When theNBA Draftopens at Barclays Center on Thursday night, it could be a sibling showdown.
This year's ambitious professional class has two brothers, Buddy and Jimmy Boheim of the University of Nebraska, Syracuse, and Tray and Bryce McGowens. (It was almost three: Keegan Murray is expected to be in the top five picks while his twin brother Chris chose to return to the University of Iowa earlier this month).
Not unprecedented, "it's pretty rare," Drew Gross, Roc Nation's agent on behalf of both Boeheims and McGowens, told The Post. "It's great to see how they root each other."
Twins Jason and Jarron Collins were both drafted in 2001.Brooke and Robin Lopezwere selected from Stanford University in 2008. In 2011, twins Markieff and Marcus Morris were selected back to back. First round. But the glory of the NBA is not slam dunk. There isAndrew Wiggins, who was the first overall pick in 2014, while his brother Nick was out of draft and playing abroad
, as well as the brothers McGowens and Boeheim. Has different predictions and both younger brothers are expected to get a faster look. Here, they talk to The Post about sharing a special bond while chasing the NBA's dreams.
McGowens
Former Nebraska star Bryce McGowens, 19, was looking for more than a flashy style statement when he created the draft look. He wanted to honor his brother Tray.
"I wore a light gray suit," Bryce, 6'7, told the post. "Trey's jersey and my jersey are sewn on the inside ... without him I wouldn't be at this stage. He taught me a lot along the way."
Tailoring compliments are a sweet touch to South Carolina natives. "I don't want to be too soft. I'm happy. I hold it a little," 22-year-old Trey told The Post. "It's really exciting because we did it together."
Currently, the brothers are competing for a spot on the NBA roster. They signed the same agent, lived separated from each other in Las Vegas, and trained through most of the draft process.
"We talk every day. After every workout, we call each other to see how that workout went on," said the 6-foot-4 tray. Told.
Pairs haven't belonged to the same team since they were 5 years old And then 8. But last year they made up for it. In 2020, Tray transferred from Pitt to the University of Nebraska, claiming he didn't affect his brother, but Bryce followed.
"I was excited because I couldn't play the high school ball together when I learned that Bryce was coming to Nebraska, and at Big Ten, there's someone in your corner. That helped. Freshmen may be jealous because they're doing the same as he did. Last season, they averaged 16.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Brother Tray said.
The pair came from an athletic family His father, Bobby, played both soccer and basketball in South Carolina, and his mother, Pam, played college hoops. They decided to enter the drafts individually, and the shared path was by design. I said it wasn't, but it was a bonus.
"Literally everything is perfectly aligned. It's crazy," Tray said.
They didn't work with any team, but all organizations asked their brothers for reconnaissance reports from other teams.
"They are with who is the best player I have played Asked. Bryce takes over. It was the simplest question I got during the whole draft, "said Tray, who described his brother as" sweet. " He is a good man.
Bryce is expected to be either the second half of the first round or the early pick of the second round. On the other hand, the trays that Gross called "underestimated" need further proof. He missed a part oflast season with a broken leg
"When I entered the draft, I knew I had to work in my place. I understand that it will take time. " He added that he would not be jealous of his brother when he heard his brother's name called.
Bryce reiterated the feeling, "I knew there were two different paths, but he was trying to get his own."
Over the course of several months of drafting, the family message thread glows every morning with a Bible passage and moving words from grandparents, at a depth of about 20 relatives. "Our family has always had 10 toes behind us," Bryce said.
In that spirit, families are most likely to rent a chartered bus from South Carolina to New York City. They will meet in 40/40 clubs to celebrate at least one, preferably two NBA beginners.
But instead of looking forward to the champagne bath, Bryce wants a more comfortable treat.
"My aunt Stacy and my uncle Maurice make the best cookie puddings," he said. "Hopefully they'll bring it. I'll send you the text now."
Boheim
As a kid Jimmy and Buddy Bouheim compete with each other Was famous for being fierce. "It was probably the most unhealthy," 22-year-old Buddy told Post. The sons of the legendary Syracuse coach Jim Boheimofstate that their fighting behavior took place primarily in the family playroom and fought in the Little Tikes hoop.
"We played for hours every day, every time. It ended in a fight, "24-year-old Jimmy told Post. "Someone started crying to my mom and dad and tried to make a rule in a place where we weren't allowed in [room]. I was sneaking in and playing. My dad tried to do the ceremony, And then we started yelling at him. "
But they put off the fight of their brothers to become professionals. In this process,Jimmy, who works with Knicks, played at Cornell University, and last season Syracuse led Orangeman to Sweet Sixteen in 2021 after "{{ Playing with his sharp shooting 6ft 6 brothers, who became known as "116} Buddy Bucket".
When it comes to signing agents, they are Nation's Gross, a former Syracuse team manager, went with Roc, admitting that was a "package deal". They moved to Sky Building on West 42nd Street. There they shared an apartment and learned to live outside the Boheim bubble in the north.
Pair and Buddy, who gathered together in Syracuse last year, allow their mother Juli to make regular beds and clean the room. "She cried how dirty it was. She got a little careless ... she's messy. He's pretty," Buddy said of his 6-foot-8 brother. ..
"I train him every day. Today I had him put the dishes in the dishwasher. My mother will be impressed," Jimmy said.
Looking at Hoop's career after graduating from college is a surreal spot for both. "I was always thinking of playing in Syracuse. That's all I've ever wanted. I didn't even know I could play there. I'm good to grow up I wasn't a player, "Buddy said.
The pair lived, breathed and ate Syracuse basketball, but admitted that they were late bloomers on the court. Between Orangemen and his father, Team USA's coaching stint, they were surrounded by idols. Some of them were seen while visiting the team throughout the draft process.
"Melofor a few weeks Before I saw him. He sent me a text before the game and gave me some advice. That means a lot, "said Buddy, former Q's prominent Dion Waiters, Michael Carter-Williams. Clippers assistant Wes Johnson added that he had checked in to former Team USA and current Warriors star Andre Iguodala.
"He gave me a hug and told me to do me, and everything would be fine," Buddy said of Iguodala. "Sure, I went around. They looked at you, cheered on you, and you respected them as kids. Super cool."
Neither is in Barclays because of the draft. They meet with friends and family at Big Apple and wait to learn the fate of basketball.
"I don't know what the process will be, but I have a goal to play in NBA and I want to be there. It's about taking advantage of the opportunity," Buddy said, following his father in the near future. Added that he has no backup plans, except that he does not coach.
Meanwhile, Jimmy, who has a bachelor's degree in finance, wants him not to have to use it. Even if that means he's going to Europe.
"This process allowed me to work in the front office. I'm more interested in it than coaching," he said.
And if the young Boheim entered the NBA, the elder said there wouldn't be a fierce day-to-day rewind in the playroom where all the tournaments ended in tears.
"We want to go as far as we can from each other," Jimmy said. "I can play in YMCA, and I [yet] hope he achieves it as much as he can in the league."