Journey of A Baller: Tyler Roberson

Tyler Roberson hoping his G League play for the AC Clippers could ignite a shot in the NBA.

Tyler Roberson has had quite the journey throughout his basketball career. He captured a state championship his senior year at Roselle Catholic High School. He also played under legendary coach, Sandy Pyonin for the AAU team, New Jersey Roadrunners. Following his high school career, Roberson committed to attend the University of Syracuse. At Syracuse, Tyler made it to the Final Four during his junior year. After going undrafted in the NBA draft, Roberson was selected by the, Agua Caliente Clippers in the 2017 NBA G League Draft. The following year, Roberson took his talents to Greece, where he played for AEK Athens in the Greek Basketball League. After a year in Greece, Roberson returned to the United States and re-signed with the Agua Caliente Clippers.

I recently spoke to, Tyler Roberson who details his basketball journey and talks about his hopes to soon get the call up to the NBA.

How are you doing?

Tyler Roberson: Everything is going well. You know, just playing ball every day, relaxing and getting ready for the season coming up.

It seems like the grind never stops. You are back with the Agua Caliente Clippers in the NBA G League. Is that just it, a continuous grind?

Tyler Roberson: Yeah, it’s just a constant grind. You know the season is only 5 or 6 months, but even in the office it’s constantly working out every day, lifting weights, being in different type of camps and playing in different leagues. It’s definitely a year-round thing and not just the 5 or 6 months of the season.

And you have to stay in shape in case you get that call up.

Tyler Roberson: Yeah exactly. This is what I do for a living is play basketball, so it’s my job to make sure that I stay in shape and I think I do a pretty good job of that.

You are a Jersey kid, committed to play ball at the University of Syracuse. You chose Syracuse over Villanova and Kansas. What made Syracuse the place for you?

Tyler Roberson: I always wanted to play at the highest level and it doesn’t get much bigger than Syracuse and playing in the ACC. I wanted to play in front of family and be close to home, so it worked out. It was almost like, “Why not?” And I knew I had an opportunity to play freshman and sophomore year, so I wanted to compete. That was my biggest thing, so I went to Syracuse.

You played for the New Jersey Roadrunners which is an AAU squad. My man, Luke Cervino also played with you. You mentioned competing at the collegiate level, but those AAU leagues were very competitive as well. I’m sure you gained a ton of experience even at an early age.

Tyler Roberson: It was fun, especially at that young of an age where you’re still developing as a player and your body is still physically maturing. You’re becoming a man, so it was a process. Every day in practice with Luke and the other guys, just competing and watching yourself and your teammates grow. And playing against other players in the country that I may even see now. Whether I see them in the NBA or the G league, it’s interested to see those guys knowing that I competed against them back then. To just grow with those guys is fun and it’s interested to compete and play every day even back then.

Coach Sandy Pyonin has had his hands on so many great players through that AAU program. What was it like to learn from such a legendary coach and how much was he a factor in your life?

Tyler Roberson: Sandy is definitely a mentor figure. I think anybody who played for the Runners, even Luke would agree. Since we joined the team at 15-16 years old… not only from a basketball standpoint, but even in life. Sandy would help you with anything if you needed it. I think that’s why kid’s want to play for him. He’s great at giving advice. People want to play for the Roadrunners for those reasons and not just the basketball part of it.

You won a state championship your senior year, you’ve competed in the Final Four, you played in Greece. What would you say has been your biggest basketball highlight so far?

Tyler Roberson: I wouldn’t say I have one in particular but playing in the Final Four was a lot of fun. Playing in front of all of those people, getting to play at the highest level as far as college goes and being a part of one of the four teams left playing in the season. I think that was just an exciting feeling. For me personally, it doesn’t get much bigger than that as far as college basketball goes.

You played in a Greek League as well. What were the biggest differences between balling in Greece opposed to in the United States or is basketball just basketball no matter where you go?

Tyler Roberson: Basketball is basketball pretty much everywhere you go. As far as a tempo standpoint, the game is a little different over there. I think for me, I found it to be a little more controlled. Which there is nothing wrong with that. The G League style of play and maybe the NBA even is freer flowing; guys getting up and down. Over there I would say it’s a little stricter. As far as being able to do certain things and having… the game is more controlled I guess I would say.

What is the G League like?

Tyler Roberson: The G League to me, it’s competitive. You got a lot of players who are some of the best players. Even the guys that are in the NBA will come down sometimes; whether it be a rookie or just two- way guys will come down. You’re playing against really good talent. With the Clippers, I get to compete against those guys and guys that may be coming down in practice every day. So, I enjoy it. I’m getting better. That’s all I can ask for. I want to be the best basketball player that I can be and I think the G League is for sure helping me do that as I try to reach my highest basketball potential.

I’m sure the NBA is what you’re hoping to be your final landing spot in reaching your highest potential. What are some of the things you have been working on to increase the chances of that happening?

Tyler Roberson: The NBA is my goal. I think it’s obtainable. I watch film and I study and I think I need to be able to shoot the 3-ball; especially in today’s game at my height, build and the way I play. I have just been working on that a ton. That’s something I want to be able to do this year is shoot it consistently and make it at a pretty good rate. So, to shoot the 3-ball.

Today’s game is very different from when you started back at 4-years old. You are 6’8 and known for your amazing rebounding abilities. Now, guards are asked to rebound as well, and forwards and centers are expected to be able to shoot the 3-ball. Do you feel today’s game is a watered-down version of basketball or an expansion of the athlete’s being more diverse and having a broader skillset?

Tyler Roberson: I would say it’s the expansion of the game. That’s just what the game has become now, whether you like it or not (laughing). You either adapt or… I think there are certain guys who can still play their way and get away with it. But for the most part a guy like me being in my situation, I’m doing what I have to and what I’m being told I need to do. So, yeah, I think it’s just the expansion of the game and where it’s heading. I don’t know if it will always be like this, but for now, this is where it’s at.

I was just about to ask, do you see it ever going back to where the big men play with their backs predominately towards the basket or where we are now, you see it being this way for years to come?

Tyler Roberson: Wow… if you would have asked me… when did it change, 5 to 10 years ago if it would be like this I probably would have said, “No.” I thought it would just be guys like, Steph Curry shooting 3’s from half court. You never know. It could change, but I think it will for sure be like this for a while in my opinion.

Who were your basketball inspirations and what player or players did you immolate?

Tyler Roberson: Coming up, I guess it just goes back to what we talked about the last question. It’s funny because I liked a guy like, Kevin Garnett when I was really young and growing up. Obviously, he would be very successful if he played the game now, but I think if you would ask most people now, “Who is your favorite player?” It would probably be a guy who can shoot the 3 or do different things. Not just a guy who was like a back to the back type of player. But that’s who I enjoyed watching coming up and who I tried to kind of model my name after. That for sure was the guy for me.

What has this journey been like for you?

Tyler Roberson: It’s been interesting. I never would have thought I would be playing in Greece and in the G League. Obviously, I knew this was all a possibility, but it’s just been an interesting journey. It’s not something that I would’ve been able to predict coming out of Syracuse. I’m just enjoying the entire thing. It’s a blessing to play basketball for a living and being able to play in Greece and in the G League and possibly be playing in the NBA. I’m taking it all in. You can’t play basketball forever, so I’m just enjoying every day of it.

What have you learned the most about yourself throughout this process?

Tyler Roberson: I learned a lot. I would say the biggest thing that comes to mind is, having to be open to new things. Whether it be going to Greece because I thought it was the best basketball move for me at the time. Traveling across the world to play basketball. Being in the G League and grinding it out to get where I need to go. Just challenging myself and being resilient as well not knowing what the future holds as far as basketball and taking every day as a challenge to get better and attain my goals as a basketball player.

To reconnect with, Luke Cervino at this point where it seems like you guys could help one another has to be a good feeling.

Tyler Roberson: It’s great! I had a talk with, Luke a week or so ago and it wasn’t just about basketball or what he’s doing right now. It was just casual talk and it was great to just catch up with him and do that. As far as basketball goes and the business side of things, I think that’s something we can definitely help each other with. We have that relationship and I’m just thankful to have him as a friend also. He’s definitely somebody I can talk to on the business side of things or as a friend.

What are your short-term goals for this year?

Tyler Roberson: My goals… honestly, I think I’m good enough to play in the NBA, so I want to get that opportunity to. I think statistically, when it comes to stats, I put up good numbers in the amount of time that I played. I just want to be able to prove that night in and night out in every game. So, hopefully I get that opportunity to play in the NBA. That’s my goal, to play well every night and be rewarded for that.

I hope you get that call up and I will definitely be checking up on you. Is there anything else you want to add?

Tyler Roberson: Thank you for taking time to talk to me.

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