Emanual Davis is a decent NBA point guard.
But he’s no John Stockton, which is good news for Jacque Vaughn. The former Kansas guard will be battling journeyman Davis not future Hall of Famer Stockton for the starting point guard job in Atlanta next season.
“There is that possibility,” free-agent acquisition Vaughn said of starting for coach Lon Kruger’s Atlanta Hawks after subbing for Stockton in Utah the past four seasons. “I’m not sure what will happen in camp. I am going in to impress the guys in Atlanta and make the job of the head coach a lot easier.”
Vaughn, 26, averaged career highs in minutes (19.8), points (6.1) and assists (3.9) in his fourth and final year in Utah. He said the possibility of playing 35 to 40 minutes a game has invigorated him this offseason.
“I enjoyed playing in Utah. I got to learn from two of the best to ever play the game,” Vaughn said of Stockton and Karl Malone.
“(But) I feel a resurgence. The flame is turned up a bit. It’s the most excited I’ve been since the day I was drafted and came in as a rookie. I see it as the second chapter of my career.”
Vaughn said conversations with Hawks’ coach Kruger were important in his signing with Atlanta on July 30 instead of “two or three other teams.” Reportedly, Vaughn inked a one-year deal for $590,850 with his option for additional years.
Jacque Vaughn’s statistics have improved in each of the last two years. The former KU and Utah Jazz guard hopes to earn a starting role with Atlanta this season.G Min Ast Pts97-98 45 9.3 1.9 3.198-99 19 4.6 0.6 2.399-00 78 11.3 1.6 3.700-01 82 19.8 3.9 6.1
“One of the big reasons I ended up in Atlanta is the communication I had with coach Kruger,” Vaughn said. “He basically is a college guy, in just his second year (in NBA). He says he definitely remembers me from college.”
How could he not? Kruger is a former Kansas State standout player and coach; Vaughn KU’s all-time assist leader.
“I told him I wouldn’t hold it against him,” Vaughn joked of Kruger’s K-State ties. “We can definitely co-exist.”
Vaughn likes everything about Atlanta … except for one thing. By severing ties with Utah, he’s now unable to play in the Jazz-Philadelphia 76ers exhibition game on Oct. 18 in Allen Fieldhouse.
“It is a big negative. I was looking forward to that,” Vaughn said. “I wish somehow I could get coach Kruger to get us a game in Allen Fieldhouse. I love that place. A lot of times when we are on the road, I’ll go to the hotel lobby and see if they have DirecTV so I can watch KU play. Seeing the guys run through that (northwest) tunnel still gives me goosebumps.”
Vaughn still plays a lot of pick-up basketball in Allen Fieldhouse in the offseason.
“Something special draws me back to Lawrence. I met my fiancee at KU, developed relationships with great teammates and coach (Roy) Williams. I spent more time here than I do in California,” said Vaughn, who said there’s a great chance he’ll buy a house in Lawrence after he marries next summer.
“As a California kid, I was like a lot of guys who think Kansas is in the middle of nowhere. It is a place to be treasured. The most mail I get is from KU fans. I have been in Florida, Chicago, Seattle, everywhere and Jayhawk fans come up to me. They range from 8 to 80. They say they remember that shot I made (to beat Indiana at buzzer) in Allen Fieldhouse and different things about my career.”
Vaughn has remained close to his former coach.
“I trust him with my life really,” Vaughn said. “This summer, I talked to coach Williams (about free agency) every step of the way. I talk to him about the important situations that will affect me a long time. I honor and value his opinion. He is actually one of the few people who know my monetary situation,” Vaughn added with a laugh.
Williams returned the compliments.
“One of the greatest young men I’ve met,” KU’s coach said. “If I had to have a youngster emulate anybody, it’d be Jacque Vaughn. You are talking about somebody who his senior year of high school won the Dial Award high school student athlete of the year. He’s the first basketball player to ever receive it. Academic All-American in college … he does it on and off the court as well as anybody.”
