Al Thornton: LA Story

[mkwest]

Looking back on your rookie year, did it turn out the way you thought it would?
I thought my first year pro was going to be a lot tougher, really. Between trying to adjust to the travel, to a different lifestyle…actually, it was kind of easy. I guess being in college prepared me for this lifestyle. I don’t want to say it was easy, but it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.

What was the hardest part of last season for you?
The hardest thing was all of the prep for each and every game. The season was so long; I thought I wouldn’t break down. It’s playing basketball, something I love to do, but I was pretty tired at the end of the season. I was ready to take a break!

What are you up to these days?
I took about three weeks off after the last regular-season game and I’m back training, getting back into it. I work out every day, twice a day working out on the court and lifting weights and doing strength and conditioning with a trainer.

You grew up in a small town in Georgia. How do you find L.A. compared to the East Coast?
L.A. is a completely different lifestyle. There’s always something to do in L.A., always something going on. You can never get bored. I guess if you get bored in L.A., you’re lame! Tallahassee, where I went to college, is a small town, a football town. Everybody knows everybody, everyone says hello to everybody, everybody’s in everyone’s business! I like it out here. It’s a little more spaced out.

Full Interview @ Slam Online

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Glad to hear that Al is liking it out here and that he's working hard. I had heard that Al is a really hard worker I hope he really elevates his game this season.

[mkwest]

Glad to hear that Al is liking it out here and that he's working hard. I had heard that Al is a really hard worker I hope he really elevates his game this season.

I'm glad that he's liking it as well. It took him awhile to get used to it, but I think I lot of that had to do with the traffic.

Hearing that he is a hard worker was the thing that stood out me after we drafted him. I believe it was his college coach that said that each summer he'd work on a different area of his game (primarily a weakness), and turn it into a strength. I love what I'm hearing regarding his off-season training. He's definitely added some muscle.

One thing that I do wonder is whether or not the guys have continued working out together this summer. In June, they were all meeting up at the gym and training together. Now, half those guys aren't even on the team anymore.

[cinnamon]

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Thanks for the link, mkw.
I imagine a rookie year would be quite exhausting, especially by the end of the season, so I sympathize with what he says about this.
Hope he's up for expanding that by a few weeks in this coming season, though!
He sounds like a very dedicated guy.

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[JJ LoDuca]

Sure, as soon as I cancel my membership with SLAM, they do a feature on a Clippers player...jeez. Anyway, I'm really glad he likes the city. That'll make him less likely to bolt when contract time comes around... and I'm glad he's been goin hard all summer long. He's gonna be a big piece this season.

[mj_shoefanatic]

@ AL calling people "lame" if you get bored in L.A.

[mkwest]

:lol: @ AL calling people "lame" if you get bored in L.A.

lol So in other words, Al thinks Kaman is lame.

[mj_shoefanatic]

CK is such a sloth(off the court)