Al: "I'm Happy to Be Back" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Two years ago he was a young, frustrated backup, looking for an opportunity to prove himself. Now he's a still-young but wiser starter who knows that opportunity only brings happiness if it comes in the right place. Al Harrington's 100-watt smile spoke volumes Thursday as he took part in his second introductory news conference with the Indiana Pacers. Returning from a two-year sabbatical in Atlanta, where he experienced the tough love of getting as many minutes as he ever wanted but more losses than he could stomach, he can't wait to replant roots in Indianapolis. "I guess at the end of the day I should have never left," he said. "This is my home and I'm happy to be back." The Hawks won 39 games during Harrington's two seasons in Atlanta -- 22 fewer than the Pacers won in 2003-04, when he last played for them. Although the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference finals that season with a young team that seemed to have an unlimited future, Harrington wanted out. He was stuck behind Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal, both of whom were coming off All-Star seasons, and he wanted to find out how good he could be. Now he has a better idea, but he also knows the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the NBA. He averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in 36.6 minutes last season, but got little enjoyment out of it. He did get a valuable education, however. He returns a more polished but humbled player. "I learned a lot as a basketball player and about myself," he said. "These last two years have been very trying, but at the end of the day I feel God put me there for a reason. I feel I'll be able to handle my career from this point forward much better. It was rough, but I learned a lot. "I always knew it was about winning, but I really know that now." Pacers president Larry Bird saw players go through a similar process during his playing career in Boston, players who traded wins for stats and lived to regret it. Danny Ainge, for one, got himself traded from the Celtics to Sacramento. He had his best statistical season with the Kings in 1989-90, but they won just 23 games. He finished his career in Portland, scoring less but winning more. "I've seen a lot of guys with the same attitudes," Bird said. "They thought they could do better elsewhere. But it's tough when you lose a lot of games."</div> Source
