Stack Joins Hawks In Camp 12.19.11 - 12:06pm

After spending most of last season working in television, Jerry Stackhouse is back out on the court this year looking to give it a go with the Atlanta Hawks.

Having Stack in camp has already had an effect on Hawks players like Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford (Getty Images).

The Hawks invited Stack, who makes his home in Atlanta during the offseason, to camp after he spent most of the last two summers working with several of their players. Since his arrival, Jerry has impressed with not only his physical skills, but also his acumen for the game and ability to lead a roster of young players.

"Stack is already doing it, just kind of taking over and pulling guys to the side and talking to them," Al Horford told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We respect him. I'm happy when he does it because he sees things a different way. You might not see them that way but then they make sense [when he points them out]."

Stack spent part of last season with the Miami Heat before transitioning into a role as an analyst on NBATV, but he's no stranger to being a veteran leader. He brought those same traits to Milwaukee in 2009-2010 when he joined the team late in the year and helped push the Bucks to a postseason berth.

The Hawks played against the Bucks that postseason and saw Stack's leadership first hand. Since then, Jerry has spent the last two summers in Atlanta working out with some of the Hawks players.

"I know these guys and I've been around them a lot in the summer and watched them from afar for two or three years and just felt like they were right there," he told the AJC. "Even when I went to Milwaukee, [Atlanta] was a team that I felt I could bring some intangibles to it. They've got all the pieces, and sometimes it's just in between the ears."

The core of the Hawks has been together for several years now, with Horford, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith leading the way. Jerry said one of his roles in Atlanta has been to consult with those players about how they can better lead the team.

"Sometimes it's not always about the young guys taking another step, it's about the veterans taking another step with their leadership. So I'm just trying to stay in Joe's ear, stay in Josh's ear, and that is where the value is."

Stack was pleased with how open his new teammates were to what he had to say and some of the constructive criticism he gave them. Jerry told the AJC's Michael Cunningham that he hopes to become a coach after his career is over and he reads often about leadership. But the most important thing for any leader is to have a receptive audience.

"Everybody's ears are wide open. That's refreshing," he said. "It's more about how you approach the mental side of it. I've been on a lot of good teams and a few bad teams, and I know what the makeup of those are and some of those warning signs.

"When I see some slippage and we can bring it and address it, and that is one key to a championship team is feedback and not being afraid of feedback, from coaches and players. Everybody accept the feedback from the players and understand it because these are guys on the court getting it done and if they are not cohesive then it's not going to get done no matter how good a game plan the coaches have."

Hawks coach Larry Drew appreciates the work Stack has done and believes every championship team needs a player with Jerry's experience and leadership ability to succeed at a higher level.

"Bringing in guys like that who have gone through the wars, they have a lot to add to our team from a guidance standpoint," Drew said. "It enhances your locker room."

While his leadership has been a big boost, Jerry knows he can contribute to Atlanta on the court as well. The Hawks are thin in the backcourt behind Johnson and point guard Jeff Teague. The depth associated with having a swingman like Stack could help immensely during a 66-game sprint to the playoffs.

"I love to get on the court and do some things but I'm realistic about that, especially with a short season and so many games and trying to manage that," he told the Journal-Constitution. 

"I still can't be guarded. I can still get my shot off and do what I do. It's amazing how it goes. When you lack the knowledge you got all this athleticism. And then right in your prime they kind of equal out.. And then you lose the athleticism but [the knowledge] is real high right now."

"I am able to use my smarts to get to my spots and do the things I know. These coaches and everything have been around me and they know the spots that I like best."

In the locker room and on the court, the Hawks are happy to have Stack around for more than just the summer.

"I'm happy he's on the team and I think he's going to be a big help for us this year with the locker room and keeping people on the same page," Horford said.

Of course Stack's motives aren't completely unselfish. There is still one thing he craves out of his career.

"I still want to win a championship," he said. "As much as I want to give, I want to contribute to putting one [ring] on my finger. It's a win-win for everybody."

NEXT UP
Stack and the Hawks begin their preseason tonight in Charlotte against the Bobcats. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on NBA TV. The teams meet again on Thursday in Atlanta at 7:30 before the Hawks start the regular season on December 27th in New Jersey.

RELATED STORIES

• Atlanta Hawks: Camp Report: Day 6 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 14, 2011)
• Atlanta Hawks: Camp Report: Day 4 (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 12, 2011)
• McGrady, Stackhouse add veteran leadership to Hawks (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 15, 2011)