It’s been more than two years since Aaron Miles and Mike Lee, who formed with Keith Langford and Wayne Simien to form one of the more popular classes in recent KU memory, played their final game in crimson and blue. Since then, they’ve each led twisted basketball journeys which make them both feel older than their ripe ages of 24 would lead you to believe.
Miles had a cup of coffee with the Golden State Warriors in his first year out of college, but after he was released during his rookie season, his path has taken him to the NBA Developmental League and overseas, playing in France this past season. Now, he’s beginning another summer of chasing down his NBA dream, hoping to stick around much longer should he make it again.
Lee has played for the Harlem Globetrotters, an IBL team near his hometown of Portland, Ore., seen some time in France and most recently with the Kansas Cagerz in Salina. His season in central Kansas was cut short due to a pinched nerve in his right shoulder, and now while he continues to fully heal, he’s figuring out what the next step in his life is – and whether it involves basketball or not.
Both took time to speak with KUSports.com editor Ryan Greene after Wednesday’s scrimmage against the current Jayhawks, an annual highlight of Bill Self’s summer basketball camps, in Allen Fieldhouse.
Camping with Aaron Miles
Ryan Greene: What’s the best part of coming back to Lawrence for you?
Aaron Miles: I mean, besides my girlfriend (who lives in Kansas City), working out and being witth the guys, you know what I’m saying? Get to wrok out hard with Russell, play against Russell, Sherron and Mario and them, and Rod and Case, see all my boys and work out hard.
RG: What’s the biggest difference in playing basketball overseas and playing here in the states?
AM: They’ve got certain different rules. You just got to get adjusted, man. It’s kind of like a mixture of college and the NBA. There’s no defensive three seconds, so it’s jammed up in there.
RG: What’s the most annoying rule they have? If you could change one of their rules, what would it be?
AM: Just being in the key. There’s no defensive penalties, so the key is just congested. If you get by your man, you’ve got two big dudes to finish over. I think that’s what’s going to make me a better player when it comes time to get back to professional basketball over here. Another one, they can knock (the ball) off the rim. There’s goaltending if it’s coming down, but once it gets on the rim, they can knock it down.
RG: What’s next for you? Is the NBA dream still alive?
AM: Yeah, definitely. I’ve got a couple minicamps to go to. I’ve got a camp in Milwaukee next week, and then the summer league with San Antonio.
RG: You’ve been in the NBA before. Does it boost your drive more to get back?
AM: The lifestyle, you’re taken care of. Then you’ve got like different perks and things that come along with it. Obviously, it’s much better being in the NBA.
RG: You talk about going to camp with San Antonio. Does it make it that much more exciting that they’re a game away from a championship right now and you’re going to be in camp with them in about a month or two?
AM: It feels good. It’s a privilege to play for them, and I’m honored that they want me to play for them.
RG: You think these last couple years have made you a tougher person, bouncing around like you have? Is it something you’re better for?
AM: It humbles you. It’s a humbling experience, and I’ve always been a humble man anyway, you know, but it humbles you more to be cut form the NBA, to be in the D-League, to not making it to a veteran camp because of a knee injury and having to go overseas. It makes me that much more of…my character, it builds it. I’m glad, everything you go through makes you a stronger person.
RG: If you make it back into the NBA, what’s the first thing you’re going to do to celebrate?
AM: I’m not celebrating until I stick in the NBA. I’ll celebrate after my career’s over. So, you know, that’s my thing. I got to the NBA once, and I didn’t really celebrate, but I felt like I was there. And then you get cut, so it’s a humbling experience. You don’t get there to celebrate – you get there to stick. You work that much harder to stay there, becasue just like I’m coming up to try and take somebody’s spot, somebody’s coming up behind me trying to take my spot, so you’ve just got to stay humble and keep working.
RG: What’s the first thing you think of when you come back in the Fieldhouse?
AM: One thing that crossed my mind was when we came back from making it to the Final Four my freshman year. And we come home at 12 at night and we’ve got people waiting on us and stuff. That’s a memory I’ll treasure and never forget, how much fan support and loyalty we had here as a Jayhawk.
RG: You obviously have a bond with some of the current players. What’s one thing you tell them, looking back on your playing days, that you pass on to those guys when you come back?
AM: Just compete against each other everyday. I mean, you’re all friends, but when you’re all on the court, go after each other’s head and make each other better. I noticed that they’re doing that, and that’s why they did so well this year. They compete, they’re competitive, and I told them to just keep that competitive drive. You play and stay unselfish, and the sky’s the limit for this team.
Camping with Mike Lee
Ryan Greene: What’s next for you?
Mike Lee: I have no idea at this point. I didn’t anticipate this (injury), so I could be out for the next five months. So I’m going to hang around Kansas, figure some things out and then go from there. But I’ll be in Lawrence until the end of the month.
RG: Are you still wanting to play basketball professionally?
ML: I have been thinking about going back to school. I still do have a desire to play, I don’t know how much longer that’s going to last, but at this point I’m kind of in between. If I stopped playing basketball today, I don’t think I’d be too mad. If I kept playing, I’d be happy just the same, so like I said, at this point I really don’t know.
RG: You go from playing in one of the top programs in the nation in college, and playing semi-pro, how does it change the game?
ML: What i figured out once I left Kansas is it doesn’t get too much better than this. Unless you pretty much go to the highest level, which is the NBA, or you’re in the highest paid division of European basketball, everything’s not going to get too much better than this. As far as first class travel, where you stay at, what you eat, facilities, everything. So don’t get me wrong, it’s still fun because it’s still basketball, but these were the greatest years of my life so far. I know I’m only 24, I’m saying it like I’m old or something, but I remember Drew (Gooden) came back after his first year, and coming from Drew it was powerful, because he never really talks like that. But he said ‘Man, you all enjoy the time you all got here, because at the next level, it’s really a job. It’s not fun anymore, not the same.’
RG: Is it something you really understand fully when you leave?
ML: You figure it out pretty quick, the politics of the professional level, and like I said, the travel, you’re on bus a lot, hotels are not as good, the competition is kind of inconsistent depending on where you’re at, so you figure it out pretty quick.
RG: It’s got to feel like you’ve been through a lot since graduating. Does it make you feel more grown up?
ML: A lot more grown up, I’m a little more mature at this point. Like everyone says, I wish I knew what I know now four or five years ago. But I’ve learned a lot, all my experiences were good experiences. Met a lot of people, seen a lot of places, I have no complaints at all, it was well worth it.
RG: You mentioned what Drew said when he came back and talked to you guys. Do you kind of bring something similar to the table, saying to these guys enjoy it while it lasts?
ML: I try not to be preachy-preachy around them. But if I ever do get a chance to say something to them, that’s the biggest thing – Take advantage of this time you have now, because it goes so fast, and you won’t realize it until you’re gone. Sometimes the guys wake up and they’re draggin’, ‘Ah we gotta go to practice, we gotta go to class.’ That’s no responsibility. Pay some taxes, start paying taxes or something – That’s a complaint. Take advantage of what you’ve got, because when it’s gone, it’s done. Use this as an investment of your time. Meet people, treat people the right way, get your education, get your degree, and that’s going to last you much longer than basketball could ever last.
RG: When you do come back to Lawrence, what’s the first thing you like to do?
ML: Go straight to the gym. If they’re in the gym, go straight to the gym and I start running my mouth, just talking, keeping up commotion. I just love being around the guys, I love the atmosphere, the competitiveness. That’s where I have the most fun at. Going into the locker room after we’re done playing pickup and just talking smack to everybody. I love doing that.
RG: Does this kind of recharge your battery? You said it can be hard living that journey of pro basketball.
ML: When I get here, I just say ‘wow.’ If I could go back with what I know now, I’d handle it from a whole different perspective. If I was here now, I’d be doing everything I could to to have myself ready for that next level if that’s ultimately what I want to do. While I was here, it was kind of a routine. ‘Okay, I gotta wake up, gotta go to tutoring, gotta go to class.’ If I came back, I would love to do that everyday.
