50 M | February 2018 MeetMalcolm

The NBA’s Rookie of the Year talks family, philanthropy and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. BY JEN KENT | PHOTOS BY DAVID SZYMANSKI

t’s the morning of our interview and photo Brogdon says he chose to attend UVA shoot, and because of the balance the school provided. Malcolm Brogdon asks if he can push back “My goal was to always play in the NBA, I the scheduled start time a few hours. His but I knew I needed a great education,” he mother is in town, visiting from his home- continues. “(UVA) has a great reputation for town of Atlanta, and he’d like to spend more excellence in the classroom and on the court. time with her before her flight departs later ... I thought (going there) would give me a that day. I readily oblige, making a mental great balance. It would give me the expo- note to include the exchange in this story. It sure of playing in the ACC (Atlantic Coast personifies who Brogdon is — the consum- Conference) and possibly playing in the NBA, mate gentleman, both on and off the court, and if I was good enough. But also, if that failed, someone who puts his family first. I’d always have my education to fall back on.” Born to two highly educated parents (his Given Brogdon’s scholastic background mother is a provost, and his father is a lawyer), and interest in public policy (his teammates Brogdon is the youngest of three children. have even nicknamed him “The President”), He graduated from the it’s no surprise that he is an active participant in (UVA) with a bachelor’s degree in history and the Milwaukee Bucks Foundation, the team’s a master’s degree in leadership and public first-ever charitable nonprofit. Established in policy before joining the National 2016, the foundation is dedicated to improving Association (NBA) and the Milwaukee Bucks outcomes for underserved populations state- organization two years ago. His two older wide through youth education, health and well- brothers, Brogdon adds, have law degrees. ness and community betterment. “I think it’s “The thing that really drove us was such high important for guys like me — whether you’re expectations in our family,” he explains. an NBA player or someone that’s in the light “Almost everybody on my mom’s side has a or someone that’s ‘on stage,’ so to speak, with graduate degree; my grandparents both have their work — to be able to relay positive mes- graduate degrees. … It didn’t matter if I was a sages,” Brogdon says. “ … It’s important to professional basketball player, or whatever I step out and really try to help others with the was doing. I was expected to go ahead and get attention you receive, (and) to really try to give a graduate degree as well.” others that same attention.”

February 2018 | M 51 Malcolm brogdon’s Favorite Things Favorite Milwaukee restaurants? Thai-namite, Harry’s on Brady, Elsa’s on the Park Favorite movie? “Ali,” starring Will Smith. “Muhammad Ali is my favorite athlete, and my favorite role model of all time,” Brogdon adds. Favorite actor? Leonardo DiCaprio No matter what your situation “ Favorite offseason activities? Spending time with is, it’s important to be able to family members, training and traveling. “I love to go abroad and see whatever I can,” Brogdon says. “I think give back and to understand one of the best things in life is to be able to experience other people’s cultures. To be able to go overseas and other people’s struggles — and to have different experiences — not sort of stay in your shell or stay in your comfort zone. To be able to be to be able to empathize. uncomfortable. To walk around in a city that doesn’t ” speak English. … I think it’s fascinating.”

Philanthropic involvement and academic achievements aside, Brogdon is earning respect on the court too. He was named the 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year, becoming the first second-round pick in the NBA draft lot- tery era to earn the title and one of just two Milwaukee Bucks players in history to win the prestigious award. (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar nabbed the award in 1970.) This season, he is vehemently dedicated to helping the team advance further than the first round of play- offs. “We have a young but very talented team,” says Brogdon. “We have a great coach, (and) we have a great front office. It’s impor- tant for us to take strides this year. Making it to the first round of the playoffs isn’t accept- able for us. We want to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Whatever I can do (and) whatever my role has to be to get us there, that’s what I’m going to do.” And in an ever-volatile industry like the NBA, how does a young yet accomplished player like Brogdon maintain his confidence on — and off — the court? “I had a coach in college, Coach (Ritchie) McKay, who always told me, ‘Don’t let basketball be your God.’ For me, that means that regardless of how you’re playing on the court (and) regardless One of his favorite local nonprofits to basketball. “It’s about teaching (these kids) of how basketball is going, it’s a game, and it work with, Brogdon says, is Running Rebels about how to manage life,” Brogdon stresses. can’t control your life. It can’t be your God,” Community Organization (RRCO), an agen- “These are kids that I don’t think had a lot of Brogdon says. “... Basketball is going to cy committed to helping Milwaukee’s cen- the same opportunities I had. I’ve been very come and go. The ball is going to stop bounc- tral-city youth reach their highest potential. blessed, and things have worked out really ing at some point. You’re going to have ups He most recently participated in an RRCO well for me. But it doesn’t happen like that and downs through your career, but that can’t event aimed at bridging the gap between the for everybody. determine what kind of person you are and police and young African Americans. “We “No matter what your situation is, it’s whether or not you’re a light to people every were matched up with a kid, and we expressed important to be able to give back and to under- day when you see them. what we did (professionally),” he explains. stand other people’s struggles — and to be “It’s tough,” he adds. “It’s a battle every “We started very basic, and then we went on able to empathize,” he continues. “I think day, because there are going to be bad games. to talk about some of the issues surrounding that’s the biggest (issue) for a lot of people. You have to be able to not be selfish. I’ve had their lives, some of the issues we faced grow- They’re not able to empathize, (and) they’re days when I don’t have good games, and that ing up, and how they can better manage their not able to put themselves in other people’s will affect my mood. People can see that, and I environments or their situations.” shoes. That’s the key, I think. That’s what don’t want to bring people down. So it’s about Contrary to popular belief, very few allows these kids to open up to you and be able being positive and understanding that basket- of these workshops involve the game of to connect to you.” ball is not everything.” M 52 M | February 2018