Q&A: Langston Galloway
Posted by Unknown on Sunday, February 08, 2015 with No comments
Courtesy of Steve Serby
Q: Describe coach Derek Fisher.
A: He’s one of my role models as a player. He played hard, he was aggressive. … He didn’t have any fears. He went out there, and no matter what the shot was — it coulda been 0.4 on the clock when he hit against the Spurs, or it coulda been a big shot from the corner for the Lakers when they needed a 3 to win a championship — so he was never scared of the moment, and he really took advantage of that.
A: He’s one of my role models as a player. He played hard, he was aggressive. … He didn’t have any fears. He went out there, and no matter what the shot was — it coulda been 0.4 on the clock when he hit against the Spurs, or it coulda been a big shot from the corner for the Lakers when they needed a 3 to win a championship — so he was never scared of the moment, and he really took advantage of that.
Q: Do you have that same mentality?
A: Yeah, I mean, I just try to go out there and be confident in my shot, and just going out there being aggressive and letting the moment happen and just have fun with it.
A: Yeah, I mean, I just try to go out there and be confident in my shot, and just going out there being aggressive and letting the moment happen and just have fun with it.
Q: Do you feel that you belong?
A: Yeah, I mean I’m trying to prove that every day, that I belong. It’s not easy to try to do that, but each day I just try to build off of the last, not look backwards but keep moving forward. I’m trying to stay up here for the rest of my career. You can’t look at it as a long process, but just taking it day by day, and I feel I can prove that I belong, and continue to stay up here.
A: Yeah, I mean I’m trying to prove that every day, that I belong. It’s not easy to try to do that, but each day I just try to build off of the last, not look backwards but keep moving forward. I’m trying to stay up here for the rest of my career. You can’t look at it as a long process, but just taking it day by day, and I feel I can prove that I belong, and continue to stay up here.
Q: Do you have to pinch yourself sometimes?
A: At the beginning, when I first got here, I did, I was like, “Man, playing with these guys,” but now I’m just like enjoying the whole process.
A: At the beginning, when I first got here, I did, I was like, “Man, playing with these guys,” but now I’m just like enjoying the whole process.
Q: Describe Carmelo Anthony.
A: He’s a hard worker. … Definitely unselfish. And he stays in your ear, that’s the biggest thing. He helps the young guys — especially myself.
A: He’s a hard worker. … Definitely unselfish. And he stays in your ear, that’s the biggest thing. He helps the young guys — especially myself.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from him?
A: Be aggressive.
A: Be aggressive.
Q: What is your on-court mentality?
A: Real confident. My teammates — Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Amar’e Stoudemire — all those guys are behind me 100 percent, and they’ve been telling me little things on the court, and so when I’m out there, they give me full [confidence] of just going out there and just playing, and having fun.
Q: Are you trying to become more of a point guard?
A: Yeah, yeah. In college, I had to play the 2, but over time, I’ve had the ball in my hands a lot more, and I’m growing each day just trying to learn how to play the 1 and the 2.
A: Yeah, yeah. In college, I had to play the 2, but over time, I’ve had the ball in my hands a lot more, and I’m growing each day just trying to learn how to play the 1 and the 2.
Q: Do you think you can be a point guard at this level?
A: Yes, definitely.
A: Yes, definitely.
Q: How many times have you watched replays of your one-hand slam vs. the Rockets on Jan. 8?
A: I really haven’t watched it too much.
A: I really haven’t watched it too much.
Q: What was that moment like?
A: It was pretty cool. I remember somebody yelling out, “Short.” And I just ran to the basket, had an open lane, and just jumped up there and it happened to come off at the right angle and I caught it one-handed, dunked it.
A: It was pretty cool. I remember somebody yelling out, “Short.” And I just ran to the basket, had an open lane, and just jumped up there and it happened to come off at the right angle and I caught it one-handed, dunked it.
Q: What did you think of the Linsanity that surrounded Jeremy Lin in 2012, and how would you feel about Langsanity?
A: I watched a little bit of Linsanity, it was a pretty cool moment getting a chance to see a guy come from the D-League and then explode like that. He worked hard to get there. And with the whole Langsanity thing, it’s pretty cool being compared to another player, but at the same time, I don’t want to be compared with the whole Linsanity-Langsanity thing, I just want to be myself, Langston Galloway, and be able to represent that.
Q: Is the triangle tough to adapt to?
A: At first. … I’ve been doing it since the summer league, and I’m getting pretty used to it, and I’m just growing as a player with it.
A: At first. … I’ve been doing it since the summer league, and I’m getting pretty used to it, and I’m just growing as a player with it.
Q: How did you get so good at shooting 3s?
A: From a young age, my dad taught me different things of how to shoot, and I just continued to build off of that, and my coaches over the years have helped me build on that, and just continue to work on it.
A: From a young age, my dad taught me different things of how to shoot, and I just continued to build off of that, and my coaches over the years have helped me build on that, and just continue to work on it.
Q: What’s the most memorable shot you’ve ever made?
A: I hit one, we were playing in AAU basketball, Louisiana, and it was, I guess you say the state championship of AAU, and I caught the ball … probably at the 3-point line at the other end, dribbled it to half court, shot a 3 at the buzzer, and it banked in for the game-winner for the championship.
A: I hit one, we were playing in AAU basketball, Louisiana, and it was, I guess you say the state championship of AAU, and I caught the ball … probably at the 3-point line at the other end, dribbled it to half court, shot a 3 at the buzzer, and it banked in for the game-winner for the championship.
Q: From halfcourt?
A: Halfcourt.
A: Halfcourt.
Q: Did you call “bank?”
A: I didn’t (smile). I just shot it, and hoped for the best, and it went in.
A: I didn’t (smile). I just shot it, and hoped for the best, and it went in.
Q: You also had a huge game for St. Joe’s against Fordham last season.
A: That night my teammates were finding me and they kept telling me, “Just keep shooting it.” I ended up hitting 10 3s and finished with 33.
A: That night my teammates were finding me and they kept telling me, “Just keep shooting it.” I ended up hitting 10 3s and finished with 33.
Q: You share an apartment with Orlando Sanchez of the Westchester Knicks. Who does the cooking?
A: Right now, he does all the cooking, but I really haven’t been eating none of his ’cause … I’m gonna say he’s no good at cooking (smile).
A: Right now, he does all the cooking, but I really haven’t been eating none of his ’cause … I’m gonna say he’s no good at cooking (smile).
Q: What does he try to make?
A: He makes pasta, he makes a lot of different, I guess you say Spanish dishes, so it’s pretty good.
A: He makes pasta, he makes a lot of different, I guess you say Spanish dishes, so it’s pretty good.
Q: You just said he’s no good at cooking.
A: I’m gonna give him a little credit.
A: I’m gonna give him a little credit.
Q: Your old Westchester Knicks teammates greet you warmly when they see you.
A: We’ve been through the battle together, and everybody works hard to try to get to this point. And I’m just blessed to be in this opportunity, and I’m hoping one day that they all get the same opportunity.
A: We’ve been through the battle together, and everybody works hard to try to get to this point. And I’m just blessed to be in this opportunity, and I’m hoping one day that they all get the same opportunity.
Q: You grew up in Baton Rouge, La. Did Hurricane Katrina affect you in any way?
A: We missed about two weeks of school. At my house, we had power out for about a week. But there was a hurricane that came after that called Gustav, and that really affected Baton Rouge a lot more than Katrina did. We lost a lot of shingles on the roof, some water came into my house. It was pretty shocking, but at the same time, we fixed it and moved forward.
A: We missed about two weeks of school. At my house, we had power out for about a week. But there was a hurricane that came after that called Gustav, and that really affected Baton Rouge a lot more than Katrina did. We lost a lot of shingles on the roof, some water came into my house. It was pretty shocking, but at the same time, we fixed it and moved forward.
Q: Do you know people that were affected horribly by Katrina?
A: Yes, yes. I know a few people that actually passed away, and I know a few people that went through it. It’s tough to hear about their stories, but at the same time, they wanted to get back to New Orleans and try to rebuild everything.
A: Yes, yes. I know a few people that actually passed away, and I know a few people that went through it. It’s tough to hear about their stories, but at the same time, they wanted to get back to New Orleans and try to rebuild everything.
Q: Who was your boyhood idol?
A: I really didn’t have an idol growing up. I just watched all the best players in the league. When I grew up it was MJ [Michael Jordan], Kobe Bryant, and then, when I was in high school, it was like Kevin Durant, Chauncey Billups, Randy Foye, Jameer Nelson.
Q: Boyhood dream?
A: To reach the NBA. I told my parents a long time ago that I was gonna try to reach my dream to get to the NBA. I’m just blessed to be in this opportunity to be here.
A: To reach the NBA. I told my parents a long time ago that I was gonna try to reach my dream to get to the NBA. I’m just blessed to be in this opportunity to be here.
Q: How old were you when you started playing basketball?
A: 3 years old.
A: 3 years old.
Q: Describe your uncle Geoff Arnold.
A: He’s been there ever since I was a little, watching me grow as a player. He’s been teaching me ever since I was young and helping me with my process with being recruited, you name it, anything I needed, he was there for me.
A: He’s been there ever since I was a little, watching me grow as a player. He’s been teaching me ever since I was young and helping me with my process with being recruited, you name it, anything I needed, he was there for me.
Q: How is his health?
A: He had prostate cancer, and he beat that, and he’s doing a lot better now.
A: He had prostate cancer, and he beat that, and he’s doing a lot better now.
Q: Biggest obstacle?
A: Not really disappointments, but just … stepping stones, that I’ve had to take, not being drafted … a lot of different things that have made me grow as a player and grow as a man.
A: Not really disappointments, but just … stepping stones, that I’ve had to take, not being drafted … a lot of different things that have made me grow as a player and grow as a man.
Q: What drives you?
A: My mother and my father’s passion for the game, and just what they instilled me from a young age of just being a hard worker, and just taking every day as it’s the last, and just try to go out there and leave it all out there.
A: My mother and my father’s passion for the game, and just what they instilled me from a young age of just being a hard worker, and just taking every day as it’s the last, and just try to go out there and leave it all out there.
Q: You went to high school at the Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge.
A: It was the best opportunity for me to grow as a human being, in my faith as well.
A: It was the best opportunity for me to grow as a human being, in my faith as well.
Q: Who are athletes in other sports you admire?
A: [Former NFL receiver] Michael Clayton went to my high school. You look at guys like Ray Lewis, you look at Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, I mean, those guys all have a lot of hard work instilled in ’em, and they continue to do that.
A: [Former NFL receiver] Michael Clayton went to my high school. You look at guys like Ray Lewis, you look at Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, I mean, those guys all have a lot of hard work instilled in ’em, and they continue to do that.
Q: Favorite NYC things?
A: I’ve been to the city maybe like once or twice so far. I’m a pretty quiet guy, I don’t really move around too much, stay in my room. I like to play video games a lot, and just hang out with my friends whenever I get a chance.
A: I’ve been to the city maybe like once or twice so far. I’m a pretty quiet guy, I don’t really move around too much, stay in my room. I like to play video games a lot, and just hang out with my friends whenever I get a chance.
Q: Describe your girlfriend, Sabrina.
A: Me and her have been together since I was in the 10th grade in high school
A: Me and her have been together since I was in the 10th grade in high school
Q: Where did you watch the NBA draft?
A: I actually was at a restaurant with my family and Sabrina’s family.
A: I actually was at a restaurant with my family and Sabrina’s family.
Q: What was it like when you weren’t drafted?
A: A little disappointing, but at the same time, just wanted to get my mind off it, relax a little bit, and get back to work the next day.
Q: What was it like adapting to the cold in Philadelphia as a freshman at St. Joe’s?
A: Being from Louisiana, there is no snow, there’s no cold winters. I remember freshman year, there was a 10-inch snowstorm, and I remember the first thing I said was, “Man, look at all that snow!” And I ran outside and jumped in the snow and was having a good time, so it was pretty cool (smile).
A: Being from Louisiana, there is no snow, there’s no cold winters. I remember freshman year, there was a 10-inch snowstorm, and I remember the first thing I said was, “Man, look at all that snow!” And I ran outside and jumped in the snow and was having a good time, so it was pretty cool (smile).
Q: Was that the first time you saw snow?
A: Yeah, like real snow, yeah. ’Cause Louisiana, we had an inch of snow one time, and everything shut down.
A: Yeah, like real snow, yeah. ’Cause Louisiana, we had an inch of snow one time, and everything shut down.
Q: Did you build a snowman?
A: I definitely built one. Me and my friends were all out there, they were showing me how to do it, soon as they showed me, I was figuring it out and I did it.
A: I definitely built one. Me and my friends were all out there, they were showing me how to do it, soon as they showed me, I was figuring it out and I did it.
Q: Best cheesesteak in Philly?
A: I have two different ones — I have Jim’s Cheesteaks on South Street, and then they have this place over in Sharon Hill called Leo’s.
A: I have two different ones — I have Jim’s Cheesteaks on South Street, and then they have this place over in Sharon Hill called Leo’s.
Q: You had a sports marketing internship with ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi.
A: Joey Brackets, everybody calls him. He’s like a legend on St. Joe’s campus. He got a chance to bring me up to Connecticut and get to see ESPN, get to walk around, meet the different people. I met Scott Van Pelt, met a few of the other analysts there, it was pretty cool.
A: Joey Brackets, everybody calls him. He’s like a legend on St. Joe’s campus. He got a chance to bring me up to Connecticut and get to see ESPN, get to walk around, meet the different people. I met Scott Van Pelt, met a few of the other analysts there, it was pretty cool.
Q: You helped him do what?
A: I did pretty much a blog, just talking about the experience being in college. It was called “Life Being With Lang.”
A: I did pretty much a blog, just talking about the experience being in college. It was called “Life Being With Lang.”
Q: Describe your grandmother.
A: She’s been the hardest worker in my family, about to be 84 years old. She’s just like the, I guess you can say, the family holder, she’s at the top, and everybody else is underneath her.
A: She’s been the hardest worker in my family, about to be 84 years old. She’s just like the, I guess you can say, the family holder, she’s at the top, and everybody else is underneath her.
Q: She saw you play as a pro for the first time in Philly.
A: She loved it, she loved it. My Auntie was telling me that she was yelling and screaming like she was just as young as anybody else (smile), so it’s pretty cool.
Q: Talk about Matt Derenbecker?
A: We grew up together playing against each other back home in Louisisna. AAU ball we played together. Me and his family are very close, and he actually passed away, I want to say, early August. I got a chance to go to the funeral, and it was a sad moment back home. He was Gatorade Player of the Year, he had a lot of accolades. Just sad to see him go.
A: We grew up together playing against each other back home in Louisisna. AAU ball we played together. Me and his family are very close, and he actually passed away, I want to say, early August. I got a chance to go to the funeral, and it was a sad moment back home. He was Gatorade Player of the Year, he had a lot of accolades. Just sad to see him go.
Q: Does that change your perspective on life at all?
A: I just take every day moment by moment, and just enjoy it, that’s the biggest thing with life, you have to enjoy it, and just do the things that you love, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do each day. And never take anything for granted.
A: I just take every day moment by moment, and just enjoy it, that’s the biggest thing with life, you have to enjoy it, and just do the things that you love, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do each day. And never take anything for granted.
Q: You collect sneakers.
A: It really started when I got to college. I’ve gotten really fond of the different pairs of sneakers — the Jordans, the Nikes — and my collection is gonna continue to grow as time goes on. My room back home in Louisiana is full of sneakers, my room here is already full of sneakers.
A: It really started when I got to college. I’ve gotten really fond of the different pairs of sneakers — the Jordans, the Nikes — and my collection is gonna continue to grow as time goes on. My room back home in Louisiana is full of sneakers, my room here is already full of sneakers.
Q: How many pair of sneakers do you have?
A: Right now I probably have between 150 to 200 pair.
A: Right now I probably have between 150 to 200 pair.
Q: Don’t you give sneakers away to children?
A: That’s what I did with all the sneakers I’ve already worn. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to start a foundation, to try to help out the kids back home in Louisiana and the less fortunate with sneakers. Like in high school, I donated 10,000 sneakers to the kids less fortunate.
A: That’s what I did with all the sneakers I’ve already worn. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to start a foundation, to try to help out the kids back home in Louisiana and the less fortunate with sneakers. Like in high school, I donated 10,000 sneakers to the kids less fortunate.
Q: Other hobbies?
A: Golf. It’s addicting. Once you start playing it, you just want to get better at it each day.
A: Golf. It’s addicting. Once you start playing it, you just want to get better at it each day.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Langston Hughes, ’cause I’m named after Langston Hughes; my grandfather; Martin Luther King.
A: Langston Hughes, ’cause I’m named after Langston Hughes; my grandfather; Martin Luther King.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Space Jam.”
A: “Space Jam.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel Washington.
A: Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite entertainer?
A: Dave Chappelle.
A: Dave Chappelle.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Crawfish étouffée.
A: Crawfish étouffée.
Q: Anything you want to add?
A: Just to tell all the kids and everybody out there just continue to work hard, and never give away your dream, ‘cause anything is possible, and just have fun with it while you’re doing it.
A: Just to tell all the kids and everybody out there just continue to work hard, and never give away your dream, ‘cause anything is possible, and just have fun with it while you’re doing it.
Q: Was there a time that you came close to giving up on your dream?
A: Yeah, there was a time, back in high school, really didn’t know if I really wanted to do it. My parents had a chance to sit down with me and ask me did I really want to do it? That’s when I really had to take a chance to step back and look at it and say, “Do I really want to do this?” And that’s when my mind changed and I wanted to do it and continue to work hard at it.
A: Yeah, there was a time, back in high school, really didn’t know if I really wanted to do it. My parents had a chance to sit down with me and ask me did I really want to do it? That’s when I really had to take a chance to step back and look at it and say, “Do I really want to do this?” And that’s when my mind changed and I wanted to do it and continue to work hard at it.
Q: What made you decide to want to pursue your dream?
A: Just ’cause I knew where I could be at. When I grew up, my mom always told me, “One day you’ll be able to achieve your dream, so just keep working hard.”
A: Just ’cause I knew where I could be at. When I grew up, my mom always told me, “One day you’ll be able to achieve your dream, so just keep working hard.”
Q: What do you hope Knicks fans say about you?
A: Just a hard worker each day. I got guys like Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Amar’e Stoudemire, all those guys are big-time. I just want to be one of the hard workers that helps us try to get a championship here one day.
A: Just a hard worker each day. I got guys like Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Amar’e Stoudemire, all those guys are big-time. I just want to be one of the hard workers that helps us try to get a championship here one day.
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