Q&A with Dallas Mavericks’ Omar Samhan

Omar Samhan was the biggest reason Saint Mary's became one of the darlings of the NCAA Tournament last season, using his polished post game to lead a surprise Sweet 16 run.

Now an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Summer League, the charismatic center finds himself as a media darling.

In his professional debut, the 6-foot-11-inch Samhan picked up four fouls in the first seven minutes before finishing with four points, seven rebounds and one block in 18-plus minutes of an 88-70 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Cox Pavilion.

Samhan was a popular attraction among reporters after the game, and he didn't disappoint.

Question: How does a guy like you with your skill set and resume go undrafted? Was that a surprise?

Answer: It was a shock. I don't know how it happened, but it happened.

I have a chance to prove (myself) here for the next four games, and I look forward to it.

Q: Do you try to bury some of that disappointment, or do you wear it like a chip on your shoulder?

A: I like it. I suited up remembering the date. Other guys don't think I'm as good as I think I am.

It's one of those things where there's a chip on my shoulder and it helps me work out more. It motivates me, and I use it as a positive.

Q: Do you feel at this point like you have to claw your way into the league?

A: Yeah, I won't get as many chances as other guys. Some of the bigs who got drafted, if they come out here and don't play well, it's all right.

If I don't play well, I'll be in Europe before tomorrow. It's one of those deals where I've got to bust butt every night.

Q: Do you feel like what you bring to a basketball game gets overlooked because you're not the freak athlete some of these other guys are?

A: I know there are a lot of things in the NBA that few people say, but everybody kind of goes with it. The super athlete that everybody's looking for, I don't know if that really wins.

Pau Gasol (and the Lakers), they're the champs, and he's really skilled. I think I bring a lot skill-wise. Of course, I'm not very athletic, but I think I can bring a bunch of skills that will help a team win more than a guy who can jump out of the gym who's not very skilled.

Q: You've talked about maybe going to Europe if you don't get an NBA offer. Have you thought about maybe playing in the D-League next season if you don't get on an NBA roster?

A: No. You guys make more money than the D-League guys. I would probably go overseas.

I think the ACB (in Spain) is one of the best leagues outside the NBA, and their competition will help me more than being in the D-League, in my opinion.

Q: Did you think it's a disadvantage to play in one of the mid-major conferences? Do you think that hurt your preparation?

A: Obviously I'm not seeing 7-foot guys every night. That hurt because then you go against 7-foot guys, you're not used to it.

But I think the (West Coast Conference) is a good conference. The biggest thing isn't really the players; it's the perception. People say, 'You averaged 22 (points), but it's in the WCC.' OK, we played a Big East team (Villanova), and I gave them (32), so I don't know what they're looking for.

Q: With the fouls, is there any adjustment you need to make there?

A: We talked about it with my coach, to move my feet more. If I'm beat, just get beat; you don't have to go grabbing people and everything else.

Q: Your post moves were a highlight of the NCAA Tournament. Are there any big men from the past that you style your game after?

A: Yeah, (Kevin) McHale, all those guys. I've watched all those old tapes, Hakeem (Olajuwon) and all of them. Those were the true big men; one-on-one in the post, making people jump left and right. I definitely try to emulate them.

Q: Have you had much time to reflect on the tournament run at Saint Mary's, and how special was that?

A: I haven't had a ton of time to reflect with the draft and everything. But I keep waiting for it to go away, the buzz, and it hasn't, and that's something special.

Q: Do you take pride in that your game is kind of old-school?

A: For sure, I think that's what the league was built on, skilled guys. I take great pride in being old-school and tough-nosed.

If I get elbowed in the face, I'm not coming out of the game. I'm gonna elbow you in the face.

Q: How did the opportunity with Dallas come about, and what are your impressions of Mark Cuban?

A: Cube's my boy. He's as crazy as me. He hit me up on Facebook (after the draft), and I called one of my teammates and said, 'Quit playing, leave me alone. I didn't get drafted.' He said, 'I swear to God, it wasn't me.'

So I wrote back, 'Is this really Mark Cuban?' He said, 'Yeah, call me.' So I called, and it really was Mark Cuban.

Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203.