CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Rich Cho is the measured sort. A former attorney and Boeing engineer, Cho paved his way in the NBA through a mastery of legalese fine print and CBA minutia. So while his head coach, Steve Clifford, beams like a kid let out to recess when discussing the findings of his film-study immersion, the Charlotte Hornets general manager fields all basketball-related questions with a decidedly even keel.
Ask how his team reached its highest win total (48) since the NBA returned to Charlotte 12 years ago -- without a true superstar -- and Cho will carefully praise the character and competitiveness of his roster.