1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to All the Smoke, a production of The Black 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime. Welcome 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: back Man, season two of All the Smoke. We got 4 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: a real special guys, what's up with your Brody with 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: the virtual handshake? Don't tell you something I never told 6 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,799 Speaker 1: him about. I want to smoke. Welcome back to another 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: edition All the Smoke. Jack was good. What's uping my 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: bro How you doing? I tell you? Feeling better? Man? 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: I can't call yeah, Man, I just had to slow 10 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: my ass down. Luckily I got COVID tested. I didn't 11 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: have COVID and just the doctor's house dehydrated. I needed 12 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: to rest, so I arrested. I got my fuel back up. 13 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: Now we're back in action. Man, what's going on? That's 14 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: what happens when you've been a good dad, man, and 15 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: boys dragging you right now? Man, everywhere all over the place. Man. Anyway, 16 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: we got a man, a special guest, someone I saw 17 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: firsthand the Lyns Sanity experience and with my Laker team 18 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: or our Laker team went out to l A and 19 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 1: he busted our ass. But man, welcome to the show. 20 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 1: Jeremy Lynn, what's up with Sanity? Thanks for having me, guys, 21 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 1: it's gonna be fun and everything good. Yeah, everything's good. 22 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: I'm just in the bay, Okay, Yeah, I mean I'm 23 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: in the bay. I'm in Plato, just staying in shape. Yeah. 24 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: I finished the G League season, but since then, just 25 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: kind of waiting for hoping for an NBA call it. 26 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: There's you know, there's a week left right now, so 27 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: that until the day. How so how old are you now? 28 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: I'm thirty two, okay, so yeah, you definitely still got 29 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:30,759 Speaker 1: some time. Like, how did the G League season go? Well? 30 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: For us? We finished second? Um? And then for me 31 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: it was nice. I finished finished seventh and scoring in 32 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: the league fourth and assists and then uh, you know, 33 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: topping in the shooting and shooting efficiency. So it was 34 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: good for me. Um, really good for me. Got career 35 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: highs from the field and three and free throws. So 36 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: that's not my video has been working on is my shot? 37 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: Just trying to get it better. Um. You know when 38 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: we play, uh, when we played played eight nine years ago, 39 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: you guys are all backing up, sagging off forced me 40 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 1: to shoot. So we have come a long way since then. 41 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: You definitely took advantage of that ship anyway, let's get started. Uh, 42 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: you know, born and raised in uh Palo Alto talk 43 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: to us about your childhood and uh, you know, I 44 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: heard your mom was really tough on academics, but you know, 45 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: let you play basketball and then you definitely excelled in that. 46 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:28,080 Speaker 1: But talk to us about your upbringing. Um. Yeah, I 47 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:32,799 Speaker 1: grew up in northern California and to some degree, it's 48 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 1: a little bit of a bubble for sure. And uh, 49 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 1: you know, I, like you said, for me, if it 50 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:42,359 Speaker 1: wasn't straight a's, I wasn't playing basketball. So you made 51 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: sure I was getting I was, I was getting straight a's. Um. 52 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: That was kind of just a family rule. And uh 53 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: and besides that, you know, um, I it's interesting like 54 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:56,320 Speaker 1: my parents growing up, they were traditional in some sense, 55 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: you know, so I did the whole piano, violin and 56 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,640 Speaker 1: and all these different things that every immigrant Asian immigrant 57 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: kid was doing. But then at the same time they 58 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 1: were really unique too because they they saw that me 59 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: and my brothers we just loved basketball, and so they 60 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: actually let us do it and they spent all basically 61 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: all the money they're making was to go towards the 62 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,359 Speaker 1: house mortgage or like au basketball and stuff. Like that, 63 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: and so they got a lot of uh, you know, 64 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: they got a lot of crap. And they were constantly like, 65 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: you know, their friends, other Asian immigrants were like, why 66 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: would you do this? Why would you spend all that money? 67 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: That's crazy like that, and so they actually had to 68 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: go through a lot just to even peer pressure of 69 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: just to say we look, our children loved it, and 70 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: this is what we're gonna do. And back then for 71 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: Asian immigrant families, I was like ridiculous, Like it was crazy. 72 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: And then next thing you know, um, I got a 73 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: chance to play play in high school and go on 74 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: to Harvard. By the time I made it to Harvard, 75 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of people are like, wait, so 76 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,839 Speaker 1: what other what other sports can we have our kids 77 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: start playing so that they can make it to Harvard 78 00:03:56,560 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: to um. So it was a really cool role reversal. 79 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: But that was what it was like. It was like 80 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: I had, you know, primarily a white school, and then 81 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: I had my Asian church, and then I had like 82 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,400 Speaker 1: my basketball which were primarily all black friends and teammates, 83 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: and so it was it was really unique experience. For sure, 84 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: where did your love of basketball come from? My dad? 85 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: So like when he came over. He came over while 86 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 1: he was he had just graduated from college. Then he 87 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: came over to uh Old Dominion, Virginia, and as he 88 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: was just turning, you know, turning the channels on TV, 89 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: he saw Kareem Abdul Jabbar and he fell in love 90 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: with the sky hook. I swear, I couldn't even make 91 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: this up as the most random story. But he just 92 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: fell in love with the sky hook and he would 93 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: go to the park and just work on it for 94 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 1: like two to three hours a day. And he never 95 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: played in the skyhook in general. Just the sky hook. Yeah, 96 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,799 Speaker 1: just the skuy hook. I mean, dude, if you I'm serious, 97 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 1: if you watched him play, like he will turn down 98 00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: an open lay up and then do a whole little 99 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 1: like into the skyhook because it's a higher, higher like 100 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: accuracy shot for him. Like it's absolutely ridiculous. And so 101 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: he worked on that for three years and then he 102 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: started to play pick up and then once we had 103 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: a kid, Once he had kids and we had you know, 104 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: me and my older brother and younger brother, he was 105 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,480 Speaker 1: just basketball all day every day. That's so does he 106 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: still shoot the skyhook to this day? Oh, for sure, 107 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: he's always you'll find him as you'll find him at 108 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: your local uh, your local Senior rec center or at 109 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: the twenty four hour y c A coming your way 110 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: with the with the Jimings guy hook. So he definitely 111 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: does that and put in h and still plays. Yeah, 112 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: that's funny as hell. Who were you watching play as 113 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 1: a kid? Who inspired you besides your day to be honest, 114 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,599 Speaker 1: the only player um like, so my brother, my older brother, 115 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,679 Speaker 1: was always my role model. But in terms of actually 116 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: like a role model of a player, like, the only 117 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: person that I would say like genuinely inspired me and 118 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: was a huge role model was Jordan's um and I 119 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: as I got older at I had different bits and 120 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 1: pieces because my games nothing like Jordans. I can't do 121 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: ent of things Jordan does, And so I started watching 122 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 1: a ton of other players, but in terms of the 123 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: journey and the inspiration, like I did all my book reports, 124 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: if I could on Jordan's And actually that's the crazy thing. 125 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: It's like I actually really looked up to a lot 126 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,359 Speaker 1: of black athletes growing up, especially in the basketball world, 127 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: but even like in boxing or other other sports. To me, 128 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 1: I drew a lot from minorities, but it was never 129 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: really Asian minorities. UM. And it wasn't until yeah uh 130 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: Yeao came and he was playing in the bay UM 131 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: and I remember at that time we didn't have that 132 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: much money grown up, but we were just like me 133 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 1: and my older brother like mom that you have to go, 134 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: let us watch yao. And so we got eleven dollar 135 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: nosebleedes at at Oracle, the o G Arena and Oakland 136 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: and then we and then we snug down at halftime 137 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: to the lower level and we were just like loving it. Um. 138 00:06:54,279 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 1: But you know, yeah, I was not necessarily inspirational the 139 00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: sense that I felt like I could be coming because 140 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: he was seven six and he was a center. But 141 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: it was more just like also seeing another Asian that, 142 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: you know, an Asian on the floor kind of opened 143 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: my mind up a little bit. But from the jump, 144 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 1: it was always MG. So like you said earlier, you know, 145 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: you were you were lucky enough to to to play 146 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 1: basketball in high school and actually really made a name. 147 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: Um upset nashally rank Modern Day UH Player of the Year. 148 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: Talk to us about your high school experience and kind 149 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,720 Speaker 1: of was it an eye opening experiant or did you 150 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: always feel like you belong you know, I never when 151 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: I was in middle school, I didn't even know if 152 00:07:31,800 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: I play in high school. You know, I was my 153 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: freshman year in high school, I was five ft three. 154 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: Half the girls in school were taller than me, and 155 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: I was just seriously, I was like I was the 156 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,760 Speaker 1: skinniest little if you look up, if you look up 157 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: my my pictures in high school, like I was like 158 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: this two. I was so skinny. I couldn't I couldn't 159 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: do one pull up, Like I literally couldn't do a 160 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: pull up. But I just knew how to play the game. 161 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: And so you know, my body didn't really develop until 162 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: I got to college and I started lifting, and that's 163 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: when I started getting really explosive. But prior to that, 164 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: like I didn't expect to be great in high school, 165 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: Like I knew I was always one of the better 166 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: kids in the area. But again I never had that, 167 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: like I never had that like belief like, oh, this 168 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: is what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna go to high school. 169 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 1: Im kill and then in high school, I'm gonna go 170 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: to college. And I never and again the Asian immigrant experience, 171 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: it's like the fact that I was playing in high school, 172 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: I was celebrated like I was playing in the NBA. 173 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,120 Speaker 1: It's like, dude, he's Asian. He plays on his high 174 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: school team, like the yeah right, that's dope. So your 175 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,400 Speaker 1: senior year, you lead the Palo alto the thirty two 176 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: and one record. Um upset, like I said, modern day 177 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: by four to when this Division two state title a 178 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: bunch of accolades come with that? When did you kind 179 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: of start realizing that, Okay, well I did what I 180 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 1: was supposed to do in high school. College is an 181 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 1: opportunity now, yeah, I mean, you know, the recruiting experiences 182 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 1: crazy man, like I was. I had to make my 183 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: own tape. I sent it to a bunch of teams. 184 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:10,319 Speaker 1: I couldn't even get the Vision three schools to look 185 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: at me. Um Like, I was trying to get Division 186 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 1: three schools to just give me a chance, and they 187 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: wouldn't even take the call. Um. So Harvard was really 188 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: the only school that wanted me. It was Harvard and 189 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: D one and then m I T and D three. 190 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: No other schools really like wanted me to go play there. 191 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: And Harvard can't you know, they're in the ivories, so 192 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 1: they can't give athletic scholarships. And so I was like, look, mom, 193 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: like I gotta go. I just want to play basketball. 194 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: I have to go to Harvard UM to go play basketball, 195 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: because for me, like I didn't Harvard was you know, 196 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: I mean, academics was never like my passion. So it 197 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 1: was like I didn't want to I actually want to 198 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 1: go to Stanford. I want to play in the Pact 199 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,079 Speaker 1: Ten at the time, and I wanted to hoop with 200 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: like in a better conference. But but then I kind 201 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:57,199 Speaker 1: of decided between the two schools. I was like, I 202 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: can't go to D three. I was like, it doesn't 203 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: matter which D one. I just need a chance. Give 204 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: me a chance to go compete at the highest level, 205 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: which is Division one. Give me a chance and I'll 206 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 1: do the rest in terms of like I'll see how 207 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: good I can get and I'll see what can happen. 208 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: And it's not I always have that degree to fall right. Well, 209 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: I mean speaking to Harvard, obviously, that's a tremendous honor 210 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,679 Speaker 1: on the academic side. You made it work for basketball, 211 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: But how hard was it balancing that kind of workload 212 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: and being a student athlete, Because I know U c 213 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: l A. I mean, there's nothing like the workload you 214 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: probably got at Harvard, and that ship was tough. That 215 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: was probably because I didn't go to class very much. 216 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 1: But outside of that, when I did go to class, 217 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 1: that ship was tough. Yeah. My brother and sister in 218 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: law both went to U c l A. And so 219 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: I would visit my brother at U c l A. 220 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: And that was my dream school. That was that was 221 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: my dream school. And uh, and I really really really 222 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: want to go there. Man. We used to poop that 223 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,120 Speaker 1: went in until two am and go to puzzles, grab 224 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: the clam chowder, bread bulls and do the whole thing. 225 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:56,439 Speaker 1: And and we would I would go within the class 226 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: and but no, Harvard was a whole different level. Like 227 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: when I out there, I remember I almost got put 228 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,599 Speaker 1: on probation my first year. Um, I had like a 229 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 1: C minus and a C and some B mine like 230 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, you get put on probation for 231 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: you to d And that's when I realized, like what 232 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: I was going, what I thought was education, this is 233 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 1: a whole different level. Like you can study as hard 234 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,720 Speaker 1: as you want, but like you know, like when you hoop, 235 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 1: sometimes they're just guys where it's like they just had 236 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: no matter how much do you train an amount how 237 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 1: like they just have something different. And that's what it 238 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: was like for everybody in the classroom. I was like, dude, 239 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: I know that I know the textbook, I did the 240 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: test in the homework, I did the readings, and these 241 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,079 Speaker 1: dudes are just at a different level. And um, I 242 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: ended up. You know, I found my way. I got 243 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 1: my g P up to a three point one by 244 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: the by my senior year. I got my first day 245 00:11:43,559 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: my second semester senior year, I got my first day 246 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: in a class at Harvard. And that just goes to 247 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: show like I had a four to g p A 248 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: in high school, but in Harvard it was just a 249 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: whole different beast. So um, yeah, it really was eye opening, Like, wow, 250 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: these guys are are really geniuses. Mm hmmm. So you grund, 251 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:03,559 Speaker 1: you put in the work, you stay in college is 252 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: the first time you start lifting weight, so your body 253 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 1: starts filling out, you get your athleticism. What is it 254 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: like in that process becoming a star over at Harvard 255 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: because they're not really obviously known for turning out basketball players. Yeah, 256 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,040 Speaker 1: and that's why I never felt like a star. Um, 257 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,400 Speaker 1: and I never did. I never did because you know, 258 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: people didn't care, right, like even when I was at Harvard, 259 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 1: I tell people to be like, oh, so do you 260 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:27,440 Speaker 1: like that. I was like, oh, I played basketball. They're 261 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: like I was like, I'm on the basketball team, and 262 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: they'd be like intramurals um or they would be like, oh, 263 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: I didn't know we had a basketball team. No, I'm serious. 264 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 1: Even like I told my professor in my English class, 265 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: I was like, hey, I have to I can't make 266 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: this class because I need to go to have a 267 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 1: game and playing the basketball team. And he's like, oh, like, 268 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: you just tell your coach which games you can and 269 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: can't go to, because you know, like we have we 270 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: have class every Friday, and if you missed two do 271 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 1: you get kicked out the class for for good? And 272 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: so it was just like a very different experience. So 273 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,079 Speaker 1: I never felt like a star. I never felt like 274 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 1: I was, you know, a lot to go to the NBA, 275 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: even played professionally. Like. It wasn't until my assistant coach, 276 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 1: Kenny Blakeney, who you know, he was a McDonald's All 277 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: American and from um and and played the Duke with 278 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,719 Speaker 1: Grant Hill. But he was the one who was like, look, man, 279 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 1: you can you can make it to the n b 280 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: a Um and he's the one who put that belief 281 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: in me. What what was the vibe like in Boston 282 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: and slash Cambridge? What was the vibe black out there? Um? 283 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: It was crazy. I mean they have like I don't 284 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: know how many, like thirty universities in that small area. 285 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 1: For me, Um, back then, like I had like no money, 286 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: so I never left campus. Even just to like go 287 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 1: to downtown Boston. You had to get on the T 288 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: and need to pay you know, a couple of bucks, 289 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,439 Speaker 1: and that wasn't even worth it to me. Um. And 290 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: so I I didn't really know anything about Boston. I 291 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,400 Speaker 1: just knew Cambridge. I just knew my my school and 292 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: and it was just like I knew all the deals. 293 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: So it was like, Okay, you know on Wednesday you 294 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:00,079 Speaker 1: might go to Kutobo or oh no, it's Monday, so 295 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 1: like you could get a six dollar and large pizza. 296 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,679 Speaker 1: So I just kind of knew that little Harvard bu 297 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: but I didn't know anything about the greater area. Yeah. 298 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: I like the I like the grind though just to 299 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: now you'll be addressing the class of one on their 300 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: virtual graduation. What kind of honor is that for you? 301 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: It was I mean it's intense because you know when 302 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: they sent over the invitation, first of all, I was 303 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: like no, like me uh like again like I just 304 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 1: wasn't expecting it. And then they sent over the list 305 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:33,800 Speaker 1: and then they're like, oh yeah, you know amongst the 306 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 1: class day speakers, you know, there's there's Alpha or Hank, Aaron, 307 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: Joe Biden, mother Teresa. And I was like, oh man, 308 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: I'm definitely not speaking now, like this is not normally 309 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: you read that list and then like encourages you to speak. 310 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: I was like absolutely not um. And then you know, 311 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: my uh my sister in law was like dude and 312 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: honor um. She talked me into doing it, and my 313 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: and my sorry in my college coach coaching imacurate was 314 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: also like you really should do it. And so I 315 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: just felt like something that like, look, I won't be 316 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 1: the most educated, but I can share from my heart 317 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: and that's what I'm going to Your journey, your story 318 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: is inspiring, so that's definitely something to share. Some congratulations. 319 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: So two thousand and ten, Um, you unfortunately go undrafted. 320 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: Talk about the process from going undrafted to ending up 321 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: playing UH for an opportunity for your hometown team. The Warriors. 322 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: I mean that was you know. I remember when I 323 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:30,640 Speaker 1: didn't get drafted. My my agent, Roger Montgomery, basically said, look, 324 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: you have five games in Summer League. Uh, you either 325 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: make it happen or you don't. But like, if you 326 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,120 Speaker 1: want to get to the NBA has got to be 327 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 1: here in the Summer League. And this is where something 328 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 1: for me, like phase has always been a big part 329 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: of it. But I was injured and then like right 330 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: before the Summer League training camp started, like the day before, um, 331 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: I got cleared by the doctor. And then on top 332 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: of that, at that time, I was playing for the 333 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: mass and they had their last two picks for their 334 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: last two years. Was ridan Wa at point guarded Dominie Jones, 335 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 1: that shooting guard, and so I was kind of just 336 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: like barely getting any time and in practice or in 337 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: the games. And then all of a sudden, in our 338 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: fourth game, Roddy while got hurt. So that's why I 339 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: ended up playing in the whole fourth quarter. And we 340 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: were playing against John Wall who was a number one pick, 341 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: and that's the you know, and I got to go 342 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: head to head with him, and um that's the only reason, 343 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:27,280 Speaker 1: you know, I had played pretty well, they ended up winning, 344 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: but that's the reason why I got the contract, and 345 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 1: so to come home to go to the state. I mean, uh, 346 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: you know, you guys know what it's like to play 347 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 1: in the base, so it was just a different level. Um. 348 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 1: It killed me, to be honest, Like I wasn't expecting it. 349 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: Like the anxiety and the pressure. It killed me, my 350 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: rookie here, Like I didn't know how to handle it. 351 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: Just playing at home and everybody every day just like 352 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: hitting me up or just like focused in on what 353 00:16:57,680 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: I was gonna do, which was nothing, my rookie here, 354 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: But you hit on something that I think is interesting. 355 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: And now it's obviously we're talked about and we're going 356 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: to dive in deep into it later, but let's just 357 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:10,639 Speaker 1: hit it now. You've gone through some interesting phases in 358 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,000 Speaker 1: your life where you're at the top of the mountain, 359 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,479 Speaker 1: drop down, get back to the top of the mountain, 360 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 1: fall a little bit, get back up there. You had 361 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: to seek outside counseling, UM to kind of find out 362 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:24,399 Speaker 1: how to manage the ups and downs and everything that 363 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: came with us. UM, considering we're in mental health Awareness 364 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 1: month right now, talk to us about you know that 365 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 1: journey and that process and how that's helped you. And 366 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: the biggest thing for me was, um, you know I 367 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: throw a young age, I was just like crazy bull dreamer, um, 368 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: and you know I always had the biggest dreams, the 369 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:45,640 Speaker 1: biggest visions, and I would go for it and then 370 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: and then it wasn't you know. Two years ago I 371 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: went after so I had won the championship in Toronto. Um, 372 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 1: and then that off season I didn't get a contract, 373 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: and so I went overseas to play in China. When 374 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: I went to China, I was the guy in terms 375 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 1: of like like the lebron or the staff of that 376 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: league and in the c B A and at the 377 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: ball in my hands and everything. And and even though 378 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: I was playing well, we were on one of the 379 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: top teams, like and everything looked good on paper, in 380 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:17,119 Speaker 1: my mind, I was just like I was scared and 381 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 1: I was like where is this stuff coming from? Like 382 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: I was Sometimes in the fourth quarter, I would be like, oh, no, 383 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: I hope that uh, I hope that I don't shoot 384 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: the last shot because what if I miss? Or oh 385 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: I hope the coaches will put me in because you 386 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: know what happens if I lose the game or or 387 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,120 Speaker 1: the pressure, and I was just like, what is going 388 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: on with me? And this was coming off with two 389 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 1: straight years of injury in Brooklyn, when I had like 390 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: the perfect opportunity. I was a starting player. I was, 391 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:44,480 Speaker 1: you know, the considered the franchise player. I was in 392 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: Kenny Atkinson system, like it was everything that I was. 393 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,119 Speaker 1: I felt like I was supposed to continue with the 394 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: New York Knicks, and then I ended up getting two 395 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 1: straight seasons of injury, and when I didn't realize, I 396 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: recovered physically, but I recover mentally, and so I started 397 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: to think, like everything is just a setup for a disappointment. 398 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 1: Um every situation is going to end terribly or and 399 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: I couldn't like process what was happening with me or 400 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 1: what had happened to me, And so I got outside 401 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: help to work through a lot of my Traumas I 402 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 1: actually got to the point where I reconciled with a 403 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: lot of people, I started making calls to all the 404 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 1: people that felt like hurt me. Coaches, general managers, former players. 405 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: Some of them hit me back, some of them didn't 406 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: didn't hit me back, but the ones that didn't, I 407 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 1: had like I had to visualize, you know, that was 408 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,840 Speaker 1: one of the things I had to visualize the reconciliation. 409 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:40,000 Speaker 1: What would look like, what would sound like, and that, 410 00:19:40,119 --> 00:19:42,160 Speaker 1: and and he kept telling me, you had to get 411 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: beyond your past if you want to get to where 412 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: you want to get to in your future. And that 413 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: was the biggest thing for why, you know, for me 414 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,200 Speaker 1: in the G League, why I shot career highs and 415 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: everything while I was taught in the league, is in 416 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 1: all these things I've done a bunch of things that 417 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: never did before, was because I had been free mentally, 418 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: and it was a lot the process, I mean, it 419 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: was a journey. It was it was it was a tough, 420 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: tough process. Well, it's crazy to think about it because obviously, 421 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:07,440 Speaker 1: when you went on your rand and kind of made 422 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 1: your mark in the NBA, you were hitting game winners 423 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: at Madison Square Garden, you were you were doing all 424 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: the biggest things that everyone dreams of. But then fast 425 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: forward to a situation and it kind of sounds like 426 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,159 Speaker 1: injuries played apart. Injuries put a lot of doubt in 427 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 1: your mind. To now you're in the you know, the 428 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: the Chinese League, trying to get back and you're doubting 429 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: yourself obviously when you're one of the best players over there. 430 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: So that that's how powerful the mind is. It's kind 431 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 1: of crazy sometimes growing up. One of my coaches always 432 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 1: told me he played professional baseball, and he told me 433 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: the game is mental, and I was like, you have 434 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: no idea what you're talking about. But I realized at 435 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: the elite level, a professional level, like everybody has the skills. 436 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:46,920 Speaker 1: It's like the dude who can shoot seven times and 437 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: miss all seven and not car and shoot the eighth, 438 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 1: Like that's the guy who is different than the guy 439 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: who misses his first three. And then like it's like 440 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: I'm playing it safe from here, Like there's so much 441 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: in the mind and I couldn't even begin to go 442 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,680 Speaker 1: into you guys all know, but for everybody else who 443 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: may listen, it's like there's so much power into mind. No, 444 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 1: it's crazy too because I'm I'm I've been coaching my 445 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: kids since I retired, so I got them at like eight, 446 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 1: just turning nine, and you know, now they're twelve, and 447 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:19,879 Speaker 1: that's what I'm trying to instill, like the most important 448 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: is next. The mind is most the most important thing, 449 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,320 Speaker 1: Like it's because that shi it is powerful and it 450 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: it's never really been discussed, but it's always kind of 451 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: been known. And now, like I said, I love the 452 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:32,360 Speaker 1: fact that people are talking about because these conversations obviously 453 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: helped the people we talked to, but then are also 454 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: going to encourage and motivate other people to seek the 455 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:39,199 Speaker 1: help they need if necessary. So I think they're obviously 456 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,360 Speaker 1: very important. But back to this, uh, the warrior opportunity. 457 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: What did that warrior opportunity? Outside of stress, you had 458 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 1: a lot of your rookie year kind of set you 459 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: up to do though. Um, you know, it made me 460 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 1: believe I was Uh, it made me believe I could 461 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: do it. Um. And I remember right when the season ended. 462 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: At that time, we didn't know it was going to 463 00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,399 Speaker 1: turn into the documentary. It was just gonna be this 464 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: little you two thing. And uh, at the end of 465 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: that season, we're going to the lockout and so I 466 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: was like, oh, there's me a ton of time. We'll 467 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 1: start filming a little YouTube thing. And in that YouTube, 468 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: like after the season, I sat down and I said 469 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 1: to straight to the camera and it's now in my documentary. 470 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: But I said, like, I'm going to become a rotation player. 471 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 1: IM gonna be a starting point guard and then I'm 472 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,560 Speaker 1: gonna win a championship. And even though I played terrible, 473 00:22:22,760 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 1: Like the one thing for me that I've always like, 474 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:27,600 Speaker 1: I've never come in And maybe it's an Asian thing 475 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: in terms of how I raised. Maybe it was always 476 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: coming in and just being like completely disrespected growing up 477 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: as an Asian, Like no one ever wanted to hoop 478 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 1: with me, no one ever want to choose me, no 479 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 1: ever thought anything of me. But I always walked into 480 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 1: situations trying to feel it out. I never came into 481 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: a situation being like I'm about to destroy all these guys. 482 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: And so I came into the NBA and I was like, 483 00:22:48,280 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 1: I'm gonna feel it out. I'm gonna see if I belong. 484 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 1: And that's the last thing you can do when you 485 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: get to the NBA. If you're wondering whether you belong, 486 00:22:54,119 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: it's over front. And so from for me in my 487 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: rookie year, the biggest thing that taught me was I 488 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:01,720 Speaker 1: was like, you know what, I took a year to 489 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:03,640 Speaker 1: feel it out. I went down to the D League 490 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 1: at that time. I killed in the D League, like, oh, 491 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: I'm doing it, I can do it, And that's what 492 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: it taught me, but I didn't get to show it. 493 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: What was Steph like back then, it was tough man. 494 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: At that time, it wasn't really about step like the 495 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: team was about David Lee, Monte Ellis um and and 496 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: Durrell right had had a breakout year and step at 497 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,159 Speaker 1: that time, like in his second year, was just like 498 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 1: he was getting benched a lot um and he talked 499 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: about it, right. He was like, I was getting benched 500 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 1: for for certain players that like you, you know, you 501 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,520 Speaker 1: wouldn't even recognize who they were anymore. But he was 502 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,040 Speaker 1: really going through it, and he was kind of, you know, 503 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 1: getting jerked back and forth in terms of like playing 504 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,520 Speaker 1: time his leash. And I feel terrible for him because 505 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 1: I was like, even through it all, you're still a reagam, 506 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: Like I don't know, eighteen points, twenty points or something 507 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 1: like that, but it just felt like he was a 508 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:57,440 Speaker 1: scapegoat in a lot of ways. And and then on 509 00:23:57,560 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: top of that, he started to struggle with his ankle, 510 00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: and so it was really tough year for him. But 511 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: he was always like man, he was always you never 512 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 1: could tell he was anybody like. He never treated himself 513 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: above anybody else. That's the biggest thing that I had 514 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:13,960 Speaker 1: learned from him and his love for the game. His 515 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 1: love for the game was really contagious, like you just 516 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 1: knew this dude loves playing basketball. And then you know, 517 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 1: two years two years after he was still struggle with 518 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:24,920 Speaker 1: ankle injuries. And then after that was when it was 519 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: just like, okay, he just revolutionized the game. What happened. 520 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:31,920 Speaker 1: It's crazy because you remember early on, I don't know 521 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: if you remember, but I mean, the fan base went 522 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: crazy when they decided that Steff Steph was going to 523 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: be the man they were going to build around, and 524 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,400 Speaker 1: they traded Monte and then, like you said, to hear 525 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,040 Speaker 1: and then he was thrown in a lot of trade 526 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: rumors early on to to get him out of Golden 527 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: State too. So to hear his beginning into where he's 528 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 1: at now is just like it's almost night day. But 529 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 1: it's dope to see because like you said, he believed, 530 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 1: he's humbled and worked hard and overcame and became one 531 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: of the greatest point guards we've ever seen. Yeah. Absolutely, 532 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: I mean it was, it was. It's incredible. It was 533 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:06,679 Speaker 1: cool to see and and for me, even like Monte, 534 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,400 Speaker 1: I love Monte, you know, like and he was amazing, 535 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:12,359 Speaker 1: and him and Stuff were really cool with each other, 536 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,639 Speaker 1: but the media kind of you know, picked them against 537 00:25:15,680 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: each other, and and they always treated all of us 538 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:22,679 Speaker 1: like super well. So, I mean, you know, just sucks 539 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:25,680 Speaker 1: that it kind of was that that that breakup was 540 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,639 Speaker 1: seen as that. Yeah. No, it's because Monte wasn't the 541 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:31,680 Speaker 1: last from Art. I mean, you know, Monte was the 542 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 1: last survivor from from our team, you know what I mean. 543 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: And and and it was really playing well. So and 544 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 1: I heard that too. I heard that him and Stuff 545 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:41,359 Speaker 1: actually did get along, but they tried to put them 546 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:43,080 Speaker 1: against each other. So for you to be there and 547 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: see that and feel that too, that's unfortunate. Um, let's 548 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: jump back. You know, obviously the Warriors have a tremendous 549 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 1: and half for a long time Asian fan base. Um, 550 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:56,919 Speaker 1: what was it like for you? Although you know, obviously 551 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: your first season didn't go as you playned, Um, I'm 552 00:26:00,119 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: sure there was still a lot of love for you. 553 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 1: What was it like at that time, because I mean, 554 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: you think a handful bit five years ago you were 555 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: playing high school in Palo Alto, you know, high school 556 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,639 Speaker 1: basketball in Palo Alto. Now you're a Golden State Warrior. 557 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: What was that like for you? It was so crazy, 558 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: Like I couldn't even I was just so happy about it. 559 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,080 Speaker 1: And and then once the season started, it was like 560 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:24,199 Speaker 1: everything that I thought it was about, like I got 561 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: flipped upside down. And and it's weird because every time 562 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 1: I check in the game, like I remember, like if 563 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: the team was up ten in the fourth, I'd be like, Okay, 564 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,399 Speaker 1: I hope the other team comes back so I'll get 565 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,479 Speaker 1: put in. That's how nervous I was, because every time 566 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 1: I'll get put in the game, there was a standing oh. 567 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 1: And every time I touched the ball, the crowd be 568 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 1: like who you know? And it got to the point 569 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: where I don't like what to do because I was 570 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: catching the ball. I'll catch the ball, shoot at three 571 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 1: and it would be an airball, and everybody like, you know, 572 00:26:49,359 --> 00:26:53,440 Speaker 1: like I just had no I had no confidence. And 573 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 1: and and that's the thing is like I had always 574 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: been the biggest underdog my whole life, like always under 575 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: the radar, whether it's in high school, was in college. 576 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 1: Every story, every article is like where who is this guy? 577 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:07,080 Speaker 1: And where did you come from? All of a sudden 578 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 1: people knew about me and we're expecting big things. I 579 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,240 Speaker 1: didn't know how to handle it, Like, I had no 580 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 1: idea how to handle it, and I struggled with it 581 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: in terms of like it was almost like you went 582 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: from underdog to being like the target on your back 583 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: that everyone's coming after. Like I don't want that. This 584 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:24,159 Speaker 1: Asian dude embarrassed me. That happened even in practice, you 585 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: know where it's just like, oh, shoot, like I match 586 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 1: up against Jeremy, Like, I better make sure you didn't 587 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: get a bucket. No, that's the ship that happened in 588 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 1: real games. I remember ship we put I mean we'll 589 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: get there, but actually we'll just get there. Let's wait, 590 00:27:35,960 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 1: we'll get there. If I'm not mistaken. You played in 591 00:27:38,440 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: that UM we Believe versus the Dubs um Lockout game, 592 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 1: didn't you? Yeah that's right then that game was so 593 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:49,440 Speaker 1: long ago, but I remember you played. I think a 594 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 1: young Steph play. Didn't Steff play too? Yeah? Yeah, like 595 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:57,359 Speaker 1: J Watson and a few others. Yeah, David, Yeah, that 596 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: that was dope that I need to watch. I saw 597 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: out some footage of that game, man, maybe like six 598 00:28:02,440 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: months ago, and it was I want to say it 599 00:28:04,359 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 1: was about stuff, but I just breezed through, But I 600 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 1: need to check it out for that game was lit. 601 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,200 Speaker 1: That fucking gym was packed. That was a good aass game, Jack, 602 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: You missed. You must have been busy. Yeah, I missed it. 603 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: Let's talk about how you end up landing in New 604 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:25,400 Speaker 1: York with the Knicks. So, you know, first day, first 605 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:28,640 Speaker 1: day of camp, um, and I'm like, I'm saying, I'm 606 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:32,399 Speaker 1: I'm having a great practice. I'm playing way better than 607 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 1: people thought. The whole lockout for nine straight months. I 608 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:38,200 Speaker 1: worked out three times a day by myself for nine 609 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: straight months. Like I'm saying, no, there are no breaks, 610 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,959 Speaker 1: nothing like it was clockwork. And so I came out 611 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:47,360 Speaker 1: the gates and I was killing in the first practice, 612 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: and halfway through they're like, hey, you gotta go up 613 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:52,000 Speaker 1: staious what So I go up stairs and they're like, hey, 614 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 1: we're gonna we're gonna cut you because we're gonna extend 615 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: an offer sheet. At that time in DeAndre Jordan's they 616 00:28:57,960 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 1: didn't even get them. So I ended up getting cut 617 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,560 Speaker 1: for for an offer street, I guess. But then Houston 618 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: picks me up and um, and then I get there 619 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,800 Speaker 1: and there's five point guards and so I'm just like 620 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: who else is there at that time, they had Johnny 621 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 1: Flynn go on drag Kyle Lowry um and then and 622 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: then me and then two other guards point guards that 623 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:23,480 Speaker 1: were like kind of that ended up getting cut as well. 624 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: But basically like they were like, wow, you played so well, 625 00:29:26,720 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 1: we want to keep you, but we have fifteen guarantee spots. 626 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 1: Just chill for Secon. We're gonna try to We're gonna 627 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 1: try to trade somebody, um. And so they're trying to 628 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: trade people, but no one will pick up at that 629 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: time they're trying to get rid of I think it 630 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:40,600 Speaker 1: was Johnny Flynn. Alright, that's what my agent told me. 631 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 1: But then I guess that that fell through, and so 632 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: they ended up cutting me on Christmas. And that's you know, 633 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,040 Speaker 1: two days before or day before is when Iman Shumper 634 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: got hurt with the Knicks, and so the Knicks picked 635 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: me up because they had liked my my pre draft 636 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 1: workout and they liked what I did in the D League, 637 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,040 Speaker 1: And so I went out to the Knicks and I 638 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,720 Speaker 1: was just like, man if I get cut again, it's 639 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,520 Speaker 1: over for me for professional basketball. Like I can't continue 640 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: to go through this roller coaster of like the emotions 641 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: and the anxiety and and all of that, and so 642 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: I was really at my end. Um, I was really 643 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: really really close to my end. And when my breakout 644 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 1: came game came against him, that's when I was with 645 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 1: the Knicks. Like that was the last game, that was 646 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 1: a week before the deadline, and that was the last 647 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: game of a back to back to back in the 648 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 1: lockout season, Like there was that was the only time 649 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 1: we had three in a row and we don't have 650 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,000 Speaker 1: one back to back to back, and it was it 651 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: was a week before the deadline, and that's why they 652 00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: put me in there, like let's just give this guy 653 00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: a shot before we cut them. And that's how that's 654 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,920 Speaker 1: how it happened. And that's why I'm like, man, I'm like, 655 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:45,360 Speaker 1: the whole thing is a miracle from God. Like I 656 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:49,040 Speaker 1: can't even I can't even deny it. Yeah, where you 657 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: go on one of the most historical runs, um, some 658 00:30:53,200 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: would say in history. Um started with that game, But 659 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 1: just talk to me. Where you kind of started getting 660 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 1: your confidence and then obviously you see your swag go 661 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: up because the game is going for you. You're doing 662 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: this all in front of you know, the mecca are 663 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:10,680 Speaker 1: in the Mecca, you know, New York. Just talk to 664 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,080 Speaker 1: us what that experience went back from, like damn, if 665 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:16,240 Speaker 1: I get cut again, I'm done to like holy sh it, 666 00:31:16,680 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 1: like they're saying my name around the world now. I 667 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,440 Speaker 1: mean it was you know. I always felt like, look, 668 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: I can help because every time they put me in 669 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:26,040 Speaker 1: for garbage minutes, I would do really well because it 670 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: was again as d'An tony system. It was like a 671 00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 1: billion picking rolls and as much space as you possibly 672 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 1: could get. Then they sent me down to the to 673 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 1: the D League and I played one game and I 674 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: had like a twenty six point triple double or something 675 00:31:39,800 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: like that, and so I was like, okay, like I 676 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: think I'm ready, Like all that work that was put in, 677 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: I think I'm ready, but I couldn't get the chance. 678 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:50,480 Speaker 1: But I wasn't expecting to do what I did, Like 679 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 1: I was just ready to be like a solid backup 680 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:56,000 Speaker 1: twelve minutes a game type of guy. But then when 681 00:31:56,080 --> 00:32:00,760 Speaker 1: everything happened, I was just like, I mean, it goes 682 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:03,200 Speaker 1: back to the mental piece, Like you're asking, like, what 683 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: was it like, dude, I don't know what it's like 684 00:32:04,720 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 1: because it's a blur. It's like when you have your 685 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,320 Speaker 1: thirty point games, forty point games, like it was like 686 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: you don't even remember him, Like at some point you 687 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:12,880 Speaker 1: even know how many points you have anymore. You're just 688 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: in the zone, right and it just it's flowing. And 689 00:32:15,760 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: that's like the that's like the pinnacle of what each 690 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,960 Speaker 1: person and player wants to be, uh in terms of 691 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:23,960 Speaker 1: their mental headspace, where it's just like I'm not thinking. 692 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:26,600 Speaker 1: It's all instincts and I'm just I'm just doing what 693 00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 1: I know how to do, and it's it's muscle memory 694 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:30,560 Speaker 1: at that point. And that's what those games felt like 695 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:32,840 Speaker 1: for me. It was just like, dude, I don't know 696 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,560 Speaker 1: what's happening. Like after the game, I would go back 697 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: and at that time, I'm still staying on my brother's couch, 698 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,920 Speaker 1: but I would be like screenshot. I'd be like I'm 699 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: on ESPN. Oh, like, dude, screenshot, I gotta save it. 700 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:46,360 Speaker 1: I got, you know, Like I was just so not 701 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 1: used to it and I was just sitting on I 702 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:50,480 Speaker 1: was like, dude, I can't believe I just scored twenty 703 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:52,720 Speaker 1: five points, like it's a great team. And then and 704 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 1: now don't come back to the couch and I'm like 705 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:56,720 Speaker 1: and there's like half the couches folded clothes and the 706 00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:59,760 Speaker 1: other half couch is like you know where you play? 707 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,720 Speaker 1: This is crazy, but it really was, Like it was 708 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: such a wild experience and it went by the sad party. 709 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:09,480 Speaker 1: It went by so fast. And my biggest regret, and 710 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 1: I always tell this to younger players, is you guy, 711 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:17,000 Speaker 1: enjoy where you're at today, because if you don't enjoy 712 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: where you're at today, you won't enjoy wherever you're trying 713 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: to get to. Even if you got it, you're gonna 714 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 1: set a new goal, like always told myself, as long 715 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 1: as I make it too, Yeah, as long as I 716 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:29,719 Speaker 1: make it to the NBA, I'm good. I don't even 717 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:30,880 Speaker 1: need to step on the floor. Then I get to 718 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:32,400 Speaker 1: the NBA and like no, hell no, Like this is 719 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:34,000 Speaker 1: not fun at all, Like I need to get on 720 00:33:34,120 --> 00:33:35,800 Speaker 1: that floor. And then you get on the floor, and 721 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:37,680 Speaker 1: then it's all about proving yourself and then it's about 722 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,320 Speaker 1: all about staying there. And so if you're not learning 723 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:42,560 Speaker 1: how to be content where you're at today, you won't 724 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: be content when you get to your destination. And that's 725 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: what I had to learn the hard way through Lindsanity. 726 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 1: Talk to me about off the court life. Um, just 727 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,720 Speaker 1: as far as the notoriety on SportsCenter, celebrities, you know, 728 00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:58,440 Speaker 1: like I said, that's everyone's are at those games. What 729 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:00,400 Speaker 1: were some of the one, maybe are two of the 730 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 1: craziest things that happened to you kind of in your 731 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 1: personal life because of how good you were playing during 732 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,560 Speaker 1: that span. First off, the crazy thing was just like 733 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:10,799 Speaker 1: a ton of hotels and places were just like hey, 734 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:12,960 Speaker 1: hitting the knicks up, Like, hey, does he want to 735 00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:14,320 Speaker 1: I know he's on the couch, does he want to 736 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: stay here? It's ten thousand allar rent, but we'll give 737 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 1: it to him for free and parking, And so I 738 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:24,920 Speaker 1: was just like, yeah, yeah, let's go when yesterday, I'll 739 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:27,360 Speaker 1: sign the lease and then uh and then there's like 740 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 1: another opportunity where it's like, hey, come signed some photos, 741 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,080 Speaker 1: take some pictures, will give you a BMW. So I 742 00:34:32,120 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 1: literally did thirty minutes of work and I gotta be 743 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 1: in W for the rest of the season. But it 744 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:39,280 Speaker 1: was just like it was just like that type of stuff. 745 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:42,279 Speaker 1: Like I remember one time Jared Jeffrey's Landry and I 746 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,840 Speaker 1: went to eat and like there was like a window 747 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:48,440 Speaker 1: and it was you know, there was a street and 748 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 1: the window, but like my back was faced to the street, 749 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:55,000 Speaker 1: but I guess somebody saw me. And when I turned 750 00:34:55,080 --> 00:34:56,840 Speaker 1: when I turned back when we finished eating, and I 751 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:00,080 Speaker 1: turned back around, like there was like fifty kids the 752 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 1: school next to next to the restaurant, and paparazzi and 753 00:35:03,200 --> 00:35:05,880 Speaker 1: stuff like that. And for me, when I get recognized 754 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:08,000 Speaker 1: given by one person, like I'll get nervous and I'll 755 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:13,800 Speaker 1: start sweating, like that New York experience. I was just like, 756 00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:17,480 Speaker 1: I mean, there are people somehow long where I lived 757 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:19,759 Speaker 1: and dropping off cakes and like people like knocking at 758 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:21,520 Speaker 1: my door and not open it, thinking that it was 759 00:35:21,600 --> 00:35:23,719 Speaker 1: like the ice, you know, people bringing up ice, and 760 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:25,839 Speaker 1: then like it'd be a fan and then the fan. 761 00:35:25,920 --> 00:35:27,360 Speaker 1: I'll try to close the door and the family like 762 00:35:27,400 --> 00:35:28,840 Speaker 1: put their foot in the door and be like no, 763 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:31,239 Speaker 1: like I'm not letting you close the door into you 764 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 1: hit the photo with me like stuff like that. Like 765 00:35:33,400 --> 00:35:37,000 Speaker 1: it was crazy. So you got a chance to battle. 766 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:42,200 Speaker 1: My teammate at the time, Kobe Um he had thirty four, 767 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 1: you had thirty eight. You guys beat us. But I 768 00:35:46,040 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: was I was saying earlier that was a night where 769 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: he guarded you. I guarded you Fish guarded you, Steve 770 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:55,840 Speaker 1: Blake guarded you. None of us could do anything with it, 771 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:57,800 Speaker 1: and we were just like what the fuck, Like, we 772 00:35:57,920 --> 00:35:59,800 Speaker 1: were like really mad that you went out there and 773 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: had some big shots down the end of down the 774 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,480 Speaker 1: stretch to win. What do you remember that most of 775 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:08,600 Speaker 1: that battle about cope? I mean, I think the thing 776 00:36:08,719 --> 00:36:11,759 Speaker 1: that I remember the most about about that game, or 777 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: specifically about Kobe was just he never looked worried like 778 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:19,839 Speaker 1: we were. We were in control of the whole game, 779 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:22,920 Speaker 1: and he had a terrible first half. He ended up 780 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:24,880 Speaker 1: with thirty four, but he never looked worried, And I 781 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:26,239 Speaker 1: was like, what's wrong with this guy? Is he like 782 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: a robot? You know? Like I was like, oh, I 783 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:30,360 Speaker 1: expected him the game mad or to get you know, 784 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,879 Speaker 1: everyone knows the hype out a huge like hyped up game, 785 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 1: and it was just like he was just like the 786 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: whole game. And then he started hitting. And then in 787 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,320 Speaker 1: the third quarter he hit like five five jumpers in 788 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:43,719 Speaker 1: a row. Landry's plastered all over him. He's hitting all 789 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 1: types of it, and I'm just like, okay, Like, if 790 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 1: we're going to win this game, it's going to It's 791 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:53,439 Speaker 1: not gonna be because we're gonna stop him because he's 792 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:56,160 Speaker 1: gonna get his shot, and it's on him whether it 793 00:36:56,239 --> 00:36:58,800 Speaker 1: goes in or not. If we're gonna win, it's we 794 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:01,400 Speaker 1: gotta get more buckets. We gotta get more buckets, and 795 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,759 Speaker 1: so um at that time, you know, I appreciate it. 796 00:37:05,280 --> 00:37:07,640 Speaker 1: You know, I remember getting nice it onto you at 797 00:37:07,640 --> 00:37:09,239 Speaker 1: the top of the key. But at that time, you know, 798 00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 1: you gave me my right hand, and your whole team 799 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 1: was giving me my right hand. So I appreciated it. 800 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:15,279 Speaker 1: So if they would get sneaking a couple just enough 801 00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: to be able to squeak out to win. But yeah, 802 00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:21,200 Speaker 1: I just I remember the that arena, like I remember 803 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: hitting a baseline three and that's about it. I've ever yeah, 804 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:29,960 Speaker 1: And I was like, I've never I mean, I've been 805 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 1: in the Raptors Arena when we were you know, on 806 00:37:32,200 --> 00:37:34,920 Speaker 1: that championship run. But that shot and that night, I 807 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:36,600 Speaker 1: was like, I don't think I ever heard of arena 808 00:37:36,680 --> 00:37:39,600 Speaker 1: louder than that. What was the electricity, like an image 809 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:41,520 Speaker 1: you during this time? And what kind of zone were 810 00:37:41,560 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 1: you win? Man? I mean it was just pregame warmups. 811 00:37:46,719 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 1: Like I said, like I get I get I get nervous. 812 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:51,840 Speaker 1: When one person recognized me, like pregame warm ups was 813 00:37:51,960 --> 00:37:54,520 Speaker 1: like it felt like a game because there are so 814 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:57,080 Speaker 1: many people already there. There's so many reporters. Every time 815 00:37:57,120 --> 00:37:59,280 Speaker 1: I do anything i'd be doing, they're doing my stationary 816 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,239 Speaker 1: ball handling, and like ten reporters like run over, tend 817 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:04,680 Speaker 1: like photographers run over and be taking photos and it 818 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:08,640 Speaker 1: was just like it was too much. Um it was 819 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:12,400 Speaker 1: it was a lot like each day, each game felt 820 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:15,560 Speaker 1: like three days. Like it was so mentally exhausting for 821 00:38:15,719 --> 00:38:20,080 Speaker 1: me again, like not knowing what it was like to 822 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: be in the spotlight, never really having one and not 823 00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:29,239 Speaker 1: understanding how to I'm not saying enjoy it, like like 824 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm not by nature, like oh yeah, everyone take a 825 00:38:31,880 --> 00:38:33,960 Speaker 1: picture of me. I'll never be that personality. But how 826 00:38:34,040 --> 00:38:36,360 Speaker 1: can I enjoy it and aware where it's like I'm comfortable. 827 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:38,320 Speaker 1: I don't feel like I have to be who everybody 828 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 1: wants me to be. Yeah, like you managing and then 829 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:43,880 Speaker 1: you you take away the positives without letting the negatives 830 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:47,440 Speaker 1: destroy your entire experience, And that's where for me, Like 831 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:50,520 Speaker 1: I always tell the story, like three weeks later after 832 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:53,920 Speaker 1: my breakout game, we're in Chicago about to play d 833 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:56,840 Speaker 1: rows of the m v P d rows and I 834 00:38:56,920 --> 00:39:00,080 Speaker 1: couldn't sleep, and all the anxiety that pregame anxiety you 835 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:04,000 Speaker 1: can't sleep, can't eat, all that came back because I 836 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:06,040 Speaker 1: was just trying to be who everybody else wanted me 837 00:39:06,080 --> 00:39:10,680 Speaker 1: to be, and like that is just not like that's 838 00:39:10,760 --> 00:39:13,360 Speaker 1: not a meaningful way to live in your life. And 839 00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:16,080 Speaker 1: so it was finally to me, even though I was 840 00:39:16,120 --> 00:39:18,799 Speaker 1: on the top of the mountain exactly, I mean, that's 841 00:39:18,800 --> 00:39:21,399 Speaker 1: the one thing about you guys, right, even like even 842 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: like I mean, this is a hilarious story, but like 843 00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:26,480 Speaker 1: I grew up a warrior stand and so when I 844 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:29,320 Speaker 1: was watching you guys do what you guys did, you 845 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:31,240 Speaker 1: know we leave and all that, you know, I remember 846 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:34,040 Speaker 1: even when I talked to Monte, he was like, yeah, 847 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:36,239 Speaker 1: like we were we were parted before every game, but 848 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:38,920 Speaker 1: then in the playoffs, were like we stopped partying, and 849 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:40,840 Speaker 1: then we didn't weren't playing, and then we started loose 850 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 1: and were like we just start partying again. Like you know, 851 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:46,800 Speaker 1: I'm not saying like I'm not saying everybody. Part of 852 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,080 Speaker 1: what I'm saying is there was there was something about 853 00:39:49,200 --> 00:39:52,239 Speaker 1: you guys that everybody could tell like, Okay, it doesn't 854 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: matter if you're the A C. It doesn't matter if 855 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:55,840 Speaker 1: up you're going going up against, whether it was Dallas, 856 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,480 Speaker 1: whether it's Utah, it didn't matter. Like you guys were 857 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:03,760 Speaker 1: like a band of brothers and you were unapologetically you guys, 858 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:06,399 Speaker 1: And I brought the best out of you guys, even 859 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:08,400 Speaker 1: if it wasn't a championship, right, And I think like 860 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:11,480 Speaker 1: that's something that I had and have to continue to learn. 861 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:14,239 Speaker 1: And that's again as part of the Asian stereotype, of 862 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:16,440 Speaker 1: the Asian stigma of like, oh, we just trying to 863 00:40:16,480 --> 00:40:18,520 Speaker 1: fit in, and it's like, no, man, when you played 864 00:40:18,520 --> 00:40:21,359 Speaker 1: professional basketball against the best players in the world, there's 865 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:24,480 Speaker 1: nothing that you can do, Like you cannot come in 866 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,839 Speaker 1: with the fitting type of mindset, and if you want 867 00:40:26,840 --> 00:40:28,560 Speaker 1: to stay at the top, you cannot come in trying 868 00:40:28,560 --> 00:40:31,719 Speaker 1: to just just fit in. Absolutely, Jack, you know that's 869 00:40:31,760 --> 00:40:34,439 Speaker 1: one thing I forgot. We did try to stop being 870 00:40:34,600 --> 00:40:38,440 Speaker 1: us the funk were you doing? I forgot about that 871 00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:40,400 Speaker 1: till he said that, because remember we went like, you know, 872 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:42,480 Speaker 1: we gotta chill out, let's lock in for the playoffs. 873 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:45,080 Speaker 1: Remember that. I wonder, I wonder who said that. I 874 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:50,360 Speaker 1: know it wouldn't me. Definitely, definitely wouldn't me. I know, 875 00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:53,719 Speaker 1: it wasn't nuts, it wasn't us. But hey, one thing 876 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:56,040 Speaker 1: about it, man, you are your best self when you've 877 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:59,000 Speaker 1: been your authentic self. Man, that's how it is. Man. 878 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:01,719 Speaker 1: One thing about does I think that's one people. That's 879 00:41:01,719 --> 00:41:03,600 Speaker 1: one reason why people love us because what you see 880 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:06,040 Speaker 1: is what you get. We're not putting on we're not 881 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: putting on the face. And you didn't make it being 882 00:41:08,760 --> 00:41:11,080 Speaker 1: somebody else. You made it being you. So you know, man, 883 00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:13,560 Speaker 1: that's how it should be. Talk to us a little 884 00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:17,320 Speaker 1: bit about the situation there with Melo. Get an opportunity 885 00:41:17,360 --> 00:41:20,359 Speaker 1: to play with Melo, obviously him being at home playing there. 886 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:23,640 Speaker 1: Once you started doing really good, you know how people 887 00:41:23,719 --> 00:41:26,800 Speaker 1: do just how they tried to do Stephen Stephan up Monte. 888 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 1: They try to kind of low key put you against him. 889 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:32,320 Speaker 1: But what was your experience in your relationship like with 890 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:33,919 Speaker 1: Melo when you guys got a chance to play together. 891 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:36,719 Speaker 1: I mean, you're you're spot on. It was it was 892 00:41:37,239 --> 00:41:40,440 Speaker 1: And again at that time three I barely know how 893 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:43,680 Speaker 1: to answer an interview like a reporter's question. And then 894 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:45,640 Speaker 1: next thing, you know, the New York media it's like 895 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:49,759 Speaker 1: it's like, oh, that's oh that they took it that way, 896 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:52,040 Speaker 1: like whoa you know, And so for me like just 897 00:41:52,320 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: learning the ropes of like how all that came to be. 898 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:58,480 Speaker 1: Like I never had any personal problems with Mellow, Like 899 00:41:58,680 --> 00:42:01,200 Speaker 1: we had a lot of discs suestions about basketball a 900 00:42:01,239 --> 00:42:03,120 Speaker 1: lot of times with me him stat and and t 901 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:07,080 Speaker 1: y Mr And Tyson Chandler, Like it would be us 902 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 1: floor talking about like Okay, what does it look like 903 00:42:09,160 --> 00:42:12,680 Speaker 1: to win? Then I got hurt, and then all three 904 00:42:12,719 --> 00:42:14,680 Speaker 1: of them were reaching out to me like telling me 905 00:42:14,760 --> 00:42:16,839 Speaker 1: how to you know, come back from a meniscus tear 906 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:20,680 Speaker 1: and how to you know, manage my body? And you know, 907 00:42:21,040 --> 00:42:28,319 Speaker 1: that was just a situation where like I don't know, like, ah, 908 00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:31,719 Speaker 1: to this day, I'm not sure what happened, Like do 909 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:33,320 Speaker 1: we get killed from the outside in or do we 910 00:42:33,400 --> 00:42:35,840 Speaker 1: kill ourselves from the inside out? Like I don't know, 911 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:38,320 Speaker 1: you know, like at that time, no one told me anything. 912 00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:41,680 Speaker 1: I was so oblivious to the world. And like I 913 00:42:41,719 --> 00:42:44,080 Speaker 1: remember even times when like I would get questions and 914 00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:47,200 Speaker 1: calls from the higher ups, you know, in the next organization. 915 00:42:47,239 --> 00:42:49,320 Speaker 1: They would be asking me. They would ask me these questions. 916 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:51,120 Speaker 1: I was like why and I'll just answer to them 917 00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:54,239 Speaker 1: and I'm like, wait, that doesn't Why am I telling 918 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:56,640 Speaker 1: them that? Like I didn't know, you know, And it 919 00:42:56,760 --> 00:42:58,800 Speaker 1: was just like I didn't know how the game was played, 920 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:03,160 Speaker 1: and so for me, like, um, you know, to this day, 921 00:43:03,600 --> 00:43:06,000 Speaker 1: I don't even know, Like I can't even give you 922 00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:08,360 Speaker 1: a like I don't really have closure with that situation, 923 00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:10,360 Speaker 1: to be honest, Like I have closured one since in 924 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:12,840 Speaker 1: terms of like when I went through my you know, 925 00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:14,600 Speaker 1: and I got to help with my mental stuff, I 926 00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:16,839 Speaker 1: reconciled across the board with all the people that could 927 00:43:16,840 --> 00:43:19,680 Speaker 1: have hurt me and those types of things. But like 928 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:22,560 Speaker 1: I don't actually know what happened, you know what I mean, 929 00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:25,600 Speaker 1: Like I'm actually reading a lot of what happened. I'm 930 00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:28,280 Speaker 1: reading from the news or picking up bits and pieces 931 00:43:28,680 --> 00:43:31,040 Speaker 1: years after the fact in an interview that somebody said 932 00:43:31,080 --> 00:43:34,400 Speaker 1: about something. I'm like, okay, so that happened. Uh, And 933 00:43:35,560 --> 00:43:39,880 Speaker 1: it was just uh. I mean again, like I kind 934 00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:42,480 Speaker 1: of blocked that out because I think of the sanity 935 00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:45,120 Speaker 1: now was like a really happy memory, but the ending 936 00:43:45,200 --> 00:43:48,200 Speaker 1: that we we had was I mean, it was sad. 937 00:43:48,600 --> 00:43:51,600 Speaker 1: It was really sad. But I think the fact that 938 00:43:52,880 --> 00:43:55,239 Speaker 1: they reached out to you at your lowest moment. Normally, 939 00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:57,279 Speaker 1: when the athletes are hurt, that's our lowest moments. And 940 00:43:57,320 --> 00:43:58,880 Speaker 1: the fact that they reached out to I think that 941 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:01,759 Speaker 1: kind of shows a lot because you know, I mean, 942 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:03,319 Speaker 1: as you know, you had to learn the hard way. 943 00:44:03,800 --> 00:44:05,560 Speaker 1: The media is only there to do one thing, and 944 00:44:05,640 --> 00:44:08,760 Speaker 1: that's caused destruction. Very rarely do you hear a good story, 945 00:44:08,840 --> 00:44:11,480 Speaker 1: a happy story, you feel good story. It's more about 946 00:44:11,680 --> 00:44:14,160 Speaker 1: creating division. And it's crazy to think like they're trying 947 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:17,719 Speaker 1: to create division amongst their own teams, and and in 948 00:44:17,840 --> 00:44:20,560 Speaker 1: New York is not the only media. Media. Media does 949 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:22,880 Speaker 1: that in general. So, like I said, I think the 950 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:24,839 Speaker 1: fact that those guys you said, those guys reached out 951 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:26,600 Speaker 1: to you when you got hurt to kind of you 952 00:44:26,680 --> 00:44:29,040 Speaker 1: know for a shottline. I think that says a lot 953 00:44:29,080 --> 00:44:31,960 Speaker 1: about who you were in that situation. Yeah, no, I mean, 954 00:44:32,239 --> 00:44:35,279 Speaker 1: and and media is like negativity cells, right, I mean 955 00:44:35,320 --> 00:44:37,920 Speaker 1: we know that. And so it's it's just you know, 956 00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:40,440 Speaker 1: and that's why you know, now with social media, you 957 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:42,759 Speaker 1: and what you gotta do and you had grown. Yeah, 958 00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:45,440 Speaker 1: you're you're controlling the area, so you can you control 959 00:44:45,480 --> 00:44:46,880 Speaker 1: what you want to talk about and you tell the 960 00:44:46,920 --> 00:44:48,400 Speaker 1: story the way you wanted to be told, And I 961 00:44:48,440 --> 00:44:51,000 Speaker 1: think that's really important. Yeah, well, I mean that's what 962 00:44:51,400 --> 00:44:52,920 Speaker 1: you know. We that's the one thing we kind of 963 00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:55,680 Speaker 1: take pride and is for an opportunity like this, you 964 00:44:55,760 --> 00:44:58,359 Speaker 1: know what I mean, for you to tell, for our 965 00:44:58,400 --> 00:45:00,719 Speaker 1: guests to tell their stories with without it being like, 966 00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:02,880 Speaker 1: well let's try to pick something and flip it or 967 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:05,719 Speaker 1: do this like that's it's crazy, it's unfortunate. That's what 968 00:45:05,840 --> 00:45:07,400 Speaker 1: media is about. And I think that's why we've been 969 00:45:07,440 --> 00:45:10,040 Speaker 1: successful is because we just want people. We want to 970 00:45:10,080 --> 00:45:12,160 Speaker 1: show people the other side of you know, their favorite 971 00:45:12,160 --> 00:45:14,680 Speaker 1: athlete or there with their favorite celebrity, and and and 972 00:45:14,840 --> 00:45:17,040 Speaker 1: and there's no hidden agenda behind it, you know what 973 00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:19,400 Speaker 1: I mean. So could people come here and speak freely 974 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:22,520 Speaker 1: because they know that's what kind of environment we've created. Yeah, 975 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:24,120 Speaker 1: that's why I wanted. I'm not even gonna lie, I'll 976 00:45:24,120 --> 00:45:26,719 Speaker 1: sit very honestly. I was pitching you guys. I was like, dude, 977 00:45:26,760 --> 00:45:30,120 Speaker 1: get me on all the time. Hell yeah, So we 978 00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:33,239 Speaker 1: appreciate that. What do you think could have been had 979 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:35,120 Speaker 1: it if he was able to stay? And then why 980 00:45:35,440 --> 00:45:38,959 Speaker 1: it would have been so nice, man like it would 981 00:45:38,960 --> 00:45:41,080 Speaker 1: have been. And that's the thing too, the weird thing. 982 00:45:41,200 --> 00:45:45,080 Speaker 1: And and D'Antoni also left shortly after two. But if 983 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:48,560 Speaker 1: we had kept the whole squad together, like we would 984 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:52,200 Speaker 1: have been really really good. Um Like at that time, 985 00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:56,560 Speaker 1: it was just like I mean, amr was you know, 986 00:45:57,320 --> 00:46:00,400 Speaker 1: um the you know thirty and night. Oh it was 987 00:46:00,719 --> 00:46:06,560 Speaker 1: an easy like fresh out of Denver like most lethal 988 00:46:07,080 --> 00:46:10,640 Speaker 1: the most lethal like mid range. So it's over and 989 00:46:10,680 --> 00:46:13,400 Speaker 1: then and enticon. I mean, when we had all the pieces, 990 00:46:13,840 --> 00:46:16,040 Speaker 1: we had the system. We just needed a little bit 991 00:46:16,080 --> 00:46:18,200 Speaker 1: of time for people to stay healthy and for us 992 00:46:18,239 --> 00:46:20,160 Speaker 1: to be able to figure it out. But we never 993 00:46:20,239 --> 00:46:23,200 Speaker 1: got that opportunity. And that's you know, always you know, 994 00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:25,200 Speaker 1: that will always be a huge what if. To me, 995 00:46:25,320 --> 00:46:27,080 Speaker 1: it will always be a huge what if. But you know, 996 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:29,400 Speaker 1: a lot of stories, a lot of careers you know, 997 00:46:29,719 --> 00:46:32,839 Speaker 1: have that, but man, that one that would if I'm 998 00:46:32,920 --> 00:46:36,239 Speaker 1: like dude, we could have had a lot of fun 999 00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:41,600 Speaker 1: what if. Um So, like you said, you're not really 1000 00:46:41,640 --> 00:46:44,520 Speaker 1: sure how it ends, but you land on your feet, 1001 00:46:45,200 --> 00:46:50,000 Speaker 1: headed to Houston with a multi year contract making you 1002 00:46:50,080 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 1: a millionaire before but outside of the basketball park, you know, 1003 00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:56,719 Speaker 1: you we've kind of got is obviously humble beginnings. Your 1004 00:46:56,760 --> 00:46:58,920 Speaker 1: parents did what they could to get you in basketball, 1005 00:46:59,360 --> 00:47:01,439 Speaker 1: to take care of you. Like you said, when you're 1006 00:47:01,480 --> 00:47:03,919 Speaker 1: on your Harvard campus, you didn't venture out much because 1007 00:47:03,920 --> 00:47:06,719 Speaker 1: you don't have much pocket change. So now you're sitting here, 1008 00:47:06,760 --> 00:47:08,920 Speaker 1: you signed a three year, twenty five million dollar deal. 1009 00:47:09,560 --> 00:47:12,440 Speaker 1: What kind what What was your first thought or feeling 1010 00:47:12,480 --> 00:47:14,560 Speaker 1: when it came to you and your family? Um, after 1011 00:47:14,640 --> 00:47:18,279 Speaker 1: the journey you've been on. When I graduated from college, Um, 1012 00:47:18,920 --> 00:47:21,680 Speaker 1: like I was ready to go and do the pre drafting, 1013 00:47:21,760 --> 00:47:24,200 Speaker 1: and and my mom and dad they knew that I 1014 00:47:24,360 --> 00:47:27,480 Speaker 1: wasn't eating until I was full. Like they knew that 1015 00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:28,880 Speaker 1: I was trying to save money. So it was just 1016 00:47:29,000 --> 00:47:32,759 Speaker 1: at that time, it was like five dollar subway foot long, uh, 1017 00:47:33,320 --> 00:47:35,320 Speaker 1: you know, And and that's what I was trying to 1018 00:47:35,400 --> 00:47:37,000 Speaker 1: feed myself. But I wouldn't eat till I was full 1019 00:47:37,120 --> 00:47:39,839 Speaker 1: to save as much money. And my mom said like, hey, 1020 00:47:40,840 --> 00:47:43,640 Speaker 1: I'm giving you two years to chase your your basketball dream. 1021 00:47:44,239 --> 00:47:46,480 Speaker 1: Don't worry about where the money came from. Um, it 1022 00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:50,240 Speaker 1: wasn't until you know, a couple of years ago. Actually 1023 00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:52,200 Speaker 1: it wasn't ntil I was thirty years old. When my 1024 00:47:52,320 --> 00:47:55,040 Speaker 1: mom finally told me, said that money came from my retirement, 1025 00:47:55,120 --> 00:47:57,920 Speaker 1: my four oh one kid, and so like that's when 1026 00:47:57,960 --> 00:48:00,759 Speaker 1: I say, like my parents gave it everything. Like they 1027 00:48:00,880 --> 00:48:03,400 Speaker 1: put themselves through so much debt. My grandmother paid for 1028 00:48:03,520 --> 00:48:05,480 Speaker 1: one year of tuition for me at Harvard. And so 1029 00:48:05,600 --> 00:48:08,520 Speaker 1: when I landed that contract, to me, it was just like, dude, 1030 00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:11,960 Speaker 1: family first, Like I got a doubt, like to this day, 1031 00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:13,759 Speaker 1: like right now I'm in my parents house and so 1032 00:48:13,840 --> 00:48:16,080 Speaker 1: I don't even have my own place, and and it's just, 1033 00:48:16,760 --> 00:48:19,040 Speaker 1: you know, it's always been something that's all about family 1034 00:48:19,160 --> 00:48:21,839 Speaker 1: first and uh. And to be honest, when I got 1035 00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:23,600 Speaker 1: that contract, it didn't even feel like it was mine. 1036 00:48:24,120 --> 00:48:27,600 Speaker 1: M m m m. That's deep. So your first season 1037 00:48:27,680 --> 00:48:31,719 Speaker 1: with the Rockets, you play eighty two games, UM back 1038 00:48:31,760 --> 00:48:34,200 Speaker 1: when eighty two games was what you were supposed to play, 1039 00:48:35,040 --> 00:48:38,720 Speaker 1: UM similar stats. What was it like in that new surrounding. 1040 00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:41,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you're in Houston now, I'm not sure who 1041 00:48:41,280 --> 00:48:43,960 Speaker 1: is is D'Antoni the coach there is that when he 1042 00:48:44,040 --> 00:48:46,920 Speaker 1: got there at that time, it was McHale And then 1043 00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:50,040 Speaker 1: you know, we just picked up hard in two and 1044 00:48:50,200 --> 00:48:52,680 Speaker 1: and Harden was like the okay, see hearted and then 1045 00:48:52,800 --> 00:48:55,680 Speaker 1: he became like the herd and herded um where it 1046 00:48:55,760 --> 00:48:58,839 Speaker 1: was just like, you know, ridiculous, And so I got 1047 00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:00,920 Speaker 1: to witness that and be on his team for that 1048 00:49:01,080 --> 00:49:05,040 Speaker 1: first year. But that was tough, man like, because the 1049 00:49:05,120 --> 00:49:07,479 Speaker 1: ball you know, for me at that time, I only 1050 00:49:07,560 --> 00:49:10,120 Speaker 1: really knew how to go right and play the point 1051 00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:12,840 Speaker 1: guard position. Now all of a sudden, it's like I 1052 00:49:12,960 --> 00:49:15,560 Speaker 1: need to work on my shooting, my off the ball cutting, 1053 00:49:15,640 --> 00:49:17,120 Speaker 1: I need to work on my defense. I need to 1054 00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:19,520 Speaker 1: work on all these aspects of my game that I 1055 00:49:19,640 --> 00:49:23,799 Speaker 1: never had to And that took me, you know, three 1056 00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:26,520 Speaker 1: or four years until really, I would say Charlotte was 1057 00:49:26,600 --> 00:49:28,080 Speaker 1: when I got to a place where I was like, 1058 00:49:28,520 --> 00:49:32,920 Speaker 1: I'm going left easy, I'm playing great defense. I'm one 1059 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:36,680 Speaker 1: of the top defensive rated guards on my team, you know. 1060 00:49:36,840 --> 00:49:38,400 Speaker 1: Form for the rest of my career, I was one 1061 00:49:38,400 --> 00:49:40,239 Speaker 1: of the top. You know, I felt like I picked 1062 00:49:40,280 --> 00:49:43,279 Speaker 1: some up defensively there. I felt like my shot came 1063 00:49:43,320 --> 00:49:45,840 Speaker 1: a long way. But it was like in Houston, it 1064 00:49:45,920 --> 00:49:47,920 Speaker 1: took those two years in Houston in that year in 1065 00:49:48,080 --> 00:49:50,440 Speaker 1: l A to really really work through a lot of that. 1066 00:49:51,000 --> 00:49:54,920 Speaker 1: What was it like seeing James is transition? You mentioned, Okay, 1067 00:49:55,040 --> 00:50:00,520 Speaker 1: see James too, Rocket James. What do you think chained 1068 00:50:00,600 --> 00:50:02,840 Speaker 1: and made him Rocket James? As you can see like 1069 00:50:03,000 --> 00:50:04,880 Speaker 1: day to day being your teammate and what was that 1070 00:50:08,440 --> 00:50:11,319 Speaker 1: the biggest dude, the biggest thing. And this is why 1071 00:50:11,360 --> 00:50:13,480 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep going back to the mindset. But like 1072 00:50:14,239 --> 00:50:16,320 Speaker 1: he wanted it and he knew he could do it. 1073 00:50:16,760 --> 00:50:20,640 Speaker 1: Like when he showed up, it was like when he 1074 00:50:20,719 --> 00:50:23,040 Speaker 1: showed up, he knew what he knew what he wanted 1075 00:50:23,080 --> 00:50:25,239 Speaker 1: to accomplish, and he knew what he who he wanted 1076 00:50:25,280 --> 00:50:27,680 Speaker 1: to become. And that's what I felt from him. That's 1077 00:50:27,719 --> 00:50:30,600 Speaker 1: what I saw from him. And so it wasn't like hey, 1078 00:50:30,719 --> 00:50:34,320 Speaker 1: I'm here and like I'm sixteen a night, you know, 1079 00:50:34,520 --> 00:50:37,040 Speaker 1: and I'm hoping to take the next step. It's like, no, 1080 00:50:37,239 --> 00:50:41,440 Speaker 1: this is my team, this is my everything, and like 1081 00:50:42,280 --> 00:50:45,920 Speaker 1: that's and and and for me, you know, my biggest 1082 00:50:45,960 --> 00:50:48,800 Speaker 1: regret about going into Houston was that, like I was like, no, 1083 00:50:48,960 --> 00:50:50,960 Speaker 1: they'll put me on the billboards, don't put me on 1084 00:50:51,040 --> 00:50:52,960 Speaker 1: don't put don't don't put me in the promotional don't 1085 00:50:53,000 --> 00:50:54,320 Speaker 1: don't you know, Like I was just like, oh, I 1086 00:50:54,360 --> 00:50:56,279 Speaker 1: don't know. I haven't proved myself for long enough yet 1087 00:50:56,560 --> 00:50:59,800 Speaker 1: and it was just like a differing viewpoint or differing 1088 00:51:00,040 --> 00:51:03,680 Speaker 1: mindset coming in. And so you know, I actually learned 1089 00:51:03,719 --> 00:51:06,960 Speaker 1: a lot from the confidence and the work ethic that 1090 00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:10,080 Speaker 1: that James really exuded. I mean I worked really, really hard, 1091 00:51:10,160 --> 00:51:13,080 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong, but it was still like again, 1092 00:51:13,280 --> 00:51:15,799 Speaker 1: it was that concept of like, let me just feel 1093 00:51:15,800 --> 00:51:17,520 Speaker 1: it out, what it's like to be a franchise player, 1094 00:51:17,680 --> 00:51:19,400 Speaker 1: let me just feel it out was like too, you know, 1095 00:51:19,680 --> 00:51:22,960 Speaker 1: And and that was, you know, not not ideal. You 1096 00:51:23,040 --> 00:51:24,640 Speaker 1: must have forgotten that. And he was what was it 1097 00:51:25,000 --> 00:51:27,239 Speaker 1: that he was? They used to have an Asians on 1098 00:51:27,320 --> 00:51:29,640 Speaker 1: the billboards in Houston, That's what I was gonna ask 1099 00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:34,120 Speaker 1: the Rockets that used to that. Man, the Rockets are 1100 00:51:34,160 --> 00:51:35,920 Speaker 1: used to having an Asian on the billboards in front 1101 00:51:35,960 --> 00:51:38,239 Speaker 1: of the arena. Man, you got it. You should have 1102 00:51:38,239 --> 00:51:41,200 Speaker 1: been at home. I mean, I mean, it's not about 1103 00:51:41,960 --> 00:51:45,000 Speaker 1: it's not about it's not about who. It's not about 1104 00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:46,680 Speaker 1: whether there was an Asian on the billboard. It was 1105 00:51:46,719 --> 00:51:48,239 Speaker 1: the fact that it was me on the billboards that 1106 00:51:48,280 --> 00:51:57,160 Speaker 1: I was like, yeah, you should nothing. But y'all, y'all 1107 00:51:57,200 --> 00:51:59,040 Speaker 1: had opened the door for you, so you're supposed to 1108 00:51:59,080 --> 00:52:01,640 Speaker 1: come in and pick up what you left and that's 1109 00:52:01,680 --> 00:52:03,800 Speaker 1: why that's why I wish I did it better. Right, Like, 1110 00:52:03,920 --> 00:52:06,440 Speaker 1: That's what I'm saying is like, man, like, did you 1111 00:52:06,600 --> 00:52:09,319 Speaker 1: feel any of that pressure? Obviously, Like I said, your 1112 00:52:09,320 --> 00:52:13,240 Speaker 1: guys fan base travels well, but it's huge in Houston 1113 00:52:13,360 --> 00:52:16,640 Speaker 1: because of the footprint that. Yeah, Maye, did you feel 1114 00:52:16,840 --> 00:52:20,680 Speaker 1: any pressure coming to play in the team he became 1115 00:52:20,719 --> 00:52:23,480 Speaker 1: a Hall of Famer with Honestly, I didn't feel pressure 1116 00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:26,000 Speaker 1: from that end because I was already getting like at 1117 00:52:26,080 --> 00:52:27,920 Speaker 1: that time, you know, the year before, I was the 1118 00:52:28,080 --> 00:52:31,239 Speaker 1: most Google the most popular person on the planet and right, 1119 00:52:31,360 --> 00:52:34,040 Speaker 1: and that's that's where the pressure was really coming from. 1120 00:52:34,160 --> 00:52:37,440 Speaker 1: Was just like can he do it again? And dada 1121 00:52:38,040 --> 00:52:41,520 Speaker 1: and to me like, oh man, I just wish I 1122 00:52:41,600 --> 00:52:44,360 Speaker 1: stopped asking the questions that everybody else was asking me 1123 00:52:44,520 --> 00:52:46,959 Speaker 1: and I started asking my own questions, Like I wish 1124 00:52:47,120 --> 00:52:50,759 Speaker 1: I really like took control of like, look, this is 1125 00:52:50,840 --> 00:52:52,400 Speaker 1: who I am and this is what I'm gonna do 1126 00:52:52,560 --> 00:52:57,359 Speaker 1: and I'm just getting started and uh and and uh. Man. 1127 00:52:58,160 --> 00:53:00,440 Speaker 1: So it wasn't so much about you know, coming in 1128 00:53:00,640 --> 00:53:03,480 Speaker 1: yus you know behind you know, behind it, in his 1129 00:53:03,600 --> 00:53:06,759 Speaker 1: shadow or anything like that. Yeah, I love it so 1130 00:53:07,560 --> 00:53:10,480 Speaker 1: you're off to the Lakers two thousand, two thousand and fifteen. 1131 00:53:11,200 --> 00:53:13,719 Speaker 1: You get there when Kobe is kind of battling and 1132 00:53:13,880 --> 00:53:17,120 Speaker 1: up and down through injuries. I tell people, you can 1133 00:53:17,200 --> 00:53:20,000 Speaker 1: play other places, you may even win other places, but 1134 00:53:20,080 --> 00:53:22,600 Speaker 1: there's nothing like being a Laker. Did you feel that 1135 00:53:23,080 --> 00:53:26,080 Speaker 1: um coming in and putting on that uniform? Oh? For sure. 1136 00:53:26,360 --> 00:53:29,200 Speaker 1: And and it sucked because we ended up being the 1137 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:33,839 Speaker 1: worst team in later history with the most losses. And uh, 1138 00:53:34,520 --> 00:53:37,560 Speaker 1: that was a dark year, man. That was that was 1139 00:53:37,840 --> 00:53:40,600 Speaker 1: a really really dark year in terms of just what 1140 00:53:40,760 --> 00:53:43,440 Speaker 1: we thought the expectations were going to be because at 1141 00:53:43,480 --> 00:53:45,839 Speaker 1: that time we as a Nash. So Nash goes down 1142 00:53:46,719 --> 00:53:50,480 Speaker 1: before the season even starts, and then uh, and then 1143 00:53:50,560 --> 00:53:54,160 Speaker 1: Cole goes down midway through the season, and then and 1144 00:53:54,280 --> 00:53:56,799 Speaker 1: then me, Me and Cole actually had like a good 1145 00:53:56,920 --> 00:54:01,040 Speaker 1: number of run ins to Um about you know, about 1146 00:54:01,120 --> 00:54:03,320 Speaker 1: how we were playing and things like that. But you know, 1147 00:54:03,360 --> 00:54:05,719 Speaker 1: a lot of it has made like the virality of 1148 00:54:05,840 --> 00:54:09,319 Speaker 1: certain clips of like him yelling at me, Nick Young 1149 00:54:09,400 --> 00:54:11,840 Speaker 1: and j Hill you know, in practice, or b waving 1150 00:54:11,920 --> 00:54:13,840 Speaker 1: him off in the game or things like that. But 1151 00:54:14,040 --> 00:54:15,960 Speaker 1: it was it was a mult of us year. Talk 1152 00:54:16,000 --> 00:54:18,280 Speaker 1: to us about some of the run ins, because I've 1153 00:54:18,320 --> 00:54:20,000 Speaker 1: seen some run ins. I want to hear what yours 1154 00:54:20,040 --> 00:54:22,000 Speaker 1: are like, because you were someone who had the ball 1155 00:54:22,040 --> 00:54:25,040 Speaker 1: in their hands as well. And obviously there's an infamous 1156 00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:28,000 Speaker 1: clip and you waving him. But talk to us about 1157 00:54:28,040 --> 00:54:29,480 Speaker 1: some of the head button you guys had him. What 1158 00:54:29,560 --> 00:54:32,440 Speaker 1: kind of understanding you eventually came to. I mean, you know, 1159 00:54:32,480 --> 00:54:35,480 Speaker 1: and this is I've never told this story to this 1160 00:54:35,680 --> 00:54:39,040 Speaker 1: day and not you know, but I'm like wondering if 1161 00:54:39,080 --> 00:54:42,040 Speaker 1: I should you could you should all the smoke and 1162 00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:44,520 Speaker 1: all the smoke talk to us. Now. At that time, 1163 00:54:44,719 --> 00:54:46,600 Speaker 1: he was coming back from injuries and then he was 1164 00:54:46,640 --> 00:54:49,440 Speaker 1: also going through some injuries. But he was like he 1165 00:54:49,800 --> 00:54:51,760 Speaker 1: you know, he was like thirty five year old Kobe 1166 00:54:52,200 --> 00:54:54,640 Speaker 1: with the twenty five year old Kobe mine and so 1167 00:54:55,000 --> 00:54:57,480 Speaker 1: like he had it in him that he wanted to 1168 00:54:57,560 --> 00:55:00,480 Speaker 1: prove to the world, like all the report who said 1169 00:55:00,480 --> 00:55:02,640 Speaker 1: he couldn't come back from his achilles or other injuries, 1170 00:55:02,719 --> 00:55:07,320 Speaker 1: like he had this like like intense level of like 1171 00:55:07,600 --> 00:55:10,680 Speaker 1: I'm gonna prove you wrong to the reporters. And so 1172 00:55:11,360 --> 00:55:14,400 Speaker 1: he was shooting like you know, there are games are shots, 1173 00:55:14,680 --> 00:55:16,839 Speaker 1: and they were you know, it got to the point 1174 00:55:16,880 --> 00:55:18,560 Speaker 1: where there are a few games where he had shot 1175 00:55:18,640 --> 00:55:21,920 Speaker 1: us out of the game, and and again it was 1176 00:55:22,000 --> 00:55:24,200 Speaker 1: just he was at a point where he was going 1177 00:55:24,280 --> 00:55:27,279 Speaker 1: through so many tough injuries at an age that his 1178 00:55:27,360 --> 00:55:30,160 Speaker 1: body couldn't keep up with the demands. And so that's 1179 00:55:30,160 --> 00:55:31,920 Speaker 1: where like me and the rest of the team, like 1180 00:55:32,080 --> 00:55:34,600 Speaker 1: we we had different different thoughts. And so I remember 1181 00:55:34,719 --> 00:55:36,920 Speaker 1: I would go head to head with him, and we 1182 00:55:37,000 --> 00:55:40,320 Speaker 1: would like because he doesn't sleep, like he slept like 1183 00:55:40,400 --> 00:55:42,239 Speaker 1: two or three hours a night, and then I would 1184 00:55:42,280 --> 00:55:44,200 Speaker 1: be up because we would lose. So when we lose, 1185 00:55:44,280 --> 00:55:45,880 Speaker 1: like I would always be up at like three or 1186 00:55:45,880 --> 00:55:47,880 Speaker 1: four and I would be watching films. So we'd be 1187 00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:50,040 Speaker 1: texting at three in the morning, four in the morning, 1188 00:55:50,160 --> 00:55:54,080 Speaker 1: like like arguing with each other, conflicting with each other. 1189 00:55:54,160 --> 00:55:57,239 Speaker 1: And it got to the plane where I was like, 1190 00:55:57,600 --> 00:55:59,839 Speaker 1: I told him this is how it started. I said 1191 00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:03,439 Speaker 1: it look your your Kobe, like I'm coming and trying 1192 00:56:03,480 --> 00:56:06,160 Speaker 1: to learn from you. Okay, So like I'm okay with 1193 00:56:06,239 --> 00:56:07,680 Speaker 1: anything as long as you talk to me like like 1194 00:56:08,120 --> 00:56:09,879 Speaker 1: a man, like in terms of like don't talk down 1195 00:56:09,960 --> 00:56:11,400 Speaker 1: to me like I'm a boy. Talk to me like 1196 00:56:11,440 --> 00:56:15,560 Speaker 1: a man and respect me. And then you know, he 1197 00:56:15,760 --> 00:56:19,000 Speaker 1: had always said, like, you know, everybody just says what 1198 00:56:19,120 --> 00:56:21,320 Speaker 1: I want him to say, Like it's very rare that 1199 00:56:21,400 --> 00:56:23,920 Speaker 1: somebody actually stands up to me. And so for me 1200 00:56:24,120 --> 00:56:26,960 Speaker 1: in that situation, as we're going back and forth, I 1201 00:56:27,080 --> 00:56:29,000 Speaker 1: finally had enough. That's why I waved him off that 1202 00:56:29,080 --> 00:56:31,000 Speaker 1: one time too, because I was like, you know, I've 1203 00:56:31,040 --> 00:56:33,200 Speaker 1: seen like I don't want to go down this path again. 1204 00:56:33,239 --> 00:56:35,120 Speaker 1: We gotta get something else going, we gotta get some 1205 00:56:35,160 --> 00:56:39,320 Speaker 1: ball movement. But basically, like after that text message conversation, 1206 00:56:39,360 --> 00:56:41,200 Speaker 1: we're going back and forth with each other, like we 1207 00:56:41,239 --> 00:56:43,120 Speaker 1: didn't speak for the last four months of the season, 1208 00:56:43,520 --> 00:56:47,080 Speaker 1: like nobody knew, nobody on the team knew. But for me, 1209 00:56:47,440 --> 00:56:49,960 Speaker 1: that was like something I was willing to accept because 1210 00:56:50,080 --> 00:56:51,840 Speaker 1: I said what I needed to say to him and 1211 00:56:51,920 --> 00:56:53,920 Speaker 1: if he didn't like that, and he didn't and he 1212 00:56:54,040 --> 00:56:55,600 Speaker 1: was like I'm not going to engage in or like 1213 00:56:55,640 --> 00:56:57,279 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna talk to you anymore, I was like, 1214 00:56:57,360 --> 00:56:59,040 Speaker 1: all right, cool, I can I can live with that. 1215 00:56:59,040 --> 00:57:00,759 Speaker 1: At least I said what I need to say. On 1216 00:57:00,880 --> 00:57:02,759 Speaker 1: the flip side, there were times when I was younger 1217 00:57:02,840 --> 00:57:04,840 Speaker 1: in my career where things would happen to me and 1218 00:57:05,040 --> 00:57:07,800 Speaker 1: he didn't say what I should have said, you know, 1219 00:57:07,960 --> 00:57:11,319 Speaker 1: and and that was what like basically, then you would 1220 00:57:11,400 --> 00:57:13,920 Speaker 1: end up getting pumped. But the cool thing about this 1221 00:57:14,000 --> 00:57:16,600 Speaker 1: story is we didn't speak for the last four months 1222 00:57:16,600 --> 00:57:19,280 Speaker 1: of the season, and then the next year was his 1223 00:57:19,400 --> 00:57:21,560 Speaker 1: final year and that's when I was with Charlotte and 1224 00:57:21,560 --> 00:57:24,080 Speaker 1: I was playing really well, and in the middle of 1225 00:57:24,120 --> 00:57:26,360 Speaker 1: the game is when we buried the hatchet and we said, like, 1226 00:57:26,520 --> 00:57:28,680 Speaker 1: you know what, it's over. And so we started talking 1227 00:57:28,720 --> 00:57:30,800 Speaker 1: to each other. We were asking about each other's families 1228 00:57:31,520 --> 00:57:34,439 Speaker 1: like we were before and then and then even after 1229 00:57:34,520 --> 00:57:36,760 Speaker 1: the game, we started texting again. He was giving me 1230 00:57:36,880 --> 00:57:39,200 Speaker 1: some advice on my game, and my whole thing the 1231 00:57:39,240 --> 00:57:41,200 Speaker 1: whole time was like, I look, I'm not saying I'm 1232 00:57:41,240 --> 00:57:43,200 Speaker 1: better than you. I'm not saying any of that. I'm saying, 1233 00:57:43,280 --> 00:57:45,880 Speaker 1: when you talk to me, don't top down to me. 1234 00:57:46,200 --> 00:57:47,960 Speaker 1: And I'm ready to listen, and I'm ready to try 1235 00:57:48,000 --> 00:57:50,080 Speaker 1: to help this team in whatever way it is possible. 1236 00:57:50,320 --> 00:57:53,040 Speaker 1: And for me that was a big step because you know, again, 1237 00:57:53,440 --> 00:57:56,200 Speaker 1: growing up in the Asian culture, it's like don't you know, 1238 00:57:56,320 --> 00:57:58,800 Speaker 1: don't don't step, don't step on the toes of the 1239 00:57:58,880 --> 00:58:00,840 Speaker 1: boss or whatever. But from me, I'm like, I got 1240 00:58:00,880 --> 00:58:02,280 Speaker 1: to a point where I was like, look, this is 1241 00:58:02,320 --> 00:58:03,680 Speaker 1: who I am and this is what I need to 1242 00:58:03,720 --> 00:58:07,280 Speaker 1: do as a player. And I feel like, actually him 1243 00:58:07,320 --> 00:58:09,120 Speaker 1: not talking to me, I feel like that was actually 1244 00:58:09,120 --> 00:58:11,480 Speaker 1: a signing respect. Like he was like, you know what, 1245 00:58:12,120 --> 00:58:13,960 Speaker 1: I'm pissed at you, but I actually respect you because 1246 00:58:14,000 --> 00:58:15,920 Speaker 1: you actually said something to me versus like so many 1247 00:58:15,960 --> 00:58:18,160 Speaker 1: other people won't. And that's one of the next year, 1248 00:58:18,240 --> 00:58:20,680 Speaker 1: the next season, when I was in Charlotte, like, he 1249 00:58:20,880 --> 00:58:23,040 Speaker 1: was like, I mean we taught you know, it was 1250 00:58:23,120 --> 00:58:25,080 Speaker 1: just like it like never happened. And he was just like, 1251 00:58:25,480 --> 00:58:27,960 Speaker 1: We're back to normal. How your family? How can I help? What? What? 1252 00:58:28,200 --> 00:58:31,440 Speaker 1: What advice can I give you? And that was and 1253 00:58:31,520 --> 00:58:34,040 Speaker 1: that was my experience with him, and I learned a 1254 00:58:34,120 --> 00:58:36,120 Speaker 1: lot and I grew a lot. I love it. I 1255 00:58:36,240 --> 00:58:38,760 Speaker 1: love it. That's a great story. Glad you shared it here. 1256 00:58:38,960 --> 00:58:41,880 Speaker 1: How did you? How did you land in Toronto? So 1257 00:58:42,120 --> 00:58:44,600 Speaker 1: I went through two straight years of injury and then 1258 00:58:44,680 --> 00:58:47,320 Speaker 1: I ended up in Atlanta. I got traded to Atlanta. 1259 00:58:47,480 --> 00:58:51,160 Speaker 1: At that time though Atlanta, um I had shown that 1260 00:58:51,200 --> 00:58:52,840 Speaker 1: I was healthy and I was picking up a lot 1261 00:58:52,880 --> 00:58:54,720 Speaker 1: of buzz and so I had asked for a buyout 1262 00:58:54,720 --> 00:58:56,439 Speaker 1: because at that time, Atlanta was one of the worst 1263 00:58:56,480 --> 00:58:59,920 Speaker 1: teams in the Eastern Conference, and the Raptors were really, 1264 00:59:00,040 --> 00:59:02,640 Speaker 1: really interested, so they were It was like right the 1265 00:59:02,720 --> 00:59:04,440 Speaker 1: day after the trade deadline, you know, that's when all 1266 00:59:04,440 --> 00:59:06,919 Speaker 1: the buyouts start to happen. And I'm in the middle 1267 00:59:06,920 --> 00:59:09,160 Speaker 1: of the game and i don't know anything about anything, 1268 00:59:09,280 --> 00:59:12,080 Speaker 1: and I'm just playing and Lowry is just like defending me. 1269 00:59:12,160 --> 00:59:14,600 Speaker 1: He's like, hey man, you come to you rolling with us? 1270 00:59:14,800 --> 00:59:18,120 Speaker 1: I'm like what he's like during the game, Yeah, during 1271 00:59:18,160 --> 00:59:19,760 Speaker 1: a game, he's guarding me. He's like, hey, you're rolling 1272 00:59:19,800 --> 00:59:22,160 Speaker 1: with us, and I'm like, oh man, what And I'm like, 1273 00:59:22,200 --> 00:59:24,400 Speaker 1: what are you talking about. He's like you're coming over right, 1274 00:59:24,560 --> 00:59:26,880 Speaker 1: and I'm like, what are you talking about? And then 1275 00:59:26,920 --> 00:59:28,600 Speaker 1: it was until after the game. I found him after 1276 00:59:28,600 --> 00:59:29,959 Speaker 1: the game, was like, hey man, what are you talking about. 1277 00:59:29,960 --> 00:59:32,760 Speaker 1: He's like, oh, like, I thought you can get a 1278 00:59:32,760 --> 00:59:34,480 Speaker 1: buy out and come, you know, come hoop with us. 1279 00:59:34,640 --> 00:59:36,280 Speaker 1: And I was like, oh, like, I haven't had that 1280 00:59:36,320 --> 00:59:38,760 Speaker 1: conversation with anybody. I didn't know you guys were interested. 1281 00:59:39,840 --> 00:59:43,480 Speaker 1: But that's how it started. And then I found out like, yeah, 1282 00:59:43,640 --> 00:59:46,080 Speaker 1: Toronto was really interesting me that whole time, But everyone 1283 00:59:46,160 --> 00:59:47,960 Speaker 1: was waiting to see what happened in the trade deadline, 1284 00:59:48,160 --> 00:59:51,200 Speaker 1: and it never got to me UM, And so I 1285 00:59:51,560 --> 00:59:54,080 Speaker 1: asked for a buyout and then I went to Toronto 1286 00:59:54,120 --> 00:59:55,720 Speaker 1: because that was a team. You know, they were a 1287 00:59:55,800 --> 00:59:57,800 Speaker 1: top contending team and they wanted me and they had 1288 00:59:57,840 --> 01:00:00,800 Speaker 1: a position for me. You know. That's fun, dope and 1289 01:00:00,960 --> 01:00:03,800 Speaker 1: funny at the same time. The fact that he's I mean, 1290 01:00:03,840 --> 01:00:06,120 Speaker 1: obviously you know Lowry being one of their main players, 1291 01:00:06,200 --> 01:00:07,680 Speaker 1: he knows what the team is trying to do. So 1292 01:00:07,800 --> 01:00:10,080 Speaker 1: he's telling you during the game, like, yeah, you're coming 1293 01:00:10,080 --> 01:00:13,040 Speaker 1: to funk with us, not even that he's guarding me. Man, 1294 01:00:13,200 --> 01:00:15,800 Speaker 1: He's going He's like, you're you're with us? Right? I'm like, no, 1295 01:00:16,240 --> 01:00:22,400 Speaker 1: what are you talking about? What was it like being 1296 01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:25,640 Speaker 1: on that team once you get there, witnessing the shot 1297 01:00:26,400 --> 01:00:30,120 Speaker 1: becoming a champion UM for a franchise that had never 1298 01:00:30,240 --> 01:00:33,200 Speaker 1: won UM kind of like an underdog situation, kind of 1299 01:00:33,240 --> 01:00:37,200 Speaker 1: like your journey throughout sports in your life. What was 1300 01:00:37,240 --> 01:00:39,280 Speaker 1: a culmination of all that for you? And what did 1301 01:00:39,320 --> 01:00:41,920 Speaker 1: it mean? I mean, on one hand, it was so heavy, 1302 01:00:42,320 --> 01:00:45,400 Speaker 1: like do you made history? First Asian American ever been 1303 01:00:45,480 --> 01:00:48,040 Speaker 1: put you know, to win a championship, Like it was 1304 01:00:48,200 --> 01:00:53,120 Speaker 1: like there was a weight of like the the what 1305 01:00:53,320 --> 01:00:57,080 Speaker 1: that moment meant, and you know, I had gone through 1306 01:00:57,120 --> 01:00:58,800 Speaker 1: the sanity, So at that time I was trying to 1307 01:00:58,880 --> 01:01:00,880 Speaker 1: really embrace itself every thing in because a lot of 1308 01:01:00,920 --> 01:01:03,000 Speaker 1: times when you accomplished stuff, you don't realize what you did. 1309 01:01:03,120 --> 01:01:04,680 Speaker 1: Like I don't think you guys realize what you guys 1310 01:01:04,720 --> 01:01:07,520 Speaker 1: did for the Bay in that moment, right, like you 1311 01:01:07,600 --> 01:01:10,000 Speaker 1: were just like focused on the second round. But like 1312 01:01:10,320 --> 01:01:12,840 Speaker 1: then years later you're like, oh my goodness, like the 1313 01:01:13,000 --> 01:01:15,520 Speaker 1: impact that it had, Like I didn't realize it at 1314 01:01:15,560 --> 01:01:17,960 Speaker 1: that time. That's what I was trying to avoid. So 1315 01:01:18,040 --> 01:01:19,680 Speaker 1: on one hand, it was like, wow, let me just 1316 01:01:19,720 --> 01:01:21,760 Speaker 1: soak this in, like this has never been done before. 1317 01:01:22,200 --> 01:01:25,040 Speaker 1: On the other hand, though, it sucks because I was 1318 01:01:25,160 --> 01:01:29,600 Speaker 1: DMP And that's actually the start of when I realized, like, 1319 01:01:30,400 --> 01:01:32,320 Speaker 1: hey man, I had some mental I have some mental 1320 01:01:32,720 --> 01:01:35,520 Speaker 1: like trauma. That is not right. Because when I got 1321 01:01:35,560 --> 01:01:38,360 Speaker 1: to Toronto, I had ten games to be able to 1322 01:01:38,400 --> 01:01:42,360 Speaker 1: solidify a position and to really like work into the rotation. 1323 01:01:43,400 --> 01:01:46,760 Speaker 1: And the biggest knock on me then was like, oh, 1324 01:01:46,960 --> 01:01:48,960 Speaker 1: he just gets really down on himself. When he misses 1325 01:01:49,040 --> 01:01:51,720 Speaker 1: his shots and stuff like that, and so like it 1326 01:01:51,920 --> 01:01:53,880 Speaker 1: was like for me, it wasn't about skill. There's the 1327 01:01:54,160 --> 01:01:56,479 Speaker 1: assessment of me was like, oh, it's about it's about 1328 01:01:56,680 --> 01:01:59,320 Speaker 1: where he's at mentally. And that's when I realized those 1329 01:01:59,360 --> 01:02:01,960 Speaker 1: two years of injury, like they were having some real 1330 01:02:02,040 --> 01:02:04,600 Speaker 1: effects on me. That that that year in l A 1331 01:02:04,840 --> 01:02:06,760 Speaker 1: or the time in Houston, the time when I went 1332 01:02:06,800 --> 01:02:08,520 Speaker 1: from the top of the world, literally the top of 1333 01:02:08,560 --> 01:02:10,560 Speaker 1: the world too, Like I lost my starting position, then 1334 01:02:10,600 --> 01:02:12,880 Speaker 1: I started losing playing time, and then I lost a 1335 01:02:12,920 --> 01:02:15,000 Speaker 1: lot of fans, and then I lost a lot of endorsements, 1336 01:02:15,000 --> 01:02:16,520 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden, you know, like that 1337 01:02:16,640 --> 01:02:19,240 Speaker 1: whole downward and then I and then I finally get 1338 01:02:19,440 --> 01:02:21,480 Speaker 1: you know, in a great position, and then I get injured. 1339 01:02:21,960 --> 01:02:24,600 Speaker 1: You know, Like that whole thing like really weighed on me. 1340 01:02:25,320 --> 01:02:27,480 Speaker 1: And and in Toronto's when I started to see the 1341 01:02:27,560 --> 01:02:30,200 Speaker 1: cracks in the foundation and so from one end it 1342 01:02:30,320 --> 01:02:33,200 Speaker 1: was amazing and on the other end, it really hurt. 1343 01:02:33,280 --> 01:02:34,840 Speaker 1: And that's the last time I ever stepped foot on 1344 01:02:34,880 --> 01:02:36,880 Speaker 1: the NBA floor. And I haven't been able to I mean, 1345 01:02:36,960 --> 01:02:39,280 Speaker 1: I haven't even been able to get training. Like I 1346 01:02:39,520 --> 01:02:42,560 Speaker 1: I said, like hey, I'm gonna come as a non guarantee. 1347 01:02:43,000 --> 01:02:44,600 Speaker 1: I would come on a ten day. I will come 1348 01:02:45,000 --> 01:02:47,000 Speaker 1: in training camp and fight my way. I would give 1349 01:02:47,000 --> 01:02:48,920 Speaker 1: me any opportunity to prove myself. I have not been 1350 01:02:48,920 --> 01:02:53,000 Speaker 1: able to step foot in any NBA facility since that time, 1351 01:02:53,400 --> 01:02:55,640 Speaker 1: even though for me mentally, i've you know, I'm in 1352 01:02:55,720 --> 01:02:57,479 Speaker 1: such a different place. And even in the G League, 1353 01:02:57,480 --> 01:03:00,040 Speaker 1: I killed, I absolutely killed in the G League, and 1354 01:03:00,040 --> 01:03:03,080 Speaker 1: I still can't touch an NBA facility, And that, to 1355 01:03:03,200 --> 01:03:06,600 Speaker 1: me is what's heartbreaking. Is like, man, that championship, that's 1356 01:03:06,600 --> 01:03:08,880 Speaker 1: the last time I've ever got a chance to really, 1357 01:03:09,080 --> 01:03:11,440 Speaker 1: you know, be a part of the NBA um and 1358 01:03:11,560 --> 01:03:13,440 Speaker 1: where I was in where I am now, Like I'm 1359 01:03:13,560 --> 01:03:15,720 Speaker 1: a whole different person and a whole different player, but 1360 01:03:15,880 --> 01:03:17,680 Speaker 1: I don't get a chance to to show that. And 1361 01:03:17,760 --> 01:03:21,480 Speaker 1: that's what that's what is like the bitter sweetness of it. Man, 1362 01:03:21,600 --> 01:03:24,120 Speaker 1: We're hoping you get an opportunity to, like you said, 1363 01:03:24,160 --> 01:03:26,680 Speaker 1: there's still some time here and then if not this season, 1364 01:03:26,760 --> 01:03:30,160 Speaker 1: next season. But it's it's crazy because that mental state 1365 01:03:30,200 --> 01:03:35,400 Speaker 1: of mind is absolutely everything, absolutely everything. I mean, Jack 1366 01:03:35,480 --> 01:03:36,920 Speaker 1: was a killer. Jack didn't give a fun how many 1367 01:03:36,920 --> 01:03:38,520 Speaker 1: shots he miss he was going to keep shooting. But 1368 01:03:38,560 --> 01:03:42,080 Speaker 1: it takes a certain type of mindset to get that, 1369 01:03:42,920 --> 01:03:44,720 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, and be able to and 1370 01:03:44,800 --> 01:03:46,640 Speaker 1: that's what a lot of people don't understand. There's just 1371 01:03:46,800 --> 01:03:49,080 Speaker 1: all the ups and down to come, like listening to 1372 01:03:49,200 --> 01:03:51,120 Speaker 1: your story now and getting to know you better during 1373 01:03:51,200 --> 01:03:54,200 Speaker 1: this interview, like you've literally been to the top of 1374 01:03:54,240 --> 01:03:56,640 Speaker 1: the world, and then you literally just told us now 1375 01:03:56,760 --> 01:03:59,640 Speaker 1: you can't step. You haven't had an opportunity to step 1376 01:04:00,000 --> 01:04:02,640 Speaker 1: on another NBA floor, you know, and since you won 1377 01:04:02,680 --> 01:04:05,880 Speaker 1: a championship, so to be, it's high the most google 1378 01:04:06,000 --> 01:04:09,360 Speaker 1: person you know to to to go head to head 1379 01:04:09,400 --> 01:04:12,440 Speaker 1: with Cobe, beat him at the garden to talk, you know, 1380 01:04:12,640 --> 01:04:15,040 Speaker 1: going back and forth with him, like you've really seen 1381 01:04:15,240 --> 01:04:19,400 Speaker 1: all the upstals in between. And I think the fact 1382 01:04:19,440 --> 01:04:22,320 Speaker 1: that you're still here and kind of getting better, as 1383 01:04:22,360 --> 01:04:25,240 Speaker 1: you said, mentally is the most important because there's probably 1384 01:04:25,240 --> 01:04:28,680 Speaker 1: several times, you know that could have been enough for you, 1385 01:04:29,280 --> 01:04:31,360 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, Like I said, you've seen everything, man, 1386 01:04:31,400 --> 01:04:32,880 Speaker 1: So we just want to commend you that you know 1387 01:04:32,960 --> 01:04:35,520 Speaker 1: you you stuck this fucking thing out, man, and God 1388 01:04:35,600 --> 01:04:38,560 Speaker 1: willing you get another opportunity. But even if you don't. Man, 1389 01:04:38,600 --> 01:04:41,080 Speaker 1: at least your mental health is stable now, and I 1390 01:04:41,120 --> 01:04:44,600 Speaker 1: think that's what's most important. Yeah, And seriously, man, like 1391 01:04:45,120 --> 01:04:47,800 Speaker 1: I've come, it's gotten to the place where like I'm 1392 01:04:47,840 --> 01:04:51,560 Speaker 1: like almost coming as a beggar. Like you know, I've 1393 01:04:51,600 --> 01:04:53,960 Speaker 1: talked to you know, g ms, I've talked to you 1394 01:04:54,040 --> 01:04:57,360 Speaker 1: know owners, I've talked to you know, the commissioner, I've 1395 01:04:57,400 --> 01:04:59,880 Speaker 1: talked to Max players. I mean, I've been like a 1396 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:02,680 Speaker 1: exhausting every opportunity just to get a chance to prove myself. 1397 01:05:02,760 --> 01:05:04,480 Speaker 1: That's why the g League bubble, when they said they're 1398 01:05:04,480 --> 01:05:06,000 Speaker 1: gonna have a Glee bubble, I was like, all right, 1399 01:05:06,080 --> 01:05:07,959 Speaker 1: let's do it. I just need to show you guys. 1400 01:05:08,040 --> 01:05:10,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I've been in this position for the majority 1401 01:05:10,360 --> 01:05:12,120 Speaker 1: of my life of just like trying to get my 1402 01:05:12,160 --> 01:05:16,240 Speaker 1: foot in the door. And and then like and that's 1403 01:05:16,680 --> 01:05:20,840 Speaker 1: and that's like something that's so interesting about it is 1404 01:05:20,920 --> 01:05:23,600 Speaker 1: like I've seen both ends of the spectrum and so 1405 01:05:23,800 --> 01:05:25,880 Speaker 1: now it's like, man, it's like I'm in a great 1406 01:05:25,920 --> 01:05:27,920 Speaker 1: place mentally, and I just want to enjoy it. Man Like, 1407 01:05:28,040 --> 01:05:32,000 Speaker 1: I just want to enjoy everything about the journey because 1408 01:05:32,120 --> 01:05:35,160 Speaker 1: one day, like I mean, you guys know, like everybody 1409 01:05:35,240 --> 01:05:37,160 Speaker 1: always told me it goes by so fast, and it 1410 01:05:37,240 --> 01:05:42,640 Speaker 1: really really does, it really really does. Yeah. Absolutely. You 1411 01:05:42,800 --> 01:05:47,320 Speaker 1: once mentioned, Um, Steph and Westbrook were some of your 1412 01:05:47,360 --> 01:05:50,640 Speaker 1: toughest guards. Do you have any stories Um matching up 1413 01:05:50,640 --> 01:05:52,880 Speaker 1: against either one of them? You know, because I used 1414 01:05:52,920 --> 01:05:56,800 Speaker 1: Steff personally, so there was never like, you know, any 1415 01:05:57,760 --> 01:05:59,760 Speaker 1: any you know, We've always had a lot of respect 1416 01:05:59,840 --> 01:06:02,720 Speaker 1: for each other. But the one story that I always 1417 01:06:02,760 --> 01:06:06,000 Speaker 1: tell about Steph that like why I say he loves 1418 01:06:06,040 --> 01:06:09,160 Speaker 1: the game so much is my rookie year, Like Steph 1419 01:06:09,280 --> 01:06:12,200 Speaker 1: was going through all types of ankle injuries and we 1420 01:06:12,320 --> 01:06:15,000 Speaker 1: were playing our eighties second last game of the season, 1421 01:06:15,440 --> 01:06:17,560 Speaker 1: and at that time they were giving me playing time 1422 01:06:17,560 --> 01:06:20,440 Speaker 1: because we were already a lottery team and Steph had 1423 01:06:20,520 --> 01:06:22,440 Speaker 1: rolled his ankle the day before and he was like 1424 01:06:22,680 --> 01:06:26,080 Speaker 1: could barely walk and he literally like hobbled on and 1425 01:06:26,120 --> 01:06:29,320 Speaker 1: played the last game of the season. And I was like, well, one, 1426 01:06:29,360 --> 01:06:31,520 Speaker 1: I was like, why are you playing? Like give me 1427 01:06:31,600 --> 01:06:33,520 Speaker 1: some like let me get my thirty five minutes tonight. 1428 01:06:34,120 --> 01:06:36,720 Speaker 1: But but on the other hand, I was just like, dude, 1429 01:06:36,880 --> 01:06:41,640 Speaker 1: like that is intense, Um, like you love the game. 1430 01:06:42,040 --> 01:06:45,000 Speaker 1: In terms of Westbrook, like we've never had We've never 1431 01:06:45,120 --> 01:06:47,919 Speaker 1: had run ins, but like the way that Westbrook looks 1432 01:06:47,960 --> 01:06:50,200 Speaker 1: at me, it just I just it just made me 1433 01:06:50,280 --> 01:06:53,120 Speaker 1: feel like he hated me. And I've never spoken to 1434 01:06:53,280 --> 01:06:55,400 Speaker 1: him like we we talked to Chapel and stuff, but 1435 01:06:55,520 --> 01:06:57,480 Speaker 1: just like and just the way he looked at everybody 1436 01:06:57,680 --> 01:06:59,920 Speaker 1: were just like we were talking Chapel and be like, oh, 1437 01:07:00,040 --> 01:07:01,959 Speaker 1: us up, you know, like and pray for each other whatever. 1438 01:07:02,320 --> 01:07:04,600 Speaker 1: And then we get on the floor and then I 1439 01:07:04,760 --> 01:07:06,960 Speaker 1: like go to like dap the other team, and then 1440 01:07:07,000 --> 01:07:09,160 Speaker 1: I will dap him and he would just be like me, 1441 01:07:09,360 --> 01:07:11,560 Speaker 1: mugging me and everybody else in the world, and I'm 1442 01:07:11,600 --> 01:07:13,840 Speaker 1: just like, oh, he's just like there's a switch for 1443 01:07:13,960 --> 01:07:19,200 Speaker 1: him when he starts shooping like he hates everybody's the 1444 01:07:19,240 --> 01:07:23,880 Speaker 1: way he moves. What do you think of Steph and 1445 01:07:24,360 --> 01:07:28,800 Speaker 1: Russ's growth and amazing performances this season. I think I 1446 01:07:28,880 --> 01:07:31,800 Speaker 1: think Steph is just doing whatever the hell he wants 1447 01:07:31,920 --> 01:07:38,600 Speaker 1: right now. It's like they're just looking for him every possession, 1448 01:07:38,760 --> 01:07:42,640 Speaker 1: every second. He'll he'll have three opportunities or he'll look 1449 01:07:42,680 --> 01:07:44,439 Speaker 1: for shot three times, not give it, and then he'll 1450 01:07:44,480 --> 01:07:46,160 Speaker 1: just get up, you know, past it, and then everybody 1451 01:07:46,200 --> 01:07:48,000 Speaker 1: will go set a bunch of screens for him, Like 1452 01:07:48,600 --> 01:07:52,880 Speaker 1: he is literally changing the game, man, Like that's happening 1453 01:07:52,880 --> 01:07:54,920 Speaker 1: in front of us. He's literally changing the game. Like 1454 01:07:55,000 --> 01:07:57,920 Speaker 1: I hope people can appreciate it. And then with Westbrook, 1455 01:07:58,120 --> 01:08:02,960 Speaker 1: like I mean, I just don't understand why he's so 1456 01:08:04,240 --> 01:08:06,240 Speaker 1: it's hard to say like that an m v P 1457 01:08:06,560 --> 01:08:11,120 Speaker 1: is underrated, you know, but like people do people realize 1458 01:08:11,160 --> 01:08:14,680 Speaker 1: what he's doing, Like they don't. They don't get it. 1459 01:08:15,320 --> 01:08:17,200 Speaker 1: Do you know how many games would take for me 1460 01:08:17,320 --> 01:08:20,160 Speaker 1: to get rebounds in a game like that? Probably takes 1461 01:08:20,200 --> 01:08:24,840 Speaker 1: like ten games for me to get like he does normal, 1462 01:08:25,560 --> 01:08:28,080 Speaker 1: like your numbers are normal for a point guard. Point 1463 01:08:28,120 --> 01:08:30,439 Speaker 1: guards get two or three rebounds a game. Like this, 1464 01:08:30,640 --> 01:08:33,240 Speaker 1: dude is going out there and grabbing plus twenty rebounds, 1465 01:08:33,680 --> 01:08:37,679 Speaker 1: plus twenty assists, plus twenty points. It's just it's insane, 1466 01:08:37,760 --> 01:08:40,000 Speaker 1: but he makes it look easy. So I think people 1467 01:08:40,040 --> 01:08:45,040 Speaker 1: don't appreciate how hard it is. Yeah, they don't appreciate. 1468 01:08:45,200 --> 01:08:47,120 Speaker 1: Like it's like when you've been doing it for longer 1469 01:08:47,439 --> 01:08:49,160 Speaker 1: or like for a long time, they just get used 1470 01:08:49,200 --> 01:08:52,679 Speaker 1: to it and it's like it's like okay, steps Stepp 1471 01:08:52,840 --> 01:08:55,080 Speaker 1: hit eleven threes or at forty nine points and twenty 1472 01:08:55,160 --> 01:08:57,160 Speaker 1: nine minutes. Like, look, man, that's not normal. Even if 1473 01:08:57,200 --> 01:08:59,960 Speaker 1: it's normal for stuff like that's just not normal. Don't 1474 01:09:00,200 --> 01:09:03,120 Speaker 1: talk down on these players or like even with Westbrook's 1475 01:09:03,120 --> 01:09:06,160 Speaker 1: like he just tied the big Old for triple levels 1476 01:09:06,200 --> 01:09:09,040 Speaker 1: I think, or something like you know, it's like, dude, 1477 01:09:09,160 --> 01:09:13,240 Speaker 1: like this is history, Like the most recent crop of 1478 01:09:13,360 --> 01:09:16,360 Speaker 1: players and in the last like five to ten years 1479 01:09:16,720 --> 01:09:20,559 Speaker 1: have just absolutely shattered some of the existing like records 1480 01:09:20,640 --> 01:09:23,760 Speaker 1: that have lasted for decades like and so it's just 1481 01:09:24,000 --> 01:09:25,960 Speaker 1: we have to keep in mind when we're talking about it, 1482 01:09:26,160 --> 01:09:30,040 Speaker 1: like this stuff is revolutionary, like what Lebron is doing, 1483 01:09:30,240 --> 01:09:35,400 Speaker 1: Like people will like they need to appreciate that. And 1484 01:09:35,680 --> 01:09:37,799 Speaker 1: like I think that's something that we saw with Kobe 1485 01:09:37,920 --> 01:09:41,640 Speaker 1: where it was just like when when he's gone, like 1486 01:09:41,840 --> 01:09:45,680 Speaker 1: you appreciate him more, but like did he get all 1487 01:09:45,720 --> 01:09:50,599 Speaker 1: the respect that he deserved earlier? And that's a lot 1488 01:09:50,680 --> 01:09:52,680 Speaker 1: of and that's a lot of these players, man, And 1489 01:09:52,960 --> 01:09:55,240 Speaker 1: that's and that's actually what makes a narrative. I mean, 1490 01:09:55,280 --> 01:09:57,720 Speaker 1: I think even m J when I watched and think 1491 01:09:57,720 --> 01:09:59,679 Speaker 1: about what he went through, like went through a little 1492 01:09:59,680 --> 01:10:02,519 Speaker 1: bit of in terms of like younger in his career 1493 01:10:02,680 --> 01:10:04,720 Speaker 1: was like we didn't know like how good he was 1494 01:10:04,760 --> 01:10:07,040 Speaker 1: gonna be. And so there's always an element of like 1495 01:10:07,160 --> 01:10:09,559 Speaker 1: players are kind of underappreciated while they're in their primes. 1496 01:10:11,240 --> 01:10:16,400 Speaker 1: Facts James one of them to James Harden as well. Yeah, um, 1497 01:10:16,600 --> 01:10:22,080 Speaker 1: coming from lynsanity to where the Knicks, um go back 1498 01:10:22,240 --> 01:10:24,880 Speaker 1: to ur Now, I wouldn't want they go back, just 1499 01:10:25,040 --> 01:10:28,200 Speaker 1: go back to the bottom of the league. Seeing their 1500 01:10:28,320 --> 01:10:30,960 Speaker 1: rise again and and what Julius Randall and these guys 1501 01:10:31,000 --> 01:10:33,200 Speaker 1: have been doing, Tims have been able to do. What 1502 01:10:33,320 --> 01:10:35,280 Speaker 1: are your thoughts on the Knicks, I mean easily the 1503 01:10:35,320 --> 01:10:39,000 Speaker 1: biggest surprise, Like I played, I played with Julius Randall 1504 01:10:39,160 --> 01:10:42,519 Speaker 1: in l A that year with Cope and and uh, 1505 01:10:42,880 --> 01:10:45,479 Speaker 1: I mean he has come such a long way and 1506 01:10:45,600 --> 01:10:48,799 Speaker 1: I love Okay, so not even just that, Like Tims 1507 01:10:48,880 --> 01:10:52,800 Speaker 1: got fired multiple times, right, Like Julius Randall went through 1508 01:10:52,800 --> 01:10:54,160 Speaker 1: a lot and kind of came out of no where. 1509 01:10:54,280 --> 01:10:56,280 Speaker 1: Derek Rose went through a bunch of injuries in it. 1510 01:10:56,720 --> 01:11:00,200 Speaker 1: And that's why, like you can't really ever count somebody out, 1511 01:11:00,320 --> 01:11:04,880 Speaker 1: Like you really don't know until like it's all about 1512 01:11:04,880 --> 01:11:08,160 Speaker 1: opportunity and timing and so like it didn't work out 1513 01:11:08,320 --> 01:11:11,680 Speaker 1: for them in in previous situations, but now in the 1514 01:11:11,800 --> 01:11:14,920 Speaker 1: right situation, as long as a player continues to stay 1515 01:11:15,000 --> 01:11:18,080 Speaker 1: confident and keeps pushing forward, like you don't know what 1516 01:11:18,160 --> 01:11:21,240 Speaker 1: they're capable of accomplishing. And that's why I think it's 1517 01:11:21,320 --> 01:11:24,320 Speaker 1: so easy to just count people out, Like across the board, 1518 01:11:24,360 --> 01:11:26,280 Speaker 1: it's like, Oh, he's sucked last year, so he's done. 1519 01:11:26,439 --> 01:11:28,880 Speaker 1: Like it's like, no, dude, Like these dudes are like 1520 01:11:29,160 --> 01:11:32,400 Speaker 1: prime like that. I think for me, it's like, look 1521 01:11:32,479 --> 01:11:36,320 Speaker 1: at the players who consistently find ways to overcome hurdles, 1522 01:11:36,439 --> 01:11:39,480 Speaker 1: or the coaches that consistently find ways to overcome obsticles, 1523 01:11:39,600 --> 01:11:42,960 Speaker 1: like like there's something to be said about the persistence 1524 01:11:43,080 --> 01:11:47,920 Speaker 1: of like a pursuit of excellence, great powerful mind. Coming 1525 01:11:47,960 --> 01:11:51,479 Speaker 1: towards the end, we're gonna switch lanes though, and and 1526 01:11:51,760 --> 01:11:54,920 Speaker 1: and talk about what's been going on the country of 1527 01:11:55,080 --> 01:11:58,920 Speaker 1: late um. These Asian hate crimes, you've you've spoken them. 1528 01:11:58,960 --> 01:12:03,840 Speaker 1: We we witnessed um Um it's been crazy. What are 1529 01:12:03,840 --> 01:12:06,599 Speaker 1: your thoughts on just kind of where we are as 1530 01:12:06,640 --> 01:12:11,120 Speaker 1: a country and and in this particular, uh, these these 1531 01:12:11,200 --> 01:12:13,599 Speaker 1: incidents that can continue to happen. I mean, it's it's 1532 01:12:13,680 --> 01:12:18,960 Speaker 1: really sad um and I'll say, like it starts with dialogue, 1533 01:12:19,080 --> 01:12:22,519 Speaker 1: it starts with empathy and listening. Like that sounds really stopped, right, 1534 01:12:22,560 --> 01:12:25,439 Speaker 1: Like that sounds really like Okay, everybody's staying. But but 1535 01:12:25,560 --> 01:12:28,960 Speaker 1: really what it looks like what I'm saying is when 1536 01:12:29,800 --> 01:12:35,000 Speaker 1: like when police brutality was happening, like at the height 1537 01:12:35,160 --> 01:12:41,080 Speaker 1: of the the like the uproar, when black lives matters, 1538 01:12:41,840 --> 01:12:45,960 Speaker 1: you know, all that, all those situations, like it mattered 1539 01:12:46,040 --> 01:12:50,000 Speaker 1: to me, but it didn't hit home like this one 1540 01:12:50,120 --> 01:12:53,000 Speaker 1: is hitting home right now. Will stop Asian hate. And 1541 01:12:53,600 --> 01:12:55,559 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that it has to be a perfectly 1542 01:12:55,960 --> 01:12:59,200 Speaker 1: equal experience, but I am saying, like I even learned 1543 01:12:59,200 --> 01:13:03,639 Speaker 1: a lot from like, hey, I need to have more empathy. 1544 01:13:03,880 --> 01:13:05,960 Speaker 1: Like I tried to do a lot of things in 1545 01:13:06,080 --> 01:13:09,759 Speaker 1: certain situations, but I still didn't have Like I didn't 1546 01:13:10,120 --> 01:13:12,720 Speaker 1: really understand all that. I didn't have the conversations that 1547 01:13:12,800 --> 01:13:15,760 Speaker 1: I needed to have. I didn't feel the depths of it. 1548 01:13:16,080 --> 01:13:19,800 Speaker 1: I didn't do enough research, like and that's why I like, 1549 01:13:20,280 --> 01:13:22,040 Speaker 1: I think right now, it's like if we're going to 1550 01:13:22,160 --> 01:13:25,320 Speaker 1: really make progress, like each person has to look in 1551 01:13:25,400 --> 01:13:29,439 Speaker 1: the mirror and say, like where do I like, where 1552 01:13:29,479 --> 01:13:32,519 Speaker 1: do I stand where where can I help? And where 1553 01:13:32,560 --> 01:13:34,519 Speaker 1: can I learn more? If we could all start with 1554 01:13:34,680 --> 01:13:37,160 Speaker 1: learning a little bit more, we're talking a little bit 1555 01:13:37,280 --> 01:13:39,760 Speaker 1: less or judging a little bit less, I think we'd 1556 01:13:39,800 --> 01:13:42,920 Speaker 1: be in a much much better place. And and that's 1557 01:13:42,960 --> 01:13:45,439 Speaker 1: why I like, for me, like now that it's really 1558 01:13:45,520 --> 01:13:48,400 Speaker 1: really hit home in a different way, Like I'm kind 1559 01:13:48,400 --> 01:13:51,840 Speaker 1: of like, man, if I could rewind the tape five years, 1560 01:13:51,960 --> 01:13:54,320 Speaker 1: like things would have looked differently. I would have done 1561 01:13:54,320 --> 01:13:56,720 Speaker 1: a lot more and done it much better and had 1562 01:13:56,920 --> 01:13:59,920 Speaker 1: a different sense of urgency because these are real, live 1563 01:14:00,040 --> 01:14:06,920 Speaker 1: to real people getting stabbed, burned, killed, and uh, and 1564 01:14:07,040 --> 01:14:09,360 Speaker 1: we need more empathy, like we we need to start 1565 01:14:09,439 --> 01:14:12,760 Speaker 1: talking in in in a healthy direction. I think, what 1566 01:14:13,080 --> 01:14:16,519 Speaker 1: you hit it on the head, and you have to 1567 01:14:18,160 --> 01:14:21,920 Speaker 1: even because you'll never experience the exact obviously, every i'd say, 1568 01:14:21,960 --> 01:14:26,680 Speaker 1: every ethnicity goes through something when it comes to minorities 1569 01:14:27,680 --> 01:14:31,040 Speaker 1: being killed, hated on, discriminated or whatever the situation. Maybe, 1570 01:14:31,640 --> 01:14:35,160 Speaker 1: but until you try to just not even walk a mile, 1571 01:14:35,240 --> 01:14:37,559 Speaker 1: like they say, just try to, you know, just try 1572 01:14:37,600 --> 01:14:40,360 Speaker 1: the shoes on, see what it's like, to understand what 1573 01:14:40,479 --> 01:14:43,519 Speaker 1: it's like to be in those situations, will never go anywhere, 1574 01:14:43,560 --> 01:14:45,080 Speaker 1: because I think you said it perfectly. It's just like, 1575 01:14:45,160 --> 01:14:47,320 Speaker 1: you know, I understood and I supported the Black Lives 1576 01:14:47,400 --> 01:14:51,760 Speaker 1: Matter movement, but it didn't register with me, like these 1577 01:14:51,840 --> 01:14:54,040 Speaker 1: Asian hate crimes? Do you know what I mean? So, 1578 01:14:55,160 --> 01:14:57,880 Speaker 1: and I'm sure some African Americans can say the same 1579 01:14:57,960 --> 01:15:00,360 Speaker 1: thing about the Asian hate crimes, like damn, that's sucked up? 1580 01:15:00,360 --> 01:15:02,439 Speaker 1: Why is that happening? But it doesn't hit home because 1581 01:15:02,840 --> 01:15:05,960 Speaker 1: we're over here getting killed by this, this and that, 1582 01:15:06,240 --> 01:15:08,120 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? So I think until everyone 1583 01:15:09,040 --> 01:15:11,840 Speaker 1: takes a step back and wants to have more of 1584 01:15:11,920 --> 01:15:16,760 Speaker 1: an understanding of what I think minorities as whole we 1585 01:15:16,840 --> 01:15:18,719 Speaker 1: go through and we all have our own issues. Obviously, 1586 01:15:19,080 --> 01:15:22,679 Speaker 1: African American issues date back to to to the beginning 1587 01:15:22,720 --> 01:15:26,800 Speaker 1: of this country, and we continue to be killed and 1588 01:15:27,040 --> 01:15:29,640 Speaker 1: and unfairly judged and all kinds of crazy ship. But 1589 01:15:30,040 --> 01:15:33,360 Speaker 1: there are other ethnicities that go through their version of 1590 01:15:33,880 --> 01:15:36,840 Speaker 1: what's tough for them. So until we all open up 1591 01:15:36,880 --> 01:15:42,240 Speaker 1: and have that collective understanding and dialogue, will probably stay 1592 01:15:42,320 --> 01:15:45,360 Speaker 1: stuck in this neutral position. You know, when I came over, 1593 01:15:45,640 --> 01:15:47,160 Speaker 1: and this is a sad part. When I came over, 1594 01:15:47,439 --> 01:15:50,839 Speaker 1: all I knew all I knew about you know, African 1595 01:15:50,840 --> 01:15:54,479 Speaker 1: Americans was what Hollywood told us. And so you know, 1596 01:15:54,600 --> 01:15:57,519 Speaker 1: for me, it's like every time, you know, when we're 1597 01:15:57,520 --> 01:16:00,479 Speaker 1: growing up, you know, my parents would be like if there, 1598 01:16:00,600 --> 01:16:02,719 Speaker 1: if they're if a black person would walking on the street, 1599 01:16:02,880 --> 01:16:05,000 Speaker 1: it would be like, oh, lock the door, right, Like 1600 01:16:05,080 --> 01:16:07,400 Speaker 1: that's all we knew, that's all we saw. It wasn't 1601 01:16:07,439 --> 01:16:09,439 Speaker 1: until I started playing. Once I got to elementary school, 1602 01:16:09,439 --> 01:16:10,960 Speaker 1: I had a lot of black teammates. Once I got 1603 01:16:11,040 --> 01:16:13,200 Speaker 1: to middle school, high school, had a ton of black teammates. 1604 01:16:13,200 --> 01:16:15,280 Speaker 1: And then I started going to you know, East Palo 1605 01:16:15,320 --> 01:16:17,560 Speaker 1: Alto to picking them up, and then they became like 1606 01:16:18,439 --> 01:16:20,920 Speaker 1: lifelong friends. And then all of a sudden, just by 1607 01:16:21,000 --> 01:16:25,960 Speaker 1: pure exposure, my my perspective and my parents perspective completely changed. 1608 01:16:26,200 --> 01:16:28,559 Speaker 1: And now it's like like when I was with the Rockets, 1609 01:16:28,640 --> 01:16:31,120 Speaker 1: my mom was getting brunched with like Pat BEVs mom 1610 01:16:31,240 --> 01:16:33,200 Speaker 1: and James Harden's mom, and they became they were like 1611 01:16:33,320 --> 01:16:36,439 Speaker 1: legitimate friends and like eating together. And it all came 1612 01:16:36,520 --> 01:16:40,120 Speaker 1: from exposure because you actually took a little bit of 1613 01:16:40,200 --> 01:16:43,320 Speaker 1: time to step in someone else's shoot shooes. And I think, 1614 01:16:43,400 --> 01:16:45,720 Speaker 1: like that's the powerful thing and the sad and the 1615 01:16:45,800 --> 01:16:48,720 Speaker 1: sad thing about it too. Right now, it's like if 1616 01:16:48,760 --> 01:16:51,160 Speaker 1: we can't really get to a place where we're having 1617 01:16:51,240 --> 01:16:54,960 Speaker 1: healthy dialogue or trying to like listen, like, it's not 1618 01:16:55,040 --> 01:16:59,080 Speaker 1: gonna happen. Because the truth is, there has been racist 1619 01:16:59,160 --> 01:17:02,240 Speaker 1: things done in both directions, whether it's the Asian towards 1620 01:17:02,280 --> 01:17:04,360 Speaker 1: the Black community or the Black towards the Asian Like 1621 01:17:04,600 --> 01:17:07,720 Speaker 1: that is true. Like I even when I started playing well, like, 1622 01:17:08,040 --> 01:17:10,479 Speaker 1: there are a lot of really hurtful things that were 1623 01:17:10,520 --> 01:17:12,880 Speaker 1: said about me even as I played in the NBA. 1624 01:17:12,960 --> 01:17:15,360 Speaker 1: There's a lot of things that you know, I've experienced 1625 01:17:15,920 --> 01:17:19,439 Speaker 1: in terms of like, Okay, the black community. I felt like, like, 1626 01:17:19,560 --> 01:17:22,240 Speaker 1: for example, one of my favorite athletes like would always 1627 01:17:22,280 --> 01:17:24,320 Speaker 1: come to the game and helped me, and I had 1628 01:17:24,360 --> 01:17:27,760 Speaker 1: to confront him and I was like, dude, you inspired me, man, 1629 01:17:27,960 --> 01:17:33,080 Speaker 1: like I drew from like you like and and they 1630 01:17:33,200 --> 01:17:35,240 Speaker 1: just hated on me but had never spoke of me. 1631 01:17:35,240 --> 01:17:37,720 Speaker 1: I've never done anything to them. And and then on 1632 01:17:37,800 --> 01:17:41,919 Speaker 1: the flip side, like there's a lot of anti blackness 1633 01:17:42,000 --> 01:17:44,800 Speaker 1: that needs to be addressed in the Asian community as well. 1634 01:17:45,040 --> 01:17:47,880 Speaker 1: And so I'm and that's what basketball has done for 1635 01:17:47,920 --> 01:17:50,240 Speaker 1: me is just put me in this middle ground where like, man, 1636 01:17:50,320 --> 01:17:54,160 Speaker 1: I've experienced certain things from from black players and black 1637 01:17:54,200 --> 01:17:56,920 Speaker 1: teammates that like I'm like that really hurt me. And 1638 01:17:57,040 --> 01:17:59,160 Speaker 1: then like on the flip side, I also know that 1639 01:17:59,240 --> 01:18:02,080 Speaker 1: I've been a part of even what the things and 1640 01:18:02,160 --> 01:18:05,320 Speaker 1: the stereotypes that I've had about certain people like before 1641 01:18:05,360 --> 01:18:09,280 Speaker 1: I actually got to know them, and that that that 1642 01:18:09,520 --> 01:18:14,400 Speaker 1: healing has to happen through dialogue and through empathy, and 1643 01:18:14,520 --> 01:18:16,439 Speaker 1: you can't go into it. You can't go into a 1644 01:18:16,479 --> 01:18:21,240 Speaker 1: conversation on on the defensive, right, like that's not gonna 1645 01:18:21,280 --> 01:18:22,720 Speaker 1: get it done. If you really want to go and 1646 01:18:22,840 --> 01:18:25,760 Speaker 1: have a real conversation and have your perspective expanded, like 1647 01:18:25,840 --> 01:18:27,839 Speaker 1: you have to go in from a place of empathy, 1648 01:18:27,920 --> 01:18:29,760 Speaker 1: like no, for real, like let me listen to you, 1649 01:18:30,080 --> 01:18:32,280 Speaker 1: like let me not just for me, Like I learned 1650 01:18:32,320 --> 01:18:34,320 Speaker 1: Asian American history and it made me piste off because 1651 01:18:34,320 --> 01:18:35,840 Speaker 1: I was just like, why isn't this stuff being taught? 1652 01:18:35,880 --> 01:18:39,600 Speaker 1: And this is super shady. But then I haven't had it, 1653 01:18:39,840 --> 01:18:41,519 Speaker 1: you know, I haven't gone and done the research I 1654 01:18:41,600 --> 01:18:43,800 Speaker 1: need to really learn the African American history or even 1655 01:18:43,880 --> 01:18:45,640 Speaker 1: like you know, I'm not gonna get into all of 1656 01:18:45,720 --> 01:18:48,240 Speaker 1: it but just even tapping into the surface of like 1657 01:18:48,880 --> 01:18:51,320 Speaker 1: the prison system or incarceration or the things like that, 1658 01:18:51,479 --> 01:18:54,800 Speaker 1: and how systemic these things are. Like I had to 1659 01:18:54,880 --> 01:18:58,040 Speaker 1: go into these places to learn without any preconceived notions, 1660 01:18:58,120 --> 01:19:00,599 Speaker 1: in a place where I'm really trying you to listen 1661 01:19:00,960 --> 01:19:03,479 Speaker 1: and have empathy and not try to prove myself or 1662 01:19:03,520 --> 01:19:06,439 Speaker 1: defend myself. Like that has to happen, and that's where 1663 01:19:06,520 --> 01:19:09,160 Speaker 1: real healing can can come. And from the dialogue, we'll 1664 01:19:09,200 --> 01:19:12,400 Speaker 1: start to have awareness, accountability, and change. Like that's how 1665 01:19:12,439 --> 01:19:15,840 Speaker 1: I've always seen it. I completely agree. You spoke on 1666 01:19:16,600 --> 01:19:18,439 Speaker 1: your time in the n b A and and some 1667 01:19:18,600 --> 01:19:23,680 Speaker 1: things were said. You were recently called the coronavirus when 1668 01:19:23,680 --> 01:19:26,360 Speaker 1: you're playing in the G League. But I like the 1669 01:19:26,439 --> 01:19:28,840 Speaker 1: road you take. You didn't necessarily call the players out 1670 01:19:28,880 --> 01:19:30,920 Speaker 1: in public. I think, if I'm not mistaken, you had 1671 01:19:30,960 --> 01:19:32,920 Speaker 1: a conversation with them, when you guys sat down and 1672 01:19:33,040 --> 01:19:36,599 Speaker 1: had you know, had talks. What was that like, Um, 1673 01:19:37,920 --> 01:19:41,240 Speaker 1: Like I said, it's it's it's been a crazy last 1674 01:19:41,360 --> 01:19:43,519 Speaker 1: two years. But what was that like just to kind 1675 01:19:43,560 --> 01:19:47,240 Speaker 1: of that kind of energy coming towards you on the 1676 01:19:47,320 --> 01:19:49,840 Speaker 1: court again? Yeah, I mean, you know, and this is 1677 01:19:49,920 --> 01:19:52,080 Speaker 1: why I went in a different route, right, Like, so 1678 01:19:52,760 --> 01:19:55,839 Speaker 1: you know, for me, when I was with in Brooklyn 1679 01:19:56,040 --> 01:19:58,439 Speaker 1: and I had dreadlocks and there is and I wrote 1680 01:19:58,479 --> 01:20:02,599 Speaker 1: a piece on appropriation and and um, and I remember 1681 01:20:02,640 --> 01:20:05,880 Speaker 1: when Kmart had said some things and then I responded 1682 01:20:05,920 --> 01:20:08,519 Speaker 1: to him and then me and him spoke it out 1683 01:20:08,560 --> 01:20:10,680 Speaker 1: on the phone and it was amazing, right, like that 1684 01:20:10,800 --> 01:20:14,639 Speaker 1: reconciliation pieces amazing. But what is one thing that happened 1685 01:20:14,720 --> 01:20:18,799 Speaker 1: to this day, Like when when Kmart will post stuff, 1686 01:20:19,040 --> 01:20:23,000 Speaker 1: he will get racist comments, he will be called the 1687 01:20:23,240 --> 01:20:25,960 Speaker 1: N word. He like, there will be things where people 1688 01:20:26,000 --> 01:20:28,760 Speaker 1: are really trying to take him down for something that 1689 01:20:28,800 --> 01:20:32,200 Speaker 1: happened years ago. And that's just not okay, right, Like 1690 01:20:32,320 --> 01:20:34,360 Speaker 1: that's not We're not moving in the right direction if 1691 01:20:34,400 --> 01:20:36,479 Speaker 1: that's the case. And so that's why when this whole 1692 01:20:36,680 --> 01:20:38,760 Speaker 1: second situation happened in the G League, I was like, 1693 01:20:38,800 --> 01:20:41,120 Speaker 1: I'm not saying the name because I don't know, just 1694 01:20:41,200 --> 01:20:45,280 Speaker 1: do like having to deal with racist Like that's what 1695 01:20:45,400 --> 01:20:47,519 Speaker 1: I'm saying, the anti blackness and stuff like that is 1696 01:20:47,560 --> 01:20:50,839 Speaker 1: like so if if we're upset about certain certain racist 1697 01:20:51,320 --> 01:20:53,759 Speaker 1: things happening, word, we're gonna do turnout and be racist 1698 01:20:54,040 --> 01:20:55,920 Speaker 1: like that just doesn't make sense. It doesn't matter what 1699 01:20:56,360 --> 01:20:59,680 Speaker 1: race you are, Like, that's not solving the issue. So 1700 01:20:59,800 --> 01:21:03,439 Speaker 1: the point is about building awareness and then building up 1701 01:21:03,920 --> 01:21:06,160 Speaker 1: and learning how it can heal and go in the 1702 01:21:06,320 --> 01:21:09,120 Speaker 1: right direction. And so for me having a conversation with 1703 01:21:09,200 --> 01:21:11,519 Speaker 1: the player in the G League, we actually spoke and 1704 01:21:12,040 --> 01:21:13,920 Speaker 1: had a great conversation. He was like, I've been in 1705 01:21:14,000 --> 01:21:15,680 Speaker 1: the boat, man, I don't know anything about what's been 1706 01:21:15,720 --> 01:21:17,920 Speaker 1: going on. I haven't been on social media. I'm just 1707 01:21:17,920 --> 01:21:20,120 Speaker 1: trying to get into the NBA. And then he's like, 1708 01:21:20,280 --> 01:21:22,400 Speaker 1: it wasn't until that that I started looking up all 1709 01:21:22,439 --> 01:21:24,599 Speaker 1: these things that happened to the Asian American community. I'm 1710 01:21:24,640 --> 01:21:26,479 Speaker 1: so sorry, man, Like, I didn't know it was like that. 1711 01:21:27,080 --> 01:21:28,640 Speaker 1: And then I shared some stuff, but it was just 1712 01:21:29,040 --> 01:21:31,720 Speaker 1: that was real, right like, and we really got to 1713 01:21:31,840 --> 01:21:34,160 Speaker 1: each other. We really learned from each other and our 1714 01:21:34,200 --> 01:21:37,760 Speaker 1: perspectives changed. Um. And that's why you know I went 1715 01:21:37,840 --> 01:21:40,800 Speaker 1: that rout. I commend you, Broth because a lot of 1716 01:21:40,840 --> 01:21:43,040 Speaker 1: people are are scared to scared to speak on these 1717 01:21:43,080 --> 01:21:45,080 Speaker 1: types of subjects because they would be afraid to frint 1718 01:21:45,200 --> 01:21:47,400 Speaker 1: offend people and say different things. But like you said, 1719 01:21:47,439 --> 01:21:49,840 Speaker 1: the conversation has to be had, and that's the only 1720 01:21:49,880 --> 01:21:52,000 Speaker 1: way we're gonna make make any type of way and 1721 01:21:52,040 --> 01:21:53,439 Speaker 1: get to what we're trying to go because we all 1722 01:21:53,479 --> 01:21:55,760 Speaker 1: trying to get to the same place of equality. And 1723 01:21:56,640 --> 01:21:58,719 Speaker 1: you just saying something that touched you. Man, it's funny 1724 01:21:58,760 --> 01:22:00,400 Speaker 1: you said that a lot of people should never get 1725 01:22:00,479 --> 01:22:02,599 Speaker 1: to the point where it was happening to their own 1726 01:22:02,680 --> 01:22:05,000 Speaker 1: race to take other people's place. Serious, if you care 1727 01:22:05,040 --> 01:22:06,840 Speaker 1: about the other race, you know what I'm saying, And 1728 01:22:07,479 --> 01:22:10,000 Speaker 1: we should all care about each other equally, you know 1729 01:22:10,000 --> 01:22:12,320 Speaker 1: what I mean. That's one reason another reason why we 1730 01:22:12,400 --> 01:22:15,400 Speaker 1: gotta have a conversation. And we gotta reteach. We gotta 1731 01:22:15,439 --> 01:22:18,439 Speaker 1: reteach what we was taught. I was never taught. I 1732 01:22:18,600 --> 01:22:21,000 Speaker 1: never heard my mom ever say lock the doors with 1733 01:22:21,160 --> 01:22:22,680 Speaker 1: somebody come by, you know what I'm saying, Never in 1734 01:22:22,800 --> 01:22:25,479 Speaker 1: my life. And I lived in the ghetto, so and 1735 01:22:25,600 --> 01:22:27,880 Speaker 1: now I and I grew up in the house of love. 1736 01:22:27,920 --> 01:22:30,160 Speaker 1: And that's why I say me, you, me, you, j 1737 01:22:30,360 --> 01:22:32,280 Speaker 1: me and everybody else who stand on the side of love. 1738 01:22:32,360 --> 01:22:34,760 Speaker 1: We gotta re teach people. We gotta we we gotta, 1739 01:22:34,760 --> 01:22:37,439 Speaker 1: we gotta change the narrative because we can stand together, 1740 01:22:37,479 --> 01:22:39,719 Speaker 1: we all can stand in the same room and respect 1741 01:22:39,800 --> 01:22:41,800 Speaker 1: each other. But a lot of people wasn't taught that 1742 01:22:41,960 --> 01:22:47,519 Speaker 1: we gotta reteach people that money. I mean seriously, because 1743 01:22:49,680 --> 01:22:52,840 Speaker 1: because to me, like what's really sad, was really heartbreaking 1744 01:22:53,280 --> 01:22:57,320 Speaker 1: is when we start to compare experiences looks like this 1745 01:22:57,680 --> 01:22:59,679 Speaker 1: years at that and it's hard for me in this situation, 1746 01:22:59,840 --> 01:23:03,559 Speaker 1: like like and for me, like one of the situations 1747 01:23:03,600 --> 01:23:05,160 Speaker 1: I'm dealing with right now that I feel like i'm 1748 01:23:05,160 --> 01:23:07,160 Speaker 1: doing with it's like the glass ceiling, right Like, it's 1749 01:23:07,200 --> 01:23:09,160 Speaker 1: this the whole thing about Asians can't get to a 1750 01:23:09,240 --> 01:23:13,040 Speaker 1: certain place in there in an employment because there's a 1751 01:23:13,080 --> 01:23:15,559 Speaker 1: glass ceiling or the bamboo ceiling as they call it, right, 1752 01:23:15,640 --> 01:23:17,400 Speaker 1: and so and I can sit here and I can 1753 01:23:17,439 --> 01:23:20,040 Speaker 1: talk about that, and then it's but it's not my 1754 01:23:20,200 --> 01:23:23,600 Speaker 1: experience versus somebody else's experience, because everybody's is different. And 1755 01:23:23,720 --> 01:23:25,960 Speaker 1: at the same time, if we talk and we compare 1756 01:23:26,080 --> 01:23:28,720 Speaker 1: and then we try to like minimize each other's experiences, 1757 01:23:28,760 --> 01:23:31,719 Speaker 1: what are we doing. We're just taking attention. We're taking 1758 01:23:31,720 --> 01:23:34,559 Speaker 1: attention off. The real issue is a system that makes 1759 01:23:34,640 --> 01:23:36,160 Speaker 1: us feel that way. And so all of a sudden, 1760 01:23:36,160 --> 01:23:37,599 Speaker 1: we're talking about how each one of us is hurt 1761 01:23:37,640 --> 01:23:39,640 Speaker 1: and how each hurt compared to the other person's hurt, 1762 01:23:39,760 --> 01:23:41,479 Speaker 1: when we should really be talking about the system and 1763 01:23:41,560 --> 01:23:43,639 Speaker 1: what's going on there and how things need to change. 1764 01:23:43,800 --> 01:23:46,960 Speaker 1: Is what you're saying. Re teach what has been taught. Love. 1765 01:23:47,120 --> 01:23:49,479 Speaker 1: We all we all got the same goal. But if 1766 01:23:49,520 --> 01:23:51,800 Speaker 1: you think about it too, I mean, we're really all 1767 01:23:51,920 --> 01:23:54,400 Speaker 1: minorities here, you know what I mean. So why are 1768 01:23:54,479 --> 01:23:58,920 Speaker 1: we at each other throat head neck when, like you said, 1769 01:23:59,000 --> 01:24:03,400 Speaker 1: the system in place is supposed to make that happen 1770 01:24:03,439 --> 01:24:05,439 Speaker 1: to and we're falling right into the trap. What we 1771 01:24:05,560 --> 01:24:12,240 Speaker 1: need to you know, unify, conversate and move forward together 1772 01:24:12,439 --> 01:24:15,160 Speaker 1: because like I said, I think we saw, you know, 1773 01:24:15,479 --> 01:24:18,160 Speaker 1: we saw what happens when we unify. When we unify, 1774 01:24:18,240 --> 01:24:21,360 Speaker 1: it's scary. People get scared when we unify, especially if 1775 01:24:21,360 --> 01:24:24,200 Speaker 1: we're educated and we unified. It's just like we've all 1776 01:24:24,360 --> 01:24:26,680 Speaker 1: fought to get to where we're at now and in 1777 01:24:26,760 --> 01:24:29,080 Speaker 1: the world's finally listening, like what's next, Like the next 1778 01:24:29,160 --> 01:24:32,240 Speaker 1: thing is to become unified and and have a universal 1779 01:24:32,320 --> 01:24:34,280 Speaker 1: message for all of us because we're all in this 1780 01:24:34,479 --> 01:24:37,719 Speaker 1: like one way or another. Yeah, And that's and that's 1781 01:24:37,960 --> 01:24:39,719 Speaker 1: you know, that's why I wanted to be on the show. 1782 01:24:40,200 --> 01:24:42,479 Speaker 1: To be honest, it wasn't talk about my career all 1783 01:24:42,520 --> 01:24:45,919 Speaker 1: the other stuff. Like it's because like people don't realize, 1784 01:24:45,960 --> 01:24:50,920 Speaker 1: like you know, like there's so much to learn from 1785 01:24:50,960 --> 01:24:52,519 Speaker 1: me talking to And that's the one thing that kind 1786 01:24:52,520 --> 01:24:54,519 Speaker 1: of feel bad about the podcast situation is like I 1787 01:24:54,600 --> 01:24:56,920 Speaker 1: wish like you guys had the floor like two thirds 1788 01:24:56,960 --> 01:24:59,920 Speaker 1: of the time because like there's so much like an 1789 01:25:00,040 --> 01:25:01,920 Speaker 1: learn from you guys right there. There's so much in 1790 01:25:02,560 --> 01:25:06,400 Speaker 1: learning and through listening and like I don't know, it's 1791 01:25:06,439 --> 01:25:09,200 Speaker 1: just everybody and you guys deal with it. It's like, oh, 1792 01:25:09,280 --> 01:25:11,320 Speaker 1: you're you're you're an athlete or whatever, and so like 1793 01:25:11,439 --> 01:25:14,080 Speaker 1: they there's all these boxes that everybody's trying to put 1794 01:25:14,080 --> 01:25:15,880 Speaker 1: everybody in. But at the at the end of the day, 1795 01:25:15,960 --> 01:25:19,559 Speaker 1: like it really does come down to like having true, 1796 01:25:19,760 --> 01:25:22,720 Speaker 1: real conversations and relationships and that's what's gonna change it 1797 01:25:22,760 --> 01:25:25,160 Speaker 1: all the way across the board. Like that has to happen, 1798 01:25:25,479 --> 01:25:28,280 Speaker 1: um And so you know, I'm like super grateful that 1799 01:25:28,360 --> 01:25:30,400 Speaker 1: you guys allow me to do this, and I know 1800 01:25:30,479 --> 01:25:31,720 Speaker 1: you guys wanted me to come down to l and 1801 01:25:31,800 --> 01:25:36,640 Speaker 1: I couldn't make it. But yeah, it's it's amazing, and 1802 01:25:36,720 --> 01:25:38,720 Speaker 1: I hope you guys continue to do what you're doing 1803 01:25:38,840 --> 01:25:40,800 Speaker 1: and even to some of the guest other guests that 1804 01:25:40,840 --> 01:25:43,160 Speaker 1: you guys have like it's awesome. What you gotta doing? 1805 01:25:43,840 --> 01:25:46,160 Speaker 1: You know what I gotta I gotta tell this story now. 1806 01:25:46,320 --> 01:25:49,280 Speaker 1: And Brian would be mad Brian from Showtime. This weekend, bro, 1807 01:25:49,920 --> 01:25:54,000 Speaker 1: we was at the Civil Rights Museum and Alan Novice 1808 01:25:54,000 --> 01:25:56,120 Speaker 1: in Classic and there was a lot of people around 1809 01:25:56,800 --> 01:25:59,200 Speaker 1: and it was this one Asian reporter and he was 1810 01:25:59,360 --> 01:26:01,800 Speaker 1: nobody wasn't talking to him, so uh and UH, I 1811 01:26:01,880 --> 01:26:04,479 Speaker 1: think some kind of way Brian and my photographer got 1812 01:26:04,520 --> 01:26:06,800 Speaker 1: it on camera, but I never posted it for no 1813 01:26:06,920 --> 01:26:08,760 Speaker 1: for no for no game. But I walked up to him, 1814 01:26:08,800 --> 01:26:11,479 Speaker 1: like what's up. Bro. He ended up driving down from 1815 01:26:11,560 --> 01:26:14,519 Speaker 1: Indiana and uh we I end up talking to him, 1816 01:26:14,560 --> 01:26:16,600 Speaker 1: end up exchanging numbers with him and uh and and 1817 01:26:16,720 --> 01:26:18,679 Speaker 1: told him anything he needs as far as the obs 1818 01:26:18,720 --> 01:26:21,519 Speaker 1: and Classic, Uh to call me and uh I get 1819 01:26:21,600 --> 01:26:23,559 Speaker 1: him in anything he needed. But I'm saying that to say, 1820 01:26:23,880 --> 01:26:25,640 Speaker 1: this is the type of world we gotta get rid 1821 01:26:25,680 --> 01:26:28,840 Speaker 1: of of discrimination. You know what I'm saying, This is 1822 01:26:28,880 --> 01:26:31,000 Speaker 1: why I love being who I am, because I'm gonna 1823 01:26:31,000 --> 01:26:33,000 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be the person to knock all this stuff down, 1824 01:26:33,439 --> 01:26:36,320 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. And and and it's funny 1825 01:26:36,360 --> 01:26:38,759 Speaker 1: we're talking about it because this just happened this weekend, 1826 01:26:39,360 --> 01:26:40,639 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. So this is the type 1827 01:26:40,640 --> 01:26:42,439 Speaker 1: of stuff that we gotta knocked down and come together. Man. 1828 01:26:42,520 --> 01:26:44,920 Speaker 1: I'm glad that I was able to to to reach 1829 01:26:45,000 --> 01:26:46,880 Speaker 1: out to him and make him feel involved in that 1830 01:26:47,000 --> 01:26:50,559 Speaker 1: weekend because I've seen how he was getting uh uh 1831 01:26:50,640 --> 01:26:53,160 Speaker 1: put pushed out kind of not not being treated like 1832 01:26:53,240 --> 01:26:55,400 Speaker 1: every other but everybody else that was there, you know 1833 01:26:55,439 --> 01:26:56,800 Speaker 1: what I mean. And that's the stuff that we are 1834 01:26:56,840 --> 01:26:58,960 Speaker 1: still dealing with today. But all it took was you 1835 01:26:59,120 --> 01:27:01,840 Speaker 1: to to extend your hand and your words. It wasn't hard. 1836 01:27:02,000 --> 01:27:04,320 Speaker 1: And I'm saying it wasn't hard. It wasn't hard, and 1837 01:27:04,360 --> 01:27:08,880 Speaker 1: that's what we're still going through that today. Yeah. Absolutely, 1838 01:27:08,960 --> 01:27:10,680 Speaker 1: But I said, like, how far did it go to? 1839 01:27:10,760 --> 01:27:13,200 Speaker 1: Where you know, you find out he came down from Indiana? 1840 01:27:13,240 --> 01:27:15,240 Speaker 1: You gotta changing numbers. But it just started with you 1841 01:27:15,520 --> 01:27:17,479 Speaker 1: out of just your heart. Just let me go how 1842 01:27:17,520 --> 01:27:19,519 Speaker 1: they're do real quick? You mean, because I see what 1843 01:27:21,600 --> 01:27:25,560 Speaker 1: it was just it was just sation. Hey, MLK is 1844 01:27:25,600 --> 01:27:29,920 Speaker 1: smiling down on you. Yeah. Hey, but Jeremy, on's some 1845 01:27:30,000 --> 01:27:33,000 Speaker 1: real ship. I think, you know, we can talk off live, 1846 01:27:33,080 --> 01:27:35,000 Speaker 1: but maybe we can put some sort of like all 1847 01:27:35,080 --> 01:27:37,439 Speaker 1: the Smoke round table together where we can get you know, 1848 01:27:37,800 --> 01:27:41,000 Speaker 1: us US three and some some people have either been 1849 01:27:41,040 --> 01:27:43,759 Speaker 1: affected by it or been a part of it or something. 1850 01:27:43,840 --> 01:27:47,000 Speaker 1: And like I said, continuing these conversations because these are 1851 01:27:47,040 --> 01:27:49,240 Speaker 1: the conversations that need to be had. And you know, 1852 01:27:49,360 --> 01:27:52,040 Speaker 1: one thing, we we pride ourselves on his versatility over 1853 01:27:52,120 --> 01:27:53,600 Speaker 1: here at all the smokes, so we can give you, 1854 01:27:54,160 --> 01:27:57,800 Speaker 1: you know, anything that's needed. So we'll definitely further this 1855 01:27:57,920 --> 01:28:00,720 Speaker 1: conversation offline and see if we can put up together. Yeah, 1856 01:28:00,720 --> 01:28:04,240 Speaker 1: we can get Julius Adaman, Miles Leonard, we can get 1857 01:28:04,240 --> 01:28:09,040 Speaker 1: all little on two. It's a conversation. But no, hey, 1858 01:28:09,280 --> 01:28:12,000 Speaker 1: I managed because it means a lot to me. It 1859 01:28:12,080 --> 01:28:15,040 Speaker 1: really does. And that's why I like being playing basketball, 1860 01:28:15,200 --> 01:28:18,040 Speaker 1: Like say, like man, it saves me. Otherwise I'd just 1861 01:28:18,080 --> 01:28:20,040 Speaker 1: be I would just be a Hollywood. I would just 1862 01:28:20,120 --> 01:28:22,320 Speaker 1: be listening to what Hollywood said about black people, and 1863 01:28:22,439 --> 01:28:29,320 Speaker 1: that is um. So like I just yeah, let me know, 1864 01:28:29,680 --> 01:28:32,760 Speaker 1: because we will we'll get your information. Yeah, we'll see 1865 01:28:32,760 --> 01:28:34,600 Speaker 1: what we'll we'll talk with the team, but you know, 1866 01:28:34,880 --> 01:28:37,400 Speaker 1: if we should be able to knock that down. All right, 1867 01:28:37,479 --> 01:28:40,120 Speaker 1: now we're on the quick hitters. First thing to come 1868 01:28:40,200 --> 01:28:44,040 Speaker 1: to mind, drop it off. If you can pick any 1869 01:28:44,200 --> 01:28:48,240 Speaker 1: four current NBA players to go play a pick up 1870 01:28:48,320 --> 01:28:51,120 Speaker 1: outside game with you, So you plus four, who would 1871 01:28:51,120 --> 01:28:56,960 Speaker 1: it be? It would be Lebron's steph uh, K D 1872 01:28:57,760 --> 01:29:02,920 Speaker 1: and A D. You got you guys. You guys are losing. Yeah, 1873 01:29:03,000 --> 01:29:04,800 Speaker 1: I'm just I'm just gonna pass and stand in the 1874 01:29:04,840 --> 01:29:08,200 Speaker 1: corner and there you alright, give give me your top 1875 01:29:08,320 --> 01:29:15,200 Speaker 1: five most impactful Asian athletes of all time? Five I 1876 01:29:15,280 --> 01:29:27,800 Speaker 1: mean uh yeah, I mean um Naomi Osaka, um nice, Hey, 1877 01:29:27,920 --> 01:29:30,280 Speaker 1: don't be bad, don't be bashful. You should be in there, 1878 01:29:30,479 --> 01:29:33,800 Speaker 1: no bullshit, alright, alright, alright, we'll throw myself in there. 1879 01:29:33,840 --> 01:29:37,360 Speaker 1: But uh does what Bruce Lee did count as being 1880 01:29:37,360 --> 01:29:47,400 Speaker 1: an absolutely? Both they both athletes, that's what? Yeah? Hey, good, okay, 1881 01:29:48,120 --> 01:29:49,560 Speaker 1: let me throw a name at him. See if he 1882 01:29:49,640 --> 01:29:55,000 Speaker 1: remembers me and gaybatur No, he played with me for 1883 01:29:55,080 --> 01:29:58,479 Speaker 1: the seven Tonio Spurs. He was nice, yes, yes, on 1884 01:29:58,560 --> 01:30:00,640 Speaker 1: my chat on he's playing points I think on the 1885 01:30:00,720 --> 01:30:02,800 Speaker 1: championship year he was on tap. He has a ring 1886 01:30:03,280 --> 01:30:04,880 Speaker 1: a matter of fact, No, it was a Yeman point 1887 01:30:04,880 --> 01:30:06,479 Speaker 1: of championship. But he played with us on the side 1888 01:30:06,520 --> 01:30:09,519 Speaker 1: tel first. He was like six ten, almost three hundred 1889 01:30:09,560 --> 01:30:14,200 Speaker 1: pounds he was, but he had footwork. He had great footwork. 1890 01:30:14,240 --> 01:30:17,120 Speaker 1: He had great footwork. Hey, that Bruce Lee and Jackie 1891 01:30:17,240 --> 01:30:24,760 Speaker 1: Chan and that was that was nice. Definitely impactors. Come on, man, 1892 01:30:25,479 --> 01:30:28,280 Speaker 1: the Drunken Masters top five all time. Cut it out 1893 01:30:28,560 --> 01:30:30,639 Speaker 1: for to start playing like that. You see that Jackie 1894 01:30:30,680 --> 01:30:32,800 Speaker 1: Chan is one of the best athletes ever. If you 1895 01:30:32,880 --> 01:30:36,240 Speaker 1: can relive one moment in your basketball career, which moment 1896 01:30:36,320 --> 01:30:40,720 Speaker 1: would it be and why? Man, I wasn't really gonna say, uh, 1897 01:30:41,920 --> 01:30:43,639 Speaker 1: my favorite shot in my whole career was at base 1898 01:30:43,720 --> 01:30:45,519 Speaker 1: on three point in front of your guys best but 1899 01:30:45,600 --> 01:30:50,640 Speaker 1: I was gonna say that. But I respect hold on 1900 01:30:50,760 --> 01:30:56,719 Speaker 1: to that one because when he said earlier that shot 1901 01:30:56,760 --> 01:30:58,280 Speaker 1: in me, I knew exactly what shott he was to. 1902 01:30:58,400 --> 01:31:00,080 Speaker 1: He said, I hit a baseline drum. Was like, no, 1903 01:31:00,320 --> 01:31:02,360 Speaker 1: you hit a baseline jumper right next to our bench 1904 01:31:02,400 --> 01:31:05,400 Speaker 1: in that quarter. I remember that ship. I remember that 1905 01:31:05,560 --> 01:31:09,160 Speaker 1: question was a dagger. Like, now you can say that 1906 01:31:09,240 --> 01:31:12,000 Speaker 1: first shot that was dope. That's because it was your shot. 1907 01:31:13,160 --> 01:31:15,840 Speaker 1: If you could one message on a billboard, what would 1908 01:31:15,880 --> 01:31:19,240 Speaker 1: it be? Empathy? That would be it empathy or hope, 1909 01:31:19,680 --> 01:31:23,320 Speaker 1: either one of those because to me, like going through 1910 01:31:23,360 --> 01:31:26,080 Speaker 1: this situation with no hope, like we're not gonna make 1911 01:31:26,120 --> 01:31:29,400 Speaker 1: it through to the other side. So empathy or hope 1912 01:31:29,920 --> 01:31:33,759 Speaker 1: all caps, ooh, put some put some nice whatever pictures 1913 01:31:33,800 --> 01:31:36,760 Speaker 1: behind it. If you can host one guess on All 1914 01:31:36,840 --> 01:31:39,920 Speaker 1: the Smoke, who would it be? But before you answer 1915 01:31:40,040 --> 01:31:43,160 Speaker 1: this question, you have to help us with your answer. 1916 01:31:43,400 --> 01:31:44,960 Speaker 1: I have to help I have to help you with 1917 01:31:45,600 --> 01:31:48,880 Speaker 1: So whoever you whatever your answer is, you have to 1918 01:31:48,960 --> 01:31:51,240 Speaker 1: help us get that person on. So who would you 1919 01:31:51,320 --> 01:31:52,760 Speaker 1: like to see on the Who would you like to 1920 01:31:52,760 --> 01:31:54,920 Speaker 1: see on the show? And if you're answer, you have 1921 01:31:55,000 --> 01:31:58,720 Speaker 1: to help us get your answer. So it's got to 1922 01:31:58,760 --> 01:32:02,920 Speaker 1: be somebody, you know. Yeah, I mean I think it 1923 01:32:02,920 --> 01:32:05,120 Speaker 1: would be cool for you guys to talk to Adam 1924 01:32:05,240 --> 01:32:09,479 Speaker 1: Silver because when I spoke to him and I had 1925 01:32:09,479 --> 01:32:12,160 Speaker 1: a lot of conversation with him, he was like so 1926 01:32:12,800 --> 01:32:16,720 Speaker 1: different and more normal and like just the way he 1927 01:32:16,840 --> 01:32:20,080 Speaker 1: viewed like very wise, like beyond like what I expected, 1928 01:32:20,280 --> 01:32:22,640 Speaker 1: far beyond what I expected, or what like you know 1929 01:32:22,760 --> 01:32:25,080 Speaker 1: I had gone through the lockout and so I had 1930 01:32:25,160 --> 01:32:27,600 Speaker 1: seen a lot of the way that the MVP A 1931 01:32:27,640 --> 01:32:30,720 Speaker 1: and the NBA had his beef. But that would be 1932 01:32:30,800 --> 01:32:33,880 Speaker 1: a great conversation. I feel like I like that. I 1933 01:32:34,040 --> 01:32:37,160 Speaker 1: know you thought about Adam Silver. Yeah, me neither. He 1934 01:32:37,520 --> 01:32:39,360 Speaker 1: texts me. He text me doing all this stuff the 1935 01:32:39,439 --> 01:32:41,680 Speaker 1: last year and have some real nice stuff. So I 1936 01:32:41,760 --> 01:32:45,519 Speaker 1: would love to talk to him, reach back out to him. Well, Jeremy, Man, 1937 01:32:45,680 --> 01:32:50,080 Speaker 1: thank you. Uh, we appreciate you. Uh. Your run will 1938 01:32:50,160 --> 01:32:52,759 Speaker 1: never be forgotten. Like I said before, though, Man, outside 1939 01:32:52,800 --> 01:32:54,960 Speaker 1: of all the basketball ship, it's good to see that 1940 01:32:55,040 --> 01:32:57,240 Speaker 1: you you know, you you're mentally stable, because I think 1941 01:32:57,320 --> 01:32:59,880 Speaker 1: that's what's most important. Um, what you're doing in this 1942 01:33:00,040 --> 01:33:03,920 Speaker 1: social justice space. Um, like I said, you had to happen, 1943 01:33:04,520 --> 01:33:06,360 Speaker 1: had to happen to your people for you to understand. 1944 01:33:06,439 --> 01:33:08,680 Speaker 1: But to me, it's never too late to get an 1945 01:33:08,720 --> 01:33:11,479 Speaker 1: understanding or want to learn. So again we commend you 1946 01:33:11,600 --> 01:33:14,080 Speaker 1: for that. And um, like we said before, man, we're 1947 01:33:14,080 --> 01:33:15,760 Speaker 1: gonna put some sort of round table together, so make 1948 01:33:15,760 --> 01:33:19,200 Speaker 1: sure we get your information and man, let's continue this conversation. 1949 01:33:19,320 --> 01:33:22,679 Speaker 1: But thank you for being on the show. Jack, great show. 1950 01:33:22,880 --> 01:33:28,200 Speaker 1: Jeremy We appreciate you. You can catch you. I appreciate it. 1951 01:33:28,240 --> 01:33:29,880 Speaker 1: I'll reach out and try to get you guys numbers. 1952 01:33:29,920 --> 01:33:32,360 Speaker 1: I'll shoot you guys in text later. So yeah, I 1953 01:33:32,479 --> 01:33:35,200 Speaker 1: appreciate that. Thank you for sure. For sure, you can 1954 01:33:35,240 --> 01:33:38,000 Speaker 1: catch us on Showtime Basketball, YouTube, and the I Heart 1955 01:33:38,120 --> 01:33:40,960 Speaker 1: platform Black Effects. We'll see you all next week. This 1956 01:33:41,120 --> 01:33:43,679 Speaker 1: is all a Smoke, a production of The Black Effect 1957 01:33:43,840 --> 01:33:46,360 Speaker 1: and Our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime