Q&A With Capital City Go-Go GM Amber Nichols Part Two: Collaboration With Tommy Sheppard And Perspective On Go-Go Prospects

Photo courtesy of NBA Photos

Note: For full transparency, this interview was conducted on January 27th, 2021.

Dakota Schmidt: As the Go-Go GM, what are your roles from both the NBA and G League  side?

Amber Nichols: From the NBA side, I’m essentially a scout for both college and professional. On the professional side, that’s on the G League level like two-way, assignment guys that we see play against our group every day or in Showcase. I’m really considered an expert when it comes to that. I also scout college, specifically the Ignite, Overtime Elite, and potential exhibit 10, two-way, and 2nd round candidates. I also have to be familiar with the entire Draft class because I’m involved in those discussions and that process. 

On the G League level, it’s mostly about development, managing people, and making sure that our assignments and two-ways are developing both on and off the court. Also making sure that that developing the other guys on our team into something that can have a shot and gravitate into being two-ways or getting called up and finding a way to stick in the league 

DS: What connection with Tommy Sheppard when it comes to signing of exhibit 10’s and two-way players?

AN: Tommy and I are in direct communication as is the rest of our scouting staff. They allow me to speak up on players that I like and he gives me the leeway to make those calls. He also asks me about who I think would be good for the Go-Go and a good starting point for an exhibit 10 and we kinda go from there. It’s been great to be integrated and be trusted to pick those guys in conjunction with our staff.

DS: What role did you have with the hiring of Mike Williams to be the Go-Go’s head coach

AN: I had a pretty big role. Tommy and I were on the same page when it came to picking Mike. Mike went down with me to the G League bubble and we had already established a friendship in passing just by being around each other day-to-day in the facility. It was just natural for him to go down there, and I was excited when they announced that he would. Honestly when we got down there, I was telling him “Use this as a stepping stone to be the Go-Go’s head coach next year if the opportunity presents itself. 

We didn’t realize it at the time but we were already starting to build our culture and values with how we wanted to run things with the Go-Go would there have been a season. When he got the job, a lot of the stuff that we needed to do was already in place which made everything very natural. 

DS: How did either you or the Wizards find Jaime Echenique and what are your impressions of how he’s been with Capital City?

AN: Our international scouting staff as well as our pro personnel staff were really good when it came to giving Jaime the chance to come in Summer League. Honestly from there, it was all Jaime with taking advantage of his opportunity and playing well in Summer League. We thought he would be a really good piece to the Go-Go to come and develop. We’ve just been really impressed with his approach and how much better he’s gotten since Summer League. 

To me, he’s such a big part of our team. Obviously we haven’t had him over the last few games and it’s been a struggle so we can definitely feel his impact. We’ve been super impressed and we’re excited to see him expand his game and see where it goes. 

DS: Speaking of expanding their games, what are your impressions of how Wizards two-way players Joel Ayayi and Cassius Winston have been on the G League side?

AN: Obviously with Cassius, he hasn’t played much this year due to injury but I will say that his last game was his best showing and was very similar to how he was playing when he was in the bubble. Hopefully he can remain healthy so we can have a larger sample size to be able to evaluate him.

I’m looking forward to seeing if he can turn into that ultimate game manager that can get organized, take care of the basketball, and get his guys shots. I’ve actually talked to Cassius and told him that Isaiah Todd’s development depends on you. You have to help him by putting him in great situations. 

It’s the same thing with Joel as those two guys need each other to be successful. Joel has just really been that Swiss army knife to the point where you look up and he has 10 points, 9 rebounds, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals. He’s just that versatile player that can play off the ball, work spot minutes as the point guard, and be locked in and guard. 

Those are the things that we’re trying to get those guys to do more consistently and also give them a hand in their own development. Because if you do that, they’ll buy in and invest more when they have a particular say in it. 

DS: What are your impressions of Jordan Goodwin & Jordan Schakel’s development and did you feel any pride when they were called up?

AN: Yes. 100%. It was probably my proudest moment so far as GM. Although our season was suspended at the time, seeing guys like Craig Sword who has been playing in the G League for years and played in the TBL (The Basketball League) last year because he didn’t have an opportunity to play in the bubble. So to see him guard Jimmy Butler and get minutes in an NBA game was really special. 

Jordan Schakel is probably our most consistent player. He just does the right thing, knows his role, is a great guy, great teammate, unselfish, and I really think he has a chance to get into the NBA because he takes things seriously. He’s just very professional, is always on time, literally always in the gym working on things that he can get better at and I really do think that he’s going to see the fruits of his labor. I always talk to teams about him because I think he’s deserving of an opportunity. 

Jordan Goodwin is a very high energy player that constantly sets the tone for us defensively. When we need an energy play when momentum is shifting between the two teams during the game, you can always count on him to get a steal, a big rebound, or take a charge. He’s embraced the role of being our emotional leader but I still think he has to know what his role will be at the next level and commit to buying into developing that while he’s here.  

DS: What went into the decision to bring in Kyree Walker as a tryout player? What are your thoughts on his current role with the team?

AN: So Kyree is an interesting story. We worked him out for pre-draft and then he came to Summer League with us but unfortunately got COVID while he was there. With the G League rules saying that if a player doesn’t suit up for a team that he’s eligible to be a local tryout player. I was able to find that type of loophole, get approved by the league, and then add him on as a tryout player. 

At first, he struggled a bit because it was a tough adjustment for him never having played professional basketball before and didn’t get much structure while in college. All of this was a new environment for him but overtime he started to understand what he needed to do to get on the floor and the approach he needed to have every day. He started to buy in and now we’re really starting to see the results of that. 

He definitely has a lot of upside. Like I really think he has a chance. He’s special as he can score the ball, really underrated passer, and defend multiple positions. Kyree has been playing the 5 for us in spot minutes now which really speaks to his versatility. Also, he has quick hands defensively, is an extremely physical driver, and has strength that is out of this world. You put all of those tools together and if he continues to grow and mature then I think he has a real chance. 

DS: What was the decision like to pick up Greg Monroe early in the season and how has he impacted the Go-Go from both on and off the court?

AN: Greg’s situation was interesting because we kind of let him come to us. His agent had put the idea in my brain and I said we’d be 100% interested in having a veteran like that. Obviously we had to speak to him to see what his intentions were and what he was looking to get out of his opportunity here. 

What impressed me about him was he just really wanted to be the vet that would come in and help these young guys develop a work ethic needed to get their chance in the league, become more professional in all areas. He’s just really kept the locker room together and excelled in all of those areas as well as getting back to himself on the court. 

He was able to get called up and played really well for Minnesota and then got another chance with the Wizards. I think if you ask him and you ask us, it was a win-win situation for the both of us. What’s been really cool about Greg is that he decided to come back to the Go-Go after those two call-ups and fulfill the promises, duties, and responsibilities that he told us that he was going to do. When you have a vet like that, it’s really special.