Pic credit Joe Murphy(Memphis Grizzlies)
Sean McDermott (198-F-1996, college: Butler, agency: Octagon Europe) is a 27 year 198cm forward from Pendleton, Indiana playing his fourth professional season and first overseas with Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A). He palyed his first 3 professional seasons with G-League team Memphis Hustle and also played 18 games for NBA team Memphis Grizzlies in his rookie season. He began his basketball career with Pendleton Heights High school. He then played at Butler (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 122 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Europe Cup game against BG Goettingen.
Thanks Sean for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?
Thank you for having me. I am currently in Varese, Italy and basketball is going well!
It has been about 10 years since you had a Staph infection. That was a very difficult time. Is this experience something you still think about daily and what was your biggest drive then besides just living?
The STAPH infection was definitely a difficult time in my life, but I don’t think about it too much anymore. When I think back on that time I am just grateful that we found an answer and that I am able to be here today, playing a game I love, living a blessed life with the people that I love.
I think my biggest drive immediately after getting an answer to what I was facing was just to get back onto the basketball court and get back to the player that I felt I had worked to become. But as more time passed the STAPH infection helped to bring up more important issues that I needed to face in my life like what I truly believed in and what I felt my purpose on this earth was. That was a journey that took years to find an answer to, but it has been the most rewarding journey of my life. Now I know that my purpose is far more than being a good basketball player, but living a life that points to Jesus Christ daily because he has saved from who I once was and made me new. Yes, I am alive physically following the STAPH infection, but so much more importantly I am alive spiritually!
After playing your first 3 pro seasons in the NBA and G-League, you’re now playing your 4th pro season and first overseas with Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A). Did you lose a little faith in the NBA process and decide to see what it looks like in Europe?
After spending one year in the NBA, followed by nearly an entire season missed because of a knee surgery, and then a full season in the G-league last year I just felt like I had given what I could to try to get back to the ultimate goal which is to be an NBA player. I don’t want to say I lost faith in the NBA process because we have seen guys get to the NBA yearly from overseas, but I did feel like it was time for me to make the move to European basketball. I have been following the different European leagues for a couple of years now and was excited by the opportunity to come be a part of really high level basketball with really high level and committed fans.
What kind of an experience has it been for you playing for Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A). The club moved up to Serie A again in 2019 and last won a Serie A title in 1999. How have you experienced the basketball culture there?
Playing in Varese has been such a cool experience for me so far. The fans here are unbelievable. I felt welcomed by them from the time that I signed and have felt the love from them since that day. Varese loves basketball and they have so much pride in their club. We, as players want to represent ourselves well, but we also want to give everything we have for these fans because they deserve to have a group of guys that fights for their community every single night.
What have you learned to appreciate most about the culture in Italy. Players usually mention the pasta first, but what else have you learned to appreciate quickly?
I think the biggest thing that has stood out to me about the culture in Italy is the slow paced life. In America I am so used to being on the go non-stop, feeling like I always have to be doing something. It is admirable to me that the Italian culture values time with family around the dinner table, or at a restaurant, even at a team meal. Italians clearly value time with loved ones and friends and I think that is something that Americans can learn from and apply to our lives.
You had 2 exceptional games in the Basketball Champions League and haven´t really needed to make any big adjustment period, but coming from the G-League, what part of the Euro game has been the biggest challenge to get used to?
I think the biggest adjustment to European basketball has been the physicality and lack of space. There is no defensive 3 seconds here, so getting in the paint can be very challenging at times. On top of that, you add the physicality of the game here and it can make it hard to score if your offense isn’t flowing and in a good rhythm. I also think teams here really value having skilled big men on the block that they run their offense through. The American game is more pick and roll dominant. Of course pick and roll is prevalent here as well, but you also see the ball thrown into the post quite a bit more here.
You’re a versatile player that can score the ball. What are your personal goals with your game in your first season overseas? Do you see yourself being an impact player right away?
The biggest goal is to win. I’m a firm believer that winning takes care of everything. More personal goals would be to show that I can really shoot the ball at a high level from 3 in a variety of different ways. I also want to show that I am more athletic than I think I am given credit for, and I believe I can do that by defending and rebounding at a high level. I believe that I can be an impact player for this team, but I also believe that all of our guys are impact players. We have to be solid throughout our roster because we play very good competition here. We don’t just want to compete, we want to win. Every guy has to impact winning in his own way.
Would you share a smile if you began to hear “Little Dunham” chants from Varese fans after hitting shots? Was Kellen Dunham a role model when you were at Pendleton?
I would be thrilled to hear chants about Kellen! I didn’t have the chance to play with Kellen at Pendleton because I transferred in my sophomore year, but I did have to the opportunity to be his teammate for one season at Butler. As good of a basketball player as Kellen is, he is an even better man. As much of an honor as it is to be compared to him as a basketball player, I hope people speak as highly of me as a person as they do of him. He is the best.
The Serie A is lucky to have received a player like Willie Cauley-Stein who played 8 seasons in the NBA. What have you learned to appreciate the most about his game?
I love how selfless Willie is. He could have come in here with his resume and been selfish, but he has been the exact opposite. He is a great teammate and a skilled player. He makes the game easier for the rest of us.
You played 18 NBA games as a rookie for the Memphis Grizzlies and also played for the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) averaging 17.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 31.8%, FT: 87.5%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being in the NBA?
There were many different situations that were wake up calls for me in the NBA. In the first preseason game of the year I took a charge on Anthony Edwards that felt like getting hit by a middle linebacker. My first official NBA points were in the Boston Garden. But I think maybe the coolest moment for me as a shooter was getting the opportunity to guard and be guarded by JJ Redick. I’m positive he had no idea who I was, but for me that was somebody who’s game I had watched for years, and to get to go head to head with him was very cool for me.
You gave your NBA debut in a loss to the Boston Celtics where you put up 4/3/2 stats in 21 minutes. What are your memories of when you checked into the game?
I remember the nerves that came with stepping on the NBA court for my first regular season game. This was a goal that I had been working towards my entire life, and the moment was finally here. But you quickly snap out of it as soon as play begins because there is a job to do.
How do you remember Ja Morant? He was already good then, but in the last years has continued to develop into a NBA superstar? What wow moment do you remember having?
I remember Ja as an incredible player and unbelievable athlete, but what I remember more is the way he welcomed all of us rookies on draft night through social media and then in person when we landed in Memphis. He didn’t act like he was one of the faces of the league and I was just some unknown rookie, but instead made me feel like a teammate of his that he wanted to help however he could.
You had a very strong 2021 NBA Summer League, but didn´t remain in the NBA but played a season with the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) averaging 8.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 59.3%, 3PT: 43.6%, FT: 71.4%. How tough was this season playing only 11 games and then being in the middle of Covid?
That was a tough season for me because it was actually the season I had my knee surgery and had to miss nearly the entire year. I got hurt in our second to last summer league game and had to have surgery after that. The recovery was difficult as it kept me from being on the court, but that was the year my daughter was born which kept me busy and kept me from dwelling on missing the game I love.
You remained with the Memphis Hustle (NBA G League) in your third pro season averaging 9.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 56.1%, 3PT: 37.2%, FT: 78.8%. You had great games and then games where your minutes were down. In a league where most are playing for their stats, how do you feel did your game profit in your third pro season?
Although I didn’t put up giant numbers last season, I felt like I always tried to play my role and that was something I was proud of. I felt like I took a big leap last year defensively as an on ball defender and that’s something I want to carry over to this season. The G-league can be challenging because of the NBA guys coming up and down and having minutes fluctuate regularly so I felt like I had to take a step with my mental toughness last year as well. I had to learn to focus on controlling what I can control and that will continue to be a focus of mine for the rest of my career.
Was your 23 points against Stockton in the 110-109 win one of your fondest moments in the G-League?
I felt like that was a good game for me. I didn’t shoot it great from 3, but felt like I impacted the game in a lot of other ways. That was a big step that I took, was figuring out ways to impact winning if my shot wasn’t falling. I have many fond moments and memories from the G-league and my time in Memphis.
You played at Butler (NCAA) from 2016-2020 and was able to improve your scoring average each season. What kind of a player were you when you arrived and what kind when you departed?
When I arrived at Butler I was still trying to recover from my STAPH infection from a couple years prior. I still didn’t feel 100% and felt like I was coming in way behind where I need to be. I was very skinny and quite frankly felt like I didn’t belong my first season. But I continued to work on my game daily, multiple times a day, for the 5 years that I was at Butler and felt like I grew as a player every year. I came in as a shooter, but felt like I left as a much more well rounded all around player. My shot will always be my strong point, but I want to be more than just a shooter and I felt like I have grown in that aspect every season since I got to Butler.
You reached 2 NCAA tournaments losing to North Carolina and Purdue. What memories do you have? You only played a minute against North Carolina but scored a basket as a freshman.
I remember the North Carolina game fondly. I wasn’t playing many minutes for us by tournament time, but we were a very good team. It was a sweet sixteen game that we actually played in Memphis at the Grizzlies arena. North Carolina was very good that year and went on to win the national championship, but being in the sweet sixteen is something I will remember for the rest of my life. The Purdue game is a difficult one to relive. I felt like there were a couple plays in that game that we would love to have back because we were right there. We had a chance to win the game but Dakota Mathias (who I am good friends with now and played with last year in Memphis) hit a dagger late in the clock to go up 4 on us in the final seconds. It was a very good game and really cool to play another in state team in the NCAA tournament. I wish the outcome would have been different, but life goes on.
You played 4 seasons with Kamar Baldwin. After a great season in Germany, he played in the G-League and is now back overseas in Italy. Did you guys develop a special friendship over the years?
Yes, Kamar is a special talent on the basketball court and a special human being. I may be biased, but I believe Butler basketball has some really awesome people who have been a part of it. Kamar will be like a brother to me forever. He is a Butler legend and will go down as one of the all time greats.
How did head coach LaVall Jordan groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
I think Val was really gifted when it came to skill development, but even more so he helped to create leaders and men. I think when it came to our time with Val, everybody knew what their role was and what was expected of them every single day that they walked onto the court and that is something I have carried over to my professional career. I’m not trying to be somebody I’m not. I just want to be the best Sean McDermott that I can be for my team every single day.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Jordan Tucker?
I only remember one 1on1 game between Jordan and I in our practice gym in a side basket. I took the victory in that one, but I’m sure if he beat me at another time I just tried to block that out from my memory. I’m not a very good loser and Jordan is a really good player so I’m sure he got me at some point.
Who is the best player that you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
I think Jalen Brunson was the best college player I played. He won national player of the year, so it’s hard to pick against him. He has made a pretty good career for himself in the NBA as well.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
It’s so hard to pick a 5 best because I’ve had so many incredible teammates. To avoid leaving anybody off the list I’m going have to give an I don’t know to this question.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?
I can only speak of players that I have personally watched throughout my life. For me, it is MJ, Kobe, LeBron, and Steph Curry. You can tell that I’m clearly biased towards guards as well. Tim Duncan and Shaq are up there in my generation as well. Clearly I’m leaving off some of the legends of the game, but I was not able to watch them like I’ve been able to watch some of the others that I listed.
Who is your GOAT and why?
My GOAT is MJ. I think his mindset and love for the game made him the most dominant player of all time. Hard to argue with rings and MVP’s. I have a fascination with MJ’s determination to be the best and his willingness to put the work in to earn that title. For the same reasons, I think Kobe is right behind MJ.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
I am a little embarrassed to say this, but I have actually never seen Coming to America.
Thanks Sean for the chat.
German Hoops 