Shawn Respert

Here's an interesting news release from the NBDL on the latest development for the former MSU hoops star:

NEW YORK, OCT. 1, 2007 - NBA Development League President Dan Reed
announced today that former NBA guard Shawn Respert will assume the role
of Director of Basketball Operations for the D-League. Respert joined the
D-League last season as Manager of Player Development.

"We are thrilled make Shawn an even more important figure in our
basketball
operations department," Reed said. "Shawn was a winner on the basketball
court, he was a winner developing talent for us last year, and we are
expecting a major contribution from him this upcoming season."

In his new role, Respert will play an integral part in scouting players
and coaches in college and on the pro level.  He replaces Terrance "Doc"
Martin who was recently hired by the Portland Trail Blazers as a regional
scout.

"Shawn's experience as a player and his knowledge of the NBA will help
us grow the D-League and improve our ability to identify and develop talent
for the NBA," said Chris Alpert, NBA Development League Vice President
of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel.

Respert continues his D-League career with a wealth of playing and
front-office experience. He enjoyed a standout college career at
Michigan State that was highlighted by a senior season where he averaged 25.6
points and garnered unanimous All-America and Big Ten Player of the Year
honors. He was selected eighth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1995
NBA Draft and played four seasons in the league with the Milwaukee
Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns.

Respert also played professionally in Italy, Greece and Poland from 1999
through 2003. His best season came during the 2002 - 03 season when he
averaged 20.5 points per game as a member of Stargard Szczecinski in
Poland.

Two years after his playing career ended Respert announced that he had
battled stomach cancer from the early stages of his rookie NBA season.
He had suffered unbearable cramps and eventually noticed a lump growing
beneath his belly button. In May 1996 he received the devastating
diagnosis that he was in fact suffering the ill-affects of stomach cancer.

Respert was determined to keep the disease a secret in order to
eliminate it as an excuse for any of his sub-par performances. The only people who
knew what Shawn was up against were Bucks' trainers, doctors and
eventually head coach Mike Dunleavy. Not even his closest relatives or friends knew
about it.

Despite losing 20 pounds during radiation treatments, Respert was hoping
to rebound from a rookie season that saw him average 4.9 points. His play
improved to a point where he trailed only Ray Allen, the Bucks first
round selection in 1996, in scoring during the summer league. Respert was
optimistic that he would regain the form which made him a college
basketball icon.

Things looked up for the 24 year-old entering his second NBA campaign.
His cancer went into remission and he was expecting a break-out season. But
Respert wasn't in the plans of new Bucks head coach Chris Ford. After
playing in just 14 games, Respert was dealt to the Toronto Raptors where
he averaged 5.6 points in 27 games, during the 1996 - 97 season.  He then
embarked on an NBA journey which included stops in Dallas, Toronto for a
second time, and it finished in Phoenix where he got into 12 games with
the Suns during the 1998 - 99 season.

"I'm proud of what I accomplished during my NBA career. I persevered
through some tough times and I know it made me a stronger person,"
Respert said. "I learned a lot and I feel I can pass a long some of life's most
important lessons to young basketball players."

Following his four year NBA career and four seasons playing overseas,
Respert entered the coaching ranks as a volunteer assistant at Prairie
View A&M during the 2003-04 season.

In 2004 Shawn became the Director of Basketball Operations at Rice
University, where he stayed until 2006.

Shawn will now look to utilize his administrative experience, his
knowledge of the pro game as well as his ability to overcome a devastating
disease, to communicate to players the necessary characteristics to get to the
D-League, and eventually the NBA. And like those D-Leaguer's with NBA
aspirations, Respert himself would like to eventually earn a call-up to
the League. His ultimate goal is to work in an NBA teams' front office, most
likely as a team president or general manager.

"Shawn exemplifies exactly what our league is all about," Reed said. "He
is a tremendous role model for all of our players, and I know by speaking
with him, our players will not only grow as athletes, but as human beings as
well."

Entering  its  seventh  season, the NBA Development League, the NBA's
minor league  established  to  develop talent across all disciplines for the
NBA, has  relocated its headquarters from Greenville, S.C. to New York City.
The move  provides the D-League with direct access to the support and
resources of  the  NBA  and  WNBA. During the 2006-07 season 19 NBA teams assigned
24 players  to  D-League  rosters  and  14   NBA  teams  called-up  16
players ('Gatorade  Call-ups').  In  addition  to  players,  the  D-League has
also provided the training ground for every referee hired by the NBA since
2002, and  this  season  the first former D-League coach will lead an NBA team
as Sam Vincent takes over the reigns with the Charlotte Bobcats.

Comments

[Derrick in SD]

That is awesome to see Shawn persevere through some tough times.

[Vaspartan]

Shawn deserves to be back home, in the Michigan State University Athletic Dept.

[Joel V]

What a guy. I still remember him assiting Eric Snow for the winning basket against the Hawkeyes on January 7th, 1995, my 9th birthday.

[Michael Motta]

Best wishes to Shawn. I guess I didn't know the whole story of the stomach cancer since I don't follow pro basketball (and since it was kept under wraps early on). I think I had heard Respert had an illness, but the way it's laid out above it sounds like it was quite a bit more rugged than I ever knew.

I certainly would enjoy having Shawn back with MSU in some capacity if and when the cards play out right.

[Mary Lou Heinig]

Best Wishes to Shawn also. He was always one of my favorites. I, too, would enjoy having Shawn back with MSU in some capacity if it would work out as I believe Shawn would work his heart out for Tom and MSU. Thanks for the article.

[wristbands_to_the_rescue]

Bring him home. Now.

[csimon]

Great big "Dittos" to all of the above! What a great role model for all if us, even we seasoned citizens. "Once Green Always Green!"

[Tom in Minneapolis]

What a great story, with apparently a happy ending. Shawn's greatest victory is over cancer..the grit and determination it takes to fight through such an obstacle speaks volumes. And the character demonstrated by not blaming the disease for any on-court drop off. WOW!
I agree: bring Mr. Respert home to East Lansing!!

[John]

This is a great human story. I think it's a excellent example of perseverance. When you keep a positive attitude and have the will to succeed no matter what, Shawn proves that it can pay off.

[Unknown]

The story is great to hear and I'm happy he has battled through his physical difficulties. I wish no ill will, but I will say this, Shawn has been cheating with my wife. But good luck!