Kelly Oubre Jr. talked about the free agency process, his summer preparation for a new season with the Phoenix Suns and gave a Valley Boyz merch update.
CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, has partnered up with the NBA Players Association to select four current NBA players (Kelly Oubre Jr. of the Phoenix Suns, Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, Justise Winslow of the Miami Heat and Seth Curry of the Dallas Mavericks) and retiree Chris Bosh for the “Call Your Shot” campaign.
They were selected based on their personalities and on-court play style that could help bring the campaign to life as they help talk about the way car buying should be. Each player, as well as some group video action, will be featured in a series of social media vignettes that will kick off at the start of the season in October and run through end of year. Fans will be able to see the videos via CarMax’s Instagram channel as well as view teasers from the players as the content goes live.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was a midseason addition to the Phoenix Suns, but it didn’t take long for him to start making an impact both on and off the court. After agreeing to a two-year, $30 million contract to remain in the Valley of the Sun, Oubre discussed his summer preparation for the upcoming season, gave an update on the Valley Boyz merch, opened up about the free agency process and more.
Gerald Bourguet: Before we get things started, how’s your summer been? What have you been up to during the offseason?
Kelly Oubre: Summer’s been amazing. I’ve been out on the west coast, just working out. Kinda just staying level-headed after a strenuous season last year, so I’m just ready to get things back rolling. But I’ve been in the gym working.
Bourguet: Anything specific with your game you’ve been working on?
Oubre: Just working on the fundamental basics. For me, I understand what I bring to the table. I know I need to be a more efficient shooter so I’m just getting a lot of reps in. And handling the ball a lot more so I can create off the dribble and get to the paint and use my athleticism. Just the fundamentals so that my all-around game can evolve.
Bourguet: You mentioned being able to attack off the dribble and make plays, is that an element of your game that you feel like people might be sleeping on heading into next season?
Oubre: Oh, for sure. Just as far as being an option who can create for others, that’s kinda what I wanna do. I’ve always been able to create for myself, but I definitely want to be able to create for others next year.
Bourguet: What can you tell me about this collaboration you’re doing with CarMax?
Oubre: It’s sick. It’s a blessing because CarMax is a respectable company because they do things the right way. They put their customers first and I try to pride myself on doing things the right way and being organic and just spreading love. They definitely do that.
Bourguet: It’s been an eventful summer for you, obviously. It wasn’t a long-term deal, but you got one done to re-sign with the Suns. How did you feel about that whole process and the final result?
Oubre: The final result, I’m definitely happy. I’m blessed to continue to play for the Phoenix Suns. It was a process, I will say. I’m not gonna go ahead and put my emotions on my sleeve, but it was a process and I’d compare that process of free agency and the whole business side of basketball to being drafted — not knowing where you’re gonna fall, not knowing what moves are being made, things like that. It was a good time for me to go through because it helped me learn a lot about the game, but I’m just happy I’m still a Valley Boy.
Bourguet: Speaking of Valley Boyz, can you give us an update on the merch and what’s been going on with that?
Oubre: So with the merch, this thing has been on hold honestly because I’ve been talking to my lawyers just trying to settle this stuff with the other Valley Boyz website that kinda took the whole wave when I started “Valley Boyz” last season. So that’s kinda impeding the process, but my website should be up and running before the season for sure so that people can go cop. I’m also planning on doing some pop-ups once I get back to Phoenix, so you’ll be the first to know that. Honestly, it’ll be pretty cool.
Bourguet: The core of this Suns team is still relatively young, but do you feel like this group — especially with some of the veteran guys that were added over the summer — might be slept on in the West?
Oubre: Oh, 100 percent. Sure we’re gonna be slept on. We haven’t really demanded anybody’s respect yet, so rightfully so we’re gonna be slept on. We’re gonna have to wake some people up this year and we’re the guys fighting from the bottom, so we really have nothing to lose. We’ve just gotta go all out and play for one another. I think it’s gonna be a fun year for us.
Bourguet: Which young guy on the roster are you excited to see take that next step forward this year?
Oubre: I would say…well, it’s a lot of guys on my team that I genuinely want to see succeed, but I would say Mikal [Bridges]. I’m excited to see his growth for sure. DA [Deandre Ayton], I’m excited to see him in year two just be a beast. Milky [Ty Jerome] — that’s what I call Milk, the G.O.A.T., Goat Milk, whatever you wanna call him — I’m excited to see him just translate his smooth game to the NBA. Jalen Lecque, I’m excited to help him get through this whole process of being a rookie because he’s a younger rookie at the end of the day. But he’s gonna get through this process and we’re gonna do it together. I’m just excited for everybody, you know, Cam [Johnson] too. It’s gonna be a process that we’re all gonna go through together and I’m excited to help lead these guys.”
Bourguet: You guys added a couple of established NBA players like Ricky Rubio and Dario Saric over the summer. What are you looking forward to when it comes to playing with them?
Oubre: Just playing for one another. I don’t ever want it to be like where we all aren’t jelling at a certain point in time in the season but we should be, so I just want to shoot right with these guys and win some games. Go out there and compete with them.
Bourguet: Last year for a brief period there, you guys were kind of hitting your stride after Tyler Johnson got settled in and everyone was healthy, beating the Bucks, Lakers and Warriors, and then the injuries kicked back in and you’re shut down for the rest of the season. What was that process like and how’s the thumb doing now?
Oubre: That was another process that I went through. It was a lot of ups and downs but it was good. It went by fast because I was in rehab, but I’m just happy to be 100 percent healthy and continue to keep getting better.