The Step Back Q&A: Chandler Hutchison on draft process, NBA roles and the best burger in Boise
By Ian Levy
After four years at Boise State, versatile wing Chandler Hutchison is expecting to hear his name called in the first round of the NBA Draft. Hutchison was recently in New York City signing cards and memorabilia this evening on behalf of Panini America, the exclusive trading card partner of the NBA and NBPA. As soon as Chandler os drafted, Panini will be creating their first-ever NBA trading cards, which will be available within hours of the draft. You can get Chandler’s cards along with all Panini NBA trading cards online at iCollectPanini.com, hobby shops nationwide and retailers including Walmart and Target.
Hutchison took some time at the Panini event to speak with The Step Back by phone about the draft process and how he sees himself in the NBA.
The Step Back: Can you tell us a little about what the draft process has been like for you?
Chandler Hutchison: It’s been great to experience all this and go through it. At the time, after college ended it seemed so far away. Now, blink, and in two days I’m expecting to hear my name called in the NBA Draft. It’s been exciting to work out these last two months too, and just try to get better in this time from after college, to prepare for summer league and that next step. It’s just an exciting moment for me and my family.
The Step Back: What sort of things are you working on as part of your draft prep?
Hutchison: The biggest things, one is ball-handling. You know, get my handle a lot tighter and be able to be a playmaker at the next level. So I’m going to have to do an elite job handling the ball. And the other is becoming extremely confident in that NBA 3-point line. It’s been crazy the past two months, the improvements I’ve been able to make in both those areas. I think I’m going to surprise a lot of people.
The Step Back: What’s the difference for you shooting the NBA 3-pointer? Your first few years you weren’t much of an outside shooter. The last two years of school you were much improved. In terms of mechanics and motion, what have you been working on?
Hutchison: It’s just trying to quicken it up a bit. Mechanically wise, there’s never been an issue. People I talk to, they compliment my stroke and how clean it comes off my fingers. So it was just a matter of getting reps up, extending that range and getting comfortable shooting that far. And from doing that, practicing every day, and just really becoming obsessed with wanting to be an elite shooter at the next level.
The Step Back: Can you talk a little about how you envision yourself at the next level? At Boise State you were often the primary ball-handler. Next season, as a rookie, you’re probably playing more a supporting role, probably working more off the ball. How do you take what you did at Boise State and translate it to that role?
Hutchison: In a way, it’s going to be a relief not having to have the ball in my hands so much. Like, my usage rate was I think eighth in the country last season. So I’ll be able to show a lot of different parts of my game, how well I can move without the ball. I also think I’m going to be able to surprise a lot of people with what I can do defensively. Because that usage rate won’t be so high, I’ll be able to spend the majority of my energy on defense and showing that I can defend at an elite level. And then also, just being able to rebound and whatever it takes.
The Step Back: You’re often pegged as a 3-and-D prototype, but that can also be a limiting archetype to some degree. If you’re going to be more than a 3-and-D player at the next level, what else is it that you think you can offer on the wing?
Hutchison: I’d say the biggest thing is playmaking. My feel for the game is something that I think I’ve been able to show off at every level I’ve played at so far. Finding the open guy, but also being able to grab a rebound and start the offense on the break. There’s not a lot of guys who can do that. And then just being able to play multiple positions. That 3-and-D is basically saying you’re just going to be playing one position [on offense] and then guarding at the other end. But I feel like I can play up to four positions at the next level and also still be able to guard.
The Step Back: Playing at a school that’s not a premier basketball school, and not necessarily being in a starring role your first few years, when did it start to sink in that the NBA was not just a dream, but an attainable goal?
Hutchison: Once I committed to it, it became an attainable goal. It wasn’t just something that happened one day and then I was like, ‘oh, I’m going to be in the NBA.’ It was a complete mindset shift, to becoming obsessed about getting better and taking the ability I did have and maximizing my potential by working hard every day.
The Step Back: Can you talk a little bit about Boise State and the opportunities they offered you? Playing there maybe sacrifices some national attention, but gives you an opportunity to develop and showcase your skill set in a more full way than you would have at other schools?
Hutchison: Yeah, there was an opportunity that came with that. I could really take a bigger jump, quicker, than I would have at a more elite school. Just because of the ability for me to get on the court and use my physicality to show what I could do. In those bigger conferences, maybe there’s more competition from guys who play like you with the same physicality.
The Step Back: Do you see anyone in the NBA right now, that you’d like to emulate? The kind of player you’d like to model your game after?
Hutchison: I always think about that and I think it’s a really tough question because I feel like there are a lot of players, those All-Stars who maybe do one or two things at an elite level. But I feel like I can do a lot of things well. But one of the players I look up to and try to model my game after is Paul George. Being a tall wing with crazy handle, incredible shooter, playmakes, rebounds. He’s someone I definitely model my game after.
The Step Back: So you’re in New York right now, signing cards and memorabilia for Panini America, I’m wondering if you can talk about that experience a bit? Were you someone who collected cards as a kid?
Hutchison: Yeah, me and my brothers collected every card we could get our hands on. We had our little card books and were always trying to go to the store and buy more, see who we could get our hands on. It’s pretty crazy to think about that I’m going to have that opportunity, you know, my rookie card is going to be out there.
The Step Back: I’m going to lean into a personal question here. I actually lived in Boise for five years and absolutely loved it. What do you think people miss about this community?
Hutchison: Yeah, people ask me that all the time. I’m sure you get it too, “where’s Boise? where’s Idaho?” But when I took my visit, I noticed quickly how friendly the community was. It’s truly the definition of a college town. And they’re expanding like crazy, you wouldn’t believe how much over the four years I’ve been here. The before and after. The school us up 4,000 kids since I started there. It’s a pretty special place. It’s hard to convince people of that, until they go through it. But just they way they get behind everyone at their sporting events. It’s just a special place and one I really recommend people going and checking out.
The Step Back: Best burger in Boise?
Hutchison: Oh, Burger Belly. It’s a smaller owned burger shop, right on campus pretty much. I’ve been going there four years (don’t tell my strength coach) and they’ve got the meanest burger in town.