NBA Draft 2014: Q&A with former Creighton star Doug McDermott

Doug McDermott has come along way since his freshman year at Creighton. The Ames, Ia. native has grown as a player and person in his time in college, helping the Bluejays while they joined the Big East Conference, making a name for himself, and finally seeing his stock increase in the 2014 NBA Draft.

McDermott has worked out with some NBA teams in preparation of the NBA Draft on June 26th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he is expected by many to be Top 10 draft pick.

I had an opportunity to catch up with McDermott just one week before that eventful night.

Q: When did you start playing basketball, and did you always know that you wanted to be a professional basketball player?

Doug: At a very early age. Being a coach's kid, growing up around it, I had always knew that I wanted to play. I always went to my dad's practices and always watched it on TV. So, I always knew what I wanted to do.

Q: What was it like playing at Creighton with your father as the head coach, and can you describe your relationship with him?

Doug: It was really cool. It was a really good relationship. You didn't really know what to expect at the start, but at the end of the four years, we had a lot of good memories with our team and with him. And its really cool to walk away and we are both really excited for the next step.

Q: What did you learn from your time at Creighton and what was your key to successful as a player during your time with the school?

Doug: I learned a lot. Not just on the floor, but off the floor, growing up as a person, and getting better in school, and just trying to improve my game each year. That is the most I take away from it. I think just having fun. We had a great team, great guys around us, and that was the key. Just surrounding yourself with a great group of guys, you're going to be successful.

Q: What was the main factor in your decision to not enter the NBA Draft last year?

Doug: Just the senior year alone. Just coming back for that experience of being a college kid, playing in the Big East, and going to new venues. And that was ultimately what brought me back.

Q: In order to be successful in the NBA, what will you need to work on in your game?

Doug: Defense, laterally, and ball handling. I think those are the two main areas. I feel like I have grown a lot in both areas, but I can always get better.

Q: What type of NBA team would be the best fit for you?

Doug: Just uptempo, run and gun. That's kind of what I fit in in college, so I feel like that would be nice. You know to be able to get up and down and have a free flowing offense.

Q: Can you describe your partnership with M&M's and the promotion you did recently, the HORSE game where you played 99 regular people?

Doug: They brought me in for a really cool video shoot. They really care about their quality. And they choose one in every one hundred peanuts to become their M&M peanut, and they wanted me to do that in a basketball way, to express that idea. I played HORSE against ninety nine other people, so we had some cool trick shots, some competitive games, and there is actually a video of it on their Facebook page.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Q: Sweeter turn around jumper/fade away, yourself or Kobe Bryant?

Doug: Oh, that's a toss up. I have to give him the edge, just because he has a couple of rings.

Q: Best moment in your young basketball career?

Doug: Probably, the senior night. That was probably the best experience.

Q: Most embarrassing moment in your athletic career?

Doug: Oof! I don't even know. Probably losing that last game to Baylor. That was a tough one. That was a tough pill to swallow.

Q:  Favorite hobby besides basketball?

Doug: Golf

Q: Celebrity Crush?

Doug: Wow, you're gonna put me on the spot like that! I don't know. Katy Perry.

So, there you have it. Be sure to check out all the related content we have on the Creighton superstar as the NBA Draft looms closer.