Muggsy Bogues Q&A: NBA Great Breaks Down the Red-Hot Hornets

Q:  I want to get your quick thoughts on the Hornets, because they're surprisingly the hottest team in the NBA right now. They're running on all cylinders. Thoughts on them? Could you see them making the playoffs at this point?

Bogues: Absolutely. The guys have been playing well. Health is the key, if the guys are healthy with LaMelo, Miles, Miller, Kon and Diabate all on the same floor at the same time. A lot of success has been having those guys. Unfortunately, we have the suspension, but I still think they bounce back. They just got a big win against Atlanta. I think the guys are really looking forward to the last stretch of the season.

Q: Obviously, it's baby steps with this franchise, you want to make it to the playoffs first. But could you see this team actually winning a playoff series for the first time in over 20 years? Especially if the matchup is favorable?

Bogues: Absolutely, they're capable. The chemistry is working. They beat some very good teams out there, some top 10. I think the confidence is amongst the players. It's spreading among the team. They believe in themselves.

Q: Thoughts on LaMelo Ball, and what's the best advice you've given to him?

Bogues: Health is always a key for him. As you can see, how he's able to galvanize the guys and get them to rally to play some great basketball here in this stretch. Melo is a great leader. I'm loving his leadership personally.

Q: What's his best trait?

Bogues: It's his leadership. He's a gym rat boy. He just loves playing the game. You can see his eyes out there when he was a kid. His game hasn't changed much, but his IQ has, and I think the game has slowed down for him tremendously. He understands the importance of getting everybody involved as opposed to just himself.

Q: Do you have any sort of player comparison for him?

Bogues: Melo's got the height, so his game is different. We kind of look at him as more like a Penny Hardaway, Magic Johnson and that sort of thing. But he's more of a scoring point guard. LaMelo likes to score but he's still got the vision of making the guys around him better.

Q: Kon Knueppel, he's a heck of a shooter. Immediately from the get-go, he was already lighting it up. Thoughts on him, and who does he remind you of?

Bogues: He's one of those steady guys. It's hard to kind of put him in a box to see who exactly comes to mind. I don't want to say a Dan Majerle or somebody like that. But Mark Price, he's got that shot just like a Mark Price. Even though he's bigger than Mark, but he moves and can explode off the dribble as well. Kon's just a guy with his own type of challenge. I just love seeing his rookie season, how he's been.

Q: He's already putting up 19 points per game. His 3-point efficiency is at 43%. Could you see him — this is a lofty comparison — but could you see him developing anywhere close to like a Ray Allen-type of player?

Bogues: Kon can shoot the ball. He doesn't emulate any type of players moving on the floor. Kon is creating his own lane. He's creating his own way. He's a different type of play. He's about 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6, and can put the ball on the floor. He just shoots it. He's not just a guy that can catch and shoot 3s. He's a three-tier type of scorer, mid-range, downhill, as well as 3-pointers. I love the future.

Q: What's the best advice that you've given to this young Hornets team that has yet to experience the playoffs? 

Bogues: Just trust each other. That's what it all comes down to. They all have different skill sets. They complement one another. Then they got great leadership, and coach Charles [Lee] will get them to play at their highest level, so I'm looking forward to this last stretch.

Q: What's the key for a playoff run?

Bogues: Gotta stay healthy.

Q: Since you were a heck of a point guard, I'm gonna put you on the spot. Who is the best point guard in the game today?

Bogues: You got guys out there showcasing their skills. You got Shai-Gilgeous Alexander of course. Steph Curry is always gonna be my top. You got LaMelo Ball playing some unbelievable basketball right now. You got a lot of guys out there that are stepping up their game. Shai is probably one that really stands out among everybody right now. But Steph is there because of his tenure and his number of years and the stuff he's able to do. But health is always the key.

Q: Best part of Shai's game?

Bogues: He's a type of three-tier scorer. He has that mid-range, downhill, drive to the basket. His leadership, the guys trust them, they believe in him. You can see a little bit of what he's doing, a little bit like LaMelo and understanding how to get teammates involved.

Q: Who's the best scorer in the game today?

Bogues: You got a lot of great scorers out there, but I'm going to say Kevin Durant.

Q: What are you doing with Panini at All-Star weekend?

Bogues: Panini and I have been together for 15 years. This was a great opportunity to come out here to engage and interact with some of the former players as well as the company. Signed some great things for the fans.

They've been an upstanding company that really does a great job with these fans, giving them what they like from former players. 

Q: Were you a big trading cards guy while growing up?

Bogues: No, I wasn't a big collector back in the day. I always admired the cards, but I really didn't have any idea that they had cards back in the day. But Panini came on board on the scene along with Topps and all those other companies. They really did a fabulous job. We're really capturing the athletes in their great scenes in terms of what they do on and off the court — all different types of deals with all those sports, football, basketball, etc.