A Special Dishin & Swishin 10/01/13 Podcast: DeLisha Milton-Jones and husband Roland on the past, present, and future…and retirement

By David Siegel

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DeLisha Milton-Jones. Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images.

DeLisha Milton-Jones is one of the greatest players in the history of women’s basketball, destined for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and perhaps the Naismith Hall of Fame. A pretty bold statement, but just a little bit of information to back that claim up.

• All-conference, All-American and winner of the 1997 Wade Trophy while at the University of Florida.
• Second overall pick in the ABL by the Portland Power, Western conference champion.
• Two-time Olympic gold medalist for USA Basketball, as well as nine other gold medals representing her country.
• Four time EuroLeague All-Star and two-time EuroLeague champion.
• Two-time WNBA champion over a distinguished career that finds her eighth all-time in points scored, seventh in rebounds and fifth in steals.

Milton-Jones can be considered the ultimate complementary player; her ability to perform while allowing the spotlight to shine on teammates such as Lisa Leslie has helped keep her from getting some of the credit she deserves for such a career.

As we have seen the retirement of Tina Thompson and Katie Smith, two of Milton-Jones’ peers, the questions regarding her future are no longer simply being whispered, they are being asked out loud.

It is understandable. 2013 was not a stellar season for her. San Antonio signed her as a free agent to fill in for injured Sophia Young, but when Becky Hammon went down with an injury as well, and Milton-Jones herself was sidelined with shin splints, a youth movement was in the cards for the Silver Stars. The team and Milton-Jones agreed to go separate ways, and after a bit more recovering, she signed with the New York Liberty. Little time remained in the season though and she never really seemed to get in the groove in New York. The Liberty failed to make the playoffs.

So now what?

Always outgoing and honest with the media, DeLisha Milton-Jones and her husband Roland joined Dishin & Swishin for an interview that addresses all of this and more. The couple answers the question about retirement and a lot more.

Topics include:

• What happened this year in San Antonio and New York?
• Her future, both in the WNBA and overseas, and her feelings on taking off WNBA seasons and playing solely in Europe.
• Her great Los Angeles Sparks teams, being a team player then and now, and maturing as a player and leader.
• USA Basketball, the good and the bad, including her opinion on the concept of mini-camps and pools to select players.
• Coaching Roland in the ABA, what both of them gained from that experience.
• The incredible fitness regimen designed by Roland, and the role of Kara Lawson and her husband Damien Barling.
• The role of the stars of the WNBA, the three-to-see concept and delivery, and the league’s future.

Since we will not have a WNBA playoff game until the end of the week, an interesting interview with one of the best to ever play the game is a great way to give yourself a WNBA fix!

Enjoy!

Tags: DeLisha Milton-Jones, Roland Jones