SPOKANE, Wash. — Graham Ike and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are just five games into the 2025-26 season, and the big man from Aurora, Colorado, is already off to a historic start.
Ike has reached double digits in every game this season, logged double-doubles in the first three games, surpassed the 2,000-point mark for his career, and was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week on Monday. He was one of 50 players named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Watch List a day later, which is college basketball’s most prestigious individual honor.
Ike recently sat down with Greg Heister, the longtime broadcaster for Gonzaga basketball, on The Mark Few Show, and opened up about his mindset on and off the court, his growth since arriving in Spokane, and the potential he sees in this year’s team. From technical fouls to team chemistry to his long-term NBA aspirations, Ike gives an inside look at what drives him and why he believes the Zags’ ceiling is higher than ever.
Ike may appear to be a gentle giant off the floor with his calm demeanor and big smile, but when the ball is tossed for tipoff, there’s nothing gentle about him.
“Definitely a different person,” Ike said. “But the lions call for that, you know? Like, you can be somebody else out there with a little more fire, a little more passion, so it’s okay out there. But, yeah, it’s two sides to tango.”
That fiery side led to three technical fouls last season and already one this year, but he wasn’t the first Zag to get teed up this season.
“I was probably the first on the line to get a tech, but B-Huff took that,” he said as he laughed. “I wonder what the odds were for that.”
Ike and Heister shifted back to a more serious note, diving into just how talented this Gonzaga team is and the potential it has.
“Just a very intentional team,” Ike explained. “A team that enjoys having fun but knows how to work hard as well. This is just a great group, like I said earlier, that I enjoy being around every single day. Every moment that I can get with them, I want to soak it up, honestly.”
Gonzaga is considered to have one of the deepest teams in the nation, with the squad going as many as 11 players deep who could get solid minutes night in and night out. When asked how that’s going to play out this year, Ike urged his teammates to be patient.
“It’s a good question. I think just the right approach daily in practice, checking in on people and understanding and helping them understand that the opportunity is going to present themselves for them to shine, so they just have to be ready for the opportunity whenever that is,” he said. “Just keep their head up and just keep pushing for greatness. We’re all aligned in the same goal and so nobody is on ulterior motives or anything like that, to where we get caught up in things like that. We’re just steadily aligned on our goals.”
Heister then asked him what the ceiling is for the 2025-26 Bulldogs.
“I wish I could tell you the ceiling, but I can’t see it. It’s so high up for us. There’s just so many things that we can accomplish and do, but it must be done every single day by enjoying the day with great focus, great attentionality, and getting better. That’s just all it’s about for us,” Ike said.
Before Ike’s time at Gonzaga, he played two seasons at Wyoming, where he got injured his freshman year and had an All-Mountain West season when he came back.
“I was actually just thinking in the locker room about my freshman year and just who I was. I’ve definitely become a lot calmer, believe it or not,” Ike said. “But just more aware of myself, stepping into more of my being and just enjoying every single day. These years have taught me how to be present, whether it’s the injuries or certain things not going my way, but my presence has definitely been heightened since I’ve been here.”
As for where Ike sees himself after he moves on from Gonzaga:
“That’s in God’s hands,” he said. “But if I had a choice, it would definitely be in the NBA with a long-lasting career. Just playing great, great ball, enjoying my time there, and just making the most of my career.”
“The day that your career ends, whenever that is, Graham Ike does what?” Heister asked.
“Guys always tell me broadcasting, but I’m not sure, man,” Ike said. “Sometimes, I think I want to stay around the game, whether it’s high school coaching or college coaching, but honestly, I’m not sure. I’m really not sure.”