Podcast: Freddie Gillespie Interview

How are you training for the NBA draft?

Freddie:  Stayed in Waco after Covid19 shut the season down.  Had to pick an agent (Young Money) over zoom.  Working out in Miami 5 hours a day in the gym typically- lifting; beach workouts; footwork, etc... Desmond Bane (TCU) and Barry Brown (KSU) are in the group working out with me.  

You graduated from Baylor with a degree in political science right?

Freddie:  Yes, graduated in 2019 with a political science degree

I noticed Kristian Doolittle from Oklahoma was playing in the TBT tournament with Isaiah Austin and Tweety Carter.  Did you get approached to play in that tourney?  

Freddie:  I would have liked to play in it.  I wasn’t approached.  I didn’t know how it all worked.  

About a month ago, we had a mock draft with Baylor players from the Scott Drew era with Jason King and Colt Barber.  I sent you the team that I picked and the teams that they picked.  Did you get a chance to look over the rosters?  Who would win a best of 7 series?  

Freddie:  I did get a chance to look over it.  I thought it was clever that you guys did that.  If I had to pick a team to win a best of 7 series, I would go with Team Hodge.  I think it is close between your team and Jason’s team, but Ekpe Udoh is the difference.  

I sent you this note after the season, you played with such passion, heart and joy and all Baylor fans want to say thank you for all you gave to the program these past few years.  So thank you.  As you look back on your journey, are there any memories that you look back on with fondness?

Freddie:  Getting a scholarship at Baylor in the spring of 2019.  Reedeming ourselves after the loss to Texas Southern.  I have to say Baylor has one of the more positive fan bases.  We were down after that loss and Baylor fans kept saying “Coach Drew will figure it out.”  We saw that with football as well when Baylor went 1-11 and then the Sugar Bowl two years later.  A lot of fanbases would have turned on their team but Baylor fans stayed positive.  

I know the NBA is the goal, all Baylor fans are rooting hard for you just for a team to give you a chance.  I think if you have a chance, you are going to stick.  Because no one is going to outwork you and your improvement each year is off the charts.  But if no NBA, I heard you say that Spain would be cool because you took a lot of Spanish.  If the NBA doesn’t pan out, what do the opportunities look like for you?

Freddie:  I’ve been interviewing with NBA teams (14-16, can’t remember the exact number).  All of those have been zoom so far.  My mentality like it was at Baylor was there is no “plan B”.  I want to be all in on the NBA for now.  I’ll deal with plan B once that door is shut.  

I’m 51, I still play basketball a few days a week.  I love basketball.  Do you ever just pinch yourself and say, “I’m on the verge of being paid to play a game that is a lot of fun”?  

Freddie:  Yeah, you love it so much, it doesn’t feel like work.  But it is my job.  I was at the gym for 5 hours today.  I was methodically going through footwork for 2 hours- pivoting.  I do understand the professionalism of it.  But on the whole waking up and playing basketball every day is really fun.  

Looking back on your Baylor career, if you had it all over again would you have chosen Baylor?  What is your mindset as you look back on your Baylor experience?

Freddie:  There is always ups and downs but that would be the experience at any school.  I had people in my corner that were there during the storms.  If I had it to do all over again, I would pick Baylor.  Especially this past team, this was a fun group of guys to play with.  I loved every minute of it, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  

If I say the term “wingspan matters” what does that mean to you?

Freddie:  I like it because I have a 7-6 wingspan.  Length and size are important.  Baylor has a history of having a lot of size so I know it matters.  

Let’s turn to a more serious topic, I know there a lot of conversations in our world today about equality and racism.  There are a lot of sports fans that come to sports for an escape.  They want an escape from the real world and politics.  But you have a platform as an athlete.  How do you deal with that tension that sports are an escape versus wanting to be a part of enacting positive social change?  

Freddie:  Most people love sports because nothing else matters.  But at the end of the day, sports are played by people so issues are going to come up.  Our experience as black Americans is going to be a part of who we are.  I know it makes people feel uncomfortable.  We’ve had regular conversations about race relations on our team.  I talk to Matt (Mayer), Jackson (Moffatt), Jared (Butler) about it all the time.  Matt calls me a lot, we are close.  

When basketball is over for you, is politics in your future?  You have a million dollar smile and you have so much charisma and passion for these subjects?

Freddie:  Yeah, I like politics.  I have thought that it would be great to work for the state department or deal with foreign policy after my basketball career is over.  

Are there any classes or books that you read at Baylor that changed your perspective and stick out to you?

Freddie:  I took an American political philosophy class that had an impact on me.  WEB Dubois “The Soul of Black Folks” and George Bancroft challenged my thinking.  

What was your favorite place to visit in Italy?

Freddie:  I think Venice was my favorite and Rome was second.  I love history so seeing the history of those two places was incredible.