by Jake Espinoza
Kyle Singler is having the basketball career kids on courts all across America grow up dreaming about. He helped South Medford win their first State Championship in 2007 (beating Kevin Love and Lake Oswego in the finals), won a National Championship with Duke in 2010, and was drafted by the Pistons in June.
Unfortunately, his timing being drafted couldn’t have been worse. The NBA is dealing with a lockout that has seen no progress since it began on July 1. Recent reports suggest the season may be cancelled entirely. Many players are rumored to be heading overseas to play for a year, or at least until the NBA Lockout concludes. It may be awhile before we get to see Kyle in action on the court in a Piston’s Jersey. .
He’s been spending his summer in LA–working out and improving his game–so when the time comes he’ll be ready.
#OutHere
Congrats on being drafted by the Pistons. What’s your mindset like looking into your rookie season?
I’m just going to come in and help out in any way possible, and just continue improving. They didn’t have the best season last year, but my whole mindset is just to come in and help the team out as much as possible.
How has the lockout affected your plans?
As a rookie, we’re missing summer league, and some other things rookies normally get to go through. But I’m just really trying to work on my game. It’s too bad that we’re missing out on that stuff, but on the other hand we get to explore other opportunities that we might not have been able to if the season was still going on.
Speaking of other opportunities, what have you been up to this summer?
I’ve gone to a couple camps for kids. One was in Canada the other was in Maine. I’ve done a game in Seattle where we got some pros together and played a game for some fans. I’m actually going to be going out to Utah too. Jimmer Fredette is actually putting on a game so I’m going to go play in that.
These games definitely help out, especially since we’ve missed out on the summer league. Competing against some of these NBA guys is good.
Have any of the Pistons reached out to you since the draft?
I’ve talked to Greg Monroe and (Rodney)Stuckey a couple of times. So not much communication as of now, but when the lockouts over I’m sure the guys will start reaching out.
Your YouTube video took off a little bit. How was making that?
Yeah that was fun. I like doing trick shots, and that’s kind of how that all got started. I’m going to try to do another one during the summer. So we’ll see if we can get that put together.
How are you going to top the off the top of the chapel shot?
I’m not sure. I’m gonna have to think of some crazy stuff. Do you have any suggestions?
Off the top of the Hollywood sign.
Yeah maybe. That’d be pretty cool.
How long did it take you to make that shot?
I actually made that shot on like my fifth shot—which is kind of crazy. But there are a few others that took me like half an hour to make. But the whole video actually took only about three hours to make.
That’s crazy. Were you guys making up the shots as you went along or did you have a lot of preplanned ones?
A few of them were preplanned, like the chapel one was preplanned, but a few of them we just kind of made up as we went along.
How was the experience playing at Duke? For a lot of us growing up that was kind of the dream.
For me it was great. I had a great career there, and it was great being able to play for Duke and what Duke stands for. Playing for Coach K, playing in front of the Cameron Crazies, and playing at Cameron, those kind of things are priceless. It was a great experience.
How did the experience kind of evolve throughout your career?
I just loved Duke more and more each year. Playing on different teams and having different teammates was one of the highlights. Since my freshman year, coach has always been not just a coach but a teacher of the game and he was always there to help me get better—not just as a player but as a person as well.
What was the first meeting with him like?
I just remember being really excited. Duke was always a school I wanted to play for. The first time I met him, it was just a cool experience. He stands for Duke and what he’s accomplished as a coach is great.
Nice! Do you still stay in contact with Kevin Love?
Yeah, our relationship is still strong. We’re still friends. It’s cool that he’s down here in LA right now. We’ve worked out a couple of times together.
Has he been giving you any advice on what to expect moving up to the NBA?
He’s spoken a little bit about it. But the main thing I’ve taken away from the experience is that it’s all an experience thing. Guys like to talk about things, but you have to be out there and do it, and make decisions for yourself and able to grow from the things you experience.
You get time to visit Medford often?
I get back there once in a while. I think the last time I was there was for the draft. But I’m going to be heading back there here in a few weeks so I’m excited.
Are people excited to see you when you visit?
The kind of town that I’m from is very supportive. It’s fun to go back. There’s a Kids Unlimited program, it’s an after school kids program, I usually go down there, hang out with the kids and play basketball with them.
Do you and your brother (EJ Singler who plays for U of O) still play one-on-one games?
Yeah. Not so much right now because we’re not around each other as much. I’ve won my fair share but he’s won a couple too. He can brag.
Nice! How was playing against each other at the Rose Garden last year? That was a fun game to watch.
That was awesome to go back to Oregon and play in front of fans that have supported me throughout my career, and have supported Duke, and to play live against my brother. It was great.
Your parents had to have been enjoying it.
I think they enjoyed it. It’s always tough rooting for both teams. But yeah, they were happy about it.
We appreciate the time Kyle!
No problem.