Birthday edition of catching up with Badger Ballers: Frank Kaminsky’s year in the NBA, his podcast, and a special Badger reunion

First things first, we at BadgersWire want to wish Frank Kaminsky a very happy 27th birthday. When you hear stories about what it was like to play with “the tank,” teammates cannot stop smiling and laughing while they tell them. When I spoke with …

First things first, we at BadgersWire want to wish Frank Kaminsky a very happy 27th birthday. When you hear stories about what it was like to play with “the tank,” teammates cannot stop smiling and laughing while they tell them. When I spoke with former Badger Vitto Brown on the Locked On Badgers Podcast (link to the interview Locked On Badgers Podcast: Interview with Former Badger Vitto Brown) about Kaminsky he told me how he had the ability to make everyone laugh, every situation light, and bring the team together.

The 2018-19 season was not all fun and games for the Badger legend. In his fourth year with the Charlotte Hornets, the 7-0 sharpshooter struggled. He averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds, the lowest averages since his rookie season, on a team that did not make the NBA playoffs. A change of scenery was in order, and Kaminsky got one when he joined the Phoenix Suns in the offseason. Under new head coach Monty Williams, the stretch four regained his rhythm. In 32 appearances he managed to start 13 games due to injuries around him, and the Illinois native put up 11 points a game in an important supporting role.

After struggling with nagging injuries of his own, Kaminsky’s season was cut short not due to injury but due to the NBA’s suspension of the season. How has Frank the Tank got by in quarantine? One way is by reconnecting with his old Badger teammates. Big Ten Network is dropping a Zoom chat soon with members of the 2014-15 Final Four team:

Kaminsky also dove into the podcasting world. Want to know what number 44 thinks about being quarantined and what it was like to be an NCAA basketball icon after being a relative unknown? It’s all included in the latest episode of his podcast “Pro’s and Joes with Frank Kaminsky.” He also has clearly not lost his shooting touch while being stuck at home: