NBA: 12 questions with Robert 'Big Shot Bob' Horry

NBA legend Robert Horry sat down with reporters in a Manila hotel to talk about the upcoming NBA Global Games, as well as the highlights of his storied career. Horry won seven NBA championships with three different franchises, tying him or putting him just behind several Boston Celtics legends, while elevating him past names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Bob Cousy.

While Horry's main role in town is to generate hype and discussion for the upcoming preseason game between the Houston Rockets and Indiana Pacers, he also shared his thoughts about his favorite players in the NBA today, which legendary center he loved playing with the most, and whether or not he'll find his name in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Seven-time NBA champion @RKHorry fielding questions from the media during the NBA Global Games in Manila. pic.twitter.com/mlCkqiLADP

— GMA News Sports (@gmanews_sports) October 7, 2013

On coming back to Manila

Actually I requested this trip. The NBA asked me which Legends trip I wanted to go on, Manila or Shanghai, and I enjoyed myself the last time I was here (The 2009 NBA Asia Challenge) because I like being around great basketball fans. It's the number one sport here and there's a lot of excitement. I had a lot of excitement being here because the fans came out in droves for some old guys and some of the young guys here. I'm really excited for the fans to support the NBA.

On his favorite current players to watch in the league

[The Indiana Pacers' ] Paul George is one standout that they're gonna be talking about from here on out for years to come. He's a phenomenal basketball player, he can do it all and he's gonna give LeBron a run for his money in the East. I [also] love watching [Toronto Raptor] Rudy Gay, I love watching him play. I just don't think he gets as much credit as he deserves.

Which among his seven NBA championships is his favorite

I have two championships that stand out the most. One is the 1995 championship with the Rockets where we didn't have home court advantage. We went out and beat all those legends you know, like Karl Malone and John Stockton, Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson, Dennis Rodman, David Robinson and Sean Elliot...that run was incredible. Also, that 2001 NBA title when we [the Lakers] lost game one against the Sixers. Those two championships were memorable to me because a lot of things were accomplished in those series that will never be accomplished again.

Which center was better better: Lakers teammate Shaquille O'Neal or Rockets teammate Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon?

The main difference is their style of play. Shaq is more power, the Dream is more finesse. If I had to pick one I'd pick Dream because he's a better player and he can shoot free throws, and you can count on him at any moment to guard a guard or a big man. I love Shaq to death but I have to go with Dream because Dream is Dream.

On what keeps him busy these days

I'm involved with rehabilitation clinics and a hospital in Houston. I also do broadcast with Time-Warner Cable in LA for the Lakers. But my biggest thrill is being an ambassador for the NBA, being able to travel around the countr[ies], seeing all the different sights and getting exposed to all the different cultures. I've had the pleasure to go to Abu Dhabi, I've been to Barcelona this summer, and I've been to Edmonton. The NBA keeps me busy and I love it. Look, they even brought me back here. You gotta love the NBA.

The importance of the NBA Global Games

I think it's critical, especially in places like the Philippines, because the love of basketball is so great. I remember talking to someone talking like a little kid about how much he loved the Lakers...It's exciting to see the love the Filipino people have for basketball. I'm excited because I know it's gonna be a packed game and all the craziness, and I'm excited to see how many people come out to watch the game.

Big Shot Bob's favorite big shot

Everyone talks about the shot I made against the Sacramento Kings (in the 2001 Western Conference Finals). I like to talk about the shot I made in game one against the [San Antonio] Spurs. They were our nemeses and we could never beat them...and I hit that shot in game one of the Western Conference Finals that meant a lot to me. The Kings weren't really our rivals but San Antonio owned us during the regular season, so that shot meant more than any other shot I made.

Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or LeBron James?

It depends on how you look at it. By far Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players. But I tell people this, I won't answer this question and I'm gonna let y'all ponder on it. I want you to think about what flaws Michael Jordan had, what flaws Kobe has and what flaws LeBron has. The one with the less flaws is the better player.

On how soon he thinks he'll make it to the Hall of Fame

You know what, I'm gonna go on record and say this. They keep asking me about the Hall of Fame. If it took Bernard King that long to get into the Hall of Fame, then I'm in trouble. I look at a lot of guys who aren't in the Hall of Fame, and I think if I don't get in, so be it. But you know what? You're gonna get talked about more when you're not in than when you get in. So if I don't get in, I'll be talked about a long time.

On the possibility of coaching an NBA team

I would love to coach someday, but I'd love to be in the perfect situation. I can't coach one of these teams with a lot of young guys who think they're good but they're not. I'd love to be in the same situation as Avery Johnson; he had a prime situation when he stepped in in Dallas with a veteran team that knew how to win, and it makes it look like you know what you're doing. I'd love to start out as an assistant coach and learn my way, because I've dreamed of coaching and I want to be a coach. But for me it'd have to be the ideal situation because I don't need to coach, I don't have to coach, I just wanna coach.

On the upcoming NBA regular season

This is the first time in a long time I'm going to say this because the West has dominated for so long. I'm very interested to see how the Indiana Pacers turn out this year. They were right at the door. And with everyone getting that Eastern Conference Finals experience under their belts, they're gonna be exciting, they're gonna be ready to go.

This season is gonna be one of the most intriguing seasons in a long time because you have to look at, will [OKC Thunder Russel] Westbrook come back? Will Kobe [Bryant] come back? How will Dwight [Howard] help the Rockets? How will the Truth and KG do [with the Brooklyn Nets]? This is a very exciting season, so I think we should cancel the preseason right about now.

On the player he'd count on to take over in the clutch

Kevin Durant. I think Kevin Durant is one of the most exciting players in the game. He can put it on the floor, he can do everything. You saw when Westbrook went down how he had to carry the team, I really mean, carry. He's just an extraordinary basketball player. He's so tall, he's so lanky, he can shoot anywhere on the floor and score with ease, he can take it to the hole and dunk it. You know, I'm hoping and praying that everybody looks at him because I think he's gonna be MVP this year. You're gonna see exactly what he can do and how he can carry the team. Don't count that guy out. - AMD, GMA News