Celeste Reid, co-owner of the Scottish Rocks, Scotland's only professional basketball team

Sterling is originally from Texas but he was playing for Brighton when I was introduced to him around eight years ago. He was a young, good-looking guy with a fantastic career. We beat his team at the play-offs. He won't like the fact that I told you that; I taunt him about this on a regular basis.

I thought he was a fantastic player, but would be far too expensive for us. And when, a few years ago, our German coach had a chance to get Sterling, my immediate response was: "He's a bit film-starry for us." I meant he was out of our league: a good-looking, expensive boy. I generally look for "workers": players who are willing to get their hands dirty. I put him in a box which he didn't deserve to be put in.

He came in for half a season and played really well. Then, when our coach was leaving, he recommended Sterling for his job. I was taken aback, but he pointed out that Sterling has a lot to say, he's inspirational and intelligent. And I was thinking: "Is this the same Sterling who hasn't spoken five words to me?"

Sterling is so different now he's in the role of coach; we do a lot of joshing around and he knows where my heart is and I know where his is. We completely understand each other and are almost in synch in the way we react to what's happening on the pitch. At our last game, he was standing watching and - for want of a better word - raging at the players. I was standing right next to him and raging too, because I see exactly what he is seeing, though of course I don't understand the technicalities of what's going wrong.

We look after the players. We bring them over here from Europe and the US; we give them cars, flats, you name it. And they have a lot of respect for us. I am fair with them and I expect them to be fair with us. We are a family, after all. Sterling gets big respect from me. He's my coach and I am behind him 100%. I am caring, passionate and committed - and he knows it.

Sterling Davis, coach/player with the Scottish Rocks

When the Scottish Rocks coach recommended me as his successor, I was kind of shocked. But he had thrown my name into the hat and the owners, Ian and Celeste Reid, value his opinion. My father was a basketball coach for 25 years, so I've grown up with the game. I had always thought I would get in to coaching after I'd finished playing. I never thought I would be playing and coaching now, especially at this level.

During my first year here I looked at the Rocks as just another team, but as time went on I saw just how professional this organisation is, and it's impressive. I took it as a compliment that the Reids had faith in me, and saw something in me that led them to believe that I could handle the situation. I like success and I like drive and I look up to successful people like the Reids.

I used to call Celeste Reid ma'am. I call everyone that, it's just the way I was brought up. But my relationship with her has come a long way and now I call her Mrs Reid. She is very open and out there, which I prefer in a person. At the same time, though, she says what she thinks so you have to have a thick skin.

The owners are very hands-on, involved and passionate about the team. At the beginning that was daunting and a bit intimidating, but we got through that. We are growing every day. I feel a comfort level with them now. And if I'm honest, I always wondered whether we could ever reach that level, especially with Mrs Reid. She's opinionated and I can be too, so at the beginning I could see us clashing about things - but it never got to that. Things have just fallen into place.

We are both on the same side and it's in our best interests to keep things smooth. I don't think she's too hands-on. I will say that she is different. Mrs Reid will have it out with a player there and then. But I think she is turning soft. There's been times when I've wanted the old Mrs Reid to come back, when I get really aggravated and I want the players to hear it from someone other than myself.

She always used to call me a movie star, which isn't good because that's implying I think I'm too good for anything, and it's just not true. Even though she knows me now, she still does it just to wind me up.

Interviews by Raj Lalli Gill