Texas A&M Basketball
Exclusive Q&A with brothers Kourtney Roberson & Bernard King
December 27, 2010
2,765
Bernard King is Texas A&M's all-time leading scorer. He's one of the most prolific players in school history. Kourtney Roberson -- "The King" as I have nicknamed him -- is Bernard King's half brother and has shown tons of promise right out of the gates as a true freshman. Bernard recently came back to Aggieland to watch his brother and his old team in action against Wagner, taking a Christmas break from his pro ball schedule in France. I caught up with King and Roberson following the game for an exclusive two-on-one interview!
Gabe Bock: Bernard, what thoughts go through your head when you see your brother playing for the same team that you played for several years ago?
Bernard King: “It’s a good feeling to see him out there playing and competing. I hope he gets the chance to do a little bit better and have a little more fun than I did. I’m very excited for him, and I hope he keeps working hard and realizes that the sky is the limit for him.”
GB: Kourtney has joked about it but he’s made it clear he wants to get your scoring record.
King: “Won’t get it. Won’t get it (laughing).”
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Kourtney Roberson is a totally different player than his brother, Bernard King, but equal in skill and raw talent.
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GB: What do you have to say about that, Kourtney?
Kourtney Roberson: “I can get it.”
GB: What do you have to do to get it?
Roberson: “I just have to keep scoring. I can get it ... it’s going to be easy.”
GB: Bernard, the difference is that they needed you to score points and Kourtney is going to be around a bunch of great players that share the basketball. So it’s going to be tough for him.
King: “It’s going to be tough. I got to dominate the ball a little bit more. He plays inside and I played guard. If he puts his mind to it and stays in the gym and puts in hard work, anything is possible. But he won’t get it (laughing).”
GB: How amazing is it to think back over the last few years and realize what Billy Gillispie started here and Mark Turgeon continued?
King: “It’s been amazing to see the where it’s at, from the first year that I was here. It’s like night and day. This program is totally turned around. There are NCAA banners in here now, and it’s a good feeling. [As you told me before the interview], I feel like I had a something to do with this. I helped bring the guys like Antoine Wright, Joe Jones, A.C. Law and those guys here. I’m very happy for the program and I just hope they keep on doing the right things.”
GB: When you left A&M, did you think they could win at the level that they have recently?
King: “Oh yeah, I always thought they could. I thought we could win. I think a couple of changes that they made was all it took.”
GB: What was it like playing in a game with your brother in attendance?
Roberson: “It makes me nervous. I know he’s going to talk to me all the way home and tell me what I did wrong.”
GB: Bernard, give me your scouting report on Kourtney. What does he do well and what does he need to work on?
King: “I think he can still work on everything. I think he needs to be more defensive minded and a little more aggressive offensively. I think he’s a little bit tentative right now. As long as he stays in the gym, works hard and listens to his coaches, it’ll come around.”
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Roberson can learn a lot from King's journey, as he attempts to have a long career in basketball.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Caption":"Roberson can learn a lot from King\u0027s journey, as he attempts to have a long career in basketball.","MediaItemID":3449}
GB: Do you have any funny stories about your little brother?
King: “Not really. I’m going to keep it positive (laughing). I’m not even going to do him like that. I just want him to keep working hard and for this team to be successful.”
GB: Talk about what you’re doing now in your basketball career.
King: “This year was one of the most successful seasons I’ve had overseas. Joe Jones and I are on the same team in France. I made the All-Star team, and Joe did too. Right now I’m in my comfort zone. I feel like I’m in my prime, and I’m playing some of my best basketball right now. I’m just staying focused and working hard every day.”
GB: How tough of a journey is it going back and forth from overseas to the states and back again and just trying to make it in basketball?
King: “It’s tough, but when it’s something you’ve done all of your life, it’s worth it. It feeds the family and it’s something that I love to do. I can’t complain.”
GB: Have you learned anything from Bernard’s journey?
Roberson: “A little bit. I’ll keep learning though.”
GB: Is the ultimate goal still getting to the NBA?
King: “That’s always the goal. Right now, I just go out and do what I’m capable of doing. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. I’ve always felt this way. It’s all about an opportunity, I think. I think after this year, I’ll get a chance to really prove myself.”
GB: What do you hope your legacy will be? What do you want fans to remember about you and your time here at A&M?
King: “I just want them to remember me as a guy who left it all on the floor every night. I just wanted to win. Regardless of what happened while I was here, this is how I envisioned it being ... just like it is today.”
GB: What do you think of my nickname for him ... Kourtney “The King” Roberson?
King: “It’s okay. He’s going to have to back that name up. That’s pretty tough.”
GB: Do you like it, and are you going to back it up?
Roberson: “Yeah, I like it, and I have to [back it up].”
Gabe Bock: Bernard, what thoughts go through your head when you see your brother playing for the same team that you played for several years ago?
Bernard King: “It’s a good feeling to see him out there playing and competing. I hope he gets the chance to do a little bit better and have a little more fun than I did. I’m very excited for him, and I hope he keeps working hard and realizes that the sky is the limit for him.”
GB: Kourtney has joked about it but he’s made it clear he wants to get your scoring record.
King: “Won’t get it. Won’t get it (laughing).”
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Kourtney Roberson is a totally different player than his brother, Bernard King, but equal in skill and raw talent.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Caption":"Kourtney Roberson is a totally different player than his brother, Bernard King, but equal in skill and raw talent.","MediaItemID":3435}
Kourtney Roberson: “I can get it.”
GB: What do you have to do to get it?
Roberson: “I just have to keep scoring. I can get it ... it’s going to be easy.”
GB: Bernard, the difference is that they needed you to score points and Kourtney is going to be around a bunch of great players that share the basketball. So it’s going to be tough for him.
King: “It’s going to be tough. I got to dominate the ball a little bit more. He plays inside and I played guard. If he puts his mind to it and stays in the gym and puts in hard work, anything is possible. But he won’t get it (laughing).”
GB: How amazing is it to think back over the last few years and realize what Billy Gillispie started here and Mark Turgeon continued?
King: “It’s been amazing to see the where it’s at, from the first year that I was here. It’s like night and day. This program is totally turned around. There are NCAA banners in here now, and it’s a good feeling. [As you told me before the interview], I feel like I had a something to do with this. I helped bring the guys like Antoine Wright, Joe Jones, A.C. Law and those guys here. I’m very happy for the program and I just hope they keep on doing the right things.”
GB: When you left A&M, did you think they could win at the level that they have recently?
King: “Oh yeah, I always thought they could. I thought we could win. I think a couple of changes that they made was all it took.”
GB: What was it like playing in a game with your brother in attendance?
Roberson: “It makes me nervous. I know he’s going to talk to me all the way home and tell me what I did wrong.”
GB: Bernard, give me your scouting report on Kourtney. What does he do well and what does he need to work on?
King: “I think he can still work on everything. I think he needs to be more defensive minded and a little more aggressive offensively. I think he’s a little bit tentative right now. As long as he stays in the gym, works hard and listens to his coaches, it’ll come around.”
Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Roberson can learn a lot from King's journey, as he attempts to have a long career in basketball.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Caption":"Roberson can learn a lot from King\u0027s journey, as he attempts to have a long career in basketball.","MediaItemID":3449}
King: “Not really. I’m going to keep it positive (laughing). I’m not even going to do him like that. I just want him to keep working hard and for this team to be successful.”
GB: Talk about what you’re doing now in your basketball career.
King: “This year was one of the most successful seasons I’ve had overseas. Joe Jones and I are on the same team in France. I made the All-Star team, and Joe did too. Right now I’m in my comfort zone. I feel like I’m in my prime, and I’m playing some of my best basketball right now. I’m just staying focused and working hard every day.”
GB: How tough of a journey is it going back and forth from overseas to the states and back again and just trying to make it in basketball?
King: “It’s tough, but when it’s something you’ve done all of your life, it’s worth it. It feeds the family and it’s something that I love to do. I can’t complain.”
GB: Have you learned anything from Bernard’s journey?
Roberson: “A little bit. I’ll keep learning though.”
GB: Is the ultimate goal still getting to the NBA?
King: “That’s always the goal. Right now, I just go out and do what I’m capable of doing. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. I’ve always felt this way. It’s all about an opportunity, I think. I think after this year, I’ll get a chance to really prove myself.”
GB: What do you hope your legacy will be? What do you want fans to remember about you and your time here at A&M?
King: “I just want them to remember me as a guy who left it all on the floor every night. I just wanted to win. Regardless of what happened while I was here, this is how I envisioned it being ... just like it is today.”
GB: What do you think of my nickname for him ... Kourtney “The King” Roberson?
King: “It’s okay. He’s going to have to back that name up. That’s pretty tough.”
GB: Do you like it, and are you going to back it up?
Roberson: “Yeah, I like it, and I have to [back it up].”
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