If you want to be considered one of the best ever, the journey starts here. Watch Kentucky Guard Cason Wallace’s journey to the NBA in 'League Dreams: The Way to Be Great' Episode 2. Before he was a Top 10 pick, Cason had big dreams and put in the work to take his game from the outdoor courts of Hamilton Park to the biggest stages in basketball. Now Cason looks to bring his explosive game & elite work ethic to a strong Oklahoma City Thunder backcourt. Watch his secret workouts and hear his playbook for success on and off the court. POWERED BY @GATORADE. #thewaytobegreat #kentuckymbb #nbadraft
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Title: Cason Wallace: From Kentucky Star to OKC Thunder | League Dreams: The Way to Be Great Ep. 2
Description: League Dreams Episode 2 follows Cason Wallace’s journey leading up the 2023 NBA Draft. From growing up on the concrete courts in Hamilton Park, Texas to preparing to play on the highest level of the NBA, the former University of Kentucky guard describes what it takes to become a winner both on the court and off. POWERED BY @GATORADE. #thewaytobegreat #kentuckymbb #nbadraft
Subscribe to follow along the journey
MB01OY219LVVGVO
Subscribe to follow along the journey :handshake:
Playmaker Links
Subscribe & Hit the Bell to Turn on Post-Notification: https://www.youtube.com/@Playmakr
-
Watch Episode 1 of League Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHovWSx8dpE
-
Follow Playmaker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playmaker/?hl=en
Follow Playmaker on TikTok:
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Playmaker is all about stories, highlights, and in-depth behind the scenes moments of your favorite athletes & celebrities
YT longform (16x9):@hoopdiamonds
Thumbnail: is the UK one below
Title: Cason Wallace: From Kentucky Star to OKC Thunder | League Dreams: The Way to Be Great Ep. 2
Description: League Dreams Episode 2 follows Cason Wallace’s journey leading up the 2023 NBA Draft. From growing up on the concrete courts in Hamilton Park, Texas to preparing to play on the highest level of the NBA, the former University of Kentucky guard describes what it takes to become a winner both on the court and off. POWERED BY @GATORADE. #thewaytobegreat #kentuckymbb #nbadraft
Subscribe to follow along the journey
MB01OY219LVVGVO
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SportsTranscript
00:00 You can't teach dog, it has to be in you.
00:02 I think he's the best on-ball perimeter defender in the draft.
00:06 We grew up, you know the area, you gotta take the ball if you wanna play.
00:09 You gotta shoot it, you gotta take it from him.
00:11 Yo, we live on location, New York City NBA Draft Week.
00:18 University of Kentucky zone, Dallas, Texas zone, Mr. Kayson Wallace.
00:24 You know, I wanna see you in the Hall of Fame, Kayson Wallace.
00:28 So we got a road to go.
00:31 Wallace, pull up jumper, silky smooth.
00:34 And I told him, I said, Kayson, you might go to college and play ball,
00:38 but if you wanna be great, you gotta choose, man.
00:41 The moment I realized I could play in the NBA was probably the open gym.
00:51 Just playing against older guys, ex-NBA players,
00:54 and just holding my own as a young athlete.
00:59 Today I'm working out and just getting it in.
01:02 Just got up some shots, did a few ball handling drills,
01:05 going up and down a little bit.
01:08 As a guard, you gotta be able to shoot, you gotta be able to handle the ball,
01:10 so just staying sharp on those things was what I worked on today.
01:14 Something that I'm looking to transition or get better at,
01:18 stepping into the NBA is like finishing around the rim,
01:22 floaters, getting it over the bigs, and moving throughout the whole possession.
01:29 Oh, watch out. Nah, I'm just playing.
01:32 My brother, he's the one that inspired me the most to play basketball, really.
01:36 Just following after his footsteps and seeing where he's gotten with basketball,
01:41 and me wanting to go even further than that.
01:44 I came a long way from playing in the backyard on the concrete outside,
01:49 so now we on the hardwood, the highest level.
01:54 He was a two-sport guy, and I told him, I said, "Cason,
01:59 you might go to college and play ball,
02:02 but if you want to be great, you gotta choose one."
02:07 And after the football season was over, he would say, "Dad,
02:12 I'm officially done with football."
02:14 Winning Gatorade Player of the Year was a big accomplish for me,
02:18 not something that I set out and wrote down on my to-do list,
02:21 but when it happened, I was filled with joy,
02:26 and they still send the packages, so it was a pretty big deal.
02:31 I feel like everything outside of the game is irrelevant to me,
02:36 so just stepping on the court and the bright lights come on,
02:39 I'm still out there by myself.
02:42 It's a lot of emotions built up to going in Thursday.
02:47 Preparing for the draft, there was a lot of workouts,
02:49 most likely three in one day, so meeting a lot of people,
02:53 just trying to leave a good first impression on everybody.
02:57 Most exciting part about building up to this moment is
03:01 talking to coaches, knowing that they do like you,
03:04 and you're leaving off a good impression,
03:07 but the worst part is not knowing which team you get picked by,
03:13 and the anticipation is just a lot of it.
03:17 Enjoy the moment, have fun.
03:20 Yeah, I laugh a lot with my family, just not be so uptight,
03:26 just let everything go, just be goofy,
03:29 and the stress just goes down slowly.
03:32 [music]
03:37 We live on location, New York City NBA Draft Week.
03:44 Right now we got another one, University of Kentucky's own,
03:48 Dallas, Texas' own, Mr. Kayson Wallace.
03:51 Man, we appreciate you pulling up, young fella.
03:54 Appreciate you having me.
03:55 Yes, sir.
03:57 First time seeing your name on the draft board,
04:00 how did that make you feel?
04:02 Somebody sent it to me, and they had me like
04:06 around the 20s or something.
04:09 I think that's just another ranking in my mind.
04:12 So then I started hooping during the season,
04:15 then I seen top 10.
04:17 I was like, "Okay, I got to really step it up now.
04:22 Like, I got to stay up there now."
04:25 I wasn't going into college trying to do every deal.
04:28 Like, when you got to do taxes and stuff,
04:31 you figure out quick that there's not that much money
04:33 as you think it is.
04:34 Yeah.
04:35 That's great to hear right there.
04:36 You know what I mean?
04:37 It's that footy, the total league.
04:39 He talking about taxes and knowing what a dollar is.
04:42 Yeah.
04:43 You on your way, young fella.
04:45 I like that.
04:45 How much of an influence did your brother have on you?
04:55 The fact that he played college ball and he was a hooper.
04:58 We got to meet beforehand.
05:00 I see his dominion, his clutch.
05:02 I feel like he's the person who's impressionable.
05:04 What type of impact did he have on you?
05:06 Huge impact.
05:06 He the one that really got me here,
05:08 dragged me to the gym.
05:10 I didn't want to go.
05:11 I'm being lazy at the crib.
05:13 He went, "Yo, come on."
05:14 You know, growing up with each other,
05:16 so I'm proud.
05:18 Like, words can't even explain.
05:21 Like, just the love I got for him.
05:24 And, you know, I'm just proud.
05:26 And I saw, like, you know what I'm saying,
05:28 your competitive spirit on both sides of the ball,
05:30 athleticism.
05:31 Where do you think you got that kind of like,
05:33 kind of like that dog mentality to be able to play,
05:36 you know, defend as hard as you do,
05:37 but still be able to give it to an offense and be in it too?
05:40 That goes back to playing against my brother.
05:42 We grew up, you know, the era,
05:45 you got to take the ball if you want to play.
05:47 Right.
05:47 If you want to shoot it, you got to take it from him.
05:49 And, you know, he's one of the best offensive players
05:54 that I done played against.
05:54 That kind of just set the table for me.
05:57 Shout out Big Bro, man.
05:59 Big shout out.
06:00 Well done, my brother.
06:00 I think he's the safest pick in the lottery
06:11 because you know exactly what you're getting.
06:13 He's a complete guard.
06:14 I describe my game as an all-around player,
06:17 not one-sided.
06:19 I do pretty much everything well.
06:21 And I'm a winner.
06:22 He can do it all.
06:23 This guy can pass, dribble, and shoot.
06:25 He can play at the mid-range, behind the three-point line,
06:28 get to the basket.
06:29 He's got really good size.
06:31 I think he's the best on-ball perimeter defender in the draft.
06:34 Being at Kentucky definitely showed that
06:36 there will be highs and lows to a season.
06:38 But when you're low, you got to come together
06:41 and build up your teammates.
06:45 We had a few team meetings after losses
06:48 that the next game we won, that was big for us.
06:51 And that was some of the best moments we had.
06:55 What I'm saying is he's going to be the multi-two-weight player
06:59 that can play for any team, anywhere in the NBA.
07:03 I'm bullish on Kayson Wiles and his growth and development
07:07 in the NBA and having the same type of career as Drew Holliday.
07:11 My thing was always looking at the fit.
07:16 I didn't really care about who was getting picked
07:19 and when they were getting picked.
07:20 We got some ankles out today.
07:22 [Music]
07:34 My girl Sammy got me right today.
07:35 So for a while, this whole draft process
07:42 has been about not forgetting where you came from.
07:44 Hamilton Park, Texas is where I come from.
07:47 This is my friends, family.
07:49 That's where we all grew up from.
07:52 It's a lot of history, no matter where you're from.
07:56 Whenever you do get somewhere,
07:58 just make sure you're not ashamed of where you come from.
08:01 And you know, you keep going.
08:03 [Music]
08:08 My dad, he's been ready for this moment.
08:11 And you know, he's been pushing me towards it.
08:13 He's always the one taking the fall for me.
08:17 It's a lot that I owe to him in a way.
08:20 So, man, all the hard work, all the dedication,
08:25 all the sacrifice, actually did everything you had to do
08:28 to become great.
08:30 And I just want to let him know that I appreciate it
08:32 for not being a knucklehead,
08:34 kept his head on,
08:35 did what he was supposed to do in the classroom.
08:36 It's crazy.
08:38 It's crazy.
08:39 Love you.
08:41 This is the beginning.
08:43 It's a long road ahead.
08:45 Don't be comfortable just to say that you made it.
08:48 And take care of yourself.
08:50 And you know how to act because you're a Wallace.
08:53 That's all I got to say.
08:55 [Music]
08:59 I don't know the words to say.
09:01 Just excitement, just blessed, thankful,
09:04 all that all wrapped in together.
09:06 He's worked hard for this.
09:08 So it's exciting to see it come all together.
09:11 He did graduate on the honor roll.
09:13 So I'm proud of that.
09:15 And those sacrifices of him missing tournaments,
09:19 missing championship games,
09:21 and that paid off for him to be a great person as well.
09:24 This is not the "you made it" moment.
09:29 I feel like you're halfway there.
09:31 Continue to have the drive, the mentality,
09:35 stay focused, keep God first,
09:37 you know, love yourself,
09:39 you know, say no when you need to say no.
09:41 Make me proud, which I'm already proud.
09:45 You know, your family's proud of you.
09:47 Make yourself proud.
09:48 I need to see the star, you know, in LA.
09:52 Where is that at?
09:53 [Laughter]
09:55 Yeah, Hollywood Boulevard.
09:57 Let me get the star, you know.
09:58 I want to see you in the Hall of Fame case and wallet.
10:01 So we got a road to go.
10:03 We're halfway there.
10:05 So congratulations.
10:06 I love you.
10:07 You've done an excellent job.
10:09 I'm proud, Mom.
10:10 [Music]
10:17 Uh, the thunder are up now at number 10.
10:20 What I'm bringing to the table is a great spirit, competitiveness,
10:26 somebody that wants to win at all costs.
10:31 My ultimate goal for the NBA is being an all-star many years.
10:40 A defensive player of the year a few times.
10:42 National championship.
10:45 Like, I want my career career, if that makes sense.
10:48 I want to be a household name in the league.
10:51 I tell the next generation,
10:55 no matter where you come from, just keep your eye on your goal.
11:00 I'm told that Dallas is picking for Oklahoma City here at number 10.
11:08 The Mavericks are sending out Daves Burton's contract and the number 10 pick
11:14 for Oklahoma City's pick at 12.
11:17 Don't worry about the outside looking in.
11:20 Like, just worry about what you want to do and go get it.
11:23 And with the 10th pick in the 2023 NBA draft,
11:35 the Dallas Mavericks select Kayson Wallace from the University of Kentucky.
11:40 Draft night was a great experience to have.
11:45 It was our first time, all of us.
11:47 My mom, dad, brother, cousin was at the table.
11:50 So it was just a fun experience for me, myself, and my whole family.
11:54 What I'm looking forward to in Oklahoma is enjoying the food.
11:58 Like, it's a lot of food spots that I didn't know about.
12:01 You know, there are great people out there.
12:03 And just being out in the community and mingling with people and being a great teammate.
12:08 I have some fans meet me at the hotel when I arrive so I can feel the love and support already.
12:14 I want to be remembered as a hard worker, somebody that left a mark on the league.
12:22 Great person off the court and on the court.
12:25 And really just a competitor.
12:28 [MUSIC]