Ten-year NBA veteran and current Analyst for the Houston Rockets Ryan Hollins tells the story of his draft night, standing out in team workouts, and why he's grateful he went to Charlotte. Ryan goes through some of his favorite rookie moments from this season so far, with highlights from Bennedict Mathurin and Paolo Banchero. Utah Jazz rookie Walker Kessler joins to discuss how he felt on draft night, getting traded, and his double-double during his debut game.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey, everybody, how you doing. Welcome into NBA rookie life
with Ryan Hollins, and this is where we break down
the who, the what, the why and the where about
these rookies. And for if you don't know, my name
is Ryan Hollins. I was the fiftieth pick in the
two thousand six draft out of U C. L A.
That's Holland table set from Hall Daniel Gibson, and I'm
(00:23):
telling you Draft night, Draft Day that changed my entire
life and from myself for these young guys and everybody
who's going through the process. When you going to the NBA,
it is a dream. This is a lifetime moment that
you're being a part of. And these rookies play such
an instrumental part in r NBA y because they're the future.
They're the next superstars. Is there the next Lebron James,
(00:46):
the Kobe Bryant stuff, Michael Jordan's heck, we might even
have a Kareem coming around. Good evening and welcome to
the two thousand twenty two NBA Draft at Barkley Center.
But you gotta understand, these guys are the future. So
we're gonna get an in depth view. You're gonna get
the breaking news. You're gonna find out who these guys
are before they become who they are, and some of
(01:08):
them they are already pretty darn good. But guess what
we're gonna tell you everything. You're gonna get your rookie fixed,
and we're gonna go back and get a deep dive
of a couple other guys and what it was like
for them to be rookie. So welcome in, Buckle up strapping,
enjoy the show, and get ready for NBA rookie life
with Ryan Hollis. With the first pick in the two
(01:30):
thousand and six NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Andrea Bargnani.
My NBA draft night was just crazy, And it was
crazy in the sense because I kid you not I
got I had to be the only player ever. My
agent comes to me and he goes, look, Ryan, you're intriguing.
(01:51):
You came out of nowhere. And for those who don't know,
I literally was benched my senior year and then leading
my team to the national championship. So he goes, hey, Ryan,
you can go anywhere from tenth in the draft of fifty.
I said what he said, Normally guys have a range,
you're a lottery pick. You're you're late in a late
first round. For early second my range was tenth two
(02:14):
that far, and it was because I intrigued so many people.
A seven foter with a on paper forty three and
a half inch vertical. So there is the intrigue there.
There's a couple of teams. Uh, the SuperSonics. I'm dating
myself the SuperSonics at the time where I went and
worked out, and I remember that SuperSonics workout, I jumped
(02:34):
from two ft from the free throw line and they
were blown away. I remember in the Charlotte workout, I
had a hustle player, right, I literally dove into some
boxes trying to get a loose ball. And then I
had a dunk drill that I did and within that
dunk drill, you're supposed to dunk until you can't dunk anymore.
And in Charlotte when I had the drill, I never
stopped dunking. So you know, the first guy goes up,
(02:56):
he just like five dunces, good job, you know, and
then he misses the dunk and number six Sun guy
goes up, he gets about eleven. I go up and
I started dunking. I get five, I get ten, I
get fifty thirty dunks, forty dunks. I worked out with
Rico Haines. Now, dar Rico Haines is one of the
most celebrated trainer coaches behind the scenes, worked out guys
(03:18):
like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie, all these guys. He's
now with the with the Raptors doing a great job
up there with or Watching and Nick Nurse and those guys.
But Rico Hines, I was like his first protege. So
I was doing these crazy wild conditioning drills every single day.
So I'm fifty dunks in and they finally go and
(03:40):
and this is the thing. You want to guarantee a spot.
I'm fifty dunks in and I'm dunk in a basketball.
I'm screaming. I'm screaming and and I'm and I'm putting
in these people's minds this is a maniac. If you
draft this guy, he is a maniac. And I knew
that I was just putting myself head and shoulders above
those other guys. And at a certain point it was crazy.
(04:01):
I've been in these workouts the other draftees. If we
call them, they start cheering for me, you know. So
the vertically those things were my moments. And on the
last dunk, I was always taking from Rico you do
soun special. So the last dunk, I either I can't
remember if I win milded or went in there. I
dunked into reverse, but I want to make a statement there.
So I just knew if things got to the skinny
(04:23):
of it, they got you know what they got to
the skinny, I was going away. I was gonna be
a Charlotte Bobcat. People saw the teams, the GYMZ exects.
They were excited when you see a big guy who
can run, who can move. But there's a lot of questions,
why did this guy come off the bench show? For me?
That was my range in my mind, and I didn't
get invited. I didn't get the luxurious. You know, every
(04:44):
rookie has that idea what they're doing, what they're shaking
Commissioner Stern's hand at the time, go up and shake
his hand and put the hat on and all that.
So I didn't have that experience. But I was with
my friends, my family, my loved ones. We were actually
in Orange County at ESPN Zone which was a really
really cool, uh experience. So it's me, my mom my,
actually future wife was there in the building, my friends,
my family. I'm excited, I'm sweating, I mean, and you
(05:07):
know what, like I feel like, in some weird way,
I was like hosting the event. You know, I'm in
host mode. And I remember sitting there and just hearing
these guys names go off the list. With the second
pick in the two thousand and six NBA Draft, these
Chicago Bulls select law Marcus Aldridge from the University of Texas.
(05:28):
You know, I'm I'm a young pump man at the time.
I'm competitive, so I'm seeing guys slowly get drafted. I'm like, well,
I'm better than him. I'm better than him. I'm better
than him. And it goes from this eventful, fund smiling
night to this chip on your shoulder that was being built.
So this chip is being built, I'm going first pick,
second pick, tenth pick, pick pick. I sat down with Portland.
(05:53):
I'm like, I gotta be going to Portland's I sat
down with the net you gotta be going. They pulled
me in and essentially told me it. Sat down with
Nick Millan to his face, Hey, we're gonna draft you.
Why should we draft you? This? I mean, I got
an in depth, I got grilled, and I thought this
was a shoeing for me to be going to the place.
So as they passed and passed and passed on me,
that chip built. And I remember I'm waiting there and
(06:14):
in my mind get you not. I knew fifty was it?
The pick after that was in Los Angeles Lakers, And
I was told by a good friend of my Rashid Has,
and he said, oh, man, if Charlton didn't take, you
were gonna be a Laker like I was gonna be
a what a Laker? And I think back it was
the best thing for me to get away from home
and to go to the East Coast. For those who
(06:34):
don't know, I was originally signed collegiately to St. Louis University.
Life happens. My coach leaves at Washington. Coach runs Romar,
who is an amazing guy we still talk to this day.
He goes to Washington. I end up at u c
l A. So God blessed Ryan Hollins for this moment.
I had never left home. I I went high school
and John your high school pasity been next thing, you know,
(06:55):
I'm at U c l A. I am just as
young and dumb and excited kid who never left home.
And then I go all the way to the East
coast to Charlotte, North Carolina, and I think it's one
of the coolest hearts of my life. And I think
for me, you know, he's fast forward ten years in
the NBA for the skinny kid from Pasadenia who was
never supposed to be there. I had to go get
(07:15):
away and I had to go grow up, and I
had a chance to do that with Michael Jordan's So
back to my draft story. I'm sitting in there the
picture getting later on. It's been a long afternoon. I've
been up all day, like, come on, do this draft day.
I waited my whole life of this right. I see
my dad and my dad. My dad's like a premature clapper,
you know what I'm saying, Like my dad thinks I
(07:37):
can do anything on this planet. And I love the
confidence that my dad put in me. That he's no
longer here now, but I look back and I appreciate
the confidence my dad gave me. And my dad starts clapping,
and my mom was clapping and I'm sitting there angry,
and they're like, you got drafted. I'm like, no, I didn't.
And I look at my parents as a young Nay,
what's wrong with you? Guys? What are you clapping for?
(08:00):
You got drafted to the NBA side. I didn't know.
I didn't. It's a commercial. You don't get drafted during commercials.
And I look on the bottom of the ticker guys,
and Ryan Holland's name is going across because commercial, And
there's a smile on my face. I'm excited. My mom
is clapping. My dad has this grand dude, and I
(08:21):
got a picture in this photo. My dad has this
gran and this grant is going ear to ear and
I think of those moments. I'm getting emotional just named,
but I think about those moments acle that's what it's about,
Like forget me, dude, forget the work. Enjoyed that in
that moment, and my dad was just smiling ear to
ear that grin, and I think about the sacrifice of
my parents gave me, and that that's what it was about.
(08:43):
Like I was just in competitive mode, but who cares?
You were living out your dreams for a kid who
wasn't supposed to be there, so that there's a fine
mix of where's your competitive nature and where are you
mad at where you got drafted because you shouldn't have
been there, But that draft day just set my life
in play. And moments later through the celebration. Next thing,
(09:05):
I know, this is crazy. My agent he hands me
the phone, Todd Ramazar, kid you not, guys, this is
when life comes at you fast. And I'm on and
he goes, hey, you talk to Bernie Bickerstaff. I'm like,
who's Bernie Bakerstaff? He's your head coach? Now? Like what?
Like I have a coach, dude, Like what? Like I'm
mad five seconds ago that I'm sitting there not drafted.
(09:27):
So I have a coach now? And Bernie going, how
you doing? Some congratulations that meets you? You know, we're
glad to have you. Ba. I don't even I don't
even remember if Bernie was in the Workhoup, but I'm
talking about Bernie Bickerstaff and go amazing this and that
I talked to. I believe JB. Bickerstaff, the you know,
general manager, a couple of people from the team. Next thing,
guess who hops on the line. Oh wait, guess who
(09:50):
hops on the line Michael Stinking Jordan's, I can't make
this up thirty seconds ago. I'm mad at the world
that I'm mad at my parents. I'm getting passed up.
I'm on the phone with Michael Jordan's, arguably the greatest
player who has ever graced the game, is on the phone.
(10:12):
He goes, Hey, Ryan, We're we're excited to have you.
You know, you bring a different dynamic to Charlotte, great
to work with. And I'm on the and I don't
even know what to say. I got these range of emotions.
I want to laugh, I want to cry, I'm excited.
I want to run through a wall. I would have
punched the wall at the same time. But I'm on
the phone with Michael Jordan's and that's when I start
(10:33):
to realize that what this is so much bigger than myself.
This is an opportunity of a lifetime. So for me, man,
that was my draft experience, and I wouldn't have shared
it with anybody else on the world, on this planet.
And I think about that drive that I hope and
I pray that all these kids have that. What's what's
(10:54):
driving you, what's motivating you? You know, sometimes that draft
day is a celebration, and sometimes the worst thing isn't
for you to have a fire lit under you. Because
I had a hit list. But when I saw the
Portland trail Blazers, he was on in popping. Okay, when
I saw that there were New Jersey to Brooklyn, the
New Jersey Nets, it was on that popping. In any
team that looked my way, which was probably all of
(11:15):
them at a certain time, it was there. But man,
life comes at you fast, and I think the uniqueness
and the coolness of all these kids stories that we're
gonna diet through through this draft process and you're gonna
see and we're gonna bring some NBA veterans in here.
Everybody has a unique process, and that day is special
for me. It shaped my career. I didn't step out
(11:36):
of there fat and happy. You know what. Ryan Hollands
was not meant to be the tenth pick in the
draft because he would have thought he was at twenty
one years, I would have been the best thing since
light spread. But the fifth in pick, that hungry dude
with a chip on his shoulder. He came to work
and I'm telling you, man, there's nothing like it. Then
there's nothing like the NBA and you and you'll hear,
if you ever hear moments from NBA players when if
(12:00):
something good happens to them. Jared Jefferies. I don't know
if you guys saw it. I think a couple of
weeks ago he won a car on the Prices right,
he said, I was happier than the day I got
drafted to the NBA. So so a couple of these guys,
your comparative moments. You know, then when your children are
born with us the day I got drafted to the NBA.
And I tell you, guys, it's really cool. We're gonna
(12:22):
go through some of these moments with these young guys.
We're gonna hear these stories, and you're gonna see what
it's like and and I think for me, you find
that deeper, deeper appreciation into the NBA. Stay tuned, guys.
When we come back, we're gonna break down some of
my favorite rookie moments. And oh my goodness, ladies and gentlemen,
(12:47):
I got I gotta talk to you about this guy,
Apolo bank Carroll number one pick in the NBA draft.
And I think for all of the so called experts,
former players, whatever, whatch you saw out of Polo. Ben
Carroll at Duke is not what we're seeing in the NBA.
And I say this in the sense that he has
been such a pleasant surprise. Sometimes a lot of times
these guys they underwhelmed you. They're not what you expected,
(13:10):
they're overhyped, they're not you know whatever. But for bank Carroll,
I was blown away with his ability to handle the basketball,
his size, and I know people get overly excited. I'm
gonna do it again. I'm gonna throw this out. People
get overly excited and they start doing those comparisons. He's Michael,
He's Kobe, He's this, but when I see him, he
(13:32):
ain't Lebron. But it's not many guys with his size
that can handle the basketball. So maybe we'll go a
little bit of Julius Randall in there, mix of Lebron,
but Grandma Malo Lever Jansen. But he's a legit six
ft eight, he's got great size, he's explosive. Sometimes I
(13:53):
heard there was questions with Ban Carroll's you know, foot speed,
his quickness. He looked quick enough to me. And there's
one play to me that I saw that maybe just
say goodness that that one stood out. What he did
is he's got the ball I think about the midline
(14:15):
a mid post catch, and he's got Usman Garuba on him.
And for those who don't know Usman group in the
Prayer Draft, he was labeled the best defender in the draft.
And we've seen Usman Garuba match up with Janie onto
the Coupo kind of bodied him up. He's played against
the league's best force five. He I mean, he would
guard anybody. We've seen him on local Trade Young this
(14:36):
is what Usman does. So Usman squares up with Polo
Ben Carroll. Ben Carroll gets the ball on this midline,
he puts the ball in his left hand, he attacks metal.
Then as he attacks mental, Usman cuts him off. Cool, Okay,
normal play. He spends back. Usman is in the play.
Keep in mind Oustman is a strong guy. He's very
very bottom heavy, low center of gravity six eight, but stronger,
(15:00):
decent feet and he's moving his feet. Okay, that's a
matchup that we want to see. Man Carrol, Ousman do
your thing, you know, guard him, maybe fold him, give
up a hook shot, fade away whatever. Man Carrol spins off.
This bump keeps going and now next thing we know,
Ousman Garuba is going for a ride. Hollo. Man Carroll
doesn't just shoot a jump hook or lay up, which
(15:23):
is rare to happen for usman group, but he takes
him for a ride. Ousman is holding on for dear life.
And next thing we know, Man Carroll is dunking the
basketball against garupa beautiful just over young Daruba. He is
(15:43):
coming out with a focus and purpose. But look at
Ban Carrol. My business. That is a grown man finishing
the balance to stay with it, taking Garuba for a ride,
and that's an adjustment going okay, okay, my first time playing.
You will see what you're about. I look over my
broadcast partner, Craig Akerman, I said, oh my gosh. I
didn't say this on there were rockets, but I said,
(16:05):
oh my gosh. And you to me, you see this play,
you gotta put some respect on this kid's name. But
his speed, his athleticism, his motivation. You know he's playing hard.
But for him that play, when you watch it, he
literally takes us mom for a ride. And it's hard
when you take another grown man with you and you're
(16:25):
jumping to the basket and dunking at home. This was
a different place. So I'm telling you when we talk
about Polo Man Carroll, look out for this kid. I
think the future is bright and I believe right now
the best thing about Orlando he's exceeding expectations. And in
some ways, I know this sounds weird. He may be
one of the NBA's best kept secrets because he doesn't
get a lot of the publicity. And I think, I like,
(16:47):
there's a degree where you're not just throwing down the
He's Kobe, he's Lebron, He's this, he's that, because so
often we do that with these number one picks. But
I'm telling you Polo Band Carroll. His mixes bead athleticism,
the way he moves his feet, the way he attacks
the basket, and his attitude. He is prying for some success,
long term success in the NBA. Ladies and gentlemen, you
(17:13):
gotta watch out for Benedict Mathren. Okay, I thought this
guy with the stud in college, I think you're seeing
it flourish in the NBA. Look man, he he is
a downhill driver, which means this guy gets to the
paint and a lot of rookies they don't have the
strength to do this. In the NBA, they don't have
the ball handling, they don't have the mentality. This kid
(17:33):
is an attack mode three sixty seven. He is attacking
the rim and I think his physicality at this young
age man, he really really stands out. And for all
the great scores, right, you go get your thirty point
I've never a thirty point score, but I've seen a lot.
I played with a lot of them. You know, how
you consistently do that, you get to the free though life.
(17:55):
So for Bennedict Mathren, he is prime for success. By
doing that, he can knock down an old and jumper.
But like I said, he's got a great frame, and
I mean he's just extremely explosive and down there with
Rick Carlisle with the Indiana Pacers. Man, this kid is
truly truly coming into his own. There's one play though
that stands Out'm not kind attack shot block at tours
(18:21):
guys kid under Bennick Mathron is playing against the Minnesota
Timberwolves and Rose who don't know the Timberwolves went out
to bolster their frontline and they're they're ready listen to.
Minnesota is no longer in rebuilding mode. They're not young.
They are going for it. They're looking to compete for
an NBA championship this year. So they go out and
(18:42):
they have a blockbuster deal to bring in the hood
Tomer Defensive Player of the Year, two time Defensive Player
the Year in Rudy Gobert. And there's this play where
Benneck Mathron he's playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, right potential
four All Stars one team. That's ridiculous. Okay, he's got
D'Angelo Russell and he's driving Russell, beating Russell to his
left hand. This is a right hand guy. And he's
(19:04):
as he's attacking the rim, guess who comes over, Carl
Anthony Towns. Hold the phone called Anthony Towns is not alone.
He's got Rudy Gobert. So as he's driving to the rim,
mattherin ceing Gobert, he's seeing, he's seeing on his hip
De'angelo Russell, and then he's got Carl Anthony Towns and
(19:28):
he goes up. He jumps in the air and it
feels like he's in in the air for an eternity.
You assume that this kid's gonna get found. He's getting
the shot block. Something is going down. In this play,
Matherin jumps over, dips underneath, and contorts his body to
(19:50):
score on the other side of the rim over two
of the best front line players in the NBA. You
gotta name two better front line players in the NBA.
You just don't see it. This is old school basketball
at its finest. This is the physicality. You know, Minnesota,
if they can get things together, they are primed for success.
Down to run. But as I'm watching Mathren this play
(20:12):
from a mentality standpoint, we talked about him playing downhill,
attacking two of the best big man, the best big
man tandem in the league at the rim, and going
with this fearless attitude. I think it says so much
about him. This sets him apart. But when I saw
this play, I said, oh man, that's a bad boy
right there. And the style and grace that he did
(20:32):
it with. I mean, just watch the way that he
finesses to the rim. He kind of shot clock at tour.
The most guys can't go up under the left hand.
It's a heck of a move. He's up strong side
on the left side. Karl Anthony town goes by. It's
(20:54):
still strong. Great great John Bennedict Mathurin. But I'm watching
this dude and I'm like, yeah, I liked him before,
but oh did he just did he do that to them?
And it's not too many time. You see Rookie School
and the veterans and you see the Pacers. Man, they
are having a heck of a year and a huge
part of that is Matthren Paul Louis pick up coast
(21:15):
to coast, lay it in. Let's talk and this kid,
you don't saying a lot. He came in NBA ready man,
day one. This kid has been NBA ready and you're
seeing it in that play right there. For me, that
that says it all. I'm sorry, signs have delivered. He
snapped that boy's cold, Aaron, I've had to jump rejected man.
(21:43):
Coustle Man, what time? And he has? How's everybody doing?
I want to welcome you into the first ever guest
here on NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Holland, presented by
the NBA and I Heart Radio. Man. Shout out to
my guy in the building, none of them in walke
up casting. What's up with your boy? Man? Happy to
be here, Ryan, Happy to be here. Yeah, And for
(22:06):
those who don't know NBA rookie, like, we gonna want
to take a deep dive into the future at the NBA.
We want to see what you get you the future. Start, man.
A lot of people don't know what that is. And
I was once many moons ago in two thousand six
rookie in the NBA for the Charlotte bobcast walk walking
you like Charlotte Bobcats. What's that? That's not an NBA
Bob right, No, Bob. We were Orange and Bob Johnson
(22:28):
named the thing. We were Bob's Bob's Cats. You know.
So look a lot time ago, man, But I want
to ask you first man, what was draft day like?
What was like? What like? Set set that scene? Me?
I was in Orange County with my friends and family.
You were a much bigger prospect than me. But what
was that like? Walk me through that day? Walk me
through that experience? So leading up to draft, I was
(22:54):
not invited the green room just yeah, but like I
had to work out for the Knicks um and I
I was flying to New York because I was I
was going to stay in New York to have like
my own draft party, like in a hotel room or whatever.
And as I was flying to New York to work out,
and this was like I kid, you know, man, like
four days before like the draft, I land and my
(23:16):
phone just like blowing up when I land, and my
my family and all text me like hey, like you
got invited to the green room and I was I
was like, let's go. You know, I'm so excited, man, um.
So that was crazy. And then the actual draft day,
you know, you're like waking up. You know, you got
your people coming in fitting you up with your suit
(23:37):
and everything, getting everything done. I mean, I wish I
could tell you like I remembered everything, but like it
was all a blur. Honestly. The only thing I remember
is like being down in the like in the green room,
like with your family at the table and who was
there with you? Who was who was there with you?
My dad, my mom, my brother, and my sister and
(23:58):
then my agent. So it was like everyone's looking around
each other, you know, everyone's look at the other tables. Man,
Like this guy gets called, he walks up, this guy
gets called, he walks up. So you're just like, man,
when a minute call, like what team am I going to?
Were you getting any like was your agent working and
going like all right, I think we're going We're going late,
(24:18):
like okay, yeah, like like, well, what are those conversations? Like? Bro?
He was like he was getting out, walking to other tables,
talking to other people, coming back saying like hey, we
don't think we're gonna go here, but like maybe we'll
get this one. Then he'd like walk away for a second.
So it was it was wild, like you don't know
for certain until like thirty seconds before memphisis Picks was in.
(24:40):
They said because Minnesota had the pick, they were like, hey,
Minnesota's gonna pick you, like you know you're going here,
and so at that moment, you still like are like okay, cool,
but you have like I'm not gonna believe it to
like call my name, and then when they finally call
your name, you like stand up man, and like seeing
my family there, I mean it was super cool man,
(25:01):
super cool. Any tear you drop a tear? All man?
I was pretty stoic, not gonna lie, but yeah, my
family was crying. I try not to look at them
because I definitely here if I saw them cry. Can
you give me like three adjectives for how you felt
walking up on the stage, Uh, focused in parentheses, hoping
(25:24):
I wasn't gonna fall um tierriodd parentheses. My mom was crying,
third word excited parentheses. I'm in the nbas in there,
but the parentheses mean yeah um. And then later that
(25:48):
night I got a little emotional when I was like
by myself, yeah, man, it was so much fun man,
And you and you come from a hoop family to
like see my dad did tracking football. I couldn't really
like I can enjoy the moments, but like, what was
your family like, Hey, this team is this? This seems
like what is it really? Like? Who talking to? In
(26:09):
the Kestler family That definitely was man, definitely was you know,
my dad, brother, uncle, granddad. You all played basketball, so
growing up with that, you know, definitely back and then
get to the actual like the stage where you're gonna
get drafted, the highest stage. I mean it was all
like it was just really cool, man. And they were
(26:30):
like giving me the tips that they weren't trying to
be overbearing and now you had a unique journey already.
It took me a couple of moments before I got traded,
and not just in a trade like a mega blockbuster trade.
I remember my first trade I went to Dallas. It
was like my third year. All right, I've mid way
(26:52):
through the third year and next thing I look up,
I'm traded to Dallas Mavericks. So we go from the
Bobcats and Dirks there Jayson Terry National TV. Mark Cuban
comes up to me and Cubans like, hey man was
in a similar position like you, And Cubans like, I
wasn't doing this deal without you, like we wanted you.
And I'm sitting here, I'm kind of like on the
(27:12):
bench at the time, like I'm I'm playing a little
bit and not playing a lot. And he's like, no,
we wanted you. And I'm like, I have this value
in the NBA, Like what's going on? Like walk me through,
Like did you know you would be traded? Did this
come out of nowhere? Like what was this? And then
you look up and it's like you're you're emotionally committed
to the Wolves, right and I played I played there minute,
(27:34):
Like talk me through that and just that moment of
you knowing you were getting traded and how did it hit?
Because you're young and you don't get traded in college.
You transferred, but you don't get traded. You don't get traded, man. Yeah,
it was wild, like going to Minnesota. My granddad my
family is actually from on my dad's side from Minnesota,
(27:54):
so there's like a story there. My granddad actually played
for the Golden Gophers at Minnesota. Uh, so I was
gonna wear like his number, the whole whole story, man,
And I kid you not. The first day out there,
I work out and right after my workout, they're like, hey, like, like,
you know, Tim's gonna talk to you, like in his office.
(28:15):
So we go up in the office. He's like, hey, man,
like I traded you. And I thought he was kidding
at first, and I was like, oh, like good one, man,
good one. He said, nah, man, I'm serious. We go
over the details right now. And I was just like,
hey man, I was like, my workout was that bad? Huh?
But you know he was super respectful about it, you
(28:37):
know he was you know, I like the fact that
he like told me face to face, you know, meant
a lot to me. Um. Yeah, I had no idea
to answer your question. I had no idea it was coming.
Where were those emotions like, because you're like you're going
for me. It was the excitement of going Dallas, and
it was kind of like, oh, yeah, I gave up
on me, like y'all think he like, like like what
(29:00):
was that because a lot of people don't understand what
that's like. And then you're going in it's the first
day of school all over again, like like new new teammates.
I just got the equipment man's number and put my
stuff in and you know, media day walked me through
that process and just like that first day in Utah,
what was that like? So you know, get the news
(29:20):
um that I've been traded. At first, I'm just like dang,
I got like they didn't want me or like I
didn't do good, Like I don't know why. I was
just like it is what it is. And then going
to Utah, I was like, well, I'm just gonna try
and make the best opportunity of this um. And then
I flew out. I think the morning after I got traded,
(29:41):
flew to Utah, met all the people, and right off
the bat, I was like, oh, like like I like
these people a lot, and then my teammates weren't there. Yeah,
was the first person you met? The first person I
met player wise? Player wise? Uh, it might have been
Nick kill or no, Jared Butler. I think it was
(30:03):
either Jared Butler or Nikkiel for those guys. Um, and
they're like super cool right off the bat, um, and
then the staff was super cool, super respectful. Um. And
just like right off the bat I was like, man,
I like I like the spot, I really like it,
and like flying into Salt Lake City, like you see
(30:25):
all the mountains and stuff. So man, that's that's unbelievable. Um,
so the rest of history. Man, I'm I'm so so
happy I'm here right now. Um, super thankful. But yeah,
at first, you know, there's a lot of uncertainty, but
you just try and go into it with the best
best outlook. All right, listen, I guess you know from
the business perspective, you definitely got that welcome to the
NBA moment. Yeah, that's about to say that was the
(30:48):
NBA moment. Man. I've been on three teams in the
stand up seven days. Yes, and and don't get me
wrong with you, it was like now we want him.
It was like we're gonna build with that guy. He's
gonna play minutes. And I think it was sometimes you know,
sometimes trades go and you're just thrown into a trade.
But when you're a centerpiece, someone wants you, you're and
(31:11):
you're definitely making a name for your something in the league.
That that's huge. What was it like on the court
that welcome to the NBA moment that Wow, they're a
little faster, like while these point guards dun't get versus
laying it up like like who gave you that moment?
Like like you're like I'm looking shot blocking like you
like kind of like I could go over a little
late and go get that, Like like was that moment um? Man?
(31:36):
I can't remember specifically like a time. I mean I
got I've been listening. I've been dunked on a couple
of times, and I'm sure you know, but every big everything,
everything especially it's part of the job. Man, I got
jump of everything, you know. But I feel like one
of the welcome to the NBA moments I had was
(31:56):
it was our first regular season game. It was a
home game versus the Nuggets, and I played well that game.
I had a double double. But like after the game,
it's like how the fans were like and we won,
but like the fans were just so like ecstatic and
like our solid Cities fan base. I mean, the jazz
Is fan base is unbelievable, unbelievable. I mean they show
(32:19):
up to every game, no matter what day. It is
like it's it's awesome. So getting like a double double
against them and then with the fans they're I was like, man,
I'm here, you know, like this is like like I belong.
And yes, Kessler goes double double. First man to record
a double double and in his debut in a Jazz
(32:41):
Uni Florida. That is big time. And I don't know
what will Hardy's feeling right now. And then obviously you
know there's ups and downs, just like with any any career,
but that that moment was kind of like, you know,
this is this is b n b A. And then
you know, I was feeling good about myself and probably
next game at dunked on so it's a can't get
(33:05):
too high, I can't get too low. You know, we
actually pulled you know, I can't just bring it down
big felt like I I got to bring it back up. Now.
Come on, there um one of your moments that for
me it stood out, and it was you against Bama
to Bio. Oh, this is the double block, the blocks twice.
(33:29):
We're gonna talk about you know what we did a
lot for the fans. I want you to talk some
basketball talk. We're talking coaches talk. We're getting in the
film room with you, and I want to know what
you're thinking on this clip because to me, it stands
out to the player that you are, and it's it's
big men. You know, differentiat themselves from second and third efforts,
and I saw that from you on this plan and
this is why I believe you're definitely different in the NBA.
(33:51):
So walk me through this clip on on what you're
thinking and just what ends up happening on to play
the emotions breakdown hoop talk. Yeah, all right, So first off,
I've you know, mostly played drop just to protect the rim,
to stay and bams like a good shooter. But we
understood I was going in to pop, all right, So
pausit right there. I try and like dig at him
(34:15):
a little bit to make him try and give up
that ball to pass the bam, just because it's kind
of like a game. You don't want to just go
keep going back to the basket because in that guard,
like you said that, I mean they can they're gonna
punch it on you if you go keep going back, so,
you know, trying to make him to give up that
ball and then play a little more. I come here,
I think I try to give him up, but he
doesn't give it up, does he? I can't tell it,
(34:36):
does he? He shoots this right, No, he passes it.
You're stuck, bro, You're stuck. That's right, that's right. Yeah.
I'm not in a great right here about to get
dunked on. But something about me, I don't really care
about getting dunked on, Like I'm gonna jump regardless, because
(34:57):
at the end of the day, like dunking over me
is a lot harder than dunking with nobody there. So
I go up here. I get this block right here,
he gets it back. He goes right in his hands.
He tries to post me up. At this point he
shoots us a little fader. I try to stay down
as like first little turn. But once he shoots this,
(35:19):
he turns around like he's dead. He jumps in the
air like I can do the second off the floor
because of my length. So I know I have this.
Um So I get this block blocks twice they moved
the ball. I go out and contest it and then
get the board and at the very end that I
don't celebrate much, man, but after I got that rebound,
(35:41):
I had to do like a little like Robinson's short. Yeah, Man,
there's nothing like that adrenaline from the crowd. And I
know you saw they were going wild and it's bam
and it's our young guy, man, So so that's huge. Also, Man,
I got thought, Man, I can't not shot him out, man,
Duwayne Waite is one of your owners. Man, you got
(36:03):
a chance to meet him, did you? Hill let you
at all? I know he's a in a huge man
Hall of Famer. Man let you in the game on
and off the court. I mean he he was one
of the players who looked up to like growing up obviously.
I mean he was an unbelievable player and you know,
to have met him in person, I haven't like talked
to him a lot, but I met him briefly and
(36:23):
just like super down to earth man, super cool um,
super humble guy. But yeah, I haven't gotten talked to
him a lot, but from what I can tell, man,
he's he's an unbelievable dude. And on that same note, man, like,
do you have a favorite like a guy? For me?
KG was my guy I like Tim Duncan, I like Shack.
I'm I'm I like Kid. I grew up with Kobe.
(36:44):
You know what I'm saying that rest in Pete uh
to the late Great Mamba. But do you have a
guy like hey, like like that's my guy, Like, that's him,
that's my guy. Like growing up it was either Tim
Duncan or Dirk Um. Yes, just because they were so
skilled and you know, they were winners above all. Probably
(37:04):
Tim Duncan. Man, That's first team was so much fun
to watch growing up with Genoably, Tony Parker, Kauai, Thiago Splitter.
I mean that Lamark Soldiers. That team was. That team
was fun? Yes, yes, So is there is there anybody
before we get out of here to anybody like in
the league that you're kind of like, you know, when
(37:25):
I saw a shot, guys like yeah, when I saw Kid,
when I saw like my Derek guy, have you seen
them yet? When you looked over and was like, Hey,
that's that's him right there? Man, I mean the obvious
answer is lebron Yeah, you Ron, That's that's lebron Um. Yeah.
I mean that a lot of I mean, all all
(37:45):
of them are so unbelievably talented players. So there's a
lot of players you because you don't like the first
couple of times, I was like, I just don't get
all struck, you know, like just go play your game.
But it's just basketball play. You can't think of him
like they're, you know, something above you. Um. But Lebron
was kind of like damn that did Lebron give you
any like a like a nod or kind of like
(38:08):
attack you a little bit or like you know, you're
in a pick a roll cover and you're like, yo, dude,
I'm picking up. Yeah. I can't remember, man, I remember.
I remember that game the first time we put the
Lakers a d try to drive on me one time
and I blocked him, throws it out ad put it
on the floor, out of here, front row and out
(38:29):
and I was like, man, that's a big time. And
then like he came down, I caught a love like
one handed dunked one. I was like, oh, yeah, no,
he's he's pretty good man. Um yeah, that was that
was pretty funny. Hey, Kesseler, you had a few plays, man,
Like I had to pick from a few, you know,
that double block, the one that set out, But I
(38:49):
had a few. Man, that's the duck of the other round. Listen, Man,
blessing to have you on. You know, fella will have
to do this again. Man, when you get a defensive
player at the year and your you know, your mini trophies. Man,
but keep up the great work. I'm I'm a big fan, fellow,
big man shot Blacker. You know, we got your boy
Jabar you over here, so you know, I can only
(39:10):
imagine what you two were like in practice. You know,
it's just a team defensively. You've got a lot of stories, man,
got a lot of stories. But before we get out
of here, Man, any foundations anything you like to shout
out any way that we can get back and support
to you, support you and obviously the fans at home listening.
You know, not not anything specifically, but I just think,
especially you know, with COVID that happened, and like quarantine
(39:34):
and everything, you know, continuing to emphasize like men's like
mental health and awareness. Um, you know, I think it's
just it's just really important. You know. I don't think
that gets talked about. I mean, I think they're doing
a lot better now, but you know, it's a kind
of a taboo subject just because we're you know, taught
to kind of keep all that stuff internalized. But so yeah,
(39:55):
just something something about that. Hey, appreciate your brother. Man.
It has been blasts and like I said, what we'll
do it again. Good guys. I gotta thank you guys
for listening. You guys have been amazing. There's no me
without you. Tune in, subscribe, share the word man. But
listen man. Like I said, we're gonna be breaking down
the ins and outs of these rookies. We're gonna be
(40:17):
opening your eyes to what these kids have to go through.
And for me, I'm gonna share a little bit of
my journey. But thank you guys. Will see you in
the next episode and tune in. Like I said, share
the word. Love you guys. We're out peace. Will do
it again soon.
Hey, everybody, how you doing. Welcome into NBA rookie life
with Ryan Hollins, and this is where we break down
the who, the what, the why and the where about
these rookies. And for if you don't know, my name
is Ryan Hollins. I was the fiftieth pick in the
two thousand six draft out of U C. L A.
That's Holland table set from Hall Daniel Gibson, and I'm
(00:23):
telling you Draft night, Draft Day that changed my entire
life and from myself for these young guys and everybody
who's going through the process. When you going to the NBA,
it is a dream. This is a lifetime moment that
you're being a part of. And these rookies play such
an instrumental part in r NBA y because they're the future.
They're the next superstars. Is there the next Lebron James,
(00:46):
the Kobe Bryant stuff, Michael Jordan's heck, we might even
have a Kareem coming around. Good evening and welcome to
the two thousand twenty two NBA Draft at Barkley Center.
But you gotta understand, these guys are the future. So
we're gonna get an in depth view. You're gonna get
the breaking news. You're gonna find out who these guys
are before they become who they are, and some of
(01:08):
them they are already pretty darn good. But guess what
we're gonna tell you everything. You're gonna get your rookie fixed,
and we're gonna go back and get a deep dive
of a couple other guys and what it was like
for them to be rookie. So welcome in, Buckle up strapping,
enjoy the show, and get ready for NBA rookie life
with Ryan Hollis. With the first pick in the two
(01:30):
thousand and six NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select Andrea Bargnani.
My NBA draft night was just crazy, And it was
crazy in the sense because I kid you not I
got I had to be the only player ever. My
agent comes to me and he goes, look, Ryan, you're intriguing.
(01:51):
You came out of nowhere. And for those who don't know,
I literally was benched my senior year and then leading
my team to the national championship. So he goes, hey, Ryan,
you can go anywhere from tenth in the draft of fifty.
I said what he said, Normally guys have a range,
you're a lottery pick. You're you're late in a late
first round. For early second my range was tenth two
(02:14):
that far, and it was because I intrigued so many people.
A seven foter with a on paper forty three and
a half inch vertical. So there is the intrigue there.
There's a couple of teams. Uh, the SuperSonics. I'm dating
myself the SuperSonics at the time where I went and
worked out, and I remember that SuperSonics workout, I jumped
(02:34):
from two ft from the free throw line and they
were blown away. I remember in the Charlotte workout, I
had a hustle player, right, I literally dove into some
boxes trying to get a loose ball. And then I
had a dunk drill that I did and within that
dunk drill, you're supposed to dunk until you can't dunk anymore.
And in Charlotte when I had the drill, I never
stopped dunking. So you know, the first guy goes up,
(02:56):
he just like five dunces, good job, you know, and
then he misses the dunk and number six Sun guy
goes up, he gets about eleven. I go up and
I started dunking. I get five, I get ten, I
get fifty thirty dunks, forty dunks. I worked out with
Rico Haines. Now, dar Rico Haines is one of the
most celebrated trainer coaches behind the scenes, worked out guys
(03:18):
like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie, all these guys. He's
now with the with the Raptors doing a great job
up there with or Watching and Nick Nurse and those guys.
But Rico Hines, I was like his first protege. So
I was doing these crazy wild conditioning drills every single day.
So I'm fifty dunks in and they finally go and
(03:40):
and this is the thing. You want to guarantee a spot.
I'm fifty dunks in and I'm dunk in a basketball.
I'm screaming. I'm screaming and and I'm and I'm putting
in these people's minds this is a maniac. If you
draft this guy, he is a maniac. And I knew
that I was just putting myself head and shoulders above
those other guys. And at a certain point it was crazy.
(04:01):
I've been in these workouts the other draftees. If we
call them, they start cheering for me, you know. So
the vertically those things were my moments. And on the
last dunk, I was always taking from Rico you do
soun special. So the last dunk, I either I can't
remember if I win milded or went in there. I
dunked into reverse, but I want to make a statement there.
So I just knew if things got to the skinny
(04:23):
of it, they got you know what they got to
the skinny, I was going away. I was gonna be
a Charlotte Bobcat. People saw the teams, the GYMZ exects.
They were excited when you see a big guy who
can run, who can move. But there's a lot of questions,
why did this guy come off the bench show? For me?
That was my range in my mind, and I didn't
get invited. I didn't get the luxurious. You know, every
(04:44):
rookie has that idea what they're doing, what they're shaking
Commissioner Stern's hand at the time, go up and shake
his hand and put the hat on and all that.
So I didn't have that experience. But I was with
my friends, my family, my loved ones. We were actually
in Orange County at ESPN Zone which was a really
really cool, uh experience. So it's me, my mom my,
actually future wife was there in the building, my friends,
my family. I'm excited, I'm sweating, I mean, and you
(05:07):
know what, like I feel like, in some weird way,
I was like hosting the event. You know, I'm in
host mode. And I remember sitting there and just hearing
these guys names go off the list. With the second
pick in the two thousand and six NBA Draft, these
Chicago Bulls select law Marcus Aldridge from the University of Texas.
(05:28):
You know, I'm I'm a young pump man at the time.
I'm competitive, so I'm seeing guys slowly get drafted. I'm like, well,
I'm better than him. I'm better than him. I'm better
than him. And it goes from this eventful, fund smiling
night to this chip on your shoulder that was being built.
So this chip is being built, I'm going first pick,
second pick, tenth pick, pick pick. I sat down with Portland.
(05:53):
I'm like, I gotta be going to Portland's I sat
down with the net you gotta be going. They pulled
me in and essentially told me it. Sat down with
Nick Millan to his face, Hey, we're gonna draft you.
Why should we draft you? This? I mean, I got
an in depth, I got grilled, and I thought this
was a shoeing for me to be going to the place.
So as they passed and passed and passed on me,
that chip built. And I remember I'm waiting there and
(06:14):
in my mind get you not. I knew fifty was it?
The pick after that was in Los Angeles Lakers, And
I was told by a good friend of my Rashid Has,
and he said, oh, man, if Charlton didn't take, you
were gonna be a Laker like I was gonna be
a what a Laker? And I think back it was
the best thing for me to get away from home
and to go to the East Coast. For those who
(06:34):
don't know, I was originally signed collegiately to St. Louis University.
Life happens. My coach leaves at Washington. Coach runs Romar,
who is an amazing guy we still talk to this day.
He goes to Washington. I end up at u c
l A. So God blessed Ryan Hollins for this moment.
I had never left home. I I went high school
and John your high school pasity been next thing, you know,
(06:55):
I'm at U c l A. I am just as
young and dumb and excited kid who never left home.
And then I go all the way to the East
coast to Charlotte, North Carolina, and I think it's one
of the coolest hearts of my life. And I think
for me, you know, he's fast forward ten years in
the NBA for the skinny kid from Pasadenia who was
never supposed to be there. I had to go get
(07:15):
away and I had to go grow up, and I
had a chance to do that with Michael Jordan's So
back to my draft story. I'm sitting in there the
picture getting later on. It's been a long afternoon. I've
been up all day, like, come on, do this draft day.
I waited my whole life of this right. I see
my dad and my dad. My dad's like a premature clapper,
you know what I'm saying, Like my dad thinks I
(07:37):
can do anything on this planet. And I love the
confidence that my dad put in me. That he's no
longer here now, but I look back and I appreciate
the confidence my dad gave me. And my dad starts clapping,
and my mom was clapping and I'm sitting there angry,
and they're like, you got drafted. I'm like, no, I didn't.
And I look at my parents as a young Nay,
what's wrong with you? Guys? What are you clapping for?
(08:00):
You got drafted to the NBA side. I didn't know.
I didn't. It's a commercial. You don't get drafted during commercials.
And I look on the bottom of the ticker guys,
and Ryan Holland's name is going across because commercial, And
there's a smile on my face. I'm excited. My mom
is clapping. My dad has this grand dude, and I
(08:21):
got a picture in this photo. My dad has this
gran and this grant is going ear to ear and
I think of those moments. I'm getting emotional just named,
but I think about those moments acle that's what it's about,
Like forget me, dude, forget the work. Enjoyed that in
that moment, and my dad was just smiling ear to
ear that grin, and I think about the sacrifice of
my parents gave me, and that that's what it was about.
(08:43):
Like I was just in competitive mode, but who cares?
You were living out your dreams for a kid who
wasn't supposed to be there, so that there's a fine
mix of where's your competitive nature and where are you
mad at where you got drafted because you shouldn't have
been there, But that draft day just set my life
in play. And moments later through the celebration. Next thing,
(09:05):
I know, this is crazy. My agent he hands me
the phone, Todd Ramazar, kid you not, guys, this is
when life comes at you fast. And I'm on and
he goes, hey, you talk to Bernie Bickerstaff. I'm like,
who's Bernie Bakerstaff? He's your head coach? Now? Like what?
Like I have a coach, dude, Like what? Like I'm
mad five seconds ago that I'm sitting there not drafted.
(09:27):
So I have a coach now? And Bernie going, how
you doing? Some congratulations that meets you? You know, we're
glad to have you. Ba. I don't even I don't
even remember if Bernie was in the Workhoup, but I'm
talking about Bernie Bickerstaff and go amazing this and that
I talked to. I believe JB. Bickerstaff, the you know,
general manager, a couple of people from the team. Next thing,
guess who hops on the line. Oh wait, guess who
(09:50):
hops on the line Michael Stinking Jordan's, I can't make
this up thirty seconds ago. I'm mad at the world
that I'm mad at my parents. I'm getting passed up.
I'm on the phone with Michael Jordan's, arguably the greatest
player who has ever graced the game, is on the phone.
(10:12):
He goes, Hey, Ryan, We're we're excited to have you.
You know, you bring a different dynamic to Charlotte, great
to work with. And I'm on the and I don't
even know what to say. I got these range of emotions.
I want to laugh, I want to cry, I'm excited.
I want to run through a wall. I would have
punched the wall at the same time. But I'm on
the phone with Michael Jordan's and that's when I start
(10:33):
to realize that what this is so much bigger than myself.
This is an opportunity of a lifetime. So for me, man,
that was my draft experience, and I wouldn't have shared
it with anybody else on the world, on this planet.
And I think about that drive that I hope and
I pray that all these kids have that. What's what's
(10:54):
driving you, what's motivating you? You know, sometimes that draft
day is a celebration, and sometimes the worst thing isn't
for you to have a fire lit under you. Because
I had a hit list. But when I saw the
Portland trail Blazers, he was on in popping. Okay, when
I saw that there were New Jersey to Brooklyn, the
New Jersey Nets, it was on that popping. In any
team that looked my way, which was probably all of
(11:15):
them at a certain time, it was there. But man,
life comes at you fast, and I think the uniqueness
and the coolness of all these kids stories that we're
gonna diet through through this draft process and you're gonna
see and we're gonna bring some NBA veterans in here.
Everybody has a unique process, and that day is special
for me. It shaped my career. I didn't step out
(11:36):
of there fat and happy. You know what. Ryan Hollands
was not meant to be the tenth pick in the
draft because he would have thought he was at twenty
one years, I would have been the best thing since
light spread. But the fifth in pick, that hungry dude
with a chip on his shoulder. He came to work
and I'm telling you, man, there's nothing like it. Then
there's nothing like the NBA and you and you'll hear,
if you ever hear moments from NBA players when if
(12:00):
something good happens to them. Jared Jefferies. I don't know
if you guys saw it. I think a couple of
weeks ago he won a car on the Prices right,
he said, I was happier than the day I got
drafted to the NBA. So so a couple of these guys,
your comparative moments. You know, then when your children are
born with us the day I got drafted to the NBA.
And I tell you, guys, it's really cool. We're gonna
(12:22):
go through some of these moments with these young guys.
We're gonna hear these stories, and you're gonna see what
it's like and and I think for me, you find
that deeper, deeper appreciation into the NBA. Stay tuned, guys.
When we come back, we're gonna break down some of
my favorite rookie moments. And oh my goodness, ladies and gentlemen,
(12:47):
I got I gotta talk to you about this guy,
Apolo bank Carroll number one pick in the NBA draft.
And I think for all of the so called experts,
former players, whatever, whatch you saw out of Polo. Ben
Carroll at Duke is not what we're seeing in the NBA.
And I say this in the sense that he has
been such a pleasant surprise. Sometimes a lot of times
these guys they underwhelmed you. They're not what you expected,
(13:10):
they're overhyped, they're not you know whatever. But for bank Carroll,
I was blown away with his ability to handle the basketball,
his size, and I know people get overly excited. I'm
gonna do it again. I'm gonna throw this out. People
get overly excited and they start doing those comparisons. He's Michael,
He's Kobe, He's this, but when I see him, he
(13:32):
ain't Lebron. But it's not many guys with his size
that can handle the basketball. So maybe we'll go a
little bit of Julius Randall in there, mix of Lebron,
but Grandma Malo Lever Jansen. But he's a legit six
ft eight, he's got great size, he's explosive. Sometimes I
(13:53):
heard there was questions with Ban Carroll's you know, foot speed,
his quickness. He looked quick enough to me. And there's
one play to me that I saw that maybe just
say goodness that that one stood out. What he did
is he's got the ball I think about the midline
(14:15):
a mid post catch, and he's got Usman Garuba on him.
And for those who don't know Usman group in the
Prayer Draft, he was labeled the best defender in the draft.
And we've seen Usman Garuba match up with Janie onto
the Coupo kind of bodied him up. He's played against
the league's best force five. He I mean, he would
guard anybody. We've seen him on local Trade Young this
(14:36):
is what Usman does. So Usman squares up with Polo
Ben Carroll. Ben Carroll gets the ball on this midline,
he puts the ball in his left hand, he attacks metal.
Then as he attacks mental, Usman cuts him off. Cool, Okay,
normal play. He spends back. Usman is in the play.
Keep in mind Oustman is a strong guy. He's very
very bottom heavy, low center of gravity six eight, but stronger,
(15:00):
decent feet and he's moving his feet. Okay, that's a
matchup that we want to see. Man Carrol, Ousman do
your thing, you know, guard him, maybe fold him, give
up a hook shot, fade away whatever. Man Carrol spins off.
This bump keeps going and now next thing we know,
Ousman Garuba is going for a ride. Hollo. Man Carroll
doesn't just shoot a jump hook or lay up, which
(15:23):
is rare to happen for usman group, but he takes
him for a ride. Ousman is holding on for dear life.
And next thing we know, Man Carroll is dunking the
basketball against garupa beautiful just over young Daruba. He is
(15:43):
coming out with a focus and purpose. But look at
Ban Carrol. My business. That is a grown man finishing
the balance to stay with it, taking Garuba for a ride,
and that's an adjustment going okay, okay, my first time playing.
You will see what you're about. I look over my
broadcast partner, Craig Akerman, I said, oh my gosh. I
didn't say this on there were rockets, but I said,
(16:05):
oh my gosh. And you to me, you see this play,
you gotta put some respect on this kid's name. But
his speed, his athleticism, his motivation. You know he's playing hard.
But for him that play, when you watch it, he
literally takes us mom for a ride. And it's hard
when you take another grown man with you and you're
(16:25):
jumping to the basket and dunking at home. This was
a different place. So I'm telling you when we talk
about Polo Man Carroll, look out for this kid. I
think the future is bright and I believe right now
the best thing about Orlando he's exceeding expectations. And in
some ways, I know this sounds weird. He may be
one of the NBA's best kept secrets because he doesn't
get a lot of the publicity. And I think, I like,
(16:47):
there's a degree where you're not just throwing down the
He's Kobe, he's Lebron, He's this, he's that, because so
often we do that with these number one picks. But
I'm telling you Polo Band Carroll. His mixes bead athleticism,
the way he moves his feet, the way he attacks
the basket, and his attitude. He is prying for some success,
long term success in the NBA. Ladies and gentlemen, you
(17:13):
gotta watch out for Benedict Mathren. Okay, I thought this
guy with the stud in college, I think you're seeing
it flourish in the NBA. Look man, he he is
a downhill driver, which means this guy gets to the
paint and a lot of rookies they don't have the
strength to do this. In the NBA, they don't have
the ball handling, they don't have the mentality. This kid
(17:33):
is an attack mode three sixty seven. He is attacking
the rim and I think his physicality at this young
age man, he really really stands out. And for all
the great scores, right, you go get your thirty point
I've never a thirty point score, but I've seen a lot.
I played with a lot of them. You know, how
you consistently do that, you get to the free though life.
(17:55):
So for Bennedict Mathren, he is prime for success. By
doing that, he can knock down an old and jumper.
But like I said, he's got a great frame, and
I mean he's just extremely explosive and down there with
Rick Carlisle with the Indiana Pacers. Man, this kid is
truly truly coming into his own. There's one play though
that stands Out'm not kind attack shot block at tours
(18:21):
guys kid under Bennick Mathron is playing against the Minnesota
Timberwolves and Rose who don't know the Timberwolves went out
to bolster their frontline and they're they're ready listen to.
Minnesota is no longer in rebuilding mode. They're not young.
They are going for it. They're looking to compete for
an NBA championship this year. So they go out and
(18:42):
they have a blockbuster deal to bring in the hood
Tomer Defensive Player of the Year, two time Defensive Player
the Year in Rudy Gobert. And there's this play where
Benneck Mathron he's playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves, right potential
four All Stars one team. That's ridiculous. Okay, he's got
D'Angelo Russell and he's driving Russell, beating Russell to his
left hand. This is a right hand guy. And he's
(19:04):
as he's attacking the rim, guess who comes over, Carl
Anthony Towns. Hold the phone called Anthony Towns is not alone.
He's got Rudy Gobert. So as he's driving to the rim,
mattherin ceing Gobert, he's seeing, he's seeing on his hip
De'angelo Russell, and then he's got Carl Anthony Towns and
(19:28):
he goes up. He jumps in the air and it
feels like he's in in the air for an eternity.
You assume that this kid's gonna get found. He's getting
the shot block. Something is going down. In this play,
Matherin jumps over, dips underneath, and contorts his body to
(19:50):
score on the other side of the rim over two
of the best front line players in the NBA. You
gotta name two better front line players in the NBA.
You just don't see it. This is old school basketball
at its finest. This is the physicality. You know, Minnesota,
if they can get things together, they are primed for success.
Down to run. But as I'm watching Mathren this play
(20:12):
from a mentality standpoint, we talked about him playing downhill,
attacking two of the best big man, the best big
man tandem in the league at the rim, and going
with this fearless attitude. I think it says so much
about him. This sets him apart. But when I saw
this play, I said, oh man, that's a bad boy
right there. And the style and grace that he did
(20:32):
it with. I mean, just watch the way that he
finesses to the rim. He kind of shot clock at tour.
The most guys can't go up under the left hand.
It's a heck of a move. He's up strong side
on the left side. Karl Anthony town goes by. It's
(20:54):
still strong. Great great John Bennedict Mathurin. But I'm watching
this dude and I'm like, yeah, I liked him before,
but oh did he just did he do that to them?
And it's not too many time. You see Rookie School
and the veterans and you see the Pacers. Man, they
are having a heck of a year and a huge
part of that is Matthren Paul Louis pick up coast
(21:15):
to coast, lay it in. Let's talk and this kid,
you don't saying a lot. He came in NBA ready man,
day one. This kid has been NBA ready and you're
seeing it in that play right there. For me, that
that says it all. I'm sorry, signs have delivered. He
snapped that boy's cold, Aaron, I've had to jump rejected man.
(21:43):
Coustle Man, what time? And he has? How's everybody doing?
I want to welcome you into the first ever guest
here on NBA Rookie Life with Ryan Holland, presented by
the NBA and I Heart Radio. Man. Shout out to
my guy in the building, none of them in walke
up casting. What's up with your boy? Man? Happy to
be here, Ryan, Happy to be here. Yeah, And for
(22:06):
those who don't know NBA rookie, like, we gonna want
to take a deep dive into the future at the NBA.
We want to see what you get you the future. Start, man.
A lot of people don't know what that is. And
I was once many moons ago in two thousand six
rookie in the NBA for the Charlotte bobcast walk walking
you like Charlotte Bobcats. What's that? That's not an NBA
Bob right, No, Bob. We were Orange and Bob Johnson
(22:28):
named the thing. We were Bob's Bob's Cats. You know.
So look a lot time ago, man, But I want
to ask you first man, what was draft day like?
What was like? What like? Set set that scene? Me?
I was in Orange County with my friends and family.
You were a much bigger prospect than me. But what
was that like? Walk me through that day? Walk me
through that experience? So leading up to draft, I was
(22:54):
not invited the green room just yeah, but like I
had to work out for the Knicks um and I
I was flying to New York because I was I
was going to stay in New York to have like
my own draft party, like in a hotel room or whatever.
And as I was flying to New York to work out,
and this was like I kid, you know, man, like
four days before like the draft, I land and my
(23:16):
phone just like blowing up when I land, and my
my family and all text me like hey, like you
got invited to the green room and I was I
was like, let's go. You know, I'm so excited, man, um.
So that was crazy. And then the actual draft day,
you know, you're like waking up. You know, you got
your people coming in fitting you up with your suit
(23:37):
and everything, getting everything done. I mean, I wish I
could tell you like I remembered everything, but like it
was all a blur. Honestly. The only thing I remember
is like being down in the like in the green room,
like with your family at the table and who was
there with you? Who was who was there with you?
My dad, my mom, my brother, and my sister and
(23:58):
then my agent. So it was like everyone's looking around
each other, you know, everyone's look at the other tables. Man,
Like this guy gets called, he walks up, this guy
gets called, he walks up. So you're just like, man,
when a minute call, like what team am I going to?
Were you getting any like was your agent working and
going like all right, I think we're going We're going late,
(24:18):
like okay, yeah, like like, well, what are those conversations? Like? Bro?
He was like he was getting out, walking to other tables,
talking to other people, coming back saying like hey, we
don't think we're gonna go here, but like maybe we'll
get this one. Then he'd like walk away for a second.
So it was it was wild, like you don't know
for certain until like thirty seconds before memphisis Picks was in.
(24:40):
They said because Minnesota had the pick, they were like, hey,
Minnesota's gonna pick you, like you know you're going here,
and so at that moment, you still like are like okay, cool,
but you have like I'm not gonna believe it to
like call my name, and then when they finally call
your name, you like stand up man, and like seeing
my family there, I mean it was super cool man,
(25:01):
super cool. Any tear you drop a tear? All man?
I was pretty stoic, not gonna lie, but yeah, my
family was crying. I try not to look at them
because I definitely here if I saw them cry. Can
you give me like three adjectives for how you felt
walking up on the stage, Uh, focused in parentheses, hoping
(25:24):
I wasn't gonna fall um tierriodd parentheses. My mom was crying,
third word excited parentheses. I'm in the nbas in there,
but the parentheses mean yeah um. And then later that
(25:48):
night I got a little emotional when I was like
by myself, yeah, man, it was so much fun man,
And you and you come from a hoop family to
like see my dad did tracking football. I couldn't really
like I can enjoy the moments, but like, what was
your family like, Hey, this team is this? This seems
like what is it really? Like? Who talking to? In
(26:09):
the Kestler family That definitely was man, definitely was you know,
my dad, brother, uncle, granddad. You all played basketball, so
growing up with that, you know, definitely back and then
get to the actual like the stage where you're gonna
get drafted, the highest stage. I mean it was all
like it was just really cool, man. And they were
(26:30):
like giving me the tips that they weren't trying to
be overbearing and now you had a unique journey already.
It took me a couple of moments before I got traded,
and not just in a trade like a mega blockbuster trade.
I remember my first trade I went to Dallas. It
was like my third year. All right, I've mid way
(26:52):
through the third year and next thing I look up,
I'm traded to Dallas Mavericks. So we go from the
Bobcats and Dirks there Jayson Terry National TV. Mark Cuban
comes up to me and Cubans like, hey man was
in a similar position like you, And Cubans like, I
wasn't doing this deal without you, like we wanted you.
And I'm sitting here, I'm kind of like on the
(27:12):
bench at the time, like I'm I'm playing a little
bit and not playing a lot. And he's like, no,
we wanted you. And I'm like, I have this value
in the NBA, Like what's going on? Like walk me through,
Like did you know you would be traded? Did this
come out of nowhere? Like what was this? And then
you look up and it's like you're you're emotionally committed
to the Wolves, right and I played I played there minute,
(27:34):
Like talk me through that and just that moment of
you knowing you were getting traded and how did it hit?
Because you're young and you don't get traded in college.
You transferred, but you don't get traded. You don't get traded, man. Yeah,
it was wild, like going to Minnesota. My granddad my
family is actually from on my dad's side from Minnesota,
(27:54):
so there's like a story there. My granddad actually played
for the Golden Gophers at Minnesota. Uh, so I was
gonna wear like his number, the whole whole story, man,
And I kid you not. The first day out there,
I work out and right after my workout, they're like, hey, like, like,
you know, Tim's gonna talk to you, like in his office.
(28:15):
So we go up in the office. He's like, hey, man,
like I traded you. And I thought he was kidding
at first, and I was like, oh, like good one, man,
good one. He said, nah, man, I'm serious. We go
over the details right now. And I was just like,
hey man, I was like, my workout was that bad? Huh?
But you know he was super respectful about it, you
(28:37):
know he was you know, I like the fact that
he like told me face to face, you know, meant
a lot to me. Um. Yeah, I had no idea
to answer your question. I had no idea it was coming.
Where were those emotions like, because you're like you're going
for me. It was the excitement of going Dallas, and
it was kind of like, oh, yeah, I gave up
on me, like y'all think he like, like like what
(29:00):
was that because a lot of people don't understand what
that's like. And then you're going in it's the first
day of school all over again, like like new new teammates.
I just got the equipment man's number and put my
stuff in and you know, media day walked me through
that process and just like that first day in Utah,
what was that like? So you know, get the news
(29:20):
um that I've been traded. At first, I'm just like dang,
I got like they didn't want me or like I
didn't do good, Like I don't know why. I was
just like it is what it is. And then going
to Utah, I was like, well, I'm just gonna try
and make the best opportunity of this um. And then
I flew out. I think the morning after I got traded,
(29:41):
flew to Utah, met all the people, and right off
the bat, I was like, oh, like like I like
these people a lot, and then my teammates weren't there. Yeah,
was the first person you met? The first person I
met player wise? Player wise? Uh, it might have been
Nick kill or no, Jared Butler. I think it was
(30:03):
either Jared Butler or Nikkiel for those guys. Um, and
they're like super cool right off the bat, um, and
then the staff was super cool, super respectful. Um. And
just like right off the bat I was like, man,
I like I like the spot, I really like it,
and like flying into Salt Lake City, like you see
(30:25):
all the mountains and stuff. So man, that's that's unbelievable. Um,
so the rest of history. Man, I'm I'm so so
happy I'm here right now. Um, super thankful. But yeah,
at first, you know, there's a lot of uncertainty, but
you just try and go into it with the best
best outlook. All right, listen, I guess you know from
the business perspective, you definitely got that welcome to the
NBA moment. Yeah, that's about to say that was the
(30:48):
NBA moment. Man. I've been on three teams in the
stand up seven days. Yes, and and don't get me
wrong with you, it was like now we want him.
It was like we're gonna build with that guy. He's
gonna play minutes. And I think it was sometimes you know,
sometimes trades go and you're just thrown into a trade.
But when you're a centerpiece, someone wants you, you're and
(31:11):
you're definitely making a name for your something in the league.
That that's huge. What was it like on the court
that welcome to the NBA moment that Wow, they're a
little faster, like while these point guards dun't get versus
laying it up like like who gave you that moment?
Like like you're like I'm looking shot blocking like you
like kind of like I could go over a little
late and go get that, Like like was that moment um? Man?
(31:36):
I can't remember specifically like a time. I mean I
got I've been listening. I've been dunked on a couple
of times, and I'm sure you know, but every big everything,
everything especially it's part of the job. Man, I got
jump of everything, you know. But I feel like one
of the welcome to the NBA moments I had was
(31:56):
it was our first regular season game. It was a
home game versus the Nuggets, and I played well that game.
I had a double double. But like after the game,
it's like how the fans were like and we won,
but like the fans were just so like ecstatic and
like our solid Cities fan base. I mean, the jazz
Is fan base is unbelievable, unbelievable. I mean they show
(32:19):
up to every game, no matter what day. It is
like it's it's awesome. So getting like a double double
against them and then with the fans they're I was like, man,
I'm here, you know, like this is like like I belong.
And yes, Kessler goes double double. First man to record
a double double and in his debut in a Jazz
(32:41):
Uni Florida. That is big time. And I don't know
what will Hardy's feeling right now. And then obviously you
know there's ups and downs, just like with any any career,
but that that moment was kind of like, you know,
this is this is b n b A. And then
you know, I was feeling good about myself and probably
next game at dunked on so it's a can't get
(33:05):
too high, I can't get too low. You know, we
actually pulled you know, I can't just bring it down
big felt like I I got to bring it back up. Now.
Come on, there um one of your moments that for
me it stood out, and it was you against Bama
to Bio. Oh, this is the double block, the blocks twice.
(33:29):
We're gonna talk about you know what we did a
lot for the fans. I want you to talk some
basketball talk. We're talking coaches talk. We're getting in the
film room with you, and I want to know what
you're thinking on this clip because to me, it stands
out to the player that you are, and it's it's
big men. You know, differentiat themselves from second and third efforts,
and I saw that from you on this plan and
this is why I believe you're definitely different in the NBA.
(33:51):
So walk me through this clip on on what you're
thinking and just what ends up happening on to play
the emotions breakdown hoop talk. Yeah, all right, So first off,
I've you know, mostly played drop just to protect the rim,
to stay and bams like a good shooter. But we
understood I was going in to pop, all right, So
pausit right there. I try and like dig at him
(34:15):
a little bit to make him try and give up
that ball to pass the bam, just because it's kind
of like a game. You don't want to just go
keep going back to the basket because in that guard,
like you said that, I mean they can they're gonna
punch it on you if you go keep going back, so,
you know, trying to make him to give up that
ball and then play a little more. I come here,
I think I try to give him up, but he
doesn't give it up, does he? I can't tell it,
(34:36):
does he? He shoots this right, No, he passes it.
You're stuck, bro, You're stuck. That's right, that's right. Yeah.
I'm not in a great right here about to get
dunked on. But something about me, I don't really care
about getting dunked on, Like I'm gonna jump regardless, because
(34:57):
at the end of the day, like dunking over me
is a lot harder than dunking with nobody there. So
I go up here. I get this block right here,
he gets it back. He goes right in his hands.
He tries to post me up. At this point he
shoots us a little fader. I try to stay down
as like first little turn. But once he shoots this,
(35:19):
he turns around like he's dead. He jumps in the
air like I can do the second off the floor
because of my length. So I know I have this.
Um So I get this block blocks twice they moved
the ball. I go out and contest it and then
get the board and at the very end that I
don't celebrate much, man, but after I got that rebound,
(35:41):
I had to do like a little like Robinson's short. Yeah, Man,
there's nothing like that adrenaline from the crowd. And I
know you saw they were going wild and it's bam
and it's our young guy, man, So so that's huge. Also, Man,
I got thought, Man, I can't not shot him out, man,
Duwayne Waite is one of your owners. Man, you got
(36:03):
a chance to meet him, did you? Hill let you
at all? I know he's a in a huge man
Hall of Famer. Man let you in the game on
and off the court. I mean he he was one
of the players who looked up to like growing up obviously.
I mean he was an unbelievable player and you know,
to have met him in person, I haven't like talked
to him a lot, but I met him briefly and
(36:23):
just like super down to earth man, super cool um,
super humble guy. But yeah, I haven't gotten talked to
him a lot, but from what I can tell, man,
he's he's an unbelievable dude. And on that same note, man, like,
do you have a favorite like a guy? For me?
KG was my guy I like Tim Duncan, I like Shack.
I'm I'm I like Kid. I grew up with Kobe.
(36:44):
You know what I'm saying that rest in Pete uh
to the late Great Mamba. But do you have a
guy like hey, like like that's my guy, Like, that's him,
that's my guy. Like growing up it was either Tim
Duncan or Dirk Um. Yes, just because they were so
skilled and you know, they were winners above all. Probably
(37:04):
Tim Duncan. Man, That's first team was so much fun
to watch growing up with Genoably, Tony Parker, Kauai, Thiago Splitter.
I mean that Lamark Soldiers. That team was. That team
was fun? Yes, yes, So is there is there anybody
before we get out of here to anybody like in
the league that you're kind of like, you know, when
(37:25):
I saw a shot, guys like yeah, when I saw Kid,
when I saw like my Derek guy, have you seen
them yet? When you looked over and was like, Hey,
that's that's him right there? Man, I mean the obvious
answer is lebron Yeah, you Ron, That's that's lebron Um. Yeah.
I mean that a lot of I mean, all all
(37:45):
of them are so unbelievably talented players. So there's a
lot of players you because you don't like the first
couple of times, I was like, I just don't get
all struck, you know, like just go play your game.
But it's just basketball play. You can't think of him
like they're, you know, something above you. Um. But Lebron
was kind of like damn that did Lebron give you
any like a like a nod or kind of like
(38:08):
attack you a little bit or like you know, you're
in a pick a roll cover and you're like, yo, dude,
I'm picking up. Yeah. I can't remember, man, I remember.
I remember that game the first time we put the
Lakers a d try to drive on me one time
and I blocked him, throws it out ad put it
on the floor, out of here, front row and out
(38:29):
and I was like, man, that's a big time. And
then like he came down, I caught a love like
one handed dunked one. I was like, oh, yeah, no,
he's he's pretty good man. Um yeah, that was that
was pretty funny. Hey, Kesseler, you had a few plays, man,
Like I had to pick from a few, you know,
that double block, the one that set out, But I
(38:49):
had a few. Man, that's the duck of the other round. Listen, Man,
blessing to have you on. You know, fella will have
to do this again. Man, when you get a defensive
player at the year and your you know, your mini trophies. Man,
but keep up the great work. I'm I'm a big fan, fellow,
big man shot Blacker. You know, we got your boy
Jabar you over here, so you know, I can only
(39:10):
imagine what you two were like in practice. You know,
it's just a team defensively. You've got a lot of stories, man,
got a lot of stories. But before we get out
of here, Man, any foundations anything you like to shout
out any way that we can get back and support
to you, support you and obviously the fans at home listening.
You know, not not anything specifically, but I just think,
especially you know, with COVID that happened, and like quarantine
(39:34):
and everything, you know, continuing to emphasize like men's like
mental health and awareness. Um, you know, I think it's
just it's just really important. You know. I don't think
that gets talked about. I mean, I think they're doing
a lot better now, but you know, it's a kind
of a taboo subject just because we're you know, taught
to kind of keep all that stuff internalized. But so yeah,
(39:55):
just something something about that. Hey, appreciate your brother. Man.
It has been blasts and like I said, what we'll
do it again. Good guys. I gotta thank you guys
for listening. You guys have been amazing. There's no me
without you. Tune in, subscribe, share the word man. But
listen man. Like I said, we're gonna be breaking down
the ins and outs of these rookies. We're gonna be
(40:17):
opening your eyes to what these kids have to go through.
And for me, I'm gonna share a little bit of
my journey. But thank you guys. Will see you in
the next episode and tune in. Like I said, share
the word. Love you guys. We're out peace. Will do
it again soon.
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