Mike was drafted in 2012 by Atlanta, where he stayed 5 seasons, after the Hawks he went to Washington, the Clippers and 3 mores years in Philadelphia. After a one year break, he’s back in the game and we found him in Europe in France with Nancy and finally now with ASVEL. For Bouncewear, Mike takes the time to share his journey with us.
BEING AN NBA PLAYER
Mike, you played around 600 games in the League in 9 years, can you tell me a little about your experience over there, how does it feel to be a NBA player, do you remember your feeling back in the day when you signed your first contract?
“I was drafted after college in second round, feels great, to see family and friends happy for you, to see your name on TV and to join the League. But you know to be a rookie in the NBA is tough, when you are in college you are like the big man of the campus, everyone knows you but when you join the NBA, you start at the bottom, end of the bench, it was definitely humbling but I got to learn, it gave me a better work ethic like getting in early before practice to work out, I learned a lot thanks to some veterans.”
FACING LEBRON IN THE PLAYOFFS
With the Hawks Squad, you had a very good team and were very good in the regular season but when you faced in the playoffs, Lebron and the Cavs beat you two years in a row, can you talk about how tough it’s to play LeBron in the playoffs, and how hard is to guard him?
«Lebron, he’s one of one».
« “ It’s hard to play him every time, in October, November, December, whatever... He is a smart player and really strong, but I think his Basketball IQ is really different, for example how he put his teammates in the rights places, he makes the rights plays at the right moment, it’s just Lebron.
In my 6 years, we won 60 games in regular seasons, we had 4 all-stars, number one team in the NBA, we went to the Eastern Conference Final and he sweeped us. To be honest it’s pretty hard to be the number 1 seed and be sweeped because we had home-court advantage, but Cleveland came to Atlanta and beat us twice, that’s tough; Same story when Lebron played Toronto in Playoffs. The last thing about him: I am not surprised he’s still performs at his age, to play at his level at 38 years which no one ever did... that’s Lebron.
TRUST THE
PROCESS
You played in Philadelphia too, the « Trust The Process » era, with guys like Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler. Can you tell me a little bit about this team, and what it feels like to play for the city of Brotherly love?
“ We had a perfect Team, we lose because of Kawhi’s shot, probably the craziest shot in the history in a game 7. Toronto went to the Final and won, Kawhi won Finals MVP so I can’t say nanything. If they lose in the finals I would be pissed off ofcourse. We really had a great team, everyone had a role, Joel, JJ, Tobias, Ben and also Jimmy was a big part of the team too. Playing for Philly was nice, we had our DNA, a tough team, aggressive, little bit Dirty, you know Philly is like that.“
Mike shares some thoughts about his time in NBA, what is your best memory:
Played against:
Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic."
What about the most underrated players in the NBA back in the days when you were playing in the League?
Playing overseas
After a one year break, Mike Scott joins France and SLUC Nancy, after 9 years in NBA he discovered European Basketball, Mike shares with us the process to his signing with the French club.
“So I was at home, my agent called me to tell me I have an opportunity in Nancy, I told everyone I am going to Nancy, France, they were like “Nancy? Where is it?”, to be honest I didn’t know, I even looked it up on Google to see the city, I know I pronounced the name wrong for a full year, sorry for that (laughing). It was a great opportunity and situation for me, the team, the organization and the fans welcomed me well, they gave me a chance. I love Nancy for that.
« I always always give credit to this club ».
Overseas life
People don’t really understand how hard is to be an American player here in Europe, you are from a different county with a different culture, you know no one, far away from your family, everything is different here, the language, the money, the food, can you talk about that?
“You’re right, it is not easy, first
week when I was in Nancy, I was just like walking around, looking at the
place downtown to see where I will be for the season. Talked a lot to my
teammates, if I had questions they helped me.
I remember the team
gave me a sleeping pill because the jetlag was so bad for me so I
couldn’t sleep the first week and because of that I was so tired during
practice. Not all players will play all their career in NBA, some will
never play one game in the league, then come overseas and play here, it
is not a bad thing. American People need to stop thinking if you are
going overseas and are not in the NBA that you are trash or washed, even
when I was in the league I never thought that. To play overseas and
Euroleague and be efficient you need to be a good player. Everyone’s
journey is different and you have different opportunities all along your
career.
« To come overseas and play here, it is not a bad thing, everyone’s journey is different».
Discovering the euroleague
This summer you joined LDLC Asvel, one of the best clubs in France and you discovered Euroleague, as a player who played 9 years in the NBA, what do you think of this competition, about the level and can you tell us the biggest difference with NBA?
“First of all, LDLC Asvel is nice, fans
are great, coaches are great, the team is like a family, I know we did
not accomplish what we want at the beginning of the season, but it was a
good experience for me to discover Euroleague, to get to know different
teams and cities. Euroleague is the biggest league after NBA, I like it,
I enjoy it.
The biggest difference between NBA and Euroleague for me
is the physicality, I think it’s more physical here, more contact is
allowed here before the ref calls a foul. To go to free throw line you
need to earn it in Euroleague, in NBA you can a have foul more easy.
To finish with the NBA/Euroleague comparison, in NBA it’s all about
more points, more highlights for social media and more money. Here in
the Euroleague all the games are like playoff games, every game is
intense.“
Can you talk about some players who impressed you in the Euroleague? The ones where you ask yourself why are they not in the NBA?
“Jabari Parker without doubt! Mathias Lessort from Panathinaikos, he can play well the 5 in a small ball system, Yabusele from Real Madrid, he’s good. This guy right here (showing with his finger to Mbaye Ndiaye in the gym) he doesn’t now yet, when I saw him play last year with Blois when I was with Nancy, I told all my teammates he will not stay here. He has NBA talent. For the guards I have to say Mike James and Shane Larkin for sure, but I would also consider Wade Baldwin from Maccabi, he is a big guard, can play defense, is athletic and can shoot, perfect for the NBA.“
Are you surprised to have more ex-NBA Players who come to play Euroleague because they don’t get minutes in the NBA like Jabari Parker, Kendrick Nunn or Mike James for example?
“For Jabari Parker, I am surprised because he is still young, he still athletic and good, but you know maybe it’s a part of his journey, maybe he will never play an NBA game again but in my opinion he can play, for other guys I think it’s depends, it can be a personal choice or not, all players have a different journey you know.“
Mike, you will be 36 years old in July, but to be retired it’s not in your plans, you want to play until you’re 40, but what will you do after?
“First I will definitely spend more time with my family for sure, follow my kids and support them. I like to be a Skills Development Coach in NBA, somebody who can help you to work on your game. NBA Teams have always like 3 or 4 development coaches in their staff, to help players to work out before or after practice or for a personal workout, I would like that.“
« I think i will play until 40 years old, I like this number 40! ».
It’s that time again. The NBA is back. Finally!
We
want to thank Mike Scott for his time and LDLC Asvel who welcomed us in the
Astroballe. We wish them the best for the end of the season.
