Interview with Prospect Dalen Swain

Coming up, we are previewing the twenty twenty six NBA Dft by looking at the top four. I'm talking to Darren Peterson. We're looking at the guards. I got Keaton Wagler, Brandon Baries and Christian Anderson all on the show. We're looking at the bigigs I got to Die Mara on the show as well. and then we're looking at some sleepers in the first round as well. later on joining me will be Adai Mara and Dalen Swayain. and of course What's going to go on with Janis and Dkpa. We get into all that right now. Welcome back to the Kevin O C S showow. We have a loaded episode today talking to a whole bunch of NBA draft prospects. But first I want to talk about the Janas and the Kumpo situation as well as Trey Young resigning with the Washington Wizards. Let's start off with Yanas stillill not resolved as of about three o'clock Etern right now, still no decision from the Milwaukee Bucks. My understanding is that this is between Boston and Miami has the best offer that Milwaukee is debating internally in their front office. There have been mystery teams that have inquired about Yanis. I know one team at least in the top four drafting in this year's top four inquired about Yanis. Yanis does not want to go there. So I don't think that there is a true mystery team that's going to come out of nowhere over the top with the best offer for Yanis. We'll see. things can happen at the last minute Boston, Miami seems to be the destination for Antte D Kumpo that the bucks are deciding between. The question is, what way Are they going to go The he we know a lot about their offer. It's been widely reported already. Jime Haquez, Tyler Herro, Cell whereare in a collection of first round picks, including number thirteen in Tuesday's draft is something along the lines that the heat are offering to the Milwaukee Bucks. Boston on the other hand is giving up something around Jalen Brown. My league sources have said that the Celtics have been unwilling so far to give up Ugo Gonzallees, Peyton Prichard, a lot of first round picks attached to Jayalen Brown Id imagine at this point of negotiations Boston has been willing to give something up alongside Jayalen Brown considering how far down the road They have gone for one of the five best players in basketball and Yanis My gut feeling. is that we're going to see Janis land in Boston And the main reason is because of something that I think is often overlooked and under discussed in this entire saga involving Yanis. and that's what do the bucks My league sources say the bucks want to win next year. They don't want to be a bottom feeder team. They don't want to be a bottom five team in the league. They don't even have the rights to their own first round pick until twenty thirty one. So even if they want it to be bad And today's NBA with the new lottery rlles, there's no incentive to bottom out, especially for the bucks without their first round draft pick. They want to keep winning. Which player on the table gives the bucks the best opportunity to keep winning games. It's Jayalen Brown Jayalen Brown is a finals MVP who just averaged twenty nine, seven and five last year for the Celtics. He voted six And MVP voting. he dragged the team that people thought might miss the playoffs all the way to the two seed. That said, of course, the heat offer, this isn't to dismiss it. It's a very good offer. It is full of really high value pieces that could be valuable to the bucks. Jaez was arguably the sixth man of the year last year. He could get a lot better moving forward. Tyler Ho Qint essential, twenty point per game scorer who can play with and without the ball. What happens in a new system in a new environment? He could be a lot better for that team Cell where a guy who has been very solid under Eric Spolstra Maybe he's unleashed in Milwaukee and becomes a better two way center. A guy one of the rare centers who can shoot threes. and block shots And never mind the number thirteen pick in this year's draft would give up a really good quality prospect for Milwaukee It's a good offer, but the bucks intentions reminds me so much. of years ago with San Antonio when they were trading Kaia Leard The Celtics offer Jalen Brown A young Jalen Brown for Kawai Leard And the spurs said no because they wanted players who could help now. They wanted Demarto Rose And so that isn't to say that the Spurs made the right or wrong decision at the time And this isn't to say that the bucks are making the right or wrong decision today Jayalen Brown is a far different player than Dargaros and M However, the bucks want to keep winning and trying to compete. So I'd imagine we'll see a bucks Boston deal in the coming days ahead of the draft. Other news, Ty Young resigning with the Washington Wizards a four year two hundred plus million dollar contract with the Wizards with the playayer option on the fourth year So much for getting a discount We're going to see Treyng resigning in Washington. Very unusual that they signign him for this much. veryery unusual. happens the day before the draft. veryy unusual But it happens the day that we hear that Darren Peterson had a secret meeting with the Utah jazz Does this mean that The Wizards and Debana are a match And that for Utah at number two, Peterson. will be on the board for them Maybe. Maybe not, maybe it has nothing to do with each other. But I do think from a roster fit standpoint Tayon resigned to a four year deal with Trey Johnson last year as your lottery pick and then Darren Peterson isn't the deciding factor between Nib Bana Boozer and and Peterson. But it's definitely a piece of the equation And so I would imagine we're going to see AJD B I go. number one to the Washington wizards as of three o'clock Eastern on Monday And then number two We'll see what happens with Utah Jazz Will ity Cambooer as I still have in my latest mock as my gut is saying. Well will it be Darren Peterson who is in all likelihood, the higher upside player What a coincidence. I've got Darren Peterson on my podcast right now T talkk about his game. He's my first of many guests that you're going to see drafted in the first round of the twenty twenty six NBA draft. Here's Darren Peterson join me today Fr Kansas, potential number one pick in the twenty twenty six AMA draft, Darren Peterson. Darren, How are you doing man . I Appreciate you joining me today, man. I want to look at some clips with you from the high school level I feel like with your plan making ability, it really was apparent. in high school When I just don't have this play on the screen, is your mind immediately go to where it is? Do you have that type of recollection before the play even plays O you need to see it unfold This is, I think a passive Jh Jump up past y'acht remember . What were you seeing here as you as you drove into the defense? Do describe what you see here Obbe tried to see how his man got around. tried to see to see early got around. I know he's going to stay in front He lookuck you d this O his there game man. John Oa You jump passes like that to the corner. I notice that's kind of a habit for you. the high school level playing with a bit more space. Is that something you practice Trump passes. I think you got just Just do the huming effects That's a corner three in the NBA. No doubt. that's getting taken. play. Not just respects, but show show How about this one? Do you remember this play I gust you top her up This's't ever this one yet I was dying though for really? Yeah, you had some nasty passes in high schoolool. So when you're when you're driving out a pick and roll hair or ISO, whatever the type of situation What are you looking at here before deciding to pass versus trying to score I'm attacking first. I know u I feel like no one person can guard me so that's always going be helped. So wherever the help come from we hitting that man So with you, you're your attack mindset, your're thinking score first just past second a lot of the time. notot always score, but just at least putting pressure on the defense I see. so that's what it's about. It's more about like that's the goal, putting pressure on defense, then reacting to whatever the situation ist Let's see with this play. I like this play from you because I feel like it shows off your selflessness. It's just a quick quick decision, one handed pass, quick outlet. Some gus they get the ball and they just want to dribble dribble, drible. You are immediately lookook for an opportunity with the outlet there. So's me att least on that. was my job was filitate. Now you there's been reports around you view yourself as a point guard. Is that accurate U, I think I'm I think Tombo but I'm definitely. I mean, that's kind of the nature of the today's game, right? The show being there to play both so u I think I' comomfortable. I mean, I talked to a di Mara today and he's like he's, you know, loves facilitating is' a big. There's forords, Luca is huge, right? I mean like there's different sizeed players who handle the ball in today's league.ure. What do you think about the nature of today's game? What are your thoughts on the way basketball is played today U I think it's in a great place like I was going say it's a guards game but with' so many great bigs as well. like a Joker Wimby so this is like a Ls like everybody just like big guars now kind of everybody can do everything. so And for that Howave you observed the way the gamess evolved since you were a kid watching it to where it is today? G out. Honestly, I didn't watch a whole lot of basketball. Like I was is working out we watch a lot, but I remember watching like the Cabs and Warriors It' kind of wor just kind of at the time they were shooting sities then too. So What's different now. And when I was watching it now, it's not a big difference. I mean, I where you were you born? Oh seven? Oh seven. so you were probably like what? like like ten years old what would the other Th those cabs warriors finals That's what it was starting thingsings were shifting. Yeah Right. So I think in some ways, like you haven't seen the full evolution. Besides the bigigs are now like over the Be able to handle and shoot Yes because those cals warriors ears with the rocket It's like PJ. Tucker was playing the five, right?ike it was a lot of small ball then Yeah different. Yeah I think that's probably a change. When it comes to the type of bigigs nowadays, do you see yourself as somebody kind of playing with a big who can facilitate like dribble handoffs and stuff like that? Yeah I think I can work whatever. I'm easy to play with Somebody who can do anything. Yeah And one of this play No forget this one. Oh yeah, this I like this play because The enthusiasm, the jump on the lob. I think sometimes like you've remarked about this before people saying, oh Kansas. I don't care about basketball, but like if it's BS. I think this is one of those plays that show definitely. if you if you playing every person I play with stuff that I was being said was just uper far from the tree This is another play I like from you that stood out pass of the corner alling for him to shoot it. doesn't you kind of get frustr got fired hit this He did the pull up. He took the pull up too like like a nineteen ninety play. Yeah shoot these This play, I think that shows the emotion. You're buying like shoot.issed off that. Yeah. did it, right? Sure. So think I think little moments like that when like you really watch when people talk about missing eleven out of thirty five games and all that, it doesn't tell the story of the intensity, the buy in No with you. Sure. Do you see yourself as more of like a leader by example in that regard? because you've called yourself an antiocial loner. know? I address that too. I I use the wrong words at the time What I me I was more to myself during that, what I had going on. I wasn't really looking for help. I was trying to like figurered out a mind I should said that, but definitely not anti sorce or laoner if you ask People that are around you, they know Funny and outgone or definite he's wrong words at the time, but Definitely not see yourself as more being a vocal guy. Yeah Sure. And I'm definitely moreally by example though, but Yeah, definitely open it up. It's perfectly fine. everybody's different, right? Sure, no dout Is there an example where you felt like you did have to lead, either in high school or and college? Definitely a ton in high school because I had it. younger guys and had I tried tried to showort them out of work but college I did as much as I could, just being out in and out so much it was hard for me, but try to be me as possible. In high school, could you tell me a story about a time like where you feel like, yeah, I did lead in that moment and you felt good about that U, first thing that comes to mind, not really a specific thing, but one of my teammates gave Namith as a part is part of the agency that I'm with S that made me feel good he told them like after watching the year at DP, like I feel like I know how to work now. I'm working different than I was before I was around him. So I think that was a huge thing here. What's happening One of the things we didn't see from you as much at Kansas that I think pops up a little bit more in high school is you posting up back your basket And you look just incredibly comfortable in that area of the floor. So there was definitely a lot of stuff I got that I didn't get to really Do I Kansas saying it was canan as fult, but just how things went and I just made the most impression I was in Yeah Yeah Now with back to the basket, how do you see the role for this small part of your game I'm sure NBA. But like what's the role for a guard to be able to play in this area of the floor clloser to the rim, I think. he got it like with Kobe, there were certain kos spots on the court when he got to them. I sw from here at will, so I think it's important to be able to have those. Is this something you've practiced? for sure? Yeah, I've been working in the post that's on during the P drive just because players like Shay ose and get of fateaways out of there and I watch a ton of Kovey so. You mentioned Shay and Kobe. what are some moves from those guys that stand out to you that you try to download into your own game? Yeah, notot specifically moves in general, but like the kill spots. if you watch a ton of those guys, there's certain spots where they get a ton of basies from like there baselines in the elbows, I see Now like you mentioned earlier, like you didn't watch a ton of basketball you more just played. Yeah. ye when I was young for sure, but now I I got older a film junkie like stud guys like these guys I'm about to go against like a lot of guys I've been studying them since my seni year You watching YouTube synergy, likeike what's your source of what you're watching?ach my trainer coach Phil Beckner, clips them up for me. those guys if they I got thir the ton of day mo. so no way I can get hit by it move that. watching that like instead of Netflix, you know? Yeah, I'm not huge on Netflix, I watch movies but Defitely not a basketball. I see. So with you I'm curious like you watch these playoffs live, like you watching live games at night? More clips at the playoffs too This is u I just got myself a puppy, so it was hard to watch full games. Yeah. What type of dog? Doberan Penser. Oh nice. Yeah. What's his name? Danel Yeah to come with you wherever you get drafted? is, Yeahah. Gotta get him trained up. but yeah that's he's still a crazy puppy right now? Yeah, Gota keep him in confined spaces right now a little bit because if he's out, he's running around biting stuff going crazy. Is this your first dog Oh my own yeah, but I had I was grow up. Okay, I see. Yeah see you're always a big animal guy U yeah I say so O just the dog guy J dogs. I like going to the zoo maybe with only only dogs in the curd. They got a nice zoo here in New York at the Bronx Zoo. I haven't been yet.ve heard's amazing. So. what animal would you go seeay at the zoo U monkeysllies Ss Sharks are cool. Yeah, lifearks. O like the gorillas and all that. Yeahah. that's crazy The Bonx Zoo, Centr Park Zoo, there's lot of here. Yeah What do you like being here in New Yorkity? Do you enjoy it time do I like being here? Do you like being in here in New York? Yeah, I've spent a ton of time here. worked out with Chris Brerkeley a lot here I my tattoo, tatt tattoo, like I've been here a lot, so super cool I'm curious, Darren, would you like, I think Obviously a lot of talk this past year about the games you missed, the creatine stuff and all that like that How much are you looking forward to getting back out on the court even in suummer League? Like next seth in July. Yeah, super excited Last time I got to play in a game was against St. John in March. If I're looking forward to when I'm working my butt off G back to where I was like as we watched, like I'm feeling like that guy again. So I feel like there's more burst. were you more explosive in high school? For sure. just what I had going on. It kind of held me back. I think that kind of speaks to me because I was still ective still, so but you had the injury too, like aseside from the cramping I Yeah, What was the injury? hippp injurr No hip,. to the hamstring injury. That But that was And that can slow you down too. Yeah, but that was dealt with that was nothing I mean, I feel like the thing like at Kansas like youvers twenty des like this. Yeah no one talks about that but what it is. I mean, but like you were amazing off ball. like you looked like Ray Allen. Yeah. Yeah. That's how I kind of say like whatever position I go to like I can affect it either on or off it. I think that adaptability is probably the most appealing quality about you where you can be like a shapeshifter for sure regardless of the situation, the environment, the opponent. Is that the way you sort ofiew yourself? Yeah I think that's a skcale to be able to go that to your situation because like with the driver, I don't pick where I get to go. So like Where me Now with your jumper, I'm curious. like obviously you shot the hell out of it at Kansas. at the high school level, you were a bit more streaky. Yeah. Y free throw percentage was always eighty per, eighty five percent. You were always elite from the line Yeah. From the field it was more inconsistent. What clicked at Kansas with your jumper that wasn't there necessarily at high school I think like you said, I had to adapt to something new. I knowew I didn't have the same burst. So I had to figu out a way to still affect the game. That's just me being a competor I am and want to be better. I knew shooting was something to be better at and on top of. not being myself, I know I have to be and not be shots down because I can'tify passast guys like I was. There was the video with you, AJD Banza and Camera Boozer. You guys are all pointing at each other for best best aura, best shooter. best this and that best defender You pointed atie Bner, What are you talking about? You're the best defender of those three When I look back, you definitely rightite. I got are better than him but he got the intangible I feel like to be a good defender to his. I just show of love but the score ones of stuff I can't give them as you see me, I point at myself on those ones. I mean, you're pointing at yourself for all those for defense, you should have point at yourself. I mean, Potential potential. If I go back, I would I would say. I mean, with your defense, I am curious like the plan making ability that you have on that end of the floor getting in passinganes deflections and steels. Is that something you always had since you were like a little kid playing in elementary school or is that developed and learned? Develop and learned Be growing up, I wasn't really interested in defense, but Like I said, growing up, I started to watch Kobe and stuff and I see how intentional he was about everything and I kind of learned from that. It as one of my idols. I want to be great on both side as well. Last thing for you, Darren, what do you love most about basketball It's hard to pick one thing. Really I love everything about it. Probably the most is the process like Working out and getting better. like training is what I love Outside of the gamees stuff but like the They're consistent g. I enjoy the most. That feeling of getting better for sure and just Be tired, like Kobe said onces like he's on works exhaustion, like that kind I'm not kind of guy. In some ways, do you feel like what happened last year at Kansas is sort of a blessing to now kind of like grow through that adversity? For sure. I faced it Got got to grow from and Can't wait to show everybody again can't wait to see how your carere unfolds.ks for joining me today. Thank B luck with everything. Thank you,ir All right, thank you to Darren Peterson for joining me. This draft class isn't just the top four and that's it. There are consolation prizes. My next guest, Ai Mar from Michigan as well as Keaton Wagler, guard from Illinois are just some of the players you're going to see drafted in that five to nine range that could potentially be one of the two or three best players in this year's draft class. It's going to be really interesting to see what happens though on draft night because starting at number five The clippers are not set in stone to pick there. There's so much talk around them potentially being a trade down team, even just trading down two spots with Sacramento, possibly even further as well, depending on how the board shaken out and how they perceive what they could get lower at nine or ten or even number twelve with Oklahoma City. Nber six with Brooklyn. It seems like they're probably a Mikeael Brown, Darius Acff Keaton Wagler team, one of the guards on the board. and then at seven Sacramento They want Darus ACuff, but there's a chance that we see the kings trade down. If A cuff goes five or six. So there could be a lot of movement in this range, especially now with number nine, the Dallas Mavericks hiring Dusty May from the Michigan Wolverines an unbelievable hire. May is one of the best basketball coaches in the world and any level and now he's going to be coaching Cooper Flag, bigig upgrade for him going from the NIL and all that madness and college and now being in the NBA getting the coach Cooper and whatever the Mavericks do with that ninth pick. and who knows with three Michigan prospects on the board, Yaxsel Lenonbard Marez Johnson and Ad Mara Maybe Dallas will take one of them, Maybe they'll trade down and take two of them potentially. But let's go on to my next interview with Michigan Center Adai Mara. Join me now from the Michigan Wolverarines, NCAA Champion, Ai Mara. How you doing? Yeah, good. it's not Mara. It'sa. Ma. Yeah. Is that the proper pronunciation? Yeah, ma N Ma. Okay. We'll get that corrected for the NBA.. No more Mara. Mada.. die The thing I love so much about your game is the passing ability that you have as a seven foot three guy, the flare, but also the reliability Is that something that you've always had that playmaking trait throughout your whole life Yeah, there's u how I always remind myself like doing making all these passes since I was a kid U but always I mean, I always try to play with some fun, you know, so this behind the backag process over the heads. So it's For me, it's like fun when I do it. So so it's good. I always try to do the same thing. but I would say it's a It's my dad fault that I have thatad because they with people that I talk with that play with my dad, they told me that he was a great passor too And also when I was younger too just practicing against the wall Oh Mbe. different passes and hit the same spot every time. so I guess it was like a mix with the. Y father was he very tall too Yeah, he's like six. ven eight. Okay, I see. So you is anybody who's over seven feet like you No My family No Did you grow up playing pointo guard at all? orr were you always like play a big man? No, I was U, I was always big. I used to play outside when I was younger So I I used to drible the ball a little bit,ot shoot and play more like outside. I always want I always wanted to be a poiner though. I always wanted to be like the guy who like the generournal and just saying it to everyone where it has to go, like what play to do But Yeah, I guess I cant with I mean, I suppose though at the same time, like in the NBA, you'll be running dribble handoffs and doing different things out there on the floor right yeah,' see. I mean, we'll see, I suppose at Michigan you definitely had that versatility of doing different things out there. Yeah Yeah, but not dribing the ball. I think We all had I very don't know, we were very focused on our role we were just trying to be better we could as a players teamates. So Did the Dusty May decision today him going to the Dalls Maverick shock you It did. Yeahah, they told me U they told me Right after I woke up. And I was surprised, but I'm also like happy. I think he's going be more than prepared to take that job H I said it like a couple of times before Like he's just obsessed with basketball. So he's always learning. So he's going to get it there and he's just going to learn, adjust and he's going to do great. I'm happy for him. Now I'm curious whether you have like amazing soft touch on floaters and hook shots what needs to happen for it to translate to the free throw line into three point range? Just confidence but is as soon as I I changed my mind. I knew the free throws it was in my mind U It just I couldn't. I was just wasn't thinking the right way. I was thinking I'm going to miss insteaduff. I'm going to make it So when I changed that on the last part of the year start shoing eighty, somethingeen percent. So then that's more like mee, you know So it's going to be confidence and also Uh switing three is the same is the same. I know it's in my game so I'm just gonna practice it obviously and just being confidident with myself How would you describe your potential role moving forward in the NBA Um I mean, it's going to take the time, obviously to adjust the league. it's a big jump, but I'm excited to just get to work and just this way I can be But I if everything goes wild myself like doing really good in Did you expect to be a wanted done when you first went to UCLA U At that time Right It was there, like the possibility was there then obviously The expectations that we had, we didn't Well we didn't accomplish those expectations So obviously when I when we saw what was happening We we ch like we changed our mentality, but it was there, yeah And what do you love most about basketball by just creating like new relationships, knowing new people and and connected with there like now with This year in Michigan, I'm going to have I know players that they call them my brothers and they're going to be there for my whole life. So that's the biggest thing for me. And now head coach in the NBA as well. I mean,s it's you, you on your board Marris Johnson Burnett as noobbody talks about, but the five year vent. I mean, like you guys have a good class coming and give them like a Some players give them like one or two years and they will be there too. so I'm excited for this new team and the players that they have. they going to be they going to be great. for sure. no doubt about that. a lot of good talent going to Michigan thisistory year. don without Dusty there. Fascinating to see what happens with Dallas to die can't wait see how your journey holds the NB. Thank you so much for joining me, man. Of course. Thank you. Thank you. All. join me here from Illinois, potential top five pick in the twenty twenty six NBA driraft, Keaton Waggler Keat How are you, man? I'm doing great. Happy to be here. I'm excited to have you man. Tomorrow iss the NBA draft. I'm curious to start off with you. How would you describe your game to somebody who's never seen your play before I definitely say Id say smooth, kind of display at my own pace Always wanting to make the right play, whether that's, you know, having the ball in my hands creating for my teammates or getting my own shot or're just being ready to, you know, catch and shoot and attack off of a close house. Did you see yourself being one of them Honestly, I didn' going in to the summer my freshman year, I just I didn't know what to expect. I was just going in with the mindset of just wanting to help the team win no matter you know what role I had I think just throughout that time, I just continue to prove to the coaches and my teammates that you know I can can play at this level and belong on the court with anyone. I'd imagine your forty six point game against Purdio was one of those moments in your life where you're like, wow, this is happening. I'm doing this Yeah, that that game was was definitely crazy. I definitely turned a lot of heads. I would say that J to points I scored on the road at Purdue is just I mean, the first person never do that, so it it's crazy. Scored in such a variety of ways in that game too you would be you know, off against slower players, quicker players not of pick and roll, isolation inside, outside. I feel like for you, that's probably When you look back at your season, a preview what you hope is to come in your future, right? With that versatility? Yeah, definitely versatility being being able to score at, you know, three levels, getting into the room, finishing mid range two and then you know, obviously keeping the three ball just just ready and keeps you at a good percentage. Were you really five foot eight as a freshman in high school? I was. five foot eight fiveive foot eight. So like when did you become six foot? when did you become six five trajectory goingo into Yeah, so freshman year out five foot eight. and then by the end of my sophomore year, I was six foot three So that was kind of just the biggest Gpurt that I had, but I just continue to keep growing a little bit throughout the years and now I'm six foot six How your game change over that time I definitely um It changed, I think in high school, I became more of a point guard U E though as I got taller, I was start playing point guard my sophomore year for my team And I think I just kept my shooting ability with me because when I was at short, I think the only thing I really did was shoot And I kept that with me as I became, you know, more versatile being able to be a point guard, you know, make plays and tenish out the rim Last year at Illinois, you ran five hundred and seventy eight picket rolls And you generated one point one points per play, which is an elite mark last year, according to Synergy So you were not a point guard as a freshman, you became more of a point guard Is it still something that you're still learning how to do, you feel like I feel like you can always learn more honestly. I feel like I am one of the One of the best players at pick and roll in this job class, but I think there's always still room to learn different reads, coming off in different ways to manipulate how How the devus is guarding whether if they're hedging or dropping or anything. so So just continue to learn and read off of that. You watch some film to do that or like your own film? The point guards? How do you learn? Bix of both. I definitely say watch a lot of film of players and in NBA especially I'd say Halliburton just because he's in so many ball screamens too, but also just learning myself, just in workouts, just trying different things, different reads Have teams talked to you about your lack of dunks? They have a little bit Yeah. I feel like Most teams don't really See yeah, that's a big problem because Just the way I play Like it willon't generate a lot of dunks, especially the way we play to Illinois too, we didn't cause a lot of steals and didn't transition that much I think I don't I don't ever worry about it. I don't think the NBA teams I don't think they do either really. I mean, the people I talk to is the type of thing where' like, sure, it's nice if you're an Anthony Edwards athlete But it's not a necessity to achieve stardom. Most of the top players in the league are top players based off feel and intelligence and quit decision making. It's like A athleticism of the mind, right? Is that where you feel like you're more in the like the ninety ninth percentile, maybe not as a leaper, but in your mind you are? I think yeah, definitely. I think my Q is definitely super high. I have a super high ba IQ. No' read the game differently than most people and That's just That's a big u that seems like about me is how somewhere I am. That said, I am curious when it comes to driving to the basket. What do you perceive as your greatest area for improvement when you do drive to the room I definitely say just like my touch around a room Being able to find every way to finish, especially the floater has been a big thing that I've been working on Um, but I already think that' I'm good at, you know, making reads at the rim, whether it's, you know, dumping it off or or finishing, but yeah, just continue to No playthrough contact down there and be able to finish. You went left seventy percent of the time on your drive to the basket according to the synergy has there been work being done to improve going right at all in your training? think I think I'm good going both ways, but I think The way that I was guarded at Illinois Most people forcing left like teens would weak me, so forcing to my left. U and I think that's I just took advantage of that., but Um, that is actually a Crazy stat I didn't know. I thought it was more probably fifty fifty but I think I definitely do like going left more when I go to the basket, but I'm comfortable going both ways. Now the teams looking at you teams like cllippers five, Net six, King seven, eight haawks. That's your general range. It seems like And then nine Dallas as well, potentially probably more like your floor withith these types of teams, do you have how much time have you spent looking at their rosters imagining yourself on their in their organizations? Or are you just kind of like wherever I go, I go I'm not even thinking about it. What's your mindset? Yeah, I think I paid attention a little bit, but I mean, like you said, I haven't really thought about it too much because you know nothing set in stone. so just I think just wherever I whatever team draft me, you know, thenll I'll know like, where I'll fit in, what producing they'll have me play and what I can do to, you know, help the team win in any way. So I'm just excited for that to know where I'm going to go. How much did you watch the NBA playoffs I was A lot of it Like every night basically. Yeah, pretty much. So war your takeaway from the post season. Definitely the physicality and the speed was just a lot different, just how fast Certain teams played and just how physical each game was especially the Furs and OKC series was super physical U just shows how tough you have to be to play in those games and in those environments and to stay composed throughout it What's your end game for weight? Like where do you need to reach when you're your peak physical physically Um I think Hopefully around maybe ten would be a good for me. I you know, I think I'd have to see what what the team they'll train her once and see with that, but I think for me just right now just continue just to put on as much weight as I can. One of the thoughts that I've like had conversations with about like defense, especially for guards, even if you are a quote unquote, elite defender, there's no stopping the game's best scores. So one of the thoughts that a chainfulull of executives have past to me is that All that really matters is the guy putting in effort in trying and being where he's supposed to be and hustling being physical that's do what do you think about kind of that general thought when it comes to the importance of just straight up hustle more than anything else in the defensive end? Yeah. I think That honesty is how I kind of view defense because I've always thought that, you know, B defenders are the one who try the hardest and want to play defense. you know, some people don't I don't want to go out there and guard, but I think if you put your mind to it and you just try your best. I mean, good things will happen. you'll become a better defender. I mean, like you said, though like players in NB are going to make tough shots and you know people are going to have nights where, you know they seem like they can't miss Um, but just got to stays stay with it and just want to try and get better at it. I mean, that's what I look at with like Brunson. He's like six foot you know's probably more like two hundred fifteen to twenty. like he's bumping whenembeyond rolls to the rim, hustling off ball. He's a quote unquote, you know, targeted defender the Kick surviv, they won the finals in five games. So I think part of it, I think for you like that's probably going to be putting all weight over time, but you know, always effort. That's the thing nobody has any questions about you is your mind and your effort level. Yeah I'm curious with you. what's your biggest motivator Kein? mean I probably just say bigiggest motivator probably just you know my family just, you know, they've helped me get to this point being able to give back to them by playing the game that I love is Sim that motbakes for each day to get up and want to get better. And I think also just, you know, me personally, I'm just one of the biggest m one of the most competitive person And I want to win everything and I want to be the best at everything. So just I just take that with me and use it to want to get better each day, even on days where you know, I don't really feel like it, but you just have to do it. When you were five eight as a freshman, did you have the dream of being here? I didn, I've always had that dream ever since I was little Did you at one point think you'll I'll be like at Nate Robintsson point card? I was I don't know what I was thinking. I was like, I wonder if I'm gonna to hit my gthb because I feel like my whole family is tall. Really? Yeah. So my mom and dad both. Yeah, My mom's like five foot eleven and then my dad's like six foot four Now I was hoping to I thought I didn't think I was going to get this tall, but I was hoping for at least like six three so it worked out. So do you talk to any doctors? Is it a chance to get even taller from here or are you done I hope so. I hope I'm still grow. I don't know though M six eight if. that' be awesome. six feot eight. What do you do besides basketball Honestly, in my free time, I'd probably say the most thing I do is just play video games, but what games Right now, rainbow sixceeds two K Callol of Duty was the main ones butzone in Call of Duty. . How do you feel about the state of the game right now? I fel it could be better. A lot of cheaters right now S I mean, it's not what I play most of the time right now. so I don't get as mad about it, but I think outside of video games, I like to just be outside A couple of days ago I was fishing I looks like to do like just be outside and be active really ishing So that's a lot different than getting mad playing video games. Yeah. toal opposite. What do you love most about basketball I'd definitely just say that. the competitive spirit that the game has everyveryone I think it's a really good community where you get to meet a lot of really good people and be around them and just learn a bunch of different things in life and just make new connections is the coolest part about it, not even just like The basathall piece itself with just all the connections it brings you Keat, I'm rooting for you. You can't wait to see what happens on draft night. And enjoying this whole process, man. Thank you for joining me today. Yep. thank you All right, thank you to A Di Mara and Keaton Wagger for joining on this episode. We got some more guards to talk about here because the funny thing is with this draft class is it's in part defined by the amount of guards. in the top ten, we talked a little bit earlier about ACuff and Bures and Waggler and all these guys that are going to be drafted in the top ten, Kingston Flemings potentially as well, Michael Brown But then after that And that eleven to twenty range you got Christian Anderson, Bennett Sturts, Abuco Corey L Baron Filon. There's a lot of guys even in the second round. There's a lot of good quality guars that are going to be selected and I'm going to be talking to Braden Burryes and Christian Erison coming up about their future in the NBA, but it's going to be interesting to see where these guards actually land because If it's the heat or bucks at thirteen, they're a potential spot for guards. I think the bowls at fifteen Asuming they take Kayla Wilson with the fourth pick and draft. They could be a spot for guards. At sixteen, the Grizzlies have worked out a ton of different guards. seventeen, the Thunder teams could trade into that slot potentially trying to jump ahead of a team take at nineteen or twenty or twenty one to get the best guard available on the board. So It's it's usually there's a lot of talk every year about potential movement. But this year in particular, I think, because of the clear cut tears of certain groups of players and this year with the guards Clear group in the top ten And then there's another group that's going to end around twenty to twenty five. So who's gonna to take those guards? Let's hear from two of them, Braden Buress and Christian Anderson Join me now from Arizona, potential top ten t in the twenty six NBA draft. Bradon Burryess. Sir. Bradon, how are you doing, man? Yeah, how are you? I'm doing excellent, man. I appppreciate you joining me today, man. I'm curious. I think with your game, you clearly can do different things. You can run points, you can play off ball, you can do the dirty work You can dive for a loose ball, set a screen. I feel like you kind of can do a little bit of everything How do you envision your own game though when it comes to moving forward to the NBA I imagine myself as just like a complete basketball player, someone who can pretty much do it all You know, guard multiple positions, you know impmpact winning outside of just scoring So like That's the main thing with me impmpacting winning. Yeah. What are the ways that you saw players impact winning in the playoffs this year Just playing hard, you know, sacrificing, you know, good shots for creative shots, you know, Like you said, diving on loose balls U Timly rebounds, you know, stuff like that And even like the vets on the bench that's not plan, you know, being great leaders know for guys us coming in So that all that stuff matters at the end of the day. I mean, I feel like when it comes to guard play in the NBA, sometimes there's literally nothing you can do about opposing scorers in the league. Like you can be the best defender in the world and it's not going to matter sometimes. So like what matters most on defense, at least in my opinion It's just effort. playing hard And that's it. Do you think that's fair to say somebody who's out there in the trenches is doing it That's the main thing just you know, give maximum effort and then kind of just live with the results. you know, if they make a tough shot, that' G side got make them shoot it again, but If you're just out there and they just if you get consistently blown by it, then like that's like inexcusable Now, that's for sure, exxactly. Now I'm curious with you, like, u this was this type of approach this hustle approach, this gritty approach that you have always something you had E ever since you were a little kid They kind of like, just installed me like from where I'm from, San Berdino, just like playing hard, you know, and just enjoying the moment. Bight Anytime you going on a court, whether it's baskball, football, any field that you're in, you always want to give maximum effort and try to be the best version of yourself Now You you said where you're from? what does that mean? Like how is I stillilled in you? just like Kind of just getting overlooked, you know, 'cause we're like outside of L.A. L.A. always gets like The main attention and then I'm from the IE San Mernardino. So kind of just Anytime going to court just trying to like prove myself and prove I should to be where I'm at Now with you as your family of basketball players or where' the game kind of find you My Pops played basketball, Jon St. San Berdino. then he went overseas for thirteen years He wass in a Hall of fame there And My mom played Tennessee vibe softball And she went to Cal State Sanamerdine and played basketball. see so a family of athletes. Yeah. my brother hooed at a in Arizona, highigh school, here's all time lean scorer for points Yeah, it's just kind of just was hed all that. Growing up were you a Lakers fan Now I was I grew up u Like growing up likeike a bulls fan You know, my my dad from Stain. Louis Today he moved over to San Merardino, but He was I kind of just followed whatever teams he like And as I got older kind of just like just watch the game as a What was your football team Dlphins I' still dolphins spend a whileile every day Dopaudus like. We don't want to Su Bowl within the next five years. I grew up a Patriots fan. so you might just want to walk off the podcast now. Yeah. had a good run. Yeah had a good run. Yeah, I mean, it's still kind of go. We' just little S Bowls this year again. Yeah. That is that is true. Yeah I don't know about your dolphins, but we'll let. We have one good year twenty twenty three. Yeah. I mean's it's crazy, man. Bjri' Dolphins, when you were just a baby, you used to have some real good battles. Yeah thoseose teams. Jason Taylor since you probably don't even Yeah N D line I know good amount about football. You know, Jason Taylor is the brother of Jooy Taylor I enjoy fing Yeahah. they're related That's You didn know that. Okay. That's a little fun fact for you. I'm curious growing up a Bols fan, was there anybody you modeled your game after from that team or anybody in the league in general that you really liked as a kid? I wouldn't say model, but like I really like like they gros. You know, really watching him play how he was a leader for his team And like You can see like guys like playing with him because who he was as a character and as a person of basketball And then like just watching them as a team like Kirk Hyrich and Joe Kimoa, all those guys boozer dang The way they just played the game, you know, just looked like so effortless How about today in the NBA? Are there any players that you sort of envision yourself playing like in the NBA U I say like Jama Muray. Devin Booker, like guars who can get to their spot. Simple limited dribbles, you know impmact winning, you know, in They put their teammates in positions to be successful. I think the Jamal Murray comparisons is a good one like in terms of how you can play because it speaks to what we hit on earlier. The ability to do literally anything. like you can play with the ball. you can play without the ball, you can Jamal Murray is a screener sometimes for Yokch, you know, like there's just different things. that you can do for you, Doest matter to get drafted high? No, it doesn't matter at all. I really just want to go somewhere where it's the best fit for me. where I can just be me, play through mistakes, you know, get the experience and just Impact winning and have a great chance to make for the finals and win. There's been some talk about you limiting workouts trying to steer your way to certain teams. Yeah. what has been the thought process behind behind limiting some of the workouts My thought process has just been like, you know, agents with Rich Paul and Lucas anduff. You know, just trusting them, you not trust them. So whatever they feel like is best for me. I just kind of like accepted it and then go from there honestly. I mean, they've been very good at that over the years. I know like Derek Lvely they steered him towards Dallas to me the lob guy with Luca Obviously Luca got traded to the Lakers, but I mean, the intent was there. And I think for you, it's probably a similar mindset. like where to go is the best spot for Bade and Burryess to get to a finals, as you just said. Is that ultimately really just the goal about winning winning more than anything else for you Yeah, that's the main thing, you know, whether planner. Good team or bad team like We want to just be on a winning team like That's the sideider factor where if you're having fun or if you're bike. a're miserable. You'reaking a lot of money but you're miserable. Yeah like that's not a good feel of how. I mean you making money, but like You lose and it's like, they got people talking to you every every five seconds about how you team this or that. So You want to be able a winning team, for sure. Is that part of the reason why you went to Arizona? Yeah, down D definitely. play with Arion I was being able to play, you know, be able to show I could play on and off the wall And I was able to show that I could play with other great players like Ca Pete, No Jan Bradley, No Mo J on Tob walker light Itist go off for sure and then Also playing what a great coast coach Lloyd What do you love most about basketball Well at most U ' a lot I mean, if I had a, I love everything for real If I had to pick one thing I probably'd just be like The journey honestly I just are like either competing in a closed game with my teammates are the journey with the ups and downs, you know, just The workouts and stuff like that. feeling of getting better that then? Yeah, that's like a crazy feeling for sure, like. You work out, you don't feel yourself getting better day by day, but then you look like a month ago or like two, three months ago, years like o thing I'm getting better over. It's like in the middle, you don't really feel the trajectory going up but then you zoom out and it's like, Ohh my God, I used to suck. definitely for sure. So you had a journey, for sure, the process of just getting better and like Whying to be the best version yourself is fire And five years, where do you envision yourself? Are you an all star Champion, What do you say yourself F years I can see myself as Yeah wanted the better players in the league. Be someone who's a multiple time all star been like highlight Iidles run No win in the finals You never know, a lot can happen in five years. A lot can happen in five years. That's for sure. Bradden. E excited to see how your journey unfolds. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm rooting for you man. Thankk you.. Thankk you time. All Joining me now, Christian Anderson, Christian. How are you, man? Doing great So entering college, you were the one hundred and first ranked recruit What's different then to now as you're on the doorstep of the NBA I think, u Obviously, it's you know, the MBA so Um just coming in and being like One of one of the guys on the you know, higher end is something that is definitely new Then again, I always feel like U always always been overlooked like every single place and Yeah. so I think for me, I think I'm the best player in draft Everybody would probably say that about themselves, but For me, I believe it and So in that aspect, I still feel overlooked. Now I think that's a good way to look at it because even if you go I don't know fifteen, sixteen, seventeen or whatever, that means there's still ten plus guys going ahead of you. Now I think for you when people hear like any player say, I feel like I'm the best player in the draft, there's so many people listening to this podcast who aren't familiar with your game. didn't watch college basketball. How would you describe your game to somebody who has never watched Christin Anderson? I think just a dynamic playmaker like offensively Being able to score the ball as well as I pass the ball and facilitate that's like secondcond to nobody in this draft and know my ability to shoot off the dribble, catch and shoot U And also just read and I've seen every single defense like So being able to just be that Playmaker at the point of our position. but also have the versatility to play offftball too That's the topough player on I mean, I think your versatility is the biggest thing. that's clearly appealing about you because everyvery guard in today's league they they're not Chris Pul They're have the ball in their pos in their possession every single playing have to play off ball. Yeah. And like you're dynamic offball shooter You might even be the best shooter in the draft. Yeah, even though you're an offall guy. Exactly And yeah, like you said on the ball like. I was able to play on the ball this year and show my capability on the ball, but all like I'm just as good. so Like you said, being that dynamic type of shooter And being able to, you know, be plug and play basically, I feel like that's one of my biggest streamths Now, one of the things you didn't mention about yourself that stands out to me is your rebounding As a guard, your average four per game? you had a game with eleven against Cincinnati?ultiple I mean, like give it a lot of high rebound games. is that ability to read that you're talking about part of the reason why you're such a good rebounder as a guard? Yeah Just being able to you know, read the game in because my dad played overseas and I've always played against pros played up and my ability to read the game, I feel like I've always had that and because I've been around it, I've played it for a very long time. so Being able to know like where the ball is going to balnce is a part of it And like I said, like I can do anything somebody asked me to do. so If it's get eleven rebounds, get eleven assists or get thirty points. like I feel like I can do it also How about defensively? Obviously like you're not you're on a six eight wing or something like that. You are a guard and guards tend to get attacked. What did you see in the playoffs in terms of like A Jalen Brunson? What did he do to survive defensively that you'll need to do in the NBA. Yeah, I mean, just have the will to defend like want to do it and Obviously Give some resistance. You got to be physical You got to know everybody's weakness and strength. So playing to that playing the Scoutin report and just being in the right positions, I think is all part of it. And I feel like for me I got the right physicals, like I might be what? six three wish you, six one and a half without B I think like my wingspan is what six, seven almost and So I think I got the right tools to do it. But like you said, like being able to not get paid the some you have to U and I feel like just the will to do it and the fight and the competitiveness you have to have It's a my haveal. so I feel like That's something I'm going keep getting better as I go in the league. I think doesn't matters more than anything else. you could be the best defensive guard in the NBA and like you can do nothing like it doesn't matter sometimes what you do against the great scorers as you know right going against great defensers or sometometimes there's nothing they do to stop you, right? B offense better than better defense. one hundred percent. So at the college well, you ran a lot of ball screens. and one of the nitpicks people have about you is creation without a screen Is that something that you've worked to improve at working without a screen and yourft? Yeah, I mean I feel like the way our offense was designed L screens was a big part of it and I felt like We did that like every single play and It's not that I have to have a screen. That's just how how our teaman our offense and best in the screen. so we use that to our advantage, especially we' having JT So I became heavy heavily reliant on the screen Um I've always been like a one on one player, one on one score like. And one on ones U Like I'm always like I rarely lose in one on one. so felt like J because I was like the game plan doesn't mean I can't do it. and It might have been like I custom myself to have ball screen And as you know, like if you don't do something for a long time, it's kind of hard to just snap back right to it But I felt Like I've always been a great one on one player I and without screens. So I'm not worried about that at all. Does it matter do you get to get drafted high So's I mean that people don't know it, yes, but in my opinion, like I said, like being overlooked is something that People always make the mistake on for me, did it in college, did it High school, A wherever so if they want to say that's my knock and not draft me high because of it I feel like It's U to them so what are people missing Um I mean, Defense like everybody says my defense, but I mean Guard wise, I would say like I'm definitely not the worst defensive player in this draft definitely won of the better shooters.stious A? sorry. We won't talk about them, but love really N notot pertaining to him, but like I'm just saying like even excluding him, like I feel like if I really like because I was never really asked to play defense like that for I play forty minutes. I've always asked to stay on the court, guard the worst player. And that's the reality of it. so I feel like if I'm asked to kind of be that defender My five and five defenses really good. I feel like if I'm asked to do that specific thing So I guess defense to some people really think I'm really trash on, but I feel like like as I've gotten the teams and work out for them, they realize I'm nearly not as bad as it thought Um I' heard you've been really gonna to work on defense. Yeah, exactly, Anne My one on one, like one on one, I've been win my one on ones and workouts too. so If like you said, my my birth thiss I feel like that's a pretty dumb reason, but It's whatever. so Is there any music you like that would surprise some people Music I mean, I think it's recent C byys because of the Michael Jackson movie, but I've been bumping some Michael Jackson Oh they have a MJ Broadway play here in New York I mean they got everything in New York tr So. They got Michael Jackson himself here so No, they got everything New York so, but now Michael Jackson is. Iike as I really started like hearing hearing the music a little bit more, like He's really one to want. You doing like the deep cuts, not even just like thriller Yeah that. Yeah like whatever I mean Obviously the most popular ones Listened to Michael Jackson, probably like percent out of whatever I listen to it's not that much, but if I had to pick What do you do besides basketball Jaw Um hang with friends and family, like get on the game What did you get on FaceTime, whatever like I like to interact with people so So just hanging not games, movies like, movies I can't watch a movie by myself. It would have to be with somebody. But yeah, games or if I'm doing something by myself, it's drawing. And last question for you, Christian, what do you love most about basketball? I think the competitive aspect of it, like The will to be the best is like something that drives me like China out compete people and be better than somebody. Like, especially like For example, like you be somebody one on one, you get that kind of Th love Being better than somebody is the same thing in like five and five. winning games and winning championships and Being people, I feel like the competitive aspect of basketball is like The best thing about it for me. Christ I can't wa to see your current foold. Thank you so for join me today. M for you.. Thank you All right There's a lot of talk every year about sleepers in the first round. whoo are going to be the guys that are stolen with the fifteenth pick, the twenty first pick. whoo's the guy that exceeds expectations. I think a lot of the times people talk about Mz Johnson out of Michigan, Yaxel Lenenburg his teammate, Nate Ayman, very raw prospect out of Tennessee. But then like some of the names that get overlooked are Karim Lopez I playing out of Australia this year. I had them on my podcast Big thick, six eight foot frame. He's the type of guy that I think could be a Steeel. Kristinack out of Houston, Coa Pete Sergio Dela Rea. There's a lot of guys of a guard and forward spot that could become Steeeels. Jaden Aquaintance played twenty eight games in college has a major knee injury, might not even be able to play his rokie year in the NBA. That's why he's falling down board. but guys like that becomes steels I've got two guys on the podcast today, Dlen Swain out of Texas, who's a sixty seven rangey, versatile wing player. and then Alan Graves, a freshman from Santa Clara came off the bench didnidn't even start last year and yet he's a potential top twenty pick. mayaybe even a potential lottery pick this year, but he's the type of guy that could be easily A steel when we look back five to ten years from now in the draft. So up next, we have Danlon Swain, but first, let's go to Alan Graves I' now from Santa Clara, the potential top twenty pick in the twenty twenty six draft, Allan Graves. Allan, how are you? I'm doing good. How about you? I'm doing great today, man. I have to start off asking you about this. Okay. Tell me about the time you got sucker puncheduring again. First question, there we go. So you know, let's start it off, Dunk Do, came down to court fast break got the dunk and then, you know, I was yelling. I yelling that people think I said something. I didn't say anything yelling and then running back to my side of the courirt. Um and then, you know, he didn't like that and got clunched right here And u I'm glad you're glad my team held me back. That's the thing I'm thankful for. What was your reaction in the moment where you're like shocked that it actually happened? I was definitely shocked because as soon as it happened, I like done it this way. And I was like But he really punched me. And then I tried to go and then my teammate grabbed me and It was was there any like friction enteruring that moment like before that in the game? Oh, yeah, it was one moment. I set a screen and he kind of like just pushed me and I pointed at the middle of the game and I was like, you better stop doing that. Chance true heillo, I think's true. he would fit right in with the playoffs and all the punching and pushing and Oh you sticking, right? Yeah, for sure, for sure. And you as well, will, with your intensity, the toughness in with which you play with willingness to take a charge. dive for loose balls. Have you always been wired this way? Yes, sir. That's definitely. I've played the game my whole life just growing up making a winning plers. That's what I pride myself on I always want to win at whatever I'm doing. So just making sure I'm doing the things that cause that. Was that like learned behaviors? Is or someone like you had a parent or teacher or coach that put that in you? O were you just like wired that way from birth? I feel like it's Credit to my dad. He raised me, my brother and my sister, my brother played the LSU, sister played Arbor. So he obviously knew something about the game of basketball and taught us all everything that we know. and Just really growing up. I feel like my toughness and why I play that way is how I grew up just raised to work hard and not even in basketball, but grew up being a mechanic working in the shop with him. so just Having that working mindset was definitely transanslated over to basketball. You grew up playing point card and your family had a lot of point cards in it too, right? Yes sir, grew up Plamp Point Guarda. My family said we don't we don't raise bigs. so and I never I didn't hit my gross burt to like freshman year summer. so It was I was never like the biggest. I was always bigger, but never like Super tall. Where you as a freshman? how tall? Maybe like six foot. But I was I was like I was tall, but I just wasn't super tall. and I grew to six, seven my sophomore year Growing up, I was always trained to be a point guard Well that had. You didn't become bigger more forward say your family stayed true to that. They don't raise bigsise forwards. Eactly. I mean, I'm curious with you, man. like I think You were kind of an unexpected one and done to a lot of people. I mean, you came off the bench last year. you were a six man. Santa Claire and yet you're hearing the draft. There's people who are just tagging along starting to follow the draft this week because the draft is on Tuesday. How would you describe yourself to those people? giveive like a scattery report to the people who would know nothing about Alan Graves. Okay. I say that like we talked about earlier, just really hard working player, I'm going to do whatever it takes to win wh be Dive on the floor for a loose ball, take a charge, get offensive rebound. I pr myself on rebounded win in a possession battle on defensively, Steals, deflections, things like that. and then offensively just being capable to do a little bit of everything. Dribble put the ball on the floor, attack close outs make the right reads, don't turn the ball over. and then, you know, my shooting just being able to suot the ball and sttch the floor You had sixty seven steals on thirty three blocks last season. You shot over forty percent from three and like basically every draft analytics model, you're like a top five to ten guy Do you care about numbers yourself at all or not really. I just want to win and that was my main goal last year was I just wanted to win the game at the end of the day, whatever I had to do, whether I was getting the steals whether I was getting the blocks, shooting the ball, just whatever I got to do in order to win the game. I think that's the funny thing about your game is like you are on analytics driven boards, but like you also pass the eye test with like you said, the toughness, the grit, the mentality, the hustle. So it's like I think with you, that's what makes you such a fascinating prospect. You are You clearly have like raw efficiency. You clearly are impactful defensively you hustle You play hard but you came off the bench. You played at Santa Clara, notot a lot of experience against top level competition. What have your conversations with teams been like when it comes to addressing that aspect with your readiness for the league? I mean, I feel like NBA does a great job of just really, you know, doing their research really knowing the player before I even get into into the, you know offices with them and they They definitely did a great job scouting and just knowing who I was as a player, who I was as a person before I even stepped on the court and worked out in front of them Um, so They were They were big on that and just already knew who I was, And I f feel like that was the biggest part. Now I've talked to a few different teams and I've said like wide graves decide to enter the league. and I've heard a couple of different things people have said. I'm curious, how would you put that in your own words? Why did you decide to stay in the drafts? My faith in God. That was the big thing. just Trusting him, trusting his plan for my life, trusting in his path and Just knowing that this was my purpose and this is where he's leading me. other than that, I mean Obviously you have all the temptations going back to college and IL everything like that, but for me it was just I knew that this was where I wanted to be and this was my goal from the beginning I think the impression I got from talking to people is that like for you, it was like you just want to be in the league just straight up. like college was the path to the league. how long have you had that dream? U since a kid, I mean every every kid grows up, I want to be an NBA. so just Really having that drapes as a kid and being able to pursue it this year, I didn't want to waste that opportunity. I was talking to somebody earlier who said growing up like sometimes where you played if you missed the shot, there wouldd be an alligator Wait there for the rebound. That's true. Yeah, that is very true. We have a camp on the river and a Manack and if you miss the sat that bar goes in the water there's probably a gator there waiting on you to jump get it. No no outlet passes for alligators No No outlt has that unless you want to lose a hand, lose something like that, but most of the time they would mess with you, so you'd be fine You ever go in there for a ball with a gator in there? Yeah. Really? Yeah. Is that scary? I mean, It's growing up like in the Northeast. We don't have those there. The gator won't mess with you unless you buy a bab it's baby or something. Okay, how do you know if there's a baby gator in there? gott . Well that's a lot of faith in God there. There you go. I mean, I'm curious, so can you tell me a little bit about like what was like where you gre up? You mentioned family well you were a mechanic at one point. Growing up you're shooting a ball there' a gator there, you know Tell me a little bit about where you're from. Punch Tula, Louisiana. Most people don't know where it's at. We're right in middle of Batton Rouge Neworle. That's what I say to everybody. We're forty five minutes from both And smaller town maybe like seven thousand eight thousand people in it. like everybody knows everybody town really Brilliant Big community and as far as like everybody is just supportive, very' supportive of each other. I've gotten so many texts throughout this whole process of Congratulations and just we're so proud of you. can't wait to see you again. And just really being able to grow up there and just that community feel is something I'll never forget in why I am, the man I am today. And got a little bit of everything. got working working as a mechanic, going to the swamp skiing on the river, You get a little bit of everything in Louisiana. What's it like it's being here in New York City? the total opposite. Yeah, it's definitely crazy just being in a big city. Coming from a small town it was kind of shele shock, but you know, with the workouts, I've been in a couple big cities. not too new, but definitely Definitely been an adjustment. You mentioned your family, like family up point cards. When was the ball first in your hands? since of baby. I think I played my first game at four or five U Bitty Bar League punch to rec league, Ball' always been in my hands just whether I was at the park, whether I was outside playing One on one, two on and two, three on three, it didn't matter. We just always had a basketball in our ear. What's one flaw people get wrong about you? One flw, people get wrong. U Let's see. athleticm I'm athletic You're got to be dunking it more people.. moreore sucker no sucker punches. more posters.. Yeah, we forget the suckcer punches.. Well Alan, thank you so much for joining me, man. Best of luck with this whole process. Enjoy it all, man. Y sir. Thank. Thank you. All right, now joining me. first round pick at the twenty twenty six NBA draft, Alalen Swayain. How you doing, man Pretty good. How are you? I'm doing great, man. So I think with your game spent three years in college, two years in Xavier, then with Texas, I think that blows me away with you. You took half the shots. at the rim this past season with Texas Was getting to the basket always something you did ever since you were a little kid playing basketball for the first time Honestly, I think it's the complete opposite to be honest. I was always growing up, I was like a sharp shooter, to be honest. I was shooting. If I did get close to the basket it was a floater. I was No contact, shy away from the contact and then once I hit that gth spurt you know, and playing in the Columbia City League and growing up, I think I got more I'm used to getting downhill so You were a sharpshooter. Yeah, it surprised to. Yeah, surprises me. Yeah, sure. what happened? Yeah I don't know. I just got into the room was easy, you know what I mean? I just neverever had to shoot in high school and stuff like that besides like AU and stuff but I could always get to the get downhill so. Now I'm curious when it comes to the shooting ability. you are an eighty plus percent guy from the free throw line. fifty percent guy on floaters But from the perimeter and from three point range, you haven't had as much as much success as shooting the ball has that been a real focus of your training to improve the jumper Yeah, for sure. I think I mean, like I talked about, I've been a good shooter since I was a kid. So it's just like for me reps, confidence being able to get it off quicker. But like I said, my game was always No getting downhill, I a certain. myself in the paint again paint touch just get into the free throw line. So but I think and the shooting, especially the way the NBA is now, it's like super important. but I think I've made progress every single year. I'll continue to do that and be able to show that at the next level Like you said, surprised a lot of people, I guess, so I mean, I think if you do become a knockdown sher like you were when you were a kid you could easily be one of the great steals in the draft because you have everything else. you have the downhill attacking and you're a willing passer, you have your six seven, you have length and versatility, defensively, toughness. like you have literally every other quality that teams are looking for. It's just don want to see you prove it as a shooter. For sure You see yourself that way too. as a guy people are overlooking Yeah, I mean, U It's kind of just the attit chip of my sorder. I think I appreciate people No know kind of sleeping on me if that's what you want to call it because like you said, once Once they see it all work out, I'll be one of the guys that they wish went higher in the drift. So yourour role at Xavier or to your role at Texas, How how would you describe the differences in the way you played at each school and also what you were instructed to do differently? So my freshman year was just about trying to impact the game any ways that I could and just to stay on the court, just to have opportunities. So it was like, Ging the best players sometimes, getting deflections, getting offense into rebounds, creating extra possessions and kind of thriving in transition when I could finishing plays being a good cutter And then with that, the success in that row kind of came more on ball reps my sophomore year, I mean, with me developing getting better on the ball, improving my handle, improving my scoring overall m I just got better at scoring on my own, not necessarily being more like A complimentary player. I think that was kind of my thing at Xavier And then at Texas, I've made a leap every year and I was kinding counting on making another leap and it was just more like being the guy, being a primary ball handler initiating the offense getting everybody else involved and it's just was a product of my hard work every summer and throughout the season just getting better Texas you became one of the most efficient isolation scores in the entire nation. One of the most efficient on synergy sports ever And that's with like primarily getting to the basket I scoring, you talked about how when you were younger you used to be more of a sharp shooter, a guy who avoided contact at the rim when you were super young at Texas What worked for you last year? Was that something you were building towards, like waiting for that opportunity to be an isolation score? And that's is that how you see yourself moving forward in the NBA too? I wouldn't say necessarily like waiting for the opportunity. I think that's just kind of what happened what I grew into. It was just trying to impact the game. be as impactful as I can however that is. And I think that's just, you know kind of how it happened, but At the next level, I just want to like I said, impact however I need to be. you know, there's only Certain guys we' going to come in and have those ISO opportunities. but I think going back if you watch What I did is rock can impact the game off the ball as well. I think I'm a really good cutter. I have a feel for the game. being able to finish possessions, being able to get in there and grab offense rebounds and I'm always going to drive in transition. I'm a good defensive reboundnder. so I make You know, the right players bringing the ball up the floor. So I think however I need to impact, I will I mean, I think one of the misconceptions about you at least in my opinion is like you at Texas, your role is you had to score. you had to finish a lot of possessions. Xavier, you saw some of that more quick decision, decisive making ability that's going to be of the utmost importance in the NBA. like you see the way it was in the playoffs like Got to make instant decisions, right? Forure. I mean, I've talked about that with Coach Nill since my freshman year. we call them. you know,.o point five decisions. when you get it, you have, you know, half a second to either shoot to drive to make one more pass. So I think learning a lot of that from him, a lot of film that will help me thrive at the next level with those type of decisions. You mentioned your rebounding and your defensive play making. I think those are some of your best qualities moving forward in the NBA What stood out to you about this postseason and how do you see yourself fitting in on the defensive end of the floor U I think like you said, I can make plays on the defensive end like I talked about my feelld for the game. knowing when to get in the passing lanes, knowing when to rotate. knowning how long you know to stay with the roller and things like that, but also learning know whatever team I play for their new terminology, there, you know, their principles on the defensive end. I think I'm a quick learner. So with that new information I'd only You know help me get better on defense. How'd you first get into basketball U, I would go spend, you know my summers in Sandusko, Ohio with my dad's side of the family. I mean My mom's side was always around basketball too, but going up there, watching my uncles and my older brother play at the park and then likeike you know, they toss me the ball and I can't get it up to the rim. So Go back home in tellelling my mom, you know, I want to start playing and stop going there for summer and start playing AU and start training and stuff. So When did the NBA dream first kind of spark on your mind Probably when I was around like ten or eleven, you know, kind of when I just felt a little different than my peers who played basketball, who talked about basketball, I just had a different, you know gravitation towards the game and just I felt like it was for me and the NBA always stuck out to me like it was like a dream. Did you know youd be as tall as you became No, I had no idea, honestly. I don't have any like super tall family members. My mom is like five eight. My dad's like Let him tell he's like six two, He's usually like six foot six one. so I don't have any tall uncles or anything like that that are around my height or taller. So I think I just got blessed a little bit. Wow. you had the vision and you were rewarded right Eactly. I mean, I'm curious like I think for you, I mean, some players they have, you know, basketball parents and and some people like they they knew they'd be told they have a seven foot father or whatever. And yet you had this dream. I think when like obviously you have a dream. At what age were you when it first become like, oh my go, this actually has a real chance of being a thing for me I think around My freshman year of high school, just like I talked about, just you have a different feeling than the people you're around. I just always I felt different. I never felt like I was regular. I never felt like I was going to have the same trajectory as the guys around me. so King that I could get better every year and seeing how much growth I made every year. And then also with the gth burs like I went from like six foot, six one and eighth grades, like, sixix three I knew I wasn't done growing. so my sophomoreare was like six, five, six six and then got that extra incquence my junior senior year. so I had the height, I had the size, I had the frame, I had the potential. I always knew the game. I watched the game So I think it just I had the kind of the opportunity I just had to work for it and then when it's that simple, it's easy to go for your dreams. Does it matter to you to get drafted high I think it's more about fit, you know, it's always your a dream to go as high as you want to, just, you know what I mean? When you Tell your kids, like, hey, I was this pick or you know They look back on it, but like I I like we talked about just Making the most of my opportunity one to also look back and say he was a steel. he should have went higher. So I think it's I kind of got the best of both world. It's just a matter of making most of the opportunity with whver you're getting drafted, right? Exactly. I think with you, I'm curious What's your biggest motivator Um just I've always kind of been like the guy that was slept on a little bit. I was never The number one recruit in Ohio. I wasn't even like No more recruit. inner City Columbus all the time. So just not being a guy who was always You know strokke from a young age with the five star McDonald's all American being like the underdog a little bit. just And I feel like I'm in the same position now. I think that's always been my story and that keeps me motivated. Growing up in Ohio, were you a cast fan or just a LeBron fan? What were you? Cast fan for sure, but then I kind of changed to a LeBron fan when they made the move. So ye feels like the whole city was like that, right? Well, it's not some someome were burn in Jerseys. Exactly. It was extreme up there in the Cleveland, Northern Ohio areas. I think I was just fan of the game. So whatever LeBron did, I was a part of it Is he who you're most excited to play against For sure. LeBron James definitely is the most Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Wh knows What's your biggest pet peeve Tassse Traffic is like you love New Yorkity, then, huh Yeah, I mean, New York City she gets me around pretty fast. So I don't have to worry about that as much. but like at Texas, especially like the football game days, man, they shut down the streets. You're trying to get to the facility to practice and Traffic is like, I don't know. it's just for some reason that one bothers me the most, especially because it's so avoable. Like ussually it's just something somebody holding up the traffic and it creates problem for everybody. Human choices. Thow it all up. Thats her. Gta have the self driving cars everywhere. so all be solves.' what do you do besides basketball I play video games a lot. games Like right now I'm playing there's a game called Bully. It's a throwback game It's like it's by Rockstar game, so the same people who made GT I'm born ninety nine. two thousand. Okay, exactly.. It was a game my older brother. he showed me, so I think they're either going to come out with the new version or like remaster it but right now I'm still playing the old one. I've got it on PS five. so you play GTA six when that comes out? For sure. yeah. I'm still on Fortnite two. that was probably the The one I'm most talented with, so it's hard to give that one up, but I'm on PC I have to get a console so I can play GTA on launch day. Yeah, exactly. yeah. I know they make you guys wait on PC just because they w't the mods and stuff like thatp. I know. D definitely gotta get a console. It's like I think for GTA five, they made the PC players wait eighteen months. Yeah. I can't wait eighteen months to play GTA. Not for GTA six No craz. play I might take day off Me too too. m's a game, right. Last question for you, Daylon. What do you love most about basketball Um, I think just how much I learned on the court and off the court, seeing my progression, being able to, you know, reflect on myself from A certain point, whether it was when I was in high school or when I started college to now always having those moments to look back on especially playing at this level when everything's publicized, you can look and see, you know, what you were doing at this time, how how you looked, what your body looked like, and then also just the people you meet the connections, the relationships you build through the game and through everybody's share love for the game and you see guys that you gre up with like DP's in Ohio guy to see him be potentially the number one pick in the NBA draft like It's a great feel and seeing guys succeed in their stories too. I'm looking forward to seeing how your career unfolds Daleen. enjoy this week I'moting for you, man. Thank you so much for joining me. Thank you. Thank for having me. Big thank you to all of my guests today. Everything is changing very, very constantly throughout the day. Maybe we're going to get a Yanas trade. Maybe we don't. Maybe Yanis is still in a buuck uniform entering draft day. We'll see what happens there. I can't wait to see what happens. We're going to go on live on Yahoo Sports NBA during the NBA draft. It's going to be me. Ice Young, Tom Havistro and King McClure all live throughout the entire first round on Tuesday night reacting to everything It's happening. I can't wait I'm foring up for it Let's go, baby. NBADrave, best time of the year, trade season. let's see what's going to happen. Thank you so much for joining me in today's episode. Thanks to all the producers here at Yahoo Sports in New York City. Have a good rest of your day. See you on Tuesday night