Exclusive: Aron Baynes on signing with Celtics, Kyrie, Bogut & his unique path to NBA

It's hard to find a path to the NBA as unique as that of new Celtics center Aron Baynes. The 30-year-old Australian didn't start playing basketball until he was 16-years-old, yet he wound up with a full scholarship to Washington State just a few years later. After excelling overseas for several seasons after turning pro, the Spurs brought him aboard midseason at age 26 on a three-year contract, where he immediately turned into a contributing role player.

Baynes scored a bigger deal in free agency in the summer of 2015 with the Detroit Pistons (three years, $20 million) but opted out of that contract a year early last summer. After being courted by several teams, Baynes ultimately landed in Boston this summer on a one-year $4.3 million dollar deal.

Ahead of training camp, BostonSportsJournal.com caught up with Baynes in an exclusive interview in which the 6-foot-10 big man opened up about his journey to the NBA, what led him to choose Boston, whether he thinks he will start, what the Celtics practice facility was like on the day of the Kyrie Irving trade and his thoughts on playing with him, the prospect of countryman Andrew Bogut joining him in Boston, and an inside look at Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

BSJ: So the word on the street is that you started playing basketball at age 16? What took so long and what inspired you to get started with it then?

Baynes: I played rugby before that. I played rugby because my older brother played rugby, so pretty much whatever he did, I wanted to do. One day, he started playing basketball, so I did what little brothers do and followed him. I started playing basketball as well.

BSJ: Is basketball a major sport in Australia these days for kids? Was it not when you were just starting out with it?

Baynes: It's not a top-tier spot, that's for sure. It's one of those things with the exposure that we're getting with the number of guys we are having in the NBA now, it's a good thing for us. The national competition is getting stronger as well. It's a great competition down there, but unfortunately, there is not as much money down there. The better players tend to leave Australia and play overseas. Over the past couple of years, they've been able to retain some better Aussies to stay in Australia, which has been good for Australian basketball. There have been a number of guys in the NBA over the last few drafts as well, that's always good for us, increasing the amount of publicity Australian basketball gets.

BSJ: Yeah, you guys had quite the team during the 2016 Olympics and that was without two of your best players in Dante Exum and Ben Simmons, right?

Baynes: Dante was unfortunately injured and Ben was going through the draft process. We didn't have those two guys. They are going to be two huge pieces of the (national) team moving forward, unfortunately.

BSJ: I just re-watched when you guys got hosed in the closing seconds of the bronze medal game against Spain on a last second foul call. How much does that still sting?

Baynes: It's definitely a driving force. We all feel like we didn't achieve what we should have. Every guy down to a T wants to go back and compete at the World Championships and then at Tokyo as well. We still haven't changed our goal of wanting a gold medal.

BSJ: Back to your journey...you start playing basketball at age 16 and then headed to the Australian Institute of Sport for a couple years?  

Baynes: I was actually there for nine months before going to college.

BSJ: Did you have a lot of interest from colleges right away from there?

Baynes: At that point in time, the Australian School of Sport, Andrew Bogut had been through there and he was the No. 1 pick out of college, so there was a lot of college teams going down to the Institute to try to find the next Bogut. Unfortunately, they didn't find that, (laughs) but they found a few of us, and we definitely got some good interest from schools from having gone through the Institute before this.

BSJ: Are you friendly with Bogut?

Baynes: Unfortunately, over our careers, we haven't been playing together for the national team too often. Last year was the first time we played together. We both had a lot of fun playing together. Hopefully, that's something we can continue over the next few years. He's such a great player, but hopefully, he stays healthy. If he stays healthy, he'll be able to be a great part of the team. He's great for us. Previously, his injuries would keep him off the national team.

BSJ: There are reports Bogut is considering playing for the Celtics next season. What are your thoughts on potentially teaming up with him here?

Baynes: It would definitely be good. He's a talented basketball player. Whatever makes the team better, I think he definitely could. It would be fun. It's always good to have another Aussie around. We have a few of them now. One of the sports scientists guys with the Celtics is already an Aussie. It's always good to hear a familiar voice, an accent at that. Bogut is a good guy and he definitely gets it. He's a true professional. Couldn't say enough about him.

BSJ: Your journey to the NBA was unique in the sense that not only were you a 26-year-old rookie, but the Spurs brought you aboard midseason after you played several years overseas.

Baynes: My European team didn't make it through the second round of EuroLeague but I had done enough to garner some interest from some NBA teams. I was in discussions with a few and then the San Antonio Spurs got involved and they are a premier team and a professional organization. It didn't take too long for me to jump at that and grab it with both hands and try to make the most of my opportunity there. I came into a great team, so I knew it was just going to be a learning process over the first year there. I knew I wouldn't have that much of a big role, but I was trying to learn as much as I could.

There was definitely some pinch-yourself-moments. Tim Duncan was one of the first guys I grew up watching and one of my college coaches told me to emulate him as much as I could and I might be able to make a go of basketball. I was sitting in my locker one day as a rookie and Tim Duncan just comes by and sits across from me. It kind of made my journey to the NBA that much more appreciative for myself, just knowing what I'd been through. I never thought I'd get that opportunity to go and play in the NBA, let alone play with one of the guys I looked up to.

At the same time, I was going to a team with a teammate that I played with for several years in Patty Mills and had a coach I played a few years for in Brett Brown. I was in a real good situation there and I was just trying to take in as much as I could. I couldn't have asked for a better situation going to San Antonio at that point.

BSJ: Brett Brown coached you in Australia, right?

Baynes: Yeah. He was a national team head coach, so he started me off with the national team. When he got the job, he asked me to go to training camp and the rest is history.

BSJ: Those Spurs teams you played on went through the highest of highs and lowest of lows in back-to-back Finals against the Heat. Can you describe the emotions of playing for those Spurs teams and the experience of playing for Gregg Popovich? It seems like he created a unique culture for you guys there.

Baynes: It was pretty amazing. Basketball was not the most important thing in life for Pop and he tries to spread that message. He definitely does it the right way. He wants everyone to be happy in who they are and enjoy their time as well. It's not going to be a long time that we're able to play basketball for, so try to enjoy as much as you can, but do it the right way.

The culture there was work first, then you can enjoy yourself. You say win or lose, but we were lucky that most of the time we were coming out on top. It was a lot more fun to go out after a win than a loss, but no matter what, you'd try to enjoy yourself and enjoy the guys you are around. We had a great bunch of blokes the whole time I was there in San Antonio and I really appreciated that. I think some of Pop's wine drinking kind of rubbed off on me because I prefer to indulge in a few red wines over anything else now. I can at least fool myself that the first glass is healthy at least.

BSJ: You just need to keep reading those studies that tell you 2-3 glasses of wine is important for your health.

Baynes: Exactly.

BSJ: Any classic Pop stories that sort of embody him? I'm sure there are too many to list.

Baynes: I just really appreciate Pop and who he is. He kind of comes across differently in the media than what he is. He's very (personable) off the court and even on the court. He chats with everyone. He respects everyone for who they are and he's all about trying to be all inclusive as well.

BSJ: Talk to me about your decision to opt out in Detroit (of a $6.3 million player option) in the final year of your deal. What led to that decision for you? Was it an opportunity or was it trying to score a bigger deal after seeing what had happened with the free agent market in past years?

Baynes: First and foremost, (it was a) basketball situation. You have to be happy playing where you're playing. For me, being in the NBA, everyone always wants a bigger role. That's something I definitely want. I want to be able to have a bigger role wherever I'm at. That was one of the main driving forces of me coming here. I can envision myself having a bigger role here and being more important to this team than I was to Detroit as well. Hopefully, I can do that and embrace this situation here.

There is also the aspect of the market. The market isn't what a lot of guys thought it was this year. It's a little bit different how some things worked out. The top guys really made out well and there weren't so many mid-level deals this summer, compared to previous years. I'm still comfortable and excited to be in this situation right now. I'm hoping it's the right situation and I definitely feel in the first month that I've been here that I'm in the right situation for myself in my family.

BSJ: You mentioned the market there. The salary cap estimate going down so late in the process must have come as a surprise to a lot of players. Teams didn't have as much cap room as they thought and you had to make your decision long to opt out of your deal with Detroit long before that information came out.

Baynes: Yeah, but we're pretty well compensated regardless. It's not a be-all, end-all by any means. The situation is definitely a bigger thing and plays a bigger part for myself right now.

BSJ: You've been here in Boston for a few weeks now working out. Have you been playing pick up or working out with the coaches?

Baynes: I've definitely been involved most days. I'm in the weight room a fair bit, doing cardio and trying to stay fit right now. More impact stuff. I'm on the court probably four days a week, but I don't do too much while I'm on the court. We're just starting to play pickup, but we're getting more guys in town. By the end of this week, we should have most of the guys here. It's going to be fun and we'll start getting up and down a bit more, cranking it up slowly so by the time September 26th comes around, most guys will be in pretty good shape. Then Brad will take over and start getting us all playing within his system.

BSJ: Have you talked to Brad and the staff much so far? I'm sure they talked to you about your potential role during free agency. Did they talk to you about a starting role yet or will that come up down the line?

Baynes: I don't think Brad is going to be telling guys that. It's going to come down to training camp, how different groups of guys play together. There is going to be a whole lot of different things. He hasn't really talked about (starting roles). We talk every day though. I'm just trying to get accustomed to the defense and offense. He's helping me along with that and the same goes for the video guys. They are cutting up a bunch of film for all the new guys that are here, which is most of the team. (laughs) We'll learn offense and defense in Brad's system as a group right now. We'll try to get a grasp on it very quickly and then try to get into the nuances. For now, we're just trying to get together and learn each other's game on the court and hang out off the floor as well to get that comfort.

BSJ: You mentioned the high number of new faces there, with at least 10 new players on the roster for this season. There's even been a lot of change since you've been here with the Kyrie Irving deal. What was that like for you to watch from afar?

Baynes: Both are great players. To me, I don't really pay too much attention to the front office guys. They were running around while I was getting some cardio in (at the practice facility). I knew that Danny is always trying to make improvements and one of the things is trying to do whatever he thinks is best. Danny and Brad will make it work. Hopefully, I can just find my role where I can help those guys that they are bringing in be better and that will also make me better.

It would have been fun playing with Isaiah, but I'm really looking forward to playing with Kyrie as well. They both do some things really well and I definitely know Brad is going to get the best out of Kyrie. It will be fun trying to help him do that.

BSJ: You matched up with Kyrie a couple years ago in the first round as a Pistons. There is a lot of talk about him taking it to a new level in the postseason. How would you assess that in how he plays?

Baynes: I've definitely seen him come to some of the bigger games in the playoffs, even when we played him in San Antonio a few times, he really went hard and had some big games against us. I think he scored 55 against us in San Antonio one year. I've definitely seen what he can do and hopefully, he brings that. I have no doubt that he will. I'm excited to be playing with him and try to set those screens for him to try to get him in a better position.

BSJ: You talked about your screening there. You are known for your toughness, rebounding and having a nice touch around the basket. What should Boston fans know about your game and what are you are working on adding to it this summer?

Baynes: I think you always have to work on everything, but you can't go away from what's gotten you to this point. I know what's gotten me to this point. Defensively is where I try to anchor myself, but I just try to help the team in whatever way I can on the offensive end. No matter if that's me setting screens or whatever the team is asking me to do, that's what I'm going to try to do. Hopefully, I can come here and be what they need on the rebounding side of things. I'm just looking forward to getting in and getting the work.

BSJ: Going back to your free agent decision in the summer, I'm sure there were a lot of suitors for your services. Was it an easy decision for Boston or a tough choice?

Baynes: I'm really looking forward to playing at a high level and playing for something more so than last year. We had great talent last year but we just weren't able to put it together in Detroit. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that this year in Boston. Like you mentioned earlier, I was fortunate I came into the NBA with the Spurs and we went to the Finals for two-straight years, so I know what it takes to get there. Hopefully, I can bring some of what's needed for the team to make it back (to the Finals).