The third degree with ... John Paxson.(Interview)

Bulls G.M. John Paxson played 11 NBA seasons, nine for the Bulls. He is best remembered for nailing a series-winning 3-pointer against the Suns in the 1993 NBA Finals, giving the Bulls their third straight championship. TSN's Katie Koss got Paxson's take on rebuilding a young Bulls team, NBA royalty and Windy City baseball loyalty.

TSN: What are some of the challenges in building an NBA team around a young nucleus?

JP: The biggest thing is trying to create an attitude or a culture that doesn't get beaten down when you have some struggles. Our franchise has been struggling for six years now, and we're trying to build it with the right type of people and players. Unfortunately, right now they're young, and it's tough to win in this league when you have that kind of a team.

TSN: Is there a player on the Bulls or in the NBA right now who reminds you of yourself during your playing days?

JP: No, not now. Most of the guys are real athletic in the league, and I was never very athletic. I was a survivor. I found myself in the right place at the right time and made the most of what I could do on the floor. Role players can have long careers in this league, but it's the stars who carry the game.

TSN: Take us through the moment when you shot down the Suns.

JP: It was obviously one of the highlights of my career. That was toward the end of my career, and I'd actually had a really difficult year. I'd been on the injured list a lot; I'd had two knee surgeries. So to be able to work hard and put myself in a position to be in a Finals game and to have the opportunity to make the last shot was really what most kids dream about when they're ...