“NBA nation” took over Toronto for the first All-Star game to be held outside of the U.S. this past Feb. 14. All-Star week was a busy time for Dennis “3D†Scott as he and his fellow TNT analysts provided the most coverage they have ever this year.
After playing in the league for 10 years, Scott smoothly transitioned into broadcasting as the host of his own show in Orlando. Since then he has done radio, TV show appearances, and for the past seven years, has been an NBA analyst on TNT.
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Recently, Scott launched a new website and business venture–3DShootersParadise.com. After holding the 3-point record for nine seasons, he has only been passed in 3-pointers made in a single season by Ray Allen and 2015 MVP Steph Curry. Scott is using what he knows to help the next generation of players at all levels improve their shot with his proven training methods.
BlackEnterprise.com had a chance to catch up with Scott at Turner Studios in Atlanta to talk about his NBA career, his transition into broadcasting, and his new website.
BlackEnterprise.com: What is the biggest lesson you took away from your time in the NBA?
Dennis Scott: I would say discipline, because you have to stay focused and understand that for 90% of the guys in the NBA, it was their dream to play there. Each night you have to make sure you take care of your body. You have to get your rest because you don’t realize it until you go through it–where you may play through three different time zones in four days and your body goes through changes. You have to make sure you eat properly and keep your body fine-tuned because at the end of the day, we take for granted that our body is the vehicle that helps us make money. You think you can last forever. You can get there but you have to work even harder to stay there.
How were you able to make a smooth transition out of the league and into broadcasting?
A lot of times as young African American men, when you come from nothing you have to figure out what the difference is between coming from nothing and being happy. Now you have all the money you dreamed about, are you happy? Once you realize money doesn’t make you, you make the money; you start to figure out who you are as an individual.
You have to continue to dream. That was biggest thing. I saw myself doing TV after basketball. I knew I didn’t want to coach. I had the opportunity but I always turned it down. The first opportunity I had to do TV and radio for the Orlando Magic–I jumped right at it because I knew that’s what I wanted to do. While I was playing, I was getting my feet wet. I was learning the skills I needed and understanding the red light and all different things people panic about. So as soon as the opportunity presented itself I knocked it out of the box and, so far, Turner and I still love each other (smiles).
What is your advice for NBA rookies and younger players on how they can sustain themselves and make a smooth transition after retirement?
You have to put in the same work. People say ‘Hey, you were a great 3-point shooter. Did you used to wake up and make 3-point shots?’ No! It’s like Steph Curry today. People say ‘How did he get so good?’ He worked at it. If you go back to his rookie year and compare it to now, you’ll see he’s gotten better every year.
It’s the same thing in TV. When I go back and look at my first year at Turner, I cringe. That’s how I know each year I had to work at something to get better and better and better. You have to take your craft seriously.
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Who inspired and mentored you in your craft?
Two guys. A show back in DC called The Sports Machine with George Michael who would come on every Friday and Saturday night at 11:00 PM or 11:30 PM. That’s where the idea of doing highlights came to me. He would do all sports and I was a big football guy. Growing up in DC was crazy because I was a Cowboys fan growing up around the Redskins.
I would say James Brown, now with the NFL network and CBS. He’s from DC. Smart man, went to Harvard. Probably should’ve
gone anywhere else to play football or basketball, but he chose Harvard. Sitting down and talking to him about the hard work: ‘If you see something, you have to make sure you put your best foot forward every time.’ A lot of sayings and clichés sometimes we take for granted, like ‘If you want this job–start dressing for this job now Don’t just talk about it.’ You may ask, ‘Why am I wearing a shirt and tie?’ Or ‘Why am I wearing a sport coat or cuff links?’ Those little things, as you get older, you realize they carry you along the way.How did your new website 3Dshootersparadise.com come about?
My agent David Falk has been coming to me the last five years and asking me to mentor guys coming into the NBA draft. The last two summers I’ve worked with guys from Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and the University of Virginia, and I’ve found guys are looking for information on how to get better and how to stay there.
Obviously my forte playing in the NBA was shooting the basketball. 3DShootersParadise is where fans and people can go to learn and read up on how to become a good shooter. But I always tease people–that’s the information, now you have to go put in the work! You can read books about it but if you’re not in the gym or park putting up these shots daily so you can improve, it’s just good information for the brain. Videos, T-shirts are on there as well.
It’s fun for me. I know that I don’t want to be a coach in high school, college, or the NBA, so this site and doing one-on-one workouts, or going to work for a high school and showing them some of these drills–I get more out of [giving back] that way.
What’s next?
Biggest thing is 3DTV on NBA TV with Turner. I always tease the NBA guys–Be careful what you ask for because you might get it. So far I think 3D TV is doing pretty good. I have to pinch myself and not get overconfident. The “powers that be” that know me around here know that I’ve given it everything I have, resource-wise. I knew from day one this is what I wanted to do, outside of Game Time and everything else.
I knew the show I had in my mind would be something a little bit different. Obviously, basketball is basketball, though I was hoping my personality and things I do would let you see things differently, through 3D’s eyes.
For updates and more follow Dennis on Twitter @3Deezy or NBA.com.
Mia Hall is a speaker, writer and career strategist. She has worked with organizations such as the WNBA, NY Knicks, The High School of Sports Management and Barclays Center. Mia is a graduate of Hampton University and Harvard University. A native of Brooklyn, New York, she covers events in NYC and beyond. You can follow her on twitter or instagram @mia_hall19 and visit her website at miahall19.com.