SNELL STOPS BY
Former Lobo, current NBA guard Tony Snell likes the energy in UNM program under new coach Paul Weir
Former Lobo Tony Snell visits UNM and likes the basketball program’s new energy
First-year University of New Mexico head coach Paul Weir remembers the media timeout with 7:16 showing on the clock in the first half in the Pan American Center on Dec. 1, 2010.
In the heated instate rivalry game, the former New Mexico State assistant recalls Aggies guard Christian Kabongo walking off the court with something to say about that quiet, skinny freshman with the braids for the Lobos named Tony Snell.
“We didn’t really have much of a scouting report on him and we didn’t really have him down as a shooter,” said Weir.
Snell checked into the game — his first in the rivalry — with 11:09 to play in the first half. He hit his first 3-pointer with 10:38 on the clock and his second with 8:40 showing before the under-eight media timeout. “I think it was Christian Kabongo came to the bench and said, ‘Hey man, this guy can really shoot. The scout’s wrong,’ ” Weir said. “And I think we guarded him like a shooter the rest of the way.”
Weir on Saturday, now sporting the cherry and silver as UNM’s head coach, started making fonder memories with Snell, who recently signed a four-year, $46 million contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. Snell flew to Albuquerque for the day to meet with Weir and talk with the new Lobo players.
“I’m here to hopefully help motivate these guys,” Snell said.
One of the first sights he saw upon walking in the recently painted Lobo locker room was a No. 21 practice jersey hanging in an empty locker. The jersey, which he put on and posed for a few pictures in, most recently belonged to Xavier Adams, one of six players with eligibility remaining who transferred this offseason.
“A lot of memories,” Snell said. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears here.”
Asked what his favorite memory was as a Lobo, Snell couldn’t pick one.
“All of it,” Snell said. “The journey is the best memory.”
Snell said he likes the new energy in the program and likes the approach Weir brings to the table: a very mentally focused one preaching hard work above all else.
“Love it,” Snell said of Weir’s message to players. “That’s very important to me. If you have a strong mental mindset, you can overcome everything.”
Weir is fond of utilizing motivational quotes and telling players stories of people overcoming adversity.
Snell wasn’t recruited heavily, was harshly criticized — even among Lobo fans and those around the program when he left early for the NBA — and then his worthiness of being a first round pick by the Chicago Bulls in 2013 was called into question.
But on Saturday he delivered in person his own message of overcoming adversity. That made Weir a happy man.
“He reflects a lot of what we want to be,” said Weir. “Tony is a self-made guy. He works really hard. He’s working out three times a day, which is what we’re telling our guys to do. So I told them, ‘I know you may think this is a lot, but Tony’s doing that five days a week.’ ... What he represents and what he stands for is what we want our program to be about.”
OLD FRIENDS: Snell’s visit was set up by Brandon Mason, who was a video coordinator at UNM when Snell played for the Lobos.
Mason, the former NMSU player from Chicago, is expected to be hired as the Lobos new assistant coach, but that has not yet been finalized.
“He’s a big influence,” Snell said. “He’s the reason I’m here to help out.”
As rumors of Mason’s likely hiring as an assistant swirled in the past week, several former Lobos took to social media to congratulate Mason, who last year worked at UNLV under former NMSU coach Marvin Menzies.
Snell and former Lobo Cameron Bairstow grew closer with Mason and his father in Chicago when the two played for the Bulls in recent seasons.
BIG BUCKS: Like the Lobos on Saturday, the Milwaukee Bucks recently made it pretty clear they like having Snell around, too.
After starting all 86 games he played in for the Bucks this past season, his fourth in the NBA after being traded there last year, the Bucks signed Snell to a new deal.
“I’m just happy to play the sport I love,” Snell said. “For me, it’s just a contract. I’m going to always do what I do best: work hard every single day and do what I love to do. The contract is just the business side. But I love the game. I’d play it for free.”