Michael Porter made fun of longtime friend Trae Young and his high school coach Brandon Roy when talking about the NBA Finals.
Michael Porter Jr. doesn’t have a whole lot on Trae Young, who drops 30 points regularly, or Brandon Roy, who was one of the most electric player in the league over the second half of the aughts and is the former high school coach of Porter.
But in getting to the NBA Finals, the Denver Nuggets guard now has at least one thing on the two.
When asked who has offered him advice during a pre-Finals press conference, Porter mentioned both of his longtime friends
“Me and Trae Young have talked a lot. He’s jealous, since I’m in the Finals and he’s only made the Eastern Conference Finals,” Porter said with a smile. “We were talking about that in LA, he came to our last game in LA.”
Porter added while laughing: “Then Brandon Roy, my coach from high school, he called me the other day and he pretty much was just criticizing everything that I was doing. I think he’s jealous too because he never made it to the Finals.
“He’s seen how my game has evolved since my injuries and things, so he gives me great advice. A good mentor to me.”
The clip starts around the 3:51 mark:
Porter and Young became close friends as they grew up as elite high school basketball prospects together. The two played on the same Nike EYBL team and were on the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 team in Chile. The Athletic did a bit of a deep dive into their relationship back in 2019.
Porter was widely regarded as a top-two prospect in the class of 2017, while Young was ranked in the 20-30 range on the 247Sports Composite and the outlet’s rankings.
Meanwhile, Roy coached Porter at Nathan Hale High School (Seattle, Wash.). With the star forward and former NBA coach, the team went undefeated and won the championship, as Roy was named the Naismith National Coach of the Year and Porter enrolled at Missouri. Roy now coaches at his alma mater, Garfield High School (Seattle, Wash).
“When you bring energy, especially off the bench, I think it’s infectious,” says #Rockets rookie Tari Eason (20 points, 13 rebounds). “It bleeds into the team in all facets.”
He had to prove it to his high school coach, former NBA player Brandon Roy, who never called Eason’s name during the 2018 state championship game in Washington. The following year, Eason was instrumental in leading Garfield to back-to-back titles.
When he transferred to LSU from Cincinnati, most believed that the player who made the All-ACC freshman team would immediately start once he got to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
He did not.
That did not deter Eason. He knew he would have to, once again, prove to the coaches he was an asset on the court. He did that by becoming the first player in SEC history to win the Sixth Man of the Year honor while being named to the All-SEC first team.
Eason is no stranger to showing coaches and fans what he brings to the court consistently, which is hard work and dedication.
“When you put in the work, and you stay true to what got you here (NBA), it doesn’t matter what anybody thinks of me or what the outside world thinks,” Eason said of his work ethic. “I know who I am, and I know what I bring, and I am just going to continue to do that.”
Eason provides a skill set that helped the Rockets (13-38) win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two months.
On Wednesday night, Houston defeated Oklahoma City, 112-106, thanks in large part Eason’s third consecutive double-double. He finished with a career-high 20 points and 13 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end.
“I’ve never seen someone get 12 offensive rebounds and 13 total,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said postgame.
The Rockets finished with 24 offensive rebounds and 65 total rebounds.
“For us to have 65 rebounds in an NBA game and 24 on the offensive end, it shows you where we were at tonight,” Silas said.
Eason, 21, was selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft and is seen as one of the building blocks for the Rockets’ future. The tenacity he brings to the court is what Houston needs to balance a team with so much young talent.
“When you put in the work, and you stay true to what got you here (NBA), it doesn’t matter anybody thinks of me or what the outside world thinks,” said Rockets forward Tari Eason after he helped lead the Rockets to victory over the Thunder. #Sarge@TAR13ASON@TheRocketsWirepic.twitter.com/q4fqilJ4OG
That ferocity was on display early as he scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in just five minutes of action. From there, as he has shown on numerous occasions, his engine never turns off.
With 9:35 left in the fourth quarter, the Rockets were clinging to a 90-89 lead over the Thunder, and it looked as if the momentum was about to swing Oklahoma City’s way. Well, that was until Eason imposed his will onto his opponent.
After KJ Martin missed a layup, Thunder guard Tre Mann grabbed the rebound, but Eason stole the ball before he could gain his composure.
That set up a wild sequence that resulted in Eason getting four offensive rebounds, scoring a basket and getting fouled.
All in one play.
“Anytime I step on the court, I want to bring a lot of effort, a lot of hustle,” Eason told reporters during his postgame press conference. “That’s just what I do. When you bring energy, especially off the bench, I think it’s infectious. It bleeds into the team in all facets.”
Eason has come a long way from what he called “embracing the suck” last month when he struggled to find comfort on the court.
“I feel like as time goes on, I have gotten more acclimated,” Eason told reporters. “As time goes on I am going to get more and more acclimated. It is just a matter of time, but I definitely feel like I am more comfortable out there, for sure.”
He had to prove it to his high school coach, former NBA player Brandon Roy, who never called Eason’s name during the 2018 state championship game. The following year, Eason was instrumental in leading Garfield to back-to-back titles.
When he transferred to LSU from Cincinnati, most believed that the player who made the All-ACC Freshman team would immediately start once he got to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
He did not.
That did not deter Eason, as he knew that he would have to, once again, prove to the coaches that he was an asset on the court. He did that by becoming the first player in SEC history to win Sixth Man of the Year and be named All-SEC First Team.
So, as you can see, Eason is no stranger to showing coaches and fans what he brings to the court consistently, which is hard work and dedication.
“When you put in the work, and you stay true to what got you here (NBA), it doesn’t matter what anybody thinks of me or what the outside world thinks,” said Eason about his work ethic. “I know who I am, and I know what I bring, and I am just going to continue to do that.”
Eason brings a skillset that has helped the Rockets win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two months.
Houston defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night by a score of 112-116 behind Eason’s third consecutive double-double. He finished the game with a career-high 20 points and 13 rebounds; 12 came on the offensive end.
“I’ve never seen someone get 12 offensive rebounds and 13 total,” Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said after the game about his rookie’s performance.
The Rockets finished the game with 24 offensive rebounds and 65 total rebounds for the night.
“For us to have 65 rebounds in an NBA game and 24 on the offensive end, it shows you where we were at tonight,” said Silas.
Eason, 21, was selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft and is seen as one of the building blocks for the Rockets’ future. The tenacity he brings to the court is just what Houston needs to help balance out a team with so much young talent.
“When you put in the work, and you stay true to what got you here (NBA), it doesn’t matter anybody thinks of me or what the outside world thinks,” said Rockets forward Tari Eason after he helped lead the Rockets to victory over the Thunder. #Sarge@TAR13ASON@TheRocketsWirepic.twitter.com/q4fqilJ4OG
That ferocity was on display early as he scored ten points and grabbed four rebounds in just five minutes of action, and as he has shown on numerous occasions, his engine never turns off.
With 9:35 left in the fourth quarter, the Rockets were hanging on to a 90-89 lead over the Thunder, and it looked as if the momentum was about to swing Oklahoma City’s way. Well, that was until Eason imposed his will onto his opponent.
After K.J. Martin missed a layup, Thunder guard Tre Mann grabbed the rebound, but Eason stole the ball from him before he could gain his composure.
That set up a wild sequence of basketball that resulted in him getting four offensive rebounds, scoring a basket, and getting fouled.
All in one play.
“Anytime I step on the court, I want to bring a lot of effort, a lot of hustle,” Eason told reporters during his postgame press conference. “That’s just what I do. When you bring energy, especially off the bench, I think it’s infectious. It bleeds into the team in all facets.”
Eason had come a long way from what he called “Embracing the suck” last month when he struggled to find comfort on the court.
“I feel like as time goes on, I have gotten more acclimated,” Eason responded after being asked about his role in the lineup. “As time goes on I am going to get more and more acclimated. It is just a matter of time, but I definitely feel like I am more comfortable out there for sure.”
“Tari is his hardest critic of himself,” said his mother, Teroya Eason. “There is no joking about it. He works with that chip on his shoulder. I am very proud of him.”
When you mention Seattle to the average person, they immediately think about the Space Needle or Pike Place Market. These places are must-see attractions for tourists. But if you ask a diehard basketball fan what to do in the Pacific Northwest during basketball season, they will direct you to a couple of local high school gyms and tell you to check out the abundance of potential NBA talent playing on a nightly basis.
Not many would think of coastal Washington as a hub for developing players with all the physical tools and mindset to compete in the NBA. Yet, the city has produced players who have had some longevity in the league, such as Jamal Crawford, who won multiple Sixth Man of the Year awards, as well as NBA champion Jason Terry.
Some of today’s rising stars like Kevin Porter Jr. (Houston Rockets), DeJounte Murray (San Antonio Spurs), and Michael Porter Jr. (Denver Nuggets) never miss the opportunity to brag on their city.
On Thursday, two other Seattle natives heard their names called in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft. Former Duke University forward Paolo Banchero went No. 1 overall to the Orlando Magic and now has his name etched in history for being selected as the draft’s top pick.
Tari Eason, who transferred from Cincinnati to LSU after his freshman season, was drafted by the Rockets with the No. 17 overall selection in this year’s draft. He is also looking to have his name put in the record books for being an intricate part of the Rockets’ resurgence, which they hope will eventually lead them to an NBA championshipy.
“It was a product of my work,” Eason said when asked about his first-round selection. “I think I worked on a lot of aspects of my game. My shooting, my ball-handling, things like that. I’ve always had a pretty good defensive mindset just from my competitive nature from high school, even before then. I wasn’t heavily recruited, so I always carried that chip on my shoulder and that real edge that has helped me carry through.”
Eason, 21, has always had a work ethic that has matched his athletic ability. As those around him tell it, Eason’s desire and determination to improve have fueled him since he was a young kid.
“Tari is his hardest critic of himself,” said his mother, Teroya Eason, who attended the Rockets’ introductory press conference. “From the third grade until now, the game of basketball has been very serious for him. There is no joking about it; there is no roundabout way of doing it. He works with that chip on his shoulder. I am very proud of him.”
I asked Teroya Eason, the mother of Houston Rockets rookie Tari Eason about his journey to the NBA: “The game of basketball is very serious for him. He doesn’t joke about it. There is no roundabout way to go about it.”#Rockets#LightTheFuse#NBA#Sarge@TAR13ASONpic.twitter.com/oAwXH0P9vc
One person who helped Eason reach new heights was his former basketball coach at Garfield High School, who happens to know a few things about playing at the highest level. As it turns out, it was former Trail Blazers star Brandon Roy who coached Eason for three years.
Portland selected Roy with the No. 6 pick in the 2006 NBA draft, and he went on to win Rookie of the Year in his first season on his way to being chosen to two All-NBA teams and three All-Star honors.
“It was special,” Eason said about his time with Roy. “Any time you get to learn from a NBA All-Star, a person who was in the shoes I hope to be in, it’s just special. I tried to learn as much as I could from him and soak up the game and learned valuable lessons along the way.”
A valuable early lesson that put Eason to the test was during his first two years at Garfield, where he received very little playing time due to playing on two state playoff teams loaded with talent. When his team won it all in 2018, Eason did not play in the championship game.
“He was mad at me about the minutes back then,” Roy said during an interview with the Seattle Times about Eason’s sophomore season at Garfield. “He didn’t complain. He kept working and working, and he’s turned himself into one of the best players in the state. He really wants it. Every day in practice it’s a constant, ‘We’re not going to lose today; we’re not going to lose today!’ His mentality has never changed.”
Lack of playing time was not a problem during the 2019-20 season, as Eason led his team back to the state championship game against O’Dea High School. By coincidence, that opponent’s team featured Banchero. This time around, Roy had a special message for his superstar player.
“I told him, use your teammates, but we need you to be superman, too,” Roy said. Ultimately, Eason finished the game with 21 points and 14 rebounds and earned tournament MVP in a 69-44 blowout of O’Dea to secure the State 3A championship. He ended his senior season averaging 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.
Eason’s next stop was the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he played in only 23 games and made the All-ACC freshman team before entering the transfer portal and eventually winding up at LSU.
On most teams, Eason would have been a starter. But for the Tigers, who were also loaded with talent, Eason found another way to display his talent by thriving in his role as a sixth man. The versatile 6-foot-8 forward became the first player in SEC history to be named as Sixth Man of the Year and to the All-SEC First Team in the same season. He also was a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
Watching Eason play on the court from the stands or at home is one thing. Having to battle him on the court is a different experience.
“How physical he is gives him the ability to guard multiple positions,” said new Rockets teammate Jabari Smith, who played in the SEC against Eason. “Everybody knows how well he moves. Especially guarding him, he gon’ get to the rim. So that’s just one thing you know, one thing on the scouting report. And as the years come, how hard a worker he is, everybody knows his jump shot is going to improve. So, sky’s the limit.”
Eason will get a chance soon to showcase how his abilities translate to the NBA, as he is expected to play for the Rockets’ summer league team in Las Vegas in early July. Assuming health, his first game will come against the Magic and a friendly foe in Banchero.
While most will have their eyes set on the Banchero-Smith matchup, Eason wants to show why Houston drafted a hard worker from Seattle.
“Nobody can stop Tari from getting to the rim whenever he wants,” said fellow Rockets rookie TyTy Washington, who (like Smith) competed against Eason last season in the SEC.
“He plays hard for the whole game on both sides of the ball,” Washington said. “One thing about Tari, he didn’t start. He came with the same mentality, like he never let that affect him. At the end of the day, he’s just a hooper. He just wants to go out there and win.”
Penny Hardaway opens up about his playing days, his coaching success, his relationship with Shaq, his injuries, the Lil Penny ads and more.
When younger basketball fans hear the name Penny Hardaway, they think of the Memphis Tigers’ head coach. But before successfully transitioning to coaching, Hardaway was an outstanding player. As a 6-foot-7 point guard, he was a match-up nightmare who could dominate games with his jaw-dropping athleticism and terrific court vision. The four-time All-Star averaged 15.2 points, 5.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds over the course of his 14-year career.
HoopsHype recently caught up with Hardaway to talk about his playing days, his coaching success, his relationship with Shaquille O’Neal, the Lil Penny commercials, the injuries that held him back and more.
When RJ Barrett was going through the pre-draft process, some people were comparing him to you. When you look around the NBA, do you see any players who remind you of yourself?
Penny Hardaway: I don’t know… I haven’t seen someone that made me feel like, “We have similarities,” since Brandon Roy, and that was a while ago. It was his hesitation dribble, [having] enough athleticism and things of that nature. But the thing that made me different… And I’m not saying I was this prototype, but I was quick, I was fast, I was athletic, I could shoot it and I passed it. A lot of guys have a couple of those things, maybe two or three of those things, but [not all of them]. My IQ of the game was very high as well. There are a lot of great tall guards, but I haven’t looked back and said, “Hey man, this one guy reminds me of me,” since Brandon Roy.
I think you’re the kind of player who could have done well in any era. Do you ever wonder how different things would be if you played in today’s NBA?
PH: Man, it would’ve been so different for me in this era because the floor is open. Back in the day, fours and fives plugged the paint because they wanted to post, but nowadays, everything is about three-point shooting. The fours and fives are on the perimeter now, so everything is more spread out and the lanes are wide open. For my game, that would’ve been great.
It feels like the NBA evolved so quickly. In the span of a few years, teams changed their game-plan and how they evaluated talent. Do you remember when you realized just how much the game was changing?
PH: Yeah, I do remember that moment. When I was coaching, I realized, “Wow, this game is going from big men that wanted to post (which are non-existent now) to all threes and lay-ups.” I started noticing when warm-up lines went from lay-ups to all threes. I was like, “Wow…” I never thought the game would evolve to this level, where the big man doesn’t want to post up anymore and the mid-range shot is almost obsolete because it’s either threes or layups. I remember it happening.
I think the people who watched you and played against you during your prime know how great you were, but how do you feel about the way you’re perceived? Do you feel like you’re underrated at all?
PH: Absolutely. I think some guys give credit, but not the majority. My first seven or eight years in the NBA can rival anyone who went into the Hall of Fame – the numbers, the style of play and the way I impacted the game, and I don’t know if I get enough credit for that. I was watching a show and they were talking about the Top 50 and they were all fantastic players, but I saw a couple of guys were saying that I wasn’t in the next 50 and I beg to differ with that. I’m sorry but when I was healthy, I’m definitely part of the next 50 – without a doubt.
What was it like to deal with those various injuries? I’m sure it was tough, knowing that you would’ve been one of the best players in the league if it weren’t for the injuries. How frustrating was that?
PH: It was very frustrating because things started getting chipped away from my game. First went my athleticism, then my speed, then the energy (that I would take for granted). When you start getting injured, you just become a totally different person. And playing with pain versus playing pain-free is an amazing [difference]. Obviously, when you’re healthy, you may have a little nick or tendinitis in your kneecap or a little ankle sprain or twist and other little things that happen here and there. But when you’re getting cut on and you’ve gone through surgery to repair a meniscus or an ACL or have microfracture surgery or things of that nature and then you have to go run and jump again, it’s very difficult. Those were very tough times.
What would you tell a player who is having a tough time battling injuries and trying to get back to full strength?
PH: Things happen and you just have to bounce back from it. It’s not about falling down, it’s about getting back up… It’s part of the game. It’s a physical game. Take your time getting back and make sure that you’re fully healthy. And when you do get back out on the court, continue to be who you are.
(Photo by Andy Lyons /Allsport)
You’ve said that when you and Shaquille O’Neal split up, your initial thought was, “There goes my shot of winning a championship.” If you had played most or all of your career with Shaq, do you think you’d get more credit? And what do you think would’ve happened if you two had stayed together?
PH: Yeah, definitely. Obviously, if I wouldn’t have gotten injured, I would have a different ending to my story. And I know hindsight is always 20/20, but I really feel like if Shaq would’ve stayed, I definitely would’ve been way more successful and gotten more credit because we would’ve won championships.
Did you and Shaq ever have a conversation later on where you talked through everything and worked it all out?
PH: Yeah, we had a conversation. We did that E:60 documentary together and we kind of talked it out a little bit and talked about “what if.” I’ve always appreciated Shaq; I always appreciated him and I’ve always let him know that if it weren’t for him, my career wouldn’t have gone the way that it did. He knows that about me, and he’s said the same thing to me as well.
You did the Lil Penny ads for Nike and it seemed like that took your fame and popularity to another level. Did that change your life as much as it seemed to people on the outside?
PH: Absolutely. Obviously, I was an All-NBA 1st Team guy before Lil Penny came around – that’s what brought on Lil Penny. But it got even larger when I got Lil Penny because even the people who weren’t basketball fans liked the comedy side of those commercials. So that brought a different fan to the game and to me, where even people who didn’t like basketball loved those Lil Penny commercials. It took me to a different stratosphere.
When you are recruiting young players, I’m sure they’ve seen some highlights, but are they typically aware of your game and your career?
PH: Yeah, I think YouTube has done me a huge service. A lot of these kids go on YouTube and watch my videos and they go, “Wow! I didn’t know you had game like that!” and things of that nature. So, yeah, YouTube keeps me relevant!
When did you realize that you wanted to become a coach and what was it like making that transition?
PH: I think it hit me maybe three or four years ago. I realized that it could be a possibility that I’d want to coach if the Memphis Tigers’ job became available. I knew that Coach Tubby Smith had a five-year deal, so I was thinking that it was going to be five years away. Obviously, that didn’t happen for him but for a couple years, so I made the move. What made me make the move was that I felt like the timing was perfect. I felt like I had built enough relationships and that I was ready for the job and what it brought. My mind was set on helping my school and my city and bringing the first national championship to the city of Memphis. All of that was motivation for me to get this job.
You’ve done a lot for Memphis over the years such as revitalizing the Bluff City Classic, providing funding to build the University of Memphis’ Sports Hall of Fame and other facilities and much more. It seems like that’s something that has always been a top priority for you.
PH: Yeah, for sure. I think that Memphis has been there for me throughout my entire basketball career. It started when I was in ninth grade, when I started doing interviews with local media. Then by 10th and 11th grade, I was nationally known. But I’ve always tried to put my city in a position to be successful. The city of Memphis has always supported me, from the ninth grade and on. I try to be a voice. I try to give money. I try to be seen and do things that are going to positively affect our city. I want to do my part as a citizen living here.
(Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
I’ve known your assistant coach, Cody Toppert, for many years and we’ve talked about how your program puts a big emphasis on preparing players for the NBA. What are some of the things that you guys do at Memphis to prepare players for a professional career?
PH: Well, first of all, we take pride in what we do. The first thing is if a kid wants to play in the NBA and he comes to our school, he has to get the mentality first. The physical part of the game comes after that, but you have to get your mind right first. What are you going to dedicate yourself to do every day of the week to make yourself better? You have to dedicate yourself to give up the energy. We feel like we have the teaching and the development part, so if a kid gives us his energy and gives us his concentration and he’s dedicated to what we’re doing, then we can make him better. Obviously, we’re working on all aspects of the game. We’re putting him in position to improve his jump-shot, his ball-handling, his moves and counter-moves and things of that nature. We’re helping him understand the mental side of the game, thinking through everything and not just reacting. There’s so much that we try to teach these guys as we try to help them get to the next level. I think we can be very successful with that.
Are there any specific pieces of advice or lessons that you received during your playing days that you want to pass down to players now that you’re coaching?
PH: Yeah. Never get complacent. Never feel like you know it all, and never feel like you have it all. Never get complacent and you have to come in every day with a chip on your shoulder. You have something to prove every single day that you step out onto the floor and if you keep that mentality, then you’re going to be successful.
I know you’re a big fan of Zion Williamson. What do you think of his ceiling?
PH: His ceiling is very high. I just think he’s going to be a superstar in the league for a very long time, and I’m happy to be able to witness everything that he’s doing right now.
While in Chicago for NBA All-Star Weekend, HoopsHype had the chance to sit down with former No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden. We discussed the “bust” label, his battle with depression and substance abuse, life after basketball, his advice for Zion Williamson, returning to Ohio State to get his degree, his off-court endeavors and more. You can listen to the full interview above or read the transcription below.
Last year, you graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Sports Industry. First of all, congratulations! Why did you decide to return to school and what did it mean to you to earn your degree?
Greg Oden: Thank you! It meant a lot. It was a promise that I made to my mom and now, I’m a college graduate! That always feels good to say. Honestly, what originally made me go back is because, at the time, I was thinking about getting into coaching at the college level and you need a college degree, so that’s what got me there. Once I got my degree, I felt like I could do a lot more.
Do you still want to get into coaching at some point or have you moved on from that entirely?
GO: Right now, in this moment, I’ve started doing other things. But I think coaching is always going to be something that’s in the back of my head, just because I love teaching and being around basketball. Since I can’t play now, the best way for me to be around the game is on the coaching side. It will happen in the future. But for right now, I’m the athlete adviser for a financial education company called Edyoucore. We talk to athletes about taking advantage of what they have now, being more engaged in their finances, looking into investments and being more conscious of their spending because you never know when your career could be over. You might want to save and make sure you have as much money put aside as you possibly can.
I’d imagine it’s rewarding to positively impact so many players and help them avoid going broke.
GO: It feels good. Hopefully they listen! Nobody wants to be that cautionary tale. It’s funny, I remember watching the 30 for 30 film “Broke” and they didn’t do a story on me, but they talked about me and how injuries can end a career early. I was sitting there watching it with my friends, like everybody else, and I hear “Greg Oden” and everyone is looking at me. I was like, “What the fu**?! Do I get residuals for this?! What’s going on?!” (laughs)
You’ve talked about how your self-worth was completely tied to basketball so when the game was taken away from you due to injuries, that was very hard for you. What was that like and how were you able to come to the realization that there’s more to life than basketball?
GO: When I was away from the game. It wasn’t until I wasn’t playing anymore and my life didn’t revolve around basketball anymore. Yeah, that’s one of the toughest things that you can do. When basketball was taken away from me, I looked up and was like, “Who am I? What do I want to do? What do I enjoy doing?” I felt like every other college student just this past year when I graduated and I was like, “Alright, there goes the excuse that I’m going to school. What the hell do I want to do? What do I enjoy doing?” Being able to find out who you are, what you enjoy doing and how you can make an impact in this world, it’s tough.
But, for me, I have a little daughter and a family, so the one thing that I knew I wanted to be is a great dad; I wanted to take care of my family. I was blessed to play the game of basketball, which gives me a little cushion to figure out what’s next and try new things and learn what it is that I enjoy doing. I wanted to find something that gives me the most time at home with my family, which is what I love the most. They’re my main priority.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images for Powerade
What are some of the hobbies and interests that you discovered?
GO: I still love going to the movies. I am probably the biggest fan of basketball because all I do is watch games all day, every day. I play a little bit of golf. I’m not good yet, but I play a little bit. I work out a lot, just trying to not get fat. (laughs) And I spend a lot of time with my daughter.
What’s your favorite movie?
GO: Okay, so my favorite movie of last year was “Knives Out.” I loved “Bad Boys For Life.” I’m excited to see “Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey.” Since it’s Valentine’s Day weekend, my wife and I are going to see “The Photograph.” I’m a big Marvel guy too. I can’t wait for the spin-off shows like “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” and “Loki” to come to Disney+.
I don’t think fans realize how isolating and depressing the injury-recovery process can be. I’ve talked to players like Derrick Rose about how having injury after injury and not being able to do the thing you love takes a toll on a person (physically and mentally). How tough was that, especially when there are a lot of setbacks?
GO: Yeah, trying to get yourself back to where you were is tough, especially when it’s someone like Derrick Rose because the dude was MVP. When you’re trying to get back to that level, back to the No. 1 player in the country, that’s really tough. But he’s doing an amazing job and he’s become an amazing pro. I applaud his heart to even be out there, and I love watching it as a fan. But you’re right, you’re lonely and you want to be out there with your guys. You want to be able to do the things that the team and the city you play for brought you in to do. You want to bring a championship and do great things on the court, but you just physically can’t. That’s tough. Mentally, you’re trying to deal with that. Sometimes, if you’re at a young age, you don’t even know how to deal with yourself and your own thoughts, and now you’re all by yourself. How are you handling that? How are you going to get up every day knowing that it hurts? It’s really tough mentally.
I think it’s very brave that you’re so candid about those dark times in your life and it may help others who are going through their own struggles. You’ve said that when you returned from playing in China in 2016, you were depressed and drinking daily. What was going through your mind then and how did you get out of that funk?
GO: Well, when you’re by yourself, you need to cope. I had to think about this: I used to drink a lot and I never thought about this, but it used to numb my body. So I never thought about all of the pain that I was in. And one thing that’s big in Ohio is opiate abuse. I had an abundance of pills and I was drinking and taking them. I had to deal with that stuff. I remember calling Coach [Thad] Matta and just feeling like I didn’t even know who I was and I couldn’t sit by myself and be quiet. He was like, “Just come to the gym, come to practice.” I started going back to practice and, honestly, getting basketball back in my life and having something to do every day was something that was huge in helping me get out of that funk. Then, once I was there, he told me, “You know, there’s this degree-completion program…” I was like, “Hmm, alright.” Then, when I was going back to school, I actually had to concentrate and I couldn’t be hungover every day. It gave me a path. And once I went down that road, I realized, “You don’t have to drink every day to feel okay or feel something. You’re just numbing yourself.” Then, I had a family. My daughter made me want to live a better life and do things right for her because, eventually, she’s going to hear these things about me. I’m going to have to talk to her about some of the things that I’ve done in my life, but I want to help her be a better young woman and make better decisions in her life.
How important was your support system? It sounds like Coach Matta and your family have played a crucial role in helping you get your life back on track,
GO: It’s amazing. I’m married now, so it’s great to have my wife there to tell me when I’m doing terrible and when I can do better. And my daughter, just to see the smile on that girl’s face… She doesn’t care what you’re going through, I have to be Daddy every day. That’s something that everybody needs. We try to act like we don’t need people who are there for us, but it helps to have somebody you can talk to, to run things by, to trust and to share your life with. For me, those people are my family.
Fans and some media members throw around terms like “bust.” You had no control over your injuries, but I’m sure some people still said awful things and criticized you. Did you get a lot of mean comments and what was it like dealing with those?
GO: You read those?! First off, I don’t read comments at all. I may read the first three comments, which are usually people you know, but I don’t scroll down and care about that stuff. Honestly, with the word “bust,” I used to throw it around when talking about myself. I kind of took the power away from it by saying it, like, “I might be a bust, but that’s somebody’s else personal thought.” I had an opportunity and it didn’t work out, which was unfortunate. It didn’t turn out the way that it was supposed to, but I think I was actually one heck of a basketball player back in the day. Funny story about that word “bust”: If you go to YouTube and type in “Greg Oden highlight video,” the best one is actually the one titled “Greg Oden: A Bust?” Go watch that. I’ve watched it. I actually watch it a lot, it makes me feel good about myself! (laughs)
When you were healthy, you were incredible. It was just the injuries that limited you. Former Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard told me a crazy stat: You, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge only played 62 games together because of injuries. In those 62 games, you guys were 50-12. When healthy, you guys were dominant! Do you think about different what-ifs about your career (like how special that team could’ve been) or do you try not to focus on those things?
GO: Oh, there’s nothing to do except think about the what-ifs! That’s a great stat! That was a good team and I definitely loved playing with those guys. I still text with Brandon Roy every now and then, and I love watching LaMarcus Aldridge play. For him to become an All-Star and the player that he is and to have such a long career, I’m just so happy for him. I wish I was able to be part of it and that we could’ve grown that team even more – for Coach Nate [McMillan], for Kevin [Pritchard], for everybody involved in that Blazers organization. I really wish we could’ve stayed together and been healthier, but it just didn’t work out that way. But I will always have those great memories and I’m forever grateful to the city of Portland and everybody in the organization and Mr. Paul Allen for taking a chance on me and giving me an opportunity to play with those guys.
In The Athletic’s feature on you, it said that you’d watch Kevin Durant play and it would make you cry. Did Durant having so much success as the No. 2 pick in 2007 make things even more difficult for you?
GO: It said that? (shakes head) No, I’m happy for KD. I hope and pray that he can come back from this injury and be just like he was before – or even better. I’m nothing but a fan of KD. I wouldn’t say that I cried. I had some feelings inside like, “Damn, I was picked first…” I wish I could be doing those things! I wish I could be the businessman that he is, the good dude that he is. But I’ve never felt anger or like, “That should be me!” I’m a fan of basketball and a fan of him. I wish him nothing but the best and I hope he comes back next year and takes Brooklyn to a championship.
If you could go back to when you were dealing with the injuries and give yourself advice, what would you tell yourself?
GO: I would tell myself to be more involved and understand my body more. There were so many setbacks and I feel like if I actually understood what was happening with my body and what each of the injuries entailed, maybe we could’ve approached it differently and maybe I could possibly feel a little bit better and still be playing. That would be nice to think. But, honestly, I’d tell anybody: Don’t just listen to what somebody is telling you, make sure you actually understand what they’re talking about. Why did this happen? What are the next steps? What’s the treatment plan and how am I going to get healthy?
You seem like you’re in such a good place mentally right now. What do you attribute that to?
GO: I think it’s because I’m maturing, getting older, actually figuring out who I am and getting comfortable being myself. It’s tough when you’re young and you get a lot of money and you still haven’t figured yourself out as a person. Like I told you, in May, I graduated and I was like, “Well, what the hell do I do now?” But I’m happy just being me. Living my life and being me. What’s wrong with being a happy, positive human being? I don’t have everything figured out in life, I really don’t. But I’m enjoying it and I’m so blessed that this is the path that I went down, and I’m really accepting that. And my wife kind of puts me in my place when I need it. (laughs)
You were labeled a phenom in high school and received a ton of hype. Then, after one NCAA season, you entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick. But in college and early in your NBA career, you suffered numerous injuries. This is similar to Zion Williamson’s journey so far. Given what you’ve been through, what would you tell Zion?
GO: Have fun! Enjoy every minute of it, but also make sure that you’re understanding what’s going on. Make sure that you’re taking advantage of the situation that you’re in. Have meetings with these owners, talk to the mayor of New Orleans and get in those rooms. Build that brand of Zion while you’re the man right now. Really, the biggest thing that I want to say to him is take advantage of this. But have fun. Don’t take yourself or all of this noise too seriously. Enjoy it! Also, realize that you put the work in and you deserve this, and keep on working to get even better.
You played with Mike Conley growing up and you guys had a ton of success together. For those who don’t know, you and Mike won three-straight state titles in high school and led Ohio State to the NCAA national championship game in 2007. Are you and Mike still close?
GO: Yeah! I told you about seeing the movie “Knives Out.” Well, when I saw it, I was the third wheel on a date with Mike and his wife! (laughs) We were in Utah.
What do you make of the Houston Rockets’ decision to stop using a center, relying instead on PJ Tucker and Robert Covington at the 5?
GO: I think it’s just the evolution of the basketball player. Now, you have a seven-footer who’s able to bring the ball up the court, run the offense, shoot the three to spread out the floor and then he can also take you down in the post and dunk on you? I mean, that’s just a good basketball player to me. I see what Houston is doing and that’s a real advantage for them because they get to play fast. As a seven-footer, it’s going to be tough for you to guard a backcourt player like that. But also, on the other end, when you get a big who can shoot threes but also knows how to go into the post, he’s going to be like, “Yeah, PJ Tucker come guard me!” That’s going to be tough for them, but they’ve got some guys on that team that can really [defend]. I think Coach [Mike] D’Antoni is really going to make it work because he’s a really good coach, and they have great players who understand and who can adapt. But so will the rest of the league. Other teams and players will evolve as well.
You’re so recognizable. Unlike guards, it’s harder for you to blend in given your seven-foot frame. What is it like not being able to leave your house without being recognized and how do you deal with that?
GO: I use my daughter sometimes. If I don’t want to talk to nobody, I just pick her up and keep it moving. (laughs) No, but really, it’s been happening to me since I was a kid. If they come at me with respect, I give them the time that I can. But understand that I have things to do and please respect my privacy and my time with my family. Don’t be an a-hole about it and I’ll give you my time.
That’s should be a general rule for life: Don’t be an a-hole.
GO: Yes, it should! Definitely. I forgot where I heard that, but I always say it. Don’t be an a**hole. That’s the only thing you need to know. (laughs) That’s the rule of life: Don’t be an a**hole!
Carmelo Anthony — the newest member of the Portland Trail Blazers, which became official on Tuesday — has worn the same two numbers for his NBA career: Nos. 15 (in Denver) and 7 (with the Knicks, Thunder and Rockets).
So when it came time to pick a jersey number in Portland, he ended up with … 00.
No. 15 is unavailable because it belonged to Larry Steele, the guard whose number is in the Moda Center because it’s been retired.
But there’s a more complicated story with No. 7.
That was the number that belonged to Brandon Roy, the guard who looked like a bona fide superstar in the making with the Blazers until injuries completely derailed his career and forced him into early retirement.
Since then, no one has worn No. 7 even though it’s not retired:
My biggest question about this move is if they'll let Melo wear No. 7. No one has worn it since the end of the Brandon Roy era. Mo Williams had to change it after immense fan backlash at his introductory presser in 2013. Skal Labissiere was told last year it wasn't available.
That’s right — Mo Williams went with 25 instead of the initial 7, although he claimed it wasn’t because of the backlash that came with the choice. And that’s an interesting report about Skal Labissiere.
It appears that’s the reason:
Carmelo Anthony will wear No. 00 for POR because No. 7 is being held in honor of Brandon Roy; No. 15 (his Denver/Syracuse #) is retired for Larry Steele & No. 22 (Oak Hill #) is retired for HOFer Clyde Drexler. Wish he'd gone with 25, to bring them all together. Stay Mel00
