A Changed Man: An Exclusive Interview with Joe Forte
By Mike Slane
In professional sports image is everything. Once your image is ruined it may be impossible to get it back. Not everyone gets a second chance to prove they have changed and are ready to deal with the responsibilities of living the high profile life of a professional athlete. In the blink of an eye an athlete can go from fame and fortune to riding the bus in the minors or disappearing overseas. In order to have a successful professional athletic career an athlete must be ready not only physically but emotionally as well.
Former college standout and ex-NBA player Joe Forte is a perfect example of an athlete who was ready for professional sports as a player, but not quite ready as a person. He went from college stardom at North Carolina to becoming a first round pick in the 2001 NBA draft before playing in the NBDL and eventually overseas in Greece for the ’05-’06 season. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Joe Forte along with his EBC (Rucker Park) coach, Coach Dee of Team Certified, at the ESPN Zone in New York City to discuss his transition from college to the NBA, problems he faced during his two season in the NBA, his plans for the future, and whether or not he believes he deserves a second chance.
ElevationMag: You had a great college career at North Carolina leading your team to a surprise run at the Final Four as a freshman and earning co-ACC player of the year honors as a sophomore. When you look back at your decision to go pro after your sophomore year at such a young age, even with all that success, would you say you made the right decision?
Joe Forte: I think yes, I definitely made the right decision based upon my performance, but I think the decision becomes a little more complex when you look at my emotional status as a 20 year old young man. That’s the biggest question right there.
Were you ready to take the next step both as a player and as a person?
As a player I was prepared from a two guard position. I was asked to play the point guard position up in Boston and I didn’t have the point guard skills at that time to do the point guard duty. As a person I think we have to go back to what I said earlier about emotion. I was a 20 year old emotional kid.
Do you feel you were too young to handle the responsibilities you ended up facing in the NBA?
I don’t think it was about the responsibilities. I just think it was about how quick things had happened to me in my life. I went from eighteen years old being in DeMatha (HS), nineteen being in the Final Four, twenty years old being a first round draft pick, and by twenty-two/ twenty-three out the league. So these are a lot of big things happening in a few short years. So I just think it was more so with the transition of my life and the events and things that were happening in my life.
In North Carolina you were always the star and got all the shots you wanted. In the NBA you played behind two of the leagues top shooting guards in Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Was it frustrating for you not being the star and not getting the amount of shots and playing time that you were used to?
I think that definitely was an adjustment period for me, for my ego as a player and for my expectations as a player. You can’t argue with those two players right there, they are who they are. For me not to be playing is justifiable looking back at it. Unfortunately during that time period I took it as a knock on my game or as something as a challenge.
Can you talk about your first two seasons in the NBA and the problems you had faced?
My first year my problems really stemmed from the transition from shooting guard to point guard. I think if I had had point guard skills I would have played, but I didn’t, so that frustrated me and I began to take a sour attitude. So I was traded to Seattle and my problems were never recognized, they just mounted up and continued. And the behavior that was detrimental to me in Boston continued in Seattle, so you know it just took a toll.
Do you feel that the media portrayed your situations worse than they really were?
You have to build your image to a certain point when you like it and everybody’s comfortable with it. And then it’s about protecting your image. Once you put your image in jeopardy you can’t really complain or get upset at how far someone can take it once you do something that they don’t think was wise.
Do you feel that it is time for teams to give you a second chance?
When the right time comes it’s going to be obvious. Its not one of those things you need to plead and beg and ask for. It’s just going to be a natural transition until the people feel comfortable for where you’re at in your career.
If you had a chance to talk to an NBA GM right now, what would you say to convince him that you’ve changed?
I would convince him basically that I was 20 years old and my emotions, my head space is different. I’m a 25 year old man. I’ve seen a lot of different transitions in life, both ups and downs, that just matured me as a person and made me appreciate my fortunes and blessing I have had, and want to do it again.
A year after you left the NBA you decided to play in the NBDL for the Asheville Altitude. Why’d you take a year off, and why did you choose to play in the NBDL rather than overseas?
I took the year off because of the transition and everything happening so fast. So I needed some time to sit down and figure out what I needed to do in order to get myself on track and separate myself from the game. I felt like I had to start all over so what better place to start than the minor league to rebuild my stock back up.
Do you see yourself playing in the NBA again in the future?
I see myself in the NBA in the near future. I definitely would see myself if I continue showing maturity off the court as well as on the court. If I could match my intensity as a player as a person I think I’ll have good stuff for them
Have you heard from any teams?
Well, after completing my year in Greece, I’m going to try the summer leagues and wait until July to see what happens.
Any specific teams?
I don’t know anything specific yet.
The summer following your freshman year you had the experience of playing against Team USA prior to the Olympics in Sydney. Can you talk about what it was like playing against the worlds best at such a young age and if that experience prepared you for your run at the NBA?
I think that experience helped me gage myself. I think even by playing behind guys like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen I can reflect on those experiences and watching those guys because I learned a lot, and I’m going to apply that right now in my effort to get back.
Some people compare Minnesota’s Rashad McCants to you as far as talent and the college success you each had. Since people point out these similarities, what advice might you have for Rashard about his young NBA career?
Honestly, I think he’s handling his young NBA career pretty good so far. He had a pretty stellar rookie season and won a national championship. These are things I didn’t accomplish, so I don’t have any advice. I’m just happy for him.
Anything else you want people to know about you?
I’ve just been waiting on my opportunity to resurface myself and comeback stronger than ever both mentally and physically. I look forward to the challenges ahead.
This summer ElevationMag will be following Joe and the rest of Team Certified of the EBC all summer at Rucker Park. Please check in to see a weekly diary along with exclusive interviews.
By Mike Slane
In professional sports image is everything. Once your image is ruined it may be impossible to get it back. Not everyone gets a second chance to prove they have changed and are ready to deal with the responsibilities of living the high profile life of a professional athlete. In the blink of an eye an athlete can go from fame and fortune to riding the bus in the minors or disappearing overseas. In order to have a successful professional athletic career an athlete must be ready not only physically but emotionally as well.
Former college standout and ex-NBA player Joe Forte is a perfect example of an athlete who was ready for professional sports as a player, but not quite ready as a person. He went from college stardom at North Carolina to becoming a first round pick in the 2001 NBA draft before playing in the NBDL and eventually overseas in Greece for the ’05-’06 season. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Joe Forte along with his EBC (Rucker Park) coach, Coach Dee of Team Certified, at the ESPN Zone in New York City to discuss his transition from college to the NBA, problems he faced during his two season in the NBA, his plans for the future, and whether or not he believes he deserves a second chance.
ElevationMag: You had a great college career at North Carolina leading your team to a surprise run at the Final Four as a freshman and earning co-ACC player of the year honors as a sophomore. When you look back at your decision to go pro after your sophomore year at such a young age, even with all that success, would you say you made the right decision?
Joe Forte: I think yes, I definitely made the right decision based upon my performance, but I think the decision becomes a little more complex when you look at my emotional status as a 20 year old young man. That’s the biggest question right there.
Were you ready to take the next step both as a player and as a person?
As a player I was prepared from a two guard position. I was asked to play the point guard position up in Boston and I didn’t have the point guard skills at that time to do the point guard duty. As a person I think we have to go back to what I said earlier about emotion. I was a 20 year old emotional kid.
Do you feel you were too young to handle the responsibilities you ended up facing in the NBA?
I don’t think it was about the responsibilities. I just think it was about how quick things had happened to me in my life. I went from eighteen years old being in DeMatha (HS), nineteen being in the Final Four, twenty years old being a first round draft pick, and by twenty-two/ twenty-three out the league. So these are a lot of big things happening in a few short years. So I just think it was more so with the transition of my life and the events and things that were happening in my life.
In North Carolina you were always the star and got all the shots you wanted. In the NBA you played behind two of the leagues top shooting guards in Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Was it frustrating for you not being the star and not getting the amount of shots and playing time that you were used to?
I think that definitely was an adjustment period for me, for my ego as a player and for my expectations as a player. You can’t argue with those two players right there, they are who they are. For me not to be playing is justifiable looking back at it. Unfortunately during that time period I took it as a knock on my game or as something as a challenge.
Can you talk about your first two seasons in the NBA and the problems you had faced?
My first year my problems really stemmed from the transition from shooting guard to point guard. I think if I had had point guard skills I would have played, but I didn’t, so that frustrated me and I began to take a sour attitude. So I was traded to Seattle and my problems were never recognized, they just mounted up and continued. And the behavior that was detrimental to me in Boston continued in Seattle, so you know it just took a toll.
Do you feel that the media portrayed your situations worse than they really were?
You have to build your image to a certain point when you like it and everybody’s comfortable with it. And then it’s about protecting your image. Once you put your image in jeopardy you can’t really complain or get upset at how far someone can take it once you do something that they don’t think was wise.
Do you feel that it is time for teams to give you a second chance?
When the right time comes it’s going to be obvious. Its not one of those things you need to plead and beg and ask for. It’s just going to be a natural transition until the people feel comfortable for where you’re at in your career.
If you had a chance to talk to an NBA GM right now, what would you say to convince him that you’ve changed?
I would convince him basically that I was 20 years old and my emotions, my head space is different. I’m a 25 year old man. I’ve seen a lot of different transitions in life, both ups and downs, that just matured me as a person and made me appreciate my fortunes and blessing I have had, and want to do it again.
A year after you left the NBA you decided to play in the NBDL for the Asheville Altitude. Why’d you take a year off, and why did you choose to play in the NBDL rather than overseas?
I took the year off because of the transition and everything happening so fast. So I needed some time to sit down and figure out what I needed to do in order to get myself on track and separate myself from the game. I felt like I had to start all over so what better place to start than the minor league to rebuild my stock back up.
Do you see yourself playing in the NBA again in the future?
I see myself in the NBA in the near future. I definitely would see myself if I continue showing maturity off the court as well as on the court. If I could match my intensity as a player as a person I think I’ll have good stuff for them
Have you heard from any teams?
Well, after completing my year in Greece, I’m going to try the summer leagues and wait until July to see what happens.
Any specific teams?
I don’t know anything specific yet.
The summer following your freshman year you had the experience of playing against Team USA prior to the Olympics in Sydney. Can you talk about what it was like playing against the worlds best at such a young age and if that experience prepared you for your run at the NBA?
I think that experience helped me gage myself. I think even by playing behind guys like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen I can reflect on those experiences and watching those guys because I learned a lot, and I’m going to apply that right now in my effort to get back.
Some people compare Minnesota’s Rashad McCants to you as far as talent and the college success you each had. Since people point out these similarities, what advice might you have for Rashard about his young NBA career?
Honestly, I think he’s handling his young NBA career pretty good so far. He had a pretty stellar rookie season and won a national championship. These are things I didn’t accomplish, so I don’t have any advice. I’m just happy for him.
Anything else you want people to know about you?
I’ve just been waiting on my opportunity to resurface myself and comeback stronger than ever both mentally and physically. I look forward to the challenges ahead.
This summer ElevationMag will be following Joe and the rest of Team Certified of the EBC all summer at Rucker Park. Please check in to see a weekly diary along with exclusive interviews.
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