Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
HH: It’s an interesting story. I was trying to get a training camp deal and an Exhibit-10 deal after coming back from Germany. It was tough at first, and I didn’t have a lot of interest. A team in Italy offered me a great role on their team and a good amount of money. I was going to go there, but me and my agent (Jerry Dianis) put a clause in the contract that in case I got an NBA training camp or Exhibit-10 deal, I could get out of the Italy deal. I went to Italy for a second, and while I was over there, my agent was in contact with me and told me that the 76ers were going to offer a training camp deal, and we were debating whether I should take it or stay in Italy. I was going to make more money if I stayed in Italy right away versus taking a training camp deal.
Me and my agent bet on ourselves and felt like we had an opportunity to get back in the NBA. We took that route, got the Exhibit-10 with the 76ers, and got on their G League team again. From there, I had a great year, my agent was in contact with a few teams, and during the time COVID cases were going crazy, my agent contacted the Heat, and they were interested in me and signed to a 10-day contract. I made a good impression, and signed me to another 10-day.
An organization like the Heat is the perfect organization for me because they’re known for putting players in their developmental system, getting the best out of them, and putting them in the right situations.
When I was on my 10-day contracts with the Heat, I was in the gym during the All-Star break. My 10-day was still going on during the All-Star break. I was making a good impression by showing them how much of a hard worker I am by being in the gym on off days and doing extra work. Eventually, they offered me a standard contract, so all that work paid off. That was my goal to get a standard deal. It was a crazy way to get back in the league, but I made a promise to myself that once I got back in, I’m not leaving. I’m here to say.
