1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: The NBA's annual Summer League in Las Vegas is upon us, 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: and so on this edition of this League Uncut, we 3 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: have a special guest joining Chris and me. It's Bulls 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: rookie Modest Basilis that's next here on this League uncut. 5 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: Welcome to this League uncut. 6 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 3: In the rule of twenty four hour NBA News. 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:29,040 Speaker 4: This you lo. 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 2: Chris Hanes. It's co tull Work's time. 9 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 3: It's so nice. This League uncut is underway and on fire. 10 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 2: This should be a good one. 11 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 3: Let's bring him in now. 12 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: Bulls rookie Modest bozellis joining us here about to begin 13 00:00:56,040 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: his NBA career, the Summer League portion of his NBA career, 14 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: as a member of your hometown Chicago Bulls. It has 15 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 1: to be surreal. I know you've already been practicing, but 16 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: too has it sunk in yet that you are a Bull? 17 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 2: Yes, it has sunk in. 18 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 4: It really sunk in, like after the draft, Like as 19 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 4: soon as the draft happened. You know, I think everybody 20 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 4: saw it was emotional, but you know, just being at 21 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 4: the training facilities like surrounded by you know, the championships 22 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 4: and all that, it's just it really, it really got 23 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 4: to me. 24 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 3: Were you a Bulls fan growing up? 25 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: Because I know in your generation it's not automatic that 26 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: you just fall in love with the local team, But. 27 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 3: Is it safe to say you you grew up a 28 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 3: Bulls fan. 29 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 4: I wasn't really a fan of any team, but I 30 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 4: was like a fan of players. So de Rose was 31 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 4: like that guy, like he was like the savior of Chicago. 32 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: Everybody thought that. 33 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 4: So, you know, watching him and that team, you know, joking, Nola, 34 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 4: Taj Gibson, all those guys, it was. 35 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 2: That was like the most memorable thing for me. 36 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 4: But I was never really a fan of any teams. 37 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 5: That's how I am. 38 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 6: You know, I'm forty one now, and people that's usually 39 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 6: my age they grew up fans of teams and me, 40 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 6: I was one of the lone guys that I like players, 41 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 6: and I would follow players wherever they wherever they went. Uh, 42 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 6: this is not this is not particularly on your career 43 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 6: right now, but this question, but do you find that 44 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 6: people in your age group, do you find some more 45 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 6: so that they like players more so than teams. 46 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,959 Speaker 4: Yes, I could safely say that I think it's it's 47 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 4: more of a like when a when a player gets 48 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 4: traded or goes to a different team, they think they're 49 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:57,800 Speaker 4: not they're not really rooting for that team. 50 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 2: They're rooting for the player to win. They want him 51 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: to win. 52 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 4: So I think that's the same that's the same case 53 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 4: with me. I was, you know, rooting for Kevin Durant 54 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 4: in ok See and then he went to the Warriors. 55 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 2: I'm rooting for Kevin Durant again. You know. It's it's 56 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,399 Speaker 2: kind of like that now nowadays. 57 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 6: Okay, So, so Kevin Durant, he took a lot of 58 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 6: heat when he went to Golden State. So as a fan, 59 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 6: as a fan of Kevin Durant, how did you process 60 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 6: him going to go to State? Were you accepted? Did 61 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 6: you accept that move to go to State? How was 62 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 6: it for you as a fan? 63 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? 64 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 4: You know, players can make whatever the moves they want, 65 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 4: doesn't It doesn't matter to me. He goes out and 66 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 4: earns it at the end of the day. You know, 67 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 4: he's he's working hard every day and that's what you 68 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 4: have to respect about players. 69 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 6: And so, Matts, I want to talk about your you know, 70 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 6: what's about to happen right now. 71 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 5: We're about to start Las Vegas. 72 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 6: Summer League, and there's a documentary on Las Vegas Summer 73 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 6: League and how it started and the careers that were 74 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 6: catapulted from those summers, like from Lebron James. I mean, 75 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 6: there's too many stars you can name that who have 76 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 6: played in the Las Vegas Summer League. Some have some 77 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 6: good stints, others did it. You know, Summer League is 78 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 6: not always uh indicator if you're going to have success 79 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 6: or not. But how are you going into summer league, 80 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 6: Approaching Vegas Summer League where you know all eyes are 81 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 6: going to be on the top rookies like yourself. 82 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:28,719 Speaker 4: I'm approaching it as you know every other game that 83 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 4: I've played. 84 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: I don't see it differently. 85 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 4: It's just now I'm at a bigger stage, of course, 86 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 4: But you know I'm going in there trying to win. 87 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 4: That's that's what I That's what I want to be, 88 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,040 Speaker 4: and a two way player. I want to impact both 89 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 4: sides of the floor defense, offense. 90 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 2: I want to be a good teammate. 91 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 4: When I'm you know, sitting on the bench cheering for 92 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 4: my teammates, you know, stuff like that. It's it's like 93 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 4: a normal game to me, but you know the intensity 94 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 4: is going to be high. 95 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: Everyone's trying to earn a job. 96 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: I know you've done a lot of interviews all d 97 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: even though you've only been in the NBA. 98 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 3: For a couple of weeks here. 99 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 1: So I want to ask this differently because I know 100 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,719 Speaker 1: you are probably sick of the questions of how emotional 101 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: you and your family were, So I want to look 102 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 1: at it from a different light. In a lot of 103 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,159 Speaker 1: pre draft projections, a lot of mock drafts had you 104 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: going as high as number five to Detroit. 105 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 3: So just walk us through what that was like. 106 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: Detroit ends up picking your G League IGNIT teammate Ron Holland, 107 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: but then at eleven you go to the team in 108 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: your city, this historic franchise. 109 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 3: The Chicago Bulls. 110 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,719 Speaker 1: Just that whole roller coaster of emotions and how much 111 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: were you paying attention to the mock drafts going into 112 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: the whole process. 113 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 4: Wasn't really paying attention to the mock drafts? Of course, 114 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 4: you know, you see them when you scroll down and 115 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 4: you're looking, you know, through Instagram and all that. 116 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 2: But I'm a basketball player. 117 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 4: I don't really look into media and stuff like that. 118 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 4: I know, like it's a business. As much as I 119 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 4: hate to say it, but you know, yeah, I saw 120 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 4: like all the projections going like five, I saw two, 121 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 4: like four all that. No people thought I was a 122 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 4: lot top five pick. But now at the end of 123 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 4: the day, when you're on your team and you're on 124 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 4: you're on your team and your about to compete against everybody, 125 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,880 Speaker 4: the pick doesn't matter. You know, it's it's zero to 126 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 4: zero against everybody. You know, nobody has a unfair advantage. Uh, 127 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 4: it's it's a fair advance. I mean, it's a fair advantage. 128 00:06:38,680 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 4: That's what it is for everybody. So it doesn't matter 129 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 4: if you're one, two, three, five, fifty eight, it's it's 130 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 4: zero to zero. 131 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: I do wonder, though, now that you are a bull, 132 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: how much have you reflected on your interviews with them, 133 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: conversations working out for them When you look back, are 134 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: there things that tip might have tipped you off to 135 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 1: how interested they were in you that you can look 136 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: back now and say, oh, yeah, they actually something they 137 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: said in our sit down, let me know that these 138 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: guys really like me. 139 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 4: Not really, they they they came to watch a workout 140 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 4: in Vague and not in Vegas, La, and that's really it. 141 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 4: And then I sat down at Combine with them to 142 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 4: talk for like twenty minutes. So there wasn't really any 143 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 4: indication you know that they that they well they said 144 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 4: to my agent that they liked me, but they didn't 145 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 4: They honestly didn't think I was gonna go like eleven. 146 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 2: Not low, I mean it's not low, but you know 147 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: you know what I. 148 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 3: Mean, right, But they didn't think you'd be there. 149 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, they didn't think I'd be there, and so as 150 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 4: soon as they saw that I was still there, they 151 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 4: decided to pick me. 152 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 2: But I didn't. 153 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 4: I really didn't think I was going to go to Chicago, 154 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 4: you know, sitting there at draft nights. So I mean 155 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 4: they believed in me the most, and that's what matters now. 156 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: So when when even is about to be picked, were 157 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: you genuinely surprised? 158 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: Like what like? 159 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 4: For me? 160 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 3: Yeah? 161 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: Like I guess just explain to us the emotions when 162 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: Detroit picked at five, did you think they were taking you? 163 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: And then when when you heard your name called it eleven? 164 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: How expected was that or how surprising was it? 165 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: Yeah? 166 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 4: So I mean, walking into I thought I was gonna 167 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 4: be like top ten, but I mean it got to 168 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 4: pick eleven and they picked me. And as I said before, 169 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 4: it doesn't matter what pick you are. Yeah, it matters 170 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 4: about the situation that you're in. And Chicago picked me 171 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 4: and they they believe in me, and I'm gonna work. 172 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:50,679 Speaker 2: As hard as I can. You know, so I was. 173 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,959 Speaker 4: I was a little surprised, but I'm happy. It doesn't matter. 174 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 4: You're in the NBA now. 175 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 2: So. 176 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 6: Let me let me talk. I want to talk about 177 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 6: your path to get into the NBA. You took an 178 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 6: unconventional path, and it's a path that's no longer available anymore. 179 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 6: So obviously, coming out of high school, you want the 180 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 6: top players in high school, numerous colleges, you could have 181 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 6: picked any college you wanted to go to. You chose 182 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 6: to go to the G League path the G League 183 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:22,200 Speaker 6: at night. Two part question please. The first part like, 184 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:26,000 Speaker 6: how was that experience for you? Would you do it 185 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 6: all over again? 186 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 2: Definitely do it over again. 187 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 4: Uh, honestly, it was the best experience ever playing against 188 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 4: the best players. I had, NBA coaches, NBA trainers, you know, 189 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 4: just people who worked in the NBA. Also a therapists, 190 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 4: you know, everybody, strength conditioning coaches. It's just really the 191 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,320 Speaker 4: NBA experience out there. And I couldn't thank them enough. 192 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 4: They did an amazing job. And people think it was 193 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 4: because of our record that got shut down, but it's 194 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 4: not true at all. 195 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 2: It's it was a great experience. I would do it again. 196 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 6: Yeah, the record has For people that think that the 197 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 6: record had nothing to do with it, it's just the 198 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 6: fact that now the college landscape has changed, where the 199 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 6: NIL deals, where players can actually get paid. 200 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 5: Uh, it's not even. 201 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:20,600 Speaker 2: That, it's not even that. 202 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 3: Explain it to us from your seat. 203 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 5: Yeah, explain for us. 204 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 4: So ours got shut down because of the boosters didn't 205 00:10:30,679 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 4: give us any more money like that, And it was 206 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 4: it was tough. It's tough to drag you know, people 207 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 4: out of Vegas to go watch teenage kids play, you know, 208 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 4: outside of Vegas twenty twenty minutes away. So it was 209 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 4: just tough, you know, getting fans there. And but you know, 210 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 4: it was it was mainly that. It wasn't because the 211 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 4: NIL or a record. It was just we we didn't 212 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 4: you know, it wasn't a positive investment. 213 00:10:56,640 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 5: Okay, I understand. 214 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 6: I'm glad you said the record straight you and know 215 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 6: more than any of us. I did want to ask 216 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 6: if you did if the Gen League at Knight wasn't 217 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 6: if that wasn't a scenario where do you think you 218 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 6: might have played college ball. 219 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 4: At probably Florida State or Wake Forest? 220 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 5: Why those two in particular. 221 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 4: Florida State because the way you know, the power forwards 222 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,200 Speaker 4: played there. So after watching like Scottie Barnes, you know, 223 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 4: even Patrick Williams, the way they developed and they played 224 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:39,679 Speaker 4: the right way, and the Wake Forest it was just, honestly, 225 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 4: it just felt different than any other college. It was 226 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 4: a Lithuanian connection with one of the coaches, Coach Forbes too, 227 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:49,240 Speaker 4: just really cool, really cool dude. And the way they 228 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 4: said I would play for them, it fit perfectly. 229 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: I don't know, c ch I heard cal State Fullerton 230 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,079 Speaker 1: was in his top three. That was what my sources 231 00:11:59,080 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 1: were telling me. 232 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 5: I don't know if he's even heard of cal State. 233 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: They were in his top they were in they were 234 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: they were in his top three, really top ten. You 235 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,440 Speaker 1: know you mentioned the record though, and I don't just 236 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,080 Speaker 1: want I mean obviously, what was that like to go through? 237 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: I mean, you guys really took a lot of lumps 238 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: this season with the Ignite. What do you think that 239 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: experience is going to do for your career going forward? 240 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: Because you guys, I mean, you were playing against men 241 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: who are These guys are all desperate. 242 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 3: To get back into the NBA. 243 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: And I mean, I'm sure that was an experience you're 244 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:35,760 Speaker 1: not gonna forget. 245 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 4: You know, it's tough losing. Of course, everybody knows. Nobody 246 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 4: likes to lose, no one wants to be a losing person. 247 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 4: I mean it really shaped us into the people that 248 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 4: we are today. Like everybody that came to Ignite is 249 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 4: from winning programs. So like Ron, I think I saw 250 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 4: a stat on Ron. Ron, I think lost six games 251 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 4: totally high school career, something like that. Cherry Baba, all 252 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 4: them guys they were killing in the bl You know, me, 253 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:11,239 Speaker 4: I came from Sunrise. I was competing for a national championship, 254 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 4: high school national championship. So we all came from winning programs. 255 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 4: But it was just super tough to lose. And we 256 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,079 Speaker 4: had we had so many I didn't I don't want 257 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,679 Speaker 4: to make excuses, but we had veterans that were hurt, 258 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:27,960 Speaker 4: a lot of veterans that mattered, you know, And it 259 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 4: really just made us into the people that we are today. 260 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 4: And people always thought the G League is weak, you know, 261 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 4: looking at you know, you sometimes see the comments and 262 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 4: people think the G league is in a good league, 263 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 4: and those guys are they see we play on NBA 264 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 4: TV every night at home, so they're coming in. They're 265 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 4: trying to kill you. They're they're not taking it lightly. 266 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 4: They don't want to know teenage teenage kids to beat them, 267 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:58,640 Speaker 4: so they're really going one hundred percent effort when they play, and. 268 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 2: Man, makes us better. 269 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 3: So that's what I was gonna say. 270 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,200 Speaker 1: On the flip side, it has to make you more 271 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 1: NBA ready, right than had you played even at a 272 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: top college. I mean, you have played a level closer 273 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 1: to NBA than most other rookies at this point. 274 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:18,120 Speaker 2: Yeah. 275 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 4: I mean, with all due respect them, some guys are 276 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 4: not even gonna touch the G League that played in 277 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 4: college who they're competing against. 278 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: No, that's just real. 279 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 4: And those guys that we play in the G League, 280 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 4: like Lance Stevenson, Kenneth forar Reid, they're like they're trying 281 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 4: to get back into the NBA, you know, and they 282 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 4: won't they won't lose the chance, uh and the opportunity 283 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 4: to try to get back in. 284 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 6: And that's why I said, like just when I was 285 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,440 Speaker 6: talking about the record, not mattering, like you guys are 286 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:03,560 Speaker 6: young kids. You're seventeen eighteen, nineteen years old. And one 287 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 6: thing about you guys is that you come into the 288 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 6: G League at night as a target. You guys are 289 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 6: a target because everybody is looking at you guys. 290 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 5: Oh, you guys are the future. 291 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 6: You guys are the anointed ones. Okay, you guys are 292 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 6: going to have a as you mentioned NBA TV, you 293 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 6: guys want to have a platform, right, so when we 294 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 6: play you guys, that is our time to show and 295 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 6: showcase what we And so that's a level of let 296 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 6: me see, that's a level of being targeted that you 297 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 6: wouldn't face in college. Because you're going into college, you're 298 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 6: going to be the guy, you know what I mean. 299 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 6: People still know you're the guy. Even though you're a 300 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 6: freshman coming in. People still know, Okay, this guy is 301 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 6: a one and done talent. 302 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 5: He's the one that you know. 303 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 6: And so I think that's going to help you when 304 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 6: you're when you are playing your rookie season for the 305 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 6: Chicago Bulls. And that's what I wanted to ask, Like 306 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 6: I wanted to ask because you know, a lot of 307 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 6: the money that's being paid to college A players now 308 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 6: and people may say, well, if you can, if you 309 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 6: could do it over again, maybe you would go to 310 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 6: college and experience that. Did you feel any type of 311 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 6: way about just just the college experience nothing else. Did 312 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,920 Speaker 6: you feel any any type of way about not having 313 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 6: that experience? 314 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 2: Nah? I didn't. 315 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 4: I mean, of course, you know, I'm watching March Madness, 316 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 4: all the fans going crazy, But I mean I'm playing 317 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 4: NBA rules and using an NBA ball, playing against NBA players, 318 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 4: and that's what you want to be at the end 319 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 4: of the day, you know, And that's what I picked. Also, 320 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 4: getting back to the you know, the target thing. Like everybody, 321 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 4: once I made my decision, everyone's like, modest, You're gonna 322 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 4: have an X on your back. They're going you know, 323 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 4: they're they're going to try to kill you. And you know, 324 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 4: I said, I'm like, how am I going to get better? 325 00:16:55,640 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 4: They don't if I don't got a target a lot back. 326 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 5: You know, I expect that. 327 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 4: So how if I don't have an X on my back, 328 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 4: I'm They're not going at me and I'm not. I'm not, 329 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:11,120 Speaker 4: you know, getting better as a player. So that's that's 330 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 4: what I want to. I want to I want to 331 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 4: compete and play against the best always. 332 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 5: But I always ask incoming rookies this question. 333 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:23,960 Speaker 6: And for the regular fan, they may not know the 334 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 6: difference or understand that there is a difference. Minus, tell 335 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 6: me the difference between the balls that are used high 336 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 6: school and college and then the balls that are used 337 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 6: for the NBA. And tell me how much of an 338 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 6: adjustment period is that to use those balls. 339 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 4: Man, big adjustment. I mean there's like there's way more 340 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 4: grip on a college ball. 341 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 5: Yes, you can. 342 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,600 Speaker 2: It's easy to palm. You can control the ball, like. 343 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 4: And then the the NBA ball is like rough, the 344 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 4: new one, especially as soon as you get it like 345 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 4: out the package and you don't you don't have it 346 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,880 Speaker 4: broken in. It will a little slip out your hand 347 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 4: even when like and like look at like look at 348 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 4: my finger right now. This is from shooting NBA balls. 349 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:14,959 Speaker 2: Like that's how rough. That's how rough it is. 350 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 3: He's holding up a blister, America. 351 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 2: That's what it is. 352 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,199 Speaker 6: No, And I tell people that all the time, Like, 353 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 6: you know, I play you know, I played college basketball. 354 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 6: Never no, no pro, didn't sniff pro. But uh, you 355 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 6: know that's and I still play rec league. But I 356 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 6: know when I go to an NBA practice and sometimes 357 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 6: the NBA team will let us shoot around before players. 358 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:40,880 Speaker 6: Are you ready to come in and speak to us? 359 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 6: And I hate the feel of that ball. It feels 360 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:45,679 Speaker 6: like an outside ball. It feels like a ball that 361 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 6: should be used outside. And but for me, the struggle 362 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 6: with that. I know it's an adjustment period because rookies 363 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 6: always talk about it like how long did it take you? 364 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 5: Do you feel comfortable with it right now? Are you comfortable? 365 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? I've been comfortable with it. 366 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 4: And really the pens when you get it like right 367 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 4: out the box and it's not broken into, it's very 368 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 4: it's very tough to play with, like, but when it's 369 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 4: broken into, it's not bad. Your hands get used to 370 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 4: it probably, And I mean if you're working out three 371 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,680 Speaker 4: four days to really to really adjust to the ball, But. 372 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 2: When it's right out the packaging, it's nasty. 373 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:25,959 Speaker 6: Yeah, And you can't go back even like when you 374 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 6: go back to college, like say you go play, say 375 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 6: you want to play a pickup or something like that, 376 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 6: it's like you don't want to go back to another ball. 377 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:39,400 Speaker 2: Because then you gotta adjust again. And that's exactly that's 378 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 2: why I'm I'm like very superstitious like with basketball. 379 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 4: So when i I'm never using another ball like ever, 380 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 4: Like if. 381 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 2: My homie Saint comes to the gym, I need to 382 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:53,360 Speaker 2: bring I need a break. I'm not going because I'm 383 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 2: not using a different ball. It'll mess you up really fast. 384 00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: By the way, just to clarify, the media is really 385 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: not support to shoot even if the court is open, 386 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,240 Speaker 1: but Chris loves to just rip the ball off the 387 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: rack and get a few shots to whether he's allowed 388 00:20:07,280 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: to or not. If I read right, I hope I 389 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 1: did because this this will be a question no other 390 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 1: reporter will ever ask you. But I believe you chose 391 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: number fourteen to wear this season, and I would love 392 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:22,920 Speaker 1: to hear your reasons why, and then I'm gonna get 393 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: and then I'm gonna tell you a story about the 394 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: most famous Bulls number fourteen, even though it was not 395 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: a real player. And even Chris Haynes, even he's too 396 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,199 Speaker 1: young to understand this, but please tell us, please enlighten 397 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: us on why you chose fourteen. 398 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:43,160 Speaker 4: So my so my numbers really thirteen, Like that's that's 399 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 4: really my number. I was born October thirteen, two thousand 400 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 4: and four, so like that, that's why I picked that. 401 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,240 Speaker 4: And they didn't have thirteen Tory Craig is actually the 402 00:20:54,880 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 4: took that one. And my dad's birthday is the fourteenth, 403 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:02,920 Speaker 4: right after mine, and it was also close as the thirteen. 404 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 2: So that's that's why I picked it. 405 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 1: And I guess maybe when you play for Lithuania you 406 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: could also wear fourteen, so your national team number could 407 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: be same as your NBA number. 408 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 4: That's gonna it's probably gonna transition between thirteen and fourteen, 409 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 4: I feel whatever. 410 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: The So this is a lecture that Chris has been 411 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: subject to before. So when I was when I was 412 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 1: a youngster in the seventies, there was an amazing TV 413 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: show called The White Shadow and it starred a former 414 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:38,919 Speaker 1: NBA player named Kenny Reeves fictional, but he played for 415 00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:43,160 Speaker 1: the Bulls and he wore number fourteen, and in the 416 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:47,239 Speaker 1: intro song of the show they show him running up 417 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:50,320 Speaker 1: and down the floor for the Bulls in number fourteen. 418 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: So when I saw a picture of you wearing fourteen, 419 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 1: instantly I flashed back to this, this show from the 420 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 1: seventies that Chris Haynes even. 421 00:21:58,560 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 3: Has not watched yet. 422 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 1: But so number fourteen, that is a magic Kenny. You know, 423 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,639 Speaker 1: most people would say Michael Jordan, but Kenny Reeves is 424 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 1: my favorite bull of all time. So I love that 425 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 1: you have brought number fourteen back. 426 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 5: A faith player is your favorite. 427 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:18,119 Speaker 1: Bullway, if you watch this show in the seventies, you 428 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:21,120 Speaker 1: would understand this. This was a time you gotta understand. 429 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: In the seventies, NBA was not on TV. You had 430 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 1: a better chance of seeing basketball watching this show than 431 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,639 Speaker 1: you could see the game. So trust me, anyone my 432 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: age holds Kenny Reeves in the highest esteem. So number 433 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: fourteen has some magic. 434 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:36,200 Speaker 2: I'm check it out. 435 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:37,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, you have to check it out. 436 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: You have to watch some clips of this show on 437 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,879 Speaker 1: their are clips on YouTube. This show is legendary and 438 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 1: number fourteen for the Bulls is magical. 439 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 3: So I'm really glad you brought it back. 440 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 5: Were you hoping that Modest actually knew about that? 441 00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:54,439 Speaker 3: No, no, come on, I'm not gonna expect I'm not 442 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:55,080 Speaker 3: gonna expect. 443 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: I expect you to know you're You're not nineteen, you're 444 00:22:58,400 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: forty two. 445 00:22:59,520 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 2: Man. 446 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 6: I wasn't bored in this. I was born in the eighties. 447 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:04,600 Speaker 6: I wasn't bored in seventies, so I wouldn't know that. 448 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 6: But Modest, that would be something. Hey, you should do this. 449 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 6: You don't have to give us no credit, but we 450 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 6: know where it comes from. When when you when you're 451 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 6: doing your press conference, when training camp starts, you know, 452 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 6: media they're going to be asking you all type of 453 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 6: course because they're trying to get to know you. You should 454 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:21,800 Speaker 6: throw that they say, hey, you know I got number 455 00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 6: fourteen because this the nineteen seventies TV show of. 456 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 3: You Beloved. 457 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: I bet when you watch some clips, if you check 458 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: out some clips, you're gonna go this. 459 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 3: This show is something else. That show was ahead of 460 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 3: its time. All right, I've I've done my old man 461 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 3: rambling enough. Let's get back. Let's get back to serious stuff. 462 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: I know that Yonis Valanciunas is a mentor of yours, 463 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 1: and just tell us what's that like, because you know, 464 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: just looking at him on TV, he he casts such 465 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 1: an imposing presence, like what is it like to be 466 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 1: mentor by mister Valentiunis? 467 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:05,919 Speaker 2: It's good, it's good. Of course. 468 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:10,560 Speaker 4: My dad's a physical therapist for him. He travels around 469 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 4: wherever he goes. He also works with the national team. 470 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,800 Speaker 4: But I mean getting to talk to him is good 471 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 4: because you know, he's in the NBA, he's been in 472 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 4: the NBA for a long time. 473 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:23,880 Speaker 2: He like never misses games. 474 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 4: Ever, he works extremely hard and you know, again to 475 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:30,760 Speaker 4: get to learn even. 476 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,240 Speaker 2: If we don't play the same position. You know, I 477 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 2: get to learn post moves from him. I haven't talked 478 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:37,280 Speaker 2: to him about that. I need to pick his brain. 479 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 4: But you know, just having somebody in the NBA that's 480 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 4: close is always an advantage. 481 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 5: Miss. 482 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 6: I want to ask you about you know, you're a 483 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 6: guy plays the wing, play outside, shoot, you can kind 484 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,919 Speaker 6: of do whatever inside out. I know Kevin Durant was 485 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 6: your favorite player growing up. Is there a player's game 486 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:03,240 Speaker 6: established NBA players game that you probably your game probably resembles. 487 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 4: Yeah. I really wouldn't even say Kevin Durant is my 488 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 4: favorite player. I've never really had a favorite player either. 489 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,960 Speaker 4: It was I'm just a basketball head, so I watch 490 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 4: a lot of guys. And one thing my coach always 491 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:21,199 Speaker 4: told me is you see some nice you steal that. 492 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,440 Speaker 4: You steal it, you know, and that's how that's how 493 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 4: the NBA is. If you see somebody they gotta move 494 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 4: or something defensively, you go and steal it. That's how 495 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 4: that's how players level up. But a player style, i'd 496 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:45,359 Speaker 4: probably say Paul George, Andre Carolinko, Franz Wagner. It's like 497 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 4: a mix, a mix of those. Honestly, not bad, not 498 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:49,800 Speaker 4: bad at all. 499 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 6: Is there a NBA vet or that is a Bulls 500 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 6: player that has reached out to you since you've been drafted? 501 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 5: Any teammate. 502 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 4: I think the first one was Kobe White. Probably Daleen 503 00:26:05,600 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 4: Terry was up there too. I think he reached out 504 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:16,160 Speaker 4: pretty close to when Kobe did. But I really everybody 505 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 4: really reached out. Damar Zach I texted those guys, Lonzo. 506 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:27,040 Speaker 5: So what did what did Damar tell you? 507 00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:29,560 Speaker 6: Without getting into me, what did Damorrow tell because obviously 508 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 6: he signed with the Sacramento Kings this summer, but what 509 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:38,159 Speaker 6: what was a conversation like with him, somebody who pretty 510 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:43,480 Speaker 6: much people knew was probably on his way out. 511 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 4: I just I just texted him like, hey, uh, you know, 512 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 4: just got drafted by the Bulls. 513 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:53,240 Speaker 2: Excited to play with you? And you know I didn't. 514 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,959 Speaker 4: Of course I knew like trades were happening and stuff, 515 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 4: but I still reach out. As I said before, I'm 516 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:04,680 Speaker 4: a basketball ahead, So me again, to pick any player's brain, 517 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 4: I think is a great, you know, great. 518 00:27:08,640 --> 00:27:09,080 Speaker 2: Thing to do. 519 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,640 Speaker 4: But I texted him that, and he's just He's just like, yeah, 520 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 4: I'm here for you whatever you need. And I texted him, 521 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:17,200 Speaker 4: I ask a lot of questions. I hope you don't 522 00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 4: think I'm annoying. So but you know, I texted every 523 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 4: player you know, mess Josh Giddy also. But yeah, as 524 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:31,479 Speaker 4: I said before, I'm just I love basketball and I 525 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,200 Speaker 4: feel like I could steal a lot of things from 526 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 4: a lot of players and learn a lot of new things. 527 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:39,400 Speaker 6: That's the start. I wonder how that text really went started. 528 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:42,919 Speaker 6: That's pretty cool, man, Like you're texting one of your 529 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:46,200 Speaker 6: teammates as if like they don't know who you are. Hey, 530 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:48,640 Speaker 6: you know, I'm here, I'm my test I just got drafted. 531 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 6: I'm your new I'm your new teammate. 532 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 5: Here's my number. 533 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,120 Speaker 6: Said, that's pretty cool man for you to reach out 534 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:55,640 Speaker 6: man and do it like that. 535 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:59,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, some some guys, some guys you know, 536 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 4: might not know who you are. So yeah, I always 537 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:07,639 Speaker 4: even if people, even if people think they know me, 538 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 4: I still I'm still gonna say how I'm madis Bezel's 539 00:28:10,840 --> 00:28:13,040 Speaker 4: you know, it doesn't it doesn't matter to me. I'm 540 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:14,600 Speaker 4: always gonna introduce myself. 541 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 1: I think some players really want to play at home, 542 00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: and then some players don't want to play in their hometown. 543 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 3: How do you think it will. 544 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 1: Be for you to play in Chicago, where you already 545 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:36,120 Speaker 1: have such a deep association. 546 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,400 Speaker 4: I think it's I think it's going to be amazing. 547 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 4: The fans are amazing there. I mean, me, me, even 548 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 4: walking around just I'm getting noticed everywhere. It's it's honestly 549 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:49,600 Speaker 4: surreal for me. 550 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:53,080 Speaker 3: But and three weeks ago it wasn't like that. 551 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:56,040 Speaker 4: I mean, it was like that, but it's just a 552 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 4: it's really another level. It was always like that because 553 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:04,920 Speaker 4: I'm from Chicago. But I mean it's I feel like 554 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:08,520 Speaker 4: it's gonna be amazing, and I want to play at home. 555 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 6: Ticket request, all that type of stuff. Have you ready 556 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:19,760 Speaker 6: for all that? 557 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:22,080 Speaker 2: When you're in the NBA, you got to learn to say. 558 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 5: No, that's real, that's real. I still have a problem 559 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 5: with that today. 560 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 2: But yeah, me too, me too. 561 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 1: I guess though, if you're six ' ten walking around, 562 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 1: even before you were officially a bull, I guess that 563 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:36,920 Speaker 1: makes you stand out a little bit if you're just 564 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: walking down the street. So a bit you said, I 565 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,320 Speaker 1: think you've said that you internationally, you do want to 566 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: play for Lithuania. 567 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:49,080 Speaker 3: So walk us through what that means to you. 568 00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: I know both of your parents played played basketball in 569 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: Lithuanian and you know, I've I've been really lucky in 570 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: my career to be able to cover the Lithuanian national 571 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: team so many time times. No team historically has given 572 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: in the United States more problems. I still will never 573 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: forget being at the Sydney Olympics in two thousand, early 574 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 1: in the tournament and Lithuania nearly beat the United States 575 00:30:15,320 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: and just all the journalists who blew that game off 576 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:21,880 Speaker 1: thinking us no chance, you know, no worries. When word 577 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: got around that Lithuania had the lead and had a 578 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,720 Speaker 1: real chance to win, dozens of writers had to run 579 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,440 Speaker 1: over to the basketball arena to make sure we got 580 00:30:30,440 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: there in time. And it was a narrow escape in 581 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 1: those days. And that was obviously a long time ago, 582 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 1: twenty four years ago. You know, the United States loses 583 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,560 Speaker 1: all the time. Now, just walk us through for you internationally, 584 00:30:44,720 --> 00:30:47,640 Speaker 1: what it would mean to pull on the Lithuanian jersey. 585 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 2: I'd mean a lot. 586 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:54,400 Speaker 4: My parents are from there, so I think representing where 587 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,600 Speaker 4: they came from, it's gonna mean a lot. 588 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:01,960 Speaker 2: To me. I also just as I not I didn't 589 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 2: say this before, but I just. 590 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 4: I want to represent where my parents came from. But 591 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,480 Speaker 4: I think I'm always going to play for Lithuania. Some 592 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 4: players switch. I just I want to be in the 593 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 4: Lithuanian culture and represent that, and you know, they always 594 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 4: put up a fight, so I feel like. 595 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,600 Speaker 3: Their fans our next level. 596 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:27,640 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously just losing in the Olympic qualifiers in 597 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: Puerto Rico, but getting from Lithuania to Puerto Rico is 598 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:36,040 Speaker 1: not a It surely could not have been an easy journey. 599 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 3: And I was obviously not there. 600 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: But I've actually talked to some people who were in 601 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: Puerto Rico for that qualifying section and they said the 602 00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: Lithuanian fans traveled in huge numbers and were absolutely insane 603 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: with the noise. And Puerto Rico managed to get that 604 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 1: Olympic qualifying players too. 605 00:31:56,280 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, so miss and Bozellis. 606 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,760 Speaker 4: And me Valenteer and this wasn't there, so it was no. 607 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:07,280 Speaker 4: I honestly feel like we can win it for all, 608 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 4: for all. 609 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:10,800 Speaker 5: In it. 610 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 6: You know, Miss, we got a few more than we're 611 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 6: gonna get you out of here, and you know you 612 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:17,280 Speaker 6: got a busy day ahead, busy week coming up. 613 00:32:18,080 --> 00:32:19,040 Speaker 5: I gotta ask you this. 614 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:22,440 Speaker 6: So the NBA schedule is going to come out, you 615 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:24,560 Speaker 6: don't know who you're going to see first or whatnot. 616 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:29,680 Speaker 6: Two questions. Number one, what is the player you're looking 617 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 6: forward to finally meeting or playing against? And number two? 618 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 6: Who if you? I don't know if you're gonna engage 619 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 6: in this, but if you do do a jersey swap, 620 00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 6: who is the first person you would want to do 621 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 6: a jersey swap with? 622 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 4: First player I'd like to meet is probably KD or 623 00:32:55,240 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 4: Paul George jersey swap ron. 624 00:33:03,520 --> 00:33:06,719 Speaker 5: Okay, you gotta do that. 625 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:08,520 Speaker 1: Well, actually, I'm glad you mentioned him because I was 626 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: gonna say I looked at the Bowl schedule. Of the 627 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,120 Speaker 1: four guaranteed games you have in summer League, I was 628 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: hoping the Lakers were on there so we could ask 629 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: you a Bronnie James question. But the Lakers are not 630 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 1: currently on your schedule. But you guys are playing Detroit. 631 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 1: So you're gonna play ron here in summer league. What 632 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:24,880 Speaker 1: do you think that'll be? 633 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 2: Like? We're we're gonna go at it. I already know 634 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 2: what it's gonna be like. 635 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:40,280 Speaker 4: We actually talked yesterday about I mean, honestly, the media 636 00:33:40,320 --> 00:33:42,240 Speaker 4: is gonna think that we hate each other, and when 637 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:45,640 Speaker 4: we play like that's what's I feel like it might 638 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 4: be one of them summer League games that it's gonna 639 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 4: be like memorable because me and Ron are hyper, hyper 640 00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:57,480 Speaker 4: competitive people, so I think everybody, well, the media might 641 00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 4: portray that we hate each other, but it's just us 642 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 4: be so competitive. 643 00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 2: So it's we're gonna go at it. That's what I'll 644 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 2: tell you. 645 00:34:06,440 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 5: As it pertains to your rookie season. I know winning. 646 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:13,600 Speaker 6: I've listened to a lot of your interviews already. Winning 647 00:34:13,800 --> 00:34:16,280 Speaker 6: is a number one priority for you. 648 00:34:16,400 --> 00:34:16,959 Speaker 5: Number one. 649 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 6: When your rookie season is said and done, what do 650 00:34:22,160 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 6: you want us? How do you how do you want 651 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 6: the story to be told about your rookie season when 652 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:32,720 Speaker 6: it's all said and done. 653 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 4: I just want to portray to people how hard I 654 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 4: work and how serious I take this game, and that 655 00:34:43,239 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 4: I'll never stop learning on and off the court, and 656 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:48,760 Speaker 4: I'm a positive person. 657 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:54,520 Speaker 2: But I want to I just want to show growth, 658 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:54,959 Speaker 2: you know. 659 00:34:54,880 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 4: The people, and in many different ways, defense, offense, shooting 660 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 4: the ball, getting steals on defense, stuff like that. I want. 661 00:35:08,080 --> 00:35:09,880 Speaker 4: I want to show that I could do everything, and 662 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 4: I'm a person that's not going to stay in the 663 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:13,800 Speaker 4: same spot. 664 00:35:13,560 --> 00:35:18,680 Speaker 2: For a long time. I'm gonna get better every day. 665 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:21,080 Speaker 4: That's one thing about me that I feel like I 666 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:23,280 Speaker 4: could separate myself from a lot of people. 667 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 6: You're an ambassador for a sports tech company called Better Guards. 668 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:31,120 Speaker 5: How has their product helped you in your journey this far? 669 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,719 Speaker 4: It helped me a lot, so I was never I 670 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:38,760 Speaker 4: was never really dealing with injuries until this past season, 671 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:41,960 Speaker 4: and it was extremely tough on me. But I think 672 00:35:41,960 --> 00:35:46,240 Speaker 4: it made me better as a person and better guards really, 673 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 4: I think my dad was the first one to show me, 674 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:54,120 Speaker 4: you know, how how the better guards work and the 675 00:35:54,200 --> 00:36:00,200 Speaker 4: technology and how comfortable the guards are for your ankles, 676 00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:03,560 Speaker 4: but also just the mobility of my ankle. It feels 677 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 4: like a sock and it protects you in a lot 678 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 4: of ways. But I think the main thing is the 679 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 4: comfortability of you know, the ankle braces. But it it's 680 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:19,440 Speaker 4: really helped me this past season and they're the best. 681 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 1: Honestly, Madus bosellis Bulls rookie, It's been a pleasure to 682 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:26,759 Speaker 1: be here with you. We've kept you way too long, 683 00:36:26,800 --> 00:36:29,959 Speaker 1: but we really appreciate it. Wishing you great luck here 684 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:33,920 Speaker 1: in Vegas in your first summer league, great luck in 685 00:36:33,960 --> 00:36:38,279 Speaker 1: your debut season with the Chicago Bulls. And just since 686 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: you said you have said it many times you are 687 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 1: a hoophead. I know you're probably thinking, who is this 688 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:45,560 Speaker 1: crazy old guy asking me on all these questions. 689 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:46,520 Speaker 3: But just do me a favor. 690 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,319 Speaker 1: Some night you can't sleep, check out those clips on 691 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,279 Speaker 1: YouTube with a white shadow. Look up, Kenny Reeves. I 692 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,000 Speaker 1: think you will be surprised and you will find it. 693 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:58,120 Speaker 1: You will, you will, you will feel even better about 694 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:01,360 Speaker 1: your decision to wear number four. It is a magical 695 00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,359 Speaker 1: number in Bull's history. 696 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 2: Appreciate you, guys, and that'll do it for us. See 697 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 2: you next time. This league. 698 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:14,280 Speaker 3: Uncutter is an iHeartRadio production. 699 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:17,400 Speaker 2: Suck a Lockup 700 00:37:19,280 --> 00:37:21,000 Speaker 3: Chris Haines and Mark Stein