GSPN Exclusive: One on one interview with Wisconsin Herd forward Wenyen Gabriel.
We chatted about how his game is evolving, the Herd team culture, and how he would fit on the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 2021-22 Wisconsin Herd features another stacked squad, as evidenced by their 4-0 record thus far in the young G League season. Several Herd players have significant NBA experience, but none more than big man Wenyen Gabriel, who has logged 55 games in the league including four playoff games with the Portland Trail Blazers.
I caught up with Gabriel after another strong showing on Friday – he posted a team-high 19 points, plus 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks in a physical comeback win over Fort Wayne – and we chatted about the Herd, his game, and his potential fit on the Milwaukee Bucks, who could definitely use a skilled, versatile big man.
The conversation has been edited for clarity.
Ti Windisch (TW): Great game out there tonight. What’s your experience been like so far playing with the Wisconsin Herd this season?
Wenyen Gabriel (WG): I love it. It’s been like a breath of fresh air to be able to play with my teammates, get minutes, [play with] unselfish players. We’re all trying to get to the next level, so we work hard, we’ve got a bunch of high character guys here. And winning in general is fun. What is it, 4-0 now? That’s always fun, I’m having a good time out here.
TW: You’re a guy who has some significant NBA experience. At that level I seem to remember [you being] more of a 3-4, down here playing a lot of 5. Is that something that you’re looking to do more, is that a team needs thing, or am I off on that?
WG: No, you’re on point. Could be something I’m trying to do, something the team’s trying to do, and also it’s the way the league is going. [There’s] a lot of smallball, so it’s part of being versatile, you work on different types of ways to get into your game — I can play all positions.
TW: Absolutely — how do you feel like that adjustment is going, and is there anything in particular you feel like you need to refine to be more of a 5?
WG: I feel like I already got the tools to play the 5. I think the experience and the gameplay down here is helping me develop a lot, and also getting guidance from my coaches and [they’re] putting me in positions to be successful. I know I’m very capable of playing the position, it’s just about continuing to grow and get better at the things that I can do. I can still shoot, can still work on my body, the calls, defensive positioning, blocks, different things that I am capable of doing.
TW: Speaking of the modern big, the Milwaukee Bucks have been without Brook Lopez for a while, could use a big man – how do you feel like you would fit with the big league team?
WG (laughing): You’re asking me, you know I always feel like I could fit up there! I feel like I’m an NBA player and I feel like I could play in a lot of NBA teams. We talk about versatility, I could play three different positions so I’d love to get called up, obviously here with the Bucks or any team in the league. But you know, I’m gonna just keep working.
TW: We were talking a little bit before about the shot by Sam Cunliffe there, what was your reaction when you saw that fall?
WG: I was super excited for us! I remember they had just hit a 3, we were down 3, clock winding down, we worked real hard to fight back into this game. To see that go through was a real breath of fresh air, it was relieving for our team. And to see him hit the free throw and just the fight we had as a team, coming back down from a lot, you know a lot of things happened today, a couple of our guys were still bothered by that, but we came out today and we fought. I’m just proud.
TW: Last one – any goals for you or for the team in mind this season?
WG: You know the goals of the team: we’re trying to win, best record, trying to win the championship, and we’re all trying to get as many call-ups as possible. I hope all of us get to the next level, and we can help each other do that.