1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: Yo, y'all, y'all, we live on location, New York City, 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: NBA Draft Week twenty twenty two. 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 2: We are sitting amongst the full room. 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: I got the blackest one here, we got the special 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: special guest, and many many others behind. 6 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: The cameras of Beach in the house. 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, we got Long Beach, California's finans, UCLA's finans. We 8 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: got young mister Peyton Watson in the building. 9 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 2: Man, we appreciate you, sir, appreciate your time. Man. 10 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 3: First of all, thank you for being on the show 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 3: man Long Beach, LA. You know, we started our journey 12 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 3: off in this draft history in LA. 13 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: So how does it feel like? 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,920 Speaker 3: How are you feeling with your family and everybody down 15 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 3: here and joining theself? 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 2: Oh? First, thank y'all for having me. Yeah, it's a blessing. Man. 17 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 3: It's a blessing to have the whole family out here, 18 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 3: to be in New York for the draft. You know, 19 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 3: it's something you grow up dreaming about. So I'm definitely 20 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 3: blessed to be here, happy and exciting. It's a process 21 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,319 Speaker 3: you've been going through as that a lot of us 22 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 3: went through. You know, we went to McDonald's, but you 23 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 3: had a few more games in your repertoire. Like after 24 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,960 Speaker 3: you left high school, I was like McDonald's for you, 25 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 3: like going into them all star games right before you 26 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 3: go to college. Well, you know, I was the second 27 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 3: year McDonald's got canceled for my class. So but I 28 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 3: actually I went to iverson you know I've seen you 29 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 3: at ivers Yeah. 30 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, And it. 31 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 3: Was good to go against all those high level guy 32 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 3: because you know, like I hadn't played in the year 33 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 3: because of COVID, Because I wanted to see everybody in 34 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 3: my class, you know, all the best players and kind 35 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 3: of measure my skills up against theirs and you know, 36 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 3: see what I need to work on. So it was 37 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 3: good to be able to go to those type things, 38 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: go to USA when to gold Metal, Yeah. 39 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: How was it for you to have to navigate COVID. 40 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: That's like, you know, that's something that none of us 41 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: had to go through, you know, in the middle of 42 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: high school and you can't you know what I'm saying, 43 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: really get it in like going into your prime time 44 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: where you're supposed to prove and show and prove and 45 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: game can't be played, Like, how did you do with 46 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: that time? Yeah? 47 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 3: You know, I just tried to find ways to get 48 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 3: creative with my work. You know, we couldn't really get 49 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 3: in gyms and no way rouse or anything like that. 50 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 3: So I was running Signal Hill in Long Beach, you know, 51 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 3: practicing outside with my pops on my front yard and 52 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 3: just finding ways to get working so that way, you know, 53 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: we could start playing again. 54 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 2: I was ready. So just keep my skills sharp, man, 55 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: you know, staying ready? What UCLA Like? 56 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 3: You could have chose a lot of college just like 57 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 3: what made you choose UCLA to be the school that 58 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: you want to go to? 59 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: Uh? Yeah, you know. 60 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 3: I'm just hometown kid from Long Beach, grew up watching 61 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 3: UCLA basketball in USC football, Like that's just how it was, 62 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 3: and when I can growing up and just watching all 63 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 3: these guys come through, like Lonzo, Zach Lavine, guys like that, 64 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 3: Russ Westbrook, you know, some of the best players in 65 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 3: the league playing at UCLA. I saw myself as one 66 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 3: of those people, and I felt like UCLA was the 67 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 3: best spot for me to take my talents at the 68 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 3: next level. Was it hands down or did somebody come 69 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 3: close to maybe making you change your mindor goinger? 70 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 2: Oh? 71 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure, like they were d I was getting 72 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 3: recruited hard for by almost everybody, you know what I'm saying. 73 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 3: So I built a really good relationship with like Juwan 74 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 3: Howard and Michigan. You know, yeah, yeah, you know you 75 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 3: already know how Juwana is. He showed mad love regardless, 76 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 3: like he still texts me. So yeah, he showed he 77 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,079 Speaker 3: showed mad love throughout the entire process. 78 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: Gonzaga Arizona. 79 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,680 Speaker 3: You know a lot of Pac twelve schools, so it 80 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 3: it was close for sure. 81 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: Your process of UCLA. You know, you only played one year. 82 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 3: You going into a team they got like veteran guards. 83 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 3: They had a good year of the year before in 84 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 3: the tournament, and you know you wanna be a piece 85 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 3: to that, and you you have a good year to 86 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 3: be in this position. How was that coming into that 87 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 3: year of playing with them two guys and you know, 88 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 3: trying to show your talent as well with them. 89 00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: Ah? 90 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 3: Absolutely, you know it's an adjust When I come from 91 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 3: high school and you know I'm the start playing on 92 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 3: the team, they look to me to do everything, score, assist, rebound, 93 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 3: block shots, you know, be a leader. So coming into 94 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: a team where all that is kind of already set 95 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 3: up and you got everybody from a Final four team 96 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 3: coming back, It's definitely somewhere you gotta get adjusted to it, 97 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 3: but also be assertive and a good teammate at the 98 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 3: same time. You know, you gotta find that perfect combination 99 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 3: of things, and I. 100 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:28,119 Speaker 2: Think I did that well. 101 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 3: Got to mess with a lot of the guys, built 102 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 3: up some good chemistry, and you know, just try to 103 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 3: find ways to come in and help the team win. 104 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 2: You know, that was the bottom line was to win. 105 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:39,479 Speaker 2: How proud do you feel to be? 106 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: Like you said, You're a California kid, you grew up 107 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: watching UCLA, You talked about all the people you watched 108 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 1: before you. How proud do you feel to be like 109 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: you really you living what you wanted to do, Like 110 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 1: you you're about to take that next step and go. 111 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 2: To the NBA. 112 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: You're gonna see your name draft, I mean be called 113 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: in the draft and you're gonna be the next in 114 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: that line of all of those guys. Like how good 115 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: did that feel to really say, like this is what 116 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 1: you've been wanting to do and like you really on 117 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: that path. 118 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 2: It feels great. 119 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 3: Like I said, it's a blessing from the man above, 120 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 3: And it just feels that much better because I know 121 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 3: I did it the right way. I ain't taking no shortcuts. 122 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 3: I didn't take no handouts. Everything I got I built 123 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 3: from the ground up. Me and my family who've been 124 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 3: supporting me for the longest, stay here with me now. 125 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 3: And that's how we do it, you know what I'm saying. 126 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 3: That's how we watchings are, that's how we always. 127 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: Going to be. 128 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 3: So your pops is the one that put the ball 129 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 3: in your absolutely from day one, he shot out, yeah, 130 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: shout out, but yeah, nah, he put the ball in 131 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 3: my hand. Saw that I loved it at a young age. 132 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 3: And it was never nothing that he forced on me, 133 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 3: you know what I'm saying. He was like, you tell 134 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 3: me when you want to go to the gym, you 135 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 3: tell me when you want to get better. And that's 136 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 3: just something that I learned to love to do for myself. 137 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 3: And he trained me all the way coming up. 138 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 2: Me and my brother would let us compete. 139 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:57,359 Speaker 3: But at the same time, you know, he taught us 140 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 3: a lot about the game mentally, like it's no friend 141 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 3: is when you go out there, definitely you gotta be 142 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 3: able to defend it, like it shouldn't be nobody who's able. 143 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: To score and master this. 144 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 3: How is the score on the one on one games, 145 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 3: like is he is he up? 146 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: Or is he down? Like? 147 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 3: Oh, who oh, he probably up all time. 148 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 2: He stopped playing me once I start getting good, you 149 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:24,480 Speaker 2: have in your brackets. 150 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: Soon as you get my kids get too close, I'm 151 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 1: my helbowing down playing me again? 152 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: Boy, you got too close? Yeah up? 153 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 3: So yeah, Pops got the winning record on that. He 154 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 3: one of the only people out there who could say 155 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 3: that that's right. 156 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 2: Always always. 157 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 3: Who is one of the guys that you want to 158 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 3: play against? And what's one of the cities that you 159 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 3: want to play in that you can't wait to play 160 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 3: like one of the arenas a guy I really want 161 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 3: to play against. Just it is probably my idol growing 162 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 3: up playing the game of basketball. 163 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: KD. You know me. 164 00:06:57,440 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 3: I'm fortunate enough to me and KD is cool now, 165 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 3: got a relationship and we talk all the time. 166 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: And I've been telling him like, it's not sweet, Like 167 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: I couldn't wait. 168 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 3: I can't wait till I get up there and get 169 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 3: to see you. I gotta see for myself if it's 170 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 3: real or not. Lie, KT's sweet. 171 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: Look it looked more than good. It look right right, 172 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 2: So I gotta showing respect he's the guy displeasure of 173 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 2: guarding them, So I'm gonna just leave it at that. Yeah, 174 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: he's the guy for sure. 175 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 3: Was one of the arenas that you want to play in, 176 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 3: like cities you want to play in the arena. 177 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 2: Definitely Madison Square Garden. 178 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I feel like that's the brightest slice it can 179 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 3: get on the basketball stage, you know, And I just 180 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 3: can't wait to be in front of that. MANI fans screaming, 181 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 3: sharing like I live for those type of moments. 182 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 2: I'm a gamer, like you know how that is. 183 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: So did you approach and coming to this season like 184 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: I'm trying to do one and done and be up 185 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:57,440 Speaker 1: out of here and get on with it. 186 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,000 Speaker 3: I mean, I've been feeling like for the longest I 187 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:03,119 Speaker 3: was ready to be a pro, Like since high school. 188 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 3: I've been feeling like playing against the NBA guys in 189 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 3: LA and. 190 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 2: Things like that. 191 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 3: But at the same time, I didn't have no pressure 192 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: on myself to be out in one year or you know, 193 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 3: if it was more than that. It wasn't nothing to me, 194 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 3: you know, you cla at Gray University. But I felt 195 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 3: like I sharpened my skills every day in practice against 196 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 3: my teammates. I challenged people, and I showed what I 197 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 3: needed to show on the college level to go to 198 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 3: the next one. 199 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: At what point did you decide or even know, Like, 200 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: you know, we all like at some point in the season, 201 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 1: it's like we reading papers. Well now it's everywhere for y'all. 202 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: Y'all got me, So it's different. But like you know, 203 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: we all get that feeling as players, like like when 204 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 1: we started before we come out with we start thinking 205 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: ourselves like, man, I think I'm about this. It's looking 206 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: like it right now. I'm feeling good about what I've 207 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: done so far. Like what point did you start getting 208 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: a feeling like this might be the year for you? 209 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 3: You know, like really towards the end of the year, 210 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 3: like in the conference tournament, PAC twelve tournament and then 211 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 3: playing in March Madness in front of all those people, 212 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 3: and you know, having to go out there performing impact, 213 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 3: getting to win, you know, being able to advance. It's 214 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 3: one and done when you're in there, So yeah, you 215 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 3: got to really come in and show what you could 216 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 3: show while you're in there. And that's what I felt 217 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 3: I did, and I was productive and a good, great 218 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 3: piece for my team to help us win. Went to 219 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,839 Speaker 3: the sweet sixteen. It wasn't you know what our end 220 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,200 Speaker 3: goal was. We wanted to be the last team standing 221 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 3: a lot. But you know, sweet sixteen ain't nothing to 222 00:09:28,120 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 3: you know, turn your nose too. Who are some of 223 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 3: the guys that you you grew up loving and watching 224 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 3: them play, and who are some of the guys that 225 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 3: your pops was telling you like, yeah, watch how he playing, 226 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 3: Watch how smart he is? Yeah, I mean I'm a 227 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 3: younger guy, so I grew up on you know, right 228 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 3: when Kobe was winning them last two, when Lebron was 229 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,080 Speaker 3: coming up. I seen the evolution of Lebron, you know, 230 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 3: one of the greatest ever. Got to give him his respect, 231 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,760 Speaker 3: and then kd as well. You know, those are the 232 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 3: three man guys I really watched. But some guys my 233 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 3: pops always, you know, gave me to watch and watch 234 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 3: their films like Penny hard Away, you know, Tracy McGrady 235 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,400 Speaker 3: cast like that where I just missed them. But they're 236 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,560 Speaker 3: people who you know, I grow be their size type, 237 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 3: the same type frame, athletic. 238 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 2: You know, push the ball and absolutely everything. 239 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: Absolutely I need to know because I'm gonna be there. 240 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: I need to know how you bring it in on 241 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: draft night, what type. I know you're gonna hire. 242 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 2: Y'all. Young boys love having your ankles out. 243 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,960 Speaker 1: I don't know how your ankles out, so you know, 244 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: but just you know, you coming, shiny suit. What you're doing. 245 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: Don't tell me you wearing no shorts though I can't 246 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:36,679 Speaker 1: hear the shorts. 247 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: Nah, I ain't wearing no shot. You know. 248 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 3: I kept it classic, you know, good neutral color suit, 249 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 3: white collar shirt. You know, got some nice shoes. You know, 250 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 3: a little bit of jewelry. Okay, okay, crazy though you 251 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 3: know what I'm saying. I kept it, kept it pretty humble. 252 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 3: But you know it's at the same time, it's special 253 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:56,839 Speaker 3: to me because it's the. 254 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 2: Only night of my life. You know, everybody in the 255 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,760 Speaker 2: world that ever knew you don't see you. You know, 256 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,599 Speaker 2: people that you have seen, they got it. I got it. 257 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 2: You know when I got drafted. 258 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 3: You know, David Stern was the commissioner of the league, 259 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 3: and you know wild and I used to tell my 260 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 3: homeboys when I when I shake his hand, and I'm 261 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 3: gonna bring them to me right we go. 262 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 2: You know, I get drafted number three. 263 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 3: You know, I come up on that and I shook 264 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 3: his hand and then I brought him to me and 265 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:33,479 Speaker 3: grab head. 266 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 2: Me with it. Be cool. 267 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:33,960 Speaker 3: And after that, you know, I got the cheese and 268 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 3: and all that stuff. So how big of a hug 269 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:39,839 Speaker 3: or handshake or what it is that you're gonna go 270 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 3: up there and do You're gonna be not me the 271 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 3: wild kid and keep it keep it playing. 272 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 2: You know I'm gonna keep it. I'm gonna keep it pee. 273 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 3: But you know at the same time, like that's the 274 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 3: commissioner and I just got drafted. You know what I'm saying, 275 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 3: You got respect, you gotta bring up for me. 276 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 2: That's how I feel. I gotta bring you saying went 277 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 2: too far. 278 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,560 Speaker 1: It's okay to give hi a hood when you grab 279 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: me in by their head, that ain't right. 280 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 2: I know that when you my height, all the lotts. 281 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: Wrong, got twenty two sides hands boy, Like what you're 282 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: talking about? 283 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 2: I want. I won with my homeboys. I told him 284 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:19,719 Speaker 2: I was gonna do it, so I flexed. Now you 285 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 2: got there, number three, You got it. 286 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 3: How does it feel to like your family, you being here, 287 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 3: your little sister, your little brother, your mom, your dad, 288 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 3: like everybody being here and they get to share this 289 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 3: moment with you all the times where you know you 290 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:34,640 Speaker 3: were sick and mom. 291 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,880 Speaker 2: Had to take care of you. You're eating your. 292 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,839 Speaker 3: Dinners together and you know, coming home from school. All 293 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,520 Speaker 3: the moments got to this right here. How is it 294 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 3: to you know, be with your family and enjoy it 295 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 3: with it means the world to me, you know what 296 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 3: I'm saying. To be able to, you know, travel the 297 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 3: country with my parents because you know, I could play 298 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,440 Speaker 3: the game of basketball and it's something that I love 299 00:12:55,520 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 3: to do. 300 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 2: You know, I'm at the time of my life where I. 301 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 3: Ain't never been happier, you know, mentally, and just them 302 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 3: being able to experience with this with me means the world. 303 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 3: And it's just like for all those times you know 304 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 3: we was riding back in the car after a game, 305 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 3: or you know, I was at my high school plan 306 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 3: working out where nobody could see with the lights off, 307 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 3: you know, in the gym till ten eleven, twelve, twelve 308 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 3: in the morning. So it's definitely a full circle moment. 309 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 3: Most definitely an emotional time. But you know, I can't 310 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 3: wait to have my name called, and this is what 311 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,319 Speaker 3: we've all been dreaming about. So it's just a testament 312 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 3: to my hard work, my family upbringing me, and you know, 313 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 3: making me the man I am today and preparing me 314 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 3: to be ready for the world at nineteen years old. 315 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 3: You a cry, nah, because a lot of times you 316 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 3: get in these moments and we see those crime so 317 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 3: so you ain't a cry. You're gonna make it on through. 318 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 3: I think I gonna make it on through. 319 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 2: Cool. 320 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 3: But you know, you never know, you know, when you 321 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 3: were sitting there and that in that room and they 322 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 3: call your name, your mom, it's a different ball game. 323 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 3: So I'm gonna just, you know, try to keep it together. 324 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 2: How many workouts did you do? I had? I had eleven? 325 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:17,960 Speaker 2: Was what was the hardest workout? You think you had? 326 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 2: Hardest workout? To me? Probably Denver because of the altitude. 327 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 2: You know what I'm saying. 328 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 3: Denver's up there, so they had you running up the 329 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 3: hill that it has you running up the heel up 330 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:38,160 Speaker 3: there over there. 331 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 2: I got that. 332 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: I'm the man. I can't call the stream coach name 333 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: right now. He like one of the greatest dudes and 334 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: the little swollen dude. 335 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, they didn't have you playing like one on 336 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,680 Speaker 2: one full court. Uh. 337 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 3: In some workouts it was, but not not at Denver. 338 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 3: We just played three on three full court, which is 339 00:14:54,920 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 3: pretty you know so, and then just like some transition drills. 340 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 2: Types of stuff. Who did you think it was your 341 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: best workout? 342 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 3: It's hard to say because I feel like I under 343 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 3: from the field in the workouts. You know what I'm saying, 344 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 3: I really showed what I could do, especially just being 345 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 3: able to handle the ball at my size and you know, 346 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 3: be a versatile defender. But I feel like I had 347 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 3: some real good workouts. So that means you took care 348 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 3: of business. You took your flights, winning ate good, got 349 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 3: your rest, and was prepared. Yeah, you know, on flights 350 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 3: they add up. If I want to show you how 351 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 3: many boarding passes I got on my phone, you would 352 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 3: be like, damn. But you know, at the end of 353 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 3: the day, you got to realize it's business and you 354 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 3: gotta do what you gotta do. 355 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 2: You know what I'm saying. 356 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 3: There's a million people that would probably switch lives with 357 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 3: me and want to work. They get to work out 358 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 3: hard for an hour, you know, meet with an NBA team, 359 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 3: meet with some of the greatest basketball minds out there. 360 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:56,280 Speaker 2: You go in to workouts places and the team is supportive. 361 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:56,520 Speaker 2: You know. 362 00:15:56,560 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 3: I go to Golden State and DG's out there, you know, yelling, 363 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 3: bringing energy. So it's just stuff. You know, you can't 364 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 3: recreate those type of moments. So I just tried to 365 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 3: take everything in and like really treated like a workout 366 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,640 Speaker 3: how I do at home, Like I'm getting better today. 367 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 2: What was that like? 368 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 3: Because you say you were playing at UCLA and you're 369 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 3: playing different places, you're playing against pros early, Like when 370 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,040 Speaker 3: was that moment that you you lined it up like, yeah, 371 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 3: I'm a pro and I feel like I'm gonna be 372 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,200 Speaker 3: a pro. It's funny, you know, because I talk about KD. 373 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 3: That's my man's and I remember one day, you know, 374 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 3: during the pandemic. I wasn't playing at the time, but 375 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 3: I was working out. KD it invited me to come 376 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 3: play pick up with him, Kyrie and some of the 377 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 3: other guys on the Brooklyn Net during the time. 378 00:16:39,680 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 2: So I went out. 379 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 3: There and you know, it was me and Kyrie and 380 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 3: then two other guys who played fors versus KD and 381 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 3: then his team whatever the squad was. 382 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 2: And I remember just. 383 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 3: Playing and I was holding my own I was doing 384 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 3: more than just hanging, you know what I'm saying. I 385 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 3: was in there getting my buckets in the mix and 386 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:02,640 Speaker 3: like playing the seven. KD had six or seven every 387 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 3: game when he has had since no missus, you know that, 388 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 3: I'm like, damn, I'm guarding him. 389 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,200 Speaker 2: One time, I'm thinking I'm playing good defense. You know 390 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 2: I didn't see that. Yeah, we went the other way. 391 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 3: So nah, it was good, you know, getting to play 392 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,439 Speaker 3: against the guy that level, getting to see Kyrie in 393 00:17:22,480 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 3: person how skilled he is. 394 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 2: But I definitely knew when I was hanging that day, 395 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 2: you know, away from that, I gave KD a bucket 396 00:17:30,480 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 2: or two two, you know what I'm saying. 397 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:34,760 Speaker 3: So it's definitely somewhere I was like, yeah, I know 398 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 3: what I need to work on to be on the 399 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 3: level of these guys. But at the same time, I 400 00:17:38,119 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 3: was like, I can hang. Sure was it seeing Kyrie Irving? Like, 401 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 3: you know, you know what Kyrie Irving is, Paull Haling, 402 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,199 Speaker 3: the way he played. How was it to see Kyrie 403 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 3: Irving in person? 404 00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 2: It was amazing? 405 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 3: You know, you see it on TV and it almost 406 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 3: kind of don't look really look like a video game 407 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 3: when he doesn't in person, Like he's really dog like 408 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 3: you should tell he really take the time to work 409 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 3: on his game and just polish every part of his game. 410 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 3: You know, like he right handed, but he laid that 411 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 3: ball up with the left hand like this, This is 412 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 3: right second nature. You know what I'm saying, I'm trailing 413 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 3: on the break. On the fast break, I'm trailing like 414 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 3: maybe gonna throw me a lib or something. Now he's 415 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:20,639 Speaker 3: flipping all that off the glass. 416 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 2: I'm like, I'm gonna stop running. I want to conserve 417 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 2: my energy. He's a definition of like it's levels to this, 418 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:30,360 Speaker 2: you know. 419 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:32,719 Speaker 3: Where he's placing the ball on the back ord like 420 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 3: it's crazy, but you could tell he took that next 421 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 3: level towards you know, really becoming like one of the 422 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,640 Speaker 3: greats with you know, just being one of the most 423 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 3: skilled players in the world. 424 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: So I got nothing but respect for him. 425 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 3: Anybody who could do that type of stuff with the 426 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,440 Speaker 3: basketball obviously put a lot of time into it. So 427 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 3: you know for sure that you can't be a fan 428 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 3: no more after the draft, right, yeah, no more fans. 429 00:18:57,520 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: You gotta take Come on now, everything he just said 430 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,719 Speaker 2: KD was sweet. I think he ready for that. Oh okay, 431 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 2: let me ask you this a question. 432 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,879 Speaker 3: It's not a really crazy tough question, but I just 433 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 3: want to ask that you seem very very confident what 434 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 3: you sposed to have. We can't be who we are 435 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:16,760 Speaker 3: if we didn't have the type of confidence that we have. 436 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 3: But what if things don't go it's playing well if 437 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 3: you gotta wait in line because you get drafted to 438 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 3: a team that's already set and you gotta wait your turn. Yeah, nah, 439 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 3: absolutely I can handle that, you know, Like even growing up, 440 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 3: like I didn't start my freshman or sophomore year in 441 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 3: high school. You know, you look up junior year, they 442 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 3: you know, yeah, let me go. I'm averaging twenty five now. 443 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 3: So it's like it's one of those things where you 444 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,439 Speaker 3: learn as much as you can. You learn what you 445 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 3: can from them guys that's in front of you, and 446 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 3: then when it's your time to come up, you gotta 447 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 3: be ready to hit the ground running, you know, and 448 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,159 Speaker 3: you're gonna see like the people that really listen to 449 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 3: those vets and those older guys end up being successful. 450 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 3: So you know, I'm just trying to do as much 451 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 3: as I can young, but at the same time take 452 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 3: it all in and learn, well. I passed across twice 453 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 3: now and I'm looking forward to a cross again. When 454 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 3: you're making them All Star games and winning them championships. 455 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 3: Hopefully don't forget about us, right, yeah, don't forget about us, 456 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,880 Speaker 3: get but thank you. 457 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 1: Y'all have done a wonderful job. Man, this man is 458 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: a good, good young man like that. 459 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 2: He got his family on deck, going with everything. 460 00:20:27,080 --> 00:20:29,879 Speaker 1: Man, this is, this is I'm looking forward to watching 461 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: Peyton watch and moving forward. 462 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:33,920 Speaker 2: Thank you for going on, Thanks for having me. 463 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:40,640 Speaker 1: All right, we want to thank y'all for your continued 464 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: support of the podcast. You enjoyed this episode, be sure 465 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: to give us two taps by writing a review you're 466 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:49,640 Speaker 1: writing five stars wherever you get your podcasts, and make 467 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 1: sure to hit that subscribe button so you don't miss 468 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: an episode. You can also find all the episodes on 469 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: the Players Tribute YouTube page. All of us on social 470 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: media at Knuckleheads Podcast and join our Knuckleheads Facebook groups 471 00:21:02,920 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: or inclusive content. Thanks again to all of our guests 472 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,439 Speaker 1: and fans. This wouldn't be possible without y'all. 473 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:18,160 Speaker 2: The Players Tribute dot com