June 12, 2015
D.J. Newbill has worked out for nine NBA teams over the last month with five remaining before the draft June 25. He has approached all of them with the same #relentless drive and fervor he exhibited throughout his illustrious Penn State career which ended with All-Big Ten, Big Ten All-Tournament Team and USBWA All-District honors.Â
The Philly native took a break from training between workouts in Las Vegas to discuss what life leading up to the draft has been like.Â
What have workouts been like so far?
It depends on the team you go to. You find some teams who want to work you out based on what they do in their system to see if you can adjust quickly and learn some of the plays that they do. Some teams just want to see you go head to head and compete against another guy. It just depends on where you go and the type of system they play in and what they're looking for.
Tim Frazier talks about how challenging some specific team workouts were. Have any stuck out to you as being tougher than the rest?
Utah was my first workout and I didn't know what to expect. I was really excited about it and maybe I was a little overly excited. The altitude up there -- I just wasn't used to it. The air up there is definitely different. After that, most of the workouts have been a lot of the same things -- 3-on-3s and 1-on-1s in each workout. Houston was definitely a tough one, just because they do a lot of stuff. Philly was a really good workout; they have you run all of their sets. For the most part, a lot of them have been the same. Teams just want to see you compete.
What kind of feedback have you gotten so far?
Most of the teams I went to were kind of impressed with some of the things I can do, some of the things I wasn't necessarily able to show during the season or some of the things they questioned during my season with athleticism, my ability to defend, playing both on and off the ball. I think some of the teams were impressed to see that a lot of the questions they had were answered. They were able to see first hand some of the things they were looking for.Â
What else have you heard or do you think made you stick out?
Just how competitive I am. And my toughness and leadership. Some teams have called back to say they like how I carry myself, my swagger. How when I walk into the gym, you know I think I am the best player in the gym, just from how I carry myself and approach each workout.Â
Obviously you're there for a specific reason, but do you have a chance to see any of these cities you're visiting?
Not really. A lot of times I am getting in late in the evening so I just want to get some rest. They get us up early the following day to workout -- most teams are picking you up around 7:30-8 in the morning. Plus coming from Vegas and going to the East coast, I'm losing some sleep. Depending on where I'm going, I'm losing a lot of sleep because of the time difference.Â
How do you think being here at Penn State helped prepare you for this and a potential professional career?
Coach Chambers always held me to the highest of standards. Even when I thought I was doing well, he pushed me to another limit and I had to work for everything I got at Penn State. My teammates pushed me every day in practice, defended me hard and fouled me every day; just played me tough and physical. I think playing in the Big Ten also helped me because I am one of the more physical guards in workouts. Those things definitely stick me. But most definitely, ATTITUDE. You go into some workouts and sometimes, you're going to be hitting shots and sometimes you're not, but if you keep a great attitude and play with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and great effort, it makes up for it.
What advice do you have for current players on how to approach the season?
Work every day to be in the best shape possible. You have to be in the best shape because these teams are putting you into situations to see if this guy is in shape or if this guy is fatigued, is he going to push through or is he going to fold. Also, take advantage of all the resources there -- watching film, getting with the coaches every day, putting your work in, getting up shots and really trying to develop yourself. Once you leave school, there is no team anymore and you have to hold your own -- there is no system.
How about off the court?
Make good choices. These teams know everything about you -- anything and everything you might not want someone to know, they know it. They know if you missed practice, if you were suspended, if you didn't go to class. They know everything. So try to keep a clean slate and keep your nose clean. Always understand you have to treat yourself as a business and wherever you go, you are representing yourself. Don't do anything you wouldn't want other people to see or know about you.