Pistons coach Larry Brown criticized two of his young players, Carlos Delfino and Darko Milicic, for selfishness. "There have been a lot of situations where I don't think these young kids have come off the bench with a desire to play," he said.
Of Milicic, Brown said he is "a young kid that just doesn't get it. He wants to play, but he wants to play on his terms . . . If he'd have played last year and we lost, he'd have been much happier."
In a story on NBA players' tattoos, Jazz's Matt Harpring explained why he doesn't have one: "There's really nothing that I want on my body for the rest of my life."
Suns' coach Mike D'Antoni, asked how he'd like facing his former team, Denver, in the first round: "If we win, it would be great. If we get beat, no."
Suns' Steven Hunter boasted: "We respect (the Nuggets), but if we play them in the playoffs, I'm predicting we will beat them in four or five games . . . Whenever we turn on our game in the playoffs, they won't even be that close."
Former NBA player Mark Aguirre was amazed when Dominique Wilkins wasn't voted into the Hall of Fame. "It's a travesty," Aguirre said. "What is the criteria anyway? How can he not be in? When Dominique played, he changed the way teams played because he was so tough to guard."
Mavs Darrell Armstrong wants to coach when he retires, but in high school, not the NBA. "I think we're losing kids at an early age," he said. "Kids are coming up now without the fundamentals, watching too much And 1 tapes and playing playground basketball, like they're the Harlem Globetrotters."
Portland's Nick Van Exel said a while back he planned to retire but now says he's good for another season. "I can't go out like this," he said. "I still have a lot of passion for the game." He hasn't played in more than a month.
Toni Kukoc also would like to play another season, but not necessarily for the Bucks. He wants a contender.
Denver's Eduardo Najera formed the Eduardo Najera Basketball League in Mexico, in which more than 10,000 boys and girls participate. "No one really helped me when I was a kid," Najera said. "I'm trying to change that."
Shaquille O'Neal, explaining why players play harder in the postseason: "Baby-sitting and hanging out with the wife early. You don't want to do that. You want the season to go on."
Cavs' Drew Gooden wants to pursue an acting career. "I'm a combination of Samuel L. Jackson and Wesley Snipes," he said.
Rockets' Tracy McGrady says he's hurting. "I feel like I'm about 40 years old. I have tendinitis in both of my knees, and it's really painful. It's hard to run and to explode . . . It's killing me."
Toronto's Jalen Rose and Rafer Alston downplayed rumors that they don't get along. "When (Rose) comes over here, I'm going to give him a kiss," Alston said. "Not on his lips, though."
Jason Kidd has been busy denying rumors that his wife, Joumana, booted him out of the house. "Maybe people are confusing my marriage with my relationship with the Nets," Kidd said.
Bucks' Michael Redd may not be interested in signing with the Cavs because he doesn't want to be the second option in an offense.
With a dismal record since taking over for Rudy Tomjanovich, Lakers' Frank Hamblen offered this advice: "Mothers, don't let your sons grow up to be interim coaches."
Hamblen questioned whether the Lakers situation would be right for Phil Jackson. "Phil's been a great closer throughout his career," Hamblen said. "I don't know if he wants to be a fixer-upper."
NBA players union chief Billy Hunter was opposed to the league's age-limit proposal, until he realized that most veteran players like it. As one agent said, "Most players are not going to be teenagers again."
Asked if he'd like to replace NBA commissioner David Stern someday, Charles Barkley said, "I am against working. I think working is overrated, so I have no intention right now or at any time in the near future to get a real job."
Mavs president Donnie Nelson on the Spurs' signing of Glenn Robinson: "He might make a shot or two for them, help them win a game or two, and if that happens, it'll be worth it."
Asked what role he expected to have in Lakers' personnel decisions, Kobe Bryant said: "When they come and ask me, I'll just give them my opinion, but no more than that. When they ask, I'll give them my two cents."
When Brian Scalabrine was inserted into the Nets' starting lineup at small forward, point guard Jason Kidd had a talk with him. "He said, 'If I pass you the ball you don't need to think about being open,"' Scalabrine said. "'That means you're open.' "
Sonics guard Antonio Daniels gave the practical answer when asked which opponent he'd prefer in the playoffs: "I'm pulling for Sacramento. I'm rooting for shorter flights."
George Karl flew to St. Louis to watch his alma mater, North Carolina, in the NCAA title game. "I couldn't handle it," Karl said. "I was yelling at Roy (Williams) coaching, yelling at the referees."
More Karl, on the Nuggets' recent success: "There have been so many good omens in my life that I'm thinking of going to church every day."