What were you doing when you were 12? Maybe you were hanging out with your friends while playing PlayStation, or maybe you were playing sports with your friends after school. However, if you’re Jordan Rulach, youth basketball sensation, then you were flying overseas to participate in the 2023 National Phenom Camp in California. Hard to one-up that story when you’re on the school playground.
The pint-sized Penny Hardaway has already been recognised by Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy for his vision, after taking up the game at the age of three. Inspired by his dad, Travice (a basketballer in his own right), Jordan’s equally comfortable taking the shot and dishing it off to his teammates, helping those around him shine. It’s a trait that has separated him from his peers so far and will hold him in good stead going forward.
Jordan’s success partly highlights the new way that athletes can display their skills. He’s active on social media, which has bridged the gap between Australia and the rest of the world. Nowadays, junior athletes like Jordan can catch the attention of the world’s best, putting themselves on the radars of recruiters and scouts across the globe. There’s a strong history of Australian ballers making an impact on the NBA, including Matthew Dellavedova, Patty Mills and Ben Simmons. For now, though, Jordan’s taking it one game at a time.
To mark his appearance in the latest JD Sports campaign (giving him more bragging rights for when he’s at school), Complex Australia caught up with Jordan, as well as Travice, to chat about his basketball journey so far, what it’s like balancing school and basketball, and which player, past or present, he models his game on.
Firstly, thank you so much for joining me today, Jordan, I wanted to start right at the beginning. When was the first time you picked up a basketball?
Jordan: I was three years old, and my dad got me this mini basketball. My dad gave it to me, and as soon as I touched the ball, I already knew I was going to be great. I just love the game.
Is basketball something that you guys have always done together growing up?
J: Yeah, my dad used to play when he was younger. And I have three brothers. They all play basketball as well.
Was there a moment when you realised, ‘Okay, this is what I really want to focus a lot of my time on?'
J: It was more just at the start, playing the game, and then I realised that I wanted to take it more seriously. That just made me get more into basketball, putting in the work, and doing what I do.
Do you have a favourite NBA team?
J: Yeah, I go for the Warriors.
How are they shaping up this season?
J: They don't look too good right now, but hopefully they can get better.
Do you have a favourite player to watch? Is it Stephen Curry?
J: I like Allen Iverson, and I like Michael Jordan, but I like different types of players.
Tell me about the day that LA Lakers assistant coach, Phil Handy, shared your clip on Instagram. How did you feel when you found out that was happening?
J: I came back from school and my dad showed me a video of Phil Handy talking about me and how he loves my game, and that just blew my mind.
You travelled overseas for basketball. Tell me a little bit about that.
J: I went to Los Angeles [for the 2023 National Phenom Camp]. That was really good. I trained with Jordan Lawley (J Law). He's one of the best coaches in America. I met Zach Lavine. As soon as I walked into the stadium, I saw Zach Lavine pop out, and I took a picture with him. I got a training session done with J Law, then I did the Phenom camp, and I made the top 20 All-Star team. That was really fun. I made new friends, and it was just the best time.
What does your typical training in a week look like?
J: On Mondays, I have domestic training. Tuesday, I have future development training, and that's six to seven in the morning. Then on Wednesdays, I have domestic training. Then Thursdays, I have rep training, and then on Fridays, I have rep games. Then Saturday, I have domestic games, then Sunday, I have rep training. So, it's pretty much every day.
That is so busy. I know when I was your age, I was not committed to anything like that. And Travice, that would be a lot of driving around for you.
Travice: Yeah, definitely. And on top of all this, he works after hours too, so he'll be the last one to leave the game. He'll stay back. He'll keep shooting hoops. I used to take him for footy practice, made him join a team, and do Auskick. He used to come back after Auskick and shoot hoops, and I was like to my wife, ‘Something’s not right here, his heart is in playing basketball.’ But from the age of three, he could already coordinate and dribble.
What does it mean to you to have your sons following your footsteps and playing basketball?
T: It's amazing. For me, it's like watching my dreams come true. And out of all the names, we had to pick the name Jordan. It's crazy, because he's only 12 years old, and the opportunities he's had since he was young, it's something that some people don't even have in a lifetime.
The power of social media feels like something that you've harnessed to great effect. Travice, when you would have been playing a generation ago, that just wasn't a thing that's possible. You can now take Jordan's footage and share that around the world.
T: At first, I was videoing games, so I could go back and we could correct technique. And then that turned into a post. And from a post, it went viral, and now we're here talking to you.
How do you find the balance between basketball and school?
T: I've told him the importance of study, of education. Education's first, and without education, you're not going to achieve anything in life, and he knows that. So for him, it's going and playing college over there, getting into that system, and putting in the hard work. If you want to achieve something, you’ll go to the ends to do it, and it's a lot of sacrifice too. I've given up a good job just so he can follow his dreams. And it's tough. Even going to the States last year, I had to sacrifice a lot just to give him the best.
And Jordan, I would ask you the same thing. What is it that keeps you going?
J: It’s more having the right mindset to keep going and back myself up. And if someone, for example, talks bad about me, or talks negatively about me. I have my mindset to just keep going. I don't care what they say. Just play well.
Obviously, you're an incredibly talented player, but watching some of your clips, I noticed that you're not afraid to pass the ball. I think some people with your skill would tend to shoot all the time. Where does that vision come from?
J: Well, my dad's been teaching me how to always drive and to see your surroundings. And after I kept passing and finding the right passes, it became normal. And so every time I would drive, and people would try to block me or try and steal the ball, I would always see someone open.
T: I show him a lot of Magic Johnson, Penny Hardaway. I think showing him those clips and telling him that it's not just about scoring, it's about scoring, rebounding, passing, IQ, and cheering for your team when you're on the bench. I want him to be the most complete basketball player, not just in one category as such.
Jordan, for you, what's it like to be involved in a shoot like that? You must feel like a bit of a rock star.
J: When I found out that I was doing a JD shoot, I was so excited, I couldn't believe it. At first, I thought it was a joke. It's a good opportunity, and I’d love to do more of them.
And finally, Jordan, what would you say is your signature basketball move?
J: It depends on who's the player. I'll try anything and see what works best.
T: He surprises me with some moves I've never seen before.
I can only imagine. When you've got that much creativity, you don't know what's going to happen.
T: I would say his strength is ball handling. He reminds me a lot of the Allen Iverson/Penny Hardaway type of player.
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