For Seattleites of a certain vintage, there’s by no means been a community athlete pretty like Nate Robinson.
Condition champ at Rainier Seashore, two-activity stud at UW, most significant minimal dude in the Large Apple, dunk-contest winner — Robinson experienced much more charisma in his remaining shoe than most folks have in their complete body, and he not long ago took a handful of minutes to response some issues set to him by Sports activities Take care of‘s Pacific Northwest Bureau.
The job interview has been edited for size and clarity.
Q: You obtained your start out as a Knick and liked some of your ideal seasons there. If they were being thoroughly healthy, would you have thought of them a are living extensive shot to gain the East? Even without Julius Randle, do you even now give them a lot of a possibility of making the Finals?
A: I do not know about profitable out the East, due to the fact the East is tricky. That’s really hard to say, but do they have a likelihood to acquire a playoff collection? Yes. I believe they can get out of the first spherical based on who they attract. If they get anyone they’ve played in advance of and they’re acquainted with their video game in the East, they have a probability.
But I really don’t like their likelihood if they get Miami initially. That’s tricky for them. I really don’t want that. But if they get anyone much less, not so a great deal of a staff which is playing like how Miami performed, then they have a probability.
Q: As a child who grew up and went to college in Seattle, what was it like to enjoy for Oklahoma City just a several decades after the Sonics left Seattle for there? And how do you sense about the Thunder’s odds to gain it all this year?
Sign Up For The Sports Cope with E-newsletter!
A: Oh male, that stuff, I will not say it sucked. It was challenging. It was tricky because it would have been fantastic to be able to be at property enjoying for OKC, simply because I possibly would not have by no means desired to go away that workforce, that squad. But when they was in Oklahoma and I was not participating in, I did not want to be there.
They are a team you have to observe out for. They’re frightening. No one would like to see them 1st round in the West.
Q: Do you recall much chat of sports activities betting, both from enthusiasts in the stands or from your friends in the locker place, again when you performed?
A: No, that wasn’t a point. The only time they talked about that stuff, over/underneath, when it was like baseball-sort stuff or soccer, like someone reported, “Oh my God, it’s kick a area objective, I needed the two points or whatsoever.” They talked about it, but it wasn’t like how it is now. It was by no means about basketball. It was always about football or school. It was never the NBA or just about anything. It was generally other sports activities that people today talked about it, but it was not like a large factor.
But now it’s lovable. Which is all I see in folks who tweet and article to all the individuals, “Oh my God, gentleman, can you do this simply because my parlay and my parlay and my parlay.” That’s all I’m looking at. Like, we really don’t treatment about your parlay. We want to gain the activity. Overlook your parlay. Nobody asks you to go out there and wager nevertheless much you are betting. Which is your fault. You know what I’m saying?
Q: Do you consider it’s far better that betting on athletics is legal and out in the open now, or do issues require to be performed to rein factors in a little bit?
A: They better determine it out, for the reason that what men are likely to start out accomplishing, Alright, “Fan, if you are seriously about that, you’re putting your income up, you want me to hit this parlay? Ok, if I strike this parlay for you, what you going to do for me? You heading to give me 10% of that? Regardless of what you hit, 10%.” You know what I’m declaring?
The fans are going to begin collaborating with the gamers. If we’re heading to get cash, let us get cash alongside one another then. So, I really don’t know. They’re likely to have to place something, just like the NIL, you’re heading to have to set a cap on it or a little something. They’re going to have to figure it out.
Q: Now that you’re retired from the NBA, do you bet significantly on sports and, if so, which kinds?
A: Nah, I try not to mainly because I’m hoping to conserve this. I really don’t want to be sitting down here getting rid of my hair simply because I’m stressing out.
