'A mind-blowing experience': Windsor, Ont. basketball player on Miami Heat's 'radar'

A Windsor-raised basketball player has a chance to make the Miami Heat's NBA roster.

Announced Monday, the Heat signed Mychal Mulder, a 25-year-old from Windsor, Ont. which will allow him to participate in the team's training camp. 

"It was kind of a mind-blowing experience for me," said Mulder. "First I called my parents and let them know I had got it, and they were ecstatic for me."

Mulder, who played for Catholic Central High School under coach Pete Cusumano, has spent the last few seasons with the Windy City Bulls, drafted ninth overall in the 2017 NBA G league draft. 

While with the Bulls last season, Mulder started in every game, averaging 13.7 points. Prior to his G League time, Mulder played at the University of Kentucky for two seasons.

Mulder said he's been a fan of the Miami Heat since Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the team in 2004.

"I was a Heat fan for years, I was die-hard," he said. "[I] loved it when they won, cried when they lost."

Cusumano, who has known Mulder since the player was about 10 years old, said he's extremely proud of the Windsorite.

"There's 19 people in the training camp and 15 are going to make it," said Cusumano. "He's got to beat somebody else ... he's like on a farm team."

According to Cusumano, for any NBA-hopeful, they have to make the training camp roster to make the team.

"The fact that he got invited to training camp means he's on the radar to make the team," said Cusumano. 

Cusumano said only two Windsor players have ever played in the NBA — the last back in 1945. 

Mychal Mulder's father Randy said he was proud of his son's accomplishment, adding that he believes his son has a good chance of getting picked up by an NBA team. 

"Hopefully he makes the team," he said. "I can't believe that Mychal hasn't made it yet because he's such a good shooter."

As for advice for Canadian basketball players chasing the NBA dream, Mychal Mulder said they should "just keep chasing it."

"Don't listen to the people in your ear who tell you you can't make it because of where you're from and just be proud of where you're from and use it as motivation to propel you forward," he said. "Take whatever path that you have to get to where you need to be."