UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Seimone Augustus won over one crowd, perhaps the most important one, hours before Saturday’s news conference for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The former Capitol High, LSU and Minnesota Lynx star grabbed a placard with her name on it before an autograph session began. Augustus moved quickly to get the autographs of the other inductees.
Soon, the other inductees followed her lead. During a news conference held at the Mohegan Sun convention center, there were other reminders of the Augustus’ greatness and the motivation behind it.
Bottom line: Augustus performed like a pro, like she always has.
She talked about her work ethic when asked why the Minnesota Lynx referred to her as a “no-maintenance” star.
“I came to play every day because basketball is my passion,” she said. “Every day I would get up and it was a routine. I would show up two hours early for practice.
“I remember one day not showing up. I didn’t need to get there that early that day. And I had seven or eight phone calls from people who were worried about me. I was that type of professional. … I would always be there.”
At 5 p.m. Central on Sunday, Augustus will be there once again as part of a 13-member class inducted at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. Augustus is one of two Louisiana inductees, joining legendary coach Charles Smith of Alexandria’s Peabody High..
The rest of the news conference included plenty of WNBA references. Asked how she feels about the growth the WNBA experienced this year, Augustus did not mince words.
“I am so proud,” she said. “There were a lot of generations who came before us — trailblazers. They did not get to see the increase in visibility and brand coverage.
“To be able to see the young ladies get everything they deserve is amazing.”
Augustus also talked about how her passion grew at an early age. She played on a lot of boys teams as a child. Her first training video was a VHS tape of the late “Pistol” Pete Maravich, the former LSU and NBA star, doing ballhandling drills.
She also shared watching her first WNBA game in person as a 15-year-old — it was between Houston and Washington — in the rafters of the arena. Augustus said it was the moment that strengthened her resolve to excel.
“I wanted to (play in the WNBA). I am fortunate because I got to play against some of the players who were in that game,” Augustus said. “It’s amazing to do that and now to see how the game is growing.”
Asked about her decision to go into coaching and now being an LSU assistant coach, Augustus admitted that was not her original plan.
Soon, the calling she felt as a player returned when Augustus took on a role as an assistant with her last WNBA team, the Los Angeles Sparks.
“They kept reaching out — (Lynx coach) Cheryl Reeve, (LSU coach Kim) Mulkey and (LSU associate coach) Bob Starkey, saying I think you should coach.
“I took a chance and I got that first little taste. I was able to instruct a player on what to do. I saw an opening, took it and it worked.
“I was shocked … and I was hooked again.”
