Season 4, Episode 48 - Josh Harrellson

Our guest this episode is Josh Harrellson who's about to embark on his 15th season of professional basketball. Later this month he'll report to training camp in Saga, Japan, to play for the third consecutive season with the Saga Ballooners in Japan's B.League.

Josh grew up outside St. Louis, MO, and during our Conversation we learn about his dream of following in the footsteps of childhood hero, Mark McGwire. Once he reached high school, however, an unwise decision by the football coach led Josh (who was 6-foot-3 as a freshman) into organized basketball for the first time.

He continued to develop and eventually planned to attend Western Illinois but wound up at Southwestern Illinois (Junior) College instead. Following a successful season there he moved on to the University of Kentucky where he ulimately led the Wildcats to a Final Four appearance his senior year (2011) but not before enduring quite a lot under a pair of coaches who couldn't be any more different (Billy Gillespie and John Calipari). He credits battling Kentucky teammate Enes Kanter (who was ineligible due to alleged benefits received in Turkey) during practice much of his senior season with improving his game.

Josh also shares a few stories about his time in the NBA (he was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets in the second round and then sold to the New York Knicks), what it was like playing with LeBron James, and how playing professionally overseas has gone for him and his family.

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