By Reid Cherner, USA TODAY

Kevin McHale wears the ring and that gives him gravitas.

The Houston Rockets’ coach, who won three titles with the Celtics and a couple of Sixth Man Awards, spoke to Rockets.com’s Jason Friedman about the upcoming season and how players can be divided into winners and losers.

McHale says he wants players “willing to fight for each other” and “fight for the win” and not just be there for the paycheck.

“Again, that is not the sexy, ‘Oh you’re in the NBA, you get paid.’ That’s why half these clowns in this league don’t win anything. They don’t realize that it comes down to how hard you’re willing to fight for each other.”

The coach adds that “the NBA is a huge grind. It’s not a sexy league. Everybody thinks that it is. But it’s a grinder’s, workman’s, tough league. I always chuckle because I see people writing that it’s about something else. They’ve never played.”

… [For more on Kevin McHale talks NBA winners and clowns, click here.]