Jason Caffey shared insights into his basketball journey and personal growth in a recent interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. He credited his time at Alabama State for helping him complete his degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude in Interdisciplinary Studies, and is now pursuing a Master’s in Applied Science.
On his Chicago Bulls years, Caffey described tension between players and the front office, noting, “When I came into the situation, the guys NEVER got along with Jerry Krause… Michael would sit there on the bus and call him ‘the sloop’.” He highlighted how that dynamic shaped team culture during the championship runs.
Caffey praised Dennis Rodman’s work ethic, recalling, “He’s gonna ride the elliptical an hour before practice… I knew that at some point, I would have the opportunity to play with them.” He said that learning from Rodman, Jordan, and Scottie Pippen influenced his lifelong commitment to training.
Reflecting on his 1998 trade to Golden State, he said missing a third Bulls title was significant, noting, “It DEFINITELY ended my shot at a third ring… it was awesome that my teammates trusted me at that time and they wanted me on the team.”
His college years in the SEC under David Hobbs and Wimp Sanderson prepared him for professional competition, with Caffey stating, “People think that Alabama just became a basketball school with Nate Oats and that’s just not true… at one time the basketball team was putting out more professional basketball players than the football team was.”
Caffey described the challenges of joining a rebuilding Golden State roster, explaining, “Starting at center at 6’8” in the West… injuries I sustained from trying to play against Shaq and guarding all these bigger guys outweighed me by 20 to 30 pounds.”
He reflected on players ahead of their time, saying, “I’m a little taller than [Charles Barkley and Clarence Weatherspoon] but with very broad shoulders, thick… and can jump out the gym, run all day… so we were a different breed.” He also compared modern players to his era, noting, “Draymond… rebounds. That’s his job to rebound, assist and play great defense and that’s exactly what Dennis did for us.”
Caffey discussed mental health, emphasizing the challenges of anxiety during his career. “I didn’t manage it well… Nowadays, you have guys who have mental illnesses like anxiety or depression… Back when I had those issues, it was ‘Get on this plane’ and they don’t know that I’m having a breakdown,” he explained.
He detailed his mentorship efforts, saying, “I like to work with the kids who don’t have that parent around… I hate for a 16-17 year old to go to prison for the rest of their lives for committing a silly crime when he could’ve had a mentor.”
Summarizing his career philosophy for young power forwards, Caffey said simply, “Perseverance… I broke my right foot… I wasn’t even on the draft board… I ended up going 20th in the draft that year by the Chicago Bulls. So, perseverance would probably describe my whole career.”
