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The worlds of sports and showbiz collide! Featuring in-depth chats with top athletes, entertainers, and industry insiders - all with a Las Vegas twist.
Wesley Knight 0:00
This is a KU NV studios original program. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Music 0:22
Go Nothing can stop me. I'm all the way up. I'm all the way
Music 0:33
up, I'm all the way up. Nothing can stop me. I'm all the way up.
Alexis Levi 0:39
This is Alexis on sports and stars again, and man, I just keep coming with him. It today is exciting. You know, we've done a couple interviews today, and I have one more that I'm going to do, and it's exciting for me, because I've known this man for a while. I've seen him do great things in sports. But I want to talk about the beginning. I want to bring it forth to how did he become an NBA player, and how did he become a star, and how did what happened after that? So I want to introduce him, and his name is Monty. Buckley. Welcome, Monty. How are you doing today? I'm good. Thank you for having me. You welcome. You welcome. You know, we've been friends a long time, but I don't know the whole story. So I just thought, instead of just you and I talking, that I would bring you probably in front of a good 100,000 people and talk about how things happened. And you know, you're from the I don't know if you're from the bay. Are you from the bay? I'm from Sacramento, Sacramento. See, I'm from Castro Valley. I was born in Castro Valley, so, and we just learned that about each other. So I want to talk a little bit about, okay, you're in Sacramento. Okay, you're in high school. Where did you go to high school? In Sacramento? Oh, yep, Christian Brothers, High School. Christian Brothers, high school. Okay, and tell me what happened to get you to Cal because they don't take everybody. They only take good people.
Monty Buckley 1:52
Well, yeah, I learned that as I as a as I got older, so I was in Sacramento, and I would always go watch Cal games. Kevin went to Berkeley. Was from Sacramento, yes. And so as I grew up, I was, you know, going to those games, and just ended up, as I what, as it got closer to me to decide to take the college that I ended up going to Cal so it was, you know, the good thing for me was I was able to go to College Preparatory High School. Was, was actually, you know,
Alexis Levi 2:34
Mandy, right,
Monty Buckley 2:37
yeah. So, it was a great experience. And it was, you know, a lot of learning took place at that time.
Alexis Levi 2:46
Yeah, you know, because it was in the 90s, correct, correct, yes, I believe I saw what 91 to 95 is when you went there, yeah, yeah. And, I mean, and that was a unique time in the Bay Area. You know, a lot of great things are happening. A lot of good stuff. I had friends at Cal, and, you know, we used to go the games and things like that. But, you know, I can't even say right now, other than Leon po that came after you, that I've met anybody that went to Cal, even though I lived so close. So it's a pleasure meeting somebody back from home. And so you came from Sacramento, you went to Cal, Berkeley, and, you know, I would say, How did you know if you knew that you were going to get the opportunity to go pro? Or did you know when you were at Cal
Monty Buckley 3:33
at that time? You know, obviously the landscape of the game is different, and the rules are different and the time, so you just, kind of, when you were in college, you just trying to, obviously, you wanted to win and, know, get to the tournament and go as far as you could, and whatever came after that. You know, as far as pro basketball, obviously, again, like there's so many, so many more leagues and opportunities for these kids now, just a lot more competitive back then, because the game wasn't as as you know, as grown you know, not just in the United States, but around the world,
Alexis Levi 4:11
around the world exactly, exactly as you know. We know a person named Tyler Larson, which is my son, and you know, he went overseas, and when he made that decision. I was like, oh my god, no. Where are you going, you know? And he was like, I'm going to Latvia. Where is Latvia? You know, who's going the other end that's going to pick you up and make sure that you're okay once you get across the water. And so, you know, when you think about basketball these days, there's so many changes. But, you know, I can almost say when it to me it was a little better. It's like so many changes and so many adjustments that are being made right now, from the college level into the pros. But back in the day, it was good. I mean, it was good, you know, everybody kind of did the stair step. You know, this is what you did. You went to college, and you played in college, and if you're good enough in college, you might get talked about, you know, going to other places. Um, Cal, when you were there, did you win a championship there? Or tell me a little bit more, what happened when you were at Cal?
Monty Buckley 5:06
No championship. We did go to the tournament two years. Ended up being ranked, you know, a few times. Yes, we 16, and the Duke on the
Alexis Levi 5:21
way there. That's a big one. Yep,
Monty Buckley 5:24
it was a lot of ups and downs. And you see, you know, you all come in and you see as a class, and you see, and you know, as the years go on, a lot of those kids that you come on with come in with a lot of them, you know, transfer or, you know, you don't play. So you can see that, you know,
Alexis Levi 5:48
yeah, there's so much transition. And, you know, I want to get into what we you know, but I want to take my audience through the steps. Because, you know, a lot of times people look at college and they go, okay, that player is going to go, and they have no clue what that player is going through, from college all the way to the pros. So you were just telling me before we came on air, that you were not drafted, but yet you made it. So let's talk about that.
Monty Buckley 6:14
It wasn't so much. I think, I think that the difference, obviously, you know, you know when you leave college, you're dealing with the best athletes in the world, and trying to get into the league is hard enough trouble training camps here, and I played overseas and and, and do you have the language, and you have the work ethic, you have the terminology. It's just a lot that kids, you know that again, the word transition. You know I was talking to someone the other day. You know my body. You know working in and coaching an NBA like game days are like, 2020, hours long, and these guys do three workouts and still play the game, yes, yes. It's a lot that goes into and people like, why, why this guy don't make either, why this and that? And this really comes down to how hard you work. And you know, if you have the opportunity to be in the gym three times, and you do that, or you have the opportunity to do one time. And, you know, usually the better players, or the guys that are successful in the league, or even the ones that stay, they know they put the work in. Yes, I think, you know from college, you don't really, it's really not demanded of you to work all day long like that, because you have class and you have other things going on exactly when now, when you go from college to pro, or even the same from high school, it's just a different kind of work in it. It's
Alexis Levi 7:53
a whole Rude Awakening, the requirements you know people see the glitz and the glam that these you know, that you all have, and the glitz and the glam that you know the players have right now, but they have no clue how hard these guys work. Like you said, game days are 20 hours, and then you're you were a coach. Let's talk a little bit about that, because you you had some great opportunities. You went from Cal, Berkeley, the which is one of the best schools, right? And then you go to what team and play pro
Monty Buckley 8:23
I was, I was, I was in a league that was equivalent to the G League, but it's a different league, CBA. I was, I went to turning camp with Portland, and the year I came out of college, there was a thing called a lockout. Yes, very rare happened where there was no workouts, there was no it was no NBA activities being done at all that year, from summer league to anything so that had kind of, you know, took, took a step back to as well. I mean, the year you come out, you know, you don't get to do that again. So yes, it is definitely, like I say, the athletes, and dealing with the fastest. And now even, you know there's, there's no position with these guys, you have seven footers that can play like guards. And yes, guard, they shoot like guards, and they pass like point guard. So it's like, it's no, you know, the game has became more, become more athletic,
Alexis Levi 9:32
and every, every position, right, every Yeah, and,
Monty Buckley 9:36
and, you know, drill based in what is still a lack of the love of the game and the IQ of the game that that, that that I see, yeah, going up, and then I'll end up playing overseas. Well, then I started getting into coaching a little bit, and I was ml. Walking was, you know, one of my best friends was the coach. And, you know, like, you know, be a part. I was like, yeah, just learned a lot, even a lot than I thought I knew.
Alexis Levi 10:13
But you know what's so funny about you? I'm laughing right now because I know you, you're so humble, and you always have been that way, ever since I met you. And it's funny to my audience, he's like, Yeah, my best friend. And he didn't say who his best friend was. It was Jason Kidd, okay? And then he said, Yeah, I was in Milwaukee. No, he didn't say, the Milwaukee Bucks. You were a coach there. And obviously, you know, he's your best friend. I know that, but you know, we all wish we had a best friend like that, right? That would just call us up and say, Hey, I have an opportunity. Is that what happened or, or did you just say, hey, you know, I want to go do coaching? Well,
Monty Buckley 10:47
no, we had, you know, I had this summer league. And you know he would and then, you know, he would ask what you're doing. And you know, we, we kind of talk, you know, we still talk to the day to this day, and yeah, like, I'm thinking about doing this and knowing that I'm like, okay, okay, so we talking. And then, you know, I went out to do, just to do a, to do a training camp, just, you know, to learn the guy see how it works, you know, look at the system, you know, see, you know, especially if you just getting in. And so I go there, and then he was like, when it was time training camp was over, he's like, man, once you just stay here, you know, you want to stay here and learn and, you know, be a part. And I was like, yeah. I was like, I'll just start at the bottom and watch film and put me at the bottom of the pole, and I'll just work my
Alexis Levi 11:37
work your way up. Yeah. Well, you know, you had a lot of success having that mentality. You know, a lot of people don't want to do that, especially today. You know, they all want to shoot three pillars, and that's it. And you know, they expect to get there, you know, as quickly as they can. And when they don't, some of them quit. Some of them don't, you know, decide to do other things. And so that's something I missed today. I missed that in sports. You know, the mamba effect. And you know, what's his name? Mike, what's that guy's name? Michael Jordan. You know, the mentality behind the sport, I feel is not as, you know, across the board, as it once was, you know, and I grew up in that era, so you know, now you're working with players that are coming out of college, and of course, now they have the n, i L, so you know, they're coming out with money, and that puts a whole nother spin on it. What do you think about that? What's going on now?
Monty Buckley 12:34
I mean, in any time you can pay a college athlete, especially, you know, before they weren't able to make any, you know, you would be a struggling college athlete. You have to figure out a way to, you know, get some kind of extra money when you're in college. Because, you know, you know, you hear stories and you know what. So, you know, you go on the you go on the bookstore, New Jersey being sold, and, you know,
Alexis Levi 13:04
you're not making anything, yeah, I would imagine that would be a little bit of rude awakening.
Monty Buckley 13:10
So, I mean, you know, back then, it wasn't, you didn't look at it like Dave, but you know, today, it's a different game, and it's a part of the game, and it's only fair, you know, it's the same. It's just, I think that when you watch like you say, it takes. I just think, you know, good for the kids and all the sports. I think in some situations, again, it takes, it takes that, it takes that love away from the game becomes work.
Alexis Levi 13:42
You know, money, yeah,
Monty Buckley 13:44
of course. Love Like it's sometimes it's even hard for them to fathom.
Alexis Levi 13:51
Well, you know, it's funny, and I want to ask you if you felt this way when you were playing. You know, I've been around sports a while now, and when I even had my team, you know, if they were not playing for me, if they weren't playing, if you weren't playing for the NBA, or you weren't playing for your college, where would you be? You'd be back on the basketball court, wouldn't you, because you had the love of the game, yeah, yeah. I remember that
Monty Buckley 14:14
before our fitness, you'd be at a park, you'd be at somewhere playing for free. Yeah,
Alexis Levi 14:19
that's exactly what happens, though, when they went on strike, when the NBA went on strike, there was players up here, you know, playing for impact in different places, you know. And I, you know, I kind of like that, because I know that, you know, I remember my kids when they first started, and they just loved to play. I'd have to holler at them and get them in the house, you know, it was dark outside, you know. And, you know, I feel like now a little bit. I mean, it's not that I don't like, what happened I like, you know, I know Sonny Vaccaro and we had a couple good conversations, you know, before the movie came out, and before he really started fighting for people, the college players, to get some money. But I have mixed feelings now. Now. I've been around it now that I've seen the attitude with some of the players, you know. Like you said, the love of the game is not there as much, but it's like, this is the job, and I'm gonna go get the money, and if they're not paying me, I'm gonna hop in the portal and go where they're paying me, you know, which kind of changes the momentum and changes the dynamics, you know, not only for them, but for the fans. You know,
Monty Buckley 15:23
it changed the dynamics. But it also, again, is no different when you have to look at it from a coach's side. I mean, when they have opportunity to be able to leave and go make more money or better their you know, you know, yeah, higher and they, and they, they take advantage of that as well. So I think, you know, it puts, puts it on an even, an even steady kill, right? And kill is, you know, you have, you have players, and you have coaches that can, that can move,
Alexis Levi 15:55
yeah, yes, yes, you know, you know, one of the things I do like about it money is that, you know, I'll just talk about Tyler. When Tyler went to school, he was there, you know, at University of South Dakota, and the first year, one of his teammates kicked him in the knee and tore his ACL. So, you know, when you have those kind of scenarios and situations going on, and you think about, well, gosh, you know what? If, you know, wasn't, A, it wasn't a debilitating it didn't in his career, he still kept going. It was just a little wobble. And keep going, right? But you think about it, the the ones that are getting the NIO money, at least they're getting something so that they did get hurt, they, you know, they still are taken care of, or they receive something for themselves and their family. And I think that's really good, you know. And then you know the choices. You know, you had choices. They have choices just like you. You know, a lot of people go play, and when they think it's time to stop, then they maybe go coach, right? Maybe don't get an opportunity to be called by Jason Kidd, but they get an opportunity to put their name in the ranks, to be able to go and coach. And so I know that you've done a lot of things since you you know, even stopped coaching. You're still coaching. You know, you still work with the kids. And tell us a little bit about what you're doing today.
Monty Buckley 17:12
Well, today, obviously, I work with kids, all kind of kids train, and I work with some high school kids coach just, you know, always I feel that being able to, you know, get back to the game and you know, by maybe, you know, helping a few kids that, you know want to go to college, or, You know, want to, you know, make this their livelihood and give them a few pointers and some tips on being able to, you know, sustain it. So it's not, you know, a lot of kids I deal with is not a relationship over a year or so. It's usually years on years or yes, you get a message or call back here and, you know? So that's, that's what I kind of do to, you know. But as far as work wise, I work for a private equity firm. Know that we do, you know, investments in late stage tech company. So,
Alexis Levi 18:16
yeah, yeah, no, you're doing it all. And then that's, you know, one thing I do like is that it appears to me, having been around this stuff for a long time, that more of the players are investing and they're doing different things to, you know, give their portfolio some strength. Obviously, you know, people like Steph Curry and Durant and people like that, you know, they're, they're doing big things. And Kobe, you know, before Coby passed away, I was having a conversation with one of the Lakers, I won't say his name, and you know, he was really wanting to be instrumental in making sure that, you know, most of the players that were out there, the ones that really wanted to were kind of following in his footsteps and getting opportunities. And I think they're doing the same. Is that kind of where you're at with the venture capital firms and things like that, making opportunities for the athletes or opportunities for anybody who needs an opportunity.
Monty Buckley 19:07
Well, pretty much. I mean, it's anyone you know, but obviously being around athletes, and also, you know, being able to expose into a different side of of of a capital world, it always helps as well. But no, we're, you know, we're private equity firm. We know we kind of fly under the radar, but we work hard, and I can bring in invest you. So it's also with the n, i, L, and with, you know, even salaries that are be being given these kids, like you said, they're being able to not only change their lives, but you know, build themselves a black platform and enterprise. And you know, really, if you say, build more generational wealth.
Alexis Levi 19:59
Yeah, yes, yes. And that's, you know, that's what's needed. I mean, you've got all this money moving around, and you've got things that are, you know, there for the taking. And one thing I love about the new generation is they're not waiting, you know, till they retire. They're they're trying to maneuver and do things, you know, early so that they could live their lives better, earlier in their life.
Monty Buckley 20:20
A lot of what they get paid in one or two years. A lot of these guys back then was getting paid for you had to wait till you retire. Yeah, yeah. So, so salaries are, you know, the money is astronomically different. The game is like, say, it's not just, you know, it's more globally and worldwide. And even the women's game is picked up. Oh
Alexis Levi 20:45
yeah, I love it. I absolutely love the women's game too. You know, you mentioned the women's game, and I do. I mean, the aces are amazing. You know, the players are great. You know, there's some young people like we're doing, you know, with next American sports Pro, which you're a part of. And the young lady that you were looking at, do you remember the one you tried? You tried her out. She is doing so well. I think she's ranked number four in the state. She's number one in double doubles. She said, You know, she's doing good. And she's over at Rancho. So we're definitely, you know, looking here in town to, you know, help athletes go from point A to point B, and the parents to for them to understand what it's going to take. You know, a lot of parents, and I talk to parents every day, you know, what is it going to take? And how did your son go pro and whatever and whatever? And I'm like, You know what? It was a lot of work for me in the beginning, but it was a lot of work for him to get him the rest of the way. And so, you know, if they know how that all goes, then obviously everybody's working as a team. And so I know, you know, you've been working with a lot of
Monty Buckley 21:51
players, it's not so much the work, which you know, is different, but it's the sacrifice that's involved. And you know, not only the athlete, but also the parents, or whoever's all involved, because the, you know, the athlete isn't working by itself.
Alexis Levi 22:10
And that's true. And you know, I was, I will tell you this, I told someone the other day, I said, you know, they said, Oh, you're so lucky, right? And I and I was lucky. I was blessed. You know, my son is amazing, both of them, one's a Hall of Famer and the other one's, you know, a player overseas, right? But I told someone, I said, this Christmas was the first Christmas we spent together as a family in so many years, all of us, you know. And so those are, you know, you're talking about sacrifice. Those are some of the sacrifices that sometimes you have to make, because when one child's overseas and one child's in Atlanta, it's really difficult to have a Merry Christmas, because you're spread out, you know. So those, those things are the things that we want them to know and we want them to understand. You know that if you do step into that realm, and you do have a son or daughter that want to play pro sports, that it's it's a family thing, it's a team sport, because you know each person is going to have to sacrifice and and be understanding and all of those things.
Monty Buckley 23:07
Yeah, and it doesn't start when you're 20. It starts when you're 10 and 11 and you got grandma taking you to practice. Oh, yeah, something that you know. This is something that you know, especially now. You just can't pick up a sport when you're a teenager and expect to, you know, to to prolong yourself in that, because everyone's playing the sports whenever, you know, at a young babies out of birth. So it's a little bit different.
Alexis Levi 23:42
Yeah, it is different. You know, money. Well, I thank you so much for coming to my show today and talking to me about this, because this is so important. You know, I find that, you know, people need to hear the procedures and the process and the commitment and the dedication, and sometimes the disappointments and the things you have to deal with. And you brought all of it, you know, when you brought the successes of going, you know, from Cal to Pro to, you know, also being a coach with your best friend Jason Kidd, and so that's really exciting for people that are listening. And I just appreciate you so much for coming here today, and I'm hoping that you're going to come back, especially when we get started with the production for next American sports Pro. And I thank you for coming today, and I hope you will come back. Thank you.
Monty Buckley 24:28
No, thank you for having me. Yeah, just let me know.
Alexis Levi 24:32
Okay, all right, you're always there for me, and I appreciate you so
Both 24:37
much. Thank you. Thank you.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai