<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <h3 class="dateline">WILMINGTON --</h3> Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton are doers, not talkers.</p> But they know that has to change for the Charlotte Bobcats to thrive. Brevin Knight -- the guy who policed the Bobcats locker room -- is gone, and that means someone must fill the leadership void.</p> Wallace and Felton stand ready.</p> "Me and Brevin were co-captains (last season), but he did most of the speaking," Wallace said as training camp convened Tuesday at UNC Wilmington. "I need to do that now; I need to be vocal."</p> Added Felton: "I'm the leader and I'm going to take care of that -- enough said ... I'll take care of anything that needs taking care of."</p> The Bobcats bought out the final season on point guard Knight's contract in June. He could be volatile and pugnacious, but Knight was a natural leader -- articulate and assertive. When difficult issues arose, Knight addressed them. When the players strayed from the plan, Knight held them accountable.</p> Others respected that and deferred to it. Now Knight is with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Felton and Wallace say they will take charge.</p> "I gave Brevin that respect because he's been in the league 10 years. He was my mentor in a sense," Felton said. "But now he's not there and it's my role."</p> Wallace and Felton are the obvious candidates; Wallace because he's a veteran who the Bobcats just rewarded with a big contract. Felton because he's the point guard, and point guards must lead.</p> Emeka Okafor and Jason Richardson also figure to lead, but the key support in this effort likely will come from veteran Derek Anderson. Re-signed just before camp, Anderson has a coach's persona and the gravitas to command players' attention. Anderson spent much of last season mentoring Felton and Matt Carroll.</p> "For me, it's so great that D.A. is back -- he helped me so much both on the court and off the court," Felton said. "Right away we clicked. Good people recognize good people."</div></p> Source: Charlotte Observer</p>
I think you guys will be very impressed with Jason Richardson's leadership ability. He was the heart and soul of the Warriors last least and, as good as Baron Davis is, it isn't a coincidence that the W's made their run once J-Rich came back from injury.</p>
