WEBVTT - One-on-One with Draft Picks Jared McCain and Adem Bona

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<v Speaker 4>Jared McCain, Welcome to Philadelphia.

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<v Speaker 1>Thanks you.

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<v Speaker 2>Something that I was excited to learn about you is

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<v Speaker 2>that you're a journaler, right every day since high.

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<v Speaker 5>School, Yes, since probably fresh sophomore year of high school.

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<v Speaker 2>COVID and those of us who journal know that one

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<v Speaker 2>of the benefits is you can crystallize your memories. Right,

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<v Speaker 2>You've had a lot of memories to build in the

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<v Speaker 2>last few days. What memories are you crystallizing from draft night?

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<v Speaker 5>Really, it's like the very specific moments, like whether it's

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<v Speaker 5>hugging my family, hugging my brother, trying not to chrip

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<v Speaker 5>on stage, like very some putting on the hat, going

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<v Speaker 5>backstage after the draft just to hug my family again,

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<v Speaker 5>my friends.

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<v Speaker 1>Very specific moments I like the journal about and kind

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<v Speaker 1>of visualize.

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<v Speaker 2>And you come almost straight to Philadelphia, which is a

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<v Speaker 2>city you said you haven't spent much time in.

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<v Speaker 4>So what are your first memories of Philly going to be?

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<v Speaker 1>I guess now it's trying a Philly cheese steak, very good.

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<v Speaker 4>Okay, what'd you get on it?

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<v Speaker 5>It was lettuce, tomato, and onions. Okay, so I had

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<v Speaker 5>a little bit of everything on it.

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<v Speaker 1>No, she's.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, I think that's part of the main memory I

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<v Speaker 5>have right now. But going on over the bridge, New

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<v Speaker 5>Jersey to to Philly. Yeah, we'll see what memories we

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<v Speaker 5>get to make out here. Though.

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<v Speaker 2>To bring a TikTok term to this more formal environment.

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<v Speaker 2>You're someone with a ton of aura, right, And for

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<v Speaker 2>those that don't know.

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<v Speaker 1>Aura, I appreciate that where.

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<v Speaker 2>Confidence meets individualism and you have a ton of it.

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<v Speaker 2>How would you describe in your own words the Jared

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<v Speaker 2>McCain aura.

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<v Speaker 5>I think it's just a positive vibe who tries this

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<v Speaker 5>half foward life.

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<v Speaker 1>And yeah, I think it's pretty much it just positive vibes.

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<v Speaker 1>That's what I try to bring everywhere.

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<v Speaker 2>And that's a persona that's very clear in your online presence.

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<v Speaker 2>How would you describe how that persona might differ from

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<v Speaker 2>your basketball persona, which I know you've been very intentional

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<v Speaker 2>about keeping basketball sort of.

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<v Speaker 4>The main thing and the Internet is secondary.

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<v Speaker 2>What's it like to live those sort of like it's

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<v Speaker 2>like a hand of Montana thing, Like the two different lives.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah, I get a lot of the Detroit Bolton comparisons,

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<v Speaker 5>Corbin Blue comparisons.

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<v Speaker 1>That's my player comp right now.

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<v Speaker 5>Well, yeah, it's kind of cool to have two different

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<v Speaker 5>lives almost obviously the social media and the basketball, but

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<v Speaker 5>a lot of stuff I do is almost combined with it.

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<v Speaker 5>I try to have fun. That's literally the main thing

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<v Speaker 5>I do with life. I talk to God about it

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<v Speaker 5>a lot every day, and I kind of bring that

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<v Speaker 5>onto the court. I'm just having fun and I'm out

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<v Speaker 5>there doing what I love since I was four years old.

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<v Speaker 2>You called yourself the hardest worker in the draft, Tyrese

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<v Speaker 2>MAXI fancies himself the hardest worker in the league. What

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<v Speaker 2>are you looking forward to in terms of learning from him?

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<v Speaker 2>He's not a young guy anymore, He's a VET. He's

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<v Speaker 2>an all star. People have compared you, guys for maybe

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<v Speaker 2>what you lack in size you make up for and

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<v Speaker 2>skill and didn't work.

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<v Speaker 4>What do you think you can learn from him?

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<v Speaker 1>Everything?

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<v Speaker 5>I mean, curiosity is something I'm trying to be big on,

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<v Speaker 5>especially coming to the NBA, not trying to big time anything,

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<v Speaker 5>and so just asking him his how it transition went.

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<v Speaker 5>Obviously he was one and done, and just trying to

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<v Speaker 5>ask him how he fit into the NBA. What were

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<v Speaker 5>some things he learned quickly that made him so successful?

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<v Speaker 5>But yeah, obviously working out with him, the work ethic,

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<v Speaker 5>just learning everything I can from him.

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<v Speaker 4>Are you guys going to compete over who can work harder?

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<v Speaker 1>I think so.

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<v Speaker 4>I think that's a great competition.

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<v Speaker 2>Speaking of work, Speaking of teammates, we got to talk

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<v Speaker 2>about Joel Embiid, who has a sort of illustrious history

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<v Speaker 2>of working well with guards with shooters. Two man game,

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<v Speaker 2>a duke shooter that was here a few years ago.

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<v Speaker 2>They thrived together, right, two duke shooters. Actually, if you

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<v Speaker 2>want to talk about JJ and stuff.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I think I said I forgot about J.

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<v Speaker 4>That's how long I've been here. Talk about illustrious career. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>When you think about becoming perhaps the next duke shooter

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<v Speaker 2>to have good on court chemistry with Joel Embiid, what

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<v Speaker 2>are the thoughts that go through your head?

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<v Speaker 5>Everything, and that I can space four with him. I've

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<v Speaker 5>seen one of the best players in the world, so

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<v Speaker 5>again learning from him, ask him how to play off

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<v Speaker 5>of him, and uh yeah, I think he'll be a fun,

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<v Speaker 5>fun person to know.

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<v Speaker 4>We've mentioned Duke a couple of times. Your experience there.

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<v Speaker 2>I watched an interview where I think you were talking

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<v Speaker 2>about the idea that being in that environment set you

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<v Speaker 2>up well to handle haters right, to handle criticism. Perhaps

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<v Speaker 2>Philly fans are going to hold you really accountable. Have

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<v Speaker 2>you thought about the parallel sort of between Philadelphia fans

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<v Speaker 2>and that experience, I.

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<v Speaker 1>Do for sure they're their ride or die with their team.

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<v Speaker 1>Even since high school.

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<v Speaker 5>You know, I've had the social media, I've I've gotten

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<v Speaker 5>hate since high school. I've painted my nails since high school.

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<v Speaker 5>So I understand the tiktoks always are going to come

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<v Speaker 5>into play. After one bad game. I understand it. We're

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<v Speaker 5>going to do.

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<v Speaker 4>What are they going to say?

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<v Speaker 5>You already know, Yeah, it's gonna be like it's gonna

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<v Speaker 5>I've been on Twitter. It's gonna be like Joel Embiid

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<v Speaker 5>says Jared we need to make a three, and it's

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<v Speaker 5>like Jared McCain, and then it's gonna be one of

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<v Speaker 5>my tiktoks. I already know you know what it's gonna be.

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<v Speaker 5>But Duke, I think going to Duke set me up

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<v Speaker 5>for that. I already know what's gonna come with it,

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<v Speaker 5>and I'm prepared.

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<v Speaker 1>For it, and I just embrace it.

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<v Speaker 5>I try to just work as hard as I can

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<v Speaker 5>and improve everyone that I can.

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<v Speaker 1>I belong here.

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<v Speaker 2>You've been journaling since high school, You've been pinting your

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<v Speaker 2>nails since high school. Why is this individualism that you

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<v Speaker 2>really really sort of lead the charge in so important

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<v Speaker 2>to you?

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<v Speaker 5>I think because just being myself my parents have instilled

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<v Speaker 5>in me to just be myself as I as a kid,

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<v Speaker 5>and whether they supported the.

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<v Speaker 1>Painting nails or the tiktoks or anything like that, they're

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<v Speaker 1>always gonna just love me no matter what.

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<v Speaker 5>And I think having that confidence along with them has

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<v Speaker 5>biled me to the person I am today, Like, I'm

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<v Speaker 5>not going to stop. I've gotten here being myself and

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<v Speaker 5>I won't stop now for anybody in the comments telling

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<v Speaker 5>me to not pay my nails or something.

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<v Speaker 2>And you're going to inspire a lot of young kids,

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<v Speaker 2>by the way, that might be dealing with similar things

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<v Speaker 2>and trying to grow into themselves. What's your message to

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<v Speaker 2>young kids that might want to walk on perhaps not

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<v Speaker 2>the beaten path.

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<v Speaker 4>Or beat themselves like you. What do you hope that

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<v Speaker 4>they can learn from you?

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<v Speaker 5>Find whatever you love, find whatever makes you happy, and

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<v Speaker 5>just continue it. It doesn't matter if somebody doesn't like

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<v Speaker 5>it or doesn't agree with you. If you like to

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<v Speaker 5>pay your nails, pay your nails, if you don't, you

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<v Speaker 5>don't you like journaling, you like meditation, Just find whatever.

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<v Speaker 1>You love, continue to do it, and reach your goals.

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<v Speaker 5>I think always trying to dream chase is something have

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<v Speaker 5>been big on my whole life.

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<v Speaker 2>You mentioned your parents, You've mentioned your brother a lot

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<v Speaker 2>throughout this draft process. What little pieces of each of

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<v Speaker 2>them are you going to take with you into this

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<v Speaker 2>next phase.

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<v Speaker 5>My brother's big on gratitude as well, and just staying

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<v Speaker 5>present like this, a lot of stuff gets thrown at

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<v Speaker 5>you in the NBA. It's very quick, so you have

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<v Speaker 5>to just embrace every moment and try to take it

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<v Speaker 5>in and learn as much as possible. I mean, these

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<v Speaker 5>are the best players in the world and I'm a

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<v Speaker 5>rookie coming in and.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm trying to be one of those.

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<v Speaker 5>So I'm just gonna ask them as many questions and

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<v Speaker 5>have them as a backbone for anything I need.

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<v Speaker 4>What about mom and dad?

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<v Speaker 2>You mentioned brother, but maybe specific things you might take

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<v Speaker 2>from Mom, who I saw here today and she seems

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<v Speaker 2>just Yeah, I.

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<v Speaker 1>Think my mom.

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<v Speaker 5>It's very easy with my mom. It's just the positive

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<v Speaker 5>attitude like she just she has. She's a bubble of

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<v Speaker 5>life wherever she goes. So I think I'm just trying

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<v Speaker 5>to bring that wherever I go. And then my dad,

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<v Speaker 5>you know, he's he put the basketball in my hand,

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<v Speaker 5>so I think with him, it's more keep the main

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<v Speaker 5>thing the main thing like love what.

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<v Speaker 1>You do and then work hard at it and continue

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<v Speaker 1>to reach your goal. So I got a good balance

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<v Speaker 1>of both.

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<v Speaker 2>So I don't usually lead with this, but I also

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<v Speaker 2>want to do what's your cookout order?

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<v Speaker 5>Oh?

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<v Speaker 1>What time of day is this?

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<v Speaker 4>Well, if you're eating there in the morning, I have

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<v Speaker 4>a questions.

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<v Speaker 5>You want a little treat, I'm getting the bacon cheeseburger

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<v Speaker 5>tray with double Cajun fries and the peanut.

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<v Speaker 4>Butter peanut butter. Yeah, you're not throwing a.

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<v Speaker 1>Chocolate I think it would be. But it's peanut butter chocolate.

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<v Speaker 2>Okay, don't knock it till you try it, Blueberry Oreo cheesecake.

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<v Speaker 4>We'll be back in North Carolina a couple of months,

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<v Speaker 4>you can.

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<v Speaker 2>Jared McCain, thank you so much. It was a pleasure

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<v Speaker 2>to see you. And Philly is very excited.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm very excited to.

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<v Speaker 4>M Adan Bona. Welcome to Philadelphia.

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<v Speaker 6>Appreciate.

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<v Speaker 4>What's it like to be you today.

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<v Speaker 6>Like a lot of feelings going through my body, you know,

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<v Speaker 6>like stepping.

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<v Speaker 7>Into the arena right now, feeling like yes, I'm an

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<v Speaker 7>NBA player, Yes I'm a Philadelphia and sissy.

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<v Speaker 6>You know, it's truly amazing. I can't wait to get tired.

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<v Speaker 2>Draft night, you got emotional on stage, you got emotional.

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<v Speaker 2>I understand seeing your jersey for the first time as well.

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<v Speaker 2>How do you describe the feeling of becoming an NBA

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<v Speaker 2>player in these last forty eight hours?

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<v Speaker 7>We we've always dreamt about this moment, you know, for

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<v Speaker 7>the past I'll save my whole life wanting to be

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<v Speaker 7>a well worked for this for times like this.

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<v Speaker 6>So when we get you, I just can't help to

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<v Speaker 6>be emotional.

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<v Speaker 7>You know, seeing my name on the back of an

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<v Speaker 7>NBA jersey brought out all the emotions of me. I

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<v Speaker 7>didn't want to cry today, but seeing my name be

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<v Speaker 7>at an NBA jersey brought every single emotions.

0:10:41.979 --> 0:10:42.699
<v Speaker 4>It means you care.

0:10:42.819 --> 0:10:43.779
<v Speaker 1>It's beautiful.

0:10:43.979 --> 0:10:46.539
<v Speaker 2>So take us back to why this moment is so

0:10:46.659 --> 0:10:47.859
<v Speaker 2>meaningful for you.

0:10:47.859 --> 0:10:50.099
<v Speaker 4>You found basketball at the age thirteen? Is that right?

0:10:50.579 --> 0:10:52.059
<v Speaker 4>How did you find it?

0:10:52.059 --> 0:10:56.059
<v Speaker 7>It's funny basketball found me because I was having my

0:10:56.179 --> 0:11:00.699
<v Speaker 7>regular day and a random dude reached out to me, like, yo,

0:11:00.939 --> 0:11:02.579
<v Speaker 7>do you play basketball? And I was like, no, I

0:11:03.259 --> 0:11:06.099
<v Speaker 7>played soccer, and he was he was like really, like

0:11:06.459 --> 0:11:10.059
<v Speaker 7>I really want to talk to your mom, and and.

0:11:09.979 --> 0:11:11.499
<v Speaker 6>I was like, fine, you can forllow me to my

0:11:11.539 --> 0:11:13.539
<v Speaker 6>mom's store. My mom store was down the street.

0:11:14.059 --> 0:11:16.059
<v Speaker 7>He walked all the way to my momster with me

0:11:16.139 --> 0:11:18.579
<v Speaker 7>and he told my mom, I want to train your

0:11:18.579 --> 0:11:21.499
<v Speaker 7>son in basketball. And my mom was like, I don't know,

0:11:21.739 --> 0:11:24.059
<v Speaker 7>I'm not I'm not willing to pay you to train

0:11:24.139 --> 0:11:27.099
<v Speaker 7>my son. And me was like, I promise you, your son

0:11:27.179 --> 0:11:28.979
<v Speaker 7>is going to be great. Gave him a couple of

0:11:29.019 --> 0:11:32.699
<v Speaker 7>years in basketball. Your son's going to do great things.

0:11:32.939 --> 0:11:35.219
<v Speaker 7>And my mom was like, nah, I don't think I'm

0:11:35.219 --> 0:11:37.499
<v Speaker 7>going to pay you. So my mom turned him down.

0:11:37.979 --> 0:11:41.499
<v Speaker 7>But my brothers paid for my first basketball practice. So

0:11:42.379 --> 0:11:44.819
<v Speaker 7>I have two older brothers who we like, who are

0:11:44.939 --> 0:11:47.059
<v Speaker 7>like like my evidence to me. So they paid for

0:11:47.059 --> 0:11:50.579
<v Speaker 7>my first basketball practice. That's how we started. Basketball found me.

0:11:51.299 --> 0:11:52.419
<v Speaker 4>So basketball finds you.

0:11:52.539 --> 0:11:55.539
<v Speaker 2>And then shortly thereafter you moved to Turkey to start playing.

0:11:55.699 --> 0:11:56.619
<v Speaker 4>What was that transition?

0:11:56.779 --> 0:11:59.699
<v Speaker 7>Like, I think, I think that's a really good portion

0:11:59.859 --> 0:12:03.539
<v Speaker 7>of my life because moving from Nanji to Turkey was

0:12:03.539 --> 0:12:06.179
<v Speaker 7>it was a new and completed, brand new experience for me,

0:12:06.499 --> 0:12:09.299
<v Speaker 7>moving to a country where I didn't know how to

0:12:09.299 --> 0:12:12.419
<v Speaker 7>speak their language't I didn't know the culture, the food,

0:12:12.899 --> 0:12:15.659
<v Speaker 7>their way, of life, which was a brand new I

0:12:15.659 --> 0:12:17.699
<v Speaker 7>feel like it's a brand new world I was working into.

0:12:19.019 --> 0:12:21.579
<v Speaker 7>But I see that as a as a blessing because

0:12:21.939 --> 0:12:24.019
<v Speaker 7>I got there, I learned, I learned how to speaking

0:12:24.019 --> 0:12:27.059
<v Speaker 7>the Turkish language. I'm a Turkish citizen now I play

0:12:27.139 --> 0:12:30.539
<v Speaker 7>for the Turkish national team. It's so funny whenever I

0:12:30.579 --> 0:12:32.739
<v Speaker 7>walk down paper CEM and I'm like, I'm Talkish, they

0:12:32.739 --> 0:12:35.659
<v Speaker 7>were like, oh Turkish. I'm like, then I started speaking Turkish.

0:12:35.739 --> 0:12:38.859
<v Speaker 7>They were like, oh, okay, okay, I like that. So

0:12:38.979 --> 0:12:41.379
<v Speaker 7>I would see that as a blessing. To be able

0:12:41.459 --> 0:12:44.099
<v Speaker 7>to move from moving away from home to a different

0:12:44.099 --> 0:12:45.659
<v Speaker 7>place and finding home there too.

0:12:46.499 --> 0:12:47.459
<v Speaker 6>I see that's a blessing.

0:12:47.659 --> 0:12:50.099
<v Speaker 2>So you're already playing professional before you came over to

0:12:50.179 --> 0:12:51.899
<v Speaker 2>the States to do a little bit of high school.

0:12:51.939 --> 0:12:53.819
<v Speaker 4>So what was that transition then?

0:12:53.979 --> 0:12:57.579
<v Speaker 7>Like for you, it was an amazing tradition because I was

0:12:57.619 --> 0:12:59.939
<v Speaker 7>really young at the age of sixteen, I was I

0:13:00.019 --> 0:13:01.859
<v Speaker 7>was practiced with grown men.

0:13:02.299 --> 0:13:02.499
<v Speaker 1>You know.

0:13:03.179 --> 0:13:06.419
<v Speaker 7>The physicality was completely different, a way stronger than maybigger

0:13:06.459 --> 0:13:06.699
<v Speaker 7>than me.

0:13:07.139 --> 0:13:09.899
<v Speaker 6>But I had the will, I had the passion. I

0:13:09.899 --> 0:13:10.699
<v Speaker 6>wanted to be there.

0:13:11.379 --> 0:13:14.979
<v Speaker 7>I loved every single momental day of it, and I

0:13:15.299 --> 0:13:17.139
<v Speaker 7>came to to high school and it was a complete

0:13:17.139 --> 0:13:20.539
<v Speaker 7>different game where the basketball played in Europe is completely

0:13:20.539 --> 0:13:22.219
<v Speaker 7>different from the basketball player in high school.

0:13:22.259 --> 0:13:25.539
<v Speaker 6>The speed, the temple, the physicality, and not see the mindset.

0:13:25.779 --> 0:13:26.419
<v Speaker 6>This was complete.

0:13:26.459 --> 0:13:28.979
<v Speaker 7>So it's like, I also see had a blessing because

0:13:28.979 --> 0:13:30.979
<v Speaker 7>I get I had the opportunity to do well end

0:13:31.059 --> 0:13:33.619
<v Speaker 7>different style of basketball in two different ways and to

0:13:33.739 --> 0:13:35.619
<v Speaker 7>the first settings and then that kind of set me

0:13:35.699 --> 0:13:36.179
<v Speaker 7>up for good.

0:13:37.499 --> 0:13:39.339
<v Speaker 4>How did you choose U c l A after that?

0:13:39.779 --> 0:13:40.179
<v Speaker 6>Every time?

0:13:40.219 --> 0:13:42.299
<v Speaker 7>So when I asked me that, I say the question

0:13:42.379 --> 0:13:44.139
<v Speaker 7>should be white, not U c l A, because like,

0:13:45.059 --> 0:13:46.779
<v Speaker 7>who is gonna sound that U c l A, you know,

0:13:47.899 --> 0:13:49.699
<v Speaker 7>but most importantly you say that, I felt like, what's

0:13:49.739 --> 0:13:53.619
<v Speaker 7>the perfect hit for me? Going there and being a

0:13:53.699 --> 0:13:55.659
<v Speaker 7>star as the freshman was. I think that was a

0:13:55.699 --> 0:14:00.699
<v Speaker 7>really big step for me. Obviously, I have an African mom.

0:14:00.779 --> 0:14:03.859
<v Speaker 7>She's big on the education. She really wanted me to

0:14:03.859 --> 0:14:06.579
<v Speaker 7>go to like a really educational school and then usual

0:14:06.659 --> 0:14:08.339
<v Speaker 7>it was one of the best in the country, so

0:14:08.379 --> 0:14:10.179
<v Speaker 7>it's like a no brainer for my mom.

0:14:11.019 --> 0:14:14.379
<v Speaker 6>But for me basketball wise, I think it's an amazing fit.

0:14:14.979 --> 0:14:19.339
<v Speaker 7>They have amazing culture, eleven championship, they have a bunch

0:14:19.339 --> 0:14:21.299
<v Speaker 7>of legends.

0:14:21.379 --> 0:14:22.499
<v Speaker 6>We can talk, we can go.

0:14:22.459 --> 0:14:24.539
<v Speaker 7>And we have Rico Hinds, Yeah, who is one of

0:14:24.899 --> 0:14:28.539
<v Speaker 7>one of an egg brewing alone, brewing alone. It's also

0:14:28.579 --> 0:14:31.699
<v Speaker 7>amazing to be in building with another blowing alumni.

0:14:31.779 --> 0:14:35.299
<v Speaker 6>So it's amazing. Like the questions why not you seal

0:14:35.539 --> 0:14:38.299
<v Speaker 6>he shouldn't be you know, I was.

0:14:38.219 --> 0:14:40.739
<v Speaker 2>About to ask you about that continuity with Ricol Hines,

0:14:40.739 --> 0:14:42.899
<v Speaker 2>who's now an assistant coach, and I understand you have

0:14:42.939 --> 0:14:45.219
<v Speaker 2>a bit of a relationship with him already. What was

0:14:45.219 --> 0:14:48.499
<v Speaker 2>his reaction to to your coming to the seventy six ers.

0:14:48.619 --> 0:14:51.259
<v Speaker 7>It was I walked in the building, I saw him

0:14:51.259 --> 0:14:54.579
<v Speaker 7>from distance from the glasses, and he was already smiling.

0:14:54.659 --> 0:14:57.619
<v Speaker 7>I was like, yes, we in you know brewings. I

0:14:57.619 --> 0:15:01.099
<v Speaker 7>feel like the Bruins connection is always there. Woke on

0:15:01.139 --> 0:15:04.459
<v Speaker 7>the carts and we were already chanted the DS club.

0:15:04.539 --> 0:15:07.539
<v Speaker 7>You know that that's really amazing to be able to

0:15:07.739 --> 0:15:12.179
<v Speaker 7>meet someone from from the same unity, the same fatality.

0:15:12.299 --> 0:15:14.339
<v Speaker 7>You know, it just make me feel welcome, you know,

0:15:14.539 --> 0:15:15.779
<v Speaker 7>make me feel like home already.

0:15:16.299 --> 0:15:20.419
<v Speaker 2>Head coach, Nick Nurse, you're wearing the expect to win bracelet,

0:15:20.459 --> 0:15:21.939
<v Speaker 2>which I understand you put on as soon as you

0:15:21.979 --> 0:15:24.459
<v Speaker 2>came in the building. That's a slogan for those that

0:15:24.499 --> 0:15:27.699
<v Speaker 2>aren't aware that he brought to his time in Birmingham,

0:15:27.739 --> 0:15:31.659
<v Speaker 2>England in the BBL, playing over or coaching rather in Europe.

0:15:31.899 --> 0:15:34.339
<v Speaker 2>Brought it then to Toronto, where he's asking everybody to

0:15:34.379 --> 0:15:38.939
<v Speaker 2>expect to win, no matter what the characteristics of any.

0:15:38.779 --> 0:15:40.339
<v Speaker 4>Given day or any given game is.

0:15:40.379 --> 0:15:42.619
<v Speaker 2>He believes that any group can go out there and

0:15:42.699 --> 0:15:43.579
<v Speaker 2>expect to win.

0:15:44.099 --> 0:15:45.099
<v Speaker 4>What do those words mean to you?

0:15:46.139 --> 0:15:47.099
<v Speaker 6>It means a lot to me.

0:15:47.219 --> 0:15:47.419
<v Speaker 4>You know.

0:15:48.419 --> 0:15:52.659
<v Speaker 6>I came from a program where winning is an expectation.

0:15:52.739 --> 0:15:59.179
<v Speaker 7>Also playing for UCLA with is sucial history, like every

0:15:59.219 --> 0:16:03.539
<v Speaker 7>game we expect to win, but also onting about me.

0:16:05.619 --> 0:16:06.899
<v Speaker 6>Things that means a lot to me.

0:16:06.979 --> 0:16:09.979
<v Speaker 7>I wear them around my wrist, are working already, have

0:16:10.099 --> 0:16:12.539
<v Speaker 7>my own risband that says power and the other one

0:16:12.619 --> 0:16:15.379
<v Speaker 7>says strength. And I saw I saw a ristband when

0:16:15.379 --> 0:16:18.299
<v Speaker 7>I walked into the building that says expected to win. Actually,

0:16:18.339 --> 0:16:20.779
<v Speaker 7>my hostmom grabby because she knows how I like my

0:16:20.819 --> 0:16:23.979
<v Speaker 7>ristbands and like I like wearing want my my wrist

0:16:24.019 --> 0:16:26.339
<v Speaker 7>that means something to me, and she gave it to

0:16:26.379 --> 0:16:28.179
<v Speaker 7>me and I saw and I said, I expect to win.

0:16:28.259 --> 0:16:30.739
<v Speaker 7>I was like, amazing, and I put it on because

0:16:32.099 --> 0:16:34.579
<v Speaker 7>I strive to win everything I do off because on

0:16:34.659 --> 0:16:37.459
<v Speaker 7>the coat, I want to win, you know. So I

0:16:37.499 --> 0:16:39.779
<v Speaker 7>feel like that's just kind of matching my type of

0:16:39.819 --> 0:16:42.819
<v Speaker 7>person I am. Where like I love to wear stuff

0:16:42.819 --> 0:16:44.739
<v Speaker 7>that means a lot on my wrist and the wristbands

0:16:44.819 --> 0:16:47.179
<v Speaker 7>respect to win just matches me, just like perfect match.

0:16:47.219 --> 0:16:49.739
<v Speaker 2>You know, the left hand is power, power and strength.

0:16:50.219 --> 0:16:53.179
<v Speaker 2>You bring that to right hand expect to win. Why

0:16:53.179 --> 0:16:55.379
<v Speaker 2>did you choose power and strength as those two values

0:16:55.379 --> 0:16:55.979
<v Speaker 2>that are some point?

0:16:56.339 --> 0:16:58.739
<v Speaker 6>I think these those are the things that keep that

0:16:58.819 --> 0:16:59.499
<v Speaker 6>keeps me going.

0:16:59.979 --> 0:17:02.299
<v Speaker 7>The power streps has like a couple of Babu vasony

0:17:02.899 --> 0:17:06.099
<v Speaker 7>and actually lest I when these during my pre draft,

0:17:06.859 --> 0:17:08.899
<v Speaker 7>when I started my pre draft, I had I had

0:17:08.939 --> 0:17:11.259
<v Speaker 7>couple with that ripped during the pre draft, and I

0:17:11.299 --> 0:17:13.299
<v Speaker 7>keep start filling them up.

0:17:13.699 --> 0:17:17.779
<v Speaker 6>But I think my power it's it's actually my name.

0:17:18.179 --> 0:17:21.619
<v Speaker 7>My traditional name Njiam is God's power, which I think

0:17:21.659 --> 0:17:25.619
<v Speaker 7>power is in my name. And I think my family

0:17:26.139 --> 0:17:29.179
<v Speaker 7>we all believe in the bigger power.

0:17:29.259 --> 0:17:33.539
<v Speaker 6>Both so I have power, I have strengths.

0:17:33.579 --> 0:17:36.539
<v Speaker 7>I believe my strengths come from selwhere So those are

0:17:36.579 --> 0:17:38.259
<v Speaker 7>the two words that take it key to me.

0:17:38.659 --> 0:17:41.779
<v Speaker 2>You've had so many experiences at such a young age,

0:17:42.339 --> 0:17:46.299
<v Speaker 2>so many cultures, multiple families. What are you bringing along

0:17:46.339 --> 0:17:49.139
<v Speaker 2>from each of those experiences, from Nigeria to Turkey, to

0:17:49.259 --> 0:17:52.179
<v Speaker 2>California to u c LA. What do you bring with

0:17:52.219 --> 0:17:54.579
<v Speaker 2>you from each of those experiences and those people now

0:17:54.619 --> 0:17:55.739
<v Speaker 2>into your professional career.

0:17:55.859 --> 0:17:59.419
<v Speaker 7>I think that brings me my love diversity. It just

0:17:59.419 --> 0:18:01.979
<v Speaker 7>shows our we're able to connect with any group of people.

0:18:02.459 --> 0:18:05.819
<v Speaker 7>It shows that I've been I've been to I've been

0:18:05.979 --> 0:18:08.299
<v Speaker 7>different group of people. I've seen so many different cultures.

0:18:08.299 --> 0:18:11.339
<v Speaker 7>I've seen so many dif first traditions, and I feel

0:18:11.379 --> 0:18:13.859
<v Speaker 7>like I can bring my tradition to contribute to improve

0:18:13.899 --> 0:18:15.739
<v Speaker 7>other traditions, to help AUDO.

0:18:15.899 --> 0:18:16.819
<v Speaker 6>Traditions get better.

0:18:17.179 --> 0:18:19.619
<v Speaker 7>And I feel like with my experience, I feel like

0:18:19.659 --> 0:18:22.019
<v Speaker 7>I can connect with anyone in the world. And I

0:18:22.059 --> 0:18:24.579
<v Speaker 7>think that's also going to help in the chema chemistry

0:18:25.179 --> 0:18:26.099
<v Speaker 7>bonding with the time.

0:18:27.059 --> 0:18:28.539
<v Speaker 6>I think that's going to help me a long way.

0:18:28.579 --> 0:18:30.379
<v Speaker 7>And also it's going to help me to be able

0:18:30.379 --> 0:18:32.059
<v Speaker 7>to connect with my tim It's easily well.

0:18:31.939 --> 0:18:33.819
<v Speaker 2>We've already done a great job connecting on day one.

0:18:33.859 --> 0:18:37.299
<v Speaker 2>It's been a pleasure to connect with you. Welcome, congratulations

0:18:37.299 --> 0:18:38.019
<v Speaker 2>and thank you again.

0:18:38.179 --> 0:18:40.259
<v Speaker 6>Thank you very much, appreciate you, thanks for having me