July 13, 2024 • 37 mins
Chris Haynes and Marc Stein get ready for the NBA's annual summer league in extremely timely fashion in this fun and lively visit with Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis. The highly rated 6-foot-10 forward tells the guys all about his draft night experience, getting selected by his hometown team, how a season with the G League Ignite prepared him for the highest level and what he hopes to achieve both in the NBA and internationally. As a bonus: Buzelis and Haynes get a history lesson from the old man Stein about the little-known magical history of the No. 14 that the Lithuanian/American forward has chosen to wear in Chicago.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
The NBA's annual Summer League in Las Vegas is upon us,
and so on this edition of this League Uncut, we
have a special guest joining Chris and me. It's Bulls
rookie Modest Basilis that's next here on this League uncut.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to this League uncut.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
In the rule of twenty four hour NBA News.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
This you lo.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Chris Hanes. It's co tull Work's time.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
It's so nice. This League uncut is underway and on fire.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
This should be a good one.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Let's bring him in now.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Bulls rookie Modest bozellis joining us here about to begin
his NBA career, the Summer League portion of his NBA career,
as a member of your hometown Chicago Bulls. It has
to be surreal. I know you've already been practicing, but
(01:10):
too has it sunk in yet that you are a Bull?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yes, it has sunk in.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
It really sunk in, like after the draft, Like as
soon as the draft happened. You know, I think everybody
saw it was emotional, but you know, just being at
the training facilities like surrounded by you know, the championships
and all that, it's just it really, it really got
to me.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Were you a Bulls fan growing up?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Because I know in your generation it's not automatic that
you just fall in love with the local team, But.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Is it safe to say you you grew up a
Bulls fan.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I wasn't really a fan of any team, but I
was like a fan of players. So de Rose was
like that guy, like he was like the savior of Chicago.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Everybody thought that.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So, you know, watching him and that team, you know, joking, Nola,
Taj Gibson, all those guys, it was.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
That was like the most memorable thing for me.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
But I was never really a fan of any teams.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
That's how I am.
Speaker 6 (02:14):
You know, I'm forty one now, and people that's usually
my age they grew up fans of teams and me,
I was one of the lone guys that I like players,
and I would follow players wherever they wherever they went. Uh,
this is not this is not particularly on your career
right now, but this question, but do you find that
(02:37):
people in your age group, do you find some more
so that they like players more so than teams.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yes, I could safely say that I think it's it's
more of a like when a when a player gets
traded or goes to a different team, they think they're
not they're not really rooting for that team.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
They're rooting for the player to win. They want him
to win.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
So I think that's the same that's the same case
with me. I was, you know, rooting for Kevin Durant
in ok See and then he went to the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I'm rooting for Kevin Durant again. You know. It's it's
kind of like that now nowadays.
Speaker 6 (03:13):
Okay, So, so Kevin Durant, he took a lot of
heat when he went to Golden State. So as a fan,
as a fan of Kevin Durant, how did you process
him going to go to State? Were you accepted? Did
you accept that move to go to State? How was
it for you as a fan?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:31):
You know, players can make whatever the moves they want,
doesn't It doesn't matter to me. He goes out and
earns it at the end of the day. You know,
he's he's working hard every day and that's what you
have to respect about players.
Speaker 6 (03:43):
And so, Matts, I want to talk about your you know,
what's about to happen right now.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
We're about to start Las Vegas.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Summer League, and there's a documentary on Las Vegas Summer
League and how it started and the careers that were
catapulted from those summers, like from Lebron James. I mean,
there's too many stars you can name that who have
played in the Las Vegas Summer League. Some have some
good stints, others did it. You know, Summer League is
(04:11):
not always uh indicator if you're going to have success
or not. But how are you going into summer league,
Approaching Vegas Summer League where you know all eyes are
going to be on the top rookies like yourself.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I'm approaching it as you know every other game that
I've played.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
I don't see it differently.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
It's just now I'm at a bigger stage, of course,
But you know I'm going in there trying to win.
That's that's what I That's what I want to be,
and a two way player. I want to impact both
sides of the floor defense, offense.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I want to be a good teammate.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
When I'm you know, sitting on the bench cheering for
my teammates, you know, stuff like that. It's it's like
a normal game to me, but you know the intensity
is going to be high.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Everyone's trying to earn a job.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
I know you've done a lot of interviews all d
even though you've only been in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
For a couple of weeks here.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
So I want to ask this differently because I know
you are probably sick of the questions of how emotional
you and your family were, So I want to look
at it from a different light. In a lot of
pre draft projections, a lot of mock drafts had you
going as high as number five to Detroit.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So just walk us through what that was like.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Detroit ends up picking your G League IGNIT teammate Ron Holland,
but then at eleven you go to the team in
your city, this historic franchise.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
The Chicago Bulls.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Just that whole roller coaster of emotions and how much
were you paying attention to the mock drafts going into
the whole process.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Wasn't really paying attention to the mock drafts? Of course,
you know, you see them when you scroll down and
you're looking, you know, through Instagram and all that.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
But I'm a basketball player.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
I don't really look into media and stuff like that.
I know, like it's a business. As much as I
hate to say it, but you know, yeah, I saw
like all the projections going like five, I saw two,
like four all that. No people thought I was a
lot top five pick. But now at the end of
the day, when you're on your team and you're on
(06:24):
you're on your team and your about to compete against everybody,
the pick doesn't matter. You know, it's it's zero to
zero against everybody. You know, nobody has a unfair advantage. Uh,
it's it's a fair advance. I mean, it's a fair advantage.
That's what it is for everybody. So it doesn't matter
if you're one, two, three, five, fifty eight, it's it's
(06:46):
zero to zero.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I do wonder, though, now that you are a bull,
how much have you reflected on your interviews with them,
conversations working out for them When you look back, are
there things that tip might have tipped you off to
how interested they were in you that you can look
back now and say, oh, yeah, they actually something they
(07:10):
said in our sit down, let me know that these
guys really like me.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Not really, they they they came to watch a workout
in Vague and not in Vegas, La, and that's really it.
And then I sat down at Combine with them to
talk for like twenty minutes. So there wasn't really any
indication you know that they that they well they said
to my agent that they liked me, but they didn't
They honestly didn't think I was gonna go like eleven.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Not low, I mean it's not low, but you know
you know what I.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Mean, right, But they didn't think you'd be there.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, they didn't think I'd be there, and so as
soon as they saw that I was still there, they
decided to pick me.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
But I didn't.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
I really didn't think I was going to go to Chicago,
you know, sitting there at draft nights. So I mean
they believed in me the most, and that's what matters now.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
So when when even is about to be picked, were
you genuinely surprised?
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Like what like?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
For me?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Like I guess just explain to us the emotions when
Detroit picked at five, did you think they were taking you?
And then when when you heard your name called it eleven?
How expected was that or how surprising was it?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
So I mean, walking into I thought I was gonna
be like top ten, but I mean it got to
pick eleven and they picked me. And as I said before,
it doesn't matter what pick you are. Yeah, it matters
about the situation that you're in. And Chicago picked me
and they they believe in me, and I'm gonna work.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
As hard as I can. You know, so I was.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
I was a little surprised, but I'm happy. It doesn't matter.
You're in the NBA now.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
So.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Let me let me talk. I want to talk about
your path to get into the NBA. You took an
unconventional path, and it's a path that's no longer available anymore.
So obviously, coming out of high school, you want the
top players in high school, numerous colleges, you could have
picked any college you wanted to go to. You chose
to go to the G League path the G League
(09:18):
at night. Two part question please. The first part like,
how was that experience for you? Would you do it
all over again?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Definitely do it over again.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Uh, honestly, it was the best experience ever playing against
the best players. I had, NBA coaches, NBA trainers, you know,
just people who worked in the NBA. Also a therapists,
you know, everybody, strength conditioning coaches. It's just really the
NBA experience out there. And I couldn't thank them enough.
(09:54):
They did an amazing job. And people think it was
because of our record that got shut down, but it's
not true at all.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
It's it was a great experience. I would do it again.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Yeah, the record has For people that think that the
record had nothing to do with it, it's just the
fact that now the college landscape has changed, where the
NIL deals, where players can actually get paid.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Uh, it's not even.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
That, it's not even that.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Explain it to us from your seat.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Yeah, explain for us.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
So ours got shut down because of the boosters didn't
give us any more money like that, And it was
it was tough. It's tough to drag you know, people
out of Vegas to go watch teenage kids play, you know,
outside of Vegas twenty twenty minutes away. So it was
just tough, you know, getting fans there. And but you know,
(10:47):
it was it was mainly that. It wasn't because the
NIL or a record. It was just we we didn't
you know, it wasn't a positive investment.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Okay, I understand.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
I'm glad you said the record straight you and know
more than any of us. I did want to ask
if you did if the Gen League at Knight wasn't
if that wasn't a scenario where do you think you
might have played college ball.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
At probably Florida State or Wake Forest?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Why those two in particular.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Florida State because the way you know, the power forwards
played there. So after watching like Scottie Barnes, you know,
even Patrick Williams, the way they developed and they played
the right way, and the Wake Forest it was just, honestly,
it just felt different than any other college. It was
a Lithuanian connection with one of the coaches, Coach Forbes too,
(11:46):
just really cool, really cool dude. And the way they
said I would play for them, it fit perfectly.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
I don't know, c ch I heard cal State Fullerton
was in his top three. That was what my sources
were telling me.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
I don't know if he's even heard of cal State.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
They were in his top they were in they were
they were in his top three, really top ten. You
know you mentioned the record though, and I don't just
want I mean obviously, what was that like to go through?
I mean, you guys really took a lot of lumps
this season with the Ignite. What do you think that
experience is going to do for your career going forward?
(12:25):
Because you guys, I mean, you were playing against men
who are These guys are all desperate.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
To get back into the NBA.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
And I mean, I'm sure that was an experience you're
not gonna forget.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
You know, it's tough losing. Of course, everybody knows. Nobody
likes to lose, no one wants to be a losing person.
I mean it really shaped us into the people that
we are today. Like everybody that came to Ignite is
from winning programs. So like Ron, I think I saw
a stat on Ron. Ron, I think lost six games
(12:59):
totally high school career, something like that. Cherry Baba, all
them guys they were killing in the bl You know, me,
I came from Sunrise. I was competing for a national championship,
high school national championship. So we all came from winning programs.
But it was just super tough to lose. And we
had we had so many I didn't I don't want
(13:20):
to make excuses, but we had veterans that were hurt,
a lot of veterans that mattered, you know, And it
really just made us into the people that we are today.
And people always thought the G League is weak, you know,
looking at you know, you sometimes see the comments and
people think the G league is in a good league,
and those guys are they see we play on NBA
(13:42):
TV every night at home, so they're coming in. They're
trying to kill you. They're they're not taking it lightly.
They don't want to know teenage teenage kids to beat them,
so they're really going one hundred percent effort when they play, and.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Man, makes us better.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So that's what I was gonna say.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
On the flip side, it has to make you more
NBA ready, right than had you played even at a
top college. I mean, you have played a level closer
to NBA than most other rookies at this point.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
I mean, with all due respect them, some guys are
not even gonna touch the G League that played in
college who they're competing against.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
No, that's just real.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
And those guys that we play in the G League,
like Lance Stevenson, Kenneth forar Reid, they're like they're trying
to get back into the NBA, you know, and they
won't they won't lose the chance, uh and the opportunity
to try to get back in.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
And that's why I said, like just when I was
talking about the record, not mattering, like you guys are
young kids. You're seventeen eighteen, nineteen years old. And one
thing about you guys is that you come into the
G League at night as a target. You guys are
a target because everybody is looking at you guys.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
Oh, you guys are the future.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
You guys are the anointed ones. Okay, you guys are
going to have a as you mentioned NBA TV, you
guys want to have a platform, right, so when we
play you guys, that is our time to show and
showcase what we And so that's a level of let
me see, that's a level of being targeted that you
wouldn't face in college. Because you're going into college, you're
(15:37):
going to be the guy, you know what I mean.
People still know you're the guy. Even though you're a
freshman coming in. People still know, Okay, this guy is
a one and done talent.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
He's the one that you know.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
And so I think that's going to help you when
you're when you are playing your rookie season for the
Chicago Bulls. And that's what I wanted to ask, Like
I wanted to ask because you know, a lot of
the money that's being paid to college A players now
and people may say, well, if you can, if you
could do it over again, maybe you would go to
college and experience that. Did you feel any type of
(16:09):
way about just just the college experience nothing else. Did
you feel any any type of way about not having
that experience?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Nah? I didn't.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
I mean, of course, you know, I'm watching March Madness,
all the fans going crazy, But I mean I'm playing
NBA rules and using an NBA ball, playing against NBA players,
and that's what you want to be at the end
of the day, you know, And that's what I picked. Also,
getting back to the you know, the target thing. Like everybody,
(16:42):
once I made my decision, everyone's like, modest, You're gonna
have an X on your back. They're going you know,
they're they're going to try to kill you. And you know,
I said, I'm like, how am I going to get better?
They don't if I don't got a target a lot back.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
You know, I expect that.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
So how if I don't have an X on my back,
I'm They're not going at me and I'm not. I'm not,
you know, getting better as a player. So that's that's
what I want to. I want to I want to
compete and play against the best always.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
But I always ask incoming rookies this question.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
And for the regular fan, they may not know the
difference or understand that there is a difference. Minus, tell
me the difference between the balls that are used high
school and college and then the balls that are used
for the NBA. And tell me how much of an
adjustment period is that to use those balls.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Man, big adjustment. I mean there's like there's way more
grip on a college ball.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Yes, you can.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
It's easy to palm. You can control the ball, like.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
And then the the NBA ball is like rough, the
new one, especially as soon as you get it like
out the package and you don't you don't have it
broken in. It will a little slip out your hand
even when like and like look at like look at
my finger right now. This is from shooting NBA balls.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Like that's how rough. That's how rough it is.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
He's holding up a blister, America.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
That's what it is.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
No, And I tell people that all the time, Like,
you know, I play you know, I played college basketball.
Never no, no pro, didn't sniff pro. But uh, you
know that's and I still play rec league. But I
know when I go to an NBA practice and sometimes
the NBA team will let us shoot around before players.
Are you ready to come in and speak to us?
(18:41):
And I hate the feel of that ball. It feels
like an outside ball. It feels like a ball that
should be used outside. And but for me, the struggle
with that. I know it's an adjustment period because rookies
always talk about it like how long did it take you?
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Do you feel comfortable with it right now? Are you comfortable?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah? I've been comfortable with it.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
And really the pens when you get it like right
out the box and it's not broken into, it's very
it's very tough to play with, like, but when it's
broken into, it's not bad. Your hands get used to
it probably, And I mean if you're working out three
four days to really to really adjust to the ball, But.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
When it's right out the packaging, it's nasty.
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Yeah, And you can't go back even like when you
go back to college, like say you go play, say
you want to play a pickup or something like that,
it's like you don't want to go back to another ball.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Because then you gotta adjust again. And that's exactly that's
why I'm I'm like very superstitious like with basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
So when i I'm never using another ball like ever,
Like if.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
My homie Saint comes to the gym, I need to
bring I need a break. I'm not going because I'm
not using a different ball. It'll mess you up really fast.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
By the way, just to clarify, the media is really
not support to shoot even if the court is open,
but Chris loves to just rip the ball off the
rack and get a few shots to whether he's allowed
to or not. If I read right, I hope I
did because this this will be a question no other
reporter will ever ask you. But I believe you chose
(20:17):
number fourteen to wear this season, and I would love
to hear your reasons why, and then I'm gonna get
and then I'm gonna tell you a story about the
most famous Bulls number fourteen, even though it was not
a real player. And even Chris Haynes, even he's too
young to understand this, but please tell us, please enlighten
us on why you chose fourteen.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
So my so my numbers really thirteen, Like that's that's
really my number. I was born October thirteen, two thousand
and four, so like that, that's why I picked that.
And they didn't have thirteen Tory Craig is actually the
took that one. And my dad's birthday is the fourteenth,
(20:58):
right after mine, and it was also close as the thirteen.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
So that's that's why I picked it.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
And I guess maybe when you play for Lithuania you
could also wear fourteen, so your national team number could
be same as your NBA number.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
That's gonna it's probably gonna transition between thirteen and fourteen,
I feel whatever.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
The So this is a lecture that Chris has been
subject to before. So when I was when I was
a youngster in the seventies, there was an amazing TV
show called The White Shadow and it starred a former
NBA player named Kenny Reeves fictional, but he played for
the Bulls and he wore number fourteen, and in the
(21:43):
intro song of the show they show him running up
and down the floor for the Bulls in number fourteen.
So when I saw a picture of you wearing fourteen,
instantly I flashed back to this, this show from the
seventies that Chris Haynes even.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Has not watched yet.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
But so number fourteen, that is a magic Kenny. You know,
most people would say Michael Jordan, but Kenny Reeves is
my favorite bull of all time. So I love that
you have brought number fourteen back.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
A faith player is your favorite.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Bullway, if you watch this show in the seventies, you
would understand this. This was a time you gotta understand.
In the seventies, NBA was not on TV. You had
a better chance of seeing basketball watching this show than
you could see the game. So trust me, anyone my
age holds Kenny Reeves in the highest esteem. So number
fourteen has some magic.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
I'm check it out.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah, you have to check it out.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
You have to watch some clips of this show on
their are clips on YouTube. This show is legendary and
number fourteen for the Bulls is magical.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
So I'm really glad you brought it back.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
Were you hoping that Modest actually knew about that?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
No, no, come on, I'm not gonna expect I'm not
gonna expect.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I expect you to know you're You're not nineteen, you're
forty two.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Man.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
I wasn't bored in this. I was born in the eighties.
I wasn't bored in seventies, so I wouldn't know that.
But Modest, that would be something. Hey, you should do this.
You don't have to give us no credit, but we
know where it comes from. When when you when you're
doing your press conference, when training camp starts, you know,
media they're going to be asking you all type of
course because they're trying to get to know you. You should
throw that they say, hey, you know I got number
(23:21):
fourteen because this the nineteen seventies TV show of.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
You Beloved.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
I bet when you watch some clips, if you check
out some clips, you're gonna go this.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
This show is something else. That show was ahead of
its time. All right, I've I've done my old man
rambling enough. Let's get back. Let's get back to serious stuff.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
I know that Yonis Valanciunas is a mentor of yours,
and just tell us what's that like, because you know,
just looking at him on TV, he he casts such
an imposing presence, like what is it like to be
mentor by mister Valentiunis?
Speaker 2 (24:04):
It's good, it's good. Of course.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
My dad's a physical therapist for him. He travels around
wherever he goes. He also works with the national team.
But I mean getting to talk to him is good
because you know, he's in the NBA, he's been in
the NBA for a long time.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
He like never misses games.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Ever, he works extremely hard and you know, again to
get to learn even.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
If we don't play the same position. You know, I
get to learn post moves from him. I haven't talked
to him about that. I need to pick his brain.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
But you know, just having somebody in the NBA that's
close is always an advantage.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Miss.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
I want to ask you about you know, you're a
guy plays the wing, play outside, shoot, you can kind
of do whatever inside out. I know Kevin Durant was
your favorite player growing up. Is there a player's game
established NBA players game that you probably your game probably resembles.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Yeah. I really wouldn't even say Kevin Durant is my
favorite player. I've never really had a favorite player either.
It was I'm just a basketball head, so I watch
a lot of guys. And one thing my coach always
told me is you see some nice you steal that.
You steal it, you know, and that's how that's how
the NBA is. If you see somebody they gotta move
(25:27):
or something defensively, you go and steal it. That's how
that's how players level up. But a player style, i'd
probably say Paul George, Andre Carolinko, Franz Wagner. It's like
a mix, a mix of those. Honestly, not bad, not
(25:49):
bad at all.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
Is there a NBA vet or that is a Bulls
player that has reached out to you since you've been drafted?
Speaker 5 (25:58):
Any teammate.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I think the first one was Kobe White. Probably Daleen
Terry was up there too. I think he reached out
pretty close to when Kobe did. But I really everybody
really reached out. Damar Zach I texted those guys, Lonzo.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
So what did what did Damar tell you?
Speaker 6 (26:27):
Without getting into me, what did Damorrow tell because obviously
he signed with the Sacramento Kings this summer, but what
what was a conversation like with him, somebody who pretty
much people knew was probably on his way out.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
I just I just texted him like, hey, uh, you know,
just got drafted by the Bulls.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Excited to play with you? And you know I didn't.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Of course I knew like trades were happening and stuff,
but I still reach out. As I said before, I'm
a basketball ahead, So me again, to pick any player's brain,
I think is a great, you know, great.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Thing to do.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
But I texted him that, and he's just He's just like, yeah,
I'm here for you whatever you need. And I texted him,
I ask a lot of questions. I hope you don't
think I'm annoying. So but you know, I texted every
player you know, mess Josh Giddy also. But yeah, as
I said before, I'm just I love basketball and I
(27:31):
feel like I could steal a lot of things from
a lot of players and learn a lot of new things.
Speaker 6 (27:36):
That's the start. I wonder how that text really went started.
That's pretty cool, man, Like you're texting one of your
teammates as if like they don't know who you are. Hey,
you know, I'm here, I'm my test I just got drafted.
I'm your new I'm your new teammate.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Here's my number.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
Said, that's pretty cool man for you to reach out
man and do it like that.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Yeah, you know, some some guys, some guys you know,
might not know who you are. So yeah, I always
even if people, even if people think they know me,
I still I'm still gonna say how I'm madis Bezel's
you know, it doesn't it doesn't matter to me. I'm
always gonna introduce myself.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
I think some players really want to play at home,
and then some players don't want to play in their hometown.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
How do you think it will.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Be for you to play in Chicago, where you already
have such a deep association.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
I think it's I think it's going to be amazing.
The fans are amazing there. I mean, me, me, even
walking around just I'm getting noticed everywhere. It's it's honestly
surreal for me.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
But and three weeks ago it wasn't like that.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I mean, it was like that, but it's just a
it's really another level. It was always like that because
I'm from Chicago. But I mean it's I feel like
it's gonna be amazing, and I want to play at home.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Ticket request, all that type of stuff. Have you ready
for all that?
Speaker 2 (29:20):
When you're in the NBA, you got to learn to say.
Speaker 5 (29:21):
No, that's real, that's real. I still have a problem
with that today.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
But yeah, me too, me too.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I guess though, if you're six ' ten walking around,
even before you were officially a bull, I guess that
makes you stand out a little bit if you're just
walking down the street. So a bit you said, I
think you've said that you internationally, you do want to
play for Lithuania.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
So walk us through what that means to you.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
I know both of your parents played played basketball in
Lithuanian and you know, I've I've been really lucky in
my career to be able to cover the Lithuanian national
team so many time times. No team historically has given
in the United States more problems. I still will never
forget being at the Sydney Olympics in two thousand, early
(30:10):
in the tournament and Lithuania nearly beat the United States
and just all the journalists who blew that game off
thinking us no chance, you know, no worries. When word
got around that Lithuania had the lead and had a
real chance to win, dozens of writers had to run
over to the basketball arena to make sure we got
there in time. And it was a narrow escape in
(30:33):
those days. And that was obviously a long time ago,
twenty four years ago. You know, the United States loses
all the time. Now, just walk us through for you internationally,
what it would mean to pull on the Lithuanian jersey.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
I'd mean a lot.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
My parents are from there, so I think representing where
they came from, it's gonna mean a lot.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
To me. I also just as I not I didn't
say this before, but I just.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
I want to represent where my parents came from. But
I think I'm always going to play for Lithuania. Some
players switch. I just I want to be in the
Lithuanian culture and represent that, and you know, they always
put up a fight, so I feel like.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
Their fans our next level.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
I mean, obviously just losing in the Olympic qualifiers in
Puerto Rico, but getting from Lithuania to Puerto Rico is
not a It surely could not have been an easy journey.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
And I was obviously not there.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
But I've actually talked to some people who were in
Puerto Rico for that qualifying section and they said the
Lithuanian fans traveled in huge numbers and were absolutely insane
with the noise. And Puerto Rico managed to get that
Olympic qualifying players too.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Yeah, so miss and Bozellis.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
And me Valenteer and this wasn't there, so it was no.
I honestly feel like we can win it for all,
for all.
Speaker 5 (32:10):
In it.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
You know, Miss, we got a few more than we're
gonna get you out of here, and you know you
got a busy day ahead, busy week coming up.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
I gotta ask you this.
Speaker 6 (32:19):
So the NBA schedule is going to come out, you
don't know who you're going to see first or whatnot.
Two questions. Number one, what is the player you're looking
forward to finally meeting or playing against? And number two?
Who if you? I don't know if you're gonna engage
(32:40):
in this, but if you do do a jersey swap,
who is the first person you would want to do
a jersey swap with?
Speaker 4 (32:48):
First player I'd like to meet is probably KD or
Paul George jersey swap ron.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Okay, you gotta do that.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Well, actually, I'm glad you mentioned him because I was
gonna say I looked at the Bowl schedule. Of the
four guaranteed games you have in summer League, I was
hoping the Lakers were on there so we could ask
you a Bronnie James question. But the Lakers are not
currently on your schedule. But you guys are playing Detroit.
So you're gonna play ron here in summer league. What
do you think that'll be?
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Like? We're we're gonna go at it. I already know
what it's gonna be like.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
We actually talked yesterday about I mean, honestly, the media
is gonna think that we hate each other, and when
we play like that's what's I feel like it might
be one of them summer League games that it's gonna
be like memorable because me and Ron are hyper, hyper
competitive people, so I think everybody, well, the media might
(33:57):
portray that we hate each other, but it's just us
be so competitive.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
So it's we're gonna go at it. That's what I'll
tell you.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
As it pertains to your rookie season. I know winning.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
I've listened to a lot of your interviews already. Winning
is a number one priority for you.
Speaker 5 (34:16):
Number one.
Speaker 6 (34:18):
When your rookie season is said and done, what do
you want us? How do you how do you want
the story to be told about your rookie season when
it's all said and done.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
I just want to portray to people how hard I
work and how serious I take this game, and that
I'll never stop learning on and off the court, and
I'm a positive person.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
But I want to I just want to show growth,
you know.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
The people, and in many different ways, defense, offense, shooting
the ball, getting steals on defense, stuff like that. I want.
I want to show that I could do everything, and
I'm a person that's not going to stay in the
same spot.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
For a long time. I'm gonna get better every day.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
That's one thing about me that I feel like I
could separate myself from a lot of people.
Speaker 6 (35:24):
You're an ambassador for a sports tech company called Better Guards.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
How has their product helped you in your journey this far?
Speaker 4 (35:32):
It helped me a lot, so I was never I
was never really dealing with injuries until this past season,
and it was extremely tough on me. But I think
it made me better as a person and better guards really,
I think my dad was the first one to show me,
you know, how how the better guards work and the
(35:54):
technology and how comfortable the guards are for your ankles,
but also just the mobility of my ankle. It feels
like a sock and it protects you in a lot
of ways. But I think the main thing is the
comfortability of you know, the ankle braces. But it it's
(36:14):
really helped me this past season and they're the best.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Honestly, Madus bosellis Bulls rookie, It's been a pleasure to
be here with you. We've kept you way too long,
but we really appreciate it. Wishing you great luck here
in Vegas in your first summer league, great luck in
your debut season with the Chicago Bulls. And just since
you said you have said it many times you are
(36:40):
a hoophead. I know you're probably thinking, who is this
crazy old guy asking me on all these questions.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
But just do me a favor.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Some night you can't sleep, check out those clips on
YouTube with a white shadow. Look up, Kenny Reeves. I
think you will be surprised and you will find it.
You will, you will, you will feel even better about
your decision to wear number four. It is a magical
number in Bull's history.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Appreciate you, guys, and that'll do it for us. See
you next time. This league.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
Uncutter is an iHeartRadio production.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Suck a Lockup
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Chris Haines and Mark Stein
The NBA's annual Summer League in Las Vegas is upon us,
and so on this edition of this League Uncut, we
have a special guest joining Chris and me. It's Bulls
rookie Modest Basilis that's next here on this League uncut.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to this League uncut.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
In the rule of twenty four hour NBA News.
Speaker 4 (00:28):
This you lo.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Chris Hanes. It's co tull Work's time.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
It's so nice. This League uncut is underway and on fire.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
This should be a good one.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Let's bring him in now.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
Bulls rookie Modest bozellis joining us here about to begin
his NBA career, the Summer League portion of his NBA career,
as a member of your hometown Chicago Bulls. It has
to be surreal. I know you've already been practicing, but
(01:10):
too has it sunk in yet that you are a Bull?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yes, it has sunk in.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
It really sunk in, like after the draft, Like as
soon as the draft happened. You know, I think everybody
saw it was emotional, but you know, just being at
the training facilities like surrounded by you know, the championships
and all that, it's just it really, it really got
to me.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Were you a Bulls fan growing up?
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Because I know in your generation it's not automatic that
you just fall in love with the local team, But.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Is it safe to say you you grew up a
Bulls fan.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
I wasn't really a fan of any team, but I
was like a fan of players. So de Rose was
like that guy, like he was like the savior of Chicago.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Everybody thought that.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
So, you know, watching him and that team, you know, joking, Nola,
Taj Gibson, all those guys, it was.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
That was like the most memorable thing for me.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
But I was never really a fan of any teams.
Speaker 5 (02:12):
That's how I am.
Speaker 6 (02:14):
You know, I'm forty one now, and people that's usually
my age they grew up fans of teams and me,
I was one of the lone guys that I like players,
and I would follow players wherever they wherever they went. Uh,
this is not this is not particularly on your career
right now, but this question, but do you find that
(02:37):
people in your age group, do you find some more
so that they like players more so than teams.
Speaker 4 (02:45):
Yes, I could safely say that I think it's it's
more of a like when a when a player gets
traded or goes to a different team, they think they're
not they're not really rooting for that team.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
They're rooting for the player to win. They want him
to win.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
So I think that's the same that's the same case
with me. I was, you know, rooting for Kevin Durant
in ok See and then he went to the Warriors.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I'm rooting for Kevin Durant again. You know. It's it's
kind of like that now nowadays.
Speaker 6 (03:13):
Okay, So, so Kevin Durant, he took a lot of
heat when he went to Golden State. So as a fan,
as a fan of Kevin Durant, how did you process
him going to go to State? Were you accepted? Did
you accept that move to go to State? How was
it for you as a fan?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (03:31):
You know, players can make whatever the moves they want,
doesn't It doesn't matter to me. He goes out and
earns it at the end of the day. You know,
he's he's working hard every day and that's what you
have to respect about players.
Speaker 6 (03:43):
And so, Matts, I want to talk about your you know,
what's about to happen right now.
Speaker 5 (03:48):
We're about to start Las Vegas.
Speaker 6 (03:50):
Summer League, and there's a documentary on Las Vegas Summer
League and how it started and the careers that were
catapulted from those summers, like from Lebron James. I mean,
there's too many stars you can name that who have
played in the Las Vegas Summer League. Some have some
good stints, others did it. You know, Summer League is
(04:11):
not always uh indicator if you're going to have success
or not. But how are you going into summer league,
Approaching Vegas Summer League where you know all eyes are
going to be on the top rookies like yourself.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
I'm approaching it as you know every other game that
I've played.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
I don't see it differently.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
It's just now I'm at a bigger stage, of course,
But you know I'm going in there trying to win.
That's that's what I That's what I want to be,
and a two way player. I want to impact both
sides of the floor defense, offense.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I want to be a good teammate.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
When I'm you know, sitting on the bench cheering for
my teammates, you know, stuff like that. It's it's like
a normal game to me, but you know the intensity
is going to be high.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Everyone's trying to earn a job.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
I know you've done a lot of interviews all d
even though you've only been in the NBA.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
For a couple of weeks here.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
So I want to ask this differently because I know
you are probably sick of the questions of how emotional
you and your family were, So I want to look
at it from a different light. In a lot of
pre draft projections, a lot of mock drafts had you
going as high as number five to Detroit.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
So just walk us through what that was like.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Detroit ends up picking your G League IGNIT teammate Ron Holland,
but then at eleven you go to the team in
your city, this historic franchise.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
The Chicago Bulls.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Just that whole roller coaster of emotions and how much
were you paying attention to the mock drafts going into
the whole process.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Wasn't really paying attention to the mock drafts? Of course,
you know, you see them when you scroll down and
you're looking, you know, through Instagram and all that.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
But I'm a basketball player.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
I don't really look into media and stuff like that.
I know, like it's a business. As much as I
hate to say it, but you know, yeah, I saw
like all the projections going like five, I saw two,
like four all that. No people thought I was a
lot top five pick. But now at the end of
the day, when you're on your team and you're on
(06:24):
you're on your team and your about to compete against everybody,
the pick doesn't matter. You know, it's it's zero to
zero against everybody. You know, nobody has a unfair advantage. Uh,
it's it's a fair advance. I mean, it's a fair advantage.
That's what it is for everybody. So it doesn't matter
if you're one, two, three, five, fifty eight, it's it's
(06:46):
zero to zero.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I do wonder, though, now that you are a bull,
how much have you reflected on your interviews with them,
conversations working out for them When you look back, are
there things that tip might have tipped you off to
how interested they were in you that you can look
back now and say, oh, yeah, they actually something they
(07:10):
said in our sit down, let me know that these
guys really like me.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Not really, they they they came to watch a workout
in Vague and not in Vegas, La, and that's really it.
And then I sat down at Combine with them to
talk for like twenty minutes. So there wasn't really any
indication you know that they that they well they said
to my agent that they liked me, but they didn't
They honestly didn't think I was gonna go like eleven.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Not low, I mean it's not low, but you know
you know what I.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Mean, right, But they didn't think you'd be there.
Speaker 4 (07:42):
Yeah, they didn't think I'd be there, and so as
soon as they saw that I was still there, they
decided to pick me.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
But I didn't.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
I really didn't think I was going to go to Chicago,
you know, sitting there at draft nights. So I mean
they believed in me the most, and that's what matters now.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
So when when even is about to be picked, were
you genuinely surprised?
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Like what like?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
For me?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Like I guess just explain to us the emotions when
Detroit picked at five, did you think they were taking you?
And then when when you heard your name called it eleven?
How expected was that or how surprising was it?
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:24):
So I mean, walking into I thought I was gonna
be like top ten, but I mean it got to
pick eleven and they picked me. And as I said before,
it doesn't matter what pick you are. Yeah, it matters
about the situation that you're in. And Chicago picked me
and they they believe in me, and I'm gonna work.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
As hard as I can. You know, so I was.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
I was a little surprised, but I'm happy. It doesn't matter.
You're in the NBA now.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
So.
Speaker 6 (08:57):
Let me let me talk. I want to talk about
your path to get into the NBA. You took an
unconventional path, and it's a path that's no longer available anymore.
So obviously, coming out of high school, you want the
top players in high school, numerous colleges, you could have
picked any college you wanted to go to. You chose
to go to the G League path the G League
(09:18):
at night. Two part question please. The first part like,
how was that experience for you? Would you do it
all over again?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Definitely do it over again.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Uh, honestly, it was the best experience ever playing against
the best players. I had, NBA coaches, NBA trainers, you know,
just people who worked in the NBA. Also a therapists,
you know, everybody, strength conditioning coaches. It's just really the
NBA experience out there. And I couldn't thank them enough.
(09:54):
They did an amazing job. And people think it was
because of our record that got shut down, but it's
not true at all.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
It's it was a great experience. I would do it again.
Speaker 6 (10:06):
Yeah, the record has For people that think that the
record had nothing to do with it, it's just the
fact that now the college landscape has changed, where the
NIL deals, where players can actually get paid.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
Uh, it's not even.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
That, it's not even that.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Explain it to us from your seat.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Yeah, explain for us.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
So ours got shut down because of the boosters didn't
give us any more money like that, And it was
it was tough. It's tough to drag you know, people
out of Vegas to go watch teenage kids play, you know,
outside of Vegas twenty twenty minutes away. So it was
just tough, you know, getting fans there. And but you know,
(10:47):
it was it was mainly that. It wasn't because the
NIL or a record. It was just we we didn't
you know, it wasn't a positive investment.
Speaker 5 (10:56):
Okay, I understand.
Speaker 6 (10:57):
I'm glad you said the record straight you and know
more than any of us. I did want to ask
if you did if the Gen League at Knight wasn't
if that wasn't a scenario where do you think you
might have played college ball.
Speaker 4 (11:13):
At probably Florida State or Wake Forest?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Why those two in particular.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Florida State because the way you know, the power forwards
played there. So after watching like Scottie Barnes, you know,
even Patrick Williams, the way they developed and they played
the right way, and the Wake Forest it was just, honestly,
it just felt different than any other college. It was
a Lithuanian connection with one of the coaches, Coach Forbes too,
(11:46):
just really cool, really cool dude. And the way they
said I would play for them, it fit perfectly.
Speaker 1 (11:54):
I don't know, c ch I heard cal State Fullerton
was in his top three. That was what my sources
were telling me.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
I don't know if he's even heard of cal State.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
They were in his top they were in they were
they were in his top three, really top ten. You
know you mentioned the record though, and I don't just
want I mean obviously, what was that like to go through?
I mean, you guys really took a lot of lumps
this season with the Ignite. What do you think that
experience is going to do for your career going forward?
(12:25):
Because you guys, I mean, you were playing against men
who are These guys are all desperate.
Speaker 3 (12:30):
To get back into the NBA.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
And I mean, I'm sure that was an experience you're
not gonna forget.
Speaker 4 (12:38):
You know, it's tough losing. Of course, everybody knows. Nobody
likes to lose, no one wants to be a losing person.
I mean it really shaped us into the people that
we are today. Like everybody that came to Ignite is
from winning programs. So like Ron, I think I saw
a stat on Ron. Ron, I think lost six games
(12:59):
totally high school career, something like that. Cherry Baba, all
them guys they were killing in the bl You know, me,
I came from Sunrise. I was competing for a national championship,
high school national championship. So we all came from winning programs.
But it was just super tough to lose. And we
had we had so many I didn't I don't want
(13:20):
to make excuses, but we had veterans that were hurt,
a lot of veterans that mattered, you know, And it
really just made us into the people that we are today.
And people always thought the G League is weak, you know,
looking at you know, you sometimes see the comments and
people think the G league is in a good league,
and those guys are they see we play on NBA
(13:42):
TV every night at home, so they're coming in. They're
trying to kill you. They're they're not taking it lightly.
They don't want to know teenage teenage kids to beat them,
so they're really going one hundred percent effort when they play, and.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Man, makes us better.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
So that's what I was gonna say.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
On the flip side, it has to make you more
NBA ready, right than had you played even at a
top college. I mean, you have played a level closer
to NBA than most other rookies at this point.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
I mean, with all due respect them, some guys are
not even gonna touch the G League that played in
college who they're competing against.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
No, that's just real.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
And those guys that we play in the G League,
like Lance Stevenson, Kenneth forar Reid, they're like they're trying
to get back into the NBA, you know, and they
won't they won't lose the chance, uh and the opportunity
to try to get back in.
Speaker 6 (14:52):
And that's why I said, like just when I was
talking about the record, not mattering, like you guys are
young kids. You're seventeen eighteen, nineteen years old. And one
thing about you guys is that you come into the
G League at night as a target. You guys are
a target because everybody is looking at you guys.
Speaker 5 (15:12):
Oh, you guys are the future.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
You guys are the anointed ones. Okay, you guys are
going to have a as you mentioned NBA TV, you
guys want to have a platform, right, so when we
play you guys, that is our time to show and
showcase what we And so that's a level of let
me see, that's a level of being targeted that you
wouldn't face in college. Because you're going into college, you're
(15:37):
going to be the guy, you know what I mean.
People still know you're the guy. Even though you're a
freshman coming in. People still know, Okay, this guy is
a one and done talent.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
He's the one that you know.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
And so I think that's going to help you when
you're when you are playing your rookie season for the
Chicago Bulls. And that's what I wanted to ask, Like
I wanted to ask because you know, a lot of
the money that's being paid to college A players now
and people may say, well, if you can, if you
could do it over again, maybe you would go to
college and experience that. Did you feel any type of
(16:09):
way about just just the college experience nothing else. Did
you feel any any type of way about not having
that experience?
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Nah? I didn't.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
I mean, of course, you know, I'm watching March Madness,
all the fans going crazy, But I mean I'm playing
NBA rules and using an NBA ball, playing against NBA players,
and that's what you want to be at the end
of the day, you know, And that's what I picked. Also,
getting back to the you know, the target thing. Like everybody,
(16:42):
once I made my decision, everyone's like, modest, You're gonna
have an X on your back. They're going you know,
they're they're going to try to kill you. And you know,
I said, I'm like, how am I going to get better?
They don't if I don't got a target a lot back.
Speaker 5 (16:57):
You know, I expect that.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
So how if I don't have an X on my back,
I'm They're not going at me and I'm not. I'm not,
you know, getting better as a player. So that's that's
what I want to. I want to I want to
compete and play against the best always.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
But I always ask incoming rookies this question.
Speaker 6 (17:19):
And for the regular fan, they may not know the
difference or understand that there is a difference. Minus, tell
me the difference between the balls that are used high
school and college and then the balls that are used
for the NBA. And tell me how much of an
adjustment period is that to use those balls.
Speaker 4 (17:42):
Man, big adjustment. I mean there's like there's way more
grip on a college ball.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
Yes, you can.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
It's easy to palm. You can control the ball, like.
Speaker 4 (17:55):
And then the the NBA ball is like rough, the
new one, especially as soon as you get it like
out the package and you don't you don't have it
broken in. It will a little slip out your hand
even when like and like look at like look at
my finger right now. This is from shooting NBA balls.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Like that's how rough. That's how rough it is.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
He's holding up a blister, America.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
That's what it is.
Speaker 6 (18:20):
No, And I tell people that all the time, Like,
you know, I play you know, I played college basketball.
Never no, no pro, didn't sniff pro. But uh, you
know that's and I still play rec league. But I
know when I go to an NBA practice and sometimes
the NBA team will let us shoot around before players.
Are you ready to come in and speak to us?
(18:41):
And I hate the feel of that ball. It feels
like an outside ball. It feels like a ball that
should be used outside. And but for me, the struggle
with that. I know it's an adjustment period because rookies
always talk about it like how long did it take you?
Speaker 5 (18:53):
Do you feel comfortable with it right now? Are you comfortable?
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Yeah? I've been comfortable with it.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
And really the pens when you get it like right
out the box and it's not broken into, it's very
it's very tough to play with, like, but when it's
broken into, it's not bad. Your hands get used to
it probably, And I mean if you're working out three
four days to really to really adjust to the ball, But.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
When it's right out the packaging, it's nasty.
Speaker 6 (19:23):
Yeah, And you can't go back even like when you
go back to college, like say you go play, say
you want to play a pickup or something like that,
it's like you don't want to go back to another ball.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Because then you gotta adjust again. And that's exactly that's
why I'm I'm like very superstitious like with basketball.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
So when i I'm never using another ball like ever,
Like if.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
My homie Saint comes to the gym, I need to
bring I need a break. I'm not going because I'm
not using a different ball. It'll mess you up really fast.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
By the way, just to clarify, the media is really
not support to shoot even if the court is open,
but Chris loves to just rip the ball off the
rack and get a few shots to whether he's allowed
to or not. If I read right, I hope I
did because this this will be a question no other
reporter will ever ask you. But I believe you chose
(20:17):
number fourteen to wear this season, and I would love
to hear your reasons why, and then I'm gonna get
and then I'm gonna tell you a story about the
most famous Bulls number fourteen, even though it was not
a real player. And even Chris Haynes, even he's too
young to understand this, but please tell us, please enlighten
us on why you chose fourteen.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
So my so my numbers really thirteen, Like that's that's
really my number. I was born October thirteen, two thousand
and four, so like that, that's why I picked that.
And they didn't have thirteen Tory Craig is actually the
took that one. And my dad's birthday is the fourteenth,
(20:58):
right after mine, and it was also close as the thirteen.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
So that's that's why I picked it.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
And I guess maybe when you play for Lithuania you
could also wear fourteen, so your national team number could
be same as your NBA number.
Speaker 4 (21:13):
That's gonna it's probably gonna transition between thirteen and fourteen,
I feel whatever.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
The So this is a lecture that Chris has been
subject to before. So when I was when I was
a youngster in the seventies, there was an amazing TV
show called The White Shadow and it starred a former
NBA player named Kenny Reeves fictional, but he played for
the Bulls and he wore number fourteen, and in the
(21:43):
intro song of the show they show him running up
and down the floor for the Bulls in number fourteen.
So when I saw a picture of you wearing fourteen,
instantly I flashed back to this, this show from the
seventies that Chris Haynes even.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
Has not watched yet.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
But so number fourteen, that is a magic Kenny. You know,
most people would say Michael Jordan, but Kenny Reeves is
my favorite bull of all time. So I love that
you have brought number fourteen back.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
A faith player is your favorite.
Speaker 1 (22:14):
Bullway, if you watch this show in the seventies, you
would understand this. This was a time you gotta understand.
In the seventies, NBA was not on TV. You had
a better chance of seeing basketball watching this show than
you could see the game. So trust me, anyone my
age holds Kenny Reeves in the highest esteem. So number
fourteen has some magic.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
I'm check it out.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Yeah, you have to check it out.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
You have to watch some clips of this show on
their are clips on YouTube. This show is legendary and
number fourteen for the Bulls is magical.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
So I'm really glad you brought it back.
Speaker 5 (22:48):
Were you hoping that Modest actually knew about that?
Speaker 3 (22:51):
No, no, come on, I'm not gonna expect I'm not
gonna expect.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I expect you to know you're You're not nineteen, you're
forty two.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Man.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
I wasn't bored in this. I was born in the eighties.
I wasn't bored in seventies, so I wouldn't know that.
But Modest, that would be something. Hey, you should do this.
You don't have to give us no credit, but we
know where it comes from. When when you when you're
doing your press conference, when training camp starts, you know,
media they're going to be asking you all type of
course because they're trying to get to know you. You should
throw that they say, hey, you know I got number
(23:21):
fourteen because this the nineteen seventies TV show of.
Speaker 3 (23:27):
You Beloved.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
I bet when you watch some clips, if you check
out some clips, you're gonna go this.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
This show is something else. That show was ahead of
its time. All right, I've I've done my old man
rambling enough. Let's get back. Let's get back to serious stuff.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
I know that Yonis Valanciunas is a mentor of yours,
and just tell us what's that like, because you know,
just looking at him on TV, he he casts such
an imposing presence, like what is it like to be
mentor by mister Valentiunis?
Speaker 2 (24:04):
It's good, it's good. Of course.
Speaker 4 (24:06):
My dad's a physical therapist for him. He travels around
wherever he goes. He also works with the national team.
But I mean getting to talk to him is good
because you know, he's in the NBA, he's been in
the NBA for a long time.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
He like never misses games.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
Ever, he works extremely hard and you know, again to
get to learn even.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
If we don't play the same position. You know, I
get to learn post moves from him. I haven't talked
to him about that. I need to pick his brain.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
But you know, just having somebody in the NBA that's
close is always an advantage.
Speaker 5 (24:44):
Miss.
Speaker 6 (24:45):
I want to ask you about you know, you're a
guy plays the wing, play outside, shoot, you can kind
of do whatever inside out. I know Kevin Durant was
your favorite player growing up. Is there a player's game
established NBA players game that you probably your game probably resembles.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
Yeah. I really wouldn't even say Kevin Durant is my
favorite player. I've never really had a favorite player either.
It was I'm just a basketball head, so I watch
a lot of guys. And one thing my coach always
told me is you see some nice you steal that.
You steal it, you know, and that's how that's how
the NBA is. If you see somebody they gotta move
(25:27):
or something defensively, you go and steal it. That's how
that's how players level up. But a player style, i'd
probably say Paul George, Andre Carolinko, Franz Wagner. It's like
a mix, a mix of those. Honestly, not bad, not
(25:49):
bad at all.
Speaker 6 (25:50):
Is there a NBA vet or that is a Bulls
player that has reached out to you since you've been drafted?
Speaker 5 (25:58):
Any teammate.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I think the first one was Kobe White. Probably Daleen
Terry was up there too. I think he reached out
pretty close to when Kobe did. But I really everybody
really reached out. Damar Zach I texted those guys, Lonzo.
Speaker 5 (26:25):
So what did what did Damar tell you?
Speaker 6 (26:27):
Without getting into me, what did Damorrow tell because obviously
he signed with the Sacramento Kings this summer, but what
what was a conversation like with him, somebody who pretty
much people knew was probably on his way out.
Speaker 4 (26:44):
I just I just texted him like, hey, uh, you know,
just got drafted by the Bulls.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
Excited to play with you? And you know I didn't.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
Of course I knew like trades were happening and stuff,
but I still reach out. As I said before, I'm
a basketball ahead, So me again, to pick any player's brain,
I think is a great, you know, great.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Thing to do.
Speaker 4 (27:09):
But I texted him that, and he's just He's just like, yeah,
I'm here for you whatever you need. And I texted him,
I ask a lot of questions. I hope you don't
think I'm annoying. So but you know, I texted every
player you know, mess Josh Giddy also. But yeah, as
I said before, I'm just I love basketball and I
(27:31):
feel like I could steal a lot of things from
a lot of players and learn a lot of new things.
Speaker 6 (27:36):
That's the start. I wonder how that text really went started.
That's pretty cool, man, Like you're texting one of your
teammates as if like they don't know who you are. Hey,
you know, I'm here, I'm my test I just got drafted.
I'm your new I'm your new teammate.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
Here's my number.
Speaker 6 (27:52):
Said, that's pretty cool man for you to reach out
man and do it like that.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Yeah, you know, some some guys, some guys you know,
might not know who you are. So yeah, I always
even if people, even if people think they know me,
I still I'm still gonna say how I'm madis Bezel's
you know, it doesn't it doesn't matter to me. I'm
always gonna introduce myself.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
I think some players really want to play at home,
and then some players don't want to play in their hometown.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
How do you think it will.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Be for you to play in Chicago, where you already
have such a deep association.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
I think it's I think it's going to be amazing.
The fans are amazing there. I mean, me, me, even
walking around just I'm getting noticed everywhere. It's it's honestly
surreal for me.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
But and three weeks ago it wasn't like that.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
I mean, it was like that, but it's just a
it's really another level. It was always like that because
I'm from Chicago. But I mean it's I feel like
it's gonna be amazing, and I want to play at home.
Speaker 6 (29:10):
Ticket request, all that type of stuff. Have you ready
for all that?
Speaker 2 (29:20):
When you're in the NBA, you got to learn to say.
Speaker 5 (29:21):
No, that's real, that's real. I still have a problem
with that today.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
But yeah, me too, me too.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
I guess though, if you're six ' ten walking around,
even before you were officially a bull, I guess that
makes you stand out a little bit if you're just
walking down the street. So a bit you said, I
think you've said that you internationally, you do want to
play for Lithuania.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
So walk us through what that means to you.
Speaker 1 (29:49):
I know both of your parents played played basketball in
Lithuanian and you know, I've I've been really lucky in
my career to be able to cover the Lithuanian national
team so many time times. No team historically has given
in the United States more problems. I still will never
forget being at the Sydney Olympics in two thousand, early
(30:10):
in the tournament and Lithuania nearly beat the United States
and just all the journalists who blew that game off
thinking us no chance, you know, no worries. When word
got around that Lithuania had the lead and had a
real chance to win, dozens of writers had to run
over to the basketball arena to make sure we got
there in time. And it was a narrow escape in
(30:33):
those days. And that was obviously a long time ago,
twenty four years ago. You know, the United States loses
all the time. Now, just walk us through for you internationally,
what it would mean to pull on the Lithuanian jersey.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
I'd mean a lot.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
My parents are from there, so I think representing where
they came from, it's gonna mean a lot.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
To me. I also just as I not I didn't
say this before, but I just.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
I want to represent where my parents came from. But
I think I'm always going to play for Lithuania. Some
players switch. I just I want to be in the
Lithuanian culture and represent that, and you know, they always
put up a fight, so I feel like.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
Their fans our next level.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
I mean, obviously just losing in the Olympic qualifiers in
Puerto Rico, but getting from Lithuania to Puerto Rico is
not a It surely could not have been an easy journey.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
And I was obviously not there.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
But I've actually talked to some people who were in
Puerto Rico for that qualifying section and they said the
Lithuanian fans traveled in huge numbers and were absolutely insane
with the noise. And Puerto Rico managed to get that
Olympic qualifying players too.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Yeah, so miss and Bozellis.
Speaker 4 (32:00):
And me Valenteer and this wasn't there, so it was no.
I honestly feel like we can win it for all,
for all.
Speaker 5 (32:10):
In it.
Speaker 6 (32:11):
You know, Miss, we got a few more than we're
gonna get you out of here, and you know you
got a busy day ahead, busy week coming up.
Speaker 5 (32:18):
I gotta ask you this.
Speaker 6 (32:19):
So the NBA schedule is going to come out, you
don't know who you're going to see first or whatnot.
Two questions. Number one, what is the player you're looking
forward to finally meeting or playing against? And number two?
Who if you? I don't know if you're gonna engage
(32:40):
in this, but if you do do a jersey swap,
who is the first person you would want to do
a jersey swap with?
Speaker 4 (32:48):
First player I'd like to meet is probably KD or
Paul George jersey swap ron.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
Okay, you gotta do that.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Well, actually, I'm glad you mentioned him because I was
gonna say I looked at the Bowl schedule. Of the
four guaranteed games you have in summer League, I was
hoping the Lakers were on there so we could ask
you a Bronnie James question. But the Lakers are not
currently on your schedule. But you guys are playing Detroit.
So you're gonna play ron here in summer league. What
do you think that'll be?
Speaker 2 (33:24):
Like? We're we're gonna go at it. I already know
what it's gonna be like.
Speaker 4 (33:36):
We actually talked yesterday about I mean, honestly, the media
is gonna think that we hate each other, and when
we play like that's what's I feel like it might
be one of them summer League games that it's gonna
be like memorable because me and Ron are hyper, hyper
competitive people, so I think everybody, well, the media might
(33:57):
portray that we hate each other, but it's just us
be so competitive.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
So it's we're gonna go at it. That's what I'll
tell you.
Speaker 5 (34:06):
As it pertains to your rookie season. I know winning.
Speaker 6 (34:11):
I've listened to a lot of your interviews already. Winning
is a number one priority for you.
Speaker 5 (34:16):
Number one.
Speaker 6 (34:18):
When your rookie season is said and done, what do
you want us? How do you how do you want
the story to be told about your rookie season when
it's all said and done.
Speaker 4 (34:36):
I just want to portray to people how hard I
work and how serious I take this game, and that
I'll never stop learning on and off the court, and
I'm a positive person.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
But I want to I just want to show growth,
you know.
Speaker 4 (34:54):
The people, and in many different ways, defense, offense, shooting
the ball, getting steals on defense, stuff like that. I want.
I want to show that I could do everything, and
I'm a person that's not going to stay in the
same spot.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
For a long time. I'm gonna get better every day.
Speaker 4 (35:19):
That's one thing about me that I feel like I
could separate myself from a lot of people.
Speaker 6 (35:24):
You're an ambassador for a sports tech company called Better Guards.
Speaker 5 (35:28):
How has their product helped you in your journey this far?
Speaker 4 (35:32):
It helped me a lot, so I was never I
was never really dealing with injuries until this past season,
and it was extremely tough on me. But I think
it made me better as a person and better guards really,
I think my dad was the first one to show me,
you know, how how the better guards work and the
(35:54):
technology and how comfortable the guards are for your ankles,
but also just the mobility of my ankle. It feels
like a sock and it protects you in a lot
of ways. But I think the main thing is the
comfortability of you know, the ankle braces. But it it's
(36:14):
really helped me this past season and they're the best.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
Honestly, Madus bosellis Bulls rookie, It's been a pleasure to
be here with you. We've kept you way too long,
but we really appreciate it. Wishing you great luck here
in Vegas in your first summer league, great luck in
your debut season with the Chicago Bulls. And just since
you said you have said it many times you are
(36:40):
a hoophead. I know you're probably thinking, who is this
crazy old guy asking me on all these questions.
Speaker 3 (36:45):
But just do me a favor.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Some night you can't sleep, check out those clips on
YouTube with a white shadow. Look up, Kenny Reeves. I
think you will be surprised and you will find it.
You will, you will, you will feel even better about
your decision to wear number four. It is a magical
number in Bull's history.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Appreciate you, guys, and that'll do it for us. See
you next time. This league.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
Uncutter is an iHeartRadio production.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
Suck a Lockup
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Chris Haines and Mark Stein
Hosts And Creators
Chris Haynes
Marc Stein
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