Jan. 7, 2010
The Longley File
Who: Ex-Lobo Luc Longley
As a Lobo: 19887-91
Career Stats: 1,769 points, 922 rebounds
Senior Year: 19.1 pts, 9.1 rebs.
By Richard Stevens — Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
You could say Steve Alford’s Lobos got a big surprise Thursday prior to practice. Lobo fans lucky enough to have a ticket for the UNLV game will get the same treat Saturday in The Pit.
Luc Longley, one of the best Lobos to don the cherry & silver, has returned to his college roots. He spoke briefly to the 2009-10 Lobos, who gathered around the massive, 7-foot-1, ex-Lobo and, well, looked up in awe at the former Chicago Bull.
Part of that awe had to come from realizing that Longley once played the game of basketball at the level most collegiate players only dream of reaching — the NBA. Part of the awe surely was realizing that Longley earned three NBA championship rings running the court with the likes NBA legends such as Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen.
Part of that awe had to be the way the Lobos looked up — way up — at Longley, who towered above the Lobos, making UNM’s big men look like willowy guards. Longley will be recognized by UNM during Saturday’s UNLV game.
Longley had a couple of short messages for the Lobos, but his main advice was for the Lobos to realize the importance of the small details of the game – simple fundaments, daily practices, taking extra shots after practice.
He also told the Lobos, and the media, that his favorite memory as a Lobo came when he ran down The Pit’s tunnel and into the embrace of the howls so easily extracted from Lobo fans.
“Running down the tunnel is what I remember (most),” said Longley, a native of Perth, Australia, who returned to his home roots after retiring from the NBA. Longley was recruited from Perth by former Lobo coach Gary Colson.
Longley said Colson raved about the huge and rowdy Pit crowds. Longley said he expected the UNM crowd to be bigger than the tiny crowds of Australia ball, but still thought Colson was blowing smoke at the naive 18-year-old from Perth.
“(Colson) could talk the leg off a chair,” said Longley, now 40. “I thought there might be a few thousand. I ran down the tunnel (the first time) and had the place light up. That would be my strongest memory. I get chicken skin (goose bumps) just thinking about it.”
Longley will walk The Pit’s ramp again Saturday. The place should light up for him again. Longley made New Mexico proud by becoming the No. 7 pick in the 1991 NBA Draft. He became an accomplished pro on the same level as ex-Lobos Mel Daniels, Michael Cooper and Danny Granger.
But The Pit always loves its Lobos first and foremost. Longley produced like few Lobos before or after him, especially during his junior and senior seasons. He averaged 18.4 points and 9.7 rebounds in 1989-90. He averaged 19.1 points and 9.2 rebounds as a senior.
He played with Lobos such as Rob Robbins, Charlie Thomas, Willie Banks, Darrell McGee, Khari Jaxon, Kurt Miller, Hunter Greene, Mike Winters, Rob Loeffel, Kelvin Scarborough. Longley is the only Lobo to ever register a triple-double and he did that twice — 23 points, 15 rebounds 10 blocks and 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
You remember how Lobos like Kenny Thomas and Danny Granger had to fight through double coverage? League teams used to design defenses that allowed them to put a triangle of defenders around Longley. If you saw Longley towering over Alford’s Lobos, you can understand why that coverage usually did not work and you understand why Longley had success at the next level. Longley is a truck.
He says his visit to The Pit on Saturday will be the first time he has watched a Lobo game live as a fan.
In Australia, Longley says he has stayed busy, but not too busy. “The beauty of the league (NBA) is that once you get out of the league, you don’t have to do much,” said Longley, who became an instant millionaire as an NBA lottery pick for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Longley said he currently is an owner of a charter-boat business, was the owner of an Australian pro team for five years, and swims and white-water paddles to stay in shape. There is a chance his paddleboat is the size of a small sailboat. Longley’s legs are about as long as Jamal Fenton is tall.
He said his home in Australia burned to the ground a few years back and he lost most of his personal belongings, including his Lobo lettermen’s jacket. He competes in ocean races. He won an auction to name a new species of ocean shrimp and named it after one of his daughters. He is now married to a childhood friend. While in Albuquerque, he has arranged to have some green chili shipped back to Australia.
There also might be some good news for Don Flanagan from Longley’s return to The Pit. Longley has two daughters, 15 and 13.
“My 13-year-old is a hooper (hoopster),” said Longley. “She is 6-3 already. She is going to be all right.”
Sounds good. The Pit could use another Longley.