1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: First of all, Bro, we appreciate you being on the show. 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: We've been watching you since you was in high school. Man, 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: all your accomplishment, what you continue to do. Man, we 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: praise and salute you, Man, and we definitely appreciate you 5 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 1: coming on the show and rocking with us. Man, you 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: wanted the stories we always wanted to tell. We've been 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: wanting to get you, so we glad we got you 8 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: on the show. Man the rock with Us. 9 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,439 Speaker 2: Nah, I appreciate it, Man, I'm a big fan of 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: the show, and now thank you guys for having me. 11 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 3: Man. 12 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 2: You know, I appreciate you for you know, constantly and communication. 13 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 2: I appreciate that. So I'm just I'm happy to be here. 14 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 4: To be honest, I appreciate it. 15 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: When you first got to the league, who's the first 16 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: person to bust your ass? 17 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: You know, I knew this was going to be you know, 18 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 2: I always tell people to me, the one guy that 19 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 2: always stood out to me was Lebron. You know, my 20 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 2: path with Lebron has been since I came to the US. 21 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: He's there. I came to the US. He's the best 22 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 2: player in high school. He's a year ahead of me. 23 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: But you know, we came up around the same time. 24 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 2: But I always tell people it's kind of like, you know, 25 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: when I played with Derrick Rose his MVP year. There's 26 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 2: certain guys in the league that two points are just 27 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 2: different than everybody. 28 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 5: Else's two points. 29 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 2: And you know, with Lebron, with the fans and everything, 30 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: you know, whether you're playing them in Cleveland or you're 31 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: playing at home, every basket he scores, it's like ten 32 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: points on you. You know, the whole crowd. It could 33 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,199 Speaker 2: be a fatal way jump shot. Don't get me wrong. 34 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 2: You know he's a great player, obviously, but the crowd 35 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,839 Speaker 2: was always you know, Lebron's thirty or forty points seemed 36 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 2: like sixty points, especially when you get home and you 37 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: watch the highlights and it's going you just yeah, so, 38 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 2: you know. So I always tell people I enjoyed playing 39 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: against Lebron, but I always say he's the one guy 40 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 2: that you know, you looked forward to playing him because 41 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: you knew it was going to be a tough one. 42 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 4: Yo, yo, yo. We live on location. 43 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 6: Me and the blackest one connecting over these towers were 44 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 6: going virtual today. Man, Look, we got a very very 45 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 6: special guest today. Man, the Pride of South Sudan is 46 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 6: in the building. Was we got a Duke represented, even 47 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 6: though you know Duke is whatever, you know, but we 48 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 6: got one of the all time grace from the Chicago Bulls, 49 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 6: a former All Star, one of the biggest humanitarians there 50 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 6: is out there. We got wild dang in the building. 51 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 6: People in We appreciate you pulling up, bro man. We've 52 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 6: been trying to get this done for a minute. We 53 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 6: finally got dots connected. 54 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 5: Nah, definitely no respect. Thank you guys for having me. 55 00:02:41,760 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: Yes, sir, South Sudan. How did you start playing basketball? 56 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: Where did it all start from the beginning to get 57 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: you to start your journey off to playing basketball. 58 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,519 Speaker 2: It's a crazy story, you know. For me, everybody knows 59 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 2: obviously being from South Sudan. I grew up as a refugee, 60 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 2: so we fled my homeland at the age of five 61 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 2: seeking for a better life. The way it works is 62 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: you just kind of get out it up in a 63 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 2: bordering country, which is Egypt. I grew up in Egypt. 64 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,720 Speaker 2: A lot of people don't know that, but I grew 65 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: up in Alexandria, Egypt, and I was a soccer player. 66 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: I was playing football my brothers. You know, we had 67 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 2: this one church that the whole community would meet at 68 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: and we would just go down Sundays there was a 69 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 2: basketball court, guys would just play around. I was young 70 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,960 Speaker 2: at the time, and then one summer, my new ball 71 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 2: took a vacation to go to Egypt, and when he 72 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: came to visit the refugee settlement from South Sudan, he started, 73 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: you know, teaching basketball, and he realized there was so 74 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 2: much talent and he ended up extending his stay and 75 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 2: teaching my brothers how to play basketball. My older brother 76 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: took it to heart. He learned everything and started drilling 77 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: me from the age of seven with everything that he 78 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 2: was learning from minute, you know, dribbling, shooting and all 79 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 2: that stuff. We never knew any of that stuff until 80 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: Mineu was kind of you know, teaching and coaching and 81 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: everyone just the whole community fell in love with basketball 82 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,239 Speaker 2: and that's how I ended up playing. 83 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 6: So basically, if not for a chance vacation by Minu 84 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 6: Bogue going to Egypt, we may not even know who 85 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 6: Luau Dang is. 86 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,599 Speaker 2: Yeah. No, I always tell people the same thing that 87 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 2: I'm doing because I know where I came from. I 88 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 2: came from you know, somebody who was trying to encourage 89 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: people and motivate him and just give them something to 90 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: be excited about. And you know, for us South Sudanese, 91 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 2: Manu was everything. We celebrated minute because he put us 92 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 2: in a map and he was so proud and carried 93 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: himself off with such a you know, an honor and everything. 94 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: So when Minew showed up, everything stops whatever Minut wants 95 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 2: to do. So he wanted to focus on basketball, and 96 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 2: you know, because of that, I ended up, you know, 97 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 2: being who I am. 98 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 5: Because I you know, my brothers were taught by him. 99 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 4: That's crazy. 100 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: So meeting Minut and started messing around with basketball, did 101 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: that influence you and your family to leave Egypt and 102 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 1: go to London? 103 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 5: No, you see what happened was I would go anywhere. 104 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 2: And you know, when I say that, it's like a 105 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: lot of refugees, when I say that, they understand the 106 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 2: way it works is and I know this whole thing 107 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 2: with politics now, but a lot of people don't understand 108 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 2: the way it works is if you're a refugee in 109 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 2: any country, you seek for you know, asylum. Basically you 110 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: just apply, whether it's U NACR, WOO full program, whoever, 111 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 2: your family applies, you given all the papers and all. 112 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 5: The background check and everything, and. 113 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 2: All these countries they monitor and they would take you know, 114 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: your family. So I ended up my family. I came 115 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,039 Speaker 2: from a large family, but luckily we ended up being 116 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 2: taken to the UK England. And at the time, I 117 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 2: was nine years old, about to be ten, and there 118 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 2: was no for my parents this, no, no, it's just 119 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 2: it's just here is a better opportunity. Let's go there 120 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: and see what works out for us. And you know 121 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: that's really I didn't go to the I didn't go 122 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: to the UK because of basketball. I just worn't for 123 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 2: a better life. 124 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 4: Okay, how was that transition for you? Like, you know 125 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 4: what I'm saying. 126 00:06:33,839 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 6: You just starting to learn ball and then it's like 127 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 6: you got to go now, you got to go to UK. 128 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: Honestly, it was the hardest thing. I always tell people 129 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: I never spoke English, you know, I was fluent in Arabic, 130 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 2: fluing in Dinka, which is my tribal language. But going 131 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:52,359 Speaker 2: from Sudan at the time to Egypt, it's not a 132 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: huge change. You're still in the continent, You're still in Africa, 133 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 2: even though the coach is different. You're going from you know, 134 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: a predomin and in the African country to an Arab 135 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 2: country which is still in Africa, but you know, the 136 00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,880 Speaker 2: culture and everything. You have to adjust to it. But 137 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: I remember when I landed in the UK, and I've 138 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 2: never seen I've never been in a place where I'm 139 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 2: seeing so much glass. I'm seeing buildings that are huge, 140 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: buses and whatnot. It was a culture shop, and it 141 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 2: took a while to even make friends or speak to 142 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: anyone because you didn't I didn't know a single word 143 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,560 Speaker 2: in English. I didn't know how to say ill o, nothing, 144 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: you know, And as soon as we got there two 145 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: weeks into it, I had to go to school and 146 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 2: just figure it all out. 147 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 1: So you started playing for the youth national team when 148 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: you got that, How did that like kind of open 149 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 1: you up a little bit? 150 00:07:44,800 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 4: Because I know, I tell my sons. 151 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: When my son was younger, he always wanted friends and 152 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: all that stuff. It was hard for him to kind 153 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: of get friends and stuff. And I was like, man, 154 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: if you played basketball, you're gonna make friends. You're gonna 155 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: find you. Out of the twelve guys, at least two 156 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: or three, I'm gonna be your boys. And you know what, 157 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: I'm saying, and just showing him the other side of 158 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: basketball instead of being just strictly basketball. You get so 159 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: much more from basketball. So playing in the youth nationals 160 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: did that help you kind of you know, start creating 161 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: friends and start being a little comfortable, which is a. 162 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, No, definitely, I think it. Sports is a language 163 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 2: by itself, you know, and I couldn't speak. I couldn't speak, 164 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 2: so at the time, I was playing football soccer and 165 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 2: I was really really good at soccer, and that was 166 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 2: my My dream. 167 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 5: Was to be a soccer player. 168 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 2: So the only way that I knew that I can 169 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 2: make friends or be cool in the school is to 170 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 2: really dominate in soccer and be the best player I 171 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: could be. 172 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 5: And that's how I was making friends. You know. 173 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 2: I started playing basketball at a club called Brixton Topcats, 174 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 2: and that changed my whole life. When when I joined Brixton, 175 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 2: I was still in and out of basketball. I wasn't 176 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 2: really serious about it until I came to the US 177 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:03,199 Speaker 2: at the age of fourteen. And how that worked out 178 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 2: really is because my sister had a scholarship. Because my 179 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 2: sister was good at basketball, my parents wanted me to 180 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,079 Speaker 2: get out of England. And you know, go and focus 181 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,440 Speaker 2: being a boarding school and just see, you know what 182 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 2: I can do with the opportunity that I was given. 183 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, so they really loved you. Loved you in England, man, 184 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,439 Speaker 1: they kind of got some got. 185 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 4: A picture right here. 186 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,600 Speaker 1: Well, I don't know if you could see it, but 187 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: you know up here, I don't know if you can 188 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: see it. 189 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,120 Speaker 4: What was that on some money? What was it? Yeah? 190 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know it's uh, I can't believe y'all pull 191 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 2: that out. A lot of people, a lot of people 192 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 2: don't know that. But I'm on a five pound note obviously, 193 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 2: Like I said, playing in Brixton. I come from, you know, 194 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 2: a neighborhood that needed a lot of role models and 195 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 2: a lot of people who could influence the youth and 196 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 2: be an example. So they you know, at the time, 197 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 2: they reached out to me and said, you know, we 198 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 2: want to put you on the money, and you know got. 199 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 4: His own money I got. 200 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 2: I was about to say that I had to live. 201 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 2: I have to live through that, you know, being African 202 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 2: and being on the money. Yeah, I heard it all man. 203 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 2: So but uh now, honestly it's an honor. But also 204 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 2: you know, to come out of Brixton and to be 205 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 2: an example to all these young guys that you know, 206 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:28,400 Speaker 2: just working hard, giving an opportunity, you can influence a 207 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 2: lot of people. 208 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 5: So I'm really excited about that. 209 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 6: When did you hit your gross, Burt, Like, was that 210 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 6: before you came to the US? Was it when you 211 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 6: were in England? Was it before? Were you already tall 212 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,199 Speaker 6: when you were in the South Sudan? 213 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:42,800 Speaker 2: I was always tall, you know, as a kid, I 214 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,280 Speaker 2: was tall. I was all my family's tall. My brother 215 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 2: is seven feet, myther brothers six six, six eight, We're 216 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,160 Speaker 2: all tall. So I was always you know, and it 217 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 2: kind of bothered me, to be honest, when I was younger, 218 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 2: because I wanted to be a soccer player, like I. 219 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 5: Said, so always always bothered me. I was the tallest 220 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 5: and so on. 221 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: It's not till I started playing basketball that I wanted 222 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 2: to be even taller and taller. But I've always been 223 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 2: tall for my age, So I would say probably around 224 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,520 Speaker 2: you know, between eleven to fourteen or fifteen, that's when 225 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 2: I hit my gross pert. 226 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: What made the decision for you to move to the US, 227 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: to move to New Jersey? What was the decision with 228 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:26,160 Speaker 1: you and your family? Did you take your did your 229 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: whole family come over or did you just come over? 230 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 4: Now? 231 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 2: It was you know, my brother at the time. A 232 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 2: lot of people don't know this. You guys probably know, 233 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 2: but my brother played for Yukon and you know, my 234 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 2: brother was part of that championship. 235 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 5: Team in ninety I think in ninety nine. I hope 236 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 5: I'm getting it right. 237 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 6: I played with your brother at the Kentucky Derby. 238 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:49,959 Speaker 4: Derby American Game. I played with his brother. 239 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, so my brother was much more, yeah, Joe. Yeah, 240 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: So my brother went to Saint Thomas More And I 241 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 2: always tell people this, man, my brother had a lot 242 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 2: of injuries, but my brother was way better player than 243 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 2: I am. And because of how good my brother was, 244 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:07,079 Speaker 2: I was given that opportunity at a young age because 245 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:09,360 Speaker 2: everyone was like, look, he has a chance to be 246 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 2: as good as his brother. And when I got the 247 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 2: scholarship to go to Blair Academy in New Jersey, my 248 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 2: high school coach, Joe Mantegne, at the time didn't even 249 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 2: know how good I could be or how good I 250 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 2: am until I came to school and I started scrimmaging 251 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:24,479 Speaker 2: with the guys. 252 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 4: How was it when you got there? You played with 253 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 4: Charlie there, right, Villainuevu. 254 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, first it was Royale. 255 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 4: I view, you know, Royale. 256 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 2: Royale was a senior. I always tell people this story 257 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 2: when I left England going to a boarding school. 258 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 5: I left with nothing but a book back and. 259 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 2: When I arrived there, my coach was like, yo, that's 260 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 2: all you got and you know, and I was like, yeah, 261 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 2: I thought it's a boarding school. You know, you're supposed 262 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 2: to give me everything. And he's like, nah, that's not 263 00:12:53,880 --> 00:12:56,120 Speaker 2: how it works. You're supposed to come with everything. But 264 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 2: I remember Royale showed up in my dorm and he 265 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 2: gave me a pair of shoes, the Kobe Adidas the 266 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 2: Crazy Eights, right. It was my first pair orange one 267 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 2: because you know, at the time, Royal was coming from 268 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 2: Cardoza Queens. He's doing a PG at my school and 269 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 2: Royal kind of became my mentor. And that's really how 270 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 2: it started for me. It started hooping, and then everyone 271 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 2: was telling me how good I was, and I started 272 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 2: being you know, serious about basketball. 273 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, man, y'all go back there for man, that's a 274 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: good history right there. 275 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:28,600 Speaker 4: Man. 276 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. 277 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,439 Speaker 1: So you played with Charlie V though, you got a 278 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: chance to play with Charlie v too though. 279 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, man, I always tell people I'm as good 280 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 2: as I am because of Charlie. You know, when Charlie 281 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 2: showed up and I will tell people that he came 282 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:48,880 Speaker 2: my sophomore year and I couldn't believe how good and 283 00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:52,640 Speaker 2: how talented Charlie is. And we were roommates in high 284 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 2: school and you know, we would play pickup and one 285 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 2: on one and whatnot, and Charlie would just destroy me. 286 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:02,480 Speaker 2: You could ask everyone in practice, and I'm just you know, 287 00:14:02,480 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: I'm so competitive every day. I'm like, i gotta be 288 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 2: as good as this guy, and I'm working so hard. 289 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 2: But he was so gifted man, and you know it 290 00:14:10,679 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 2: helped me so much, you know, pushing each other and 291 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,680 Speaker 2: trying to be as good as him that we both 292 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:17,640 Speaker 2: ended up having a career that we had. 293 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 6: How was it for you, like you coming from England 294 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 6: now you in Jersey and like, how was that culture shot? 295 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 6: Because like, you know, like this kind of like you're 296 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 6: not well, I'm you should be seeing some of New 297 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 6: York too when you're there, so like it's like that 298 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 6: whole New Jersey New York thing coming from from England. 299 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 4: How was that culture shot and was your English better 300 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,120 Speaker 4: by the time you went. 301 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was. I was Yeah by then, you know, 302 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 2: I'm like, I'm fluent in English. 303 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 5: I had a British accent, a heavy British accent. Everyone 304 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 5: was making. 305 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 2: So even you know, you know, everyone would tell me 306 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 2: to speak and whatnot. It was annoying. 307 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 4: You know. 308 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 2: It was a huge culture change because, as you know, 309 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 2: I went from being in London, which is a very 310 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 2: diverse place, and you know, I'm in Brixton and whatnot, 311 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 2: into a boarding school that predominantly a white school, you know, 312 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:15,480 Speaker 2: and I wasn't used to that. I wasn't used to 313 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 2: being away from my family. I wasn't used to, you know, 314 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:22,120 Speaker 2: being dependent basically. And after the first month, I remember, 315 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 2: I went to my high school coach and I told 316 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 2: him I want to go back home, you know. I 317 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:28,560 Speaker 2: wanted to just give up everything and go back and 318 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:31,240 Speaker 2: be with my family. But luckily I stuck with it, 319 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 2: and you know, guys like Royale and Charlie coming on, 320 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 2: and like you said, I was spending a lot of 321 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 2: time in New York with them, you know, I was. 322 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: I was staying at Royale's house every break in Queen's 323 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 2: I was staying with Charlie, playing in is and whatnot. 324 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 2: So you know, that kind of just became It helped 325 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 2: me so much because I got to know what this 326 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 2: culture is, you know, and playing you know, playing in 327 00:15:55,920 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 2: New York, being with Royal, being with Charlie, You're playing 328 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 2: against you know, Lenny Cook, You're playing against all these guys. 329 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 2: So you know, right away I became exposed to that 330 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 2: kind of basketball, that kind of you know, competitive nature, 331 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 2: attitude and whatnot, and that helped me a lot. 332 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, how was it when you started to get ranked high, 333 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: like not not only are you you're in the US now, 334 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,720 Speaker 1: but they are ranking you high a monks, like number 335 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: two amongst the best players like Lebron and all these 336 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: other guys. You get named to the McDonald's All American. 337 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: It was in Cleveland. I think I spoke at that. 338 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 4: Our dog and Duke up in there. I spoke at that. 339 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:39,320 Speaker 4: But yeah, but just. 340 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 1: To hear that, you you know, you got here, you 341 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:46,240 Speaker 1: got this far. And then you know, you start being 342 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: amongst the best players and you getting all the praise 343 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 1: of your game and how people thinking you were good? 344 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 4: How was that for you? 345 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 2: It was amazing, man, because you know, when I first 346 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,800 Speaker 2: came over, it's always the stigma a boy being in 347 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 2: a national player. You're just taught to fear for no reason, 348 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 2: you know, Like you know, if you go to the US, 349 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 2: the good you're watching highlights and like always wanted to, 350 00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 2: you know, be as good as everybody in the US. 351 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 2: So when I came over and started you know, scrimmaging, 352 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 2: my high school coach set me down and basically just 353 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 2: told me, you know, you're probably the best fourteen year 354 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 2: old I've ever seen. You have an opportunity to be 355 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 2: you know, really really good. And I took that to heart. 356 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 2: And once the rankings started coming out, like I told you, 357 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,359 Speaker 2: you know, from day one, Lebron is number one, and 358 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 2: I remember came in a country I was like one 359 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 2: hundred and fifty something or something like that. And every day, 360 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 2: you know, we would play games and go to AU 361 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 2: tournaments and so on, and log on and try to 362 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 2: see the rankings. You moving, and you just keep moving up, 363 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 2: and you're just like, man, I got to catch up 364 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 2: to Lebron, you know, and before you know it, you're 365 00:17:57,200 --> 00:17:59,639 Speaker 2: number two. And then you realize you ain't catching up. 366 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,639 Speaker 2: It's good to aim there when you're passing that, you know, 367 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 2: but it helped me a lot. You know, it helped 368 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 2: me a lot because, yeah, chasing all these guys, you know, 369 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 2: and having Charlie as my roommate, and Charlie was all 370 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 2: about that. Charlie was just like, yo, man, we got 371 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 2: to get these guys. You know, this guy is right 372 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 2: ahead of us. We got and you know that was 373 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 2: Charlie's attitude, and that helped me a lot. 374 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 4: Did you think about going straight out of high school? 375 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 2: Yeah? Yeah, my family wasn't ready for it. My dad 376 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 2: didn't understand it. You know, you always hear these jokes 377 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 2: about African parents, but it's really true. My parents were 378 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:39,160 Speaker 2: just focused. 379 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 4: You know. 380 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 5: They were just focused on school. Everything. 381 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 2: Everything is about being a doctor and a lawyer and whatnot, 382 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,080 Speaker 2: because that's you know, that's just thrown in your face. 383 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 4: You know. 384 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, so that's what they wanted for me. So, you know, 385 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: when they started to realize how good I was, uh, 386 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 2: they didn't want to hear about going straight to the NBA. 387 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 2: I remember being recruit by all these schools and my 388 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 2: dad was just like, yo, what's the best school? And 389 00:19:06,040 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 2: I'm thinking of like basketball wise, and he's like no, 390 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:12,639 Speaker 2: you know, my dad is calling me saying, Harvard, you know, 391 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 2: these schools reaching out and whatnot. And I remember Coach 392 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,160 Speaker 2: K took a visit and sat down with my dad, 393 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:23,400 Speaker 2: and it really that visit changed everything about, you know, 394 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 2: my dad's approach. He didn't want to say it, but 395 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 2: I knew he wanted me to go to Duke. You know, 396 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,120 Speaker 2: the way he talked about Coach K and what Coach 397 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,080 Speaker 2: K was telling him about me and whatnot. And Coach 398 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 2: K is so good at recruiting. He never said anything 399 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:39,679 Speaker 2: to my father about how good I am in basketball. 400 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 2: He just kept telling him about the opportunities that I 401 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 2: will get by, you know, going to school like Duke. 402 00:19:46,320 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 5: And that really opened my dad's eyes. 403 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 2: So and you know, I always tell people the first 404 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,200 Speaker 2: time the first time my dad ever seen me play 405 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 2: basketball was at the Final four. And the first time 406 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,200 Speaker 2: my mom ever seen me play basketball was the first 407 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 2: game of the season against the New Jersey Nets when 408 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 2: I was playing with the Bulls. 409 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 5: That's the first time they ever see me play basketball. 410 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 4: Wow. 411 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 1: Could have been any other school that almost got you 412 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: besides Duke? 413 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, Charlie and I almost went to Indiana, you know, 414 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 2: we I took five visits. But I remember my visit 415 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:25,400 Speaker 2: in Indiana. You know, we sat down with coach Mike, 416 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 2: and I remember Charlie just saying straight up, He's like, yo, 417 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 2: if if the wall comes here, I'm coming here. And 418 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 2: everyone at the table just stopped and looked at him, 419 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 2: and I'm like, yeah, listen, I got to make some 420 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 2: phone calls I can't make, you know. And I remember 421 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 2: my Duke visit was like a month later. I went 422 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 2: back to high school and I tried to cancel my 423 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 2: Duke visit and my high school coach kept telling me 424 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 2: that's you know, that would be disrespectful. Gave your word 425 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 2: to the coach and so on to take your visit. 426 00:20:55,840 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 2: And after I took my Duke visit, I felt like, 427 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 2: this is it. You know, I just fitted in the 428 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 2: system so well, and they had no other freshman coming in, 429 00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 2: and you know, they had JJ Reddick and Shavick Randolph 430 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 2: and you know, Sheldon William And I thought, you know, 431 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 2: this is it. I can go there and win, win 432 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 2: a chip and you know, and put my name in 433 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 2: after that. 434 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 4: So, so how was it for you? 435 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,080 Speaker 6: You know, getting to play Coach k A is a 436 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 6: legendary coach, you know, what I'm saying, you got to 437 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 6: go to their school and you played for him for 438 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:28,679 Speaker 6: a year. 439 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 4: How was that experience, fans? 440 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, you feel, you feel the people who hate Duke 441 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 1: and you feel the. 442 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 4: People who love Duke. It's like like a fifty to 443 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 4: fifty things. So I was there, y'all. Team was kind 444 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 4: of like a rock star team, So you felt all 445 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 4: of this. JJ Reddick was all world Now. 446 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 2: It's an experience, man. You know, for me growing up, 447 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:52,760 Speaker 2: my first basketball tape that a friend of mine gave 448 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:54,720 Speaker 2: me a VCR tape when we went in the UK 449 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:58,360 Speaker 2: when I started playing basketball, and it was a tape. 450 00:21:58,160 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 5: Of Grand Hill. 451 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 2: Uh you know, yeah, yeah, And I'm watching all this 452 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,959 Speaker 2: Grand Hill highlights and they're going back to Duke and 453 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 2: what he did at Duke and Coach K. So when 454 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,200 Speaker 2: I went to Duke, it was really because of Coach 455 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,400 Speaker 2: K and Grand Hill. I wanted to be Grand Hill. 456 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:17,520 Speaker 2: I wanted to be you know, coached by Coach K, 457 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 2: and I kind of envisioned myself for being that. But 458 00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 2: I never really knew that after going to Duke that 459 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,040 Speaker 2: I would leave after one year. The whole reason why 460 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 2: I wanted Duke was to build a legacy like grand 461 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 2: Hill did and have that relationship with Coach K. But 462 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:35,199 Speaker 2: I always tell people, you know, I'm one of the 463 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 2: first to leave after one year, and that relationship at 464 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 2: first didn't end well with Coach K. It took a 465 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 2: while to get that relationship back up and now we're 466 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:49,320 Speaker 2: very close and I kind of, you know, I really 467 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 2: appreciate that because leaving after one year, going to Duke 468 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 2: that wasn't normal, and. 469 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,560 Speaker 4: That was Corey McGinty might be the only one who did. 470 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: It before you exactly exactly how was it running to 471 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:06,679 Speaker 1: Charlie in the final four? Your high school team, man, 472 00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 1: you run into Yukon in the final four? 473 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:11,000 Speaker 4: Is you and them and. 474 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 1: You got to match up with him and y'all gotta 475 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,679 Speaker 1: play against each other on one of the biggest stages 476 00:23:15,960 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 1: there could be. 477 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 2: You know, I always tell people this, I could never 478 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 2: rewind the time back. But you know, in life, you 479 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 2: have certain things that happened that you cannot take back 480 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 2: no matter what you do. 481 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 5: You just got to face it. And this is one 482 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 5: of those things. 483 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 2: Because you know, Charlie and I were roommate for three 484 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 2: years and my dream was to be in a film 485 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 2: and to win a chip and what now we won 486 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 2: in high school, you want to win in college, you 487 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 2: want to win in the NBA. And also my brother 488 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 2: went to Yukon and I was supposed to go to 489 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:49,680 Speaker 2: Yukon and I kind of didn't go, so I went 490 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 2: somewhere else. So that game, you know, even the way 491 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 2: I came out that first half, you know, I came 492 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,639 Speaker 2: out sixteen points in the first half, Final four, just 493 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 2: I wanted it so bad, and when we lost, you know, 494 00:24:03,640 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 2: till now, I tell people it's the one loss that 495 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 2: you know, I've lost many times, but that's the one 496 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 2: loss that every time I think of losing, that's the 497 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 2: first thing that came to mind. It made me better 498 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 2: and I'm so happy for Charlie. But at the same time, 499 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:22,520 Speaker 2: every time this comes up, you know, and I guarantee 500 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 2: you as soon as Charlie sees this interview, he's gonna 501 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 2: message me, send me are of the ring. And it's 502 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 2: always sending me a picture of that ring. It is cool, 503 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,679 Speaker 2: you know, It's cool because in a way I'm happy 504 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 2: because he has it and I know what you know, 505 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: we went through and how hard we work. 506 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 5: But also at the same time, I kind of enjoyed it. 507 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:48,120 Speaker 2: It kind of like it humbles you and it makes 508 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 2: you work hard and you're not supposed to have everything 509 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 2: in life. 510 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:53,639 Speaker 5: But it's how you respond to it, you know what 511 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:54,000 Speaker 5: I mean. 512 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: Talking about you leaving after one year, what did your 513 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: parents say, because you just said they are all about 514 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: school and all that stuff and you're like, yeah, I'm 515 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:06,200 Speaker 1: about to burn out and go to the NBA. What 516 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:09,480 Speaker 1: was that conversation like, if you about to leave school 517 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:10,160 Speaker 1: after one year? 518 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:10,879 Speaker 5: Cool on? 519 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 2: You know, once they saw, once they saw that, you know, 520 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:16,159 Speaker 2: I'm gonna be a lottery pick, that changed a lot 521 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:20,560 Speaker 2: That changed, That can change, you know, it changed a 522 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 2: lot of things. It was like are you sure? Are 523 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 2: you sure he's going to be a lottery right, Let's 524 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,639 Speaker 2: make sure his first Yeah. So it was like, okay, 525 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 2: maybe it is time ago, you know what I mean. 526 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:35,719 Speaker 2: So I think they were okay with it once they understood, uh, 527 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 2: that I'm doing it for the right reasons. You know, 528 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 2: my parents always been what do you want to do? 529 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 2: We know what's best for you, but what do you 530 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 2: want to do? And it was fine, and you know 531 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 2: they were with me at the draft and so on, 532 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,919 Speaker 2: and uh, you know that's something that I will never forget. 533 00:25:52,359 --> 00:25:54,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, I tell us about that draft process. 534 00:25:54,680 --> 00:25:57,720 Speaker 1: Man, Like you, a guy from South Suitan, you lived 535 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:00,560 Speaker 1: a bunch of different places, came over to the US, 536 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 1: and now you're sitting at the table with your family 537 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:06,959 Speaker 1: goin to get ready to walk up on that stage 538 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: and shake the commission in hands. Like man, just you know, 539 00:26:10,240 --> 00:26:13,399 Speaker 1: looking at your family and just seeing like how far 540 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:15,800 Speaker 1: y'all and came into this moment. Because I know a 541 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: lot of people say when we go to the draft, 542 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,440 Speaker 1: it's like you kind of flashback of everything you'd have 543 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 1: been through before that to get to that moment. 544 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, so how was it for you? 545 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: You know, going through what you went through and being 546 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:31,480 Speaker 1: there with your family where they have to dress up, 547 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,800 Speaker 1: look all nice, everybody clean, you know what I'm y'all 548 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: in the represent. 549 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's it's insane, man. 550 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 1: You know. 551 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 5: I always tell people I was drafted at eighteen. 552 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 2: Obviously that was eighteen years old, but if you rewind 553 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,400 Speaker 2: just eight years, you know, you just go back eight years. 554 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:53,119 Speaker 2: I'm a refugee in Egypt, ten years old, you know, 555 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,680 Speaker 2: just playing around. I don't know, you know, I never 556 00:26:56,760 --> 00:26:59,880 Speaker 2: seen an NBA game on TV. I've never had any 557 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 2: and sitting there, you know, sitting there in a green room, 558 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 2: I'm on a table with Minute, and I'm about to 559 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:10,919 Speaker 2: get drafted. And I remember, you know, I saw as 560 00:27:10,960 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 2: soon as they said my name, I remember my mom 561 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,400 Speaker 2: got up and she started doing you know, our tribal 562 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 2: chan and dances. And if you look back at that take, 563 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 2: I just got up and I grabbed my mom, and 564 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 2: you know, I'm young, and at the time, I'm just like, 565 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 2: I'm thinking, no, my mom, don't do too much you know. 566 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:31,920 Speaker 4: TV, you know. 567 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:34,200 Speaker 2: But now when I look back, I wish I even 568 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 2: did my tribal dance with it, you know, things like that. 569 00:27:37,160 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 2: But I remember looking across the table and seeing how 570 00:27:40,560 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 2: emotional Minute was, and for me, that took me back 571 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 2: to why we do the things that we do. Minute 572 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 2: never did it because he thought that, you know, there's 573 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:51,800 Speaker 2: a kid there, a ten year old kid who might 574 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 2: be drafted in eight years. 575 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:55,919 Speaker 5: He just did it to just provide an opportunity. 576 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 2: And it was real. It was real to you know, 577 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 2: to look at it like in a is here you are, 578 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 2: you're being a lottery pick. You went to duke. It 579 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 2: happened so fast. But I also remember just the fact 580 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 2: that I have an opportunity to change my life and 581 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:12,880 Speaker 2: my family's life. 582 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 6: Yeah, that's what's up. That's when you get after you 583 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:18,359 Speaker 6: get up there and get drafted. What was it like 584 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 6: when you got the call from the team and they 585 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 6: telling you, you know what I'm saying that you got 586 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 6: to come down and next day you got to fly 587 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:26,720 Speaker 6: private up to the to the shot town. 588 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,520 Speaker 4: You feel me? Was that your first PJ Yeah, no, 589 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 4: it was. 590 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:33,440 Speaker 2: And you know what what's crazy is you know I 591 00:28:33,520 --> 00:28:37,360 Speaker 2: got I got traded right on draft right right. Yeah, 592 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 2: So I always tell people. I did a couple of interviews. 593 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:44,720 Speaker 2: I was confused because I knew the pick was bought 594 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 2: by the Bulls. But at the same time, when I 595 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 2: was drafted, I had to wear a Phoenix hat yea, 596 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 2: And I did a couple of interviews as if I'm 597 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 2: going to Phoenix. So I'm sitting there, I'm just like, 598 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 2: you know, answering, like knowing that I'm just bullshit my language. 599 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 2: I'm just there. I'm just like, yo, y'all know, you know, 600 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:10,000 Speaker 2: I'm going to Chicago, but they just asking me about 601 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,600 Speaker 2: Steve Nash and a Maari and you know, and I'm 602 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 2: just answering question, and then the next thing, you know, 603 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 2: five minutes later, I had to switch my hat talk 604 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 2: about going to Chicago, and the next day I want 605 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 2: to playing with you know, Ben Gordon and Chris Douhan, 606 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: which you know teammates. You know, we were teammates and 607 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 2: at Duke, So that kind of helped a lot. 608 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 6: My dog, see dude, shout out to see dohn Man, 609 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 6: amazing guy. When you first got to Chicago, right you 610 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 6: going to the Bulls, was it? Did you ever have 611 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 6: any of them moments when you're looking up at the banners, 612 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 6: the jerseys, the MJ the statue out front, did you 613 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 6: ever have any of that? Like damn, like I'm about 614 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 6: to put this jersey on coming behind. What these folks 615 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 6: are done. 616 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:58,040 Speaker 2: No, it's crazy, man, you know, like it's starting to 617 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 2: play basketball. Oh we knew, you know, even when I 618 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 2: was in Egypt. 619 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 5: It's just the Bulls. Michael Jordan was just so dominant. 620 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 2: And I've never for a second thought that I will 621 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 2: ever be in the US or even I never even 622 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 2: thought I would be in Africa, to be honest, And 623 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 2: you hear about you know, Michael Jordan. You got people 624 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 2: wearing the balls, that's all everybody was talking about at 625 00:30:21,040 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 2: the time, and then all of a sudden, you know, 626 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,959 Speaker 2: I'm drafted by the Balls, I'm going to the arena. 627 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 2: I remember I used to look up to the rafters 628 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,240 Speaker 2: before every game, and you know, and I just couldn't 629 00:30:31,280 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 2: believe it that this is what it is. And you know, 630 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,440 Speaker 2: even now I look back and I'm just like, you know, 631 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 2: I'm in the top you know, ten and so many categories. 632 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 5: And I never thought that would happen. 633 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 2: And you know how it is even in the NBA, 634 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 2: even if you get dropped by Chicago or anyone, you 635 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 2: might be there for a year or two and get traded, 636 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 2: you know how her business is. But I ended up 637 00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 2: playing ten years for one organization. 638 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:56,120 Speaker 5: It's such a blessing, super blessing. 639 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: So when you got there your rookie year, you know, 640 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: this is the highest level of basketball. How did you 641 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: feel like you hold it up? 642 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 4: You got right in. You was a solid player. 643 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 1: Like one thing I always liked about your game is 644 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:11,719 Speaker 1: like you did everything like you play d You can 645 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 1: hit the jump or you could dribble. 646 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 4: You know, you're tall, you know what I'm saying. You physical. 647 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 1: How was it when you got to the highest level, 648 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:21,960 Speaker 1: because you know, you're kind of testing your stuff. This 649 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 1: is the greats of the Grace. This is where you 650 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:26,200 Speaker 1: see the guys that's supposed to be the best in 651 00:31:26,240 --> 00:31:26,640 Speaker 1: the world. 652 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, and you guys know this. 653 00:31:28,920 --> 00:31:31,840 Speaker 2: Man, I always say this. I think if when I 654 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,360 Speaker 2: look back at the NBA or even now when I 655 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:37,080 Speaker 2: watch the NBA, there are certain guys that are so 656 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 2: good at certain things. You know, you can you got 657 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 2: guys who could shoot, you got guys who could just score, 658 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:43,480 Speaker 2: flat out score. 659 00:31:44,080 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 3: You know. 660 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,920 Speaker 2: For me, coming into the NBA, I was trying to 661 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,440 Speaker 2: figure it out. Like in high school, I could score 662 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 2: any time I wanted. In college, the same thing when 663 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 2: I got to the NBA. I was always watching games 664 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 2: and figuring out players, how guys play. I always wanted 665 00:31:58,720 --> 00:32:00,880 Speaker 2: to fit in, you know, always wanted to be that 666 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,680 Speaker 2: guy who, you know, if I'm playing with you guys, Okay, 667 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:07,920 Speaker 2: what does d Miles or what does Q Rich do well? 668 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:10,600 Speaker 2: And how can I compliment them in a way If 669 00:32:10,640 --> 00:32:13,200 Speaker 2: you look at it, it's like, Okay, it worked out 670 00:32:13,240 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 2: for me, you know, but sometimes you need to have 671 00:32:15,520 --> 00:32:17,680 Speaker 2: that killer mindset would just say, you know, well, I 672 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:20,160 Speaker 2: don't care. But for me, it was more like I'm 673 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 2: going to figure it out. Playing before d Rose came 674 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:24,960 Speaker 2: playing with Ben Gordon and so on, my game was 675 00:32:25,040 --> 00:32:28,280 Speaker 2: so different. When d Rose came in. I just wouldn't 676 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 2: stop moving because I knew he had so much attention, 677 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:33,320 Speaker 2: you know, with Joe Kim cutting all the time and 678 00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 2: so on. I was always trying to figure out, you know, 679 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 2: how can I be relevant? You know, how do I 680 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:41,120 Speaker 2: just figure it out? If you give me minutes, I'm 681 00:32:41,160 --> 00:32:42,800 Speaker 2: just going to figure it out. That was really my 682 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 2: whole game. It wasn't about let me go out and 683 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,680 Speaker 2: get twenty points. It was more so like I need 684 00:32:48,800 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 2: you to feel like you need me. 685 00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:51,680 Speaker 5: I need to guard Lebron. You know. 686 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 2: I go out there and play as hard as I can, 687 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:56,719 Speaker 2: so the next time we play, the coach can be like, Yo, 688 00:32:56,880 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 2: we need this guy to guard Lebron. We need him 689 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 2: on the court or whoever it is. So that's just 690 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 2: how I just took my career. You know. 691 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,240 Speaker 1: Well, one thing I love about y'all guys too, man. 692 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:09,920 Speaker 1: I always liked y'all play, But the bond that you 693 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 1: d Rose, Joe Keim and that team had together still 694 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,880 Speaker 1: to this day, when I see y'all be around each 695 00:33:16,920 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: other in the act. Man, it's just always bring back 696 00:33:19,800 --> 00:33:22,240 Speaker 1: the memories of how close to win in this league, 697 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 1: you gotta have some type of bond and some type 698 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: of camaraderie with the team. But just speak on the 699 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:30,480 Speaker 1: bond that you have with that team, with Joe Keim 700 00:33:30,720 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 1: and you know once d Row Young d Rose got 701 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 1: there and just how y'all just became brothers for life. 702 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 2: Nah, definitely, Man, We're so blessed. I think, you know, 703 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 2: I've had so many good teammates. You know now when 704 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 2: you look back, the closest people that you are to 705 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:47,640 Speaker 2: are really people that are similar, that bring the best 706 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 2: out of you. And you know with Joe, Derek, Van Tabo, 707 00:33:52,560 --> 00:33:56,000 Speaker 2: all these guys, Kirk not the one thing that I 708 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:58,880 Speaker 2: would say, and I will give packs John Pax. 709 00:33:58,640 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 5: In the credit. 710 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 2: He really recruited on character more than just skills. And 711 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 2: I think because of our character we were okay with 712 00:34:08,120 --> 00:34:13,160 Speaker 2: success being for all of us. We became such a 713 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:17,279 Speaker 2: caring team. And like for example, when Derek Derek's MVP year, 714 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:21,160 Speaker 2: I remember thirty or forty games into it, I remember 715 00:34:21,239 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 2: being hurt. I remember I had a fractured thumb. But 716 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 2: we knew everyone knew that Derek had a chance to 717 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:30,640 Speaker 2: win the MVP. And I always tell people this, what's 718 00:34:30,680 --> 00:34:33,680 Speaker 2: so crazy was I became an All Star that year 719 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 2: obviously because the team we were winning so many games, 720 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 2: but honestly, I was so driven at delivering Derek being MVP, 721 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:43,960 Speaker 2: and that was you know, you could be hurt whatever, 722 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:46,560 Speaker 2: but all of us, you know, sating screens, you know, 723 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:49,759 Speaker 2: getting this Derek in the fourth quarter, giving Derek the 724 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:53,719 Speaker 2: ball cutting move and whatever win games, win as minut 725 00:34:53,719 --> 00:34:55,120 Speaker 2: as we can so we could win the MVP. And 726 00:34:55,160 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 2: I remember at the end of the season, you know, 727 00:34:57,160 --> 00:34:59,560 Speaker 2: ten games to go, and we're like, yo, we got 728 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:01,600 Speaker 2: to win these games. If we have the best record, 729 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 2: he'll win it. And that's the kind of relationship that 730 00:35:04,239 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 2: we ended up having on and off the court, just 731 00:35:06,360 --> 00:35:08,400 Speaker 2: carrying it on. And that comes with character. 732 00:35:08,920 --> 00:35:11,839 Speaker 6: You're talking about d Rose like you know, you were 733 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:14,520 Speaker 6: aware what was going on in college and stuff like that. 734 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 6: Talk about how y'all team was and how the city 735 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 6: responded to when y'all drafted him, because you know, I'm 736 00:35:21,520 --> 00:35:24,440 Speaker 6: a Chicago boy. I know I'm watching the post. I'm 737 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:28,520 Speaker 6: watching how he captivating and how the city he really 738 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,359 Speaker 6: had the posts of the city with him, Like, can 739 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 6: you talk about just how that experience and watching that, 740 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:38,200 Speaker 6: how somebody could really move a whole city the way 741 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 6: he had them rocking with him. 742 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:42,800 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, it was different man, you know, to be 743 00:35:42,960 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 2: from Chicago and not only to be as good as 744 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:50,359 Speaker 2: d Rose was to be the youngest MVP. But what's 745 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:53,439 Speaker 2: so important was is just Derek as a human being. 746 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 2: It just changed everything. He influenced so many people. His 747 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:02,440 Speaker 2: game was so aggressive and explosive, but his personality was 748 00:36:02,520 --> 00:36:06,719 Speaker 2: so humble. You know, Derek would do an interview and 749 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:10,239 Speaker 2: give credit to everybody, talk about how thankful he is 750 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:14,680 Speaker 2: for every opportunity he's been given. And he was so competitive, 751 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:16,719 Speaker 2: but you could never see that because of just how 752 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 2: he carried himself. But he was the best example for 753 00:36:19,680 --> 00:36:22,800 Speaker 2: that city, not only because of his talent, but just 754 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:25,480 Speaker 2: the way he was raised. And that's credit to you know, 755 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:29,440 Speaker 2: his mom and his brothers and everybody around him. They 756 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:31,959 Speaker 2: just did whatever it took to make sure that Derek 757 00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:35,160 Speaker 2: is protected, and Derek did whatever it can so he 758 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:37,880 Speaker 2: could deliver. You know, he knew all the stigma and 759 00:36:37,960 --> 00:36:41,080 Speaker 2: all the stereotyping that comes from, you know, being from 760 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 2: Chicago on the South Side and so on. But he 761 00:36:43,719 --> 00:36:45,960 Speaker 2: didn't care. He represented the city and he put the 762 00:36:46,040 --> 00:36:49,640 Speaker 2: city on and you know, just going back, man, there's 763 00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:54,440 Speaker 2: obviously there's nothing like the Michael Jordan era Dve rose Erra. 764 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:56,960 Speaker 2: I always say this man, the d rose Er was 765 00:36:57,040 --> 00:36:59,839 Speaker 2: something special that a lot of people would never get 766 00:36:59,880 --> 00:37:00,520 Speaker 2: to experience. 767 00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:02,959 Speaker 5: And I was just, you know, so blessed and happy 768 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:03,680 Speaker 5: to be a part of that. 769 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:08,080 Speaker 6: Nah, that's a fact, man. For that kid, he lived 770 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 6: the dream that every kid from Chicago wanted to dream. 771 00:37:11,160 --> 00:37:13,719 Speaker 6: But he took it to the highest point, you know 772 00:37:13,719 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 6: what I'm saying, to be the MVP as the youngest dude. 773 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:17,560 Speaker 4: And he doing it at the. 774 00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:21,440 Speaker 6: Crib like I always said, like yo, the way he 775 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:24,080 Speaker 6: just did, Like when he came in and he it 776 00:37:24,239 --> 00:37:24,839 Speaker 6: was like an. 777 00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:28,600 Speaker 4: Avalanche, like you feel me, Like he delivered. He delivered. 778 00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:31,800 Speaker 6: He delivered, and like that's why he deserved all of 779 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:34,120 Speaker 6: that love. And the way that everybody you know what 780 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:36,520 Speaker 6: I'm saying, followed behind him. I understood it. Told you, 781 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:39,400 Speaker 6: like all of us, the oldest Chicago dudes that we 782 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:42,920 Speaker 6: was all looking at like damn, like yo, young fella 783 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:45,560 Speaker 6: is going crazy. And it was dope to see. Man, 784 00:37:45,640 --> 00:37:47,520 Speaker 6: it was one of the dopest things to watch from 785 00:37:47,520 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 6: Afar to how he came from the city. You know, 786 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:52,640 Speaker 6: you know how we heard about him when he was 787 00:37:52,680 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 6: at Semeon, when he was coming up, when he was 788 00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:56,520 Speaker 6: becoming the guy, and then he was a guy. 789 00:37:56,560 --> 00:37:57,960 Speaker 4: It was him and Searon Collins. 790 00:37:58,000 --> 00:37:59,840 Speaker 6: When Collins went to Kansas and he went to men 791 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:03,440 Speaker 6: Is then then it was like d Rose and it 792 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:05,800 Speaker 6: was like when he arrived, it was over with and 793 00:38:05,920 --> 00:38:07,960 Speaker 6: it was like he fit the bill and showed up 794 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:08,920 Speaker 6: and showed the hell out. 795 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,279 Speaker 2: Yeah. No, he you know, d D special man, and 796 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:15,040 Speaker 2: d D was so good. He was so good even 797 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 2: in practices. You know, I just remember every move he made. 798 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:23,239 Speaker 2: We'll look at each other like you know, and there's 799 00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:25,720 Speaker 2: so many games that he just won for us without 800 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:28,120 Speaker 2: us even doing nothing, you know, like the fourth quarter 801 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:30,680 Speaker 2: it would just turn it on and you could see 802 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:33,680 Speaker 2: and you know, we all saw it. You know, certain 803 00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:36,400 Speaker 2: guys when you just you know, when they're in the zone, 804 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:39,520 Speaker 2: nobody want to face them. And you just knew when 805 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:41,920 Speaker 2: d Rose, you know those years that he was just 806 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,400 Speaker 2: on and I would say, man, it's just a blessing, 807 00:38:44,600 --> 00:38:47,880 Speaker 2: you know, everybody's story is different, everybody's path is different. 808 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 5: But to get to experience such a talent and such 809 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:54,600 Speaker 5: a character, you know, it's it's something special. 810 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:58,520 Speaker 1: Man, were winning games and you know, being top in 811 00:38:58,600 --> 00:39:00,839 Speaker 1: the East. We win a game, you know, you start 812 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:03,480 Speaker 1: getting appreciated for the things that you do for a 813 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,600 Speaker 1: team to help win game. When you heard that you 814 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:10,520 Speaker 1: made the All Star NBA All Star Team, tell us 815 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,919 Speaker 1: about when you heard you made the All Star team. 816 00:39:13,040 --> 00:39:15,400 Speaker 1: And tell us about when you walked in that locker 817 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:20,280 Speaker 1: room and you see the lebron jerseys, the d wads, 818 00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:22,760 Speaker 1: you see these guys who've been making the All Stars 819 00:39:22,880 --> 00:39:25,520 Speaker 1: in there. You're on the top floor. Now you know 820 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. This is a room you ain't been 821 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,239 Speaker 1: in the earth, smell different and stuff like that. So 822 00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 1: just tell us about that experience. 823 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:36,120 Speaker 2: Now. It was crazy, man. You know at some point 824 00:39:36,239 --> 00:39:38,680 Speaker 2: during the season, like you know, thirty games in or 825 00:39:38,719 --> 00:39:41,839 Speaker 2: forty games and you start to like get the feeling like, yo. 826 00:39:41,840 --> 00:39:43,560 Speaker 5: I got a chance to make it. You know, there's 827 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,239 Speaker 5: some guys in the league not just automatic all right. 828 00:39:46,680 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 2: I always tell people, man, some people have a green 829 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:52,520 Speaker 2: light where you know they will shoot their way till 830 00:39:52,560 --> 00:39:55,239 Speaker 2: they get that point. I didn't have that. Yeah, So 831 00:39:55,360 --> 00:39:57,600 Speaker 2: when everything was going well and I remember, like I 832 00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:01,640 Speaker 2: told you, I remember I fractured my thumb and it 833 00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:03,480 Speaker 2: was part of it. It was like, yo, I'm just 834 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:05,600 Speaker 2: going to keep going because I don't know if I'll 835 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:07,719 Speaker 2: ever get this opportunity again. 836 00:40:07,760 --> 00:40:08,759 Speaker 5: I want to be an All Star. 837 00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:13,480 Speaker 2: I remember being selected and I just couldn't believe it, 838 00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:15,960 Speaker 2: and going into the All Star game and seeing who's 839 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:19,040 Speaker 2: there and whatnot, and you start to, you know, take 840 00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:21,560 Speaker 2: it all in, but you start to realize this is 841 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 2: something that cannot be taken away. Once you make that 842 00:40:24,719 --> 00:40:27,439 Speaker 2: All Star you know, you got that jersey, you made 843 00:40:27,480 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 2: the team. 844 00:40:27,920 --> 00:40:28,360 Speaker 3: And so on. 845 00:40:29,080 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 2: But now you're just like, man, this is you know, 846 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:33,920 Speaker 2: when you look back, you're like, man, I'm so thankful 847 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:35,000 Speaker 2: for how hard I work. 848 00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:38,080 Speaker 5: I'm humble enough to realize this wasn't a given. 849 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:40,800 Speaker 2: It wasn't I'm not one of those guys who you 850 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:43,839 Speaker 2: earned that here. Yeah, every year you just your name 851 00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:45,920 Speaker 2: is caught out. I was sitting there in front of 852 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:51,040 Speaker 2: TNT just nervous, and as soon as this in your name, 853 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:54,440 Speaker 2: you know, just excited and happy. I'm most thankful for 854 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:55,080 Speaker 2: that man. 855 00:40:56,719 --> 00:40:58,680 Speaker 6: How was it for you when they you know, you 856 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:02,080 Speaker 6: didn't been there, put me in the work, balling, been 857 00:41:02,200 --> 00:41:04,440 Speaker 6: all rookie and all that. When they come to you 858 00:41:04,560 --> 00:41:06,680 Speaker 6: with the contract extension and you're about to get that 859 00:41:06,880 --> 00:41:09,480 Speaker 6: six years with that, be with that. You know what 860 00:41:09,480 --> 00:41:11,680 Speaker 6: I'm saying, That brings trug How did that feel? You 861 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:13,520 Speaker 6: know what I'm saying, knowing that you didn't like you say, 862 00:41:13,719 --> 00:41:17,040 Speaker 6: ten years ago, nine years ago, you was just in Egypt, 863 00:41:17,120 --> 00:41:19,839 Speaker 6: and now now you're about to get the big boy bag. 864 00:41:20,680 --> 00:41:24,440 Speaker 2: Now, it's it's insane, you know, you know how it 865 00:41:24,600 --> 00:41:28,040 Speaker 2: is when you get that big contract. It's like you 866 00:41:28,239 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 2: do your best, honestly, you do your best to stay 867 00:41:31,680 --> 00:41:34,840 Speaker 2: humble and realize how hard you work to get that. 868 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:39,320 Speaker 2: You know, I remember signing that first contract and just 869 00:41:39,480 --> 00:41:42,839 Speaker 2: knowing that, Yo, I'm good. But you know, don't don't 870 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:46,080 Speaker 2: lose who you are or how hard you worked. You know, 871 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:49,320 Speaker 2: don't allow yourself to become somebody or not. And I remember, 872 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,160 Speaker 2: you know, with all the money that I was making 873 00:41:52,239 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 2: and everything I kept saying, I can't change I can't. 874 00:41:55,680 --> 00:41:57,920 Speaker 2: You know who I am. It's been working for me. 875 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:00,239 Speaker 2: This is who I am, this is how I want 876 00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:03,720 Speaker 2: to represent myself, and I just kept those things separate. 877 00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:05,880 Speaker 2: I kept going to the gym, I kept working. I 878 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:09,040 Speaker 2: didn't allow all that. But I knew once, you know, 879 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:11,839 Speaker 2: once that money is on your name and everyone knows 880 00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 2: your salary, that love is not the same. You know, 881 00:42:14,560 --> 00:42:17,680 Speaker 2: it's it's easy. It's easy to love you when you're 882 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:20,000 Speaker 2: not making that much and you're working hard and everyone 883 00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:22,759 Speaker 2: is like, you know what, he works hard, he plays hard. 884 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:25,080 Speaker 2: But you could work as hard as you can if 885 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:27,760 Speaker 2: you ain't delivering and you're getting that money, that love. 886 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:33,359 Speaker 4: Is bit Yeah, dog, I know how competitive you are. 887 00:42:33,520 --> 00:42:37,799 Speaker 1: You always accept the challenge on defense to hear your 888 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:42,120 Speaker 1: peers reward you by making All Defense. You know, you 889 00:42:42,239 --> 00:42:44,160 Speaker 1: made the all star team that you're and then you 890 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:47,080 Speaker 1: cap it off at the end by making All Defensive team. 891 00:42:47,560 --> 00:42:50,600 Speaker 1: Did it feel like your peers and everybody appreciated what 892 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:52,880 Speaker 1: you bring to the table. Like you said, you not 893 00:42:53,000 --> 00:42:55,200 Speaker 1: the You're not the one that's going all the points, 894 00:42:55,239 --> 00:42:57,359 Speaker 1: but you're doing all the things that sometimes it might 895 00:42:57,440 --> 00:42:59,040 Speaker 1: not even show up on the stat sheet. 896 00:43:00,120 --> 00:43:00,319 Speaker 4: Yeah. 897 00:43:00,400 --> 00:43:03,160 Speaker 2: No, those are the best awards, any award that you 898 00:43:03,360 --> 00:43:07,200 Speaker 2: get from teammates, you know, not not depressed voting and 899 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:07,600 Speaker 2: so on. 900 00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:09,120 Speaker 5: But you know, when. 901 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:13,680 Speaker 2: Coaches vote for All Star or when players vote for categories, 902 00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:17,040 Speaker 2: those are the things that you know, you walk around proud. 903 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:18,960 Speaker 2: You know, you go to the next game knowing that 904 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:21,920 Speaker 2: these guys voted for you. You know, I remember winning 905 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:26,520 Speaker 2: the Humanitarian Award, and what made me so happy winning 906 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:29,480 Speaker 2: that award was because that was an award that it 907 00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:31,880 Speaker 2: wasn't about my talent. It was just about who I 908 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:34,680 Speaker 2: am as a person, and that was something that I can, 909 00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:37,160 Speaker 2: you know, give back to the way I was raised 910 00:43:37,200 --> 00:43:39,680 Speaker 2: and so on. So those kind of awards are always 911 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:42,719 Speaker 2: the one that as you get older and you look back, 912 00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:45,919 Speaker 2: those are really the awards that matter, not so much 913 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:48,880 Speaker 2: of the other awards. It's the awards of those are 914 00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:51,399 Speaker 2: your peers, the same people that saw you working hard 915 00:43:51,480 --> 00:43:52,960 Speaker 2: and so on that reward to do that. 916 00:43:54,680 --> 00:43:56,640 Speaker 6: I want to ask you this going back to when 917 00:43:56,680 --> 00:43:59,560 Speaker 6: you touched on from you coming to America. You know, 918 00:43:59,640 --> 00:44:02,160 Speaker 6: when you playing basketball, Lebron was like, I want to 919 00:44:02,200 --> 00:44:04,680 Speaker 6: go back to those series that y'all had, cause y'all 920 00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:08,400 Speaker 6: had some some heated series between you in Cleveland and 921 00:44:08,600 --> 00:44:09,040 Speaker 6: when he was. 922 00:44:09,080 --> 00:44:09,560 Speaker 4: With the Heat. 923 00:44:09,719 --> 00:44:12,880 Speaker 6: Just talk about those battles and like I used to 924 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:14,919 Speaker 6: love to watch, even when I was in the league 925 00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:17,240 Speaker 6: doing this time, I used to love to watch y'all series. 926 00:44:17,280 --> 00:44:20,000 Speaker 6: You know what I'm saying, Joe Kane talking trash, he 927 00:44:20,080 --> 00:44:22,839 Speaker 6: ain't really like cause it was like in the time 928 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:27,960 Speaker 6: where everybody knew, you know, go to Cleveland. Yeah, Lebron was. 929 00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:30,360 Speaker 4: Top of the league, but it was like y'all was 930 00:44:30,520 --> 00:44:31,920 Speaker 4: meeting them with that aggression. 931 00:44:32,040 --> 00:44:34,880 Speaker 6: You had somebody chirping, you had Joe came over there 932 00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:36,839 Speaker 6: waving like get that, get that out of here, man, 933 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:39,839 Speaker 6: nobody and y'all it was like, this is the confrontation. 934 00:44:40,000 --> 00:44:41,400 Speaker 4: You know how we are we want to see this. 935 00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:43,960 Speaker 6: So it was like, how was it to be locked 936 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:47,680 Speaker 6: in in those wars, especially like y'all got multiple playoff 937 00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:50,040 Speaker 6: series to go to it like this is where you know, 938 00:44:50,200 --> 00:44:52,520 Speaker 6: it's like, okay, this is a real beef a little bit. 939 00:44:52,560 --> 00:44:55,640 Speaker 4: So how was it for y'all to be in them trenches? Man? 940 00:44:55,960 --> 00:44:58,759 Speaker 5: I wanted and Joe said this, it's the same Man, 941 00:44:59,000 --> 00:45:00,839 Speaker 5: I wanted to be Bron so bad. 942 00:45:01,560 --> 00:45:02,319 Speaker 4: You know, I knew. 943 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:06,000 Speaker 2: I knew how good Lebron is and how good he 944 00:45:06,160 --> 00:45:09,680 Speaker 2: made his team even through during the season. 945 00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:12,040 Speaker 5: You know, you kind of circled that game. 946 00:45:12,160 --> 00:45:15,000 Speaker 2: And like you said earlier, as a competitor, I knew 947 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:20,840 Speaker 2: that everybody was watching Lebron. It wasn't about you know, 948 00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:24,600 Speaker 2: whoever Lebron played, people go to watch Lebron. It's just, 949 00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:27,480 Speaker 2: you know, that's who Lebron was. So for me, I 950 00:45:27,640 --> 00:45:30,680 Speaker 2: made it. I always wanted to give him a hard time, 951 00:45:30,920 --> 00:45:32,680 Speaker 2: no matter what it was. And I wasn't a guy 952 00:45:32,719 --> 00:45:35,560 Speaker 2: who's going to talk trash or do anything. I just 953 00:45:36,160 --> 00:45:38,239 Speaker 2: I just bothered him. I just, you know, every shot, 954 00:45:39,040 --> 00:45:41,400 Speaker 2: whether he saw me or not, I just I worked 955 00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:44,680 Speaker 2: so hard to try or you know, give ourselves a 956 00:45:44,840 --> 00:45:47,279 Speaker 2: chance to win. And you know, it goes back to 957 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:49,400 Speaker 2: you know, I always felt like we were going to 958 00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:52,200 Speaker 2: get one with the Derek injury and so on. But 959 00:45:52,840 --> 00:45:54,560 Speaker 2: you know when I when I think back, it just 960 00:45:55,000 --> 00:45:57,799 Speaker 2: you start to realize how good he was and as 961 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:00,520 Speaker 2: talented as Lebron is. I always tell people the story 962 00:46:00,920 --> 00:46:03,600 Speaker 2: I was doing in twenty twelve. We did a McDonald's 963 00:46:03,600 --> 00:46:07,360 Speaker 2: commercial together me and Lebron before the Olympics, and Lebron 964 00:46:07,480 --> 00:46:10,200 Speaker 2: has a hit trailer and I had my trailer. I 965 00:46:10,360 --> 00:46:12,520 Speaker 2: was there with my brother and Lebron was there with 966 00:46:12,680 --> 00:46:16,320 Speaker 2: like fifteen or sixteen people. He had a whole entourage 967 00:46:16,360 --> 00:46:20,040 Speaker 2: in there, right. So every time we would shoot you know, 968 00:46:20,320 --> 00:46:22,520 Speaker 2: a skid whatever for thirty minutes and they would give 969 00:46:22,600 --> 00:46:24,520 Speaker 2: us a break, I would go with my trailer and 970 00:46:24,560 --> 00:46:27,359 Speaker 2: I would just sit there. And then I was just like, ooh, 971 00:46:27,400 --> 00:46:29,759 Speaker 2: I wonder what he's doing, like all those people and 972 00:46:29,880 --> 00:46:32,359 Speaker 2: there I hit the music whatever, whatever. I'm just sitting 973 00:46:32,360 --> 00:46:33,960 Speaker 2: there with my brother quiet. 974 00:46:34,120 --> 00:46:34,440 Speaker 5: Nothing. 975 00:46:34,960 --> 00:46:37,759 Speaker 2: I go in his trailer, man, and it changed my 976 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:41,440 Speaker 2: whole career. I see this guy, he had his trainer, 977 00:46:42,040 --> 00:46:44,200 Speaker 2: he had a massage therapist. 978 00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:46,080 Speaker 5: He had all the bands we won. 979 00:46:47,360 --> 00:46:51,520 Speaker 2: It was actually working. He's actually working on his body. 980 00:46:51,600 --> 00:46:55,120 Speaker 2: And you know, at that time, I thought I worked hard, 981 00:46:55,680 --> 00:46:58,920 Speaker 2: but I wasn't working smart. I was just working, you know. 982 00:46:59,080 --> 00:47:02,080 Speaker 2: But this guy is using his time wisely, and it 983 00:47:02,239 --> 00:47:05,520 Speaker 2: changed my whole approach. I started getting a chef, you know, 984 00:47:05,560 --> 00:47:08,120 Speaker 2: I started getting a trainer. I started taking it so seriously, 985 00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:10,960 Speaker 2: and that led to my All Star years and playing 986 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:13,600 Speaker 2: those minister and staying healthy. If you look back at 987 00:47:13,640 --> 00:47:16,000 Speaker 2: my career before that, I was gaining a lot of injuries, 988 00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:18,360 Speaker 2: and you know, later on I turned it around, and 989 00:47:18,440 --> 00:47:20,400 Speaker 2: it was really part of learning how to take care 990 00:47:20,440 --> 00:47:22,960 Speaker 2: of my body. I wasn't taught that. I didn't go 991 00:47:23,080 --> 00:47:25,759 Speaker 2: to school for it. I didn't, you know, do any of. 992 00:47:25,800 --> 00:47:26,160 Speaker 4: That and that. 993 00:47:26,360 --> 00:47:28,600 Speaker 1: And they weren't giving those secrets out in the NBA 994 00:47:28,760 --> 00:47:32,160 Speaker 1: and telling you to do that. Figure it out yourself. 995 00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:35,000 Speaker 2: Exactly exactly. I mean, you know, at the end of 996 00:47:35,040 --> 00:47:37,719 Speaker 2: my career after that, I'm traveling with a whole bag 997 00:47:38,320 --> 00:47:41,880 Speaker 2: that's just with bands and form role and massage whatnot 998 00:47:42,520 --> 00:47:45,120 Speaker 2: and ice bags and whatnot, because I started to take 999 00:47:45,120 --> 00:47:47,800 Speaker 2: it serious. I wasn't doing that to begin with, you know. So, 1000 00:47:48,400 --> 00:47:51,000 Speaker 2: you know, as good as Lebron is and as talented 1001 00:47:51,040 --> 00:47:53,520 Speaker 2: as he is, you know, people need to realize from 1002 00:47:53,640 --> 00:47:57,719 Speaker 2: day one, you know, he had the knowledge of what 1003 00:47:57,920 --> 00:48:00,160 Speaker 2: it takes to be at his best and that that's 1004 00:48:00,280 --> 00:48:01,800 Speaker 2: why he's still playing today. 1005 00:48:01,840 --> 00:48:02,000 Speaker 4: You know. 1006 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:05,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I definite say that about Lebron, like I 1007 00:48:05,960 --> 00:48:09,160 Speaker 1: always say that. Man, I was three years in the 1008 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:13,360 Speaker 1: league and already and he came in and he was 1009 00:48:13,440 --> 00:48:14,240 Speaker 1: so much more. 1010 00:48:14,200 --> 00:48:14,960 Speaker 4: Mature than me. 1011 00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:18,080 Speaker 1: The way he carried hisself and what he was doing 1012 00:48:18,160 --> 00:48:20,160 Speaker 1: in the weight room and going to how he was 1013 00:48:20,200 --> 00:48:21,719 Speaker 1: going to the gym. I was putting work in, but 1014 00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:24,160 Speaker 1: not like this guy, for him to be for me 1015 00:48:24,280 --> 00:48:26,600 Speaker 1: to be twenty one, he coming into eighteen and he's 1016 00:48:27,520 --> 00:48:28,440 Speaker 1: doing it already. 1017 00:48:28,520 --> 00:48:30,960 Speaker 4: It was like, man, and I see why he lasted 1018 00:48:31,080 --> 00:48:31,480 Speaker 4: so long. 1019 00:48:31,960 --> 00:48:35,400 Speaker 2: No, definitely, definitely. And now I tell all my you know, 1020 00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:37,360 Speaker 2: all the young guys that I trained and so on. 1021 00:48:37,600 --> 00:48:39,640 Speaker 2: You know, I can't just talk to you about putting 1022 00:48:39,680 --> 00:48:42,319 Speaker 2: the ball in the hoop or dribbling. You know, it's 1023 00:48:42,360 --> 00:48:45,640 Speaker 2: all about how you maximizing the best of your talent. 1024 00:48:46,080 --> 00:48:48,600 Speaker 2: You know, what are you doing to really reach the 1025 00:48:48,680 --> 00:48:50,759 Speaker 2: best of your talent? Because you can be talented enough 1026 00:48:51,280 --> 00:48:53,360 Speaker 2: to be in the NBA for a few years, but 1027 00:48:54,120 --> 00:48:58,600 Speaker 2: let's work on you know, being there, get get every 1028 00:48:58,719 --> 00:49:00,360 Speaker 2: ounce out of it. You know, I didn't have that. 1029 00:49:00,719 --> 00:49:03,840 Speaker 2: I was obviously talented. I just worked hard. But that 1030 00:49:04,120 --> 00:49:06,359 Speaker 2: knowledge came late. But I'm glad at least I got 1031 00:49:06,400 --> 00:49:10,120 Speaker 2: the knowledge. You know, now, I started that from my 1032 00:49:10,560 --> 00:49:13,040 Speaker 2: you know, from my rookie year. 1033 00:49:13,160 --> 00:49:17,000 Speaker 4: Right away, be world different, you rewinded. 1034 00:49:17,280 --> 00:49:20,200 Speaker 1: I was sleep and eat in the weight room, in 1035 00:49:20,280 --> 00:49:25,200 Speaker 1: the gym. I've been like Kobe Man, you wouldn't see 1036 00:49:25,280 --> 00:49:28,799 Speaker 1: me until it was game time. I'm already I'm worked. 1037 00:49:28,520 --> 00:49:32,000 Speaker 2: Up, seriously. That's how we all see it. 1038 00:49:32,080 --> 00:49:32,960 Speaker 4: Now, tell me this. 1039 00:49:33,160 --> 00:49:36,080 Speaker 6: You you that when the youngest Jimmy Butler walked through 1040 00:49:36,080 --> 00:49:41,200 Speaker 6: the door, what was your first impressions of Jimmy Buckets Now, Jimmy, I. 1041 00:49:41,239 --> 00:49:44,120 Speaker 2: Knew, you know, it was at the time, you know, 1042 00:49:44,400 --> 00:49:48,960 Speaker 2: I had Griff was my teammate, Adrian Griffin, and I 1043 00:49:49,080 --> 00:49:52,840 Speaker 2: remember being young and Griff being my vet. Griff was 1044 00:49:53,000 --> 00:49:56,640 Speaker 2: always you know, in the gym, working out to come 1045 00:49:56,719 --> 00:49:58,520 Speaker 2: in at night and all that, and you know, he 1046 00:49:58,600 --> 00:50:01,040 Speaker 2: would just kind of, you know, teach me all these 1047 00:50:01,120 --> 00:50:04,359 Speaker 2: little tricks, you know, and I appreciate it so much. 1048 00:50:04,800 --> 00:50:08,600 Speaker 2: When Jimmy came on board, Adrian Griffin became our assistant coach, 1049 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:11,400 Speaker 2: and I remember Adrian just being on me like, Yo, 1050 00:50:11,440 --> 00:50:13,239 Speaker 2: you got to take this young guy under your wing, 1051 00:50:14,280 --> 00:50:17,600 Speaker 2: you know. And for me, I just saw Jimmy was 1052 00:50:17,680 --> 00:50:21,000 Speaker 2: so talented and I knew I could see it in practice. 1053 00:50:21,080 --> 00:50:24,000 Speaker 2: He's matching up against me, how he moves the way 1054 00:50:24,080 --> 00:50:26,360 Speaker 2: he's guarded me. And I remember I would go to 1055 00:50:26,680 --> 00:50:29,640 Speaker 2: Tibbs and I would tell him like, Yo, we need 1056 00:50:29,719 --> 00:50:32,520 Speaker 2: to play this young guy. Jimmy needs to play. I 1057 00:50:32,680 --> 00:50:36,000 Speaker 2: remember going to TIBs and telling them, Yo, this kid 1058 00:50:36,080 --> 00:50:39,120 Speaker 2: needs to start is that good. And it took Tims 1059 00:50:39,160 --> 00:50:42,000 Speaker 2: a while, but Jimmy really bought into it and he 1060 00:50:42,160 --> 00:50:44,839 Speaker 2: worked so hard. You know, Jimmy is in the gym, 1061 00:50:44,960 --> 00:50:47,879 Speaker 2: he's getting shot, so you know we're going to the game. 1062 00:50:47,960 --> 00:50:51,440 Speaker 2: He's not playing a single minute. He's back at the arena, 1063 00:50:51,560 --> 00:50:54,320 Speaker 2: he's working out, he's running. And for me, I knew, 1064 00:50:54,880 --> 00:50:56,960 Speaker 2: you know, I didn't know that he would be this good, 1065 00:50:57,280 --> 00:50:59,200 Speaker 2: but I knew that he's going to be in the 1066 00:50:59,280 --> 00:51:00,000 Speaker 2: league for a long time. 1067 00:51:01,480 --> 00:51:04,280 Speaker 4: How was it playing in the Olympics with Great Britain? 1068 00:51:04,920 --> 00:51:09,000 Speaker 2: For me, I always wanted to be an Olympian and 1069 00:51:09,440 --> 00:51:12,759 Speaker 2: at the time, I couldn't really represent Sudan. You know, 1070 00:51:12,880 --> 00:51:14,759 Speaker 2: we were in one country, but we were going through 1071 00:51:14,800 --> 00:51:18,719 Speaker 2: a civil war, same war and the same regime that 1072 00:51:18,960 --> 00:51:23,120 Speaker 2: made me flee my country, you know, because of their 1073 00:51:23,200 --> 00:51:25,960 Speaker 2: own beliefs and how they wanted to separate the country 1074 00:51:26,040 --> 00:51:30,440 Speaker 2: between Muslims and Christians, you know, and Arabs and Africans. 1075 00:51:30,880 --> 00:51:33,839 Speaker 2: So right away, I remember, I said I didn't want 1076 00:51:33,880 --> 00:51:37,400 Speaker 2: to represent Sudan and I went you know, when I 1077 00:51:37,520 --> 00:51:39,320 Speaker 2: was in England, I went to the national team and 1078 00:51:39,360 --> 00:51:41,600 Speaker 2: I told him, I said, look, I was taken in 1079 00:51:41,719 --> 00:51:45,279 Speaker 2: by this country. Yeah, gave me an opportunity. The best 1080 00:51:45,320 --> 00:51:47,200 Speaker 2: thing that I could do is work as part as 1081 00:51:47,239 --> 00:51:49,799 Speaker 2: I can and play every summer and try to really 1082 00:51:49,880 --> 00:51:53,640 Speaker 2: take basketball to a different level in this country. And 1083 00:51:53,800 --> 00:51:55,799 Speaker 2: every summer while I was in the league, I would 1084 00:51:55,840 --> 00:51:58,240 Speaker 2: go back and play with the English national team until 1085 00:51:58,280 --> 00:52:01,080 Speaker 2: we made it to the Olympics. And I remember, I 1086 00:52:01,239 --> 00:52:03,960 Speaker 2: just felt like I gave something back to a country 1087 00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:07,080 Speaker 2: that gave me an opportunity. That's really how I felt 1088 00:52:07,120 --> 00:52:10,239 Speaker 2: about it. I represented it because one I didn't want 1089 00:52:10,280 --> 00:52:13,120 Speaker 2: to represent Sudan because of what was going on, and 1090 00:52:13,280 --> 00:52:15,520 Speaker 2: two I wanted to be an Olympian, and three I 1091 00:52:15,640 --> 00:52:16,920 Speaker 2: just wanted to give back to them. 1092 00:52:21,280 --> 00:52:23,960 Speaker 1: Your last year with the Bulls, d Rose was hurt 1093 00:52:24,040 --> 00:52:25,400 Speaker 1: and you was the leading score. 1094 00:52:26,120 --> 00:52:27,440 Speaker 4: Did you feel like once d. 1095 00:52:27,640 --> 00:52:30,200 Speaker 1: Rose got hurt they kind of gave up on that 1096 00:52:30,440 --> 00:52:34,960 Speaker 1: core that y'all had the cores instead of going forward 1097 00:52:35,000 --> 00:52:37,120 Speaker 1: with that corps. But once d Rose got hurt, they 1098 00:52:37,200 --> 00:52:39,400 Speaker 1: kind of gave up on the whole core of that. 1099 00:52:40,320 --> 00:52:43,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm gonna tell you something I never shared, and 1100 00:52:44,280 --> 00:52:47,359 Speaker 2: you know, this is really why it went the way 1101 00:52:47,480 --> 00:52:47,799 Speaker 2: it went. 1102 00:52:48,600 --> 00:52:51,360 Speaker 5: If you remember that year we went to. 1103 00:52:51,400 --> 00:52:55,120 Speaker 2: The playoffs, the year that d Rose got hurt. We 1104 00:52:55,239 --> 00:52:57,840 Speaker 2: were playing Brooklyn and there was a flu going on 1105 00:52:58,040 --> 00:53:01,200 Speaker 2: with the team and one of the doctors suggested that, 1106 00:53:01,760 --> 00:53:04,280 Speaker 2: you know, because my fever was so high, they suggested 1107 00:53:04,360 --> 00:53:06,920 Speaker 2: that I had menagitis, and I don't know where, they 1108 00:53:07,040 --> 00:53:09,320 Speaker 2: just sent me to the hospital. When I got to 1109 00:53:09,440 --> 00:53:13,719 Speaker 2: the hospital, they diagnosed me wrong and they ended up 1110 00:53:14,239 --> 00:53:16,800 Speaker 2: saying that my fever was too high and whatnot, and 1111 00:53:16,920 --> 00:53:21,680 Speaker 2: they ended up giving me a spinal tap surgery. Now, yeah, 1112 00:53:21,800 --> 00:53:23,279 Speaker 2: this is what happened. This is how I missed the 1113 00:53:23,280 --> 00:53:26,200 Speaker 2: playoffs that year. So I go and get a spinal tab, 1114 00:53:26,400 --> 00:53:28,800 Speaker 2: knowing that I don't know what a spinal tab is. 1115 00:53:29,680 --> 00:53:32,479 Speaker 2: But the doctor told me that, you know, oh, don't 1116 00:53:32,480 --> 00:53:34,600 Speaker 2: worry about it. It's just the procedure to see if 1117 00:53:34,640 --> 00:53:38,040 Speaker 2: you have managitis, because this is serious whatever whatever, mind you, 1118 00:53:38,160 --> 00:53:41,560 Speaker 2: other people in the team had the flu. Anyway, they 1119 00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:44,879 Speaker 2: proceed and just go on with it. Anyway, I ended 1120 00:53:44,920 --> 00:53:47,279 Speaker 2: up this in the playoffs. And what happened was that 1121 00:53:47,480 --> 00:53:51,040 Speaker 2: year there was a dispute going on with the MBPA 1122 00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:54,160 Speaker 2: and so on about me sewing the bulls because of 1123 00:53:54,239 --> 00:53:54,960 Speaker 2: what took place. 1124 00:53:55,440 --> 00:53:57,760 Speaker 5: But I knew that if I sue the Bulls. 1125 00:53:58,320 --> 00:54:01,279 Speaker 2: I would either not play bass ever again in order 1126 00:54:01,360 --> 00:54:04,040 Speaker 2: to win the case, to prove that things didn't go 1127 00:54:04,200 --> 00:54:06,640 Speaker 2: well and this could be a career ending. But I 1128 00:54:06,719 --> 00:54:10,000 Speaker 2: wanted to hoop, so I said, Yo, I'm not doing anyone. 1129 00:54:10,040 --> 00:54:11,759 Speaker 5: I'm just gonna hoop. I'm just going to come back. 1130 00:54:12,160 --> 00:54:15,399 Speaker 2: I came back that year, and nothing was the same. 1131 00:54:15,520 --> 00:54:18,520 Speaker 2: It just felt like, you know, every game I was 1132 00:54:18,560 --> 00:54:21,640 Speaker 2: given an opportunity to prove that I'm healthy. And as 1133 00:54:21,680 --> 00:54:24,160 Speaker 2: the year went on, like you said, I'm the leading scorer, 1134 00:54:24,200 --> 00:54:27,560 Speaker 2: I'm averaging almost twenty points and so on. You know, 1135 00:54:28,040 --> 00:54:30,760 Speaker 2: the next thing I know is I'm traded to Cleveland, 1136 00:54:31,920 --> 00:54:34,640 Speaker 2: you know, And I still believe that move was made 1137 00:54:34,760 --> 00:54:37,880 Speaker 2: really because I've played enough games to show that, you know, 1138 00:54:38,000 --> 00:54:43,520 Speaker 2: I was healthy enough that when the team started being 1139 00:54:43,640 --> 00:54:47,279 Speaker 2: broken up and one by one after I left, you know, 1140 00:54:47,520 --> 00:54:50,480 Speaker 2: you started seeing people being moved, tips being moved and 1141 00:54:50,600 --> 00:54:54,400 Speaker 2: so on. But when I look back, and you guys noticed, 1142 00:54:54,480 --> 00:54:58,279 Speaker 2: any team that wins the league, they got to be 1143 00:54:58,360 --> 00:55:01,880 Speaker 2: together for a few years, you know, and those you know, 1144 00:55:02,040 --> 00:55:04,800 Speaker 2: the best gms and the best presidents in the NBA, 1145 00:55:05,239 --> 00:55:07,879 Speaker 2: they understand that. If you look at San Antonio, if 1146 00:55:07,880 --> 00:55:10,760 Speaker 2: you look at Detroit Pistons, if you look at the Lakers, 1147 00:55:11,200 --> 00:55:13,719 Speaker 2: you know, if you look at Golden States, you know, 1148 00:55:13,880 --> 00:55:15,799 Speaker 2: you go on and wrong. You got to keep the core, 1149 00:55:16,880 --> 00:55:19,640 Speaker 2: expect to just you know, just because of one injury, 1150 00:55:19,800 --> 00:55:21,839 Speaker 2: you just let everything go. And I think that's where 1151 00:55:21,880 --> 00:55:25,239 Speaker 2: we went wrong. I think once Derek got hurt, they 1152 00:55:25,360 --> 00:55:27,480 Speaker 2: let go of the rope, not knowing that. You know, 1153 00:55:27,920 --> 00:55:31,000 Speaker 2: even with Derek returning, he needed us around him. He 1154 00:55:31,120 --> 00:55:33,839 Speaker 2: needed that, you know, he needed that core that were 1155 00:55:33,960 --> 00:55:36,400 Speaker 2: with him to rock with him because we would believe 1156 00:55:36,400 --> 00:55:38,920 Speaker 2: in him no matter what. And like Joe said, we 1157 00:55:39,040 --> 00:55:41,960 Speaker 2: were on each other. I remember Derek's with his injuries. 1158 00:55:42,040 --> 00:55:44,080 Speaker 2: We kept you know, you got to get on the rehab. 1159 00:55:44,120 --> 00:55:46,760 Speaker 2: You gotta change your diet, you gotta eat better because 1160 00:55:46,800 --> 00:55:49,040 Speaker 2: we can't. It wasn't just about hooping. It was just, 1161 00:55:49,160 --> 00:55:51,760 Speaker 2: you know, get the best you can out of your career. 1162 00:55:53,000 --> 00:55:57,279 Speaker 6: Tell me this, like you said, like everybody knew. You 1163 00:55:57,320 --> 00:55:59,040 Speaker 6: know what I'm saying. When you weigh in Egypt, people 1164 00:55:59,080 --> 00:56:02,040 Speaker 6: still was the bull the bulls and bulls. Like now 1165 00:56:02,080 --> 00:56:03,600 Speaker 6: you're getting you know what I'm saying. You didn't play 1166 00:56:03,880 --> 00:56:06,080 Speaker 6: ten years there, Now you're getting traded away like when 1167 00:56:06,080 --> 00:56:08,759 Speaker 6: you look back at it, Like you said, nothing could 1168 00:56:08,800 --> 00:56:11,759 Speaker 6: touch the MJ era obviously, but like to note that 1169 00:56:12,320 --> 00:56:15,960 Speaker 6: y'all have an era in the organization's history and that 1170 00:56:16,320 --> 00:56:19,080 Speaker 6: there's a firm era that the fans in the city 1171 00:56:19,160 --> 00:56:22,440 Speaker 6: gonna always remember y'all and respect what y'all did. Like, 1172 00:56:22,480 --> 00:56:24,560 Speaker 6: how did that feel to know that y'all impacted the 1173 00:56:24,640 --> 00:56:27,279 Speaker 6: city and impacted the town like Chicago. 1174 00:56:27,360 --> 00:56:31,280 Speaker 4: En he left being fourth all time and scoring. 1175 00:56:31,760 --> 00:56:35,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, and like this story franchise has got championships and 1176 00:56:35,920 --> 00:56:40,160 Speaker 6: titles and y'all, y'all got big time bricks in the foundation, 1177 00:56:40,320 --> 00:56:42,000 Speaker 6: and y'all gonna be you know what I'm saying, remember 1178 00:56:42,040 --> 00:56:42,600 Speaker 6: it there forever? 1179 00:56:43,400 --> 00:56:46,319 Speaker 2: Yeah, Nah, honestly, man, it's it's so amazing. I never, 1180 00:56:47,120 --> 00:56:49,239 Speaker 2: like you just said, fourth and score. I never thought 1181 00:56:49,680 --> 00:56:52,759 Speaker 2: I would ever even be in the top twenty with 1182 00:56:52,880 --> 00:56:55,800 Speaker 2: the bulls Eye. That was never a thought. You know, 1183 00:56:56,200 --> 00:57:00,520 Speaker 2: I'm even surprised when I hear about it. But it's time. 1184 00:57:00,600 --> 00:57:00,759 Speaker 5: Man. 1185 00:57:00,800 --> 00:57:04,040 Speaker 2: I just really I wish we would have won. But 1186 00:57:04,200 --> 00:57:07,399 Speaker 2: at the same time, I'm just so thankful. It's almost like, Okay, 1187 00:57:07,920 --> 00:57:10,879 Speaker 2: you know, I'm so thankful for playing for that city. 1188 00:57:10,920 --> 00:57:13,400 Speaker 2: I'm so thankful for the teammates that I had. You know, 1189 00:57:13,920 --> 00:57:16,280 Speaker 2: you don't want to be greedy. It's like you're giving 1190 00:57:16,440 --> 00:57:18,000 Speaker 2: so much back. 1191 00:57:18,400 --> 00:57:18,560 Speaker 3: You know. 1192 00:57:18,880 --> 00:57:22,080 Speaker 2: We're just programmed to just be in this mindset of 1193 00:57:22,680 --> 00:57:25,439 Speaker 2: you know, you didn't win a championship, therefore it wasn't 1194 00:57:25,440 --> 00:57:28,680 Speaker 2: a success. But that was you know, in reality, there 1195 00:57:28,760 --> 00:57:32,240 Speaker 2: was so much you know, not only myself, but also 1196 00:57:32,320 --> 00:57:36,160 Speaker 2: like you we said earlier, Derek Rosse's influence with his 1197 00:57:36,880 --> 00:57:39,480 Speaker 2: you know, personality, and Joe Kim and what he's doing 1198 00:57:39,560 --> 00:57:42,440 Speaker 2: with the city now and all that stuff. That's all 1199 00:57:42,640 --> 00:57:46,880 Speaker 2: part of whatever my personality was, whatever Joe's personality was, 1200 00:57:47,040 --> 00:57:50,240 Speaker 2: Kirk and so on, we kind of like, you know, 1201 00:57:50,400 --> 00:57:51,760 Speaker 2: we kind of rubbed on each. 1202 00:57:51,600 --> 00:57:54,080 Speaker 5: Other to be better human beings for the city and 1203 00:57:54,400 --> 00:57:55,480 Speaker 5: that would live on forever. 1204 00:57:55,960 --> 00:57:56,560 Speaker 4: Absolutely. 1205 00:57:56,800 --> 00:58:02,600 Speaker 1: Tell us in twenty fifteen, you played with Team Africa 1206 00:58:03,000 --> 00:58:07,520 Speaker 1: in the NBA's African Exhibition game where you had Giannis, 1207 00:58:07,600 --> 00:58:13,680 Speaker 1: you had Serge, the Kimba King. Just for that to 1208 00:58:13,800 --> 00:58:16,680 Speaker 1: be that game and just tell us that experience of 1209 00:58:16,840 --> 00:58:20,000 Speaker 1: how like dope that was to just do that and 1210 00:58:20,200 --> 00:58:21,880 Speaker 1: just have the exhibition game there. 1211 00:58:23,600 --> 00:58:28,640 Speaker 2: It's insane, man, Because I remember in twenty ten when 1212 00:58:28,680 --> 00:58:31,520 Speaker 2: I was in the league. I went back to Africa 1213 00:58:31,640 --> 00:58:35,760 Speaker 2: with I'm gonna do, I'm gonna do, I'm gonna do 1214 00:58:35,920 --> 00:58:39,480 Speaker 2: fall and I remember Masai was with us, and what 1215 00:58:39,640 --> 00:58:41,960 Speaker 2: we did was we just did camps. We would pick 1216 00:58:42,040 --> 00:58:45,760 Speaker 2: five countries in Africa and we would spend the summer there. 1217 00:58:45,840 --> 00:58:50,920 Speaker 2: I was going to Rwanda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, like whatever. 1218 00:58:51,080 --> 00:58:52,960 Speaker 2: We would just pick five and we would just go. 1219 00:58:53,880 --> 00:58:56,200 Speaker 2: And at the time, it started small, but it started 1220 00:58:56,240 --> 00:58:59,240 Speaker 2: to grow the NBA started joining. They started to see 1221 00:58:59,360 --> 00:59:02,240 Speaker 2: the potential what we're doing. So, you know, to fast 1222 00:59:02,320 --> 00:59:06,000 Speaker 2: forward in twenty fifteen, you know, to be able to 1223 00:59:06,080 --> 00:59:09,280 Speaker 2: play in the continent, it just felt so good. It 1224 00:59:09,440 --> 00:59:12,720 Speaker 2: just felt that, you know, for me growing up, you know, 1225 00:59:13,000 --> 00:59:16,920 Speaker 2: being from Africa and bringing the game back and all 1226 00:59:17,000 --> 00:59:17,960 Speaker 2: these stars coming and. 1227 00:59:17,960 --> 00:59:19,000 Speaker 5: Playing against the world. 1228 00:59:20,200 --> 00:59:22,080 Speaker 2: It just felt like I'm a part of, you know, 1229 00:59:22,560 --> 00:59:26,920 Speaker 2: something that can change the narrative, motivate players to actually 1230 00:59:27,000 --> 00:59:28,880 Speaker 2: believe that they can do it. You know, as a kid, 1231 00:59:29,520 --> 00:59:31,680 Speaker 2: I would never ever get an opportunity to see an 1232 00:59:31,800 --> 00:59:34,200 Speaker 2: NBA player, And all of a sudden, everyone is coming 1233 00:59:34,280 --> 00:59:35,560 Speaker 2: back to the continent to play. 1234 00:59:35,880 --> 00:59:36,400 Speaker 5: It's special. 1235 00:59:36,680 --> 00:59:39,400 Speaker 1: That's crazy for y'all to have, like the old and 1236 00:59:39,520 --> 00:59:42,680 Speaker 1: the new, to have the Kim Bay and team out 1237 00:59:42,760 --> 00:59:45,439 Speaker 1: there with you and Surge. You know what I'm saying 1238 00:59:46,280 --> 00:59:50,000 Speaker 1: new area to Yiannis, Like that's just crazy. I know 1239 00:59:50,120 --> 00:59:53,240 Speaker 1: that just was a dope, dope event for Africa. 1240 00:59:53,920 --> 00:59:55,480 Speaker 5: Now it really it changed a lot. 1241 00:59:55,560 --> 00:59:55,680 Speaker 2: Man. 1242 00:59:55,720 --> 00:59:57,240 Speaker 5: You know, I always used to tell people this. 1243 00:59:57,800 --> 01:00:01,400 Speaker 2: When I first came in the league, being an African player, 1244 01:00:01,960 --> 01:00:05,120 Speaker 2: I always felt like, you know, I would look around 1245 01:00:05,280 --> 01:00:09,080 Speaker 2: the league and so on, and every other African player 1246 01:00:09,240 --> 01:00:12,320 Speaker 2: was a big man. And the way it me like, 1247 01:00:12,440 --> 01:00:15,920 Speaker 2: you know, we would sit down and take and some 1248 01:00:16,080 --> 01:00:18,480 Speaker 2: people sometimes they don't even know what they're saying, and 1249 01:00:18,560 --> 01:00:20,600 Speaker 2: you would watch and you just like, they will be 1250 01:00:20,640 --> 01:00:22,560 Speaker 2: scouting an African player and they'd just be like, yeah, 1251 01:00:22,600 --> 01:00:24,920 Speaker 2: he's raw, he's athletic, he's raw. And it bothered me 1252 01:00:25,000 --> 01:00:27,720 Speaker 2: and I'm just like, yo, you know, African players are skilled, 1253 01:00:27,880 --> 01:00:31,240 Speaker 2: Like we can dribble, we can do that. But now 1254 01:00:31,600 --> 01:00:34,560 Speaker 2: you know, in twenty fifteen and all that and seeing Giannis, 1255 01:00:35,280 --> 01:00:38,280 Speaker 2: seeing Siakam and be and now when you look at 1256 01:00:38,320 --> 01:00:40,880 Speaker 2: the league of how many African players are there, it 1257 01:00:41,080 --> 01:00:43,760 Speaker 2: just shows you that all these little things matter, all 1258 01:00:43,840 --> 01:00:47,600 Speaker 2: these things it influence, you know, players whether it's in 1259 01:00:47,880 --> 01:00:51,440 Speaker 2: the US, whether it's in Africa, whatever it is. You know, 1260 01:00:51,920 --> 01:00:55,040 Speaker 2: when players are when you know, kids feel that they 1261 01:00:55,120 --> 01:00:57,640 Speaker 2: can reach you, or they could see you, or they 1262 01:00:57,680 --> 01:00:58,440 Speaker 2: can be like you. 1263 01:00:59,320 --> 01:01:00,640 Speaker 5: You know, you change the narrative. 1264 01:01:01,720 --> 01:01:04,480 Speaker 4: You signed with the Heat. How did you adapt to 1265 01:01:04,640 --> 01:01:06,240 Speaker 4: Heat Culture and how did you feel? 1266 01:01:06,320 --> 01:01:06,360 Speaker 2: Like? 1267 01:01:06,440 --> 01:01:08,440 Speaker 6: How was your time in Miami? I had, I had 1268 01:01:08,480 --> 01:01:10,040 Speaker 6: the one year that I know you had a couple. 1269 01:01:10,160 --> 01:01:11,960 Speaker 6: How was your time with Heat Culture? 1270 01:01:12,560 --> 01:01:12,720 Speaker 4: Man? 1271 01:01:12,760 --> 01:01:13,200 Speaker 2: I loved it. 1272 01:01:13,480 --> 01:01:15,320 Speaker 5: I'm still you know, right now, I'm still in Miami. 1273 01:01:15,440 --> 01:01:15,720 Speaker 2: I live. 1274 01:01:17,120 --> 01:01:19,280 Speaker 4: Hey look, look, hey, look, blauda boy. 1275 01:01:19,600 --> 01:01:21,920 Speaker 6: I tell people all the time we went and people 1276 01:01:22,080 --> 01:01:25,720 Speaker 6: come to the Florida to play and stuff, we don't 1277 01:01:25,760 --> 01:01:26,360 Speaker 6: really leave. 1278 01:01:26,640 --> 01:01:27,800 Speaker 4: We do not really leave. 1279 01:01:27,920 --> 01:01:31,560 Speaker 2: We say it's different, man, you know. I you know, 1280 01:01:31,680 --> 01:01:33,640 Speaker 2: before I came to the Heat, I hated the Heat 1281 01:01:33,800 --> 01:01:37,400 Speaker 2: because of the Wade and Lebron. I hated it, you know, 1282 01:01:37,640 --> 01:01:40,840 Speaker 2: Like I remember with Joe's interview with you guys, It's 1283 01:01:40,960 --> 01:01:44,360 Speaker 2: like Lebron anytime we want to win, he's there, you know, 1284 01:01:44,800 --> 01:01:47,240 Speaker 2: shut down the East for so long, and Dwayne Wade 1285 01:01:47,320 --> 01:01:49,880 Speaker 2: the same thing. So before I came to the Heat, 1286 01:01:50,080 --> 01:01:52,320 Speaker 2: I was actually worried about that I was like, Yo, 1287 01:01:52,400 --> 01:01:55,120 Speaker 2: I've been battling with these guys. You know, I don't know. 1288 01:01:55,640 --> 01:01:58,640 Speaker 2: But once I signed, man, it's you know, Dwayne Wade 1289 01:01:58,720 --> 01:02:01,520 Speaker 2: is one of the best teammates you d The culture 1290 01:02:01,760 --> 01:02:06,080 Speaker 2: was just so dope in terms of it's a family atmosphere. Uh. 1291 01:02:06,360 --> 01:02:08,560 Speaker 2: It really reminded me a lot of Duke. It's like 1292 01:02:08,640 --> 01:02:12,640 Speaker 2: a brotherhood where you know, spoke par rally. Everybody, everyone 1293 01:02:12,680 --> 01:02:15,520 Speaker 2: in the organization is always checking on you. They make 1294 01:02:15,640 --> 01:02:18,680 Speaker 2: life easier in Miami. Uh, you know, anywhere you want 1295 01:02:18,720 --> 01:02:22,120 Speaker 2: to go. They so for me, I ended up staying here. 1296 01:02:22,120 --> 01:02:26,040 Speaker 2: And obviously the weather, like you said, you know, and 1297 01:02:26,400 --> 01:02:29,800 Speaker 2: I always tell people, man, I ended up in Chicago 1298 01:02:29,880 --> 01:02:32,120 Speaker 2: in one of the coldest cities. Being from Africa, that 1299 01:02:32,240 --> 01:02:36,560 Speaker 2: wasn't easy found you know, I found my way back 1300 01:02:36,600 --> 01:02:37,080 Speaker 2: to the heat. 1301 01:02:37,440 --> 01:02:37,640 Speaker 6: Yeah. 1302 01:02:39,200 --> 01:02:43,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, this Ldlando be doing this right, man, Like still 1303 01:02:43,200 --> 01:02:46,240 Speaker 1: wearing shorts when it's cold. It's cold back back East 1304 01:02:47,640 --> 01:02:48,280 Speaker 1: in the Midwell. 1305 01:02:48,360 --> 01:02:51,280 Speaker 6: I went from Miami to Orlando and then ain't never leave. 1306 01:02:51,400 --> 01:02:53,280 Speaker 6: So since I came to Florida, I ain't left. 1307 01:02:54,320 --> 01:02:55,880 Speaker 5: Florida's dope, man, It's dope. 1308 01:02:55,880 --> 01:02:56,240 Speaker 4: The weather. 1309 01:02:56,320 --> 01:02:58,360 Speaker 5: The weather is a big it's a big part of everything. 1310 01:02:58,760 --> 01:03:00,720 Speaker 4: Yo, Heat play Off debut. 1311 01:03:00,840 --> 01:03:04,800 Speaker 1: You scored thirty one points and your Heat Playoff debut, 1312 01:03:04,880 --> 01:03:07,920 Speaker 1: how was that? Reminisce about that game and tell us 1313 01:03:07,960 --> 01:03:11,600 Speaker 1: about that game, coming out and getting the thirty one points. 1314 01:03:12,120 --> 01:03:14,320 Speaker 2: You know, when I think back the way the things 1315 01:03:14,440 --> 01:03:17,360 Speaker 2: worked out for me with the Heat. When I first 1316 01:03:17,480 --> 01:03:20,000 Speaker 2: came in, I was trying to figure it out. I 1317 01:03:20,120 --> 01:03:22,000 Speaker 2: was really trying to figure it out. And I remember 1318 01:03:22,080 --> 01:03:25,600 Speaker 2: sitting with Spoe and I've never had a coach tell 1319 01:03:25,720 --> 01:03:28,360 Speaker 2: me I want you to shoot seven threes in a game. 1320 01:03:29,000 --> 01:03:31,040 Speaker 2: You know, every game, I just want you to shoot 1321 01:03:31,080 --> 01:03:33,600 Speaker 2: seven threes. I've never done that. You know, I always 1322 01:03:33,640 --> 01:03:35,400 Speaker 2: tell people when I go back to my career, this 1323 01:03:35,560 --> 01:03:38,760 Speaker 2: one time I averaged nineteen points and I shot eight 1324 01:03:38,880 --> 01:03:42,200 Speaker 2: threes all season and made one. You know, when I 1325 01:03:42,320 --> 01:03:44,520 Speaker 2: was with the Bulls, so I was always you know, 1326 01:03:44,640 --> 01:03:47,120 Speaker 2: you guys know, mid range was everything. I just wanted 1327 01:03:47,120 --> 01:03:49,640 Speaker 2: to get to my spot and pull up. So when 1328 01:03:49,720 --> 01:03:51,920 Speaker 2: Spoe told me, you know, I want you to shoot 1329 01:03:51,960 --> 01:03:54,040 Speaker 2: seven threes and every time you catch it in the corner, 1330 01:03:54,120 --> 01:03:57,080 Speaker 2: let it go. And that was right before the playoffs, 1331 01:03:57,160 --> 01:03:59,200 Speaker 2: a month or so into it. So I went into 1332 01:03:59,280 --> 01:04:02,400 Speaker 2: that playoff so confident. And you know, when you watch 1333 01:04:02,520 --> 01:04:05,840 Speaker 2: the game today, guys are so skilled. Now, I'm not 1334 01:04:05,920 --> 01:04:08,200 Speaker 2: taking anything away, but if you look back at the 1335 01:04:08,240 --> 01:04:11,040 Speaker 2: way we play, guys, and if you were told, you know, 1336 01:04:11,200 --> 01:04:13,840 Speaker 2: go in a game and shoot seven threes, you know 1337 01:04:14,000 --> 01:04:15,680 Speaker 2: you made four of those and you're coming out with 1338 01:04:15,760 --> 01:04:18,640 Speaker 2: twelve points. Now, you know, any two layups here and 1339 01:04:18,760 --> 01:04:21,439 Speaker 2: a couple of fast break and it changes the whole game. 1340 01:04:21,840 --> 01:04:23,960 Speaker 2: So it made the game so much easier for me. 1341 01:04:24,080 --> 01:04:27,360 Speaker 2: So I always look back the easiest time I had 1342 01:04:27,440 --> 01:04:30,240 Speaker 2: in my career was with the Heat, where I was 1343 01:04:30,360 --> 01:04:33,080 Speaker 2: working hard, but they made the game so easy for me. 1344 01:04:33,200 --> 01:04:35,520 Speaker 2: I didn't have to like chase anything. It was just, 1345 01:04:36,160 --> 01:04:38,560 Speaker 2: you know, let it go, just trust it, work on 1346 01:04:38,640 --> 01:04:40,160 Speaker 2: your game and let it go. And that's the first 1347 01:04:40,200 --> 01:04:42,200 Speaker 2: time I ever had any coach tell me that, and 1348 01:04:42,280 --> 01:04:43,640 Speaker 2: it made it so much easier for me. 1349 01:04:44,720 --> 01:04:47,120 Speaker 6: How was it signing to the Lakers after you know, 1350 01:04:47,280 --> 01:04:49,400 Speaker 6: Rad the Kobe retired, Like, how what was it like 1351 01:04:49,520 --> 01:04:51,560 Speaker 6: walking into their post Kobe? 1352 01:04:51,720 --> 01:04:55,120 Speaker 4: Like, especially from what you went through to get back 1353 01:04:55,200 --> 01:04:56,880 Speaker 4: to getting a big contract. 1354 01:04:57,000 --> 01:04:58,400 Speaker 2: Now, it's it's insane, man. 1355 01:04:58,480 --> 01:05:05,360 Speaker 4: You know I had for years me too nice, you know, listen, it. 1356 01:05:05,720 --> 01:05:07,480 Speaker 2: Came a lot of heat, with a lot of pressure 1357 01:05:08,000 --> 01:05:12,040 Speaker 2: and unnecessary things, uncalled for. But you know the thing back, 1358 01:05:12,160 --> 01:05:14,560 Speaker 2: like you said, I played with the heat. The heat 1359 01:05:14,600 --> 01:05:17,800 Speaker 2: gave me an opportunity. I had one of my best playoffs. 1360 01:05:17,880 --> 01:05:20,520 Speaker 2: I was playing so well. Uh And I remember I 1361 01:05:20,600 --> 01:05:23,800 Speaker 2: wanted to stay in Miami, but Pat Rally kept it 1362 01:05:23,920 --> 01:05:26,120 Speaker 2: real and Pat just said, yo, I can't. I can't 1363 01:05:26,160 --> 01:05:29,160 Speaker 2: pay you that much money. You gotta you gotta take 1364 01:05:29,200 --> 01:05:31,480 Speaker 2: that money. And for me, that was so real. So 1365 01:05:32,200 --> 01:05:33,640 Speaker 2: I looked at it and I'm like, you know what, 1366 01:05:34,040 --> 01:05:37,080 Speaker 2: I might never ever get this opportunity again. But my 1367 01:05:37,240 --> 01:05:41,400 Speaker 2: conversation with going to LA was to go there to whop. 1368 01:05:42,040 --> 01:05:44,160 Speaker 2: You know. I had a mindset of, you know, and 1369 01:05:44,240 --> 01:05:46,880 Speaker 2: now I'm getting paid, I'm going to you know, the 1370 01:05:47,040 --> 01:05:50,200 Speaker 2: lights and whatnot, and I wanted to, you know, make 1371 01:05:50,240 --> 01:05:52,480 Speaker 2: it happen. So I took the chance and I took 1372 01:05:52,520 --> 01:05:56,000 Speaker 2: the money. But I never knew exactly what their plan was, 1373 01:05:56,280 --> 01:05:58,560 Speaker 2: or what the plan was was not what I was told, 1374 01:05:59,800 --> 01:06:03,280 Speaker 2: and that kind of change, you know, how I looked 1375 01:06:03,320 --> 01:06:05,840 Speaker 2: at the league, my love for the game and so on, 1376 01:06:06,280 --> 01:06:08,840 Speaker 2: and I really mean it. I was getting all this money, 1377 01:06:09,200 --> 01:06:11,400 Speaker 2: but it didn't feel right. It didn't feel the same. 1378 01:06:11,600 --> 01:06:14,360 Speaker 2: And what I mean by that is I wanted to play. 1379 01:06:14,520 --> 01:06:17,120 Speaker 2: I wanted to be a part of, you know, the team. 1380 01:06:17,200 --> 01:06:19,960 Speaker 2: I wanted to change, but I was told we're going 1381 01:06:20,000 --> 01:06:23,000 Speaker 2: to a different direction. I'm not dressing up and whatnot, 1382 01:06:23,080 --> 01:06:24,560 Speaker 2: and you know, and. 1383 01:06:24,600 --> 01:06:26,880 Speaker 4: I could basically tell you can go home and we're 1384 01:06:26,880 --> 01:06:27,960 Speaker 4: gonna sing your checks. 1385 01:06:28,000 --> 01:06:30,440 Speaker 2: Basically, honestly, that's what it was. And you know, I 1386 01:06:30,480 --> 01:06:32,919 Speaker 2: always tell people, there was a lot of conversation where 1387 01:06:33,600 --> 01:06:35,640 Speaker 2: one month into it, it's like, yo, we're only going 1388 01:06:35,720 --> 01:06:38,320 Speaker 2: to play the young guys. A month into it is like, yo, 1389 01:06:38,520 --> 01:06:42,160 Speaker 2: we need you to get in shape practice and so on. 1390 01:06:42,360 --> 01:06:44,440 Speaker 2: And I would get in shape practice, and then it 1391 01:06:44,480 --> 01:06:46,160 Speaker 2: would be a sit down and be like, oh, actually 1392 01:06:46,280 --> 01:06:48,480 Speaker 2: we decided we're going to play the young guys. And 1393 01:06:48,600 --> 01:06:52,160 Speaker 2: it just kept going so two years. In the second year, 1394 01:06:52,200 --> 01:06:55,000 Speaker 2: I was like, you know what, I'm never I never 1395 01:06:55,080 --> 01:06:57,560 Speaker 2: want to play here, you know. And I remember it 1396 01:06:57,720 --> 01:07:00,160 Speaker 2: was just it was just like, yo, you're going to play. 1397 01:07:00,200 --> 01:07:01,760 Speaker 2: You're not gonna play. You're gonna play it. And my 1398 01:07:01,880 --> 01:07:04,720 Speaker 2: agent is trying, but you gave me so much money 1399 01:07:04,840 --> 01:07:07,560 Speaker 2: and now you're not playing me. Why would anyone else 1400 01:07:07,640 --> 01:07:10,320 Speaker 2: take that contract. You gotta let me play for people 1401 01:07:10,400 --> 01:07:12,280 Speaker 2: to see, but I was never allowed to play. 1402 01:07:12,720 --> 01:07:15,840 Speaker 6: Yeah, I could never understand why teams do that. It's 1403 01:07:15,920 --> 01:07:20,280 Speaker 6: so many examples of teams signing the guy, whether it's 1404 01:07:20,360 --> 01:07:22,440 Speaker 6: for a lot or a little money, but bringing a 1405 01:07:22,520 --> 01:07:25,000 Speaker 6: new player to your team and then tell you one thing, 1406 01:07:25,240 --> 01:07:27,480 Speaker 6: and then it's like, why the hell did you bring 1407 01:07:27,560 --> 01:07:29,080 Speaker 6: me here if you didn't want me to play like this? 1408 01:07:29,280 --> 01:07:31,000 Speaker 6: Like you said, it's a month into this thing and 1409 01:07:31,120 --> 01:07:34,160 Speaker 6: y'all telling me this bullshit now like you like. It's 1410 01:07:34,200 --> 01:07:36,960 Speaker 6: so many examples of that, whether it's the management ain't 1411 01:07:37,000 --> 01:07:38,760 Speaker 6: on the same page with the coach and then they 1412 01:07:38,760 --> 01:07:41,360 Speaker 6: didne brought somebody who like bro, y'all gotta get that 1413 01:07:41,480 --> 01:07:43,640 Speaker 6: shit together, like y'all needs to be in sync on 1414 01:07:43,760 --> 01:07:44,360 Speaker 6: that decision. 1415 01:07:44,760 --> 01:07:44,960 Speaker 4: Yeah. 1416 01:07:45,000 --> 01:07:49,160 Speaker 1: I tell the young guys all the time, Uh, don't 1417 01:07:49,240 --> 01:07:53,400 Speaker 1: let the politics or the business take the love of 1418 01:07:53,560 --> 01:07:55,680 Speaker 1: the game out of it, because once you let the 1419 01:07:55,760 --> 01:07:56,960 Speaker 1: politics and the big take. 1420 01:07:56,840 --> 01:07:59,360 Speaker 4: Your love, it just adds on to it. 1421 01:08:00,200 --> 01:08:03,400 Speaker 1: Being in Portland and doing all that, Man, I didn't 1422 01:08:03,400 --> 01:08:05,680 Speaker 1: love really love the game. How I used to love 1423 01:08:05,760 --> 01:08:07,400 Speaker 1: it no more because it was like I was dealing 1424 01:08:07,480 --> 01:08:10,480 Speaker 1: with all this politics and is the business part of it, 1425 01:08:10,960 --> 01:08:13,400 Speaker 1: and you can get caught up in that. So I'll 1426 01:08:13,440 --> 01:08:15,240 Speaker 1: tell the young guys, man, fight as much as you 1427 01:08:15,400 --> 01:08:18,559 Speaker 1: can to never lose the love of the game because 1428 01:08:18,600 --> 01:08:20,519 Speaker 1: you're gonna go through a lot of stuff dealing with 1429 01:08:21,040 --> 01:08:23,680 Speaker 1: the front office, with the politics and the business of it. 1430 01:08:24,479 --> 01:08:25,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. No, definitely. 1431 01:08:25,439 --> 01:08:27,920 Speaker 5: I always tell people, man, you know, I've learned this 1432 01:08:28,040 --> 01:08:28,880 Speaker 5: throughout my career. 1433 01:08:29,439 --> 01:08:32,680 Speaker 2: And obviously everyone could you know, rank them differently, but 1434 01:08:32,720 --> 01:08:36,080 Speaker 2: I will say the three worst thing, you know, beside injury, 1435 01:08:36,120 --> 01:08:38,719 Speaker 2: but the three worst thing that can happen for somebody's career, 1436 01:08:39,320 --> 01:08:39,519 Speaker 2: you know. 1437 01:08:39,760 --> 01:08:42,440 Speaker 5: Number one is obviously having a coach. 1438 01:08:42,280 --> 01:08:44,720 Speaker 2: That doesn't like you for some reason, forget your game, 1439 01:08:44,920 --> 01:08:48,120 Speaker 2: your personality or whatever, or the way you talk or whatever. 1440 01:08:48,960 --> 01:08:52,679 Speaker 2: Number two is when a GM that you know drafted 1441 01:08:52,760 --> 01:08:56,679 Speaker 2: you loses their job, you know, because when a GM 1442 01:08:56,880 --> 01:08:59,639 Speaker 2: drafts you, you know, for them to be a good GM, 1443 01:08:59,800 --> 01:09:02,080 Speaker 2: they need to let you play and to the world 1444 01:09:02,160 --> 01:09:05,240 Speaker 2: that they got the right pick, so they do whatever 1445 01:09:05,360 --> 01:09:07,560 Speaker 2: it is. And then the third one is when you 1446 01:09:07,640 --> 01:09:10,360 Speaker 2: get traded, you know, because when you get traded, you're 1447 01:09:10,400 --> 01:09:13,479 Speaker 2: really an experiment. You're not really my drafting. So if 1448 01:09:13,520 --> 01:09:16,479 Speaker 2: you get traded to whatever team it is. If there's 1449 01:09:16,520 --> 01:09:18,439 Speaker 2: a young guy ahead of you, even if you're better, 1450 01:09:18,800 --> 01:09:20,600 Speaker 2: we're going to make sure that that young guy is 1451 01:09:20,680 --> 01:09:23,200 Speaker 2: it because he's the future and that's who we drafted, 1452 01:09:23,600 --> 01:09:26,240 Speaker 2: you know. So for me, you know, whatever it took 1453 01:09:26,320 --> 01:09:29,120 Speaker 2: place with LA and so on, it's okay. I've learned 1454 01:09:29,120 --> 01:09:31,600 Speaker 2: a lot, but I always look back. I was so 1455 01:09:31,880 --> 01:09:35,320 Speaker 2: lucky to be with one organization for ten years. You know, 1456 01:09:35,520 --> 01:09:37,679 Speaker 2: think about it, like not a lot of people could 1457 01:09:37,720 --> 01:09:40,960 Speaker 2: tell you, Like I never knew what everybody is going 1458 01:09:41,120 --> 01:09:44,160 Speaker 2: through until ten years into the league. Like I never 1459 01:09:44,280 --> 01:09:46,120 Speaker 2: knew till I went to Cleveland, and I. 1460 01:09:46,280 --> 01:09:51,080 Speaker 4: Was like, I was always the first trade trade team. 1461 01:09:51,280 --> 01:09:54,160 Speaker 2: Just send me, you know, I gave him everything. I 1462 01:09:54,240 --> 01:09:57,120 Speaker 2: played through injuries, whatever, you just send me away. And 1463 01:09:57,200 --> 01:09:59,479 Speaker 2: now you're telling me, I got to get a plane tomorrow, 1464 01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:01,760 Speaker 2: I got to look for an apartment, and now I'm 1465 01:10:01,800 --> 01:10:04,640 Speaker 2: in a new organization. It's like, but it took me 1466 01:10:04,760 --> 01:10:09,160 Speaker 2: ten years to experience that. I had so many teammates 1467 01:10:09,240 --> 01:10:12,240 Speaker 2: come into the locker room. I've sat there in Chicago, 1468 01:10:12,439 --> 01:10:14,920 Speaker 2: you know, from the age of eighteen till twenty eight, 1469 01:10:15,280 --> 01:10:18,639 Speaker 2: I've seen people come in and leave, but I'm to go. Yeah, 1470 01:10:18,680 --> 01:10:20,920 Speaker 2: but I've never experienced what they're dealing with, looking for 1471 01:10:21,000 --> 01:10:23,839 Speaker 2: an apartment, looking for a house for you know, family, 1472 01:10:23,960 --> 01:10:26,280 Speaker 2: moving so on. I just stayed in one place. So 1473 01:10:26,479 --> 01:10:28,920 Speaker 2: at the same time with everything that happened, you know, 1474 01:10:28,960 --> 01:10:31,479 Speaker 2: I've been so blessed. I don't want to ignore, you know, 1475 01:10:31,520 --> 01:10:33,640 Speaker 2: I don't want to dwell on what didn't go right 1476 01:10:33,720 --> 01:10:35,600 Speaker 2: at the end, because a lot went right for me 1477 01:10:35,720 --> 01:10:36,439 Speaker 2: to get that. 1478 01:10:36,840 --> 01:10:38,479 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's definitely. 1479 01:10:38,720 --> 01:10:41,280 Speaker 1: How was it, you know, after the Lakers had your 1480 01:10:41,320 --> 01:10:44,920 Speaker 1: hostage in the closet, How was it to get to 1481 01:10:45,040 --> 01:10:48,880 Speaker 1: Minnesota and you start seeing familiar faces. You there with Jimmy, 1482 01:10:49,000 --> 01:10:52,400 Speaker 1: you there with de Rose Tides, you got close tips, 1483 01:10:53,080 --> 01:10:54,840 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. You get some of that 1484 01:10:54,960 --> 01:10:57,160 Speaker 1: home cooking a little bit back, even though it's a 1485 01:10:57,240 --> 01:10:59,639 Speaker 1: different city. But you know, just being around your guys 1486 01:11:00,080 --> 01:11:02,439 Speaker 1: and guys that you can relate to and have them 1487 01:11:02,560 --> 01:11:06,280 Speaker 1: talks with whether you're playing minutes or not. It's like, man, 1488 01:11:06,439 --> 01:11:08,200 Speaker 1: just being on the team with these guys is just 1489 01:11:08,280 --> 01:11:11,280 Speaker 1: a relief. Nah, definitely, I think I needed it. 1490 01:11:11,560 --> 01:11:15,320 Speaker 2: You know. When I was in La it was just 1491 01:11:15,400 --> 01:11:17,519 Speaker 2: a lot going on, but I just didn't feel like 1492 01:11:17,600 --> 01:11:21,000 Speaker 2: I was a part of it. And you know, obviously 1493 01:11:21,320 --> 01:11:24,639 Speaker 2: this was publicized and social media and so on, everyone 1494 01:11:24,720 --> 01:11:27,680 Speaker 2: talking about what you're making. But there's nothing you can 1495 01:11:27,720 --> 01:11:30,439 Speaker 2: do about it. I didn't have an opportunity to like, 1496 01:11:30,880 --> 01:11:33,360 Speaker 2: let me fight back or whatever. It was just my words, 1497 01:11:33,439 --> 01:11:35,760 Speaker 2: their word, and then you decide whatever you want to do. 1498 01:11:36,320 --> 01:11:39,040 Speaker 2: But when I got to Minnesota, you know, honestly, I 1499 01:11:39,120 --> 01:11:41,920 Speaker 2: felt like I was back in the family. But that's 1500 01:11:42,000 --> 01:11:45,360 Speaker 2: when I realized I gotta go. That's really when it 1501 01:11:45,479 --> 01:11:48,120 Speaker 2: hit me, because when I was in LA, I was 1502 01:11:48,240 --> 01:11:50,200 Speaker 2: just practicing, and you know how it is in practice. 1503 01:11:50,200 --> 01:11:53,280 Speaker 2: I was holding my own running up and down, getting 1504 01:11:53,360 --> 01:11:57,479 Speaker 2: my jump shots something fight. Yeah, I felt like I 1505 01:11:57,560 --> 01:12:00,639 Speaker 2: still had it, but you know, being too is without 1506 01:12:00,680 --> 01:12:03,680 Speaker 2: playing in the best league in the world. And now 1507 01:12:03,720 --> 01:12:07,320 Speaker 2: I'm in Minnesota, I'm showing up at practicing. I'm not 1508 01:12:07,880 --> 01:12:09,840 Speaker 2: It's not the same. You know. I had to be 1509 01:12:09,960 --> 01:12:13,120 Speaker 2: honest with myself and just be like, listen, get out. Now. 1510 01:12:13,880 --> 01:12:16,439 Speaker 2: You know you've had the blessing to be paid whatever. 1511 01:12:16,560 --> 01:12:19,800 Speaker 2: I'm not chasing money, you know, just be humble enough 1512 01:12:19,840 --> 01:12:22,479 Speaker 2: and go do something else with your life and be 1513 01:12:22,600 --> 01:12:25,519 Speaker 2: okay with it. And I really that one year just 1514 01:12:25,600 --> 01:12:27,240 Speaker 2: allowed me to be okay with everything. 1515 01:12:28,080 --> 01:12:30,000 Speaker 6: How was it to say you could sign that last 1516 01:12:30,080 --> 01:12:32,360 Speaker 6: contract with the you know, the one day contract with 1517 01:12:32,479 --> 01:12:34,479 Speaker 6: the Bulls and kind of close it out still a 1518 01:12:34,600 --> 01:12:36,439 Speaker 6: Chicago bull Yeah. 1519 01:12:36,560 --> 01:12:38,080 Speaker 5: No, I sang them for that. 1520 01:12:38,200 --> 01:12:40,800 Speaker 2: But you know, I called the Bulls and I called 1521 01:12:40,880 --> 01:12:43,760 Speaker 2: Packs and I told them, I said, look, this is 1522 01:12:43,840 --> 01:12:47,360 Speaker 2: really how it should be done. I felt like, you know, 1523 01:12:47,640 --> 01:12:50,800 Speaker 2: just for the future, for everybody else, all players, to 1524 01:12:50,880 --> 01:12:53,400 Speaker 2: be honest, they should be able to pick the one 1525 01:12:54,000 --> 01:12:57,120 Speaker 2: organization that drafted them or they felt like they were 1526 01:12:57,280 --> 01:13:00,479 Speaker 2: home and just sign them for one day. Money is 1527 01:13:00,560 --> 01:13:03,800 Speaker 2: no nothing. Just let me you know in Wikipedia when 1528 01:13:03,840 --> 01:13:06,600 Speaker 2: you look me up whatever, just let that be my 1529 01:13:06,760 --> 01:13:09,920 Speaker 2: last stop. And you know, they were okay with it, 1530 01:13:09,960 --> 01:13:12,439 Speaker 2: and they said, you know, let's do it and so on. 1531 01:13:12,720 --> 01:13:15,000 Speaker 2: And I'm just so happy that I did it because 1532 01:13:15,040 --> 01:13:17,960 Speaker 2: now even now, you know, when I look back, I 1533 01:13:18,000 --> 01:13:20,439 Speaker 2: always tell people I ended up. I ended my career 1534 01:13:20,520 --> 01:13:24,000 Speaker 2: where I started it. That just allows me to feel like, 1535 01:13:25,360 --> 01:13:29,440 Speaker 2: you know, Chicago is the one place that you know, deserves. 1536 01:13:29,080 --> 01:13:30,040 Speaker 5: To be my last team. 1537 01:13:30,800 --> 01:13:31,320 Speaker 4: That's dope. 1538 01:13:31,560 --> 01:13:34,760 Speaker 1: Watching d Roe's career and his and the injuries he 1539 01:13:34,920 --> 01:13:38,639 Speaker 1: went through, people don't know. With these injuries, the mental 1540 01:13:38,720 --> 01:13:41,599 Speaker 1: strain is on you for rehabbing and trying to get 1541 01:13:41,680 --> 01:13:43,679 Speaker 1: back even close to where. 1542 01:13:43,520 --> 01:13:45,000 Speaker 4: You was before. 1543 01:13:45,439 --> 01:13:49,240 Speaker 1: For him to fight them many years to get back to, 1544 01:13:49,400 --> 01:13:51,360 Speaker 1: you know, to still have a decent career. 1545 01:13:51,560 --> 01:13:54,280 Speaker 4: So for long, I feel like he's a Hall of Famer. 1546 01:13:54,280 --> 01:13:57,760 Speaker 1: I don't know if they'll let him be a Hall 1547 01:13:57,800 --> 01:13:59,920 Speaker 1: of Fame or he'll get selected to. I still feel 1548 01:13:59,960 --> 01:14:02,080 Speaker 1: like d Road's the Hall of Fame of what he did. 1549 01:14:02,240 --> 01:14:06,560 Speaker 1: But how proud of him you are to see the 1550 01:14:06,720 --> 01:14:10,240 Speaker 1: fight of went to these teams. You know, man, de 1551 01:14:10,439 --> 01:14:13,040 Speaker 1: Rose type player. We're never supposed to see him play 1552 01:14:13,120 --> 01:14:16,920 Speaker 1: on that many teams. He was Cleveland, New York, he Minnesota, 1553 01:14:17,080 --> 01:14:18,400 Speaker 1: he you know what I'm saying. 1554 01:14:18,840 --> 01:14:21,599 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I honestly feel that d Rose first 1555 01:14:21,640 --> 01:14:25,040 Speaker 2: of all, should be a Hall of Famer. De Rose 1556 01:14:25,160 --> 01:14:28,559 Speaker 2: Jersey should be retired in Chicago as soon as possible. Easy, 1557 01:14:29,120 --> 01:14:31,439 Speaker 2: and I think you know that will push that because 1558 01:14:31,800 --> 01:14:35,720 Speaker 2: as Q, you know Chicago what d Rose means to 1559 01:14:35,800 --> 01:14:38,760 Speaker 2: that city not just but get basketball, but just you 1560 01:14:38,840 --> 01:14:41,680 Speaker 2: know where he comes from as an example, like you 1561 01:14:41,840 --> 01:14:44,240 Speaker 2: you showed the money earlier of me being on the money. 1562 01:14:44,640 --> 01:14:49,639 Speaker 2: D Rose deserves something like that in Chicago, that number 1563 01:14:49,680 --> 01:14:53,360 Speaker 2: one jersey, Because the thing with retiring a jersey, it's 1564 01:14:53,439 --> 01:14:54,560 Speaker 2: not just about. 1565 01:14:54,280 --> 01:14:58,320 Speaker 5: How good you were. It takes you back to you know, who. 1566 01:14:58,240 --> 01:15:00,840 Speaker 2: The person is that number one? I did he wear one? 1567 01:15:00,920 --> 01:15:03,600 Speaker 2: Why was he drafted one? Being from Chicago, you know, 1568 01:15:03,760 --> 01:15:06,599 Speaker 2: being from semeon what he did, being the youngest MVP 1569 01:15:06,840 --> 01:15:11,400 Speaker 2: ever being from that city. I think that alone, you know, 1570 01:15:11,840 --> 01:15:13,640 Speaker 2: is just the legacy. But to go back to what 1571 01:15:13,720 --> 01:15:17,080 Speaker 2: you were saying with the injuries, he's to me, it's 1572 01:15:17,160 --> 01:15:20,240 Speaker 2: such a special talent. It's such a special talent that 1573 01:15:20,320 --> 01:15:24,240 Speaker 2: doesn't come around often. And you know we all recognize that, 1574 01:15:24,720 --> 01:15:26,920 Speaker 2: and that's why you were so you know good at 1575 01:15:27,400 --> 01:15:30,719 Speaker 2: playing for so long. Because even b roses sixty percent, 1576 01:15:31,160 --> 01:15:32,320 Speaker 2: it's still a lot of people. 1577 01:15:34,640 --> 01:15:38,920 Speaker 6: Real talk you somebody's got a crazy real estate portfolio. 1578 01:15:39,120 --> 01:15:41,240 Speaker 4: Like when did you start getting into real estate? And 1579 01:15:41,320 --> 01:15:43,479 Speaker 4: what made you do that? Start using your money and 1580 01:15:43,520 --> 01:15:45,280 Speaker 4: buying real estate and taking that path. 1581 01:15:45,439 --> 01:15:47,960 Speaker 5: It started with a friend of mine in London just 1582 01:15:48,560 --> 01:15:50,600 Speaker 5: teaching me what real estate really is. 1583 01:15:50,880 --> 01:15:55,320 Speaker 2: You know, money working for you, you know, purchasing something 1584 01:15:55,400 --> 01:15:58,240 Speaker 2: and then you know income coming in. I if you 1585 01:15:58,360 --> 01:16:01,479 Speaker 2: sent me down with real estate moguls or whatever. I 1586 01:16:01,560 --> 01:16:04,760 Speaker 2: can't hold my owning that conversation. You know, I'm not 1587 01:16:05,000 --> 01:16:06,880 Speaker 2: I didn't go to school for it and none of that. 1588 01:16:07,640 --> 01:16:08,960 Speaker 2: But I had a passion. 1589 01:16:09,120 --> 01:16:11,600 Speaker 5: You know, I don't. I'm not a flashy guy. I 1590 01:16:11,640 --> 01:16:13,280 Speaker 5: don't have cars, I don't have anything. 1591 01:16:13,360 --> 01:16:16,479 Speaker 2: But I was always into, you know, owning a nice 1592 01:16:16,560 --> 01:16:20,200 Speaker 2: house or owning something or you know, being proud of something, 1593 01:16:20,320 --> 01:16:21,400 Speaker 2: making something for me. 1594 01:16:22,560 --> 01:16:23,920 Speaker 5: And that's really how it started. 1595 01:16:24,000 --> 01:16:27,920 Speaker 2: It just started by okay, let's you know, get this house, 1596 01:16:28,040 --> 01:16:30,880 Speaker 2: let's flip it, let's rent it out, and then you 1597 01:16:30,960 --> 01:16:33,040 Speaker 2: start seeing what's coming in, and then you get excited. 1598 01:16:33,120 --> 01:16:35,800 Speaker 2: You do something else and something else, and before you 1599 01:16:35,960 --> 01:16:38,479 Speaker 2: know where your portfolio is growing and growing and growing, 1600 01:16:38,960 --> 01:16:40,840 Speaker 2: and you know, and even now back in Africa and 1601 01:16:40,880 --> 01:16:43,559 Speaker 2: the continent, you know, I'm taking on the same thing, 1602 01:16:43,960 --> 01:16:47,599 Speaker 2: you know, just trying to grow financially there, but also 1603 01:16:47,840 --> 01:16:50,880 Speaker 2: you know, being smart with it, you know, not not 1604 01:16:51,120 --> 01:16:53,559 Speaker 2: risking everything and not being stupid. And you're gonna make 1605 01:16:53,640 --> 01:16:57,439 Speaker 2: mistakes no matter what when it comes to real estate. 1606 01:16:57,560 --> 01:16:59,400 Speaker 2: You know, it's it's not always going to go your way. 1607 01:16:59,479 --> 01:17:02,680 Speaker 2: So how do you minimize your risk? You know, and 1608 01:17:02,760 --> 01:17:05,720 Speaker 2: how do you surround yourself with people that are doing 1609 01:17:05,800 --> 01:17:07,840 Speaker 2: the right things and they have the experience in it, 1610 01:17:08,000 --> 01:17:10,680 Speaker 2: you know. But you're definitely you're gonna have to live 1611 01:17:10,800 --> 01:17:13,760 Speaker 2: with making mistakes until you get burned. You want to 1612 01:17:13,800 --> 01:17:15,720 Speaker 2: know how much you're hurt. So you kind of just 1613 01:17:15,840 --> 01:17:19,080 Speaker 2: have to if you're afraid of just like, you know, 1614 01:17:19,280 --> 01:17:21,840 Speaker 2: going out there and trying it, you know, you're gonna 1615 01:17:21,840 --> 01:17:24,160 Speaker 2: hold yourself back and you will regret it, you know. 1616 01:17:24,240 --> 01:17:26,439 Speaker 2: And that's really what happened with me or in real estate. 1617 01:17:26,880 --> 01:17:29,479 Speaker 2: It was you know, taking chances and you know, some 1618 01:17:29,880 --> 01:17:31,960 Speaker 2: some going your way and some not going your way, 1619 01:17:32,040 --> 01:17:34,880 Speaker 2: but just realizing that you know, you're putting your money 1620 01:17:34,880 --> 01:17:36,000 Speaker 2: in the right places where. 1621 01:17:35,880 --> 01:17:37,120 Speaker 5: You won't be hurt that much. 1622 01:17:38,560 --> 01:17:41,600 Speaker 1: Well, I want to touch on this amazing summer that 1623 01:17:41,760 --> 01:17:44,880 Speaker 1: you just had with the South Sudan team. One thing 1624 01:17:44,960 --> 01:17:47,280 Speaker 1: I got to say to you boys was clean that 1625 01:17:47,439 --> 01:17:53,040 Speaker 1: first day on the flag day, you boys, they put 1626 01:17:53,120 --> 01:17:57,320 Speaker 1: it all y'all boys clean. Tell us about the process 1627 01:17:57,479 --> 01:18:02,880 Speaker 1: of getting there, how hard them guys worked, Ivy, how 1628 01:18:02,960 --> 01:18:04,360 Speaker 1: great of a job he did. 1629 01:18:04,680 --> 01:18:04,880 Speaker 4: Man. 1630 01:18:06,240 --> 01:18:08,760 Speaker 1: Of course I was I was rooting for the USA team, 1631 01:18:09,040 --> 01:18:12,160 Speaker 1: but I was so proud of y'all man, and just 1632 01:18:12,240 --> 01:18:16,439 Speaker 1: seeing the growth of y'all and and seeing that now 1633 01:18:16,600 --> 01:18:18,759 Speaker 1: only seven footers come out of Africa. 1634 01:18:18,880 --> 01:18:22,000 Speaker 4: You have skilled guys that can do all the stuff too, man. 1635 01:18:22,080 --> 01:18:25,920 Speaker 1: But just tell us about that whole thing and how 1636 01:18:26,000 --> 01:18:29,000 Speaker 1: much you invested in them guys and how much love 1637 01:18:29,160 --> 01:18:33,560 Speaker 1: they showed back working hard and trying their best to 1638 01:18:33,680 --> 01:18:34,600 Speaker 1: do what they needed to do. 1639 01:18:35,320 --> 01:18:36,000 Speaker 2: Nah, definitely. 1640 01:18:36,120 --> 01:18:41,200 Speaker 3: You know, just throughout my whole life, I always felt 1641 01:18:41,320 --> 01:18:44,439 Speaker 3: like I could never explain to people where I'm from 1642 01:18:45,479 --> 01:18:47,280 Speaker 3: if it's not a negative narrative. 1643 01:18:47,479 --> 01:18:50,960 Speaker 2: Like for example, you know, people were like, why why 1644 01:18:51,280 --> 01:18:53,479 Speaker 2: were you in Egypt? And I'm just like, because there 1645 01:18:53,520 --> 01:18:54,639 Speaker 2: was a war in my country. 1646 01:18:55,160 --> 01:18:55,320 Speaker 4: You know. 1647 01:18:55,479 --> 01:18:57,960 Speaker 2: You you turn on the news and there's people starving 1648 01:18:58,040 --> 01:19:00,840 Speaker 2: and this, you know, war and whatever. And I just 1649 01:19:00,920 --> 01:19:04,920 Speaker 2: felt like throughout my career, I always felt like there's 1650 01:19:04,960 --> 01:19:09,160 Speaker 2: so many South Sudanese you know people that we're never 1651 01:19:09,600 --> 01:19:12,800 Speaker 2: in any conversation, We're never in no spotlight or nothing. 1652 01:19:12,880 --> 01:19:16,320 Speaker 2: And then it goes back to you know, basketball in Africa, 1653 01:19:16,680 --> 01:19:18,960 Speaker 2: what I talked about earlier is always big guys and 1654 01:19:19,080 --> 01:19:22,600 Speaker 2: so on, and as you get into the game, you 1655 01:19:22,760 --> 01:19:26,280 Speaker 2: realize that the talent is there, but what is actually missing? 1656 01:19:27,040 --> 01:19:28,680 Speaker 2: You know. So when I retired, I just took it 1657 01:19:28,800 --> 01:19:30,880 Speaker 2: up on myself and I said, you know what, I'm 1658 01:19:30,960 --> 01:19:34,799 Speaker 2: gonna go back and really focus on, you know, putting 1659 01:19:34,840 --> 01:19:37,320 Speaker 2: it out there to let people realize that we can 1660 01:19:37,400 --> 01:19:39,120 Speaker 2: compete with the rest of the world, but we can 1661 01:19:39,200 --> 01:19:41,840 Speaker 2: also be one of the best countries when it comes 1662 01:19:41,880 --> 01:19:45,120 Speaker 2: to basketball. And you know, we have so many athletes 1663 01:19:45,960 --> 01:19:49,000 Speaker 2: and you know, just you know, being South Sudanese alone, 1664 01:19:49,320 --> 01:19:52,120 Speaker 2: you know, the average height for my tribe is six'. 1665 01:19:52,280 --> 01:19:56,280 Speaker 2: Four you walk, around you got all these, athletes you 1666 01:19:56,360 --> 01:19:58,800 Speaker 2: got all these young guys who are very, skilled they can, 1667 01:19:58,880 --> 01:20:01,880 Speaker 2: play and this is all over the. Continent so WHEN 1668 01:20:01,960 --> 01:20:05,080 Speaker 2: i took that, opportunity you, KNOW i kept telling, myself 1669 01:20:05,240 --> 01:20:07,960 Speaker 2: you know what's missing is the. Resources you, know like 1670 01:20:08,120 --> 01:20:10,720 Speaker 2: we have the basketball, knowledge you, know like you, Said 1671 01:20:10,840 --> 01:20:13,680 Speaker 2: Royale ivy came on board and we're teaching the right. 1672 01:20:13,760 --> 01:20:16,360 Speaker 2: Way we got guys who could. Hoop you, know how 1673 01:20:16,439 --> 01:20:19,080 Speaker 2: do we get? There and it just went from you, 1674 01:20:19,200 --> 01:20:22,320 Speaker 2: know not being ranked In africa to all of a 1675 01:20:22,400 --> 01:20:26,519 Speaker 2: sudden playing In Afro, basket all of a sudden getting 1676 01:20:26,560 --> 01:20:28,160 Speaker 2: out of there and making it to The World. Cup 1677 01:20:28,560 --> 01:20:29,840 Speaker 2: you go to The World cup and all of a, 1678 01:20:29,880 --> 01:20:32,200 Speaker 2: sudden you're making it to The. Olympics you get to 1679 01:20:32,280 --> 01:20:34,879 Speaker 2: The olympics and you're playing THE us and the exhibition, 1680 01:20:35,040 --> 01:20:37,880 Speaker 2: game and everyone is talking about how you're going to 1681 01:20:37,960 --> 01:20:41,599 Speaker 2: lose by forty to. Fifty but the way everything, went, 1682 01:20:41,800 --> 01:20:46,880 Speaker 2: honestly it's almost like it's like a written. Story everything that, 1683 01:20:47,280 --> 01:20:51,240 Speaker 2: came whether it's negative or, POSITIVE i took it as an, 1684 01:20:51,400 --> 01:20:54,920 Speaker 2: opportunity you, know whatever it, was it was an. Opportunity 1685 01:20:55,360 --> 01:20:57,560 Speaker 2: and the way everything worked, out even the way the 1686 01:20:57,640 --> 01:21:00,120 Speaker 2: game went to lose to THE us by one and 1687 01:21:00,200 --> 01:21:03,200 Speaker 2: then being in the same, group we got so much 1688 01:21:03,360 --> 01:21:05,880 Speaker 2: coverage that it changed the whole. NARRATIVE a lot of, 1689 01:21:05,920 --> 01:21:07,880 Speaker 2: people you, know a lot of people didn't even Know 1690 01:21:08,000 --> 01:21:10,600 Speaker 2: South sudan is a. Country they just thought it's The 1691 01:21:10,680 --> 01:21:13,519 Speaker 2: south Of, sudan you. Know so now we're able to 1692 01:21:13,640 --> 01:21:16,040 Speaker 2: actually walk around raise our flag and people are, like, 1693 01:21:16,120 --> 01:21:18,960 Speaker 2: yo y'all good at. Basketball this is, finally for the 1694 01:21:19,000 --> 01:21:22,280 Speaker 2: first time, ever someone could say y'all actually doing something. 1695 01:21:22,400 --> 01:21:24,559 Speaker 5: Right and that makes, us you, know it makes us, 1696 01:21:24,600 --> 01:21:25,880 Speaker 5: happy and that's part of changing the. 1697 01:21:26,000 --> 01:21:29,240 Speaker 1: Narrative, well y'all did it this summer, Man LIKE i, 1698 01:21:29,320 --> 01:21:32,840 Speaker 1: Said i'm super proud of of, youall. Team how y'all 1699 01:21:32,920 --> 01:21:35,360 Speaker 1: represented yourself and LIKE i, say them boys put that 1700 01:21:35,520 --> 01:21:35,920 Speaker 1: tag on. 1701 01:21:36,120 --> 01:21:39,960 Speaker 4: Them su whoever designed them joints they had on that first, Day, 1702 01:21:40,040 --> 01:21:42,160 Speaker 4: man they killed it with. Them they look real good 1703 01:21:42,240 --> 01:21:43,840 Speaker 4: and them now it's, dope. 1704 01:21:43,880 --> 01:21:46,000 Speaker 2: Man and we did it on purpose with the. Details you, 1705 01:21:46,080 --> 01:21:49,640 Speaker 2: know you, know we wanted to wear black and you 1706 01:21:49,720 --> 01:21:51,880 Speaker 2: know when we play we wear black because you, know 1707 01:21:52,000 --> 01:21:54,240 Speaker 2: the Word sudan is in The bible is the land 1708 01:21:54,320 --> 01:21:57,960 Speaker 2: of The, blacks the original land of the, blacks and 1709 01:21:58,080 --> 01:22:00,479 Speaker 2: the Word sudan comes from the word that's what In, 1710 01:22:00,560 --> 01:22:04,080 Speaker 2: arabic which means black and being you, know the darkest 1711 01:22:04,160 --> 01:22:07,320 Speaker 2: humans in the. World we really wanted to embrace, that 1712 01:22:07,520 --> 01:22:08,559 Speaker 2: so we wanted to wear. 1713 01:22:08,640 --> 01:22:11,320 Speaker 4: That the mass will hang with y'all on that. Tip you, 1714 01:22:11,880 --> 01:22:13,360 Speaker 4: know you Know i'm cool with. 1715 01:22:13,479 --> 01:22:14,439 Speaker 2: That with. 1716 01:22:14,560 --> 01:22:17,880 Speaker 4: Us you'll stick, together, man stick. Together you know his 1717 01:22:18,040 --> 01:22:20,479 Speaker 4: nickname The Blackest, one so you know he shit right on. 1718 01:22:20,680 --> 01:22:22,519 Speaker 4: It we're sticking. Together that's WHY i was. 1719 01:22:22,600 --> 01:22:24,040 Speaker 2: Hype, definitely, man. 1720 01:22:24,160 --> 01:22:26,800 Speaker 6: Definitely hey tell me this, though did how did it 1721 01:22:26,960 --> 01:22:30,080 Speaker 6: get to the, point because like you talked, about you 1722 01:22:30,160 --> 01:22:32,200 Speaker 6: was playing For Great britain and you didn't really want 1723 01:22:32,240 --> 01:22:35,000 Speaker 6: to Represent sudan before. That how did you get to 1724 01:22:35,120 --> 01:22:38,280 Speaker 6: the point to where you was able to reconcile things 1725 01:22:38,320 --> 01:22:40,080 Speaker 6: and then get to the point to where you can 1726 01:22:40,560 --> 01:22:42,080 Speaker 6: do all of the work that you do in for 1727 01:22:42,120 --> 01:22:43,880 Speaker 6: your country and get them to be a you, know 1728 01:22:44,080 --> 01:22:46,120 Speaker 6: an Actual olympic team and do all of these. 1729 01:22:46,160 --> 01:22:48,280 Speaker 4: Things how did? That how did you get reconnected to the. 1730 01:22:48,360 --> 01:22:52,640 Speaker 2: Country in twenty, Eleven South sudan got their independence From, 1731 01:22:52,720 --> 01:22:56,600 Speaker 2: sudan so we became two separate. Countries Uh so when that, 1732 01:22:56,800 --> 01:22:59,640 Speaker 2: happened we were able to you, know be out on, 1733 01:23:00,000 --> 01:23:03,960 Speaker 2: country be able to put our culture first and so, 1734 01:23:04,120 --> 01:23:07,040 Speaker 2: on be able to express, ourselves the freedom of expressing 1735 01:23:07,080 --> 01:23:10,240 Speaker 2: ourselfs not to be, oppressed and so. On so finally 1736 01:23:10,320 --> 01:23:13,560 Speaker 2: we have our own country where we can showcase what 1737 01:23:13,720 --> 01:23:16,600 Speaker 2: we can do and who we are as. Humans for 1738 01:23:16,720 --> 01:23:20,519 Speaker 2: the majority of our life since the existence Of, sudan 1739 01:23:20,640 --> 01:23:23,600 Speaker 2: we haven't really been given that opportunity to show the 1740 01:23:23,720 --> 01:23:26,799 Speaker 2: world What South sudan really. Is so in twenty, eleven 1741 01:23:26,840 --> 01:23:28,800 Speaker 2: AND i always tell people, THIS i was actually playing 1742 01:23:28,880 --> 01:23:31,280 Speaker 2: for the. BULLS i remember WHEN i was playing for 1743 01:23:31,360 --> 01:23:34,120 Speaker 2: The bulls in order for us to win our election 1744 01:23:34,280 --> 01:23:37,760 Speaker 2: and become. INDEPENDENT i did this thing WHERE i donated 1745 01:23:38,760 --> 01:23:41,200 Speaker 2: a lot of my money to get busses in all 1746 01:23:41,280 --> 01:23:45,519 Speaker 2: the areas where there's Refugee South sudanese, refugees whether it 1747 01:23:45,640 --> 01:23:51,640 Speaker 2: was In, Chicago, Michigan, Australia, egypt. ANYWHERE i spend a 1748 01:23:51,680 --> 01:23:54,360 Speaker 2: lot of money to get buses to take people from 1749 01:23:54,479 --> 01:23:56,880 Speaker 2: the refugee camp or whatever area they lived in to 1750 01:23:56,960 --> 01:23:59,600 Speaker 2: take them to the voting polls in order for us 1751 01:23:59,640 --> 01:24:01,160 Speaker 2: to vote and become our own. 1752 01:24:01,240 --> 01:24:02,880 Speaker 5: Country SO i took a part of. 1753 01:24:02,960 --> 01:24:05,400 Speaker 2: That SO i always felt like IF i took a 1754 01:24:05,479 --> 01:24:08,479 Speaker 2: part of that in twenty, eleven going down the, line 1755 01:24:08,640 --> 01:24:11,200 Speaker 2: as my life keeps, GOING i have to do something 1756 01:24:11,600 --> 01:24:14,360 Speaker 2: to keep Putting South sudan in a map and be 1757 01:24:14,520 --> 01:24:17,439 Speaker 2: a part, of you, know changing direction from Being sudan 1758 01:24:17,560 --> 01:24:20,120 Speaker 2: to be In South. Sudan so WHEN i, RETIRED i 1759 01:24:20,240 --> 01:24:23,599 Speaker 2: looked at basketball as an opportunity to you, know keep 1760 01:24:23,720 --> 01:24:26,479 Speaker 2: driving that force and keep motivating the youth to be 1761 01:24:26,600 --> 01:24:28,800 Speaker 2: proud of who we are and also for us to 1762 01:24:28,840 --> 01:24:30,960 Speaker 2: show the rest of the world that we finally. Arrived 1763 01:24:31,400 --> 01:24:33,960 Speaker 2: so that all that stuff are really part of WHY 1764 01:24:34,160 --> 01:24:36,720 Speaker 2: i took this. Direction with the national, team you. 1765 01:24:36,760 --> 01:24:40,000 Speaker 4: Had D rose come over there and the practice or 1766 01:24:40,080 --> 01:24:42,200 Speaker 4: something like that with the. Team Nod. 1767 01:24:42,360 --> 01:24:44,760 Speaker 2: Rose, yeah De rose came to the. Continent so we 1768 01:24:44,920 --> 01:24:49,080 Speaker 2: went To. Senegal D rose bought his high school, Team 1769 01:24:50,160 --> 01:24:53,800 Speaker 2: semeon and they we went To senegal With Joe kim 1770 01:24:54,240 --> 01:24:57,600 Speaker 2: and D. Rose actually we did an exhibition. Game D 1771 01:24:57,800 --> 01:25:01,240 Speaker 2: rose was out there in seneg out for a, week working, 1772 01:25:01,320 --> 01:25:04,280 Speaker 2: out getting ready for the. Season we were out there 1773 01:25:04,360 --> 01:25:07,240 Speaker 2: mentoring the young kids At Seed, academy which Is i'm 1774 01:25:07,240 --> 01:25:10,439 Speaker 2: gonna do this, academy and they were able to get 1775 01:25:10,479 --> 01:25:13,040 Speaker 2: in games and it was really good for all the 1776 01:25:13,160 --> 01:25:15,880 Speaker 2: players and all the kids From chicago to come To 1777 01:25:16,040 --> 01:25:19,720 Speaker 2: africa and you, know, one you, know get to experience 1778 01:25:19,840 --> 01:25:22,760 Speaker 2: The kosher and to see the, continent but also to 1779 01:25:22,880 --> 01:25:26,680 Speaker 2: really realize that we have so, much you, know in, 1780 01:25:26,840 --> 01:25:30,560 Speaker 2: common so many, similarities and you, know every kid that 1781 01:25:30,720 --> 01:25:33,439 Speaker 2: came was so happy and they changed their. Lives and 1782 01:25:33,560 --> 01:25:35,680 Speaker 2: that's something that we want to continue doing as we 1783 01:25:35,800 --> 01:25:37,920 Speaker 2: go on and not just sending. Out we want to 1784 01:25:37,960 --> 01:25:40,240 Speaker 2: do it all over the. Continent give an opportunity to 1785 01:25:40,320 --> 01:25:43,960 Speaker 2: connect the, dots you, know between the youth here in 1786 01:25:44,040 --> 01:25:45,760 Speaker 2: THE us and the youth and the. 1787 01:25:45,840 --> 01:25:48,639 Speaker 1: Continent how did that make you feel when you see 1788 01:25:49,120 --> 01:25:51,920 Speaker 1: guys like like D rose And Joe kim and just 1789 01:25:52,360 --> 01:25:55,559 Speaker 1: other people that we might not know about reaching out 1790 01:25:55,600 --> 01:25:59,520 Speaker 1: and want to help, you you, know use your resources 1791 01:25:59,600 --> 01:26:02,240 Speaker 1: and and everything to come over there and just show 1792 01:26:02,360 --> 01:26:07,439 Speaker 1: love To South sudan and To africa and. People more 1793 01:26:07,520 --> 01:26:10,200 Speaker 1: people are more interested in going To. AFRICA i Know 1794 01:26:10,320 --> 01:26:12,840 Speaker 1: africa is on my bucket. List i've never, been but 1795 01:26:12,960 --> 01:26:14,880 Speaker 1: that's one of the PLACES i always wanted to. Go 1796 01:26:15,080 --> 01:26:17,760 Speaker 1: but you, know to see these guys now just really 1797 01:26:17,880 --> 01:26:21,120 Speaker 1: interested in helping you use your resources. 1798 01:26:20,680 --> 01:26:22,639 Speaker 4: To come over there and help out a little bit more. 1799 01:26:23,280 --> 01:26:24,920 Speaker 2: Now it's. Amazing you, know we. 1800 01:26:25,080 --> 01:26:27,280 Speaker 5: Live we're never such a unique, time. 1801 01:26:27,400 --> 01:26:30,960 Speaker 2: MAN i, HONESTLY i really believe that what life is 1802 01:26:31,160 --> 01:26:33,800 Speaker 2: now is going to be completely different in the. Future, 1803 01:26:33,840 --> 01:26:36,760 Speaker 2: obviously but you, know for our, kids the way we 1804 01:26:37,000 --> 01:26:39,559 Speaker 2: see the continent right now and the way we interact 1805 01:26:39,640 --> 01:26:42,000 Speaker 2: with you, know people and the continent and so, on 1806 01:26:42,760 --> 01:26:45,040 Speaker 2: that's all gonna. Change it's going to be so normal 1807 01:26:45,360 --> 01:26:49,040 Speaker 2: for your kids to be in a. Continent you, know multiple, 1808 01:26:49,160 --> 01:26:51,880 Speaker 2: times that's gonna. Change we're just the bridge right now 1809 01:26:51,920 --> 01:26:54,880 Speaker 2: where it's, happening whether it's D rose or myself or. 1810 01:26:54,920 --> 01:26:57,840 Speaker 2: Whatever going back or the game that we. Had all 1811 01:26:58,000 --> 01:27:01,240 Speaker 2: that is new to everyone. Now the way technology is, 1812 01:27:01,360 --> 01:27:03,560 Speaker 2: now the way social media and the way the world is, 1813 01:27:03,640 --> 01:27:06,800 Speaker 2: moving the world is becoming, one and the continent is 1814 01:27:06,920 --> 01:27:10,000 Speaker 2: just it's not going to become this unknown continent to 1815 01:27:10,040 --> 01:27:12,720 Speaker 2: a lot of. People you, know as we keep on. 1816 01:27:12,960 --> 01:27:16,120 Speaker 2: Going you, know our kids are going to be interacting 1817 01:27:16,200 --> 01:27:18,200 Speaker 2: in the continent like it's. Nothing they're gonna be looking 1818 01:27:18,280 --> 01:27:21,040 Speaker 2: back and, saying, man you, know, pops you never went To. 1819 01:27:21,120 --> 01:27:23,760 Speaker 2: Africa how come you, know like right? Right but then 1820 01:27:23,760 --> 01:27:25,960 Speaker 2: it's going to be totally, different and that's just you, 1821 01:27:26,040 --> 01:27:28,280 Speaker 2: know so it's better for us to start, now so you, 1822 01:27:28,360 --> 01:27:30,599 Speaker 2: know move on the, process so we get to experience 1823 01:27:30,640 --> 01:27:31,320 Speaker 2: it while we're still. 1824 01:27:31,400 --> 01:27:35,240 Speaker 6: Here you, know it became like public knowledge that you 1825 01:27:35,439 --> 01:27:37,760 Speaker 6: was really coming out of pocket for the for the whole, 1826 01:27:37,920 --> 01:27:42,360 Speaker 6: team you, know renting out, gyms, buses, hotels, food doing 1827 01:27:42,400 --> 01:27:46,479 Speaker 6: all these things to make everything. Work after everything, that you, 1828 01:27:46,560 --> 01:27:49,400 Speaker 6: know after the successes you guys had and everything you've, 1829 01:27:49,479 --> 01:27:52,800 Speaker 6: done have you been been getting people coming out trying 1830 01:27:52,840 --> 01:27:56,480 Speaker 6: to assist you guys and provide some of those resources 1831 01:27:56,520 --> 01:27:58,200 Speaker 6: that you were doing straight out of pocket and you 1832 01:27:58,280 --> 01:27:59,120 Speaker 6: getting some relief with. 1833 01:27:59,280 --> 01:28:02,439 Speaker 2: That, yeah, yeah, no, DEFINITELY i think you, KNOW i 1834 01:28:02,560 --> 01:28:05,519 Speaker 2: wish that story never came. Out you, know it just 1835 01:28:05,600 --> 01:28:07,720 Speaker 2: felt like one of THOSE i really never did it 1836 01:28:07,800 --> 01:28:10,280 Speaker 2: so people know about. IT i just did it BECAUSE 1837 01:28:10,760 --> 01:28:13,439 Speaker 2: i really believe, that you, know like what you, said 1838 01:28:13,520 --> 01:28:15,479 Speaker 2: people will. Come AND i always you, know put this 1839 01:28:15,600 --> 01:28:18,679 Speaker 2: hashtag build it and they will. COME i just always felt, 1840 01:28:18,760 --> 01:28:21,920 Speaker 2: like you, know with success comes a lot of, attention you. 1841 01:28:22,000 --> 01:28:25,160 Speaker 2: Know and now you, know we have a, Sponsor peak 1842 01:28:25,240 --> 01:28:28,200 Speaker 2: is sponsoring, us we have you, know multiple sponsors on. 1843 01:28:28,360 --> 01:28:31,479 Speaker 2: Board you, know there's people that are trying to build you, 1844 01:28:31,560 --> 01:28:35,160 Speaker 2: know practice facility or. Stadium we're working on our first indoor, 1845 01:28:35,280 --> 01:28:37,680 Speaker 2: stadium you, know believe it or. Not not only are 1846 01:28:37,720 --> 01:28:40,040 Speaker 2: we number one In africa and we made it to 1847 01:28:40,120 --> 01:28:42,400 Speaker 2: The World cup and The, olympics but we don't have 1848 01:28:42,560 --> 01:28:43,400 Speaker 2: a single indoor. 1849 01:28:43,479 --> 01:28:45,760 Speaker 4: Court that's that's WHEN i saw that. Story that was. 1850 01:28:45,880 --> 01:28:50,400 Speaker 6: Crazy that's that's. Insane no indoor courts at, All, like that's. Crazy, 1851 01:28:50,640 --> 01:28:51,000 Speaker 6: Yeah i'm. 1852 01:28:51,040 --> 01:28:54,120 Speaker 2: Building we're building our first one now that hopefully will 1853 01:28:54,120 --> 01:28:56,120 Speaker 2: be done in a few months and that will be. 1854 01:28:56,360 --> 01:28:58,360 Speaker 2: Historic but you, know when you think about, it to 1855 01:28:58,520 --> 01:29:01,880 Speaker 2: be able to accomplish those things and you don't even have, 1856 01:29:02,160 --> 01:29:07,040 Speaker 2: that you, know so we haven't even scratched the. Service 1857 01:29:07,080 --> 01:29:09,200 Speaker 2: and this is Why i'm so excited about how fast 1858 01:29:09,320 --> 01:29:11,920 Speaker 2: this has, come because you, know it drew a lot 1859 01:29:11,960 --> 01:29:15,040 Speaker 2: of attention and we'll get you, know and it will 1860 01:29:15,040 --> 01:29:16,720 Speaker 2: bring a lot of. Help but it also for those 1861 01:29:16,760 --> 01:29:19,320 Speaker 2: who don't, believe because we've been saying it for years 1862 01:29:19,400 --> 01:29:21,920 Speaker 2: that the talent is. There you, know what's missing is 1863 01:29:22,080 --> 01:29:24,519 Speaker 2: just the you, know the resources and the. Facility now 1864 01:29:24,560 --> 01:29:26,880 Speaker 2: people can actually be, like, yeah actually it's. True look at. 1865 01:29:26,920 --> 01:29:30,320 Speaker 2: That you know, FAST i took over three and a half, 1866 01:29:30,479 --> 01:29:35,720 Speaker 2: years no, program no, federation no national. Team in three 1867 01:29:35,800 --> 01:29:37,840 Speaker 2: and a half, years you're playing the best team in 1868 01:29:37,920 --> 01:29:40,400 Speaker 2: the world in an exhibition game in the old Two 1869 01:29:40,479 --> 01:29:44,719 Speaker 2: arena with twenty two thousand and you almost. 1870 01:29:44,800 --> 01:29:47,880 Speaker 1: Win that's just, yeah hold your own in the pool 1871 01:29:48,000 --> 01:29:51,200 Speaker 1: round and go to the to the first. Round, like, 1872 01:29:51,560 --> 01:29:52,760 Speaker 1: hey that's big time. 1873 01:29:52,880 --> 01:29:55,920 Speaker 2: Man, yeah now it really happened so. Fast But i'm 1874 01:29:55,960 --> 01:29:58,760 Speaker 2: so happy because it's What i've been, saying is what 1875 01:29:58,920 --> 01:30:01,200 Speaker 2: we've all been, saying that talent his dad is just the. 1876 01:30:01,320 --> 01:30:04,560 Speaker 1: Opportunity well you got another. Believer i'm believing in. 1877 01:30:04,680 --> 01:30:06,599 Speaker 4: Y'all. Guys, man And i'm rooting for. Y'all. 1878 01:30:06,680 --> 01:30:09,880 Speaker 1: Guy one of the other THINGS i want to touch on, this, like, 1879 01:30:10,000 --> 01:30:12,280 Speaker 1: man when me AND q got to the, league it 1880 01:30:12,400 --> 01:30:14,920 Speaker 1: was a lot of veterans that embraced, us but one 1881 01:30:15,000 --> 01:30:18,360 Speaker 1: of the key veterans that embraced us that we always, 1882 01:30:18,520 --> 01:30:21,320 Speaker 1: loved always loved his, smiling the way he, was was 1883 01:30:21,400 --> 01:30:24,720 Speaker 1: the kenbab M. Tumbo like ever since we got into the, 1884 01:30:24,840 --> 01:30:28,720 Speaker 1: League richardson and he called You, mitchison and he called Me, 1885 01:30:28,920 --> 01:30:32,479 Speaker 1: Miles and he always showed us love no matter where 1886 01:30:32,600 --> 01:30:36,240 Speaker 1: we was or where we was. At always loved playing against. Him, 1887 01:30:38,439 --> 01:30:40,400 Speaker 1: yeah we met him before we even played a. Game 1888 01:30:42,439 --> 01:30:45,160 Speaker 1: always ran. That, yeah it was always been that with. 1889 01:30:45,400 --> 01:30:45,680 Speaker 4: Him with. 1890 01:30:45,880 --> 01:30:49,400 Speaker 1: US i just want to know he impacted our lives 1891 01:30:49,920 --> 01:30:52,880 Speaker 1: in so many way of just him being. HIM i 1892 01:30:53,080 --> 01:30:55,560 Speaker 1: just want to know how rip the ken bab M, 1893 01:30:55,680 --> 01:30:58,760 Speaker 1: tumble how he impacted your life and what he meant 1894 01:30:58,840 --> 01:31:00,719 Speaker 1: to you and your life and you coming. 1895 01:31:00,800 --> 01:31:05,240 Speaker 2: Up, yeah, man you, KNOW i REALLY i really mean, This. 1896 01:31:05,680 --> 01:31:09,400 Speaker 2: Matombo forget basketball for a. Second as a human, BEING 1897 01:31:09,680 --> 01:31:12,280 Speaker 2: i don't think there's anyone. Better and WHAT i mean 1898 01:31:12,360 --> 01:31:16,120 Speaker 2: by that is just his heart for what he wanted 1899 01:31:16,240 --> 01:31:19,679 Speaker 2: to do and to help people was bigger than anything 1900 01:31:19,720 --> 01:31:22,639 Speaker 2: else and nothing can change. That like you, know WHEN 1901 01:31:22,640 --> 01:31:25,880 Speaker 2: i say that the guy's building, hospital he's building, schools 1902 01:31:25,920 --> 01:31:29,840 Speaker 2: but he's spending hours and hours with you, know whether 1903 01:31:29,880 --> 01:31:32,680 Speaker 2: it's presidents or so, on flying from one place to, 1904 01:31:32,760 --> 01:31:33,439 Speaker 2: place all. 1905 01:31:33,439 --> 01:31:35,120 Speaker 5: For the sake of helping. 1906 01:31:35,240 --> 01:31:39,040 Speaker 2: People AND i always tell people this What africans are, 1907 01:31:39,160 --> 01:31:43,720 Speaker 2: today you, know The african, celebrities The african. Athletes, right 1908 01:31:44,360 --> 01:31:46,880 Speaker 2: there's a way that we carry ourselves and a big 1909 01:31:46,960 --> 01:31:49,720 Speaker 2: part of it is because the guy's Like matumble who 1910 01:31:49,760 --> 01:31:53,120 Speaker 2: came before. Us and WHY i say that is Because 1911 01:31:53,160 --> 01:31:56,040 Speaker 2: matumble was the one guy, who even if you want 1912 01:31:56,080 --> 01:31:59,080 Speaker 2: to crack jokes on, him he turned it into such 1913 01:31:59,160 --> 01:32:03,000 Speaker 2: a humble, way even whether you mean to be you, 1914 01:32:03,080 --> 01:32:06,560 Speaker 2: know rude or, whatever he took that and turned it 1915 01:32:06,680 --> 01:32:10,639 Speaker 2: into a joke where you even, felt you, know either 1916 01:32:10,760 --> 01:32:14,719 Speaker 2: embarrassed or he made everyone else around him or around 1917 01:32:14,840 --> 01:32:17,519 Speaker 2: you make you feel like the. Idiot and you, know 1918 01:32:18,200 --> 01:32:21,920 Speaker 2: whether it was you, know going to interviews and saying 1919 01:32:22,040 --> 01:32:25,800 Speaker 2: his whole name and embracing that culture and the way 1920 01:32:25,880 --> 01:32:28,960 Speaker 2: he talked with the accent and everything and, laughing that 1921 01:32:29,200 --> 01:32:30,559 Speaker 2: became who we are As. 1922 01:32:30,600 --> 01:32:31,680 Speaker 5: Africans you, know so the. 1923 01:32:31,720 --> 01:32:35,840 Speaker 2: Next time we Represented, africa we were so proud because you, 1924 01:32:35,920 --> 01:32:39,599 Speaker 2: Know Ma tumble embraced that with no, shyness with no holding, 1925 01:32:39,720 --> 01:32:42,600 Speaker 2: back you, know and now all of. Us anytime you 1926 01:32:42,680 --> 01:32:46,160 Speaker 2: see anyone From africa playing in THE, nba the first 1927 01:32:46,240 --> 01:32:49,439 Speaker 2: thing everyone asks is what are they doing back? Home you, 1928 01:32:49,520 --> 01:32:52,560 Speaker 2: know that's not. Normal people don't say that For european. 1929 01:32:52,640 --> 01:32:56,519 Speaker 2: Players people don't from people from you, Know asia Or South. 1930 01:32:56,600 --> 01:32:58,920 Speaker 2: America it's just as soon as you see An african, 1931 01:32:59,000 --> 01:33:00,840 Speaker 2: player you're, like, yo what is he doing back? Home 1932 01:33:01,160 --> 01:33:03,640 Speaker 2: now that's not you, know you don't have, to but 1933 01:33:04,160 --> 01:33:07,160 Speaker 2: we made it a thing where you, know you're expected 1934 01:33:07,240 --> 01:33:09,320 Speaker 2: to do. That that's because the guys like My, tumble 1935 01:33:09,360 --> 01:33:13,080 Speaker 2: because they just gave back. Automatically so everyone became you 1936 01:33:13,160 --> 01:33:15,240 Speaker 2: got to be in that category to be An african 1937 01:33:15,320 --> 01:33:17,479 Speaker 2: and that's you, know And i'm proud of that because 1938 01:33:17,560 --> 01:33:20,000 Speaker 2: now you, know any kid that comes up in the, 1939 01:33:20,080 --> 01:33:22,080 Speaker 2: league we look at them and we're, like, yo what 1940 01:33:22,200 --> 01:33:25,360 Speaker 2: are you doing back? Home you, know it's expected for 1941 01:33:25,439 --> 01:33:27,920 Speaker 2: you to. Help it's not it's not something that you 1942 01:33:28,000 --> 01:33:30,439 Speaker 2: don't have to do, it but this is who we are. 1943 01:33:30,600 --> 01:33:33,519 Speaker 4: Now you, know their hand, back the hand, back. 1944 01:33:33,840 --> 01:33:36,320 Speaker 2: Definitely and that's because of. Him he made it a cultural. 1945 01:33:36,439 --> 01:33:40,240 Speaker 4: Thing, nah The kenby was one of one bro one 1946 01:33:40,280 --> 01:33:46,880 Speaker 4: of one of my favorite people in the. WORLD i can't. 1947 01:33:46,920 --> 01:33:49,840 Speaker 5: Say you can't say The kenba without. Smiling, Man, Right 1948 01:33:52,800 --> 01:33:55,240 Speaker 5: you never met a single person or say anything bad 1949 01:33:55,280 --> 01:33:57,720 Speaker 5: about The, kenba not at. 1950 01:33:57,760 --> 01:34:01,360 Speaker 4: All so you had a lot of. Teammates you had 1951 01:34:01,400 --> 01:34:01,720 Speaker 4: a lot of. 1952 01:34:01,760 --> 01:34:04,080 Speaker 1: Teammates you had a lot of guys that you played, with, 1953 01:34:04,240 --> 01:34:06,640 Speaker 1: teammates all of them in their. Prime if you had 1954 01:34:06,680 --> 01:34:09,719 Speaker 1: to make an ultimate five out of all the teammates 1955 01:34:09,760 --> 01:34:12,240 Speaker 1: you ever, had you had to pick four other guys 1956 01:34:12,320 --> 01:34:15,400 Speaker 1: to make your ultimate, five plus you who would beat? 1957 01:34:15,400 --> 01:34:16,560 Speaker 4: Them four other, guys. 1958 01:34:18,280 --> 01:34:24,000 Speaker 1: Four, teammates four, teammates everybody in the prime anywhere, anywhere any. 1959 01:34:23,880 --> 01:34:27,120 Speaker 4: Team play in the league that you to play. 1960 01:34:27,280 --> 01:34:30,479 Speaker 5: With, yeah my one would be D rose obviously most. 1961 01:34:30,520 --> 01:34:34,879 Speaker 4: Definitely, uh the two would be D Wade, oh. 1962 01:34:36,400 --> 01:34:40,040 Speaker 5: Definitely D Wade. Oh at the three THAT i played. 1963 01:34:40,120 --> 01:34:43,920 Speaker 4: With you gotta, play you gotta put yourself. In so 1964 01:34:44,040 --> 01:34:45,120 Speaker 4: younn be the three out the. 1965 01:34:45,160 --> 01:34:47,280 Speaker 2: Four So i'll be the. Three i'll be the. Three 1966 01:34:47,360 --> 01:34:49,479 Speaker 2: that makes it a lot easier for. Me i'll be 1967 01:34:49,600 --> 01:34:53,960 Speaker 2: the three at the, FOUR i would Put Chris bosh 1968 01:34:55,200 --> 01:34:57,920 Speaker 2: right at the, four and at FIVE i would Put 1969 01:34:58,000 --> 01:34:59,600 Speaker 2: joe joking. 1970 01:34:59,320 --> 01:35:02,439 Speaker 4: Though, okay that's a nice that's a nice right. There 1971 01:35:02,840 --> 01:35:07,080 Speaker 4: that would be like that D rose ship. 1972 01:35:07,240 --> 01:35:09,880 Speaker 2: Boy but, LISTEN i, HOPE i hope some of my 1973 01:35:10,040 --> 01:35:13,880 Speaker 2: old teammates don't hit me up on. Man you, know 1974 01:35:14,400 --> 01:35:16,000 Speaker 2: if you if you let me pick, TEN i will 1975 01:35:16,040 --> 01:35:16,960 Speaker 2: put them. In that's What i'm. 1976 01:35:18,640 --> 01:35:20,120 Speaker 4: Like this is WHAT i want to. Know LIKE I 1977 01:35:20,400 --> 01:35:22,960 Speaker 4: dodnet heard you, humble you don't really do it like 1978 01:35:23,320 --> 01:35:25,519 Speaker 4: you did something at some. Point NOW i won't. 1979 01:35:25,600 --> 01:35:28,880 Speaker 6: KNOW i won't know when you got was it the early, 1980 01:35:29,000 --> 01:35:31,479 Speaker 6: bag was it the layed, bag whenever you got comfortable 1981 01:35:31,520 --> 01:35:34,120 Speaker 6: with your? BAGS i want to know something that leu 1982 01:35:34,200 --> 01:35:36,760 Speaker 6: Al dang did to celebrate. Yourself whether it was a, 1983 01:35:36,880 --> 01:35:39,439 Speaker 6: whip whether it was a nice, watch whether it was 1984 01:35:39,560 --> 01:35:42,200 Speaker 6: you know what it might have been one of. You you, 1985 01:35:42,280 --> 01:35:43,920 Speaker 6: know if it can't be something you did for your 1986 01:35:44,000 --> 01:35:46,320 Speaker 6: mom or your daddy or something you know give back 1987 01:35:46,360 --> 01:35:49,320 Speaker 6: To i'm talking about something you did for. Yourself you 1988 01:35:49,439 --> 01:35:51,439 Speaker 6: might look at it now like, man that don't make no, 1989 01:35:51,560 --> 01:35:52,880 Speaker 6: Sense but you enjoyed it when it. 1990 01:35:52,960 --> 01:35:59,040 Speaker 2: Happened oh, man, HONESTLY i. DON'T i, don't you, KNOW i. 1991 01:35:59,200 --> 01:36:00,639 Speaker 5: CAN'T i don't. 1992 01:36:00,720 --> 01:36:04,360 Speaker 2: Have the one thing THAT i did was, like whether 1993 01:36:04,439 --> 01:36:06,479 Speaker 2: it's a, Car i'm not into, cars SO i never 1994 01:36:06,560 --> 01:36:09,639 Speaker 2: really like bought YOU i. HAD i had A range 1995 01:36:09,680 --> 01:36:13,600 Speaker 2: drover throughout my whole. Career you, KNOW i would swap it. 1996 01:36:13,720 --> 01:36:18,840 Speaker 2: WHATEVER i wasn't really into. CARS i wasn't into, jewelry you, 1997 01:36:18,920 --> 01:36:22,160 Speaker 2: KNOW i would, say, honestly the dumbest THING i did 1998 01:36:22,360 --> 01:36:25,240 Speaker 2: was literally just you, know get a bunch of my 1999 01:36:25,360 --> 01:36:28,200 Speaker 2: friends and every summer will go fly somewhere and just 2000 01:36:28,439 --> 01:36:32,240 Speaker 2: act stupid and you, know spend a lot of, money 2001 01:36:32,280 --> 01:36:36,479 Speaker 2: which you, know But i've never really, like LIKE i, 2002 01:36:36,520 --> 01:36:39,479 Speaker 2: SAID i spend a lot of money on, houses but 2003 01:36:39,680 --> 01:36:42,040 Speaker 2: that's all worked. Out But i've never really had the 2004 01:36:42,160 --> 01:36:44,679 Speaker 2: one thing That i'm kind of, like why DID i buy? 2005 01:36:44,840 --> 01:36:44,880 Speaker 6: That? 2006 01:36:45,800 --> 01:36:48,120 Speaker 1: Oh, no that that definitely counts because you, know you 2007 01:36:48,760 --> 01:36:51,720 Speaker 1: do the friend, trip that'd be a thirty maybe a 2008 01:36:51,800 --> 01:36:52,840 Speaker 1: forty thousand dollars. 2009 01:36:52,960 --> 01:36:55,200 Speaker 4: Trip you got to get the hotail, rooms you got 2010 01:36:55,360 --> 01:36:56,640 Speaker 4: to get the, flights. 2011 01:36:56,920 --> 01:36:57,400 Speaker 6: The, food. 2012 01:36:57,600 --> 01:36:58,400 Speaker 4: All, yeah. 2013 01:37:00,160 --> 01:37:00,200 Speaker 1: You. 2014 01:37:00,240 --> 01:37:02,200 Speaker 4: Got you got dope memories out of. That they can't 2015 01:37:02,240 --> 01:37:02,960 Speaker 4: take them memories. 2016 01:37:03,000 --> 01:37:04,920 Speaker 6: Away you feel me so you know that that that's 2017 01:37:05,000 --> 01:37:08,000 Speaker 6: that's dope THOUGH i can and trust me what you're 2018 01:37:08,080 --> 01:37:10,160 Speaker 6: saying that could that could be pricey at. 2019 01:37:10,240 --> 01:37:12,479 Speaker 4: Times it could be pricey depending on where you're going 2020 01:37:13,560 --> 01:37:15,080 Speaker 4: accommendations and things like. 2021 01:37:15,240 --> 01:37:19,680 Speaker 2: That. Yeah, no and definitely you don't want to take 2022 01:37:19,720 --> 01:37:22,519 Speaker 2: that away because it's so many. Memories, uh you, know 2023 01:37:22,640 --> 01:37:25,000 Speaker 2: when you look, back it's also just like we're talking 2024 01:37:25,000 --> 01:37:27,680 Speaker 2: about taking care of our. Body it's the other part 2025 01:37:27,800 --> 01:37:29,920 Speaker 2: that you you're just, like you know WHAT i WISH i. 2026 01:37:30,000 --> 01:37:32,040 Speaker 2: DID i WISH i would have did it a little. 2027 01:37:32,080 --> 01:37:34,040 Speaker 4: Different, yeah most. 2028 01:37:34,080 --> 01:37:36,840 Speaker 1: Definitely, WELL i just want to, say, bro, man we 2029 01:37:37,000 --> 01:37:39,439 Speaker 1: proud of you what you're doing, man how you're doing your. 2030 01:37:39,520 --> 01:37:42,400 Speaker 1: Thing you ever need us knuckleheads to come around or. 2031 01:37:42,960 --> 01:37:47,439 Speaker 1: ANYTHING i definitely love a trip To. Africa but whatever you, need, 2032 01:37:47,560 --> 01:37:49,600 Speaker 1: though bro on real talk, Man we're proud of you 2033 01:37:49,800 --> 01:37:52,920 Speaker 1: or what you're doing, man and how you're doing it your. Career, 2034 01:37:53,040 --> 01:37:55,479 Speaker 1: man we've been big fans of, it, man and we 2035 01:37:55,600 --> 01:37:57,080 Speaker 1: appreciate you really rocking with. 2036 01:37:57,240 --> 01:37:58,519 Speaker 5: Us, noah thank you. 2037 01:37:58,640 --> 01:37:58,880 Speaker 4: Guys. 2038 01:37:58,960 --> 01:38:01,040 Speaker 2: Man, NOW i really appreciate shit you guys having me 2039 01:38:01,560 --> 01:38:04,640 Speaker 2: And i'll take here on. That D i really you, 2040 01:38:04,760 --> 01:38:07,240 Speaker 2: know we're stay in. Touch let's work something out for 2041 01:38:07,600 --> 01:38:10,120 Speaker 2: you guys to in the content and whether you know 2042 01:38:10,320 --> 01:38:13,559 Speaker 2: even now with b A l With Basketball Africa league 2043 01:38:13,560 --> 01:38:16,920 Speaker 2: and that's, growing you, know that's the perfect time to 2044 01:38:17,040 --> 01:38:20,280 Speaker 2: come and watch the finals and so. On but we'd 2045 01:38:20,400 --> 01:38:22,840 Speaker 2: love to have you there, Man and this is something 2046 01:38:22,920 --> 01:38:26,360 Speaker 2: they also want to, do especially with What i'm trying to. 2047 01:38:26,400 --> 01:38:28,840 Speaker 2: Build having guys like you guys come around and you, 2048 01:38:28,920 --> 01:38:31,599 Speaker 2: know give your experience. 2049 01:38:31,080 --> 01:38:32,600 Speaker 6: And what you know and so on and be a 2050 01:38:32,680 --> 01:38:38,120 Speaker 6: part of. It, man that would be. Dope whatever you need. 2051 01:38:38,200 --> 01:38:42,000 Speaker 6: It it's all, love, no, definitely hey, man it has 2052 01:38:42,080 --> 01:38:42,599 Speaker 6: been super. 2053 01:38:42,760 --> 01:38:43,040 Speaker 4: Dope. 2054 01:38:43,120 --> 01:38:46,000 Speaker 6: Man we appreciate you, man one on one, Man Brother 2055 01:38:46,160 --> 01:38:50,040 Speaker 6: louile dang in the building, man y'all tap me nah love. 2056 01:38:50,200 --> 01:38:56,920 Speaker 5: MAN i appreciate, you, guys. MISPECT i want. 2057 01:38:56,800 --> 01:38:59,040 Speaker 4: To thank you for your continued support of The Knuckleheads. 2058 01:38:59,080 --> 01:39:01,800 Speaker 6: Podcast sure to give us two taps by writing a 2059 01:39:01,840 --> 01:39:04,760 Speaker 6: review and rating five stars wherever you get your, podcasts 2060 01:39:04,920 --> 01:39:06,800 Speaker 6: and make sure to hit that subscribe button so you 2061 01:39:06,840 --> 01:39:09,479 Speaker 6: don't miss an. Episode you can also watch all the 2062 01:39:09,600 --> 01:39:11,519 Speaker 6: episodes on the Players tribute on YouTube. 2063 01:39:11,560 --> 01:39:14,480 Speaker 4: Page follow us on social media At knuckleheads. 2064 01:39:14,560 --> 01:39:18,840 Speaker 6: Podcast enjoin Our Knucklehead facebook group for exclusive. Content thanks 2065 01:39:18,920 --> 01:39:21,160 Speaker 6: again all of our guests and. Fans this wouldn't be 2066 01:39:21,240 --> 01:39:21,880 Speaker 6: possible without. 2067 01:39:21,960 --> 01:39:39,320 Speaker 2: Y'all the Players tribute dot com