Gimme 5: Ex-Bull Hodges Traces Success to His Mentors in the Southland

Former Bulls guard and current Lakers shooting coach Craig Hodges has had a lot of success in the game of basketball.

Hodges was a member of two NBA championship teams as a player with the Bulls. He was a winner of three consecutive NBA three-point shooting contests, and he was a member of the coaching staff of the Lakers when they won the 2010 NBA championship.

“I have been fortunate to have been around some great coaches,” Hodges said.

In high school, the former Rich East standout had Steve Fisher as his coach.

“That is what I remember most about my time at Rich East,” Hodges said. “I was able to learn a lot from him.”

Fisher went on to coach and win a national title at the University of Michigan. Currently, he is the men's basketball coach at San Diego State University.

Hodges was recruited out of high school to play at Long Beach State University, then-coached led by the legendary Tex Winter.

“He is the best basketball mind I have ever been around,” Hodges said. “He always said, 'You will forget more than you will ever learn about the game of basketball.' I am looking forward to seeing him get inducted into the Hall of Fame.”

Hodges played and coached alongside Phil Jackson, who has the most titles as a coach in major sports history. Hodges lists Trevor Ariza of the New Orleans Hornets and Shannon Brown of the Lakers as the two players he's worked with in the NBA and seen make the most improvement under his guidance.

But Hodges said teaching girls the fundamentals of the game often is easier than teaching boys.

“Girls naturally give you a little bit more respect,” he said. “Where guys still size you up, girls are just trying to get better.”

When asked if he could still go out and win the NBA three-point contest, Hodges' confidence in his shooting touch was on the mark, just like his three-ball.

“I know I can win,” he said.

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