OT: Kyle Lowry Podcast with Villanova Coach Jay Wright

[HighTop3000]

This was a great podcast going back to Kyle college days and he shares some really interesting stories. This is a very long podcast, but a great listen if you have the time.

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[MessiahUjiri]

Would love to listen, but at work.

Summoning the power of RealGM for a recap or highlights please!!

[TerryTate]

Can any kind soul, help with a recap for those of us at work?

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Lowry has a convo with is coach, who he says he'd never have gotten a gold medal without him.

Jay Wright says they could write a book. Jay Wright was recruiting other teammates of Kyle's, Kyle walked up and said, when am I getting a scholarship. Kyle was actually suspended that game and couldn't play. Jay wasn't gonna mention that, but Kyle said, that shows how far I came as man. Kyle had two other letters, and had just turned 16 at the time. Jay was amazed that while Kyle was a handful, he always chose to play for tough disciplinarian coaches. Says was a smart player, and his coaches always talked about him being a future coach, and was one of the smartest players they've had.

Kyle thought he was gonna go outwest, and then things broke down. Eddy Pickney called Jay Wirght and said Lowry was getting 40 a night, and we need to draft him. It all ended up that he was going to Nova.

Kyle skipped summer school, didn't want to attend college - it was 2004 he was supposed to be doing freshman orientation but was in semi final street game, and in the first summer he was already on his last straw. Kyle just ignored him. Kyle tore his ACL in that game at the same time he was supposed to be at the orientation.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Jay had said, that's it and was gonna ditch him, no one could find Kyle. When Kyle tore his ACL, he said he knew it was time to stop being a hard head. Kyle came up on crutches and just went from wanting to turf him to feeling sorry for him.

Part of Lowry lore at Vilanove - Kyle has surgery beginning of Sept. they put out a press release. Kyle would be at every practice and asked questions, but skipped all his rehab. He had to ask Kyle to chill so he could coach, but he wouldn't do rehab. He was hearing 2 months after surgery that Kyle was playing pickup at Saint Marys. He semi did the rehab, and was doing pick up with other students. They were saying he was out for the year, and students were saying he's playing. Turns out, Docs said no one else came back that quick but his ACL and leg strength was great. By Dec, doctors said he could play they couldn't find a reason not to play. Lowry dunked with 2 hands 2 and half months after. They had to have a press conference because they ruled him out, but he came back Dec 31. He was diving on the floor 1st practice back. Staff was shocked, with how much Kyle absorbed and his Bball IQ becasue he knew every play and hadn't practised or played yet. Staff were shocked and still tell the story to students, about Kyle's Bball iq.

At one point Kyle accused Wright about not playing him because Kyle was better than everyone on the team, when he would pester him about starting line up. Jay had a lot of talks with Kyle about humility and stuff and teaching Kyle about being a legit man, and stand up guy.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Vilanova guys watched Kyle in Olympics and respected the way Kyle approached the game, coming off the bench and getting other players involved. They notice that Kyle is up 30 and just took a charge. Player as Vilanova don't want to be a the kind of player Kyle is, but the man Kyle is. Kyle pride himself setting an example with work ethic, finishing his workout before they even begin.

Kris Jenkins, asks kyle to work out with him, Kyle feels a part of that Villy team because he was there to see how hard they worked.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

One of the greatest events in Vilanova basketball was Summer Jam - when all former players and coaches come back to the gym with the current players and the golf. Current coaches are not allowed to watch the game. Kyle said he was tired and is not going to play, but they keep bugging him and poking the bear. Legends were back, Lowry cursed more than ever in his life because he was so into it. Alvin played, Randy Fowy played, Kyle played and talked so much trash to the current players. But Kyle lost and he made every one keep playing, kept saying best out of 5, then best out of 7, until Kyle won. Because everyone waiting at the party, because Kyle made everyone play 4 more games until he won. Current players hated that they lost, but came out feeling like they were really good to be able to play with an NBA all star - feels it brought the current players together.

Arch became a leader on the team by guarding Kyle. Kyle been in Villy every summer for last 11 years. Started as a knucklehead - cam a long way. Kyle's credits coach was able to adapt and then when one their bigs went down in soph year, so they played 4 guards. Kyle says, they created small ball, and says they'll take the credit. Jay say with Curtis Sempter went down, it was out of necessity when he went down with ACL. They played UNC, and 5 of their guys including Marvin Williams, got drafted. Coach said, let's just get the best players on the floor and it worked well. Jay Wright had philisophy is you can do what you want on offence, as long a you play defence and don't turn it over. So they devised and offense that allowed them to get back on D and limit turnovers. They always got back, always got buckets, and didn't turn it over. Randy Foye was trusted to play the 4. they lost to National Champs.

During that year, they had one talk about NBA, and that's it. After the Florida game, he was asked about leaving but he really hadn't thought about it. Everyone was talking about Foye and Semper going NBA, but NBA scouts were coming in looking at Kyle, saying he's gonna be really good. No one mentioned to Kyle about the NBA scouts coming in looking at him.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Kyle wanted to work out with Jameer Nelson, but coach demanded he make all team work outs 2, so Kyle would work out twice in his sophmore year. Coach knew but didn't care as long as he still made his practises.

Jay Wright, said when Kyle turned pro he could test waters and not sign with an agent, but his coaches knew he'd be getting a 1st round offer. But Coach ask him to finish his school and all his classes to show a good example, (his classes, not degree) they still use it inspire current players. Kyle called coach from PHX and coach said the right thing for Kyle was to go all in with NBA and leave - while he was already losing 7 of his players.

Ed Stefanski told Wright they would take Kyle 23, but all pgs' fell including Marcus Williams, who Nets ended up taking. Luckily they had Memphis, because Wright was scared because Kyle was a 6'1 guard and a lot of teams shied away on that.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Coach still texted Kyle after every game in the playoffs.

Casey let Kyle miss shootaround to follow their NCAA run.

Jay says during the playoffs all the talk was about how Kyle handled missing shots and the media after. He says he points to that as the example for guys, moreso than his big games. Says he's a man who takes responsibilities for his actions and doesn't make excuses. They way Kyle handled it really helped his team, gets back to being a legit man.

So Jay Wright, calls Kyle who's not doing much and says Kyle has an opportunity to go to Rio, would you be committed. They told the story of the 21 and under and but Kyle was immature and wasn't committed. Kyle was committed this time, and has the gold medal game basketball at his house.

It's tough for Coach K and Jerry Colangelo to just cold call guys, so they reach out through people like Wright. Because some guys are put out about not being in the program. Kyle said, he understood, if they need me Im in, if not, he'll be fine and he understands. Says the USA ball guys have to worry about that stuff with NBA guys. Jay said, if Kyle said he'd do it, he'll know 100% what he's getting in for.


All I can do for now peace out.

[Splinter]

Thanks eastcoastrapsfan! had to log in to and-1 every post you made

[super_balls]

King Lowry is the Toronto GOAT-tor

[TerryTate]

Recap

Much <3 brah

[Drop Shot]

Where's my scholarship coach!?

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Where's my scholarship coach!?

....While suspended and not even playing. He's lucky he was as talented as he was. Most guys would have burned their bridges completely with some of the stuff he was doing before he got his head on straight.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Doesn't the philosophy of Wright about, do whatever on offence, just defend and don't turn it over seem similar to a coach we know? And Lowry's Nova approach to trying to be in position to get back, and limit turnovers through guard dominated offence sound familiar? Maybe this is why we took off when we actually divested in some talent, and turned things over to Kyle. I think Kyle and Casey, like Wright and Kyle's Nova squad have found a little recipe here, where as long as the bigs buy in and don't worry about their touches, they can win a lot of games by limiting turnovers and being in position to get back, and they can put handle going small and adding another guard.

[teamLeiweke]

Serious work and effort 'theonlyeastcoastrapsfan'.

Damn.

[0 - 100]

Interesting that Coach K and Colangelo go through the middle man to get answers for desire to play for NT.

[Mikistan]

Doesn't the philosophy of Wright about, do whatever on offence, just defend and don't turn it over seem similar to a coach we know? And Lowry's Nova approach to trying to be in position to get back, and limit turnovers through guard dominated offence sound familiar? Maybe this is why we took off when we actually divested in some talent, and turned things over to Kyle. I think Kyle and Casey, like Wright and Kyle's Nova squad have found a little recipe here, where as long as the bigs buy in and don't worry about their touches, they can win a lot of games by limiting turnovers and being in position to get back, and they can put handle going small and adding another guard.

Great recipe to lose to the eventual champions, yes.

[PoundTown]

Interesting that Coach K and Colangelo go through the middle man to get answers for desire to play for NT.

I thought that was kind of weird, kind of high schoolish and cowardly. If they call and get that response that they were afraid of then on to the next guy. Fact is Kyle was a bit of a late bloomer, both maturity wise and his rise to being an all star. I guess, even up to this point, Kyle still has a bit of a reputation. Maybe, now that is finially behind him.

[theonlyeastcoastrapsfan]

Interesting that Coach K and Colangelo go through the middle man to get answers for desire to play for NT.

I thought that was kind of weird, kind of high schoolish and cowardly. If they call and get that response that they were afraid of then on to the next guy. Fact is Kyle was a bit of a late bloomer, both maturity wise and his rise to being an all star. I guess, even up to this point, Kyle still has a bit of a reputation. Maybe, now that is finially behind him.

I think it's because lets say they've had guys like Stef Currry, or Chris Paul or someone else who's been with USA basketball, or even if they had other guys higher on their wish list. They don't want to burn bridges maybe, with these guys by calling to see if their interested and then not actually ending up having a spot for them. So they get someone they know can get the word out. I think Jay Wright had been involved with the USA basketball program anyway.