Larry Hughes Between The Legs Recovery

Well Traveled Hughes has Grown Up Chicago Tribune Article

Well-traveled Larry Hughes has grown up
Tattoos are often 1st thing fans notice about new Bull Hughes—but there's far more to his story

In many ways, new Bulls guard Larry Hughes is the embodiment of the modern-day professional athlete.

In his 10-year career, which began when he entered the draft after only one college season, he has been cast off in trade, has tested his value on the free-agent market and, playing for his fifth NBA team, does not pretend to be looking for any emotional attachments or entanglements.

His mother, Vanessa, says he's just like any other businessman, albeit one whose salary this season is $12.8 million.

"When he left school, he knew he was taking on a job and that's what it is," she said. "It's a job that allows him take care of his family and his extended family. If it tells him 'Tomorrow you have to pack up,' you go.

"I tell him, 'You're not going to be the poster child for the NBA. You may not be No. 1 in shooting. But your ability to take care of your family, that's a gift from God.' "

It is a gift Hughes takes seriously and comes by naturally, his relationship with his mother and younger brother Justin, a heart-transplant recipient who passed away two years ago at 20, rivaled only by his devotion to wife Carrie and children Lauryn, 9, Landys, 7, and Larry II, 4.

It is those relationships and the work he and his mother do on behalf of the Larry Hughes Foundation—dedicated to assisting families in need of organ transplants with travel and other living expenses as well as the families of donors, whom he has helped with funeral costs—that truly matter.

And so when strangers in new cities read his tattoos and want to know more, when they see the two permanent tear drops etched below one eye—in honor of Justin—and assume they're gang-related or, at the very least, mistake him for just another tough guy, the 29-year-old Hughes shrugs and smiles.

If it's the price he must pay for being quiet and detached, so be it.

"But I think once people get to know me, they can see that I'm a straightforward guy," Hughes said. "I always fess up to anything I've done or said. I try to stand up for whatever I say and how I feel and give the reasons why I feel that way and be respectful."

As for the tattoos, about 20 in all, they each tell a story—his right arm, the basketball side of him, he explains; his left arm "all the tragic things going on." There's the Grim Reaper tattoo on his left shoulder to remind him what his younger brother constantly was facing after being born with a severe heart defect when Larry was 7.

On his neck reads "I Am My Brother's Keeper" and across his stomach read the words "Quiet Storm," complete with clouds and lightning bolts, which is how Hughes describes his inner passion and his outer calm.

Tattoos do talking
"It's me," he said of the markings. "It's how I express myself. I don't do a lot of talking. This is my life and all the things I have on me are something I really want to remember. I can always look at an arm or a hand and know where I was or what I was thinking at that time."

Those who have known him longest, like Western Illinois coach Derek Thomas, who coached Hughes both in high school and college (under now-retired Charlie Spoonhour at St. Louis), say Hughes could do more to express himself.

"It's one thing he doesn't do great," Thomas said. "If people don't understand him, he doesn't go out of his way to make them."

That said, Hughes did win the "Austin Carr Good Guy Award" in 2006, which recognizes the Cavaliers player who is cooperative and understanding of the media, the community and the public.

"I wish I understood what people want him to do, because I think he is a really good person and a really good player," Spoonhour said.

Hughes has been subject of an equal number of interpretations of his on-court persona, from coaches such as Larry Brown questioning his work ethic early in his career to Wizards and Cavs fans hounding him for his shot selection to others wondering about his durability.

He does not duck any of them.

"I've changed," Hughes said. "Coming in, I was 18, so a lot of stuff was given to me, and being hard-headed, I just had to learn. Now in the summer, I work, I work, I work, I work and people now don't question my work ethic. It's just something you learn to do."

Well-traveled Larry Hughes has grown up.

As for the injuries, which have kept him from playing 70 or more games in all but two seasons and fewer than 62 in six others, Hughes called it "frustrating, because I've had bad timing, a lot of it coming on the verge of making the All-Star team, playing in the Finals, coming in from a great summer workout and being out three, four weeks.

"But I've learned from them. I have no regrets about how I've played."

There is also the question of where, at 6 feet 5 inches, he is suited best to play.

Hughes calls himself "a guard, period. Just let me play. I've learned to take fewer bad shots, to recognize situations, so just put me out there and I'll try to make the good play. If it's from the two-guard, what's the difference?"



Some have described him as a throwback.

"I like that," he said. "I never wanted to be a specialist. I never wanted to just be a shooter, just a passer. I want to do everything that helps the team win. I don't do one thing great, I do a lot of things good and that helps a lot of teams."

Johnny Bach, a longtime Bulls assistant most recently under Scott Skiles as well as a member of Doug Collins' staff in Washington when Hughes played there, sees the maturation.

"He's exactly someone this team needs at this point," Bach said. "[Interim coach] Jim Boylan likes the up-tempo game and Hughes will do that, he will make steals in the passing lanes and come out with the ball quickly as lead or second guard."

Boylan is trying to create a guard rotation built around Hughes, Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon. Hughes, who's averaging 19 points as a Bull going into Tuesday night's game against Memphis, meshed with both in a 29-point outing against Indiana last week.

"People are going to see the real Larry again," close friend and former teammate Gilbert Arenas told the Washington Post upon Hughes' trade to Chicago.

Clearly, playing alongside LeBron James was not the best situation for Hughes. Collins agreed the Bulls could be a better fit.

Collins a Hughes fan
"I like Larry at this stage of his career," Collins said. "I can see three or four more very productive years for him. It sure can be the Bulls, who are starving for a big guard. Larry Hughes gives [general manager John Paxson] options."

For the first time in his career, Hughes says he can see himself settling down with one team, even if the young Bulls need him to be a leader.

Collins recalled a meeting he had with Hughes when he was coaching him when he told him that he needed him to be "more engaged" in the team.

"The message I got from him," Collins said, "was that 'I am, coach. Maybe I just don't show it.'

"As he has gotten older, I have seen [energy and passion] more and more from him. He's incredibly professional and Larry is a good guy. I would coach him any day."

Hughes already knows how he wants to be remembered when his career is over.

"When I'm gone, I want good things said in the locker room," he said. "Not so much in the media and different organizations, but I played with a lot of guys and I want the respect from them, from guys I'll see throughout my lifetime, in summer vacations in Miami or in Vegas. After I'm done, I want them to say 'He was a good teammate.' "



For his mother, it is even simpler.

"When he was growing up, he never said 'I'm going to the NBA' or 'I'm going to buy you a house,' " said Vanessa Hughes, who largely raised her children on her own. "It was never 'Watch me.' It was 'See what I do.'

"All he said was, 'When I become a man, I'm going to take care of what a man does and that's take care of my family.' "

Bulls Defeat Cavaliers This Time Around

In 28 minutes of action Hughes scored 12 points( 4/12 from the field, 1/3 from behind the arc, and 3/4 from the free throw line) grabbed 3 rebounds, dished out 3 assists and 1 steal.

Limited Action Against Memphis

In 25 mintues of action Hughes scored 8 points( 3/7 from the field, 2/4 from the free throw line) grabbed 3 rebounds and distributed 5 assists. It appears that Chicago is still looking for definition and identitiy as interm coach Jim Boylan is experimenting with different rotations.

Unhappy Times In Cleveland

Hughes tenure consisted of him playing in 106/164 games, being resented by uninformed Cavalier fans becuase of injuries, the loss of his brother, and a trip to the finals where the team was exposed for their deficiences and inability to match up against a powerhouse. Even with a healthy Larry Hughes, the Cleveland Cavaliers weren't a match for San Antonio Spurs.

After Hughes was quoted saying that he was unhappy in Cleveland many( mostly ignoramic Cavaliers fans) took offense to this. Regardless of the unsupported remarks made by a community that resents( Michael Jordan) and other stars that have continuosly punished their useless NBA franchize to the side, Hughes played hard, contributed to the teams success and was appreciated by players and coaches. He was asked to sacrifice his individual style of play( note when a franchize makes a free agent acquisition they typically sign players who will fit their system) for team success. This meant he basically distributed the ball and waited around on the wing watching LeBron James operate.

Cleveland received complimentary players ( Szczerbiak, Wallace, West) and shipped off players who are more than capable individually( Gooden, Hughes). The Cavaliers will not see another finals birth, and it is hihgly unlikley that they will make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Since being traded to Chicago Hughes has performed significantly better. He is averaging 19ppg(43% from the field, 36% from behind the arc, and 78% from the free throw line), 3.8rpg, 4.2 assists per game, 1 steal per game

AP Wire Story On Hughe's Unhappiness In Cleveland

CLEVELAND (AP)—Larry Hughes was unhappy in Cleveland, even when the Cavaliers went to the NBA finals.

The veteran guard returned to Cleveland on Sunday for the first time since being dealt to Chicago in an 11-player trade on Feb. 21, and said he prefers the Bulls’ style of play.

Hughes said before Sunday’s game the Cavaliers’ offensive system “wasn’t my style. They wanted me to sacrifice things so we could win. In this system, there is more movement and draw and kicks.”

The Cavaliers were 50-32 last season. Cleveland won the Eastern Conference title, beating Washington, New Jersey and Detroit in the playoffs. The Cavaliers were swept by San Antonio in the finals.

Even that success didn’t seem to satisfy Hughes.

“It was a good run,” he said. “We had 50-plus wins, made the finals and I learned from it. I was unhappy, though, and wasn’t myself. I’d rather enjoy the game than all that.”

Signed as a free agent on Aug. 2, 2005, Hughes struggled with injuries and inconsistent play and was a disappointment in Cleveland. He shot 40 percent from the field in each of his first two seasons and was shooting 37 percent this season at the time of the trade. While he struggled at shooting guard, he didn’t enjoy playing point guard and was also booed constantly by Cleveland fans.

“I don’t blame anyone for it,” said Hughes, who was booed again in Sunday’s pregame introductions. “I’m moving on and I am trying to get better.”

Cleveland, Chicago and Seattle were involved in the 11-player deal. Hughes, forwards Drew Gooden and Cedric Simmons and guard Shannon Brown were sent to the Bulls, who dealt center Ben Wallace and forward Joe Smith to the Cavaliers.

“I was expecting (the trade),” Hughes said. “I needed something different. Now I’m able to be me, in a fresh place that fits my style of play.”

Hughes averaged 12.3 points for the Cavaliers in 40 games this season. He averaged 15.5 points in 36 games in 2005-06 and 14.9 points in 70 games last season.

Gooden, on the other hand, was given a warm reception by Cleveland fans Sunday.

“I was a little surprised, but this is a business,” he said of the deal. “It’s an adjustment, but I’ve been here before.”

Gooden admitted he nearly went to the home locker room instead of the visitors.

“I was this close,” he said. “I almost walked right past this (room).”

In his first four games with the Bulls, Hughes was averaging 18 points and shooting 43 percent from the field. Gooden was averaging 11 points and 9.3 rebounds.

Bulls Come Up Short Against Wizards

Hughes scored 16 points( 5/16 from the field, 1/3 from behind the arc, 5/6 from the free throw line), grabbed 4 rebounds and distributed 6 assists. Unfortunatley the Bulls ultimately lost 91-97.

Wizards Weekly Special Featuring Larry Hughes

Larry Returns to Cleveland

Hughes scored 23( 8/20 from the field, 5/6 from the free throw line, 2/8 from behind the arc), points in the Bulls 95/86 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, grabbed 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.

AP Wire Story on Cavaliers Versus Bulls

CLEVELAND, Mar. 2 (AP) -- LeBron James scored 37 points and took over down the stretch to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 95-86 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

With the game tied at 83, James scored six straight points, including a thunderous dunk that brought the sellout crowd at Quicken Loans Arena to its feet.

The Cavaliers trailed 76-68 early in the fourth quarter, but rallied to tie the game. James drove past two defenders and scored on a left-handed layup to give Cleveland the lead for good with 3:04 to go.

On the Cavaliers' next possession, James drove down the right side of the lane, flew to the basket and scored on a dunk with his right hand. James created a turnover on Chicago's next possession, and with the Cavaliers setting up on the offensive end and the crowd chanting "MVP,'' he buried a 22-footer to give Cleveland a six-point lead.

Wally Szczerbiak, who scored 17 points, hit a 3-pointer from the corner on Cleveland's next possession to make it 92-83.

Cleveland ended the game on a 12-3 run.

Cleveland, Chicago and Seattle were involved in an 11-player deal on Feb. 21. Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons and Shannon Brown were sent to the from the Cavaliers to the Bulls, who dealt center Ben Wallace and forward Joe Smith to Cleveland.

Hughes led the Bulls with 23 points, making 8 of 20 shots from the field. Gooden scored 11 points with 10 rebounds.

Smith scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland built a 65-58 lead late in the third quarter, but the Bulls ended the period on a run, taking the lead on a Tyrus Thomas dunk off an alley-oop pass from Hughes. Ben Gordon followed with a jumper to end the quarter.

Hughes scored on a layup to start the fourth quarter and hit a jumper to extend the run to 18-3, giving the Bulls a 76-68 lead. The Cavaliers' only points in that stretch came on a 3-pointer by Damon Jones.

The Cavs rallied on a 3-pointer by Szczerbiak and six straight points by Smith, cutting the lead to 79-77.

Center Zydrunas Ilgauskas missed the game because of a strained back. It's uncertain when the 7-foot-3 center will return.

Szczerbiak, who missed Friday night's game, returned Sunday. His wife, Shannon, gave birth to the couple's third child Saturday.