Horry talks about his big shots, Hakeem vs. Shaq, and who'll be this season's MVP

The player known as Big Shot Rob, Robert Horry, is in town again for the NBA Global Games 2013. Owner of seven championship rings, Horry first visited the Philippines in 2009 as part of a group of retired NBA stars that included Dominique Wilkins, Tim Hardaway, Vlade Divac and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Just a few hours after planing in, Horry sat down with local sportswriters to talk about his memorable clutch shots, his favorite championships, and who he thinks will be the NBA's Most Valuable Player this season. Excerpts:

On returning to the Philippines

I actually requested this trip. The NBA asked if I wanted to go to Shanghai or to Manila. I enjoyed Manila the last time I was here because there's nothing like being around great basketball fans. It's the no. 1 sport here, and you can just feel the excitement because the fans came out for some old legends (in 2009). Just imagine now with some young guys that can really play. And so I'm excited for the game and how the fans will come out to support the NBA.

I remember the last time I was here I had the pleasure of talking to Manny Pacquiao. He was like a little kid talking about basketball. I'm like, "Wow, I'm the one who's' supposed to act like a kid, talking to you, one of the greatest boxers of all time."

It's exciting to see the love that the Philippine people have for basketball. I'm really excited for the game because I know it's gonna be a packed house and there's gonna be craziness. I just excited to see how many people will come out to watch the game.

On stand-outs among current players

Of course, LeBron. James Harden is one. Kevin Durant. And Paul George. That's one guy they'll be talking about from hereon out for years to come because this guy's a phenomenal basketball player. He can do it all. He's gonna give LeBron a run for his money in the East. But my favorite player is Rudy Gay. I love watching him play. I just think he doesn't get enough credit. Now that he got sent to Toronto, you're really not gonna hear about him. (laughs).

On his most memorable championships

They're all memorable, but the two that stand out the most are '95 championship with the Rockets where we didn't have homecourt advantage and we wen't out and we were able to beat all the legends. We beat Karl Malone and John Stockton, Charles Barkley, AC Green and Kevin Johnson, Dennis Rodman and David Robinson, Avery Johnson and Sean Elliot. We beat Penny and Shaq and Nick Anderson. So that run was incredible. We didn't have homecourt advantage at any point.

And then of course in 2001 we lost only one playoff game when I was with the Lakers. We lost that first one in the Finals against the Sixers. Those two championships mean a lot to me because a lot of things were accomplished in those series that will never be accomplished again.

Hakeem or Shaq?

I think the biggest difference is style of play. Shaq is more power, Dream is more finesse. But if you had to pick one, I would go with Dream (Olajuwon). Dream is a better player because he can shoot free throws, and you can count on him at any moment to guard a guard, a big man. I love Shaq to death, but I'd still have to go with Dream.

On his favorite among his big shots

They all stand out. I know everybody remembers me from the shot against the Kings, and everybody talks about that shot. I talk about the one I made in Game 1 in '95 against the Spurs. (Note: Horry hit a jumper with 6.5 seconds left to give the Rockets a one-point win on the road, and they went on to win the series 4-2). They were our nemesis. We could never beat them. And to roll up into their place in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and beat them and knock down a shot, that meant a lot to me. When you beat your rival, I know everybody said the Kings were our rivals. They weren't really our rivals. Portland was more of our rival.

MJ, Kobe or LeBron?

It depends on how you look at it. Michael Jordan was one of the greatest players. I tell people this. I'm not gonna answer that question. I want you to think about it. What flaws did Michael Jordan have, what flaws did Kobe have, and what flaws did LeBron have? The one with the less flaws is the better player.

On entering the Hall of Fame

People always ask me that question. If it took Bernard King that long to get into the Hall of Fame, then I'm in trouble. I look at a lot of guys that aren't in the Hall of Fame. If you don't get in, then so be it. But you know what? You'll be talking about it more when you're not in then you do when you get in. So if I don't get in, I'll be talked about for a long time.

On coaching

I would love to coach someday but it would have to be the perfect situation. I couldn't coach one of these teams where a lot of young guys think that they're good when they're not. And I would love to be in a situation like Avery Johnson. He had a prime situation when he stepped into Dallas. They are a veteran team, knew who to win, and they made you look like you knew what you were doing. I would love to coach someday, start off as an assistant coach, get to learn my way and learn my path.

I've always dreamed of coaching, and I've always wanted to be a coach. But I think for me, it has to be the ideal situation. I don't need to coach, I don't have to coach. I just want to coach, if that makes sense.

On the 2013-14 season

It's gonna be very interesting out East. I haven't said this in a long time because the West has dominated for so long. I'm very interested to see how the Indiana Pacers turn out this year. They were right there knocking on the door last year. I think with their additions and the experience they gained from the Eastern Conference Finals, they're gonna be very exciting this year. This season is gonna be one of the most intriguing seasons of all time because you have to look at, will Westbrook come back? Will Kobe come back? How will Dwight help the Rockets? How will the Pacers turn out? How will the Truth and KG do in Brooklyn? This is gonna be a very exciting season. I think we should just cancel the preseason and start right now.

On the one current player he'll pick to win the game

Kevin Durant. I think he is one of the most exciting players in the game. He can put it on the floor, he can do everything. You saw how when Westbrook went out he had to carry the team. He's just an extraordinary basketball player. He's so tall, so lengthy. He can shoot it from anywhere with ease, put it on the floor, take it to the hole and dunk it. I'm hoping and praying that everybody looks at him, because I'm thinking he's gonna be MVP this year. Don't count out that guy in Miami, but I think it's time for a change.