The Details: Everyone Knows, Plum Can Play, But Did You Know…
January 12, 2017 | General, Women's Basketball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Kelsey Plum was in the gym. To anyone who knows about Washington's star, this will come as little surprise. She's always in the gym.
And, on this particular day, she was making it rain, working her way around the three-point line with Steph Curry-like precision.
Again, not much of surprise. That's just what she does.
Then it happened. In the last drill of a workout with teammate Heather Corral, training under the guidance of assistant coach Todd Schaefer, Plum put on a show that was impressive, even considering her lofty standards.
The drill was simple. She worked her way around the three-point line, 30 seconds at a spot for seven spots, hoisting as many shots as she could over the course of 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
When she was done, she had made 73 shots. She missed five. And, as she worked, I was timing her journey around the arc, shouting, "move!" once every 30 seconds.
Once she finished the drill, she walked over the first row of seats just off the floor, trading a workout for an interview. But, before the conversation started, she had a quick caveat – she didn't want this particular story to be centered on basketball.
"When people read about me now it's like, 'Ugh, we get it,'" she said with a laugh.
For the past few seasons, every profile I've written on Plum has started with a story of her choosing. This pivot, though, threw me off. I had planned on talking about her being 29 points from 3,000 in her career and 423 away from the NCAA scoring record.
Instead, we talked about food, cars and potential post-basketball careers. With the help of Schaefer, Corral and others who walked by, we navigated a conversation far more entertaining that anything involving scoring records.
However, it took some time to move beyond sports. For example, if Plum weren't playing hoops, she'd probably be playing volleyball. And if she couldn't play, she'd want to be on camera, in sports broadcasting.
"I love sports," she said. "I love the people around sports. I connect with them. I think, at the end of the day, I'll work around athletes, but not necessarily basketball."
So, this line of questioning segued into Plum's dream job, well, if she had to pick something outside of career as a professional athlete. If she had a choice, she would land a spot on "Inside the NBA."
"I think my personality of more like Kenny 'The Jet' Smith," she said, laughing. "He's the practical one. He makes fun of those guys. Charles (Barkley) is kind of out there and Shaq is just Shaq, so I'd definitely say I'm Kenny.
"That would be a good job, just talking trash, talking basketball, putting up funny pictures of people on the screen. I love joking with people, practical jokes, pranks."
It was at this point we put basketball in the background, at least for temporarily. And then things got interesting
If she could star in a movie, she would be a gladiator. If she could pick an actress to star in her life story, it would be Jennifer Lawrence.
"Katniss, she's my favorite," Plum said. "She's so dope."
Her guests at a dinner party would include Kevin Hart – "He's funny. He's my favorite." – her grandfather, Arthur McBride – "He passed when I was kind of young, so I really didn't get to know him – and Jay Z.
When she's not chasing down records and another trip to the Final Four, Plum enjoys working with children. In fact, through a service learning program, she makes it a priority, spending time sharing stories about life that have nothing to do with basketball.
"Kids are awesome," she said. "They're just fun to be around, so I like messing with them."
Schaefer asked her to choose between a doctor and lawyer and Plum immediately chose the latter.
"A doctor, you have to touch people?" she said. "And they're your responsibility. If they're harmed in any way, it's on you. I'm OK."
And then, without being prompted, we shifted to cars.
"I love cars," she said.
Once she graduates and has a little spending money, her first purchase will be something along the lines of an all-black Range Rover with black rims, of course.
Now, it wouldn't be a proper interview with Plum without mentioning food. So, if she were stranded on an island and could only have one thing, she's take a tub of peanut butter, but, "make sure it's crunchy," she said.
If she had to plan a last meal, it would include the largest steak served at Seattle institution El Gaucho, topped with lobster and béarnaise sauce. And the sides? "Sweet corn and lobster mac and cheese," she said.
Plum has committed herself to a strict in-season diet, so food is a hot-button issue.
"It's time to start acting like a professional," she said. "Now that I've seen how much it helps me, it just reiterates that this is what I need to do."
But, once the season does, eventually, come to an end she is already planning an epic trip to a food court. There will be nachos – and not just chips and cheese – with cheese, chicken, beans, guacamole and salsa, hibachi wings with extra ranch, a quick stop at Cinnabon. And she might even add in a stop at Taco Bell.
"When the season is over, the day it's over, I'm going to the mall and getting everything," she said, flashing a grin.
Before wrapping up the meandering interview, Plum was asked about her fondest childhood memory. She had a quick response. When she was younger, she played baseball with her sister, Lauren.
"My sister and I played baseball, not softball, because my dad (Jim) said it was too slow," Plum said.
They were at an age when teams used a pitching machine. And, in this particular memory, Plum was standing on second base when Lauren came up to bat.
"The coaches for the other team said, 'Hey, scoot in, it's a girl,'" Plum said.
On the first pitch, "Lauren pops it out of the park, across the freeway and into the neighbor's house and breaks a window."
As the sisters rounded the bases, Jim punctuated the point by shouting, "scoot in. It's a girl."
"That is by far my coolest childhood memory," Plum said. "I was just standing on second base, watching it go."
And then, just like that, the interview was over. Plum had other media obligations, another opportunity to talk basketball. But, for a few moments, over a few laughs shared with anyone who happened by, the star turned a chance to talk about herself into something fun and offbeat.
