1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone. This is view from the raptors were going 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: on the podcast. This is good news. I would like 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: to be a part of that. I could make it 4 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: up and you'd be like, oh, yeah, that sounds right right, 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: just keep going. I believe Green she'd probably have somebody 6 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:18,759 Speaker 1: look at that. Email Joka. This is our first bonus 7 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: podcast that we've ever done, so this this is a 8 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: big deal that we've got you on here right now, 9 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: but it's starting out here. I just want to know, like, 10 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: what what makes you tick as both a human being 11 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: and as a coach. What makes you tick on a 12 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: daily basis? I would say competition, That's a pretty easy answer. 13 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: But I grew up watching Clyde Drexler and I started 14 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: playing basketball because then Portland and the genuine joy i'd 15 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: say of being in the gym is the same now 16 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: as it was when I was a ten year old. 17 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: You know, going to practice, are going to play, and 18 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: so that's what it's about. You know, it's really pushed 19 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: by the competitive side. But you know, that would be 20 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: the simple answer. Competition, and you know, I'd like to 21 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: push myself as far as that, but just the joy 22 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: of basketball, it's who I am. It's what I've always 23 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: been and what I look forward to every day. Clyde 24 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: the Glide, I love it. We're throwing it back to 25 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: Clyde Drexel when in your life you mentioned ten years 26 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: old is the number that you just threw out there. 27 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: But when did you start to become this basketball guy, 28 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: this guy who was addicted to getting out on the 29 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,479 Speaker 1: court and competing the way that you have ever since? 30 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: I would probably say twelve thirteen. You know, I played 31 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: all sports growing up, but basketball was the love. I 32 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: may have been naturally better and some others baseball and football, 33 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,199 Speaker 1: but basketball is when I gravitated to and stopped playing 34 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: everything else after my freshman year high school. So it 35 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: was full time because even when I was playing football 36 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:30,960 Speaker 1: or baseball, I would go play basketball anyway and so 37 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: focused on that. I kind of always had a one 38 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: track mind as far as goals planning, a only no 39 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: no backup plan, and so I put all my marvels 40 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: into basketball and making it. You know, it was a 41 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: late bloomer coming up, but kept grinding my way, and 42 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,759 Speaker 1: I've done the same thing as a player and a coach. 43 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 1: So I would say at that young age of twelve fourteen, 44 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: I really got into it and always had a goal 45 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: oriented mind went after basketball. It seems like you made 46 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,440 Speaker 1: the right decision. I mean, here here you are, all 47 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: these years later, head coach of the Boston Celtics. Congratulations, 48 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: by the way, a great opportunity for you. This podcast 49 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: is called You from the Raptors, behind the scenes with 50 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: the Boston Celtics. So let's go behind the scenes a 51 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 1: little bit right now. When did Brad first contact you 52 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: about this opening? What was your opening conversation? And I 53 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 1: know that you mentioned in your press conference that you 54 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: just felt something there, like a chemistry right from the 55 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: get go. So take me into those opening moments of 56 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: you guys forming a relationship. I would say it was 57 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: early on in the Milwaukee series. You know, we had 58 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: just played Boston in previous round, and the announcement surprise 59 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: everybody you know, quite honestly, and surprised me too. Yeah. 60 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: I sat down after we lost the game. I'm okay, 61 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: it's seasons over. We can take a breather. Next morning 62 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: we wake up to chaos. Okay. So obviously, when that 63 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: opening happened, as a coach who was named being floated 64 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: out there and knew other people were going to reach out, 65 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,519 Speaker 1: the fact that they reached out, I was obviously tremendously honored. 66 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: And we had a few early conversations in the Milwaukee 67 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: series and just kind of went from there where one 68 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: zoom led to another, and you know, before Game seven 69 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: against Milwaukee, Rad reach out and said, you know, we 70 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: want to come down in person in Ork, regardless of results. 71 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: So obviously we planned on beating Milwaukee and you know, 72 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,119 Speaker 1: me being there and meeting with him the next day. 73 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: But I went the other way, and but it also 74 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: helped me move forward and you know, shift my focus 75 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: to that. And like I said, the zoom conversations led 76 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: to great in person interviews and there was a natural 77 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: chemistry there from from the get go. I've always wondered 78 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: this because I know, and we're around you guys all 79 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: the time. We know how hard you guys work as coaches. 80 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: It's like seven job. It's that the button has never 81 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: turned off. Even when you're sleeping, you're thinking about basketball, right, 82 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: So how how do you interview for a job like 83 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 1: this while you're coaching in a series Like I just 84 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: don't understand how someone can balance that much. You learn 85 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: to balance it because honestly, we're looking towards forward to 86 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: the next series. So as we're playing Milwaukee or playing Boston, 87 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: we're prepping for the next series anyway. So it's something 88 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: that you have to learn to do multitask and obviously 89 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: now being the head coach, you have even more on 90 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: your place, so you have to learn to balance all 91 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: those things. But you know, like I said, my focus 92 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: was beating Milwaukee and talking to Boston. That's it. There 93 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: were other people calling, inquiring and those are two things 94 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: I focused on, and so it's just so then you 95 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: learned to do Obviously, focusing on Milwaukee. Brooklyn was great, 96 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: Shawn Marks is great, and you know, Steve and those 97 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: guys letting me talk to Brad and those guys because 98 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: some people would, you know, deny that until you're done 99 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: with the playoffs. And so Rouston, like I said, called 100 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 1: and I was thrilled about that call through to get 101 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,120 Speaker 1: that call, and it moved on pretty quickly from there, 102 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: and you touched down the chemistry. I want to go 103 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 1: back to that a little bit. At what point, because 104 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: you've gone through this process a few times before, you 105 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: mentioned it before, if you could have known a couple 106 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: of years ago that this is where you were gonna land. 107 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: You would have taken that all day, every day. But 108 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: when in the process, with this chemistry and the spark 109 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: between you and the Celtics, did you know this was 110 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: going to be the one? I felt great from the 111 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: first conversation, and like I mentioned, we had that we 112 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 1: had a zoom early and leaving that, I've had enough 113 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: interviews to kind of feel the vibe right away, and 114 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: I felt that with Brad natural you know, alignment and 115 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: the way we talked, the way we thought about the game, 116 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: and the direction we saw the team going. And so 117 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 1: from there I felt good about it, and you know, 118 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: it was a matter of going through the next steps 119 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: of the process. So, like I said, I've been three 120 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: or so years now interviewing and you kind of know 121 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: right away, And this was the strongest feeling out of 122 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: any of the interviews I've had so far. And so 123 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 1: since the announcement, you know, we've all done our research 124 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: on you. We figured figured out who you are as 125 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 1: a person, at least just from reading about you. Authenticity 126 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: comes up all the time, hard worker comes up all 127 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 1: the time, Relationships comes up all the time. Talk to 128 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: me about these three aspects and when they started to 129 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: really come into form for you as a person and 130 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: as a coach, and how those come through in your 131 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 1: coaching style. Well, I'd say the work ethic piece has 132 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: always been there. I mentioned, you know, my love for 133 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: the game when falling in love at a young age, 134 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 1: but I was a late bloomer. I went to junior 135 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:42,760 Speaker 1: college route initially, so not a highly heralded player, and 136 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,159 Speaker 1: I had to continue to grind and chase certain goals, 137 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: and so that work ethic was always They're kind of 138 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: instilled by my parents, and so that's always gonna be 139 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: who I am like underneath everything. As far as the 140 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: relationship piece, it's it's just being authentic. And you know, 141 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: I respect the coaches that were always honest with me, 142 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: and that's one thing I loved about Pop when I 143 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: played for him and watching him as a coach a 144 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 1: colleague as well. He's honest with us too, is the media, 145 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,720 Speaker 1: but there are misconceptions that, yeah, he gives off a 146 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: little more gruff than than he really is a big 147 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 1: teddy bear. But in general, that authenticity piece is what 148 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 1: I enjoyed as layer. I wanted someone to be a 149 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: straight shooter with me. Be a coach, whether it was 150 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: a coach or another player, And so I always remember 151 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: certain things that happened throughout my career where I could 152 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 1: have helped somebody and maybe I didn't. So I started 153 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:29,159 Speaker 1: to take that and moving forward in my coaching career, 154 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: like I'll always you know, whether they like it or not, 155 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 1: they want to hear the truth and they have to 156 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: respect that. So those are just some aspects of who 157 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: I am, and like I said, you can only be 158 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: who you are, not trying to be somebody else. Those 159 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: things come natural to me and I think they've been 160 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 1: beneficial in getting me where I'm where I'm at now. 161 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: The authenticity part I really want to talk about because 162 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: he would think maybe outsiders who aren't inside the NBA, 163 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 1: they might think that everyone is authentic, but it's not 164 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: really that way, Like why do you think it sometimes 165 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: as a challenge for people to be authentic to who 166 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: they are their core while working in this league and 167 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 1: playing in this league. Yeah, I mean, some people just 168 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: don't like to be an uncomfortable situations. And if you're 169 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: okay with that, then you know it comes easier to you. 170 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: And so it's not always bad to be uncomfortable, and 171 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 1: we've gone through that every year in my career, whether 172 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: they'd be a player or a coach, And I think 173 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: it helps you grow as a team, and it helps 174 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 1: you grow personally. And some people don't like the confrontation, 175 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: but I think there's healthy aspects to that. That's just 176 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: who I am, and it's something that, like I said, luckily, 177 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: has come natural to me where I don't mind that, 178 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: and the players and other coaches I've worked with kind 179 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: of reciprocate that. And I think everyone here is gonna 180 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: love that for sure. We love authenticity. So relationships that 181 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: come from that authenticity. I mean you name a big name, 182 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: you've been around them. I mean all of the guys 183 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: in San Antonio with Kauai, Duncan, Genobileie Parker, Uh, you 184 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: go over to Philadelphi, You've got him, beat and Simmons, 185 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: and then this year with Katie and Kyrie and Harden. 186 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: How do you connect and established relationships with players of 187 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: that stature, because that is not always easy in this league. 188 00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: I would saying, being honest, you know first and foremost, um, 189 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: you know, one of the things like I'll give you 190 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: a story about Joel when I first got to Philadelphia. 191 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: You know, I would watch him and shoot arounds and 192 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: he's kind of all over the place doing this thing, 193 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 1: and I'm like, if you just focus in, be more professional, 194 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: you're gonna take this next jump. You know, That's something 195 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: that nobody had ever told him, you know, kind of 196 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: let him do what he wanted at times and appease 197 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: him in a certain way. And I was like, no, 198 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: but if you want to get to the next level, 199 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: And I gave him an example of Tim who was 200 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: the ultimate professional, where if you were playing Sacramento or Minnesota, 201 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: he's gonna get his three and thirteen, but when you 202 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: played the big boys, he's getting thirty and fifteen. And 203 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: so I mentioned that to Joel, like you need to 204 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: elevate yourself to that level of professionalism every day. And 205 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: so just being honest with him there and then even 206 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: to some extent this year in Brooklyn. Steve has a 207 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,240 Speaker 1: pretty laidback personality. Mike D'Antoni as well. At times, Kevin, 208 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: Kyrie and James would come to me like, coaches hard, 209 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 1: we need this, and so they want that honest honesty. 210 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: And I played against some of these guys as well, 211 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: so you know, we got funny stories from back then. 212 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: But they know who I was as a player and 213 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: they know they want me to be the same way 214 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: as a coach, and so that was our pretty natural 215 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: going into Brooklyn as well. Talk about that and kind 216 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 1: of your relationships with the guys here in Boston that 217 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: you coached with Team USA. I mean, how have they 218 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: asked you to push them when you when you've been 219 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,040 Speaker 1: coaching them, and what are some of the relationships that 220 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: you've formed with them. It's been good. The one thing 221 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,200 Speaker 1: I'd say, like the Select Team was before the USA 222 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:23,320 Speaker 1: and Marcus stood out to me initially, and and we 223 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: had a bunch of young guys, but he was the 224 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: guy who wasn't scared of the big boy. Hey, he's 225 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: not scared of anyone. That stood out to me. And 226 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: I told him that from day one, whether it was 227 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 1: three or four years ago with the Select Team, I said, 228 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: your leadership and toughness, you're the one guy other guys 229 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: that might be looking at Katie and whoever it may 230 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: be and kind of powering down a little bit. And 231 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 1: he was the guy going right at him. So I 232 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: appreciate that and I think we connected on that. But then, um, 233 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: you know, talking to Jason and Jalen this past summer 234 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 1: as well, especially when some guys got injured, Jason being 235 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 1: one of them, and Jalen really celevated his level as well. 236 00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:56,559 Speaker 1: So just having those conversations and telling what we needed 237 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: and what I see in him from an outsider's perspective, 238 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 1: you know great now. So I'm always telling them the 239 00:10:02,160 --> 00:10:04,599 Speaker 1: perception of you outside of your own organization in the 240 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:07,320 Speaker 1: league is at a certain level, and to hold yourself 241 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: to a standard. So we just connected on those conversations 242 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: among other personal things off the court. That's been great 243 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: and I think it'll only grow going forward. And they've 244 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: been excited about me coming and likewise, I'm thrilled to 245 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,680 Speaker 1: work with these guys. This is a great opportunity for 246 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: me to ask a question that I haven't been able 247 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: to ask anyone because no one's coming here. Who has 248 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: coached against Marcus Smart? What's it like coaching against Marcus Smart? 249 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: I mean, he's an irritant. He likes to get under 250 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: people's skin. He's always making those game winning plays that 251 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: not everyone has under the skin. What's it like coaching 252 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: against that guy? It's unpredictable. Wouldn't be the right word, 253 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 1: but it's a paying the ass. To be honest, you 254 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 1: hate coach again against those guys, but you love having 255 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 1: him on your team. The things he brings the organization 256 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: are invaluable, and I've talked to him about that and 257 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:51,959 Speaker 1: you see it on a daily basis. But some of 258 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: the things he rubs off onto the guys is something 259 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 1: that coaches can't teach. You need your some players, you know, 260 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: to be hands on and do that as well. Can't 261 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: always come from the coaches. He's going to bring that 262 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: every night. That's who he is. And I'd say this 263 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: with my son. You'd rather have somebody that you have 264 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: to pull back than actually push out there. And that's 265 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 1: the perfect example of Marcus and what he brings. You 266 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: might have to physically pull him back a couple of times. 267 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: Like I said, he wants to be pushed like the 268 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: rest of him and elevate his game, and I think 269 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: I'll have a chance to do that this year. A 270 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: little bit more about your background. You touched on the 271 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: fact that you you didn't have the straightest path going 272 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: through college. You went to three different schools, You played 273 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: in the D League at the time, you played in 274 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 1: the NBA, you played overseas, you played in FIBA. To me, 275 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: that just screams to me that you've seen it all, 276 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:33,880 Speaker 1: and that's really got to help with the base that 277 00:11:33,920 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: you have set to to step into this position. How 278 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: has that road placed you here and made you into 279 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: the coach that you are today? Just help shape me 280 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,760 Speaker 1: quite honestly, Um every situation, let alone the fact that 281 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: I had to grind behind the scenes all the time. 282 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: So although I was in the G League or in 283 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: Spain one year, it wasn't where where heart was at. 284 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: I wanted to get back to the NBA, and so 285 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: I was constantly trying to grow in and not be 286 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: content or complacent in any place I've been. And so 287 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,040 Speaker 1: I carry that into coaching as well. You know, I 288 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: got to the NBA not just to get there. I 289 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: got there to do well and make it, and I 290 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: took that into coaching. I don't just want to be 291 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: an assistant coach and be comfortable in San Antonio for 292 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: seven years. I wanted to take myself outside of that and, 293 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: like I said, have some of those uncomfortable situations. So 294 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:17,560 Speaker 1: one of the first things people said when I left 295 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: San Antonio was like, why would he leave there. You know, 296 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: seven years, you got the championship your first two years 297 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: one one. Why would he leave there? You've got the 298 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: best coach of all time, blah blah blah. But I 299 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: knew what I needed for my personal growth, and so 300 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: I wanted to take myself outside of that. And like 301 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: I mentioned, those two years in Philadelphia and Brooklyn have 302 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 1: helped me take another jump in my coaching career. So 303 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:38,440 Speaker 1: all these experiences blend into one and and like my 304 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:41,200 Speaker 1: mind constantly goes back on different situations as a player 305 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:44,079 Speaker 1: and coach, and I felt like I've touched all the bases. 306 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: Like you mentioned, Yeah, you went through every single path 307 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: that you could possibly go through to get here, which 308 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: I think is just awesome. As I said, it had 309 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: to have helped to to really shape who you are. 310 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,840 Speaker 1: Something else that shaped who you are is your your heritage. 311 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:59,000 Speaker 1: You'r of Nigerian descent, and I've met a few people 312 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: of Nigerian descent throughout my life and they are so 313 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: proud of where they come from and their family history. 314 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: Why is that? Talk to me about why people of 315 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: Nigeria de center just so proud about who they are 316 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: as people? You know, I'd say it was it's a 317 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: proud country in general. I didn't really fully understand until 318 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: I went there as a member of the Nigeria national team. Obviously, 319 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: my father coming to American in the seventies ago to college, 320 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: you know, you kind of watched an immigrant come over 321 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:26,960 Speaker 1: and and some of the struggles he had as I 322 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,960 Speaker 1: was growing up, so you understand that part of it. 323 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:31,559 Speaker 1: But when I really went to Nigeria and you see, 324 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: you get to Legos and you really see the struggle 325 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,040 Speaker 1: and millions of people upon on top of each other, 326 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: and then you know, you really have the pride of 327 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:41,160 Speaker 1: while my father made it out of this, you know, 328 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: it's it's everybody's goal to strive to achieve and and 329 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: a lot of them are trying to get to you know, 330 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: America to have a better life. And so to actually 331 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,719 Speaker 1: see them grinding every day, I think it subconsciously was 332 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:53,560 Speaker 1: who I was, you know, watching my father, and so 333 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,800 Speaker 1: Nigerians are very prideful. For sure. You know, you got 334 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: got one on the team here me and so I 335 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: always touch based with my Nigerian the Nigerian players in 336 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: the league and then always getting a shout out. But yeah, 337 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: I got to see a firsthand when I was actually 338 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: in the country, and so I kind of understand where 339 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:10,920 Speaker 1: I got it from. Who I am. What was the 340 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 1: kind of like the shock value of when you got there, 341 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: and like you said, you saw that with your own eyes. 342 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: Just take me through that, like when you got off 343 00:14:16,880 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: the plane there for the first time. Just that in general, 344 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: the amount of people, and you know, to make it 345 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: out of that, you really have to have a strong 346 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 1: work ethic and determination in general. But also I just 347 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: remember waking up four in the morning looking at my 348 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: hotel window and you just see people starting to flood 349 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: the streets, you know, four in the morning, carrying something 350 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 1: on their head, on motorcycle with you know, three baskets 351 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: or whatever it may be. But it's an ongoing hustle 352 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: and struggle there. And so I started to appreciate that 353 00:14:44,120 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: and really see where you know, my father came from 354 00:14:47,120 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: and what he made it out of and made it through. 355 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: That's what I appreciate it. That's the moment I really, 356 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:53,360 Speaker 1: you know, and it was literally I would sit in 357 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 1: my window from four to six in the morning and 358 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 1: just watch it grow with thousands of people and just 359 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 1: wondering where they're all going, what they're doing and so 360 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: that work ethic and kind of determination is field of me. Well, 361 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: I gotta tell you, just having the short conversation, I 362 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: know it's been fun for me to get to know 363 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 1: you a little bit. I know our fans are gonna 364 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: think the same thing, and we're very pleased to have 365 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: you here. Congratulations, and we're looking to learn more about 366 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: you as the years move forward. Thank you.