May 10, 2023 • 37 mins
Ryan talks with 2007 #1 Overall Pick Greg Oden about his emotional Draft Night as well as how difficult it was for him to face big men like Shaq and Yao Ming in the NBA.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
How's everybody doing. I want to welcome you into a
very special episode of NBA Rookie Life with Brian Hollins.
I have one of my favorite people on the planet
on the podcast today. This brother is as cool as
the other side of the pillow. I challenge everybody to
take a deep dive into his story. He's one of
the most decorated ball players we have seen play the game.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Absolute stuff.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
He was the first pick in the two thousand and
seven draft.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Forgive me that may give it away.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
This brother was dominant at every level, footwork, touch around
the basket, feel of the game.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Ahead of his time.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
This brother has one of the most amazing stories, none
other than my dog, mister Greg Olden.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Greg, let's go with your baby. I'm good brother. Thanks
for having me man, Greg.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
First off, I think it is so important for you
to be on because your story is a special one
and as ballplayers, I think we all don't know when
that ball stops bouncing. But for me it's even more
bro because I want to tell your story.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Brother.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
You were one of the biggest stories, like I guess
in the league in the sense of your talent. But Greg,
I want to dive into the draft process with you.
You had a unique process because you killed at Ohio
s that you and Mike and I played with Mike,
I played with you, so it's really cool. And I
think I was a little bit ahead of you, but
I got a chance to watch your journey and see
(01:23):
the hive and everything you would definitely, you guys were
definitely the show. And you guys showed out over in college.
But talk to me about the draft process once college
ended and it was full steam ahead towards the draft.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
What was that like?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And like for a man to have that much hype
you are cool as the other side of the pillow dog, Like,
how did that work? So talk me through that.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Did you care?
Speaker 1 (01:43):
What was your mindset? What was your days like leading
into the draft?
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I was very nervous put it like that. I think
we kind of had an idea I was going to
be one or two. I mean I only went and
worked out for Portland and I did a visit for Seattle,
So it was just kind of like it was going
to be. If Portland doesn't get me, Seattle's going to
take that pick. That was our thought process in the camp.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Y'all know, y'all taking me stopped playing.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
I mean, hey, that's what the projection said, so for sure,
So it just made sense, you know, being in New
York doing all those interviews, doing a lot of training,
media training, just to be ready, getting to meet a
lot of new people that haven't before, business people, business meetings.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
So you did media training before even you play today
in the NBA because like a guy like myself, it
started in summer league. So you were doing that even
prior to the drivet Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I mean throughout high school we would have camps that
we would get opportunities to do a little bit of
media training too, but especially after leaving those state in
those couple of months before the draft, we was definitely
doing some media training, making sure we was just able
to talk to people and not stumble across our words
and just be more professional.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
As the draft came along, you said, the workouts went well.
You were doing your things training. Obviously you put it
down in college, so you like your work was essentially
already done. How did you feel going into the draft, like, Okay,
training's done, Draft days coming up? What was your agency?
You said, the nerves were there? Why was were the
nerves there? Was it just because the NBA was something
you hadn't seen before. Like, I mean, brother, you were
(03:18):
first thing on Sports Center and all that, Like how
was that?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I mean, my agency they did everything possible to make
sure I was ready and prepared for that moment. But
also I was nervous because you got to think, just
over a year and maybe two months ago, I'm playing
against a six sixth center in the state championship game
in high school for sure, So you know, I'm still
young thinking I gotta go up against Dwight Howard here
in a few months. I gotta be ready. So I mean,
(03:44):
there was just instant nerves coming there with any type
of change. But uh, one thing that was cool that
everybody in my agency got me to do. I went
and saw a first screening of Transformers one on draft day,
so like during the day, I have my little tree,
I ain't in. I had some interviews, but then about
five or six hours before the draft, I ended up
(04:06):
going to see a special screen in the Transformers and
I was big into that. I still aim I can't
wait for the new one to come out. So that
was big time for me. That was something I remember
and it relaxed me before the draft or context.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
But those who don't know, when Greg tell me if
I'm brought big dog. When Transformers one came out, like
CGI wise, there was nothing else like it. Like I
remember coming out of that movie theater when I watched it,
I wasn't Charlotte at the time, and I was like
in shock, like, oh my gosh, Greg.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Not at all.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I mean, it was freaking amazing. I mean that was
just the type of stuff. But I was a nerd
like that, So I loved all type of movies and
that was the one most hype ones that I was
able to see.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, okay, so talk me through the draft that you
go see Transformers one. You did, all the interviews, you
did Who's there with you?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Man?
Speaker 1 (04:54):
And obviously you know, I think the competition was it
was you and KD. That was like the story you know,
kind of like like dial there. Walk me through that.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Well, you know, Mike Conley Senior and Bill Duffy with
BDA definitely the agents that were with me.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
But j R.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Hensley and Jody Evans, those are my people. They it
was with me everywhere, so they were with me that day.
You know, after Transformers had to rush back take a shower,
and get dressed, put on that suit. Everybody know you
got to have your best suit ready, the one that
looked best for you. I just didn't want to look
terrible and be talked about being the worst dress. So
(05:35):
I know, to today's standards, my suit was definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Big, But I thought I looked good. I looked good enough,
at least what it looked like.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
What it looked like, because I know you not a
flash some smack girl.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It was a little I think the tie was really nice,
but it was just a blue suit. The pants were
a little wide because that was the style back then,
a little baggy pants. But uh yeah, you know, I
thought it looked good. It wasn't bad because, as you said,
I'm not too flashy, so I don't like to do
too much.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Walk me through the moment, man, What are the feelings
that vibes emotions when your name was actually called?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
With a first pick in the two thousand and seven
NBA Draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Greg Odin from Ohio
State University.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Well, I mean at the table, I know Mike Senior
was moving between our table and Mike Conley Junior's table,
which they were close but coming up to that first one.
I had my mom, my dad, my grandmother and my
brother there and you know, just not.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Knowing what Portland was going to do.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
You know, KD was special that year at Texas, so
coming out they could just say, you know, we're going
with KD. It just makes sense. You know, he was
the best all around player in that draft. But hearing
my name called, you know, that was back then when
they told you, you know, hug the person on your right,
hugged the person on your left.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Get up there.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
We on time for straight.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So I really didn't go around the table like they
do now they go to two or three tables hugging people.
So you know, I hugged my mom and my dad
and gave my grandmother a kiss. And I went up there,
and I promise you the one thing I was thinking
it was just a whirl when but I was thinking
of don't trip walking up these dawnstairs. I got these
(07:21):
big shoes on. I was like, you better not trip,
and look on, goofy your friend. All these people then
one pick, but it was up there. You know, David stirred.
You know, he gives you an that's little hug. He says, welcome,
to the league and you kind of just see all
those lights, you start sweating like a uh And it
was just a little release knowing that it was over
(07:42):
with and thinking, I'm just going to enjoy this moment
with my family. And then I was the first one
called back and the last one to be done doing
interviews at the end of the night. So it began
a long night of just you know, being prepared. So
that's why I was doing all that media train before,
because that was going to be a long day for me.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
And it was, well, I see you super polished now, cool, calm,
collected like at that time, oh, eight seventeen, eighteen year old,
now eighteen nineteen, were you a little rougher around the
edges or a little shyer like you know, was this
stuff you had to work on?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Media wise? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
You know, I was two years removed from standing up
in front of my English class and swaying saying one
page of a paper that I wrote. You know, you know,
just getting used to talking to people, you know, on
that big stage. You know, that's not something that everybody
just grows up with.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
I was used to doing interviews or used to talking
to Indiana reporters, But it wasn't like something that I
was going to go through on that national stage from
a you know, a name call. You become one of
the biggest celebrities for a span of a few months
in this country, so I mean not along the world sometimes.
So it was definitely something you had to prepare for,
(08:58):
and my team did a great job and making sure
that I got as much tools as I can and
to be ready for that moment.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I know when people tell you, like your life will
never be the same, Like I can't imagine being drafted
one Like, was there anybody or an experience at the
draft or in New York or someone that kind of
had like reached out to you like, oh dang, like
this is a it's Michael Jordan on my phone right
now or at a thing and you're looking around like
my life is completely different.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Now.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Did you have a moment or did someone called you
or hit you and was like, all right, this a
little different than high school. Okay.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Honestly, man, I was so busy doing interviews that I
don't even think I had time to look at my phone.
By the time I looked at my phone, it was
the end of the night. And it was like, look,
you got one hour to pack, but we got to
be on this plane headed out to Portland.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yo.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, it was changed. You know, it wasn't that much
time with my family to enjoy. I thought I was
gonna go ahead, turn up in New York real quick,
you know, as a young man. But you know, you
have responsibilities. I think that was the thing that really hit.
It was like, now you got your job. Now you
got to get out to the West Coast and you
got to be there for the people. You got to
(10:08):
be there for that team and start that work on
that journey.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
All right, hold on, don't go nowhere. Coming up next,
Greg is gonna tell us what it's like to guard shack.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, imagine stepping into those shoes garden shacks.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
They told you.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Don't let you know what it's like coming up next
to ANBA rookie life. Talk to me about the first
time that you joined the team, because a lot of
people don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Obviously you went straight out there.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, Summer league is one thing even kind of
you know, like doing summer workouts. You know, we'll do
workouts in the summer pre draft stuff, like you talked
about it you know, I don't know about you, like
I didn't like some guys have been in the gym
with all stars and pros the whole time. I saw
that a little bit, but I didn't just get to
work out with guys. What was it like when the
whole team got there at training camp and you're looking
(11:00):
over at the vets, looking over at the players. What
was that feeling? Was it anybody who kind of took
you under their wing early on as a young rook
and was like, hey man, you with me, or you know,
talk to me about that experience when you first joined
the team with like, hey man, this ain't college no more.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Mines was a little different set up, man, because you
got to think, by the time the whole entire team
came back, I had already had my season ending surgery.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I got that kind of in between the start of
the season and right after Summer League ended. It was
in between when I got that season in the surgery.
So by the time the team came, you know, I
wasn't in there working out. I was already rehabbing. So
I guess a guy who I would say, who I
got to spend some time with with Darius Miles because
me and him was in the practice facility working out
(11:48):
a lot during that time in the summer. A lot
of guys weren't really there yet in the city. But
you know, I think Steve Blake was the one who
really was like, I got to get my big feeling
in this team, you know, to make sure he would
take me to dinner, be around his family and make
sure I felt comfortable getting used to stuff in the transition.
(12:10):
You know, Me, Brandon LaMarcus were all really still young
at that time, and I know they were going into
their second year, coming from rookies to actual real vets
and actually leading the team. So yeah, it was a
little different than most people coming in. You all blood
sweating tears that same week together. Mine as was, I'm
(12:30):
already on the sidelines and I'm just sitting here, you know,
swimming elliptical, doing everything I can and be around, but
I'm not really around the team because I'm always rehabbing
and it's kind of looking forward to the next year.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Did you get any advice, you know, by the way,
shout out to Darius Miles Man. He came home man
went major love to d Miles Man. That's super o
g he was a guy who you could actually talk
to about that that journey. Did you get any advice
from him or what were those talks like kind of
like look at least brother, you somebody who gets it,
you know, did you guys have any of those talks like, look, gee,
I know, it's a whole different thing where we were picked.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Yeah. I mean with d for one, it was you
know we out here in the West Coast.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
It's different. Yeah, yeah, you know, that's the one thing.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
You just gotta get used to this West Coast, used
to this organization, used to just being a pro. That's
kind of the things that we talked about. Specifically. I
can't tell you exactly what we talked about, but it
was more about getting my life together outside the court,
because I definitely had a year of knowing that I'm
going to be rehabing, No, I'm going to be in
the city, knowing that I'm a young man and gonna
(13:36):
want to do some things, but just how to maneuver,
you know, out there on the West Coast, coming from
the Midwest. For both of us, and I got to
get out that I was a big fan. I used
to see him in all them movies, when I was
a kid and knowing what he did.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Oh yeah with the Clippers. I had to get that
out quick, all right.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
G When you when you get on the court and
you're finally playing, was there a guy that surprised you
that you were like, dang dog, this ain't college of
high school, you know, because you was a bad man,
don't get me wrong, but when you got a chance
to play or even one of the OG's in practice
kind of like, man, NBN is different or like did
you have anybody that kind of kind of like you
just stot like I'm gonna walk through this. Man, It
(14:17):
was like, okay, this is this is not college no more.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I mean I'm not, you know, because every practice was
a learning experience. So technically for me out there, this
is my second year, but you know, my my vet.
The guy who I had to play behind was Joe
Chris Billa. And you know Joe, you know, it might
not have been the sexiest you know, on court game,
but he never stopped man and he was so solid
(14:45):
man getting you offensive rebounds, defending, just being an anchor
on that defense man. And it was like if you
got to go up against him, you gotta be ready.
To go the whole entire time he in there, He's
not gonna stop. So that was something that I definitely
looked up to it and got to learning see while
I was sitting out. But I want to say that
the guy that really hit me with y'all mean, man,
(15:07):
stop it, y'all. Yeah, I was different, man. Yeah, I
mean and obviously shocked. I mean, that's a whole nother story.
My favorite shock story was he's posting up and I'm
trying to like defend him and put my arm around,
get my three.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
This phoenix. Okay, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Man. He was so big, I swear to god, I
couldn't see that the guard or the wing trying to
give him the ball. I'm looking around for the ball.
I mean, he was so huge. But I want to
say with y'all, because he was so tall, you couldn't
move him. No matter how much weight you put on him,
you couldn't move him. And then it'll take two dribbles
(15:50):
back you down and didn't do a turn around, two
foot jumper in your face, and you couldn't block it
because he was so tall, and I mean he's just
had everything. So so y'all was kind of the toughest one.
It was probably the hardest guy I had to guard
at that time.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Nah man.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
And for those who don't know, you know when Greg
says it was tough to move. And that's important for
a post player to move a guy off the block
because you lean on a guy to kind of get
them all balance, get your positioning. Then you want him
to fight for positions. So when you go to as
a big guy, you kind of know you in trouble.
You go to push a guy leaning he don't move,
Oh my god, man.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
And I knew I was strong at the time, putting
this on work for years and come against big yal Man,
it's tough, but he's a great player.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
And gee, I got to give you your flowers.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I was in Charlotte and we played against you, and
you know, you had a name, so for all the
other big men in the league, it was a target
on your back. And I was like, all right, this
dude ain't really like that. And I remember like kind
of going up to you and standing next year, I'm like, okay,
he is kind of like you know a lot of
people say they seven fort it ain't seven. I was like, yeah,
he's as tall as he said. Okay, he's big too. Yeah, okay, okay,
let's see. But you know I was I'm skinny. Oh geez.
(17:00):
I'm like, all right, let me try to hit him.
And I hit you one time. You ain't moved, and
you did, you know, normally you hit somebody, turn around
and they watch out. I hit you, You turn around, you
ain't move. I'm like, all right, this deale might be.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
The real deal.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
And I remember, I'll never forget a dog. Like you know,
we're similar in the sense like I'm an help defender.
So I remember going out and helping and the thing
is for us, you can help and get back. And
used to garden two people and I helped off you
and before my head turned, you were in the rim
monkey dunk in the basket and I was just like
(17:32):
I was. I was like, I was like, okay, biggie
strong and he's fat. Like your quick jump was so ridiculous, bro,
Like I gotta give you your flowers, And I'm just like, nah,
he's all that. He's all that, because gee, you could
not just could you play the like okay, let's out
athlete that's tough, Like your footwork is impeccable brother.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Man.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Listen, hang right there, don't go nowhere. Greg is gonna
break down one of his monster games and why it
actually happened. And he's gonna let you know who the
sleeper the draft is. Yeah, you heard of the sleeper
of the draft. And Greg has some unique things in
saying that you probably didn't know. So stay tuned. We'll
be right back here on the NBA Rookie Life. All right, Greg,
(18:17):
let's step into the NBA Rookie Life film room. Listen, Greg,
you you're the first first pick in the draft. Dog,
I'm living through you. What what was it like? Because
you only had one workout? We talked about it earlier.
We got some film here. Tell me what's going on
when you're the first pick in the draft and you're
here working out for the team. So what were you doing?
I know, listen, I worked out in Portland. They try
to kill me up there. Okay, Money and coach Lucas
(18:39):
and mc miller. So talk to me about this experience. Man,
what's going on here?
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Let's go again?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Go fovea bulls out.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
You hope you catch whoa ripped through? Well?
Speaker 3 (19:36):
First, just going through some read and react stuff in
the post, stuff I haven't done before, and then definitely
getting out and running, making sure I can make some
quick decisions, switch into the.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Floor really quick.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Uh, just so you know, the most nervous I was
when I was stretching because I didn't know what was
about to come. First time going through that stuff, not
really knowing what to expect. I feel like I could
have been definitely more in shape for this, but as
you know, these workouts are made for you to use
up all of your energy and whatever. However hard you
(20:09):
think it's gonna be, it's gonna be a little harder,
you know, getting a chance to sold my athleticism and
then working on some defensive stuff. You know, in those workouts,
it's not just about what you can do offensively. You
got to be able to show, especially for me, am,
I gonna be able to protect the rim, you know,
be the backup, be the anchor of that defense, be
able to help some guys out, and that goes into
that draft process. And I definitely went through all of
(20:31):
those and as you can see in my Ohio State
Lebron's I was still wearing those my lucky charms.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
And then that drill right.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
There is a little rebounding drill that that coach Bay
know that I still use today with some of my guys,
some of my bigs when I worked them out, and yeah, man,
it was a lot of stuff and as you can see,
i'm drained. That's probably my second shirt. It was a
lot of up and down, and to be honest with you,
it was more up and down then I thought it
would be through those workouts. But I thought it was good.
(21:04):
And one thing that a lot of people don't know,
I think I did a second workout for him, just
to make sure because I don't think I felt like
I was in the right shape as you can tell
me breathing all hard through that one.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
So you set it up and came back.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Yeah, I had to come back and get another workout
in man, And luckily they believed in me and gave
me the opportunity to get that second workout in just
making sure that I was in better shape. But you know,
that summer I actually did have something. I had my
tonsils taken out because during summer league, I was dealing
with that as well, getting tired real quick, you know,
just getting fatigued, and I don't think I was getting
(21:40):
as much oxygen you know as I thought I was,
And I always had tons lightis every summer. So yeah,
right at like mid summer league, I ended up getting
my tonsils taken out.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Man, for those who don't know, for a ball player,
our conditioning and our cardio ability to breathe is everything.
And also what's different. You actually got Nate on the
floor running the listen when I went and they didn't
run the workout.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Man, Man, nah, this is it was. It was definitely
something different. Looking back at those I might have to
take them for some of my young boys. I have
to go back and look at that at this pre
draft and use some of these things for my guys.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
And Greg, I'm gonna tell you right now, if I'm
a scout or somewhere from that, b Roy was in
the building, man, I'm sure the markets went too far away,
and the markets was probably in Dallas hooping probably. Yeah,
I'm gonna tell you right now. The way you took
off and ran, big fella, I was like, check, yeah,
we gotta get here. You took off, man, you have
(22:38):
you have some wheels, man for a big fellow that's strong,
you could pick them up and put him down. All right, gee,
let's get to it. Let's get to another clip.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Man.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I think that was some cool stuff there. And for
those who don't know, like every time you take a shot,
every time you rebab, you're thinking about this is gonna
impact where you are going to live, like where you're
going the money you're gonna make that like, so like
those nerves and anxiety are behind that, man, So big fellow,
hats off to you for killing it and then having
See that's an og move, Greg, that's a throwback move, Like, nah,
(23:08):
I didn't do good enough. I'm coming back after. I'm
you know, in shape where I want to be. I'm
gonna show y'all again. So hats off to you, brother.
People don't know what.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
That's I don't think it was more of me. It
was more can we get another workout?
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Events.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I wish I was that o g to be like, nah,
I need to do another one, But it was more
of a request.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
It was more I.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Needed to do another one. We got it done. Now
we put you down.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
We talked about big PRIs Beller putting palls on you, man,
but let's go ahead and bring you back and y'all
being and shocking that. Let's bring you back up, man,
because you showed out in your rookie year. We found
some footage here and we want to see a coach
g coach Og. We'll call you coach Og. We'll flip
the odining and Greg for right now, let's break this
the clip down and talk to me about this career
high night. Man, you went off against the Bucks and
(23:53):
let me know, man, did you have cereal for breakfast?
Did you have ohe?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Man?
Speaker 1 (23:56):
What was going on here? Every white shut up, both
of the head coach a teller telling up this old year.
Shut up, run total. They better fight school by then.
He's got a nape mind right here. When the body
jump early, they see right down. Many corrects French can
(24:21):
of the other end. Now for the school holding stop
shit again? What were these reads? If you remember this game? Man,
but you you definitely showed out and like when you
had twenty four and fifteen, it was like dominant. It
was it different when your center does that, it's different.
That's the way that you played the impact on the game.
So walk me through this game, Greg.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Well, this game it was January nineteenth, so my birthday
is the twenty second. So if I'm not mistaken, let's see. Well,
first off, a game like this. You know, it was
always big for me to always go on the offensive glass.
Look at t Outlaw going to work. Oh man, I
(25:05):
had good players, Rudy and he's still playing over there
in Spain doing this thing.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Man.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
We had we had a good team. Man, I just
think we had great players. We caught some mismatches and
for me at that time, being the dominant guy in
the post, it just worked with all the wings and
all the movements we had. You know, something like this,
you know, get guys going to the middle, spin back,
go the opposite way, being bigger to shoot right over them,
and always going to the glass, setting picks, getting guys open.
(25:34):
That's going to just create stuff for you, you know.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And great, the one thing I love, you always played
the right way, Like was this something you've always done
or was there a coach that imprinted that you know
in you? But like you were just out working big
Oh my god, gee, you dunking that thing. That's not
saying he was monkey dunking that he was dunking different.
But where'd that mentality come from?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Ah? Man?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Shoot my first dunk in the seventh grade in the game.
Once I realized I can dunk in the game and
I can touch that room seventh grade.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Wait what grade?
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Yeah, my first dunk was seventh grade. And once I
did that, I was like, why don't I just do
this every time? Easier to get up on this rim
and make sure I get my two points and it's dominant.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
So big fellow, you the pasel.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Man, that's just that's the equivalent of the d N
getting a random interception. Nah, I guess this was a
good game. I think I was getting ready for my
twenty first birthday, to be honest with you. Yeah that
was two thousand and nine. Yeah, I was born in
(26:44):
eighty eight, So yeah, I think I was a little
excited and a little ready. I had to show off
and know that this next next chapter of my life.
You know, I wanted to look up. So I gave
him all this game. No, man, it definitely performs. And
I'm telling you, even the way that you're scoring and
the things that you're doing, you still are different.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Man.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
You're different, brother, the way that you're moving, your anticipation skills,
hitting the glass to IQ and I think like we're
at that age, Greg, where it's time for us to
give it back to somebody. So I love that you're
coaching and you're giving back, man, But I mean just
the stuff you were doing, brother, This one was different, Greg,
when you had that double double, it was different. And
like you know, for a player like you, your impact
(27:26):
on the game didn't always had to be in points.
You know, if you had nine and eight like that
was a winning play. Like, big fellow, what's going on
here at the point?
Speaker 2 (27:35):
I know you just rolling?
Speaker 1 (27:36):
They flopping on old plates?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Talk to me, do that?
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Hey, this is just being on balance. I mean all
these guys, you know, they flopped these days, especially when
you send picks when you're going through the lane when
you're strong, they're going to flop. So learning how to
be on balance and how to take it Greg, Hey,
the left hand was up. I learned a long time ago,
especially in college, you know, not having my right for
that year, you know, and I just got comfortable with
(27:59):
it to thet where you know you can just go
to that you know, guy's preparing for you to go right,
you know, go back to that left. You know, That's
something that I had always still to this day when
the guys come on recruiting visits, I go ahead and
beat them with my left hand jays really Oh yeah,
game of pig. Every recruit, you're gonna lose to me
off hand bank shot from the free throw line.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Go ahead, get that thing, big fellow. What about what
about that Greg?
Speaker 3 (28:23):
You had just being a rear protector man, just just
trying to do everything that I've done since I was
a kid, man being my height, learning defense first. You know,
you had to play that way, you know, having a
great point guard like Sergio putting me in good spots.
You know, this was a good game. Man, were dominating Greg.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Do you know when you jump it looks different. Do
you know when you dunk? Everybody like, oh, like did
you do you realize that or do you just hear
the reactions when you would do stuff? Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
So it was my favorite, and it was from Darius Miles.
I don't know if I can cuss on here, go ahead,
go ahead. It was like he was like, go you different.
He was like, as soon as I saw you at
your first workout, called my boys like we got one.
He's just I was like what he was like when
he get on that rip he goes, and I used
(29:15):
to always make me laugh. But that was something I
just always did. Man, whenever I dunked, I always lift
my legs up and pulled my body up. Honestly, it
came from me trying to kick somebody when I got mad.
And that's just how all my dunks ended up being.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
See.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
I ain't want to talk about that, but I didn't
see the mean side of Greg Oden before. Like, you
are the nicest man on the planet. But if you
feel like it's game time, like I love that, you
definitely got that dog in you. Man, you got that
dog in you. All right, let's get to another clip. Man,
we got some more cool stuff here. Amazing job there, g.
And like I said, but I could watch these highlights.
(29:49):
I'm just I'm salivating. All But, like I said, at
that point in our age, it's time for us to
give it back to the next messa. We love coaching,
all right, g Let's stay in the NBA Rookie film room. Man,
we need coaching here. And gee, we got to talk
about Walker Kessler here. Man took it away the ronner.
Okay Kessler, Okay, there's crowd saying, oh, get out of here.
(30:13):
Front row well or the other impressive thing about Walker
Kessler is he gets back up off the floor quickly
jump sweat. Hey, this kid's really intriguing. Thirteen block shots down,
dropped it down in th HT. Wop that up and
put it home. Rocker Kessler, sky Walker he's having tapped
(30:35):
in comes up the d Walker Kestler there, watch tuss
He's got some branches in him. Take it den Trap
rocks twice, Robinson short and the rip bout of the corner. Beautiful.
Listen to this crowd here the Walker Kessler Cashler's got
(30:55):
that fished up. The fish popper came in number four
in block shots in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Puts the ball down.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Your ro steps inside blocked by Walker. My goodness for
swats in the first six minutes, STAPs it up and down. Locker. Gess, sir, please,
you're a man. My goodness, Baller is this fun? The
watch or what he is? I think arguably the sleeper
(31:22):
of the draft man. He and Tari Easton have just
said the NBA, but he's a throwback big and this
is the era where they don't take big men anymore.
And he just dominated Utah and stepped in and I'm
not gonna say he's rudy. He's filled those shoes, but
like man, they feel comfortable. I'll say that, man, what
do you see in Walker Kessler when you watch him play?
What about You know you played the position, so you
(31:43):
you can talk that talk man, What are you seeing
from Walker here? And break down his game for something
that the everyday fan may not know.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Well.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I mean, first thing, he's an old school big. He's
not scared to contest shots at the rim. He runs
the floor hard. He uses his lamp as a strength
for him, and he's strong with it. You know, a
lot of guys at that size can't you know, take
a hit and still able to get that block shot,
you know, but he's able to pump, fake move and
(32:11):
then get this reverse dump that he does so often
and so well. Yes, you know, he's just strong and
he's solid and this day and age as a big,
that's really what you need. You need a guy who
can play on the baseline, who can hit a spread three,
corner three if you need to, but who can run
the floor, defend and just not be a problem out
(32:32):
there when you're out there on the court. You know,
he's getting block shots he's getting offensive rebounds, he's getting assists.
I mean, he's affecting the game in multiple ways to
where he's able to use his left and the team
can use his length while he's out there when you
know other teams are playing small ball, that seven to
one is gonna come in handy, you know, and he's
doing things like that, you know, dunking over a defense,
(32:54):
or he's coming over and helping everybody else when a
guy is able to get past and shoot over you.
The's very solid man. And as you said, he is
a sleeper of this draft I think, and it's gonna
be hopefully good with a team that uses him the
right way for a long time.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Gee, do you feel like the game because of guys
like Walker Kessler may trend back towards having that traditional
center and say like, man, hey we need a shot blocker.
We're gonna you know, hey, we're gonna keep that big
guy in the dunker. We're gonna have a post up guy,
guy playing on the weak side. Do you feel like,
you know, he's that type of player that other teams
may say, Man, we need bigs back in the game.
Everybody trending towards small Greg you know how mean you
(33:31):
feel about that. But do you think he could be
that type of player?
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Well, because teams are going to that smaller ball getting
guys who are all about you know, six seven to
six ' nine six ten ish, a guy that can
come out there and take advantage and do stuff like this,
who's good in the pick and roll, who can jump
over defenses, who can get rebounds over defenses, who can
block shots on all the other guys on the other team.
(33:56):
I think they're gonna bring those guys back, but I
think they're already there. The Clint Capellas, you know, guys
who are just solid. They don't need the ball to
affect the game. They just run hard, offensive, rebounding, block shots.
And I think teams can use this because other teams
are going to that small ball type of game.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
If you had any advice for a guy like Walker Kessler,
you played the position at a very high level, what
would it be, Man, when you watch him play, what
would you say to them if you the chance to
talk to.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Him, Man, keep it going, work on getting a go
to move and the posts. I mean, that's just one
thing that's going to expand your game. If they can
give you the ball in the post and know that
you can get a bucket, but also getting those corner
threes in that top of the key three. I mean,
that's just something I feel like every big has the
half these days. So we can spread the floor as
well being out there. But you know, keep on going
(34:46):
to the glass, keep on protecting the paint, keep on
running the floor hard, learning how to play and picking rolls.
I mean, that's something that's going to keep him out
there on that floor and he has to keep it up.
But to add to his game, a go to move
and that three point is going to be big for
the length of his career.
Speaker 1 (35:02):
Well, shoot, man, amazing stuff there.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Greg.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Hopefully Walker, you know, can get this. He's a friend
of the show also, Man, shout out Walker Kessler. Man,
he had such a year, man, he was in that
Rookie of the Year running man.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
And you know, like I.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Said, I hate that we can't just talk about Walker
without saying something to Rudy Gobert. But those are big
shoes to feel, man, and that was a lot of
pressure on him, and hat talk for him for just
coming in and not trying to be Rudy but doing
his job and Rudy is a heck of a player.
I think he played great, and I think sometimes people
make it a it's not a competition. Rudy is a
heck of a player. Walker is a heck of a player.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
So it ended up working out. But Greg, thank you again,
my brother. I'm ecstatic for you. Every time I see
that those highlights, Man, I like watching it. Man, I'm
like that we had we still hadn't seen nothing like
you before in gig. The one thing we love to
do here is we love to get back and support you.
Took the time out of your day, and brother, I
know your schedule is crazy out coaching and recruiting and
(35:58):
doing all the thing. I'm to hang with us. So
where can the fans come and support you and watch
you and see Greg Oldin next?
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Man?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
Well, right now I'm coaching at Butler University. Go dogs.
We're gonna have a good summer a good year hopefully.
But also, you know, on Instagram, just at Greg Oldin,
you know, come say hi. I see pictures of me
and my family. That's all I really post and other bulldogs.
But appreciate you having me Ryan, you know you're my guy. Man.
(36:26):
I hope all this well with you and your family,
and thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
No, Man, I appreciate you brother, and like I said, man,
one of my favorite people. Man, I hope that more
people can check out your story and know, like I said,
you need your flowers. Brother, how much game you got, dog,
because I seen it firsthand. How much a game you
still got. Okay, we're a little older, so you can't
do it all the time, but how much game is there?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Man, appreciate you, big dog. Thank you man, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Appreciate you guys here on NBA Rookie Life for hanging
out with us. You guys are the most important part
of the show. But to keep this thing going, make
sure you like you follow, subscribe, tweet, untweet, whatever, and
just shout us out man and shared a good word.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
We appreciate you guys, like.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
I said, for hanging with us, and shoot us a
messenger to here and there. And we want to know
who would you like to see on NBA Ricky like
with Ryan Hollins. Thank you, thank you, love you guys
so much, and remember show us some support, show some
love and spread the word.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
See you next week.
How's everybody doing. I want to welcome you into a
very special episode of NBA Rookie Life with Brian Hollins.
I have one of my favorite people on the planet
on the podcast today. This brother is as cool as
the other side of the pillow. I challenge everybody to
take a deep dive into his story. He's one of
the most decorated ball players we have seen play the game.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Absolute stuff.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
He was the first pick in the two thousand and
seven draft.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Forgive me that may give it away.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
This brother was dominant at every level, footwork, touch around
the basket, feel of the game.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Ahead of his time.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
This brother has one of the most amazing stories, none
other than my dog, mister Greg Olden.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Greg, let's go with your baby. I'm good brother. Thanks
for having me man, Greg.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
First off, I think it is so important for you
to be on because your story is a special one
and as ballplayers, I think we all don't know when
that ball stops bouncing. But for me it's even more
bro because I want to tell your story.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Brother.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
You were one of the biggest stories, like I guess
in the league in the sense of your talent. But Greg,
I want to dive into the draft process with you.
You had a unique process because you killed at Ohio
s that you and Mike and I played with Mike,
I played with you, so it's really cool. And I
think I was a little bit ahead of you, but
I got a chance to watch your journey and see
(01:23):
the hive and everything you would definitely, you guys were
definitely the show. And you guys showed out over in college.
But talk to me about the draft process once college
ended and it was full steam ahead towards the draft.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
What was that like?
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And like for a man to have that much hype
you are cool as the other side of the pillow dog, Like,
how did that work? So talk me through that.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Did you care?
Speaker 1 (01:43):
What was your mindset? What was your days like leading
into the draft?
Speaker 3 (01:48):
I was very nervous put it like that. I think
we kind of had an idea I was going to
be one or two. I mean I only went and
worked out for Portland and I did a visit for Seattle,
So it was just kind of like it was going
to be. If Portland doesn't get me, Seattle's going to
take that pick. That was our thought process in the camp.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Y'all know, y'all taking me stopped playing.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
I mean, hey, that's what the projection said, so for sure,
So it just made sense, you know, being in New
York doing all those interviews, doing a lot of training,
media training, just to be ready, getting to meet a
lot of new people that haven't before, business people, business meetings.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
So you did media training before even you play today
in the NBA because like a guy like myself, it
started in summer league. So you were doing that even
prior to the drivet Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
I mean throughout high school we would have camps that
we would get opportunities to do a little bit of
media training too, but especially after leaving those state in
those couple of months before the draft, we was definitely
doing some media training, making sure we was just able
to talk to people and not stumble across our words
and just be more professional.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
As the draft came along, you said, the workouts went well.
You were doing your things training. Obviously you put it
down in college, so you like your work was essentially
already done. How did you feel going into the draft, like, Okay,
training's done, Draft days coming up? What was your agency?
You said, the nerves were there? Why was were the
nerves there? Was it just because the NBA was something
you hadn't seen before. Like, I mean, brother, you were
(03:18):
first thing on Sports Center and all that, Like how
was that?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I mean, my agency they did everything possible to make
sure I was ready and prepared for that moment. But
also I was nervous because you got to think, just
over a year and maybe two months ago, I'm playing
against a six sixth center in the state championship game
in high school for sure, So you know, I'm still
young thinking I gotta go up against Dwight Howard here
in a few months. I gotta be ready. So I mean,
(03:44):
there was just instant nerves coming there with any type
of change. But uh, one thing that was cool that
everybody in my agency got me to do. I went
and saw a first screening of Transformers one on draft day,
so like during the day, I have my little tree,
I ain't in. I had some interviews, but then about
five or six hours before the draft, I ended up
(04:06):
going to see a special screen in the Transformers and
I was big into that. I still aim I can't
wait for the new one to come out. So that
was big time for me. That was something I remember
and it relaxed me before the draft or context.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
But those who don't know, when Greg tell me if
I'm brought big dog. When Transformers one came out, like
CGI wise, there was nothing else like it. Like I
remember coming out of that movie theater when I watched it,
I wasn't Charlotte at the time, and I was like
in shock, like, oh my gosh, Greg.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Not at all.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I mean, it was freaking amazing. I mean that was
just the type of stuff. But I was a nerd
like that, So I loved all type of movies and
that was the one most hype ones that I was
able to see.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Okay, okay, so talk me through the draft that you
go see Transformers one. You did, all the interviews, you
did Who's there with you?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Man?
Speaker 1 (04:54):
And obviously you know, I think the competition was it
was you and KD. That was like the story you know,
kind of like like dial there. Walk me through that.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Well, you know, Mike Conley Senior and Bill Duffy with
BDA definitely the agents that were with me.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
But j R.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Hensley and Jody Evans, those are my people. They it
was with me everywhere, so they were with me that day.
You know, after Transformers had to rush back take a shower,
and get dressed, put on that suit. Everybody know you
got to have your best suit ready, the one that
looked best for you. I just didn't want to look
terrible and be talked about being the worst dress. So
(05:35):
I know, to today's standards, my suit was definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Big, But I thought I looked good. I looked good enough,
at least what it looked like.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
What it looked like, because I know you not a
flash some smack girl.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It was a little I think the tie was really nice,
but it was just a blue suit. The pants were
a little wide because that was the style back then,
a little baggy pants. But uh yeah, you know, I
thought it looked good. It wasn't bad because, as you said,
I'm not too flashy, so I don't like to do
too much.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Walk me through the moment, man, What are the feelings
that vibes emotions when your name was actually called?
Speaker 4 (06:12):
With a first pick in the two thousand and seven
NBA Draft, the Portland Trailblazers select Greg Odin from Ohio
State University.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Well, I mean at the table, I know Mike Senior
was moving between our table and Mike Conley Junior's table,
which they were close but coming up to that first one.
I had my mom, my dad, my grandmother and my
brother there and you know, just not.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Knowing what Portland was going to do.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
You know, KD was special that year at Texas, so
coming out they could just say, you know, we're going
with KD. It just makes sense. You know, he was
the best all around player in that draft. But hearing
my name called, you know, that was back then when
they told you, you know, hug the person on your right,
hugged the person on your left.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Get up there.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
We on time for straight.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
So I really didn't go around the table like they
do now they go to two or three tables hugging people.
So you know, I hugged my mom and my dad
and gave my grandmother a kiss. And I went up there,
and I promise you the one thing I was thinking
it was just a whirl when but I was thinking
of don't trip walking up these dawnstairs. I got these
(07:21):
big shoes on. I was like, you better not trip,
and look on, goofy your friend. All these people then
one pick, but it was up there. You know, David stirred.
You know, he gives you an that's little hug. He says, welcome,
to the league and you kind of just see all
those lights, you start sweating like a uh And it
was just a little release knowing that it was over
(07:42):
with and thinking, I'm just going to enjoy this moment
with my family. And then I was the first one
called back and the last one to be done doing
interviews at the end of the night. So it began
a long night of just you know, being prepared. So
that's why I was doing all that media train before,
because that was going to be a long day for me.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
And it was, well, I see you super polished now, cool, calm,
collected like at that time, oh, eight seventeen, eighteen year old,
now eighteen nineteen, were you a little rougher around the
edges or a little shyer like you know, was this
stuff you had to work on?
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Media wise? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
You know, I was two years removed from standing up
in front of my English class and swaying saying one
page of a paper that I wrote. You know, you know,
just getting used to talking to people, you know, on
that big stage. You know, that's not something that everybody
just grows up with.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
I was used to doing interviews or used to talking
to Indiana reporters, But it wasn't like something that I
was going to go through on that national stage from
a you know, a name call. You become one of
the biggest celebrities for a span of a few months
in this country, so I mean not along the world sometimes.
So it was definitely something you had to prepare for,
(08:58):
and my team did a great job and making sure
that I got as much tools as I can and
to be ready for that moment.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I know when people tell you, like your life will
never be the same, Like I can't imagine being drafted
one Like, was there anybody or an experience at the
draft or in New York or someone that kind of
had like reached out to you like, oh dang, like
this is a it's Michael Jordan on my phone right
now or at a thing and you're looking around like
my life is completely different.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Now.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Did you have a moment or did someone called you
or hit you and was like, all right, this a
little different than high school. Okay.
Speaker 3 (09:34):
Honestly, man, I was so busy doing interviews that I
don't even think I had time to look at my phone.
By the time I looked at my phone, it was
the end of the night. And it was like, look,
you got one hour to pack, but we got to
be on this plane headed out to Portland.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yo.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Yeah, it was changed. You know, it wasn't that much
time with my family to enjoy. I thought I was
gonna go ahead, turn up in New York real quick,
you know, as a young man. But you know, you
have responsibilities. I think that was the thing that really hit.
It was like, now you got your job. Now you
got to get out to the West Coast and you
got to be there for the people. You got to
(10:08):
be there for that team and start that work on
that journey.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
All right, hold on, don't go nowhere. Coming up next,
Greg is gonna tell us what it's like to guard shack.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, imagine stepping into those shoes garden shacks.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
They told you.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
Don't let you know what it's like coming up next
to ANBA rookie life. Talk to me about the first
time that you joined the team, because a lot of
people don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
Obviously you went straight out there.
Speaker 1 (10:38):
You know, Summer league is one thing even kind of
you know, like doing summer workouts. You know, we'll do
workouts in the summer pre draft stuff, like you talked
about it you know, I don't know about you, like
I didn't like some guys have been in the gym
with all stars and pros the whole time. I saw
that a little bit, but I didn't just get to
work out with guys. What was it like when the
whole team got there at training camp and you're looking
(11:00):
over at the vets, looking over at the players. What
was that feeling? Was it anybody who kind of took
you under their wing early on as a young rook
and was like, hey man, you with me, or you know,
talk to me about that experience when you first joined
the team with like, hey man, this ain't college no more.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
Mines was a little different set up, man, because you
got to think, by the time the whole entire team
came back, I had already had my season ending surgery.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
You know.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
I got that kind of in between the start of
the season and right after Summer League ended. It was
in between when I got that season in the surgery.
So by the time the team came, you know, I
wasn't in there working out. I was already rehabbing. So
I guess a guy who I would say, who I
got to spend some time with with Darius Miles because
me and him was in the practice facility working out
(11:48):
a lot during that time in the summer. A lot
of guys weren't really there yet in the city. But
you know, I think Steve Blake was the one who
really was like, I got to get my big feeling
in this team, you know, to make sure he would
take me to dinner, be around his family and make
sure I felt comfortable getting used to stuff in the transition.
(12:10):
You know, Me, Brandon LaMarcus were all really still young
at that time, and I know they were going into
their second year, coming from rookies to actual real vets
and actually leading the team. So yeah, it was a
little different than most people coming in. You all blood
sweating tears that same week together. Mine as was, I'm
(12:30):
already on the sidelines and I'm just sitting here, you know,
swimming elliptical, doing everything I can and be around, but
I'm not really around the team because I'm always rehabbing
and it's kind of looking forward to the next year.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Did you get any advice, you know, by the way,
shout out to Darius Miles Man. He came home man
went major love to d Miles Man. That's super o
g he was a guy who you could actually talk
to about that that journey. Did you get any advice
from him or what were those talks like kind of
like look at least brother, you somebody who gets it,
you know, did you guys have any of those talks like, look, gee,
I know, it's a whole different thing where we were picked.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Yeah. I mean with d for one, it was you
know we out here in the West Coast.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
It's different. Yeah, yeah, you know, that's the one thing.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
You just gotta get used to this West Coast, used
to this organization, used to just being a pro. That's
kind of the things that we talked about. Specifically. I
can't tell you exactly what we talked about, but it
was more about getting my life together outside the court,
because I definitely had a year of knowing that I'm
going to be rehabing, No, I'm going to be in
the city, knowing that I'm a young man and gonna
(13:36):
want to do some things, but just how to maneuver,
you know, out there on the West Coast, coming from
the Midwest. For both of us, and I got to
get out that I was a big fan. I used
to see him in all them movies, when I was
a kid and knowing what he did.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Oh yeah with the Clippers. I had to get that
out quick, all right.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
G When you when you get on the court and
you're finally playing, was there a guy that surprised you
that you were like, dang dog, this ain't college of
high school, you know, because you was a bad man,
don't get me wrong, but when you got a chance
to play or even one of the OG's in practice
kind of like, man, NBN is different or like did
you have anybody that kind of kind of like you
just stot like I'm gonna walk through this. Man, It
(14:17):
was like, okay, this is this is not college no more.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
I mean I'm not, you know, because every practice was
a learning experience. So technically for me out there, this
is my second year, but you know, my my vet.
The guy who I had to play behind was Joe
Chris Billa. And you know Joe, you know, it might
not have been the sexiest you know, on court game,
but he never stopped man and he was so solid
(14:45):
man getting you offensive rebounds, defending, just being an anchor
on that defense man. And it was like if you
got to go up against him, you gotta be ready.
To go the whole entire time he in there, He's
not gonna stop. So that was something that I definitely
looked up to it and got to learning see while
I was sitting out. But I want to say that
the guy that really hit me with y'all mean, man,
(15:07):
stop it, y'all. Yeah, I was different, man. Yeah, I
mean and obviously shocked. I mean, that's a whole nother story.
My favorite shock story was he's posting up and I'm
trying to like defend him and put my arm around,
get my three.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
This phoenix. Okay, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Man. He was so big, I swear to god, I
couldn't see that the guard or the wing trying to
give him the ball. I'm looking around for the ball.
I mean, he was so huge. But I want to
say with y'all, because he was so tall, you couldn't
move him. No matter how much weight you put on him,
you couldn't move him. And then it'll take two dribbles
(15:50):
back you down and didn't do a turn around, two
foot jumper in your face, and you couldn't block it
because he was so tall, and I mean he's just
had everything. So so y'all was kind of the toughest one.
It was probably the hardest guy I had to guard
at that time.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
Nah man.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
And for those who don't know, you know when Greg
says it was tough to move. And that's important for
a post player to move a guy off the block
because you lean on a guy to kind of get
them all balance, get your positioning. Then you want him
to fight for positions. So when you go to as
a big guy, you kind of know you in trouble.
You go to push a guy leaning he don't move,
Oh my god, man.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
And I knew I was strong at the time, putting
this on work for years and come against big yal Man,
it's tough, but he's a great player.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
And gee, I got to give you your flowers.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Man.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I was in Charlotte and we played against you, and
you know, you had a name, so for all the
other big men in the league, it was a target
on your back. And I was like, all right, this
dude ain't really like that. And I remember like kind
of going up to you and standing next year, I'm like, okay,
he is kind of like you know a lot of
people say they seven fort it ain't seven. I was like, yeah,
he's as tall as he said. Okay, he's big too. Yeah, okay, okay,
let's see. But you know I was I'm skinny. Oh geez.
(17:00):
I'm like, all right, let me try to hit him.
And I hit you one time. You ain't moved, and
you did, you know, normally you hit somebody, turn around
and they watch out. I hit you, You turn around, you
ain't move. I'm like, all right, this deale might be.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
The real deal.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
And I remember, I'll never forget a dog. Like you know,
we're similar in the sense like I'm an help defender.
So I remember going out and helping and the thing
is for us, you can help and get back. And
used to garden two people and I helped off you
and before my head turned, you were in the rim
monkey dunk in the basket and I was just like
(17:32):
I was. I was like, I was like, okay, biggie
strong and he's fat. Like your quick jump was so ridiculous, bro,
Like I gotta give you your flowers, And I'm just like, nah,
he's all that. He's all that, because gee, you could
not just could you play the like okay, let's out
athlete that's tough, Like your footwork is impeccable brother.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
Appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Man.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Listen, hang right there, don't go nowhere. Greg is gonna
break down one of his monster games and why it
actually happened. And he's gonna let you know who the
sleeper the draft is. Yeah, you heard of the sleeper
of the draft. And Greg has some unique things in
saying that you probably didn't know. So stay tuned. We'll
be right back here on the NBA Rookie Life. All right, Greg,
(18:17):
let's step into the NBA Rookie Life film room. Listen, Greg,
you you're the first first pick in the draft. Dog,
I'm living through you. What what was it like? Because
you only had one workout? We talked about it earlier.
We got some film here. Tell me what's going on
when you're the first pick in the draft and you're
here working out for the team. So what were you doing?
I know, listen, I worked out in Portland. They try
to kill me up there. Okay, Money and coach Lucas
(18:39):
and mc miller. So talk to me about this experience. Man,
what's going on here?
Speaker 2 (18:45):
Let's go again?
Speaker 1 (18:46):
Go fovea bulls out.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
You hope you catch whoa ripped through? Well?
Speaker 3 (19:36):
First, just going through some read and react stuff in
the post, stuff I haven't done before, and then definitely
getting out and running, making sure I can make some
quick decisions, switch into the.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Floor really quick.
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Uh, just so you know, the most nervous I was
when I was stretching because I didn't know what was
about to come. First time going through that stuff, not
really knowing what to expect. I feel like I could
have been definitely more in shape for this, but as
you know, these workouts are made for you to use
up all of your energy and whatever. However hard you
(20:09):
think it's gonna be, it's gonna be a little harder,
you know, getting a chance to sold my athleticism and
then working on some defensive stuff. You know, in those workouts,
it's not just about what you can do offensively. You
got to be able to show, especially for me, am,
I gonna be able to protect the rim, you know,
be the backup, be the anchor of that defense, be
able to help some guys out, and that goes into
that draft process. And I definitely went through all of
(20:31):
those and as you can see in my Ohio State
Lebron's I was still wearing those my lucky charms.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
And then that drill right.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
There is a little rebounding drill that that coach Bay
know that I still use today with some of my guys,
some of my bigs when I worked them out, and yeah, man,
it was a lot of stuff and as you can see,
i'm drained. That's probably my second shirt. It was a
lot of up and down, and to be honest with you,
it was more up and down then I thought it
would be through those workouts. But I thought it was good.
(21:04):
And one thing that a lot of people don't know,
I think I did a second workout for him, just
to make sure because I don't think I felt like
I was in the right shape as you can tell
me breathing all hard through that one.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
So you set it up and came back.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Yeah, I had to come back and get another workout
in man, And luckily they believed in me and gave
me the opportunity to get that second workout in just
making sure that I was in better shape. But you know,
that summer I actually did have something. I had my
tonsils taken out because during summer league, I was dealing
with that as well, getting tired real quick, you know,
just getting fatigued, and I don't think I was getting
(21:40):
as much oxygen you know as I thought I was,
And I always had tons lightis every summer. So yeah,
right at like mid summer league, I ended up getting
my tonsils taken out.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
I didn't know that.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Man, for those who don't know, for a ball player,
our conditioning and our cardio ability to breathe is everything.
And also what's different. You actually got Nate on the
floor running the listen when I went and they didn't
run the workout.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Man, Man, nah, this is it was. It was definitely
something different. Looking back at those I might have to
take them for some of my young boys. I have
to go back and look at that at this pre
draft and use some of these things for my guys.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
And Greg, I'm gonna tell you right now, if I'm
a scout or somewhere from that, b Roy was in
the building, man, I'm sure the markets went too far away,
and the markets was probably in Dallas hooping probably. Yeah,
I'm gonna tell you right now. The way you took
off and ran, big fella, I was like, check, yeah,
we gotta get here. You took off, man, you have
(22:38):
you have some wheels, man for a big fellow that's strong,
you could pick them up and put him down. All right, gee,
let's get to it. Let's get to another clip.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Man.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
I think that was some cool stuff there. And for
those who don't know, like every time you take a shot,
every time you rebab, you're thinking about this is gonna
impact where you are going to live, like where you're
going the money you're gonna make that like, so like
those nerves and anxiety are behind that, man, So big fellow,
hats off to you for killing it and then having
See that's an og move, Greg, that's a throwback move, Like, nah,
(23:08):
I didn't do good enough. I'm coming back after. I'm
you know, in shape where I want to be. I'm
gonna show y'all again. So hats off to you, brother.
People don't know what.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
That's I don't think it was more of me. It
was more can we get another workout?
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Events.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
I wish I was that o g to be like, nah,
I need to do another one, But it was more
of a request.
Speaker 2 (23:27):
It was more I.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
Needed to do another one. We got it done. Now
we put you down.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
We talked about big PRIs Beller putting palls on you, man,
but let's go ahead and bring you back and y'all
being and shocking that. Let's bring you back up, man,
because you showed out in your rookie year. We found
some footage here and we want to see a coach
g coach Og. We'll call you coach Og. We'll flip
the odining and Greg for right now, let's break this
the clip down and talk to me about this career
high night. Man, you went off against the Bucks and
(23:53):
let me know, man, did you have cereal for breakfast?
Did you have ohe?
Speaker 2 (23:55):
Man?
Speaker 1 (23:56):
What was going on here? Every white shut up, both
of the head coach a teller telling up this old year.
Shut up, run total. They better fight school by then.
He's got a nape mind right here. When the body
jump early, they see right down. Many corrects French can
(24:21):
of the other end. Now for the school holding stop
shit again? What were these reads? If you remember this game? Man,
but you you definitely showed out and like when you
had twenty four and fifteen, it was like dominant. It
was it different when your center does that, it's different.
That's the way that you played the impact on the game.
So walk me through this game, Greg.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Well, this game it was January nineteenth, so my birthday
is the twenty second. So if I'm not mistaken, let's see. Well,
first off, a game like this. You know, it was
always big for me to always go on the offensive glass.
Look at t Outlaw going to work. Oh man, I
(25:05):
had good players, Rudy and he's still playing over there
in Spain doing this thing.
Speaker 2 (25:11):
Man.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
We had we had a good team. Man, I just
think we had great players. We caught some mismatches and
for me at that time, being the dominant guy in
the post, it just worked with all the wings and
all the movements we had. You know, something like this,
you know, get guys going to the middle, spin back,
go the opposite way, being bigger to shoot right over them,
and always going to the glass, setting picks, getting guys open.
(25:34):
That's going to just create stuff for you, you know.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
And great, the one thing I love, you always played
the right way, Like was this something you've always done
or was there a coach that imprinted that you know
in you? But like you were just out working big
Oh my god, gee, you dunking that thing. That's not
saying he was monkey dunking that he was dunking different.
But where'd that mentality come from?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Ah? Man?
Speaker 3 (25:56):
Shoot my first dunk in the seventh grade in the game.
Once I realized I can dunk in the game and
I can touch that room seventh grade.
Speaker 2 (26:05):
Wait what grade?
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Yeah, my first dunk was seventh grade. And once I
did that, I was like, why don't I just do
this every time? Easier to get up on this rim
and make sure I get my two points and it's dominant.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
So big fellow, you the pasel.
Speaker 3 (26:23):
Man, that's just that's the equivalent of the d N
getting a random interception. Nah, I guess this was a
good game. I think I was getting ready for my
twenty first birthday, to be honest with you. Yeah that
was two thousand and nine. Yeah, I was born in
(26:44):
eighty eight, So yeah, I think I was a little
excited and a little ready. I had to show off
and know that this next next chapter of my life.
You know, I wanted to look up. So I gave
him all this game. No, man, it definitely performs. And
I'm telling you, even the way that you're scoring and
the things that you're doing, you still are different.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Man.
Speaker 1 (27:06):
You're different, brother, the way that you're moving, your anticipation skills,
hitting the glass to IQ and I think like we're
at that age, Greg, where it's time for us to
give it back to somebody. So I love that you're
coaching and you're giving back, man, But I mean just
the stuff you were doing, brother, This one was different, Greg,
when you had that double double, it was different. And
like you know, for a player like you, your impact
(27:26):
on the game didn't always had to be in points.
You know, if you had nine and eight like that
was a winning play. Like, big fellow, what's going on
here at the point?
Speaker 2 (27:35):
I know you just rolling?
Speaker 1 (27:36):
They flopping on old plates?
Speaker 2 (27:37):
Talk to me, do that?
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Hey, this is just being on balance. I mean all
these guys, you know, they flopped these days, especially when
you send picks when you're going through the lane when
you're strong, they're going to flop. So learning how to
be on balance and how to take it Greg, Hey,
the left hand was up. I learned a long time ago,
especially in college, you know, not having my right for
that year, you know, and I just got comfortable with
(27:59):
it to thet where you know you can just go
to that you know, guy's preparing for you to go right,
you know, go back to that left. You know, That's
something that I had always still to this day when
the guys come on recruiting visits, I go ahead and
beat them with my left hand jays really Oh yeah,
game of pig. Every recruit, you're gonna lose to me
off hand bank shot from the free throw line.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Go ahead, get that thing, big fellow. What about what
about that Greg?
Speaker 3 (28:23):
You had just being a rear protector man, just just
trying to do everything that I've done since I was
a kid, man being my height, learning defense first. You know,
you had to play that way, you know, having a
great point guard like Sergio putting me in good spots.
You know, this was a good game. Man, were dominating Greg.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
Do you know when you jump it looks different. Do
you know when you dunk? Everybody like, oh, like did
you do you realize that or do you just hear
the reactions when you would do stuff? Oh my gosh.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
So it was my favorite, and it was from Darius Miles.
I don't know if I can cuss on here, go ahead,
go ahead. It was like he was like, go you different.
He was like, as soon as I saw you at
your first workout, called my boys like we got one.
He's just I was like what he was like when
he get on that rip he goes, and I used
(29:15):
to always make me laugh. But that was something I
just always did. Man, whenever I dunked, I always lift
my legs up and pulled my body up. Honestly, it
came from me trying to kick somebody when I got mad.
And that's just how all my dunks ended up being.
Speaker 2 (29:28):
See.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
I ain't want to talk about that, but I didn't
see the mean side of Greg Oden before. Like, you
are the nicest man on the planet. But if you
feel like it's game time, like I love that, you
definitely got that dog in you. Man, you got that
dog in you. All right, let's get to another clip. Man,
we got some more cool stuff here. Amazing job there, g.
And like I said, but I could watch these highlights.
(29:49):
I'm just I'm salivating. All But, like I said, at
that point in our age, it's time for us to
give it back to the next messa. We love coaching,
all right, g Let's stay in the NBA Rookie film room. Man,
we need coaching here. And gee, we got to talk
about Walker Kessler here. Man took it away the ronner.
Okay Kessler, Okay, there's crowd saying, oh, get out of here.
(30:13):
Front row well or the other impressive thing about Walker
Kessler is he gets back up off the floor quickly
jump sweat. Hey, this kid's really intriguing. Thirteen block shots down,
dropped it down in th HT. Wop that up and
put it home. Rocker Kessler, sky Walker he's having tapped
(30:35):
in comes up the d Walker Kestler there, watch tuss
He's got some branches in him. Take it den Trap
rocks twice, Robinson short and the rip bout of the corner. Beautiful.
Listen to this crowd here the Walker Kessler Cashler's got
(30:55):
that fished up. The fish popper came in number four
in block shots in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Puts the ball down.
Speaker 1 (31:01):
Your ro steps inside blocked by Walker. My goodness for
swats in the first six minutes, STAPs it up and down. Locker. Gess, sir, please,
you're a man. My goodness, Baller is this fun? The
watch or what he is? I think arguably the sleeper
(31:22):
of the draft man. He and Tari Easton have just
said the NBA, but he's a throwback big and this
is the era where they don't take big men anymore.
And he just dominated Utah and stepped in and I'm
not gonna say he's rudy. He's filled those shoes, but
like man, they feel comfortable. I'll say that, man, what
do you see in Walker Kessler when you watch him play?
What about You know you played the position, so you
(31:43):
you can talk that talk man, What are you seeing
from Walker here? And break down his game for something
that the everyday fan may not know.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Well.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I mean, first thing, he's an old school big. He's
not scared to contest shots at the rim. He runs
the floor hard. He uses his lamp as a strength
for him, and he's strong with it. You know, a
lot of guys at that size can't you know, take
a hit and still able to get that block shot,
you know, but he's able to pump, fake move and
(32:11):
then get this reverse dump that he does so often
and so well. Yes, you know, he's just strong and
he's solid and this day and age as a big,
that's really what you need. You need a guy who
can play on the baseline, who can hit a spread three,
corner three if you need to, but who can run
the floor, defend and just not be a problem out
(32:32):
there when you're out there on the court. You know,
he's getting block shots he's getting offensive rebounds, he's getting assists.
I mean, he's affecting the game in multiple ways to
where he's able to use his left and the team
can use his length while he's out there when you
know other teams are playing small ball, that seven to
one is gonna come in handy, you know, and he's
doing things like that, you know, dunking over a defense,
(32:54):
or he's coming over and helping everybody else when a
guy is able to get past and shoot over you.
The's very solid man. And as you said, he is
a sleeper of this draft I think, and it's gonna
be hopefully good with a team that uses him the
right way for a long time.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
Gee, do you feel like the game because of guys
like Walker Kessler may trend back towards having that traditional
center and say like, man, hey we need a shot blocker.
We're gonna you know, hey, we're gonna keep that big
guy in the dunker. We're gonna have a post up guy,
guy playing on the weak side. Do you feel like,
you know, he's that type of player that other teams
may say, Man, we need bigs back in the game.
Everybody trending towards small Greg you know how mean you
(33:31):
feel about that. But do you think he could be
that type of player?
Speaker 3 (33:34):
Well, because teams are going to that smaller ball getting
guys who are all about you know, six seven to
six ' nine six ten ish, a guy that can
come out there and take advantage and do stuff like this,
who's good in the pick and roll, who can jump
over defenses, who can get rebounds over defenses, who can
block shots on all the other guys on the other team.
(33:56):
I think they're gonna bring those guys back, but I
think they're already there. The Clint Capellas, you know, guys
who are just solid. They don't need the ball to
affect the game. They just run hard, offensive, rebounding, block shots.
And I think teams can use this because other teams
are going to that small ball type of game.
Speaker 1 (34:14):
If you had any advice for a guy like Walker Kessler,
you played the position at a very high level, what
would it be, Man, when you watch him play, what
would you say to them if you the chance to
talk to.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Him, Man, keep it going, work on getting a go
to move and the posts. I mean, that's just one
thing that's going to expand your game. If they can
give you the ball in the post and know that
you can get a bucket, but also getting those corner
threes in that top of the key three. I mean,
that's just something I feel like every big has the
half these days. So we can spread the floor as
well being out there. But you know, keep on going
(34:46):
to the glass, keep on protecting the paint, keep on
running the floor hard, learning how to play and picking rolls.
I mean, that's something that's going to keep him out
there on that floor and he has to keep it up.
But to add to his game, a go to move
and that three point is going to be big for
the length of his career.
Speaker 1 (35:02):
Well, shoot, man, amazing stuff there.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Greg.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Hopefully Walker, you know, can get this. He's a friend
of the show also, Man, shout out Walker Kessler. Man,
he had such a year, man, he was in that
Rookie of the Year running man.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
And you know, like I.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Said, I hate that we can't just talk about Walker
without saying something to Rudy Gobert. But those are big
shoes to feel, man, and that was a lot of
pressure on him, and hat talk for him for just
coming in and not trying to be Rudy but doing
his job and Rudy is a heck of a player.
I think he played great, and I think sometimes people
make it a it's not a competition. Rudy is a
heck of a player. Walker is a heck of a player.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
You know.
Speaker 1 (35:37):
So it ended up working out. But Greg, thank you again,
my brother. I'm ecstatic for you. Every time I see
that those highlights, Man, I like watching it. Man, I'm
like that we had we still hadn't seen nothing like
you before in gig. The one thing we love to
do here is we love to get back and support you.
Took the time out of your day, and brother, I
know your schedule is crazy out coaching and recruiting and
(35:58):
doing all the thing. I'm to hang with us. So
where can the fans come and support you and watch
you and see Greg Oldin next?
Speaker 2 (36:06):
Man?
Speaker 3 (36:06):
Well, right now I'm coaching at Butler University. Go dogs.
We're gonna have a good summer a good year hopefully.
But also, you know, on Instagram, just at Greg Oldin,
you know, come say hi. I see pictures of me
and my family. That's all I really post and other bulldogs.
But appreciate you having me Ryan, you know you're my guy. Man.
(36:26):
I hope all this well with you and your family,
and thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (36:30):
No, Man, I appreciate you brother, and like I said, man,
one of my favorite people. Man, I hope that more
people can check out your story and know, like I said,
you need your flowers. Brother, how much game you got, dog,
because I seen it firsthand. How much a game you
still got. Okay, we're a little older, so you can't
do it all the time, but how much game is there?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
Man, appreciate you, big dog. Thank you man, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (36:51):
Appreciate you guys here on NBA Rookie Life for hanging
out with us. You guys are the most important part
of the show. But to keep this thing going, make
sure you like you follow, subscribe, tweet, untweet, whatever, and
just shout us out man and shared a good word.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
We appreciate you guys, like.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
I said, for hanging with us, and shoot us a
messenger to here and there. And we want to know
who would you like to see on NBA Ricky like
with Ryan Hollins. Thank you, thank you, love you guys
so much, and remember show us some support, show some
love and spread the word.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
See you next week.
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