From the suit to celebration, Chicago Bulls’ Julian Phillips recaps NBA Draft moment

Julian Phillips had a life-changing moment last week.

The Chicago Bulls selected the former Blythewood High School standout in the second round of the NBA Draft. He was one of four players from South Carolina picked in this year’s draft.

Phillips played his last high school season at Link Academy in Missouri, then one season in college at Tennessee before throwing his name in the draft. He will arrive in Chicago this week to meet with his new team.

Before he left, Phillips sat down with The State Newspaper’s Lou Bezjak to discuss draft night and getting ready for the NBA.

Lou Bezjak: Take me back to draft night. What was going through your mind to hear your name called?

Julian Phillips: I was pretty much speechless. I have been thinking about it for so long. I was just more in shock.

LB: Many players who weren’t invited to the green room chose to attend the draft. What went behind the decision to attend and did it make the moment more special?

JP: I just wanted to be at the draft and hear your name called, put on the hat and walk across the stage. That is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity. It is a great memory that you will never forget and always have. … Everything from that moment is something that I will have for the rest of my life.

LB: What were your emotions like as the night went on? Most mock drafts had you going in early in the second round which is where you went.

JP: You definitely get a little anxious just waiting for your name to be called. I kind of knew or had an idea where I was going to be drafted.

LB: It turns out you had Chicago Bulls colors with the red suit you picked out. What went into picking your clothes to wear that night?

JP: I picked it out and for some reason I wanted the color red. It is one of my favorite colors. I just looked at all the fabrics and that stuck out to me real well. I picked out a regular tie but at the last minute decided to go with a bow tie.

LB: What was the rest of the night like, after the draft. What did you guys do to go celebrate?

JP: We had a spot rented out. It was an Asian, fusian, and Japanese restaurant. I was there with a bunch of my family and friends that attended the draft, probably 35 or 40 people. It was great to hang out and spend some time with them that have been around me and played a big part of my career.

LB: Have you had time or a moment to just sit back and take things all in and reflect what just happened?

JP: It still is surreal to me. My phone was blowing up from every app and I got a ton of messages, a lot of calls. When I went to sleep and woke up the next day, I got on my phone and sat there for a moment to take it in. It is still crazy to me, even now that it happened. I am just so thankful.

LB: You were the only pick by Chicago in the draft and they moved up to take you.Was Chicago one of the teams that you worked out for in the pre-draft workouts and were you surprised they picked you?

JP: No, sir I didn’t work out for them. I interviewed with them at the NBA Draft Combine and everything went well. I am very happy they went up to get me and I am in this position now.

LB: What went into the decision to leave college early and then keep your name in the draft?

JP: I knew had my college eligibility to fall back on. I was just trying to get as much feedback as I could from the team workouts before the combine and then after the combine. Then after the combine, I talked with my family and people in my circle that I should probably stay in the draft because of the positive feedback I was getting.

LB: Chicago has a great history with Michael Jordan playing there and winning championships. How special is it to play for that team?

JP: It is very special. Actually, my father is from Chicago and grew up a Bulls fan so it is special to go play for a team like that with so much history, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and so on. I am very excited and very thankful.

LB: What is the biggest thing you will bring to the Chicago Bulls organization?

JP: My biggest thing and concentration is getting to be as well-rounded as I can. I am going to be an everyday guy, someone who shows up, works hard and gets the job done, does all the right things, makes the winning plays. Defensively, I am going to be a guy who guards multiple positions and just brings a lot of versatility to the team. I am very excited to do that.

LB: You were one of four guys from South Carolina taken in the draft. What does that mean to you and basketball in general in the state?

JP: A lot of those guys I have seen, grew up playing against or watching them. To have us all grow up in South Carolina and have the opportunity to go play in SC is really special for sure.