In the 1996 NBA Draft, then Cavaliers GM Wayne Embry shocked the basketball world when he tabbed two international big men – a physical center from Wright State named Vitaly Potapenko and skilled seven-footer from Lithuania named Zydrunas Ilguaskas.
Who could have known then how each would eventually affect the franchise over the next 20 years?
But in those early days of the mid-90s – long before Z's number would be retired to the rafters and Potapenko would win a Championship ring with his original team – both were youngsters from Europe who could barely speak the language. But it also was obvious early on that the duo could really ball.
And while Ilgauskas would eventually spend almost his entire with Cleveland, the “Ukraine Train” would eventually play for three other squads after being traded late in his third season with the Cavs – spending the rest of his 11-year career with Boston, Seattle and Sacramento. He would go on to average 6.5 points and 4.5 boards for his career.
Now, Potapenko is one of Tyronn Lue's valued assistant coaches, working primarily with the squad's bigs. But back then, he was a wide-eyed first-year player who played for a mid-major college and on another continent before that.
And recently, Vitaly took a moment to talk about those halcyon days with Mike Fratello's defensive-minded Cavs in this month's installment of Rookie Tales …
Before we even get to your rookie season, how did a kid from the Ukraine wind up at Wright State in Dayton?
Vitaly Potapenko: Wright State's coach at the time – Ralph Underhill – he was the only one who really recruited me.
He came to visit the Ukraine, and I got a chance to meet him through a connection in Europe. I had a good tournament in Europe and Coach asked: 'Would you be interested in playing college basketball?'
I said yes, and when he came to visit me and my family, we developed a relationship. And I just kept talking to him. He's basically the only guy to put in the time to recruit me. And for me, it was an opportunity to come to the States.
Almost all of the faces have changed around here since your playing days, except one: assistant coach Jim Boylan. How is he different?
Potapenko: It's different now because I was a player and he was a coach. Now we have common ground because we're both coaches.
But it was funny because during me and Zydrunas' first workouts, it was with Jim Boylan. And me and Z would play one-on-one and one day it got heated a little bit – you know, physical, pushing each other around. And we laughed because Jim tried to get in the middle of us: 'Come on, guys. Cut it out!' He'd been around the league and everything, but here's two big young guys from Europe who can barely speak English and he's telling us, “Cut it out, guys!'
“Well, Bobby (Phills) was our neighbor. Zydrunas and myself and Bobby all lived on the same floor of the same apartment complex downtown. The three of us on the same floor – that was fun.”
One of the faces from back then who's no longer in Cleveland was Trainer Gary Briggs – who, according to lore, could be a little surly with the guys. True?
Potapenko: Oh my God! Back then, they had a Jacuzzi at The Q (Gund Arena) for after practices and games. And it was after a game and we had the next day off.
So me and Z, we're like: 'No practice tomorrow!' So we go in the Jacuzzi and we're in a good mood and we're horsing around and we're in there throwing stuff around and there's water on the floor and everywhere.
So we're done and we're going back to the showers and we could hear Gary Briggs walk through and he's cussing and yelling. He was very angry; Gary snapped quick. So we were a little careful around Gary.
One day, I was late for getting taped up. They tell rookies: Be an hour ahead of time! But one day I was late and Gary Briggs says: 'You have two minutes to get taped!' So I was like: 'Come on, Gary!' and he says: 'Two minutes!'
So I said: 'Ok, just tape one ankle and I'll come back later for the other one.'
How much did the veterans mess with you guys?
Potapenko: I remember it was right after Z had gotten hurt and so it was just two rookies – me and Reggie Geary.
And I think this is a pretty common thing veterans do, but we were about to play our first preseason game and we were playing at home – Gund Arena at the time. And after the coaches' meeting, we all huddle up outside the locker room – 'Ok, let's have a good game … ' stuff like that. And then they say: 'OK rookies, you guys lead us out!'
I was nervous, my first game in a Cavaliers uniform. It was preseason, but I was still nervous. Reggie was in front of me, I was behind – my heart was pounding, I was so nervous. But I was focused, too.
So we go running out there – and Reggie was out there fast, because he was nervous, too – and we get to the free throw line and hear everyone laughing. I looked back and they're all laughing back in the tunnel.
There's the two of us standing alone on the court with our basketballs.
Word is that Danny Ferry really loved messing with you guys?
Potapenko: I was lucky. There was one thing Danny was going to do to me, but he didn't.
He was going to take my car and put it on blocks so I couldn't drive home. He was probably thinking I'd get mad or something. Either way, I lived downtown, so I could've walked home to my apartment.
But when you're a rookie, you have to be on guard for things like that. You never know what's coming.
No one walks in and thinks: 'I got this' …
How was Mike Fratello as your first NBA coach?
Potapenko: He was tough, not only on me, but on most of the young guys. He was tough, but I'm very thankful for him. He was a very, very good coach. Very detail-oriented, very disciplined.
A big compliment to Mike Fratello and his staff (was) when I got traded to Boston. After a couple games, Rick Pitino said to me: 'You play defense like a 10-year vet.' And that was thanks to the three years I was here with Fratello.
So I'm thankful that I had a coach like him. He was tough on me. One mistake, one defensive breakdown and he'd take me out. At the time, I'd get mad, obviously. But then I was thankful that he didn't give me any leeway, He helped me grow up faster.
The game was obviously so much more different then …
Potapenko: The game was more physical.
They allowed more checking, defensively. Like on perimeter drives, when a player faces up and drives to the basket, you were allowed to put a forearm on him. Now, there's no contact.
But they did slow down the pace of the game over that eight or ten-year span. It was more tactical. You had to find a way to score.
Who were the guys you became close with on that team?
Potapenko: Well, Bobby (Phills) was our neighbor. Zydrunas and myself and Bobby all lived on the same floor of the same apartment complex downtown. The three of us on the same floor – that was fun.
And Bobby was great – it was his second year with the team and he knew all the spots in Cleveland and he showed us around.
Danny Ferry was a great veteran; he always talked with us. Danny messed with me and Z constantly. But it was more funny than anything.
Tyrone Hill was always taking me aside and giving me good advice. Chris Mills was always joking around. Terrell Brandon was kind of quiet, but he was great.
The veterans would take you aside and talk to you after practice and it was the same with the coaches.
In a way, you quickly find out: it's good to have leadership, but nobody is going to grab you by the hand and lead you around. You have to motivate yourself.
How much did it help having another international rookie with you on the team?
Potapenko: It helps because even Bobby was in his second year. We all had the same interests. None of us had a family or kids back then.
And with Zydrunas coming, we both spoke Russian, so that helped.
The season is so long and monotonous, it can get to you. Sometimes you have down-time; sometimes you have no time. So how do you spend your time?
It's tough for rookies and especially guys coming Europe. They start getting homesick and nostalgic. So it definitely helped to have some other young guys on the team – especially Z.
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