WEBVTT - Jayson Tatum 0:00:01.240 --> 0:00:07.560 The volume. The Draymond Green Show is presented by a 0:00:07.680 --> 0:00:10.840 fan duel sports book. There's no better place to bet 0:00:10.880 --> 0:00:15.520 the action than on FanDuel sports Book during the football season. 0:00:15.640 --> 0:00:19.360 It's easy to use, it's safe and secure. You get 0:00:19.400 --> 0:00:22.439 payouts in as fast as two hours. There's so many 0:00:22.600 --> 0:00:27.160 bet types. My favorite same game parlay bets. There's live betting, 0:00:27.760 --> 0:00:32.240 player props, futures. If you're new, just download the FanDuel 0:00:32.280 --> 0:00:35.680 sports Book app to get started. Now sign up. Please 0:00:35.840 --> 0:00:41.840 use the promode code column C O L I. An 0:00:42.600 --> 0:00:51.680 fan duel sports book makes it easy. Man. I'm honored 0:00:51.720 --> 0:00:54.640 to welcome this next guest to the show, a guy 0:00:54.760 --> 0:00:58.200 who number one, I've had the chance to win a 0:00:58.280 --> 0:01:02.240 gold medal with, but also someone who I've had the 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:06.960 opportunity to build a relationship with, to call a little brother, 0:01:07.080 --> 0:01:10.120 to try to share knowledge that I've learned over my 0:01:10.200 --> 0:01:12.800 teen years and and give it back to the younger 0:01:12.840 --> 0:01:17.040 guys that's taking this league by the storm and taking 0:01:17.080 --> 0:01:19.200 over the league. And so I'm honored to welcome this 0:01:19.319 --> 0:01:23.039 next guest, all star, another all star on The Draymond 0:01:23.120 --> 0:01:26.720 Green Show, none other than Jayson Tatum. J T. What's up, 0:01:26.800 --> 0:01:31.600 my brother, My dog. Appreciate you, Adam. Absolutely, I appreciate 0:01:31.600 --> 0:01:33.920 you coming on. Man. I've been you know, we we 0:01:34.120 --> 0:01:36.880 we're trying to keep this thing going man, and having 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:39.480 all stars on here like you can't. You can't show 0:01:39.560 --> 0:01:43.080 up unless your resume right, man. So you know, I 0:01:43.120 --> 0:01:45.560 appreciate you coming on live with us to keep that 0:01:45.640 --> 0:01:52.120 street going. No, no probb, no problem. Absolutely. But you know, 0:01:52.200 --> 0:01:55.160 first off, I wanna obviously this will be a lot 0:01:55.200 --> 0:01:57.640 about you, about your career, and I want to know, 0:01:58.280 --> 0:02:00.640 uh number one and starting off, man, one of the 0:02:00.680 --> 0:02:05.400 things that I admire most about you, and this is 0:02:05.440 --> 0:02:07.880 even before I really got to know you. It's just 0:02:07.960 --> 0:02:11.360 how how you are as a father. And you know, 0:02:11.440 --> 0:02:15.120 we all see the pictures of you induce Um. You know, 0:02:15.160 --> 0:02:18.639 we see him with you all the time. But as 0:02:18.639 --> 0:02:20.520 you and I both know, in this life, a lot 0:02:20.560 --> 0:02:22.680 of a lot of things can be staged, you know, 0:02:22.760 --> 0:02:25.680 but getting an opportunity to know you and seeing how 0:02:25.720 --> 0:02:29.960 handsome you are with him, um, it's one of the 0:02:30.000 --> 0:02:32.960 things that I admire about you. So first off, I 0:02:33.000 --> 0:02:34.920 just want to know, like, how is it for you 0:02:35.000 --> 0:02:39.679 being a father to your son? Man? Uh? I mean, 0:02:39.720 --> 0:02:44.200 as you know, it's it's about far uh the best 0:02:44.240 --> 0:02:48.280 thing in life. Um, you know, bigger than any accomplished, 0:02:48.720 --> 0:02:54.120 any award, any amount of money. Um, that genuine you 0:02:54.120 --> 0:02:57.720 know relationship, especially like I gotta I got a son, 0:02:57.840 --> 0:03:02.400 so as he's gotten older and I've gotten older, just 0:03:02.440 --> 0:03:05.720 our relationship and it's almost like that's my mini meet, 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:09.320 right so like and I've had the privilege in the 0:03:09.360 --> 0:03:11.960 honor of like, you know, I had him when I 0:03:11.960 --> 0:03:14.679 was nineteen. I didn't I ain't playing it. It was 0:03:14.720 --> 0:03:19.040 an accident, so be it. But us you know, him 0:03:19.040 --> 0:03:21.240 growing up, you know, as as a as a kid 0:03:21.400 --> 0:03:24.880 and and me growing in my career and basically you know, 0:03:24.919 --> 0:03:27.960 we're sharing this journey together. Um, and that was that 0:03:28.040 --> 0:03:30.960 was a big thing for me that you know, first 0:03:31.000 --> 0:03:32.760 year in the league and you know he was born, 0:03:33.360 --> 0:03:38.080 um Decemberien. You know, I wasn't going to sacrifice either. 0:03:38.120 --> 0:03:40.640 I wasn't going to let one take me from the other. 0:03:41.080 --> 0:03:44.320 I was gonna, you know, in a way to take 0:03:44.400 --> 0:03:46.400 on both challenges, Like I'm gonna be the best father 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:48.000 I can be and I gonna be the best basketball 0:03:48.040 --> 0:03:49.960 player I can be. And we know we're gonna make 0:03:49.960 --> 0:03:53.240 it both work at the same time. And it's not 0:03:53.320 --> 0:03:55.320 really like work. You know, it's it's now has become 0:03:55.440 --> 0:03:57.720 second nature, Like you know, that's just part of my 0:03:57.720 --> 0:03:59.840 my routine as part of my day. It's just like 0:04:00.040 --> 0:04:02.400 what I'm saying me and Duce, you know, we're rocking out. 0:04:03.720 --> 0:04:07.720 That's incredible, man. I think I love it, man, because 0:04:07.760 --> 0:04:10.800 I know for me personally, um, you know, I have 0:04:10.920 --> 0:04:14.560 two daughters as well, and and you know that relationship. 0:04:14.680 --> 0:04:16.640 I look forward to you one day having a daughter 0:04:16.640 --> 0:04:21.600 because that relationship with them girls, it's just a little different. 0:04:21.880 --> 0:04:24.960 Like obviously, but like you said, with your little man, 0:04:25.000 --> 0:04:27.240 it's like you're mini me, you know, And that's that's 0:04:27.279 --> 0:04:29.120 kind of how I you know, that's how I am 0:04:29.200 --> 0:04:32.320 with DJ. It's like, you know, people see him on 0:04:32.360 --> 0:04:34.280 the sideline at the games, but like he had all 0:04:34.279 --> 0:04:36.159 the practice like this dude feel like he's a part 0:04:36.160 --> 0:04:39.000 of the team. Like he'd be saying stuff to me 0:04:39.120 --> 0:04:41.240 like hey, you you went to the gym without me, 0:04:41.400 --> 0:04:43.240 Like everybody wanted to see me and they don't want 0:04:43.279 --> 0:04:50.200 to see you. And you know, but that's it's so 0:04:50.320 --> 0:04:54.520 important to be able to share the journey with them, 0:04:54.680 --> 0:04:59.159 you know, because the reality is our kids are growing 0:04:59.240 --> 0:05:01.760 up totally different than we grew up, you know what 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:05.080 I'm saying, Like they're growing up with a silver spoon, 0:05:05.200 --> 0:05:08.640 you know, they're growing up with access to all of 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:11.840 these different things, to a totally different life than we 0:05:11.960 --> 0:05:15.000 ever grew up with. And and my my everyday thing 0:05:15.160 --> 0:05:18.000 or my everyday thought, it's like, how do I give 0:05:18.200 --> 0:05:21.400 to my kids, and especially my son, how do I 0:05:21.560 --> 0:05:24.800 give to them what Saginaw gave to me that I 0:05:24.920 --> 0:05:28.880 know Saginaw isn't given to them. How can I still 0:05:29.000 --> 0:05:31.280 instill some of that in them? You know? And and 0:05:31.360 --> 0:05:34.120 so I think for me that's the big thing. And 0:05:34.120 --> 0:05:36.960 that's why I love how hands on you are with him, 0:05:37.000 --> 0:05:40.400 how much you have them around, because man, that's like 0:05:40.760 --> 0:05:44.320 you can't you can't pay for that experience. And so 0:05:44.400 --> 0:05:48.880 it's such a beautiful thing, manure and you that's the 0:05:48.920 --> 0:05:52.520 million dollar questions. Like you said, we worked so hard 0:05:52.640 --> 0:05:55.160 to give our kids, you know, a life, a better 0:05:55.200 --> 0:05:58.400 life than than we had growing up. And like that's 0:05:58.400 --> 0:06:00.880 what you're supposed to do as a parent. But you 0:06:01.120 --> 0:06:04.080 spot on, like you know, especially like raising young men, 0:06:04.760 --> 0:06:08.200 you know, how do I instill that that toughness so 0:06:08.279 --> 0:06:10.880 that would work ethic that you know, just living in St. 0:06:10.960 --> 0:06:12.599 Louis every day that you know, it's just a part 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:16.360 of my everyday life. Whereas you know, Deuce he come 0:06:16.440 --> 0:06:19.599 to NBA games, he's sitting courtside in the locker room. 0:06:19.640 --> 0:06:21.680 He on private jets. We're going to the the islands. Like 0:06:22.880 --> 0:06:25.839 all he knows is paradise and and and and new 0:06:25.880 --> 0:06:29.600 sneakers and all that. So it is like, uh, especially 0:06:29.640 --> 0:06:31.320 as you get older, it's something that I definitely got 0:06:31.360 --> 0:06:35.680 worked on of, like that that balance of right of life, 0:06:36.680 --> 0:06:39.080 you know, enjoying this life but understanding that like you know, 0:06:39.160 --> 0:06:42.799 you gotta at some point you gotta work for life 0:06:42.839 --> 0:06:46.520 of your own. But now that's definitely the million all question. 0:06:48.200 --> 0:06:50.520 I think. You know, you know, one of the interesting 0:06:50.560 --> 0:06:52.520 things that I did when when you when you think 0:06:52.520 --> 0:06:55.600 about um, really setting your kids up for the future, 0:06:55.600 --> 0:06:57.960 which I think is is a very important thing, and 0:06:58.000 --> 0:07:00.360 you start talking about a will and a it's like 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:05.479 for me, my girls get money at eighteen. My son 0:07:05.520 --> 0:07:10.760 don't get money until one. Because the reality is it's 0:07:10.800 --> 0:07:13.400 like for my girls, I don't want them to ever 0:07:13.560 --> 0:07:17.280 feel like or a guy to ever feel like he 0:07:17.400 --> 0:07:20.360 can control them because of something that he have, or 0:07:20.400 --> 0:07:22.240 for them to feel like man, I need to turn 0:07:22.320 --> 0:07:25.120 to this guy to rely on them. But for my 0:07:25.200 --> 0:07:29.120 son at eighteen, are bro like you? What you're doing like, 0:07:29.200 --> 0:07:31.400 you're going to school, You're going to work? Like, what's up? 0:07:31.440 --> 0:07:35.040 What you're doing like? And the maturity level of guys 0:07:35.040 --> 0:07:38.320 and girls are a little different as well. Guy's matrot slower. 0:07:38.720 --> 0:07:42.040 So that's kind of something that I'm That's something that 0:07:42.080 --> 0:07:44.520 I am doing with my kids. And I thought I 0:07:45.160 --> 0:07:46.680 thought that was the right way to go up. At 0:07:46.720 --> 0:07:49.280 least I think it is. We'll see. I think parenting 0:07:49.400 --> 0:07:52.240 is all trial and error, and that is all it is, 0:07:52.360 --> 0:07:54.880 trial and error. I tell people talk it ain't no 0:07:54.960 --> 0:07:57.520 perfect way to be a parent. You know what I'm saying. 0:07:57.560 --> 0:08:01.400 You gotta figure it out. Did you go? Absolutely? Man? 0:08:01.400 --> 0:08:04.120 But take take me on your journey. Man. You went 0:08:04.160 --> 0:08:08.600 to Shamana prep um home of David Lee, home of 0:08:08.720 --> 0:08:13.120 Brad Bill and then you come through there. Uh at 0:08:13.240 --> 0:08:16.200 you know, a school that's all had already put out 0:08:16.200 --> 0:08:18.720 to all stars and you're coming through that. What was 0:08:18.760 --> 0:08:21.560 it like? Um, just going to Shamana, Like, I know, 0:08:21.640 --> 0:08:24.560 you could have went to a a public school uh 0:08:24.640 --> 0:08:26.960 in St. Louis, but you decided to go to Shamana, 0:08:27.120 --> 0:08:29.640 which seems to be working for the for the guys 0:08:29.680 --> 0:08:32.160 from St. Louis. What what was behind that decision? For you, 0:08:34.640 --> 0:08:37.200 I ain't had no choice. That was my mom from 0:08:37.200 --> 0:08:41.280 the from the middle, from elementary school. My mom was like, 0:08:41.679 --> 0:08:44.280 you're going to a hall boy Catholic school, Like you 0:08:44.280 --> 0:08:47.200 don't need no distractions from eight to five every day, 0:08:47.240 --> 0:08:50.520 Like it's all about books and bagsketball. So yeah, I 0:08:50.520 --> 0:08:52.280 wanted to go to a public school with all you know, 0:08:52.800 --> 0:08:54.640 people in the neighborhood and all my friends from here. 0:08:54.760 --> 0:08:57.480 You but I, like, I just knew that wasn't the thing. 0:08:57.520 --> 0:08:58.880 I knew I was going to one of these. We 0:08:58.920 --> 0:09:01.559 got like like five private schools in St. Louis that 0:09:01.600 --> 0:09:04.080 are all boy. We are in the same conference. But 0:09:04.320 --> 0:09:08.440 it was just perfect time because you know, um, Brad's 0:09:08.520 --> 0:09:11.280 mom was my mom's volleyball coach in high school, and 0:09:11.679 --> 0:09:13.960 Brad grew up. We grew up in the same neighborhood. 0:09:13.960 --> 0:09:17.400 It was like four minutes from my crib. So I 0:09:17.440 --> 0:09:20.280 went to Shamanad in middle school and my my first 0:09:20.320 --> 0:09:21.800 year was his last year. So when I was in 0:09:21.800 --> 0:09:25.800 seventh grade, Brad was in in talk grade. So that 0:09:25.920 --> 0:09:30.080 was really the you know the stamp. Just um, I 0:09:30.120 --> 0:09:34.840 had a perfect role model, a perfect like visualization every 0:09:34.920 --> 0:09:38.440 day of who I wanted, like where I wanted to go, 0:09:38.480 --> 0:09:41.280 where I wanted to be, and like he was he 0:09:41.320 --> 0:09:44.600 was living proof um. You know. So getting to see 0:09:44.679 --> 0:09:48.480 him every day in the classroom, working out after practice, 0:09:49.080 --> 0:09:50.760 him dropping me off from school every day and going 0:09:50.800 --> 0:09:52.880 to the games, and you know, seeing him put on 0:09:52.880 --> 0:09:54.760 the show, it was like it was it was a 0:09:54.760 --> 0:09:57.320 perfect scenario for me because this was like I want 0:09:57.320 --> 0:09:58.880 to get to where he's getting to and I get 0:09:58.920 --> 0:10:04.360 to see you know, his everyday routine, um up close. 0:10:04.559 --> 0:10:08.320 So you know, home forever. Thankful for that, for being 0:10:08.320 --> 0:10:12.319 in that position. That's incredible. And and as you went 0:10:12.320 --> 0:10:14.640 through high school, so well you're going from seven grade 0:10:14.640 --> 0:10:17.240 to eighth grade, Brad goes on the Florida spent one 0:10:17.280 --> 0:10:19.920 year at Florida, then he goes to the league. Once 0:10:19.960 --> 0:10:24.560 he left Shalmana, did y'all relationship continue to grow or 0:10:24.679 --> 0:10:26.559 was there like a gap where y'all kind of fell 0:10:26.600 --> 0:10:28.920 out of contact or has that always been a constant 0:10:28.920 --> 0:10:32.800 to someone that's always been directing you? Oh no, that's 0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:36.640 he like that's like Brad is the big brother. You 0:10:36.679 --> 0:10:40.440 know that I didn't have right, Yeah, even when he 0:10:40.520 --> 0:10:43.480 got to the league. I remember on it was either 0:10:43.480 --> 0:10:46.440 my freshman or sophomore year, Like one of my spring breaks, 0:10:47.160 --> 0:10:49.800 Brad was like he just texted and he's like, yo, 0:10:50.120 --> 0:10:51.800 like ask your man, can you come up here and 0:10:51.880 --> 0:10:53.319 just like come check with me and come to a 0:10:53.320 --> 0:10:55.840 couple of games. I'm like, all right, but I'm out. 0:10:56.360 --> 0:11:00.200 Like like I went up to d C. I spent 0:11:00.320 --> 0:11:03.319 like a week with him, him and his brothers Um 0:11:03.480 --> 0:11:05.440 went to a couple of games. But like even in 0:11:05.480 --> 0:11:09.920 the summertime, Brad would come home and it would be 0:11:09.960 --> 0:11:11.880 times where he would pull up in front of my 0:11:12.000 --> 0:11:15.520 crib nine o'clock in the morning he called me, I'm sleep. 0:11:16.320 --> 0:11:19.720 He called me like, yo, come on brother, outside, I'm 0:11:19.960 --> 0:11:21.760 damn all right. Let me get in the shower. And 0:11:21.800 --> 0:11:23.560 I would just like I would get in a call 0:11:23.640 --> 0:11:26.200 with him, We go get some we go work out, 0:11:26.600 --> 0:11:29.760 and then we go his crib, played the game Chill, 0:11:30.080 --> 0:11:31.560 and then we go work out again and he takes 0:11:31.559 --> 0:11:35.080 me home. Like It's plenty of tim summers where I 0:11:35.120 --> 0:11:37.560 like would spend the whole day with him and like 0:11:38.880 --> 0:11:41.360 just we just be out. But it was always just 0:11:41.440 --> 0:11:44.880 like he always was telling me that, you know, he 0:11:44.920 --> 0:11:46.839 wanted to do for me with you know, nobody did 0:11:46.880 --> 0:11:50.319 for him. And you know, from that point on, I've 0:11:50.360 --> 0:11:53.600 always had, you know, none but love and the most 0:11:53.600 --> 0:11:57.760 respect because you know, he didn't have he didn't have 0:11:57.840 --> 0:12:00.920 to do that, right he from day one, he always 0:12:00.920 --> 0:12:03.040 told me he wanted me to be better than him. 0:12:03.080 --> 0:12:05.520 You know, he wanted me. He wanted to show me, 0:12:05.679 --> 0:12:07.440 you know, the ads and out of the things that 0:12:07.480 --> 0:12:10.800 he wished he knew. Um, and you know, I wouldn't 0:12:10.800 --> 0:12:13.520 be here if it wasn't for Brad. So yeah, we 0:12:13.679 --> 0:12:16.280 as as I got older, we got much closer. Um. 0:12:16.320 --> 0:12:17.880 Brad was the first person to take me to the 0:12:17.880 --> 0:12:21.439 club and I was like when I was like sixteen, 0:12:22.800 --> 0:12:25.760 and uh yeah, he took me to the club a 0:12:25.800 --> 0:12:28.800 couple of times. My mama found out, she custom out, 0:12:29.200 --> 0:12:30.880 but it was all of after that, Like that's the 0:12:30.960 --> 0:12:33.840 kind of relationship that that we had. Like my mom 0:12:33.960 --> 0:12:35.800 cuts Brad out in front of my house one day, 0:12:35.840 --> 0:12:38.120 like you got my son at the club. He still 0:12:38.120 --> 0:12:40.560 got stuff to lose, blah blah blah. But it was 0:12:40.600 --> 0:12:43.200 just the principle. She wasn't really mad, but she had 0:12:43.240 --> 0:12:46.199 she couldn't act like she was cool with it. But yeah, 0:12:46.240 --> 0:12:48.480 Brad's first person to take me to the club, like, yeah, 0:12:48.520 --> 0:12:52.360 we did it. That's an incredible man to have someone 0:12:52.440 --> 0:12:55.960 like that that you've known from that age to continue 0:12:55.960 --> 0:12:59.040 to show you the way. You make sure you get 0:12:59.040 --> 0:13:02.360 that back to somebody, bro, because that's that's that's that's important. 0:13:02.400 --> 0:13:06.679 That's how we continue to grow our game. That's how 0:13:06.720 --> 0:13:11.200 we continue to to grow as as young men most importantly, 0:13:11.240 --> 0:13:13.839 you know what I'm saying, as professionals. So you make 0:13:13.880 --> 0:13:15.880 sure you get that game to the next guy, because 0:13:15.920 --> 0:13:18.840 that's that's how this that's how this cycle go, man. 0:13:19.080 --> 0:13:22.599 And I think that's such a beautiful thing. And him 0:13:22.679 --> 0:13:24.480 him saying like I want you to be better than 0:13:24.520 --> 0:13:27.920 me as good as Brad is, You're you're you are 0:13:28.040 --> 0:13:31.240 him at six ten, which which already kind of push 0:13:31.280 --> 0:13:35.800 you in in a different like not not not a 0:13:35.800 --> 0:13:38.800 different category because y'all both all stars, you're both elite, 0:13:38.840 --> 0:13:41.120 like y'all both scored with the best of them, but 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:44.000 six being six ten and being able to do that, 0:13:44.000 --> 0:13:47.559 that automatically just puts you in a different place because 0:13:48.120 --> 0:13:55.520 there's only Katie Um at six ten who can do 0:13:55.559 --> 0:14:00.720 that maybe Katie and I actually got. I actually got 0:14:01.240 --> 0:14:05.480 and I had a great opportunity to see that this summer, 0:14:06.160 --> 0:14:10.520 and and what I told everybody, Um, and I'm jumping 0:14:10.559 --> 0:14:12.200 all over the place a little bit, but this is 0:14:12.200 --> 0:14:15.360 just still so natural, so will will rewind a little bit. 0:14:15.400 --> 0:14:20.560 But what I told everybody was on our team, it 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:24.880 was Katie team, like USA team, it was Katie team, 0:14:24.920 --> 0:14:27.120 as it should have been. He was he was one 0:14:27.160 --> 0:14:32.600 of the most experiences Katie. But it felt like to me, 0:14:32.640 --> 0:14:35.040 and I want to I want to hear your thoughts, 0:14:35.120 --> 0:14:37.200 it felt like to me, you were being primed for 0:14:37.240 --> 0:14:39.160 it to be your team. That's next go around and 0:14:39.280 --> 0:14:43.640 maybe Katie come back, Maybe Katie don't. But I felt 0:14:43.680 --> 0:14:45.960 like he was priming you like a j T. Go 0:14:46.120 --> 0:14:48.560 give me a bucket, man, he's your turn, Come on now, 0:14:48.640 --> 0:14:51.440 go give me some buckets. And hearing the conversation, but 0:14:51.560 --> 0:14:55.320 also seeing how everyone else on our team when it 0:14:55.480 --> 0:14:59.120 wasn't Katie, everybody was turning to you, and you had 0:14:59.200 --> 0:15:01.880 games where you took go over. So I like, how 0:15:02.000 --> 0:15:04.520 how are you did you feel that? Are you seeing? That? 0:15:04.640 --> 0:15:07.640 Is that the goal? Like? What is your goals moving 0:15:07.680 --> 0:15:12.240 forward with USA? Yeah? Now, I think I think you 0:15:12.320 --> 0:15:15.440 spot on. I think that played a huge part in 0:15:15.480 --> 0:15:18.720 my decision. I think I remember you calling me in 0:15:18.720 --> 0:15:22.640 a summertime and like telling me, like, Bro, I remember, 0:15:22.680 --> 0:15:24.960 I'll never forget you said, Bro, forget all this stuff 0:15:24.960 --> 0:15:27.920 about rest, like we can rest when we retire, and 0:15:27.960 --> 0:15:32.560 I don't, like, like yeah if I'm only like I 0:15:32.600 --> 0:15:35.560 got the rest of my life after basketball to rest 0:15:35.600 --> 0:15:37.800 and do what if I won't, And like this is 0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:41.720 you know, nothing is promised, like this is a special opportunity. 0:15:41.880 --> 0:15:44.760 So after talking to you, and then the next thing 0:15:44.920 --> 0:15:49.040 was like, well s k K on the team. And 0:15:49.080 --> 0:15:52.440 I think for me, like I remember being fifteen years 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.240 old and going to k Kemp and d C and 0:15:55.320 --> 0:15:59.080 like how excited I was to be there and fast forward, 0:15:59.520 --> 0:16:01.240 you know, play in against some of the playoffs flash 0:16:01.320 --> 0:16:05.440 year and then now being on the same team as him, 0:16:05.480 --> 0:16:08.880 and like getting to see how somebody that like I 0:16:08.880 --> 0:16:11.400 looked up to at one point, like how he'd go 0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:15.160 about his routine and how he worked, how he you know, 0:16:15.280 --> 0:16:18.360 just think and see the game, you know, on a 0:16:18.400 --> 0:16:20.200 personal level, like we're gonna be on the same team. 0:16:20.240 --> 0:16:22.280 That was for me. I was like all right, yeah, 0:16:22.320 --> 0:16:26.760 I'm going and I remember being in and out there 0:16:26.760 --> 0:16:29.120 in Vegas, and like, I remember the first day we scrimmaged, 0:16:29.520 --> 0:16:31.240 and I remember we played the Select team and they 0:16:31.320 --> 0:16:33.320 kicked the ask. The first day. We was out of shape. 0:16:34.440 --> 0:16:36.680 We was out of shape. We wasn't used to playing 0:16:36.680 --> 0:16:39.400 with each other. But I remember specifically coming down on 0:16:39.440 --> 0:16:43.840 the wing, somebody kicked me the ball and on the Celtics, 0:16:43.840 --> 0:16:45.840 I would have shot it and it was like a 0:16:45.840 --> 0:16:47.400 halfway like I could have shot it, and I just 0:16:47.440 --> 0:16:49.960 remember k was to the next it was to the 0:16:50.040 --> 0:16:52.080 right of me, and I passed it to him and 0:16:52.080 --> 0:16:53.760 I remember he got mad at me. He was like 0:16:54.560 --> 0:16:56.560 he was like, yo, don't look for me, Like he 0:16:56.640 --> 0:16:59.480 was like, be yourself. I need you to kill And 0:16:59.520 --> 0:17:03.280 I was like damn, Like that was the first time 0:17:03.320 --> 0:17:05.399 I was like like no, like he wants me to 0:17:05.400 --> 0:17:08.000 who too, Like don't look at it, like that's Katie, 0:17:08.040 --> 0:17:10.160 Like no, we're on the same team, Like he needs 0:17:10.200 --> 0:17:14.280 me to do me on this team and not like 0:17:14.320 --> 0:17:17.320 I mean you you you're right? Like is It definitely 0:17:17.320 --> 0:17:19.640 started to feel like that, like obviously we all knew 0:17:19.840 --> 0:17:22.720 his team, but just somebody like that in the middle 0:17:22.760 --> 0:17:24.720 of a game, you know, he comes down the court, 0:17:24.720 --> 0:17:26.439 he telling me to post up to give me the 0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:29.640 ball to go score. I was like all right, like yeah, 0:17:29.840 --> 0:17:33.399 I'm I'm getting I'm I'm I'm I'm working towards getting 0:17:33.400 --> 0:17:35.760 to that level, like I'm earning the respect of somebody 0:17:35.800 --> 0:17:40.000 like that, and ultimately, like that was obviously us winning it, 0:17:40.040 --> 0:17:41.960 but like that was one of my favorite parts of 0:17:42.720 --> 0:17:45.600 you know, being on the team. Um just kind of 0:17:45.640 --> 0:17:50.320 like at that moment, if I you know that makes sense, No, absolutely, 0:17:50.359 --> 0:17:54.119 And I actually remember the exact moment that you're talking 0:17:54.119 --> 0:17:57.320 about when he when when you swang the ball to me, Like, 0:17:57.359 --> 0:18:02.520 hey man, come now, I remember that exact moment. But 0:18:02.560 --> 0:18:04.639 I thought it was great because, like I said, the 0:18:04.680 --> 0:18:10.439 reality is right, you should you you should. It's on 0:18:10.560 --> 0:18:12.840 you to carry USA for the at least the next 0:18:12.840 --> 0:18:16.120 two cycles, you know, like like that's your thing moving forward. 0:18:16.119 --> 0:18:19.000 And like I said, even if Katie come back on 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:22.600 the next cycle for Paris, that's almost him just like 0:18:22.680 --> 0:18:24.919 coming to past the Patton, Like yeah, I still have 0:18:24.920 --> 0:18:26.600 got it and I'm still cold and I love it. 0:18:26.680 --> 0:18:30.199 Who but I'm really coming to past the Patton. And 0:18:30.280 --> 0:18:34.440 so I think, uh, like that should be your mindset 0:18:34.520 --> 0:18:40.399 and what also should be your mindset is regardless of 0:18:40.440 --> 0:18:45.760 whatever happens this summer, I mean or this season, this playoffs, 0:18:47.520 --> 0:18:52.360 you should be dedicated to having the absolute best summer 0:18:52.560 --> 0:18:57.520 of your life. And you already work, but but there's 0:18:57.560 --> 0:19:01.320 more to be done because your only goal next year, 0:19:01.400 --> 0:19:05.800 going into next year should be like, no, I'm one 0:19:06.520 --> 0:19:08.920 going to be the MVP of the NBA next year. 0:19:09.119 --> 0:19:11.359 You should be the m v P of the NBA 0:19:11.480 --> 0:19:16.000 next year with your skill level with like you've been 0:19:16.000 --> 0:19:19.560 doing this now. Say, a lot of people don't don't 0:19:19.600 --> 0:19:22.119 realize how young you are. I didn't either until we 0:19:22.200 --> 0:19:24.040 got to the Olympics and I'm just sitting there and 0:19:24.080 --> 0:19:26.080 we all kicking it, and then some of the questions 0:19:26.080 --> 0:19:31.199 you was asked, I'm like, man, I oh here baby, 0:19:31.240 --> 0:19:34.600 But you like you've been doing it at this level 0:19:34.720 --> 0:19:37.000 since you came into the league your rookie year, which 0:19:37.080 --> 0:19:40.240 is now with five years, and so people tend to 0:19:40.280 --> 0:19:42.760 think like, oh, no, like you just one of us. 0:19:42.840 --> 0:19:44.359 You know what I'm saying, like, oh yeah, like no, 0:19:44.520 --> 0:19:47.240 he just wanted us because at the because of the 0:19:47.320 --> 0:19:49.560 level you've been doing that. But the reality is you 0:19:49.640 --> 0:19:53.680 still can't place replace that experience. You still can't replace 0:19:53.760 --> 0:19:57.240 those years of gaining wisdom, and so it was super 0:19:57.280 --> 0:19:59.440 refreshing to me when you start asking some of the 0:19:59.520 --> 0:20:02.840 questions you was asking. I'm like, oh, Ship, like this 0:20:02.920 --> 0:20:05.760 is fun for me, like being able to share something. 0:20:06.080 --> 0:20:08.800 Like it's one thing to share a game, get game 0:20:08.880 --> 0:20:12.679 to a young dude, Like, that's all great, it's fun. 0:20:12.720 --> 0:20:16.560 I love to do it. It's a totally different thing 0:20:16.560 --> 0:20:19.600 to get some game to a star, like to a 0:20:19.680 --> 0:20:23.159 young star. That's a totally different thing. And so for me, 0:20:23.240 --> 0:20:25.880 I'm like, oh, man, like this is this is gonna 0:20:25.920 --> 0:20:29.000 be fun, Like I I enjoy that. And so I 0:20:29.040 --> 0:20:31.880 think that should be your number one goal going into 0:20:31.960 --> 0:20:36.359 next year. Bro, Like you should be thinking nothing else. No, 0:20:36.680 --> 0:20:40.600 I mean you, You're definitely right. Uh. And I think 0:20:40.640 --> 0:20:44.440 this is gonna be my first kind of full summer, 0:20:45.280 --> 0:20:48.040 uh since I've been in the league. I played on 0:20:48.080 --> 0:20:52.680 the Fever team in twenty nineteen, I got injured, come 0:20:52.720 --> 0:20:55.840 around and Covid hit and that was the shortest offseason 0:20:56.080 --> 0:21:00.280 you know, NBA history, And then last year, uh, you know, 0:21:00.520 --> 0:21:02.800 we was in training camp with USA while the season 0:21:02.840 --> 0:21:04.959 was still going on. So it was just it's always 0:21:04.960 --> 0:21:09.080 been something so I'm definitely, you know, after this season, 0:21:09.119 --> 0:21:11.880 you know, handled this season first, but uh, this off 0:21:11.920 --> 0:21:16.080 season coming up is something I'm really really looking forward to, uh, 0:21:16.600 --> 0:21:21.240 because you're right, like, and I think the Olympics had 0:21:21.320 --> 0:21:25.119 a lot to do with that. Um, you know, coming 0:21:25.160 --> 0:21:27.560 off the Olympics and winning a gold medal and being 0:21:27.760 --> 0:21:30.480 with you guys, like the best players in the world, 0:21:31.800 --> 0:21:34.640 like as competitive as the game's where, but just going 0:21:34.680 --> 0:21:37.560 through practice when we're spilling the teams up, scranging each 0:21:37.600 --> 0:21:41.639 other problem five, Like, there's nothing better than that in 0:21:41.640 --> 0:21:45.080 the summertime at that point. So just coming into the NBA, 0:21:45.200 --> 0:21:48.200 like I've been competing against and with the best players 0:21:48.240 --> 0:21:50.760 in the league all summer and then carrying that into 0:21:50.840 --> 0:21:54.240 the into the season is like that Honestly, it's the 0:21:54.240 --> 0:21:57.399 best way to prepare, uh, you know for a season. 0:21:58.920 --> 0:22:00.960 You know. What's crazy is one to one of the 0:22:01.000 --> 0:22:03.600 main reasons I wanted to do Olympics last year was 0:22:03.640 --> 0:22:06.639 so I could stay in great shape leaving out of 0:22:06.720 --> 0:22:09.200 last season to come into this season because in my mind, 0:22:09.240 --> 0:22:10.720 I'm like, yo, I want to get back to an 0:22:10.760 --> 0:22:13.359 all star level, and I know the key to me 0:22:13.720 --> 0:22:16.359 playing at an all Star level is simply being in shape. 0:22:16.840 --> 0:22:19.200 And so I'm like, the Olympics will help me roll 0:22:19.400 --> 0:22:21.600 right into September and shape and I can hit the 0:22:21.640 --> 0:22:24.520 ground running into the season. And so I definitely feel 0:22:24.560 --> 0:22:27.400 where you're coming from. And like, even for me going 0:22:27.440 --> 0:22:29.439 back to the Select team days when I played on 0:22:29.480 --> 0:22:32.159 the Select team, like I'm like, yo, I got better 0:22:32.320 --> 0:22:35.399 this week, Like I'm playing these guys, I got better, 0:22:35.480 --> 0:22:37.880 you know what I'm saying. And so I think that's 0:22:37.920 --> 0:22:41.240 a I think that's a really big deal. And speaking 0:22:41.280 --> 0:22:45.080 of of our USA team, you're now head coach um 0:22:45.280 --> 0:22:48.720 email Udoka who he was, he was one of our 0:22:48.840 --> 0:22:51.360 one of our assistant coaches with the USA team. Got 0:22:51.359 --> 0:22:53.000 to spend a lot of time around him, see what 0:22:53.040 --> 0:22:55.280 type of duty is kind of see his coaching style, 0:22:55.800 --> 0:22:59.040 and I thought it was great. And one one observation 0:22:59.160 --> 0:23:02.359 that I've had in watching your game is is Um 0:23:02.440 --> 0:23:05.840 and y'all play but in your game and I feel 0:23:05.840 --> 0:23:07.919 like you've taken the next step in that it's like 0:23:08.480 --> 0:23:11.800 it's less side step three, you know what I'm saying, 0:23:11.800 --> 0:23:14.840 It's less like you're a tough shot taker and a 0:23:14.880 --> 0:23:17.520 tough shot maker, you know. But I think I think 0:23:17.560 --> 0:23:19.840 there's a time and a place to take tough shots. 0:23:19.840 --> 0:23:21.959 Like there's a time when you gotta take tough shots, 0:23:22.359 --> 0:23:24.560 and then there's a time when you're that good that 0:23:24.680 --> 0:23:26.440 you go get the shot that you want. You know 0:23:26.480 --> 0:23:29.960 what I'm saying. And I feel like you're you You're 0:23:30.000 --> 0:23:33.439 finding that balance. And I was wondering, like if is 0:23:33.480 --> 0:23:36.679 that something that that e May and eight Miles. I 0:23:36.680 --> 0:23:38.800 know you you you talk a lot to eight Miles 0:23:38.800 --> 0:23:41.080 to somebody who helped me a lot over the last 0:23:41.119 --> 0:23:44.800 couple of years just understanding the game. What what impact 0:23:44.840 --> 0:23:47.159 has those guys had in coming in and on on 0:23:47.280 --> 0:23:51.960 your game individually? Yeah, I think I think it's a 0:23:51.960 --> 0:23:55.119 combination a couple of things. Obviously, Uh, you know the 0:23:55.160 --> 0:23:58.000 new staff um and you know he may being a 0:23:58.040 --> 0:24:02.280 new coach and just like a different sort of philosophy, right. 0:24:02.440 --> 0:24:04.240 You know, people always ask me, you know, what's the 0:24:04.240 --> 0:24:06.639 difference between Brad and eMate? I mean, they just different 0:24:06.880 --> 0:24:10.439 front people. Like they both great basketball minds, but you know, 0:24:10.480 --> 0:24:12.600 they just kind of approach things differently, and that doesn't 0:24:12.600 --> 0:24:14.760 make one better than the other. But you know, I 0:24:14.800 --> 0:24:17.119 appreciate them both. I had Brad my first four years, 0:24:17.119 --> 0:24:19.840 and you know, I'm thankful for him a lot. And 0:24:19.880 --> 0:24:23.639 now you know, being with email. UM. And also I 0:24:23.640 --> 0:24:28.160 think I'm just I'm still I'm still young, but I'm 0:24:28.160 --> 0:24:30.160 getting older at the same time. So game, the game 0:24:30.240 --> 0:24:33.600 is sawing down, and I'm learning to like read the 0:24:33.640 --> 0:24:36.719 game a lot differently than I did two years ago. Right, 0:24:36.760 --> 0:24:40.800 it's sawing down for me. UM, knowing when the like 0:24:40.920 --> 0:24:43.440 you know, exert more energy and when to save energy 0:24:43.480 --> 0:24:45.440 and things like that. Thing I just didn't think about, 0:24:46.040 --> 0:24:49.720 you know, my second and third or even my fourth year. Right. Uh. 0:24:49.760 --> 0:24:52.600 So I think having a new staff sometimes just having 0:24:52.600 --> 0:24:56.919 a new voice can be helpful. Um. But you know, 0:24:56.920 --> 0:25:00.400 I love having email. Um. Obviously we start it off, 0:25:01.400 --> 0:25:04.240 it was rocky, you know, up and down. UM. And 0:25:04.560 --> 0:25:07.720 I mean I think that's just part of it. Obviously, 0:25:07.760 --> 0:25:09.919 what expectations. People just want you to adjust like that, 0:25:10.200 --> 0:25:13.600 and the reality is this is you know, if things 0:25:13.600 --> 0:25:17.639 take time, right. Uh. But one thing I've appreciated is 0:25:17.680 --> 0:25:21.520 that he's he's definitely coached me, um, you know, coach 0:25:21.600 --> 0:25:26.200 me hard and held me accountable and and held everyone accountable. UM. 0:25:26.480 --> 0:25:30.280 And I think that's something that that we definitely needed. UM. 0:25:30.320 --> 0:25:33.159 And when we got like an open, open door policy, 0:25:33.200 --> 0:25:37.919 everybody can boys stay opinion. Um, you know, regardless you know, 0:25:37.920 --> 0:25:39.639 the top man or the fifteenth man. You come in 0:25:39.640 --> 0:25:41.520 and work every day. You got something to say, you 0:25:41.520 --> 0:25:44.360 can say it. And I think that's definitely made us better. Um, 0:25:44.440 --> 0:25:47.040 you know his last two and a half months. No, 0:25:47.200 --> 0:25:49.560 it's incredible. I mean to see where your team has 0:25:49.600 --> 0:25:53.160 gone from even like when we played y'all in uh 0:25:53.200 --> 0:25:56.080 in Boston, I think it was in December, and then 0:25:56.080 --> 0:25:58.920 when we just played y'all we can week and a 0:25:58.920 --> 0:26:04.040 half ago, totally different team. And I think it all 0:26:04.080 --> 0:26:07.479 starts on the defensive end, which like you know, you 0:26:07.520 --> 0:26:09.560 know when you when when the coach is good, when 0:26:09.600 --> 0:26:12.320 the coach you can judge a coach of their team defense, 0:26:12.480 --> 0:26:18.560 like if a team can't defend, look no for her 0:26:18.600 --> 0:26:25.000 to the coaching staff, like like coaches chief defense. And 0:26:25.000 --> 0:26:29.399 and it's a sign of accountability and all its just 0:26:29.560 --> 0:26:31.760 everything that is about it, a sign of your team's 0:26:31.800 --> 0:26:35.480 toughness to your mental focus, Like that's a coaching thing. 0:26:35.640 --> 0:26:39.159 And I think where y'all defense is and and but 0:26:39.160 --> 0:26:42.800 but more importantly, not even so much of how good 0:26:42.840 --> 0:26:46.680 it's been, but the philosophy of it, like that took 0:26:46.760 --> 0:26:50.000 some figuring out, like to figure out, we're gonna start 0:26:50.119 --> 0:26:53.000 robbing out next each other. This is how we're gonna guard. 0:26:53.040 --> 0:26:56.120 We're gonna switch one through five or switch one through four. 0:26:56.520 --> 0:26:59.520 Y'all switching one through five most of the time. Um, 0:26:59.600 --> 0:27:02.680 and then we're forcing everything to ride at the rim 0:27:02.760 --> 0:27:06.199 and like guys are over extending, guys are pressing up 0:27:06.560 --> 0:27:08.840 and literally forcing you right into him, and he cleaning 0:27:08.920 --> 0:27:13.560 up all mistakes at the rim. Like to get to 0:27:13.640 --> 0:27:17.760 that philosophy, it takes some some twisting and turning, like 0:27:17.840 --> 0:27:21.320 y'all switched lineups a couple of times, Like you know, 0:27:22.000 --> 0:27:24.000 it takes some stuff to get there. And and I 0:27:24.040 --> 0:27:26.040 think that's like I said, I think that's a big 0:27:26.080 --> 0:27:29.640 coaching thing and a move that they made that has 0:27:29.720 --> 0:27:34.320 changed your season. No, you you're absolutely right, and it did. 0:27:34.440 --> 0:27:37.200 Like we was not We wasn't used to that at first, 0:27:37.359 --> 0:27:39.400 Like you know, i'd be the first one to say 0:27:39.440 --> 0:27:42.920 I was a little hesitant because I had only known 0:27:43.040 --> 0:27:46.679 one way for four years and uh, I would you know, 0:27:47.560 --> 0:27:49.600 not my not last year, but my first three years. 0:27:49.640 --> 0:27:52.080 You know, we was always a top five defense. We 0:27:52.160 --> 0:27:54.960 wasn't this good, but I just was so accustomed to 0:27:55.000 --> 0:27:58.280 doing things a certain way, and I think part of 0:27:58.359 --> 0:28:01.040 growing is being open to change and that's something I've 0:28:01.280 --> 0:28:06.119 definitely learned this season. Um and you know it was 0:28:06.160 --> 0:28:09.200 not perfect first, but I think once we really bought 0:28:09.240 --> 0:28:13.720 in and once we got healthy and obviously has been working. 0:28:13.760 --> 0:28:17.080 And I think a part of it is, like it 0:28:17.119 --> 0:28:19.399 definitely is coaching. But I think you know, when you 0:28:19.400 --> 0:28:21.600 look at the teams that got the best defenses, like 0:28:22.359 --> 0:28:24.280 they got guys in their team that like they give 0:28:24.320 --> 0:28:29.840 them were customer absolutely, like like guys that like give 0:28:29.880 --> 0:28:33.159 a fuck on defense, and like now you know, and 0:28:33.400 --> 0:28:35.640 like the teams that got the best even like that's 0:28:35.680 --> 0:28:39.520 something that we you know, hold everybody accountable from the 0:28:39.760 --> 0:28:42.560 first man to the last man. Was like, all right, 0:28:42.640 --> 0:28:44.840 we might not be like the best offensive team, but 0:28:44.920 --> 0:28:47.720 like we're gonna hang out head on this defensive band. 0:28:47.840 --> 0:28:50.640 And everybody got pulled their weight. And because if al 0:28:50.800 --> 0:28:54.080 in your fifteen is gonna be switching on the guards 0:28:54.080 --> 0:28:56.320 and pressuring and things like that, and there's no excuse 0:28:56.360 --> 0:28:59.120 for you know, somebody they second the third year, and 0:28:59.160 --> 0:29:02.760 you know that's something that we just relate everybody. It's 0:29:02.840 --> 0:29:06.560 it's incredible and I think, uh, including me, I think 0:29:06.600 --> 0:29:08.959 when when y'all brought out back, everybody's like, what the 0:29:08.960 --> 0:29:15.920 hell right, but like that it made no sense. And 0:29:15.920 --> 0:29:22.600 and then until you realize like j T still super young, 0:29:22.760 --> 0:29:26.440 j B still super young, Marcus Smart he got a 0:29:26.440 --> 0:29:30.560 little a little more experience, but he's still young. Rob's 0:29:30.600 --> 0:29:33.520 still young. And when you put it in those terms, 0:29:33.920 --> 0:29:37.520 especially for me who's now in a year ten and understand, 0:29:37.600 --> 0:29:40.280 like Smart right now is in a position I was 0:29:40.320 --> 0:29:44.240 in a like a couple of years ago where we sucked, 0:29:44.440 --> 0:29:47.040 but he's kind of right in that space, so like 0:29:47.440 --> 0:29:52.240 not quite like that VET, but almost there, you know. 0:29:52.400 --> 0:29:56.200 And and so bringing out back right now, when I 0:29:56.240 --> 0:29:59.080 think about it, I'm like, yeah, it makes total sense 0:29:59.320 --> 0:30:01.480 because y'all need did that VET to look to, you 0:30:01.520 --> 0:30:04.440 know what I'm saying, And so I see that now. 0:30:04.600 --> 0:30:08.239 But and then also the fact that he's he and 0:30:08.360 --> 0:30:11.720 things that he teached Robert Williams as well, and so 0:30:11.760 --> 0:30:14.080 I think that's huge. But in speaking to Robert Williams, 0:30:14.720 --> 0:30:18.800 um having an incredible year, having a defensive Player of 0:30:18.840 --> 0:30:25.560 the Year caliber type of season. Um no one talks 0:30:25.600 --> 0:30:29.760 about his offense. He's one of the best passing big 0:30:29.800 --> 0:30:34.479 man in the League right now. And I take that 0:30:34.520 --> 0:30:36.680 with a grain of salt, because jokers passed better than 0:30:36.680 --> 0:30:39.480 all the point guards. So we're not putting nobody in 0:30:39.600 --> 0:30:43.200 Joker category here a little different than everybody, but so 0:30:43.240 --> 0:30:45.320 we're gonna just count Joker as a point guard. We're 0:30:45.320 --> 0:30:48.320 not talking about Joker. But just like big man, big 0:30:48.360 --> 0:30:50.720 men who are like legit big man don't have the 0:30:50.760 --> 0:30:53.640 ball all the time, Robert Williams is one of the 0:30:53.800 --> 0:30:56.480 best passing big man that I've seen, and no one 0:30:56.560 --> 0:31:02.000 talks about it, and I think, I think that's a 0:31:02.080 --> 0:31:05.640 huge loss for y'all. Um, what what like what can 0:31:05.680 --> 0:31:07.840 y'all do to feel that role because there's not one 0:31:07.840 --> 0:31:09.480 guy that can do what he does to bring to 0:31:09.560 --> 0:31:15.000 that team. Man man, Listen, First of all, feel terrible 0:31:15.200 --> 0:31:18.880 for Ra just seeing him the first day. He came 0:31:18.920 --> 0:31:21.840 in and out hard. He's worked in the strategy, he's 0:31:21.920 --> 0:31:24.640 made to be where he's at, and it's like he's 0:31:24.680 --> 0:31:28.240 just barely like scratching the surface of like where he 0:31:28.280 --> 0:31:30.560 can get to, Like this is like his first full 0:31:30.640 --> 0:31:35.040 year like playing starting like being a core part of 0:31:35.040 --> 0:31:37.320 our team, and he's seeing where he's taking us. So 0:31:37.360 --> 0:31:40.200 I feel terrible for him. Because I just know that 0:31:40.600 --> 0:31:42.520 his confidence was at an all time high. He was 0:31:42.560 --> 0:31:47.200 like really feeling good about himself. And I mean guys 0:31:47.240 --> 0:31:48.880 like him, it's not like you said, it's not many 0:31:48.920 --> 0:31:52.280 guys like him that passed as well as you do. Uh, 0:31:52.760 --> 0:31:56.800 extreme live threat on offense, don't need don't like he 0:31:56.840 --> 0:31:59.480 don't need the ball, and you know, the best defender 0:31:59.520 --> 0:32:02.360 on our team, so like you don't you can't replace 0:32:02.400 --> 0:32:04.000 the guy like that when you know, when you go 0:32:04.080 --> 0:32:08.240 down with injury. Um, but I think you know it's 0:32:08.360 --> 0:32:10.440 it's cliche that sound. It's just like next man up 0:32:10.440 --> 0:32:13.120 and time we gotta figure it out. Five games left, 0:32:13.120 --> 0:32:17.080 we're going into the playoffs, you know, Uh, you know, 0:32:17.160 --> 0:32:19.440 speedy recovery for him. You know, I told him to 0:32:19.440 --> 0:32:21.680 take his time, don't you know when you feel a 0:32:22.040 --> 0:32:25.160 d percent you know didn't come back, but you know, 0:32:25.200 --> 0:32:27.600 we just gotta try to hold it down until he does, 0:32:27.640 --> 0:32:30.240 because you know, it's not we don't have a guy 0:32:30.240 --> 0:32:32.680 on our team like so everybody else's gotta gotta do 0:32:32.800 --> 0:32:35.000 more and step up. But you know, he was having 0:32:35.000 --> 0:32:39.400 an unbelievable season. Absolutely speaking to him as a live 0:32:39.680 --> 0:32:43.000 So check this out. When we played you'all in Boston. 0:32:43.520 --> 0:32:45.920 We played you in Boston. We're going to shoot around. 0:32:46.440 --> 0:32:48.719 I have been watching a couple of y'all games before, 0:32:49.200 --> 0:32:52.000 and I see this dude catch some crazy ass lives. 0:32:52.360 --> 0:32:54.960 Speaking of which this dre won Green show. Bro, you 0:32:55.000 --> 0:32:56.640 say whatever the hell you want to say on here, 0:32:56.680 --> 0:33:02.800 that's how we al. But I see this dude catching 0:33:02.840 --> 0:33:06.200 these crazy ass lives, I'm like, Yo, this is wow. 0:33:06.880 --> 0:33:10.560 So I'm I'm like rewinding back through it, like trying 0:33:10.560 --> 0:33:13.480 to figure out, like where did where was the coverage 0:33:13.520 --> 0:33:17.320 messed up at? And for for those that don't understand, 0:33:17.360 --> 0:33:20.160 if if Robert Williams is in the drop or I 0:33:20.160 --> 0:33:22.080 mean if a big is in the drop on the 0:33:22.080 --> 0:33:25.240 pick and roll and Robert Williams is rolling, that big 0:33:25.320 --> 0:33:27.440 is taught. So the big when I said a drop, 0:33:27.520 --> 0:33:30.520 that mean he's his guy is setting the screen and 0:33:30.560 --> 0:33:32.800 he's a little beneath him, so the guard can't turn 0:33:32.840 --> 0:33:37.520 the corner. That's a drop. And the most big five 0:33:37.600 --> 0:33:40.440 men playing the drop on on in the pick and roll, 0:33:41.080 --> 0:33:43.520 and you're taught as the big man to never let 0:33:43.560 --> 0:33:46.440 the roller, which would be Robert Williams get behind you. 0:33:47.240 --> 0:33:49.640 Once you let the roller get behind you, your dead. 0:33:51.360 --> 0:33:55.200 So I. So we're in shoot around earlier before the game. 0:33:55.240 --> 0:33:57.400 Earlier that day. It was an eight o'clock game in Boston, 0:33:57.440 --> 0:34:00.760 so we had to shoot around and I stopped to 0:34:00.840 --> 0:34:04.080 walk through, and I'm like, fellas, listen, y'all have to understand, 0:34:04.600 --> 0:34:07.680 if you are even with Robert Williams, he's going to 0:34:07.880 --> 0:34:10.440 dunk on you. He will catch the lib on your head. 0:34:10.960 --> 0:34:13.279 I just watched him catch three of them on a 0:34:13.440 --> 0:34:17.200 D in one game. If you're even with and that's 0:34:17.280 --> 0:34:21.360 a D. If you're even even with him, he's going 0:34:21.480 --> 0:34:24.120 to catch it on your head, So you gotta stay below. 0:34:25.080 --> 0:34:28.120 And I'm like animated. I'm telling them and everybody like, 0:34:28.200 --> 0:34:30.719 all right, I got it, and I get in to 0:34:30.800 --> 0:34:34.080 pick a roll and now I'm dropped and I thought 0:34:34.120 --> 0:34:38.600 I was beneath him, and he still caught the lib 0:34:38.760 --> 0:34:44.479 on my head. I'm like to have that threat where 0:34:44.680 --> 0:34:47.439 you literally just put it up anywhere and he gonna 0:34:47.480 --> 0:34:52.000 get it through it. People don't understand, And I love 0:34:52.040 --> 0:34:55.920 to hear your thoughts on it to me, having a 0:34:55.960 --> 0:35:04.440 live threat Robert Williams. Javel McGee for what they do 0:35:04.600 --> 0:35:07.960 for DeAndre Aiden's a good one as well. What they 0:35:08.040 --> 0:35:12.000 do for your for your floor space, and it's equal 0:35:12.040 --> 0:35:15.520 to what a shooter does for your floor space because 0:35:15.560 --> 0:35:18.719 you can't leave the body. What are your thoughts on 0:35:18.880 --> 0:35:20.959 and you get you you had the opportunity to play 0:35:21.000 --> 0:35:23.200 like play with someone like that on the daily. I've 0:35:23.200 --> 0:35:26.080 had that before in the past. What are your thoughts 0:35:26.120 --> 0:35:28.359 on having that live throughout the dunker, Because I think 0:35:28.400 --> 0:35:31.400 it's just as important as having a shooter, the space, 0:35:31.440 --> 0:35:34.920 the floor. It just it makes it your offense so 0:35:35.040 --> 0:35:39.080 much more dynamic. Right, you got somebody like me coming 0:35:39.080 --> 0:35:42.879 off the pick and roll. Nobody ever is going under, right. 0:35:43.880 --> 0:35:47.279 I wish I would, I wouldn't mind it, But they're 0:35:47.320 --> 0:35:49.239 not going under. So you gotta chase me over the top. 0:35:49.239 --> 0:35:51.120 Because if you go under, the stopped behind them shooting 0:35:51.120 --> 0:35:54.480 a three. So if you got somebody chasing me over 0:35:54.520 --> 0:35:58.280 the top. And like you said, most traditional bigs are 0:35:58.520 --> 0:36:02.280 in drop, you know a lot more recently they corralling 0:36:02.440 --> 0:36:04.320 or up to touch. I gotta get out of my hands. 0:36:04.400 --> 0:36:06.800 But you got somebody chasing me over the top. So 0:36:06.880 --> 0:36:09.319 now I got the defender in jail. He behind me, 0:36:10.000 --> 0:36:12.680 So now you gotta make a decisions. And you know, 0:36:12.840 --> 0:36:15.480 somebody's athletic is robbed. Even when I get in trouble 0:36:15.600 --> 0:36:17.880 and I don't got nobody, you just throw it in 0:36:17.880 --> 0:36:22.319 the area. So now you you're wondering if you want 0:36:22.360 --> 0:36:24.560 you want to try to stop me from scoring or 0:36:24.600 --> 0:36:26.399 you won't. You don't want to get because most big 0:36:26.719 --> 0:36:28.680 don't want to get up a live. They hate going 0:36:28.760 --> 0:36:31.320 in the film and giving up a lot. No big 0:36:31.640 --> 0:36:34.440 once stay man to score. That is uh, that is 0:36:34.480 --> 0:36:37.239 a fact, and we all knew it absolutely so it 0:36:37.400 --> 0:36:39.440 just like you said, just like having to shoot, it 0:36:39.480 --> 0:36:42.600 just makes it so much more dynamic, especially as athletic 0:36:42.600 --> 0:36:47.000 as a rob or like Jabelle may get somebody that long. Uh, 0:36:47.040 --> 0:36:48.480 you just stow it up and they go get it. 0:36:49.480 --> 0:36:52.359 Absolutely man, I think I think it's incredible. I wish 0:36:52.440 --> 0:36:55.640 him was speedy recovery as well, so I you know, 0:36:55.760 --> 0:36:58.840 have an appreciation for the growth of y'all. A's a 0:36:58.920 --> 0:37:01.799 team and you know we've been dealing with a lot 0:37:01.800 --> 0:37:06.280 of injuries. You hate to see teams loose anything because 0:37:06.280 --> 0:37:10.560 of injury. So definitely wishing the speedy recovery. But and 0:37:10.640 --> 0:37:14.480 still speaking of your team, for years, there's been this 0:37:14.520 --> 0:37:18.440 whole notion of you and jay Len Brown can't play together. Again, 0:37:18.560 --> 0:37:21.960 y'all are so young in your career. The fact that 0:37:22.000 --> 0:37:24.760 people want to write it off already is kind of tough. 0:37:24.840 --> 0:37:30.160 But in the same token, um it is. In the 0:37:30.200 --> 0:37:34.439 same token, it's also respect to y'all and what y'all 0:37:34.480 --> 0:37:38.080 have done, because, like I said, since y'all came into it, 0:37:38.120 --> 0:37:42.759 y'all been doing it at this level. And so for 0:37:42.760 --> 0:37:45.680 for everybody in their mind, it's been more than four years, 0:37:46.239 --> 0:37:48.960 you know, because your rookie year, y'all went to the 0:37:48.960 --> 0:37:52.239 Eastern Conference Finals. You're dunk on Lebron James. You know, 0:37:52.320 --> 0:37:56.480 like this this is your rookie year. So for everybody, 0:37:56.480 --> 0:37:58.560 they've now been seeing it for so long in their 0:37:58.560 --> 0:38:01.759 mind it's like that can't work. They need to move on. 0:38:02.640 --> 0:38:07.480 The reality is that hasn't had any time, any time 0:38:08.120 --> 0:38:12.200 to manifest itself into what it could possibly be. I am. 0:38:12.440 --> 0:38:17.880 I am extremely happy to see it working because I 0:38:17.920 --> 0:38:20.560 have a huge amount of respect for Jaylen Brown the 0:38:20.600 --> 0:38:23.880 player he is. I mean, the way he handled and 0:38:23.880 --> 0:38:27.720 shoot the ball now, like he worked on his game 0:38:27.920 --> 0:38:32.360 like there's no other way to slice it. That he 0:38:32.600 --> 0:38:36.319 that guy who he was five years ago at Cal 0:38:37.000 --> 0:38:40.120 He that gout work on his game like there's no 0:38:40.200 --> 0:38:42.000 other way to slice, and so I'm happy to see 0:38:42.000 --> 0:38:44.920 it working. But what what was the key for you 0:38:45.640 --> 0:38:48.759 and and and him blocking out all the noise and 0:38:48.760 --> 0:38:51.279 and understanding that ultimately, bro, we got each other and 0:38:51.280 --> 0:38:53.560 people are gonna talk and they're saying this, but at 0:38:53.600 --> 0:38:55.719 such a young age y'all having to go through that 0:38:56.040 --> 0:38:57.879 and work you'all way through that. What was the key 0:38:57.960 --> 0:39:00.520 for y'all to stick together and say, like, we're gonna 0:39:00.520 --> 0:39:07.000 figure it out together. Yeah. I think it's a lot 0:39:07.040 --> 0:39:11.719 to digest there, I think. Uh So my first year 0:39:11.760 --> 0:39:13.759 was his second year, JB went. JB been in the 0:39:13.760 --> 0:39:17.359 conference finals three times. He went the year before when 0:39:17.400 --> 0:39:19.480 I got there, and then the bubble year and I've 0:39:19.520 --> 0:39:25.000 been twice. Um, so we've had way more success then 0:39:25.080 --> 0:39:29.080 we haven't. You know. Last year, you know, it was 0:39:29.120 --> 0:39:33.240 the weirdest season in NBA history with protocols, no fans, 0:39:33.840 --> 0:39:36.400 Guy's dealing with COVID, no vaccine, like, it was the 0:39:36.400 --> 0:39:40.160 weirdest season. He get hurt. We was a seventh seed, 0:39:40.200 --> 0:39:42.840 we made the playoffs. You know, it wasn't great. Started 0:39:42.880 --> 0:39:44.880 off rocky this year, so it was like it was 0:39:44.920 --> 0:39:47.600 like a rough year and a half and you know, 0:39:48.000 --> 0:39:50.719 we didn't play great that time, but it is what 0:39:50.800 --> 0:39:54.359 it is. But we've had way more success together then 0:39:54.400 --> 0:39:57.000 we haven't. We you know, we've made the playoffs every year. 0:39:57.360 --> 0:40:00.120 And I think in this league what I've realized this 0:40:01.719 --> 0:40:05.160 everybody you can't Everybody would say you can't win until 0:40:05.160 --> 0:40:08.040 you do. Nobody can win the championship. Nobody could be 0:40:08.080 --> 0:40:11.280 the best pay on the championship team until they do it, 0:40:11.640 --> 0:40:17.720 until until you do it, like and and the narrative 0:40:17.840 --> 0:40:21.600 just like that's just what it is, like book like, 0:40:21.800 --> 0:40:25.120 he wasn't a winner until his you know, he had 0:40:25.120 --> 0:40:27.080 some pieces around him and he went to the championship. 0:40:27.080 --> 0:40:30.200 Now he is like, no, we all knew how good 0:40:30.239 --> 0:40:32.759 he was and what he could do. He just no, no, 0:40:32.840 --> 0:40:34.360 not to the guys on this team. They just weren't 0:40:34.400 --> 0:40:39.040 that good. So like, I think, we can't figure it 0:40:39.040 --> 0:40:41.440 out until we win the championship and then it's like, 0:40:41.480 --> 0:40:42.960 all right, they can win. And I think that's just 0:40:43.000 --> 0:40:46.640 like the world that we live in. And once you understand, 0:40:46.760 --> 0:40:49.319 like that's just the business of what we do. And 0:40:50.320 --> 0:40:53.680 you know, yeah, it seems like we've been together forever. 0:40:54.320 --> 0:40:57.680 It's been five years, but I just turned twenty four 0:40:57.760 --> 0:41:00.560 and and and JB is only twenty five. Well they 0:41:00.560 --> 0:41:05.520 say you don't reach your prompt till nine, So now 0:41:05.560 --> 0:41:10.719 it's yeah, thirty, so we can just say thirty. So 0:41:10.800 --> 0:41:13.880 if you look at that point, like DN, we still 0:41:14.000 --> 0:41:19.160 like not as good as we gonna beat. And for us, 0:41:19.239 --> 0:41:22.160 we are two of like the most competitive guys. I 0:41:22.160 --> 0:41:23.880 think the best one of the best things for my 0:41:23.960 --> 0:41:25.719 career and his is that we've been on the same 0:41:25.760 --> 0:41:30.080 team and that we worked with each other, worked out 0:41:30.120 --> 0:41:34.040 play one on one a million times, Like I push 0:41:34.120 --> 0:41:36.640 him and he pushes me, and it's been and it's 0:41:36.640 --> 0:41:41.920 a healthy competitiveness and environment between us. And like you said, 0:41:42.239 --> 0:41:44.319 the strikes that he's made from this first year and 0:41:44.320 --> 0:41:46.040 and to who he is now, he's he's made the 0:41:46.040 --> 0:41:50.400 All Star Game last year. I was extremely happy for him, 0:41:50.440 --> 0:41:53.000 just knowing how far he's come and like who the 0:41:53.040 --> 0:41:54.840 player is now, Like like you said, saying what he 0:41:54.920 --> 0:41:57.000 does now, that only means that he worked on his game, 0:41:57.960 --> 0:42:00.600 Like that's all that that means. So and I know 0:42:00.680 --> 0:42:03.560 that about at him, and I know like how bad 0:42:03.960 --> 0:42:07.880 JB wants to win aside from everything else, and like 0:42:08.480 --> 0:42:10.600 we trust each other enough and like I've been in 0:42:10.760 --> 0:42:14.959 enough close games, I've been in enough playoff series where 0:42:15.000 --> 0:42:17.000 I know, like if I have I got number seven 0:42:17.000 --> 0:42:19.719 on my team, I know, I like I believe he 0:42:19.800 --> 0:42:21.560 gonna do whatever it takes for us to help to 0:42:21.560 --> 0:42:24.160 win this game. Like we didn't want enough close games together, 0:42:24.480 --> 0:42:27.960 enough playoffs series, We're like, I know, push come to shove. 0:42:28.120 --> 0:42:31.279 He got my back and I got his. And as 0:42:31.320 --> 0:42:34.560 fine if the whole world doesn't see that or know that, 0:42:34.719 --> 0:42:38.520 or like we're not posting on Instagram with each other 0:42:38.560 --> 0:42:41.960 hanging out every day or this and that, and like 0:42:42.040 --> 0:42:45.000 that's fine, but we like as long as we know 0:42:45.080 --> 0:42:46.719 and the people in that locker room know that, like, 0:42:46.880 --> 0:42:49.279 you know, we and this together, and I think it 0:42:49.400 --> 0:42:51.720 just makes for it's gonna make for a better story, 0:42:51.840 --> 0:42:54.840 you know, whenever we do hang that banners like no, 0:42:55.040 --> 0:42:58.839 we can you know, we can't do this together. Absolutely. 0:42:58.960 --> 0:43:02.160 I think for a while, I always hoped that y'all 0:43:02.200 --> 0:43:04.279 can figure out who's the one and who's the two. 0:43:04.640 --> 0:43:09.600 And in my mind, no disrespect to JB, he's in 0:43:09.600 --> 0:43:14.120 incredible talent, a great player. I think you're you are 0:43:14.160 --> 0:43:17.440 a generational talent. And so when you have a generational 0:43:17.480 --> 0:43:21.319 talent that automatically makes you the number one. The Wayne way, 0:43:21.320 --> 0:43:25.719 it was a number two in Miami when Lebron went 0:43:25.760 --> 0:43:29.040 there and told Lebron gonna be number two, you go 0:43:29.160 --> 0:43:34.360 be number one. Probably one of the greatest twos Kobe 0:43:34.400 --> 0:43:37.839 was a number two. Is shot right being the number two. 0:43:37.880 --> 0:43:39.920 It's not a bad thing. You know, we we live 0:43:39.960 --> 0:43:42.439 in this world. They try to make it like it's 0:43:42.440 --> 0:43:46.040 a bad thing. Being number two is not a bad thing. 0:43:46.080 --> 0:43:49.040 And one thing you should understand as a number one, 0:43:50.120 --> 0:43:52.520 don't take your number two for granted, because there's not 0:43:53.200 --> 0:43:56.759 There's not many twols that can go for forty and 0:43:56.840 --> 0:43:59.319 just go get you forty in a night like Ain't 0:43:59.320 --> 0:44:02.080 many twols that do that. Only the great teams got that. 0:44:02.840 --> 0:44:06.000 And so I think it's very important for you to 0:44:06.200 --> 0:44:11.120 understand show him his love, give him his flowers, give 0:44:11.160 --> 0:44:14.080 that appreciation so he know he got that from you. 0:44:15.000 --> 0:44:19.880 Because when you feel that, my fuckers will go to 0:44:19.920 --> 0:44:23.000 war for you, you know what I'm saying, that's ultimately 0:44:23.000 --> 0:44:24.719 when he know you will go to war for him, 0:44:25.120 --> 0:44:27.920 he'll go to war for you. And that's ultimately how 0:44:27.960 --> 0:44:30.600 you win championships. Like you know, Marcus Smarter, go to 0:44:30.640 --> 0:44:33.759 war for you. That's how you win championships. And I 0:44:33.800 --> 0:44:37.160 think it's very important for you as the number one 0:44:37.920 --> 0:44:41.120 to to get them guys love and support, even though 0:44:41.160 --> 0:44:44.319 they're older than you and you're younger. You just get 0:44:44.400 --> 0:44:46.279 you just kind of get thrust it into that, you 0:44:46.360 --> 0:44:48.719 know what I'm saying. And I think that's important for 0:44:48.719 --> 0:44:51.160 you to fill out as your climb. I think I'm 0:44:51.200 --> 0:44:53.440 probably more excited about your clown to this m v 0:44:53.520 --> 0:44:56.920 P than you are. But that ship give me chills, man. 0:44:56.960 --> 0:45:00.640 I get excited about it just to see young guys 0:45:00.719 --> 0:45:04.640 doing well. Man, especially like I said, young guys that 0:45:04.800 --> 0:45:07.560 I have a relationship. But but I don't want to 0:45:07.560 --> 0:45:09.040 I don't want to hold you too long. But I 0:45:09.080 --> 0:45:10.880 got a couple more questions and as you know, I 0:45:10.880 --> 0:45:12.719 could sit here and talk to you all day, but 0:45:13.880 --> 0:45:15.839 you know we've been speaking about your career and I'd 0:45:15.840 --> 0:45:19.160 be remissed. Also, a guy who I had an opportunity 0:45:19.200 --> 0:45:21.880 to play with us well, I want to go medal 0:45:21.920 --> 0:45:26.960 with legendary coach K who you had the opportunity to 0:45:26.960 --> 0:45:30.000 play with. For a dude, obviously we know this is 0:45:30.040 --> 0:45:34.759 his last year. Um, what what was it that Coach K? 0:45:35.360 --> 0:45:37.239 Gave you. I think I saw something where he called 0:45:37.280 --> 0:45:39.399 you a punk as St. Louis kid or something like that. 0:45:39.440 --> 0:45:42.400 Like what what was it that Coach K gave to 0:45:42.440 --> 0:45:45.520 you and your year there and beyond? Because I know, 0:45:45.600 --> 0:45:50.520 the relationship don't just stop once you leave that campus. Man, 0:45:51.040 --> 0:45:53.920 that's that is my guy. Um And like you said, 0:45:54.239 --> 0:45:58.120 I've still talk to coach at least once, if not 0:45:58.239 --> 0:46:01.880 twice a month ever since I left school. Uh So 0:46:01.920 --> 0:46:04.680 that's something I really you know, I'm proud about my 0:46:04.719 --> 0:46:06.840 decision of going to Duke that like that's something that 0:46:06.880 --> 0:46:10.120 I cherish his relationship and that like that it didn't 0:46:10.160 --> 0:46:13.400 just stop once I walked out that door and left. Um, 0:46:13.440 --> 0:46:17.880 you know Durham. But man, now he was coaches that 0:46:17.960 --> 0:46:20.960 was he was great for me because I think initially 0:46:21.000 --> 0:46:24.600 when I first got to do you know, I knew 0:46:24.640 --> 0:46:27.200 I was only going for one year, right, but we 0:46:27.280 --> 0:46:29.919 had we had like a mix of like the six 0:46:29.960 --> 0:46:32.880 income and freshmen. We had some older guys on our team. 0:46:33.000 --> 0:46:39.200 And part of me was like people people tell me 0:46:39.239 --> 0:46:40.960 all the time. They were like, I don't know if 0:46:41.040 --> 0:46:43.640 you know how good you are? Like people tell me 0:46:43.680 --> 0:46:47.479 that all the time. So my mentality walking in, was like, man, 0:46:47.600 --> 0:46:50.080 I'm happy to be here, Like I'm from St. Louis. 0:46:50.160 --> 0:46:53.719 I never I never thought I would go to do 0:46:54.040 --> 0:46:57.200 the university like that. It never crossed my mind like 0:46:57.280 --> 0:46:59.279 that Coach k was gonna come St. Louis and sit 0:46:59.360 --> 0:47:01.960 in my even wrong and like we want you to come. 0:47:02.000 --> 0:47:04.040 So I was. I was so happy to be there, 0:47:04.960 --> 0:47:08.719 and initially, like there were times where I was just 0:47:08.760 --> 0:47:10.799 trying to like I was just trying to be a 0:47:10.800 --> 0:47:13.480 part of the team. I was just trying to fit in. 0:47:14.320 --> 0:47:16.640 And there were a handful of times and that was 0:47:16.680 --> 0:47:22.040 the last time. Um, we was playing a Virginia and 0:47:22.160 --> 0:47:24.320 uh a c C game. You know, the Virginia is 0:47:24.320 --> 0:47:26.800 always probably one of the better defensive teams in the country. 0:47:27.520 --> 0:47:30.759 But um, I think I think I'm making the right play, 0:47:30.960 --> 0:47:33.879 like I'm catching it, I'm making an extra pass. I'm 0:47:33.880 --> 0:47:36.280 not really being aggressive. I've made have had like four points, 0:47:36.880 --> 0:47:39.080 but I was like two for three. I wasn't really shooting. 0:47:39.520 --> 0:47:41.319 I think we might have been up to ur it's 0:47:41.360 --> 0:47:43.799 tired of half time. I come in and I'm like, 0:47:44.239 --> 0:47:49.000 I'm feeling good about it. And I remember coach Ka 0:47:49.160 --> 0:47:51.160 came in. He took out of told his story mentime, 0:47:51.200 --> 0:47:53.920 he took his jacket off and he threw that. He 0:47:54.040 --> 0:47:56.440 threw it right at me, like it hit like hit 0:47:56.520 --> 0:47:58.759 my leg, at my feet, and he was like he 0:47:58.880 --> 0:48:02.279 just started snapping, like you saft fast. St Louis kid. 0:48:02.560 --> 0:48:04.759 I should have left me where I found you, he said, 0:48:04.800 --> 0:48:06.359 I didn't. He used to tell me all the time. 0:48:06.400 --> 0:48:10.760 I didn't bring you here to be good, he said, 0:48:11.080 --> 0:48:14.919 I need you to be special. And like any time 0:48:15.320 --> 0:48:18.839 in the game, like the next day in film, if 0:48:18.840 --> 0:48:22.120 there was a shot, why I could have shot it. 0:48:22.239 --> 0:48:26.240 He would always pause in the film being soft, Wow, 0:48:27.440 --> 0:48:29.280 you're being soft. We don't need you to be soft. 0:48:29.560 --> 0:48:33.880 We need you to be you. And somebody that I 0:48:33.960 --> 0:48:37.040 respected so much and that had accomplished so much thought 0:48:37.120 --> 0:48:41.000 this highly of me, and like never gave me the 0:48:41.080 --> 0:48:44.040 day off, never like let like took it easy on me. 0:48:44.160 --> 0:48:47.160 Every single moment where I wasn't being aggressive, while I 0:48:47.200 --> 0:48:50.439 wasn't doing what was best for the team, it would 0:48:50.520 --> 0:48:54.319 let me know, and I really, like, I really appreciated that, 0:48:54.800 --> 0:48:57.479 and I carried that with me. Um, you know, coming 0:48:57.480 --> 0:49:00.840 into the league, I said, but did you did you 0:49:00.880 --> 0:49:04.719 have the opportunity to make it back for that last game. No, 0:49:04.840 --> 0:49:06.799 I did not. I did not. I wish I did. 0:49:07.360 --> 0:49:09.560 But I remember I remember watching that. I watched at 0:49:09.560 --> 0:49:14.680 the house, and part of me felt like like I've 0:49:14.680 --> 0:49:18.480 seen every like you know, Grant Hill and Christian later 0:49:18.760 --> 0:49:23.120 JJ red J Williams. Uh, you know all these guys 0:49:23.120 --> 0:49:25.800 that like I went there for four or five years, 0:49:27.040 --> 0:49:30.560 call those boozing, and I'm watching it. I'm like, alright, 0:49:30.560 --> 0:49:33.759 like I went to Duke, but they like really they 0:49:33.880 --> 0:49:37.600 like really went to do like they spent four or 0:49:37.640 --> 0:49:41.879 five years that I spent one. So like I don't 0:49:42.040 --> 0:49:44.160 like that that might have been more for them, Like 0:49:44.200 --> 0:49:45.759 I might have felt a little bit out of the place. 0:49:46.760 --> 0:49:48.400 I like, and I'm thinking that, like I might have 0:49:48.400 --> 0:49:50.640 felt a little out of place, like damn, like they 0:49:50.840 --> 0:49:54.400 really like they had four or five years and I 0:49:54.440 --> 0:49:57.760 only had one. But it was it was special seeing 0:49:57.920 --> 0:50:02.080 all those guys come for his last game. Obviously, you 0:50:02.120 --> 0:50:05.759 know we lost, but we're gonna redeem ourselves. You know 0:50:05.800 --> 0:50:09.279 this Saturday Final four. If you ain't you got time, 0:50:09.280 --> 0:50:12.480 you should watch it. Uh, you know we're gonna be 0:50:12.480 --> 0:50:15.319 on TV. Yeah, I'm gonna watching. Man send me your 0:50:15.320 --> 0:50:19.000 cash if too, Man, I owe you some terrible that 0:50:19.360 --> 0:50:24.680 terrible guys beating my spartans man. But I'm still pissed 0:50:24.680 --> 0:50:27.440 about that because we should have won that game. Still 0:50:27.440 --> 0:50:32.000 pissed about that. But uh number one, as a four 0:50:32.040 --> 0:50:37.719 year guy, me being there four years and Miles being 0:50:37.760 --> 0:50:40.799 there too, or Gary Harris being there too, that don't 0:50:40.800 --> 0:50:44.200 make me more of a Spartan than them. Like I'm 0:50:44.239 --> 0:50:46.680 a Spartan there, Spartan. We all went through the grind. 0:50:47.040 --> 0:50:49.319 At the end of the day, you step that you 0:50:49.360 --> 0:50:50.840 had to go through there to get to where you 0:50:50.920 --> 0:50:52.759 was going. Whether they took you one year or whether 0:50:52.840 --> 0:50:55.839 it took you four, it don't matter. That's a part 0:50:55.840 --> 0:50:58.279 of your ground. That's a part of your journey. You 0:50:58.320 --> 0:51:02.520 are just as entitled to that. That's them now. I 0:51:02.640 --> 0:51:05.960 what I will tell you is for me personally, Guys 0:51:06.000 --> 0:51:09.640 that want a national championship, even if it's not my 0:51:09.719 --> 0:51:12.319 team Kleaves, you know what I'm saying. If it's not 0:51:12.440 --> 0:51:18.080 Magic Johnson, guys who won a national championship I, regardless 0:51:18.120 --> 0:51:20.400 of my jersey retired, regardless of any of that, you 0:51:20.440 --> 0:51:24.960 want a national championship. I didn't. You're ahead of me, bro, 0:51:25.120 --> 0:51:27.560 Like that's just what it is. You know what I'm saying, 0:51:27.880 --> 0:51:32.279 and so I can't understand, like the guys that want 0:51:32.320 --> 0:51:36.719 a national championship, but that don't just mean because they 0:51:36.719 --> 0:51:39.520 were there for four years. Now, that's bullshit. You learned 0:51:39.600 --> 0:51:44.520 to keep just like they earned their key. So understand that, man. Hey, 0:51:44.520 --> 0:51:47.520 But before we get out of here, man and wrapping up, 0:51:47.560 --> 0:51:51.279 like what's what what? What's what's next? What what's it 0:51:51.360 --> 0:51:53.520 for the Celtics where you see y'all going this year? 0:51:53.680 --> 0:51:57.440 What's like? What is it success this year for the 0:51:57.480 --> 0:52:03.319 Boston Celtics. Oh? Man, I think I've seen it on 0:52:03.360 --> 0:52:06.279 Twitter yesterday. We we both lost last night, right, And 0:52:06.320 --> 0:52:10.040 I think I remember they may have asked some of 0:52:10.040 --> 0:52:12.160 the similar questions, but I remember it. You know, they're 0:52:12.160 --> 0:52:15.520 saying like what can you take, like how do you feel? 0:52:15.719 --> 0:52:18.000 What can you gain from this loss? And I remember 0:52:18.040 --> 0:52:19.840 I said, I was like, ain't no moral victories, like 0:52:19.920 --> 0:52:22.760 you either win or you lose. And I've seen something 0:52:22.920 --> 0:52:26.239 you said like the same thing last night. So obviously 0:52:26.400 --> 0:52:28.240 you've been to the mountain top of a couple of times, 0:52:28.239 --> 0:52:31.120 like you like you know what it takes to get there, 0:52:31.800 --> 0:52:36.520 and me playing for the Celtics, I ain't If you 0:52:36.520 --> 0:52:41.720 you win a championship or you don't. That's like, that's 0:52:41.760 --> 0:52:44.560 that's it, that's that's that's it for us. You know, hopefully, 0:52:44.960 --> 0:52:47.759 uh you know, we get ribbed back, you know, when 0:52:47.760 --> 0:52:51.440 we can and stay healthy. Um, you know, I'm excited, man, 0:52:51.440 --> 0:52:55.400 it is It's that time of the year. The playoffs 0:52:55.440 --> 0:52:57.360 is like, you know, there's nothing like the playoffs and 0:52:57.400 --> 0:53:01.960 now it's you know, everything back normal game. Um, you know, 0:53:01.960 --> 0:53:05.000 so I'm looking forward to it. Obviously these last it's 0:53:05.080 --> 0:53:07.240 last week and I had these next you know, five games, 0:53:07.480 --> 0:53:10.600 just trying to figure out, you know, who we're gonna play. Uh. 0:53:11.280 --> 0:53:14.640 But yeah, you know, we've been playing as well as anybody, 0:53:14.680 --> 0:53:18.400 and you know, um, you know, we love our chances 0:53:18.600 --> 0:53:21.520 and as as well as you know everybody probably, so 0:53:22.160 --> 0:53:23.719 you know, I goes just the same as y'all go. 0:53:24.880 --> 0:53:27.160 I don't think everybody in the playoffs love their chances. 0:53:27.239 --> 0:53:31.960 Shot most people, say most people, somebody. Some of these 0:53:32.040 --> 0:53:34.200 dudes just happy to get to the playoffs, don't get 0:53:34.200 --> 0:53:37.320 it twisted. I'm so happy not to be in that 0:53:37.640 --> 0:53:43.560 the playing game. That's what I'm grateful for. Hey, it's 0:53:43.560 --> 0:53:45.600 been two years since I played in the playoffs. Man, 0:53:45.640 --> 0:53:47.799 we played in the playing the game last year was fun, 0:53:47.840 --> 0:53:50.719 it was cool, but I need it, Like that's when 0:53:50.719 --> 0:53:53.359 I played my best basketball, So I need that. Bro. 0:53:54.560 --> 0:53:57.680 I appreciate you coming on, Man. It's been an honor 0:53:57.760 --> 0:54:01.360 and a pleasure just coming on the show of your journey. 0:54:01.560 --> 0:54:05.840 I enjoy these conversations and just listening and getting to 0:54:06.480 --> 0:54:09.799 you know, here others journeys and you know, how it 0:54:09.880 --> 0:54:12.120 may be similar to mine, how it may be different, 0:54:12.440 --> 0:54:16.480 you know, and everybody's journey. Everybody got their own story, 0:54:16.520 --> 0:54:19.480 you know. So I appreciate you coming on and sharing 0:54:19.719 --> 0:54:24.520 sharing yours with us. Year five, already on your way 0:54:24.560 --> 0:54:26.400 to a Hall of Fame career. And I remember I 0:54:26.440 --> 0:54:28.160 said that to you this summer when we were talking 0:54:28.160 --> 0:54:30.799 about USA, Like, Bro, this is all about trying to 0:54:30.800 --> 0:54:34.319 build Hall of Fame resumes, Bro, and you're doing that. Man, 0:54:34.600 --> 0:54:39.560 stay locked in, Bro, you should. If you don't get 0:54:39.640 --> 0:54:42.080 m VP next year, you're weak. Is fucked. I appreciate 0:54:42.120 --> 0:54:46.359 you coming on the Draymond Greeny Show. Got dog My 0:54:46.440 --> 0:54:48.520 Man appreciates you, Yeah, sir,