C.J. Miles on the Raptors' unique development program, Pascal Siakam's work ethic

On the latest episode of "Strictly Hoops with C.J. Miles," Miles discusses the Raptors players who've made the biggest leaps this season, why Toronto has such a successful development program and potentially coaching in the NBA. Listen to the full episode on the "Raptors Over Everything" podcast feed.

Video Transcript

AMIT MANN: Raptors Over Everything. That is the Twitter handle. That's also the name of our podcast. Who from the Raptors do you think made the biggest leap this year?

So, early stages but from what you've seen, who's made the biggest--

CJ MILES: Sheesh. There's a lot of guys.

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

CJ MILES: I mean-- but I think we got to go between OG and Chris Boucher, right? Like, I think those are the two-- those are the two biggest leaps, right? In your face, right?

Not that guys aren't improving, but those two guys have made the biggest, biggest leaps to me. Chris Boucher is consistently off the bench doing what he's doing. OG is defending and just offensively playing better, all the things [INAUDIBLE] above.

And this is on my mind. I got to say this. I'm sorry from the last question. Speaking about young guys getting a chance and people getting a chance, there's a guy getting a chance that needs love because the league tried to-- Bo Bo is playing some of the best basketball that anybody can play right now, and he deserves props for that through the route that he's been going through-- injuries, not injuries, not getting to play, people trying to figure out what is going on. And we're talking about the kid. What's the kid in France that we talked about?

AMIT MANN: Victor [INAUDIBLE].

CJ MILES: You talk about him, and Bo Bo sitting over here like, hey, man.

AMIT MANN: I'm here.

CJ MILES: Like, I was already here. And I'm--

AMIT MANN: Paolo said that, right? Paolo Banchero just said that.

CJ MILES: Yeah, he did say that.

AMIT MANN: We got Bo Bo right here. What are you talking about?

CJ MILES: And I know we wrapped this forward over here, but that's love, man. That's basketball, and I'm so happy for dude. Like, I don't know him.

We don't know each other. He probably won't even see this. But that's good vibes out there for you, man. I hope it stay that way for you.

AMIT MANN: I feel like we would be remiss if we didn't mention Pascal Siakam for biggest leap this year. Can you win most Improved twice in the NBA? Is that possible?

CJ MILES: I don't know. I don't know if they would even-- that's what I'm saying like with Pascal too. Like, now I expect what he's doing. Not that I didn't expect the other guys to get better, but this is what I want from him.

This is what he wants. This is what-- this is the gradual steps forward for what he's doing. And I'm, like-- I'm just proud to even know and see the work the way it went for him. I was watching a video that he put on his page the other day above, like, [INAUDIBLE] the slice up of the workout and all that.

AMIT MANN: For sure.

CJ MILES: And just being able to see-- like, knowing and seeing where he came from to what he's doing? Like, it's just, like, man, that's the dream, right? Like, that's the kid that makes it, gets his foot in the door.

It's like, all right, I'm going to open the door. I'm going to make the door a double door. Like, I'm going to make it wide. I'm going to make-- like, he's just taking it and run with it. He should be an inspiration to all these young hoopers.

AMIT MANN: Next question from Brandon-- @BrandonAdams. As a former player, can you talk about why the Raptors have been able to develop the skills of their players in the long term? What separates them from other franchises? One more question after this.

CJ MILES: Just the way they attack it. Like, they are adamant about the fundamental foundation things of that program. Like, we go at them, like, whether it be the scripting of 5 on 0 offense, the skill work, breaking down what skill we need to work on, how many 3's you need to get up, keeping track of them, doing [INAUDIBLE] we-- I say we when I was there because that's how I was, but they attack those things. And they are open opportunity. So it shows you their space to be able to utilize the things we're giving you.

That's the biggest thing. Like, everything we teach you and trying to get you to hone in and sharpen, we are going to allow you to do those things in the game. We're going to give you a chance to do them.

This is the way we play. I am not teaching you-- I'm not making you make 85 jump hooks and not feeding the ball onto the post. I'm not doing that to you. We are going to go at this, and we're going to fill you with confidence. We're going to-- repetitions on the road.

We'll find a gym and get open. We'll go early on game days, stay after shootarounds. We make sure that you are engaged. And that's the biggest thing.

AMIT MANN: Final question from Jabroni. Have you ever considered being an assistant coach in the NBA?

CJ MILES: Kind of. A little bit. I got a couple of offers last year.

AMIT MANN: Ooh!

CJ MILES: [INAUDIBLE]

AMIT MANN: Look at this.

CJ MILES: Yeah, I'm not going to put my business in the street, but I got a couple of calls about it. I'm not there yet. I wasn't there at the time when the first couple calls came.

Shout out to Shelby because me and Shelby had a-- who works for the Raptors-- had a conversation about me coming to do some stuff up there during Summer League and stuff too. But I just wasn't there. I was still playing. I was still--

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

CJ MILES: --doing what I was doing. I wasn't there yet. I hadn't even decided where I was at mentally at all.

AMIT MANN: Sure.

CJ MILES: So I wasn't ready. But I think I definitely want to share my knowledge. I definitely want to help the game. I want to be attached to it in some way. I don't know if it's--

AMIT MANN: Yeah.

CJ MILES: --having a strict NBA schedule of being an assistant coach because I kind of like being able to be in gyms and be in touch with whoever needs me.

AMIT MANN: Sure.

CJ MILES: It's hard to do that that way. But I definitely want to get into some type of coaching at some point.

AMIT MANN: It's been a couple of years. We still got Strictly Hoops to do, OK? I'm kidding.

CJ MILES: Yeah, no, no.

AMIT MANN: Take the opportunity. Take the opportunity.

CJ MILES: Well, we're doing it right now too, though. I mean, I'm getting the chance to spread that information freely to anybody and everybody who wants to tap into it. You know, like, obviously, it's different being in the gym, and I get to do that too. But this is why I enjoy this.

AMIT MANN: Yeah. No, that's true. And I think that's a fair point that, I mean, that would be obviously like a tremendous accomplishment, and it seems like you've already got the opportunity if you wanted it. But you can definitely impact more lives this way. We're talking from, like, the grassroots level and up, you're going to-- like, it's a different kind of a different kind of a role that you have right now. There's no title for it, but I guess it's just, like, the giver of NBA knowledge.

CJ MILES: But that's the thing too, right?

AMIT MANN: Basketball knowledge.

CJ MILES: When I was young, I wish I had more access to a 16 year veteran that played in the NBA, there was no way for me to get to that guy or hear anything he has to say or hear him say that there's no secret sauce to this-- that it is just working and being in the gym. Like, you always think that they got this. They got that.

They got this. They got more. They're doing this.

Like, somebody is telling them, like, no. My rim was 10 foot just like yours is 10 foot. I just shot at it way more times than a bunch of other people. Like, that's the--

AMIT MANN: Right, right, right.

CJ MILES: --the Nipsey Hussle quote. I went through every emotion. I just didn't quit. Like, I went through everything with this, and this is how I ended up on the other side.

AMIT MANN: That's a great way to end the podcast. Strictly Hoops with CJ Miles-- again, subscribe on YouTube. Subscribe to the podcast.

Subscribe everywhere. Like the videos, watch the videos. You can follow me on Twitter @amit_mann. You can find CJ @massfresco on Twitter and also--

CJ MILES: Yes, sir.

AMIT MANN: --on IG. Sir? Closing thoughts? Anything you want to say?

CJ MILES: Keep hooping, man. Keep-- if you're trying to get it, get after it. Stay in the gym. It's love, man.

AMIT MANN: There we go. Everyone, thanks for listening. We'll talk to you very soon. Bye bye.