Askew Longs For Good ‘Ol Days

There still could be good times ahead for Vincent Askew.

But through a phone line, a thousand miles away, he sounds as if the best moments in his NBA career have already passed.

“I just miss it,” said Askew of playing for the Seattle SuperSonics, which he did for 3-1/2 seasons before being traded last summer to New Jersey, which then dealt him to Indiana.

The Pacers and Askew make their only regular-season appearance in Seattle tonight with a game against the Sonics in KeyArena.

“I miss being with the players, the whole thing. Every time we went out there, we knew we could win. And we were so close to winning a championship.”

In another breath, however, Askew said he’s over the disappointment of the initial trade that sent him to New Jersey straight up for Greg Graham.

And he says he has nothing against anyone in the Seattle organization, including coach George Karl, with whom it was assumed he had had a falling out.

It was Karl who had essentially saved Askew’s career by helping the 6-foot-6 swingman attain stardom with Albany of the Continental Basketball Association when Karl coached there for two seasons (‘88-89, ‘90-91). Karl then brought Askew to Seattle in a November 1992 trade with Sacramento.

But Askew angered Karl and Seattle management when he missed a practice before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, apparently protesting his lack of playing time, which decreased steadily during the playoffs.

Askew, however, said he never complained about his playing time, although he said he thinks the fact that the Sonics thought he had led to the trade.

“Somebody put that out there, but it wasn’t true,” Askew said. “As long as we were winning, I was happy. But management probably thought (he was unhappy about his playing time) by reading it or hearing it.”

Askew also claims he missed the practice and a subsequent mandatory media session to have his foot treated. He said a $1,000 fine for missing the practice was later rescinded by the NBA.

“If the NBA could forgive me, I thought the team could, too,” Askew said.

Seattle president and general manager Wally Walker said the incidents during the NBA Finals played a role in the team’s trading Askew, but that there were other considerations involved.

Askew averaged 8.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 25 minutes a game during the regular season, but only 3.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 18 minutes during the playoffs.

After three turnovers and three fouls in 10 minutes of Seattle’s home loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Askew was benched for the next two games - two Seattle victories.

Askew could have become a free agent, but he surprised the Sonics when he kicked in an option for the final year of his contract at $2 million.

That meant the Sonics had to trade Askew instead of letting him walk as a free agent.

He played one game for New Jersey, then was traded to Indiana for Reggie Williams, a move he welcomed.

Askew has been a regular part of the Indiana rotation, averaging 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes a game.

Indiana, which went 52-30 last year, is 16-16 after Friday night’s 108-89 victory at Denver. The Pacers are expected to get on a roll now that center Rik Smits has returned from off-season surgery on both feet.