The State News caught up with former MSU guard Charlie Bell on Thursday over the phone. Bell is now playing in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, who are battling the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The Bucks are down 0-2, but Bell is averaging 12 points per game in the series.

Bell (1997-2001) struggled to find a spot on an NBA roster in his first few years out of college, playing in Italy for three years and in Spain last year. He signed a multi-year contract with the Bucks this season.

On how the NBA Playoffs compare to the NCAA Tournament ...

"There were still a lot of butterflies, but it's different because in college it's one game. In the NBA you know it's seven games, so it's not as much pressure — maybe if you were down 3-0. But it's definitely a lot of fun."

On securing a multi-year guaranteed NBA contract ...

"It kinda feels like I finally made it, you know? I worked hard overseas to get better every year, and for the Bucks to give me a guaranteed contract, it feels like I'm being rewarded."

On whether he ever thought about giving up on basketball...

"I never thought about hanging it up in terms of playing basketball, but I thought about giving up on the NBA dream. I was getting paid overseas really well, and I was ready to sign a three-year contract, and make as much money as possible. I said this was probably the last year to try (to secure an NBA contract), and everything worked out."

On Shannon Brown entering the NBA draft...

"It's smart that he's going without the agent — they offer that opportunity to test the waters. If he plays well at draft camps he can stay in, or he can go back to school and improve. I hope he makes it; you never want to see somebody with that much talent not make it. He was probably the most talented player on the team. Next year he'll be the go-to guy, but at same time he'll face a lot of double teams because (MSU) will be so young."

On whether he talked to Izzo after Game 2 against the Pistons...

"I didn't really talk to him at the game. I talked to him the day before. He called me up and talked to me. At the game he just gave me hug and told me he was proud of me."

On the Bucks' chances to even the series against Detroit...

"Playing in Detroit is really difficult because they have a great home court and the crowd gets the team going. I think it'll be the same thing for us — the crowd will be into it. We played well in Detroit, and I think we'll play even better at home."

On who should be the NBA MVP...

"I thought it'd be Chauncey Billups — great record, best team, so go with the best player. You don't give the MVP to somebody who is on a losing team.

He's the best player on the team, but you could give it to Rip (Hamilton), or give it to Rasheed (Wallace). They're all really good players.

Steve Nash is good player also, and especially without (Amare) Stoudemire, he showed how great he is and how he can make a team a lot better."