Nov. 22, 2025

Devin Booker on Kobe Bryant’s Legacy, His Rise to the NBA & Rare Fan Q&A | Pro Files EP 1

Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker sits down for a rare and exclusive interview with Pick’em Pros Correspondent Bryanna Sompayrac on the very first episode of Pro Files.

Bryanna — founder of Bryanna Sports — spent months building a campaign to get Booker’s attention, and her persistence paid off. Devin agreed to this one-on-one sit-down, making this a truly special moment for our platforms and for fans who know he rarely does interviews.

In this conversation, Devin opens up about:
🔥 His relationship with Kobe Bryant and the impact Kobe had on his mindset
🔥 His journey to the NBA, from Michigan to becoming a franchise star
🔥 Fan-submitted questions from both Michigan and Arizona supporters
🔥 His favorite food, music, game-day mindset, and more
🔥 What motivates him today — on and off the court

This is an authentic, thoughtful conversation that gives fans a deeper look into who Devin Booker is beyond basketball.

📌 Guest: Devin Booker
📌 Host: Bryanna Sompayrac (Pick’em Pros Correspondent & Founder of Bryanna Sports)
📌 Series: Pro Files EP 1 — where we sit down with today’s most impactful athletes and personalities

▶️ Make sure to subscribe for upcoming exclusive interviews, athlete stories, and more Pro Files episodes.

#PickemPros #ProFiles #DevinBooker #KobeBryant #PhoenixSuns #NBAInterview

Pick'em Pros is a father son duo who enjoy talking sports, debating and having fun while doing it!

Please subscribe to the podcast today and share this content with your friends!

00:00 - Opening And Era Of Basketball

00:37 - Michigan Roots And Early Hoops

03:16 - Memories At The Courthouse

05:14 - Coming Home Traditions And Spots

07:08 - Lessons From Kobe’s Mentorship

09:17 - Moving South And Culture Shock

11:58 - Music That Marks A Transition

13:58 - Advice For Young Hoopers

16:45 - Arizona Balance, Travel, And Nature

WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.200
If you could drop into any era of basketball, which one would you choose?

00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:04.000
And why?

00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640
Another good question.

00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:09.439
Thank you.

00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:11.039
I love our I love our era.

00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:13.839
I love the evolution of the game and what it's coming to.

00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:15.599
Sometimes I sit back.

00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:23.440
I'm like, imagine like Wimby in the 90s, or even Carl, like a seven foot one or two guys shooting deep threes.

00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:26.399
Like, the evolution of the game has been so crazy.

00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:30.320
I pick them like a pro, go drop ball, talk a pick a rope.

00:00:31.120 --> 00:00:32.479
We're gonna up to go touchdown.

00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:33.600
This is not feel go.

00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:37.039
We the one in team champions when you walk through the home.

00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:46.320
Hey everyone, it's Riano with Ronald Sports and Pick'em Pros, and I have a very special interview today who means a lot to both Michigan and Arizona, Devin Booker.

00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:52.880
And this interview actually means a lot to me as well because I grew up in Michigan like you did, and I left around the same age, but you did as well.

00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:54.719
I was 13 when I left Michigan.

00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:58.320
And no matter where I go, Michigan's always home, no matter what.

00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:00.240
And so today we're gonna bring those roles together.

00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.119
Michigan and Arizona men have a great time interviewing.

00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:04.079
I'm with it.

00:01:04.400 --> 00:01:05.200
I'm excited to be here.

00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:05.680
Good.

00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:08.159
I'm glad you're excited to be here because it makes me feel a lot better.

00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:09.200
There we go.

00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:12.400
Okay, so we're gonna start with a few fan questions from Michigan.

00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:15.680
They send in a few questions and they're really good, I will just say.

00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.599
So, Sydney from Caldonia.

00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:18.799
Do you know if I'm saying that right?

00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:19.200
Yeah.

00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:19.760
I am.

00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:20.400
Oh, okay.

00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:21.599
I thought this whole time I wasn't.

00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:22.560
So that's right.

00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:27.680
Okay, so Sydney from Caldonia wants to know do you have any memories playing at the courthouse in Byron Center?

00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:28.560
I do.

00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:32.000
Um, that's where majority of my grassroots started.

00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:39.920
Um I played for a team called Grand View Elite because I lived in Grandville, and then I eventually tried out for the Courthouse Kings.

00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:46.719
So it was a green team, and my mother actually just recently brought over my jersey from from the courthouse.

00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:48.400
So I put it in the archives.

00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:49.040
Yeah.

00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:54.159
Um when you were there, did it like mem like get in your mind that you will make it to the NBA?

00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:56.159
Or was it a little bit after that when you realized?

00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:57.599
Uh it was always a dream.

00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:01.920
Um, but I took it, you know, I'd say one step at a time.

00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:02.079
Right.

00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:06.640
Uh first I wanted to make my JV team as a freshman.

00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:11.680
Uh ended up getting moved up to JV halfway through the year, but I started on freshman.

00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:16.800
Um, and then once I got to high school, like free college was, you know, my goal.

00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:28.960
And then once I got to college and I was surrounded by a bunch of guys at Kentucky that were considered, you know, top NBA draft picks, that's where, you know, my real dream started, where I was like, I want to make it to the NBA.

00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:29.360
Yeah.

00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:30.080
That's awesome.

00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.840
You know, just to hear that story, it means a lot because you just did not give up.

00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:34.639
You kept pushing.

00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:36.080
So that's that's amazing.

00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:36.639
All right.

00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:42.560
And then Caleb from Grand Rapids, he wants to know when you come back home, what's the first thing you like to do or a place you like to go?

00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.360
Me personally, have you heard of Toasted Pickle in Grand Haven?

00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:46.159
I have not.

00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:48.639
Okay, well, that might have to be a place that you might have to stop.

00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:51.439
It has the best sandwiches, I will just say that's my go-to place.

00:02:51.680 --> 00:02:52.639
I'm yesterday.

00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:53.919
Downtown, yeah.

00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:55.840
Bricktown, Grand Rapids.

00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:57.520
Um, I still go.

00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:02.400
You can flip the quarter into a little you can shoot it.

00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:05.919
I forgot what it's into, but you get like a free dog if you make it.

00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:09.680
But yeah, a lot of my friends are are still back home.

00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:12.879
Um every 4th of July, we go back to Michigan.

00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:15.680
This summer we did Arcadia, Michigan, northern Michigan.

00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:17.599
A little bit of Harbor Spring.

00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:20.080
So, you know, nothing's like home.

00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:20.960
Yeah, exactly.

00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:23.599
And I bet you made it and you got a free hot dog every time.

00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:24.879
Not every time.

00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:26.960
Almost, yeah.

00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:33.680
Okay, and then Travis from Grand Haven, he wants to know what was the most valuable lesson or practice that he learned from Kobe?

00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:37.919
Um, there were so many.

00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:44.719
I mean, honestly, growing up in Michigan, you know, being a Pistons fan, we weren't the biggest fans of Kobe.

00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:45.039
Right.

00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:45.759
Uh yeah.

00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:48.960
So we we played them in the finals, we ended up beating them.

00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.520
Um, so that was a big part of my childhood.

00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:53.840
But then I just everybody respected him.

00:03:53.919 --> 00:04:00.960
You know, you might not have liked him when he played, but you know, you respected the mentality, um, you respected the competitiveness.

00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:04.960
And, you know, Kobe's last year was my first year in the NBA.

00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:07.520
And, you know, he left me with a lot of great words.

00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:13.199
And um, people always told me, you know, he wasn't so open to everybody.

00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:24.560
And I think I was one of the very few that, you know, he invited me um to GG's basketball terminal here in Arizona, you know, to spend time with the girls and um just being around him, man.

00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:29.680
He he he was super punctual, um and he worked the hardest on anybody.

00:04:29.920 --> 00:04:31.040
Yeah, I can see that.

00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.560
Yeah, I can see where you get it from.

00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:33.040
Yeah.

00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:37.519
All right, now we're gonna move over to Arizona because this is your home now, too.

00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.240
So there's a lot of people that love and support you here in Arizona.

00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:43.279
And the first one is John from Chandler, who is actually my cousin.

00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.079
Fun fact.

00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:51.040
But but growing up in Grand Rapids, how was that transition when you went to Moss Point to pursue your basketball career?

00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:53.600
Oh, it was tough, honestly.

00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:59.600
Um, you know, I had a little bit of experience of Mississippi because I used to leave Michigan in the summer.

00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:05.199
My dad played overseas, so he'd get two months off, and that's when I would leave Michigan to go down there.

00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:11.199
Um, you know, so it wasn't like my first time in Mississippi when I moved down there, but it was definitely a culture shock.

00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:14.240
Um from the Midwest to deep, deep south.

00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:19.120
This, you know, there's many different values of of living.

00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:22.399
Um to both simple living, I would say.

00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:24.399
You know, in Michigan, you're sitting by a fire.

00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:24.639
Right.

00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:29.279
In Mississippi, you know, you're sitting on the porch or sitting in the garage playing cards.

00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.000
So um Southern hospitality is a real thing.

00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:43.759
Uh, you know, I learned how to, you know, respect my elders at a at a higher level than uh than I did growing up in Michigan, but um I take both values from from both places, and that's kind of what made me.

00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:45.120
Yeah, no, I love that.

00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:46.720
I've been to the South many times.

00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.759
I was just in North Carolina, and it's amazing to be there.

00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:51.199
Everyone's so like nice.

00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:55.279
Yeah and just like the Midwest, I guess, but it feels better down, I think.

00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:59.439
All right, now DJ, who's might guess it, also my cousin.

00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:00.079
Okay.

00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.079
She has a lot of family out here.

00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:02.800
Yes, I do.

00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:04.240
Not in Michigan, though, actually.

00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:06.800
Yeah, but that's a whole different story for me.

00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:07.920
A different time, you know.

00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:12.480
But if you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:15.120
Ooh, that's tough.

00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:16.879
That's tough.

00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:19.040
I know you love music, so there's a lot of options.

00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:20.480
And it has to be Drake.

00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:21.439
Yeah, obviously.

00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:23.279
So I agree with that.

00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:26.720
So I'm looking for some versatility, which he has.

00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:30.720
I go, nothing was the same.

00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:31.920
Oh my gosh.

00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:32.160
Yeah.

00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.160
He he's smiling off camera.

00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:35.600
He might have called that one.

00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:36.000
He did.

00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:37.199
He called that one, okay.

00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:37.839
He did.

00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:38.720
No, I agree.

00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:39.519
I love Drake.

00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:40.879
I listened to him a lot.

00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:41.439
Yeah.

00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:45.439
That album dropped, I think, right during my transition to Mississippi.

00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:52.560
So I think my sophomore year of high school, I was about 15 years old, and you know, I had a 35-minute drive to school every day.

00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:55.759
And that album, yeah, it got me through my transition.

00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:58.560
And now Cam from Flagstop, not a cousin.

00:06:58.879 --> 00:06:59.600
He could be though.

00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:00.639
We don't know.

00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.279
But there are a lot of young hoopers looking up to you.

00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:06.160
So what's your message to them when they want to make it to the league?

00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:07.279
What would you say to them?

00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:12.319
I say back to what, you know, I I said earlier, you know, take it one step at a time.

00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:15.040
It's uh, you know, it's an everyday grind.

00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:18.720
Um, and you know, the work, the work shows.

00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:29.120
You know, you can try to cheat your way through, um, you can try to do six reps instead of ten, but at the end of the day, like once the lights are on, it's gonna come to light.

00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.560
So um, you know, fall in love with it.

00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:35.120
I think that's a something I never had a problem with.

00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:36.560
I've always loved the game.

00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:45.839
And you know, you'll be around a lot of people that surprisingly in the NBA or in college that you know you feel like they're just checking the box being there.

00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:49.199
Like they were tall growing up, so they had to play basketball.

00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:52.800
But you know, once you fall in love with your work, you fall in love with getting better.

00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.879
You know, it makes the whole lifestyle a lot better.

00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:55.759
Yeah, I agree.

00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:58.480
I played basketball when I was little, but obviously I wasn't very good.

00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.079
I'm like tiny, so I was point guard, but you know, I wasn't very good.

00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:06.319
But I did try and push through, but one time I was playing in the snow and I was like so over I wanted to go home.

00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:07.439
I was like crying, I think.

00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:08.959
That's meant for indoors.

00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:09.600
Yeah, exactly.

00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:10.079
Exactly.

00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:11.920
That's why I was like, why am I playing outside?

00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:14.000
But anyway, moving on.

00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:17.279
So I know that Arizona has become a home for you.

00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:21.360
And in the offseason, you spend a lot of time up north in places like Flagstaff and Sedona.

00:08:21.439 --> 00:08:25.199
Do those places kind of remind you of Michigan or do you just see them as their own getaway space?

00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.480
Uh a little bit of both.

00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:28.399
I'd say flag more than Sedona.

00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:28.639
Right.

00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:33.120
With the terrain with the trees, and um, like I said, by a fire.

00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:38.240
We spend a lot of time by the fire up there, and you know, it's just it's nice to have balance.

00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:41.120
You know, people see me up there, but I do travel a lot.

00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:45.519
I go to Europe very often, so I always say balance, you know.

00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:52.159
I'll go spend two weeks in Flag and then take a week vacation and you know, go to Saint Tropez or something like that.

00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:54.240
So I've always enjoyed traveling.

00:08:54.320 --> 00:09:00.799
I feel like I'm learning the most, you know, when I'm tapping into other people's cultures, other people's environment.

00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:02.799
And you know, I f I have fun with it.

00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:03.679
Yeah, that's good.

00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:05.759
My goal is to go out of country one of these years.

00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:06.320
Yeah.

00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:07.200
I'll get there.

00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:07.519
Yeah.

00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:13.759
And then when you're here in the valley, what is like your favorite thing about the valley, whether it's the food, the people, or the beautiful sunsets?

00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:15.679
All three.

00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:17.840
Do I have to rank it now?

00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:26.960
The people, you know, starting with that, you know, um, I've always got my space here too.

00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:36.559
Like, even though people know who I am, they'll give a quick hello, um, enjoy your day, but you know, nothing too taxing, nothing too invasive.

00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:43.120
Um, you know, they treat me as as if I'm one of them, and you know, you can't beat the sun, the sunsets, like you say.

00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:43.759
I know, I know.

00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:46.159
Sunrise is also beautiful.

00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.960
Yeah, so it's a beautiful place to be.

00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:49.440
It is.

00:09:49.519 --> 00:09:52.159
I like to go and hold in the rock and watch the sunset from there.

00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:52.879
It's so pretty.

00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:53.600
I just love it.

00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:57.600
Because in Michigan, like you get beautiful sunsets, but I feel like here it's just it's just different.

00:09:57.840 --> 00:09:59.600
Yeah, 300 days a year, it feels like that.

00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:00.720
Yeah, exactly.

00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:01.519
Okay.

00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.440
And now I have a few questions on my own to tag along with all the everyone else.

00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:09.279
Um, if you could drop into any era of basketball, which one would you choose?

00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:10.080
And why?

00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:10.960
Hmm.

00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:14.639
Another good question.

00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:15.519
Thank you.

00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:17.120
I love our I love our era.

00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:19.840
I love the evolution of the game and what it's coming to.

00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:29.440
Sometimes I sit back, I'm like, imagine like Wimby in the 90s or even Carl, like a seven foot one or two guys shooting deep threes.

00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:32.639
Like, the evolution of the game has been so crazy.

00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:38.240
Um, especially being a student of the game and tapping into those 80s and 90s arrows.

00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:44.080
But I'd say early 2000s, you know, Alan Iverson, you know what I'm saying?

00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:44.879
That that time.

00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.480
Yeah, I like Alan Iverson.

00:10:46.559 --> 00:10:49.360
I watch highlights because I was barely alive when he was playing, obviously.

00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:52.720
But when I look back, I'm like, geez, he was a real deal.

00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:53.679
He was trouble.

00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.120
Yeah.

00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:55.919
Okay.

00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.039
And then you've always talked about how close you are with your family and your parents.

00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:04.000
What is one thing that your a family member has taught you that has really stuck with you to this day?

00:11:04.399 --> 00:11:04.960
Nothing.

00:11:05.279 --> 00:11:10.080
Let's say my mother, just watching her grind every day, you know, working 8 a.m.

00:11:10.320 --> 00:11:11.120
to 8 p.m.

00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:24.720
Um, you know, is it's a different type of grind uh outside of sports, but you know, you've seen the wear and tear on the body, you've seen her come home exhausted, and still the next morning just ready to go.

00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:29.360
And that's the mindset that I that I take to work every day with me.

00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:40.639
Um my dad, kind of similar, um, but he was overseas most most of my childhood, so I didn't get to watch the development of a pro and um what he was actually doing over there.

00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:49.519
But I think knowing that your dad is a professional basketball player and getting to watch highlights of him even furthermore inspired me to keep going.

00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:50.480
Yeah, that's good.

00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:51.519
I I agree with you.

00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:54.000
My mom, she is exactly the same way.

00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:58.879
She'll work hours and hours just to support me and my sister, no matter what it takes.

00:11:59.120 --> 00:11:59.840
Shout out to mom.

00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:01.039
Yeah, shout out to my mom.

00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:04.159
Oh, she's so cute.

00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:08.720
Okay, so sorry, she distracted me off class.

00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:09.120
Sorry, mom.

00:12:09.360 --> 00:12:10.480
Well, didn't mean to make her cry.

00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:11.200
Love you, mom.

00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:15.360
Okay, what's one lesson about leadership that you had to learn the hard way?

00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:21.360
I would say um it comes in so many different forms.

00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:27.600
And in sports, I feel like people always feel like the right way is the team that's winning.

00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:27.919
Right.

00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:35.519
You know, everyone has their different leadership styles, some are super loud with it, some people lead by example and lead by action.

00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:40.159
So, you know, I just realize everybody, you know, takes leadership in different ways.

00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:52.480
So developing personal relationships with your teammates or the people you work with if it's not basketball, um, and see what you know, just see what works the best for the type of person that you're trying to lead.

00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.919
Yeah, that's a good one.

00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:54.799
Love it.

00:12:55.120 --> 00:13:01.039
And then with how demanding your schedule is, because you travel multiple times a week, how do you just like regain yourself?

00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:04.879
Because me, if I travel once every few months, I'm like dead for a whole week.

00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:06.799
So how do you do it with traveling so much?

00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.559
Yeah, I mean it's sleep.

00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.159
Yeah, sleep super important.

00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:14.080
Um it's became even more important as my career kept going.

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:20.960
You know, my early years I feel I could stay up to two or three and wake up at eight and go to practice and be fine.

00:13:21.200 --> 00:13:26.879
But you know, now I'm getting my nine, ten hours consistently, um, and just recovery.

00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:41.519
You know, I spent a lot of time on my body, you know, credit our training staff, um, my masseuse that I have that that's out here, you know, as majority of my day is practice, go home, treatment for another two hours, cold tubs, sauna.

00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:42.799
Those are good.

00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:46.159
And then how would you describe the energy of yourself and your team?

00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:50.159
Um, and what do you think is contributing to that energy this season?

00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:52.000
I'd say we're young and youthful.

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:52.320
Yeah.

00:13:52.559 --> 00:14:01.039
You know, it it changed quickly from me being, you know, the youngest guy on the team most of my career to and I'm the second or third oldest.

00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:09.759
And, you know, we have a lot of youth, a lot of guys 22 and under, and they honestly carry carry the energy through the locker rooms.

00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.639
Um it's like last game, like it was a back-to-back.

00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:17.840
So we played in Dallas, had to fly here, got home at 2 3 a.m., had to play the next day.

00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:20.960
I come into the locker room, I'm I'm wore out, honestly.

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:24.799
And I came in, it was like they hadn't played in a week.

00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:33.840
Like the whole locker room was rapping, jumping around, ready to go, and you know, I felt off that energy, and you know, we ended up handling business.

00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:38.639
Yeah, that's always good when you have like amazing teammates to help you out too, especially on those long days.

00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:39.360
Exactly.

00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:39.840
Yes.

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:46.159
Okay, and then with Thanksgiving coming up, I do have to ask what's something you're most thankful for right now, whether it's on or off the court?

00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:51.200
I say always family, say health is is important.

00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.799
It's the only thing we got.

00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:58.720
So as long as my family's healthy and happy, you know, I'm I'm gonna be in a good place.

00:14:58.960 --> 00:14:59.360
Yeah, that's good.

00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:01.440
I'll have to back off you and agree with that one.

00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:05.039
And then I I do have to ask this one as well.

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:08.720
Who is or what is Savage Swingman from Slam magazine?

00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.159
Savage Swingman?

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.279
I'm not familiar.

00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:11.840
Really?

00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:12.399
It's you.

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:12.960
Here.

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:13.759
Yeah, here.

00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.279
Look at this card.

00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.720
That's you, right?

00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.000
Yeah, 21-year-old Savage.

00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:20.720
Yeah, I remember that.

00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:21.279
I remember that.

00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:22.799
That was a good tagline they put on there.

00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.799
Yeah, what is the backstory with that?

00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.080
Um, they did it.

00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:28.960
You know, I would think that might have been my first slam cover.

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:31.919
Um and then I didn't see it until the day it came out.

00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:36.879
I was 21, and then obviously the play on 21 Savage.

00:15:37.840 --> 00:15:39.600
Do you like that Nick's still?

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:43.279
I'm not 21 anymore, but I mean you could still be a Savage Swingman.

00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.720
29-year-old Savage Speaker.

00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.440
Yeah, exactly.

00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.399
Yeah, you can still be.

00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.679
It's just a number, you know.

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.639
You can do whatever you want.

00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:49.200
Exactly.

00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.320
You can be whoever you want.

00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.080
The Savage is in there somewhere, still.

00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:52.879
Yeah, exactly.

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:56.399
We see it on game days with over 30 points a game.

00:15:56.559 --> 00:15:58.080
That's definitely a savage man.

00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:58.879
Appreciate that.

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.759
Yeah, of course.

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:02.240
And then I do have to ask this one as well.

00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.679
I have so many that I just have to ask.

00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:08.399
So you did get asked this, and you just said it was a good question, but we never got the actual answer.

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.159
What is your favorite place to eat?

00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.200
Yes, in the valley.

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.080
Yeah.

00:16:13.919 --> 00:16:16.080
Don't say it's just a good question again.

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.480
It is a great question.

00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.159
I know there's a lot of places.

00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:20.720
Yeah.

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:24.240
And I don't want to Favorite one or the other.

00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:25.440
Yeah, I wanna.

00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.519
Global Ambassador.

00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:29.840
It's the hotel right next door.

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:35.200
They have three restaurants in there, and they're all hits to me.

00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:39.679
So if you get a chance to go over there, yes, maybe I love this.

00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:40.320
You never know.

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.120
Good eats.

00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:41.600
Yeah.

00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:42.240
All right.

00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.919
Well, that was all of our questions.

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:49.039
And I do just want to personally thank you because I mean, you are basically the foundation of my career right now.

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.559
So I really do appreciate you.

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:56.000
And on behalf of everyone in Michigan and Arizona, we we love you and we thank you a lot for everything that you do.

00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:57.600
No, thanks for coming.

00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:01.039
This is the you know, example of hard work.

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:09.039
You know, it's probably been a few months now of you know, people send me the video of you, send me the video of you, and then you know, I'm glad it came to life.

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.000
Yeah, me too.

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.960
So thank you so much.

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:16.079
And also, as someone who left West Michigan chasing a dream, it's inspiring to see how far you've taken yours.

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.200
Your turn.

00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:20.960
No pressure.

00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:23.359
I I'm good under pressure and no pressure.

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:23.839
I can do it.

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.039
I heard that.

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.240
Well, thank you so much.

00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.279
Thanks for having me.

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:32.799
I pick them like a bro, go drop a ball, talk and pick a rope.

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.599
We go up the go, touch it down, go.