Drew Eubanks, from bat to racket

He just signed a contract worth more than $ 5 million over the next three years with the Spurs, but Drew Eubanks was not really destined for a career in the NBA. On the contrary, it is in another major league, the MLB, that the young native of Oregon envisaged his future …

It must be said that with a throw that could reach 140 km / h, the great Drew had great predispositions for the American sport par excellence. Before entering high school, he had never even touched a basketball …

A kid rocked by baseball

“I grew up playing only baseball” he confirms in the Express News. “I didn’t want to play any other sport. I didn’t even like basketball. All my life I thought I was gonna be a pitcher [lanceur, ndlr]. »

Passionate about this sport of which his father, Dave, was also a fan, Drew Eubanks put all his heart into it. And his arm with …

“He was phenomenal at his best”, supports Kyle Swoboda, his coach at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, a quiet city northeast of Portland, along the Columbia River. “Every time he got on the mound, our guys were more relaxed. We knew that if we could just make a run around the field, we were good. At each of his games, there were one or two Division I scouts and one or two pro scouts coming. »

But that was before I met John Poetsch, the basketball coach of said Reynolds High School. A visionary, the latter quickly spotted Drew’s athleticism. And he even went so far as to predict that young Eubanks had the potential to turn pro, maybe not in the NBA, but at least in Europe or elsewhere.

And for good reason, Drew Eubanks did not take long to switch: “He was dunking before he could even hope to do it”, breathes his father, Dave. “He kind of walked into the gym and he did it straight. He had never seen basketball before. We told him: put the ball behind your head and do a 180 °. And he did! “

Recruited by several universities when he does not know the rules

Completely ignorant in basketball terms, the Eubanks family was quickly put to the scent, with the breathtaking progress of their talented kid, soon spotted by several universities, including Grand Canyon University, the very first to appear.

Finally, Drew will choose to stay not far from his family, giving his consent to Oregon State, the college of a certain Gary Payton, whose son of the same name played with Drew Eubanks. During a festive meal organized by the team, the Eubanks even wondered who this guy was who spoke a lot and very loudly, who everyone was asking for autographs … “This is to say how much we knew nothing about basketball”, smiled Dave.

Another reason why Drew Eubanks chose the Beavers is that he had the opportunity to combine basketball and baseball. But the latter, his childhood passion, will eventually become an ulterior motive after a grueling basketball season.

“I was trying to mentally prepare myself to join the team as a pitcher. But I couldn’t find the energy, I was so tired. I said to myself: what am I doing? And then, I had more and more universities interested in basketball than in baseball … even though I didn’t even know the rules yet! So I started to pay more attention to it. “

From 7 points and 5 rebounds on average for his freshman year, to 14 points and 8 rebounds for his second year, Drew Eubanks gradually realizes that he does indeed have a future in basketball with his 2m06 and 111 kg. Him who, a few years before, did not understand much about this game which was brand new to him: “I didn’t know why sometimes I would shoot shots when there was a fault on me and other times nothing happened. ”

A workout that ends in the emergency room

In the summer of 2018, after a junior year with the Beavers at 13 points and 6 rebounds, Drew Eubanks decided to take the plunge and put his name in the Draft. Snubbed in favor of Chimezie Metu, selected in the second round of the 2019 Draft – and since sacked, Drew Eubanks consoles himself with a « two way contract », and a little summer job with the Spurs, for the Las Vegas league.

Moreover, like his quite exceptional career, his first workout with the Spurs did not go quite as planned … During a rebound exercise, Drew Eubanks took a hit on the hand. Direction emergencies!

“I hadn’t paid attention to it, I continued to play. And I’m not kidding, my thumb was twisted in the other direction. I had been playing with my thumb like this the whole session. I thought, of course, my first NBA workout, and I’m tearing my ligaments. I left the university before the end of my studies for that… What did I do again? “

While the first diagnosis calls for an operation with torn thumb ligaments, Drew Eubanks will not have needed to spend on the pool table. Two weeks later, he is back in workout for the Spurs, with a big protection on the go.

Badass, he does his job in the antechamber of the Great League, averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds in the G-League for his first campaign, before doing it last season, at 16 points and 6 rebounds. Shadow work that ended up paying off …

The prediction made

“I obviously wanted to get an NBA contract, but I was trying to be realistic about myself. I knew I could play with these guys. I knew I had the level. I just needed an opportunity. “

The latter arrived during the resumption of the season, in the Orlando bubble, while the Spurs arrived with a reduced workforce, and rejuvenated. With this in mind, Drew Eubanks seized his chance with two hands (including thumb) to turn 7 points and 7 rebounds. Something to satisfy Gregg Popovich with his blue collar mentality: “He’s not going to become a go-to-guy. He doesn’t shoot at 3-point. What’s left? It is better to know how to put up good screens, run well, defend hard, fight rebounds. He knows his role and does it wonderfully. “

John Poetsch’s prediction is now fulfilled … At 23, Drew Eubanks’ progress has only just begun.

“Now that I have secured this contract, I want to gain some regular playing time. Once that happens, I want to start. You should never be satisfied. “

His double life, in G-League and in the NBA

His huge dunk (refused) on Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s truffle

Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to enlist the services of one or two additional players, to make them evolve mainly in their development league franchise affiliate but also up to 45 days in the NBA. This year that limit is turned into 50 appearances on the scoresheet.