At this time last year, Spencer “Ria” Wyman was simply a spectator of the NBA 2K League. He hadn’t yet met the minimum age requirement to participate in the league, so he patiently bided his time until Season 2.

After being selected for the draft pool this year, it didn’t take long for the 18-year-old from Shoreline, Wash., to hear his name called on draft night. Jazz Gaming chose Ria with the first-overall pick, adding the big man to a roster that included point Yeah I Compete, a top-three pick himself last season.

With his rookie campaign winding down, we caught up with Ria as he discusses everything from his performance so far, giving back to the community in his new city, tossing out the first pitch at a minor-league baseball game and more in this wide-ranging interview.

Q: What is it like being the No. 1 draft pick in the league and do you feel any pressure that comes along with it?

A: I wouldn’t necessarily say pressure. Obviously, you have expectations to be the best player in the draft, but in terms of the feeling of going No. 1, I think it feels the same way no matter where you get drafted. It’s just kinda like ‘wow, it really happened.’ So that was pretty cool.

Q: Take us through last year. What was it like sitting and watching the league while waiting for your opportunity this season?

A: I wasn’t old enough last year … I was pretty much just waiting to come of age to actually partake in the league. A lot of people say that if I would have been in the league last year, I would be right up there with Walnut, Hotshot and those guys in terms of just the gameplay, MVP race and that kind of thing.

Q: You just mentioned some really great players, how does it feel to now be facing those guys?

A: It feels good, sitting here competing with those guys that dominated the league last year and you’re sitting there going toe-to-toe with and competing against them.

Q: What’s the adjustment been to relocating to Salt Lake City and living in a new city?

A: So that was very new for me considering I was 18 and hadn’t been away from my parents really for more than a span of over a week. So moving out to a whole new city with new people I haven’t met before other than maybe on the game — I was friends with some of them. But the transition has been super smooth, no complaints, it’s been really fun, and every one of my teammates has been super nice. 

Q: You’ve been active in the community since arriving in Utah, including a recent event at a youth basketball camp. Tell us about that, and how cool it is to be looked up to by those kids?

A: That was awesome. Never in my life would I think I would be able to go do something like that for the Jazz youth camp. When they asked me about that, I was like ‘yeah, that’s super awesome.’ Because I was one of those kids when I was younger where you go to your youth camp or basketball camp over the summer and would have their special guests come in that you idolized or really looked up to. So to be one of those people was an amazing feeling. I am really young, but not too long ago I was in those exact same shoes as those kids, so to be one of those people they admire was definitely a surreal feeling.

Q: You also had the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Salt Lake Bees minor-league baseball game. As a former baseball player yourself, how memorable of an experience was that?

A: Kinda going back to the same thing with the youth camp, I never thought I’d get to go out here and throw out a first pitch. So to have that opportunity was awesome really, couldn’t ask for much more. For the most part, I was having fun with it. There was a little competition with me and Compete because he had done it last year and obviously his pitched sucked. So I won that. (My pitch) was below-average, but it was better than Compete, so that’s all I’m really worried about. 

You already know we BALL 🏀 but we also baseBALL⚾️

Shout out to the @SaltLakeBees for taking us out to the ball game!

🎷🎮 #GamingElevated pic.twitter.com/TW6g3tAfdb

— UtahJazzGaming (@UtahJazzGaming) June 17, 2019

Q: On the court, how would you assess how you’ve performed in your first season?

A: I feel like I’ve performed pretty well, for the most part. Some things have held us back in terms of what builds we’ve been using, feeling comfortable with it and that kind of thing. So sometimes I feel like I haven’t been able to play to my full potential. But 12 games through the season, I feel like I’ve been pretty consistent. You obviously want to continue to get better and never really be satisfied with where you’re at, but I’m satisfied with where I’m at right now.

Q: There is a strong pool of talent among rookie centers, namely PeteBeBallin, Plondo and yourself. Where do you fit among that group based on your play to this point?

A: The thing about this game that we’re playing, the ceiling, everyone is kinda at the same spot, right? So you can really just interchange any three of us and you’re not really going to get this huge difference. Obviously, there are certain things that some of us do better than the other one, but we’re all pretty similar players in terms of the impact we have for our teams.

Q: As a team, Jazz Gaming have made strides from last season and remain in the postseason hunt. What’s the feeling around the team right now as you prepare to make this final playoff push?

A: The vibes are kinda tense (right now) to be honest. Everyone knows if we lose another game, we’re pretty much out. We have to win out the rest of the season and there’s kinda like there’s this tension because we know we pretty much should be like 9-3 if we would have taken all of our games seriously, we came into some games and kinda messed around and ended up losing. Now we’re in this tough spot where we have to win out and we have a hard schedule, versus being 9-3 and having to just win a game.

Q: That said, you guys made a deep run at THE TURN, showing what this team is capable of. Does that make some of the regular-season struggles more frustrating?

A: From a skill perspective, we’re up there as a top-three team and it’s just like stupid little things, people getting sick, stuff off the court that has really kept us from our whole potential. THE TURN definitely showed that, a top-four finish with a loss to the Bucks because of an unfortunate ban, I feel. 

Q: For those that don’t know you as well, what are some of your interests outside of playing NBA 2K?

A: I like golf. Golf is very frustrating but very satisfying. One day you can step up to the tee box and drive it 300 yards or whatever, then get up to the green and it takes you four strokes. But it’s a very fun game that you can kinda take your mind off of everything and just play, that’s why I really like golf. Then just sports in general, I really like sports. That’s where I come from, how I grew up and I’ll remain to love sports.

Q: Now that you’ve been through it, what advice would you give to hopefuls with aspirations of being next year’s No. 1 pick?

A: Find your group of guys to play with that you really enjoy playing with because that’s the most important thing, when you’re playing Pro-Am or any mode, that you’re just having fun because that’s when you play the best. And just putting yourself out there and make sure you believe anything can happen. I didn’t think I was going to go No.1 until I got approached by Compete and Deedz and they kinda told me, ‘hey we’re taking you No. 1.’

Q: What are some of the things you’ll take away from this season that might make you more prepared and perhaps even better during your sophomore campaign?

A: It’s 2K, so any team can beat any team. No win is a free win. You have to come in to every game as prepared as you would for the Blazers or Mavs or Warriors. That’s probably my biggest thing.

Q: What does the future hold for Ria as an NBA 2K League player?

A: Hopefully, a championship or two in Utah and looked at as one of the best players and teammates really. Can’t really ask for much more.