Server: Microsoft-IIS/3.0 Set-Cookie: SWID=765ABCD0-788D-11D1-BADD-00A0C9110F6B; path=/; expires=Thursday, 14-Dec-17 08:43:57 GMT; domain=.nba.com; Set-Cookie: SWID=765ABCD1-788D-11D1-BADD-00A0C9110F6B; path=/; domain=.nba.com; expires=Thursday, 14-Dec-17 08:43:57 GMT; Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 16:43:57 GMT Content-Type: text/html Accept-Ranges: bytes Last-Modified: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 10:52:37 GMT Content-Length: 13486 BOSTON CELTICS: Flying High in Boston
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Walter McCarty talks about his new team in Beantown
Flying High in Boston

BASKETBALL IS A GAME filled with tradition and Boston may be the center of it in the NBA. Walter McCarty now finds himself in the middle of the hoop world, but it isn't his first

Walter McCarty is soaring to new heights in Boston.

taste. Growing up in Indiana, playing collegiately in the Blue Grass State, and spending his rookie season in the city that never sleeps prepared him to be a part of Celtics pride. McCarty's arrival in Boston was unexpected, but his impact has been incredible. McCarty brings a special energy and emotion to the court that his coach, teammates and fans love. He took some time to sit down with Celtics Insider and talk about the trade, the tradition and his off court talents...

Celtics INSIDER: What were your first impressions when you were informed about the trade which brought you from New York to Boston?

Walter McCarty: The trade was pretty unexpected and was kind of a shock. It is tough to be on one team and then, all of a sudden, you are headed to a new one. I had to realize I was going to be on another team and make some adjustments.


Celtics INSIDER: The trade reunited yourself with Coach Rick Pitino who had coached you during your four years at the University of Kentucky. Did that add to the excitement or make the transition easier to a new ball club?

McCarty: I was very excited to rejoin Coach, Ron (Mercer) and Antoine (Walker) here in Boston. I knew what to expect from Coach Pitino and he knew what he was going to get from me, so that was extremely beneficial. Once I heard about the trade and started to think, I really felt this would be good situation for me.


Celtics INSIDER: You always hear about young players learning from veterans around the league. Your situation in New York was one where you were a rookie last season who was surrounded by a number of experienced players. Did you learn anything from your time with the Knicks?

McCarty: I got the chance to see guys and be around guys who had been around the league for a long time, and that really helped me. Just by watching them keep themselves in shape and work hard, it was easy to see why they had been in the league for so long. I learned a lot about improving my game off the court. As a rookie, it was very good for me to be a part of an organization like the Knicks where I could learn as much as possible. I had a great time there and understood my role as a rookie.


Celtics INSIDER: Your role as a rookie with New York last season didn't involve a lot of playing time. Since joining the Celtics though, you have been a part of the starting lineup and have been logging major minutes. Your style of play seems to mesh perfectly with Coach Pitino's, why is that?

McCarty: Coach's style calls for a player to create a lot of havoc, be active and always be moving to be successful, and that is my game. I'm always moving, trying to be in every play, creating havoc on the court. His system is perfect for me because it really lets me go out there and play free.


Celtics INSIDER: It is impossible not to see the emotion and passion you play with on the floor. How important is that mixture to your game and your success?

McCarty: I'm a very high energetic person, and I really feed off myself. The emotion and energy comes from inside me, and I try to let the other guys on the court feed off of me.


Celtics INSIDER: Coach Pitino is very intense and emotional on the sidelines. Do you and your teammates try to mirror your coach's feelings and actions?

McCarty: I think Coach wants that. I've learned in my four years at Kentucky to try to match his intensity. That type of emotion can help us all on the court work together and play well. It gives us guidance and shows us what can be effective, and the harder we play the better we are.


Celtics INSIDER: Versatility is a big part of your game. Despite being 6-10, you are very athletic, can handle the ball, and can shoot from the outside. Is that something you've really worked on through the years?

McCarty: Growing up, I always wanted to be the best player that I could. I wanted to be able to shoot from the outside, have a strong inside game, and be able to handle the ball. I didn't want people to say I was just an inside player or an outside player. Being versatile is important for me as a player because it lets me do a lot of different things and it makes me a much better player. If you are just a one-dimensional player you aren't going to be successful.


Celtics INSIDER: You started your basketball career on the hallowed wood floors of high schools across the state of Indiana. Not everyone truly understands how popular or how important basketball is to the people of Indiana. What was it like to be a part of such a tradition-rich institution like Indiana high school basketball?

McCarty: It was a lot of fun growing up in Indiana because all you knew was basketball. You thought about the game all day and all night. You were always playing, and as kids that was pretty much all we did.


Celtics INSIDER: There is no bigger event in all of basketball than the Indiana State Basketball Tournament. You were a part of that, can you describe how special a time that is for the state of Indiana?

McCarty: It is a very special time. It is amazing to see the crowds that they draw, it is like the whole state comes out to watch and supports their kids. The game of basketball and the tournament really make the state come together and I thought that was great to see. To play in front of so many fans, and see how much they love the game was a real thrill and a lot of fun.


Celtics INSIDER: After experiencing basketball in Indiana you went on to another storied basketball tradition in Kentucky. How did that compare to what you had experienced growing up?

McCarty: When I went on to Kentucky it was really the same thing. There was a lot of pride and tradition with their basketball and they had a pretty fierce rivalry with Indiana. Both schools, both states loved to say they had the better players so things were pretty competitive. I won't say that basketball in Kentucky is bigger than in Indiana, but I will say that going to the University of Kentucky and playing ball was as big as playing at any school in the country.


Celtics INSIDER: Your lesson in basketball history didn't stop at the college level. You entered the league with the New York Knicks and in one of the most passionate basketball cities in the world. Then you were traded here to Boston, and the words tradition and mystique are synonymous for basketball here. As a player do you recognize or can you feel such history when you represent a team?

McCarty: You definitely do recognize those things. I take pride every time I put one of those jerseys on, and I try to uphold all of those traditions every time I step out on the court. When I think of all the great players who have played for the two teams; Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley and all the guys in New York, and here in Boston with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and how hard they worked it is inspiring. I would someday love to be mentioned with those guys.


Celtics INSIDER: Off the court, it is no secret that you have an extreme interest in singing. You've got the chance to sing the national anthem in New York before the start of a game last season. Where did your singing roots begin?

McCarty: I started singing when I was a kid growing up. Myself, my brother, my cousin and my older sister used to sing in the church choir. I started at a very young age, and when ever we got together we all would sing.


Celtics INSIDER: There are several professional athletes who have put out record albums or who have taken an active role in working with a record label to produce music. Is that something you are interested in pursuing during you playing career or sometime after it is completed?

McCarty: Definitely. I'm into a lot of writing. I also am into a lot of keyboard playing, putting together music and some harmonies. One day, I hope to be able to build on all that and work my way into the music business.


Celtics INSIDER: Since two of your greatest loves is basketball and music, what if we were to combine the two. What song would you pick to play in the background of a "Walter McCarty Highlight Reel?"

McCarty: Oh man, I never thought about that. Honestly, I have no idea what song I would pick. It would probably be an R&B tune though.

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