December 10, 2025 • 15 mins
Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson joins Query & Company to take us through his journey from bouncing around in the G League to playing meaningful minutes the last two games. He shares how he felt finding out he was going to play his first meaningful minutes in Chicago by being pulled off the floor while getting some extra work in after shootaround and how he found out he was going to start against the Sacramento Kings.
Support the show: https://1075thefan.com/query-and-company/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining me now on the Java House Peel and poor
guest line. This guy really impressed me. As a matter
of fact, my buddy Michael, my buddy Michael Ware goes
to the Pacer games with me, and Michael is a
huge Pacer fan, right, and then after the games he
always like sends me his observations of the game and
that kind of thing. And he sends me a message
the other day that simply says, thanks again for the
(00:22):
invite last night. Nice win and go Ethan Thompson and
I'm because we're watching it and he's like, man, this
guy's out there hustling, making every play and he joins
us on the program.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
He is a new member of the Indiana Pacers, and
he was I believe in an NBA starter? Am I correct?
Ethan Thompson saying in game number four of your NBA career,
you're starting, correct?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, yeah, that is correct. That is correct. Is a
great transition for sure. I Mean this whole week has
been you know dream come true of you know, getting
this opportunity and then you know being able to you know,
get used to the team and then you know, just
trying to find my way to make an impact. And
(01:03):
try to win game. So just doing what I can.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, I want to get to this because the way
you make an impact. Now, you know, I noticed in
the fourth quarter of that game against Sacramento, there was
at one point in that game, Ethan, there were three
straight possessions where you either kept the ball alive on
an offensive rebound or tapped out defensive rebounds and just
(01:28):
putting yourself hustle plays quite frankly, to keep possessions alive
or to prohibit Sacramento from getting a second look at things.
And then I looked at it, and I'm like, you
were a five star recruit. You grew up in California,
You're a five star recruit. You go to Oregon State,
you play obviously in a big conference. When did you
realize that and how did you manage to transition from
(01:50):
being a guy that spent the majority of your career
is the mainline player, to now a guy that has
to be a complimentary player.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, I mean I think it is, uh goes back
to you know, my my understanding of the game and
how it was taught. So I gotta credit my my dad.
He's taught me everything that I know. All the coaches
that I've had growing up have have given me a
great foundation of, uh, you know, what winning basketball is.
(02:18):
And you know, it's not always that you got to
be the one that's hitting the shots to to make
an impact on the game, but whether it's spacing the
floor properly, you know, making the hustle plays, making the
right reads offensively, defensively, and then yeah, just doing whatever
it takes. And then you know, having that that fabric,
you know, could could lead to you being the guy
(02:42):
for you know, for in my case, you know, the
majority of my career and then but then in this situation,
I still have that same fabric of whatever it takes
to win and at the end of the day, and
just the competitors, so going out there and competing however
I can.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Now your father obviously was a coach when you were
growing up, I believe, as he's still on staff at
Oregon State. I know he wasn't one time.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yeah okay, yeah, yeah, so yeah, yeah, he's still on staff.
He had got the job I think going into my
sophomore year high school, and then I got the opportunity
to play with play play for him, and then with
my older brother as well, Steven Thompson junior.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Now this has to be a record. I don't know
if this is correct. This has to be a record
than Thompson. You started every game. You played every game
in Oregon State and started every game. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah? I believe I do have the record and starts,
and I want to I don't know about most games played,
but most games started, for sure. I know that one.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Hundred and twenty seven of one hundred and twenty seven,
And I would imagine if I were you, I would
be regularly emailing and or sending that statistic to Gary
Payton and just remind him of it, right.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Right, right, it is. It is great to be in
great company and then to you know, have have my
name probably like two or three starts above him, but like, uh,
you know, it's definitely great to be Vietna company for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Okay, So you have played in your professional career. You
have played in the G League. You have played in Mexico,
you have played in Puerto Rico, which I know that
you have also played for the Puerto Rican national team. Right.
You have played back into I believe the G League
for the Magic Organization, then in shoot Falls and now here. Okay,
(04:17):
So how long does it take you to acclimate to
new roster and learn the system that Indiana's running.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, I mean it's it's it's it's not that that
difficult of an acclamation, you know, to this team, because
they got a lot of that got a lot of
guys that can play the right way. They know how
to play the right way, and you know, that's the
testament to you know, how coach has been building this
team for you know, not just this year, but like
years before as well. So you know, at the end
(04:47):
of the day, it's just basketball and being able to
make the right reads. You know that. The probably the
toughest part of the transition was just learning the different terminology.
A lot of teams use you know, different different language
for different actions on the court, different positions, So trying
to use the right terminology and be on the same
(05:08):
page with that with my teammates and and they've done
a job of getting me, you know, on the same
page as well, So it's been good.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
The newest pacer, Ethan Thompson is my guest. He's on
the Java house peeling poor guest line. When you arrived
with this franchise, what player on the roster for the
Pacers was the one that was the most open to
basically saying to you know, kind of immediately took you
under their wing. Which one would that be?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I' musa say, I've played Summer League a few years ago,
so like I've I've had a relationship with the guys,
with the majority of you guys. But I will say
that Jay huff has has done a good job of,
you know, kind of taking me under his wing. You know,
he's been in a similar position that I've been been
(05:55):
battling it in the G League and then you know
he's been able to make his mark in the NBA
as well. Now he's kind of been talking to me,
encouraging me, and you know, really being that voice and
reassurance of you know, confidence and everything, like calming me
down if I'm you know, nervous or whatever it is.
But you know, he's been in that constant voice for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Is it hard to when you are in and I'm
going to say this respectfully, Ethan, but I think you'll
understand what I mean. When you so far are in
kind of a vagabond career right where you're going and
you're playing for different teams, is it difficult in a
situation to hone in on what it is that the
Pacers need you to do, as opposed to taking the
(06:40):
opportunity to showcase what you can do elsewhere for other
teams to see. Does that make sense what I'm asking
for sure?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
I mean is it's not too difficult for me, because
for me, one of the big things that I've learned,
you know, throughout the course of my career, I would
I have been on you know, many G League situations
trying to make it is kind of just being where
your feet are and not not worrying about the future,
(07:08):
not worrying about you know, what comes next, because you
got to make the most of where you're at now.
And that's something that's really kept me grounded and you know,
kind of been in the back of my mind on
you know, how can I help the Pacers, not necessarily
you know, trying to show what I can do for
other teams is the situation I'm in now, and I
(07:28):
think that will lead to, you know, more opportunity of
you know, showcasing everything I could do, but still with
the intention of helping the pacers now.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
When you were in high school in California, if I'm
not mistaken in this. In the California High School Tournament,
did you knock out the team that had all of
the the LaMelo and Loangelo and and all the brothers
on it.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah. So my junior year when Lonlo was still a senior,
we lost to them in lost the IF. But then uh,
the year after we we had ended up beating them,
and my senior year, Alonzo left by LaMelo Jello. Uh,
they still have had a few other few other guys
(08:12):
that went on to play college and in the NBA
as well.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
So that was their dad on the sidelines. Was their
dad crazy the whole time?
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, I mean I want to use the term crazy,
but he's been, uh, you know, super supportive and very
into it. But yeah, it's always been. It's always been
good to play against them because, you know, it's the
environment that they bring to the game, especially at you know,
when we were in high school, uh, high school basketball.
You know when I was in college, was sorry, high
school basketball when I was in high school was you know,
(08:42):
a fun thing to be a part of the games
are always sold out, so it was it was very fun.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
When you grow up, you know, we know of here
the great players from southern California. I mean it goes
without saying. You just mentioned three of them. You had
to play, right. Uh, we feel in Indiana, like the
other forty nine states, look at Indiana as a basketball mecca.
Now you're from California, what is your perception of Indiana basketball?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
No, for sure, I think of you know, great basketball,
you know hard nos basketball as well, and you know
a long long history of of of talent and I
And that's something I'm glad that I that I have
that understanding of because I kind of got familiar with
it when uh, when I was with Oregon State and
(09:31):
we had went on that run to the lead date
it was it was hosted the that COVID year where
everything where each round was in Indiana and then you know,
being out here for for that like month and a
half or whatever it was was uh, you know, pretty
cool just to you know, learn the history of the
city and get to get a feel for the city.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Ethan, after after the win in Chicago, Rick Carlisle you know,
went on to say like, hey, he was, you know,
in doing some scrimmages with you know, Quintin Jackson some
of the other guys in I trained and I had
to call the trainer and like, hey, get him off
the floor. At what point A how did it feel,
I guess in that moment to realize that you were
going to get your first like actual shot, I'm playing
some meaningful minutes in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah for sure. I mean like usually after shoot around,
I'll go back to the hotel, take a take a nap,
and you know that that during that time, my nap time,
basically I was my eyes are closed, but you know
I was still awake, just kind of trying to envision
everything that's going to happen, and you know, a lot
of a lot of nervous energy, but excited energy as well.
(10:33):
And then you know, once once my name got called
the sub in and you know, a couple of possessions down,
I kind of got settled, and you know it was
it was good from there, but definitely something that I've
been looking forward to, you know, my whole life, my
whole career, been working for that moment. So I'm glad
that I was able to experience that and just trying
to continue to build off of it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So then, how did they tell you you're a starter?
When did take me through what happens when they tell you,
by the way, you're starting against Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yeah, we were come into practice, I don't know if
it was the next day or a few days after
coming to practice, and we're about to watch film and
then they have my initials up, uh for for the
matchups against Sacramento, and I was like, okay, yeah, let's
do it. Like you know, I was, I was excited.
And you know, getting that confidence from from everybody on
(11:23):
a team, coaching staff you know, has been has helped
me a lot as well. So you know, I'm just
I'm just excited to be able to go out there
and compete with with this group. They've been, you know,
very encouraging of me, and you know they want the
best for me as well.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
So most importantly and lastly with that, so you look
up you see E T right there as the starter,
like not the movie, the starter.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So then, and this is the big thing. Every player
on this roster in the pregame stuff goes through a
line and has like a specific like handshake, dap up,
whatever you want to call it with TJ McConnell. Now,
how long did it take you to learn that? And
have you mastered what your specific one is because every
(12:08):
players is different.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Uh huh, Now I haven't. I haven't mastered, you know,
a specific one yet, but we we go work on
it for sure. For sure, because I have something I
have noticed that I gotta. I gotta sit down and
talk with him.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Yeah, see that? So you notice that, right? I mean
literally every single guy, right?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, everybody. Everybody got their own unique handsake, so it
is pretty tough.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
And as a guard, everybody on the floor also has
their own kind of unique spots. Right, how do you
learn that as a guard of just kind of understanding
where guys like their movement, where they like the ball,
where the set goes, et cetera. How long does it
take to learn that?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
It is something that you know, I've been been watching
film on before before I was even able to suit up.
But like I've I've been getting the good understanding of
how guys like to play, and you know, the coaching
staff has getting me used to like, Okay, if TJ's
bringing up the four, bringing up the floor, he usually
(13:10):
likes to run this action. So if I'm in this position,
I'll do this, and if I'm in that position, I'll
do that. But kind of getting that understanding, you know,
not not necessarily takes time, but like as you get
more reps of it kind of becomes second nature and
you pick up on pattern. So definitely something I've been
trying to key on, you know, throughout these practice days
(13:31):
and then in the game, even when I'm not in
the game, just on a bench if I'm watching, I'm
trying to you know, pick up on those things as well.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
By the way, maybe he hasn't told you, but I'm
telling you right now, your dad when he was Stevie
Thompson at Syracuse was the truth.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Man.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Those are Jimmy Man had some hell of the teams
and you know between Derek Coleman and Sherman Douglas before
your dad and Ronnie Sykelee and then you know people
around here know about Syracuse Paul Stevie Thompson, the ball man.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Nah, yeah, t me. I've heard his story and seen
the film, you know. So it's something that I've always
get something I'm always you know, grateful to have, you know,
to be his son and to be able to you know,
carry on his name as well. So it's it's I'm
glad I got that.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Yeah, they had some heck of a teams back then,
and the Crenshaw and High School and all of it.
Love love those those teams and those eras well. We
certainly wish you the best of luck.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Man.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
I appreciate the time today also having to be a
little bit flexible in the way that our schedule work today, Ethan,
I certainly appreciate it, and we look forward to watching
more hustle plays.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
All right, definitely definitely appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
All right, much appreciated again. That is Ethan Thompson, the
pride of Oregon State, his dad Stevie Thompson, right after
Indiana won the national title in eighty seven, you know,
and those teams that Beheim had many they were loaded,
and there were so many great players that came out.
You know. Shawn Higgins was out of the like I
think Fairfax in LA at the same time when his
(14:59):
dad was a c and Shaw and special times, special
times and great players that have come from there.
Joining me now on the Java House Peel and poor
guest line. This guy really impressed me. As a matter
of fact, my buddy Michael, my buddy Michael Ware goes
to the Pacer games with me, and Michael is a
huge Pacer fan, right, and then after the games he
always like sends me his observations of the game and
that kind of thing. And he sends me a message
the other day that simply says, thanks again for the
(00:22):
invite last night. Nice win and go Ethan Thompson and
I'm because we're watching it and he's like, man, this
guy's out there hustling, making every play and he joins
us on the program.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
He is a new member of the Indiana Pacers, and
he was I believe in an NBA starter? Am I correct?
Ethan Thompson saying in game number four of your NBA career,
you're starting, correct?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, yeah, that is correct. That is correct. Is a
great transition for sure. I Mean this whole week has
been you know dream come true of you know, getting
this opportunity and then you know being able to you know,
get used to the team and then you know, just
trying to find my way to make an impact. And
(01:03):
try to win game. So just doing what I can.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Well, I want to get to this because the way
you make an impact. Now, you know, I noticed in
the fourth quarter of that game against Sacramento, there was
at one point in that game, Ethan, there were three
straight possessions where you either kept the ball alive on
an offensive rebound or tapped out defensive rebounds and just
(01:28):
putting yourself hustle plays quite frankly, to keep possessions alive
or to prohibit Sacramento from getting a second look at things.
And then I looked at it, and I'm like, you
were a five star recruit. You grew up in California,
You're a five star recruit. You go to Oregon State,
you play obviously in a big conference. When did you
realize that and how did you manage to transition from
(01:50):
being a guy that spent the majority of your career
is the mainline player, to now a guy that has
to be a complimentary player.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, I mean I think it is, uh goes back
to you know, my my understanding of the game and
how it was taught. So I gotta credit my my dad.
He's taught me everything that I know. All the coaches
that I've had growing up have have given me a
great foundation of, uh, you know, what winning basketball is.
(02:18):
And you know, it's not always that you got to
be the one that's hitting the shots to to make
an impact on the game, but whether it's spacing the
floor properly, you know, making the hustle plays, making the
right reads offensively, defensively, and then yeah, just doing whatever
it takes. And then you know, having that that fabric,
you know, could could lead to you being the guy
(02:42):
for you know, for in my case, you know, the
majority of my career and then but then in this situation,
I still have that same fabric of whatever it takes
to win and at the end of the day, and
just the competitors, so going out there and competing however
I can.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Now your father obviously was a coach when you were
growing up, I believe, as he's still on staff at
Oregon State. I know he wasn't one time.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yeah okay, yeah, yeah, so yeah, yeah, he's still on staff.
He had got the job I think going into my
sophomore year high school, and then I got the opportunity
to play with play play for him, and then with
my older brother as well, Steven Thompson junior.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
Now this has to be a record. I don't know
if this is correct. This has to be a record
than Thompson. You started every game. You played every game
in Oregon State and started every game. Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah? I believe I do have the record and starts,
and I want to I don't know about most games played,
but most games started, for sure. I know that one.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Hundred and twenty seven of one hundred and twenty seven,
And I would imagine if I were you, I would
be regularly emailing and or sending that statistic to Gary
Payton and just remind him of it, right.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Right, right, it is. It is great to be in
great company and then to you know, have have my
name probably like two or three starts above him, but like, uh,
you know, it's definitely great to be Vietna company for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Okay, So you have played in your professional career. You
have played in the G League. You have played in Mexico,
you have played in Puerto Rico, which I know that
you have also played for the Puerto Rican national team. Right.
You have played back into I believe the G League
for the Magic Organization, then in shoot Falls and now here. Okay,
(04:17):
So how long does it take you to acclimate to
new roster and learn the system that Indiana's running.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, I mean it's it's it's it's not that that
difficult of an acclamation, you know, to this team, because
they got a lot of that got a lot of
guys that can play the right way. They know how
to play the right way, and you know, that's the
testament to you know, how coach has been building this
team for you know, not just this year, but like
years before as well. So you know, at the end
(04:47):
of the day, it's just basketball and being able to
make the right reads. You know that. The probably the
toughest part of the transition was just learning the different terminology.
A lot of teams use you know, different different language
for different actions on the court, different positions, So trying
to use the right terminology and be on the same
(05:08):
page with that with my teammates and and they've done
a job of getting me, you know, on the same
page as well, So it's been good.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
The newest pacer, Ethan Thompson is my guest. He's on
the Java house peeling poor guest line. When you arrived
with this franchise, what player on the roster for the
Pacers was the one that was the most open to
basically saying to you know, kind of immediately took you
under their wing. Which one would that be?
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I' musa say, I've played Summer League a few years ago,
so like I've I've had a relationship with the guys,
with the majority of you guys. But I will say
that Jay huff has has done a good job of,
you know, kind of taking me under his wing. You know,
he's been in a similar position that I've been been
(05:55):
battling it in the G League and then you know
he's been able to make his mark in the NBA
as well. Now he's kind of been talking to me,
encouraging me, and you know, really being that voice and
reassurance of you know, confidence and everything, like calming me
down if I'm you know, nervous or whatever it is.
But you know, he's been in that constant voice for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Is it hard to when you are in and I'm
going to say this respectfully, Ethan, but I think you'll
understand what I mean. When you so far are in
kind of a vagabond career right where you're going and
you're playing for different teams, is it difficult in a
situation to hone in on what it is that the
Pacers need you to do, as opposed to taking the
(06:40):
opportunity to showcase what you can do elsewhere for other
teams to see. Does that make sense what I'm asking
for sure?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
I mean is it's not too difficult for me, because
for me, one of the big things that I've learned,
you know, throughout the course of my career, I would
I have been on you know, many G League situations
trying to make it is kind of just being where
your feet are and not not worrying about the future,
(07:08):
not worrying about you know, what comes next, because you
got to make the most of where you're at now.
And that's something that's really kept me grounded and you know,
kind of been in the back of my mind on
you know, how can I help the Pacers, not necessarily
you know, trying to show what I can do for
other teams is the situation I'm in now, and I
(07:28):
think that will lead to, you know, more opportunity of
you know, showcasing everything I could do, but still with
the intention of helping the pacers now.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
When you were in high school in California, if I'm
not mistaken in this. In the California High School Tournament,
did you knock out the team that had all of
the the LaMelo and Loangelo and and all the brothers
on it.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah. So my junior year when Lonlo was still a senior,
we lost to them in lost the IF. But then uh,
the year after we we had ended up beating them,
and my senior year, Alonzo left by LaMelo Jello. Uh,
they still have had a few other few other guys
(08:12):
that went on to play college and in the NBA
as well.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
So that was their dad on the sidelines. Was their
dad crazy the whole time?
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Yeah, I mean I want to use the term crazy,
but he's been, uh, you know, super supportive and very
into it. But yeah, it's always been. It's always been
good to play against them because, you know, it's the
environment that they bring to the game, especially at you know,
when we were in high school, uh, high school basketball.
You know when I was in college, was sorry, high
school basketball when I was in high school was you know,
(08:42):
a fun thing to be a part of the games
are always sold out, so it was it was very fun.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
When you grow up, you know, we know of here
the great players from southern California. I mean it goes
without saying. You just mentioned three of them. You had
to play, right. Uh, we feel in Indiana, like the
other forty nine states, look at Indiana as a basketball mecca.
Now you're from California, what is your perception of Indiana basketball?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
No, for sure, I think of you know, great basketball,
you know hard nos basketball as well, and you know
a long long history of of of talent and I
And that's something I'm glad that I that I have
that understanding of because I kind of got familiar with
it when uh, when I was with Oregon State and
(09:31):
we had went on that run to the lead date
it was it was hosted the that COVID year where
everything where each round was in Indiana and then you know,
being out here for for that like month and a
half or whatever it was was uh, you know, pretty
cool just to you know, learn the history of the
city and get to get a feel for the city.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
Ethan, after after the win in Chicago, Rick Carlisle you know,
went on to say like, hey, he was, you know,
in doing some scrimmages with you know, Quintin Jackson some
of the other guys in I trained and I had
to call the trainer and like, hey, get him off
the floor. At what point A how did it feel,
I guess in that moment to realize that you were
going to get your first like actual shot, I'm playing
some meaningful minutes in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Yeah for sure. I mean like usually after shoot around,
I'll go back to the hotel, take a take a nap,
and you know that that during that time, my nap time,
basically I was my eyes are closed, but you know
I was still awake, just kind of trying to envision
everything that's going to happen, and you know, a lot
of a lot of nervous energy, but excited energy as well.
(10:33):
And then you know, once once my name got called
the sub in and you know, a couple of possessions down,
I kind of got settled, and you know it was
it was good from there, but definitely something that I've
been looking forward to, you know, my whole life, my
whole career, been working for that moment. So I'm glad
that I was able to experience that and just trying
to continue to build off of it.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So then, how did they tell you you're a starter?
When did take me through what happens when they tell you,
by the way, you're starting against Sacramento.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yeah, we were come into practice, I don't know if
it was the next day or a few days after
coming to practice, and we're about to watch film and
then they have my initials up, uh for for the
matchups against Sacramento, and I was like, okay, yeah, let's
do it. Like you know, I was, I was excited.
And you know, getting that confidence from from everybody on
(11:23):
a team, coaching staff you know, has been has helped
me a lot as well. So you know, I'm just
I'm just excited to be able to go out there
and compete with with this group. They've been, you know,
very encouraging of me, and you know they want the
best for me as well.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
So most importantly and lastly with that, so you look
up you see E T right there as the starter,
like not the movie, the starter.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So then, and this is the big thing. Every player
on this roster in the pregame stuff goes through a
line and has like a specific like handshake, dap up,
whatever you want to call it with TJ McConnell. Now,
how long did it take you to learn that? And
have you mastered what your specific one is because every
(12:08):
players is different.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
Uh huh, Now I haven't. I haven't mastered, you know,
a specific one yet, but we we go work on
it for sure. For sure, because I have something I
have noticed that I gotta. I gotta sit down and
talk with him.
Speaker 1 (12:20):
Yeah, see that? So you notice that, right? I mean
literally every single guy, right?
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Yeah, everybody. Everybody got their own unique handsake, so it
is pretty tough.
Speaker 1 (12:32):
And as a guard, everybody on the floor also has
their own kind of unique spots. Right, how do you
learn that as a guard of just kind of understanding
where guys like their movement, where they like the ball,
where the set goes, et cetera. How long does it
take to learn that?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
It is something that you know, I've been been watching
film on before before I was even able to suit up.
But like I've I've been getting the good understanding of
how guys like to play, and you know, the coaching
staff has getting me used to like, Okay, if TJ's
bringing up the four, bringing up the floor, he usually
(13:10):
likes to run this action. So if I'm in this position,
I'll do this, and if I'm in that position, I'll
do that. But kind of getting that understanding, you know,
not not necessarily takes time, but like as you get
more reps of it kind of becomes second nature and
you pick up on pattern. So definitely something I've been
trying to key on, you know, throughout these practice days
(13:31):
and then in the game, even when I'm not in
the game, just on a bench if I'm watching, I'm
trying to you know, pick up on those things as well.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
By the way, maybe he hasn't told you, but I'm
telling you right now, your dad when he was Stevie
Thompson at Syracuse was the truth.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Man.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
Those are Jimmy Man had some hell of the teams
and you know between Derek Coleman and Sherman Douglas before
your dad and Ronnie Sykelee and then you know people
around here know about Syracuse Paul Stevie Thompson, the ball man.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Nah, yeah, t me. I've heard his story and seen
the film, you know. So it's something that I've always
get something I'm always you know, grateful to have, you know,
to be his son and to be able to you know,
carry on his name as well. So it's it's I'm
glad I got that.
Speaker 1 (14:18):
Yeah, they had some heck of a teams back then,
and the Crenshaw and High School and all of it.
Love love those those teams and those eras well. We
certainly wish you the best of luck.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
Man.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
I appreciate the time today also having to be a
little bit flexible in the way that our schedule work today, Ethan,
I certainly appreciate it, and we look forward to watching
more hustle plays.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
All right, definitely definitely appreciate you.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
All right, much appreciated again. That is Ethan Thompson, the
pride of Oregon State, his dad Stevie Thompson, right after
Indiana won the national title in eighty seven, you know,
and those teams that Beheim had many they were loaded,
and there were so many great players that came out.
You know. Shawn Higgins was out of the like I
think Fairfax in LA at the same time when his
(14:59):
dad was a c and Shaw and special times, special
times and great players that have come from there.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.