Daum talks lockdown, rookie season

By Andrew Sogn

It's 10 a.m. in Brookings when a familiar face pops up on FaceTime; a common occurrence this month as the nation deals with the COVID-19 outbreak.

"What's up, big man!" former Jackrabbit Mike Daum screams.

Daum, like so many others, has been social distancing over the past two weeks, and is thrilled for some human interaction. Unlike many Jackrabbit fans, however, Daum is sitting in his apartment in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, while the country works through the worst of the Coronavirus spread.

"The government put us in a two-week lockdown and closed all the restaurants, and just announced another two-week quarantine for the nation," Daum said while flipping a basketball up in the air.

The first-year professional's rookie campaign came to a screeching halt in early March, and now midway through a monthlong quarantine, he has only left the apartment for a quick run to the supermarket.

"Gyms are closed; everything's closed," Daum said. "I haven't touched a court or taken a shot in two weeks."

Video-calling friends and family, facing former and current teammates in online video games and running his apartment stairs 10 times per day to maintain some semblance of cardio have become Daum's current normal. The latest habits, however, are just the latest "firsts" that have become part of Daum's life since the Jackrabbits' 2018-19 season came to close.

The Kimball, Nebraska product left campus and spent spring 2019 in Phoenix to prepare for the NBA Draft. While finishing his courses online and training, though, he discovered a stress fracture that sidelined him for nearly three months.

"I wasn't able to take part in any draft interviews or NBA workouts, but thankfully I had a good agency that allowed me to still get some looks," Daum said.

Though his original plan was diverted slightly, an NBA Summer League invite arrived from the Portland Trail Blazers, and Daum jumped on it.

"Working with the Trail Blazers was a phenomenal experience. I was able to see first-hand what it's like to be in an NBA organization and it gave me a great chance to transition back into practices and games while playing against high-level prospects."

The week before Summer League games sent Daum to Portland for practice, then Las Vegas for Summer League contests.

"The highlight of that experience was getting feedback from higher-ups in the NBA – executives and coaches – and just figuring out what I needed to work on."

The week of games set Daum up with opportunities to play abroad, and a prior connection made Obradoiro CAB of the Liga ACB in Spain an easy choice.

"Matt Thomas, who's currently with the (Toronto) Raptors, is a friend and he played there a few years back, and he told me about how well the team takes care of its players and talked about the quality of basketball here."

Thomas' positive review helped Daum feel comfortable with the decision, and last August saw the 6-9 big man ship off for Spain.

Aside from a whirlwind opening 24 hours of jet lag, team physicals and immediate culture shock, Daum has nothing but positive memories during his first six months of professional basketball.

"I remember lying in bed that first night and thinking, 'dang, this is really it.'"

The next months were filled with practice, games and sight-seeing, as Daum hired a tutor to study Spanish, and in his free time borrowed a car to travel the country.

"I've really come to appreciate where I'm at," Daum said. "I have really amazing teammates who have become friends, and I think that's special in a professional organization. Beyond that, I've found I really enjoy just getting out to see the country and drive to the coast or visit an old watch tower and just hang out and be grateful for where I'm at."

While being a tourist has provided Daum respite from the day-to-day grind, the on-court happenings have been the true highlight, as he's worked his way from the bench mob, to a reserve player, to starter midway through the season. Daum likens the transition to his redshirt freshman season at SDSU.

"The league is filled with NBA-quality guys, so it's been a great opportunity for me play against them. It's funny, I really started out getting a few minutes and trying to prove myself, and then when things went well, I was able to get on the court a bit more."

The small bits of success led to more minutes and chances to prove himself, and Daum, who is averaging nine points per game with a 22-of-49 mark beyond the arc, soon worked his way "up the totem pole and proved the hard work was worth it."

The promising rise came to a screeching halt in March. A Tuesday morning team meeting brought the news the Obradoiro CAB's season would be suspended, and soon after, Coronavirus cases spiked across the European country.

Conversations about health and safety took priority, and though a discussion was had about Daum returning to the United States, he elected to remain in Spain with hopes of getting back on the court.

"It's been insane," Daum said. "We are hoping to restart the season in late April, but for now my life is just hanging at home in lockdown and venturing out every now and then to get groceries."

For the extroverted Jackrabbit whose electric smile filled Frost for so many seasons, it's been an adjustment.

Morning calls with his parents, Michele and Mitch, group texts with Reed Tellinghuisen and Skyler Flatten, or a Fortnite game with Ian Theisen fill the day's schedule.

"I try to talk to people all day," Daum said. "I'm really thankful that technology exists."

Daum mentions as well that he followed South Dakota State throughout the 2019-20 season, touching base with Eric Henderson, Rob Klinkefus, and "Mims, Owen and Fiegs" frequently while cheering the Jackrabbits on from across the ocean.

"We talk every day," Daum shares about his former teammates and coaches. "I get a kick out of those guys and hearing how they're doing."

Still, the apartment can get a bit lonely during lockdown, and with plenty of time to sit and think, the question of what's next is a natural one. The easy-going nature that Daum carried throughout his time as a Jackrabbit, though, still shines through.

"I have no plans right now," he says with a laugh. "I know I'll head back to the States and work out this summer in Phoenix, but who knows what will happen from there. I'm just excited to have the opportunity to do what I love: play basketball."

-GoJacks.com-

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