On the latest audio edition of “Listen In With KNN” sports talk podcast and radio show with host Kelsey Nicole Nelson, special guest Brock Gillespie joined the show to discuss the Paris Olympics, the current state of college athletics, and basketball’s growth overseas.
Gillespie formerly played professional basketball both in the U.S. and for teams across the world for 11 seasons. Since retiring from basketball, he has lived in China for the last three years, where he has worked to set up basketball training schools throughout the country. Gillespie has also hosted retired NBA players in China to make various appearances for fans.
Nelson asked Gillespie if he had anything specific to say about his time working in China.
“Being able to create memories and kind of build that bridge, I guess, of diplomacy through basketball was something special, especially with two countries that, you know, are essentially at war with one another right now politically. I was able to kind of live in that teflon dome through basketball diplomacy, which was really special. And it’s something that I’ll cherish and take with me forever. So I’m very grateful about that.”
Nelson brought the conversation back to the states, asking Gillespie specifically what midwest basketball looked like for him.
Gillespie responded, “You know, I think in the Midwest, it’s kind of who we are growing up in that regard. The players are just tough because you grow up playing outside and you get the snow and the ice and then the extreme heat in the summer.”
Keeping on the topic of growing up in the midwest, Nelson asked about Gillespie’s time at the prestigious Rice University in Houston.
“I’m sitting there next to, you know, the president’s family and kings and queens relatives and people got bodyguards and security sitting in class and there’s all these dignitaries. And they’re like, you know, debating on what year we’re going to live on Mars and stuff. And I’m just like, ‘man, I’m just trying to figure out what’s for lunch at the cafeteria,’ you know, so it kind of exposed me to that kind of level of how the elite population truly lives and thinks.”
Gillespie continued, honing in on Rice’s basketball program at the time.
“We had the best years in the history of the school, a hundred years of the program. We were just fortunate I was one of those (elite players), you know, myself, and we had three other NBA players.”
Nelson went on to ask about Gillespie’s thoughts on the current state of college athletics and the current transfer portal that continues to be full of student-athletes after each school year.
Gillespie responded, “As far as the transfer portal and stuff like that, it’s tough because it’s really hurt the skill level on the court, on the field. Because players are not getting coached hard like they used to.”
After comparing college athletics during Gillespie’s time to the present day, Nelson and Gillespie moved the conversation to the quality of the 2024 USA men’s olympic basketball team in comparison to the 1992 USA iconic “Dream Team.”
“I mean, like that is the greatest team ever assembled in any sport, any level ever in the era,” Gillespie said.
The 1992 Dream Team had a 44 point average margin of victory over their competitors and included legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippin, and Michael Jordan.
“They essentially taught the world, showed the world how to play basketball. And because of that, you now see generations later, all these wonderful international players that have played around the globe and have contributed to our league here in the NBA.”
Gillespie had a final remark on both the men’s and women’s 2024 USA olympic basketball teams (both of which ended up bringing home the gold this year).
“They carry the torch for the country on the world stage. And we set the standard for basketball. We invented it. It’s our game. It’s our sport. There’s ownership there.”
Listen to the full show below.
