1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to All the Smoke, a production of The Black 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime. Welcome 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: back Man, season two of All the Smoke. We got 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: a real special guys. What's up with your Brodie with 5 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: the virtual headshake? I'm gonna tell you that I never 6 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: told you back. I want to smoke. Welcome back to 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: another edition to All the Smoke. Man, Welcome to the show. 8 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: First time all start, Long Overdue, but first time All Star. 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: Zach Lavin Man, Welcome to the show. Broke my dogs? 10 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: My dogs? What up with y'all? Man? I appreciate it. Man, 11 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: I've been wanting to come on here. We appreciate you. So, 12 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: I mean, you're notorious for how hard you work. So 13 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 1: first of all, Man, we want to congratulate you on 14 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: being the first time All Star Long Overdue. You know, 15 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: you got to dunk contest championships under your belt, but 16 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: to actually be able to go to the game and play. 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: How gratifying is that? It feels good? Man, Um the breakthrough. 18 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 1: Have your peers and your family congratulates you. It's it's 19 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 1: an honor. You know, always credit everything the hard work, 20 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: and you know, obviously over the last couple of years. 21 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: I feel like I've been playing at this level, but 22 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: to you know, to finally break through in the playoff 23 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,680 Speaker 1: picture and you know, to see the growth I've had 24 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: over these last couple of years have been big man. 25 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: So it's it's gratifying. Obviously we felt it. You felt it. Um, 26 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: you know, you've been playing at this level for you know, 27 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: at least you know, two or three years. Now. What 28 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: do you think changed this season and got you over 29 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,039 Speaker 1: the hump? Yeah? I think the main thing was my mentality, um, 30 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: you know, going out there and try and do whatever 31 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: it took to, you know, just to get the wins. 32 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: You know, if that was you know, assist one night, 33 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: going out there, try and bust my ass on defense, um, 34 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:36,720 Speaker 1: or if I got to take over and try to 35 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: get thirty forty, you know, whatever it is, just you know, 36 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: try to get try and get that team and a 37 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: win calling in you know, I feel like did a 38 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: good job of, you know, locking in each game for that. 39 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: I mean, you've kind of developed obviously into a star player, 40 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: but also a vocal leader. Have you always been a 41 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: vocal leader? A guy the lead by example? How how 42 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 1: is your leadership role kind of UM evolved over the years. Yeah, 43 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: you don't come into at least for me. I never, 44 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: you know, was in that type of role before. UM. 45 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 1: You know, obviously in high school, I think all of 46 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: us as the man. But you go through college and 47 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: you at the bottom of the total pole and then 48 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: the NBA obviously go through your rookie duties and things 49 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: like that. So coming to Chicago, have the opportunity to 50 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 1: be the you know, the main guy and then the leader. UM, 51 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 1: you have to work on it. I was always a 52 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: guy that you know, led by example with my work 53 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: ethic and putting in the work after practice in an 54 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: off season. But you know, vocally it's been it's been 55 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: a you know, a process and I appreciate my vets, 56 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: you know, having that on the team, Garrett Temple, guys 57 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: like that, that's helped me. UM, you know, find your voice. 58 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: That has to be authentic. You know, you can't be 59 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: wishy washy with it. And that's the main thing I 60 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,920 Speaker 1: figured out. If you know, guys respect you when you're authentic, 61 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: and you know, you gotta keep that maintained, that that 62 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 1: that folks in the locker room and and keep guys 63 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: involved and make sure everybody feels, you know, like they're 64 00:02:47,919 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: part of the team. And um, you know, for me personally, 65 00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: just if I gotta go out there, put the team 66 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: on my back, you know, make sure I'm locked in, 67 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 1: you know, whatever it takes to get us there. But 68 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: it's been tough. There's injuries throughout the rest of the season. 69 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:02,840 Speaker 1: We've been dealing with injury the last couple of years. 70 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: So it's not a lot new with us. But you know, 71 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: I think I think we're doing it well right now. 72 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: Kevin Billy come over, it's helped a lot of bring 73 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: a new vibe to the to the team. Um, you know, 74 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: Vet coaches that's coached you know, not just superstar players, 75 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: but you know for the future first ballot Hall of famers. So, um, 76 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: he's definitely brought some some insight to the team. How 77 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: are the younger players progressing? Patrick Williams, Kobe White? You 78 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,799 Speaker 1: and Kobe just came the first teammates recently each hit 79 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: eight three pointers in one game. How's the progression of them? Um? 80 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: Been coming in your eyes? That was my dog man. Obviously, 81 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,839 Speaker 1: you go through ups and downs your first couple of years, 82 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: and I was experiencing the same thing. But I'm dous 83 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: as workers man. You know, passing don't be a monster 84 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: in the league. Gives you those little Kawaiti vibes because 85 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 1: you got the big hands and he doesn't have a 86 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: lot of emotion on the court. But uh, you know, 87 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: Kobe is the same way man. He works, He works 88 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: his ass off, you know, and even if he has 89 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: a bad game, he comes in the next day, locked in, 90 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: ready to go. And you know he does a confident man. 91 00:03:57,240 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: They don't they don't back down. Born and raised in 92 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: written Washington athletic family. Dad played a little bit of 93 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: baseball and in the usfl uh. Mom played softball. Tell 94 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: us about your upbringing, man, Uh, you know started my 95 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: pops man, you know, come out the hood of Sandburn, 96 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: you know, you know, moved his family out to beat 97 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 1: with him once he made it out. I meant my 98 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: mom when he was playing with the when he just 99 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 1: got done playing with the Seahawks, and they had my 100 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: life skin dad. So you know, it was you know, 101 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: it was, it was, it was. It was. It was 102 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: challenging coming you know, growing up, my dad was on 103 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: me a lot. You know, I ended up moving there 104 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 1: with my grandma for a little bit. Um and that's 105 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: when you know, a lot of stuff started, you know, 106 00:04:37,360 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: with my dad and me having all this ship outside 107 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: working out. Um, you know, he almost tried to treat 108 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 1: me as a pro as a as a young kid. Man. 109 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: I pregame shooting, had a right down, you know, all 110 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: my shots, come back home from school, get some more 111 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: shots up before games, after games, so you know, even 112 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 1: in the car, like driving the car doing interviews, asked me, 113 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 1: hey man, how do you feel after the game and 114 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: stuff like that. So he was almost trying prepared me 115 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: for you know what I was trying to go after. 116 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 1: And uh, you know my mom had held it down. 117 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: You know, work two jobs for seven straight years. Um, 118 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: you know, missed out on some trips, you know, just 119 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: to have me go to AU games and things like that. 120 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: So it's, uh, you know, it's been a long time coming, man, 121 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, it's all worth it. 122 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,039 Speaker 1: Let me ask you this, because I'm a I'm a 123 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: dad and a coach and my kids. At any point, 124 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: was it ever overwhelming for you at a young age 125 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: with all the you know, your dad trying to treat 126 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: you like a pro when you were still a kid. 127 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: You know, it's at some point it finally clicked for 128 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:35,840 Speaker 1: me because he was pushing me hard man, and you know, 129 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: as parents, you almost wanted more than your kids, um, 130 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: and that's what I felt. For some reason, I felt 131 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 1: it and I was like, it won't work. And you know, 132 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:45,919 Speaker 1: for me, I can't have my dad wanted more than me. 133 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: So and that's when we became really tight, because then 134 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 1: I will start going out there on my own and 135 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,680 Speaker 1: asking him to come out there and rebound. I already 136 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 1: had my shots up by time he came home, you know, 137 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: from work. So it was it was something that I understood, 138 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: like I can't have him want this more than me. 139 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: And then that's what it took off. What I think, 140 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: it's dope. Like I said, it started as a kid, 141 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 1: but you're still known for you mean, we check you 142 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: out on Instagram. What you got a whole motherfucking look 143 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: like training facility in your backyard? Is that your backyard 144 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: where you guys train out in the sand and shooting 145 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: and all the drills you're running. Yeah, no, that's so. 146 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: You know, I think right when I sign my contract 147 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: with Chicago, I got my parents at their house and 148 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,679 Speaker 1: that's what that is. And that was that was his idea. 149 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: You know, it's almost like an athlete's little paradise. We 150 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 1: called the compound. Uh, it got the sand, you got 151 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: the turf field, you got the you know, got the 152 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: weight room, got it got the little you know, the 153 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 1: the jail house weight room. You know, you my dad. 154 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: You know, every once in a while be getting getting 155 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: shi off, a crazylist and stuff like that. But uh, 156 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,440 Speaker 1: you know it's a you know, it's a paradise up there, man. 157 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: Like I said, it's it works, man, it works if 158 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: you guys come out there. Man, you know, you don't 159 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: get put. You don't get put through some ship. We 160 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: heard early on in school. Obviously your dad has been 161 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: a great support system for you. That your teacher wants 162 00:06:57,960 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: to ask you what you want to be, and you 163 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: said at nbas Sor and your teacher told you it 164 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: wasn't realistic, and your dad came up there to back 165 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: you up. Tell us about that stuff. You know, everybody 166 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: in class raise your hand. What do you want to be? 167 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 1: Johnny Susan And then you know, Zach, what do you 168 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: want to be? I'm gonna be the NBA player And 169 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: she was like, you should probably pick something more realistic. 170 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: You know, I'm in like third grade, and you know, 171 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 1: I go home and tell my dad and you know, 172 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: he go back up to the schools. You know, don't 173 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: ever tell my son something you can't do. You know, 174 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:30,960 Speaker 1: his as one. Uh, you know, when I got drafted, 175 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: he wanted me to go back. He wanted me to 176 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: go back to my elementary school and talk to her. 177 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: But you know, I'm not that bag. What did you 178 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: go root for? I was the biggest Kobe fan, so 179 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: you know that was that was my guy, like my 180 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: dad was my my idol and who I lucked up too. 181 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: But you know, you know, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant 182 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: were the guys that I wanted to try to be like. 183 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: And code was it was was my biggest inspiration, you know, 184 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: wearing number and things like that. That's uh, that's one 185 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: of the main reasons I were attended Ethel High School. 186 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: UM as a point guard. By your junior year, you 187 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: shoot up the six three primary ball handler. What do 188 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: you remember most about your high school experience? You gotta 189 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: got you guys got a lot of talent out there. Yeah. Now, 190 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: so one of my best friends actually, uh, you know, 191 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: I called my brother he moved in with me at 192 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: a rough rough childhood, ended up living with us for 193 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: a couple of years, and it made us a lot better. 194 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 1: Turned us into it like a top five, top team 195 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: in the country. Another do our team named Josh Martin. 196 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: We all went D one. But um, you know, we 197 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: weren't really known for basketball, and you know, it was 198 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: a it was a football school. But you know, we 199 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: turned that thing out. Man. We ended up you know, 200 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: compete never we lost in the h lost in the 201 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: championship game a couple of times we never should have lost. 202 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 1: But you know, great times. My high school coach allowed 203 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: me to you know, roll the ball out and and 204 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: and show some of my skill set. Um, and it 205 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: helped me put you know, put myself on the map, 206 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 1: played me at point guard. That's why I got my 207 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: point guard experience. And then obviously when I shot up 208 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: to six five, UM, it gave me a little bit 209 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: more of my game to grow into. Who was recruiting 210 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: you early on? I wasn't. I wasn't like a McDonald's 211 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: All American or anything like that. UM. I was putting 212 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: up twenty five thirty points a game. UM, going to 213 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: the league camps. But I never I never made the McDonald's. 214 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: So I had I had pretty much a lot of 215 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: teams on the West coast. You know, obviously you dub 216 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 1: U c l A Arizona, UM, I got Louisville, Texas 217 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: and Baylor. But besides that, I had a lot of 218 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 1: mid majors UM San Diego, Gonzaga, Oregon State, you know, 219 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: things like that. So but when U c l A came, 220 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:35,959 Speaker 1: you know, came knocking out. I committed under Ben Allen 221 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: Um and that's where and that's where I wanted to go. 222 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: I committed as a junior. I think appreciate I think 223 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: I committed as a junior. What was that one year 224 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: under Helln Like I didn't go into Helen Oh he 225 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: was gone. I was with Steve Alford, he was gone. Yeah, Yeah, 226 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: what was that when I went to U l A. Yeah, 227 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: what was that experience? Like under Offerd it was tough. 228 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: You know, we didn't see that a lot um. You know. 229 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:01,480 Speaker 1: I the main thing I took from it, you know, 230 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: because I was coming off the bench. But the main 231 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 1: thing I took from it, and it helped me get 232 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: you know, helped me get used to coaching and playing 233 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: through adversity. Um, so, you know, I always trying to 234 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:12,959 Speaker 1: turn a you know, a negative to a positive. Obviously 235 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: I still was able to get drafted. I was a 236 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,240 Speaker 1: lot to repicked, but um, you know it helped me 237 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: deal with you know, how coaching is and how if 238 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:20,679 Speaker 1: you don't see why, you still have to go out 239 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: there and perform. So you know, it definitely definitely helped 240 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 1: me for the future. You end up entering the draft 241 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: after one season. You knew it was tied with that decision. 242 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: You talked with your family about coaching helped you make 243 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: the decision. What took you know what what what was 244 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 1: the decided factor? And you feel like you were ready 245 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: for the league at the one year. I didn't go 246 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: into college thinking I was gonna be a one and 247 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 1: done guy. You know, obviously I think I had the 248 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 1: potential to get there. But you know at u c 249 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: L A man, you know this, You do all the 250 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: open runs, you get to play against the pros, you 251 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 1: get to play against guys that you know, and I 252 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: was stacking up pretty well. You know, I'm going against 253 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: these guys and I'm like, hey, I'm not that you know, 254 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,720 Speaker 1: obviously you're not at that level, but I'm there you know, 255 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 1: athletically I was. I was right there. Um, So that 256 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: that put that in my mind. And obviously I had 257 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: had a decent campaign at my freshman year. I got 258 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: put on the big board. So the confidence wise, I 259 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 1: was already there. I'm not you know, I'm not afraid 260 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: of competition, so I was ready to take that jump. 261 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: I felt like, pick over all other notable names, Andrew 262 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: Wiggins and beide Aaron Gordon, Julius Randall. Did you have 263 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: any idea where you were gonna go? Were was Minnesota 264 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,439 Speaker 1: supposed to pick you or someone else supposed to go? 265 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 1: Were you surprised you win at thirteen? Man? So it 266 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: was crazy the pre draft stuff. So I had like 267 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: twenty five workouts, man, my, my, my, uh. My ranking 268 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 1: was from like seven because I did three workouts with 269 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: the Lakers. I thought the Lakers are gonna take me, 270 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: and I was really excited about that. Um. And I 271 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: my rank was from seven to the second round. So 272 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,600 Speaker 1: I had a ship ton of workouts, but I didn't 273 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: know Minnesota's gonna take me until uh until my un 274 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,079 Speaker 1: tell right before you know, I worked out for pretty 275 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: much every team in the top you know, the top 276 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,439 Speaker 1: five team, so I really didn't know. I had a 277 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: hell of a workout inn so though, So any memorable 278 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: stories from that night from draft night other than everybody 279 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 1: thought I was saying fun me when I got drafted. 280 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,800 Speaker 1: You know, you know, that was a meeting for a 281 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: little bit. I was a little you know when when 282 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: my name came across the board, I was stilling. That 283 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: wasn't even the you know, I was just like, fuck man, 284 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,760 Speaker 1: you know, I was stilling. I told my dad, you know, 285 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: please don't cry, because I'm a cry But you know, 286 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:27,079 Speaker 1: it was a little misunderstanding, But I think everything worked out. 287 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: The thoughts on, you know, I mentioned em Bead and 288 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: Julius Randall to name a few, yourself, I kind of 289 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,280 Speaker 1: feel like you three right there and beat on this 290 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,920 Speaker 1: kind of an MVP run, you and Randall being first 291 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: time All Stars. I thought some guys you came into 292 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 1: the league with kind of starting to come into their 293 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: own at the same time. Yeah, because we've been playing 294 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,199 Speaker 1: with each other since high school, man, and it's it's 295 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 1: great to see, especially because you grow up with these guys, 296 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 1: you respect them, you know them. Um, it's good to see, 297 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: you know, guys put the work in and keep developing 298 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: their game each and every year. Um, you know, it's dope. 299 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: We go out there, compete against each other and dap 300 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,240 Speaker 1: it up at the end of the game. So it's 301 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: just it's a it's a it's a friend of your life. 302 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: Let's us up. So arriving in Minnesota as an eighteen 303 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: year old, I didn't realize you was that young. You 304 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: know you like you just told you're going to your 305 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: seventh year only twenty five. That's crazy. Um. But arriving 306 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: in Minnesota, Uh, was it what you expected? I know? 307 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 1: KG was there briefly, great vet, someone we've had on 308 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: the show and definitely a fan of the program. What 309 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: was it like arriving there and then also having KG 310 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: in that locker room? Yeah, it's eye opener. And I 311 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 1: told I told a lot of people that are like, 312 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: what's the hardest thing about the NBA? For me, it 313 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:36,240 Speaker 1: wasn't the you know, the competition athletically, man, it was 314 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: the downtime that you have, UM and the travel and 315 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:42,600 Speaker 1: that that's what really got to me. And people don't 316 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: understand that. You know, you have to be able to 317 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: take care of your mind and be ready to play. 318 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: So um, but KG was great man Um, Daddy's young 319 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: my boys on the team. Now he was on the team. 320 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: And then they got traded and KG came to the team, 321 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:56,439 Speaker 1: and KG is probably the best teammate you could probably 322 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: ever ask for. UM, especially for a guy like me 323 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:02,079 Speaker 1: and a young young guys you know, me Andrew Cat, 324 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 1: we were all on the team together, and just to 325 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: see him lead by example at forty years old still 326 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: was incredible. Ricky Rubio was sidelined with the ankle injury 327 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: and you become the starting point guard over More Williams. 328 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:16,040 Speaker 1: Was that your welcome? Was that your welcome to the 329 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 1: NBA moment or do you have another one? I would 330 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 1: say that was that was just you know, that was 331 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: my coming out. You know. I remember talking to more 332 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: Williams and Mom was like, look, you know you you 333 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: you the next upcoming guy. I'm I understand my role 334 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: in my position right now. You know I'm gonna come 335 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: off the bench. You know, we're don't help you get 336 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: through this. And you know, it was ups and downs, 337 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 1: especially playing the position that you ain't places high school 338 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: and you're going, you know, against these top nots point 339 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: guards in the NBA. UM I felt like my coming 340 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: out party. Though, um we we played in Golden State. UM. 341 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: Obviously that team I think that was the seventy and 342 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: seventy three and nine team that year. UM, and I 343 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 1: ended up with like thirty eight or thirty nine in 344 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: that game. And that's when I was like, Okay, this 345 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: is you know, this is who I can be. You 346 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: guys had a nice young tree know of yourself, Wiggins 347 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: and Cat, but I always kind of thought that you 348 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: playing with them, you weren't really able to show who 349 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: you really were because I think they were you know, 350 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: Cat was the top pick, Wiggins was the top pick. 351 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: They were highly talented. But to me, you were like 352 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,520 Speaker 1: the purest score out of those three. And I figured 353 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: at some point you would probably have to make a move. 354 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: But what was it like while you were there building 355 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: chemistry with those young stars along with yourself? Yeah, and 356 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: that's exactly what it was. Man. You know, you you 357 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: have to you know the NBA, Man, you gotta play 358 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: a role that you've given sometimes and you know it's 359 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: it's frustrating at times, but at the same time, you 360 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: know you like it because those your friends and your 361 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: boys and you you're still out there on the same 362 00:15:40,040 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 1: team together. But you know, I just worked and way 363 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: it kept my head down and just waited from my opportunity. Um. 364 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: You know, playing with those guys, you build a bond 365 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: and the friendship that you know, it's ever lasting. You know, 366 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,960 Speaker 1: the fraternity and the NBA, so you know it was great. 367 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: But when I got traded to Chicago, I knew it 368 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: was an opportunity I couldn't let pass up. I want 369 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: to take I want to take you back a little bit. 370 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,040 Speaker 1: So I say these words, telling what you think. He 371 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:05,000 Speaker 1: ain't even stressed, though I remember that was I'm pretty 372 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:09,840 Speaker 1: sure that Dienelo Russell wearing that uh I think James camping. 373 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: But Blake Griffin was throwing the ball off the wall 374 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: on between the legs. Man, it was crazy. And it's 375 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: crazy how you see all those players and a lot 376 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: of those guys are in the NBA now, so it's 377 00:16:19,040 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: it was Yeah, I remember that moment, But what was 378 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: that experience? Like? What was crazy about that video? Obviously 379 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: it went viral, but you guys were the young crew. 380 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: I think you guys were in high school, but a 381 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: handful of you guys made the league too, So what 382 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,160 Speaker 1: was it like being there as a youngster in all 383 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: one second and then a handful of years later ship 384 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,640 Speaker 1: for you, maybe three years later, four years later, you're 385 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: competing against these guys. It was crazy, especially going there 386 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: and seeing you're in high school. Man, so these guys 387 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: to you, you know, NBA players were just still your 388 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: idols and being able to go out there. I think 389 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: Kyrie was a rookie. I saw Kobe, I saw Lebron, 390 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: you know, and just seeing these dudes that you used 391 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: to see it on the TV, Blake Griffin, you just like, god, damn, man, 392 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,960 Speaker 1: like this is a lot differ and then what you expect. 393 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: You hear the ship talking, you see the physicality, and 394 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 1: it's uh, you know, it was an eye opener for 395 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: us because we you know, in high school, you think 396 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 1: you at the top of the top. Still you at 397 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:11,919 Speaker 1: the top on the camps. You really ain't even scratched 398 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: the surface of what the what basketball is yet, right, 399 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,679 Speaker 1: We're welcome to it. Well, I want to get into 400 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,359 Speaker 1: to your All Star dunk contesting your accolades there. But 401 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 1: before I do that, where did where did this bounce 402 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: come from? And when did you know you could fly? 403 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: Because you can really fly? In case you didn't known, Yeah, 404 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: I mean sometimes, dog, I'm starting to get you know, 405 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: a little more tired now. But here we go. It's 406 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 1: I'm just talking. Sh I'm just talking. I'm just talking 407 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 1: to you know. Um in high school and high school 408 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 1: it started, man. You know, me and my dad did 409 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:46,159 Speaker 1: a lot of applying metrics. You know, we were on 410 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 1: the Verdo Max I was doing. I was doing lunches 411 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:52,280 Speaker 1: on the football field from a hundred yard line backwards 412 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: eight e backwards. I ran track a little bit rand sprints, 413 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,400 Speaker 1: so you know, I worked on, you know, building those 414 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: muscles up. Um. And after I after I grew into 415 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 1: my body a little bit more at like six six 416 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,919 Speaker 1: three six four six five, And that's when it started 417 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 1: coming in. Right before my right before my senior year 418 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: in high school. Um, you know, I was pulling off 419 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 1: the same dunks. I was doing it the dunk contest 420 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 1: growing up, you know, being a dunk of yourself. You know, 421 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,080 Speaker 1: I heard Vince was one of your guys. What tempted 422 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: you or or or or prompted you to join the 423 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: contest and you know, going into you can win or what? What? 424 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: What was the motive any factor behind you wanted to 425 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: be involved in the dunk contest? Yeah. So I grew 426 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: up always you know, watched then't you know we could 427 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: watch the tapes and you go outside and try you know, 428 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:40,439 Speaker 1: I watched the Michael Jordans, Kobe's and Vince's and go 429 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: outside and try to do it dunks. But I want 430 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: a dunk contest in high school, I think it was 431 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: the Ball's Life All American Dunk Contest. Um. Now you know, 432 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 1: going growing up, I'm like, okay, I got you. I 433 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:53,959 Speaker 1: got into NBA. I was like, I know I can 434 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: win this. So I had even that Aaron Gordon dunk 435 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: contest that we had, I had like I ain't dunks 436 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: that I had, and I was like, there's nobody don't 437 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: beat me if I make my dunks. There's nobody that's 438 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: gonna beat me if I do these dunks. So, um, 439 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 1: I just wanted to go put a show on at least, 440 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,879 Speaker 1: you know, have that experience, especially at I think I 441 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: was the second youngest besides Kobe to win the dunk contest. Yeah, 442 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,200 Speaker 1: hell yeah, that was dope. And then you became the 443 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: fourth player to win back to back dunk contests. Um 444 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 1: when you were able to take down Aaron in Toronto, 445 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: talk to us about that particular dunk contest, because that 446 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: one took everyone back to you know, comparances of Dominique 447 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 1: and Jordan back before you was even born. But it 448 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: was one of the best dunk contests we've seen. No, 449 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: it was. It was crazy and you could just tell 450 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: it built up. That's something that I was gonna go 451 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:44,760 Speaker 1: down in history. Um, just the stuff that we were doing. 452 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 1: Because I'm be honest with you, I didn't think anybody 453 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: was gonna come close to me in the first dunk contest. 454 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,159 Speaker 1: I feel like I wiped the floor. You know, I 455 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: thought it was a suite second one, you know, a 456 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:55,919 Speaker 1: g came out with the same amount of energy and 457 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: confidence I had, So it was, you know, it was 458 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: gonna go down to the last blow. And that's when 459 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 1: I I was like, look, I'm either gonna make this 460 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:04,119 Speaker 1: dunk or miss it. When I tried to go from 461 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,679 Speaker 1: the free throw line, um, you don't think, God, I 462 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 1: made it, but you make that should look effortless like 463 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: your free through ducks. Look, motherfucking effortless. Is incredible. That 464 00:20:14,359 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: last one I did was the first time I tried it. 465 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: But to go through the legs though, to go through 466 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: the legs from the free throw line. That was the 467 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: first time I tried it. Wasn't tried it. Yeah, the 468 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: first time I tried never never to that was dope. 469 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 1: Have you have you ever talked to Aaron Gordon about that? Like, 470 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 1: have you ever sat down? But like, man, what made 471 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: you think about doing that? Wait? You know what I'm saying. 472 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: Have you have had a conversation about that moment? Yeah, 473 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 1: We're in the same agency, so we definitely talked about it. 474 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: You know, We're going back and forth, like I think 475 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: I got you on this one or that one. But 476 00:20:48,359 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 1: at the end of day, I grabbed I grabbed the mic. 477 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: I don't I don't think people remember this. I say, Man, 478 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,080 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, I think we should share 479 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 1: this trophy. You know, we put on a show together. 480 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: So instead of you know, one or one or winning, 481 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: I think that was just something for the for the 482 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: culture of the NBA. That was something that was special. 483 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,119 Speaker 1: So there's rumors now that you're hanging up your dunk 484 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: contest eligibility. Is there any truth to that at the 485 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: right old age or is that the last time we've 486 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:15,880 Speaker 1: seen lac Leen Man. I don't, I don't know, Man, 487 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:20,560 Speaker 1: It's yes, yes, he said. He said, he don't know. 488 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: I wasn't even in the same row. Everybody it was 489 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:25,719 Speaker 1: crazy Jack. Everybody still wants me to do it. Man, 490 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:27,640 Speaker 1: I don't know what else I can. To be honest, 491 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:34,160 Speaker 1: I don't know what else I could do. It comes 492 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 1: a time to where you know, I'm I'm eventually doing 493 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: hang it up. Obviously, I know I still got something left, 494 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: but you know, I think I've passed that part in 495 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,600 Speaker 1: my game. Now I want to go out there and 496 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: show you know, I want you know, I want to 497 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: be NBA Champion. I want, you know, more, more, more 498 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: refined things. You know, exactly it's time some three point contest. 499 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: I can get that one. What are your thoughts, uh 500 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 1: this year on the format? Obviously, you know a lot 501 00:21:57,520 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: of guys, you know, some of the bigger stars come 502 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: out and said, you know, they didn't really want to 503 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:03,439 Speaker 1: do it. They thought it should have been a time off. Um. 504 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,480 Speaker 1: You know, the NBA said, hey, we're gonna knock this out. 505 00:22:05,480 --> 00:22:07,439 Speaker 1: We're gonna do it all in one day. With this 506 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 1: being your actual first time competing in the game, what 507 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 1: are your thoughts on kind of how everything has come together? Um, 508 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,840 Speaker 1: considering the circumstances in the pandemic. It's a totally different year, 509 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: matt Um. You know, just from the standpoint that nobody's 510 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,920 Speaker 1: played like this before, and even next year it might change. 511 00:22:23,960 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: So we might be the anominal year of you know, 512 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: having no fans and in some places having fans and 513 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: having games canceled and things like that. So you know, 514 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: it's in the air. You know, I'm I'm all for it. 515 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 1: I'm always for competing. We're playing games anyway, so um, 516 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: as long as it's safe, you know, especially because I 517 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: made the game and my family is able to come 518 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: and see it, you know, I'm always for that. But um, 519 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,119 Speaker 1: you know, I'm always like, as long as it's safe 520 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,760 Speaker 1: and the NBA knows what they're doing, So you know, 521 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: I'm fine with it, with with with our start not 522 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:57,199 Speaker 1: being a normal way, you know, not having family and 523 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: friends and fans and stuff like that. What that's some 524 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: of your memorable moments of All Stars in the past, 525 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:07,040 Speaker 1: man Um, Just any All Star game in general, just 526 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:09,680 Speaker 1: something that, yeah, whatever, you remember the most, some of them, 527 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: some moments you hold you hold close here that you 528 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: remember you first think the All Star Man I remember, 529 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: I remember, you know, vividly sitting in front of the 530 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:22,720 Speaker 1: TV and and Mike's Mike's last All Star game. Um, 531 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:24,600 Speaker 1: you know, him and Kobe going back and forth and 532 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:28,880 Speaker 1: then Mike hitting the uh that baseline jumper and they're 533 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:35,239 Speaker 1: supposed to win in Jamato neil foul foul cope. Yeah, 534 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: So you know I remember watching that just literally sitting 535 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:41,560 Speaker 1: in front of the TV, man um. And then also 536 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 1: you know, just just my own personal ones obviously with 537 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: the dunk contests and stuff and seeing you know, talking 538 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,399 Speaker 1: to the guys on the sideline and seeing their faces, 539 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: you know, after we're pulling some of these dunks off 540 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,439 Speaker 1: and talking to them, and you know, just having that 541 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:55,840 Speaker 1: that that camaraderie is has been has been big. A 542 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 1: lot of memories. So you signed a working extension in 543 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:02,600 Speaker 1: minnesot soda and then tear your a c L before 544 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: you're traded to to the Bulls talking without your first 545 00:24:07,280 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 1: major uh injury as a as a basketball player. Yeah, 546 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: and that was you know, that was tough, matt Um. 547 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: You know, I was having a really good year. I 548 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:17,960 Speaker 1: think at the at the time, I think we had 549 00:24:19,119 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: all three of us were averaging over twin points per game, 550 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: all right. At twin points per game for guys that 551 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,199 Speaker 1: were twenty one and younger. I think we were some 552 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: of the first to do that. Um it was tough, man. 553 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,200 Speaker 1: UM I had to switch my mentality pretty fast from 554 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: like a y me or pour me to pretty much 555 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: attacking it and saying fuck it, I'm gonna get better 556 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,440 Speaker 1: and back to you know, I'm gonna prove everybody I 557 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:43,159 Speaker 1: can be better than what I was before. You know, 558 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 1: because the NBA is relevancy, they'll they'll write you off 559 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 1: pretty fast. So, UM, you know I wanted to put 560 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 1: all that to rest, and you know, I put my 561 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: head down and got to work now, so you were 562 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:57,200 Speaker 1: able to overcome that. And then the trade for pretty 563 00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,719 Speaker 1: much you for Jimmy Butler. What was going through your 564 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:03,720 Speaker 1: head at that at that time, you know, mixed feelings obviously, 565 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: because you know I was hurt and they traded me 566 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:08,239 Speaker 1: while you hurt, so it's almost like they give up 567 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: on you. But I saw it as an opportunity, like 568 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: I said earlier, UM, you know, to go out there 569 00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:15,439 Speaker 1: and showcase you know what I can and be, you know, 570 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:17,840 Speaker 1: fulfill who I want to be. You know, I put 571 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: all this hard working out of you know, I work 572 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:22,400 Speaker 1: to be, you know, a number one guy and a 573 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 1: superstar level guy. I don't work to be a French 574 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:29,159 Speaker 1: player or you know, a role player. UM. So you know, 575 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: an opportunity knock, you gotta walked through that damn door. 576 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:33,399 Speaker 1: And that's that's how I saw it. You said you 577 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: modeled your game after number eight cod and and and 578 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: and he was a big influence on your life. Any 579 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,120 Speaker 1: stuff that that that you could share with us on 580 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: or off the court, UM a moment to you. And Kobe. 581 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: I never knew him personally. I I got a couple 582 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: when I was younger. Um, and then too when I 583 00:25:49,880 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: actually did get to play against him and meet him. 584 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 1: You know, I was in sixth grade and there was 585 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:56,199 Speaker 1: a tournament. I remember we had to go watch the 586 00:25:56,280 --> 00:26:00,240 Speaker 1: USA team play and I'm sitting on the sideline um 587 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,760 Speaker 1: of him warming up, and I remember I'm screaming at 588 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: the top of my love's Kobe. Kobe. He going through 589 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:08,880 Speaker 1: his routine at like he don't hear nothing. He made 590 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 1: about twenty five straight elbow pull up doing the same move. 591 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 1: It was crazy to me because he didn't He's doing 592 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: the exact same move hard as hell straight. I'm just 593 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: screaming his name. Like then you know, he don't respond 594 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:22,439 Speaker 1: to me or anything, but he was just so locked in. 595 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: And then, Um, you know, obviously I get to play 596 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 1: against him, you know, my first two years in the league. UM, 597 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:32,199 Speaker 1: I had a really really good game. Actually to the 598 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,359 Speaker 1: first question, that was actually like my coming out party. 599 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: That was my first big game. I played against the 600 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: Lakers and at Staples Center. I came off the bench, 601 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: I had like twenty five and Kobe was guarding me 602 00:26:41,520 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter and he tapped me on the 603 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:46,199 Speaker 1: ass and said, keep going, young fella. UM. And it 604 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:48,320 Speaker 1: was big for me because I remember Kobe always used 605 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,440 Speaker 1: to guard the best player in the fourth quarter. UM, 606 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 1: and you know at that point, you know, he kind 607 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:56,920 Speaker 1: of locked me down. I didn't I didn't shoot the ball. 608 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: You know, I think I shot like one or two 609 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 1: more times. Um was being real physical with me. But 610 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: you know it was just crazy, you know, like this 611 00:27:03,359 --> 00:27:05,240 Speaker 1: is my idol man and he's guarding me. So it's 612 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: it was it was big. That's dope. UM. During Quarantine, 613 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: the last dance came out, did it hit you different 614 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,920 Speaker 1: watching it because you were or you are a bull 615 00:27:16,400 --> 00:27:19,680 Speaker 1: currently just kind of seeing what they were like when 616 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:21,800 Speaker 1: you know, when they had to run because unfortunately, like 617 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:23,639 Speaker 1: there was, there was no social media back then, you 618 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: know what I mean. So it was almost our look 619 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 1: at the you know, the the Dynasty of the Bulls 620 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: through a social media lens. Was it different for you 621 00:27:30,359 --> 00:27:32,959 Speaker 1: being a bull? Yeah? And especially you know, obviously I 622 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:35,600 Speaker 1: was a huge Michael Jordan fan, and you know, I 623 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:38,399 Speaker 1: think all of us were. And just seeing you know, 624 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: how how he interacted with his teammates and how he 625 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: moved as a player and the way his mind worked. Um. 626 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: You know, you can watch all the status you want 627 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,280 Speaker 1: to and all the highlights, but seeing you know, dudes 628 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:51,639 Speaker 1: and practice are having up close interviews is different. So 629 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: it's uh, I thought I thought it was eye opening. Um. 630 00:27:55,920 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: And to be honest, it's crazy that they were still 631 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: that popular and that famous. You know him, Dennis Robbin, 632 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 1: you know, if they're in the social media era, man, 633 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:07,200 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, it had been they were, they're already 634 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 1: stars then just imagine now it would be it would 635 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 1: be ridiculous. Oh yeah, Dennis would have been a madman 636 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 1: in the in the social media era where you could 637 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:18,919 Speaker 1: really catch ship he was because he was already on 638 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 1: his ship. You mean imagine like the coach saying, you 639 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,880 Speaker 1: know how much money he would have been had been crazy? Yeah, 640 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:26,440 Speaker 1: and he was always with a select he had kept 641 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:28,440 Speaker 1: the bass celebrity one next to him, so that would 642 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:33,919 Speaker 1: have been crazy. Ye you uh, you know, being drafted 643 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:36,520 Speaker 1: by Minnesota and then getting opportunity to come to the Bulls. 644 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:40,240 Speaker 1: What is the difference, um, in the environment of the organizations. 645 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: It's a big market, man. Obviously they've had some down 646 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,800 Speaker 1: years and you know, the trade pretty much with with 647 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:50,000 Speaker 1: Jimmy coming out. You know, Jimmy was still is damn 648 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,280 Speaker 1: your top you know, top ten, top twin players. So 649 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: you know, they shot it as a you know, a 650 00:28:55,240 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 1: rebuilding time and you know, I just wanted to do 651 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: my part to try and get the Bulls back on 652 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: the map and get them back to that you know, 653 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 1: that championship era. UM, because Chicago Sports is big, man, 654 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:08,719 Speaker 1: They really they really root for you. They go after you, 655 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 1: and UM, you know, I accepted that challenge and you 656 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: know I still do and it's it's exciting. You know, 657 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 1: I'm very humble to wear Chicago across my across my chest. 658 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 1: Dropping forty nine as a career high and hitting threes 659 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,480 Speaker 1: tell us that that zone was like, yeah, I mean, 660 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,520 Speaker 1: for some reason, man, I cannot get I haven't got 661 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: fifty yet. I've had over forty five. I don't know 662 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: how many times I have not I haven't got that 663 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 1: fifty ball yet, but it's coming. That game was crazy, man, Yeah, 664 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: that game was crazy. We were down the whole game, um, 665 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:44,120 Speaker 1: and I was just feeling it. Man. I got a 666 00:29:44,120 --> 00:29:46,680 Speaker 1: lot of easy shots. You know, early stat You know this, man. 667 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: You notice if you get easy shots early, you know 668 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:50,760 Speaker 1: when once you get in that rhythm, it's hard to 669 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:52,320 Speaker 1: get out of it. You know. I was getting open 670 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: looks and then uh, gotten one of them zones that 671 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: came down to the end, and you know, I'm not 672 00:29:57,040 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: scared to take or miss any shot. Man. So you 673 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:00,720 Speaker 1: know we got that you and I was going for 674 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:03,360 Speaker 1: the win. When you hear your name throwing around in 675 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:05,720 Speaker 1: trade rumors, I mean, obviously you're having your first All 676 00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:08,760 Speaker 1: Star season. How is it tough? Do you stay locked 677 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: in feeling and it's part of the business. I know, 678 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: I know that's what people want you to do, but um, 679 00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: how is it being you? Like I said, you're the 680 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:17,760 Speaker 1: best player on the team. But constantly hearing your name 681 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:21,400 Speaker 1: throwing around and possibly being traded. Yeah, I mean it's different. 682 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: You I've been traded before and it's it's part of 683 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:25,320 Speaker 1: the business. I learned that pretty early in my career. 684 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 1: But um, you know a lot of it is rumors. 685 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 1: You know, if it doesn't come to me personally, you know, 686 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: with my age, Rolf, I talked to the front office. 687 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:34,600 Speaker 1: If it doesn't come to me personally, I don't worry 688 00:30:34,640 --> 00:30:37,240 Speaker 1: about it. Um, you know, I also take it as 689 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:39,959 Speaker 1: you know, if there is other teams looking for you, 690 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: you know, that means you're wanted. You know, you you 691 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: looked as you looked at as a bonus, as a 692 00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 1: piece that can really help, or somebody's trying to you know, 693 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:51,200 Speaker 1: rebuild around you. So um, you know you're taking in stride, man. 694 00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: But at the end of the day, until that happens, 695 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 1: I worry about my team and you know how I 696 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:57,720 Speaker 1: can help affect, you know, the team at hand. So 697 00:30:57,800 --> 00:31:00,440 Speaker 1: you guys are right in the mix, um for the 698 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:04,000 Speaker 1: playoffs this year? What is your guys? You know, your 699 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: ongoing message every day you know, obviously the goal is 700 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: to make the playoffs and it really makes some noise 701 00:31:09,080 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: in it. This is gonna be new for this young 702 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,600 Speaker 1: group that you guys have. But what what is your 703 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 1: message daily in and out with your teammates. Yeah, it's 704 00:31:16,640 --> 00:31:18,640 Speaker 1: not just me, it's you know, the coaching staff. Like 705 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:21,360 Speaker 1: I said, Billy's done a great job that Garrett always 706 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 1: talk to me. Um. You know, you you can always 707 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 1: have a goal in and going. You gotta strive for that, 708 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:28,520 Speaker 1: but we gotta go one game at that time because 709 00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 1: that that you know, at the end of the year, 710 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:33,680 Speaker 1: that's not doing come sooner. Um, you know, you gotta 711 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:35,280 Speaker 1: take it one game at a time and then let 712 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: the chips forward. May so take care of business each 713 00:31:38,040 --> 00:31:41,360 Speaker 1: and every day, you know, get your work in and practice. Um, 714 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 1: And that's cute. You know, still strive for that goal 715 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: at the end of the year. You're playing a legendary 716 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: position for historical franchise. You're playing the two guard for 717 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 1: the Chicago Bulls. Have you got a chance to ever 718 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:55,560 Speaker 1: meet Mike or talk to Mike about what you got 719 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:58,960 Speaker 1: going on right now? And you playing the position he 720 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 1: he made very famous over there. Yeah, I met I 721 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 1: met him. I haven't talked to him, you know, and 722 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:04,960 Speaker 1: along I met him. Actually my rookie year. Um, I 723 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,640 Speaker 1: did a workout for Charlotte, and uh, he walked in 724 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:11,400 Speaker 1: like early into the workout, and you know all of 725 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: us are hyped, you know, especially because he's in there, 726 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:15,640 Speaker 1: so now you're trying to show out and went over 727 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 1: and shook his hand. His hand was so goddamn big, 728 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 1: he wrapped my forearm, so um, you know that's when 729 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: I met him. But you know, it's it's it's crazy, man, 730 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:27,760 Speaker 1: especially the stats that you see in you here, and 731 00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:30,800 Speaker 1: there was one that was crazy that came out this 732 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:33,560 Speaker 1: this month. Because I think I'm averaging thirty this month 733 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 1: and I'm tired for the thirty first best Month's crazy, right, 734 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:46,080 Speaker 1: it's my big How good this motherfucker? The stats he has, 735 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 1: It's just like wow, that's you know, I couldn't I 736 00:32:49,560 --> 00:32:51,520 Speaker 1: couldn't imagine. You know, we always wish we could have 737 00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 1: played against him. It's just like, that's this. I was 738 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:56,200 Speaker 1: a bad motherfucker. Man. Before we get out of here, 739 00:32:56,200 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 1: we're gonna hit you with some quickly. But before that, 740 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:01,040 Speaker 1: there's something about Seattle. You guys, breed hoopers. You guys 741 00:33:01,080 --> 00:33:03,040 Speaker 1: have had a ton that made it, but a lot 742 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 1: of guys that didn't make it. That definitely should have 743 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,680 Speaker 1: made it. What is it about basketball out there and 744 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 1: kind of that community and fraternity of Hoopers? What you nate, 745 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,920 Speaker 1: you know, Jamal, the list goes on Hoopers. I mean 746 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: Seattle Hoopers have been on the bat for a minute. 747 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 1: What is it is it in the water out there? 748 00:33:20,560 --> 00:33:22,719 Speaker 1: What is it out there to get everybody? Seems like 749 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 1: to the league out there? Man, I don't know. And 750 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: you got you you name so many guys you almost 751 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: forget about something, you know, and it's it goes back 752 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:32,840 Speaker 1: a while, you know, dudes like Doug Christie, you know, 753 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:37,240 Speaker 1: Jason Terry, Um, you know, we got we got Marvin Williams. 754 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 1: You know, it's just so many dudes, Isaiah, Tom, it's 755 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:41,600 Speaker 1: every brother. You know. You don't want to you know, 756 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: miss An, you know, but it's you know, I think 757 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,920 Speaker 1: it's a hot bed man um. And especially now with 758 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:50,320 Speaker 1: no team being there. Um, you know, guys are really 759 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:52,040 Speaker 1: out there trying to you know, trying to make it 760 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:55,240 Speaker 1: out and um, it's always been a great community. The 761 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 1: pros give back, you know, and you just fall right 762 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:00,000 Speaker 1: in line. I remember me in high school and jam 763 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 1: All taking me under his wing and going to the 764 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 1: pro runs and watching them and then you know, me 765 00:34:04,280 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 1: trying to do the same thing now with dudes like 766 00:34:06,760 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 1: Jayden and Jalen Um and and going from there as 767 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:12,360 Speaker 1: a young guy coming up, Paulo, Benchyrold, that's gonna be 768 00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,160 Speaker 1: off the charts in this couple of years. So it's 769 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:16,279 Speaker 1: you know, it's a fraternity and we just you know, 770 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,239 Speaker 1: we keep the cycle going. Talk to us a little 771 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:22,920 Speaker 1: bit about Jamal's summer league because you guys obviously super competitive, 772 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: but the ability to also draw other stars to come 773 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:27,319 Speaker 1: to your home, you know, basically to you guys at 774 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:29,800 Speaker 1: hometown and home turf and play. He has one of 775 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:32,239 Speaker 1: the best summer leagues around. Yeah, and that's all. That's all, 776 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: mall Man. You know, he's such a loved, you know 777 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 1: guy in the basketball league. You know, everybody knows how 778 00:34:38,120 --> 00:34:41,480 Speaker 1: great of a guy is and teammate. But um, you know, 779 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:43,640 Speaker 1: this dude is still you know, still going out there. 780 00:34:43,680 --> 00:34:45,759 Speaker 1: I think Mams forty right now, he's playing like he's 781 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:47,760 Speaker 1: twenty five. I'm just playing with him this last summer, 782 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 1: Matt and this this dude still go. I'm trying to 783 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:52,840 Speaker 1: tell you he'll be a Hooper for the rest of 784 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 1: his life. Jamal never love the game. He doesn't such 785 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,319 Speaker 1: a great job of bringing guys in, and you know, 786 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,520 Speaker 1: the proem is pretty much like the Sonics. You know, 787 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:04,719 Speaker 1: that's the only pros that you get to see right now. 788 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:06,560 Speaker 1: You know, hopefully the Sonics come back and you get 789 00:35:06,560 --> 00:35:09,759 Speaker 1: a team in Seattle. They need it, so but until then, 790 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 1: Jamal is doing, you know, such a fantastic job of 791 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:14,560 Speaker 1: keeping that basketball culture alive out there. Yeah, I mean, 792 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:17,239 Speaker 1: obviously being happy where you're at being a Chicago Bull. 793 00:35:17,440 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 1: If if if a Seattle organization did ever come back, 794 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:22,719 Speaker 1: would that be a dream or a goal of yours 795 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,000 Speaker 1: that play in your hometown. I think it always is, 796 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:27,560 Speaker 1: especially because we haven't been there so long, and you know, 797 00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:29,719 Speaker 1: before the end of my career, I would love to 798 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,360 Speaker 1: at least be able to have a chance to go 799 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,399 Speaker 1: do that. Alright, quick hitters, Jack, you want to start 800 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:38,439 Speaker 1: him off? All time best five Chicago Bulls who all 801 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:41,000 Speaker 1: time best starting They don't. Hey, don't be scared to 802 00:35:41,040 --> 00:35:43,319 Speaker 1: throw yourself in there either, and I did. I did 803 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 1: that on a I think Mark Spears told me the 804 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:47,879 Speaker 1: same thing. I'm not afraid of it. People don't give 805 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 1: you backlash for whatever you say. Anyway. I don't give 806 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:53,319 Speaker 1: a damn. You know, of course I want I want 807 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 1: to play with him, So I would say, uh, I 808 00:35:55,719 --> 00:36:01,000 Speaker 1: say Derrick Rose, Michael Jordan's um put me in there. 809 00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna slide to the three. I'll play the two 810 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:10,320 Speaker 1: or the three. Put Scottie Pippen and and Joe Kim Noah. 811 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:13,439 Speaker 1: There's so many different combos you can do. Man, there's 812 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:15,359 Speaker 1: so many different combos with the boards you can do. Though. 813 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:17,839 Speaker 1: You know, if you could be name dropped by any 814 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:21,360 Speaker 1: artists in the music game present or in the past, 815 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:25,560 Speaker 1: who would it be present or past? Wow? You know 816 00:36:25,600 --> 00:36:29,080 Speaker 1: I'm a big I'm a big West Coast guy. Watch 817 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:32,840 Speaker 1: a lot um, you know. I like I like the 818 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:35,799 Speaker 1: common rappers, like future stuff, Chief Key, I like Chief keeps. 819 00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:37,680 Speaker 1: Chief Keief is always been one of my favorite rappers 820 00:36:37,680 --> 00:36:40,400 Speaker 1: at Chicago. So I'll say those three top three songs 821 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:43,760 Speaker 1: on your pregame playlist, Top three songs, top three songs 822 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 1: right now? Damn? Can I look go ahead your pre 823 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 1: game playlist? I can't lift the phone. Yeah, you know, 824 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:51,839 Speaker 1: we got the phone set up. I can't look top 825 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:53,840 Speaker 1: three something. You know. Sometimes I go with I go 826 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:55,719 Speaker 1: with the old school stuff. Man, I'd be listening to 827 00:36:55,760 --> 00:36:58,640 Speaker 1: some old Score and Beach. Yeah. That's my that's my lay, 828 00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:02,760 Speaker 1: that's as Yeah. You know I was listening to Uh. 829 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:05,040 Speaker 1: I was listening to Joe before the game the other day. 830 00:37:05,560 --> 00:37:07,759 Speaker 1: You know, I think I was listening to John B 831 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,399 Speaker 1: a couple of times. But then I go, I still, 832 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:12,279 Speaker 1: I go, I go listen to Future. You know, I 833 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:15,120 Speaker 1: listen to twenty one, Savage, Little Dirk, things like that, Pops, 834 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:17,719 Speaker 1: I pop smoke a lot right now. You know there's 835 00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:20,040 Speaker 1: a piece of pop smoke. He has some he has something. Yeah, 836 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:24,840 Speaker 1: he has some Beggars that first album with some Ship. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. 837 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:28,800 Speaker 1: If you can create an all time dunk contest, including yourself, 838 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:31,240 Speaker 1: who are for other people you put into dunk against? 839 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:37,880 Speaker 1: Vince gotta be in there. Of course. I want to 840 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:45,080 Speaker 1: see that. I want to see that in person. Um me, Vince, Um, 841 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:46,960 Speaker 1: you know I'm putting it. I'm putting Lebron in there. 842 00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:49,760 Speaker 1: You know, Lebron never done. Dunk contest is high school. 843 00:37:49,760 --> 00:37:53,359 Speaker 1: But I want to see Lebron in it. Um how 844 00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:58,760 Speaker 1: many people four or five? You got? You got two more? Yeah? Five? 845 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:07,719 Speaker 1: So me Vince, Braun, m J and UH who's the 846 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:11,759 Speaker 1: guy people wouldn't really think about. That's crazy. Um. It 847 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,360 Speaker 1: was one of the most athletic dudes I remember watching 848 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:17,160 Speaker 1: and growing up was andre Igdollar when he was younger. Man, 849 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:20,600 Speaker 1: he was you know, you gotta help us with his 850 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:24,600 Speaker 1: answer to this question. Okay, okay, who do you want 851 00:38:24,600 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 1: to see on All the Smoke? Who you want to 852 00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:29,799 Speaker 1: see on All the Smoke? Man? Yeah, it is because 853 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:31,600 Speaker 1: it's always I've always wanted to be on here. You know, 854 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:35,520 Speaker 1: I'm glad I got I got next in line? Has 855 00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:37,279 Speaker 1: has that? Has? Have you guys been on it with 856 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:40,279 Speaker 1: Dame yet? Nah? No, We've been trying. We've been on 857 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:41,880 Speaker 1: and all. It's funny because we just didn't see j 858 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,399 Speaker 1: McCullum too, and and and we've been definitely definitely being 859 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 1: watching with Dame. H else you watch on Dame Dame? 860 00:38:51,120 --> 00:38:53,759 Speaker 1: Is it? What else? The guys really? I think Dames 861 00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:55,799 Speaker 1: will go. I want to see an old you know, 862 00:38:56,160 --> 00:38:58,520 Speaker 1: older dude KG. I think KG was the best one 863 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:02,880 Speaker 1: you had because he can give you stories. I mean 864 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 1: I could throw something of your away, like a Jamal 865 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:09,440 Speaker 1: Crawford or Brandon Roy. Then the people basically put mall 866 00:39:09,520 --> 00:39:12,319 Speaker 1: would mall would be mall would be mall would be great. Roy. 867 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:14,680 Speaker 1: Roy has a lot of stories. Yeah, I think I 868 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:20,919 Speaker 1: t would be great. Tool. You got a healthy journey man. 869 00:39:21,520 --> 00:39:23,759 Speaker 1: That's what I'll pick them for. Shore was zach Man. 870 00:39:23,800 --> 00:39:25,680 Speaker 1: We appreciate your time. Best of luck in the All 871 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:28,200 Speaker 1: Star Game, and happy Early Birthday. Me and Jack are 872 00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:30,640 Speaker 1: gonna be in Tuloom during the same time because my 873 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:32,359 Speaker 1: birthday is the day before years, so I'm the ninth 874 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:34,239 Speaker 1: You're the tenth man. Good luck in the Star Happy 875 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:37,759 Speaker 1: birthday to both you buys. Happy early birthday, Bro, you 876 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:42,520 Speaker 1: know what y'all live it up. Hey, that's the rack 877 00:39:43,120 --> 00:39:46,400 Speaker 1: with Zach Levine. You can catch all the smoke on 878 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:50,400 Speaker 1: Showtime Basketball YouTube and the I Heart platform Black Effects. 879 00:39:50,480 --> 00:39:52,600 Speaker 1: We'll see y'all next week. This is all a Smoke, 880 00:39:53,000 --> 00:39:55,560 Speaker 1: a production of The Black Effect and Our Heart Radio 881 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:57,200 Speaker 1: in partnership with Showtime