Wisconsin's Star Player Frank Kaminsky, No Check Mate

USA Today Article

Frank Kaminsky, who is having a helluva season leading the Wisconsin Badgers, was a guest on SVP & Russillo last week. After they asked how he can possibly lead the life of a normal college student when he’s essentially a celebrity on campus, they wanted him to tell a funny story about being a conspicuous 7-footer in Madison. He deadpanned (full audio below): My friend and teammate Duje Dukan and me were living in the same building last year. I kind of like making up things when the random person comes up to you and asks, “Do you play basketball?” Sometimes I’ll go like, “No, I’m on the chess team. I’m just an oversized chess player.” Some kid overheard me saying that to someone and he goes, “Really? You’re on the chess team?” And I was like, “Uhhh … yeah … Pawn to E7″ … because that’s what I remember from Harry Potter. And he goes, “No that’s not possible, because I’m on the chess team.” He just completely debunked my story in front of all these people. … It was one of those things where I just put my head down because I was caught in a lie. Kaminsky was probably able to get away with that lie in many circles in Madison until the stretch run of last year when he emerged, improbably, as a stud on a Final Four team full of “white guys.” This season he’s a possible Wooden Award winner and NBA lottery pick. Expectations remain high for the Badgers, who find themselves in a position where anything less than another Final Four berth in the NCAA tournament will be considered by many to be a disappointment.