Nik Stauskas Interview: Michigan’s March Madness Chances, NBA Mount Rushmore & Canada’s Olympic Hopes

Nik Stauskas is widely-regarded as one of the University of Michigan’s best ever players. A top 10 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Stauskas enjoyed an eight-year NBA career, playing for the likes of the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Sacramento Kings and Philadelphia 76ers.

Now an analyst for the Big Ten Network, Nik sat down with Casino Guru News to discuss the upcoming NCAA Championship, his NBA Mount Rushmore and looked at some of his old teams biggest topics this year.

Who is your pick for the NCAA Championship?

"Well, I'm a little bit biased but I’m probably going with my alma mater of University of Michigan.

"I feel like they've been close to favorites all year long with the way they've been playing, but of course, there's a lot of tough competition out there.

"A perfect example was our matchup with Duke just a few weeks ago, where they beat us in Washington DC. That's the beauty of the NCAA tournament in a one-game scenario, is that anyone can beat anyone.

"You may have had a fantastic regular season, but the format of the tournament really requires you to bring your best game every single night. I think this Michigan team, with the way they're constructed, it's hard to bet against them. I don't see them really having many weaknesses.

"It just goes to show in terms of the Big Ten awards that were just handed out, Player of the Year to Yaxel Lendeborg, Defensive Player of the Year to Aday Mara and Coach of the Year, Dusty May. So it goes to show what a dominant regular season they had, and now it's just time to put it all together in a six-game span in March. I'm hoping for the best for them."

We've seen some amazing teams in Michigan basketball history. The group you were involved in, the Fab 5, the ‘89 champions. Where would you rank this year's squads amongst those all-time teams in history?

"Well, I guess a lot of that will be TBD with the results in the NCAA tournament, I'm pretty sure the Bulls had the slogan, ‘it don't mean a thing without a ring’.

"Until you get that Championship, it's hard to put that team up there with the best ever. In terms of their performance in the regular season, there's already been some talk.

"This Michigan team might have been one of the best Big Ten teams ever assembled in terms of regular season performance.

"You're talking about a team that didn't even lose one game on the road all year, playing against teams in a conference, which you could argue is the best conference in college basketball.

"It's truly impressive what they've been able to do, and I would definitely rank them amongst the best to ever come out of Michigan. I think they can definitely go all the way."

What is the minimum expectation for Michigan, having been there, played there, knowing the squad they have? What's the absolute minimum expectation heading into March Madness?

"Well, I think as a minimum, you have to progress through the first weekend. Getting to the sweet 16 is a minimum.
"You can't afford to have any of those early upsets against the 16 seed or something like that. But again, that requires attention to detail and not overlooking your opponent. It's very easy to say, ‘oh, we steam rolled through the regular season so it’s going to be the same thing in the tournament’.

"I think it takes a certain level of humbleness to come in and respect your opponents and understand that everyone's going to give you their best shots, so I think, absolute minimum, they need to be getting to the sweet 16, anything below that would be a huge disappointment.

"I think with this team, anything other than a final four, I would see as a little bit disappointing with the potential that they've shown throughout the year. I’m just looking forward to seeing how they're able to put it all together, but my hopes are definitely very high for them."

Who do you think will be no.1 in the draft this year?

"Yeah, for me AJ Dybantsa would be my pick. I haven't seen enough from Darryn Peterson in Kansas. I know there's been a lot of hype around him, and from what I've seen, he's going to be a fantastic player.

"Dybantsa, he reminds me so much of a young T-Mac. You go back to the 2002, 2003 Orlando Magic, McGrady, just so good at three-level scores, the athleticism to take him anywhere on the floor. When he gets to the rim, he can finish essentially over everyone because of his jumping ability.

"Then there’s the skillset and the fluidity of his movements, it's something that you can't really teach. A lot of guys can go into the gym and continue to rep certain moves, certain drills, but it comes down to some guys who are just born to play basketball, and you could tell this man is one of those guys who has that fluidity and smoothness to his game.

"Again, that just reminds me of a young T-Mac, so that would be my pick for number one. But obviously, Cameron Boozer coming out of Duke, could be a top three. Not that I think any of the Michigan players will go that high, but I think a guy like Yaxel has done very well for himself this year in terms of improving his draft stock.

"The beauty of it, too, is a lot of what your draft stock coming into May and June is determined in the NCAA tournament.

"A perfect example of that being a guy like Donte DiVincenzo, who defeated my Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship game, but at that time, DiVincenzo was coming off the bench for Villanova, and he absolutely put on a clinic in that NCAA tournament, especially in the National Championship. I think he had 30 something points, and I think that was the start of him having his draft stock go through the roof.

"Now look at him, he's had a very solid NBA career, but it really took that NCAA tournament for people to start paying attention, and taking him for a direct prospect. I just think to see these guys and what's on the line, individually helping themselves to get to that next level with their draft stock, the NCAA Tournament really gives them a boost."

Let’s look at the Sacramento Kings now. They’ve struggled in recent years and haven’t won a play-off series since you left. What do you put that down to?

"Well, this year, it's a little bit of an issue with all the injuries. I know Domantas Sabonis hasn't been in the lineup very much. Zach LaVine has also been dealing with injuries. They were close to winning a series a couple of years ago against the Warriors, I think they took them to seven, and it was a 50 point performance by Steph Curry in game seven that took them down.

"Some people will say they're cursed, this or that. They've had solid draft picks. They've had solid players come through, the likes of De’Aaron Fox. They had Marvin Bagley, who was maybe a little bit underwhelming in terms of being a top pick.

"Even now, the roster that they have, they have good players. Lavine and Sabonis are all-stars in their own right. DeMar DeRozan is another guy I like.

"I can't really pinpoint as to why the organization has struggled so much. I know in free agency, maybe it's not the sexiest destination for a lot of guys to go, but they'll have their moment. All it takes is for that one player to come through to change the culture and get that breakthrough win in a playoff series. All of a sudden, people want to join that bandwagon.

"I was only in Sacramento for one year, and it was a rough rookie year for me in terms of a lot of change. We went through three coaches that year. The organization has been through a lot, but I credit their fans.

"They are some of the most passionate in the NBA. They love their basketball over there in Sacramento, and they've got the short end of the stick for about two, three decades now in terms of just not being able to get over the hump. I feel for the fans, but I think they're headed in the right direction in terms of the talent that they have on their roster."

Where would you place Joel Embiid in terms of the best centers in NBA history?

"I think this year, his averages are maybe a little bit down, and that's mainly because his minutes are down. But I would say the past three, four years before this, and I've been on record saying this, when he's been healthy, he's the best player in the NBA, hands down.

"I was at the game in Philadelphia, when he scored 70 on Wemby, and the scariest thing about it is, he didn't even have his best game. That is so crazy. He had 70 points against Wemby, who might go down as one of the best defensive players of all time, and Joel didn't even have his best game.

"He missed a couple of easy shots that he would normally make. So for Joel, it's the combination of power, strength, and finesse. It's truly remarkable when you look at how big, how strong he is, but then the finesse and skill that he's mastered with the touch on those mid-range shots, the fade-aways, the handle, the ability to get up and down the floor, the agility.

"It's taken a toll on his body, and I think that's why over the years, he's maybe at times struggled to stay on the court and play through injuries.

"But man, when he's been healthy, I would put him up there with some of the greatest centers ever. I put him up with some of the greatest players ever in terms of his overall production. I think that shows in the numbers.

"You talk about player efficiency rating, you talk about points per minute, you talk about all those metrics. He's up there with Wilt Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

"He's up there with the greats, so really, the knock on him has been, you haven't won a ring. So obviously, until you do that, you're always held in a lower class than all the greats that have won it.

"That doesn't take away from the player that he is. One of the best of all time, and certainly one of the best that I've ever played with. Strangely, I would put him as the second best player I've ever played with, only because I have a true respect for Damian Lillard.

"I think Damian Lillard is the number one player I've ever played with in terms of, just he wowed me more than anyone else I've ever been around, but Joel is definitely right up there."

Team USA are in a bit of transition now, with the likes of LeBron, KD and Curry all close to retiring. Can Team Canada make some noise at the Olympics in 2028?

"Most certainly.

"I was expecting Canada to potentially medal in these last Olympics, and it didn't work out, but they certainly can put together an NBA roster, and not to say that that guarantees you a medal, but they definitely have the depth, and they have the star power and guys like Shai who can certainly compete, so they should be a force to be reckoned with.

"LA will be interesting in 2028. The game has never been more competitive worldwide, and I think this last All-Star game in the NBA, doing the US versus world, I think it was the first All-Star game in a while that was very entertaining.

"The competitiveness was definitely there in terms of guys not laying down and just letting everyone shoot threes and go for dunks; there was that competitive spirit you want to see, and I think that is just a small preview of what's to come in the future for the '28 Olympics.

"I think France, obviously, had a chance to beat the US back in 2024. They're obviously going to be contenders, especially with Wemby trending the way he is.

"Canada is up there, Serbia and Croatia, too. There are so many good teams out there with star players. Greece is another one. No one's really guaranteed anything anymore, which is the beauty of it.

"My grandparents are from Lithuania, but Lithuania is another country that's, for the last two decades, has always been in the mix. Basketball is like a religion over there, and that's another team, although they don't necessarily have the star power, those guys just know how to play.

"The overseas talent has just really exploded over the last 10, 15 years. It's going to be fun to see how the LA Olympics shape out."

Do you think Shai Gilgeous Alexander gets the credit that he perhaps deserves?

"It’s an interesting question because I think, to a certain extent, the NBA has maybe been a little hesitant to make someone the face of the NBA that's not American.

"There's this sense of when Steph, KD, and LeBron leave, what is the landscape going to look like and who will be the face? For a while now, with Jokić, Giannis, Shai, however many MVPs have all been non-American players, yet none of them have really taken the throne of face of the NBA.

"Has Shai gotten the credit he deserves? I think everyone knows how good he is. Everyone can appreciate what we've seen from him, so I don't want to say he hasn't got the credit, but if he was an American player, would he maybe be a little bit more at the forefront by the media? Potentially.

"I also don't think it helps that he plays for Oklahoma City, which isn't a huge market, like LA or New York or even Boston. It's a little bit under the radar there.

"Nonetheless, anyone who pays attention to basketball knows that he's not only one of the best players in today's game, but he's one of the best players ever.

"In terms of who that next face is going to be and maybe getting that extra credit, I think the NBA is embracing the talent outside of the US. I just don't think they've been able to really push anyone outside of an American player as the face, which is an interesting question/topic moving forward to keep an eye on."

Give us your NBA Mount Rushmore

"I'll try to go in order. I'm probably going to go with LeBron number one. I've always been a LeBron fan, and his bodywork is just crazy.

"Lebron, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant. And then four is just that's always hard for me. I might put Kevin Durant as number four for me. I think as of right now, that would be my Mount Rushmore.

"I think guys like Jokić, Shai and Luka, they're still early enough in their careers where they have the ability to maybe change that narrative as their career goes on.

"The longevity of Durant and LeBron is something that needs to be taken into account when you look at Mount Rushmore, the best players of all time, because there's been a lot of players that have been great for three, four or five seasons.

"A ton of players have been able to do it, but the Mount Rushmore for me should be judged on who are the guys that can do it for two decades? That, to me, is the beauty of it, when I appreciate a Durant, an MJ, a Kobe, a LeBron; someone who played against the dads and then took on the sons two decades later.

"They played against the father, and then the father came and went, and then they had a son that goes to the NBA, and then LeBron is still playing against Jabari Smith Jr, or Gary Payton’s kid.

"All those guys, to be able to play against generations of players and still hold up the same level of production over that time. To me, that's everything in terms of Mount Rushmore. So I think everyone evaluates it differently. For me, that would probably be LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant."

Is there a player you played with or against in your younger days, who you thought would make it to the very top but never did?

"Yeah, I think one in particular, my second year in the NBA in Philadelphia, and it was Jahlil Okafor's rookie year.

"He was the third pick in the draft coming out of Duke, and I think he averaged maybe 18 points and 10 rebounds as a rookie, and he was maybe the best one-on-one post-scorer that I've ever seen.

"He was so gifted and so smooth with his one-on-one post-moves, but it was at a time where the NBA was just going away from the one on one post-ups. Granted, it still happens here and there, but the NBA was starting to get wowed by Steph Curry and the Warriors and that style and the three-point shot.

"All of a sudden, I think that Jaleel just got the short end of the stick in terms of, if you put him in the NBA in 2005 when the Tim Duncan’s and the Kevin Garnett’s and those guys, that was the NBA. That was the way the NBA played. You went inside out.

"I think Okafor would have been an all-star level player in that era, and so it was so unfortunate for me to see that his career didn't pan out the way people had expected.

"It wasn't because of the lack of talent. He was one of the most talented guys I have ever seen, had such a great feel for the game, could do so many special things out there, and just maybe came at the wrong time, wrong era, was on the wrong team.

"It goes to show you that timing is everything, not only in basketball, but in life. Being at the right place at the right time, there's something to be said about that."