There’s an excitement in Phil Handy’s voice, a youthful, energetic exuberance that belies his true age. Considering that the former University of Hawaii guard says he’s “47 going on 22,” it all makes sense.
Handy may be in his fifth consecutive NBA Finals as an assistant coach, but it is far from old hat. Everything old is new again. New city. New team. New territory.
The Toronto Raptors are making the franchise’s first appearance in the NBA Finals, taking Handy — who spent the past four seasons on the Cleveland Cavaliers bench — along for the ride. Fresh off Saturday’s Eastern Conference finals series-clinching win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Raptors have remained at home since that Game 6 victory and will host the defending champion Golden State Warriors in Game 1 on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena.
“Raptor Rapture” has captured not just a city but an entire country. The “We The North” mentality spans 3.8 million square miles for the lone Canadian franchise in the NBA.
“Amazing, amazing, amazing … I don’t know what else to call it,” Handy said in a phone call on Tuesday. “The Raptors are in a different place this season and I am blessed to be part of history.
“When we won in Cleveland (2016 against Golden State), it was for Cleveland. This is not for a city or for a state. This is for a whole country. The support has been unbelievable.”
It reminds Handy of his time playing for the Rainbow Warriors (1993-95), especially of the 1994 Western Athletic Conference tournament championship victory that vaulted Hawaii into the NCAAs for the first time since 1972.
“I remember when we won that WAC tournament and we felt that love from the whole state of Hawaii,” he said. “It’s a lot like that now.”
It’s been quite the 12 months for Handy, whose contract as director of player development-assistant coach wasn’t renewed by the Cavs last June. Cleveland was swept in the NBA Finals by Golden State, the third time in four years that the Warriors beat the Cavs, who then lost LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Handy wasn’t unemployed for long, courtesy of some serious serendipity. Last summer was a franchise-shaker for Toronto, which traded popular DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio in a deal that netted Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, and fired coach Dwane Casey shortly after he was named coach of the year, elevating assistant Nick Nurse to the head job.
Handy had played for Nurse in the British Basketball League when the Manchester Giants won their only BBL championship (2000). In the other circle-of-life connection for Handy, he now was employed by a team with the youngest general manager in the NBA: 2002 ‘Iolani graduate Bobby Webster.
“It’s great being back with Nick,” Handy said. “And Bobby told me how he used to watch me play at UH. It’s good to be here with him.
“Hawaii’s being represented in the NBA Finals.”
There’s been a number of historic coincidences this season for Toronto. Handy pointed out that the Raptors scored 100 points in their 100th game of the season and 100th playoff game in franchise history (a 100-94 win over Milwaukee that earned the NBA Finals berth).
Also, the city of Toronto is nicknamed “The 6” made popular by Canadian rapper Drake’s album “The View from The 6,” the title of which pays homage to his hometown’s area codes (416 and 647). The Raptors beat the Bucks by six points (105-99) in Game 5 to send the series back to Toronto for Game 6.
“We’ve developed a pretty cool relationship,” Handy said of Drake, a huge Raptors fan. “He’s a true ambassador for us. He’s pretty down to earth for a guy of his magnitude, is very wrapped into the team.
“The relationship works. I can’t rap, he can’t play basketball. Maybe we’ll do some trade at some point.”
Basketball is Handy’s first love but not his only game. He’s launching his own clothing line in collaboration with Deuce Brand (known for its basketball wristbands).
The company is called Be Your Own GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) and will include wristbands, hoodies, T-shirts, sweats and hats.
“You hear the word GOAT all the time,” Handy said. “Everyone has that ability to be a GOAT. We all have it in us to be our greatest every day. The message is to strive for greatness in whatever you do.”
He’s hands-on with the R&D (research and development) for his line just as he’s hands-on with the basketball R&D (rebounding and defense). Handy said that has been key to the Raptors’ journey to the Finals.
The Raptors and Warriors have met just twice this season, with Toronto winning both, 131-128 in overtime on Nov. 12 and 113-93 in Oakland on Dec. 12.
Handy was born and raised in the Bay Area. The Warriors have always been his team.
“It’s always good playing against them,” Handy said. “I’m excited to play them again in the Finals. I’m just tired of losing to them.”
Note
Toronto is the acknowledged site of the first NBA game (then the BAA). On November 1, 1946, the Toronto Huskies — in their only season — hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens, a game won 68-66 by the Knicks. It was nearly 50 years before pro basketball returned to Toronto with the 1995-96 season. Among the Raptors’ colors is “Naismith Silver” which honors Canadian James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.
