1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to All the Smoke, a production of The Black 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime. Welcome 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: back Man, season two of All the Smoke. We got 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: a real special guys, what's up with your brody with 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: the virtual handshake? I'm gonna tell ya something that I 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 1: never told go back, I want to smoke. Welcome Back 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,319 Speaker 1: All the Smoke Season two with a very special guest today. Uh, 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: Steven Jackson had to attend to a family emergency, so 9 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: he won't be with us today. But I have my 10 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: former coach mentor someone I look up to in this space, 11 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: Steve Kerr. Welcome to the show, Matt. Thanks for having 12 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: me on. Appreciate it. Thanks for your time. You just 13 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: told me I didn't know. But you guys are out 14 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: there in the Bay Area and your bubble right now practicing. 15 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: How's that going. It's going well. You know, we were 16 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: obviously one of the eight teams that that didn't qualify 17 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: for Orlando, and so some of that was a positive. 18 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: I mean, let's be honest to the type of season 19 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: we had. We didn't really want to go down to Orlando, 20 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: sit in a hotel room for a month and and 21 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: play meaningless games. On the other hand, as we watched 22 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: all those teams playing and we were not able to 23 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 1: get together ourselves and practice, we realized how quickly we 24 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: were falling behind. So, you know, all eight teams now 25 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: have been given this space by the league, and so 26 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: everybody's doing an in market bubble. So we're in San Francisco. 27 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: We're just going back and forth from the hotel to 28 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 1: our facility and and we're getting getting good work in 29 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: and um it's been really productive. So UM, you know, 30 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: trying to make the best of the situation. How long 31 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:34,759 Speaker 1: do you guys actually are in this this uh, this bubble. 32 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: It's it's two weeks, um, and it's um, it's totally voluntary. Um. 33 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: You know, this was not something that was required. UM. 34 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: So we have most of our guys here, Steph and 35 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: Draymond or not. They both had family stuff that they 36 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: needed to tend to. But we've got the rest of 37 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: the group. Clay is here, Andrew Wiggins, all of our 38 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: young play years from last year, and then we've got 39 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 1: some players from our G League team as well. And 40 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: the biggest thing, honestly, Matt, is just the guys getting 41 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,240 Speaker 1: to play five on five for the first time in 42 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: like six months. I mean, it's been a long time. 43 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 1: So just to feel the contact and the joy of 44 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: playing basketball again has been really good for for everybody. 45 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: How's Clay looked. I mean, obviously the world has been 46 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: waiting on his comeback. I love that he got to 47 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: actually take the adequate amount of time because I feel 48 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 1: like too often as players were rushed back or you know, 49 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: the game is calling us, so the team needs us back. 50 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 1: Clay got to take the right amount of time to 51 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: recover and we'll have well, we'll see a healthy Clay 52 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: Thompson next year. How's he been with this kind of 53 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 1: being his first run, first contact in a long time. Yeah, 54 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: Clay's looked great. And I've seen him a couple of 55 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 1: times during the quarantine in Orange County, and uh so 56 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: I've watched him work out over the last few months 57 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: a couple of times and and kept up to up 58 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: to speed with him. So I was already aware that 59 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: he was doing well and feeling really good. But this 60 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: is just a kind of an ex natural step, you know, 61 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: to be on the floor with nine other guys, and 62 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 1: so it's been really good for him. He looks great. Um, 63 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: because rhythm and his timing aren't there, but that that's 64 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: there's no way that that it would be given that 65 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: he's been off for a year and a half. But 66 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: he's healthy, he's feeling good, and it's been great to 67 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: have him in the building and and obviously just thinking 68 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:24,920 Speaker 1: about next season with him, with stuff with Draymond, with 69 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: Andrew Wiggins. You know, we we can start to think 70 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: about having a good team again. Yeah, that's gonna be good. 71 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: We'll get back to basketball a little bit. We're gonna, 72 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: you know, start with some other stuff. Obviously, we're in 73 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 1: a crazy time right now in our country. You've been 74 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: someone I've admired from a standpoint if you haven't let 75 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: your position of who you are hold back your true feelings. 76 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: You've always been very outspoken and passionate when you speak. 77 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: Obviously in the midst of a pandemic, in the midst 78 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: of I don't even know what we want to call 79 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: it a change, hopefully for the better for our country. 80 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,520 Speaker 1: Like I said, you've always been someone outspoken. Obviously, I 81 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: think your past, and we'll get into your past, but 82 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: I think your asked to help you be very confident 83 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: who you are and what you speak about. Where did 84 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: that come from as far as Hey, you know, I'm 85 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: gonna speak my mind regardless if I'm the head coach 86 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: of the Golden State Warriors or I'm just a man 87 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: on the street. Well, it's a good question. Um. I 88 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: think I've always felt a responsibility just to conviction inside too, 89 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,159 Speaker 1: to try to do the right thing and say the 90 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: right thing. But I never really said much politically when 91 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: I was playing. But then again, nobody really asked either. 92 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 1: You know, it was a different time, totally different era. Um. 93 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: I do remember speaking out against the Iraq War when 94 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: I played for the Spurs living in San Antonio, and 95 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: I was not a popular position to take, and it 96 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: was kind of my first sort of foray into public protest. 97 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 1: And uh, you know, San Antonio has five military bases. Um, 98 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 1: you know, of military influence in that town is is 99 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: really really uh important. And so did to you know, 100 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: make my feelings known about the war was not an 101 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: easy thing because I wanted people to know that my 102 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 1: my words had nothing to do with the military. They 103 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 1: just had everything to do with humanity and and um, 104 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: you know where things were heading. And so that was 105 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: kind of my first time where I felt uncomfortable. Um, 106 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: But but knowing that I was speaking out in the 107 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: right way, and so that gave me a little feel 108 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 1: for what what was to come. And I think now 109 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: we're obviously in a totally different era where, um, the 110 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: times are really calling for people to speak out, and 111 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: and we all have this enormous platform given the state 112 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: of media, social media. As coaches, you know, on a 113 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: on a typical road game, I do three media sessions 114 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,279 Speaker 1: a day. Um, it's insane, you know. So I'm getting 115 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: questions every day on politics and you know, social issues. So, um, 116 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: it's now it seems almost part of the job. Really, 117 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: it's anonymous, right, they go hand in hand now and 118 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: and for so long it was stick to stick to 119 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,360 Speaker 1: sports and politics and sports still mix. But I completely 120 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: agree with you. I think they go hand in hand 121 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: now and I I want also who speak out, But 122 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: I think, like you said, it's people with platforms and 123 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 1: who have a voice to travel. And obviously, you know, 124 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: through our careers we've been able to, you know, build 125 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: this platform that has allowed us to when we speak, 126 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 1: people listen. So we're obviously in tune with other things 127 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 1: outside of our profession, such as politics, such as families, 128 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: such as there's there's so many more facets to who 129 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: we are as human beings, were not just athletes. So 130 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,599 Speaker 1: I applaud you at the position you take, in the 131 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: stance you take, and and really the vulnerability you put 132 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: yourself in speaking out on issues. Like you said, they 133 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: don't always politically correct, I guess, but they're socially and 134 00:06:55,320 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: morally correct. Yeah. I think that's the key. I mean, um, 135 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: you've got to feel in your heart, and you've gotta 136 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,360 Speaker 1: you've gotta have a conviction and and then ultimately the 137 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: most important thing is to have uh, real knowledge to 138 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: to go with it, you know, the education of what 139 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: you're speaking of. And and I think that's what I've 140 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: really tried to do over the last say four months, 141 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: when with this social movement, this UH movement for racial 142 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: justice really heating up, and given the time off that 143 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:35,960 Speaker 1: we've had, I've just been trying to educate myself and 144 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: and read as much as I can about racism. I've 145 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: read some incredible books, um that have taught me so 146 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: much and helped me realize that reality is. Even though 147 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: I've always kind of felt like I was educated and 148 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: open minded, I was pretty ignorant to a lot of 149 00:07:55,120 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: what black Americans face. You know, I really was he. 150 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: I've been playing with with black teammates and friends since 151 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: I was you know, in junior high, growing up in 152 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: Los Angeles and integrated schools, and yet I felt over 153 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 1: the last few months, you know, kind of humiliated, like, 154 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: oh my god, how do how do I not know 155 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: about Black Wall Street? You know, how do I not 156 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: know about some of these awful, awful times in our 157 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: history where the black community has just been devastated by 158 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: by violence, by um all kinds of horrific acts that 159 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: nobody taught us in school, you know. And so I 160 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: think that's what's been most eye opening for me is 161 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: just the realization that, um, we are all um why 162 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: when I say we, I mean white people, We're all 163 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: blind to a lot of this stuff. And it's it's 164 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: on us to learn and to under understand and to 165 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 1: put ourselves in someone else's shoes and and understand what's 166 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: what's happening and why and what can we do to 167 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: change you I think you hit it on the head too, 168 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: because it's not taught. So I mean you have to 169 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 1: really go out there and search and look and try 170 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: to educate yourself in the ability to open your mind 171 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: up enough to not only be present within yourself and 172 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: what you have going on, but the ability to put 173 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: yourself in someone else's shoes, because as a white man, 174 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,560 Speaker 1: you can learn as much as you want, but you'll 175 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: never understand the feeling that a black person will go to. 176 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: But all we want you guys to do is try 177 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: to understand, you know what I mean. And I think 178 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: there's a I think there's been a turn. There's been 179 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: a shift in the paradigm where people are actually willing 180 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: to do that now because of the George Floyd situation. Unfortunately, normally, 181 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: when African Americans are gunned down by law enforcement, it's 182 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: a shot and they're dead. And I think for eight 183 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 1: and a half, almost nine minutes, almost the time of 184 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: an NBA quarter, we watched a man suffer and call 185 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: for his mother and plead for his life. And I 186 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: think that really pulled on the heartstrings of America and 187 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,959 Speaker 1: it really started opening up people's eyes and making people 188 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 1: realize that, you know, hey, there's a real issue in 189 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: this country and now is the time to address it. Um. 190 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 1: I feel we're still going through it, but I definitely 191 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:21,360 Speaker 1: feel like we're going to turn the corner and good 192 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: things are coming, but it takes things like what you're 193 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: doing to educate yourself and then not only educate yourself, 194 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: but then spread what you're learning. You know what I mean? 195 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: I can said you do a great job of utilizing 196 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: your platform to speak what you've learned. Um. Fast forward 197 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:37,800 Speaker 1: to the NBA bubble. How do you feel like the 198 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: NBA did be able to create an environment, a safe 199 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: environment not only for the players, but then also for 200 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: the players to continue to carry their their messages through 201 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,559 Speaker 1: social justice and the initiatives that the NBA has put 202 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 1: upon their shoulders to try to help, you know, be 203 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: a small part of change. Yeah. I thought the league 204 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: has did a really good job of first of all, 205 00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:03,599 Speaker 1: creating a safe environment and the bubble, by really every 206 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: measure has been a resounding success. And the first thing 207 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: I do is is give credit to the players and 208 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: coaches and administrators who are down there and who have 209 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:16,400 Speaker 1: been there for over three months now. If you know, 210 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: if you look at the Lakers and the Heat, I 211 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 1: mean the sacrifice that all those players those organizations are 212 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 1: making for the rest of us to keep the league going. 213 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: I want to make sure I I reference that because 214 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 1: it's it's been hugely important for the league to be 215 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: able to put games on TV and to entertain our 216 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: fans and keep things going. UM from a racial justice standpoint, 217 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 1: the great thing with the NBA is that I think 218 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: the players have always felt the support. Maybe not always, 219 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: but in the last you know period of time, UM, decade, 220 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: couple of decades, the players and coaches have felt the 221 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: support of UM, the league management in large part. You know, 222 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 1: we've been really led in a powerful way by Adam Silver. UM. 223 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,400 Speaker 1: You know, his very first act as commissioner was was 224 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 1: kicking we're all startling out. Yeah we were. We were 225 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,240 Speaker 1: in the playoffs when that happened, which is insane, but 226 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: that it was a huge first step a lot, you know, 227 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: for that to be your first issue, and he handled 228 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 1: it swiftly and gracefully. It was beautiful then it and 229 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 1: it felt empowering. UM. And I you know, I I 230 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: can't I can only speak as a as a white man, 231 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,600 Speaker 1: but I was proud that to be part of a 232 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 1: league that said, okay, like we're going to really address 233 00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 1: this stuff, and we're gonna support our players and our coaches. UM. 234 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: So I think going into the bubble, you know there's 235 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: that uh foundation that's already there where there's a trust 236 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:50,800 Speaker 1: level between the players and management. Um, not that everything's perfect, 237 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: but I think there's a trust level. Fast forward to 238 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: the Jacob Blake shooting and the players kind of throw 239 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:02,720 Speaker 1: their hand ends up and say, we can't do this anymore. 240 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: UM my take on that. As I sat at home, 241 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: obviously I'm not in the bubble um, I just sensed 242 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 1: an incredible frustration of a group of players who had 243 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: dedicated this entire season to the Black Lives Matter movement, 244 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:25,239 Speaker 1: to social and racial equity justice, using their their platforms 245 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:29,719 Speaker 1: to spread the message throughout this time, and then the 246 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,079 Speaker 1: same old thing, just black man getting shot by by 247 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: cops seven times in front of his family, and combined 248 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: with the fact that these guys had already been in 249 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,319 Speaker 1: Orlando for a couple of months away from their families, 250 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 1: It's like, to me, it just looked like everybody through 251 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,839 Speaker 1: their hands up and said, we can't, we can't do this, 252 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: Like we can't just perform for your entertainment and not 253 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: see real change. And and so last thing, and I'm 254 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: rambling a little bit, but I think this is important. 255 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: I think the reason that was an important time time 256 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 1: out was that the players missed a couple of games. 257 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: They sat out and they said, we're not playing and 258 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: they use that as leveraged to get some concessions from 259 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: the owners terms of opening up arenas for for voting 260 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 1: centers and U, I think there were some financial considerations 261 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 1: in terms of donating money to to social causes. To me, 262 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: the reason this is so important is that what can 263 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,880 Speaker 1: really change things is corporate America deciding to jump on 264 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: board this train and putting their money where their mouth 265 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: is and changing policy. Changing um, the way we police, 266 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: the way we go about our business, the way we 267 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: protect each other. Um. It has to come from rich 268 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: white people to be perfectly, blunt, absolutely rock the vote. 269 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: In your opinion, how important is it for you into 270 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: everyone else to not only vote on the federal level, 271 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: but the local and state level as well. Yeah, it's 272 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: huge and and um, you know, I've I've read all 273 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: the stats. I mean, young people generally don't vote. You know, 274 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:13,200 Speaker 1: it's uh, the numbers are are are staggering, and I 275 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: think it's like one in five, you know, between the 276 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: ages of eighteen and thirty, UM, in the last election, 277 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: if that actually voted, Um, and yet the future of 278 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: our country is at stake. And and so because of 279 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:30,400 Speaker 1: this movement, because there's so many young people really of 280 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 1: of of every race, UM and background or so invested 281 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: in this movement. Uh, they got to back it up, 282 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 1: you know, they have to back and back it up 283 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: and show up at the polls, um and help create 284 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: the change that that that they're calling for. And it 285 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 1: can only happen if they if they get out and vote. Absolutely. Um. 286 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: You had a very unique upbringing, Um, with your father 287 00:15:55,880 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: moving around, you know, had spent some time at Beirute, Egypt, France, Tanzania. 288 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: What was it like as a young child growing up 289 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 1: in so many different cultures? It was a real blessing, 290 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: although I didn't realize that at the time, Matt. You know, 291 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: my dad was a professor at u c. L A. 292 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:17,600 Speaker 1: And I just wanted to live in l A and 293 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: and go to U c l A basketball games and 294 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: you know, play play sports with my friends. And then 295 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: my dad would would come home and he'd say, all right, 296 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: we're gonna, you know, pack up the v W van 297 00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: and and uh put it on a boat to Egypt, 298 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: and you know, we're gonna go live in Egypt. For 299 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 1: the next two years when you're ten years old, like 300 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: what we're doing? What? So not exactly something that that 301 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: thrilled me at the time, but I look back on 302 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: it, it it was the best education I ever could have 303 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: had to live in in Cairo for three years. Um. 304 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: Also in uh in France it was actually too easy 305 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,560 Speaker 1: and not Tanzania, but uh, excuse me, that's that's all right. 306 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 1: The point, the point at the point is the same. 307 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: It's living in a different culture, totally different part of 308 00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:09,439 Speaker 1: the world. It just gives you an entirely different perspective 309 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,479 Speaker 1: on life and and it gives you an empathy for 310 00:17:12,520 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: other people and um and an awareness that you know, uh, 311 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 1: we all come from different places, but we're basically all 312 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 1: looking for the same thing. We get all these political 313 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: and racial differences get in our way and suddenly you've 314 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:33,320 Speaker 1: got horrible inequities and atrocity is happening, and it's insane 315 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: because we're all just We're all just flesh and blood. 316 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,480 Speaker 1: And I think getting that perspective as a kid was 317 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: was really important for me through that process. Where did 318 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,119 Speaker 1: basketball fit in? Is that where you found when did 319 00:17:46,160 --> 00:17:47,879 Speaker 1: you find your passion for the game? And who were 320 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,400 Speaker 1: some of the people you looked up to in the game. Well, 321 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: my uh, I was a bruin at heart. I know 322 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:58,080 Speaker 1: you like that, you know. But my first game was 323 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: at Pauli Pavilion. I was five years old and Bill 324 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:03,440 Speaker 1: Walton was playing for U c l A. And and 325 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: uh and so I I was. I was raised during 326 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 1: that heyday when U c l A was winning year 327 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: after year and John Wooden was was the coach and 328 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: and so too. That's where I fell in love with 329 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,080 Speaker 1: the game, you know, walking into Pauli Pavilion for the 330 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:21,280 Speaker 1: first time and hearing the band play and watching the 331 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 1: team and every seat was filled, and the crowd noise 332 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:28,479 Speaker 1: and the energy. It was just invigorating and and uh, 333 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 1: that's that's where I fell in love with it. And 334 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: then I played all sports, you know, like we we 335 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,399 Speaker 1: did back then. I know you you played baseball and 336 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,719 Speaker 1: football and I did the same and and so I 337 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: just played played sports all the time. But basketball was 338 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: my favorite. And when I was overseas, I was able 339 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:44,719 Speaker 1: to play. That was one one of the good things 340 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: about basketball was that you know, people played basketball in 341 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 1: each of they didn't play baseball or football, so that 342 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 1: that helped I I just was had an outdoor hoop 343 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: at our school and played on the school team, and 344 00:18:56,480 --> 00:19:00,119 Speaker 1: you know it was it was fun. Ye finished sing 345 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,159 Speaker 1: up your high school career in California, not very highly recruited. 346 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:05,800 Speaker 1: You end up at Arizona as part of Lute Olsen's 347 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: first recruiting class. What was that like playing for such 348 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: a lary Dairy coach? Obviously we lost him not too 349 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:14,000 Speaker 1: long ago. Rest in peace to coach. What was that 350 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: experience like being a part of his class, going to 351 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: you know, wanting to go to u C. L A, 352 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: ending up at Arizona, and then having a successful career 353 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: at Arizona. Yeah, it was sort of unexpected. Um. You know, 354 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: I finished my senior season without a scholarship offer, and 355 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:31,880 Speaker 1: I didn't really know what I was gonna do. So 356 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: everything kind of happened at last second, and um it 357 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:39,199 Speaker 1: turned into the break of my lifetime because to go 358 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: to Arizona and learned from from coach Olsen. Um and 359 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: then too you know, he built the program so quickly. Um, 360 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:50,439 Speaker 1: so within a few years I was playing with NBA 361 00:19:50,520 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: players like Sean Elliott and and Judd Bushler and and 362 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: Sean Rooks, And I mean we we we were we 363 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: were loaded. Tom Tolbert, Kenny Lofton was on our team 364 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,320 Speaker 1: and went on and had a amazing big league career. 365 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:07,439 Speaker 1: And so Lute built this incredible program quickly, and and 366 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:09,640 Speaker 1: so to be part of it and to learn from 367 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: him and to have the foundation upon which the rest 368 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: of my life has been built was just the ultimate gift. 369 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 1: So I will forever be thankful for Coach Olsen and 370 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: what what he meant to my life. Do you apply anything, 371 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:28,760 Speaker 1: probably most likely that you learned from him to your 372 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: coaching style you have now? I do? I do? I think, Um, 373 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,360 Speaker 1: I've probably taken a little something from all the coaches 374 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:40,879 Speaker 1: that I've played for, but from from him, it was, 375 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 1: you know, there was such an environment of you know, 376 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: this is something special, like you're part of something special, 377 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 1: and you felt that the first day you walked in, 378 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: and he made it feel that way through the work, 379 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:59,639 Speaker 1: through the mission that we were on, through the family 380 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 1: Vie that that was there, um, And so I think 381 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: I've taken that. I I always want players who come 382 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,400 Speaker 1: to the Warriors to feel like they're part of something special, 383 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: and that's how coach, That's how Coach approached it. Absolutely 384 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 1: your father accepts a role as president of American University 385 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: and eighty two. Unfortunately January of nine four. Uh, still 386 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: while you're at Arizona. Uh, your father was killed. How 387 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: did that tragedy impact you being thousands of miles away 388 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: and then also obviously impact your family. Yeah, so he Uh, 389 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:39,640 Speaker 1: he was one of the early victims of terrorism during 390 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,119 Speaker 1: you know, this age of terrorism that we're in. It 391 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: really began, um kind of in the late seventies, um, 392 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: with the hostage situation in Iran at the American embassy, 393 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: and then you know, the early eighties there were various um, 394 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 1: you know, hijackings and kidnapped things, and bombings and in 395 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: the Middle East and and and so my dad was 396 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 1: was killed by gunmen and two gunmen outside of his office. 397 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:15,440 Speaker 1: I was eighteen at the time, um, freshman year at Arizona, 398 00:22:15,480 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, just crushed me, just destroyed me. 399 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: And I was really close with my dad. I have 400 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,600 Speaker 1: three siblings. We were all really really close. And and 401 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: you know, it's hard to hard to know how to 402 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 1: function when something like that happens, because you you know, 403 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: I suppose a lot of us just live in a 404 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,679 Speaker 1: little cocoon growing up if you know, assuming things go 405 00:22:39,760 --> 00:22:42,280 Speaker 1: well for us as as a child like they did 406 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: for me. You know, I was pretty innocent and you know, 407 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: I didn't think anything like that would happen to me, 408 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:53,119 Speaker 1: and so when it did, it was devastating. But you know, 409 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: I'm I'm proud of my family, everybody, you know, really 410 00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: stuck together, My siblings, my mom, everybody as as moved 411 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:03,400 Speaker 1: on and with their lives and done really well. And 412 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,000 Speaker 1: we think about our dad every day, and um, but 413 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: you know, you keep keep moving, keep moving forward. I 414 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: lost my mom, um two thousand seven to cancer. Um. 415 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:19,679 Speaker 1: What role did basketball play for you and in helping 416 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,959 Speaker 1: you not necessarily get over but try to you know, 417 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: start life after your father? Yeah, I think it was. 418 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 1: That was my sanctuary for sure, you know, just going 419 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 1: to the gym and um. You know, I remember about 420 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:41,800 Speaker 1: about a few days after um my dad died, we 421 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,160 Speaker 1: had a game and actually the next day I went 422 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:48,639 Speaker 1: to practice, you know, and coach Olsen said, are you 423 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 1: sure you want to practice? And I said, what else 424 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: would I want to be doing? You know, um? And 425 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:57,399 Speaker 1: it wasn't like some heroic act, it was just what 426 00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 1: else do you do? Um? You know, you're just at 427 00:24:00,760 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: home and you're sitting there, you're thinking about everything. It's 428 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 1: it's a miserable time. And and sort of get on 429 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 1: the court for a couple of hours and lose yourself 430 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,199 Speaker 1: in the game and be with your friends and and 431 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,560 Speaker 1: you know, feel the endorphin kick of of you know, 432 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: intense energy and exercise. It all helps. It's very therapeutic, 433 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: and it it you know, people might think it sounds insensitive, 434 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: but it's really not. It's it's just part of part 435 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:36,240 Speaker 1: of that process of immediate grief. You know that the 436 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,880 Speaker 1: game was like the the one thing during the day 437 00:24:39,880 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 1: that I could look forward to. Yeah, that was that 438 00:24:42,320 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: was to say, I played two days after my mom passed, 439 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: and so, like you said, lose yourself for that two 440 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: and a half hours to just something you love. Although 441 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: every time there was a foul call or a whistle 442 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:54,280 Speaker 1: was blown, you you know, you obviously revert back to 443 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,240 Speaker 1: missing your father, to missing my mom. But basketball was 444 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:00,320 Speaker 1: a huge part and obviously my supports this and which 445 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: was my team with the Golden State Warriors at the time. 446 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: With that, we believe team was tremendous and in kind 447 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: of you know, being a shoulder to lean on and 448 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: allowing me to be okay, to agree and be those 449 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:12,960 Speaker 1: people you needed them to be. It was. It was 450 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:15,160 Speaker 1: a special experience. But like I said, I really think 451 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:19,480 Speaker 1: basketball helped me transition through that point in my life. Well, 452 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 1: your teammates become a family for sure, especially you know, 453 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: a team like that. I mean, you know, I remember 454 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: I was in broadcasting at the time, and I did 455 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:31,159 Speaker 1: I did some of your games, and I remember you 456 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:35,639 Speaker 1: going through that loss, and I remember, um, you know, 457 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: just um, and of course we knew each other already 458 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 1: because you had been in Phoenix, uh before that when 459 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: I was in management with the Sons and and so 460 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:51,280 Speaker 1: I was, you know it just feeling for you and 461 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,600 Speaker 1: watching you and and just um knowing exactly what you 462 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 1: were going through because I went through the same thing. 463 00:25:57,720 --> 00:26:00,280 Speaker 1: But that game and your teammates, that's what you have 464 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 1: to rely on. Absolutely. Um. How special was that final 465 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:07,640 Speaker 1: four team? You guys had? You know him and saying 466 00:26:07,720 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 1: the guy Sean Elliott, Kenny Lofton, Tom Tolbert, Anthony Cook, 467 00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: a young Jed Bushler. What was it? What was that experience? 468 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: Like I think Kansas with Danny Manning won the championship 469 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: that year. If I'm not mistaken. Yeah, we lost to 470 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: Oklahoma in the final four. It's the one game, Matt, 471 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: honestly that I still think about to this day. I 472 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: don't think about I don't think about any of the 473 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: good ones. I really don't. I only I only think 474 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:34,480 Speaker 1: about that one because I played so poorly and I 475 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,119 Speaker 1: shot two for thirteen, not that I you know, have 476 00:26:37,280 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: kept tracked, and uh, it was so painful, um because 477 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: we had a we had an incredible team sodid Oklahoma 478 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: and they were fantastic and they beat us and then 479 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:51,160 Speaker 1: Kansas says, you said they upset him in the finals. 480 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,520 Speaker 1: But I think about that game still. This season was 481 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: so special. Those guys remain my best friends to this day, 482 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:00,720 Speaker 1: the guys from that team, and you know, we still 483 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,840 Speaker 1: have that that bond that's going to exist forever. So 484 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: I've been lucky just to not only be on great teams, 485 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: but beyond teams that just were really close, you know, 486 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: and and where I made really good friends and so 487 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:16,280 Speaker 1: much fun to stay in touch with old teammates, you know, 488 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:20,919 Speaker 1: just touch base. W It's great. Absolutely. When this is 489 00:27:20,920 --> 00:27:23,960 Speaker 1: a two part question, when did the NBA become reality? 490 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,320 Speaker 1: And then once you made it, when did you feel 491 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,439 Speaker 1: like you found your footing in the NBA and you 492 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:32,560 Speaker 1: felt like you belonged. Man, That's a that's a great question. Um, 493 00:27:32,640 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: it really didn't become a reality to me. I guess 494 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 1: I've realized my senior year in college that maybe I 495 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 1: had a chance, um, and I got drafted. It was 496 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:43,800 Speaker 1: the last pick in the second round by the Suns, 497 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: And when I made the team, it didn't feel like 498 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: I was really there yet. I just was on the 499 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:52,200 Speaker 1: end of the roster. So the next few years, I 500 00:27:52,240 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 1: got traded to Cleveland, played for Lenny Wilkins, who was 501 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,959 Speaker 1: a good, fantastic coach. We have really good teams with 502 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:02,640 Speaker 1: Mark Price and Brad Doherty, Marry Nance, Craigy Lowe, Ron 503 00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 1: Harper Um and I found my footing, uh for for 504 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: a couple of seasons. During that time, I had had 505 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: a couple of good years, but but I was really 506 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: still a fringe guy for most of my career, And 507 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: to be honest, I'm not sure I ever felt a 508 00:28:21,640 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 1: comfortable that I belonged, you know I And maybe that's 509 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: what drove me. I always just kind of felt like, 510 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:29,280 Speaker 1: you know, I could get cut at any time, and 511 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:32,359 Speaker 1: so as a result, I put in the work and 512 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:35,879 Speaker 1: I competed, and uh, and I just kept sticking around 513 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:39,440 Speaker 1: and um and yeah, I ended up playing fifteen years, 514 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: which is sort of shocking. Um, I still can't believe 515 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: that that my career lasted that long. But now I was. 516 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: I was fortunate and and I kind of ended up 517 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:53,680 Speaker 1: on in the right place at the right time in 518 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:58,239 Speaker 1: a lot of cases. Absolutely, Uh with Chicago, you end 519 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 1: up in Chicago, And uh, you guys go on a 520 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 1: three pet run from nineties six, obviously, with the last 521 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:09,080 Speaker 1: dance being such a huge success and winning a lot 522 00:29:09,120 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 1: of awards. What do you remember from that time? Obviously, 523 00:29:12,560 --> 00:29:14,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure that refreshed you a lot, whether things that 524 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:17,960 Speaker 1: you saw there, like that ship didn't happen that way, 525 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 1: or things you completely forgot. What was the experience like 526 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: kind of going because you guys missed the social media generation, 527 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:26,960 Speaker 1: you know, so this that was almost like us being 528 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:30,160 Speaker 1: able to see social media version of you and Michael 529 00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 1: Jordan's Scottie Pipot and Phil and Dennis and all this 530 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: stuff you guys went through. What was it like just 531 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: sitting back, like watching stuff that happened over twenty years ago? 532 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,240 Speaker 1: It was really fun because you know, at the time, 533 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: they didn't have all the sort of Heart Knocks style shows, 534 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:49,880 Speaker 1: you know, um with teams like nobody was allowed behind 535 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: the scenes. Yeah, no, behind the scenes at all. Nothing, 536 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: nothing like even NBA Entertainment. You know, they might be 537 00:29:56,880 --> 00:30:00,440 Speaker 1: allowed in the locker room during the championship celebration, but 538 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 1: you'd never see a camera and a team meeting. Um. 539 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: You know, you'd never you know how now like you know, 540 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,000 Speaker 1: let's let's listen in on Frank Vogel during his halftime 541 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: speech during the platform that's never never never. Um. So 542 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: when Phil told us that the cameras were going to 543 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:21,600 Speaker 1: be behind the scenes, and you know why he was 544 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,360 Speaker 1: allowing it, it was kind of shocking. And then seeing 545 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: all those guys every day was really weird. The first 546 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 1: month it was, you just felt so exposed. And I'm 547 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,560 Speaker 1: still not sure it was a great idea. UM. I 548 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: don't think I would allow it as a coach. I 549 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 1: think I think it's you're opening yourself up to a 550 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:47,680 Speaker 1: lot of potential problems. Um. But I'm really glad that 551 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: that it happened because now, you know, to watch it 552 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,440 Speaker 1: twenty two years or later, especially with my kids who 553 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 1: were babies at the time, you know, Um, and now 554 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: they're all grown up. So to to watch with them 555 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 1: and for them to see kind of what life was 556 00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:05,640 Speaker 1: like for me back then, was was really fun. What 557 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: was it like? I mean, I'm sure this is a 558 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:10,120 Speaker 1: common question playing with Mike. Um. You know we heard 559 00:31:10,160 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 1: you guys had your differences at times, but just overall, 560 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,040 Speaker 1: him as a teammate, him as a competitor, and is 561 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 1: there a friendship there's Is there a friendship there? There's Uh, 562 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:28,480 Speaker 1: there's there's a mutual respect that that exists, and and uh, 563 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: we don't really stay in touch, um, but we see 564 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,200 Speaker 1: each other maybe once or twice a year, whether it's 565 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: at at a game in Charlotte or All Star weekend 566 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,200 Speaker 1: or you know, maybe a golf tournament or something in 567 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,120 Speaker 1: Lake Tahoe. Like we've we've we just seemed to run 568 00:31:45,160 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: into each other once in a while because we're kind of, 569 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 1: you know, traveling the same circuit. And there's always it's 570 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: always a great reunion, you know, He's Um, it's so 571 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:59,520 Speaker 1: much fun to kind of relive those days and to 572 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 1: ask about, you know, our teammates and talk about you know, 573 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:08,960 Speaker 1: the good times back then and being his teammate was hard. Um. 574 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: You know, he he was really tough on everybody because 575 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:16,959 Speaker 1: his whole philosophy was he had to toughen us up 576 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:21,040 Speaker 1: to get us ready for the playoffs in the finals, 577 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 1: and so he came after us and you had to 578 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,320 Speaker 1: you had to stand up to him. He had to 579 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:29,440 Speaker 1: sort of survive the the MJ test, you know, and 580 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 1: and the guys who who survived it. Um, he had 581 00:32:33,120 --> 00:32:36,640 Speaker 1: immense respect for him. And so you know, people know 582 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:39,440 Speaker 1: about the fight I got into him and I that 583 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 1: we got into two together, and um, that was just 584 00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:46,920 Speaker 1: about him kind of testing me and uh, and I 585 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:49,840 Speaker 1: probably the best thing I ever did was not you know, 586 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,680 Speaker 1: not take his his crap, and you know, stood back 587 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:55,920 Speaker 1: up and he respected it and we got along ever since. 588 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:59,440 Speaker 1: So that was a similar you know, obviously we weren't 589 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:01,360 Speaker 1: teammates at the time, but like I said, I think 590 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:03,840 Speaker 1: getting a chance to play against Kobe for so long 591 00:33:04,080 --> 00:33:08,320 Speaker 1: and he'll test you mentally physically obviously as an opponent. Um. 592 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: But then you know, it came to a head in 593 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 1: the in the two thousand nine, two thousand ten situation 594 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: with the ball fake, and you know, we almost ended 595 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:16,800 Speaker 1: up fighting at that point. But what a lot of 596 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:18,719 Speaker 1: people didn't know was at the end of that season, 597 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 1: he personally called me. I didn't even have his number 598 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: for some reason. I just picked up and it was him. 599 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: He's just like, you know, anyone crazy enough to funk 600 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 1: with me, is crazy enough to play with me? Do 601 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 1: you do you want to be a Laker? And you 602 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 1: know similar you know, I mean, like the great ones 603 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 1: will test and they want guys that aren't going to 604 00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 1: back down from anything. And obviously you've earned Mike's respect 605 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 1: through that, and then you guys went on to win 606 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 1: some championships, him coming back, Um, you guys losing to 607 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,840 Speaker 1: Orlando and then coming out and having that tremendous ninety 608 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:47,080 Speaker 1: six season where you guys go seventy two and ten. 609 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:49,640 Speaker 1: What was that like? I mean, to lose ten games? 610 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: And then obviously as a coach you surpassed that record 611 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 1: which no one thought would ever be broken. But as 612 00:33:55,640 --> 00:33:57,840 Speaker 1: a player in that in that moment, what was that 613 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:01,840 Speaker 1: time like? It was incredible that because is uh, none 614 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: of us had ever experienced anything like it. But you 615 00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: know the fact that Michael had left the game for 616 00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:11,640 Speaker 1: a couple of years just completely recharged him. Between him 617 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:15,720 Speaker 1: having a full off season to prepare and being recharged 618 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:19,840 Speaker 1: and motivated, and then Dennis coming aboard from the Spurs 619 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:24,439 Speaker 1: during an offseason trade. We were just revitalized, the whole 620 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:28,400 Speaker 1: whole franchise. And I remember the media asking us about 621 00:34:28,680 --> 00:34:31,839 Speaker 1: possibly winning seventy before the season started, and we were all, 622 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: you gotta be kidding me. Nobody's gonna win seventy. And 623 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:37,319 Speaker 1: yet we just blitz teams right out of the gate, 624 00:34:37,360 --> 00:34:39,399 Speaker 1: and I think we were forty one and three at 625 00:34:39,440 --> 00:34:41,520 Speaker 1: one point. It was like we were just looking at 626 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:45,560 Speaker 1: each other, like this is this is insane, This doesn't happen. 627 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:48,719 Speaker 1: But it was that perfect storm because of his absence 628 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:52,240 Speaker 1: and because of Dennis's arrival and just this amazing energy 629 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: that existed and Phil's genius as our coach. Just the 630 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:59,720 Speaker 1: way it all happened, and by the way, Scottie Pippen 631 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:02,960 Speaker 1: was one of the great basketball players in the league 632 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:09,000 Speaker 1: at the time. It was an amazing, amazing run. What 633 00:35:09,040 --> 00:35:11,440 Speaker 1: was it like with Dennis? You saw stuff and it 634 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:14,600 Speaker 1: fucking blew me away when he left for Vegas and 635 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:16,920 Speaker 1: Phil being Phil, I got an opportunity. I got a 636 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: chance to play for Phil his last year before he 637 00:35:19,600 --> 00:35:21,719 Speaker 1: announced to us he had cancer and he was going 638 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:23,600 Speaker 1: to step away from the game. And when I tell 639 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 1: people like that's what I saw in you when I 640 00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: came to Golden State, was Phil implemented his system as 641 00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:31,359 Speaker 1: you did. And then you kind of take a step back, 642 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 1: and you're not the raw ry unless you have to 643 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 1: cuss someone out, you're not that. You trust the players 644 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,600 Speaker 1: you put out there to allow us to create and 645 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:40,840 Speaker 1: play the game and see the game through our eyes. 646 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 1: What was it like kind of a two part First 647 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:45,200 Speaker 1: of all, what was Dennis like? And then playing for 648 00:35:45,239 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: someone like Phil Jackson. Well, it's a good question because 649 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:52,480 Speaker 1: the way Phil coached Dennis really, um was was the 650 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:56,880 Speaker 1: key to everything um and and it and it really 651 00:35:56,920 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 1: informed me about what coaching was about, you know, because 652 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:04,520 Speaker 1: as Phil demanded certain things of Dennis and then got 653 00:36:04,520 --> 00:36:06,919 Speaker 1: out of his way, and I saw how powerful that was. 654 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:09,880 Speaker 1: Um you know, the idea of giving someone a vision 655 00:36:10,160 --> 00:36:14,759 Speaker 1: and then letting them go and then occasionally raining them 656 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:18,560 Speaker 1: back in, show him the vision again, letting him go again. 657 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:22,839 Speaker 1: That's powerful, you know. To me, that's coaching. Because these 658 00:36:22,880 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: players are artists. Man, they're they're they're so gifted at 659 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:28,680 Speaker 1: this level, especially and you know, if you're if you're 660 00:36:28,680 --> 00:36:31,440 Speaker 1: gonna call every play and try to orchestrate everything, you're 661 00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,480 Speaker 1: overthinking things and you're not letting the players be who 662 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:38,560 Speaker 1: they really are. The way Phil handled Dennis was was genius. Uh. 663 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 1: The first year was it was incredible because you know, 664 00:36:43,239 --> 00:36:45,520 Speaker 1: Dennis was so excited to be part of the of 665 00:36:45,560 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 1: the team and he was so different, but he connected 666 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:53,880 Speaker 1: um with guys in in in strange ways, like he 667 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:58,440 Speaker 1: wouldn't say anything for a week, um, you know, but 668 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:02,120 Speaker 1: you've you've like there was just energy from him that 669 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:04,520 Speaker 1: you know what, that's a good dude. Like he just 670 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:06,759 Speaker 1: you could tell he had a good soul and he 671 00:37:07,239 --> 00:37:09,440 Speaker 1: so he was vulnerable in that way, like he allowed 672 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 1: you to see his soul and what he was about. Um, 673 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 1: but he didn't communicate a whole lot, so you had 674 00:37:15,719 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 1: to you had to understand him and get to know 675 00:37:18,120 --> 00:37:23,000 Speaker 1: him a little bit. Beautiful minds um finals h M J. 676 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:26,319 Speaker 1: Flew game his amazing game and then you hit the 677 00:37:26,440 --> 00:37:30,440 Speaker 1: game winner in game six? How did your life change 678 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 1: after that? I think in some ways it was it 679 00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,600 Speaker 1: was validation that I belonged. You know, you asked that 680 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 1: question earlier, When did when did I feel like I belonged. 681 00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:44,920 Speaker 1: Maybe that's the answer. Maybe it took that long. I 682 00:37:44,960 --> 00:37:47,600 Speaker 1: think that was maybe my tenth year in the league. 683 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:51,400 Speaker 1: But you know, I hadn't hit many big shots before that, 684 00:37:51,880 --> 00:37:55,560 Speaker 1: and so hitting that shot felt like I actually belong here. 685 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:57,560 Speaker 1: I had to prove it to myself, but I had 686 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:00,480 Speaker 1: to prove it to other people also. And then it 687 00:38:00,800 --> 00:38:03,800 Speaker 1: also led to another contract, you know, my I was 688 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:06,400 Speaker 1: a free agent a couple of years later, and the 689 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:09,440 Speaker 1: Spurs gave me a five year contract, which was the 690 00:38:09,440 --> 00:38:12,040 Speaker 1: most money I ever made my career, which allowed me 691 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:14,880 Speaker 1: to buy a house in San Diego and and you know, 692 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 1: take care of my family. And so it changed, it 693 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:19,800 Speaker 1: changed a lot of things. I think hitting that shot 694 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:23,160 Speaker 1: probably got me my job in TV, you know, because 695 00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:26,560 Speaker 1: playing for the Bulls and having a big moment took 696 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:29,960 Speaker 1: me from a place of relative obscurity too. Oh we 697 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:33,960 Speaker 1: know that guy, and you know, so that season, that 698 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,759 Speaker 1: those years in Chicago and hitting that shot, it all 699 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:40,960 Speaker 1: added up to kind of giving me a boost um 700 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:44,200 Speaker 1: to another another level in my own career in life. 701 00:38:44,760 --> 00:38:48,120 Speaker 1: I love it now obviously with the last Dance, you 702 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:52,879 Speaker 1: know that you guys win your third title. Seeing last Dance. 703 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:55,640 Speaker 1: There was so much behind the scenes that obviously we 704 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:57,160 Speaker 1: didn't know. I don't know, I'm not sure if you 705 00:38:57,160 --> 00:38:59,520 Speaker 1: guys were, But did you guys really feel like this 706 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:01,640 Speaker 1: was really really going to be the last run? Or 707 00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: at any point did you just think it was talker 708 00:39:03,840 --> 00:39:06,799 Speaker 1: did when you guys knew that season? Hey, you guys 709 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:08,399 Speaker 1: really knew it was going to be the last run. 710 00:39:08,560 --> 00:39:11,360 Speaker 1: We knew it was done. We really knew. Yeah, we 711 00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:15,160 Speaker 1: knew we were done. And uh, you know, it's so 712 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,360 Speaker 1: funny because you know, the last Dance came on whenever 713 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:21,120 Speaker 1: it was, I guess it was June July, so it 714 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:24,520 Speaker 1: came on, and it finishes up, and and after the 715 00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:27,920 Speaker 1: tenth episode, I had, you know, all my friends are 716 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:30,920 Speaker 1: calling me and the media is asking me, you know, 717 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:34,239 Speaker 1: could you could you? Or why didn't? Why didn't the 718 00:39:34,239 --> 00:39:37,080 Speaker 1: Bulls keep the team together? You know what was Rhyan's 719 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,120 Speaker 1: store of thinking? Why didn't they just sign everybody and 720 00:39:39,200 --> 00:39:44,640 Speaker 1: keep going? And I think that's the logical sort of thought, 721 00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:48,840 Speaker 1: But it's never that simple. It's never that simple. And 722 00:39:48,840 --> 00:39:52,160 Speaker 1: and what I've what I've really realized, you know, coaching 723 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:56,280 Speaker 1: the Warriors and feeling feeling that pressure that you feel, 724 00:39:56,480 --> 00:39:59,160 Speaker 1: you know, going to the finals multiple years in our 725 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:01,239 Speaker 1: case five years or row with the Warriors. With the 726 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:03,960 Speaker 1: Bulls it was, you know, six times in eight years. 727 00:40:04,200 --> 00:40:07,320 Speaker 1: I think there's an emotional toll that is so big 728 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:12,040 Speaker 1: that it's hard for people to understand that when a 729 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:18,360 Speaker 1: team loses its edge, it's you know, it's energy, it's motivation. Um, 730 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:21,920 Speaker 1: it's just over. And so people can say, you know, 731 00:40:22,080 --> 00:40:24,400 Speaker 1: you gotta if you guys had come back, or you know, 732 00:40:24,440 --> 00:40:26,680 Speaker 1: if Michael hadn't left for baseball, you would have won 733 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:30,560 Speaker 1: eight championships in a row. I call bullshit, Like it's 734 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:33,080 Speaker 1: just you know, there's just no way. There's no way 735 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:36,439 Speaker 1: we were There was too much fatigue and it ended 736 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:38,440 Speaker 1: for a reason, it was supposed to end. It was 737 00:40:38,520 --> 00:40:41,000 Speaker 1: just that was the time speaking out on that as 738 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:43,120 Speaker 1: a player and what you saw and what you felt. 739 00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:46,680 Speaker 1: Did you feel that with this current team did you 740 00:40:46,719 --> 00:40:49,640 Speaker 1: feel like you guys had had done Obviously injuries played 741 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:52,680 Speaker 1: a huge part kind of and you guys is not 742 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:55,560 Speaker 1: winning again, But did you feel like because we're in 743 00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:58,840 Speaker 1: a different era now, so everything is publicized. Small arguments 744 00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:01,200 Speaker 1: don't stay in the locker room, Criticisms don't stay in 745 00:41:01,239 --> 00:41:04,160 Speaker 1: the locker room. Everything is for public consumption now. So 746 00:41:04,360 --> 00:41:06,839 Speaker 1: did you feel as a coach, which you felt as 747 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:08,680 Speaker 1: a player in Chicago at all, in that Golden State 748 00:41:08,960 --> 00:41:13,000 Speaker 1: organization or locker room so to speak. I did. Um, 749 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:15,880 Speaker 1: I could feel it a little bit. You know, the 750 00:41:16,080 --> 00:41:19,760 Speaker 1: the last year when we lost to Toronto in the finals. Um, 751 00:41:20,360 --> 00:41:23,400 Speaker 1: it was a different type season, you know, we um, 752 00:41:23,480 --> 00:41:30,400 Speaker 1: we could just feel. Um, the connection wasn't as powerful. Um. 753 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:33,480 Speaker 1: And it was just human nature, you know. The there's 754 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:36,200 Speaker 1: nothing like the climb. The climb is the best, the 755 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:39,560 Speaker 1: best part. You know, you get to the top and 756 00:41:39,600 --> 00:41:42,759 Speaker 1: you've got to start over again. That's that's you know, 757 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:47,120 Speaker 1: it's pretty hard, but it's worth the climb. But you try. 758 00:41:47,160 --> 00:41:50,000 Speaker 1: You got to make that climb three, four or five times. 759 00:41:50,480 --> 00:41:55,400 Speaker 1: It's exhausting. So we felt that exhaustion. UM. I thought 760 00:41:55,520 --> 00:42:01,400 Speaker 1: last year Draymond, Stephen Clay desperately needed to get away, 761 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:08,320 Speaker 1: and unfortunately it took really horrible circumstances, um for Draymond, 762 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:11,760 Speaker 1: or for for Steph and Clay with season ending injuries. 763 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:15,080 Speaker 1: Even Kevin Durant, you know, after three straight years of 764 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: going to the finals. Um, you know, uh, I think 765 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:23,719 Speaker 1: he probably needed arrest and Uh, I hated that had 766 00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:26,960 Speaker 1: happened the way it did with his injury, but you know, 767 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:28,960 Speaker 1: making these runs out of to me, that's why what 768 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:34,000 Speaker 1: what Lebron incredible? It makes no sense. It makes people 769 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:36,759 Speaker 1: don't understand and I think, obviously because you played and 770 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:39,640 Speaker 1: you're a coach, people to understand the mental drain it 771 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:44,200 Speaker 1: takes on your body, on your family, on everyone around 772 00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:46,000 Speaker 1: you as well, because like I said, it's from the 773 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:48,080 Speaker 1: outside looking in. Know you keep k d and you 774 00:42:48,120 --> 00:42:50,160 Speaker 1: guys keep running, or Mike doesn't go play baseball and 775 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:53,640 Speaker 1: you guys. It's never that simple. It's it's so it's 776 00:42:53,680 --> 00:42:56,040 Speaker 1: such an emotional roller coaster. I mean, and not to 777 00:42:56,080 --> 00:42:58,920 Speaker 1: mention the physical grind, but the mental grind is just 778 00:42:59,080 --> 00:43:02,600 Speaker 1: as tough, if not tougher, than that actual physical grind. Yeah, 779 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:06,160 Speaker 1: And while you're going through that grind, there's four or 780 00:43:06,160 --> 00:43:09,359 Speaker 1: five other teams that are on the climb that are 781 00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: incredibly motivated, that have been building their teams specifically to 782 00:43:14,080 --> 00:43:18,160 Speaker 1: beat you, and that can't wait to play you. And uh, 783 00:43:18,239 --> 00:43:21,239 Speaker 1: and you're so you're you're already exhausted and now you 784 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,160 Speaker 1: see these people climbing below. You're trying to pull your 785 00:43:24,239 --> 00:43:27,120 Speaker 1: leg down. You're like, leave me alone, you know. So 786 00:43:27,360 --> 00:43:31,080 Speaker 1: it's uh, it's exhausting. So you know, ten ten finals 787 00:43:31,080 --> 00:43:34,560 Speaker 1: appearances for Lebron, But I think, if I'm not mistaken, 788 00:43:35,680 --> 00:43:38,600 Speaker 1: this this is nine out of the last ten years, right, 789 00:43:38,680 --> 00:43:44,360 Speaker 1: that he will be in the finals. That's insane. That's insane. Yeah, 790 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:46,160 Speaker 1: and you guys had a lot to do with his 791 00:43:46,320 --> 00:43:52,360 Speaker 1: record in the finals. But yeah, he got up. He 792 00:43:52,400 --> 00:43:55,919 Speaker 1: got our best team. The you know, the three win 793 00:43:56,040 --> 00:43:59,840 Speaker 1: team was you know, not our most talented team, but 794 00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:04,000 Speaker 1: you know that that team was, oh, steam rolled through 795 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:06,120 Speaker 1: everybody and then and then they got us, So that 796 00:44:06,200 --> 00:44:08,400 Speaker 1: one stung. We're gonna get to the to the Warriors, 797 00:44:08,400 --> 00:44:10,440 Speaker 1: it was. But I want to continue with what you 798 00:44:10,480 --> 00:44:13,640 Speaker 1: had going on. So you leave, m J retires, Scotty 799 00:44:13,719 --> 00:44:16,640 Speaker 1: goes to Houston. If I'm not mistaken, you guys, you 800 00:44:16,680 --> 00:44:19,560 Speaker 1: go to San Antonio. You guys win that next shortened year. 801 00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:22,359 Speaker 1: Correct with a mention, David Robinson and in a very 802 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:24,919 Speaker 1: young Tim Duncan, you landed on your feet. You leave, 803 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:27,840 Speaker 1: you leave a three pet and you go to to 804 00:44:28,280 --> 00:44:31,000 Speaker 1: pop in the Spurs and you keep the train going. 805 00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:34,160 Speaker 1: What was that like? Yeah, it was really weird because 806 00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:38,320 Speaker 1: it was a lockout season, as you mentioned, fifty games season. Um, 807 00:44:38,400 --> 00:44:40,640 Speaker 1: you know, Pop wasn't Pop yet, he was maybe in 808 00:44:40,680 --> 00:44:45,680 Speaker 1: his third year coaching. I didn't really know anything about him. Um, 809 00:44:45,680 --> 00:44:49,719 Speaker 1: But to go there and to immediately be part of 810 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:54,200 Speaker 1: a championship team was kind of crazy, you know. Um, 811 00:44:54,239 --> 00:44:56,960 Speaker 1: I felt like I just sort of fell off of 812 00:44:57,040 --> 00:44:59,840 Speaker 1: a train and landed on a bandwagon. And you know, 813 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:02,200 Speaker 1: they handed me a trophy and I was like, Okay, 814 00:45:02,200 --> 00:45:07,280 Speaker 1: here we go again. It was it was really bizarre, Um. 815 00:45:07,719 --> 00:45:10,920 Speaker 1: But I think the the experience that I had in 816 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:15,400 Speaker 1: San Antonio, even though I didn't play a ton, I 817 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:18,719 Speaker 1: made a much bigger impact in Chicago than I did 818 00:45:18,719 --> 00:45:21,280 Speaker 1: in San Antonio on the court. But what I learned 819 00:45:21,280 --> 00:45:23,920 Speaker 1: in San Antonio has been so important for me and 820 00:45:24,000 --> 00:45:28,080 Speaker 1: my coaching career and UH, and and playing with such 821 00:45:28,120 --> 00:45:31,320 Speaker 1: incredible guys. Tim Duncan is as good at a teammate 822 00:45:31,400 --> 00:45:35,040 Speaker 1: as there is um on earth and and UH. To 823 00:45:35,160 --> 00:45:38,640 Speaker 1: go through that experience was was remarkable, given that I 824 00:45:38,640 --> 00:45:41,520 Speaker 1: had just been granted the opportunity to play with Michael 825 00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:44,480 Speaker 1: Jordan and the and the Bulls. So I've been I've 826 00:45:44,520 --> 00:45:47,759 Speaker 1: lived right, and I've lived right, absolutely, So after that 827 00:45:47,800 --> 00:45:49,560 Speaker 1: you had to Portland and then you come back and 828 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:52,440 Speaker 1: get your fifth ring. Um, you know my colleague was 829 00:45:52,480 --> 00:45:54,200 Speaker 1: a part of that team as well. You guys both 830 00:45:54,280 --> 00:45:58,560 Speaker 1: hit big shots to help secure your fifth ring. And 831 00:45:58,760 --> 00:46:03,400 Speaker 1: that was your final season. What made you say it's time? Well, 832 00:46:03,600 --> 00:46:09,279 Speaker 1: I was thirty seven and my knees were probably my 833 00:46:09,400 --> 00:46:14,760 Speaker 1: last three years playing. Um, my knees were really hurting 834 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:18,160 Speaker 1: and I was popping by ox, you know, just to 835 00:46:18,520 --> 00:46:21,240 Speaker 1: feel capable of, you know, moving the way I wanted 836 00:46:21,280 --> 00:46:24,759 Speaker 1: to move. And it was so frustrating. You know, not 837 00:46:24,880 --> 00:46:27,520 Speaker 1: that I was ever very quick or fast, but you know, 838 00:46:27,600 --> 00:46:30,080 Speaker 1: you want to feel your best to be able to play. 839 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:32,920 Speaker 1: And so when you get old, and you you probably 840 00:46:33,040 --> 00:46:35,279 Speaker 1: remember this, you know, at the tail end of your career. 841 00:46:35,320 --> 00:46:37,319 Speaker 1: You know, one day you feel twenty five and the 842 00:46:37,360 --> 00:46:40,240 Speaker 1: next day you feel thirty eight and you can't figure 843 00:46:40,280 --> 00:46:43,160 Speaker 1: out why, or you know, get banged up. And when 844 00:46:43,160 --> 00:46:45,759 Speaker 1: you're young, you know exactly why you you're banged up. 845 00:46:45,760 --> 00:46:47,439 Speaker 1: And you get older and you get out of bed 846 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:50,080 Speaker 1: and you go, why does my left hip hurt? You know? 847 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:54,160 Speaker 1: And and so that three years of that thirty seven, 848 00:46:54,360 --> 00:46:57,799 Speaker 1: we won the championship and in oh three, it was 849 00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:00,799 Speaker 1: just time. It felt rain. Yeah, now I felt that 850 00:47:00,880 --> 00:47:02,800 Speaker 1: to the extreme. You know. I came. I was thirty 851 00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:04,920 Speaker 1: seven with my my finding you're with you guys, and 852 00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:07,319 Speaker 1: it pissed me off because a sprained ankle had never 853 00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:09,319 Speaker 1: taken me out like I sprained my ankle, and I'd 854 00:47:09,320 --> 00:47:13,120 Speaker 1: always bounced right back. But this sprained ankle was the 855 00:47:13,160 --> 00:47:15,959 Speaker 1: sprained ankle of them all, and it just wouldn't heal. 856 00:47:16,040 --> 00:47:18,040 Speaker 1: And by the time and I tell people, you know, obviously, 857 00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:20,200 Speaker 1: I took in less money my whole entire career to 858 00:47:20,200 --> 00:47:22,239 Speaker 1: get into a winning situation because I wanted to win. 859 00:47:22,360 --> 00:47:24,880 Speaker 1: And I finally get an opportunity to come to you guys, 860 00:47:24,960 --> 00:47:27,920 Speaker 1: when unfortunately Katie goes down, I step in you know, 861 00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:30,640 Speaker 1: you insert me. It was crazy. So I'm at working 862 00:47:30,680 --> 00:47:33,560 Speaker 1: my kids out DeMarcus were I'm in Sacramento that the 863 00:47:33,640 --> 00:47:36,160 Speaker 1: King's talked through me to get to DeMarcus all the time. 864 00:47:36,200 --> 00:47:38,920 Speaker 1: So they're reassuring me the whole time they're not trading DeMarcus. Oh, 865 00:47:38,960 --> 00:47:40,799 Speaker 1: he's good. He's you know, we're a half a game, 866 00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:42,640 Speaker 1: a game and a half out of the playoffs. He's good. 867 00:47:42,680 --> 00:47:45,000 Speaker 1: He's not going nowhere. We're gonna make this playoff run. 868 00:47:45,040 --> 00:47:46,640 Speaker 1: We're gonna play the Warriors in the first round. So 869 00:47:46,640 --> 00:47:48,759 Speaker 1: we have this whole game plan for Sacramento and the 870 00:47:48,800 --> 00:47:51,200 Speaker 1: first year in our new arena. All Star Break hits 871 00:47:51,520 --> 00:47:54,240 Speaker 1: and DeMarcus gets traded while he's on the podium asking 872 00:47:54,320 --> 00:47:56,560 Speaker 1: questions and I'm like, what the funk you guys have 873 00:47:56,640 --> 00:47:58,480 Speaker 1: just been telling me for the last three weeks to 874 00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:00,960 Speaker 1: a month. He's not going nowhere. So DeMarcus gets traded. 875 00:48:01,000 --> 00:48:02,799 Speaker 1: Fast forward. I talked to Bloody. I'm like, Bloody, I'm 876 00:48:02,840 --> 00:48:04,479 Speaker 1: too old to try to rebuild, you know. I needed 877 00:48:04,480 --> 00:48:07,040 Speaker 1: to try to win, and he understood. He let me go. 878 00:48:07,239 --> 00:48:09,279 Speaker 1: Katie goes down. I get an opportunity to come in 879 00:48:09,320 --> 00:48:11,520 Speaker 1: and when I tell you, like I wasn't. I went 880 00:48:11,560 --> 00:48:13,560 Speaker 1: from being at KFC one night to talk to you 881 00:48:13,560 --> 00:48:15,399 Speaker 1: on the phone because I just got done working the Twins. 882 00:48:15,440 --> 00:48:17,200 Speaker 1: I was like, You're like, hey, we need you in Chicago. 883 00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:19,480 Speaker 1: I'm like, holy sh it. I catch a flight the 884 00:48:19,560 --> 00:48:21,640 Speaker 1: next day and then get to Chicago and I played 885 00:48:21,680 --> 00:48:23,759 Speaker 1: twenty five minutes. I'm like, oh shoot, I'm I'm back 886 00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:26,879 Speaker 1: in the NBA. Let's go, you know. So for that opportunity, 887 00:48:26,920 --> 00:48:29,839 Speaker 1: to arise, and then Katie comes back and I get 888 00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:31,960 Speaker 1: hurt the game Katie, So I never People don't know, 889 00:48:32,040 --> 00:48:34,160 Speaker 1: like I never got a chance to play with Katie, 890 00:48:34,320 --> 00:48:36,239 Speaker 1: like we were on the same team. But he was 891 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:38,759 Speaker 1: hurt and then he'd the first game back. I got hurt, 892 00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:41,520 Speaker 1: and then I played sparingly in the playoffs. So but 893 00:48:41,680 --> 00:48:43,560 Speaker 1: back to your point, I couldn't get over that sprained 894 00:48:43,560 --> 00:48:45,640 Speaker 1: ankle and a spring. I'm a football player. I played 895 00:48:45,640 --> 00:48:48,399 Speaker 1: through everything, and that fucking spring ankle wouldn't get better. 896 00:48:48,400 --> 00:48:50,600 Speaker 1: So it was just it was it was humbling, and 897 00:48:50,600 --> 00:48:52,160 Speaker 1: and you know, we got a chance to win it, 898 00:48:52,280 --> 00:48:53,920 Speaker 1: to win a ring as as a team, and it 899 00:48:54,000 --> 00:48:56,359 Speaker 1: was a tremendous opportunity. But I was just like, it's 900 00:48:56,400 --> 00:48:59,120 Speaker 1: getting time and and and you know, and that's why 901 00:48:59,160 --> 00:49:01,200 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask, like it was my fourteenth ory, 902 00:49:01,200 --> 00:49:03,160 Speaker 1: it was your fifteenth year, like when you start listening 903 00:49:03,160 --> 00:49:05,520 Speaker 1: to your body. Could I played a couple more years? Probably, 904 00:49:05,560 --> 00:49:07,080 Speaker 1: But I was just I was ready to see what 905 00:49:07,200 --> 00:49:09,560 Speaker 1: was next in my life. And and obviously you know 906 00:49:09,600 --> 00:49:13,040 Speaker 1: you felt a similar way. Yeah, yeah, I mean, but 907 00:49:13,040 --> 00:49:15,600 Speaker 1: but how lucky are we to make it that far 908 00:49:16,320 --> 00:49:18,960 Speaker 1: so that we where we could actually say, okay, we 909 00:49:19,040 --> 00:49:24,440 Speaker 1: know now it's time. Most players they before before that. 910 00:49:24,920 --> 00:49:27,120 Speaker 1: I have to tell one quick story just for your 911 00:49:27,200 --> 00:49:32,320 Speaker 1: listeners because it's one of my favorite NBA stories from coaching. 912 00:49:32,360 --> 00:49:34,719 Speaker 1: But you know, one of the things that you know 913 00:49:34,760 --> 00:49:37,319 Speaker 1: that that I believe as as a coach, and I 914 00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:40,320 Speaker 1: really learned this from Pop was, you know, involving family 915 00:49:40,360 --> 00:49:43,839 Speaker 1: members um in anything that you can with it with 916 00:49:43,920 --> 00:49:46,719 Speaker 1: team stuff is uh is really fun. It's it's just 917 00:49:46,880 --> 00:49:49,760 Speaker 1: you know, so we always invite guys to bring their kids, 918 00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:52,600 Speaker 1: their families on the plane if they want, and and 919 00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:55,359 Speaker 1: so you probably know where I'm going with this. But 920 00:49:56,640 --> 00:50:00,880 Speaker 1: so we had a game in San Antonio and uh, 921 00:50:01,040 --> 00:50:05,319 Speaker 1: we're staying out in the hill country the Hyatt. Uh 922 00:50:05,440 --> 00:50:09,400 Speaker 1: we have a breakfast meeting, and you bring your boys 923 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:13,719 Speaker 1: to the breakfast meeting, the twins and everybody's having breakfast, 924 00:50:14,000 --> 00:50:16,200 Speaker 1: and then you know we're gonna get the meeting started. 925 00:50:16,320 --> 00:50:18,279 Speaker 1: And you you were like, coach, should I send the 926 00:50:18,360 --> 00:50:20,359 Speaker 1: kids back? I'm like, no, no, they're good. They're good. 927 00:50:21,640 --> 00:50:23,880 Speaker 1: And so they's and they're they're hoopers right there. At 928 00:50:23,920 --> 00:50:26,040 Speaker 1: that time, they were probably I'm guessing eight years old, 929 00:50:26,080 --> 00:50:29,399 Speaker 1: seven years old, so they would you know, they would 930 00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:32,120 Speaker 1: shoot around before practice and stuff, and they're hoopers. They 931 00:50:32,239 --> 00:50:36,040 Speaker 1: love this stuff. So it was Mike Brown's scout. So 932 00:50:36,080 --> 00:50:38,239 Speaker 1: I said, Mike, why don't you go through the through 933 00:50:38,280 --> 00:50:42,799 Speaker 1: the matchups and he goes, all right, um, we're gonna 934 00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:45,439 Speaker 1: change the starting lineup. You hadn't started the previous game. 935 00:50:45,560 --> 00:50:48,040 Speaker 1: And I'm sitting in the back just observing, so you're 936 00:50:48,120 --> 00:50:50,200 Speaker 1: kind of sitting right in front of me with your boys. 937 00:50:50,600 --> 00:50:53,359 Speaker 1: Mike Brown's beyond that. So Mike gets up. He goes, 938 00:50:53,400 --> 00:50:55,520 Speaker 1: all right, we're gonna we'rena start tonight. We're gonna start 939 00:50:55,520 --> 00:50:58,799 Speaker 1: Steph Clay, Uh, Matt, you're gonna start at the three, 940 00:50:58,840 --> 00:51:01,719 Speaker 1: and you're gonna guard Kauai and your boys are the 941 00:51:01,800 --> 00:51:05,960 Speaker 1: twins get up and they start going. They start pumping 942 00:51:05,960 --> 00:51:11,440 Speaker 1: their fists. They're like, yeah, yeah. It was one of 943 00:51:11,480 --> 00:51:16,800 Speaker 1: my all time favorite favorite moments because that's really, you know, ultimately, 944 00:51:16,800 --> 00:51:18,400 Speaker 1: that's what it's about. You know, you want to be 945 00:51:18,440 --> 00:51:21,479 Speaker 1: able to enjoy everything with your family, and how cool 946 00:51:21,560 --> 00:51:23,760 Speaker 1: is that, Like, you know, there were your boys watching 947 00:51:23,800 --> 00:51:27,400 Speaker 1: this team meeting and hell, yeah, Dad's starting tonight. Yeah 948 00:51:27,719 --> 00:51:30,359 Speaker 1: now that was that was the best experience obviously for me. 949 00:51:30,440 --> 00:51:32,160 Speaker 1: To be able to come to a team like that 950 00:51:32,280 --> 00:51:35,239 Speaker 1: and just see how you were able to manage so 951 00:51:35,320 --> 00:51:38,240 Speaker 1: many different stars and egos and personality and come along 952 00:51:38,239 --> 00:51:40,720 Speaker 1: for the common goal. But outside of that, the kids 953 00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:43,880 Speaker 1: ride was the best time. Like the chance that the 954 00:51:43,880 --> 00:51:45,800 Speaker 1: people don't know, Like the kids flew on the plane, 955 00:51:45,840 --> 00:51:47,960 Speaker 1: they were in the locker room, they were in our 956 00:51:48,000 --> 00:51:51,040 Speaker 1: pregame breakfast meetings. Like you couldn't tell these guys they 957 00:51:51,040 --> 00:51:52,839 Speaker 1: weren't on the Warriors, you know, I mean one game 958 00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:54,719 Speaker 1: you let them. I want to say, we were in 959 00:51:54,760 --> 00:51:58,239 Speaker 1: the Western Finals against Houston. If I'm a mistaken or 960 00:51:58,520 --> 00:52:01,040 Speaker 1: sit and they're shooting with Stephen Katie at the end 961 00:52:01,080 --> 00:52:03,319 Speaker 1: of practice, like shooting three and like they were just 962 00:52:03,360 --> 00:52:05,920 Speaker 1: blowing away. And so when we finally won the championship, 963 00:52:06,400 --> 00:52:08,719 Speaker 1: like the Twins were up, I was sitting in the 964 00:52:08,760 --> 00:52:10,640 Speaker 1: back just kind of taking it all in. The Twins 965 00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:14,360 Speaker 1: are in the front row trying to hold the Katie 966 00:52:14,400 --> 00:52:16,200 Speaker 1: got the m v P trophy. They wanted to hold that, 967 00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:18,960 Speaker 1: steph got the championship trophy. They were trying, like you 968 00:52:18,960 --> 00:52:21,000 Speaker 1: couldn't tell the Twins that they weren't a part of 969 00:52:21,000 --> 00:52:23,640 Speaker 1: that team. So that's why I wanted to make sure 970 00:52:23,719 --> 00:52:25,400 Speaker 1: that you know, when I came back and got my ring, 971 00:52:25,520 --> 00:52:28,640 Speaker 1: I got them rings, and these kids were on cloud nine. 972 00:52:28,680 --> 00:52:31,279 Speaker 1: So I really, oh, I really personally, I never really 973 00:52:31,280 --> 00:52:32,880 Speaker 1: I thank you, but I never got a chance to 974 00:52:32,960 --> 00:52:34,759 Speaker 1: really thank you because, like you said that that was 975 00:52:35,040 --> 00:52:37,160 Speaker 1: to me, that was a perfect exclamation on. Like my 976 00:52:37,239 --> 00:52:39,200 Speaker 1: kids got to see me play, My kids got to 977 00:52:39,239 --> 00:52:41,520 Speaker 1: be a part of this special team. It was their 978 00:52:41,560 --> 00:52:43,359 Speaker 1: favorite team. And then for them to kind of get 979 00:52:43,440 --> 00:52:46,040 Speaker 1: rings when Dad got rings, it was just a perfect 980 00:52:46,040 --> 00:52:48,040 Speaker 1: time to say goodbye. And I really owe a lot 981 00:52:48,040 --> 00:52:50,400 Speaker 1: of that to you and obviously the WARS organization for 982 00:52:50,440 --> 00:52:52,560 Speaker 1: accepting me back. So thank you very much for that. Coach. 983 00:52:52,560 --> 00:52:55,760 Speaker 1: I really appreciate that. Oh, I appreciate the compliment. And 984 00:52:55,760 --> 00:52:58,520 Speaker 1: and um, and I'll just say it was a pleasure 985 00:52:58,560 --> 00:53:01,920 Speaker 1: to to coach you. Just your your competitiveness and your 986 00:53:01,920 --> 00:53:05,279 Speaker 1: toughness was it was important in our locker room. And 987 00:53:05,280 --> 00:53:09,160 Speaker 1: and you know, the the the joy that the twins 988 00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:12,400 Speaker 1: brought every day was was great stuff. And and Zaza's 989 00:53:12,440 --> 00:53:15,239 Speaker 1: kids would come in and uh, you know, sometimes the 990 00:53:15,320 --> 00:53:17,239 Speaker 1: kids would be having like a three on three game 991 00:53:17,320 --> 00:53:21,200 Speaker 1: between David West's son and so we had we had 992 00:53:21,200 --> 00:53:23,640 Speaker 1: a good group. But but I really learned that from Pop. 993 00:53:23,760 --> 00:53:25,920 Speaker 1: You know, Um Pop was the first coach I ever 994 00:53:25,960 --> 00:53:28,560 Speaker 1: had who invited family on the plane. And so I 995 00:53:28,600 --> 00:53:31,759 Speaker 1: remember taking my five year old son, my oldest on 996 00:53:31,840 --> 00:53:34,200 Speaker 1: a road trip, and then a few weeks later, my 997 00:53:34,280 --> 00:53:37,200 Speaker 1: three year old daughter on a road trip, and you know, 998 00:53:37,320 --> 00:53:39,920 Speaker 1: she was so excited because she was like, you know, 999 00:53:39,920 --> 00:53:41,799 Speaker 1: we get to sleep in the hotels, like yeah, and 1000 00:53:41,840 --> 00:53:44,520 Speaker 1: she's like, we're gonna get room service, We're gonna watch 1001 00:53:44,560 --> 00:53:46,240 Speaker 1: a movie. She's like, this is gonna be the best 1002 00:53:46,360 --> 00:53:48,680 Speaker 1: best night of my life, you know, and it's like, 1003 00:53:48,880 --> 00:53:51,799 Speaker 1: I'll never forget that. And so for Pop to understand 1004 00:53:51,840 --> 00:53:54,200 Speaker 1: that as a coach, like how how much that meant 1005 00:53:54,239 --> 00:53:56,880 Speaker 1: to me? It meant It was so powerful that it 1006 00:53:57,200 --> 00:53:59,200 Speaker 1: was it became a no brainer for me when I 1007 00:53:59,239 --> 00:54:03,400 Speaker 1: became coach. Got to give the players that joy of 1008 00:54:03,440 --> 00:54:06,080 Speaker 1: seeing their kids in the same environment, and it's an 1009 00:54:06,080 --> 00:54:09,160 Speaker 1: amazing feeling. That's one thing that that that people to 1010 00:54:09,320 --> 00:54:12,239 Speaker 1: understand is is is championship teams are built at the top, 1011 00:54:12,280 --> 00:54:14,439 Speaker 1: and it's two little things like that. Obviously, you need 1012 00:54:14,480 --> 00:54:16,640 Speaker 1: everything to be aligned and you need plenty of luck, 1013 00:54:16,680 --> 00:54:18,840 Speaker 1: but it starts at top with management and when I 1014 00:54:18,880 --> 00:54:20,640 Speaker 1: tell people when I play for the Words, you guys 1015 00:54:20,680 --> 00:54:23,280 Speaker 1: literally took You guys take care of all the players 1016 00:54:23,320 --> 00:54:26,440 Speaker 1: on your team. Have to do is obviously fall in 1017 00:54:26,480 --> 00:54:28,719 Speaker 1: line and you know, stay ready. But all you have 1018 00:54:28,760 --> 00:54:30,960 Speaker 1: to do is worry about basketball. You guys take care 1019 00:54:30,960 --> 00:54:33,160 Speaker 1: of family. You guys take care of friends. You guys 1020 00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:36,399 Speaker 1: make it such a warm family environment that like we 1021 00:54:36,680 --> 00:54:38,360 Speaker 1: you want to go run through a wall for an 1022 00:54:38,400 --> 00:54:40,480 Speaker 1: organization like that, because I played for the Clippers my 1023 00:54:40,520 --> 00:54:42,359 Speaker 1: first year and we were practicing at a junior college 1024 00:54:42,360 --> 00:54:44,000 Speaker 1: where we had to keep the back door open to 1025 00:54:44,040 --> 00:54:46,000 Speaker 1: make sure people didn't break into our cars. You know, 1026 00:54:46,080 --> 00:54:48,759 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just like little ship. There's levels to this, 1027 00:54:48,920 --> 00:54:51,240 Speaker 1: and I think you guys did such an amazing job 1028 00:54:51,280 --> 00:54:53,600 Speaker 1: of just all you guys have to do is go 1029 00:54:53,640 --> 00:54:55,719 Speaker 1: out and focus on basketball. We got everything else and 1030 00:54:55,719 --> 00:54:57,799 Speaker 1: then you know, you guys got rings for that. But 1031 00:54:57,920 --> 00:55:00,480 Speaker 1: back to you retiring from the game, You step into 1032 00:55:00,560 --> 00:55:03,000 Speaker 1: broadcast booth and then you wept into the front office 1033 00:55:03,160 --> 00:55:06,799 Speaker 1: of Phoenix during their runs. What was that transition like 1034 00:55:06,840 --> 00:55:08,960 Speaker 1: from obviously playing, I don't know if you knew you 1035 00:55:09,000 --> 00:55:10,640 Speaker 1: wanted to be a coach, you went to the front 1036 00:55:10,680 --> 00:55:12,719 Speaker 1: office first. But what was that change from being a 1037 00:55:12,760 --> 00:55:14,759 Speaker 1: player to moving into the front office and kind of 1038 00:55:14,800 --> 00:55:17,160 Speaker 1: managing things behind the scenes. Well, I had a bridge, 1039 00:55:17,400 --> 00:55:20,520 Speaker 1: you know, doing TV for about four years before I 1040 00:55:20,560 --> 00:55:22,840 Speaker 1: got into management, and it was important for me to 1041 00:55:22,960 --> 00:55:26,160 Speaker 1: kind of step away from the grind. And so the 1042 00:55:26,160 --> 00:55:29,319 Speaker 1: TV gig with T n T was an incredible time 1043 00:55:29,360 --> 00:55:31,800 Speaker 1: in my life, you know, to be with my family 1044 00:55:31,840 --> 00:55:34,080 Speaker 1: at home and then I'd fly off and do one 1045 00:55:34,120 --> 00:55:36,360 Speaker 1: game a week. So it was kind of perfect. You know. 1046 00:55:36,400 --> 00:55:39,240 Speaker 1: I got just enough time away to keep my wife happy. 1047 00:55:39,320 --> 00:55:40,799 Speaker 1: So I was out of the house for a couple 1048 00:55:40,800 --> 00:55:44,040 Speaker 1: of days, but plenty of time at home to do 1049 00:55:44,120 --> 00:55:46,040 Speaker 1: the things I wanted to do. And then after about 1050 00:55:46,080 --> 00:55:48,640 Speaker 1: four years, I just started feeling that itch to compete 1051 00:55:48,680 --> 00:55:51,480 Speaker 1: and to be involved. And I had this opportunity in 1052 00:55:51,520 --> 00:55:53,960 Speaker 1: Phoenix and and I took it. But you know, I 1053 00:55:54,000 --> 00:55:58,359 Speaker 1: was GM for three years, but I I knew deep 1054 00:55:58,400 --> 00:56:00,440 Speaker 1: in my heart that I wanted to coach and I 1055 00:56:00,480 --> 00:56:02,640 Speaker 1: didn't love being a GM. You know. I like being 1056 00:56:02,680 --> 00:56:04,880 Speaker 1: on the court. I like being with the players, and 1057 00:56:04,960 --> 00:56:07,880 Speaker 1: I like the highs and lows of of winning and losing. 1058 00:56:08,320 --> 00:56:10,319 Speaker 1: Like if you're right in the thick of it, rather 1059 00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:13,919 Speaker 1: than watching from above and trying to make more big 1060 00:56:13,920 --> 00:56:16,880 Speaker 1: picture decisions. I'd rather be in the fight. So it 1061 00:56:16,960 --> 00:56:18,719 Speaker 1: was fun to watch the team. And we had a 1062 00:56:18,719 --> 00:56:20,719 Speaker 1: hell of a team. You were part of it, you know, 1063 00:56:20,800 --> 00:56:23,800 Speaker 1: with with Nash and grat Hill and an older shack 1064 00:56:24,040 --> 00:56:26,719 Speaker 1: older shack By Yeah by that time, and we had 1065 00:56:26,840 --> 00:56:28,640 Speaker 1: a couple of good runs. But it was not a 1066 00:56:28,719 --> 00:56:31,040 Speaker 1: job that I excelled at. I was not a great GM, 1067 00:56:31,120 --> 00:56:33,000 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, correct me if I'm wrong. 1068 00:56:33,160 --> 00:56:36,719 Speaker 1: You were broadcasting during our We Believe times, right, didn't you? 1069 00:56:36,880 --> 00:56:40,319 Speaker 1: Weren't you broadcasting when we were playing Dallas? Yeah? I 1070 00:56:40,360 --> 00:56:44,880 Speaker 1: did the final game. So how loud was that arena? 1071 00:56:44,920 --> 00:56:46,799 Speaker 1: Because I tried to tell people because I went back 1072 00:56:46,800 --> 00:56:48,840 Speaker 1: to the championship and we were fortunate to be on 1073 00:56:48,880 --> 00:56:51,280 Speaker 1: that team, But I still felt like those we Believe 1074 00:56:51,360 --> 00:56:55,440 Speaker 1: crowds were the loudest crowds I've ever been a part of. Yeah, 1075 00:56:55,520 --> 00:56:58,959 Speaker 1: I agree, I've told people that many times. That game 1076 00:56:59,080 --> 00:57:02,840 Speaker 1: six again Stallas, the closeout game was the loudest arena 1077 00:57:02,880 --> 00:57:05,360 Speaker 1: I've ever heard in my life. It was insane. It 1078 00:57:05,400 --> 00:57:07,359 Speaker 1: felt like they were shaking the arena like we came 1079 00:57:07,360 --> 00:57:09,759 Speaker 1: out to warm up and and the stands were already full. 1080 00:57:09,800 --> 00:57:11,520 Speaker 1: Like normally when you go out to warm up, no 1081 00:57:11,560 --> 00:57:13,760 Speaker 1: one's really out there yet, you like when individual players 1082 00:57:14,360 --> 00:57:16,640 Speaker 1: the second they opened the door, the arena was filled 1083 00:57:16,920 --> 00:57:18,800 Speaker 1: and they were all standing as soon as we came 1084 00:57:18,840 --> 00:57:20,720 Speaker 1: out there for like the real team warm ups, like 1085 00:57:20,760 --> 00:57:22,960 Speaker 1: you it was there was an electricity in there, and 1086 00:57:22,960 --> 00:57:24,880 Speaker 1: there was we knew we were going to blow them 1087 00:57:24,880 --> 00:57:28,760 Speaker 1: out like that. Home fan base was tremendous, you know, 1088 00:57:28,800 --> 00:57:31,360 Speaker 1: obviously transitioning to becoming the Warriors coach, but I kind 1089 00:57:31,360 --> 00:57:33,800 Speaker 1: of wanted to jump ahead a little bit, obviously having 1090 00:57:33,840 --> 00:57:37,160 Speaker 1: to leave the history of Oakland and Oracle behind and 1091 00:57:37,240 --> 00:57:41,600 Speaker 1: transitioning to obviously the amazing venue you guys have in 1092 00:57:41,640 --> 00:57:45,520 Speaker 1: San Francisco. What do you miss about those Oracle crowds? 1093 00:57:45,680 --> 00:57:48,520 Speaker 1: I always loved Oracle, even going way back to when 1094 00:57:48,560 --> 00:57:50,960 Speaker 1: I was a player. There was just this energy in 1095 00:57:51,000 --> 00:57:54,440 Speaker 1: that building that didn't exist in every NBA arena, Certain 1096 00:57:54,440 --> 00:57:57,680 Speaker 1: arenas that just feels special, certain crowds that seemed to 1097 00:57:57,840 --> 00:58:00,240 Speaker 1: know the game and love the game. The Garden in 1098 00:58:00,280 --> 00:58:02,680 Speaker 1: New York feels that way to me, you know, despite 1099 00:58:02,720 --> 00:58:05,960 Speaker 1: the struggles of the teams over the last couple of decades. 1100 00:58:06,080 --> 00:58:08,760 Speaker 1: It's still special to go into the Garden. There's a 1101 00:58:08,880 --> 00:58:12,080 Speaker 1: sense that that there's a real basketball history and and 1102 00:58:12,120 --> 00:58:14,520 Speaker 1: that the fans know the game. And that's how I 1103 00:58:14,560 --> 00:58:17,760 Speaker 1: always felt coming into Oracle, going to Toronto same way, 1104 00:58:17,800 --> 00:58:20,360 Speaker 1: there's this energy in the crowd in Toronto that's really 1105 00:58:20,360 --> 00:58:22,640 Speaker 1: fun to be a part of. Yeah, it's electric Seattle 1106 00:58:23,040 --> 00:58:25,520 Speaker 1: the Sonics when you know, playing the old Sonics teams 1107 00:58:26,120 --> 00:58:29,040 Speaker 1: Key was amazing. The Oracle has always been a special place. 1108 00:58:29,080 --> 00:58:31,160 Speaker 1: And then obviously to have the run that we did 1109 00:58:31,360 --> 00:58:33,240 Speaker 1: and get to the finals and and you know, win 1110 00:58:33,280 --> 00:58:36,880 Speaker 1: a championship at home in seventeen and just feeling that 1111 00:58:37,160 --> 00:58:41,200 Speaker 1: energy and the joy of the fans was really amazing. 1112 00:58:41,960 --> 00:58:45,080 Speaker 1: That's special. So head coach of Golden State, your first 1113 00:58:45,120 --> 00:58:49,440 Speaker 1: crack Um replacing Mark Jackson, what was your philosophy and 1114 00:58:49,840 --> 00:58:54,120 Speaker 1: expectations Obviously coming into with a new young team, you 1115 00:58:54,160 --> 00:58:57,280 Speaker 1: start with two core stars and you find out, you know, 1116 00:58:57,360 --> 00:58:59,880 Speaker 1: Draymond works itself into being a star. What were some 1117 00:59:00,040 --> 00:59:02,680 Speaker 1: of the ups and downs with that young Warrior team 1118 00:59:02,680 --> 00:59:04,640 Speaker 1: and how did you feel like you earned their trust? Well, 1119 00:59:04,640 --> 00:59:07,800 Speaker 1: I think our whole focus coming in was was let's 1120 00:59:08,440 --> 00:59:11,920 Speaker 1: respect what Mark has already built and what the team 1121 00:59:11,960 --> 00:59:15,080 Speaker 1: has already built. That was what fourteen fifteen was our 1122 00:59:15,120 --> 00:59:17,120 Speaker 1: first year. They had the Warriors have been in the 1123 00:59:17,120 --> 00:59:20,440 Speaker 1: playoffs the previous couple of years. They had a top 1124 00:59:20,600 --> 00:59:25,760 Speaker 1: four defense in the league the previous year. Uh when 1125 00:59:25,840 --> 00:59:29,440 Speaker 1: when I became coach, so I'm looking at him like, 1126 00:59:29,520 --> 00:59:31,880 Speaker 1: this is a gold mine. You know this, This team 1127 00:59:31,960 --> 00:59:36,640 Speaker 1: is ready to win. They've already they've already become a 1128 00:59:36,720 --> 00:59:40,560 Speaker 1: damn good team. And so let's honor that. Let's respect that. 1129 00:59:40,880 --> 00:59:44,760 Speaker 1: And and that was our whole approaching our approaching camp 1130 00:59:44,880 --> 00:59:47,560 Speaker 1: was we're not coming in here to reinvent the wheel. 1131 00:59:47,600 --> 00:59:50,440 Speaker 1: We're coming in to help you with the foundation that 1132 00:59:50,480 --> 00:59:53,600 Speaker 1: you guys have already built, and let's grow it. Let's 1133 00:59:53,640 --> 00:59:56,320 Speaker 1: get better from here. That was important because the players 1134 00:59:56,520 --> 00:59:58,920 Speaker 1: liked Mark and had great respect for him, and he 1135 00:59:59,040 --> 01:00:01,680 Speaker 1: had done an amazing job. He deserved the credit that 1136 01:00:01,760 --> 01:00:04,560 Speaker 1: he had been given. It was controversial when he was 1137 01:00:04,640 --> 01:00:06,800 Speaker 1: let go, So I thought that was the main thing 1138 01:00:06,800 --> 01:00:08,880 Speaker 1: we tried to do, was just hey, let's keep building 1139 01:00:08,920 --> 01:00:11,400 Speaker 1: this thing. And and here's a few areas where watching 1140 01:00:11,400 --> 01:00:13,400 Speaker 1: on tape, we think we can get better. But other 1141 01:00:13,440 --> 01:00:17,200 Speaker 1: than that, like, let's let's keep rolling. We had Steph 1142 01:00:17,400 --> 01:00:19,720 Speaker 1: on the first season of the show and he said 1143 01:00:20,040 --> 01:00:22,840 Speaker 1: he personally felt like the first one was the best 1144 01:00:22,880 --> 01:00:25,600 Speaker 1: one for him. What was that first journey like? You know, 1145 01:00:25,640 --> 01:00:27,840 Speaker 1: obviously you being there as a player, you walk into 1146 01:00:27,840 --> 01:00:30,720 Speaker 1: an amazing situation fifteen you guys get there, What was 1147 01:00:30,760 --> 01:00:33,280 Speaker 1: that first one like for you as a coach? Honestly, 1148 01:00:33,640 --> 01:00:38,400 Speaker 1: um it in terms of basketball, and I've had a 1149 01:00:38,440 --> 01:00:43,080 Speaker 1: lot of amazing moments in my career and been on 1150 01:00:43,200 --> 01:00:47,960 Speaker 1: championship teams, but clenching Game six in Cleveland and as 1151 01:00:47,960 --> 01:00:50,440 Speaker 1: a head coach might have been the best feeling that 1152 01:00:50,520 --> 01:00:53,800 Speaker 1: I've ever had in basketball because it's different. It's different 1153 01:00:53,880 --> 01:00:55,720 Speaker 1: like a lot of times as a player I was 1154 01:00:55,760 --> 01:00:57,960 Speaker 1: on those teams, I was a reserve. I might have 1155 01:00:58,040 --> 01:00:59,960 Speaker 1: had a good game here there, and but I didn't. 1156 01:01:00,120 --> 01:01:03,040 Speaker 1: I it wasn't me. I wasn't you know, the one 1157 01:01:03,080 --> 01:01:06,960 Speaker 1: winning the championship. You know, as a player, um, so 1158 01:01:07,000 --> 01:01:10,560 Speaker 1: when you become a coach, it's even more so pronounced 1159 01:01:10,600 --> 01:01:13,640 Speaker 1: because you never touched the floor, right, you never take 1160 01:01:13,680 --> 01:01:16,400 Speaker 1: a shot, you never get a rebound. But what you 1161 01:01:16,440 --> 01:01:20,400 Speaker 1: do feel is this responsibility to the group that you're 1162 01:01:20,400 --> 01:01:23,760 Speaker 1: trying to help them win a championship, and so as 1163 01:01:23,760 --> 01:01:26,320 Speaker 1: a coach, it's a different vibe. Like you you didn't 1164 01:01:26,440 --> 01:01:29,720 Speaker 1: you didn't do anything yourself, but this group that you're 1165 01:01:30,200 --> 01:01:34,920 Speaker 1: in charge of has accomplished their goal. And that's a 1166 01:01:34,960 --> 01:01:37,960 Speaker 1: special feeling, you know, in any kind of leadership role, 1167 01:01:38,040 --> 01:01:41,480 Speaker 1: when when the group you're in charge of has that success. 1168 01:01:41,640 --> 01:01:44,840 Speaker 1: It was probably the most gratifying moment of my my 1169 01:01:44,920 --> 01:01:48,040 Speaker 1: whole career. See, that's that's cool, And obviously I felt 1170 01:01:48,040 --> 01:01:50,320 Speaker 1: it not a much smaller scale, but you know, coaching 1171 01:01:50,360 --> 01:01:51,960 Speaker 1: the Twins now and we have one of the top 1172 01:01:52,000 --> 01:01:54,640 Speaker 1: teams in the country and seeing their excitement when they 1173 01:01:54,680 --> 01:01:56,840 Speaker 1: start to get stuff and understand and you know, we 1174 01:01:56,960 --> 01:01:59,200 Speaker 1: run similar offenses to what you guys do. When I 1175 01:01:59,240 --> 01:02:01,680 Speaker 1: tell them every single night, the Warriors are gonna get 1176 01:02:01,680 --> 01:02:03,800 Speaker 1: everyone's best shot. You know, that's the same with my 1177 01:02:03,840 --> 01:02:05,600 Speaker 1: team because I coach him and everyone knows the Twins 1178 01:02:05,600 --> 01:02:07,400 Speaker 1: now every single night you have to understand how to 1179 01:02:07,440 --> 01:02:09,360 Speaker 1: play with a target on your back. You there's no 1180 01:02:09,480 --> 01:02:11,840 Speaker 1: let ups, there's no But when we finally start winning 1181 01:02:11,840 --> 01:02:14,120 Speaker 1: these championships and we see I think we're number eight 1182 01:02:14,160 --> 01:02:16,000 Speaker 1: or number nine in the whole country right now at 1183 01:02:16,040 --> 01:02:17,440 Speaker 1: twelve years old, you know what I mean. But to 1184 01:02:17,560 --> 01:02:20,240 Speaker 1: see their excitement and know that I'm I don't shoot, 1185 01:02:20,320 --> 01:02:22,520 Speaker 1: I don't play defense, I don't do nothing on that court, 1186 01:02:22,560 --> 01:02:24,920 Speaker 1: but I'm helping them achieve their goals. So I can 1187 01:02:24,920 --> 01:02:27,120 Speaker 1: only imagine on the highest level, which is the NBA, 1188 01:02:27,280 --> 01:02:30,919 Speaker 1: the excitement an opportunity like that would bring for you. Yeah. Yeah, 1189 01:02:30,960 --> 01:02:34,120 Speaker 1: I mean, there's there's nothing like playing basketball. You know, 1190 01:02:34,160 --> 01:02:36,960 Speaker 1: once you're done, you can't play anymore. To be involved 1191 01:02:36,960 --> 01:02:38,800 Speaker 1: as a coach, to me is the next best thing. 1192 01:02:38,880 --> 01:02:41,680 Speaker 1: But winning a championship as a coach is a feeling 1193 01:02:41,680 --> 01:02:46,000 Speaker 1: you can't describe because you you just feel responsible for 1194 01:02:46,080 --> 01:02:49,240 Speaker 1: so many people. You know that so much can go wrong, 1195 01:02:49,320 --> 01:02:51,640 Speaker 1: and if it does go wrong, you feel responsible for 1196 01:02:51,680 --> 01:02:54,640 Speaker 1: that too. But when everything clicks and and as it 1197 01:02:54,680 --> 01:02:58,400 Speaker 1: did that first year, oh man, amazing special feeling. How 1198 01:02:58,400 --> 01:03:00,760 Speaker 1: do you feel like your experience as a player with 1199 01:03:00,800 --> 01:03:02,680 Speaker 1: your seventy two and ten team We touched on this 1200 01:03:02,760 --> 01:03:05,880 Speaker 1: earlier and then the experience coaching the seventy three and 1201 01:03:05,960 --> 01:03:08,280 Speaker 1: nine team prepared you for that? And did you see 1202 01:03:08,280 --> 01:03:11,640 Speaker 1: any similarities differences? The pressure not in night out and 1203 01:03:11,680 --> 01:03:14,560 Speaker 1: like I just said a minute ago, it didn't matter 1204 01:03:14,600 --> 01:03:17,120 Speaker 1: who you guys were playing every single night, you were 1205 01:03:17,160 --> 01:03:19,520 Speaker 1: going to get their best shot. In that ship alone 1206 01:03:19,800 --> 01:03:22,280 Speaker 1: is draining mentally and physically. So what was it like, 1207 01:03:22,360 --> 01:03:25,000 Speaker 1: obviously being a part of the player and then coaching 1208 01:03:25,040 --> 01:03:27,400 Speaker 1: a team that surpassed a record that no one ever 1209 01:03:27,440 --> 01:03:30,400 Speaker 1: thought would be touched. Yeah, and I was maybe leading 1210 01:03:30,440 --> 01:03:34,200 Speaker 1: that charge thinking that nobody would ever beat seventy two, 1211 01:03:34,280 --> 01:03:36,320 Speaker 1: you know, having been through it as a player, I 1212 01:03:36,360 --> 01:03:39,480 Speaker 1: was like, no way. But our guys came off that 1213 01:03:39,600 --> 01:03:43,440 Speaker 1: championship in fifteen and they were so confident. You know, 1214 01:03:43,520 --> 01:03:46,000 Speaker 1: that's one thing when you win a championship, there's a 1215 01:03:46,080 --> 01:03:49,640 Speaker 1: deeper level of confidence that you now have. That year, 1216 01:03:49,920 --> 01:03:52,440 Speaker 1: I think we hadn't gotten to the stage of fatigue yet. 1217 01:03:52,480 --> 01:03:54,640 Speaker 1: It was more excitement of oh my god, we're the 1218 01:03:54,680 --> 01:03:56,560 Speaker 1: best team in the NBA, We're the best team in 1219 01:03:56,600 --> 01:03:59,640 Speaker 1: the world. This is fun, you know. And uh so 1220 01:03:59,760 --> 01:04:02,760 Speaker 1: that was a similarity, just this this vibe of you know, 1221 01:04:02,800 --> 01:04:07,480 Speaker 1: nobody can touch us, you know, let's go dominate. And 1222 01:04:07,560 --> 01:04:11,840 Speaker 1: so I didn't really have to to say a whole lot. 1223 01:04:11,960 --> 01:04:15,360 Speaker 1: It was, you know, just just let them let them go. Um. 1224 01:04:15,440 --> 01:04:18,280 Speaker 1: The only thing I tried to do, was you know, 1225 01:04:18,360 --> 01:04:21,600 Speaker 1: down the stretch, you know, talk about you know, we're 1226 01:04:21,600 --> 01:04:24,880 Speaker 1: not gonna We're not gonna do anything stupid. You know, 1227 01:04:24,960 --> 01:04:28,800 Speaker 1: we're not gonna go and push you guys forty four 1228 01:04:28,920 --> 01:04:31,320 Speaker 1: or forty six minutes in a game, you know, in 1229 01:04:31,440 --> 01:04:33,600 Speaker 1: order to chase a win that we don't actually have 1230 01:04:33,760 --> 01:04:36,400 Speaker 1: to have. And I tried to try to play it, 1231 01:04:36,640 --> 01:04:39,280 Speaker 1: you know, pretty conservatively. And and for the most part 1232 01:04:39,360 --> 01:04:41,840 Speaker 1: we did. Our minute totals were pretty low that year, 1233 01:04:41,880 --> 01:04:45,160 Speaker 1: but you know, there was there was definitely a feeling 1234 01:04:45,160 --> 01:04:49,840 Speaker 1: of of you know, nervousness that you know, somebody would 1235 01:04:49,840 --> 01:04:53,760 Speaker 1: get injured and the whole thing would go off off track. Yes, 1236 01:04:54,480 --> 01:04:59,760 Speaker 1: so falling short in sixteen that season, uh, Lebron in 1237 01:04:59,760 --> 01:05:02,440 Speaker 1: the has got you guys to then landing one of 1238 01:05:02,480 --> 01:05:05,920 Speaker 1: the biggest free agent signings in the history of the game, Uh, 1239 01:05:06,040 --> 01:05:10,720 Speaker 1: picking up Kevin Durant, And it was just like, let's go. 1240 01:05:11,400 --> 01:05:13,960 Speaker 1: What was it like knowing that, I mean, obviously there 1241 01:05:14,000 --> 01:05:16,040 Speaker 1: was a bunch of talks when it finally happened. Knowing 1242 01:05:16,040 --> 01:05:17,720 Speaker 1: that you're gonna be able to add one of the 1243 01:05:17,720 --> 01:05:22,080 Speaker 1: greatest players we've seen to an already amazing team, yeah, 1244 01:05:22,120 --> 01:05:25,240 Speaker 1: and and not not just an amazing player, but a 1245 01:05:25,320 --> 01:05:28,000 Speaker 1: player who was going to fit in perfectly with the 1246 01:05:28,040 --> 01:05:30,520 Speaker 1: way we already played. You know this, I mean Draymond 1247 01:05:30,560 --> 01:05:33,360 Speaker 1: Green has led us and assists for like five years 1248 01:05:33,360 --> 01:05:35,920 Speaker 1: in a row. He's our starting power forward. So we 1249 01:05:36,080 --> 01:05:39,680 Speaker 1: just play basketball and and everybody makes plays. And watching 1250 01:05:39,800 --> 01:05:42,919 Speaker 1: Kevin over the years um in Oklahoma City, the most 1251 01:05:42,960 --> 01:05:47,000 Speaker 1: skilled guy in the league terms of shooting, passing, versatility, 1252 01:05:47,240 --> 01:05:49,960 Speaker 1: shot blocking, like it was gonna be such a seamless 1253 01:05:50,320 --> 01:05:53,680 Speaker 1: fit because of he was not ball dominant. You know, 1254 01:05:53,760 --> 01:05:55,600 Speaker 1: he didn't he didn't have to have the ball in 1255 01:05:55,640 --> 01:05:58,120 Speaker 1: his hands all the time, and of course neither did Steph. 1256 01:05:58,280 --> 01:06:00,360 Speaker 1: They were both perfectly willing to play off the ball. 1257 01:06:00,440 --> 01:06:03,880 Speaker 1: So it was pretty incredible to watch that group together 1258 01:06:03,920 --> 01:06:05,680 Speaker 1: and one of the best teams in the history of 1259 01:06:05,680 --> 01:06:08,320 Speaker 1: the game, one of the most talented, and to watch 1260 01:06:08,440 --> 01:06:11,200 Speaker 1: them on the floor when when we were really clicking 1261 01:06:11,360 --> 01:06:15,880 Speaker 1: was just beautiful, special, absolutely special. Seventeen. You get a 1262 01:06:15,960 --> 01:06:19,680 Speaker 1: ring eighteen and then how hard was it? You know, 1263 01:06:19,720 --> 01:06:21,280 Speaker 1: you guys are at the top of the hill and 1264 01:06:21,320 --> 01:06:23,240 Speaker 1: you've been there as a player, you know how mentally 1265 01:06:23,320 --> 01:06:25,880 Speaker 1: draining it is, physically draining is how hard was it 1266 01:06:25,960 --> 01:06:29,320 Speaker 1: to see you guys go for that three p nineteen 1267 01:06:29,560 --> 01:06:32,280 Speaker 1: and then guys start to get injured. Yeah, I think 1268 01:06:32,760 --> 01:06:35,640 Speaker 1: you know, you sort of feel it if you're in 1269 01:06:35,640 --> 01:06:38,479 Speaker 1: the league long enough. Every year injuries play a role 1270 01:06:38,600 --> 01:06:41,680 Speaker 1: when we want our first title. And fifteen Kevin Love 1271 01:06:41,720 --> 01:06:45,120 Speaker 1: and Kyrie Irving were both out, So we've been on 1272 01:06:45,160 --> 01:06:47,240 Speaker 1: the other end of it too, so that you know 1273 01:06:47,280 --> 01:06:49,520 Speaker 1: that you just sort of go into it as a 1274 01:06:49,520 --> 01:06:52,680 Speaker 1: coach or as a player and you understand that sometimes 1275 01:06:52,800 --> 01:06:55,960 Speaker 1: things don't go well, sometimes they do and you regardless, 1276 01:06:56,040 --> 01:06:58,680 Speaker 1: you just have to respond and play your best. And 1277 01:06:58,800 --> 01:07:01,640 Speaker 1: I was as out of that nine team team as 1278 01:07:01,680 --> 01:07:04,360 Speaker 1: I was of any of our championship teams, just from 1279 01:07:04,400 --> 01:07:08,400 Speaker 1: the standpoint of they fought, They fought and almost took 1280 01:07:08,400 --> 01:07:12,200 Speaker 1: it to seven. You know, um, if Clay doesn't doesn't 1281 01:07:12,200 --> 01:07:14,240 Speaker 1: tear as a c L, I think you guys still 1282 01:07:14,240 --> 01:07:16,400 Speaker 1: win if play doesn't get hurt. I mean that's my 1283 01:07:16,440 --> 01:07:19,480 Speaker 1: personal opinion. I think we win that game six because 1284 01:07:19,480 --> 01:07:21,960 Speaker 1: Clay was Clay was on fire and looking we're at 1285 01:07:22,000 --> 01:07:25,080 Speaker 1: home and and if it goes seven, who knows, and 1286 01:07:25,080 --> 01:07:28,360 Speaker 1: and so, but Toronto was great and they deserved it, 1287 01:07:28,400 --> 01:07:33,080 Speaker 1: and great respect for for their team and their coaching staff, 1288 01:07:33,120 --> 01:07:36,720 Speaker 1: and they were fantastic. Um, but I walked away from 1289 01:07:36,720 --> 01:07:40,240 Speaker 1: that series as proud of our group as as as 1290 01:07:40,640 --> 01:07:43,080 Speaker 1: any group that that I've ever been around. They were 1291 01:07:43,600 --> 01:07:47,680 Speaker 1: they were amazing, They were awesome. Speaking of that that series, 1292 01:07:47,840 --> 01:07:52,439 Speaker 1: how hard was it managing Kevin wanting to come back? 1293 01:07:52,480 --> 01:07:54,600 Speaker 1: But still you guys, trying to be cautious as you 1294 01:07:54,640 --> 01:07:58,880 Speaker 1: possibly can't managing you know, obviously his injury and knowing 1295 01:07:58,920 --> 01:08:01,040 Speaker 1: how many years he still had to play. How hard 1296 01:08:01,160 --> 01:08:06,160 Speaker 1: of coaching decision, manag decision, doctor, decision, his decision. Did 1297 01:08:06,200 --> 01:08:08,120 Speaker 1: that play with you, guys? Yeah? I mean it was. 1298 01:08:08,440 --> 01:08:13,080 Speaker 1: It was a really tricky situation, um. And what we 1299 01:08:13,200 --> 01:08:16,320 Speaker 1: tried to do was just to make sure we covered 1300 01:08:16,320 --> 01:08:20,160 Speaker 1: all our bases and and to trust our training staff, 1301 01:08:20,280 --> 01:08:24,240 Speaker 1: trust the surgeon, and then also bring in you know, 1302 01:08:24,360 --> 01:08:29,000 Speaker 1: Kevin's own medical people and make sure that everybody who 1303 01:08:29,320 --> 01:08:32,519 Speaker 1: was good with him playing before we put him out there. Um. 1304 01:08:32,960 --> 01:08:36,920 Speaker 1: In hindsight, UM, I wish we hadn't, because now we 1305 01:08:36,960 --> 01:08:40,000 Speaker 1: know what what happened toward towards a c L, I 1306 01:08:40,000 --> 01:08:46,880 Speaker 1: mean towards Achilles, and and so UM, you know, I 1307 01:08:46,920 --> 01:08:50,760 Speaker 1: think we we I think we handled it the way 1308 01:08:50,800 --> 01:08:55,320 Speaker 1: we thought UM was was the best way. With with 1309 01:08:55,680 --> 01:08:58,599 Speaker 1: you know, Kevin and his representation and their their own 1310 01:08:58,800 --> 01:09:02,599 Speaker 1: medical team putting their heads together with with our group, 1311 01:09:03,200 --> 01:09:06,519 Speaker 1: we felt like we were, you know, in the clear. 1312 01:09:06,560 --> 01:09:09,439 Speaker 1: But it was it was a it was a stark 1313 01:09:09,520 --> 01:09:14,840 Speaker 1: reminder that, you know, medicine is not necessarily math. You know, 1314 01:09:14,920 --> 01:09:17,920 Speaker 1: it's not just either yes or no. There's a gray 1315 01:09:17,960 --> 01:09:22,040 Speaker 1: area in everything. And so when Kevin went down, I 1316 01:09:22,160 --> 01:09:24,840 Speaker 1: was just my first thought was, oh, man, he he 1317 01:09:25,640 --> 01:09:30,360 Speaker 1: re injured his calf. And you know, the thought was, 1318 01:09:31,040 --> 01:09:32,559 Speaker 1: you know, what a bomber. He's put in all this 1319 01:09:32,640 --> 01:09:36,479 Speaker 1: work and and there's the there goes the calf. And 1320 01:09:36,560 --> 01:09:39,680 Speaker 1: it didn't It didn't hit me until we walked in 1321 01:09:40,080 --> 01:09:44,360 Speaker 1: at halftime and I saw everybody's faces. I saw the doctors, 1322 01:09:44,400 --> 01:09:48,439 Speaker 1: I saw a trainer, and I saw Kevin. I was like, oh, ship, 1323 01:09:48,640 --> 01:09:53,559 Speaker 1: like this this was an achilles and it's devastating and 1324 01:09:53,560 --> 01:09:58,080 Speaker 1: and you know it was Kevin was heroic and in 1325 01:09:58,200 --> 01:10:00,680 Speaker 1: terms of you know, trying to be out there on 1326 01:10:00,680 --> 01:10:03,439 Speaker 1: the floor with his teammates, UM he got off to 1327 01:10:03,479 --> 01:10:07,000 Speaker 1: a great start too. He came out, he was cooking, 1328 01:10:07,360 --> 01:10:10,719 Speaker 1: he he was he was on fire right away, and 1329 01:10:11,640 --> 01:10:15,840 Speaker 1: it seemed like everything was good and UM, but it's yeah, 1330 01:10:15,920 --> 01:10:18,559 Speaker 1: it's one of those ones that that will forever look 1331 01:10:18,600 --> 01:10:23,000 Speaker 1: back on and and go, you know what. Um, we 1332 01:10:23,000 --> 01:10:25,400 Speaker 1: we wish we could have that one back, but not 1333 01:10:25,400 --> 01:10:28,680 Speaker 1: not from a not from a process standpoint. I think 1334 01:10:28,680 --> 01:10:33,840 Speaker 1: the process we handled um in the right way. But 1335 01:10:35,040 --> 01:10:38,040 Speaker 1: I think I learned from that and that even if 1336 01:10:38,080 --> 01:10:42,720 Speaker 1: the process is sound, UM, you know, just go overboard, 1337 01:10:42,880 --> 01:10:47,599 Speaker 1: Just go overboard. And don't you know, I would love 1338 01:10:47,600 --> 01:10:53,599 Speaker 1: to have that one back. And but again, hindsight, right, 1339 01:10:53,640 --> 01:10:56,519 Speaker 1: we're with the home stretch right now, almost finished up. Um, 1340 01:10:56,640 --> 01:10:59,240 Speaker 1: Kevin decides that he wants to leave. How did that 1341 01:10:59,360 --> 01:11:01,519 Speaker 1: hit you personally? Obviously as a coach, you know what 1342 01:11:01,600 --> 01:11:04,360 Speaker 1: the business, but how did how did the organization feel 1343 01:11:04,439 --> 01:11:06,400 Speaker 1: when he felt it was time for him to move on? 1344 01:11:06,960 --> 01:11:09,559 Speaker 1: Didn't It didn't surprise us. We all had a sense 1345 01:11:09,600 --> 01:11:12,519 Speaker 1: that Kevin probably looking to move on and and take 1346 01:11:12,560 --> 01:11:15,000 Speaker 1: on a new challenge. It's been here three years and 1347 01:11:15,240 --> 01:11:18,280 Speaker 1: won two championships and been finals M v P twice 1348 01:11:18,400 --> 01:11:21,280 Speaker 1: and it was just for in his own personal career, 1349 01:11:21,400 --> 01:11:23,880 Speaker 1: was time for a new challenge. And and we all 1350 01:11:23,960 --> 01:11:27,000 Speaker 1: totally respected that. You know, I always feel like players 1351 01:11:27,200 --> 01:11:31,040 Speaker 1: should control their own destiny, and especially through free agency. 1352 01:11:31,120 --> 01:11:34,000 Speaker 1: And you know, once your contracts of every every player 1353 01:11:34,040 --> 01:11:36,519 Speaker 1: has the right to go wherever he wants. And and 1354 01:11:36,600 --> 01:11:39,040 Speaker 1: so there were no hard feelings at all. In fact, 1355 01:11:39,080 --> 01:11:41,519 Speaker 1: it was the opposite. It's like, man, thank you for 1356 01:11:41,880 --> 01:11:44,800 Speaker 1: thank you for everything you've done. You you helped bring 1357 01:11:44,880 --> 01:11:47,880 Speaker 1: us two championships and almost another one, and and you 1358 01:11:47,960 --> 01:11:51,320 Speaker 1: brought an incredible amount of joy to Oracle every night, 1359 01:11:51,360 --> 01:11:53,160 Speaker 1: and our fans got to watch one of the best 1360 01:11:53,160 --> 01:11:56,280 Speaker 1: basketball teams on Earth. My feeling was thank you and 1361 01:11:56,479 --> 01:12:01,400 Speaker 1: good luck and you know, get healthy. Yeah. Absolutely, So 1362 01:12:01,439 --> 01:12:04,920 Speaker 1: you came into the coaching space a lot luckier than 1363 01:12:05,000 --> 01:12:07,800 Speaker 1: most coaches. So you came in in a championship your 1364 01:12:07,840 --> 01:12:09,760 Speaker 1: first year, you have a hell of a five year run. 1365 01:12:10,080 --> 01:12:12,640 Speaker 1: Last year, a little bit of reality sets in. You know, 1366 01:12:12,680 --> 01:12:14,360 Speaker 1: you guys go to a new arena, there's a lot 1367 01:12:14,360 --> 01:12:17,840 Speaker 1: of excitement, players already hurt. Uh steph ends up going down. 1368 01:12:18,320 --> 01:12:20,559 Speaker 1: So it kind of becomes a development year. And I 1369 01:12:20,640 --> 01:12:22,800 Speaker 1: was talking to Draymond a lot that season, like, hey, man, 1370 01:12:22,880 --> 01:12:25,200 Speaker 1: keep your head. I I can see you're about to snap. 1371 01:12:25,320 --> 01:12:27,280 Speaker 1: You know, what was it? Like coming in at the 1372 01:12:27,320 --> 01:12:29,559 Speaker 1: highest level and winning and having that run and then 1373 01:12:29,640 --> 01:12:32,000 Speaker 1: kind of coming back down to earth last season and 1374 01:12:32,439 --> 01:12:34,600 Speaker 1: you know, your two stars are out. Draymond is still in. 1375 01:12:34,720 --> 01:12:37,120 Speaker 1: But just a really a season of developing these young guys. 1376 01:12:37,280 --> 01:12:39,320 Speaker 1: It was a slap in the face for sure. The 1377 01:12:39,360 --> 01:12:43,639 Speaker 1: injuries to Uh, to Steph and Clay, we're just killers, 1378 01:12:43,680 --> 01:12:46,040 Speaker 1: obviously you're talking. You're talking about you know, two of 1379 01:12:46,040 --> 01:12:47,920 Speaker 1: the best guards in the league and probably the two 1380 01:12:47,920 --> 01:12:51,000 Speaker 1: best shooters in the world. So you know, when Steph 1381 01:12:51,080 --> 01:12:53,760 Speaker 1: went down in the third or fourth game, whatever it was, 1382 01:12:53,920 --> 01:12:56,920 Speaker 1: it was apparent pretty quickly like this is this is 1383 01:12:56,920 --> 01:12:59,479 Speaker 1: now a development. You're got to play these young guys 1384 01:12:59,520 --> 01:13:02,920 Speaker 1: and try to help them get better. And um, you know, 1385 01:13:02,960 --> 01:13:07,120 Speaker 1: a little perspective is uh is usually what happens um 1386 01:13:07,240 --> 01:13:10,559 Speaker 1: in life. You know, nobody, nobody gets to win every year. 1387 01:13:10,640 --> 01:13:13,400 Speaker 1: And um, so we had we had been on this 1388 01:13:13,520 --> 01:13:16,000 Speaker 1: incredible run and it now is our turn to get 1389 01:13:16,040 --> 01:13:19,200 Speaker 1: smacked in the face. And and now it's time to 1390 01:13:19,200 --> 01:13:21,120 Speaker 1: get up off the bat and see if we can uh, 1391 01:13:21,720 --> 01:13:23,719 Speaker 1: you know, get have another run and us we'll see 1392 01:13:24,800 --> 01:13:27,280 Speaker 1: I think obviously you don't like to ever see anyone 1393 01:13:27,360 --> 01:13:29,000 Speaker 1: get hurt, but I think it was needed. You know 1394 01:13:29,040 --> 01:13:30,760 Speaker 1: what I mean. You guys had such a tremendous run. 1395 01:13:30,800 --> 01:13:33,400 Speaker 1: I think dre clay and and Steph needed a break. 1396 01:13:33,439 --> 01:13:35,200 Speaker 1: And I mean those guys are probably in that five 1397 01:13:35,280 --> 01:13:38,360 Speaker 1: year span, probably played more minutes possibly than you know, 1398 01:13:38,560 --> 01:13:40,880 Speaker 1: some of the guys in NBA history, and as far 1399 01:13:40,920 --> 01:13:42,600 Speaker 1: as a five year span. So those guys went on 1400 01:13:42,640 --> 01:13:44,160 Speaker 1: the hell of a run. Will rests. So I think 1401 01:13:44,200 --> 01:13:45,559 Speaker 1: I speak for all of us when we say we're 1402 01:13:45,560 --> 01:13:47,800 Speaker 1: excited to see what you guys come back with. I'm 1403 01:13:47,800 --> 01:13:50,040 Speaker 1: gonna hit you with a couple of quick hitters and 1404 01:13:50,120 --> 01:13:52,479 Speaker 1: we'll be done. One player in your era, you wish 1405 01:13:52,520 --> 01:13:54,599 Speaker 1: you would have got a chance to play with Patrick Ewing. 1406 01:13:55,360 --> 01:14:00,240 Speaker 1: I loved I loved ings game and is competitive desire. 1407 01:14:00,360 --> 01:14:03,479 Speaker 1: He was incredible. Thoughts on the Basketball Hall of Fame 1408 01:14:03,520 --> 01:14:05,600 Speaker 1: class arguably one of the greatest classes. You know, I 1409 01:14:05,920 --> 01:14:08,360 Speaker 1: rest in peace, Kobe, but you know you've got a 1410 01:14:08,400 --> 01:14:10,400 Speaker 1: chance to play with the young Timmy and know him well. 1411 01:14:10,439 --> 01:14:13,920 Speaker 1: And then Kevin Garnett. I don't know my history well enough, 1412 01:14:13,960 --> 01:14:19,720 Speaker 1: but there there can't be many classes more decorated than 1413 01:14:19,760 --> 01:14:26,599 Speaker 1: this one. UM three three All time grades. UM maybe 1414 01:14:26,640 --> 01:14:31,360 Speaker 1: the three best players of their UM shared era, you 1415 01:14:31,400 --> 01:14:35,320 Speaker 1: know really when it comes down to it, But yeah, 1416 01:14:35,360 --> 01:14:44,080 Speaker 1: that was um devastating. You know, learning of Kobe's death 1417 01:14:44,200 --> 01:14:47,080 Speaker 1: was a you know, one of those moments that you 1418 01:14:47,080 --> 01:14:49,519 Speaker 1: you'll remember your whole life because of the shock of 1419 01:14:49,560 --> 01:14:54,280 Speaker 1: it and and feeling feeling that shock with our whole team. 1420 01:14:54,400 --> 01:14:59,559 Speaker 1: UM was devastating, And it still doesn't even seem real. 1421 01:15:01,000 --> 01:15:07,360 Speaker 1: But you know, this this fall with with Kobe and 1422 01:15:07,479 --> 01:15:10,559 Speaker 1: KG and Tim all going into the Hall of Fame together, 1423 01:15:10,640 --> 01:15:15,080 Speaker 1: it'll it'll feel you know, from a basketball standpoint, it 1424 01:15:15,160 --> 01:15:18,439 Speaker 1: feels right. But the fact that Kobe is no longer 1425 01:15:18,479 --> 01:15:23,280 Speaker 1: with us obviously just takes it. Takes it and completely 1426 01:15:23,880 --> 01:15:28,160 Speaker 1: excuse everything. It still doesn't make any sense. Absolutely. UM. 1427 01:15:28,240 --> 01:15:36,240 Speaker 1: Your thoughts on cannabis and CBD use of professional athletes, Well, 1428 01:15:36,479 --> 01:15:38,479 Speaker 1: it's funny because I spoke out about this a couple 1429 01:15:38,479 --> 01:15:42,439 Speaker 1: of years ago. You know, I had my own uh 1430 01:15:42,600 --> 01:15:45,880 Speaker 1: health issues with my back surgery that went wrong, and 1431 01:15:45,880 --> 01:15:49,080 Speaker 1: and so I spoke I was getting prescribed all these 1432 01:15:49,080 --> 01:15:53,080 Speaker 1: opioids constantly for pain, and and you know I'd read 1433 01:15:53,120 --> 01:15:55,719 Speaker 1: about this stuff like I'm not I'm not taking this stuff, 1434 01:15:55,760 --> 01:15:58,800 Speaker 1: this oxy cotton or vic it in or whatever, and 1435 01:15:58,880 --> 01:16:02,320 Speaker 1: it just seems so insane, and so, you know, I was. 1436 01:16:03,320 --> 01:16:06,759 Speaker 1: I spoke out about the you know, the the athletes 1437 01:16:06,760 --> 01:16:09,840 Speaker 1: should be allowed to use cannabis, and uh, you know 1438 01:16:09,840 --> 01:16:12,120 Speaker 1: how we like to play music during our our warm 1439 01:16:12,200 --> 01:16:15,559 Speaker 1: ups in practice. So I can't remember what song. There 1440 01:16:15,600 --> 01:16:19,640 Speaker 1: was some song about smoking dope or something, and so 1441 01:16:19,640 --> 01:16:22,639 Speaker 1: so our our video guy puts that song on. JaVale 1442 01:16:22,720 --> 01:16:25,519 Speaker 1: McGhee is running down laughing, looking at me like like 1443 01:16:25,960 --> 01:16:30,000 Speaker 1: you know, like he's puffing. Everybody's everybody's cracking up because 1444 01:16:30,040 --> 01:16:34,920 Speaker 1: I've made this statement. Meanwhile, I had literally tried it 1445 01:16:35,000 --> 01:16:38,320 Speaker 1: for my for my pain, for my back stuff and 1446 01:16:38,400 --> 01:16:41,360 Speaker 1: had no success with it. So and unfortunately it didn't work. 1447 01:16:41,520 --> 01:16:44,479 Speaker 1: But because I spoke out on it, all of a sudden, 1448 01:16:44,560 --> 01:16:47,200 Speaker 1: like I got this reputation as as the pot guy, 1449 01:16:47,360 --> 01:16:52,720 Speaker 1: like oh there's you know, like or whatever the players took, 1450 01:16:52,920 --> 01:16:54,519 Speaker 1: they got a good kick out of it. Anyway, So 1451 01:16:54,680 --> 01:16:57,280 Speaker 1: I remember, I mean I remember seeing you. It hurt 1452 01:16:57,280 --> 01:16:58,960 Speaker 1: my heart because I remember when I was hurt in 1453 01:16:58,960 --> 01:17:01,519 Speaker 1: the Portland series, like how uncomfortable you would lay for 1454 01:17:01,560 --> 01:17:03,240 Speaker 1: a second, you would sit for a second, you would 1455 01:17:03,280 --> 01:17:04,760 Speaker 1: have to stand up for a second, and you would 1456 01:17:04,840 --> 01:17:07,160 Speaker 1: lay for a second. I'm just like, I can't imagine 1457 01:17:07,280 --> 01:17:09,559 Speaker 1: what you were going through through that time. And and 1458 01:17:09,600 --> 01:17:11,200 Speaker 1: I was to the point where I didn't want to 1459 01:17:11,280 --> 01:17:13,960 Speaker 1: cross player coach boundaries, but I was gonna say, Coach, 1460 01:17:14,040 --> 01:17:15,840 Speaker 1: let me go on my badgroup quick. I got something 1461 01:17:15,880 --> 01:17:17,800 Speaker 1: for you. But it was, you know, it was a 1462 01:17:17,800 --> 01:17:19,800 Speaker 1: little I think I was a little bit before my time. 1463 01:17:19,840 --> 01:17:22,280 Speaker 1: But I mean, I remember the pain you were in. 1464 01:17:22,760 --> 01:17:24,800 Speaker 1: I particularly in Portland. I remember because I was in 1465 01:17:24,800 --> 01:17:26,799 Speaker 1: the locker room icing the whole time, and you couldn't 1466 01:17:26,840 --> 01:17:29,240 Speaker 1: literally sit in the same position for more than two minutes. 1467 01:17:29,320 --> 01:17:30,680 Speaker 1: Like you would try to lay for a second. You 1468 01:17:30,760 --> 01:17:32,120 Speaker 1: try to sit for a second, you have to get 1469 01:17:32,160 --> 01:17:33,320 Speaker 1: up and stay and then you would have to get 1470 01:17:33,360 --> 01:17:35,679 Speaker 1: up and walk around. I was so close that day 1471 01:17:35,720 --> 01:17:37,800 Speaker 1: to being like, coach, I got a joint for you. Man, 1472 01:17:37,880 --> 01:17:47,120 Speaker 1: it's gonna change everything. Anyway. Last question, um historical anybody 1473 01:17:47,200 --> 01:17:49,719 Speaker 1: who were five people you would love to sit down 1474 01:17:49,760 --> 01:17:53,800 Speaker 1: and have dinner with, dead or alive. Oh man, that's 1475 01:17:53,840 --> 01:17:56,519 Speaker 1: a really difficult question. That's a good question. It's a 1476 01:17:56,520 --> 01:18:00,280 Speaker 1: good way to end it. Yeah, I'm a huge sports 1477 01:18:00,320 --> 01:18:03,920 Speaker 1: fan growing up. I was I was into every sport, 1478 01:18:04,560 --> 01:18:07,640 Speaker 1: and I suppose I would want to speak with some 1479 01:18:07,760 --> 01:18:10,880 Speaker 1: of the people who kind of laid the foundation for 1480 01:18:10,960 --> 01:18:15,200 Speaker 1: what sports are today. Jackie Robinson would definitely be one. 1481 01:18:15,320 --> 01:18:19,280 Speaker 1: I would love to to to hear his story what 1482 01:18:19,360 --> 01:18:23,760 Speaker 1: it was really like, um, and being being such a 1483 01:18:23,840 --> 01:18:29,280 Speaker 1: big baseball fan. Um, Babe Ruth would be another. Like, 1484 01:18:29,960 --> 01:18:33,320 Speaker 1: you know, he he was the he was the king, 1485 01:18:33,680 --> 01:18:35,719 Speaker 1: and he was you know, the MG of his era. 1486 01:18:36,080 --> 01:18:40,120 Speaker 1: And uh so I would from a from the baseball world, 1487 01:18:40,120 --> 01:18:47,200 Speaker 1: those two guys for sure. Um. From a historical standpoint, 1488 01:18:47,439 --> 01:18:49,439 Speaker 1: I don't know, this is a tough one because you know, 1489 01:18:49,479 --> 01:18:52,280 Speaker 1: there's so much that that I'm learning and that I 1490 01:18:52,320 --> 01:18:56,639 Speaker 1: want to learn about American history, and so you kind 1491 01:18:56,640 --> 01:18:59,120 Speaker 1: of want to go back in time to our founding 1492 01:18:59,160 --> 01:19:04,200 Speaker 1: fathers and see how, you know, how can we how 1493 01:19:04,240 --> 01:19:10,920 Speaker 1: can we have these parallel universes of you know, pursuit 1494 01:19:10,960 --> 01:19:14,400 Speaker 1: of happiness in life and liberty and and here's this 1495 01:19:14,479 --> 01:19:21,120 Speaker 1: component of of slavery, right, Um, how do you reconcile 1496 01:19:21,160 --> 01:19:25,000 Speaker 1: all that? Who would we ask about that? You know, 1497 01:19:25,120 --> 01:19:30,560 Speaker 1: Thomas Jefferson, You know, I know Jefferson had he owned slaves, right, 1498 01:19:31,360 --> 01:19:34,759 Speaker 1: and he helped write the Constitution and I think going 1499 01:19:34,800 --> 01:19:37,600 Speaker 1: back in time during the course of history, there are 1500 01:19:37,600 --> 01:19:40,080 Speaker 1: a lot of questions about this country that that I 1501 01:19:40,080 --> 01:19:44,519 Speaker 1: would want to ask and uh, you know, probably probably 1502 01:19:44,520 --> 01:19:49,160 Speaker 1: starting with with with the people who were who were 1503 01:19:49,680 --> 01:19:53,320 Speaker 1: putting the putting it all in place, and you know, 1504 01:19:53,400 --> 01:19:58,360 Speaker 1: what was what was what was the thought process? And 1505 01:19:58,400 --> 01:20:02,200 Speaker 1: I don't know, that's only three. I've only given you three. Two. 1506 01:20:02,960 --> 01:20:06,200 Speaker 1: I gotta give you two more, don't I. What I'm 1507 01:20:06,200 --> 01:20:10,440 Speaker 1: doing is I'm showing you how limited my outside activities 1508 01:20:10,479 --> 01:20:13,639 Speaker 1: and interests are. I should be naming like some artists 1509 01:20:13,680 --> 01:20:16,000 Speaker 1: or musicians or not at all. Not this, this is 1510 01:20:16,000 --> 01:20:18,680 Speaker 1: your this is your dinner table, this is my is 1511 01:20:18,720 --> 01:20:22,200 Speaker 1: my show, every whoever you want. Yeah, probably Lincoln for 1512 01:20:22,240 --> 01:20:25,799 Speaker 1: that reason, you know, President Lincoln for that very reason, 1513 01:20:25,880 --> 01:20:29,439 Speaker 1: because he would be able to bridge the education gap 1514 01:20:29,520 --> 01:20:34,160 Speaker 1: between what happened and uh, you know, late seventeen hundreds 1515 01:20:34,160 --> 01:20:36,439 Speaker 1: with the founding of our country to all the way 1516 01:20:36,479 --> 01:20:38,720 Speaker 1: up to the Civil War. Like I'd love to hear 1517 01:20:38,800 --> 01:20:42,599 Speaker 1: that that conversation and that viewpoint. And then, um, who 1518 01:20:42,640 --> 01:20:45,519 Speaker 1: gets the last seat at your table? The last seat? 1519 01:20:45,600 --> 01:20:47,960 Speaker 1: I'll give you one. That's a little offbeat, but James 1520 01:20:48,000 --> 01:20:54,200 Speaker 1: Baldwin the author. I just read a fascinating book about 1521 01:20:54,360 --> 01:20:59,240 Speaker 1: him called Begin Again, and by a writer named Eddie Gloud, 1522 01:20:59,280 --> 01:21:03,240 Speaker 1: who was beautiful book. And Baldwin had the most unique 1523 01:21:03,320 --> 01:21:06,800 Speaker 1: look at the Civil Rights era because of his proximity 1524 01:21:06,840 --> 01:21:09,720 Speaker 1: to it and his brilliance as a writer, and his 1525 01:21:09,840 --> 01:21:13,120 Speaker 1: friendship with so many of the key figures. He was 1526 01:21:13,200 --> 01:21:17,280 Speaker 1: so deep and powerful as a human being. Just his humanity. 1527 01:21:17,400 --> 01:21:26,000 Speaker 1: Knowing his story and learning his story, UM has been UM, 1528 01:21:26,040 --> 01:21:29,479 Speaker 1: really really powerful. If you get a chance. Um. There's 1529 01:21:29,479 --> 01:21:32,679 Speaker 1: a documentary about him. Well, the book is called Begin Again, 1530 01:21:33,320 --> 01:21:39,840 Speaker 1: Begin Again. Where is it? There? I go, here's the book, 1531 01:21:40,400 --> 01:21:45,120 Speaker 1: brilliant book, Begin Again by Eddie Cloudy's a professor at 1532 01:21:45,160 --> 01:21:51,320 Speaker 1: Princeton Um. But there's a documentary about about James Baldwin 1533 01:21:51,360 --> 01:21:53,559 Speaker 1: that I highly recommend. It's it's called I Am Not 1534 01:21:53,640 --> 01:21:58,960 Speaker 1: Your Negro and it's about his relationship with Mega Evers, 1535 01:21:59,240 --> 01:22:03,840 Speaker 1: Malcolm X and Dr King during the Civil Rights era 1536 01:22:04,439 --> 01:22:07,920 Speaker 1: and all three men were murdered and Baldwin. Baldwin was 1537 01:22:07,960 --> 01:22:13,719 Speaker 1: writing throughout the sixties about the Civil Rights era and 1538 01:22:14,000 --> 01:22:17,000 Speaker 1: here he's watching this great hope that he has for 1539 01:22:17,040 --> 01:22:20,880 Speaker 1: his country, and then these hopes are violently turned back 1540 01:22:21,640 --> 01:22:25,000 Speaker 1: and his own evolution as a writer, as a human being, 1541 01:22:25,080 --> 01:22:28,439 Speaker 1: and what he went through as a black American. It's 1542 01:22:28,760 --> 01:22:32,519 Speaker 1: powerful stuff and one of the key figures during the 1543 01:22:32,600 --> 01:22:37,479 Speaker 1: Civil Rights movement who are young people should should read 1544 01:22:37,479 --> 01:22:41,559 Speaker 1: more about and read his his his stuff. I put 1545 01:22:41,600 --> 01:22:43,240 Speaker 1: it in my notes as you were speaking, so I'm 1546 01:22:43,240 --> 01:22:46,040 Speaker 1: definitely gonna check it out. Coach Kerr. We appreciate your time. 1547 01:22:46,200 --> 01:22:48,000 Speaker 1: Thank you very much, as an honor to have you 1548 01:22:48,040 --> 01:22:51,040 Speaker 1: sit down. Good luck this season. We're excited to see 1549 01:22:51,040 --> 01:22:54,080 Speaker 1: what a well rested Golden State Warriors team looks like. 1550 01:22:54,120 --> 01:22:57,720 Speaker 1: In a thank you, Matt, that was really fun. You're 1551 01:22:57,720 --> 01:23:01,479 Speaker 1: doing a great job and all enjoy hearing hearing from 1552 01:23:01,520 --> 01:23:03,840 Speaker 1: you and say, hi, did the boys you have a 1553 01:23:03,880 --> 01:23:06,120 Speaker 1: new Do you have a new son? Right, Ashton? I 1554 01:23:06,120 --> 01:23:08,240 Speaker 1: got a little one here. I got at Ashton's twenty 1555 01:23:08,240 --> 01:23:10,320 Speaker 1: two months. Yeah, a little man. So I started all over. 1556 01:23:10,360 --> 01:23:13,720 Speaker 1: So it's been a blast. Oh man, man, I'll bet you. 1557 01:23:13,840 --> 01:23:17,320 Speaker 1: I'll bet he's beloved by those twins. They probably take 1558 01:23:17,360 --> 01:23:19,479 Speaker 1: good care of him. This guy runs the house already. 1559 01:23:19,479 --> 01:23:21,599 Speaker 1: A twenty two months I'm in trouble. Yeah, I'll bet, 1560 01:23:21,720 --> 01:23:24,240 Speaker 1: oh bet. Thanks for having me. That was great. Really 1561 01:23:24,240 --> 01:23:27,639 Speaker 1: appreciate it. That's a wrap all the smoke. You can 1562 01:23:27,680 --> 01:23:34,400 Speaker 1: catch us on Showtime Basketball YouTube in the I Heart platform. 1563 01:23:34,439 --> 01:23:36,840 Speaker 1: This is All a Smoke, A production of The Black 1564 01:23:36,880 --> 01:23:40,000 Speaker 1: Effect and Our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime