In a special Draft Day episode of The Shop, Karl-Anthony Towns et Gary Payton gave some old advice to Chet Holmgrenselected in 2nd position by OKC during the draft.
Gary Payton: – You have nothing to prove to anyone. Don’t do anything, it’s not like my days when there was no Instagram, Twitter, phones with cameras… Everything you do will be scrutinized. They will record everything you do. Just be the best person you can be. But a piece of advice: don’t hesitate to talk to this journalist. Give him what you want to give him. Make him like you, because they vote on some stuff, that’s how it is, that’s a business.
Chet Holmgren: – What is your opinion on that, do you think journalists should vote for these things?
KAT: – Be yourself, and people should like you for who you are. What if they don’t like you? Fuck it, so what?! Get out there, show everyone who you are, kick ass and give them no choice but to vote for you whether they like you or not. You stay yourself off the pitch too, and when you’re on the pitch, they can say: ‘He’s a bum, he’s only good because he’s tall’. Fuck it, I’ll take to the field and show you what I’m worth.
Chet Holmgren: – I have the impression that it’s lived experience (smile). »
