B&B: Kevin Brooks on 3x3, basketball and life
TweetWE feel as though we did it again, Brad Rosen and I super-pleased with this week's Brad&Boti podcast in which NBA forward and dual-NBL championship-winner and Larry Sengstock Championship MVP medallist Kevin Brooks reveals all about his life in basketball and Australia.
No, KB never had an inkling back in 1998 when his former teammate at the NBA's Denver Nuggets, Darnell Mee told him about the joys of playing in Australia, that he eventually would settle in some obscure place called Adelaide, South Australia.
But as far as decisions go, joining the Adelaide 36ers on the verge of their most sustained successful period of NBL excellence under rookie coach Phil Smyth, has proven the best one of his life.
Back-to-back NBL championships before a stint at Sydney Kings - where Matt Neilsen reminded him where his allegiances should now belong - meant Kevin enjoyed a fruitful playing experience in Australia.
But he candidly admits very little he has experienced as a player matches the chemistry and atmosphere he found with the 36ers of the 1998-99 championship double.
KB has plenty to say about his coach Phil Smyth and teammates such as Darnell, Martin Cattalini, Paul Rees and Brett Maher, not to mention his coach at Sydney Kings, immediate past Philadelphia 76ers mentor Brett Brown.
And he has embarked on an exciting new venture as owner of the Adelaide Pride 3x3 basketball team in the CLB-run competition.
(That's KB with some of his new team, Paul Rees just checking the rules to see if you can wear your wrist watch in-game.)
Several playing stints overseas eventually led KB into coaching and he has assisted Eric Cooks at the Hawks in Wollongong as well as enjoying a long run as Joey Wright's lead assistant through two grand final campaigns at Adelaide 36ers.
He has so much more to tell and brings his trademark laconic and fun nature to our interview which you can access right here by clicking on this link.
(Or if you prefer, go to Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify to find our podcast chat there.)
There are a few surprises in store, not least of which are a couple of minor aggravations KB is happy to share. (Just don't mention "Damon Lowry.")
Brad and I still have some time to wrap the latest in NBL news and give up our weekly Rosen Rattler and Nagy Nasty. Click the link to tune in. It's the perfect listen on your drive into or home from work. (OK. Maybe "perfect" is over-stating it, but, you know, it's pretty good.)