Brian Grant

Jordan Ramirez

Brian Grant was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the 1994 Draft.

Grant, hailing from Georgetown, Ohio, was the No. 8 overall selection out of Xavier. At 6’9 and 250 pounds, Grant's expertise on the floor was rugged – unleashing his style of play mostly in the paint with tough defense, rebounding and physicality.

Grant earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors, eventually making the playoffs during the 1995-96 season, losing in the first round to the Seattle SuperSonics.

But, it's been Grant's contributions off the court that have transcended his accomplishments on the hardwood, even after a productive 12-year NBA career.

In 2008, Grant was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Since his diagnosis, Grant has dedicated his life to spreading awareness, providing information to those suffering and working towards helping those in need.

Grant discusses his life, both on and off the court, unfiltered in Rebound: Soaring in the NBA, Battling Parkinson’s, and Finding What Really Matters, available now.

In an interview with Kings.com, Grant discussed his new book, the love from Sacramento fans during his tenure and much more.

What was it like starting your NBA career in Sacramento?

It was great. It was a really good fit for me because I was coming from a small town and also Cincinnati, which is a big city, but it's very, very conservative and I was only used to growing up around black people and white people. Then I get to Sacramento and it was this huge melting pot of people. It was just perfect for me and my cousin, who also came with me when I got drafted

What was your your fondest memory from your time with the Kings?

There's a couple really. Definitely making the playoffs my second year. I can remember we were in Utah, and Portland had to beat somebody to make the playoffs. Sarunas Marciulionis gets on the phone with Sabonis [Marciulionis], before I knew who Sabonis was. [Sabonis] said, "You guys got to win this game so we can make the playoffs." [Sarunas] goes, "Okay, I guess I can do that for you." And he had a big game and we ended up making the playoffs by half a game. We missed it the prior year by half again. So that was one of my fondest memories.

And second would have to be meeting my first wife Gina.

Sacramento prides itself on having great fans. Did you feel that as a player?

Absolutely. Unfortunately, I got to see the bad side of the fans when I first got there because no one knew who I was when I got drafted. I can remember doing my media [obligations] and I was excited that there was almost 30 people there, all camera people. I didn't know until the next year when Corliss [Williamson] got drafted when there was 1,000 people that I said 'Okay, maybe nobody just showed up to mine.'

But once they got a taste of myself and Michael Smith and the team just competing, it was great. They were some of the best fans in the league.

How did working on a farm during your youth affect your work ethic? Did that affect the type of player you became in the league?

It helped me with my toughness. During those times when you just feel like, "Oh man, I'm tired. I can't get it done." Just being able to have that extra boost to keep going because I can remember cutting tobacco. I remember looking up and seeing a quarter mile row of tobacco.

I know I'm going to jump a snake, which I'm terrified of, at some point. Just thinking, "I can't do this" and then thinking, "Well, if I don't do it, I don't have school clothes money." Being able to push through some tough times and physical times on the court – it really helped me with that.

You've spent a lot of time during your career and after your career working with youth charities. Why is that important?

We were all young once. I remember people in my town — which there weren't a lot — but there was Coach Graves, who took my cousins and I off the streets and had us playing baseball, which was great.

As far as teaching us rights and wrongs, being from a poor family contributed to that. When I say being poor in the country, that's different than being poor in the city. Mostly everybody's poor in the country, you just don't really know it.

People reached out to us and I can remember how that made me feel. We're talking about not having the internet yet. Now, there's not really much I can teach a kid. My kids are teaching me. They're going on the internet and learning how to bake a cake. I've always liked working with kids because they're innocent and even if they're not, you can give them some direction and get back on the right path.

How does your experience with Parkinson's Disease impact your life?

Like it is for everybody who gets diagnosed with a major disease or disorder, it's a life-changing event during a lot of life-changing events that were already taking place in my life.

The depression that came with, prior to getting the diagnosis was very heavy and very deep. I did a lot to destroy my marriage over the years, but those nine months of depression were kind of it for Gina and I. I had dreams and aspirations of being at ESPN anchor,  but now I couldn't.

I had this tremor going on in my hand. And then once I knew what it was, I didn't have the courage to try to step up and deal with the shaking symptoms because I still hadn't come to grips with it yet. [Parkinson's] played a major part in leading me down this path to do this book because I've recognized finally over the years that it's given me a much different platform than basketball. Basketball set it up, but this platform is something that's going to help people hopefully all around the world.

You mentioned your battle with depression. Any advice you can give those people battling depression, especially given the struggles of the past year?

Don't be afraid to accept help. Don't have such a big ego that you think you can handle it on your own. There are people around you that love you and care about you that really want to help you. But for me, it was my ego that got in the way because I didn't believe in depression when I was going through it, and I let it snowball into a massive, destructive ball.

Maybe if I got help earlier I could've prevented some of that, but that's not what happened. You can take anything away from [the book], but get help as soon as you possibly can, and that's with anything. We've gone through such a crazy year politically and health-wise. There's just so much going on. I look at my daughter who's in her senior year. She'll never forget this because it's so crazy.

You mentioned ego being a factor in people not seeking help. Coming from the NBA, is that a barrier? Is getting help the most difficult step?

It was for me. From the time I came into the league in Sacramento, I was always challenged or challenging for a position. I played one preseason game and Michael Smith played the next day, and he was just an animal. I think I lost my spot — no spot was guaranteed to me — but he was playing well.

It wasn't until I learned how to play alongside them that I started doing better. You have to have that ego. You can't go in there being passive and say, "I'm just gonna let this player do this." You have to take it if you want to be successful and get minutes. It's hard to turn that off.

I went wrong because I brought that attitude home, I brought that attitude to family members and friends. Nine times out of ten ego is going to burn you somewhere down the line.

What is your mission with the Brian Grant Foundation?

We try to help people help themselves. We do that through doing exercise courses, nutrition classes and several other ways. We used to have boot camps but the reach wasn't getting past the Pacific Northwest. We then developed Train the Trainers, which gave trainers of any type of gym — boxing, MMA, etc. — they can come to Train the Trainers and become Parkinson's certified. So, if somebody has Parkinson's Disease and they walk into a 24-hour Fitness and ask “is there anyone that can train me?” they can point and say “these three people are Parkinson's Certified to train you.” That's huge because we never had anything like that before.

And then with nutrition, what you eat and foods that are ideal for Parkinson's patients are things we're teaching. That information is going to help you. We're just specifically targeting Parkinson's patients with information.

If readers can take one thing away from from your book, what would you want people to leave with?

The most important thing is that life sometimes throws you some surprises and other times you can see it coming. No matter what, just keep on pushing and keep on asking for help along the way when you really need it.

Brian Grant's new autobiography,Rebound: Soaring in the NBA, Battling Parkinson’s, and Finding What Really Matters, co-written by Ric Bucher is available now.

brian-grant-talks-his-time-in-sacramento-parkinsons-disease-and-more

Brian Grant Talks His Time in Sacramento, Parkinson's Disease and More

Dan Lovi

Brian Grant, the Kings No. 8 overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, retired from the league in 2006 after a successful 12-year career. The fierce rebounder and low post bruiser who was known to battle in the paint has had to face the toughest battle of his life for nearly a decade.

In a letter written by Grant for The Players’ Tribune, the former Kings forward shared his story of being diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease, dealing with his illness and using the Brian Grant Foundation to help raise awareness for the disease.

No. 33 talks about the massive support he’s received from the NBA community, as well as the initial phone call he received from actor Michael J. Fox, who has suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 1991.

“We talked about next steps, and whether I’d join the fight against the disease,” Grant writes. ‘If you don’t want to, that’s OK,’ Fox said. ‘But once you step into that arena, you’re in it. There’s no stepping in and stepping out.’ “I stepped in.”

Grant also reminisced about the times he faced Karl Malone and how the Hall-of-Famer, who wasn’t Grant’s biggest fan during their playing days, called him to help when he found out about his diagnosis.

Malone and Grant went on a charitable fishing trip together that raised $107,000 for the Brain Grant Foundation.

The 44-year-old father of seven ends the letter by saying that he has to be able to “open up and allow people to help,” even when his ego won’t let him ask for help.

“If my kids, my family, my friends reach out, I have to be able to let them in,” he concludes.

You can learn more about the Brian Grant Foundation by visiting their website.

brian-grant-pens-heartfelt-letter

Brian Grant Pens Heartfelt Letter

Katie Cracchiolo

kings-all-stars-through-the-years

Kings All-Stars Through The Years

Alex Kramers

As Kings Chairman and Majority Owner Vivek Ranadivé prepared to address a crowd of local residents in downtown Sacramento following the City Council’s historic vote on the Entertainment &amp; Sports Center, his daughter, Anjali, relished the opportunity to represent the Kings at the NBA Draft Lottery in midtown Manhattan.

“It means a lot, especially (for) my dad and me, our whole relationship with basketball started when I was really young with him coaching my team,” said the U.C. Berkeley graduate. “It’s really exciting for our family and for the Kings – (the two events) are happening at the same time, so I think it just represents a great sign for Sacramento.”

The singer-songwriter sat at the team’s designated podium inside the lavish Disney/ABC’s Times Square Studios as the Kings secured the No. 8 pick in the 2014 Draft, marking only the second time Sacramento has netted the selection in 19 Lottery appearances.

While the pivotal ping-pong balls bounced in a confidential conference room prior to the televised drawing, team representatives and accompanying guests mingled in the pre-event reception area, which featured large flat-screen televisions, tables lined with white linens and miniature bouquets, as well an exquisite dinner spread.

Joined by Kings General Manager Pete D’Alessandro and surrounded by dozens of high-ranking League executives, prominent coaches and NBA legends, Ranadivé savored the festive atmosphere, perpetually beaming at The River City’s enduring good fortune.

“I feel so lucky and fortunate to be here, and there are so many amazing people here tonight,” she said. “I just feel like we’ve made ‘Power Forward’ come to life.”

Prior to learning Sacramento’s fate in the Lottery, D’Alessandro echoed a similar sentiment as he reflected on his position and the team’s circumstances a year prior.

“You couldn’t write the script,” said the New York native. “It’s a great night for the city of Sacramento and the Kings. It’s been a great partnership from the day I took the job and the day, in fact, that Vivek (became majority owner of) the team.

“A year ago, I was in Denver and I think we’d just gotten bounced out of the Playoffs, so I was watching the (Sacramento) saga from afar. Now, there’s a plan in place and it shows that the right things really do happen.”

D’Alessandro declined to disclose the treasured good luck charm he packed on his cross-country flight, instead pointing to the “Power Forward” pin proudly displayed on his suit jacket.

In an effort to defy the odds in the drawing – in which Sacramento had moved down in four of the previous five years and dropped at least two spots three times – Ranadivé donned a culturally-symbolic forehead decoration.

“I really wanted to wear my bindi because I thought it would be really cool and really important to represent a piece of my heritage,” she said. “One of the things my dad really wants to do is grow the NBA internationally – especially in India – and build an influence (abroad).”

The TIBCO founder and CEO’s innovative global-expansion strategy and pioneering “NBA 3.0” philosophy drew high praise from the room full of NBA personnel.

“He’s certainly a futurist – he has an incredible vision for this sport, and (views) this sport as a world entity,” said Orlando Magic Senior Vice President Pat Williams. “I think the addition of him to this league is fascinating, healthy and intriguing as the game grows internationally, particularly in India.”

An equally glowing endorsement came from Minnesota Timberwolves General Manager Milton Newton, who’s been impressed with the revolutionary owner’s utilization of the latest, cutting-edge technological advancements and distress for retreading to the norm.

“(Ranadivé has brought) a lot of thinking outside the box, which helps you think about different ways to do things and that other options might be available,” said Newton. “I think, in the long run, a lot of the owners will be looking at some of the things that happened (in Sacramento) to see if they can duplicate them.”

D’Alessandro’s renowned track record and long-standing reputation as a salary cap guru and strong talent evaluator similarly have not gone unnoticed in NBA circles.

“I think Pete’s done a great job – he’s been very proactive in his thinking and in the decisions he’s made,” said Milwaukee Bucks General Manager John Hammond. “I think (the Kings) now have some very good, young pieces and building blocks there. On every possession, they can score in different ways – they can shoot it, they can drive it and they’re athletic.”

L.A. Lakers Hall of Famer and TV Analyst James Worthy gave the St. John’s product high marks on a successful first-year campaign.

“I think he’s done an outstanding job – the Kings are a threat, and I think a lot of it is due to the choices he’s made,” said Worthy. “Their record really wasn’t an indication of how good they are, because they can beat a lot of teams on any given night.”

Collectively praising Sacramento’s dynamic roster and the continued development of its emerging core, Lottery attendees marveled at the versatility and all-around skill set of DeMarcus Cousins.

“Talent-wise, he’s more than an All-Star – he has potential to be in that top-seven or -eight best players in the entire League,” said 14-year NBA veteran and current NBA TV Analyst Steve Smith. “Numbers-wise, he was an All-Star, I thought, this year. You talk about ceiling, but (being an All-Star) is kind of the basement level for him.”

Smith cited the promise of Rudy Gay and Isaiah Thomas, as well as the poise of fellow Detroit native Ray McCallum, as telltale signs of what’s to come for the up-and-coming ball club.

“Rudy Gay, at any time, arguably, can be top three or four at his position,” said Smith. “Ray really impressed me (when) we did Summer League (on NBA TV) with how he conducted himself … when he got his chance, you could see he has that vet (mentality) in him, and he was calm, cool and collected.”

“(Ray is) a talented, young guy who does a great job, and Isaiah is very crafty (because) he can go right, go left and shoot the basketball,” said Bucks guard Brandon Knight of Sacramento’s electrifying point guard duo.

Phoenix Suns forward Marcus Morris noted Sacramento’s near-.500 record with Cousins, Thomas and Gay in the starting lineup as one of many reasons for Kings fans to be enthusiastic.

“On paper, (the Kings have) probably top-five talent,” said Morris. “I know a lot of those guys are young – just like us over in Phoenix – and they’re going to be great.”

The Kansas product and his twin brother, Markieff, believe Sacramento’s 2013 first-round pick, Ben McLemore, is just scratching the surface of his immense potential.

“He puts in a lot of work and he’s getting better by the day,” said Markieff Morris. “He’s a great kid, he has a great personality and he works very hard.”

Recognizing this year’s deep rookie class boasts a host of superb players to complement the talent on Sacramento’s rapidly-developing roster, D’Alessandro remained optimistic following the Lottery outcome.

“We’re going to get the 8th pick in a really, really solid Draft, so we’re really encouraged and happy,” said D’Alessandro. “We’re thrilled by the guy we’re going to get.”

The Kings previous No. 8 selection – Xavier forward Brian Grant in 1994 – earned All-Rookie First Team honors and averaged 13.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game over three seasons in Northern California.

Throughout NBA history, a host of standout players have been chosen eighth overall – including Gay, Detlef Schrempf, Jamal Crawford and Vin Baker – illustrating Sacramento stands to add a promising newcomer to its budding nucleus.

With a backdrop of framed photographs inside the studio featuring past top selections on the walls around her, Ranadivé raved about the team’s immense potential, envisioning an exciting offseason and incomparably-bright outlook in Sacramento.

“We’re going to continue to move forward and continue to rebuild … Pete is a genius and my dad is OK, too,” said Ranadivé with a chuckle. “Tonight is such a big night just in general for us. I’m really excited about the future.”

- D’Alessandro has remained updated on the methodical player assessment and valuable input from fans who participated in the “Draft 3.0 Challenge,” disclosing “quite a few” forward-thinking basketball analysts applied to assist the organization in making its first-round pick.

“My staff has been looking at (submissions), so I keep getting emails and (there are) some really interesting ones,” said D’Alessandro. “I can’t wait to get back and we make a decision.”

- Tune-in to the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday, June 26 at 4 p.m. PDT from Barclays Center in Brooklyn on ESPN and ESPN Radio. Plus, stay current with Kings.com for complete pre-Draft coverage.

Brian Grant

Brian Grant Talks His Time in Sacramento, Parkinson's Disease and More

Brian Grant Pens Heartfelt Letter

Kings All-Stars Through The Years

All Access: 2014 Draft Lottery