Doron Lamb talks to the WBN

Milwaukee Bucks guard Doron Lamb, a member of the Kentucky Wildcats for two seasons, joined Wildcat Blue Nation yesterday for an interview.
Nov 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Doron Lamb (20) looks on during the first quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Bucks 95-85. Image Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Daniel Solzman: Doron, thanks for joining Wildcat Blue Nation. How are things treating you in Milwaukee?

Doron Lamb: I’m doing good so far. I like the city. I like the coaching staff. My teammates are teaching me a lot of stuff, on and off the court.

Daniel Solzman: How has adjusting to life in the NBA compare to the two years you spent at Kentucky?

Doron Lamb: It’s way different. You got a lot of back to back games, traveling city to city, getting to cities late, playing the next day, and playing tough teams on the road so it’s a little different but I’m getting the hang of it.

Daniel Solzman: Is there anyone on the Bucks roster that has helped in your transition to the NBA and taken you under their wing?

Doron Lamb: Almost all the players, especially Brandon Jennings, have taken me under their wing, telling me what to do on and off the court, working out with them, and getting a lot better.

Daniel Solzman: You scored your first NBA points in November against Memphis. What were you thinking as the ball went in through the net?

Doron Lamb: I was so excited to make an NBA shot. I’ll never forget that for the rest of my career but I got to keep scoring and helping my team win and getting my teammates involved.

Daniel Solzman: Has it been strange playing against your former teammates?

Doron Lamb: Yeah. It’s a lot of fun though guarding my old teammates, just playing against them, and competing.

Daniel Solzman: You played for two seasons at Oak Hill Academy before going to Kentucky. Are there any life lessons that Coach Steve Smith taught that will siick with you?

Doron Lamb: He taught me a lot. Oak Hill is really like playing in the NBA. You do everything on your own. Wash your clothes and everything by yourself. You just focus on schoolwork and basketball so it’s really almost the same. I think I played almost the same amount of games in high school as I did in college. Oak Hill is like a mini-college. Coach Smith taught me a lot. He’s a great coach and has a great basketball program. I’m glad I went there for my last two years of high school.

Daniel Solzman: What about with UK Coach John Calipari during your two seasons at UK?

Doron Lamb: He taught me to just to play hard. Every possession counts. He taught me to be a pro. He just wants the best out of you. It helped me a lot in the transition to the NBA so he told me a lot. I’m giving it and I’m thinking it and working hard in the NBA.

Daniel Solzman: How does Bucks coach Scott Stiles’ coaching style compare to that of John Calipari?

Doron Lamb: It’s a lot different. In the NBA, you know when you get in the game and when you’re taken out so it’s a lot different than high school and college. You just do what you got to do to get your minutes and make sure you play hard when you’re in the game.

Daniel Solzman: How does the media in Milwaukee compare to what you saw as a player for Kentucky? Having played at Kentucky, do you feel better handling the media than someone that went to a mid-major?

Doron Lamb: The media doesn’t bother me. I like talking in front of people and talking to the cameras so it’s pretty much the same. Kentucky has a lot of media. It’s like an NBA team/program so it’s pretty much the same.

Daniel Solzman: Do you see any comparisons between this year’s UK team and the 2011 Final Four team? What about any comparison or different between Harrow and other UK point guards you played with?

Doron Lamb: They got great players but they just to work hard. They haven’t played with each other before. They don’t have veterans. They’re young. They’re going out there, and just playing. It’s just hard for them a little bit to get the hang of it. They really focus in on what Coach Cal is saying. They know what they’re doing on the court. They’ll be a lot better.

Daniel Solzman: What is something that you love to do for fun?

Doron Lamb: I love playing video games.

Daniel Solzman: If you were not playing basketball, what do you think you would be doing?

Doron Lamb: I’d still be in school right now (laughs) until I graduate and try to be a coach or something. I don’t know.

Daniel Solzman: The NCAA came out with the top 75 players, top 25 teams, and top 35 moments. The 2012 team was named to the top 25 teams. Any thoughts?

Doron Lamb: I think we were one of the best teams. Are we talking college or all-time for everything?

Daniel Solzman: The 75 years of March Madness.

Doron Lamb: You know me. I think we were one of the best teams. I figure we’ve got to be top 3 or one of the best teams ever in college basketball. We were all young. We only lost two games and won the national championship. We went undefeated in conference play. We worked hard and deserve to be a great team of all-time.

Daniel Solzman: Thanks again for joining us. Any final words for Big Blue Nation?

Doron Lamb: I miss Big Blue Nation. I’ll be back when I have time. I hope, as the team gets better, that they beat Louisville—I’ll be watching that game—and hope they keep winning. I hope they win the national championship like we did last year.