1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 1: First of all, i'd like to thank you for coming 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: on our show. I remember I seen you and at 3 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,559 Speaker 1: All Star weekend in Chicago, and I asked you to 4 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: come on our show, told you I was a fan 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: and wanted you to come on. 6 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 2: So I remember, but. 7 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 3: All Star in Chicago, it was a while ago, but 8 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:24,440 Speaker 3: it was a month after my surgery. 9 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 2: It was and I was, I was on drugs. 10 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 3: I was I was like a zombie, like I was 11 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,959 Speaker 3: really trying to I was struggling, trying to get through. 12 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: I remember seeing you and I remember asking you to 13 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: come on the on the show and stuff. And like 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 1: a couple of days ago, I just seen the East 15 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 1: sixty interview and I just seen at the end of it. 16 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 4: I didn't know you got traded to Phoenix. 17 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 1: I just seen the end of the interview and we 18 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: was coming out here and I was like, man, we 19 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,319 Speaker 1: got to reach out to because I seen that All 20 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: Star and I wanted to to get it. 21 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 4: But I was a fan. 22 00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: Well I am still a fan, but you know what 23 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: I'm saying, and I'm a big, big fan of you. 24 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 4: I'm glad that you came on the show. 25 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,160 Speaker 2: I appreciate y'all for having me for real, it's dope. 26 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: When you first made it to w n b A 27 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: who was the first person to bust your ass? 28 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,960 Speaker 3: I wouldn't say I got my ass buss, to be honest, 29 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,200 Speaker 3: I came in real ready, But I would say the 30 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,240 Speaker 3: most challenging defensive assignment I had was mine More. 31 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, so you got the end of my more right 32 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 4: before she. 33 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, but that was my matchup, just straight out the gate, 34 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 3: and I was like, damn good. Yeah. 35 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,039 Speaker 2: It was just like she just did whatever she. 36 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 3: Wanted, any shot, any shot, any anything like over two hands, 37 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 3: perfect contest anything. 38 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 5: Yeah. 39 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: It was like I never felt helpless as a defender. 40 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 3: You know. 41 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 2: It's one of those I'm just like. 42 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 3: There's really nothing that I could that I could do, 43 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 3: you know, but looking back, especially knowing that you know, 44 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 3: she's not in the league anymore, it was it's such 45 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 3: an honor to have had the chance to go up 46 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 3: against her. 47 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 5: Yo yo Yo. We live on location. We we we 48 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 5: visible with a Verrison this season. That's the blackest one 49 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 5: we out here live on location in the desert. We 50 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 5: had to come way out here to Phoenix p h 51 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 5: O p h A Phoenix airs On and we had 52 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 5: to come get a get a special young lady All 53 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 5: Star Champion, Champion, Ding Ding Ding. You want champion for 54 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 5: my Chicago Skuys. So you know what I'm saying. We 55 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 5: had to come all the way out here to the 56 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 5: Desert Diamond. This shields in the building. Everybody that loved 57 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 5: the diamond, this shields Phoenix Mercury. 58 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 4: What up, Tony. Thank you for filling Thank you. 59 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 3: Guys for having me. Man, I'm looking forward to this conversation. 60 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 4: Presented by Visible. 61 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,920 Speaker 1: You are you're twenty seven years old and your pops 62 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: played for them Saint Louis Cardinals. You know your boy 63 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: from the Loop. You know what I'm saying. I remember 64 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 1: that when with us. You know your boy from the 65 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: Loo and he's definitely a Cardinal fan. Keep the Cardinal 66 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: had on you was a baby in the Saint Louis Day. 67 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: I know it was only just a year. Do you 68 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: having like pictures and stuff or from the Cardinal. 69 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 2: I got a picture. 70 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 3: I got a picture with my dad holding me on 71 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 3: their home opener of like family Day. 72 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: He's holding me. 73 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 3: I'm like looking over his shoulder and it's the back 74 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 3: of his jersey, but it's like me and the picture, So. 75 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 4: It's like you're all excited because she got a picture. 76 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 4: She was a baby Cardinal. 77 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 5: She don't care about Saint Louis or the Cardinals. Bro, 78 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 5: it was I remember when you was a year old. 79 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 5: I remember when he paid team. That picture is that 80 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 5: you don't care about. I remember when we had squad, 81 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 5: Like a distant picture. That's part of the family tree, right, 82 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 5: Saint Louis ain't got nothing to do with this. I'm 83 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 5: just saying her daddy played with the Cardinals, which is 84 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 5: the best team in baseball. 85 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 4: Thank you. I can I believe it. 86 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 5: He just way around the block, came up the avenue 87 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 5: and brought Saint Louis Cardinals into this. 88 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 4: Man going on, Man, But you got a family full 89 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 4: of athletes. 90 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: Your mom went to Tennessee, your dad is a baseball 91 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: your brother is an athlete. So it was only giving. 92 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: It's in your blood. Like, but you played baseball first? 93 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: What made you go from baseball? What's playing the baseball first? 94 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 1: And then what made you go from baseball to basketball? 95 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 2: We're cracking that thing absolutely absolutely. 96 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 3: I mean baseball was just it was the first board 97 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 3: I was ever around. Yeah, you know, just like going 98 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 3: to the field with my mom when my dad was playing, 99 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 3: and then when my brother was playing, traveling around with him. 100 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 3: It was just like that was the way for me 101 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 3: to spend time with my dad. Right my brother and 102 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 3: him were in the cages. You know, I'm gonna be 103 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 3: in the cages too because I want to chill, like 104 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: I want to kick it with you know. So spent 105 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 3: a lot of time on the field, spent a lot 106 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 3: of time on the road with them too. So that 107 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 3: was the first sport that I gravitated to. But you know, 108 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 3: thinking about a career, and you know, when I chose 109 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 3: and established, you know, within myself that I wanted to 110 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 3: be a pro athlete, It's like, well, you can't play 111 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 3: an MB, so what you're gonna do, you know. And 112 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 3: so at the time, I was, you know, starting to 113 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 3: play basketball and it was fun, and so I was like, 114 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 3: you know, like I could do. 115 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 2: This, you know. 116 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 3: And I played some other sports too, but basketball was 117 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 3: really the one that I knew that I could see 118 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 3: like a clearer picture, like down down the future, like 119 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 3: of what I could be in a. 120 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 1: Common Who was the first girl you've seen that you 121 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: just kind of gravitated too, It was like, oh, she 122 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: a hooper, I can do that. 123 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 3: You know what, that's a good question. That's a really 124 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 3: good question. I'd have to really think about that because 125 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 3: you know, in girls basketball, it's like it's not like 126 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 3: a like a pickup scene. It's not like like you know, 127 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 3: like high school basketball is like just now kind of 128 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 3: like becoming something that like little girls are looking up 129 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 3: to me. 130 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 2: You gotta play, and that's what I did. 131 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,479 Speaker 3: So you know, to think of like who's the first 132 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:20,479 Speaker 3: girl that I really you know, it's it's hard for me. 133 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 4: That's a hard What one of the guys you fell 134 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 4: in love with? 135 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,719 Speaker 2: Ryan Harrow? Ryan Harrow? 136 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 3: Ryan Harrow he went to uh he went to Walton 137 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 3: High School and then he committed to Kentucky and then 138 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 3: he transferred to n C State, I think, and professionally, 139 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 3: I'm not sure exactly what happened, but like in high school, 140 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,920 Speaker 3: like he was like yeah, he like played like Jamal Crawford, 141 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 3: So that was like for sure, like who I was watching. 142 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 4: In high school? When did you feel like. 143 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: What was that moment where you felt like you can 144 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: you wanted to best in the country, Like I know 145 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,080 Speaker 1: you played AAU ball with Stuwie and some of the 146 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: top players. Was that at the time when you felt like, 147 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: oh I got on this team and I can stay 148 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: up with them girls to know that, like oh I'm 149 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: good enough to play. 150 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think that. 151 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 3: Well, it was before high school, so like in eighth grade, 152 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 3: you know, I played on a team with I played 153 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 3: with Lexi Brown, I played with Kayla Davis Antonio Davis's daughter, 154 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 3: Tan Griffy King griff Junior's daughter, like. 155 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: We was all on the team together. 156 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 3: And so I remember we went to Boo Williams and 157 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 3: Virginia at the time. At the time, I'm nobody, you know, 158 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 3: I'm not getting recruited, no nothing, And we went out 159 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 3: there and we played up. So now we're playing against 160 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 3: all the top like I think, like tim graders, and 161 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 3: we won Boo Williams. 162 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: And like the next like week, like Mailbox. 163 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: Was just like crazy. Yeah, it's just about wis. When 164 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: we went to Boo Williams, we used to stay in 165 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: this hotel that was big as a mug, and all 166 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,520 Speaker 1: the teams, girls and boys stayed in the same big 167 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: old I think it was like a Marriott or Holiday 168 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: Inn or so that was the. 169 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:09,679 Speaker 2: Same things, the same hotel. 170 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 3: I mean, I've been to Bool a few times, you know, 171 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 3: so I can't even remember when, but I've definitely been 172 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 3: in that hotel. 173 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that's crazy you remember that. 174 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 4: No, you might be too old for that, but but. 175 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, everybody don't. It's just such a great tournament. 176 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: So tell us about the AAU team, like you Stullie, 177 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: when all y'all got together and you playing with the 178 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: top girls. 179 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, you're talking about the middle school team that I 180 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 3: was on that I just talked about. Yeah, oh well 181 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 3: that team. That team was just a lot of fun. 182 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 3: You know, this is before basketball got all serious. 183 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 4: You know. 184 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 3: It was just kids like and and and being that 185 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 3: young and playing up in every tournament and just winning 186 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 3: like it just was. It was just fun, you know, 187 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: it was just playing basketball free. 188 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 4: Anybody of note along the way that was older than y'all. 189 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, we beat we was This was before the eybl 190 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 3: was on the girls circuit. So like the Nike teams 191 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 3: that they had, we have been playing against them, you know, 192 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 3: beating up on them. Uh yeah, like playing against all 193 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 3: these like nationally ranked ranked players. Like this is before 194 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,319 Speaker 3: like we were not getting recruited like that because it 195 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 3: was in middle school and so our team just kind 196 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 3: of like grew into this like phenomenon, like over the 197 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 3: course of one summer, and like everybody was talking about us. 198 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:29,160 Speaker 4: When you went to high school? 199 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 5: Did you walked through though, we like with like some swag, 200 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 5: like you know already been we've. 201 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 4: Been busting up high school players anyway. 202 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: Absolutely. 203 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 3: I was like because I was at private school up 204 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 3: until eighth grade and then I transferred to Norcross High School. 205 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 3: And I don't know if you're familiar, but Norcross produced 206 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 3: a lot of NBA dudes and whatever. So when I 207 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 3: got there, I was just like, man, like I'm here, 208 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 3: you know, like what we about to do? And we 209 00:09:57,840 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 3: went on to like, you know, I won three state 210 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 3: champ and ships. We won state my freshman year and 211 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 3: just had a lot of success at the high school level. 212 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: When did you feel like you was like, not only 213 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:10,440 Speaker 1: I'm the best player in Atlanta, but I can be 214 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: one of the best player, if not the best player 215 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: in the whole country. 216 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think that. 217 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 3: Once I got my USA invite in ninth grade, I 218 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 3: was you know, that was like that was my moment 219 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 3: where I was like, oh shit, like okay, so I 220 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,360 Speaker 3: got to Colorado Springs and like now I'm seeing all 221 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 3: these girls that you read about in the you know, 222 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 3: in the newspaper, like it's our first time like really 223 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: being like face to face with her, Brehanna Stewart, you know, 224 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 3: like it's my first time seeing her. I'm like, oh, 225 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:44,520 Speaker 3: her arm's longest shit. 226 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:48,199 Speaker 2: Like so that was really and then making that team, 227 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 2: you know, like. 228 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 4: So I was that's that's that's a big deal. 229 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I was fifteen. 230 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 3: I was on the U eighteen team, you know, so 231 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 3: like I was super young. So all my teammates was 232 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 3: going to college. I was in ninth grade. So that 233 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 3: was my first USA basketball experience. 234 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: So all your experience, like all your experience was always ahead. 235 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: So once you got caught up to your senior year, 236 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 1: it was just total domination. 237 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 3: It was like I was, it was I mean, now 238 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 3: you know, I won Natesmith that year. You know, like 239 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 3: I said, I had a lot of success, want to 240 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:28,480 Speaker 3: state championship, just you know, really really blessed to be honest, 241 00:11:28,559 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 3: to have been like you know, able to to have 242 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 3: parents and coaches who were able to just like help 243 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 3: put me in positions to succeed. 244 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 2: So you know, it was it was it was fun. 245 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: Earlier on having a pops that that's been a professional athlete. 246 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 4: Did you already have a just athletic. 247 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 3: Geene or there was a certain tenacity that I had 248 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 3: to have to hang around my brother, you know, Like 249 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 3: I don't think it really has so much to do 250 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 3: with my dad because like when he was playing, I 251 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 3: was a baby, and then by time I was old 252 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 3: enough to really understand, he was retired. 253 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, you know, but it was us retired players. We 254 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 4: don't move no more. 255 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,120 Speaker 3: So yeah, so it was really like just wanting to 256 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,360 Speaker 3: be with my brother, like and when I was with him, 257 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,240 Speaker 3: I was also with his teammates, So it was like 258 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 3: learning how to how to fight, learning how to race, 259 00:12:19,840 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 3: learning how to catch, how to throw, how to you know, 260 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 3: how to just be tough because they don't want, you know, 261 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 3: to be around no girl that's crying all the time 262 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 3: or whatever. So I think that, yeah, I think that 263 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 3: that contributed a lot to me, just like having the 264 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 3: heart that I do. 265 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 5: How did you learn to sustain that level of greatness 266 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 5: because you know how it is a lot of people 267 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 5: when we in seventh eighth grade, you see them top five, 268 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,719 Speaker 5: top ten guys in high school, you are at a 269 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 5: time you get seeing people sprint by him, like with you, 270 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 5: like you said, three state championships, Nate Smith, you sustained 271 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 5: it and sound like got better as when like how 272 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 5: did you continue to do that? 273 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think that like not so much now. 274 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 3: It's the gap is kind of closing as far as 275 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 3: like recognition and you know, access between women and men. 276 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 3: But like back then, it was like being ranked and 277 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 3: being all that and whatever, like it wasn't enough, you know, 278 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,439 Speaker 3: like we didn't have no Chris Paul Camps. We didn't 279 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 3: have We wasn't getting gears sent to the house. We wasn't, 280 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 3: you know. So it was like I wanted all those things. 281 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 3: So like when I would see you know, the guys 282 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 3: that were my friends, that were you know, all. 283 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: Of Amerricans that was getting it, you know, I was 284 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 1: like I want that too. 285 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 2: How I'm supposed to get that? 286 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:37,440 Speaker 4: You know? 287 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 3: So in my mind there was only one way for 288 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: me to get it, you know, and that was making 289 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:45,319 Speaker 3: it to the pro level. 290 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 4: You know. 291 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 3: So I feel like in a sense it kept me hungry. 292 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 3: I think like a lot of guys back then, they 293 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 3: just were spoiled early. You know, that false sense of entitlement, 294 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 3: you know that work ethic is just like dropping because 295 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 3: you think that you know, everything is easy. But you know, 296 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 3: for me, I just it was the pursuit of you 297 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 3: know what, I what I felt I deserved for the 298 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 3: work that I put it. 299 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: They didn't have a girl's McDonald's game when we when 300 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: we came out and played in the McDonald's game. Wow, 301 00:14:15,880 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: how was it to be named McDonald's All American? 302 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 3: I mean, once again, like that was it? Like that 303 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 3: was the pinnacle? There was no Jordan Brand, you know, 304 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,320 Speaker 3: there was even in the Iverson Classic like he had 305 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 3: he had a girl playing in that this past year. 306 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 2: I think so. 307 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 4: Yeah he did, Yeah yeah. 308 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, So being a being a McDonald's All American was 309 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 3: that was? That was like the reward for the four 310 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,600 Speaker 3: years of high school that you done been through, you know, 311 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,000 Speaker 3: to finally be recognized as like the best. 312 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 2: In your class, top of your class. I was like 313 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 2: that really meant something. 314 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 4: How was that experience for you being there? 315 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 5: Because I know I like we went, you know, like 316 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 5: you said, when girls weren't there when we went, Like, 317 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 5: how was it when you guys got to go? Like 318 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 5: was I've seen it on TV and everything? But from 319 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 5: your perspective, I mean, it was a lot of fun. 320 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 3: You know, like I said, like, this was the first 321 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 3: time I got a suitcase waiting in my room. So 322 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 3: for me and I know for the rest of the 323 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 3: girls that was there, we was all just like happy 324 00:15:17,480 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 3: that it was just like. 325 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 5: They still have like the big banquet and everybody dress 326 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 5: up and everything. 327 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 3: They had the banquet and everything, so you know, you're 328 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 3: seeing all the guys there and like everybody, Yeah, it's 329 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 3: like the first time. It's like this is the top 330 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 3: of this is the top of the top, and everybody 331 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 3: just coming together and just you know, having am. 332 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 5: So he me ask you this for the banquet, I 333 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 5: remember they weed all have to wear the same type 334 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 5: of thing that you'll have to wear something that was 335 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 5: kind of uniform. And yeah, they had like we had 336 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 5: to text it was a little blue they got. 337 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 3: The school girl had like three dresses you could choose 338 00:15:55,600 --> 00:16:00,400 Speaker 3: from and they were all just terrible. Terri and was 339 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 3: all mad and yeah they wasn't cute. You know, we 340 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 3: were trying to be cute at that time. 341 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 5: Because I know they you know, that was like a 342 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 5: little you know, a little love prestigious, little banquet. So 343 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 5: I was wondering how they did that for the girls 344 00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 5: and they gave out some choices or whatever. 345 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 4: How many visits you take, I mean school visits you take? 346 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 2: I took a few. Yeah, I took a few. I took. 347 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 3: I took all my visits before I committed, so I 348 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 3: didn't I took one official and it was after I 349 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 3: had committed to North Carolina. 350 00:16:33,200 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 4: So was your mom heartbroken that you didn't go to 351 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 4: n C? 352 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 2: I mean I think, deep, deep, deep down. 353 00:16:41,360 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 1: But she never put no pressure on me to, you know, 354 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 1: baby got Yeah, she. 355 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 2: Was really supportive. But visits were fun and I started 356 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 2: taking visits like in ninth. 357 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 4: Grade or why you ain't c. 358 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 3: Well, you know at the time, it was first of all, 359 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 3: fell in love with the camp. You know, if you've 360 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 3: ever been to Chapel Hill, it's just like it's beautiful. 361 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:06,880 Speaker 4: You know, the baby blue baby Blue do something. 362 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,760 Speaker 3: To you exactly exactly, And you know, I like the 363 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 3: idea of coming in and being able to, you know, 364 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 3: immediately start and make an impact and you know, have 365 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 3: a significant role on a team that was like teetering 366 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 3: right and have been for for a while. And you know, 367 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,119 Speaker 3: on top of that, I was coming in with like 368 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 3: three of my best friends. So we had the number 369 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,120 Speaker 3: one recruiting class and you know that was Yeah, so 370 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 3: it was a lot of excitement, you know, making that 371 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,480 Speaker 3: move to go to Chapel Hill, and you know, obviously 372 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:40,160 Speaker 3: the tradition there women's basketball is very rich. 373 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,880 Speaker 5: Okay, back in high school, had something had just got 374 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,920 Speaker 5: diagnosed with Alzheimers, did that have anything? Did they impact 375 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 5: your opinion? I mean you choosing U n C. Did 376 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,520 Speaker 5: you did you want to play for her before that 377 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:54,680 Speaker 5: happened at all? 378 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 2: Absolutely? I mean, you know, Pat had been. 379 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 3: Part of my life for a really long time, directly 380 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 3: in and directly right before she even knew me, you know, 381 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:09,199 Speaker 3: so while she was recruiting me, you know, she was 382 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,240 Speaker 3: very present, you know, at my games and just the 383 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 3: whole UT staff. So you know, by the time she 384 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 3: had got diagnosed, it was just it was a shock. 385 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 3: And so the timing was right around when I was 386 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 3: about to make my decisions, like the end of my 387 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 3: senior year, and so you know, the timing was just 388 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,040 Speaker 3: it was a perfect storm, you know, if you will, 389 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,119 Speaker 3: because that was my dream school, that was my dream coach, 390 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 3: you know, but I knew that I wasn't going to 391 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:41,560 Speaker 3: get an opportunity to play for you know, so to 392 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 3: say that that didn't impact my decision would be a lie. 393 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 4: You know. 394 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 3: So, like I said, I ended up where I felt 395 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 3: like I was supposed to be in the end, but 396 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 3: the uncertainty of the coaching staff at the time when 397 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 3: I was supposed to be making my decision was just you. 398 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: Know, wish was Yeah, let me ask you this, like 399 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: with today's you see, today's kids they can just transfer 400 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:06,760 Speaker 1: from a school to. 401 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 4: Another school, transfer problem. 402 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 1: They can go to the final four and be like, hey, 403 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: I want to go to the team that beat us. 404 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,439 Speaker 1: I'm sorry to see the kids these days and to 405 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 1: see what you had to go through from your transition 406 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: to going to another school, Like, are you happy that 407 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: kids get the opportunity to make another decision to be like, man, 408 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: it's just not me. 409 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 4: I don't feel comfortable. I just want to go somewhere else. 410 00:19:31,640 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I believe that they should be empowered, 411 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,160 Speaker 3: you know, to make that choice, and I like that 412 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 3: they have the ability now and they don't have to 413 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 3: be locked. 414 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 4: In and wait a whole nothing. 415 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:47,120 Speaker 3: But with some of the decisions, you know, it's also evident, 416 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 3: you know that there is a mental like toughness aspect 417 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 3: that I feel like it is lacking, Like you gotta 418 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 3: earn your minutes, you know, you gotta it. Ain't too 419 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 3: men freshman that's gonna come in and play, you know. 420 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 3: So if you're transferring, you chose to go to Duke, 421 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 3: you chose to go to Kentucky or you know, one 422 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 3: of these top schools. You know, I feel like, you know, 423 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 3: regardless of what the situation may be, sometimes you have 424 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 3: a valid, valid reason to transfer. So I do like 425 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 3: that they get the opportunity to be like no, like 426 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 3: I'm leaving, you know. But in some cases I feel 427 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 3: like it's hell. And it's hard for me to say 428 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 3: that because I transfer right. But you know, in some cases, 429 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 3: I feel like, you know, it's worth it's worth staying in, 430 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 3: you know, fighting and trying to make make better of 431 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 3: the situation you went. 432 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:38,479 Speaker 1: But like with your situation, like it it's so okay. 433 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:40,400 Speaker 1: Now you don't see the backslash. 434 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 4: You don't see schools getting into all that. 435 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,879 Speaker 1: And the good thing about you see somebody at a 436 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: small school get the that's killing that never got them 437 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: big colleges to look at him, go to the tournament 438 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 1: and do his thing, and now he can go to 439 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: a big college and get a little bit more recognition. 440 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: But you it's like you you one of the ones 441 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: that sacrifice. That's why you were special in it. A 442 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,640 Speaker 1: lot of guys even before you, they had to sit 443 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: out the whole year and had to go through that 444 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 1: whole everything, and you know, they label a person, oh, 445 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 1: just because you will sit out of the whole. 446 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:15,760 Speaker 4: They'll try to label you just because. 447 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,600 Speaker 1: You want to go to a different situation that you 448 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:21,159 Speaker 1: feel like is better for you in your situation. So 449 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 1: you you're one of the ones that that you like 450 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: a sacrifice. 451 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 4: Yeah. 452 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 2: I mean before me, like in women's basketball, it was. 453 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 3: Like you don't transfer forbiddeness, especially for all Americans, especially 454 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 3: a ACC freshman of the year, especially a you know, 455 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 3: all the whatever I was after my freshman year, it's 456 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,959 Speaker 3: like what you stayed for four years and that it 457 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 3: is what it is. And so when I decided to leave, 458 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:52,439 Speaker 3: it was like it was like shocked, like like I 459 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 3: had just like I don't even know, Like the response 460 00:21:55,600 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 3: was just like it was crazy. And so you know, 461 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:01,679 Speaker 3: after that, obviously you know, like a lot more, a 462 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 3: lot more girls around the country started transferring, and you know, 463 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 3: started to you know, I feel like be empowered once 464 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 3: again to like do what they felt was best and 465 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 3: what was right for them. 466 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:15,680 Speaker 4: So did you have to sit out? 467 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:16,840 Speaker 2: Yeah? I had to sit out? 468 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 4: How was that for you? Like, like you said, going 469 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 4: from being first team playing basketball every day? Damn there. 470 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 3: I mean it was hard, but you know, like Tom 471 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 3: Tomming was really important because I needed to get a surgery. 472 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 3: So you know, I ended up getting a much needed 473 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 3: surgery on my leg. 474 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 2: And so my sit out here was mainly just recovering 475 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:37,800 Speaker 2: from that. 476 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:38,240 Speaker 4: Yeah. 477 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:43,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, I ask you this about the decision, Like, you know, 478 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: who kind of convinced you? Your mom or your dad 479 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:50,159 Speaker 1: kind of convinced you, like, like believe in what you 480 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 1: believe in because you know that's a Harvard city, especially 481 00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,480 Speaker 1: for a young lady going to college, and you know 482 00:22:55,520 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: it's forbid right to do what you try to do. 483 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: So like who can to confirmed you and supported you? 484 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,639 Speaker 1: Like like, yeah, I'm making the right decision, this is 485 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 1: what I want to do, this is what I believe 486 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: I should do. 487 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean definitely my parents, you know I think that, 488 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 3: Like I'm super blessed to have parents who like allowed 489 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 3: me to make decisions like that and and and heard. 490 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 2: Me, you know, and listen to me when I spoke. 491 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 3: It was one of those things where my mom knew 492 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 3: that if I was calling her and saying that I 493 00:23:27,560 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 3: was ready to go, that I was for real. And 494 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:32,439 Speaker 3: you know, she didn't question it, she didn't try to 495 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 3: talk me out of it. And you know, I'm really 496 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 3: blessed to have parents who you know, support me in 497 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 3: every decision that. 498 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 2: I made, because ultimately, you know. 499 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,400 Speaker 3: It's the reason why I'm here, and you know, I'm 500 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 3: in an amazing spot. 501 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 4: Now, good job, straight up, good job? How big? 502 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,040 Speaker 1: Would did the smile grow like like three or four 503 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 1: inches once you chose Tennesseee the transfer to or it 504 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 1: was just like like two or three? 505 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, she was she was really happy. She was over. 506 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 4: She got the word that that that the world colors. 507 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 2: Again got to sing Rocky Top after all. 508 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:13,720 Speaker 4: Oh yeah, I already know. Did she have did she 509 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 4: have her your and all the stuff with the. 510 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:23,160 Speaker 5: Shirts without all of the style, her letterman's everything. 511 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 1: I'm like, yo, I don't mean I ain't trying to 512 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 1: skip and just get past everything, but like, how was 513 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: it like you went to Tennessee Canvas? Parker is like 514 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:38,840 Speaker 1: one of the goats right of Tennessee. Like for you 515 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,399 Speaker 1: to win a championship, first, for you to get Canvas 516 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,919 Speaker 1: Park on your team, then to win a championship with 517 00:24:44,960 --> 00:24:49,200 Speaker 1: Cannas Parker, with the Tennessee Pride and. 518 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 4: All that, How was I going to say in Chicago? 519 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: Though, apologized in Chicago, which that's a big deal in Chicago, Like, 520 00:24:57,359 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 1: how was that to just get that? 521 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, you know, it was one of those 522 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:05,399 Speaker 3: the stars kind of aligned, you know, for for us 523 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 3: to have been there at the same time, you know, 524 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,640 Speaker 3: and Kansas is who she is, and so it was special. 525 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 3: You know, special for a lot of reasons, you know, 526 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 3: but you know, talking about that specifically, like you couldn't. 527 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 4: Really ask for me, right, there no better? 528 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:22,760 Speaker 2: Right, it was perfect. 529 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: Do you remember when you walked on the campus and 530 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:28,440 Speaker 1: you in Tennessee and you seeing Kansas Park or Shamika 531 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:32,920 Speaker 1: Hole's claw, you know, the three the Three Meets and 532 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: the history of the past summit. Did you feel that, 533 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,439 Speaker 1: like that legacy when you walked in that gym with 534 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: the championship banners and all that stuff. 535 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 3: I mean, you can't not. It's like you and you 536 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 3: on Rocky Top, you on the summit. Yeah, like you 537 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 3: and and and I had been introduced to that since 538 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 3: a very young age, you know, like my mom was 539 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 3: always taking me to Knoxville like home coming, whatever, We're 540 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,680 Speaker 3: going to full games, We're going to the basketball game. 541 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 3: So you know, it was kind of like seeing my 542 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 3: childhood dreams come to fruition. And also just like knowing 543 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:10,320 Speaker 3: I was in a space where like women's basketball was 544 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:12,919 Speaker 3: heralded and like respected, Like you know, the way they 545 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 3: treat women's basketball in Knoxville is like none other family. Yeah, 546 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,959 Speaker 3: so it was it was a magical experience. 547 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 2: It was. 548 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 1: It was Dope, you played overseas before, you've played like 549 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 1: a lot of girls haven't. A lot of females haven't 550 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: did that. Like what made you play overseas before? You 551 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:34,880 Speaker 1: went to the draft? 552 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:35,560 Speaker 2: Well? 553 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 3: I so I transferred, and with that transfer, you know, 554 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 3: you get that that extra year on the back end. 555 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 3: So initially I had said I was coming back, you know, 556 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,879 Speaker 3: So the year I was supposed to get drafted, the 557 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 3: draft had passed, I'm coming back to school the end, 558 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 3: and I just remember I went home, like after the 559 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 3: semester ended, I went home and like I was like 560 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:05,120 Speaker 3: having like anxiety attacks and I was like really struggling 561 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 3: with the idea of going back to school, like it 562 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:08,359 Speaker 3: stopped making sense to me. 563 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 2: And so then I I changed my mind, you know. 564 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:15,520 Speaker 2: And it's like. 565 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,160 Speaker 3: And it's like in a situation where all the adults 566 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 3: in the room and whoever else is like, you can't 567 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 3: do that once again, my parents, you know, you have 568 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:29,879 Speaker 3: the right to change your mind, you know. Don't feel 569 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 3: bad about that, about doing what you feel is right 570 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 3: in your heart, you know. So, although the draft was over, 571 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,199 Speaker 3: ended up getting an offer from a team in Turkey, 572 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,359 Speaker 3: and I was able to go and play a professional 573 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 3: season prior to the draft the next year. 574 00:27:44,640 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 5: Hey, that's gangster, Like I swear you remember when I 575 00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 5: went back to school after my freshman year, I did 576 00:27:50,400 --> 00:27:54,080 Speaker 5: not I feel like I just for like literally what 577 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,680 Speaker 5: you just said. I felt the same way, like I'll 578 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 5: never forget. 579 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 4: Couldn't nobody believe him? 580 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 5: That pressure the first day out when the first day 581 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 5: I went back and had to go, Like I remember 582 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 5: coming going to school and I was like the first 583 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:10,960 Speaker 5: when I got back from classes that day, I was 584 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:14,399 Speaker 5: like damn, And it was like it was like but 585 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:16,920 Speaker 5: it was for me, it was like, you're not about 586 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 5: to leave school and try and do like like you 587 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 5: about to you here, like like you said that the 588 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 5: deadline had passed. I can't say this or that I was, 589 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 5: but that my second year was nowhere close as fun 590 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 5: as my first year because of that, because I felt 591 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 5: like you should have left watching my dog mcghetti get drafted, 592 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 5: and that year I'm like. 593 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 4: Man, I should have left, I should have left. 594 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 5: And then it was like I felt like my whole 595 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,640 Speaker 5: second year I just got I just got like the 596 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 5: microscope put on me, like they picked my game a 597 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 5: boar people doubling and triple. They trying to say my 598 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 5: numbers was down there the same, almost identical. They tried 599 00:28:51,960 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 5: to say that I didn't do this, And then I 600 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 5: was like I should have took my ass left. 601 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. 602 00:28:57,160 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 4: Absolute, that was. 603 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:03,800 Speaker 3: That decision, well, the transfer after my freshman year, and 604 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:11,880 Speaker 3: that decision, it gave me the knowledge of like relying 605 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 3: on my intuition like so much more at a very 606 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 3: young age. 607 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:19,480 Speaker 2: And you know, like you have that gut feeling. 608 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 4: Like you said, your body feeling for. 609 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 3: Whatever reason, it's like the cameras, the coaches, the whoever, 610 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 3: the whatever is, it's like pulling you the opposite of 611 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 3: what's in here, and so you know, I'm grateful again, 612 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 3: you know every decision I've ever made that was controversial 613 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 3: or taboo or whatever. 614 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:41,719 Speaker 2: Like I'm in the best position I could be in life. 615 00:29:42,040 --> 00:29:45,080 Speaker 1: You know who you credit to the game though, because 616 00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 1: like your game is like like Tamika catchings, Like I 617 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 1: love Tamika catchings. I played small for with Like small 618 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:56,480 Speaker 1: fours are all around players. They play defense, they shoot three, 619 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:58,320 Speaker 1: they do all You didn't shoot three. 620 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:02,800 Speaker 4: I didn't. But I'm just saying into yourself and like 621 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 4: to Mika catch and shoot threes, she understands what I'm 622 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:05,960 Speaker 4: talking about. 623 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: Yes, I messed up my question, but you know what 624 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: I'm saying, Like a small fo was like an all 625 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 1: around player, and you're an all around player, Like who 626 00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: you catered to the game. You just can't get that 627 00:30:17,840 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: off the fly, like who you catered to kind of 628 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: understand like what's going on. 629 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 3: I mean, it's it's tough because I didn't grow up 630 00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:31,480 Speaker 3: watching women's basketball. You know, games wasn't televised like that. 631 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,200 Speaker 3: You know, it wasn't the w n b A was 632 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 3: Like I knew I wanted to go, but I wasn't 633 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 3: really watching because games and so you know, I think 634 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 3: that once again, like I had such a strong belief 635 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 3: in like how special I was as an athlete, you know, 636 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 3: like I knew I was faster, I knew I could 637 00:30:51,680 --> 00:30:53,840 Speaker 3: jump higher, I knew there were things physically that I 638 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 3: could do that I hadn't seen. 639 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 2: No other girl, dude. 640 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 3: And I think that it was amplifying that more so 641 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 3: than watching a player and watching a pro and like 642 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:09,040 Speaker 3: I didn't really have like a player that I was like, 643 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 3: I want to be like that, you know, I was 644 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 3: just like I just want to be special, like go 645 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:14,080 Speaker 3: out here and just do. 646 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 2: What I do. 647 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:16,520 Speaker 4: When did you get to the point of that? 648 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:19,080 Speaker 1: When did you get to the point, Because like you 649 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: always get to the point where like you don't see it, 650 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,680 Speaker 1: you don't see it, and then you run to them dolls, 651 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,560 Speaker 1: like how you ran into Maya Moore and be like, oh, 652 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: it's another level. 653 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 4: Yeah, out here in these streets, I gotta yeah, I 654 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 4: gotta tap in. 655 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 2: I'd say. 656 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 3: In middle school, right, Like, so I was still at 657 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,920 Speaker 3: private school, we were the academy, and every year we 658 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:40,800 Speaker 3: went to this this basketball camp. I can't remember the 659 00:31:40,880 --> 00:31:42,400 Speaker 3: name of the camp, but when we would go there, 660 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 3: it would be like all these public schools and stuff. 661 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 3: And so when I got there, Southwest the Cab was there, 662 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 3: and Southwest the Cab girls team had just won like 663 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 3: four straight state championships, right, so like all they girls 664 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 3: was like going D one whatever, Like they was tough. 665 00:31:58,240 --> 00:31:59,920 Speaker 2: And so that was the first time I had. 666 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:01,720 Speaker 4: Seen mean like different level. 667 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:02,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was. 668 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 3: Looking at them like, oh, like okay, like I'm young, 669 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:08,120 Speaker 3: I'm in seventh grade, I'm in middle school, but like 670 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 3: I'm like. 671 00:32:09,080 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 2: I got to get to like to that level, you know. 672 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:14,680 Speaker 3: And so at that point I had never trained, I 673 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 3: was never in the gym. 674 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 2: I was just raw. 675 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,200 Speaker 3: And so by the time I got to ninth grade, 676 00:32:19,280 --> 00:32:21,520 Speaker 3: that was the first time I really started like working 677 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 3: out and like spending time in the gym and working. 678 00:32:24,440 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: On my shooting, working on your technique and stuff like that. 679 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 5: Tell me about like you said you went to Turkey, 680 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:34,120 Speaker 5: when and where were you when you found out about 681 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,320 Speaker 5: the difference in the value of their money than when 682 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 5: you what it was supposed to be. 683 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:39,360 Speaker 2: Well, I was. 684 00:32:39,520 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 3: I had just got over there, and my teammate at 685 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 3: the time, Orleana Larkins, Uh, she had like brought it 686 00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 3: up to me about the exchange right and everything and 687 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,320 Speaker 3: how like you could like take some US money and 688 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:53,640 Speaker 3: like exchange it and get more like and I was 689 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:57,040 Speaker 3: like not really understanding that at all. So it was 690 00:32:57,080 --> 00:32:59,720 Speaker 3: probably like ray. When I had got out there, to 691 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 3: be honest, what was the difference though, it was like 692 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 3: two to one. And then the second year, so I 693 00:33:05,240 --> 00:33:08,120 Speaker 3: had signed for two years, the second year it was 694 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:11,400 Speaker 3: like five to one. It had like double So my 695 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 3: contract was like worth double in like their money. And 696 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 3: so my team was having issues like trying to fulfill 697 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,040 Speaker 3: paying that contract out and they was asking. 698 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 2: Me to take less and da da da da dah. 699 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:29,200 Speaker 2: And I was like, I'm gonna just go. I'm gonna go. 700 00:33:29,960 --> 00:33:30,200 Speaker 4: You know. 701 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:35,200 Speaker 3: So that that that currency exchange rate is is a 702 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 3: it's a crazy dynamic when you talk about. 703 00:33:37,600 --> 00:33:40,400 Speaker 5: Was you getting more in Turkey or when you or 704 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 5: was you getting more when you got to. 705 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 4: The w n B A. 706 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 2: Oh I was getting more in Turkey. 707 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,760 Speaker 4: Even with the foolishness going on. Yeah, dang. 708 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,680 Speaker 1: So that's like kind of put you up on game 709 00:33:51,840 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 1: early because a lot of girls go to the league college, 710 00:33:54,920 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 1: go to the w n B A. Then they realized, oh, 711 00:33:57,840 --> 00:33:59,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go overseas, like, oh, this is more money 712 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:02,200 Speaker 1: and what I was just getting paid them two three months? 713 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:04,480 Speaker 5: Hold on you was getting twenty Wait, hold on, hold on, 714 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 5: you're getting twenty five k a month and one hundred 715 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:07,160 Speaker 5: dollar bills. 716 00:34:07,200 --> 00:34:09,560 Speaker 2: And then you went from that to four KNY Literally 717 00:34:09,719 --> 00:34:10,440 Speaker 2: my first. 718 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:13,279 Speaker 3: My first went back to Turkey, my first man, my 719 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 3: first wn B A check. 720 00:34:15,120 --> 00:34:21,759 Speaker 2: We got the envelope. I was like, I'm back man. 721 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 2: I opened that. 722 00:34:22,840 --> 00:34:26,200 Speaker 3: I opened it up, I sat it on the table, 723 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:29,360 Speaker 3: I went tooking that. 724 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:30,480 Speaker 4: I feel like. 725 00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:36,160 Speaker 2: For real, I went and tooking that and I left 726 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 2: it there for like months. I did not cash it. 727 00:34:39,120 --> 00:34:39,839 Speaker 2: It was just there. 728 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 3: I mean I had I had money from Turkey, like 729 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 3: I was good, and I was like this I could 730 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 3: just cash just whenever I go. 731 00:34:50,520 --> 00:34:51,920 Speaker 4: To the underwomen. 732 00:34:52,040 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 5: She just let that thing, just let it, just just 733 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:56,200 Speaker 5: let it. 734 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:00,759 Speaker 1: How was it preparing for the draft? Like, did it 735 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:02,360 Speaker 1: take you a long time to figure out what you 736 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:03,640 Speaker 1: was gonna wear to the draft? 737 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:05,600 Speaker 2: Well, I was still in Turkey. 738 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:08,799 Speaker 3: I was still in Turkey, so you know, like there's 739 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 3: that overlap that exists with overseas and the w NBA. 740 00:35:12,920 --> 00:35:15,960 Speaker 3: So I was finishing up my season overseas and so 741 00:35:16,320 --> 00:35:19,080 Speaker 3: my team allowed me obviously to fly back to New 742 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,200 Speaker 3: York for the draft. I got invited to the draft, 743 00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:25,000 Speaker 3: so I flew in like two days before the draft, 744 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 3: and then like figuring out what I wanted to wear, 745 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:28,919 Speaker 3: Like I knew I wanted to design. 746 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:31,600 Speaker 2: A suit, you know, and oh, you designed it. 747 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:34,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I went and I had a designer tour 748 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:39,279 Speaker 3: he super Dope in New York, and we just kind 749 00:35:39,280 --> 00:35:42,280 Speaker 3: of put it together. And funny story, like my suit, 750 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:44,439 Speaker 3: the one that I had on at draft night, is. 751 00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:46,400 Speaker 2: Not the suit that I was supposed to have. 752 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,080 Speaker 3: Like the suit I was supposed to wear was supposed 753 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:52,319 Speaker 3: to be blue, and that suit is like it's like 754 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,759 Speaker 3: a fusha Like it was like it was crazy how 755 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:56,520 Speaker 3: it all went down. 756 00:35:56,600 --> 00:36:02,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, we're talking about clothes, Like your swag be 757 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,200 Speaker 1: on like a thousand trill, like you've got a lot 758 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 1: of I always love how you dress and how you looking. 759 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 4: I got two questions. 760 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,160 Speaker 1: Just talk about your swag and talk about how I 761 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: love how they do the w NBA players when they 762 00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:18,760 Speaker 1: come to the game and they show their whole drip, 763 00:36:19,480 --> 00:36:20,439 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying, And they. 764 00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:23,399 Speaker 4: Be all over the place. But it be a lot 765 00:36:23,440 --> 00:36:24,440 Speaker 4: of dope up in there. 766 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,479 Speaker 1: But I always recognize your swag, especially your shoe game 767 00:36:27,560 --> 00:36:30,440 Speaker 1: and stuff. So just tell us about your swag how 768 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,080 Speaker 1: you you know, you come up with some of the 769 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:35,000 Speaker 1: stuff that you were and how you want to work. 770 00:36:35,360 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 3: It's just being authentic really, Like I'm actually like very 771 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:44,080 Speaker 3: into fashion, right, Like I genuinely care about it. 772 00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:46,520 Speaker 2: It is a part of who I am and what 773 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:47,000 Speaker 2: I do. 774 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:50,879 Speaker 3: Like outside of the tunnel, I still like to get 775 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:57,160 Speaker 3: my fits off, like it's not it's not even about 776 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 3: the tunnel, like I do this in real life. So 777 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 3: you know, for me, you know, like I said, sometimes 778 00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:07,200 Speaker 3: it's a feeling thing. Sometimes it's a geographic thing, like 779 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:09,799 Speaker 3: I'm in Phoenix now, so you'll see a lot of 780 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:13,960 Speaker 3: like looser clothing on me, a lot of like holes 781 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:17,400 Speaker 3: and just cause I need it's hot out here, and 782 00:37:17,480 --> 00:37:21,000 Speaker 3: so you know, I like to you know, it's a 783 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 3: it's a feminine and there's like a tomboy. It's like 784 00:37:24,040 --> 00:37:26,440 Speaker 3: I like to walk the line of like both. You know, 785 00:37:26,840 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 3: it depends on how I feel. So I just love 786 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 3: fashion and the way that it allows me to express myself, 787 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 3: especially when you you know, sometimes may not always have 788 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:36,560 Speaker 3: the words what made you. 789 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:40,600 Speaker 1: Get into like shoes and tennis shoes and be that 790 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 1: deep into fashion? Yeah? Who puts you on? Like who 791 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 1: made you? Or you was just always to dress up? 792 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:47,359 Speaker 5: Yeah? 793 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,759 Speaker 2: I was always I was, you know, like when I 794 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,680 Speaker 2: was younger, like I used to. 795 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:57,319 Speaker 3: My mom would buy me clothes, but then there wasn't 796 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:01,200 Speaker 3: the clothing. I was so like whenever I did have 797 00:38:01,239 --> 00:38:03,560 Speaker 3: a little bit of money, like I would go and 798 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 3: buy the stuff that I wanted to wear, and I 799 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:06,960 Speaker 3: was all over the place, like I went through like 800 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:11,080 Speaker 3: a skateboard phase. I went through like all these different phases. 801 00:38:11,120 --> 00:38:13,319 Speaker 3: But I went to private school, so anytime I got 802 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:16,239 Speaker 3: to wear regular clothes, it was exciting for me. And 803 00:38:17,239 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 3: you know, it was always like a conversation between me 804 00:38:19,680 --> 00:38:20,560 Speaker 3: and my mom, like. 805 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:22,560 Speaker 2: Where you get that shirt at? Where do you get 806 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:25,120 Speaker 2: like who bought you that? And I don't know. 807 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:26,880 Speaker 3: For me, like I said, it was really just a 808 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:29,399 Speaker 3: form of expression, right, Like being in uniform all day 809 00:38:29,560 --> 00:38:32,920 Speaker 3: was just like it is what it is. And then 810 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:34,960 Speaker 3: when you get a chance to like wear your own stuff, 811 00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:38,000 Speaker 3: you know, I just kind of just used it and 812 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:39,400 Speaker 3: took always crazy. 813 00:38:39,400 --> 00:38:42,399 Speaker 5: If somebody went through like private school, always come out 814 00:38:42,440 --> 00:38:47,280 Speaker 5: being a designer just because what you said so thirsty 815 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:49,319 Speaker 5: to get a fit off, Like I'm about to kill 816 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:50,080 Speaker 5: them with this one. 817 00:38:50,120 --> 00:38:50,840 Speaker 2: The mom. 818 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:52,760 Speaker 4: That's crazy. 819 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:55,400 Speaker 1: And you always wear the dope frames, like I know 820 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,480 Speaker 1: you you're doing stuff with glasses. Tell us how it 821 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:03,000 Speaker 1: is working with one site in the whole project with that, well, you. 822 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:04,440 Speaker 2: Know, I have I'm very blessed. 823 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 3: I have such an amazing partnership with Oakley and their 824 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 3: philanthropy wing is is. Yeah, so like I played, you know, 825 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:16,560 Speaker 3: those are the frames that I play in, you know. 826 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:18,359 Speaker 3: And so the first couple of years, the first couple 827 00:39:18,360 --> 00:39:19,719 Speaker 3: of years I was in the league, I didn't have 828 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:23,279 Speaker 3: the partnership, you know, and you know I ended up, 829 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:25,640 Speaker 3: you know, standing out so much so that we were 830 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:28,520 Speaker 3: able to to inc a deal. And you know, with that, 831 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:33,960 Speaker 3: I was then able to invest time and energy and 832 00:39:34,000 --> 00:39:37,239 Speaker 3: resources into like philanthropy. And what was near and dear 833 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:40,880 Speaker 3: to me was was eyesight Envision. And so actually yesterday 834 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:42,879 Speaker 3: I just flew back from Chicago. I had a one 835 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:47,920 Speaker 3: site clinic, yeah at KIP and you know I was 836 00:39:47,960 --> 00:39:50,440 Speaker 3: able to every year I do an eye clinic with 837 00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:54,759 Speaker 3: one side and I get free eye exams and I 838 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:59,719 Speaker 3: give eyeglasses on the spot, you know, for whoever wants 839 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:00,520 Speaker 3: to come through. 840 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:04,520 Speaker 4: So you just like, you know, like my thing. 841 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:06,920 Speaker 1: When I was younger, like you, was always called a 842 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:08,960 Speaker 1: nerd if you wore glasses. 843 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:11,040 Speaker 4: So I never used to want to word my glass. 844 00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:15,080 Speaker 1: It took me to be like thirty six, thirty seven 845 00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:17,359 Speaker 1: years old, I'll find like, fuck that, man, I'm wearing 846 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:17,800 Speaker 1: my glass. 847 00:40:17,840 --> 00:40:21,520 Speaker 4: I can't right my tie. My eyes are tied from contacts. 848 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:23,440 Speaker 2: Like so, I. 849 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:26,640 Speaker 3: Didn't I didn't know I needed glasses until about eleventh grade. 850 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:27,160 Speaker 4: You know. 851 00:40:27,320 --> 00:40:29,720 Speaker 3: Up until then, I'm like telling my mom. I'm like, mom, 852 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:32,320 Speaker 3: having a hard time seeing. I'm seeing like double rims 853 00:40:32,360 --> 00:40:35,040 Speaker 3: when I'm playing basketball. She's like, girl, you fine, you 854 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:41,399 Speaker 3: come from good stock, good grade. On the one hand, 855 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:44,719 Speaker 3: I come from great stock. You know, I'm fast as 856 00:40:44,719 --> 00:40:48,480 Speaker 3: hell woo physically, but I'm like these eyes, mom, trying 857 00:40:48,520 --> 00:40:51,080 Speaker 3: to tell you. And so finally she took me to 858 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:54,120 Speaker 3: get an exam, and that's when they told her that 859 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:56,920 Speaker 3: I was like really in need of glasses. And so 860 00:40:57,440 --> 00:40:59,880 Speaker 3: it wasn't up until eleventh grade that you know, that 861 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:02,279 Speaker 3: that point, I was just happy to be able to see. 862 00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:04,799 Speaker 3: I didn't care what nobody said about it. But I 863 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:07,880 Speaker 3: was not going to play in those glasses. And that 864 00:41:08,080 --> 00:41:09,000 Speaker 3: was the nerdy thing. 865 00:41:09,120 --> 00:41:09,680 Speaker 4: That was the. 866 00:41:11,239 --> 00:41:14,959 Speaker 1: Old school kareem map dude with goggles telling them James 867 00:41:15,040 --> 00:41:15,920 Speaker 1: word the goggles. 868 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:16,880 Speaker 4: That was, I. 869 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:20,360 Speaker 2: Was not sexy. 870 00:41:20,520 --> 00:41:22,640 Speaker 1: They talked about me so bad. I'm telling when I 871 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:24,520 Speaker 1: walked on the court, I was skinny, little head. The 872 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:26,960 Speaker 1: goglins looked almost bigger than my head. They was like, 873 00:41:27,160 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 1: I got him. 874 00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:28,400 Speaker 4: I couldn't. 875 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:31,720 Speaker 2: I couldn't. I couldn't get with the glasses. 876 00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:33,520 Speaker 3: And it took me a couple of years to like, 877 00:41:33,760 --> 00:41:35,880 Speaker 3: it took me a few years to accept that, like 878 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:38,760 Speaker 3: I was gonna be having to play basketball with glasses 879 00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:39,360 Speaker 3: on my face. 880 00:41:40,239 --> 00:41:41,600 Speaker 4: You didn't want to do contacts? 881 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:44,560 Speaker 3: Well, my contacts, that's the thing. My contacts are glass. 882 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:46,480 Speaker 3: And so that's the thing that a lot of people 883 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:50,040 Speaker 3: don't understand about why I wear glasses, because the glasses 884 00:41:50,120 --> 00:41:54,200 Speaker 3: are not prescription. My contacts are made of glass, so 885 00:41:54,360 --> 00:41:58,480 Speaker 3: they're completely hard. So the glasses protect my contact lenses. 886 00:41:59,440 --> 00:42:01,560 Speaker 3: And so it took me getting hit once in my 887 00:42:01,640 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 3: eye without them and like almost losing my eye for 888 00:42:05,160 --> 00:42:08,000 Speaker 3: me to be like, you know what, bring me the glasses? 889 00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:13,360 Speaker 4: Why do you have the why do they have to 890 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:14,799 Speaker 4: be glass? 891 00:42:15,120 --> 00:42:17,120 Speaker 3: So I have a I have an eye condition called 892 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:21,080 Speaker 3: character Conis, and it's a basically corneal deformity that I 893 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,680 Speaker 3: have in both my eyes. I've gotten surgery in both 894 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:27,800 Speaker 3: my eyes now. But essentially the soft lenses that people 895 00:42:27,840 --> 00:42:31,600 Speaker 3: typically wear in the arenas, the lights are so bright 896 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:35,040 Speaker 3: it ends up refracting through the lens and like looking 897 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:37,200 Speaker 3: like glare. 898 00:42:37,360 --> 00:42:38,720 Speaker 4: Like trees, like light trees. 899 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:42,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I have to wear these there's fixed lenses. 900 00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:43,920 Speaker 3: Like if I had them on, I could open my 901 00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:46,520 Speaker 3: eye and like tap of my eye, I wouldn't blink 902 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:47,000 Speaker 3: or nothing. 903 00:42:47,080 --> 00:42:52,080 Speaker 1: So crazy like yeah, I used to have them contact 904 00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:54,680 Speaker 1: to have the look the little glass in the middle, 905 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:56,760 Speaker 1: and then the rest of it was like yeah. 906 00:42:57,520 --> 00:43:00,680 Speaker 2: I tried those two then work the whole. 907 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:06,239 Speaker 5: Hand glass to know that look at you. I did 908 00:43:06,239 --> 00:43:07,799 Speaker 5: not know that. I did not know that. 909 00:43:07,880 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 4: In these streets. I've been through it. We go back 910 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:16,920 Speaker 4: to the draft. How was this for you to experience streets? 911 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:19,879 Speaker 4: He's been through everything. 912 00:43:24,320 --> 00:43:26,480 Speaker 1: Tell us about the draft though, How was that for 913 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:29,120 Speaker 1: you for you and your family to like experience that 914 00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:31,640 Speaker 1: and just get that in I mean. 915 00:43:31,480 --> 00:43:34,560 Speaker 3: It was amazing, you know, it was once again, it 916 00:43:34,640 --> 00:43:36,960 Speaker 3: was one of those those rare moments for me that 917 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:40,239 Speaker 3: I get to be celebrated and feel like I had 918 00:43:40,280 --> 00:43:44,719 Speaker 3: actually achieved something. So having my family there was you know, 919 00:43:44,719 --> 00:43:48,960 Speaker 3: a dream come true. And you know, I'm happy to 920 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:51,640 Speaker 3: be the highest drafted family members, so you know I 921 00:43:51,680 --> 00:43:59,440 Speaker 3: got that over my Yeah, yeah, so that was special. 922 00:43:59,719 --> 00:44:01,600 Speaker 1: Did you feel like you would slip a little bit 923 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:06,799 Speaker 1: from not going in the previous draft to the next draft, Well. 924 00:44:07,480 --> 00:44:08,840 Speaker 2: You know, you never know. 925 00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:10,960 Speaker 3: You know, I was projected to go number one in 926 00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:15,200 Speaker 3: the year before, and obviously you never know, right what 927 00:44:15,320 --> 00:44:18,480 Speaker 3: could have should have happened, and you know, ended up 928 00:44:18,520 --> 00:44:19,759 Speaker 3: going third the next year. 929 00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:24,799 Speaker 2: But I went to the perfect place. You know, it's like. 930 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:31,040 Speaker 6: Where did you God, I went to Chicagogo, and once 931 00:44:31,080 --> 00:44:33,840 Speaker 6: again it was like opportunity for me to come in 932 00:44:34,000 --> 00:44:35,280 Speaker 6: make an immediate impact. 933 00:44:35,400 --> 00:44:37,200 Speaker 3: There was a need that I knew, I could feel, 934 00:44:37,800 --> 00:44:39,680 Speaker 3: you know, I had the skill set for it to 935 00:44:39,719 --> 00:44:41,919 Speaker 3: go in and just be me and be special. So 936 00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:44,239 Speaker 3: you know, I was in the I was just in 937 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:47,680 Speaker 3: the right place. You know, everything just worked out, cold Shine. 938 00:44:47,880 --> 00:44:50,800 Speaker 1: So getting to the highest level and you seeing the 939 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:55,640 Speaker 1: level of competition when I know you made all rookie team. 940 00:44:55,719 --> 00:44:58,440 Speaker 4: But when when in that season that you. 941 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:01,719 Speaker 1: Felt like, oh man, I belong here and I'm good 942 00:45:01,800 --> 00:45:03,520 Speaker 1: enough to play on this level. 943 00:45:03,920 --> 00:45:06,440 Speaker 3: I mean, I think it was it was very early on. 944 00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:11,360 Speaker 3: You don't realize it until you're in the w NBA, 945 00:45:11,560 --> 00:45:14,799 Speaker 3: but like, every single one of my matchups was. 946 00:45:14,760 --> 00:45:16,600 Speaker 2: Like an Olympian you know. 947 00:45:16,719 --> 00:45:23,239 Speaker 3: It was like Angel mccartrey, Diana, you know, it was like, 948 00:45:23,840 --> 00:45:24,160 Speaker 3: you know. 949 00:45:24,360 --> 00:45:25,480 Speaker 2: Like Elena Beard. 950 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:29,560 Speaker 3: Like it was like every night I was going against 951 00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:31,719 Speaker 3: like some dog like. 952 00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:34,560 Speaker 2: So it was very early on that I was like, listen, 953 00:45:34,600 --> 00:45:35,000 Speaker 2: you could. 954 00:45:34,880 --> 00:45:37,440 Speaker 3: Be scared and you could go out here and get 955 00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:40,960 Speaker 3: your ass bus or you could act like you belong here, 956 00:45:41,560 --> 00:45:44,960 Speaker 3: you know, and go be special. So you know, I 957 00:45:45,000 --> 00:45:47,920 Speaker 3: took all those matchups very personally, you know, and I 958 00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:50,120 Speaker 3: just went out and just kind of did my thing. 959 00:45:50,239 --> 00:45:53,800 Speaker 1: So how was it for you to see the highest 960 00:45:53,880 --> 00:45:57,920 Speaker 1: level of competition at every single position? Because of WNBA, 961 00:45:58,840 --> 00:46:02,239 Speaker 1: it's not like the NBA. It's not like like it's. 962 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:04,520 Speaker 4: A bunch of teams, so it's the best of the best. 963 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:11,120 Speaker 1: Right is the first time that every team got them 964 00:46:11,560 --> 00:46:14,680 Speaker 1: them hitters, just because it's not that many teams and 965 00:46:15,719 --> 00:46:18,080 Speaker 1: you shuffling the best of the best. So how was 966 00:46:18,120 --> 00:46:20,759 Speaker 1: it to just see the level of competition be that 967 00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:25,120 Speaker 1: high with so many female athletes and the history before. 968 00:46:25,560 --> 00:46:29,400 Speaker 3: I mean, it's a high. It's a highly concentrated talent pool. 969 00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:31,759 Speaker 3: And like whenever I'm having this conversation with like people 970 00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:36,880 Speaker 3: who don't understand it, I just imagine if the NBA 971 00:46:37,040 --> 00:46:39,840 Speaker 3: only had twelve teams with twelves, how. 972 00:46:39,800 --> 00:46:44,280 Speaker 4: Good, how good those teams would be. That's what I'm saying. 973 00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:46,360 Speaker 4: So that was a good question. 974 00:46:46,680 --> 00:46:50,600 Speaker 3: Just like the way it feels is just every day, 975 00:46:50,840 --> 00:46:54,960 Speaker 3: every game, you gotta know, you know that whoever you're 976 00:46:55,000 --> 00:46:57,279 Speaker 3: going up against, like they can go. 977 00:46:57,560 --> 00:47:00,239 Speaker 4: They did everything you did everything. 978 00:47:01,960 --> 00:47:06,200 Speaker 5: Us think about it one through fifteen, about it. 979 00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:08,080 Speaker 2: One through twelve. 980 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:13,319 Speaker 3: It ain't even fifteen spots in WNA twelve, you know, 981 00:47:13,560 --> 00:47:16,200 Speaker 3: Like it's just very it's a very potent level of 982 00:47:16,719 --> 00:47:21,600 Speaker 3: buckets and handles and shooting percentages. 983 00:47:21,040 --> 00:47:21,600 Speaker 2: Of all of that. 984 00:47:21,840 --> 00:47:25,160 Speaker 5: So obviously you in agreement with me saying we need 985 00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:28,000 Speaker 5: some other WNBA teams because like, like looking at it, 986 00:47:28,880 --> 00:47:31,279 Speaker 5: especially right now, looking at some of the people that 987 00:47:31,480 --> 00:47:33,600 Speaker 5: just got cut from teams, and like. 988 00:47:34,080 --> 00:47:37,680 Speaker 4: Howseway, like what is going on? We need more teams. 989 00:47:37,400 --> 00:47:38,440 Speaker 2: Right, absolutely. 990 00:47:38,560 --> 00:47:41,239 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, I feel very strongly that we 991 00:47:41,280 --> 00:47:43,959 Speaker 3: do need more teams, and I'm happy that the conversations 992 00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:46,120 Speaker 3: are being had, you know, around expansion. 993 00:47:46,719 --> 00:47:48,440 Speaker 2: You know, it's it's. 994 00:47:48,160 --> 00:47:50,920 Speaker 3: Not been an easy process, right, it's not been easy 995 00:47:50,920 --> 00:47:54,160 Speaker 3: to get to this point where we're actually talking about it, 996 00:47:55,000 --> 00:47:58,480 Speaker 3: you know, So although it's not happening immediately, Like, I'm 997 00:47:58,520 --> 00:48:01,239 Speaker 3: happy to know that like pieces are being put in 998 00:48:01,280 --> 00:48:03,799 Speaker 3: place so that expansion can't take place. 999 00:48:03,920 --> 00:48:04,840 Speaker 4: How is it for y'all? 1000 00:48:04,840 --> 00:48:08,239 Speaker 5: Like from you being a current w NBA player, Like 1001 00:48:08,280 --> 00:48:10,440 Speaker 5: you watch it and like you see the release of 1002 00:48:10,640 --> 00:48:13,280 Speaker 5: like some of these names or these ladies is being released. 1003 00:48:13,320 --> 00:48:16,960 Speaker 4: It's like great players, Like what the heck is going on? Yeah? 1004 00:48:16,960 --> 00:48:19,160 Speaker 3: I mean, job security in the wn b A is 1005 00:48:19,200 --> 00:48:23,360 Speaker 3: not guaranteed. You know, you gotta every day you fighting 1006 00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:24,000 Speaker 3: for your job. 1007 00:48:24,760 --> 00:48:28,239 Speaker 4: You know, you're not one of. 1008 00:48:28,160 --> 00:48:32,520 Speaker 2: Them guaranteed contracts. You know, it's like any day it 1009 00:48:32,520 --> 00:48:34,040 Speaker 2: could be gone. 1010 00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:37,840 Speaker 1: Injury can get you gone, Like any slight thing can 1011 00:48:37,920 --> 00:48:41,480 Speaker 1: get you gone for real? Do you like the new rules, 1012 00:48:41,520 --> 00:48:46,719 Speaker 1: like like what they're protecting women that if they take 1013 00:48:46,760 --> 00:48:51,520 Speaker 1: the time they're pregnant and they and they're protecting the kids. Well, hey, 1014 00:48:51,640 --> 00:48:54,480 Speaker 1: I can't just leave my new born baby or my 1015 00:48:54,480 --> 00:48:55,799 Speaker 1: my one year old baby or. 1016 00:48:55,760 --> 00:48:57,720 Speaker 4: Somebody I love. 1017 00:48:58,320 --> 00:49:03,440 Speaker 3: I love the new eternity you know, rules and guidelines 1018 00:49:03,520 --> 00:49:05,200 Speaker 3: or whatever you call it that they have put in 1019 00:49:05,239 --> 00:49:10,240 Speaker 3: place because their rights for mothers before the new CBA. 1020 00:49:10,120 --> 00:49:13,000 Speaker 2: Was was not good. It was not good at all. 1021 00:49:13,040 --> 00:49:16,920 Speaker 3: There was no infrastructure in place that really supported you 1022 00:49:17,040 --> 00:49:19,640 Speaker 3: if you wanted to, like you know, start a family 1023 00:49:19,719 --> 00:49:20,800 Speaker 3: or plan for a family. 1024 00:49:20,840 --> 00:49:23,000 Speaker 2: You know, like a lot of players were just like, I. 1025 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:25,640 Speaker 3: Can't have no kids until I retire, you know, because 1026 00:49:25,640 --> 00:49:29,319 Speaker 3: it just wasn't no support for real. So I love 1027 00:49:29,480 --> 00:49:32,880 Speaker 3: that now you know, mothers and you know soon to 1028 00:49:32,960 --> 00:49:36,080 Speaker 3: be mothers are having the opportunity to go through their pregnancy. 1029 00:49:36,160 --> 00:49:41,080 Speaker 3: It's like and then in sports in general, not just 1030 00:49:41,239 --> 00:49:44,120 Speaker 3: women's basketball, you know, like mothers go through a lot, 1031 00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:48,399 Speaker 3: Like we get pregnant. It's like a punishment, right like 1032 00:49:49,719 --> 00:49:52,600 Speaker 3: man like Allison Felix and like some of them track girls. 1033 00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:54,960 Speaker 3: Listening to them tell their stories about it, it's just 1034 00:49:55,040 --> 00:50:00,080 Speaker 3: like it's sad. So you know, I'm all about progressiveness 1035 00:50:00,080 --> 00:50:04,840 Speaker 3: and you know, us making room for more women's rights 1036 00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:07,600 Speaker 3: and support in that area, especially. 1037 00:50:07,880 --> 00:50:10,480 Speaker 1: All Star Game you make the All Star Game. When 1038 00:50:10,520 --> 00:50:13,160 Speaker 1: you make the All Star Game, now this is a 1039 00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:16,160 Speaker 1: whole other level. When you walk in that locker room, 1040 00:50:16,239 --> 00:50:19,560 Speaker 1: you seeing the girls that you was looking at coming 1041 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:22,279 Speaker 1: to the league, like, oh this this DT, this is 1042 00:50:22,320 --> 00:50:24,680 Speaker 1: a super bird. These are the women that I was 1043 00:50:24,719 --> 00:50:27,680 Speaker 1: seeing before me. Like how was it for you your 1044 00:50:27,719 --> 00:50:30,640 Speaker 1: first All Star game? To make it as early as 1045 00:50:30,680 --> 00:50:33,319 Speaker 1: you made it year, you know what I'm saying. And 1046 00:50:33,440 --> 00:50:36,680 Speaker 1: just to be in that the atmosphere, it. 1047 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:39,319 Speaker 3: Was so much fun. It was just fun, Like it 1048 00:50:39,360 --> 00:50:41,759 Speaker 3: was like no pressure. It was like just go out 1049 00:50:41,800 --> 00:50:45,000 Speaker 3: here and just be you. Anytime you tell me to 1050 00:50:45,040 --> 00:50:50,200 Speaker 3: be me, I'm gonna stand out just naturally. So I 1051 00:50:50,239 --> 00:50:53,920 Speaker 3: felt like All Star weekend was like the perfect stage 1052 00:50:53,920 --> 00:50:57,480 Speaker 3: for me to just go and just smile and have fun. 1053 00:50:57,600 --> 00:50:59,640 Speaker 3: And you know, I'm looking forward to getting back to 1054 00:50:59,640 --> 00:51:01,759 Speaker 3: that stage age. 1055 00:51:04,760 --> 00:51:08,680 Speaker 1: After All Star Game. I see you and you just 1056 00:51:08,760 --> 00:51:12,319 Speaker 1: had your surgery. Can you tell us the process of 1057 00:51:12,560 --> 00:51:15,800 Speaker 1: when you found out about your surgery and the decision 1058 00:51:15,880 --> 00:51:18,480 Speaker 1: that you had to make about your surgery. 1059 00:51:18,600 --> 00:51:20,840 Speaker 3: It was interesting because I have I was in Italy, 1060 00:51:20,920 --> 00:51:22,960 Speaker 3: I was overseas and you know, I had a very 1061 00:51:23,040 --> 00:51:25,399 Speaker 3: minor collision with a player you know, I've seen that 1062 00:51:25,440 --> 00:51:28,680 Speaker 3: I've been hit a hundred times harder one hundred times before. 1063 00:51:28,600 --> 00:51:28,840 Speaker 4: You know. 1064 00:51:30,040 --> 00:51:32,799 Speaker 3: And so after it had happened, you know, although I 1065 00:51:32,880 --> 00:51:35,200 Speaker 3: was in pain, I'm like, I'm good, y'all, Like, I'm good, 1066 00:51:35,239 --> 00:51:35,680 Speaker 3: I'm gonna go. 1067 00:51:36,360 --> 00:51:38,200 Speaker 2: With stretch, I'm ice whatever. 1068 00:51:38,760 --> 00:51:40,440 Speaker 3: They're like, no, we think you should get an MRI, 1069 00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:44,440 Speaker 3: and I'm like, all right, fine, like I'll do the 1070 00:51:44,560 --> 00:51:50,000 Speaker 3: stupid MRI because whatever. So when it got it, agent 1071 00:51:50,120 --> 00:51:52,640 Speaker 3: calls me shortly after we have a game that night. 1072 00:51:53,160 --> 00:51:58,400 Speaker 3: Caused me and it's like, Diamond, you know, this is 1073 00:51:58,440 --> 00:52:00,560 Speaker 3: what you're dealing with. You got a tumoring spine. 1074 00:52:01,280 --> 00:52:01,520 Speaker 4: You know. 1075 00:52:01,760 --> 00:52:04,719 Speaker 3: You there was no making a decision. The decision was 1076 00:52:04,760 --> 00:52:08,480 Speaker 3: made for me. You coming home and you getting surgery, 1077 00:52:08,920 --> 00:52:14,000 Speaker 3: you know. And so at that point, it's like it's January, 1078 00:52:14,760 --> 00:52:18,759 Speaker 3: w BA starts. Camp starts in April, right, So it's 1079 00:52:18,800 --> 00:52:21,879 Speaker 3: like do I rush this surgery and try to get 1080 00:52:21,920 --> 00:52:26,440 Speaker 3: back before camp, you know, or do I go and 1081 00:52:26,480 --> 00:52:29,759 Speaker 3: try to talk to like multiple neurosurgeons and try to 1082 00:52:29,800 --> 00:52:30,680 Speaker 3: find the best one. 1083 00:52:30,840 --> 00:52:31,000 Speaker 4: Right. 1084 00:52:31,680 --> 00:52:33,960 Speaker 3: So I was kind of up in the air about it, 1085 00:52:34,040 --> 00:52:35,840 Speaker 3: like I'm like, Okay, I'm gonna fly back to Atlanta 1086 00:52:35,920 --> 00:52:38,200 Speaker 3: and talk to my doctors there, you know, because this 1087 00:52:38,320 --> 00:52:43,720 Speaker 3: is like this is like career defining surgeries that's about 1088 00:52:43,760 --> 00:52:47,120 Speaker 3: to take place, and like I'm still just being very 1089 00:52:47,200 --> 00:52:51,000 Speaker 3: optimistic about it, you know. And so ended up working 1090 00:52:51,040 --> 00:52:53,120 Speaker 3: out so that I could go to Chicago and get 1091 00:52:53,120 --> 00:52:57,280 Speaker 3: the surgery done. And you know, that operation was nothing 1092 00:52:57,400 --> 00:53:01,360 Speaker 3: like what I thought it was going to be. You know, 1093 00:53:01,440 --> 00:53:04,040 Speaker 3: it's like those three hours that I was supposed to 1094 00:53:04,040 --> 00:53:06,719 Speaker 3: be in there, those three months of recovery that I 1095 00:53:06,800 --> 00:53:09,720 Speaker 3: was supposed to have, you know, turning the nine hours 1096 00:53:09,719 --> 00:53:12,640 Speaker 3: turning into two years, you know, and I still got 1097 00:53:12,719 --> 00:53:16,960 Speaker 3: nerve residual nerve damage and you know, so but by 1098 00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:20,040 Speaker 3: the grace of God, you know, like I'm here, you know, 1099 00:53:20,120 --> 00:53:22,480 Speaker 3: and I'm able to play, and I'm able to walk around, 1100 00:53:23,560 --> 00:53:26,719 Speaker 3: I'm able to smile and laugh like you know, like 1101 00:53:26,880 --> 00:53:27,800 Speaker 3: laying in that bed. 1102 00:53:27,640 --> 00:53:29,479 Speaker 2: You can't laugh. Yeah, you can't. 1103 00:53:30,080 --> 00:53:32,640 Speaker 4: Any operations before any surgeries. 1104 00:53:32,440 --> 00:53:35,080 Speaker 3: I mean yeah, like I had a I had a 1105 00:53:35,120 --> 00:53:37,040 Speaker 3: tibio rod surgery before. 1106 00:53:37,280 --> 00:53:37,480 Speaker 4: You know. 1107 00:53:37,560 --> 00:53:40,279 Speaker 3: It's like not to downplay it, like that was tough 1108 00:53:40,280 --> 00:53:41,839 Speaker 3: to come back from too, Like. 1109 00:53:42,800 --> 00:53:45,560 Speaker 5: Fact, like would you look at just like that back 1110 00:53:45,600 --> 00:53:48,080 Speaker 5: in general, But like yours is even more serious because 1111 00:53:48,080 --> 00:53:52,400 Speaker 5: like you say, it's like you say, that was like career, yeah, defining. 1112 00:53:52,520 --> 00:53:55,319 Speaker 1: So like me and my old lady was in the 1113 00:53:55,360 --> 00:53:57,239 Speaker 1: bed and we were just looking at TV and I 1114 00:53:57,280 --> 00:54:01,120 Speaker 1: was just flicking the channel and I flicked the time 1115 00:54:01,239 --> 00:54:03,719 Speaker 1: we stopped the Eat sixty you know East sixty be 1116 00:54:03,800 --> 00:54:07,520 Speaker 1: having them good interviews, them good things, and you just 1117 00:54:07,600 --> 00:54:11,400 Speaker 1: came on her. And when I seen you, me and 1118 00:54:11,480 --> 00:54:15,920 Speaker 1: her is almost interiors like the footage that you showed 1119 00:54:16,040 --> 00:54:23,280 Speaker 1: the like uh, your teammates being there say Sam, I'm sorry, 1120 00:54:23,320 --> 00:54:27,360 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, don't kill mene. But just like that, that 1121 00:54:27,360 --> 00:54:29,919 Speaker 1: that always stick out to me, that her sitting next 1122 00:54:29,960 --> 00:54:34,040 Speaker 1: to your bedside right there. And I remember seeing y'all 1123 00:54:34,160 --> 00:54:36,279 Speaker 1: at All Star and it was just like, man, I 1124 00:54:36,320 --> 00:54:38,359 Speaker 1: didn't know that, And I was so tough on you 1125 00:54:38,920 --> 00:54:41,239 Speaker 1: because like you one of my favorite players. I love 1126 00:54:41,239 --> 00:54:43,720 Speaker 1: how you dress outside. 1127 00:54:42,840 --> 00:54:43,200 Speaker 4: Of the choy. 1128 00:54:43,239 --> 00:54:46,640 Speaker 1: It was like, man, I always like always be talking 1129 00:54:46,680 --> 00:54:48,640 Speaker 1: about you, like yeah, see this and that. But these 1130 00:54:48,719 --> 00:54:51,280 Speaker 1: last two years, you know, just from an outside looking 1131 00:54:51,320 --> 00:54:54,000 Speaker 1: in as a casual fan, they don't. 1132 00:54:53,840 --> 00:54:56,200 Speaker 4: Know what like players go through, whether you got. 1133 00:54:56,080 --> 00:54:58,960 Speaker 1: An injury or something deeper in your family or anything. 1134 00:54:59,000 --> 00:55:01,040 Speaker 1: They don't know what you're going going through. So a 1135 00:55:01,080 --> 00:55:04,279 Speaker 1: casual fan that'd be like, oh, she's not doing what 1136 00:55:04,360 --> 00:55:06,960 Speaker 1: I know she can do, and oh she's not doing this. 1137 00:55:07,040 --> 00:55:09,719 Speaker 1: And then when you go to the bench and not 1138 00:55:09,880 --> 00:55:13,279 Speaker 1: be the All Star player that you were, Like, how 1139 00:55:13,400 --> 00:55:17,160 Speaker 1: was that to just you know, keep that secret from 1140 00:55:17,160 --> 00:55:21,880 Speaker 1: the world and just persevere through every step of that. 1141 00:55:22,160 --> 00:55:23,200 Speaker 4: How was that for you? 1142 00:55:24,480 --> 00:55:28,040 Speaker 2: It was hard? Like it was hard, man. 1143 00:55:28,200 --> 00:55:34,480 Speaker 3: I I knew that telling the story prematurely would have 1144 00:55:34,600 --> 00:55:37,680 Speaker 3: added way too much pressure onto what I was already 1145 00:55:37,719 --> 00:55:43,359 Speaker 3: dealing with, and I just did not feel comfortable at 1146 00:55:43,360 --> 00:55:43,759 Speaker 3: the time. 1147 00:55:43,880 --> 00:55:46,279 Speaker 2: Right, this is pre COVID, right. 1148 00:55:46,400 --> 00:55:50,600 Speaker 3: So after my surgery, the whole world stopped, you know, 1149 00:55:50,840 --> 00:55:54,040 Speaker 3: and so part of me was thinking and hoping like Okay, 1150 00:55:54,040 --> 00:55:56,680 Speaker 3: I got time, I can come back from it, and like, 1151 00:55:56,719 --> 00:55:59,120 Speaker 3: oh nobody got to know about it, you know. So 1152 00:55:59,320 --> 00:56:03,920 Speaker 3: part of it was that, And then George Floyd Black 1153 00:56:03,920 --> 00:56:07,440 Speaker 3: Lives Matter. I was like, this is not important to 1154 00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:10,600 Speaker 3: be talking about right now, to be talking about myself, 1155 00:56:10,680 --> 00:56:13,800 Speaker 3: to be bringing any attention to me when the whole 1156 00:56:13,840 --> 00:56:16,400 Speaker 3: when we you know, we try, Yeah, like it's a 1157 00:56:16,440 --> 00:56:17,720 Speaker 3: lot going on right now. 1158 00:56:18,360 --> 00:56:20,080 Speaker 2: So there were like a lot of. 1159 00:56:20,040 --> 00:56:23,200 Speaker 3: Things that played into me, like keeping my silence, but 1160 00:56:23,520 --> 00:56:27,160 Speaker 3: the biggest thing really was like until I have my triumph, 1161 00:56:27,560 --> 00:56:32,719 Speaker 3: you know, until I have my like I overcame this, 1162 00:56:33,200 --> 00:56:35,640 Speaker 3: you know now I can talk about it, right, Like 1163 00:56:35,680 --> 00:56:38,480 Speaker 3: this is the first interview I'm doing talking about it, 1164 00:56:38,800 --> 00:56:39,000 Speaker 3: you know. 1165 00:56:39,200 --> 00:56:42,520 Speaker 4: So it's just last what was that Friday? Yeah, so 1166 00:56:42,640 --> 00:56:42,920 Speaker 4: you know. 1167 00:56:42,880 --> 00:56:46,560 Speaker 3: This is like you know, it's like like you can read. 1168 00:56:46,840 --> 00:56:49,520 Speaker 5: Like to be it like everything you just said, like 1169 00:56:49,760 --> 00:56:53,320 Speaker 5: being able to just going through that, like you know 1170 00:56:53,320 --> 00:56:54,920 Speaker 5: what I'm saying, because there's a lot of people like 1171 00:56:55,440 --> 00:56:57,400 Speaker 5: go out there and you playing bad, like man, I 1172 00:56:57,440 --> 00:56:59,640 Speaker 5: ain't right, you know what I'm saying. It's the first 1173 00:56:59,640 --> 00:57:02,440 Speaker 5: thing somebody might say or like might get around to 1174 00:57:02,520 --> 00:57:04,239 Speaker 5: it for you to just you know what I'm saying, 1175 00:57:04,320 --> 00:57:06,640 Speaker 5: sold you through all of that, follow those different. 1176 00:57:06,400 --> 00:57:08,680 Speaker 4: Reasons you're saying. That's a that's a huge salute to you. 1177 00:57:08,960 --> 00:57:13,720 Speaker 1: Our agent, Jeff Wesler, he represents Loneso Morning, and Loneso 1178 00:57:13,880 --> 00:57:17,880 Speaker 1: Morning went through like a real scure, you know what 1179 00:57:17,960 --> 00:57:19,760 Speaker 1: I'm saying, where they didn't think he was gonna play 1180 00:57:19,800 --> 00:57:22,560 Speaker 1: basketball the more the same thing as you, and it 1181 00:57:22,720 --> 00:57:26,560 Speaker 1: was it was deep for him and he persevered through 1182 00:57:26,560 --> 00:57:28,680 Speaker 1: it where he had the opportunity to not only come 1183 00:57:28,720 --> 00:57:31,240 Speaker 1: back and play to win a championship, just like you, 1184 00:57:32,080 --> 00:57:34,920 Speaker 1: Like I feel like them stories so much need to 1185 00:57:34,960 --> 00:57:38,400 Speaker 1: be told because like a lot of casual fans will 1186 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:41,040 Speaker 1: beat us up, and like, I apologize to you because 1187 00:57:41,080 --> 00:57:42,880 Speaker 1: like I'm just so much of a fan in you, 1188 00:57:42,920 --> 00:57:45,520 Speaker 1: and I'm like, nah, you know what I'm saying, just 1189 00:57:45,520 --> 00:57:48,400 Speaker 1: looking on us, not knowing what's going on, and that's 1190 00:57:48,400 --> 00:57:50,880 Speaker 1: how fans get and fans don't realize. Like man, you 1191 00:57:50,920 --> 00:57:53,680 Speaker 1: get so deep and you don't know what a player's 1192 00:57:53,720 --> 00:57:58,000 Speaker 1: going through. You don't know what family or what they 1193 00:57:58,080 --> 00:58:00,960 Speaker 1: have outside that something slowed them down, you know what 1194 00:58:00,960 --> 00:58:05,400 Speaker 1: I mean. Players then played with injuries for five six years, 1195 00:58:05,720 --> 00:58:08,440 Speaker 1: Like yeah, yeah, I can't go left. It's hard, but 1196 00:58:08,480 --> 00:58:09,800 Speaker 1: I'm still stepping back. 1197 00:58:09,600 --> 00:58:12,120 Speaker 4: Shooting this three you know what I'm saying. And they 1198 00:58:12,160 --> 00:58:13,560 Speaker 4: don't know and they. 1199 00:58:13,480 --> 00:58:17,160 Speaker 1: Prejudge you, you know, so I definitely commend you for that. 1200 00:58:17,360 --> 00:58:18,800 Speaker 1: Like I said, that was a deep one for me, 1201 00:58:19,120 --> 00:58:22,600 Speaker 1: especially somebody that I admire and watch all the time. 1202 00:58:22,880 --> 00:58:25,000 Speaker 2: Right, it's tough. I mean, we. 1203 00:58:26,440 --> 00:58:28,440 Speaker 3: You go through something like that and you know, like 1204 00:58:29,200 --> 00:58:32,919 Speaker 3: in telling it, you know, it's like one, I hope 1205 00:58:32,920 --> 00:58:37,960 Speaker 3: that it could provide some support and encouragement inspiration to 1206 00:58:38,160 --> 00:58:42,320 Speaker 3: like whoever you know may feel like they've been, you know, 1207 00:58:42,480 --> 00:58:46,240 Speaker 3: faced with an impossible obstacle, right like I really thought 1208 00:58:46,240 --> 00:58:50,160 Speaker 3: my career was over and just the state of my 1209 00:58:50,200 --> 00:58:52,600 Speaker 3: livelihood to be honest, like will I be able to 1210 00:58:52,640 --> 00:58:53,160 Speaker 3: have kids? 1211 00:58:53,160 --> 00:58:54,600 Speaker 2: Will I be able to play with them? 1212 00:58:54,720 --> 00:58:54,880 Speaker 4: You know? 1213 00:58:54,920 --> 00:58:57,680 Speaker 3: I got two little nieces, Like can I run around 1214 00:58:57,680 --> 00:58:58,480 Speaker 3: with them anymore? 1215 00:58:58,640 --> 00:59:00,360 Speaker 2: Like what can I do? What can I do? 1216 00:59:02,000 --> 00:59:04,200 Speaker 3: But also I hope it allows people to kind of 1217 00:59:04,280 --> 00:59:07,600 Speaker 3: check themselves, you know, and operate from a level of grace, 1218 00:59:08,200 --> 00:59:10,640 Speaker 3: you know, in any moment where they feel like they 1219 00:59:10,680 --> 00:59:14,600 Speaker 3: have the chance to judge, you know, because it's it's 1220 00:59:14,640 --> 00:59:18,600 Speaker 3: not for you to judge ever, you know, So that's 1221 00:59:18,640 --> 00:59:19,720 Speaker 3: really you know, my whole Let. 1222 00:59:19,680 --> 00:59:21,360 Speaker 4: Me ask you how big was your teammates? 1223 00:59:21,520 --> 00:59:23,360 Speaker 1: Because, like I say, one of the moments one of 1224 00:59:23,360 --> 00:59:26,240 Speaker 1: your teammates that I seen you with and I can 1225 00:59:26,280 --> 00:59:29,080 Speaker 1: tell you I have a connection that was your girl 1226 00:59:29,160 --> 00:59:32,440 Speaker 1: on the Scots on the Scots squad, Like, how how 1227 00:59:32,480 --> 00:59:35,680 Speaker 1: big was your teammates? And that the whole process of 1228 00:59:36,640 --> 00:59:39,360 Speaker 1: supporting when you got to the bubble when they when 1229 00:59:39,360 --> 00:59:40,720 Speaker 1: they kept that secret for you. 1230 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:45,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I you know, I'm super thankful for 1231 00:59:45,680 --> 00:59:49,760 Speaker 3: the closeness of our team at that time, because you know, 1232 00:59:49,880 --> 00:59:52,080 Speaker 3: it was something that we was carrying as a unit. 1233 00:59:52,720 --> 00:59:55,440 Speaker 3: You know, everybody asking them what's wrong with her? Like 1234 00:59:56,280 --> 00:59:59,200 Speaker 3: is she not the same? Like she her knee really 1235 00:59:59,200 --> 01:00:01,040 Speaker 3: that bad? Because time we just called it a. 1236 01:00:01,120 --> 01:00:02,680 Speaker 4: Knee injury, you know. 1237 01:00:02,880 --> 01:00:06,520 Speaker 3: And one of my teammates in particular, Gentel Lavender, she 1238 01:00:06,640 --> 01:00:09,720 Speaker 3: didn't come to the bubble, but she was with me 1239 01:00:09,800 --> 01:00:12,520 Speaker 3: every step of the way, like like you know, like 1240 01:00:13,400 --> 01:00:15,760 Speaker 3: she wiped my ass for me in the hospital, you 1241 01:00:15,760 --> 01:00:19,000 Speaker 3: know what I'm saying. Like she dressed me, she bathed me, 1242 01:00:19,120 --> 01:00:22,520 Speaker 3: clothed me, made sure I was good. So you know, 1243 01:00:22,640 --> 01:00:25,840 Speaker 3: she's really the one that's like even though she wasn't there, 1244 01:00:25,920 --> 01:00:29,480 Speaker 3: she was always checking on me, always calling me, you know, 1245 01:00:29,640 --> 01:00:32,720 Speaker 3: just after every game she was watching just like lifting 1246 01:00:32,760 --> 01:00:35,120 Speaker 3: me up and making sure I wasn't beating myself up 1247 01:00:35,160 --> 01:00:35,600 Speaker 3: too much. 1248 01:00:35,640 --> 01:00:38,600 Speaker 2: So really shout out to tell yeah. 1249 01:00:38,520 --> 01:00:40,920 Speaker 1: You really need that shout out to her, man, that's 1250 01:00:40,960 --> 01:00:44,920 Speaker 1: what you need. People don't understand these locker rooms. I 1251 01:00:45,000 --> 01:00:48,560 Speaker 1: was trying to explain to my son's mother that like Man, 1252 01:00:48,600 --> 01:00:52,280 Speaker 1: what basketball bring something in this locker room, and it'd 1253 01:00:52,280 --> 01:00:55,680 Speaker 1: be deeper than anything. I ain't saying that like all 1254 01:00:55,760 --> 01:00:59,080 Speaker 1: twelve players on the team that's gonna be your best friend, 1255 01:00:59,120 --> 01:01:01,200 Speaker 1: but you definitely gonna two or three year. 1256 01:01:01,120 --> 01:01:06,280 Speaker 4: Old be forever. 1257 01:01:06,600 --> 01:01:10,160 Speaker 1: And I've seen how your teammates like, Man, just to 1258 01:01:10,240 --> 01:01:12,680 Speaker 1: keep a secret like that, just to hold it down 1259 01:01:12,760 --> 01:01:15,240 Speaker 1: like that, that's a that's a beautiful. 1260 01:01:14,760 --> 01:01:15,400 Speaker 4: And big thing. 1261 01:01:15,560 --> 01:01:18,920 Speaker 1: And I thought that was just just a beautiful moment, 1262 01:01:19,240 --> 01:01:21,760 Speaker 1: just to see the teammates back you up and so forth. 1263 01:01:21,800 --> 01:01:25,560 Speaker 1: On the next year, after the bubbles, you get the 1264 01:01:25,640 --> 01:01:28,720 Speaker 1: opportunity to kind of just work out and I go 1265 01:01:28,800 --> 01:01:31,600 Speaker 1: overseas and try to really get your health. How was 1266 01:01:31,640 --> 01:01:34,440 Speaker 1: that process to get your health back for the next season? 1267 01:01:35,320 --> 01:01:39,440 Speaker 3: Man, that process was was very revealing to me, you know, 1268 01:01:39,640 --> 01:01:42,200 Speaker 3: to finally like work on my game and to really 1269 01:01:42,320 --> 01:01:45,720 Speaker 3: see like you know, no cameras, no lights, like where 1270 01:01:45,880 --> 01:01:46,600 Speaker 3: are you at? 1271 01:01:46,960 --> 01:01:47,200 Speaker 4: You know. 1272 01:01:47,280 --> 01:01:50,480 Speaker 2: And I spent some time out in l A And like. 1273 01:01:51,880 --> 01:01:56,760 Speaker 3: It was crazy because like I was at the Mamba 1274 01:01:56,800 --> 01:02:00,760 Speaker 3: Sports Academy and like in the summertimes, like it's super 1275 01:02:00,800 --> 01:02:04,000 Speaker 3: dope because like a lot of NBA dudes being there, 1276 01:02:04,040 --> 01:02:05,800 Speaker 3: like and so at the time I was out there, 1277 01:02:05,920 --> 01:02:08,680 Speaker 3: like KD was out there, Kyrie was out there, like 1278 01:02:08,720 --> 01:02:10,560 Speaker 3: the Hawks. 1279 01:02:10,200 --> 01:02:12,480 Speaker 2: Team was like it was like teams out there like 1280 01:02:12,520 --> 01:02:13,600 Speaker 2: coming to play pick up. 1281 01:02:14,160 --> 01:02:16,479 Speaker 3: And so like every time a KD came in the gym, 1282 01:02:16,520 --> 01:02:20,560 Speaker 3: he had like dude rebounding a massage, she had this, 1283 01:02:20,560 --> 01:02:26,360 Speaker 3: this and this, and like I'm like, damn, like like oh, 1284 01:02:26,480 --> 01:02:28,080 Speaker 3: like you know what I'm saying. I'm out there kind 1285 01:02:28,080 --> 01:02:30,400 Speaker 3: of like just with my trainer, like and I'm just 1286 01:02:30,440 --> 01:02:33,600 Speaker 3: looking and I'm just like, damn, Like that's nice, Like 1287 01:02:33,640 --> 01:02:35,440 Speaker 3: that must be really nice to be able to have 1288 01:02:35,560 --> 01:02:39,000 Speaker 3: access access, right, And so it opened my eyes to 1289 01:02:39,120 --> 01:02:42,880 Speaker 3: a lot of like what I needed and also like 1290 01:02:43,560 --> 01:02:47,520 Speaker 3: what's lacking right in women's basketball just far as like just. 1291 01:02:47,480 --> 01:02:50,320 Speaker 2: Basic you know, health and treatment and shit like that. 1292 01:02:50,440 --> 01:02:52,960 Speaker 3: Like there was no no way I should have been 1293 01:02:53,000 --> 01:02:56,640 Speaker 3: out there without you know, certain things. 1294 01:02:57,440 --> 01:03:00,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, that tells you the level of WNBA, because like 1295 01:03:00,160 --> 01:03:02,600 Speaker 1: the NBA guys got a lot of access and so forth. 1296 01:03:02,600 --> 01:03:05,360 Speaker 1: Farm But I feel like Jordan and Kobe was the 1297 01:03:05,400 --> 01:03:09,560 Speaker 1: one really doing it, but they were so mysterious and 1298 01:03:09,680 --> 01:03:12,360 Speaker 1: secretive about it. Lebron kind of brought it to the 1299 01:03:12,440 --> 01:03:15,320 Speaker 1: light that everybody know that, Like, man, I'm investing in 1300 01:03:15,360 --> 01:03:19,360 Speaker 1: my body, Like, yeah, I get this check, but this 1301 01:03:19,480 --> 01:03:22,240 Speaker 1: amount is going to the dude that's traveling with me 1302 01:03:22,400 --> 01:03:23,400 Speaker 1: and lie. 1303 01:03:23,440 --> 01:03:25,280 Speaker 3: Like I got to a point where I was like 1304 01:03:26,600 --> 01:03:30,000 Speaker 3: having that conversation with myself every day, like they don't 1305 01:03:30,000 --> 01:03:31,520 Speaker 3: pay me enough to go through this ship. 1306 01:03:32,160 --> 01:03:34,800 Speaker 1: I'm dead ass. 1307 01:03:34,880 --> 01:03:38,000 Speaker 3: Like I was really like walking a very fine line 1308 01:03:38,080 --> 01:03:39,280 Speaker 3: for a very long time. 1309 01:03:41,440 --> 01:03:43,160 Speaker 1: You know, when we play this hoop, man, you live 1310 01:03:43,200 --> 01:03:46,320 Speaker 1: and die for it like it's it's it's something we 1311 01:03:46,600 --> 01:03:48,880 Speaker 1: used to play it where we didn't get paid from it, 1312 01:03:49,040 --> 01:03:52,680 Speaker 1: where we just loved it, where the business kind of 1313 01:03:52,720 --> 01:03:55,120 Speaker 1: mix it up where you second guess your love. 1314 01:03:55,320 --> 01:03:57,200 Speaker 3: But when you come into when you when you come 1315 01:03:57,240 --> 01:04:00,480 Speaker 3: into an obstacle that like take away your physical ability 1316 01:04:00,520 --> 01:04:02,080 Speaker 3: to play it, It's. 1317 01:04:02,000 --> 01:04:04,000 Speaker 2: Like, why am I really doing. 1318 01:04:04,040 --> 01:04:07,000 Speaker 4: When these kneeds went out? Man, I'm talking about it. 1319 01:04:07,040 --> 01:04:08,400 Speaker 4: I was in the roller coaster. 1320 01:04:09,320 --> 01:04:11,600 Speaker 2: It's like your whole identity is tied to the way 1321 01:04:11,640 --> 01:04:15,040 Speaker 2: you're able to move. It's all I know and play basketball. 1322 01:04:14,600 --> 01:04:17,760 Speaker 5: Especially when it's something like your back. When it's like 1323 01:04:17,840 --> 01:04:20,240 Speaker 5: you said, when I had my back, say I couldn't 1324 01:04:20,320 --> 01:04:22,200 Speaker 5: I couldn't tell my shoes. I couldn't do, not have 1325 01:04:22,280 --> 01:04:23,120 Speaker 5: to lay on my back. 1326 01:04:23,640 --> 01:04:25,320 Speaker 4: They screwed the things in his head. 1327 01:04:25,360 --> 01:04:29,400 Speaker 1: He had two dents in his head like Frankenstein or something. 1328 01:04:29,640 --> 01:04:31,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, they had screwing them on down. 1329 01:04:31,760 --> 01:04:33,760 Speaker 1: You look crazy. So you know they always screw them 1330 01:04:33,760 --> 01:04:35,920 Speaker 1: on down. Make sure they lock them on up. 1331 01:04:35,960 --> 01:04:40,560 Speaker 5: But you know it is when you were there at 1332 01:04:40,560 --> 01:04:42,920 Speaker 5: the Mamba Academy, did you ever get a chance to, 1333 01:04:43,000 --> 01:04:44,640 Speaker 5: like you said you was watching them, did you get 1334 01:04:44,640 --> 01:04:47,960 Speaker 5: a chance to watch KD and Kyrie go through workouts 1335 01:04:48,000 --> 01:04:49,160 Speaker 5: and stuff and learn from him? 1336 01:04:49,240 --> 01:04:49,760 Speaker 4: Yeah? 1337 01:04:50,120 --> 01:04:52,880 Speaker 2: I was watching them every day. I was watching them 1338 01:04:52,880 --> 01:04:53,560 Speaker 2: play pick up. 1339 01:04:55,160 --> 01:04:57,800 Speaker 3: First of all, they was playing pick up and it 1340 01:04:57,920 --> 01:05:02,320 Speaker 3: was like they was it Kevin's world like everybody like 1341 01:05:02,920 --> 01:05:05,200 Speaker 3: they was playing if it was game to seven. He 1342 01:05:05,320 --> 01:05:10,600 Speaker 3: was scoring all seven every game. Missing this. I was like, 1343 01:05:10,760 --> 01:05:14,080 Speaker 3: I was like, are you right now? Like what am 1344 01:05:14,160 --> 01:05:14,960 Speaker 3: I looking at? 1345 01:05:15,080 --> 01:05:15,160 Speaker 4: Like? 1346 01:05:15,240 --> 01:05:16,840 Speaker 2: I just I couldn't believe it. 1347 01:05:16,840 --> 01:05:19,720 Speaker 3: He'll come in the gym with his slippers on, with 1348 01:05:19,800 --> 01:05:22,400 Speaker 3: his backpack on, the first thing he do, grab a ball, 1349 01:05:22,520 --> 01:05:25,720 Speaker 3: start shooting like just. 1350 01:05:25,640 --> 01:05:29,600 Speaker 1: Making that really really seven. 1351 01:05:29,360 --> 01:05:36,000 Speaker 3: Feet And in one game we watched he was shooting 1352 01:05:36,120 --> 01:05:39,200 Speaker 3: all like one leg like he was shooting everything off one. 1353 01:05:39,080 --> 01:05:41,920 Speaker 4: Leg, stinky leg. That's yo. 1354 01:05:42,000 --> 01:05:43,840 Speaker 2: This dude is this dude is nuts. 1355 01:05:44,800 --> 01:05:47,680 Speaker 4: How was it? Like? You know, you, I know, you 1356 01:05:47,760 --> 01:05:48,400 Speaker 4: had the surgeon. 1357 01:05:48,520 --> 01:05:50,960 Speaker 1: You get to the bubble and you ain't fully but 1358 01:05:51,080 --> 01:05:53,600 Speaker 1: you actually get the opportunity to not go over seas 1359 01:05:53,680 --> 01:05:57,480 Speaker 1: and spend the whole winter coming around to the season 1360 01:05:57,960 --> 01:06:00,760 Speaker 1: to really like work on your body, on your game 1361 01:06:00,880 --> 01:06:03,520 Speaker 1: and get prepared for a season. 1362 01:06:04,080 --> 01:06:04,959 Speaker 4: Like, how was that? 1363 01:06:05,680 --> 01:06:09,040 Speaker 2: It was? It was nice. It was challenging, but it 1364 01:06:09,080 --> 01:06:10,040 Speaker 2: was really nice. You know. 1365 01:06:10,040 --> 01:06:12,440 Speaker 3: I was able to travel around to a few different 1366 01:06:12,440 --> 01:06:16,480 Speaker 3: places and work with a few different people, see some specialists, 1367 01:06:16,480 --> 01:06:19,240 Speaker 3: see some doctors, you know, just to kind of gauge 1368 01:06:19,240 --> 01:06:20,920 Speaker 3: where I was at and what I needed to do 1369 01:06:21,000 --> 01:06:24,200 Speaker 3: to kind of get ready for the next season. So, 1370 01:06:24,320 --> 01:06:27,000 Speaker 3: you know, physically, I tested my body a lot over 1371 01:06:27,040 --> 01:06:31,120 Speaker 3: those those next few months in hopes of just being 1372 01:06:31,120 --> 01:06:32,040 Speaker 3: ready for the season. 1373 01:06:33,120 --> 01:06:35,360 Speaker 1: I feel like you was frustrated because, like, now that 1374 01:06:35,480 --> 01:06:38,120 Speaker 1: I know the whole story, it looked like you was 1375 01:06:38,160 --> 01:06:42,200 Speaker 1: a little frustrated by like your role, your role on 1376 01:06:42,240 --> 01:06:44,120 Speaker 1: the team, Like it was. It was a little frustrated 1377 01:06:44,120 --> 01:06:46,160 Speaker 1: because you feel like you really wanted all the way 1378 01:06:46,240 --> 01:06:50,320 Speaker 1: still there that in the season, but you you brought 1379 01:06:50,360 --> 01:06:52,840 Speaker 1: great minutes off the minus to even accept the role, 1380 01:06:53,840 --> 01:06:56,120 Speaker 1: to even accept that that six. 1381 01:06:56,520 --> 01:06:58,680 Speaker 3: I mean, it's frustrating. I never came off the bench 1382 01:06:58,720 --> 01:07:01,920 Speaker 3: a day in my life exactly, you know. And although 1383 01:07:02,480 --> 01:07:05,080 Speaker 3: I knew where I was and I had teammates who 1384 01:07:05,080 --> 01:07:08,480 Speaker 3: were playing at a very very high level, you know, 1385 01:07:08,600 --> 01:07:11,080 Speaker 3: so I never would have wanted to like insert myself 1386 01:07:11,080 --> 01:07:15,280 Speaker 3: and take away from that. But it was like when 1387 01:07:15,320 --> 01:07:19,080 Speaker 3: you go from like I was like untouchable pre surgery, 1388 01:07:19,160 --> 01:07:21,200 Speaker 3: like it was not a team I wasn't gonna be 1389 01:07:21,320 --> 01:07:25,720 Speaker 3: on that I wouldn't start, you know, and so trying 1390 01:07:25,760 --> 01:07:29,080 Speaker 3: to get back to that was like so frustrating because 1391 01:07:29,080 --> 01:07:31,040 Speaker 3: at a certain point in that season I hit a wall, 1392 01:07:31,840 --> 01:07:34,920 Speaker 3: you know, and like mentally it was like I didn't 1393 01:07:34,960 --> 01:07:37,360 Speaker 3: really identify with the player. 1394 01:07:37,200 --> 01:07:39,840 Speaker 2: That was being presented in games. 1395 01:07:39,920 --> 01:07:43,120 Speaker 3: I didn't identify with her, and so that was really 1396 01:07:43,280 --> 01:07:44,960 Speaker 3: that was that was challenging. 1397 01:07:45,200 --> 01:07:45,440 Speaker 2: You know. 1398 01:07:47,840 --> 01:07:52,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know, mentally, it's like you physically, you recover 1399 01:07:52,240 --> 01:07:54,480 Speaker 3: and you physically like I'm up walking, I can run 1400 01:07:54,520 --> 01:07:57,080 Speaker 3: like this, I can that, But then it was like mentally, 1401 01:07:57,120 --> 01:07:59,880 Speaker 3: I just like it was like I had to collect 1402 01:07:59,920 --> 01:08:02,600 Speaker 3: it like a whole portion of my recovery, you know, 1403 01:08:02,640 --> 01:08:04,240 Speaker 3: and last year the mental peace. 1404 01:08:05,520 --> 01:08:06,800 Speaker 2: Was really what stood out for me. 1405 01:08:07,160 --> 01:08:08,920 Speaker 4: How satisfying was it to like. 1406 01:08:10,520 --> 01:08:13,680 Speaker 1: To really experience that season get to the point where 1407 01:08:13,760 --> 01:08:16,880 Speaker 1: y'all click, you know what I'm saying, in the playoffs 1408 01:08:17,240 --> 01:08:20,680 Speaker 1: and win it. You know what I'm saying, Like it 1409 01:08:21,000 --> 01:08:23,479 Speaker 1: gotta be grounding. You're a part of that, you know 1410 01:08:23,479 --> 01:08:26,320 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. Part of that. I know, I wasn't y'all. 1411 01:08:26,439 --> 01:08:31,800 Speaker 1: You know, like bulls ain't had uparrade since Jordan's you know, 1412 01:08:32,040 --> 01:08:34,360 Speaker 1: so like how was that to just get through that 1413 01:08:34,439 --> 01:08:36,559 Speaker 1: and so forth on just to see your face and 1414 01:08:36,360 --> 01:08:40,560 Speaker 1: them championships and how was that for you? 1415 01:08:40,560 --> 01:08:44,519 Speaker 3: You can't write a better ending, you know, for the 1416 01:08:44,640 --> 01:08:46,040 Speaker 3: story of like the hero. 1417 01:08:46,520 --> 01:08:48,759 Speaker 2: You know, there's always the moment where they get. 1418 01:08:48,600 --> 01:08:50,960 Speaker 3: Defeated, they get knocked down, right, and then they get 1419 01:08:51,000 --> 01:08:53,439 Speaker 3: back up and then they you know, slay the dragon 1420 01:08:53,560 --> 01:08:54,320 Speaker 3: or whatever it is. 1421 01:08:54,320 --> 01:08:54,559 Speaker 4: You know. 1422 01:08:54,640 --> 01:08:57,360 Speaker 3: But to be honest, you know, my championship was one 1423 01:08:57,400 --> 01:09:01,479 Speaker 3: way before that, you know. But at the same time, 1424 01:09:01,640 --> 01:09:05,439 Speaker 3: like hoisting that trophy, like having it materialized like that, 1425 01:09:05,520 --> 01:09:08,800 Speaker 3: like I'm looking at it, you know, like what, like 1426 01:09:08,880 --> 01:09:11,679 Speaker 3: you can't they don't get no better than that. 1427 01:09:11,760 --> 01:09:17,559 Speaker 4: What's some of the food spots usually use it? The sure. 1428 01:09:17,720 --> 01:09:20,719 Speaker 3: I mean, there's a soul food spot out there called 1429 01:09:20,800 --> 01:09:23,759 Speaker 3: So and I'm gonna show them love because the owner 1430 01:09:23,840 --> 01:09:26,519 Speaker 3: always showed me love. So if you in Chicago, go 1431 01:09:26,640 --> 01:09:29,840 Speaker 3: check out Sole. Best soul food in the city, in 1432 01:09:29,880 --> 01:09:30,920 Speaker 3: my opinion. 1433 01:09:30,560 --> 01:09:30,800 Speaker 5: Is so. 1434 01:09:34,439 --> 01:09:38,120 Speaker 1: Tell us, tell us, like, you know, like, how how 1435 01:09:38,320 --> 01:09:41,640 Speaker 1: was the after being a world champion and winning the championship? 1436 01:09:41,760 --> 01:09:43,719 Speaker 4: Like the parade and the kick. 1437 01:09:43,560 --> 01:09:47,599 Speaker 1: It like, you know, I know you'vene just been through 1438 01:09:47,640 --> 01:09:50,720 Speaker 1: a lot the last two years, but you need one 1439 01:09:50,880 --> 01:09:56,080 Speaker 1: day to get it all. Was the parade and the 1440 01:09:56,280 --> 01:10:00,240 Speaker 1: kicket with your girls and your champions after after this, Yeah, 1441 01:10:01,080 --> 01:10:01,680 Speaker 1: that's that. 1442 01:10:01,800 --> 01:10:03,639 Speaker 2: Was just my type of party for real. 1443 01:10:04,200 --> 01:10:07,160 Speaker 3: You you mean to tell me I could get drunk 1444 01:10:07,520 --> 01:10:09,840 Speaker 3: in front of all these people and the cameras. 1445 01:10:10,120 --> 01:10:11,000 Speaker 4: I ain't gonna get. 1446 01:10:10,840 --> 01:10:13,240 Speaker 2: In trouble for it, Like y'all not gonna talk bad 1447 01:10:13,280 --> 01:10:13,720 Speaker 2: about me. 1448 01:10:14,439 --> 01:10:17,400 Speaker 3: So I had a blast on stage up there, just dancing, 1449 01:10:17,640 --> 01:10:21,439 Speaker 3: just celebrating. And obviously after the game we went to 1450 01:10:21,479 --> 01:10:23,559 Speaker 3: the you know, we went out and we had a blast. 1451 01:10:23,640 --> 01:10:24,679 Speaker 2: It was it was fun. 1452 01:10:26,240 --> 01:10:27,719 Speaker 4: I had me a couple of drinks that. 1453 01:10:27,720 --> 01:10:30,640 Speaker 3: Night, especially you see your teammates in the club that 1454 01:10:30,680 --> 01:10:32,000 Speaker 3: don't never be in the club. 1455 01:10:32,160 --> 01:10:43,599 Speaker 1: Right, Like, yeah, so that was dope. So you uh 1456 01:10:44,280 --> 01:10:47,639 Speaker 1: to get traded. You get traded and the team really 1457 01:10:47,720 --> 01:10:50,519 Speaker 1: wants you. You know, like, how did that feel after 1458 01:10:50,560 --> 01:10:53,879 Speaker 1: everything that you went through for a team to trade 1459 01:10:53,920 --> 01:10:54,320 Speaker 1: for you? 1460 01:10:55,600 --> 01:10:58,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it was It was heartbroken when I 1461 01:10:58,200 --> 01:11:00,840 Speaker 3: had to accept that. You know, I was going into 1462 01:11:00,880 --> 01:11:04,800 Speaker 3: free agency and having to explore free agency because I. 1463 01:11:04,720 --> 01:11:06,519 Speaker 2: Thought I was going to be in Chicago. You know, 1464 01:11:06,920 --> 01:11:08,760 Speaker 2: I was good in Chicago, you. 1465 01:11:08,760 --> 01:11:13,559 Speaker 3: Know, but regardless, you know, you go into free agency 1466 01:11:14,160 --> 01:11:17,360 Speaker 3: and as soon as I talked to Jim the GM 1467 01:11:17,439 --> 01:11:21,000 Speaker 3: at A for Phoenix, you know, he's like, we're gonna 1468 01:11:21,000 --> 01:11:21,559 Speaker 3: make it happen. 1469 01:11:21,760 --> 01:11:26,360 Speaker 2: We want you out here. There was no, well, how's 1470 01:11:26,360 --> 01:11:26,840 Speaker 2: your back? 1471 01:11:27,280 --> 01:11:29,760 Speaker 3: We don't know if we yeah, if you're to say, 1472 01:11:29,840 --> 01:11:32,400 Speaker 3: you know, it was like, so to go somewhere where 1473 01:11:32,400 --> 01:11:35,760 Speaker 3: the belief is strong like that, you know, that's all 1474 01:11:35,800 --> 01:11:38,040 Speaker 3: you could want for a player, like as a as 1475 01:11:38,080 --> 01:11:41,400 Speaker 3: a player. So you know, I was talking to some 1476 01:11:41,439 --> 01:11:43,960 Speaker 3: other teams or whatever, but you know, I just had 1477 01:11:43,960 --> 01:11:46,680 Speaker 3: that feeling about being in Phoenix, being out here, you know, 1478 01:11:46,800 --> 01:11:51,800 Speaker 3: playing for an organization like like Phoenix and Phoenix with 1479 01:11:51,880 --> 01:11:56,479 Speaker 3: the tradition and the pedigree, right, So so. 1480 01:11:56,400 --> 01:11:58,360 Speaker 1: To know that you're finna go and play on the 1481 01:11:58,400 --> 01:12:02,720 Speaker 1: team with Britney Grime and Dinnie and Tarassi and I 1482 01:12:02,760 --> 01:12:08,400 Speaker 1: get Tina Charles two and Scholar Diggings. 1483 01:12:07,160 --> 01:12:09,439 Speaker 4: Like like, how how is that? 1484 01:12:09,560 --> 01:12:12,080 Speaker 1: Like your pre order and you know your pre order stuff, 1485 01:12:12,120 --> 01:12:16,920 Speaker 1: and like everybody else, I do be. 1486 01:12:16,920 --> 01:12:21,040 Speaker 2: Pre order, but you know, on paper it's it's looking 1487 01:12:21,160 --> 01:12:21,920 Speaker 2: real nice. 1488 01:12:22,120 --> 01:12:25,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's looking real nice. But you know, you know 1489 01:12:25,600 --> 01:12:26,960 Speaker 3: how it is. You got to go through. 1490 01:12:27,000 --> 01:12:30,599 Speaker 2: You gotta go through, just like everybody else. 1491 01:12:30,680 --> 01:12:34,439 Speaker 3: So you know, I'm I'm obviously I'm confident in us 1492 01:12:34,479 --> 01:12:36,960 Speaker 3: and what we'll be able to accomplish with the team 1493 01:12:37,040 --> 01:12:40,439 Speaker 3: that we have, and I'm really excited to have the 1494 01:12:40,479 --> 01:12:43,639 Speaker 3: opportunity to play with those names that you just listed. 1495 01:12:43,840 --> 01:12:47,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I definitely need a jersey, so you know jersey 1496 01:12:48,920 --> 01:12:51,800 Speaker 1: Brittany Grinder. You know, she's she's going through a tough 1497 01:12:51,840 --> 01:12:55,800 Speaker 1: time in the situation that she's in. Can you speak 1498 01:12:55,840 --> 01:13:00,240 Speaker 1: a little bit about Brittany like how important she is 1499 01:13:00,280 --> 01:13:03,880 Speaker 1: to the only women's sports, was just you know, just 1500 01:13:04,000 --> 01:13:06,679 Speaker 1: women in general, or what she brings to the table 1501 01:13:06,680 --> 01:13:08,479 Speaker 1: and to be going through what she's going through and 1502 01:13:09,200 --> 01:13:12,120 Speaker 1: trying to support her from afar that you can't really 1503 01:13:13,280 --> 01:13:15,559 Speaker 1: touch or even know if she even getting your love. 1504 01:13:16,120 --> 01:13:20,479 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, it's it's very unfortunate just to know 1505 01:13:20,880 --> 01:13:23,439 Speaker 3: that she's over there and has been over there for 1506 01:13:23,479 --> 01:13:23,960 Speaker 3: so long. 1507 01:13:25,000 --> 01:13:28,320 Speaker 2: You know, you're talking about somebody who is, you know, a. 1508 01:13:30,479 --> 01:13:33,880 Speaker 3: Larger than life figure, you know, for for so many 1509 01:13:33,880 --> 01:13:38,640 Speaker 3: different communities, you know, and just to know that you 1510 01:13:38,680 --> 01:13:39,360 Speaker 3: know she's. 1511 01:13:39,160 --> 01:13:39,879 Speaker 2: Over there. 1512 01:13:42,200 --> 01:13:45,800 Speaker 3: Is devastating, right, It's a huge blow to the league. 1513 01:13:45,880 --> 01:13:49,200 Speaker 3: It's a huge blow, you know, to to her family, 1514 01:13:49,360 --> 01:13:51,200 Speaker 3: to you know, the community. 1515 01:13:51,400 --> 01:13:55,599 Speaker 2: Like and I just I can't say it enough. 1516 01:13:55,640 --> 01:13:57,400 Speaker 3: Every day I wake up and I think about her, 1517 01:13:57,720 --> 01:14:01,040 Speaker 3: you know, I'm praying for and I'm hoping that every 1518 01:14:01,080 --> 01:14:03,200 Speaker 3: day is the day that she'll be you know, we'll 1519 01:14:03,200 --> 01:14:05,559 Speaker 3: get the news that she's coming home, you know, so 1520 01:14:06,280 --> 01:14:08,439 Speaker 3: you know, until then, we got we play every game 1521 01:14:08,479 --> 01:14:12,559 Speaker 3: with a heavy heart, know, and just hope that she'll 1522 01:14:12,640 --> 01:14:13,280 Speaker 3: be home soon. 1523 01:14:17,840 --> 01:14:21,200 Speaker 5: I gotta ask my question, like it seemed like it 1524 01:14:21,280 --> 01:14:23,679 Speaker 5: was more appropriate probably when you was in Turkey, because 1525 01:14:23,720 --> 01:14:24,960 Speaker 5: it sounds you got. 1526 01:14:28,000 --> 01:14:32,559 Speaker 4: When you got the bad it wasn't over here. No 1527 01:14:32,680 --> 01:14:33,360 Speaker 4: disrespect of. 1528 01:14:33,920 --> 01:14:38,519 Speaker 5: No disrespect, but like so my favorite question is when 1529 01:14:38,560 --> 01:14:42,439 Speaker 5: you got the bag. I'm unsure if it was Turkey 1530 01:14:42,560 --> 01:14:45,240 Speaker 5: or you know, whenever you felt like, what did you 1531 01:14:45,360 --> 01:14:47,760 Speaker 5: do to go out there and treat yourself When you 1532 01:14:47,800 --> 01:14:50,479 Speaker 5: look back on it, like, maybe I wouldn't have did 1533 01:14:50,520 --> 01:14:52,600 Speaker 5: that for but it felt damn good when I did it. 1534 01:14:52,640 --> 01:14:52,800 Speaker 4: Though. 1535 01:14:53,080 --> 01:14:56,040 Speaker 3: You know what, I got talked out of every one 1536 01:14:56,080 --> 01:15:01,320 Speaker 3: of those purchases, Mom and Dad, man like just I 1537 01:15:01,360 --> 01:15:04,879 Speaker 3: got talked out of it. But because I was in Turkey, 1538 01:15:06,200 --> 01:15:09,600 Speaker 3: I had this big white wall in my bedroom, and 1539 01:15:09,960 --> 01:15:12,160 Speaker 3: you know, I looked at it and I was like, man, like, 1540 01:15:13,560 --> 01:15:17,439 Speaker 3: I wish I had a projector in this room. And 1541 01:15:17,520 --> 01:15:21,720 Speaker 3: so because my TV in my living room was, my 1542 01:15:21,800 --> 01:15:24,479 Speaker 3: TV in my living room was real small, and so 1543 01:15:25,120 --> 01:15:28,080 Speaker 3: I went and I bought me a real nice projection 1544 01:15:28,280 --> 01:15:28,600 Speaker 3: right up. 1545 01:15:28,680 --> 01:15:30,679 Speaker 4: Shout out to Baba. That's what I got. 1546 01:15:30,920 --> 01:15:35,000 Speaker 1: Baba's on the flow and it you got a short throw, Yeah, 1547 01:15:35,000 --> 01:15:35,240 Speaker 1: I got that. 1548 01:15:36,400 --> 01:15:37,680 Speaker 2: I got one of them now too. 1549 01:15:38,000 --> 01:15:42,400 Speaker 5: Yeah that the projected man like no screen like look. 1550 01:15:42,240 --> 01:15:50,840 Speaker 4: What video game of them? You know that? Yeah? Heart right, 1551 01:15:52,640 --> 01:15:53,799 Speaker 4: smiling so hard. 1552 01:15:55,520 --> 01:15:57,880 Speaker 1: So you said in an interview, you feel like you 1553 01:15:57,920 --> 01:16:00,000 Speaker 1: can fly right now? You have been through so much 1554 01:16:00,439 --> 01:16:04,000 Speaker 1: and now you're back and it's a new season and 1555 01:16:04,120 --> 01:16:06,719 Speaker 1: get ready to start and it's. 1556 01:16:06,560 --> 01:16:08,960 Speaker 4: A new year. Do you still feel like you feel 1557 01:16:09,000 --> 01:16:09,840 Speaker 4: like you're about to fly? 1558 01:16:10,600 --> 01:16:14,679 Speaker 3: Yeah? I mean I feel like, you know, I feel 1559 01:16:14,680 --> 01:16:17,240 Speaker 3: like I know I have a calling on my life, 1560 01:16:17,600 --> 01:16:19,960 Speaker 3: you know, to do and to touch a lot of 1561 01:16:20,000 --> 01:16:23,080 Speaker 3: people in ways that I couldn't have imagined, right, Like 1562 01:16:23,439 --> 01:16:26,519 Speaker 3: you don't expect going through you know what, I just 1563 01:16:26,560 --> 01:16:30,240 Speaker 3: went through the past couple of years. But I'm hoping 1564 01:16:30,240 --> 01:16:34,920 Speaker 3: that I could just walk and live, you know, through God, 1565 01:16:35,520 --> 01:16:38,280 Speaker 3: you know, and like just allow him to use me, 1566 01:16:38,880 --> 01:16:41,000 Speaker 3: you know what I mean, Like it's not even really 1567 01:16:42,160 --> 01:16:44,320 Speaker 3: up to me no more. You know, I'm kind of 1568 01:16:44,400 --> 01:16:48,080 Speaker 3: just like, yeah, like you just go through. 1569 01:16:49,560 --> 01:16:49,880 Speaker 2: Blessed. 1570 01:16:49,920 --> 01:16:52,679 Speaker 3: Anything that happens from here on now is just extra, 1571 01:16:53,560 --> 01:16:56,599 Speaker 3: you know. Like I'm already, like I said, I already 1572 01:16:56,600 --> 01:16:59,240 Speaker 3: won my championship. You know, I'm up and I'm standing, 1573 01:16:59,280 --> 01:17:02,479 Speaker 3: I'm on two feet, so you know, everything else is 1574 01:17:02,560 --> 01:17:04,680 Speaker 3: just a surplus, all right. 1575 01:17:04,840 --> 01:17:07,760 Speaker 5: That's a wrap with the lovely diamond the shields. Thank you, 1576 01:17:08,000 --> 01:17:12,760 Speaker 5: Phoenix Mercury Song. We are here, Champion Live on location. 1577 01:17:13,080 --> 01:17:15,719 Speaker 5: You're champion in the desk, we out here and finished 1578 01:17:16,360 --> 01:17:16,920 Speaker 5: tune in. 1579 01:17:17,600 --> 01:17:29,439 Speaker 7: Yeah all right. 1580 01:17:29,479 --> 01:17:31,600 Speaker 5: We want to thank y'all for your continued support of 1581 01:17:31,640 --> 01:17:34,720 Speaker 5: the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to 1582 01:17:34,760 --> 01:17:37,200 Speaker 5: give us two taps by writing a review get ready 1583 01:17:37,280 --> 01:17:40,400 Speaker 5: five stars wherever you get your podcasts, and make sure 1584 01:17:40,439 --> 01:17:43,360 Speaker 5: to hit that subscribe button so you don't miss an episode. 1585 01:17:43,600 --> 01:17:46,320 Speaker 5: You can also find all the episodes on the Players 1586 01:17:46,360 --> 01:17:50,880 Speaker 5: Tribute YouTube page, follow us on social media at Knuckleheads Podcast, 1587 01:17:51,040 --> 01:17:55,400 Speaker 5: and join our Knuckleheads Facebook group for exclusive content. Thanks 1588 01:17:55,400 --> 01:17:58,599 Speaker 5: again to all of our guests and fans, this wouldn't 1589 01:17:58,640 --> 01:17:59,960 Speaker 5: be possible without y'all. 1590 01:18:02,240 --> 01:18:07,200 Speaker 4: The Players Tribute dot com