1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to this league. I'm cut in the world of 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 1: twenty four NBA news. Christ This liguln cut is underway. Fire. 3 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: This should be a good one. Everybody. Welcome back to 4 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: another episode of this League of Cut with my partner 5 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: in Mark Stein. This is Chris Hayes. Here. Let's we 6 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: have a special guest and this guest, this this guest. 7 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: The time inc is is just perfect because there's a 8 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:42,560 Speaker 1: lot going on in this particular market, that particular city, 9 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,200 Speaker 1: and this guy right here, he pretty much is very 10 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: influential and recreating the culture, the foundation of this team 11 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,440 Speaker 1: and this team I'm talking about the Sacramento Kings just 12 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: clints of birth to the playoffs for the first time 13 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: in sixteen years. And this individual right here that we're 14 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: going to have on today again, very special guests, and 15 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: you know, I'm just you know, Mark sty go ahead 16 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: and introduce the man. Go ahead, jump in here. Coach 17 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: Mike Brown, who Chris Haynes says should and will be. 18 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: Now he didn't say will, he said should should be 19 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: the unanimous Coach of the Year winner. Coach, Congratulations, you 20 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 1: guys freshly clinched a spot in the playoffs. Just I 21 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: guess what was it like waking up this morning knowing 22 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: that Sacramento Kings will be in the playoffs for the 23 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: first time since you were in Cleveland many many, many 24 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: years ago. You know what I tell you, it's it's 25 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: it's a special feeling, mainly because you know what it 26 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: means to the city, just as much to the organization 27 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: as well. And you know, I've been sacramental for a 28 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: short period of time and allow a lot of good people. 29 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: They're very knowledgeable about the game, very passionate about the game, 30 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: and that passion hasn't subsided even though they hadn't been 31 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: in the playoffs uh in sixteen years. They're still trying 32 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: to rep sack wherever they can, whenever they can, and 33 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: so to be able to be a part of this 34 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: experience h clinch at this point in the season and 35 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 1: continue to help uplift that that that town as well 36 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 1: as the organization. There's no better feeling. What did you do? 37 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: What did you do? After Clinton? Is there anything anything 38 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: specially you did? What? You know? What? So a lot 39 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: of our wives came up, a girlfriend, significant others came 40 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: up to to Portland because we knew we were going 41 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: to be here for a few days. It's a short trip. 42 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: And uh so when we got back to the hotel. 43 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 1: Uh we had a little room down right off the 44 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: bar in the hotel and we popped a few bottles 45 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: of champagne, had a couple of time and listen to 46 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: some good music while chatting it up. Is this the 47 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: Nines Hotel? Yes it is. I said, that's my favorite 48 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: spot right there, favorite spot right there. I'm sure you 49 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: wanted to clinch at home, but is there kind of 50 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: to do it on the road. And you guys are 51 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 1: all there kind of on foe and turf, but you're 52 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: all there together. I mean, what is that like? You 53 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 1: know it? Yes, you want to clinch at home because 54 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: again you want to do it in front of your fans. 55 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: And there was a lot of anticipation a couple of 56 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: nights to go against the timber Wolves. But at the 57 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: end of the day, you know, for us, it's just 58 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: about getting it done. And I told our guys this 59 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: um not too long ago. I said, hey, you guys 60 00:03:55,440 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: put yourselves in the position to be able to control 61 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: your own destiny. And when you're able to do that, 62 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, it doesn't 63 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: matter really for us. Whether it's here or there, might 64 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: except for the fact, like I said, you know, you 65 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: you like your fans to have that opportunity to see 66 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: it in person. But at the end of the day, 67 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: because the guys put themselves in this position, they had 68 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: plenty an opportunity to do it, whether it's at home, 69 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: on the road, and just so happy to be up 70 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: here in Portland, and it feels it feels good either way. Coach, 71 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: did you ever this is your first year as the 72 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: head coach of the Kings, and you spent your time 73 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: and Lakers, you spend your time with the Cavaliers, and 74 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: then you spent time as his assistant with the Golden 75 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: State Warriors. Did you ever think or was there any 76 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: doubt at all during the time that you would Golden 77 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: State that you would get another opportunity to be a 78 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: head coach in this league. I didn't know. You know, 79 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: I'm the type that looks at things, that looks at 80 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:00,679 Speaker 1: a glass or a jars as half full as opposed 81 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: to have empty. So I'll pretty optimistic optimistic person as 82 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: is I felt. If I if I kept you know, 83 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 1: grinding and doing my thing and kept trying to be 84 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: part of uh situations, that will not only help me 85 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 1: grow and evolve, but also where you win is usually 86 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 1: if you're in a situation where you win, more eyes 87 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: are on you, and everybody usually has success that comes 88 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 1: from a winning situation. So I didn't know I felt 89 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: being in Golden State, working for Steve and being around 90 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: the great players that I was around and winning at 91 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: that At that level, I get opportunities to interview, but 92 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: you just never know what's going to unfold in those interviews. 93 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 1: Most of the times when you go on an interview, 94 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: the club has somebody already in mind. But for me, 95 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: it didn't matter because every interview that I went on UH, 96 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: I felt like I learned, I got better, you know, 97 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: because I spoke in front of a different UH staff 98 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: and had explained my plan and had to dive deep 99 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: into what the what the team was and where I 100 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: take them, and and so for me to get an 101 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: interview at this point was something I wasn't going to 102 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: turn down. So at the end of the day, I'm 103 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: glad it worked out the way it did. But UH, 104 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: you know, you never know in these situations. You just 105 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,279 Speaker 1: keep your fingers cross and keep trying to do the 106 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: right thing, and maybe that happened, coach, Can you name 107 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: the teams the other teams that you interview with you 108 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: during your time to go to state. Yeah, I interviewed 109 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:45,080 Speaker 1: with Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers. Obviously the 110 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: Sacrament of Kings. I think that might think that might 111 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,720 Speaker 1: be it. I think it might be it. The New 112 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: York Knicks. I also interviewed from the New York Knicks. 113 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: How did you come away from the ones that you 114 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: didn't get? The only one that, uh really the only 115 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 1: one that I thought that I had a decent shot 116 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,479 Speaker 1: at because I truly felt that they didn't have a 117 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: candidate in place was the Clippers. Uh. You know, I 118 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: knew ty Loose, He's a fantastic championship coach. I knew 119 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 1: he had a leg up on me. Um you know 120 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: uh in that interview process because of his track record. 121 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: Uh and how you know again how successful he is, 122 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: but the type of person is, and then he already 123 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: knew the players and so on and so forth, and 124 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: they had a lot of trust and confidence in them. 125 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: But I, you know, when I was going through the process, 126 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: I really felt like the staff hadn't made up their 127 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: mind yet or didn't have a have ty loose as 128 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: you know peg as, No, he's the guy, but maybe 129 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: we'll see what Mike bring to the table. And and uh, 130 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: you know, at the end of the day, obviously the 131 00:07:56,840 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: job went to him and for me, uh, and that 132 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: he got that job for me, I felt good because 133 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: he's a fantastic human being and obviously a great coach. 134 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: So I didn't feel like, uh, that was tough to 135 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: handle not getting that one at all. But I was 136 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: I thought I was. I thought I had a chance 137 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: at that one. Other ones, Uh, they're fantastic to the 138 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 1: interview for but going in, I knew that for the 139 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: most part, they had their guy in mind and it 140 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,600 Speaker 1: and it wasn't me. I think you ended up in 141 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: the right spot. I'm gonna go out on a limb. Hey, 142 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: you're one hundred percent correct. This is the spot I 143 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: was supposed to being. Well, we talked to you know, 144 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: thank you for giving the time for the story I 145 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: wrote on the Keys and just a transformation of the 146 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: culture that everybody please go check that out. Brought that 147 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: about two weeks ago on the Keys and Mike Brown's 148 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 1: involvement in that process, because what what is what has 149 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,640 Speaker 1: it been? Like, you know, I want you to for 150 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 1: people to hear it because you know there's a lot 151 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,560 Speaker 1: of bandwagon Kings fans now and so uh you got 152 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: so okay? Can you explain exactly what what it took 153 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 1: for you guys to get from being an organization that 154 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: was thought of as an afterthought, you know, just quite 155 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: being honest, there was a lot of players, a lot 156 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: of players that didn't you know, to workn't too fond 157 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: of the sacramental Kings or free agents and you know 158 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: problems with that. Can you tell me just about your 159 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: process and revamping um the culture and the foundation of 160 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: the Kings, just your part. I know other people had 161 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: a role as well, but I just want to tell 162 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: you how you went into the situation. Yeah, you know 163 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: the well, there was a three part I guess process 164 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: for me when I looked at trying to uh change 165 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: the culture. You know, everybody says that they want to 166 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: win and as a as a young head coach, when 167 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: when I got the earlier jobs, I felt like I 168 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 1: cannot work anybody I had control over that. I felt 169 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: like I was organized, and I felt like, uh, I 170 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: had a good feel for my exs and oos, but 171 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: being around you know Steve Curry's last six years being 172 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: with the players in Golden State, with Bob Myers at GM, 173 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: you know, you learn a lot about you know, how 174 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 1: they go about their business and the exs and oos 175 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: are great, but they don't start and in with that. 176 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: But the culture there is is second second to none. 177 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: You know it rivals that uh you know Greg Popovich 178 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: in a different way, but the rivals out of Greg 179 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: Popovich on many many levels. And and uh, those true guys, 180 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: in my opinion, are the two best messengers, are two 181 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,800 Speaker 1: of the best messengers out there, and you realize being 182 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: on around them. You know, being around Pop you learned 183 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: a lot. But I was really young around Pop, so 184 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: I didn't really Uh you couldn't really appreciate everything that 185 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: was being done at the time, nor could you really 186 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: know how know the true meaning or how deep the 187 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: things are, how deep things are that he was doing 188 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: in or saying to the team. Being older, going through 189 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 1: a lot of life experiences being with Steve. Now you're 190 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 1: listening and you're watching the action. I used to take 191 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 1: a notepad. I used to carry a notepad with me 192 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: a lot of times, and it was just because whenever 193 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: Steve addressed the team, I wanted to jot down a 194 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: note or two, you know, because I learned a lot 195 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:45,080 Speaker 1: from him, even though I've coached many more years than 196 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 1: than he has. And and so for me coming into 197 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: this situation, I felt that my biggest thing that I 198 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,280 Speaker 1: was going to attack right away was the culture and 199 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: the way that I put a plan together. And one 200 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: that was the first thing I knew that there had 201 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: to be a vertical and horizontal alignment between all of 202 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: the units within the organization. You know, whether it's ticket sales, 203 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 1: it's the medical staff, medical staff, the performance staff, the 204 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: coaching staff, community relations. We all had all had they 205 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 1: had their alignment of trust that was vertical and horizontal 206 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: across the board. And I was going to go about 207 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: doing that by being present, uh, letting everybody feel my confidence, 208 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: by engaging with them as much as I could, trying 209 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: to bring all these group to groups together as much 210 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: as I could. For instance, when we went on our 211 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 1: coaches retreat, you know most most staffs they just go 212 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: with their coaching staff. Well, we invited our front office 213 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: Monae McNair, West Wilcox. We also extended the invitation to 214 00:12:50,840 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: Matina and Jr. And all of hierarchy in the front 215 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: office so that they felt like they were part two 216 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: of it. And and then you know, you also want 217 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,079 Speaker 1: to give ownership to your group, not just to the players, 218 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: but to the people that are working for you and 219 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 1: that are working in other departments. And I did that Basically. 220 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: I didn't go on the floor at all. Well, I 221 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,360 Speaker 1: tell you back, I went on the floor twice prior 222 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: to training camp, and I was in the gym a lot. 223 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:23,600 Speaker 1: But I told myself, I'm gonna let my coaches handle it. 224 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,480 Speaker 1: They know exactly what they're doing. I want players to 225 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 1: see that I have belief and trusting them, and I 226 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: don't need to step out there every five minutes to 227 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:33,600 Speaker 1: make a correction or try to coach or show that 228 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,319 Speaker 1: I could coach. And I'm just gonna watch it. I'm 229 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: gonna be a fan, and I'm gonna talk and get 230 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: to know these guys personally, and you know more, talk 231 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: to them about their families, how our days going, and 232 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,200 Speaker 1: all that other stuff. So that was the first step, 233 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:49,839 Speaker 1: and trying to get the group connected, trying to establish 234 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 1: that sustained winning culture. The second step that I wanted 235 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: to make sure I did was establish a set of 236 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: rules or principles and values that not only were upheld 237 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: by me, but we're upheld by it. Then all of 238 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: the leadership within the organization, including you know, the leadership 239 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: in terms of players on the team. And once you 240 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:17,560 Speaker 1: established that you know and your leaders believe in it, 241 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: then everybody's going to follow that path. And then the 242 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: last one was, you know, I'm a I'm a big 243 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: role guy, and so trying to identify and establish you know, 244 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: everybody's role while giving them ownership and defining their role 245 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: so that at the end of the day, everybody would 246 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: embrace it. And you know, you can do three or 247 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: three three things. You can reject it, which is not good. 248 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: You can accept it if you just accept your role. 249 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: What you're telling me is okay, I accept it. It 250 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: means when things are going good, you get their foot in, 251 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: but when things ain't going good, which we all know 252 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: happen to this business, and other foot is out. So 253 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: I wanted to get it to get to a point 254 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: for everybody that they can embrace their role and giving 255 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:05,240 Speaker 1: them ownership in um and defining their role was was 256 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,520 Speaker 1: a huge part of that. It was that in itself 257 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: was a three step process. That we went through meant 258 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: with the last step being, um, you know, we got 259 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: everybody together and I just went down the line asking 260 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: each guy I had up on the BIXS frame, these 261 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: are the three to four things that we defined this 262 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: person's role. For instance, HB. These are in front of 263 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: the whole team. These are Hb's points for defining this role. 264 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 1: Read them out everybody saw. I said, HB, do you 265 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: agree to this? Because once you agree in front of 266 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: the team, then that means there's no going back. And 267 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: each guy had to read it and say yes they 268 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 1: did because they were a part of the process. And 269 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: to me that that everybody embraced their role and once 270 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: everybody was on the same page and and they valued 271 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: this as much as I did. I had everybody signed 272 00:15:55,960 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: a contract and we have three copies that contract. One 273 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: we carry with us, others are locked room downstairs at 274 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: Golden One Center, and the third one is in our 275 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: training area upstairs in the practice facility. Mike, I'm guessing 276 00:16:14,560 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: that this whole approach is radically different from the three 277 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 1: other times that you were a head coach. And obviously, 278 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: like you said, you've accumulated a lot of wisdom through 279 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: through all these years. But you clearly had this plan 280 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:30,960 Speaker 1: and it's a three step plan. But how confident were 281 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: you that you could actually implement it and make it work? 282 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: Because just what was the confidence level? Could not have 283 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: been high when you arrived there after sixteen years of 284 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:47,560 Speaker 1: nothing but lottery for this granchise. That's a that's a 285 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: great question. From the standpoint, my confidence was high, and 286 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: I felt I would have an opportunity to take a 287 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: swing at exactly what I said, the way that I 288 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 1: wanted because they hadn't had success and they were looking 289 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: for direction. And usually when people are you know, you know, 290 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 1: looking for direction at a pretty high level, they're gonna 291 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: give you a second to faith, you know. And the 292 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: more small successes that you have along the way, that's 293 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,199 Speaker 1: the more leeway that you're gonna be able to have 294 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: to implement your plan fully. And you know Luke Laux, 295 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 1: you know, we worked together in Golden State, so I 296 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: I you know, I known Luke for years. We were 297 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: close and Golden State, and you know, every job that 298 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 1: I interviewed for basically Luke helped me out. You know, 299 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,440 Speaker 1: I'm an old head. I do know computers a little bit. 300 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 1: I do know analytics a little bit. But you know, 301 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,360 Speaker 1: Luke's a young guy and he's gonna be a head 302 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: coach in this league someday soon. He's that good. But 303 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,640 Speaker 1: he helped me gather my information and prepare for every 304 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: interview that I went on. So he, he and I 305 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:03,959 Speaker 1: when we knew that the Sacramento job was open the 306 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: same majority. Luke was more involved in. Jordy was during 307 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: each one of the processes. But uh when when when 308 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: we knew Sacramento was open, we both looked at it. 309 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,240 Speaker 1: We were like, whoa, this this is a sleeping giant. 310 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: You know that. You know, you have two potential All 311 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: Stars and Deer and Fox and domus a bonus, you 312 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 1: have a championship veteran Inharrison Bars. Uh, they're going to 313 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: get a high pick. And it looks like the draft 314 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 1: was was pretty deep, and you know there were some 315 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: other guys that you know you might be able to 316 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: do some things with. You know, we going there and 317 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:44,360 Speaker 1: and have a chance to really put our footprint on 318 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: the direction that the organization wants to go. So I 319 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: was excited about it from day one just because of 320 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:54,120 Speaker 1: the potential, uh not only potential for the organization going 321 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: forward with the city and the facilities and in my opinion, 322 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: the ownership and everything else, but also for the potential 323 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: of us being able to do it we felt was 324 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: right and growing this program the way that we wanted 325 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: it to grow. When you're trying to implement a new culture, 326 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: you know, it's not always easy and a lot of 327 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,159 Speaker 1: times there are some tough conversations that need to be 328 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: had because the team or the players have been doing 329 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: something for so long that hasn't been the right way. 330 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:32,199 Speaker 1: So I want to ask you, is there a conversation 331 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: that you can reveal where you had to have a 332 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 1: tough conversation with someone and but you took it, you know, 333 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: you took your head on and it ended up working out. 334 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: Is there anything that comes to mind where when you 335 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 1: took the job there was a tough conversation that you 336 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 1: need to have and how did it? How did it 337 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: fare from there? You know, again, I go back to 338 00:19:55,640 --> 00:19:58,199 Speaker 1: that's part of the reason why this was so attractive, 339 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: because everybody was itching, you know, itching to just find 340 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:06,880 Speaker 1: a way to get out of the hole that they've 341 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 1: been in. And so literally when we came in, especially 342 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: coming in from coming in off of a an NBA 343 00:20:16,680 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: Championship run. You know, you got a lot of you 344 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 1: got a lot of clout with what you're saying, and 345 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: not just because of that one time, but you know 346 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: I had done a part of six finals runs even 347 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 1: once as a head coach and been able to say 348 00:20:33,080 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: I've been part of four of winning it four different times, 349 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: you know, which is hard. There's a lot of people 350 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:43,280 Speaker 1: that hadn't even gotten there one time in their career, 351 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: and so you know, the team that we had that 352 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: we had inherited, um, you know, there was one guy 353 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: that didn't want a championship on the roster, and that's 354 00:20:53,320 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: Harrison Barnes, and nobody else even really experienced. I don't 355 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 1: even think going to the finals, let along the conference 356 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: finals was conference semifinals. So again, um, there wasn't There 357 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: weren't many tough conversations to be had, like maybe some 358 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,760 Speaker 1: other situations that I might have taken taken over. You know, 359 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:17,439 Speaker 1: I remever forget when I took the Lakers job. You know, 360 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: one of the things I was explained was explaining something 361 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: to COVID and you know, the God rest his soul. 362 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,400 Speaker 1: But and Kobe said, well, you know, when Phil was here, 363 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 1: you know, this is how we did it. I was like, 364 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: oh shit, you you're good. You're good, coach. Oh, I said, 365 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 1: oh shit, you know Kobe got a point, He'll got 366 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 1: like fifteen of them. As a head coach, I was 367 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 1: only there once to the head coach and I got 368 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: a couple or you know, riding back to some player. 369 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 1: So you know, so you know that that's a dynamic 370 00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:57,320 Speaker 1: that I didn't have to deal with. Uh, in this situation. 371 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: It was almost reversed for me to be acus of 372 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: where I came from and what my issue was compared 373 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,199 Speaker 1: to not only the players, but everybody else too. That 374 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,479 Speaker 1: was in the organization, for people in the front office, 375 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 1: to people on the basketball side too. So uh, that's 376 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: why that's part of the reason why you know, you 377 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: really uh, even before the job for me was one 378 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: that's why it was an extremely attractive job, you know, 379 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: to be had for us. So how do you strike 380 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:35,240 Speaker 1: the balance now of convincing your guys, yes, we clinch, 381 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,719 Speaker 1: but we also haven't achieved anything yet Because of all 382 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:41,159 Speaker 1: these playoff runs you've made, I'm guessing that you're not 383 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 1: really satisfied with just getting to the playoffs, you know how, 384 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: I'm saying and part of it is, you know, the 385 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: messaging that we that we did from day one. You know, 386 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 1: every conversation that I had wasn't about making the playoffs. 387 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,159 Speaker 1: It was when we make the play house, this is 388 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: what needs to happen when when Yes and our guys 389 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: brought into it. I had you know, I talked to 390 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,399 Speaker 1: a lot of people when I took this job, just 391 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 1: to pick their brain. And and you know, one of 392 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 1: my best conversations I had was with Randy Bennett, head 393 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: coach at Saint Mary's College. He basically took over a 394 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: prential losing programs at Saint Mary's back in the day. 395 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,399 Speaker 1: They were the dorm out of I think they were 396 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:33,840 Speaker 1: the WCAC at first and then the WCC after that. 397 00:23:33,920 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: But he took that over and I asked him, I said, 398 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,240 Speaker 1: you know, first of all, what are some of the 399 00:23:40,240 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: things that you did when you took it over? And 400 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,880 Speaker 1: then I said, what's the biggest regret that you had 401 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: looking back that you wish you could have changed? And 402 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 1: he said, uh, he said, Mike, if I could have 403 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: worked on getting those guys to believe right away, we 404 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: would have taken off a lot sooner than what it 405 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: took us and I said, what are you talking about? 406 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: He said, you know, at the end of the day, 407 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 1: I knew I was going to recruit good guys. I 408 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,800 Speaker 1: knew I was going to recruit hard working guys. I 409 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: knew I had a plan to help us X and 410 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: O wise to be in games and all that. But 411 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:18,679 Speaker 1: he said, we'd look up with three minutes to go 412 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: in the game, and it's a one or two possession game, 413 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,159 Speaker 1: whether we're up or we're down, and there was just 414 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:28,560 Speaker 1: something that naturally kicked in for our guys, and then 415 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: for our opponent. And for our guys it was like, oh, crap, 416 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:35,960 Speaker 1: are we supposed to win this game? So there was 417 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: that doubt, and then for the other team, they were like, Okay, 418 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,240 Speaker 1: this is the same area. Let's let's turn it on 419 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 1: right now. Let's let's just kick their behind. And so 420 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,920 Speaker 1: when you faced that dynamic in a in a tight 421 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 1: ball game, you know, the team that's supposed to lose 422 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:54,240 Speaker 1: is gonna lose ninety percent of the time. And that's 423 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,720 Speaker 1: how it was a Sacramento I mean, we obviously we 424 00:24:56,840 --> 00:24:59,919 Speaker 1: played against sacrament that the years, you know, you go 425 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 1: through the game, it's a close ball game and then 426 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 1: you know, three to five minutes ago, even guys, you know, 427 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: but the players on the team, and you take the 428 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: time out and they say, okay, hey, let's turn it on. Now, 429 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 1: let's turn it, let's let's let's check, let's kick it 430 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: in gear, and let's take it to these guys and 431 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,400 Speaker 1: in this game and ro next thing, you know, they 432 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: do it then going eight to two runs and you 433 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:21,960 Speaker 1: could feel and see the doubt and in the King's 434 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,199 Speaker 1: eyes and it's old. So for me hearing that, I 435 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: thought that was that was big. I thought that was 436 00:25:29,440 --> 00:25:34,119 Speaker 1: really really big. And so everything I did U and 437 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: the way I talked to these guys, uh and for 438 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:39,920 Speaker 1: for for me, I had to make sure that it 439 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 1: added value to the belief that we can get it done, 440 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: not two years from now, not three years from now, 441 00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: but right now. And part of where I did that 442 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: was every little success that we had along the way, 443 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 1: even in the preseason, you know, you celebrated at the 444 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,879 Speaker 1: right way, like, Okay, see, I told y'all, if we 445 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: do this or we do that, we're gonna go out 446 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:07,719 Speaker 1: there and kick ass, just like everybody else think they 447 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: should go out there and kick ass. And this ain't 448 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,120 Speaker 1: no fluit because you guys have been working your tail 449 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: off since the summertime, individually and collectively, and it's starting 450 00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: to show. So every little thing, every opportunity, we worked 451 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:25,679 Speaker 1: on the belief, and I truly think our guys have 452 00:26:26,040 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: a true belief, not just from what I'm saying. I 453 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:32,960 Speaker 1: think they truly believe that they should be competing for 454 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: a championship like everybody else. Now will it happen, We'll see, 455 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: But I do think that belief is there right now. 456 00:26:45,240 --> 00:26:47,439 Speaker 1: I don't think I'm exactly gonna surprise you here, but 457 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: I mean, you've been around the block. You know how 458 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:51,760 Speaker 1: this works. If you guys are going to see the 459 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 1: Lakers in the first round or the Warriors, it's not 460 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 1: just gonna be Vegas. It will be no at alls 461 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: like me who will say the Kings have never been here, 462 00:27:00,119 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: the Warriors are favored, the Lakers are favored, whoever it is. 463 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:08,680 Speaker 1: How do you think your players will handle that noise it? 464 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:11,840 Speaker 1: They'll handle that, okay. But the reality of it is 465 00:27:12,480 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: when we get in the mix, that's what I'm waiting. 466 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: That's what I'm waiting to see, because you know, and 467 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:24,920 Speaker 1: I asked our guys that they watched Golden State play 468 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,919 Speaker 1: New Orleans last at a couple of nights ago. You know, 469 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,399 Speaker 1: a couple of guys raise their hands, and so I 470 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: said what stood out, and one of the youngest guys 471 00:27:37,480 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: on the team, Davion Mitchell, did not hesitate. He said 472 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,800 Speaker 1: the physicality of the game. And I said, you are 473 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:50,400 Speaker 1: one hundred percent correct. I said, for us to get 474 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: from here to here during the regular season, yeah, that 475 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:59,600 Speaker 1: was pretty easy. Because if you're organized, if you compete, 476 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:05,679 Speaker 1: if you're healthy, relatively healthy, and you get a little lucky, 477 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: it's pretty easy to be in the mix for a 478 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:12,400 Speaker 1: playoff spot or even a play in spot. It's hard 479 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:16,199 Speaker 1: as heck, I mean as hard as heck to go 480 00:28:16,400 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: even from here to here, you know, especially in the postseason. 481 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: And this is something they have an experience, and I said, 482 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: a lot of it will stem from how physical the 483 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: game's gonna be or on both ends for close to 484 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,919 Speaker 1: forty eight minutes. And if you're not ready for that physicality, 485 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: and I'm not just talking physically, but mentally also, if 486 00:28:40,360 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: you're not ready for that, it's going to be a 487 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 1: short hour. And so I'm telling them the truth right now, 488 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:51,480 Speaker 1: and they will know if we whether we play go 489 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,719 Speaker 1: to State or anybody else, they will know that those 490 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 1: teams are coming for our neck. And as soon as 491 00:28:57,960 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: they see an ounce of doubt in our eyes, it's 492 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: a rock. That's the one thing I'm gonna make sure 493 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:08,200 Speaker 1: our guys know is I don't care what's going on. 494 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 1: We cannot give them a feeling of doubt from us. 495 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:18,000 Speaker 1: We got a ticket to a first, second, or third 496 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: and third. Coach, I was hoping that somebody wanted the 497 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 1: players when you asked them what stood out in that 498 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: Warriors Pelicans game. I was hoping when the players said 499 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:31,240 Speaker 1: Chris Hayes stood out. I was. I was working to 500 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,480 Speaker 1: sidelines for that game. Coach. I was working to sidelines. 501 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,239 Speaker 1: I don't know if you see me, coach sign I 502 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:42,920 Speaker 1: signed you up. I saw you, hey, hey, when you 503 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:47,160 Speaker 1: when you were asking that you had Draymond lick Yeah, Raymond, 504 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: he was looking at you not like this the whole 505 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 1: time before you even got to question out. So I 506 00:29:53,680 --> 00:30:00,560 Speaker 1: saw you. I coach t t BA, rats job, rats father. 507 00:30:01,320 --> 00:30:03,520 Speaker 1: He texts me and dray bond at the same time. 508 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: Put us in this text Charity. He texts the picture 509 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 1: of me and him together, her talking and he said, 510 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 1: these some ugly old twins right here. That's something a 511 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,000 Speaker 1: coach I wanted to pick kind of piggyback off the 512 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: question Mark asked you about the playoffs. I don't know 513 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: if you heard, but there's a shadow or narrative going 514 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:30,400 Speaker 1: on going on around the league about teams wanting to 515 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 1: face the Kings, teams seeing teams seeing the vulnerability there. 516 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,240 Speaker 1: You know, I would guess if that is true, I 517 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:43,200 Speaker 1: would guess it is due to inexperience. What do you 518 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:46,240 Speaker 1: say to that? And have you addressed your team with 519 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 1: that narrative or talking points? That are beings that are 520 00:30:49,520 --> 00:30:52,960 Speaker 1: that are circulating about teams wanting to see the Kings 521 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: in the playoffs. So I'm let's see. I don't know 522 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 1: if I can find it. He got bullets and board 523 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: material already. I know that last answer. I felt like 524 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:08,400 Speaker 1: I was in the locker room already. So this so 525 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: our video coordinator guy named Charles Allum chuck album and 526 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: this is what I said him. Right here, the Kings 527 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: of the Mark, Kings are stuck in the three seed. 528 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 1: That's where they're going to finish. The Kings of the Mark. 529 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 1: All of these teams now weakness on the Kings, not 530 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: only because they haven't been in the playoffs in seventeen years, 531 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: but because they're not a good defensive team. And if 532 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: you're the Warriors who was planning on a long playoff run, 533 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: they love the idea of being able to drive in 534 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:38,480 Speaker 1: the first round series. That's an advantage. The Warriors want 535 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:41,000 Speaker 1: the six which is why coming back from twenty down 536 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: last night was one of the biggest wins of the 537 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,400 Speaker 1: season to get in stay in that sixth seed. So 538 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: we know what the dart and they know what the 539 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:55,520 Speaker 1: Darreti is too, and you know what, that's fine because 540 00:31:55,920 --> 00:32:01,440 Speaker 1: we deserve because we haven't done anything yet and we're 541 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: as good as we think we are. We'll change the name. 542 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,160 Speaker 1: That's how I look at I hope everybody could hear 543 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:09,680 Speaker 1: them when you held your phote up. It is the 544 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: clip of Chris and my old colleague Brian Winhurst on 545 00:32:14,080 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: ESPN earlier this week talking about how the Warriors were 546 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 1: when they beat New Orleans. That was clutched because it 547 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: kept them kept alive that three six matchup. But look, 548 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 1: you know we're all know it alls on TV, and 549 00:32:25,080 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: you know that I'm old enough to remember a time 550 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,640 Speaker 1: when Mike Brown worked for ESPN two, so he knows 551 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:34,520 Speaker 1: how those he knows how those TV shows work. Right. 552 00:32:36,280 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: But you know, look, I mean speaking of no at alls, 553 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: this happened before you were there, But I was certainly 554 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:44,120 Speaker 1: one of them. I was at the front of the line. 555 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: I could not believe that the Kings traded Haliburton. I 556 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:53,200 Speaker 1: was stunned. I just couldn't believe that they would move him. 557 00:32:53,400 --> 00:32:58,560 Speaker 1: But Sabonus and fox have been so good together. They 558 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: have shut all of us up. They look like as 559 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:06,080 Speaker 1: good a duo is there is in the league. What 560 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,760 Speaker 1: what what were you picturing for them in the summer 561 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 1: before you actually even had them on the practice? For 562 00:33:12,640 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: the one thing? You know, it's interesting with Foxy, I 563 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 1: thought he was a very very good player. The one 564 00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: area that I didn't know whether or not he could 565 00:33:22,120 --> 00:33:25,360 Speaker 1: do is exactly what he's about to win, which is 566 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:28,400 Speaker 1: Clutch Player of the Year. I didn't know he would 567 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: be able to close at the level he's closing now, 568 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:35,360 Speaker 1: and it's it's been phenomenal to be a part of 569 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: and watching him during crunch times, watching how easy he does, 570 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: it makes you think, Okay, not only is he an 571 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:49,840 Speaker 1: All Star, but he could be a great player. Someday 572 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:54,680 Speaker 1: he's on track to be that because again, being a 573 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: great player and and you know, and I'm not just 574 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,080 Speaker 1: saying this because we're where we are and I have 575 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:05,520 Speaker 1: Foxing and donors, but sometimes I think people use that 576 00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:09,920 Speaker 1: term real loose or loosely. If you want to be 577 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 1: a great player, your team has to win too, you know. 578 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:18,879 Speaker 1: And because if you're on a losing team and you're 579 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:23,600 Speaker 1: putting up numbers, somebody got put up numbers on that team, Okay. 580 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:26,920 Speaker 1: But if you're putting up numbers and you're putting up 581 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,960 Speaker 1: numbers on a winning team and taking another level, you 582 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 1: have the most points or buckets or how do you 583 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:38,799 Speaker 1: want to call it, in situations where it matters the 584 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 1: most to win that game and your teams are winning 585 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 1: team in your head and shoulders above above everybody else. 586 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:49,240 Speaker 1: And so to experience going through those types of moments 587 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 1: with Foxing is something that you know, has been a 588 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 1: pleasant surprise for me. Obviously, his speed was something that 589 00:34:57,080 --> 00:34:59,480 Speaker 1: we wanted to bring to the table, and that's what 590 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,880 Speaker 1: we fall can still on a lot, not just trying 591 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:07,080 Speaker 1: to play fast, but also really trying to get our 592 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:10,799 Speaker 1: guys to understand, spacing doesn't just have to happen in 593 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:15,759 Speaker 1: the half court. Spacing can help your pace in the 594 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:20,239 Speaker 1: full court. And so we value our spacing and transition 595 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,839 Speaker 1: just as much as we value our spacing in our 596 00:35:23,920 --> 00:35:27,719 Speaker 1: half court actions because we want Foxy to utilize that 597 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:31,399 Speaker 1: speed an attack before the defense is set. So that's 598 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 1: one way that we decide that you know, that we 599 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 1: thought about using with what we're trying to do, a 600 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:40,799 Speaker 1: way that we for domas Is is. You know, it 601 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:44,000 Speaker 1: was great because a lot of the spacing and stuff 602 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:47,120 Speaker 1: like that and our initial actions that we use in 603 00:35:47,160 --> 00:35:50,759 Speaker 1: our early offense I implemented with the Nigerian team. Now 604 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: not to this level because we didn't have the time, 605 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:57,879 Speaker 1: but again with the Nigerian national team, we felt we 606 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 1: were gonna have a lot of athletes. One of our 607 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: strengths would be able to get out and run and 608 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:04,239 Speaker 1: so we needed to be spaced and all that other 609 00:36:04,239 --> 00:36:08,359 Speaker 1: stuff correctly in order for that to happen. And so 610 00:36:08,760 --> 00:36:11,920 Speaker 1: with a lot of those actions that we use in 611 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:15,959 Speaker 1: our early offense, you can either play pick and roll, 612 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:19,960 Speaker 1: you can play hit and handback action, or you could 613 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:24,399 Speaker 1: play DHO action. And we introduced a lot of our 614 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 1: stuff with this team using the DHO game because of 615 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:33,800 Speaker 1: Domus's ability to make great reads and help guys get 616 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:38,560 Speaker 1: great shots off of that DHO action, and most teams 617 00:36:38,680 --> 00:36:42,239 Speaker 1: prepare just like the post of game. Pop told me 618 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:45,000 Speaker 1: that told us back in the day that you know, 619 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:46,680 Speaker 1: post of game is going to be extinct one of 620 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:50,080 Speaker 1: these days, because everybody knows how to double team the post, 621 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,279 Speaker 1: and you got the baseline and the sideline to a 622 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 1: certain degree to be extra defenders. And so your rotations 623 00:36:56,719 --> 00:36:58,920 Speaker 1: and all your schemes out of a post double team 624 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:01,480 Speaker 1: were a lot these. You know, then trying to double 625 00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,439 Speaker 1: somebody on the perimeter, it's almost the same to certain 626 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:07,760 Speaker 1: degree as a pick and roll. Everybody's scheme a million 627 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 1: different ways to stop picking the pick and roll, starting 628 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 1: with the blitz. And so although Foxy and Thomas at 629 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:16,120 Speaker 1: the end of last year they were one of the 630 00:37:16,120 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 1: top three pick and roll combinations in the league. I 631 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:22,520 Speaker 1: didn't want to be reliant on that. I wanted to 632 00:37:22,560 --> 00:37:26,000 Speaker 1: be reliant on the DHO game, to hit a handback game, 633 00:37:26,800 --> 00:37:30,200 Speaker 1: the space game, the pace game, because come playoff time, 634 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:34,040 Speaker 1: I wanted teams to have to adjust to us and 635 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:36,759 Speaker 1: not be able to say Okay, if we're able to 636 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,640 Speaker 1: blow the take away their pick and roll action, we're 637 00:37:39,640 --> 00:37:43,320 Speaker 1: going to stop these guys from scoring. And so trying 638 00:37:43,360 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 1: to implement that DHO game because of some bonus's ability 639 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 1: was a big factor for us in implementing what we 640 00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:55,000 Speaker 1: did and started. Let let me add this real quick. 641 00:37:55,080 --> 00:37:58,120 Speaker 1: For those that don't understand or know what DHO is, 642 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:02,200 Speaker 1: that's dribble handoffs dripple handoff offense. So wait and wait 643 00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:04,759 Speaker 1: a minute on our show, people, everybody who's listening knows 644 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:06,839 Speaker 1: what that is. You would think, you would think sty 645 00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:08,480 Speaker 1: But I just want I just want to make sure 646 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:11,000 Speaker 1: there's clarity out there, to make sure. I gotta say 647 00:38:11,239 --> 00:38:13,640 Speaker 1: we are we are getting xs and those we're getting 648 00:38:13,680 --> 00:38:17,279 Speaker 1: coaching philosophy. I think coaches who listen to this are 649 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:20,839 Speaker 1: really going to enjoy Mike Brown running the gamut here. 650 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,319 Speaker 1: Well that's what that's what did a coach it? You got. 651 00:38:25,480 --> 00:38:27,040 Speaker 1: You gotta try to bring a little bit of everything 652 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:29,919 Speaker 1: to the table. And granted, I tell you what, I've 653 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:33,120 Speaker 1: had a lot of great, great, great staffs in the past. 654 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:37,120 Speaker 1: You know Quinn Snyder's work for me, Darmin ham Boy Pierce, 655 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:40,560 Speaker 1: Jamal Moses. I can go all and knowing. But the 656 00:38:40,600 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 1: staff I have right now, I have a staff of 657 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:47,799 Speaker 1: future head coaches. They are really really good a lot 658 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:49,520 Speaker 1: of times, whether it's in practice or in the games. 659 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:53,439 Speaker 1: And so I'm really appreciative of the gather with right now. 660 00:38:53,719 --> 00:38:55,440 Speaker 1: Again that's not a not to what I who I 661 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:57,160 Speaker 1: work with in the past, but I just want to 662 00:38:57,200 --> 00:38:59,319 Speaker 1: give these guys a shout out because they're so coach 663 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:01,239 Speaker 1: you know, we'll let you out pretty soon. If I 664 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:04,960 Speaker 1: wanted to ask you about Vivette and he is someone 665 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:08,799 Speaker 1: who over the years, he's let it be known he 666 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:10,880 Speaker 1: has a little bit of a dis thing for the 667 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:14,080 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors. There's a little there's something brewing there. 668 00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 1: You know. He's always, you know, always trying to get 669 00:39:17,640 --> 00:39:20,040 Speaker 1: out the Warriors and trying to see how can he 670 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:23,640 Speaker 1: take them down? And he definitely wants to be running 671 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:26,399 Speaker 1: the team who takes them down. So how was those 672 00:39:26,440 --> 00:39:30,359 Speaker 1: conversations like with you? You know, he's plucking, plucking you 673 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:33,680 Speaker 1: away from that Warrior squad. That's that's doing something, you know, 674 00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:37,439 Speaker 1: and and also the intail that you bring. So when 675 00:39:37,480 --> 00:39:40,480 Speaker 1: when you when you're having those initial conversations with Vette, 676 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:43,359 Speaker 1: what is that like and and before you even get 677 00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:46,480 Speaker 1: the job, are you telling too much? Like do you 678 00:39:46,520 --> 00:39:49,600 Speaker 1: have to be careful what you say because you might 679 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:51,680 Speaker 1: be going back to the Warriors? Like how does that 680 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:57,880 Speaker 1: work for you? And you know, I'm pretty open about 681 00:39:57,880 --> 00:40:00,279 Speaker 1: what I say a lot of times, even it comes 682 00:40:00,280 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 1: to our stuff, as you guys can see right now, 683 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:05,319 Speaker 1: Because at the end of the day, if you want 684 00:40:05,360 --> 00:40:08,320 Speaker 1: to be better than that other team or whatever you're hearing, 685 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:10,680 Speaker 1: you gotta go do whatever you do better than what 686 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:14,719 Speaker 1: they do. So sure, there's a huge step that still 687 00:40:14,800 --> 00:40:19,719 Speaker 1: has to be taken to overtake other good teams out there. 688 00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:23,279 Speaker 1: And so our conversations over he just wants to win, 689 00:40:23,600 --> 00:40:27,239 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, throughout the course of this year, 690 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:31,480 Speaker 1: getting to know him for me has been fantastic because 691 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:37,440 Speaker 1: he's extremely passionate about the team, the city. More importantly, 692 00:40:37,520 --> 00:40:40,279 Speaker 1: he just wants to bring him winning product to the 693 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:44,480 Speaker 1: fans of Sacramento and the people that live in Sacramento. 694 00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:47,439 Speaker 1: So it's been great. I couldn't ask for a better 695 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:51,360 Speaker 1: guy to work for. We have a really good relationship 696 00:40:51,560 --> 00:40:54,239 Speaker 1: and you know, you hear a lot of things in 697 00:40:54,280 --> 00:40:58,520 Speaker 1: the past about him, whether it's this or that, and 698 00:40:58,960 --> 00:41:03,520 Speaker 1: I've had often but good times working for him. And 699 00:41:03,760 --> 00:41:05,919 Speaker 1: on top of that, you know you want to owner 700 00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:10,440 Speaker 1: put his money where his mouth is, and he but 701 00:41:10,719 --> 00:41:13,400 Speaker 1: far has done everything that we've asked him to do 702 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:17,960 Speaker 1: this year, so I couldn't ask for anything more. Well, look, Mike, 703 00:41:18,000 --> 00:41:20,680 Speaker 1: we greatly appreciate the time because we've kept you longer 704 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:23,759 Speaker 1: than we should have. Greatly appreciate the candor. I'm if 705 00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:25,920 Speaker 1: Pop sees any of this interview, you might be getting 706 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:28,840 Speaker 1: a lecture about you're being far too open with the media, 707 00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:32,440 Speaker 1: which we love. I don't know if he would approve this, 708 00:41:32,560 --> 00:41:35,239 Speaker 1: but this is something I've always wanted to ask you. 709 00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:38,360 Speaker 1: I can't believe I've never really had the chance to 710 00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:39,960 Speaker 1: do it, or thought to do it when I saw 711 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,240 Speaker 1: you in person. But you went to Wartzburg High School 712 00:41:43,280 --> 00:41:47,000 Speaker 1: in Germany. And for people who don't know, Wurtzburg pronounced 713 00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: properly the home of Dirk Davitski, the home of Maxi Kleiba. 714 00:41:51,200 --> 00:41:54,960 Speaker 1: Should we be including you as one of the Wertzburg's 715 00:41:55,000 --> 00:42:00,919 Speaker 1: famous NBA exports? This is the crazy about it. So 716 00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:05,480 Speaker 1: the club out there's the first bird DJK Kickers. I 717 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:10,480 Speaker 1: actually played for them before Dirk Nabitski did when they 718 00:42:10,480 --> 00:42:14,359 Speaker 1: were in the third division. Back, I know I did. 719 00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:18,120 Speaker 1: I actually so I played Germans semi problems in high school. 720 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:20,920 Speaker 1: I played. I didn't get paid, but I played Germans 721 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:24,200 Speaker 1: in my pro ball and then I played American high 722 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:26,440 Speaker 1: school ball at the same time. And they were in 723 00:42:26,480 --> 00:42:30,440 Speaker 1: the third division, so everybody on the club worked, you know, 724 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:32,640 Speaker 1: so they it was kind of like a part time 725 00:42:32,719 --> 00:42:35,319 Speaker 1: thing for him. And I never forget the first game 726 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:37,759 Speaker 1: that I went to at halftime, half the team was 727 00:42:37,800 --> 00:42:39,640 Speaker 1: smoking in the locker room, and I'm just like, what 728 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:46,080 Speaker 1: did I do? It was because they don't They didn't 729 00:42:46,080 --> 00:42:48,880 Speaker 1: really get payed. It was more for fun and standing 730 00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:51,760 Speaker 1: shape than anything else. And this was their part time job. 731 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:57,000 Speaker 1: So yes, I could. I can say that Dirt Naviiski 732 00:42:57,040 --> 00:43:01,799 Speaker 1: and I both played professionally for the first But have 733 00:43:01,920 --> 00:43:05,360 Speaker 1: you or Dirk ever talked about this? You know, I 734 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:08,520 Speaker 1: never not death, I just talked. I told him I 735 00:43:08,719 --> 00:43:11,360 Speaker 1: was from Verse Bird a lot of I played for 736 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:15,440 Speaker 1: the DJ Kokers. That is impressive. That is you just 737 00:43:15,840 --> 00:43:17,680 Speaker 1: you just scooped us because I did not know that. 738 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:21,640 Speaker 1: That's good. Uh Like, like I said, he should be 739 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:25,600 Speaker 1: not just coach of the Year. Get unanimous. You know, 740 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:30,240 Speaker 1: there's there's there's nobody who's done more this year compared 741 00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:34,080 Speaker 1: to what this organization is franchises faced over the last 742 00:43:34,160 --> 00:43:37,359 Speaker 1: almost two decades. This man right here, what he's done 743 00:43:37,400 --> 00:43:40,200 Speaker 1: has been unbelievable. So I know a lot of times 744 00:43:40,200 --> 00:43:43,680 Speaker 1: people in the East Coast tend to sleep on, you know, 745 00:43:43,719 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 1: some of the West Coast teams. But you gotta pay 746 00:43:46,040 --> 00:43:48,520 Speaker 1: attention to what the Sacramental kings have done and really 747 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:50,960 Speaker 1: do your research. I'm gonna challenge my fellow peers to 748 00:43:51,040 --> 00:43:53,279 Speaker 1: do their research when they're submitting those ballots. I know 749 00:43:53,320 --> 00:43:54,680 Speaker 1: he's gonna get Coach of the Year, but I want 750 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:57,560 Speaker 1: to see you getting unanimous. It should definitely be unanimous 751 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:00,239 Speaker 1: first place. But can we can I get us shout 752 00:44:00,239 --> 00:44:02,920 Speaker 1: out for Keathan Murray first Team All Rookie? Can I 753 00:44:02,960 --> 00:44:05,160 Speaker 1: get a shout out for Domus and Bonus and and 754 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:09,080 Speaker 1: and Eric at the Aaron Foster All NBA. I mean, 755 00:44:09,120 --> 00:44:12,720 Speaker 1: they're putting that some monster numbers on a winning team too. 756 00:44:12,960 --> 00:44:14,400 Speaker 1: And now this is one might be a little bit 757 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:16,440 Speaker 1: of a love of shot that maybe my leak month, 758 00:44:16,680 --> 00:44:19,200 Speaker 1: you know, for six Men of the Year, you know, 759 00:44:19,239 --> 00:44:20,560 Speaker 1: and then I got to give a shout out to 760 00:44:20,600 --> 00:44:24,160 Speaker 1: my man Minnie mcmair give him some love. But executive 761 00:44:24,320 --> 00:44:27,879 Speaker 1: years love to rejectutive years. So let's let's let's get 762 00:44:27,920 --> 00:44:30,520 Speaker 1: it popping now if we want, if we want to 763 00:44:30,520 --> 00:44:35,839 Speaker 1: be real about it for the second Middle Pens, they're 764 00:44:35,880 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 1: not the Kings. It's the Kings now that love it. 765 00:44:42,880 --> 00:44:45,320 Speaker 1: Wishing you great success in the playoffs. Mike, Thanks to 766 00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:49,280 Speaker 1: Mail for joining us. This was absolutely fantastic. I appreciate 767 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:58,560 Speaker 1: you guys happing. You'll take care, take care. Thank you. Well, 768 00:44:58,600 --> 00:45:00,560 Speaker 1: that's gonna do it for this episod show up this 769 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:04,560 Speaker 1: League Uncut with my partner Mark Stein. That was Mike Brown, 770 00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:07,640 Speaker 1: the head coach of the Sacramento teams who just clinsed 771 00:45:07,840 --> 00:45:10,520 Speaker 1: a playoff birth for the first time in sixteen years. 772 00:45:10,560 --> 00:45:13,400 Speaker 1: Mike is always good man, he's candidate. That's what we 773 00:45:13,680 --> 00:45:17,440 Speaker 1: love about him. Hopefully that doesn't change. But you know, 774 00:45:17,719 --> 00:45:20,320 Speaker 1: great heck of an interview. But we want to encourage 775 00:45:20,360 --> 00:45:25,760 Speaker 1: everyone to like, subscribe, tell a friend, tell anybody about 776 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:28,279 Speaker 1: this pod. I think we got some good content in 777 00:45:28,360 --> 00:45:31,319 Speaker 1: store for you, and we're gonna keep going. We're signing off. 778 00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:36,000 Speaker 1: But this League Uncut, this is Chris Haynes, Mark Stein. 779 00:45:36,719 --> 00:45:41,040 Speaker 1: See you next week and that'll do it for us. 780 00:45:41,280 --> 00:45:45,120 Speaker 1: See you next time. This league uncutters and I heard 781 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:52,480 Speaker 1: radio production Chris Haynes and Mark Stein