WEBVTT - Get To Know Aaron Henry and Grant Riller

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Matt Murphy and this is a seventy Sixers Insiders

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<v Speaker 1>interview from the seventy Sixers podcast network. It's actually a

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<v Speaker 1>two for one episode featuring preseason conversations with both Sixers

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<v Speaker 1>two way contract players Aaron Henry and Grant Riller. Aaron's

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<v Speaker 1>up first, followed by Grant. What's it been like preparing

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<v Speaker 1>for your first professional season? It's been good, you know, um,

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<v Speaker 1>just consistently standing in the gym. You know, it's I'll

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<v Speaker 1>keep hearing you know how long the NBA season gets

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<v Speaker 1>in everything, but just understanding myself and where I come from,

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<v Speaker 1>Like I can't take any time off, you know, and

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<v Speaker 1>just eighty two game season is long, but I understanding that,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the days leading up to it in the

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<v Speaker 1>summer and at work you put it in out like

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<v Speaker 1>that that'll carry over. So just I haven't really taking

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<v Speaker 1>much time off, and hopefully my approach was right so

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<v Speaker 1>I'll be able to tell about by the time the

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<v Speaker 1>season comes. What was your summer league experience? Like it

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<v Speaker 1>was good man, just from from going as a growing

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<v Speaker 1>up as a kid watching it every summer, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>just to be able to plan it and have some fun.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, my mom came out there, so I got

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<v Speaker 1>to SMIs some time with her, my aunt as well,

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<v Speaker 1>and it was good for everybody. You know, I enjoyed myself.

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<v Speaker 1>We want some games, but it was a good experience.

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<v Speaker 1>How about the off court transition, what's it been like

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<v Speaker 1>to start to settle down a little bit here in Philadelphia.

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<v Speaker 1>It's kind of cool, you know, just I like the Phillies,

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<v Speaker 1>Like it gives you that any inner city vibe, Like

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<v Speaker 1>that's like I grew up in that, so it's like,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I can kind of relate like the people

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<v Speaker 1>and everything. It's just like I love the vibe here,

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<v Speaker 1>the energy school, like all the all the people speak

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<v Speaker 1>to each other. So it's and it's everything I dreamed, literally,

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<v Speaker 1>and I'm just happy. I'm in a good spot. Diving

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit deeper into your background. Born in Louisville,

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<v Speaker 1>but raised in Indianapolis, and you want a state championship

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<v Speaker 1>in high school and with it being in Indiana, what

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<v Speaker 1>was your high school basketball experience like in such a

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<v Speaker 1>basketball centric place like that's probably my most favorite basketball memory, honestly.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, the coach I had, you know who he was,

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<v Speaker 1>the people he's put to his program, not only at

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<v Speaker 1>my school, but other schools as well. The teammates I had,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, my friends for life, Like I still talk

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<v Speaker 1>to everybody on that team to this day. Like just

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<v Speaker 1>to be able to win, if you know, Indiana basketball,

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<v Speaker 1>Like how important that championship was from my coach, Coach James,

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<v Speaker 1>Like I just that in itself was enough, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>for all the players. So I mean it means a

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<v Speaker 1>lot if you know, you know, it's like Indiana is

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<v Speaker 1>where it's at for basketball. Well for those who don't know,

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<v Speaker 1>give us more. Who is coach James and who are

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<v Speaker 1>some of the players that have played for him? Um,

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<v Speaker 1>coach Jawan Johnson. He played for the Celtics and had

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<v Speaker 1>a nice career and overseas, not many prosum just the

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<v Speaker 1>type of players that he's put out just college period,

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<v Speaker 1>not Division one, Division two, Division three, just always solid

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<v Speaker 1>players to get the fundamentals, a good foundation on how

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<v Speaker 1>to play the game the right way. And he just

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<v Speaker 1>has love for everybody. It's a genuine thing with him.

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<v Speaker 1>And he's gonna be the first one in the gym,

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<v Speaker 1>in the last one to leave every day and it

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<v Speaker 1>just rubs off on you, you you know, not only does

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<v Speaker 1>a yell a tube, but he leads by example too.

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<v Speaker 1>So he's the type of guy that I always wanted

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<v Speaker 1>just to have around and then always be my coach

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<v Speaker 1>or always just have some type of input, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>on what I'm doing. Your game individually, A lot of

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<v Speaker 1>people talk about your versatility. You've talked about being able

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<v Speaker 1>to score it all three levels, defend at all three levels.

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<v Speaker 1>What are some of the aspects of your game that

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<v Speaker 1>came quicker than others, Like what came most naturally for

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<v Speaker 1>you on the court, just being an athletic. I just

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<v Speaker 1>feel like being able to guard multiple positions and do

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<v Speaker 1>multiple things because I feel like growing up one year,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, just how I was growing One year, I'd

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<v Speaker 1>be a point guard. Next year, I'd be a center,

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<v Speaker 1>next year I'd be a shooting guard or something like that,

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<v Speaker 1>and then between and it just I just had random

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<v Speaker 1>ghostberts and I just pieced it all together, developed into

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<v Speaker 1>this player I am today. So I felt like it

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<v Speaker 1>worked out for the best, and you know, just having

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<v Speaker 1>a little bit experience at each position and hopefully the

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<v Speaker 1>game some more, somebody go help me grow some more.

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<v Speaker 1>So I mean I'm excited for I think this one

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<v Speaker 1>was a little bit earlier for you than some others.

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<v Speaker 1>At what point did you think making it to the

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<v Speaker 1>league was a real possibility. Um, well, I knew just

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<v Speaker 1>my situation. You know how I grew up like it was,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, school, military or this, and you know, just

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<v Speaker 1>understanding that, like they paid people to go to the

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<v Speaker 1>gym and play basketball, like that was the most simple

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<v Speaker 1>thing to me. I can force myself to get up

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<v Speaker 1>every morning and go to the gym. But it fell

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<v Speaker 1>I fell in love with it. So it was it

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<v Speaker 1>was just like probably my freshman year in college when

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<v Speaker 1>I realized like okay, like two years maybe three, when

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<v Speaker 1>I was like, okay, I can really do this, Like

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<v Speaker 1>let me lock and put my head down and go

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<v Speaker 1>at Michigan State. Your sophomore year, you played with guys

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<v Speaker 1>like Cassius Winston, Zabere Tillman, and obviously there's a lot

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<v Speaker 1>of other alums that have played in the NBA. What

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<v Speaker 1>have some of those Michigan State guys told you about

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, they know me personally, like I'm like friendship,

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<v Speaker 1>that's that spartan relationship up there is like we're brothers.

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<v Speaker 1>Like honestly, they just tell me to be myself, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>continue to work card like you know how you know,

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<v Speaker 1>just let the game come to you, don't force anything.

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<v Speaker 1>You'll be fine. Like that's just something that we used

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<v Speaker 1>to always tell each other, Like people doubt at Cash

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<v Speaker 1>coming out, X coming out, ME coming out. It's cool,

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<v Speaker 1>Like the work doesn't deny itself and we'll you'll look

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<v Speaker 1>back in a couple of years. It's like, man like,

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<v Speaker 1>we missed out. So that's that's something that they always

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<v Speaker 1>tell me. So and the slogan is spartan dog. Explain

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<v Speaker 1>spartan dog. People just dogs man Like it's the underdog.

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<v Speaker 1>We just it's how we are. Like nothing was handed

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<v Speaker 1>to us, never never had a hand out. Ever, we

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<v Speaker 1>had to take everything. And that's been going on way

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<v Speaker 1>before my time, before I was born. So hopefully it

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<v Speaker 1>carries on for forever. Cashus Winston was actually part of

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<v Speaker 1>the Growing G League last season and the Sixers have

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<v Speaker 1>the Delaware Bluecoats. So which areas of your game are

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<v Speaker 1>you looking to develop with any additional opportunities and extended

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<v Speaker 1>runs this season? Just man, I'm looking to win first.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, I don't do anything, I don't time I

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<v Speaker 1>shoes that without looking to win so, I mean, I

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<v Speaker 1>don't care if I had zero points and thirty rebounds

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<v Speaker 1>or something like something weird. As long as we win,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm cool. But just understanding that it's as the individual piece,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, just to continue to show that I'm versatile

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<v Speaker 1>on offense and defense, get guys involved, make shots, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>get my own shot whenever. Just make the game easy

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<v Speaker 1>for myself and others. Man, it's on the defensive end too.

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<v Speaker 1>Whoever the best player is just lock up, like I

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<v Speaker 1>feel like that that comes easy. So one of your

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<v Speaker 1>Sixers teammates who was with you in Summer League was

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<v Speaker 1>Paul Reid, who won G League MVP while on a

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<v Speaker 1>two way contract last year with the Blue Coats. Did

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<v Speaker 1>he talk to you at all about year one? Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean absolutely, I'm I'm a guy that's instantly don't

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<v Speaker 1>ask questions. I'm out at the level you know you

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<v Speaker 1>guys are or everybody's good. Now. I'll keep hearing that,

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<v Speaker 1>and just understanding that I spending some time in the

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<v Speaker 1>G League and him being at the highest level down there,

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<v Speaker 1>it's just like, man, like, I don't want to ask

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<v Speaker 1>you how you did it, but just watching him and

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<v Speaker 1>in the Summer League just what is his approach, what

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<v Speaker 1>he was doing, how hard he plays, He just does

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<v Speaker 1>all the right things. It seems like it fucking fall

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<v Speaker 1>anywhere in closing those footsteps, I might be all right.

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<v Speaker 1>So wrapping up more generally, what excites you than most

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<v Speaker 1>about joining the seventy sixers organization? Just good people. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>it's basketball. My love for the game will never diminish

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<v Speaker 1>at all. I'll never go away. But just you know

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<v Speaker 1>the type of people that I'm around every day, the

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<v Speaker 1>character everybody has in the building and the offices on

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<v Speaker 1>the court, you know, that'll keep me afloat. That'll keep

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<v Speaker 1>me excited to come every day. And you know that's

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<v Speaker 1>that's really important to me. Last one, A big hobby

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<v Speaker 1>of yours off the court, war Zone is gaming in

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<v Speaker 1>war Zone in particular, I can't wait. I can't wait

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<v Speaker 1>to get my game, like, yeah, so I'll leave here,

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<v Speaker 1>like if I had my game, like I probably wouldn't

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<v Speaker 1>getting off until the sun went down. Probably, Yeah, it's

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<v Speaker 1>about one o'clock, yep, like probably, like it be on

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<v Speaker 1>her a long time. Have you gotten the chance to

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<v Speaker 1>play with her against any of your Sixers teammates? Yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>we're gonna see though we're gonna see I gotta add me,

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<v Speaker 1>I gotta ask me for sure. I love it. Thank you,

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<v Speaker 1>Aaron yea man Grant. What excites you about joining the

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<v Speaker 1>seventy sixers organization? Probably the history behind the organization, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>and even the history of the city and the passionate

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<v Speaker 1>fans that comes with UM. Growing up, I watched Sixers

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<v Speaker 1>on TV all the time, naturally, just because of the

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<v Speaker 1>players they had and stuff like that. So I know

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<v Speaker 1>how much of a historic organization it is, and I'm

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<v Speaker 1>just happy to be a part of it. Based on

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<v Speaker 1>your own playing style and what you know about the team,

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<v Speaker 1>what are some things that you bring to this team? Um,

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<v Speaker 1>I think I fit really well UM as far as

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<v Speaker 1>playstyle goals. Just a guard that likes to play in transition, UM,

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<v Speaker 1>get into the paint, um and make plays for others. UM.

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<v Speaker 1>I know we have a lot of shooters and a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of athletes that like to run and stuff, So

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<v Speaker 1>I think I fit in well. From what I've gathered.

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<v Speaker 1>You're a proud Orlando native, So take us through your

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<v Speaker 1>your upbringing in the Orlando area. Yeah, for sure. While

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<v Speaker 1>I was born and raised there, kind of grew up

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<v Speaker 1>like a normal kid. I had a great support system

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<v Speaker 1>back home with my family and siblings. Wasn't highly recruited

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<v Speaker 1>out of high school, but it was lucky enough to

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<v Speaker 1>get an offer from the College of Charleston, which I

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<v Speaker 1>did five years there, had a great career there, and

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<v Speaker 1>then was lucky enough to get a chance in the NBA.

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<v Speaker 1>And now I'm here in my second year, just ready

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<v Speaker 1>to build on that. When you think about high school

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<v Speaker 1>and then College Charleston, when did you think that making

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<v Speaker 1>it to the league was a possibility for you? Probably

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<v Speaker 1>my second year in college, my first year toward my

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<v Speaker 1>ACL so I had a little bit of doubt there.

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<v Speaker 1>But once I see how Once I've seen how I

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<v Speaker 1>recovered from that, it started to play a little bit

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<v Speaker 1>of a game games against some of the higher competition,

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<v Speaker 1>it was doing well. I started to get noticed a

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<v Speaker 1>little bit. I had other players on my team that

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<v Speaker 1>were ahead of meet at had NBA scouts at the game,

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<v Speaker 1>so I know I would always have opportunity to play

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<v Speaker 1>in front of some scouts and the rest was kind

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<v Speaker 1>of just up to me. Your number eleven is retired

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<v Speaker 1>at Ocoee High School in Florida. How special was that

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<v Speaker 1>for you? Really special? It was such an honor, especially

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<v Speaker 1>being the first jersey they did there. That actually wasn't

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<v Speaker 1>even my high school coach who did that, but he

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<v Speaker 1>was the coach there at the time, and we built

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<v Speaker 1>a good relationship. Every time I would come home, I

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<v Speaker 1>would come see the team, come play with the team,

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<v Speaker 1>workout and stuff like that. So for him to give

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<v Speaker 1>me that opportunity, I was so thankful. It's such an

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<v Speaker 1>honor that I'll carry with me forever. You averaged just

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<v Speaker 1>under twenty two points per game in both your final

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<v Speaker 1>two seasons at College of Charleston. What are some of

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<v Speaker 1>your best memories from your college career, whether it's a

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<v Speaker 1>specific game or two or something else. Yeah, my favorite

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<v Speaker 1>memory there is probably went into twenty eighteen CIA Championship.

0:11:15.840 --> 0:11:18.280
<v Speaker 1>That wasn't something that was something the school hasn't done

0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:21.760
<v Speaker 1>and probably about eighteen years. So to be able to

0:11:21.800 --> 0:11:25.960
<v Speaker 1>do that with such a tight group of guys, I

0:11:26.040 --> 0:11:29.360
<v Speaker 1>think was probably something I take with me forever. Just

0:11:29.400 --> 0:11:32.800
<v Speaker 1>the bond we had, it was just something special. It's

0:11:32.800 --> 0:11:35.520
<v Speaker 1>really hard to put into words. Charlotte picked you number

0:11:35.559 --> 0:11:39.960
<v Speaker 1>fifty six overall in the twenty twenty NBA Draft. What

0:11:40.040 --> 0:11:44.240
<v Speaker 1>was draft night like for you? It was special just

0:11:44.320 --> 0:11:47.319
<v Speaker 1>because I kind of kept it in house with all

0:11:47.360 --> 0:11:50.600
<v Speaker 1>my family and close friends. So to have all those

0:11:50.600 --> 0:11:53.160
<v Speaker 1>people that that's been in my corner since day one

0:11:53.840 --> 0:11:57.160
<v Speaker 1>was something I'll never forget. And then Charlotte just giving

0:11:57.160 --> 0:12:00.880
<v Speaker 1>me an opportunity and drafting me down and I think

0:12:00.880 --> 0:12:03.760
<v Speaker 1>was special and I'll forever be grateful for them too.

0:12:04.600 --> 0:12:07.440
<v Speaker 1>Let's talk about the G League Bubble. How were you

0:12:07.480 --> 0:12:09.920
<v Speaker 1>able to grow in the G League last season as

0:12:09.920 --> 0:12:13.000
<v Speaker 1>a rookie. I think it was big for me just

0:12:13.000 --> 0:12:18.000
<v Speaker 1>because through all the pandemic and stuff, we didn't know

0:12:18.000 --> 0:12:19.520
<v Speaker 1>if we were going to get a G League season,

0:12:20.320 --> 0:12:22.160
<v Speaker 1>and me especially I knew I would spend some time

0:12:22.200 --> 0:12:24.839
<v Speaker 1>there to try to develop. So once we found out

0:12:25.080 --> 0:12:27.959
<v Speaker 1>we were getting the bubble, it was big news for me.

0:12:28.400 --> 0:12:29.839
<v Speaker 1>And then we got there, I just wanted to take

0:12:29.880 --> 0:12:32.559
<v Speaker 1>it as serious as I could, work on my game,

0:12:32.880 --> 0:12:35.040
<v Speaker 1>work on what the coaches wanted me to work on.

0:12:35.640 --> 0:12:37.800
<v Speaker 1>But overall, I think I got better as time went on.

0:12:39.000 --> 0:12:41.200
<v Speaker 1>So I'm just looking to build on that this season

0:12:41.240 --> 0:12:46.240
<v Speaker 1>and keep going. The Sixers have the Delaware Bluecoats. What

0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:48.680
<v Speaker 1>can you say about the importance of the G League

0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:52.600
<v Speaker 1>as a step Yeah, I think it's really important, not

0:12:52.640 --> 0:12:56.040
<v Speaker 1>only for development, but just to show you belong in

0:12:55.720 --> 0:12:58.880
<v Speaker 1>a In an NBA setting, there's so much talent down

0:12:58.920 --> 0:13:02.680
<v Speaker 1>there that maybe the average eye doesn't know about. But

0:13:02.760 --> 0:13:04.440
<v Speaker 1>just being down there, it gives you a chance to

0:13:05.360 --> 0:13:08.280
<v Speaker 1>work on your game, work on what the organization wants

0:13:08.320 --> 0:13:11.120
<v Speaker 1>you to work on, and and show that you belong.

0:13:11.600 --> 0:13:13.240
<v Speaker 1>And I think that's the biggest thing for me is

0:13:13.280 --> 0:13:15.839
<v Speaker 1>I kind of just want to earn my stripes and

0:13:16.120 --> 0:13:19.559
<v Speaker 1>show that I belong in the NBA level. Off the court,

0:13:19.720 --> 0:13:23.600
<v Speaker 1>video editing has become a hobby of yours. So describe

0:13:23.600 --> 0:13:27.959
<v Speaker 1>your experience with that. Yeah, well, I'm not the best. Yeah,

0:13:27.960 --> 0:13:30.000
<v Speaker 1>I don't want to portray myself as like this great

0:13:30.120 --> 0:13:32.000
<v Speaker 1>editor because I kind of just got into the game.

0:13:32.040 --> 0:13:36.800
<v Speaker 1>But it's something that I'm passionate about. Me and my

0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:39.880
<v Speaker 1>brother liked the game a lot, so there's tons of

0:13:39.920 --> 0:13:43.360
<v Speaker 1>content that can be made through that. My sister, she's

0:13:43.400 --> 0:13:46.720
<v Speaker 1>trying to start her own hair business, so getting her

0:13:46.800 --> 0:13:49.559
<v Speaker 1>some content, I think it's huge. And just having a

0:13:49.640 --> 0:13:52.200
<v Speaker 1>hobby outside of basketball, I think it's big to ease

0:13:52.240 --> 0:13:55.160
<v Speaker 1>your mind and decompress a little bit. So that's what

0:13:55.240 --> 0:13:58.839
<v Speaker 1>I like to do. Finishing up with this. Is there

0:13:58.840 --> 0:14:00.679
<v Speaker 1>a game that you're best at or do you mix

0:14:00.720 --> 0:14:04.440
<v Speaker 1>it up? I mix it up a lot um. I

0:14:04.520 --> 0:14:06.720
<v Speaker 1>play Matten a ton I kind of taken a break

0:14:06.760 --> 0:14:09.199
<v Speaker 1>just because I'm not that happy with the game these days.

0:14:09.240 --> 0:14:11.720
<v Speaker 1>But um, I played that a lot. I play FIFA

0:14:11.760 --> 0:14:14.800
<v Speaker 1>a ton um, and I play Mortal Kombat a ton too.

0:14:19.280 --> 0:14:22.600
<v Speaker 1>Thanks again to Grant Riller and prior to that, Aaron Henry.

0:14:23.040 --> 0:14:26.440
<v Speaker 1>Be on the lookout for more seventy six ers insiders interviews,

0:14:26.800 --> 0:14:29.760
<v Speaker 1>and if you haven't already, go listen to Lauren Rosen's

0:14:29.800 --> 0:14:33.960
<v Speaker 1>recent chats with Danny Green and furkon Cork Mins. The

0:14:34.160 --> 0:14:37.680
<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty one twenty two season is just around the corner.

0:14:38.160 --> 0:14:40.520
<v Speaker 1>I'm Matt Murphy. Thanks as always for listening.