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Auburn’s Isaac Okoro being drafted fifth overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night was a story for about two minutes up until Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl joined ESPN’s broadcast for an interview from what looked like the darkest, most random spot imaginable. He could’ve said he was in the Grand Canyon and people would’ve believed him.
It turns out that the random spot Pearl decided to talk about his former player being drafted was in the parking lot of a grocery store outside of LaGrange, Georgia. Of all places to do a hit for ESPN at, a random grocery store in the middle of nowhere is about as unique as it gets.
To cap it all off, Pearl referred to himself in the third person explaining ‘BP’ doesn’t get a green room.
Breaking news: Bruce Pearl tells CBS Sports he did his ESPN hit on Isaac Okoro in a parking lot of an Ingles grocery store outside LaGrange, Georgia, near the border of Alabama.
"No green room for BP," Pearl said.
Again, please credit CBS Sports. pic.twitter.com/m0rxGGk8kh
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 19, 2020
I guess when you’ve made Auburn relative in the college basketball world, you can do interviews on national television from wherever you want. Honestly, it’s kind of a power move. You wouldn’t see Coach K pull this kind of stunt.
This is the second straight NBA Draft that Auburn has had a player taken in the first round, with the Orlando Magic picking Chuma Okeke at No. 16 last year.
Pearl is 125-76 overall at Auburn and led the Tigers to the Final Four during the 2018-19 season.
Twitter had some jokes about Pearl’s interview spot:
“Reporting from Syria, I’m Bruce Pearl.” pic.twitter.com/5dOplCUFdo
— Phillip Dean (@PhillipDean_) November 19, 2020
Bruce pearl live from the roof of the bank he’s casing
— jason concepcion (@netw3rk) November 19, 2020
Bruce Pearl tuning in from a strip club parking lot pic.twitter.com/ZCVQxazjgU
— Foots (@Blizzy706) November 19, 2020