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Rashad McCants is a former American of McDonald’s who continued his career in basketball at the University of North Carolina, where he established himself as one of the greats of all time of the Tar Heels, winning a national championship in 2005 and was named twice an All-American. His university success led him to be selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, 14th in general.
After a NBA race that saw him averaged 10 points per game between stops in Minnesota and Sacramento, McCants became the first selection in the Big3 League of Ice Cube. His team won the inaugural championship of the League and McCants was appointed MVP of the championship game.
On Monday, McCants, who previously wrote a book on the exploitation of students athletes – Planting Education: the exploitation of the modern athleteHe joined Outkick exclusively on Monday to talk about the NBA finals, Bill Belichick’s adjustment on UNC, playing next to Kevin Garnett, the NCAA transfer portal and more.
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The Rashad McCant trilogy (32) Dribla the ball when Tri State Nate Robinson (11) defends during the game in the Toyota Center. (Troy taormina-USA Today Sports)
Anthony Farris: With the NBA finals currently tied in a game an article between Oklahoma City and Indiana, who do you have to leave as the eventual winner and how many games?
Rashad McCants: I have Indiana in seven (games) because (the chief coach) Rick Carlisle will not allow certain things to happen where (the Pacers) do not have the opportunity to win, as you saw in the game one. I think OKC’s lack of experience will make them put in situations in which they will compromise games and I think it will only allow Indiana to crawl. And the fan base (Indiana) can promote a new story at the head of the tabloids instead of OKC do so when having the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Aalexander).
Farris: If you are starting a team today, do you do it with SGA or Tyrese Haliburton?
McCants: There is preference on what type of equipment you want to build. But at this time, if I am a winner, and I want a chemistry team, I will choose Haliburton because he distributes the ball. He shares the sugar, ensures that everyone gets involved. And he is not afraid to take the last shot. That has nothing to do with Shai, it only has everything to do with the advantages that Haliburton is a team oriented.
Thunder returns the attack while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander dominates game 2 to the NBA finals against Pacers
Farris: You played your first two seasons of the NBA with Kevin Garnett in the Timberwolves. How was that experience?
McCants: My experience with him was completely different from that of everyone else because I could see the raw element of who is the time of inactivity when he does not carry the mask and is not working. Many people can say through their experiences: “This is”, “so it is.” But if he has not left you through the door to let you see who it is, you would see that it is just a fun guy. He likes to do everything they like to do, but it is very competitive, very intense and very funny. So, if you overcome many of those small areas where he can scare or intimidate you, you will find that he is just a fun guy who is great like hell …
Farris: As hard worker as everyone says?
McCants: Absolutely. He understands the dynamics of details similar to Kobe. I think having Kev as a mentor and veterinarian, felt that he had Kobe Bryant as the same guy. I knew they were cut of the same type of fabric, both are my heroes. It was not a fall at all when it came to competitiveness, details, foot game, all those things.
Farris: You played against Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Arenas, others. Who was the best against which you played during your career in the NBA?
McCants: Kobe Bryant was the best. I was a great student of his. But when it comes only to talent … it is difficult to protect a chess teacher. (He was) like Bobby Fischer. It was only one of those guys for which I had to prepare two or three days in advance. Out of it, Probably Vince Carter.
Rashad McCants of UNC reacts after scoring a basket. McCants scored 28 points in a Vickory 91-78 about Kentucky. (Bob Donnan-USA Today Sports)
… Only that period of the time. You talk about shooting guards and small strikers, from Paul Pierce to Tracy Mcgrary and Ray Allen to Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd, we had to see many types (star), so it is difficult to only identify one or two boys. But, again, it is really very, very easy because there was a guy that was better than all those guys: Kobe.
Farris: Changing university athletics, what do you think about the transfer portal? Do you think it’s good?
McCants: Whether something good or bad, there is simply no structure. … I think it can be good if it is done well and if children have no right to appear and do nothing and demand things. There must be a contractual obligation. To get this money, you have to appear and go to practice, you must be attentive. Now there are things: limits, restrictions. It’s not just that you can make money, and you act as if you were a millionaire, you don’t have to come and act. In my book I talk about performance -based requirements and academic requirements. If you are here for basketball, you have to do all these things before transferring. If you are a love of Caleb and want to leave North Carolina and go to Arizona, okay, did you meet all your requirements?
Farris: When you were on UNC, Michael Jordan was ever near and there were open communication lines?
McCants: He came. It was Michael Jordan, so we didn’t have access to him like this (laughing), but he definitely came to the practices to greet. He would return and greeted everyone and bet us to shoot from Half Court and keep him moving.
Farris: Who was winning that?
McCants: I, of course.
Farris: So you beat Jordan?
McCants: Well, I hit (the attempt to shoot) first.
The Rashad McCants trilogy escort (32) controls the ball against the monsters headed during the Big 3 championship game in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)
Farris: How do you feel, like Tar Heel, with a) having Bill Belichick as a school football coach? And b) with everything that surrounds him at this time?
McCants: (Laughing) I really like Belichick. I think the UNC movement was a good movement for him. But I think that with his morals and everything that surrounds him now, (his girlfriend Jordon Hudson) and everything is just a controversy waiting for him to happen. It is more pressure on him than ever, because if he doesn’t win, they are the distractions around him and he is not really concentrated. And if he wins, this is perhaps too easy. You came to university ranks to dominate. I love the fact that it is in North Carolina to return a bit of prestige (to the program). Mack Brown tried. It is an opportunity for him to build something. But Belichick, I just think … it’s going to be a man. He will be a man and will do what you want to do. I will not tell him not to do it. You know, we all want to do it, but you have to have enough money to do it. And if you don’t, you don’t. Cool. But greet Bill. He is having fun. He is living his life.
Farris: one last question. ICE Cube’s Big3 returns this weekend. You won a championship in the first season of the League. How big is an adjustment of playing the complete field 5 against 5 to the half court of 3 against 3?
McCants: When you talk about preparation for him and the half court and the difference, you play much harder because you can expose much faster. There is not much help (defense). With 5 against 5 you have a lot of additional help with two additional types on the court. You can cut the court (angles) and rest a little. But 3-on3, as soon as a shot goes up, someone gets the rebound, and you can throw it to (a player) the three-point line and shoot it (immediately). So, everyone is constantly running. You have to be in (good) cardio (form). It is not what everyone thinks it is. It is definitely more difficult than 5 against 5.
