Q&A: Kyle Fogg on playing in China, Marbury ‘the king’ and NBA hopes

Kyle Fogg spent four years at Arizona but went undrafted in 2012. The native of Brea, California, spent a season in the G-League before signing his first contract overseas in December of 2013 with the Finnish club Lapuan Koribobrat. From there, Fogg built a very successful career moving through Belgium, Germany, Spain and, since 2017, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), first with Guangzhou and now with the Beijing Royal Fighters, who are coached by Stephon Marbury.

His experience this season has, like a lot of Americans playing in foreign leagues, been quite an odyssey. He was in China when the coronavirus began spreading rapidly, prompting many to leave and (very soon after) forcing the postponement of the CBA season. And when the league announced they planned to restart, Fogg had to quickly get back on a plane to Beijing or risk losing not only money on current contracts but also a potential lifetime ban.

Fogg talked to The Athletic late last month as he was wrapping up a mandated 14-day quarantine after returning to Beijing. He described what life was like on the way out, on the way back in, what it’s like to play for a living god in China (Marbury) and more.

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

When did you start to understand the outbreak was coming to China?

Around the 20th or 21st of January, we had one more game left before the Chinese New Year. They told us, “If you win the game, you get to go home for the holiday (as a reward).” So I decided to go home if we win. And the day before, our trainer was like, “Hey, the flu is going around here. Here’s a mask, wear it when you go outside.” So we won the game, and my flight to Los Angeles was already set up.

We get to the airport, and this was the first time I’ve ever seen every single person in the airport have a mask on. Usually, it’ll be four people or five people. But every person had a mask on. We looked at each other, like, “Whoah.” We pulled the masks out of our bags, put them on. When I got to my gate, they were like, “I’m glad you got on this flight. We’re absolutely at full capacity right now. Everybody is leaving.” It was hectic, shoulder to shoulder.

I wasn’t thinking when I landed (in L.A.) it was anything serious. I was just telling people at home, they had a flu outbreak there. Maybe 36 hours later — I was supposed to go back in four days — my team hit me and said, “Don’t come back. The league is getting delayed. This virus is serious.” Then maybe early February, you see the numbers starting to climb. And then they extend the (stoppage). Don’t come back. We don’t even have a date.

I didn’t think it was going to hit (America) too bad until I started seeing cases hitting South Korea and Japan. Once it got farther to Europe and (numbers) started to rise here, I started looking into the difference between how they’re handling things (in other countries) and how (America is) handling things. You could see South Korea’s lockdown. They took their hits, but they were on it quickly. China, it started here so it’s going to hit here worse, but they locked stuff down so fast. The other Western countries were a little more free about it, and it’s just crushing people, which is horrible.

It was just day-to-day waiting. You have to be ready at the drop of a hat (to go back). March came along, and I immediately had to pack up and head back to Beijing. It was quick.

The CBA drew a very hard line with guys in terms of making sure they came back. Not just about getting paid, but also your ability to play in the league down the road.

Yeah, they drew up a super hard line. I asked around (about safety), a ton of people, and my team as well. Luckily, I have a good relationship with them. And obviously with (Marbury) at the helm, they care a little more just because he was coming back, too. He came back before I did. So (returning) was kind of easy for me.

You don’t want to kill Stephon Marbury.

(Laughs) Here? They’ll save him at all costs.

All joking aside, that actually gives you a pretty good indication they feel you’re going to be safe. Even if they think you’re expendable, they don’t think Marbury is.

No, he’s not. On that account, I wasn’t too worried. I didn’t want to bring anyone with me because I didn’t know how the quarantine situation was going to work. But I wasn’t too skeptical about coming back, especially because I kind of knew (coronavirus) was probably going to come (to the United States).

You’d be locked down if you were in L.A.

Exactly. No gym there, either. I just knew (with) the way people weren’t really taking it too seriously. Besides, when buying all the water from Costco, they were going out too much. So I knew we might get hit kind of hard.

Were you upset at all that reports indicate the Chinese government wasn’t totally transparent at the outset? Not the politics of it, necessarily, but from a health standpoint?

I don’t get too much into that. They have their government and how they do things. But I wasn’t upset at all because my team is straightforward and good with what they know. So I didn’t feel like I was in any type of (danger). If I had (stayed) a few more weeks, then maybe I would have felt like, “Hey, why didn’t you say anything?” But (the Royal Fighters) handled it so well. Right when they knew things, they told (us).

Once you land in Beijing, what’s the procedure?

You land, and everyone has their mask on. People in giant white or blue suits, completely covered from head-to-toe, and there’s English and Chinese (directing you). Then you go through customs, and everybody is fully suited, guiding you. Locals and non-locals. They check you, and then you wait. We landed at 5 p.m. and probably left the airport at 11.

As we were in the air, maybe five hours left on the flight, they changed the policy. They had it under control in Beijing, but it broke out again after new flights came in. I guess people brought it home. I live in a nice hotel, all my stuff is there. I only brought one bag home. I was only coming for four days. You now have to go to a government-chosen hotel for your quarantine.

After landing in Beijing, Kyle Fogg was greeted by airport workers dressed in PPE from head to toe. (Courtesy of Kyle Fogg)

Because they want to make 100 percent sure you don’t leave that room.

Exactly. They want to know that the hotel is qualified. That it has good ventilation and has their people working there to check on you. Everything set up right.

So you’re not getting Marriott points for this?

(Laughs) Sadly, I’m not getting any extra points for this.

What has the quarantine been like?

Can’t go outside, can’t do anything. You just sit here all day. One room, one bathroom. People in big biohazard suits bring your food every day and drop it off. You can’t leave your room. Luckily, I’ve been productive, but I could see people going stir crazy, just from being in here.

So what’s your routine?

Wake up, read, get into my Bible. Write your goals down. Listen to a sermon, do some breathing, some stretching and then your day will start. But that’s like an hour and 10 minutes. You’ve got like 15 hours left. (Laughs)

The first day, I just binged on every show you could imagine. I watched 10 episodes, finished the whole series … and now it’s noon.

But after a couple days, I settled in and figured out, “What do you want to get done that you normally can’t?” I just started analyzing a ton of real estate deals. Making a lot of calls when I can on WhatsApp, making sure my people, my family at home know I’m good. Just locking in as long as I can. And then after, it’s watching Netflix. I’ve seen “Ozark” Season 3, “Tiger King” and “Self Made: Inspired by the life of Madam C.J. Walker,” taking naps and going to bed early.

Fogg spent his 14-day quarantine inside a hotel room. (Courtesy of Kyle Fogg)

So none of this has involved getting up shots or anything like that?

No shots. Definitely not.

So what, if anything, can you do to stay in shape?

Day 9, they snuck me in some dumbbells and bands and the little balls, so I’ve been doing some form shooting now and getting some light lifts in. There’s some online workouts I was trying — jumping jacks, burpees, jogging in place, pushups … but I came to the realization that after this I’m going to die when I get back on the court. I’m going to be so tired. So I’ll do as much as I can, but two weeks, with no activity. No running. It’s gonna be … yeah.

Update: Now out of quarantine, Fogg says the following about life in Beijing: “Luckily, after serving my 14-day quarantine, I am free to go back to my home in Beijing. I have been able to practice and hang with my teammates, no problem. Life isn’t completely back to normal, but getting close. Everyone is wearing a mask but are out and moving during the day. Taking public trans, going to work, the difference is some major restaurants and malls are closed and no movie theaters open, etc.” And, of course, at the end of March authorities delayed the scheduled restart of the CBA.

What’s it like being coached by Marbury?

Man, he’s a real life LeBron James out here. The king. They love him to death. I mean, he’s won (three) championships and basically was the big gateway for really talented players to come out here and play. He kind of paved the way and is a hero in Beijing. It’s super dope. We’ll do introductions and he’ll get the loudest cheer in the gym. They love him, and obviously he knows. And he really knows the game, in and out. He works extremely hard, so I have no doubt he’ll have continued success as a coach.

But he can’t walk to the airport without a ton of photos. Grown men are nearly crying getting his autograph. It’s crazy. But he’s really good with it.

Have you gotten any impression of what he learned from his days as a player that he applies toward coaching? It’s no secret he had a reputation for being very difficult to coach.

I know, right? But he’s been good so far. It was a tough adjustment at the beginning because he’s super hard on you, just making sure we’re always locked in. He works so hard and he brings so much energy that he makes you match his energy. If you do that, it’s cool.

The man is (standing) the entire game. Like, doesn’t sit down. He literally is in the game, a sixth man with you, going crazy on the refs, having your back. Yelling on defense and getting in his stance. And then he’s constantly watching film. Telling you, “Hey, this is what I did when I was (playing) here. This is how I hit my success.” He’s always sharing gems with you. It’s been dope to learn from a point guard who played at the highest level.

You’ve had a few NBA tryouts before, which means by definition, you’re good enough to be in the discussion to play at that level. How big or small are those margins between somebody like you who never caught on versus somebody who’s an NBA 11th man?

When you’re talking about the 11th through 13th guy, there’s almost no difference. A lot of guys overseas are better than those guys on the bench. Obviously, not starting level, but those bottom guys on the bench, for sure. It’s just a lot of time and place, a lot of good things falling into place. And then some guys don’t want to go. But I’m at one of the highest levels as far as being able to play the game, have good contracts and things like that.

I mean, the NBA was always the goal, just so I had something to really work for in the offseason when I was younger. It helped me continue pushing. But then it got to a point like, if you get to the NBA, what are you trying to do with the game? What’s your big goal? Is it to get to the NBA and be able to say, “I’m in the NBA?” For me, it’s about not only being able to help my family but also to be able to help others. There’s people all over the world born in bad neighborhoods. Places where they can’t even afford food, water and shelter. I understand how blessed I am.

I’m on the advisory board of an organization called Pencils of Promise, an incredible organization in New York. Their whole mindset is that every child deserves education. So they work in Guatemala, Ghana, Africa, Laos and Asia, and they build schools for these kids. I put together a program for them. It’s incredible. My goal was always to help as many people as I can. But after that, it was like, all right, you’ve got to continue pushing this thing. You’ve got to continue making money, making smart investments.

Of course, I still want to be able to (get) one bucket, one 10-day (NBA contract). I’d be super hyped about that. But I would never sacrifice the financial (side) and my ability to play. I’m confident I can make an NBA roster, but I’d be sitting in a suit, you know what I mean? I’m having a blast competing.

You mentioned before that China’s not the only overseas league impacted by this outbreak, including the NBA obviously. Do you think what’s been happening globally with the pandemic will have an impact on how American players view playing overseas?

Yes and no. I think since it’s hitting America so hard too, (U.S. players) won’t have too much of a reason not to go (overseas). But they have to handle it right overseas. I know some leagues are starting to cancel, which is the right thing to do, for those countries that don’t have a handle on the virus. But I think if they don’t handle it right, people aren’t going to want to go overseas. They have to make those right steps to keep the players safe, and do the right things. If they do that, I think it won’t affect too many players. But people who don’t do their research will knock China or other places for having this stuff.

(Photo: Fred Lee / Getty Images)