LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles Sparks coach Michael Cooper couldn't help but get a little carried away talking about Candace Parker's arrival and Lisa Leslie's return.
"This is 'Showtime' at its best," Cooper said, referring to the Los Angeles Lakers teams that won three NBA championships in the 1980s. "This is Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar), Magic (Johnson) and (James) Worthy all together."
Parker, the top choice in Wednesday's WNBA draft and The Associated Press' player of the year, and Leslie met reporters Friday.
Parker joins the Sparks after leading Tennessee to its second consecutive NCAA championship. Leslie, the WNBA's career scoring and rebounding leader, returns after taking maternity leave last season.
"We're going to get it up and down the court and we're going to let it fly," Cooper said. "We're looking to get back to where we belong, and that's the race for the championship."
Parker, who arrived in Los Angeles on Friday morning, looks forward to playing with Leslie.
"I've looked up to her ever since I was little," Parker said. "I've never had the opportunity to play with such a dominant post player. To play alongside of her is truly, truly a blessing."
Parker received an advance scouting report on the Sparks from guard Sidney Spencer, who will be reunited with her former Tennessee teammate.
"Sidney said that Michael Cooper's style of coaching is something that I'll like and enjoy," Parker said. "He wants players to make mistakes because he wants players to learn."
Leslie, in turn, looks forward to playing with Parker.
"At her age, she's way better than me," said Leslie, who won three Olympic gold medals and three WNBA most valuable player awards.
"I see us like David Robinson and Tim Duncan when they came together," Leslie said. "You had to know exactly where both of these players were on the court. I see nothing but great things happening with both of us on the court."
Cooper said he wants to exploit Parker's versatility.
"To me, she's going to be like Magic," Cooper said of Parker. "You move her around; she's that type of player. We're going to play her from the point to (center), and see where she fits in best."
As Parker adapts to the WNBA, Leslie will try to regain her form after delivering a girl by a Caesarian section in June.
"It's just been an amazing transition," Leslie said. "I really had to reconstruct my abs and do a lot of situps and crunches to get back on the floor. I'm so much stronger than I was when I left, if you can believe that."
Leslie also practiced basketball technique with Cooper.
"Working with 'Coop' every morning has been great," Leslie said. "My hook shot is probably the only thing that's a little rusty. But when you add some bodies and movement down in the post, we'll see if I can get my legs under me." |