Get To Know Aaron Henry and Grant Riller

just consistently standing in the gym. You know, it's I'll keep hearing you know how long the NBA season gets in everything, but just understanding myself and where I come from, Like I can't take any time off, you know, and just eighty two game season is long, but I understanding that, you know, the days leading up to it in the summer and at work you put it in out like

that that'll carry over. So just I haven't really taking much time off, and hopefully my approach was right so I'll be able to tell about by the time the season comes. What was your summer league experience? Like it was good man, just from from going as a growing up as a kid watching it every summer, you know, just to be able to plan it and have some fun. You know, my mom came out there, so I got to SMIs some time with her, my aunt as well,

and it was good for everybody. You know, I enjoyed myself. We want some games, but it was a good experience. How about the off court transition, what's it been like to start to settle down a little bit here in Philadelphia. It's kind of cool, you know, just I like the Phillies, Like it gives you that any inner city vibe, Like that's like I grew up in that, so it's like, you know, I can kind of relate like the people

and everything. It's just like I love the vibe here, the energy school, like all the all the people speak to each other. So it's and it's everything I dreamed, literally, and I'm just happy. I'm in a good spot. Diving

a little bit deeper into your background. Born in Louisville, but raised in Indianapolis, and you want a state championship in high school and with it being in Indiana, what was your high school basketball experience like in such a basketball centric place like that's probably my most favorite basketball memory, honestly. You know, the coach I had, you know who he was, the people he's put to his program, not only at

my school, but other schools as well. The teammates I had, you know, my friends for life, Like I still talk to everybody on that team to this day. Like just to be able to win, if you know, Indiana basketball, Like how important that championship was from my coach, Coach James, Like I just that in itself was enough, you know, for all the players. So I mean it means a lot if you know, you know, it's like Indiana is where it's at for basketball. Well for those who don't know,

give us more. Who is coach James and who are some of the players that have played for him? Um, coach Jawan Johnson. He played for the Celtics and had a nice career and overseas, not many prosum just the type of players that he's put out just college period, not Division one, Division two, Division three, just always solid players to get the fundamentals, a good foundation on how to play the game the right way. And he just has love for everybody. It's a genuine thing with him.

And he's gonna be the first one in the gym, in the last one to leave every day and it just rubs off on you, you you know, not only does a yell a tube, but he leads by example too. So he's the type of guy that I always wanted just to have around and then always be my coach or always just have some type of input, you know, on what I'm doing. Your game individually, A lot of people talk about your versatility. You've talked about being able to score it all three levels, defend at all three levels.

What are some of the aspects of your game that came quicker than others, Like what came most naturally for you on the court, just being an athletic. I just feel like being able to guard multiple positions and do multiple things because I feel like growing up one year, you know, just how I was growing One year, I'd

be a point guard. Next year, I'd be a center, next year I'd be a shooting guard or something like that, and then between and it just I just had random ghostberts and I just pieced it all together, developed into this player I am today. So I felt like it worked out for the best, and you know, just having a little bit experience at each position and hopefully the game some more, somebody go help me grow some more.

So I mean I'm excited for I think this one was a little bit earlier for you than some others. At what point did you think making it to the league was a real possibility. Um, well, I knew just my situation. You know how I grew up like it was, you know, school, military or this, and you know, just understanding that, like they paid people to go to the gym and play basketball, like that was the most simple thing to me. I can force myself to get up every morning and go to the gym. But it fell

I fell in love with it. So it was it was just like probably my freshman year in college when I realized like okay, like two years maybe three, when I was like, okay, I can really do this, Like let me lock and put my head down and go at Michigan State. Your sophomore year, you played with guys like Cassius Winston, Zabere Tillman, and obviously there's a lot

of other alums that have played in the NBA. What have some of those Michigan State guys told you about I mean, they know me personally, like I'm like friendship, that's that spartan relationship up there is like we're brothers. Like honestly, they just tell me to be myself, you know, continue to work card like you know how you know, just let the game come to you, don't force anything. You'll be fine. Like that's just something that we used to always tell each other, Like people doubt at Cash

coming out, X coming out, ME coming out. It's cool, Like the work doesn't deny itself and we'll you'll look back in a couple of years. It's like, man like, we missed out. So that's that's something that they always tell me. So and the slogan is spartan dog. Explain spartan dog. People just dogs man Like it's the underdog. We just it's how we are. Like nothing was handed to us, never never had a hand out. Ever, we had to take everything. And that's been going on way

before my time, before I was born. So hopefully it carries on for forever. Cashus Winston was actually part of the Growing G League last season and the Sixers have the Delaware Bluecoats. So which areas of your game are you looking to develop with any additional opportunities and extended runs this season? Just man, I'm looking to win first. I mean, I don't do anything, I don't time I shoes that without looking to win so, I mean, I don't care if I had zero points and thirty rebounds

or something like something weird. As long as we win, I'm cool. But just understanding that it's as the individual piece, you know, just to continue to show that I'm versatile on offense and defense, get guys involved, make shots, you know, get my own shot whenever. Just make the game easy for myself and others. Man, it's on the defensive end too. Whoever the best player is just lock up, like I

feel like that that comes easy. So one of your Sixers teammates who was with you in Summer League was Paul Reid, who won G League MVP while on a two way contract last year with the Blue Coats. Did he talk to you at all about year one? Yeah, I mean absolutely, I'm I'm a guy that's instantly don't ask questions. I'm out at the level you know you

guys are or everybody's good. Now. I'll keep hearing that, and just understanding that I spending some time in the G League and him being at the highest level down there, it's just like, man, like, I don't want to ask you how you did it, but just watching him and in the Summer League just what is his approach, what he was doing, how hard he plays, He just does all the right things. It seems like it fucking fall anywhere in closing those footsteps, I might be all right.

So wrapping up more generally, what excites you than most about joining the seventy sixers organization? Just good people. You know, it's basketball. My love for the game will never diminish at all. I'll never go away. But just you know the type of people that I'm around every day, the character everybody has in the building and the offices on the court, you know, that'll keep me afloat. That'll keep me excited to come every day. And you know that's

that's really important to me. Last one, A big hobby of yours off the court, war Zone is gaming in war Zone in particular, I can't wait. I can't wait to get my game, like, yeah, so I'll leave here, like if I had my game, like I probably wouldn't getting off until the sun went down. Probably, Yeah, it's about one o'clock, yep, like probably, like it be on her a long time. Have you gotten the chance to

play with her against any of your Sixers teammates? Yeah, we're gonna see though we're gonna see I gotta add me, I gotta ask me for sure. I love it. Thank you, Aaron yea man Grant. What excites you about joining the seventy sixers organization? Probably the history behind the organization, UM, and even the history of the city and the passionate fans that comes with UM. Growing up, I watched Sixers on TV all the time, naturally, just because of the

players they had and stuff like that. So I know how much of a historic organization it is, and I'm just happy to be a part of it. Based on your own playing style and what you know about the team, what are some things that you bring to this team? Um, I think I fit really well UM as far as playstyle goals. Just a guard that likes to play in transition, UM, get into the paint, um and make plays for others. UM. I know we have a lot of shooters and a lot of athletes that like to run and stuff, So

I think I fit in well. From what I've gathered. You're a proud Orlando native, So take us through your your upbringing in the Orlando area. Yeah, for sure. While I was born and raised there, kind of grew up like a normal kid. I had a great support system

back home with my family and siblings. Wasn't highly recruited out of high school, but it was lucky enough to get an offer from the College of Charleston, which I did five years there, had a great career there, and then was lucky enough to get a chance in the NBA. And now I'm here in my second year, just ready to build on that. When you think about high school and then College Charleston, when did you think that making

it to the league was a possibility for you? Probably my second year in college, my first year toward my ACL so I had a little bit of doubt there. But once I see how Once I've seen how I recovered from that, it started to play a little bit of a game games against some of the higher competition, it was doing well. I started to get noticed a

little bit. I had other players on my team that were ahead of meet at had NBA scouts at the game, so I know I would always have opportunity to play in front of some scouts and the rest was kind of just up to me. Your number eleven is retired at Ocoee High School in Florida. How special was that for you? Really special? It was such an honor, especially

being the first jersey they did there. That actually wasn't even my high school coach who did that, but he was the coach there at the time, and we built a good relationship. Every time I would come home, I would come see the team, come play with the team, workout and stuff like that. So for him to give me that opportunity, I was so thankful. It's such an honor that I'll carry with me forever. You averaged just under twenty two points per game in both your final

two seasons at College of Charleston. What are some of your best memories from your college career, whether it's a specific game or two or something else. Yeah, my favorite memory there is probably went into twenty eighteen CIA Championship. That wasn't something that was something the school hasn't done and probably about eighteen years. So to be able to do that with such a tight group of guys, I think was probably something I take with me forever. Just

the bond we had, it was just something special. It's really hard to put into words. Charlotte picked you number fifty six overall in the twenty twenty NBA Draft. What was draft night like for you? It was special just because I kind of kept it in house with all my family and close friends. So to have all those people that that's been in my corner since day one

was something I'll never forget. And then Charlotte just giving me an opportunity and drafting me down and I think was special and I'll forever be grateful for them too. Let's talk about the G League Bubble. How were you able to grow in the G League last season as a rookie. I think it was big for me just because through all the pandemic and stuff, we didn't know if we were going to get a G League season, and me especially I knew I would spend some time

there to try to develop. So once we found out we were getting the bubble, it was big news for me. And then we got there, I just wanted to take it as serious as I could, work on my game, work on what the coaches wanted me to work on. But overall, I think I got better as time went on. So I'm just looking to build on that this season

and keep going. The Sixers have the Delaware Bluecoats. What can you say about the importance of the G League as a step Yeah, I think it's really important, not only for development, but just to show you belong in a In an NBA setting, there's so much talent down there that maybe the average eye doesn't know about. But just being down there, it gives you a chance to work on your game, work on what the organization wants you to work on, and and show that you belong.

And I think that's the biggest thing for me is I kind of just want to earn my stripes and show that I belong in the NBA level. Off the court, video editing has become a hobby of yours. So describe your experience with that. Yeah, well, I'm not the best. Yeah, I don't want to portray myself as like this great editor because I kind of just got into the game. But it's something that I'm passionate about. Me and my brother liked the game a lot, so there's tons of

content that can be made through that. My sister, she's trying to start her own hair business, so getting her some content, I think it's huge. And just having a hobby outside of basketball, I think it's big to ease your mind and decompress a little bit. So that's what I like to do. Finishing up with this. Is there a game that you're best at or do you mix it up? I mix it up a lot um. I play Matten a ton I kind of taken a break just because I'm not that happy with the game these days.

But um, I played that a lot. I play FIFA a ton um, and I play Mortal Kombat a ton too. Thanks again to Grant Riller and prior to that, Aaron Henry. Be on the lookout for more seventy six ers insiders interviews, and if you haven't already, go listen to Lauren Rosen's recent chats with Danny Green and furkon Cork Mins. The twenty twenty one twenty two season is just around the corner. I'm Matt Murphy. Thanks as always for listening.