The BroadCast: 7/6/2018 ~ Summer League Spotlight - Kevin Young

of the podcast. Our guest on this episode of the Pot is Kevin Young. He is going to be the head coach of the Summer Sixers this year as they

begin their quest for the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League Championship. Now, this time of year is all about, of course development, an opportunity to give guys who the seventy six Ers have either drafted, have interested in, undrafted free agents already had on their roster, might be property of the Sixers, the draft rights of guys they own, the opportunity to give them reps, get them further introduced with the seventy Sixers system. And you know what, of course, these guys,

it's a competitive setting. They want to win games. The primary objective is familiarity development, and if you win some games along the way, great excellent. That's ion on the cake. Really exciting that in addition to first round picks from this past year's Ayre Smith and Landry Shammitt, if you got guys like fir Con Corkmas, Jonah Bolden, Demetrius Jackson on the roster, guys who have solid professional playing experience, you could throw Askia Booker, Chris McCullough, Cam Oliver into

that category as well Devondric Walker too. So it seems like the Sixers they'll have a really nice balance of youth and experience on their summer league roster as they get ready for game number one on Friday against the Boston Celtics. Seven thirty Before we start the conversation with coach a Young, reminder that to subscribe to the podcast, you can go to a couple places. You can head

to iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or SoundCloud. Type in Sixers Podcast Network that will take you to our feed and you can subscribe right then and there. We hope you do. Kevin Young has been a part of the seventy Sixers development program and coaching staff for the last couple of seasons now. He was the head coach of Delaware in the G League from twenty fourteenth or two thousand sixteen, and he's been on Brett Brown's bench the last two years.

This past season in particular, he was one of the guys who really headed up these Sixers Special team's efforts. So all the high efficiency production the Sixers got on aftertime out plays on end line and sideline out of bounds plays, Coach Young was heavily involved in that mix.

Coach Young, what's going on? What's the pulse of the squad? Yeah, I mean the thing I've been I say, we've been impressed with this group is how quickly they've been able to pick things up that we've been throwing at them, you know, trying to get a lot in obviously in

a short amount of time. So happy with the intellect of the group, and hopefully it shows how do you structure the days that you're spending with the guys, Especially when you look back on many camp there four days of practice sessions, but it seems like there's always a charter bus coming to and fro from Camden. So how do you guys format each day to get the most

out of it. Yeah, well, we tried to break it down where we really try to use the coaches that we have strategically and get the most out of the guys while they're here where we're doing a lot of different station work, so we can kind of hit a lot of different things in a short amount of time. And then as coaches sometimes we get a little over zealous.

Have been working with the sports science crew quite a bit to make sure that we are keeping these guys healthy and making sure we're ready for what Vegas has for us. For you about how much time passes before you're ready to get back in a gym, because this year was different Unlike the last couple of seasons when you were on the staff, the sixers, they were done in the middle of April, and this year an extra month for me. It's like things just happened so quick.

It was like a week and a half and then it was draft prep and workouts and here we are. I mean, but when does the itch really start to come back for you? Yeah, this year was unique, As you said, I mean, the year has passed like the draft kind of was our playoffs, so it was all eyes were geared on that and this year, you know, having the postseason run that we had gave us a

little bit more basketball. So, you know, I don't know if it was a specific amount of time, but after a while, you know that you can only annoy your wife so much before she wants you out of the house. So it was good to get back in the gym. True words. Well, put as far as the material that you're giving these guys, if you put it on a scale for what the NBA amount of material you guys asked the regular season team and roster to digest, how

would you compare that to what you're introducing these guys too. Yeah, I mean, clearly you can't get nearly as in depth with the with the summer league group. I think what you can do, though, is you can instill the principles that your team stands for with the guys that you're trying to acclimate Zayre Smith, you know, Landry Sham and even Shake Mill and although he's not participating, still there.

Really we've we've tried to focus on three things. And I told the guys this the other day, is in summer league, really it comes down to transition defense, pick and roll defense, and being organized offensively, and so those really are the things that we've tried to focus in on Darien Camp, and again, the guys have picked things up pretty well. And it's easy to say that having not played a game, but well, once we get going, hopefully it'll carry over. You've been coaching in the pros

for over a decade now. During that time, if you've seen an evolution for how better prod guys are coming out of college into the pros as far as schemes that are being run at the NCAA level from where it is now to where it was let's say ten

years ago. Yeah, I think the defense in the NBA to me is a little bit more multidimensional, a little bit deeper to grasp for some guys offensively, you know, a lot more pick and roll common knowledge I think is out there even today just watching guys come off pick and roll, looking for rollers, looking for lob passes and things like that. Whereas years passed that with certain things you really have to kind of really coach guys

up on. I mean, just for people out there who may be curious why you pick those three areas and why that is important in summer league, What makes what you were talking about transition, d pick and roll defense, those things. Why is that particular to summer league something that you look out for the games are just a little bit more ratty in terms of you know, as

I said, being organized is something we tried to do. Oftentimes, it's hard for teams to get organized, so it ends up being a lot of transition basketball, a lot of just broken plays that end up in picking rolls, and so that's what that's why we wanted to focus and on that. And then again for us trying to avoid solely just being a broken play team, we try to get him organized with you know what we do here

in Philadelphia. We'd have to think that having a season point guard or something like that could help with the organization as we start to look at some of the guys and the roster, Demetris Jackson, is he one of the people that you're leaning on, someone who's had two years worth a summer league experience in a handful of

NBA games under his belt. Yes, all those things. And then and then obviously with him being with us for the season, has a has an understanding of what we you know, what we do, and so the combination of him having summer leagues under his belt, you know, him understanding the concepts that we want to play. When I was told he was going to be our point guard, I was I was pretty excited about that. And he's been He's been great. He's been great for the coaches.

He's really helped Zayre Smith and Landry make their kind of transition. And you know, you could see it when they were on you know, some of those team in practice and then they get on Dmitris's team. That kind of studies the ship and that's what we're looking for out of him from an outside perspective, whether you're a member of the media, guilty he's charged, or a fan. There's always so much interest, natural interest during summer League

about new guys, new talent brought into the organization. And in terms of whom the Sixers picked up on draft night, we're looking at Zaire Smith, Landry Shammitt. As you said, Shake Milton not available to play in summer League. What are the early impressions of Smith and Shammut that you got from at mini camp. So Shammitt start with him because I thought he played well really to start camp, and then and then Zayre had had some really good

days after that. But so with Landry, just his ability to play without the ball, move cut and make shots, just to kind of a well rounded offensive player, which is what we saw when we looked at him on the film and he got here and that's what he did with Zaire. For me person, I've been really happy with what he's been able to do offensively was just more to his game than I than I saw in

the film or maybe gave him credit for. So he's been able to attack the rim, which I thought he would be able to do, but his ability to kind of get into the paint and elevate over guys and make shots has been impressive. I thought he shot the three well on top of that. And then you know, defensively, his ability to just get in guys is something that will obviously help us in Summer League, but will clearly help him as he you know, tries to get on

the court for us in the season. Just having a guy that you can throw at all these unbelievable players you have to guard in the NBA. Like you said, there's certain things you can pick up on tape, but to see Zaire leap his first leap in person for the first couple of times. It's pretty outrageous, it is. And he's the thing I like about him too, is he's he's real, even healed, you know, for a young guy that's impressive so far hasn't been able or has

not been rattled much. It's kind of the same guy every day, every possession, which has been been you know, good to see. But in terms of his just not only his athleticism, but his body's got long arms, He's strong, you know for a nineteen year old kid. Uh, it's impressive. He seems like a yes sir, no sir kind of guy. Yeah, he's a no nonsense guy. So far, he's been incredibly easy to coach, eager to learn, but at the same time has a competitive spirit that you that you really like.

People have talked about his shot trajectory, his shot development. I'm assuming does that start as early as right now. How do you introduce someone like that who clearly the organization has high hopes for at this early stage, for

the really the first foreign two professional hoops. Yeah, so even before we started our mini camp, coach Monie Williams was able to kind of get his hands on him and give him some some different workouts and so forth, and I think that helped him, give him a nice foundation.

And then for us what we've tried to do on the team side with this mini camps indoctrinate him with our terminology, our philosophies, just the things that are just totally different, probably than than where he's come from, because there is quite a few terms. Coach Brown has a term for everything, so and you know what obviously helps us be organized. So we're just trying to get him up to speed with all that. You've only had him in front of you for a couple of days now.

But with Smith, how much of what he's able to do defensively comes from ability skill, how much of it comes from determination, mindset, that sort of thing. And I think with any good defender you have to have a combination of all the things you just listed. But the most important thing is that desire and that competitiveness. And

I've seen that in him. You know, Coach Billy Lang has been on the floor and also has noticed that, which again, the physical stuff is one thing, but the mental makeup and the ability to want to stop somebody as another thing. And you know we've seen that so far. For someone like for Con cork Mose, who is just overseason Europe had a tremendous run in the World qualifiers for FIBA, What are the expectations, what's on the to

do list for someone like that. Oh, for me, it's to look at his passport and see where he's where he's coming from yet guys all over the place. But uh, you know, yeah, he'll be he'll be coming in with confidence based on how well he's done in that tournament. Again, with him, he already knows what we're doing. I think it's just a matter of him getting there and getting real quickly acclimated with the guys that we have, and

and then just just playing. I think he needs to play play at a high level and you know, obviously wants to see the ball go in. We want to see that for him and just kind of get confidence. And that's what some league is so good for. You know, guys that may not be able to get the run that they want during the season, they're able to play in that setting and get you know, get reps, get confidence and kind of get a little swagger, which he certainly does not lack. Even as fur Con had to

sit out a bit last season with injury. What do you think he was able to take away from his first season around an NBA team. I think just the

big picture of how the whole thing works. You know, the travel, the schedules, you know, playing with older guys, playing with superstars, being in a big market, all those things that you know, for a guy coming in not only as a rookie, but as a European rookie, you know, it's all new to him, and so I think having had that experience and having all that stuff under his about sets him up well to kind of hit the ground run and moving forward. This probably happens in the

preseason and regular season two. But as someone who's in a position to evaluate talent and you're coaching it obviously with the Sixers, but when you're in these games, is it almost impossible to ignore someone who jumps out on the other side and file that name of someone away in the back of your mind because who knows what

shakes out after Summer League's done. Absolutely. I mean for me, especially with my background coming up through the minor leagues, it was, you know, Summer League was kind of one of the marquis scouting events, and so you know, you're coaching games during the day and writing scouting reports at night, and so I just kind of have that background. So certainly,

you know, take middle notes to different guys. And you know, the other thing too, is when you go through a draft class, you know, you get curious about all the guys that you studied, and so when you're able to get a chance to see him play in person, you know, it's kind of fun to just say, oh, hey, yeah, that's kind of what I thought he'd be here. You know, that guy really surprised me. And so I'm sure as an organization we will We'll have eyes on a lot

of these guys. The pre draft period, it seemed like the theme was very much all hands on deck for the organization. Were you guys, as coaches, as assistants given more of an opportunity to do certain things what you were asked of? Was that any different this time around with Brett Brown leading the ship. Yeah, you know, certainly from last season, you know, where we weren't nearly as involved with it, and then this around with coach Brown

you know taking things over. It was you know, he asked us to, he gave us specific projects and there were specific groups of players that we that we looked at, two of which we drafted, which was fun. Like I said, I enjoy that side of it. Sometimes it becomes hard to do that with how much other stuff you have on the plate, with the actual coaching side, but I enjoyed being able to kind of get my hands on

that side of it. And while Summer League might give off much like Spring training, let's say, a more loose, relaxed vibe, I gotta think this is precious and valuable time for someone like yourself too, and the assistance that are going to be on the summer league coaching staff, because here's a great chance to work with guys coming up through the ranks, some real elite level talent, and

you get to get raps. Sure right, yeah, no, I mean again, like with my background in the minor leagues, haven't been a head coach in that league, and then now I've been here for a couple of years. You know, you he almost forget a little bit about of everything you have to do as a head coach. So it's it's been a great refresher for me. I'm excited to have that experience, but more importantly, I'm excited for all of our young kind of our younger staff that that's

been able to get a lot more responsibility. You know, I had a lot of people helped me grow as a as a young coach, and still him, you know, with Coach O'Brien, Coach Brown, Coach Monty, coach Billy, all these guys that have helped me, Coach Pierce, all these guys that have helped me, And now I kind of get to like pay it forward a little bit, which one makes me feel old a little bit, and then too, you know, just being able to help guys, you know,

help Connor as he prepared Connor Johnson prepared to be the Blue Coats head coach, you know, help some of these guys that are moving up in our organization. And for me, that's been really fun. I think that's one of the more undersold storylines surrounding Brent is that, at least from this seat, it looks like he's a guy who places almost just as much effort and energies on developing his own coaches as he does guys out on the floor with like a fir con court master Tim

Laile Cabra. I mean, he seems like he's genuinely invested in moving you guys along as well. Yeah, I mean, I mean I certainly wouldn't be here if it wasn't you know, it wasn't for him. He's done a lot for me and my family, and he's given me an opportunity, opportunity to have a real responsibilities within the organization and really let me own certain areas that he's given me,

and it's made me a much better coach. And it's given me, you know, like we talked about before with Firk on that confidence and even as a coach, you need the confidence. And that's what I've tried to help some of the younger coaches understand, is the confidence that you need as a coach, and there's no better way to get that than doing what they're doing right now, is coaching on the floor, all right? To put a bow on this, what would constitute a successful summer league

in Las Vegas for the Philadelphia seventy six ers. I mean, obviously everybody is competitive and everybody wants to win, but I think, going back to the three pillars that we kind of talked about, if we can really just try to be organized, that's the one thing I want to make sure that when we get out there are guys are organized, they know what they're doing, you know, be able to get back on defense and be able to guard pick and rolls, all the things that we've invested

time in here and then ultimately have Landry and Zayre pick up all those things so that they kind of have a head start for the season. Great stuff, turfic insight from Kevin Young. He'll be leading the seventy sixers

at the MGM Reserts Summer League in Las Vegas. Thanks so much man, Thanks Boo, And you figure that if you're throwing guys like Jonah Bolden, whom the seventy Sixers acquired in the second round of two thousand and seventeen and had a really solid season playing professionally overseason Israel this past year, plus Askia Booker, who has professional raps under his belt in the G League and internationally to the roster, that should only deepen the talent pool and

help these seventy sixers. Cause this week, sorry, we didn't have a chance to touch upon Bolden or Booker on the roster in that interview. We actually sat down and taped that. Kevin and I did before the moves were official and announced. But gotta like those two are in the mix, and gotta like that tonight from Las Vegas seventy six Ers and the Boston Celtics yet again, this

time in a Summer League setting. Who knows when the next episode of the podcast We've come in your way from out here in Sin City, only that we will effort more pods in the days ahead. You just don't know who you might come across or run into, so be sure to check your feed on a regular basis. A reminder that, in addition to the Summer League games being on TV, whether it's ESPN or NBA TV, the first three games will be audio screamed on Sixers dot Com and the Sixers mobile app with a great Tom

mc ginnis out here. Plus, you can listen to tonight's Celtics game at seven thirty and Tomorrow's Lakers game at eleven thirty on Sixers flagship radio station at ninety seven five FM, The Fanatic. If you were in the Delaware Valley listening, errand cool, all right, so we'll talk to you next time, hopefully real soon. Here on the back, I can see