36 min

High School Champ, NCAA Champ, Bronze Medal Winner, + NBA Champ Feat. Former KU Big Man Sasha Kaun PREP Athletics Basketball Podcast

    • Basketball

In this episode we welcome High School, NCAA, and NBA champion Sasha Kaun.  Sasha came from Russia at the age of 16 to Florida Air Academy.  He didn’t speak any English.  Within three years he learned to speak the language, won a state title and got a scholarship to Kansas.  After winning an NCAA title he was the last draft pick in the history of the Seattle Supersonics.  He chose instead to play in Europe before coming back to the NBA in 2015 to play for the Cavs.  That was the year the Cavs won the title.  In this episode we talk about coming to the US, playing at a high major school, the difference between Euroleague and the NBA, LeBron behind the scenes and more.  

What You Will Learn:
[2:12] Why did Sasha come to the USA?  How he started playing basketball?
[3:30] What age did you come to the states and what were your language skills?
[5:34] What schools recruited Sasha.
[7:03] Best part of playing high major basketball.
[9:45] Worst part of playing at a high major program
[11:15] What it is like winning a national title?
[12:42] NBA thoughts
[14:35] Going back home to Russia to play pro
[15:49] Differences of playing pro in Europe vs NBA
[18:00] Coming back to the USA and NBA in 2015
[22:17] LeBron behind the scenes.
[23:48] Most special win of Sasha’s career.
[25:29] Best part of playing professional basketball.
[27:16] Worst part of NBA.
[31:28] What Sasha is working on currently.
[34:27] Best player ever guarded
[35:07] Hobbies
[35:42] Favorite Movie
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep_athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166 
Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic
Google Podcasts | https://podcasts.goo
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

In this episode we welcome High School, NCAA, and NBA champion Sasha Kaun.  Sasha came from Russia at the age of 16 to Florida Air Academy.  He didn’t speak any English.  Within three years he learned to speak the language, won a state title and got a scholarship to Kansas.  After winning an NCAA title he was the last draft pick in the history of the Seattle Supersonics.  He chose instead to play in Europe before coming back to the NBA in 2015 to play for the Cavs.  That was the year the Cavs won the title.  In this episode we talk about coming to the US, playing at a high major school, the difference between Euroleague and the NBA, LeBron behind the scenes and more.  

What You Will Learn:
[2:12] Why did Sasha come to the USA?  How he started playing basketball?
[3:30] What age did you come to the states and what were your language skills?
[5:34] What schools recruited Sasha.
[7:03] Best part of playing high major basketball.
[9:45] Worst part of playing at a high major program
[11:15] What it is like winning a national title?
[12:42] NBA thoughts
[14:35] Going back home to Russia to play pro
[15:49] Differences of playing pro in Europe vs NBA
[18:00] Coming back to the USA and NBA in 2015
[22:17] LeBron behind the scenes.
[23:48] Most special win of Sasha’s career.
[25:29] Best part of playing professional basketball.
[27:16] Worst part of NBA.
[31:28] What Sasha is working on currently.
[34:27] Best player ever guarded
[35:07] Hobbies
[35:42] Favorite Movie
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep_athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166 
Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic
Google Podcasts | https://podcasts.goo
Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic

36 min