Undrafted Denver Nuggets forward Gary Forbes discusses his NBA journey — playing in the D-League and four different overseas clubs.
SLAM: What was your mindset like at training camp? What were you trying to show the coaching staff?
GF: Just that I belong. I guess that I was an NBA player like people say — but just not that my time was past due and that I deserved to be there.
SLAM: When you finally made the roster, were there any adjustments you had to make for the NBA level? If so, what were they?
GF: I think at the end of the day, when I was out there it was just basketball and having fun. Playing with confidence and just playing basketball. I was able to have good games, and I had my bad games and I learned from that. So it all worked out.
SLAM: In case the lockout carries on to the regular season, have you made any plans on what to do?
GF: I haven’t thought that far. I just have been working out and getting prepared for the FIBA Americas tournament next month. I just been focusing on the camp and making things as proper as I want them to be. This weekend was fun. It was small but definitely a foundation and start of something big.
SLAM: I’ve read that you are now the new spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association for African American Initiatives. How meaningful is it for you to be involved?
GF: It’s definitely meaningful because diabetes is a major disease in America. I wanted to educate the kids on healthy eating and all the ways that they can stay away from possibly obtaining diabetes, because I think it’s something like 17 million people that have been diagnosed with diabetes. And New York has one of the biggest populations with diabetes with the black and Latino population. And so with myself having diabetes, I just wanted to have everybody aware of that and if I helped one kid turn his eating habits different and saved him from diabetes, I think I accomplished something.
SLAM: With you being a restricted free agent, do you expect to be back in a Nuggets uniform?
GF: I’m just waiting to see what happens but I definitely do. I appreciate the Kroenke family. Josh Kroenke and Stan Koenke for giving me an opportunity. They’re the only team that actually stepped up and gave me a contract last year and signed me. So I owe them pretty much everything. They made my dreams come true and hopefully we can do something special in Denver.
SLAM: What do you think was the ultimate factor in Denver signing you?
GF: I think it was just the right time. The right fit. The right team. Certain players were injured and Denver was the perfect situation.
SLAM: How would you describe your rookie season experience?
GF: It kind of went by fast. But I think I had an unorthodox year. I don’t think a lot of rookies dealt with a lot of the stuff that I dealt with, you know, with all the team trade talks and all the media hype around us. And then even after the trade. That definitely will help me going into further years. I know how to handle those types of situations and adversities from just seeing Chauncey {Billups} and Carmelo {Anthony} handling it.
SLAM: There’s a lot of talented players overseas and in the D-League in the same situation that you were once in, trying to earn a spot on an NBA roster. What advice would you give them?
GF: Just gotta keep working. Hard work pays off. And I think I’m a testament to that. Whatever you focus your mind on, you have to work hard at it. Only time will tell.
SLAM: What do you feel is the next step you gotta make in your game to continue to make your name in the NBA?
GF: I’ve taking a lot of time to focus on my body. I’ve been taking a lot of yoga classes and been doing stuff differently to try to get ahead of the curb and ahead of everybody. But I think my game is an all-around game. I want to obviously be the best player that I can be but I have a lot to prove and my aspirations are higher then people can imagine. I’m not going to stop until I reach there.
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