July 29, 2023 • 14 mins
This week's special interview guest is Hall of Famer Grant Hill, who discusses assembling USA Basketball's roster for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, why USAB wanted Jalen Brunson on the team so badly and its chances of convincing Joel Embiid to represent the United States rather than France at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
It's the Saturday Stein Line, markStein presented by Trading Cards and Collectibles by
your official home to Dellas Mavericks Gamesninety seven one Freak mark Stein. Back
with you here on the Saturday Steinline. We will get to some of your
texts in the next segment. Andremember, everybody, please throw me a
first name, a last initial,a city you're in and if you want
(00:22):
the Panini Women's World Cup soccer stickers, please include an email that will help
me as I sort out who landsthirteenth and how to get these stickers to
you. Let's waste no further time, well text line two one four seven
eight seven one nine seven one twoone four seven eight seven one nine seven
one. Let's waste no further time. Jump right in to our interview with
(00:44):
this week's special guest, Hall ofFamer Grant Hill. Please now to be
joined by the seven time NBA AllStar A Nay Smith Hall of Famer.
He's now the managing director of themen's senior national teams for USA Basketball,
and maybe, if we're lucky,by the end of this chat, we
(01:07):
may find out if he still drinkssprite. Grant Hill joining us here on
ninety seven one the freak. Howdo I do have to do you have
to address you as do any specialsalutations now that you're the managing director?
Is Grant still okay? Well,you know, Mark, normally I require
uh people and members of the mediato to you know, to have mister
(01:34):
uh managing director U S. GrantHill. But since we're friends, we've
known each other a long time,we can just uh, you know you
call me Grant. That's fine,I appreciate it. How do you feel
you have a roster? I'm surethis was one of the bigger challenges of
your basketball life putting together this team. You guys decided to do it where
(01:55):
you would know your twelve guys andthe reason we've brought you on today is
camp starting in a few days inLas Vegas. How do you feel about
the squad you put together? Youknow, we feel good. Um,
we feel really good. We likeour team. Um. The collection of
talents that we feel complement one anothercollection of personalities. UM. You know,
(02:17):
it was quite the ordeal, inquite the process to to get to
this uh. Uh you know,twelve man roster. A lot of thought.
UM, we were very deliberate.Um, and you know it was.
It was a collaboration. I wasdefinitely input, you know, working
hand in hand with Sean Ford,uh, Steve Kerr as well, who
(02:38):
will be our coach this summer andnext summer. Um, but we're excited.
It was not easy. Um,but you know, as you know,
the international game, UH, there'ssome similarities, but there are a
lot of differences in the international gamefrom our game in the NBA and uh
(02:59):
in some skill sets translate, somedon't. And so that was always in
the back of our mind finding theright kind of players who can you give
us the best opportunity for success inManeloo. So for those who don't follow
international basketball as closely as maybe youfollow, the NBA team USA about to
(03:21):
get this training camp underway in Vegasplaying in the FEBA World Cup this summer
before next summer's Olympics in Paris,the Fever World Cup team. Obviously in
the Olympics we normally see many moreestablished stars your team for this summer's Fever
World Cup Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Alibertand Brandon ingram Jalen Brunson who MAVs fans
(03:46):
need no introduction to. Michael BridgesJaren Jackson Junior, Austin Reeves, Holo,
Ban Caro, Josh Hart, CamJohnson, Walker Kessler, and Bobby
Portis. I imagine this was somewhathow life felt for you at Duke,
but maybe not even a dude.What is it like to be in charge
of a team that is never supposedto lose. You're not allowed to lose.
(04:09):
If you lose, it is anabsolute shock and crisis. And if
you win, people will say theywere supposed to win, they did what
they were supposed to do. Yeah, well, well the way you do
it sounds like a thankless job.I'll tell you this. It's it's not
in any way, shape or formceremonial. There is, you know,
(04:31):
the expectation to win. It's it'sreally I think people care more about us
losing than us winning. And whatI mean by that is we're supposed to
win and so and and I thinkyou know, there's maybe in a way
a lack of appreciation for the internationalgame here in the US. And what
(04:55):
I mean by that it's that ishard, Like it's not easy. Um,
you think back to some of thoselegendary teams, the redeem Team,
UH in two thousand and eight.You think back to the two thousand and
twelve Big Team with you know,with with with Kobe Bryant, Lebron James,
Kevin Durant, all the talent onon those teams, and you get
(05:18):
in those medal games, you knowit's it's a two point game with with
ninety seconds left. You know,it's not you know, the original Dream
Team where you steamroll the competition.The rest of the world has improved.
The rest of the world, Um, you know, the talent level,
(05:38):
uh has increased, and you knowit's a game that they are more familiar
with. The game is officiated differently, uh, the rules are different.
Uh So I'm not you know,I'm not making excuses, but really just
trying to illustrate that this is noteasy and uh so we're grateful for the
commitment from uh the twelve men whowill be on this team, but it's
(06:03):
our job over the next two tothree weeks to really prepare them, uh,
you know, physically, mentally andemotionally for for what they're going to
experience. And you know, unlikethe twenty one Gold Metal team, uh
with with guys who had been apart of it, guys like you know,
Kevin Durant, uh and Jason Tatumand Draymond Greene. These guys had
(06:27):
been a part of Olympics and Worldchampion or World Cups before. We have
all rookies in a sense, allguys who have never been a part at
the men's national team level. Andum so, but yeah, I mean,
I think there's just an assumption thatwe always win, and when we
don't, I think, um,you know that that's that maybe is more
(06:49):
alarming in some ways, uh,and more of a topic of discussion than
when when we win. Rand Hill, the managing director for USA Basketball and
the seven time former NBA all startjoining us here on ninety seven one The
Freak on Saturday Sports World presented byPanini. Jalen Brunson obviously remains a player
(07:13):
of great interest here in Dallas,and I'm sure you've got to watch his
evolution to the player closely in allyour broadcast work when you're when you're doing
games for Turner. What what whathave you seen in his growth and what
made you say this is a guywe have to we have to get on
the national team this summer. Youknow, I've watched him as you have.
(07:35):
Uh, And your listeners there inDallas. I watched college, you
know, I had a chance toto broadcast um, you know, his
championships, um, you know onCBS and uh and so you know I
saw him then. Obviously was acontemporary of his father's. I'll be honest,
(07:57):
I was unsure of how his gamewould translate at the NBA level.
I didn't quite know, you know. And but watching him in Dallas and
just sort of each year you sawthe improvement and for me the eye opener.
And I think you you were thereas well, But was lat was
the twenty twenty two playoffs and Icovered that part of the first round against
(08:22):
Utah, and Luca was hurt Ithink in games two three, one through
three, one through three, SoI did two and three and um,
and so it was almost like itwas like Jalen you know, I mean
just see it up close in person, watching him, you know, right
(08:45):
there courtside. I mean, hedominated, he dominated Utah And even without
the brilliance of Luca. Uh,you saw okay, wow, like not
only you know, and maybe yousaw it before I saw it, you
know, that year, but itwas like, now, like all the
responsibilities on this kid's shoulder and shouldersand he's leading this team. And that's
(09:07):
when it was like, Okay,this like he's not just made it,
like he has a chance to bereally unique and really special. And uh.
And then I think you saw thatcontinue this last year and what he
did in New York. And youknow, I don't know all the intimate
details in terms of what happened inDallas, but you also saw his loss
and the void that you know thatthat that presented himself once he left.
(09:33):
So his growth, his maturity.Um, you know, he's a smaller
guy, but he's strong. He'slike a tree trunk, you know.
And there's a physicality at the internationalgame that's probably far greater than the physicality
in the NBA game. Um.And then the fact that you know,
he didn't like he had to provehimself, Like he didn't come right in
(09:54):
and just you know, all ofa sudden he was given the keys.
You know, he had to goout and fight earned the opportunity to have
the keys to a franchise, whichhe has now I guess in a way
in New York. So he embodiesthe kind of player and the kind of
person that we want as part ofour program and excited that you know that
(10:15):
he's you know, there was nohesitation, you know, I called him
and he was in and so,you know, I wish they all were
like that. The man is justthe winner. He improves every year.
I can't wait to see him inthe international game. Like you said,
it is much more physical, sowe'll see it. He'll probably relish and
thrive in that in that environment.I've been writing about this topic for almost
(10:41):
a year now. Joel Embiid hasa French passport, he has an American
passport, and right now the closestthing to arrival for the United States is
France. Both nations are buying forhis international commitment. I haven't really had
a chance to ask you this directly, so without trying to put you on
the spot too much, what arethe chances from your seat that Joel Embiid
(11:05):
would choose to represent the United Statesat the next Olympics rather than France whereas
it well, you know you mentionedearlier, Duke, And I'm mindful that
when I was an undergraduate, Iopted out a quantitative reasoning, so I'm
not good with numbers. Uh SoI can't give you percentages, but you
(11:26):
know, look, Joel, Um, you know, he's a he's an
incredible talent, and you know hehas options and and and I guess that's
a good thing. Um. Youknow, I'll just say this. I've
had some discussion with him and heknows, um, you know, our
um desire to have him a partof our program. Um. So you
(11:50):
know what, we'll see sort ofwhere that goes. But UM, you
know, we'll we'll certainly as weyou know, get through this World Cup
and uh and starts to sort ofplan for next summer. Um, we'll
continue with those conversations and hopefully bythen I'll have some numbers and percentages to
(12:11):
give you in terms of where wherethe possibility stands. There's still we can
say there's still a chance. Ohyeah, yeah, definitely. All right,
We're gonna let you go with this. Grant Hill, our guest here
on ninety seven one, the freeborn in Dallas. Let's not forget.
I mean, I can't. I'mjust curious. Obviously, many many many
(12:33):
years ago, many years and poundsago for me, you and Jason Kidd
shared a Rookie of the Year award. We're we're getting close to thirty years
since that happened. I don't knowwhat happened to us. When you get
when you see Jason, Now,what are the conversations like about sharing Rookie
of the Year with him in allthe way back then? Yeah, um,
(13:00):
you know, we we don't talkabout that a whole lot. I'm
still bitter that I had to shareit with him. But you know,
I think I think the beauty ofof our you know, our journey and
our friendship. Um, you know, it even predates you know, that
year. It goes back. Wewere teammates at high school basketball camp,
um, at Nike camp, andI always joked that, you know,
(13:22):
he was a rising sophomore, Iwas a rising senior. Um. He
was known for passing and facilitating,but he never passed me the ball.
Uh and uh, you know whichI'm joking as I say that. But
yeah, but then you know,to fast forward, we had an iconic
(13:43):
matchup in college when he was atCAP and we were defending two time champions,
and I really think that kind ofput him on the national map,
if you will, at that timeat cal Berkeley, you know, during
his freshman year, and then wewere in the same draft. We went,
you know, we we UM,you know, we just we just
(14:03):
cultivated a friendship and so UM,so it's always great to see him.
I've had a chance to cover someMAVs games, so I enjoyed calling those
games. Uh. He actually textedme just the other day. I actually
had old McCall and UM. ButI'm happy that we both are still in
the game. We're still around it, we're still contributing, uh, and
(14:26):
we're still doing things around the gameof basketball that we love and we're passionate
about. And but he's UM,he's somebody who I admire, somebody who
I respect. UM. And hewas an incredible basketball player. I mean,
the things he did on the court. You know, he was as
good as any point guard that's everplayed in this league.
It's the Saturday Stein Line, markStein presented by Trading Cards and Collectibles by
your official home to Dellas Mavericks Gamesninety seven one Freak mark Stein. Back
with you here on the Saturday Steinline. We will get to some of your
texts in the next segment. Andremember, everybody, please throw me a
first name, a last initial,a city you're in and if you want
(00:22):
the Panini Women's World Cup soccer stickers, please include an email that will help
me as I sort out who landsthirteenth and how to get these stickers to
you. Let's waste no further time, well text line two one four seven
eight seven one nine seven one twoone four seven eight seven one nine seven
one. Let's waste no further time. Jump right in to our interview with
(00:44):
this week's special guest, Hall ofFamer Grant Hill. Please now to be
joined by the seven time NBA AllStar A Nay Smith Hall of Famer.
He's now the managing director of themen's senior national teams for USA Basketball,
and maybe, if we're lucky,by the end of this chat, we
(01:07):
may find out if he still drinkssprite. Grant Hill joining us here on
ninety seven one the freak. Howdo I do have to do you have
to address you as do any specialsalutations now that you're the managing director?
Is Grant still okay? Well,you know, Mark, normally I require
uh people and members of the mediato to you know, to have mister
(01:34):
uh managing director U S. GrantHill. But since we're friends, we've
known each other a long time,we can just uh, you know you
call me Grant. That's fine,I appreciate it. How do you feel
you have a roster? I'm surethis was one of the bigger challenges of
your basketball life putting together this team. You guys decided to do it where
(01:55):
you would know your twelve guys andthe reason we've brought you on today is
camp starting in a few days inLas Vegas. How do you feel about
the squad you put together? Youknow, we feel good. Um,
we feel really good. We likeour team. Um. The collection of
talents that we feel complement one anothercollection of personalities. UM. You know,
(02:17):
it was quite the ordeal, inquite the process to to get to
this uh. Uh you know,twelve man roster. A lot of thought.
UM, we were very deliberate.Um, and you know it was.
It was a collaboration. I wasdefinitely input, you know, working
hand in hand with Sean Ford,uh, Steve Kerr as well, who
(02:38):
will be our coach this summer andnext summer. Um, but we're excited.
It was not easy. Um,but you know, as you know,
the international game, UH, there'ssome similarities, but there are a
lot of differences in the international gamefrom our game in the NBA and uh
(02:59):
in some skill sets translate, somedon't. And so that was always in
the back of our mind finding theright kind of players who can you give
us the best opportunity for success inManeloo. So for those who don't follow
international basketball as closely as maybe youfollow, the NBA team USA about to
(03:21):
get this training camp underway in Vegasplaying in the FEBA World Cup this summer
before next summer's Olympics in Paris,the Fever World Cup team. Obviously in
the Olympics we normally see many moreestablished stars your team for this summer's Fever
World Cup Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Alibertand Brandon ingram Jalen Brunson who MAVs fans
(03:46):
need no introduction to. Michael BridgesJaren Jackson Junior, Austin Reeves, Holo,
Ban Caro, Josh Hart, CamJohnson, Walker Kessler, and Bobby
Portis. I imagine this was somewhathow life felt for you at Duke,
but maybe not even a dude.What is it like to be in charge
of a team that is never supposedto lose. You're not allowed to lose.
(04:09):
If you lose, it is anabsolute shock and crisis. And if
you win, people will say theywere supposed to win, they did what
they were supposed to do. Yeah, well, well the way you do
it sounds like a thankless job.I'll tell you this. It's it's not
in any way, shape or formceremonial. There is, you know,
(04:31):
the expectation to win. It's it'sreally I think people care more about us
losing than us winning. And whatI mean by that is we're supposed to
win and so and and I thinkyou know, there's maybe in a way
a lack of appreciation for the internationalgame here in the US. And what
(04:55):
I mean by that it's that ishard, Like it's not easy. Um,
you think back to some of thoselegendary teams, the redeem Team,
UH in two thousand and eight.You think back to the two thousand and
twelve Big Team with you know,with with with Kobe Bryant, Lebron James,
Kevin Durant, all the talent onon those teams, and you get
(05:18):
in those medal games, you knowit's it's a two point game with with
ninety seconds left. You know,it's not you know, the original Dream
Team where you steamroll the competition.The rest of the world has improved.
The rest of the world, Um, you know, the talent level,
(05:38):
uh has increased, and you knowit's a game that they are more familiar
with. The game is officiated differently, uh, the rules are different.
Uh So I'm not you know,I'm not making excuses, but really just
trying to illustrate that this is noteasy and uh so we're grateful for the
commitment from uh the twelve men whowill be on this team, but it's
(06:03):
our job over the next two tothree weeks to really prepare them, uh,
you know, physically, mentally andemotionally for for what they're going to
experience. And you know, unlikethe twenty one Gold Metal team, uh
with with guys who had been apart of it, guys like you know,
Kevin Durant, uh and Jason Tatumand Draymond Greene. These guys had
(06:27):
been a part of Olympics and Worldchampion or World Cups before. We have
all rookies in a sense, allguys who have never been a part at
the men's national team level. Andum so, but yeah, I mean,
I think there's just an assumption thatwe always win, and when we
don't, I think, um,you know that that's that maybe is more
(06:49):
alarming in some ways, uh,and more of a topic of discussion than
when when we win. Rand Hill, the managing director for USA Basketball and
the seven time former NBA all startjoining us here on ninety seven one The
Freak on Saturday Sports World presented byPanini. Jalen Brunson obviously remains a player
(07:13):
of great interest here in Dallas,and I'm sure you've got to watch his
evolution to the player closely in allyour broadcast work when you're when you're doing
games for Turner. What what whathave you seen in his growth and what
made you say this is a guywe have to we have to get on
the national team this summer. Youknow, I've watched him as you have.
(07:35):
Uh, And your listeners there inDallas. I watched college, you
know, I had a chance toto broadcast um, you know, his
championships, um, you know onCBS and uh and so you know I
saw him then. Obviously was acontemporary of his father's. I'll be honest,
(07:57):
I was unsure of how his gamewould translate at the NBA level.
I didn't quite know, you know. And but watching him in Dallas and
just sort of each year you sawthe improvement and for me the eye opener.
And I think you you were thereas well, But was lat was
the twenty twenty two playoffs and Icovered that part of the first round against
(08:22):
Utah, and Luca was hurt Ithink in games two three, one through
three, one through three, SoI did two and three and um,
and so it was almost like itwas like Jalen you know, I mean
just see it up close in person, watching him, you know, right
(08:45):
there courtside. I mean, hedominated, he dominated Utah And even without
the brilliance of Luca. Uh,you saw okay, wow, like not
only you know, and maybe yousaw it before I saw it, you
know, that year, but itwas like, now, like all the
responsibilities on this kid's shoulder and shouldersand he's leading this team. And that's
(09:07):
when it was like, Okay,this like he's not just made it,
like he has a chance to bereally unique and really special. And uh.
And then I think you saw thatcontinue this last year and what he
did in New York. And youknow, I don't know all the intimate
details in terms of what happened inDallas, but you also saw his loss
and the void that you know thatthat that presented himself once he left.
(09:33):
So his growth, his maturity.Um, you know, he's a smaller
guy, but he's strong. He'slike a tree trunk, you know.
And there's a physicality at the internationalgame that's probably far greater than the physicality
in the NBA game. Um.And then the fact that you know,
he didn't like he had to provehimself, Like he didn't come right in
(09:54):
and just you know, all ofa sudden he was given the keys.
You know, he had to goout and fight earned the opportunity to have
the keys to a franchise, whichhe has now I guess in a way
in New York. So he embodiesthe kind of player and the kind of
person that we want as part ofour program and excited that you know that
(10:15):
he's you know, there was nohesitation, you know, I called him
and he was in and so,you know, I wish they all were
like that. The man is justthe winner. He improves every year.
I can't wait to see him inthe international game. Like you said,
it is much more physical, sowe'll see it. He'll probably relish and
thrive in that in that environment.I've been writing about this topic for almost
(10:41):
a year now. Joel Embiid hasa French passport, he has an American
passport, and right now the closestthing to arrival for the United States is
France. Both nations are buying forhis international commitment. I haven't really had
a chance to ask you this directly, so without trying to put you on
the spot too much, what arethe chances from your seat that Joel Embiid
(11:05):
would choose to represent the United Statesat the next Olympics rather than France whereas
it well, you know you mentionedearlier, Duke, And I'm mindful that
when I was an undergraduate, Iopted out a quantitative reasoning, so I'm
not good with numbers. Uh SoI can't give you percentages, but you
(11:26):
know, look, Joel, Um, you know, he's a he's an
incredible talent, and you know hehas options and and and I guess that's
a good thing. Um. Youknow, I'll just say this. I've
had some discussion with him and heknows, um, you know, our
um desire to have him a partof our program. Um. So you
(11:50):
know what, we'll see sort ofwhere that goes. But UM, you
know, we'll we'll certainly as weyou know, get through this World Cup
and uh and starts to sort ofplan for next summer. Um, we'll
continue with those conversations and hopefully bythen I'll have some numbers and percentages to
(12:11):
give you in terms of where wherethe possibility stands. There's still we can
say there's still a chance. Ohyeah, yeah, definitely. All right,
We're gonna let you go with this. Grant Hill, our guest here
on ninety seven one, the freeborn in Dallas. Let's not forget.
I mean, I can't. I'mjust curious. Obviously, many many many
(12:33):
years ago, many years and poundsago for me, you and Jason Kidd
shared a Rookie of the Year award. We're we're getting close to thirty years
since that happened. I don't knowwhat happened to us. When you get
when you see Jason, Now,what are the conversations like about sharing Rookie
of the Year with him in allthe way back then? Yeah, um,
(13:00):
you know, we we don't talkabout that a whole lot. I'm
still bitter that I had to shareit with him. But you know,
I think I think the beauty ofof our you know, our journey and
our friendship. Um, you know, it even predates you know, that
year. It goes back. Wewere teammates at high school basketball camp,
um, at Nike camp, andI always joked that, you know,
(13:22):
he was a rising sophomore, Iwas a rising senior. Um. He
was known for passing and facilitating,but he never passed me the ball.
Uh and uh, you know whichI'm joking as I say that. But
yeah, but then you know,to fast forward, we had an iconic
(13:43):
matchup in college when he was atCAP and we were defending two time champions,
and I really think that kind ofput him on the national map,
if you will, at that timeat cal Berkeley, you know, during
his freshman year, and then wewere in the same draft. We went,
you know, we we UM,you know, we just we just
(14:03):
cultivated a friendship and so UM,so it's always great to see him.
I've had a chance to cover someMAVs games, so I enjoyed calling those
games. Uh. He actually textedme just the other day. I actually
had old McCall and UM. ButI'm happy that we both are still in
the game. We're still around it, we're still contributing, uh, and
(14:26):
we're still doing things around the gameof basketball that we love and we're passionate
about. And but he's UM,he's somebody who I admire, somebody who
I respect. UM. And hewas an incredible basketball player. I mean,
the things he did on the court. You know, he was as
good as any point guard that's everplayed in this league.
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