San Francisco Chronicle

October 14, 2004
by Brad Weinstein

Sold -- Foyle Buys into Plan Montgomery Talked Center into Staying

Adonal Foyle phoned Mike Montgomery early in the July free-agent negotiating period from Washington, where the center and his agent had been meeting with interested teams.

"Convince me that this is going to be different," Foyle said to the Warriors' new coach.

Montgomery had work to do. Foyle was leaning toward a fresh start after seven tumultuous and losing seasons in Golden State even though he enjoyed a close relationship with new general manager Rod Higgins and felt confident that vice president Chris Mullin wanted him back. Foyle had even composed a pro-con list that did not favor the Warriors.

Montgomery had left Stanford for the NBA some six weeks earlier, but here he was recruiting again, trying to connect with a player who had designs on going somewhere else.

He needed 30 minutes to get his guy -- a longtime backup now being counted on to replace the departed Erick Dampier, one of the league's most productive centers last season.

"We just talked about having a good bunch of guys trying to turn this thing around a little bit, and I felt he could be a really important part of it," Montgomery said, recalling the conversation that cleared the way for Foyle's return.

"I told him that we were going to try to do this the right way and work hard at it, and that's all we can do."

Foyle, who played for five coaches his first seven seasons, appreciated Montgomery's straightforward approach. He re-signed with the Warriors about a week later, despite what he said were strong pitches from Orlando and Milwaukee, among other teams.

"There wasn't any B.S., no trying to sell me to come there," Foyle said. "I just felt like it was one of the most honest conversations I've had, where I wasn't conned into one of those situations of OK, we're going to tell you whatever you want to hear until you get here.

"I thought I have Chris, I have Rod and now I have a guy on the bench who seems to have his head on straight. That seemed the makings of a good environment. After talking with coach, I swung back in a major way. It was 'OK, I think I'm going to do this.'"

Of course, it helped that the Warriors offered a five-year, $40.6 million contract with a $10 million team option for a sixth year, a sizable commitment to a 29-year-old who has averaged only 18.8 minutes a game in his career and spent last season struggling to recover from two left knee surgeries.

A strained left hamstring has slowed Foyle this preseason. He will not play in tonight's exhibition against Portland at the Arena in Oakland.

The Warriors are being cautious with Foyle -- and with good reason. He no longer is penciled in to work short bursts and boost the second unit with his shot-blocking and hustle; he is being asked to start regularly for the first time since he dominated at Colgate nearly a decade ago.

"Of course there is a lot of pressure because now the responsibility is going to be on me night in and night out," Foyle said. "I've always had the opportunity to kind of sit back, watch what was happening and then be able to come in and know what a guy's tendencies are that night. Now, I'm going to have to break that guy in."

The prospect excites Foyle. He still remembers former teammates Felton Spencer and Terry Cummings telling him early in his career that his opportunity for big minutes or a starting role would come if he stayed patient and worked hard. He finally has his chance -- and it's with the Warriors, thanks in part to Montgomery.

"This is what I've been hoping for my entire career," Foyle said. "I'm nervous, but I wouldn't be human if I weren't. At the same time, I'm pumped because I know this is an opportunity for me to do something I haven't done before."

Copyright © 2004, San Francisco Chronicle

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