Laundry List: Jesse Mermuys
Laundry List: Jesse Mermuys
It’s that time again boys! October edition of Laundry List with East Dane is here and I’m sure you are all gonna be so jealous of me because I got to hang out with Jesse Mermuys Assistant Coach of the Toronto Raptors. Huge big deal! I went to the Air Canada Centre to meet up with him and check out his locker and the practice court. We talked Michael Jordan vs. Magic Johnson, hoodies and Canada Goose!
Before you meet Jesse I thought I’d share that he was a child actor and was runner up to Fred Savage for The Wonder Years. He’s also a new(ish) dad and you should all say congratulations because his daughter is so cute! But more about him, basketball and fashion:
What part would you say fashion plays in basketball?
The NBA specifically is very professional. From the outside it looks very glamorous at times, but when you’re actually working inside it’s much more serious and much more technical. The players are exceptionally gifted in all areas of life. That’s the only way they’ve been able to make it through the millions and millions of people who want to play in the NBA. There are only four hundred and some players who actually make it. They are not only gifted on the court, they’re gifted off it as well. They are very competitive people and they strive to one up each other one and off the court and part of that is fashion.
How does it play a part in your job?
Well, it doesn’t really, because our job is to be that conservative constant in the players’ lives, to try to keep them always attaining and reaching their goals. We are trying to be more conservative and stable. Because I’m younger in terms of Assistant Coaches in the NBA it can be hard at times. I’m not that far removed from their age and so I want to wear the same things they do which doesn’t work for my position. My wife constantly reminds me that I’m an adult, a father now and I need to look professional and very conservative.
On the court and on the job?
Yeah.
So what was your high school look?
I always liked clothes. I got that from my mom. I always liked shopping.
Where did you grow up?
Tuscan. I have no problem going to the mall with my wife, hanging out and browsing. I always tried to find unique pieces that weren’t too crazy where you can kind of go over the edge. But were jus a little bit different that would catch someone’s eye.
Players like Denis Rodman, Vince Carter, and Michael Jordan were revered just as much for their fashion game as their ability on the court. Growing up who’s style influenced you?
Man when you’re a kid growing up and you love the game of basketball you’re doing everything and anything you can to get to the NBA and you’re emulating them in every way. I loved Magic Johnson as a child, he was my favourite player and I loved Jordan too but I liked Magic because he had more charisma, he passed the ball. You just try to embody, you love the game of basketball and everything that comes with it.
What’s an average day for you?
We get here early, the coaches always meet and plan out the goals for the day and what we’re going to practice. We plan out who needs what, the practice and what’s been happening. Then we’ll come up here (the practice court) the guys will work out before. Then we practice, then we do some more work outs after that like shooting and skill work. Then the coaches will work out, we’ll lift…
So the coaches really have to stay in shape as well?
Yeah, you gotta be in great condition.
How much do you have to practice with them?
A decent amount, you have to be able to get out there and simulate things that they are going to face. And a lot of times you don’t want player vs. player because you don’t want them to get hurt. Also the player can’t emulate what you’re trying to accomplish so you have to be able to get out there and do stuff. So lifting and cardio is definitely a part of it.
That’s crazy! When did you know that this was what you wanted to do?
Well, as a child I wanted to play in the NBA. I was playing junior college basketball and I wasn’t going to go to a big school and it was kind of the end of the road and I probably could have hung on and gone to a smaller division three/two school in the USA some middle of nowhere good college. And I didn’t want to do that. So that was time to hang it up and I was actually at that time really interested in computers. I was going to go back to get my degree and I started my own little tech company of training people to get this cisco certified exam network associate exam. If you passed the exam you were certified by Cisco the company and it was a big deal at the time. I passed the test and so I started business-training people on how to pass this test. It was successful and I was really young and teaching these older guys how to pass this test and then it got to the point where I either had to make this thing legitimate, hire people, get an office space, really take it to the next level. Or, this whole time I’d been missing basketball. I called my high school coach in Tuscan and asked him if I could come back and help him out and get into coach. He was like absolutely. So instead of taking the company I went back and coached at my high school.
That’s so amazing, like a great coupling of skills in a circumventing way.
Right which is what helped me find my passion of what I wanted to do.
What do you wear on a normal office day?
Well in Toronto that’s me in my car coming into the court. I’m usually in team sweats, which is Canada Goose gives Toronto Raptors employees coats; it has my name in it and a Raptors logo, it’s super cool!
Do you get a number?
No, I wish, no number. (laughs) But, I try to look somewhat nice when we travel, now that I’m—
A Daddy?!
Yeah, I try to do a business casual look that’s not too stuffy when we travel. These last couple years I plan these outfits out and try to be comfortable but also look business casual on the plane and then when we arrive in that city if I want to go for dinner that same outfit can take me out too.
How do you dress for date night with your wife?
I’m a slender guy and I like a nice slim cut.
More European cut?
A slim cut jean with dressy tennis shoes and either a nice hoodie or a collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
Do you find a difference between Canadian and American men’s style?
I can’t speak to Canadians but the men in Toronto I am so impressed! It’s unbelievable how well they dress. The other thing too that’s amazing, before I forget, is the amount of men’s store options. There are so many men’s stores here and catering to men’s fashion and clothing.
I think in the last like seven years we’ve seen an explosion in men’s fashion here. It started with the hipster wave but now bespoke has swept the streets. In so many ways I think that men in Toronto take more time and care about what they’re wearing then women, in very broad sweeping strokes.
Oh, I’ll believe it I can tell by how many men’s shops there are. In the US it’s non-existent. You’ll have your specialty boutiques and of course in New York and LA you have whatever you want. But there’s not many options for a guy to get nice clothes, or current styles in the US.
Growing up in Tuscan what kind of options did you have?
You had Banana Republic, J. Crew and your department stores and maybe a couple specialized places but for the most part you don’t have the type of options that you have here in Toronto. And the men in America, taking New York and LA out of the equation are not as fashion conscious as the men in Toronto from what I’ve seen.
Were you a sneaker head growing up? Like that’s the big thing for basketball right? Was it the Patrick Ewings and the Jordan’s?
Yeah! I’ve always been a sneaker head but the thing about being a true sneaker head is that it’s expensive. So if you don’t have money you can dream, look, admire, go to the store and touch them but you can’t ever buy them. It’s like now that I actually have a decent amount of income where I don’t have to save like every single penny of it and could actually afford some nice shoes I’m starting to do that and my wife’s like ‘what are you doing?’ I’m like I never could afford it before and now sometimes I want to buy it now!
When you were a kid which shoe was it?
Jordans I think it was the IVs. Yeah, they’re amazing. They re-issued all of these and our players are constantly wearing them. I have a good pulse of what’s going on based on the players.
Did you make a big purchase when you got this job?
I bought a Prada suit at Holt Renfrew 2, not at the Holt Renfrew yet, but the 2 I’m there.
Oh sorry the outlet? I thought you bought two Prada suits! (laughs)
No not yet, up at the outlet. And it fits perfectly! Because of my build a lot of brands when they do their slim fit or trim fit version it pretty much fits me like a glove.
So with your Prada suit what kind of socks do you wear?
Last year I had the craziest socks. Because I could actually afford to buy some socks that were somewhat decent. So I went out and bought a ton of colours and I really tried. You have to be conservative, you can’t be the person who’s trying to get the attention in the NBA. Because it should be all about the players. As a coach you’re there to do your job and you should look nice doing it. The one place where you can a little bit be stylish is your socks.
It’s like Fresh Prince and the inside-out private school uniform jacket.
Right— *James Johnson the newest Raptor interrupted out discussion*
My brother’s gonna die when he finds out where I am right now!
You can brag a little bit!
Thanks Jesse!
Past Laundry Lists:
Grant Van Gameren
Parambir Singh Keila
Joseph of Mercury
Martin Aldorsson
