with rookie Kevin Garnett.
He is asked next about his time in Golden State, and Gugliotta doesn't mince words: "I was disappointed. I really felt this was going to be a good situation for me when I first got here, I felt I could really help this team and I looked at the talent and I was thrilled to be a part of such a talented team, but it just never really got to that point where we were clicking all together, and there was obviously a lot of off the court problems, and it was just unfortunate. I tried to keep a positive attitude as I think a lot of players did, but with each week, with each month, you just kept seeing the downfall and it got really frustrating, and [the] pressure was just enormous." The interviewee then states the feeling of being in Chris Webber's shadow, to which Tom remarked "I think there was a lot of difficulty in accepting the trade-and not only my trade but the Billy Owens trade- it seemed to me that the guys were real close and they were disappointed to see their buddies leave and teammates leave and unfortunately that's the reality of this league, and they couldn't deal with it, and it affected us on the field you know I never thought they took anything personally out on me I think I had a good relationship with a lot of the players and it just team wise it was kind of a rebellion against the management to show them that they disapproved of the movement."
Googs is asked next about being traded multiple times: "It's a traumatic experience, not only on the court which takes a lot of adjustment but off the court getting your life back together, but I think... it definitely humbles you and I gurantee you get traded once and you'll never asked to be traded, you know you hear a lot of guys being asked to be traded now, well you know the grass isn't always greener on the other side. So just, best advice to be thankful for what you have and try to do the job they ask you to do, that's all you can do." Very reminiscent of today's NBA, with players asking for trades left and right. Hello, Kevin Durant.
Gugliotta was born to parents of Sicilian descent, and was raised in Long Island, NY, Suffolk County to be exact. He enrolled at NC State through a favor from coach Jim Valvano, going off the judgement of an old friend, Gugliotta's father, who told Valvano his youngest son had the talent to be special. Sometimes connections make all the difference.