Then-rookie Iman Shumpert thought he almost got robbed. The NBA lifestyle is completely different, and it takes time for players to adjust, regardless of their background. Shumpert recounted an incident of waking up in an unknown hotel, completely clueless and thinking he had been robbed because his bags were missing. But he wasn’t robbed in reality.

In the latest episode of Uninterrupted’s Iman Amongst Men Podcast, Shumpert recalled how he struggled with flying during his early days in the league. Once he was so exhausted after landing that he just passed out as soon as the team reached the hotel. After waking up, he couldn’t register where he was. He also forgot that the bags were actually kept near the door and were out of his sight and thought he got robbed in a hotel. He recalled being stressed out for a few minutes, as he couldn’t remember anything.

“I remember waking up and just being like, you know, you really trying to register what’s going on? And you like, ‘Nah, I don’t remember this room,'” Shumpert detailed almost 13 years after the incident actually occurred.

He further explained, “I remember waking up and freaking out. I ain’t know where my phone was. Like, I just felt like, I’m like, ‘Bro, did I get robbed in a hotel?’ Was I drunk? I’m like, ‘Why can’t I remember what’s going on?'” Shumpert detailed his rookie experience after Dalen Terry shared his story of how he got confused with his room numbers in Boston and New York. Terry was selected as the 18th pick by the Chicago Bulls in 2022.

As pointed out by the co-hosts, Shumpert was just exhausted and probably jet-lagged. However, for someone experiencing the situation, it can be scary. He was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2011 as the 17th overall pick.  Even if the hectic schedule is overwhelming, Shumpert still chose a job after his retirement that requires a similar schedule.

Iman Shumpert exits The Chi

After his retirement, Shumpert decided to start acting. He played the role of Rob in the Showtime show, The Chi. With season 6 concluding last month, Shumpert had to say goodbye to the show due to his character’s death. Shumpert’s fans won’t be able to see him in the seventh season of the show.

He also participated in the celebrity dance show, Dancing with the Stars, with Daniella Karagach. Shumpert became the first NBA player to win the show. However, his confusion during his rookie year only helped him grow as a person.

Such confusion and mistakes are quite common. While the NBA players get to travel a lot, they also have to face initial issues adjusting to frequent time zone changes. Probably what had Shumpert so tired all the time.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.