Video Feature: James Worthy and Antawn Jamison Reflect on the Timeless Legacy of Dean Smith—The Architect of UNC’s Enduring Basketball Brotherhood
In a moving sit-down interview hosted at the Dean E. Smith Center, North Carolina basketball legends James Worthy and Antawn Jamison shared heartfelt reflections on the profound and lasting legacy of their iconic former coach, the late Dean Smith. The conversation, part of a newly released video tribute titled “Dean Smith: More Than a Coach”, was more than nostalgia—it was a testament to a man whose impact far exceeded the basketball court.
As the camera panned across the rafters, filled with retired jerseys and banners, Worthy spoke first, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. “Coach Smith didn’t just build a team—he built a family. He taught us to win with class and lose with dignity. But more than anything, he taught us to love and respect one another. That’s the Carolina Way.”
Jamison nodded in agreement, recounting how even years after graduation, Smith would send handwritten letters to former players—checking on their families, their health, and their happiness. “He never stopped being our coach,” Jamison said. “Even when you were done playing, you were never done being one of his guys.”
The video montage that followed featured never-before-seen clips of Smith walking the sidelines, his calm, analytical demeanor balancing the fiery intensity of the games. It also showed candid moments—Smith laughing during practice, consoling players in defeat, and clapping with pride from the bench as young men he helped shape succeeded on the court and in life.
What emerged from the conversation was a portrait of Dean Smith not just as a basketball mastermind, but as a moral leader. He integrated the UNC basketball team in the 1960s, recruited based on character as much as skill, and emphasized academics, social justice, and unity. His influence became a guiding light that still steers the program decades after his retirement and passing.
James Worthy summed it up powerfully: “Dean’s spirit is in the locker room, in the rafters, in the way we pass the ball and play unselfishly. It’s in the handshake lines, the graduation ceremonies, the lifelong bonds. Dean Smith is UNC. And we carry him with us every time we step into this building.”
The video ends not with a buzzer or highlight, but with a simple shot of Coach Smith’s name, etched on the hardwood and etched in the hearts of all who played for him. As Worthy and Jamison stood and embraced, one thing was clear: Dean Smith didn’t just create champions—he created a family. And that family will last forever.
