Former Gonzaga guard Eric McClellan shares his experience playing for Mark Few, the transition to overseas basketball and how far the Bulldogs have come since his playing days.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Episode eight on Talking Zags for Gonzaga Nation.
00:10 Myself, Dan Dickow, co-host Adam Morrison.
00:13 Today's special guest, class of 2016,
00:16 one of the great Gonzaga teams in recent memory,
00:20 Eric McClellan.
00:20 First off, Eric, thanks for joining.
00:22 - Absolutely, thank you guys for having me.
00:23 - Yeah, it's great to have you in.
00:25 We'll be talking a whole bunch of topics,
00:26 current zags, former stories,
00:28 but we'll start with the Maui Invitational.
00:30 Mo, you were there calling the games.
00:33 I know it's a few days removed from those games,
00:36 but back to back to back against great competition.
00:40 What did you learn about this team?
00:42 - I think we're grittier than we've been in a long time.
00:46 And I say that as a kind of a counter
00:51 to probably don't shoot it as well
00:53 as we've had in the other teams.
00:54 And that's not knocking them,
00:55 but we just losing steel to an injury
00:58 really showed its head this week, this last week.
01:02 Three-point shooting, we went 0 for 16,
01:06 a stretch for 0 for 16 against Purdue.
01:08 Obviously that's almost unheard of.
01:11 And then we went 6 to 16 against UCLA,
01:13 and then it was 7 for 20,
01:15 the previous game against Syracuse.
01:16 So could be the venue.
01:18 That's a real thing.
01:19 You know, in those tournaments,
01:20 and you can attest to this,
01:22 we play in the NCAA tournament,
01:23 they always do the rims at the highest allowed tightness,
01:26 and then they do the balls.
01:27 I think it was a little bit of that,
01:30 but it's been a while since we have seen
01:32 a Zag team not make shots.
01:33 Doesn't mean it won't change.
01:36 But the counter to that,
01:38 we're way more tougher defensively than we were last year.
01:40 Way grittier, better on defensive glass.
01:44 Guys are willing to rotate.
01:46 It might be a team where we kind of get
01:48 in rock fights this year.
01:49 It doesn't mean we won't score, won't pick up,
01:51 but at least we know we proved that we can win that way.
01:55 'Cause that UCLA team is very tough.
01:57 - Yeah, they're really good.
01:58 I think that win is gonna look better
02:01 at the end of the year than it does now.
02:03 - 100%.
02:03 UCLA's gonna be a tournament team.
02:05 They always are.
02:06 Nick Cronin's a good coach.
02:07 He goes crazy on the sideline,
02:09 but he has those guys playing hard,
02:10 and they're a team that always gets better.
02:12 And then the funny thing about that game,
02:14 I think there was only four guys combined,
02:17 or both teams that played a meaningful minute
02:19 the last time we played.
02:20 So it was like basically two new teams.
02:22 So they're gonna get better just like us with continuity.
02:27 But I was pleasantly surprised
02:29 with how we played against Purdue, minus the 0-16.
02:33 I thought the plan against Zach Edie was fantastic.
02:37 Even though he had a great game,
02:38 I thought playing him one-on-one was way better
02:39 than it was last year, trying to front.
02:41 - We got decent size.
02:42 - 100%.
02:43 - You can kind of throw different lineups, matchups.
02:46 Brayden's gonna play him differently than Ben Gregg,
02:48 and Anton as well.
02:50 - Well, full fronting last year was terrible,
02:53 'cause they're good at flashing and throwing,
02:55 like we used to do our big-to-big stuff.
02:58 So I think playing him one-on-one,
03:00 we had the lead in the first half.
03:01 If we just make more plays,
03:02 and obviously make a couple threes,
03:04 we're in that basketball game, only lose by 10.
03:06 But that's a team that's certified number one.
03:10 We're gonna get better.
03:12 But I was pleasantly surprised of how we played.
03:14 Syracuse was a good get-right game.
03:18 That's gonna be, if you were a broadcaster
03:21 or a fan of that team, it'd be hard to watch, man.
03:24 - Yes.
03:24 - It's AAU basketball.
03:26 It's five out, four out.
03:27 I know it's a new staff and a new regime,
03:30 but they probably shot every shot was a contested jumper.
03:33 I haven't seen that.
03:34 I mean, you coach your son's team.
03:36 I coach my daughter's team.
03:37 We watch a lot of--
03:38 - But a well-coached AAU team's gonna be more disciplined.
03:40 - 100%.
03:41 But it's hard to get that.
03:43 That's what it looked like.
03:44 So they got talent, but man, everything was contested hand.
03:47 So all in all, I was pleased with the field,
03:50 how the tournament went,
03:51 and then especially how our guys performed.
03:54 Obviously, like I said, the shooting,
03:56 but we were tough and we can make plays
03:58 and we'll get better.
03:59 - Yeah.
04:00 So Eric, you've been gone from GU
04:02 for about eight years playing pro.
04:04 You've stayed connected to the program
04:07 'cause you come back in the summer
04:08 and work out with the guys, stay ready for yourself,
04:10 but this is now the first year
04:12 that you can watch every game in real time,
04:14 get fans' reactions, talk to former teammates.
04:17 What's it like watching Gonzaga games early on this season?
04:20 - It's a little tug and pull
04:26 because on one hand, you root for 'em,
04:30 and I empathize with the Gonzaga athletes,
04:33 specifically the basketball player,
04:35 because I know what these guys are going through
04:37 on a daily basis,
04:38 where they're showing up for practice, workouts.
04:42 They have external pressures of navigating
04:45 how they see their lives playing out as young men,
04:50 navigating academics or what have you.
04:58 And then on the other hand, it's like,
04:59 I just wanna watch as a fan.
05:00 I wanna see, I wanna learn how basketball is being played
05:05 at the highest level.
05:05 I wanna see what these guys are comfortable with,
05:09 uncomfortable with,
05:10 and then I see the fans' reaction on Twitter
05:12 and Instagram, social media, and I don't engage.
05:16 - I feel it. - That's not true most times.
05:19 - Absolutely, absolutely.
05:21 But it's been fun thus far.
05:23 And like you said, I'm staying close to the program.
05:26 I think that's super important to me.
05:27 I've watched these guys work out, practice,
05:31 and I'm excited about this group.
05:33 I'm super excited.
05:34 They have a lot of bright spots.
05:36 Obviously, completely different roster almost,
05:40 Ryan, Graham, Anton's coming into his own.
05:43 I think Nolan looked great in Hawaii.
05:46 So I'm looking forward to seeing these guys
05:48 improve over the year.
05:49 - What's that like, do you think, for Anton?
05:51 And I wanna get Adam's take on this as well,
05:53 'cause you, at the end of your last year at Gonzaga,
05:57 you played incredibly well down the stretch of the season.
06:00 Now, Anton's kinda been, for lack of a better term,
06:04 a support guy, but he's got a huge opportunity
06:07 in front of him.
06:08 He's gonna be great against UCLA.
06:10 Hopefully that continues.
06:11 How do you stay ready to make your mark
06:14 when you finally get that chance?
06:16 - I think it's different for everyone.
06:19 For me, I was a big preparation guy,
06:22 so I love working out, I love watching film,
06:24 I love staying in the gym.
06:25 But it was a matter of me kinda finding it.
06:30 And I think Mo was probably the best at this.
06:33 Like, at some point, you have to have this stubbornness
06:36 about you, you have to have this,
06:38 for lack of a better term, effort attitude.
06:42 If you show up and you put in your hours,
06:44 then all right, it's there,
06:46 and you're not at Gonzaga for no reason.
06:48 And the good thing that Anton has going for him,
06:51 Phewy wants that for him.
06:53 A lot of guys, and you guys know how it is,
06:57 you gotta earn Phewy's trust.
06:58 You gotta earn that.
06:59 He's been wanting that for Anton the last three years.
07:02 So he has that on his side.
07:03 So him going 14 for 15, him having that spectacular game,
07:08 I mean, obviously we're not expecting that every single game,
07:13 but it's just about kinda, you know,
07:17 he has what he, I mean, he has all the tools,
07:19 he has what he needs.
07:20 It's just about him being intentional
07:23 and being a guy instead of one of the guys,
07:28 if that makes sense.
07:30 - For sure.
07:31 What about you, what you've seen?
07:33 'Cause you've been around five years
07:35 of calling these games from the radio perch.
07:37 - I was helping out when he was playing at Meade.
07:40 So, you know, I've seen him up close
07:43 for probably his junior year on.
07:46 I think he has potential to be an NBA player.
07:49 I've said that all along.
07:51 He has to show the ability to make a three.
07:54 He has to show the ability to be able to guard all positions,
07:56 which he can do.
07:58 Hop around the rim would be a concern.
08:01 That's for most guys going to the league,
08:03 but hop around the rim.
08:05 It's good enough, but it's a different level
08:08 and different size.
08:09 Is he gonna score 32?
08:12 Probably not.
08:13 Can he score 20 a night?
08:15 Probably.
08:16 So I think he's gonna have a wonderful opportunity
08:21 to play that role, but also like,
08:22 he's kind of a guy that is a tip in,
08:26 pusher guy in the back, steals.
08:27 And then you look down and you go, holy crap,
08:29 we had one of the game he had,
08:31 I think it was 12 and 13.
08:32 It's like, that's a pretty good game line as well.
08:34 Six assists and four steals, you know?
08:37 So I don't know.
08:38 Like, it's always like, you're always like,
08:39 man, I watched him in high school,
08:41 scored a ton, but GSL is different, obviously.
08:44 So I think he's better when he's like
08:48 the second or third option.
08:49 Doesn't, that's not a knock.
08:50 I just think he's a better complimentary piece
08:53 when he can play off of other guys.
08:57 That's, and that's not a knock.
08:59 There's a lot of people make a lot of money
09:00 and play a long time being that role.
09:02 - It's funny you say that because a lot of times
09:04 NBA evaluators look at that.
09:07 Can they be great in a second, third, or fourth role
09:10 as opposed to being the guy?
09:12 Because so many times players are the guy in college,
09:14 but NBA evaluators like, he doesn't fit our league.
09:17 He can't play that go-to guy in our league
09:20 and he won't blend in as a backup option.
09:22 - Yeah, like it's, you know,
09:24 there's only a certain amount of guys
09:25 can take pull-up contested jumpers in the league
09:27 and they're getting 45 million a year, right?
09:29 You know what I'm saying?
09:30 So you got to find the guys that will swing the ball.
09:32 Like I said, push a guy in the back, set a screen,
09:34 get a layup, steal, you know, like that's a real role.
09:37 For this team, I think he has an opportunity to,
09:40 the average like 15, 16, no doubt.
09:42 30 piece, he can do it again, but not 14 for 15.
09:47 I mean, that's, that's--
09:48 - Did you ever go 14 or 15, either one of you guys?
09:50 Did you get that hot?
09:51 - No, I've been hot, but I've never been like,
09:54 it was crazy too.
09:55 They stopped like guarding him for a stretch too.
09:57 Like they just like kept letting him wind him up.
09:59 - I think that was Mick Cronin's like,
10:01 he let him beat us.
10:02 Let's see if he can beat us.
10:03 And Anton just kept going.
10:04 - I could see that.
10:05 - Well, that's true.
10:06 I mean, 'cause I think in that,
10:08 I think Graham was 0 for 6 that game.
10:10 So it was a pretty good strategy in theory.
10:13 You know, they probably didn't expect, I didn't expect it.
10:16 Nobody expects anybody to go 14 or 15.
10:18 Like even Drew last year had some close ones like that,
10:22 but you're like, all right, you're allowed to miss a few.
10:25 But it was a fantastic game for Anton.
10:27 You know, it won the game for us basically.
10:30 So I think he's gonna have a great season.
10:32 He showed the, he made the jump last year.
10:35 'Cause the first two years,
10:36 we gotta give context to it too.
10:39 Remember he had that shoulder deal?
10:40 - Yeah, I think 12 games or something.
10:42 - Yeah, and then like what I was always told,
10:44 every time he played defense, like in practice,
10:46 it would slip.
10:47 So it took him a while.
10:48 This is just me hearing things.
10:51 It took him a while to get his body back, right?
10:53 And mental, because it is weird.
10:55 Even if they're like, you're fine.
10:56 And then, you know, I hit you off a screen
10:59 and then it slips every time.
11:00 Like, you're not gonna play the same.
11:01 - You're not gonna be active defensively
11:03 sticking your hand in either.
11:04 - 100%.
11:05 So I think like we're seeing the potential of Anton Watson
11:08 and it'll continue to get better,
11:09 but also like 13 and 12 a night is like pretty good too.
11:14 You know what I'm saying?
11:15 - For sure.
11:17 - So I've always said this, Eric,
11:19 Gonzaga's best teams have had
11:20 two ball handler decision makers.
11:22 You played with Perkins.
11:24 We've recently had Suggs and Nembhardt together.
11:26 You know, I think last year, Nolan was solid,
11:30 but he didn't have a guy to take pressure off him
11:32 initiating offense.
11:33 This year, Nembhardt as well as Hickman are playing together.
11:37 They haven't shot it great,
11:38 but what are you seeing out of that backcourt?
11:40 - I mean, what you said,
11:41 that's the first thing that comes to mind
11:43 where it's like Ryan alleviates the pressure from Nolan,
11:47 where he doesn't have to run the offense
11:48 and make every decision.
11:49 Because, I mean, in my experience here,
11:53 and then in recent memory,
11:55 I mean, the point guard lineage is just incredible.
11:58 I mean, you, Matt, Josh, Kev, Derek, Jeremy,
12:02 Jalen, Andrew, I mean, I'm missing a ton.
12:05 - Nigel.
12:06 - Nigel, I mean, the list is super long
12:10 and it wasn't just one guy at the helm
12:13 making all the decisions.
12:14 Obviously this is big guard or big you,
12:17 like a bunch of talented great bigs,
12:21 but I think one of the under characteristic aspects
12:25 of this program are the guards.
12:27 And I think it's been great for Nolan.
12:30 I mean, what game was it?
12:33 The Syracuse game where he scored 17 or so, 18.
12:36 I mean, he looked great.
12:38 I mean, he could run a pick and roll,
12:39 but he can also spot up as well.
12:41 He doesn't have to make every decision on the floor.
12:43 And then Ryan, he's battle tested.
12:45 The shooting will come.
12:47 I mean, we've seen this time and time again,
12:50 a guy like Klay Thompson, best shooter in the world.
12:53 He always starts off just horrible
12:56 and he finishes shooting 42, 43 from the three.
12:59 So the scoring to come, the shooting to come,
13:02 I'm not worried about it at all.
13:04 But I think that lineup with two point guards
13:06 in the back court, I think that's great,
13:07 especially for this group.
13:09 - Does it concern you at all that they both played
13:11 like damn near 40 minutes a game there?
13:14 I mean, 'cause I like Luca.
13:16 I think he's got a chance, but he got a,
13:18 like we both kind of insinuate,
13:20 you got to earn Fuse's trust.
13:21 He's not quite there yet.
13:23 I think he'll get there in time,
13:24 but are you concerned about that many minutes
13:26 early on for those two?
13:28 - Not necessarily.
13:29 I mean, from a health standpoint,
13:31 that's the only thing that would concern me,
13:33 but you learn through experience.
13:35 You learn through mistakes.
13:36 You learn through time spent on the court.
13:39 So the more time they spend on the court together,
13:42 the better they'll gel, you know, down the stretch
13:44 because you don't want to be playing your best basketball
13:47 in November, December.
13:48 You want to be peaking around February, March.
13:50 So, I mean, I wish I would've got to play 40 minutes here.
13:55 I mean, yeah, I'm sure it's not a problem for those guys.
13:58 I mean, depth wise, I know, you know,
14:02 with Steele being out and then, you know,
14:05 it's not the deepest team,
14:07 but the makeup of this team is really good.
14:09 I mean, what Adam touched on was the grittiness.
14:14 Defensively, I think this team could be great.
14:17 I think they can be top 25 in a lot of defensive categories.
14:21 I think they cover well for each other.
14:22 I think they can guard multiple positions.
14:25 I think they have a great package in the pick and roll.
14:29 I think they fly around.
14:32 The, like I said, the more they communicate,
14:34 the more time they spend together,
14:37 the more film they watch,
14:38 I think they'll be fine down the stretch.
14:39 - I was impressed with EK's pick and roll defense.
14:42 He got out there hard-headed a few times,
14:44 got his hand on balls, deflections,
14:46 had a few steals.
14:47 So I agree with a lot of that.
14:49 Mo, you played big minutes.
14:52 Those guys are playing 40.
14:54 Did you ever tell Feeley, "No, don't take me out,"
14:56 like when you saw a sub coming to the bench?
14:58 - Not really.
14:59 I mean, he didn't really take me out much that junior year.
15:04 I mean, maybe my sophomore year,
15:07 there was a couple of times where I came out
15:08 when I probably shouldn't have.
15:09 But I mean, let's be honest, like playing 40 is great,
15:13 but Luca or June is gonna have to eat up
15:16 some of those minutes with Dusty going into that spot
15:20 and then the shift.
15:21 It's okay to play that many minutes, but health-wise,
15:25 and then what if there's a foul situation
15:30 or there's a small injury and you gotta play a guy
15:34 for three games in late February, March?
15:37 So in my opinion, those guys gotta figure out a way
15:39 to get into those minutes and rotation.
15:43 But Feeley had to win those three,
15:46 he was trying to win those three big games.
15:48 So I understand that part of it.
15:49 So it'll be interesting to see how their rotation,
15:52 especially with like Bakersfield and Knight,
15:54 and then USC's good, but then some of the other teams
15:58 that we're playing coming up, how the guys stack up,
16:00 because 40 is fun to play, but it's hard to do.
16:05 - But you also get smart enough.
16:06 If you know you're a go-to guy
16:08 and there's a reliance on you to be in the game,
16:11 you get smart about, I'm not saying you take possessions
16:14 off defensively, but you take rotations off
16:16 when you know, okay, the ball's not getting past there.
16:18 - Yeah, you save steps.
16:19 It's saving steps, so I get that.
16:21 But also, I think that's healthy for a club to have,
16:28 not where you're looking over your shoulder,
16:30 but if you're not playing good,
16:31 then you might not play 40 minutes, you know what I'm saying?
16:35 So I don't know, I have mixed feelings about it, honestly.
16:38 I think it's a real, concern might be overused,
16:42 but it's a real topic, it's a logical topic to discuss,
16:45 because that's a lot of minutes.
16:48 They're your best players, but also,
16:51 Luka's green, June's green, so I don't know.
16:55 It's kind of a--
16:55 - I saw some growth in June's game, at least,
17:00 in those three games.
17:01 - Yeah, well, the UCLA game, he had a good rotation
17:04 with a wallop chest in the cylinder,
17:06 and that was a good play, it knocked it out of bounds,
17:08 our ball, and then he comes down and made a three.
17:10 So you could tell he felt good,
17:12 something good happened for him in a stint,
17:15 and then makes a three.
17:17 So hopefully, he can continue to battle,
17:21 and then earn eight to 12 minutes,
17:24 and then you can move Dusty
17:25 into that other ball handler spot.
17:27 So Dusty played 40 minutes as well.
17:29 - Yeah, that's--
17:30 - That's a lot, and not saying he's not capable,
17:33 but that's a lot for a freshman,
17:34 who's only gonna play like 20 before that, with steel.
17:37 So--
17:38 - I think it's impacted his ability to shoot it,
17:40 'cause he's a better shooter
17:41 than his numbers have shown so far.
17:43 - Yeah, 100%, I mean, he's probably,
17:45 I mean, you guys know how this is,
17:47 you think you're in shape in high school to college,
17:49 and then you think you're in shape from college to pro,
17:51 and it's a different level, and then once you get to,
17:54 you're like, holy smokes, man,
17:56 my legs and my wind are not as good
17:59 as they need to be to make shots.
18:01 He's terrific on the glass, terrific defensively,
18:04 but I think you're right,
18:05 playing 40 minutes at this level,
18:06 where you have to play every possession defensively,
18:09 with a coverage, like in high school,
18:11 you'd just be like, let him go by, block,
18:12 you know what I mean, you probably did that, right?
18:14 (laughing)
18:15 You know what I'm saying?
18:16 Yeah, you probably, like,
18:17 where you let a guy kinda go by,
18:19 you're playing a kid that just,
18:19 you know, was on JV last year, whack, you know?
18:23 So, yeah, I don't know, it's a real thing,
18:27 I think it's one of those topics
18:29 that you keep talking about as the season goes along,
18:32 and it has to do with the schedule.
18:34 Yeah.
18:35 You know, like, Bakersfield tonight,
18:36 hopefully those guys play, like, 28 minutes, not 40,
18:39 and other guys get turned, you know,
18:41 Luca and June, stuff like that.
18:43 So you go, he mentioned the conditioning factor,
18:46 high school to college to pro,
18:47 you played pro over here for a number of years,
18:50 what was the biggest adjustment from college,
18:54 Division I, high-level basketball, to going to Europe?
18:56 'Cause it's a lot different than most people expect.
18:59 People think, and I've been told this,
19:01 oh, you went, they think it's a vacation,
19:03 you're like, no, no, no, hold on,
19:04 two practices a day, like, it's different.
19:07 You don't have to pay taxes, that was always my favorite,
19:10 like, yeah, Uncle Sam is just,
19:11 you just go overseas,
19:12 and you don't have to pay anything coming back, yep.
19:14 It's like, so stupid.
19:16 That is not true.
19:17 It's not true.
19:18 Not at all.
19:18 The image payments, I think, is what they were called, right?
19:20 Yeah, you can do that, less than 10,000 was the trick,
19:23 but anyway, I digress.
19:25 So, yeah.
19:26 (laughing)
19:28 So, with that, I mean, I have kids back home in Austin,
19:33 even here, they're like, I'm going overseas,
19:37 but they say it with such, like,
19:39 I don't wanna say arrogance, but like, lack of respect,
19:42 like, it's just easy.
19:44 I came from Gonzaga.
19:46 I had nine NBA workouts.
19:48 My first contract was $4,000 in Belgium,
19:52 but like, what I tell guys,
19:54 and I'm gonna bring it all, again, I'm setting the table,
19:57 what I tell guys is, can you go two months
20:00 without getting paid?
20:02 Can you be away from your family?
20:03 Can you be on a nine-hour time difference?
20:05 Can you handle two-a-days for five days straight?
20:10 Can you handle 10-hour bus rides?
20:13 Can you handle a coach benching you?
20:15 They don't care if you're an American or not.
20:17 They don't care where you come from.
20:18 - A lot of times, it's blamed on the American, if you lose.
20:20 - I mean, most of the times, that's how it is.
20:23 The job security, can you handle all these things
20:26 that come with being professional?
20:27 Because it's not, people hear a professional basketball
20:30 player and they think, oh, you're getting paid
20:32 to play basketball.
20:32 Well, that's true, but it comes with a price.
20:34 This comes with a price.
20:36 I love basketball.
20:39 There's no way I could've lasted eight, seven, eight years
20:42 if I didn't love basketball, 'cause it's not the NBA.
20:44 The amenities aren't the same.
20:46 The amenities aren't the same here.
20:48 Like, I could, 12 o'clock midnight,
20:51 I could come from the bar, I can come from the movies,
20:54 I can come from my apartment, swipe,
20:57 I can get 5,000 or 500 jump shots up.
21:00 No, you can't do that overseas.
21:02 You share the gym with the city.
21:05 You share the gym with the community.
21:07 Most of the times, I couldn't even get shots up
21:10 after practice or before practice.
21:13 Like, I have a routine, like I'm a big routine guy.
21:16 That knocks off, I mean, that knocks off your whatever.
21:21 And if it's not tempered, if it's not measured,
21:24 you'll just, it goes out of balance, right?
21:28 It goes out of balance, and then you learn,
21:30 you learn what being a pro is.
21:33 Like, because here, most of the guys
21:36 that I played with here, they're professional.
21:38 They're professional.
21:39 Like, Domas, he was always in the gym.
21:41 Kyle, he was always in the gym.
21:43 Silas, he was always in the gym.
21:44 Josh, these guys were professional,
21:46 but it was different over there
21:48 in the sense where maturity-wise,
21:51 I don't think I was ready.
21:53 Now, talent-wise, I was ready.
21:54 I was ready, but I was so focused on getting back here.
21:57 I was so focused on, you know,
22:00 I was worried about the NBA.
22:03 I was worried about the G League.
22:04 I was worried about, I was always one step in, one step out.
22:09 But once I immersed myself into my team,
22:12 once I immersed myself into the atmosphere,
22:16 the culture, what have you, it was so much better for me.
22:20 And I don't say these things to,
22:22 not necessarily disrespect overseas,
22:26 but just to highlight the realities.
22:29 And the reality is, it's very tough there.
22:33 It's very tough.
22:35 And like I said, if you don't love it,
22:37 it becomes more and more difficult.
22:40 - I always tell guys, you know,
22:43 I played overseas for a year, year and a half,
22:47 is once you go over there,
22:49 you have to get the mindset out that they suck
22:51 and you're the greatest.
22:52 - No doubt.
22:53 - You have to, oh man, a lot of American guys
22:55 go over there, they're just like, oh, they're European.
22:57 Like, they don't know.
22:58 I was like, just get that out of your head right away.
23:02 And then, like you said, the grind aspect,
23:04 guys don't realize it's like,
23:05 two a days is a real thing.
23:10 And then I always said, the favorite word is tomorrow.
23:12 Pay you tomorrow.
23:13 After a while, it's like, it's hard, man.
23:17 And if you can't, like you said,
23:18 sometimes you won't get paid for two months
23:20 and it's different on different tiers.
23:22 - Sure.
23:23 - You know, but like, you know,
23:25 if you're playing in lower leagues and trying to move up,
23:28 which guys do a lot,
23:29 and then they move on to your league teams.
23:31 It's like, you might not get paid for half a season,
23:34 but you're playing for tape
23:36 to send it to the higher up clubs or get promoted.
23:39 And then the salaries go,
23:41 but it's a different ball of wax, man,
23:43 that some people don't realize.
23:45 - Yeah, that was one of my problems.
23:47 When I went there twice,
23:48 like I knew I wanted to still be playing here,
23:52 but there was no guarantee contracts here.
23:55 So you go there,
23:56 but you're always kind of waiting for a phone call
23:59 or an opportunity.
24:01 And the whole idea about,
24:03 they're better over there,
24:05 better players than you think.
24:06 I had one guy in Germany,
24:08 Peja Suput was his name,
24:10 6'8", 4.
24:12 If he was 6'11", he would have been a 12 year NBA guy.
24:15 He was that good.
24:16 He didn't miss a shot outside of,
24:18 inside of 15 feet, never missed.
24:22 One of the best players I've ever played with.
24:23 But it's just like that dynamic of like,
24:26 hey, he knows this is the level he's gonna be at,
24:28 and he just crushed it for years.
24:30 I think Blake Stepp actually played with him
24:33 in Red Star, in Belgrade,
24:35 before I played with him in Germany.
24:40 So that's interesting.
24:42 What countries did you play in?
24:45 Belgium, Greece, Germany, Austria, Romania, Cyprus,
24:50 Lithuania.
24:54 - Do you use the, I'm buddies with Sabonis card
24:59 to get what you wanted in Lithuania?
25:01 - They had already knew.
25:03 They, I mean, they asked a bunch of questions
25:05 about Domas, and I told them he was a horrible human being.
25:08 So, no, I'm just kidding.
25:10 That was the country,
25:12 that was the toughest country I played in.
25:13 Not toughest competition wise,
25:16 but toughest adjustment wise.
25:19 Just adjusting to the culture, adjusting to the coaching.
25:22 But I enjoyed my time playing.
25:25 I loved it.
25:26 I loved every minute of it.
25:28 Every country, I took something from it.
25:30 And there's been little time to reflect,
25:34 'cause it's like the transition has been recent.
25:37 But the things that I think about the most
25:43 is the amount of work that I put in
25:45 and the people that I did it with,
25:46 and all the lessons learned from basketball.
25:48 I don't think about accolades,
25:51 I don't think about trophies,
25:53 I don't think about tournament wins,
25:55 I don't think about stats, I don't think about any of that.
25:58 I think about the work, the people that I did it with,
26:00 and the lessons learned.
26:01 And I'm, all this is a privilege.
26:06 Everything that I did, it was a privilege.
26:07 And we work our tails off to accomplish certain goals.
26:13 But I'm very, very, very proud,
26:17 very proud of what I've been through,
26:21 and hopefully what I can share
26:23 and pass along to the younger generation.
26:25 - Yeah, I've seen you share a lot of that in workouts,
26:28 'cause you do some different workout stuff at my gym
26:31 and some other places in Spokane,
26:32 and I think you've always had a great message.
26:35 I wanna talk about the coaching side of things,
26:38 get at your take if you wanna get into coaching
26:40 down the road.
26:41 I think one thing about Coach Few is he's evolved
26:45 in how he handles guys who have aspirations.
26:48 And I'm not saying that just because I was the kind of
26:51 first guy in my era to make the NBA as a first round pick,
26:55 then you had you, but you had other guys
26:57 that you played with that had aspirations
26:59 that could have been good enough.
27:00 Now you look at the roster,
27:01 they don't wanna recruit guys unless they have aspirations
27:04 to play at the highest level.
27:06 How do you guys both see Coach Few
27:09 at balancing players' expectations without...
27:13 That goal's way above your pay grade right now.
27:18 You know what I'm saying?
27:19 - I think he does it based on realism
27:23 of what the player can get to.
27:26 Obviously, every player wants to make it to the NBA.
27:29 And then you have to mix in transfer portal.
27:35 Okay, guys could leave, so you have to keep guys happy.
27:37 But then you have to think of the backside recruiting,
27:40 like a Dusty and like a Chet and a Jalen.
27:43 They probably played on EYBL team, okay?
27:46 And they probably know the same AU coach,
27:47 you know what I'm saying?
27:48 So you have to make sure that you kind of keep that circle
27:51 that's gonna talk back to them,
27:54 so you can get kids down the road.
27:57 You know, and then I think he's just more equipped
28:00 that the program is as a whole,
28:01 just handling guys making it onto the next level in general.
28:06 So he's done a better job of that.
28:08 And then the style of play is a pro style now.
28:11 We didn't play a pro style when we played there.
28:13 I mean, it's flex and stuff.
28:14 - Limited pick and rolls.
28:16 - Yeah, it's just different game.
28:17 Now you can sit there and guys can go,
28:20 like look at a Julian.
28:21 Like Julian is fantastic.
28:23 But was his numbers like completely off the charts
28:26 last year? - No.
28:27 - Nobody played in a pro system.
28:29 They're like, he could fit with--
28:31 - And he's played great in his opportunities
28:32 early season. - That's what I'm saying.
28:33 - They probably watched him a few times
28:36 or multiple times go, all right, we got a great team
28:39 and he can be a kick out guy and play defense
28:41 and then you can work into it.
28:41 But he's already played in a space the floor,
28:44 wave action, pick and roll, rotate shot.
28:47 You know what I mean?
28:48 So I think that is the biggest thing that FUE has changed
28:52 that has helped prepare guys for the next level
28:55 and foster their aspirations for the next level.
29:00 - Yeah, what do you see about that?
29:03 - The phrase that comes to mind is,
29:05 you pave the way with your work.
29:07 And we're getting these guys because of guys like you.
29:12 And I'm not just saying that because you guys are here
29:15 right now, but you just look at the kind of timeline
29:20 and you have these different players from different eras.
29:25 And I mean, we haven't evolved,
29:29 but the program in its totality has gotten better.
29:33 Like in y'all's time, we probably had two or three guys
29:37 where it's like, now it's probably six or seven pros
29:41 on one squad, but that's because of you guys
29:44 and where the program is and guys want to win.
29:47 But I think you guys can attest to this as well.
29:49 Like I even noticed it, like when I was there,
29:53 he was a little tougher on us or he could speak to like me
29:56 and Kyle a certain way because we came, you know,
30:00 I came from Kevin Starlin's, Doug Wojcik.
30:02 He came from Calipari, but he couldn't talk
30:05 to certain guys like that, right?
30:06 He couldn't, that's not to say he doesn't coach hard still,
30:10 but it's just tempered and measured.
30:12 And I think, you know, even when I was there more nuanced,
30:16 he used to say, I remember him saying, me, one practice,
30:21 you know, Golden State said you should be a top five
30:26 defender in America.
30:27 So for me to hear that, it's like, all right,
30:29 like it light bulbs, right?
30:32 He used to tell Josh, you know, Atlanta Hawks scout said,
30:36 and he wasn't BS, BSing us.
30:37 He was like keeping it real with us.
30:39 He didn't have to tell us that type of stuff,
30:42 but he would say those things to motivate us.
30:45 - Well, I think the league is a unique league
30:49 because people are constantly talking about Gonzaga
30:52 moving leagues.
30:53 The league's been good, but now Gonzaga wasn't picked
30:56 to win the league this year in the WCC, St. Mary's was.
30:59 St. Mary's lost again.
31:01 - Yesterday, right?
31:01 - They're, as we record this,
31:03 they're sitting at three and four.
31:06 When you look back at the league itself,
31:08 did you have a favorite gym?
31:10 Did you have a favorite matchup?
31:12 As I think you're going to say San Francisco
31:16 would be your favorite gym.
31:17 - Yeah, they're all, they're all kind of dumpy places anyway.
31:21 So, I mean, they're just smaller venues and,
31:27 but yeah, St. Mary's is curious being three and four.
31:31 I think people probably got the formula for Aiden Mahaney.
31:36 Great player, but I think you can, we showed him that,
31:38 I think last year, trapping all the ball screens
31:41 and getting out of his hands.
31:42 And then Dukas is good player,
31:44 but if you just don't rotate on him,
31:46 and so it'd be interesting to see how they do,
31:49 but go to his, Dan's question,
31:51 like what was your favorite place to play?
31:53 And were you, was BYU in the league when you?
31:56 - Yeah, I was about to say BYU, I mean.
31:59 - Yeah, see, I never played there.
32:00 That would be the funnest.
32:01 - I played there when I was at U-Dub,
32:03 and this is how you, I don't know if you'll
32:06 really truly appreciate this.
32:08 I think BYU the year before was like two and 25.
32:12 So when I was at U-Dub, when we played there,
32:14 there was literally like 1500 people in the crowd.
32:17 So you go from that to what BYU is with the fans now.
32:22 - Yeah, it's BYU without question.
32:23 I mean, I think the arena sits what, 16, 18,000?
32:27 - Something like that, yeah.
32:28 - Something crazy, yeah.
32:28 And when we're there, they're towering on top of you.
32:33 So it's like, it's not like you
32:35 where like the student section is right here.
32:37 Like if I take the ball out of bounds,
32:38 like you, Dan, Huddy, you guys are right there.
32:42 They're towering on top of you.
32:43 And then, I mean, it's just, it's like an NBA arena.
32:45 It's loud, it gets jumping, they're passionate.
32:49 - They do a good job presentation-wise.
32:53 - Yeah, yeah, they drop like the curtains from the screen
32:56 and kind of do the whole deal.
32:57 - Not yet as professionals.
32:59 - Yep, it's high level in there,
33:00 but now they're out of the league, so.
33:03 - They're ranked now.
33:04 - I know, good for them.
33:05 - Have you watched any of that?
33:06 - No.
33:07 - I'm surprised.
33:08 Not that you haven't watched it, just that they're ranked.
33:10 - Yeah, no, I haven't even looked at them,
33:12 but that's good for them.
33:13 Chet, obviously, you know Chet.
33:15 We watched him.
33:16 I thought he was fantastic here, obviously.
33:18 He's having a great year.
33:21 When he was coming out, I want to get your take on this.
33:23 It's pretty simple, but I was in the camp that like,
33:26 hey, he's going to the perfect situation.
33:28 Getting hurt probably was a blessing in disguise.
33:32 I said that right away.
33:33 He looks heavier in a good way.
33:35 He looks like he's put on 15 good pounds.
33:38 And people always make fun of his weight.
33:40 It's like, dude, his body type.
33:42 It's not like the guy doesn't eat, you know what I'm saying?
33:44 It got kind of annoying secondhand.
33:46 Like, dude, okay, we get it.
33:48 He's thin-bodied, but it's his body type.
33:51 I think playing on a team where he's like
33:52 the third or fourth option,
33:54 and then will grow into maybe a secondary option
33:57 is the best.
33:58 What do you think his chances
34:00 of like winning Worker of the Year are?
34:02 I mean, obviously, Wimby's got all the chance,
34:03 but do you watch enough NBA,
34:05 or at least what catch highlights?
34:06 - For sure.
34:07 - I think him being off with SGA,
34:10 and then it can just be that,
34:11 and then Rim Protect, like,
34:13 he'll always have value in that league
34:15 where he might make $300 million.
34:18 - He could. - Like, literally,
34:18 because his deal is always valuable.
34:22 - He's a max guy.
34:23 - I know, for sure.
34:23 - Right when the first re-up comes.
34:25 - Yeah. - For sure.
34:27 - Well, good for him, but what is your take?
34:29 You think he's a winning Worker of the Year, or?
34:30 - Of course, that's my pick.
34:32 That was my pick before the season started.
34:33 I mean, the thing that I loved about Chet,
34:36 so a little footnote.
34:38 It was after my season in
34:45 Austria, and I was about to sign to Ukraine,
34:49 but then I broke my hand, so I stayed here,
34:52 and that was his freshman year.
34:54 And the thing I loved most about him was,
34:57 whenever I was in the gym, he was always in the gym.
35:00 So, if I'm always in the gym,
35:04 whenever I'm in the gym, you're always in the gym.
35:06 I know you're in the gym when I'm not in the gym.
35:08 And that's the thing I told Gary.
35:10 Gary and I, we used to have a bunch of conversations
35:12 about a bunch of different players,
35:13 and I'm like, I don't care what happens with this kid.
35:16 He's gonna be just fine, 'cause he loves basketball.
35:18 He works his tail off, and he loves basketball,
35:22 whether it was him doing stress stuff with TK,
35:25 him being in the gym by himself, him watching film.
35:29 He was always in the lab.
35:31 And last year was like his redshirt year.
35:35 The year that I took my biggest jump
35:36 was my redshirt year at Vandy.
35:38 I mean, he didn't play, but he learned.
35:41 Like he grew, he was able to work on his body.
35:44 He was able to work on his nutrition.
35:47 He was able to be around NBA guys, NBA personnel.
35:51 And I think the fruits of his labor
35:53 is showing off this year.
35:55 And it's easy, that's an easy pick.
35:57 - He's at 50, 40, 90, I think, right now,
35:59 trending on that, which is like--
36:01 - He's only been like three players
36:02 in the history of the league.
36:03 - Yeah, it's like the holy grail of efficiency
36:06 with a certain amount of volume, obviously.
36:08 But, and he'll eclipse that.
36:10 So if he gets that his first year, it's gonna be holy smokes.
36:13 But he shoots it better than I thought.
36:16 - 100%.
36:17 - You know what I'm saying?
36:17 - 'Cause he never, like, there were times I thought
36:20 he could shoot plenty of trail threes,
36:22 like when the ball got swung, and he didn't.
36:24 - And he didn't string together more than,
36:29 he didn't string together like a stretch here
36:32 a couple times, where I thought, you know what I mean?
36:34 Just off talent.
36:35 And it's not like he couldn't do it,
36:37 but it's like you said, sometimes it was pass way,
36:38 or he's just like, "I'll just run flow."
36:42 - Yeah.
36:43 - But obviously with the NBA game, the floor space,
36:46 he brings it big away, and then if they tag a roller,
36:49 and it's just like, I mean, it's crazy.
36:52 - You look at a guy my size, if I'm having to rotate,
36:56 there's no way I'll be the beginner.
36:57 - No way to contest, yeah.
36:58 - It's not even fair.
36:59 - Well, and then just the simple fact that the rim, man,
37:02 like, that's, you know, we've talked about Drew
37:05 in the past in some episodes,
37:07 and Drew's gonna have a great professional career,
37:09 NBA or overseas, but the biggest thing that hurts Drew
37:14 is rim protection.
37:15 And Chet will always have that, just by sheer size.
37:19 He's a rim protector.
37:20 And so that is such a valuable thing to have
37:23 on the backside of your defense,
37:24 because it's a layup in a three league.
37:26 And if you can make guys miss,
37:29 or at least take away the lob roll, the sprint out roll,
37:32 you're valuable at every level.
37:34 Like, you look at even some of the bigs that can't shoot,
37:36 that are still playing in the league, that can do that,
37:38 that rim protect.
37:39 - DeAndre Jordan.
37:40 - You know what I'm saying, DeAndre Jordan,
37:42 plumbly, you know what I'm saying?
37:43 Like, you're on the line, these guys are like,
37:45 not the most skilled guys, and that's not a knock on them,
37:47 but they can protect the rim, and it's just a value.
37:49 And Chet will always have that with the offensive stuff.
37:52 So, great start to his career so far.
37:54 - No, it's been impressive.
37:55 - I'm gonna hit him up for a signed jersey,
37:57 'cause I know he probably, he'll do it.
37:59 But you know what I'm saying?
38:00 Like, he wasn't like, yeah, he wasn't like,
38:03 the most engaging with doing that, I heard.
38:05 So, I'll be like, hey, you're signing this for me.
38:07 - You gotta hit him at the right time.
38:08 - Nah, I'll get him.
38:09 - We talked about Drew Timmy,
38:12 Adam and I have multiple times,
38:14 and I love hearing guys' takes,
38:15 because you played in Europe, and you, like,
38:18 I'm all for guys giving it as big and long a shot
38:23 as they can at the NBA.
38:24 I think he can play at that level
38:26 if given the right opportunity,
38:28 and that's with the right team.
38:29 And that goes for so many guys.
38:31 There's certain guys that have to be
38:32 in the exact right fit to make it.
38:35 Now he has to balance this, do I stay in the G League,
38:37 or maybe do I start getting European offers
38:40 or thoughts coming my way?
38:41 You've seen the European game more recently
38:44 than Adam and I have.
38:45 How well do you think he fits in that,
38:48 as opposed to holding off here in the G League?
38:51 - He'll do great.
38:52 He'll do great in both leagues.
38:54 I'm with the mindset, like, for Drew specifically,
38:57 try the G League first.
39:00 Europe's not going anywhere.
39:02 I mean, you're one of the most decorated
39:03 college basketball players of all time.
39:06 You'll have your opportunities.
39:07 It's there.
39:08 I mean, I don't know a lot of rookies
39:11 that have come out and played EuroLeague
39:13 straight off the bat, but he'll be fine.
39:16 I mean, skill-wise, it's not even a question.
39:20 The question is defensively.
39:23 It'll always be defense.
39:24 It'll always be, 'cause he won't have to shoot in Europe.
39:27 He won't have to stretch the floor necessarily.
39:30 They'll throw it on a mid-post, low block,
39:32 let him go to work.
39:34 He can read doubles.
39:34 He can read triple teams.
39:36 His footwork is impeccable.
39:37 Offensively, it wouldn't be a walk in the park,
39:40 but he'll feel very comfortable.
39:42 He'll feel at home.
39:44 - Well, he plays so well through contact.
39:46 That was one of the things, like, he feels contact.
39:48 He invites it 'cause he knows where the defense is,
39:50 spins off of it, or steps through the contact.
39:53 So, I mean, I agree.
39:55 I think stay here as long as you can
39:57 until there's an opportunity over there
39:59 that you can't say no to.
40:00 - Yeah, until it makes sense.
40:02 I mean, physicality-wise, it's more physical over there.
40:06 It's more, refs let you get away
40:10 with a little bit more.
40:12 But, I mean, I think he gets better.
40:15 I mean, in my experience as well,
40:18 like, when you leave Gonzaga, he's one of the greats,
40:21 if not the greatest.
40:22 He's one of the greats.
40:23 But you get better professionally.
40:25 Like, all these guys, all of us,
40:26 we've gotten better professionally.
40:28 We've gotten, you know, and it comes with, you know,
40:31 opportunity, timing, more film,
40:35 ability to work on your game, what have you.
40:38 But he's gonna get better.
40:40 He hasn't peaked at all.
40:42 So, I'm looking forward to seeing what he does.
40:44 - Yeah, I think staying here is probably
40:47 the best thing to do and giving it,
40:49 I think, like, at least giving it two more summer leagues
40:52 'cause he's gonna still be young.
40:54 And then, if you have good tape there,
40:56 then you could maybe jump a tier in Europe, right?
41:00 And then, so you start at a better level.
41:02 So, I think he can do the Europe game.
41:05 You know, you have to be able to stretch the floor
41:08 a little bit in that, but it's a more traditional,
41:11 throw it in the post, hit short rolls,
41:14 which he's obviously very good at.
41:15 And then, he can read double teams.
41:16 They like that, kickouts for wide open threes.
41:19 So, I think the NBA is a possibility.
41:25 It is for a lot of guys.
41:26 He's just gotta find the right spot
41:28 and I'd give it, like, a good two summer leagues,
41:30 at least, or two camps.
41:32 And then, if not, then go play in Europe
41:33 and have a great career.
41:34 I mean, look at Kevin Pangos had a great career overseas.
41:36 Wilts is still playing over there.
41:38 There's a lot of great experiences and money you can make.
41:42 Rob Sackrey played in Japan, was making really good money.
41:45 And there was guys that I played with
41:47 that were still in Japan and they're probably
41:50 making 250 guaranteed a year.
41:51 You know what I'm saying?
41:52 Like, it's a pretty good lifestyle.
41:54 - Yeah. - You know what I'm saying?
41:54 So, hopefully he does well.
41:57 It's early, a lot of pressure on him,
41:59 just 'cause, like you said, how decorated he is.
42:01 But I think he'll figure out a way,
42:02 'cause he's a smart kid, hard worker.
42:05 He'll figure out a way to find his niche in the pro game.
42:08 - Coaching.
42:10 We talked a little bit about Coach Pheu.
42:12 You've been in some workouts with me.
42:14 Adam and I have had this conversation.
42:15 Like, I think Adam would be a terrific coach.
42:17 It hasn't gone, he hasn't made that decision to do that.
42:21 I think if you wanted to get into coaching,
42:24 you would be pretty dang good.
42:25 What are you doing in regards to,
42:28 what are your plans now that you're done playing,
42:30 being back in Spokane?
42:31 - So, for one, thank you.
42:34 I appreciate the kind words.
42:36 So, next year, I'll be either at Baylor as a GA on staff,
42:42 or I'll be following John Jakes,
42:47 if he decides to go get a head coaching job.
42:50 It never, kind of, it was never appealing to me
42:55 to necessarily coach.
42:56 On one hand, I know what the coaches go through.
42:58 - Yeah, exactly.
43:00 It's a lot of work, man.
43:01 - Yeah, like, I worked hard,
43:03 but those guys work a lot harder.
43:04 - It's a lot of down, boring time.
43:06 - Absolutely.
43:08 They're in the gym eight, 10, 12 hours
43:12 away from their families.
43:12 I'm just like, for me, that was one of the reasons
43:17 why I decided to stop playing,
43:19 was just the concept of time.
43:21 Being away from my family,
43:23 being away from my son, my mother.
43:25 That was one of the things that, kind of,
43:29 was a catalyst for my decision.
43:33 But I also think about, would I have to give back,
43:37 and if I can help.
43:39 So, I'm the beneficiary of a lot of great coaches,
43:42 a lot of great men, and I've learned a lot over the years.
43:45 So, I'm going to go GA, or I'll be on staff with Jacobs,
43:50 and I'll see if I like it or not,
43:52 see if I want to pursue it.
43:54 But as corny as it sounds, I just want to help.
43:58 And if I could help someone, and it's not like,
44:01 I remember the first week of the fall league,
44:04 Marcus is in the stands, Marcus Cody,
44:08 and he's like, "You seem like you don't want to be here."
44:12 And I told him it's the opposite, right?
44:14 Because I see a lot of coaches,
44:17 one thing that frustrates me about the coaching,
44:21 especially the grassroots,
44:23 is the vanity of the parents or the adults.
44:27 They're living vicariously through these kids,
44:30 and they're living to recreate their lives
44:32 through these children.
44:33 And I told him, for that setting, it was the opposite.
44:38 I want the kids to make mistakes,
44:42 I want the kids to experience,
44:43 I want the kids to feel free out there.
44:47 They don't need me making a body gesture
44:51 every time they miss a shot,
44:52 or every time they turn the ball over.
44:53 They don't need criticism,
44:55 they don't need me to condemn them,
44:57 they don't need me to tell them to do X, Y, and Z,
44:59 every play down the court, every possession down the court.
45:04 And I would love to coach, if I do this,
45:07 I would love to coach how I would want to be coached,
45:09 which is to hold them accountable,
45:13 to give positive reinforcement,
45:15 give them confidence to be the fullness of themselves.
45:18 And it's not a dictatorship.
45:23 Like when I work out kids at shoot 360 or whatever,
45:27 it's not me teaching you guys,
45:29 I'm learning from you as well.
45:31 If I teach it, I get to learn it twice.
45:33 And I get to see you hoop,
45:34 and I get to see what you struggle with,
45:36 I get to see what you're good at,
45:38 I get to see how you challenge,
45:39 or how you handle adversity, handle pressure,
45:44 handle things that you're uncomfortable with.
45:46 So I say all that to say, if I do do it,
45:51 I have to be all in.
45:54 Because for 27 years of my life,
45:56 I've done exactly what I wanted to do, and I've loved it.
45:59 And I can't hop into something that I don't love,
46:02 because I'll be doing myself a disservice,
46:05 but I'll be doing the people that I'm around
46:07 a disservice even more.
46:10 - Yeah, no, you're exactly right.
46:12 You got a lot of great points there.
46:13 But the funny thing is, you mentioned Baylor.
46:16 Like a lot of Gonzaga fans, like,
46:17 "Oh, Baylor, they beat us in the National Tournament."
46:19 Baylor's as connected to Gonzaga as you could imagine.
46:22 Coach Pheu and Coach Drew are great friends.
46:25 Rem Bakkemis, who used to work with us at Scorebook Live,
46:28 went to be a GA, because Jacobs talked him into it.
46:32 And now he's with Tommy in Arizona.
46:34 Yeah, that's awesome that when the time comes,
46:37 and you're gonna start, it's gonna be there.
46:39 - Yeah, and I hope this doesn't rub anyone the wrong way,
46:42 because I'm a zag through and through.
46:45 - But you're from Texas, too.
46:46 So it's like down the road from home.
46:47 - I am from Texas, exactly.
46:48 It's an hour 15 from Austin,
46:51 so I'll be closer to my family.
46:53 I'm not going there for just, you know,
46:56 Scott Drew, I'm going there for John Jacobs.
46:57 And John Jacobs and Tommy, those are my guys.
47:00 Like, every recruit, we have our guys.
47:02 I don't know who your guy was when you were here.
47:04 - It was Tommy.
47:05 - Yeah, so Tommy and Jacobs, those are my guys.
47:08 Tommy recruited me here.
47:09 And obviously, I've had conversations with Jacobs
47:13 about this since like December, January,
47:16 where when I was juggling, making the decision.
47:21 So I hope this doesn't rub any zag fans the wrong way.
47:25 I'm a zag through and through.
47:26 I love it here.
47:27 This is my second home.
47:28 But I think a change of pace, change of scenery.
47:32 And I've seen like, this is like the pinnacle
47:34 of the bigs, right?
47:36 This is the pinnacle.
47:38 And now I think Baylor is the complete opposite
47:41 where it's like, guard you.
47:43 - Yeah.
47:43 - And I think that for me,
47:45 I think that tailors to what I wanna do
47:49 a little bit more going forward.
47:51 But I've seen both.
47:52 Like, I'm taking my experiences here.
47:54 And even if I don't go to Baylor,
47:57 like, I'm taking my experiences here
47:59 and possibly sharing them with anyone
48:04 who I come in contact with.
48:05 So I'm looking forward to it.
48:06 - Awesome.
48:07 You got anything last to wrap up with Eric?
48:09 - Good talking to you, man.
48:10 - Always, brother.
48:11 - Always.
48:12 - Always, always.
48:13 Can I tell the most story?
48:14 - Absolutely.
48:15 - It depends if it's gonna.
48:17 - Yeah, let's hear it.
48:19 No, it's a good one.
48:20 It's a good one.
48:20 It's a good one.
48:21 So it was my red shirt year.
48:23 It was my red shirt year at Gonzaga.
48:26 My red shirt semester.
48:27 And J3, he was red shirt as well
48:31 because he had just transferred from the zoo.
48:34 So on road trips, even on game days,
48:37 like, Mo would work us out.
48:39 So it was, I think they were away on this one.
48:41 And we were in the McCarthy Center.
48:43 And we were working out.
48:44 Mo took us through like a 45 minute workout.
48:46 And then we played once.
48:48 So we played, we played spots.
48:51 We played like five spots.
48:53 And all like mid-post, 17 feet type stuff.
48:58 Like three dribbles, two dribbles.
49:01 (sighs)
49:03 And it's just one of those things where it's like,
49:05 it's like the folklore.
49:06 Like you hear certain things,
49:08 but it's not until you actually experience it.
49:10 Yeah, it's like, I've heard all these stories.
49:13 And he worked out with us and we were playing once.
49:17 And it was just like, we couldn't do anything with him, bro.
49:20 It's like, he'll get to his spot, raise, pop.
49:24 We're like, I'm fouling him too.
49:26 Like I'm physical.
49:26 - I remember that day.
49:27 (laughing)
49:29 - Has he given some commentary too?
49:30 - Yeah, well--
49:31 - It was light though.
49:32 It was light.
49:33 It was light, go ahead.
49:34 - Well, so we were working them out
49:37 and they were playing once.
49:38 I was like, well, I'll jump in.
49:39 And I'm like back to the basket or mid-post.
49:41 'Cause I can't move.
49:42 I had my Vans on, pants on.
49:44 (laughing)
49:45 So I won, I think I won four of the seven
49:48 or something like that.
49:49 And I remember like, yeah, yeah.
49:51 And when I walked to my car,
49:52 so such out of shape that I threw up going to my car.
49:55 (laughing)
49:56 And I've told this story.
49:57 I'm glad you bring it up.
49:58 I've told people, I've asked,
49:59 when's the last time you played basketball?
50:00 That was the last time I played competitive basketball.
50:04 - No way, bro.
50:04 - Was that day.
50:05 - Never again?
50:06 - I've never run up and down the floor.
50:07 'Cause I was like, I'm gonna pop an Achilles.
50:09 I'm gonna puke again.
50:10 But that day was the last one.
50:13 - It was light too.
50:14 That's a great way to go out.
50:16 We went out on top.
50:17 - Yeah, I went out on top.
50:17 It was fun though.
50:18 I remember that day.
50:19 And yeah, it was light, lighthearted trash talk.
50:23 But I was like, guys, I've been on the couch
50:25 for like five years now.
50:26 Like, come on.
50:27 Do you know what I'm saying?
50:28 - Yeah.
50:29 - That's a flex.
50:30 That's a flex.
50:30 That's a flex.
50:31 - It was fun.
50:32 - It was fun.
50:33 - That's awesome.
50:34 Well, Eric, appreciate you joining Adam and I.
50:36 This has been another episode of Talking Zags
50:39 in Gonzaga Nation.
50:41 (upbeat music)
50:44 (upbeat music)