Questions asked at NBA draft combine

[SlyPokerDog]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - Weirdest question a team asked at the NBA combine: "If you were the size of a pen and you were trapped in a blender, how would you get out?"

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - The answer that the NBA team wanted to hear from players was that they would tip the blender over and crawl out.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - Every year at the draft combine, at least one NBA team always asks: "Would you rather start on a losing team or sit on a winning team?"

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - My all-time favorite question that a team asked players at the NBA draft combine: "What kind of weed do you smoke?" Most players cracked up.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - At the draft combine, a lot of NBA teams will ask a player to guess how many basketballs would fit in the room where the interview is held.

 

[PapaG]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - Weirdest question a team asked at the NBA combine: "If you were the size of a pen and you were trapped in a blender, how would you get out?"

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - The answer that the NBA team wanted to hear from players was that they would tip the blender over and crawl out.

How big is the blender? My blender is small, and I would think I could jump up, grab the edge, and pull myself out if I were the size of a pen.

 

[maxiep]

Alex Kennedy ‏@AlexKennedyNBA - My all-time favorite question that The Portland TrailBlazers asked players at the NBA draft combine: "What kind of weed do you smoke?" Most players cracked up. The answer the Blazers were looking for was "What do you have?"

FIFY

 

[maxiep]

How big is the blender? My blender is small, and I would think I could jump up, grab the edge, and pull myself out if I were the size of a pen.

That would have been my answer as well. I would have stressed my vertical standing jumping ability and upper body strength.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

This is what sank Faried for the Blazers apparently.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Why a blender? Is somebody about to turn it on? Had the question-writer just watched Gremlins?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

This is what sank Faried for the Blazers apparently.

Be more specific.

 

[MickZagger]

Be more specific.

A psychologist said he waved red flags and PA listened. The rest is history.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Be more specific.

IIRC the Blazers team psychologist red flag'd him after this test.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Jesus Fucking Christ. That is pathetic.

This reminds me of a piece I heard on NPR about how handwriting analysis is big business (still) in France, and how you can't get a job without submitting a sample of your handwriting. I'm amazed they don't analyze the star signs.

 

[MickZagger]

PA is a proponent of same sex marriage?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Critical thinking questions aren't limited to NBA interviews. At just about every job I've had (Boeing excluded, but Navy Nuclear Power included), I've had multiple questions like this on the interview.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Critical thinking questions are not the same as "psychological evaluation" questions. In fact, the two are about as far apart as it's possible to be.

 

[BrianFromWA]

"If you were the size of a pen and you were trapped in a blender, how would you get out?" is a critical thinking question.
"How many basketballs would fit in this room" is a critical thinking question.
"How much would it cost to wash every window in Seattle" is a critical thinking question.
"In 1800 the average speed of extended travel was ~6mph (laden horse). In 1900 is was ~60 mph (train). In 2000 it was ~600 mph (jet airplane). Explain why (or why not) it will be ~6000 mph by 2100." is a critical thinking question.

 

[THE HCP]

For my job, all they asked me was if I still wet the bed!


Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

For my job, all they asked me was if I still wet the bed!


Sent from HCPs Baller-Ass iPhone 5...FAMS!

Wow. And you got the job anyway!

 

[santeesioux]

They're paid to put a ball thru a hoop, not save the free world. Just make sure they aren't crazy enough to get arrested everyday like Cliff Harris.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

"If you were the size of a pen and you were trapped in a blender, how would you get out?" is a critical thinking question.
"How many basketballs would fit in this room" is a critical thinking question.
"How much would it cost to wash every window in Seattle" is a critical thinking question.
"In 1800 the average speed of extended travel was ~6mph (laden horse). In 1900 is was ~60 mph (train). In 2000 it was ~600 mph (jet airplane). Explain why (or why not) it will be ~6000 mph by 2100." is a critical thinking question.

Are you saying you get a "red flag" for answering one of those wrong?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Are you saying there are wrong answers? It's more than memorizing factoids. It's understanding a bit about your pattern of thought.

In my lines of work, I'd rather have people who can think critically and logically on the fly. I'm not saying that a point guard needs to be a rocket scientist and nuclear physicist (or both), but I'm sure that it can be one of the discriminators for some if you have two similarly athletically talented personnel. It sure as heck was a discriminator in the processes by which I've been hired.

 

[jlprk]

My answer the first time would be, "Fuck off. Judge my actions on the court, not my words." My answer the second time would be, "Fuck off. You wanna get punched?"

 

[BrianFromWA]

you would probably not be getting a multi-million dollar contract from me. Let someone else pay you. There isn't anyone in this draft that far head-and-shoulders above someone in talent that those kinds of answers were either appropriate or welcome.

And you accepted my interview invitation. After the first "fuck off", you wouldn't have had a chance for the second. Maybe there are losers out there who like that kind of moxie in a player or employee. I'm not one of them, and am glad that Olshey isn't, either.

Trader Bob might've called the cops on a player like that, and you know it.

 

[jlprk]

I'd just announce that I won't be drafted highly because I'm not going to put up with nonsense.

There'd be at least one old-school GM or owner (I bet several) who'd like me and move me up their list for that attitude. Some value toughness.

 

[jlprk]

They'd respect my internet tough guy qualities. I might drop to pick number 10, I don't care, I'll sacrifice anything for my integrity.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

I like it, try to catch them off guard and get a candid response, im sure they've been trained with a laundry list of canned responses.

All things being equal, its another piece of the puzzle, and if you can glean a small glimmer of their thinking process and personality, go for it

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I like it, try to catch them off guard and get a candid response, im sure they've been trained with a laundry list of canned responses.

All things being equal, its another piece of the puzzle, and if you can glean a small glimmer of their thinking process and personality, go for it

This is one of the reasons I like listening to non-professional journalists (like Jay Mohr) interview athletes. They don't know the "right"questions to ask, or don't care, so they ask things that the athletes aren't expecting. Makes things more interesting.