The last time Chris Mullin was in the playoffs, his teammates
included Tim Hardaway, Chris Webber and a relatively obscure
second-year guard named Latrell Sprewell. That was with the
Warriors in 1994. Now Mullin returns to the postseason as a
Pacer, but he's no longer a primary weapon. His job is to score
a dozen points in about 25 minutes a game and spread the floor
for Reggie Miller and Rik Smits. "I could have stayed at Golden
State and piled up some numbers, but what good is it to score 18
a night when it doesn't matter?" Mullin, 34, says. "I didn't
want to finish as some old washed-up guy. I wanted to be more
satisfied than that."
Instead of ruing his backup role, Mullin relishes abetting the
Pacers' playoff drive.
(Bill Frakes)
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Since his request for a trade was answered last summer, Mullin
has remained silent about the Warriors, prompting speculation
that one of the conditions of his relocation was that he not
disparage them. "Not true," Mullin says. "I never said anything
for eight years. If I did say something, it would be the longest
press conference in the world. So many things were overlooked on
the floor. We had no discipline, no plan, no direction. Near the
end it was more like a circus than a pro team. I had never
thought I'd dread going to practice, but I did."
Mullin still thinks about the many nights he scored 25 or more,
but a deep playoff run is his only goal now. "When I played at
Golden State, Rod Higgins backed me up," he says. "He was so
helpful, so at ease with his role, I always felt he was a big
part of the team. I'd like to give these guys that same kind of
feeling."
Issue date: April 27, 1998
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