Club 520 Podcast - BEST OF 520: Jeff Teague’s crazy story of Tracy McGrady punching him, Adam Silver on Luka Doncic trade

Episode Date: June 28, 2025

In this week's BEST OF CLUB 520, we look back at Jeff Teague and the guys top moments of the week. In an exclusive interview with Adam Silver, the NBA Commissioner talks to the guys about Nico Harriso...n and the Mavericks trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers. And Tracy McGrady speak on punching Jeff in Atlanta, playing in today’s league, and so much more! #Volume #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an iHeart podcast. I know a lot of cops, they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season One, Taser, Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Taser, Inc. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser, Inc. on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever
Starting point is 00:00:31 you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help
Starting point is 00:00:58 the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Sarah Spain, host of Good Game with Sarah Spain and the co-author of the new book Runs in the Family, an incredible true story of football, fatherhood and belonging, written with and about Las Vegas Raiders running backs
Starting point is 00:01:29 coach, Dylan McCullough. It's the story of a football coach and father of four who sees his life forever changed by the unsealing of his adoption records. And it's got a twist you won't believe. Based on the viral ESPN story I did a few years ago, this book will blow your mind and bring you to tears. Buy Runs in the Family family wherever books are sold.
Starting point is 00:01:52 Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, Fnaticx, how y'all doing? How y'all doing? What up, what up, what up, what up? Yeah, love this energy, y'all know what time it is at this club, 520. I'm your host, my name is DJ Wells, live at Fnaticx, man man. One time for Boost Mode, we know the vibes. $25 unlimited talk, text data, what they at with the T? 5G nationwide, y'all know what time it is. Come on man, tap in and get you a phone, man. Still got my gang with me up here to my far left.
Starting point is 00:02:16 We got my dog, Bishop B, heading out to Pearlies, how you what, nasty? What's happening, what up Fnatic? My boy, what's up, baby? What up, what up? Tapped in for sure, to my right, my dog, young Nacho, young T, how you what? What's up, Fnatic? My boy, what's up, baby? What up, what up? Tapped in for sure, tomorrow right, my dog, young Nacho, young T, got you what? What's good? We got a good one today. Got a good one today.
Starting point is 00:02:31 Come on, man, listen, man. We got a special, special guest, man. We couldn't imagine that we would have this gentleman on our platform, but it's a blessing. We're about to have a dope conversation. We happy to share this moment with y'all. We have the one, the only, the commission, commission mr. Adam Silver join the 520 make some noise yes sir go go
Starting point is 00:02:58 boss man hello yeah energy energy love this First and foremost, we want to say thank you. We appreciate you joining us, sir. How you doing? I'm doing great. This is incredible. I mean, for the fans, this must be fantastic, just the whole environment here. I mean, congratulations to Michael Rubin. I can't believe what he's built.
Starting point is 00:03:19 For sure, for sure. Listen, this is a blessing to have you on this stage. Obviously, you know what I'm saying? T, you got to walk across that stage, but, for sure. Listen, this is a blessing to have you on this stage. Obviously, you know what I'm saying? T, you got to walk across that stage. But for me to be here, it's our draft night moment, baby. We got to see that.
Starting point is 00:03:32 The real draft night. Yeah, I didn't walk across the stage. I didn't go to the draft. But I got a chance to hear my name called. It was pretty cool. Let's go. You got a championship ring, though. Yeah, I got a championship ring.
Starting point is 00:03:43 That's better than being drafted. Yeah. Talk about it. I snuck out a championship ring though. Yeah, I got a championship ring. That's better than being drafted. Yeah. Talk about it. I snuck out of there with one. Yeah. Now, I wanted to ask you this question, because everybody's moment is their dream to get across the NBA and say, shake your hand
Starting point is 00:03:54 and hold a jersey. What was it like for you the first time that you got to be in that position and host the draft as the commissioner? It was emotional for me. It still is, because for that moment to come into the NBA for these players and just as importantly for their families. So when you're standing up on stage, particularly for the top draft picks who are sitting there right in front of you, you're staring it, their parents, their siblings, their friends. So it's truly emotional.
Starting point is 00:04:26 I mean, I feel it along with them. And then when the guys come up on stage, I mean, obviously, these are some of the best athletes in the world. They've already performed at a high level in college, in Europe, or whatever else. Like when I put my arm on them and I shake their hand, they're often, you can feel how nervous they are. You know, it's such, and I think it's just a lot of them have been holding in the emotion and it's just a release because even if you're projected to be the fifth pick or the fourth,
Starting point is 00:04:53 but whatever it is, the reality of that actually happening. So I'm just saying like I'm holding it together too for a lot of them. It's just, and I'll just add it, it's a privilege to be up there. I don't have any particular talent, you know, unlike a player. So I realize I'm fortunate to be part of the experience. Who was the first player you introduced to the NBA? I say who was the first person you introduced to the NBA? Like what was your first man? I got to think about that because, you know, I was the deputy commissioner for several years and did the second round as well. So I got to think about that because I was the deputy commissioner for several years and
Starting point is 00:05:25 did the second round as well. So I gotta think about that. I can't remember who the first player is that I drafted. I wanted to ask you this question. Obviously, legal background, worked in the NBA as well. Recipes obviously are great, David Stern. What was that moment like when you found out that you were going to be the commissioner? Oh man, I mean, I again, I just remember feeling how fortunate I was. I had at that point, I had already worked for the league for 20
Starting point is 00:05:58 years. At the time I found out I'd worked for David Stern that entire time. So I had worked for David Stern that entire time. So I had a seat in the room, so to speak, for a lot of that had transpired over that time. And again, I worked hard, but at the same time, I realized it takes a fair amount of luck to be in the right place at the right time. I saw it as tremendous responsibility to carry this league forward off of all those great players
Starting point is 00:06:25 that had come before me, great commissioners, David Stern being the most recent. So it was momentous, there's no question about it, but it takes a while to sink in, you just, again, and I still feel that even 11 years later, it's an awesome responsibility because in addition to the literally hundreds of millions of fans globally that for the players their families the tens of thousands of employees of the NBA
Starting point is 00:06:55 you know and now the WNBA that we're part of it's you know, it's You feel the weight of the responsibility and and in this league I mean, there's incredible things that happen every day, but there's also things that are risk to the business, you know? And it's ultimate responsibility working together with the players, with the team owners, to make sure the league continues to operate smoothly.
Starting point is 00:07:19 So I would say I'm awestruck, but also feel that sense of responsibility. Most definitely. I got a question. We were talking about draft night and you being up there calling names and it's been some nights where guys names didn't get called in that first round. What's that feeling like? Do you ever be like, man, I just hope this kid gets called because obviously I didn't
Starting point is 00:07:40 go to the green room, but that was a scary feeling for me to be in the green room and not get my name called. And we had some guys go super super super late in the first round and be the last guy in the green room Like what's that feeling? You know, I'm often it happens occasionally where there is a player who's projected to go higher and drops for whatever reason and Often in some cases in between break in between picks I'll walk down and just say hello to the player and their family. We have a luncheon the day of the draft, so I've talked to them and I see them before
Starting point is 00:08:14 the draft. But also, just to remind them that nobody can predict the future. I think about our MVP in Shea, I forget, I don free out and he's like the 11th pick or whatever he wasn't a top 10 pick Tyrese wasn't a top 10 pick but not only were they not 10 top 10 picks but they were both traded you know and and and you have incredible players you know Jokic was a second round pick young man just pointed out to me you know Draymond Green was a second round pick, as a young man just pointed out to me. You know, Draymond Green was a second round pick. I mean, you have, look at the current finals.
Starting point is 00:08:52 You know, you have players who are enormous contributors who weren't drafted at all. And so I always see it as my responsibility to remind them that this is just one point in time. And you should take motivation from this. And that, again, that understandably, these teams are making these decisions, but don't let that sort of prediction be controlling on you and go double down on your work, because there's a reason that they're there,
Starting point is 00:09:22 that they were projected to be there. And even if you think the NBA is the 450 best players in the world. So we have a relatively small draft compared like if you watch the NFL draft, how many rounds they have, it's only a two round draft. So again, I just remind them like, yeah, it sucks in that moment. It feels embarrassing potentially, but go get them. You know, this isn't going to determine your fate. Oh, it's definitely.
Starting point is 00:09:50 You brought a very interesting point up. We're looking at the finals right now. Obviously, game seven will take place very, very soon. We have two small market teams. You see a lot of the narratives just like, oh, the NBA is upset. We don't have bigger markets than that. We would love to have that conversation with you because obviously it's been great basketball being played, the energy's been high, you've been in both arenas,
Starting point is 00:10:07 the fans there seem happy. Is it just a narrative or is it just like, nah, y'all not really tuned in to the actual product? You know, I could say so much about that. A few things I'll say. One of the points I made the other night was, I'm sure there's a lot of NFL fans here. When the Steelers and the Packers play,
Starting point is 00:10:24 Pittsburgh and Green Bay, nobody says two small market teams. a lot of NFL fans here, when the Steelers and the Packers play, you know, Pittsburgh and Green Bay, nobody says two small market teams. Instead, it's two storied franchises. And I want to emulate the NFL from that standpoint. I mean, our goal, and we're on our way there, that whatever market it is, they have passionate fans, they're competing for the championship. And just like in Milwaukee, where you won that championship, Jeff, you know, it's the story isn't that it's a small market. It's the best franchises in the NBA, the best teams in the world competing for championships. And increasingly in a digital world where the incremental difference between
Starting point is 00:11:02 Indianapolis and Chicago should become irrelevant because we have a global fan base We have something like a two billion person social media community. I mean something like 70 million people will have watched the NBA finals this year So the fact that there may be a million more people that live in one market or another Shouldn't be the issue. Now, I accept that it's a narrative going in. The other thing I'll point out, some of those markets are only smaller relative to the size
Starting point is 00:11:33 of other NBA markets. The mayor of Oklahoma City pointed out that 300 million Americans, close to 90% of Americans, live in cities and towns that are smaller than Indianapolis and Oklahoma City. Most of us, I'm from the suburbs of New York, but I grew up in a town, Rye, New York, that had 15,000 people. And so, and in my growing up, yeah, New York City wasn't that far away, but it seemed like it was a million miles away.
Starting point is 00:12:04 That was my town When Little League season started we had a Little League parade My high school class only had a couple hundred people in it. That was my world So I think it owned this this small verse big market narrative only becomes Relevant because of historically how we've looked at things, but but, the world's changing quickly. To me, if you're Giannis Attena-Cumpo and you're in Milwaukee, you're globally known and nobody's gonna convince him that if you went down the road to Chicago, then you can be that much of a bigger star.
Starting point is 00:12:36 And lastly saying, just having gone back and forth from Indianapolis to Oklahoma City and vice versa over the last two weeks, the passion is unbelievable in those towns. I just came in from Indianapolis to Oklahoma City and vice versa over the last two weeks. The passion is unbelievable in those towns I just came in from Indianapolis this morning. I mean you're there every storefront has Banners in it for the Pacers same thing in Oklahoma City Every building has a huge banner on it. Everyone's wearing merchandise if you see on television Everyone's wearing the team colors, it's like a college environment and so in some ways when you're in those markets
Starting point is 00:13:09 where they're smaller it captures people's attention even more than you know I live in New York City now when when we have teams in this town that are competing for championships as big as that audience is it's not as all consuming as it might be in a so-called smaller market. Most definitely. For sure. I mean, we were talking to a guy yesterday, he was telling us about how it was in New York when they were just making the Easter Conference finals. And I think that's what the narrative is. Because when you see all the people outside, it was what,
Starting point is 00:13:38 a million people almost outside, you start thinking like, man, if they was in the finals, what would that look like? Exactly. So I think that's even worse You know talk about but to me being from Indiana and seeing how the Pacers react and the fans are it's crazy I think it's beautiful for the league. It is and also I mean when it comes to basketball No state is more closely associated with the game than Indiana. I know you're still coaching high school Yeah ball there same in Oklahoma City. I mean it's this sport feels endemic to those
Starting point is 00:14:11 markets. It's as I said it's not there's the support for the thunder for the Pacers but also people just love the game in those cities and states and you can really feel it. And I think particularly the way these finals are being played just the good best selfless style the pass first I mean both teams it's a great defense really physical I think people are really eating up these finals are just really enjoying them for sure we'll be getting some expansion teams here soon they what the expansion teams man how you feel about that you know, it's something we're gonna look at. It's more complicated, I think, sometimes than people realize because I think some people look
Starting point is 00:14:53 at expansion that you're printing money. It's not because it's like if you own something, you're selling an interest in it. If you're one of the 30 owners in the NBA and just say you expand by two teams, it's not that different than selling a portion of your team to someone else. Okay. You know, having said that, there's so many great markets out there that love the NBA. It's something we're definitely going to look at. Okay, for sure.
Starting point is 00:15:15 Yes. Hi. Hello. Now, he said Seattle. We were just trying to figure out like what cities would be good to bring a new team to. Obviously, they do the summer league in Vegas, so it's equipped for NBA basketball. So I know Vegas would probably be a cool spot.
Starting point is 00:15:31 Like he said, Seattle had a team already. You know, it's interesting. I mean, we had a team in Seattle before. It's such an incredible market. Many of my years at the NBA were spent when we still had a team in Seattle. There's no doubt about the love for basketball there and Vegas you just mentioned where we have our summer league I feel like we have a team there yeah you know that
Starting point is 00:15:51 the the two weeks or so that summer league goes it literally like it consumes the whole basketball world those games when we first start playing the summer league there those games were hardly even on television. Now, sports centers operating out of Las Vegas, studio shows there. I've never been to the baseball winter meetings, but that's what it feels like. All the general managers are there, teams are doing deals, guys who weren't drafted are there,
Starting point is 00:16:20 the draft picks are there, they're selling out in the arena. So I feel like we already have a huge presence in Las Vegas. Definitely. I wanted to ask you a fun question. I recently introduced somebody to the movie Eddie and then we watched Celtic Pride. So those old NBA movies that used to integrate all the things between us, me and the fans, fictional and the NBA, I want to know how does that happen? Is there a licensing or a conversation that happens? Because you know,
Starting point is 00:16:44 you see a lot of things being used, some of the players, some not. I would love to see, is that something that's in the works future as the game is going? We get back into that, but how is a conversation or something like that happen? Well the way it works and I was at the league for Eddie and Celtic Pride and there's a division of the NBA called NBA Entertainment that I used to run and so when people and for anybody here today or is listening this wants to make a movie involving the NBA Earth's teams, come to us. I mean, we try to make it easy. You know, in essence, we come and say, if you want to license, you know, our logos or our name, you know, we want movies to ultimately be positive, of
Starting point is 00:17:21 course, about the league. So, you know, most people realize that. So it's not that we're not approving things that come to us, but we'll have discussions with the producers and the writers and the directors. But we want people to be talking about basketball. We want them to be talking about the NBA and the WNBA and all the things we're doing. So, you know, I think over the years we've learned
Starting point is 00:17:41 to try to make it a bit more turnkey for people who want to use our intellectual property and say please you know we to the extent that you have a new angle and it may be people want to do something about mascots it's not always just about you know there was a movie called like mike some may remember you know there's you know the uh the michael jordan um last dance you know that came out in the middle of the pandemic. What's the movie with common? Just right just right. Yeah Yeah, you know
Starting point is 00:18:09 I mean but also even like one of my favorite basketball movies is Hoosiers Even though I NBA had nothing whatsoever to do with that like any movie that's about the love of the game Is we think is is really positive for us. So we're always encouraging people who wanna do anything around basketball. When I walk through this fan festival, I want more attention focused on basketball. And that's like my job is to get more people to love this game. Most definitely.
Starting point is 00:18:37 You say your favorite basketball is Hoosiers. That's very interesting. Yeah. Have you seen Hoosiers? Yeah, I see Hoosiers. Did you play? I haven't see Hoosiers? I haven't seen Hoosiers. Did you play back in the day in high school or anything? Did I play? Yeah, that's why I wear Played but not well. I don't know
Starting point is 00:19:04 Might been a sniper guard back in the day. We might need you in the park. I'm in the office. Thank you. So I had a question. When a trade like Luka happens, and it kind of shocks the league, what's it like in the league office? Do y'all know, like, whoa, this is about to be wild? You know, first of all, I'll say one of the misnomers I think out there is that I have the power
Starting point is 00:19:30 to disapprove a trade. I don't. What the league's role is, as you can imagine, in a cap system and a set of rules around trades, what happens is before the trade is known publicly, although sometimes they're leaked or they're informally announced, but for a trade to be official, it gets called into the league office. It's kind of old school, you know, where both teams have to get on the phone and lawyers and people in basketball operations literally line up
Starting point is 00:20:02 the contract. So if somebody make it up is making eight million dollars, you have to ensure that the other team has eight million dollars of cap space in order to sign that player. You have to be, you have to assure that it complies with all of our rules. And so we get, if, if, if, if assuming a trade hasn't been leaked, a call will come into the league office, a team will say, we want to set up a trade hasn't been leaked, a call will come into the league office, a team will say we want to set up a trade call, both sides will be on the call.
Starting point is 00:20:29 It's a little bit like anybody who's bought a home and there's a closing. It's the closest thing where you got to make sure like you indeed have the title to the house and there's been an inspection and there's a contract, all those things. So there's in essence a checklist and then the trade becomes official. And because the teams often in particular trades and Luca is a good example where the teams are very secretive, they're not necessarily tipping us off. We learn about it ahead of the public but it's usually only a question of hours because we have to go through that official process of approving
Starting point is 00:21:05 it but not sooner than that. Was that like when you seen that come across where you kind of shocked like. Yeah I would only say I mean because in many ways I'm a fan like others and teams aren't necessarily calling the league office for suggestions on player movement. So there's the fan in me that only because that's not a player move that people were talking about or the shows like yours were talking about, I was surprised from that standpoint.
Starting point is 00:21:35 I wanna ask you a question obviously with the Graham Gron, media is evolving, ever changing, right? You got player podcasts, got independent, stuff like that. What's one thing you think that the actual media outlets can improve that can actually help the game? I know we get a lot of criticism but what's something that we can actually help promote the game better or help progress? Well first of all I just say kind of in the same lane when I was talking about
Starting point is 00:21:57 movies about the NBA I'm very appreciative of the amount of media coverage we get. I recognize it's not all gonna be positive, but to me, as long as it's genuinely from the heart and it's real passion and people aren't making up stories about us, I appreciate it. And one of the things great about sports is people come with their opinions. And they like things, they dislike things, and we learn from that too.
Starting point is 00:22:24 We pay attention to social media, and we learn from that too. You know, and it's, we pay attention to social media, we pay attention to traditional media, you get great ideas from there. I think the only thing I'd add to the extent there's more media that's educating fans about what goes into championship basketball, I think sometimes if you haven't been close to the game, and I've learned a lot over my time because I didn't play at a high level, to understand that it's not just about effort, it's about the plays that are unfolding,
Starting point is 00:22:56 it's about the sophistication of the coaching, it's about the sophistication of the scouting. I mean, I think sometimes like understanding what goes into being an NBA player, the amount of hard work, the amount of training, but also I think sometimes because the way our game is called, you know, it's moving so quickly even for the best announcers, play-by-play announcers like Mike Breen or the best color commentaries, the best color commentary. It's moving so fast, there's not necessarily time to explain everything that's happening
Starting point is 00:23:33 that, you know, it's not just this guy is off tonight, but he may be off because this incredible defense and what is the scheme and what is that defense? So I think sometimes like those other shows, whether it's a pregame show or a halftime, or it's an afternoon show, podcast, you name it about the NBA, just to be talking about more about the game and what goes into team basketball
Starting point is 00:24:01 and what goes into making the NBA and staying in the NBA. Sure. That's definitely. Now, T, you always talk about how the NBA is a business in a fraternity and what they do for the players after they leave the game. You want to indulge in that a little bit more? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:24:17 Obviously, it's a bunch of programming now that it's been coming into the league. When I first came in the league, the rookie transition and all those great things that you have to do when you first get in the league, the rookie rookie transition and all those great things that you have to do when you first get in the league. I was wondering how can we like I'm not going to say better it I think it does a really good job and everything is nice when you retire from basketball. But is
Starting point is 00:24:35 anything like you would suggest for some of the guys who might retire at the age of like 3031? Is there anything you could suggest to help them with that process? It's a great question. A few things. Number one, so for the first time we have a former player who's running the Players Association, Andre Guadala. So he's very attuned to the issues of not just former players but the transition for a player to go from being on the floor
Starting point is 00:25:04 to then the rest of their life and how they're going to use the skills they've developed as a player and what new skills they might need to be successful whatever they choose to do whether it's to be in the media or to run businesses or whatever else. The other thing Andre is doing is building a closer relationship between what has been a separate organization, the Retired Players Association and the union that currently represents the players. Because I think that can help with a smooth transition as well.
Starting point is 00:25:33 And then you mentioned the Rookie Transition Program. So that's a program for players coming into the NBA, the transition of coming from college or Europe, wherever it is. Now, the world's changing quickly because now with NIL deals and collectives, guys are now coming into the league. And the same thing for the women in the WNBA now, in many cases, having been paid. So they already have a certain sophistication around. Payments and being, you know, shoe deals and things like that. But so they come in, we have the training in.
Starting point is 00:26:07 I think one thing that Andre is very focused on, and in fairness, and the union leaders before him is enhancing those programs so that while you're a player, there's a lot of different counseling on managing your money, managing your life, you know, dealing with social media, all those things. And the union's done a fantastic job. There's a role for our teams and a role for the league in doing all those things. And then I think also where Andre now, I think the focus is, all right, what more can we
Starting point is 00:26:36 do for helping the players manage that transition? And then once I said they become a retired player, because I often, and can speak this when you're right off the floor there may be a period of sort of decompressing. Yeah. Taking some time there's that change from being on the road the whole time often guys are getting reacquainted with their families or they you know they've they've had kids while they were playing and haven't been around as much so there's that period but then now you have essentially the rest of your life ahead of you. What kind of programs can we help provide to train people? And I'll just say lastly, I mean, there's also one of the things that we put in place
Starting point is 00:27:16 several years ago and Michelle Roberts was head of the Players Association, Chris Paul was president of the union, his lifetime health insurance for guys who played in the league Which is a huge deal and also enhancing the pension programs the 401k program so that for somebody who has played You know a certain minimum threshold of years in the league, you know to a certain extent you'll be set Yeah, you know you're gonna have health insurance. You know, you're gonna have a pension now You know that that's not suggesting they should just be satisfied with that, but on top of that there's all these other opportunities. You're obviously a great example of it, of what can you then use that platform you have
Starting point is 00:27:56 by virtue of being an NBA player and then building careers from beyond what you accomplished on the floor. For sure. Most definitely. We talk about the NIL situation on the floor. For sure. Most definitely. We talk about the NIL situation all the time. I know you probably get asked this a million times. Is it a possibility that high school players go back to the NBA straight?
Starting point is 00:28:13 Maybe, but the NIL impact, you say you got lesser people in the draft this year. You think is that something that's gonna be an ongoing issue as it's just a new transition period, because it's just new? Yeah, when you think about it, we don't, as I said, we only have a two round draft. And the fact, I think it's just new. Yeah, when you think about it, we don't, as I said, we only have a two round draft. And the fact, I think it's really positive that some of these young men are getting good
Starting point is 00:28:30 information in essence, and realizing that they're unlikely to be one of the, to be selected in those two rounds. And if that's the case, and they can remain in college and be paid, and in many cases paid significant amounts of money. So one, they're getting compensated for their skill, and maybe even more importantly, to the extent they wanna be professional basketball players, they're getting real minutes, they're getting great coaching, and they're continuing to train and improve at their craft.
Starting point is 00:29:04 So it's a win-win for everybody as opposed to losing eligibility because somebody's convinced you that you're going to be a top draft pick, not getting drafted, you can't go back to college, and now you're going to play maybe in Europe or Asia or something else as opposed to really honing your skill and having your best shot at playing in the NBA. And the other thing is if you're not going to be drafted and you're going back into school, it shouldn't be lost that you're also continuing to get an education because realistically
Starting point is 00:29:37 you may not have an opportunity to play in the NBA. It may be great to go play in Europe. There's great basketball playing played around the world, but that may not compensate you at the same level as being in the NBA. You might not be able to do it for as long. So now you finish, you play for three, four years in Europe, whatever it is, but now you have a college education
Starting point is 00:29:59 and then you can go out and then pursue another career. So I think the fact that some of those young men are withdrawing their names is very positive. To me, that just means there's better information out there in the marketplace. Will we ever get back to kids being able to come straight out of high school? Like, would that ever be a thing again in NBA, do you think?
Starting point is 00:30:20 You know, we've talked about that, you know, just so everybody understands, like that's not a decision we can make on our own. It can only it has to be negotiated with the Players Association. And when we last discussed it, I think that the general feeling from the teams and the players is to extent that those young players have that extra year. Yeah. Honestly, whether it's in college or playing in Europe, it's better for the league because they come in better skilled with a little bit more maturity.
Starting point is 00:30:49 Oh gosh. Oh gosh. We've talked about obviously the All-Star format possibly being the USA versus the world. We've got a lot of great international players, a lot of them won MVP recently. We got camps around the world. Is there a possibility that we could get an expansion team that's not in the United States? Well, we have the Raptors. Of course, but you know, they're a little bit
Starting point is 00:31:10 way around the way they don't count. I know. They're attached. It's not the same. Yeah, over time, I mean, one of the things we've been looking at the league is whether we can help operate a new professional league in Europe. I mean, don't get me wrong, there's incredible basketball being played in Europe
Starting point is 00:31:28 and there's some really great teams and, you know, several of our most recent MVPs have come from Europe. But I think from a commercial standpoint, basketball, professional basketball, hasn't been nearly as successful in Europe as the size of the market might suggest. So that's one path. I wouldn't call it expansion directly, but it's building off the NBA brand and potentially doing more in Europe. So your direct question about teams in Europe, I think over time it's definitely possible. I was in Paris last summer for the Olympics. I mean the interest was off the charts.
Starting point is 00:32:08 I mean to me it was the hottest sport there. I mean we were selling out every game. Not just the games involving USA, but the gold medal game was USA versus France. I mean the game before the US-Serbia game was some of the best basketball I had seen. So there's great players. Enormous interest.
Starting point is 00:32:28 I think part of the limitation is on players bodies. It's not just the length of the flight but when you're jumping multiple time zones. It's important guys get proper rest for being on the floor. It's disruptive.
Starting point is 00:32:43 You know there's people remember, there used to be supersonic jets that went back and forth from New York to Paris, you know, the Concorde, that there's some commercial airliners now who are talking about restoring supersonic jets. I mean, I think that if the travel were faster, honestly, that would be a game changer. It would make it easier to do. But as I said, I think that if the traveler faster honestly that would be a game changer it would make it easier to do but as I said I think then the next step is to sort of
Starting point is 00:33:09 plan a flag in Europe potentially with a European League and then go from there but I think if any league could do it you could easily imagine teams in Paris London Madrid Berlin I mean there it's not for lack of interest, that's for sure. Most definitely. T, can you imagine having to back and back in Paris? Man. Yeah, like you said, that flight would have been crazy. But it'd probably be a lot of fun, though.
Starting point is 00:33:34 I think guys would be open to playing in Paris. I've seen guys go over there for preseason games, exhibition games, and they're like, it's cool to be over here. You got any adjustments that you would like to make for the All-Star game? You want to bring something new, take something out? Like, how you feel about All-Star weekend?
Starting point is 00:33:53 Well, the weekend itself, which we're not judged on for those who are there, is fantastic. I mean, I think anybody who was in the Bay Area in San Francisco last year, I mean, there's tons of events and parties and there's a fan festival kind of like this. I mean, people love that experience there. The game itself, as we've not put our best foot forward, and I think the players recognize that, we recognize that.
Starting point is 00:34:23 So as you mentioned, we're talking about changing the concept, doing something maybe close to what the NHL did in the four nation faceoff. I mean, I think if it were just straight up USA world, as much as fans would love that, I'm not sure it would be fair to the players because roughly 30% of the players are from outside the United States. So it wouldn't be fair to pick half the team from 30% and the other half from 70% But I think we're looking we I know we're looking at different formats now Talking the players association because we need their agreement where we would use that concept again similar to the NHL did
Starting point is 00:34:59 Where you create that passion around the USA? Playing other countries other regions in the world. I mean, I'm particularly excited about it. I'll just add, so next year our All-Star game is moving to NBC, where it was in the old days, and we'll be in the middle of the Winter Olympics. So on the Sunday when the All-Star game takes place, for TV watchers, they'll be watching the Olympics,
Starting point is 00:35:24 all day, then you'll come to our All-Star game, and then after our All-Star game, we'll be watching the Olympics. Yeah. You know, all day. Then you'll come to our All-Star game. And then after our All-Star game, we'll be going back to the Olympics. So I'd love to play off that theme that will be smack in the middle, as I said, of that Olympic competition. So I think it's a good time for us to be looking at those formats.
Starting point is 00:35:38 Okay, cool, cool. Yeah. Oh, I wanted to ask too, though. So LeBron, you know he's on his last leg of the league. Yeah, you make sure you said that, not me. I'm saying that. Who you think that could fill that void of like the new face of the NBA? Just give me like three points.
Starting point is 00:35:56 You know, I always say like, you know, we don't create those faces at the league office, they earn it on the floor. It's interesting to watch these finals. Obviously Shay is our MVP. Yeah. He was the scoring leader this year. But again, I mean, he's having a great final so far. But ultimately, LeBron is a face to the league.
Starting point is 00:36:14 And Michael was, and KD was, and these guys, and Steph, because they win championships. I mean, look, in fairness to any individual player, it's also a team sport. And LeBron made that point the other day for sure But look at sports are about competition. It's about winning Yeah, and the great news is kind of like what I was saying about the draft earlier I don't have to sit here and predict sort of who our next face of the league is they they earn it
Starting point is 00:36:40 You know, they they are established by what they do on the the floor. And it's great to see now this next generation. I think in a way it's the best of all worlds because LeBron is still at 40 years old playing an incredibly high level. Steph is playing an incredibly high level. So is Kevin. It's wonderful to see that generation still here mentoring this next generation, but ultimately that this next generation who want to take that mantle from them, again, that's where the competitive juice is coming.
Starting point is 00:37:16 They got to earn it by demonstrating they deserve to be the face of the league by their performance on the floor. Got you. Definitely. I wanted to ask, I think for all those basketball heads, in the off season, we get to see all the players playing different situations now, which you're integrating the NBA, like having the Drew League on the NBA app,
Starting point is 00:37:33 things of that nature. Is that something that's like purposely saying, okay, we're gonna embrace every aspect of this game and keep growing? Or is this something organically, you guys are just like, you know what, if everybody's rocking with this, who might as well include ourself in that? I would say it's that's a case where it's
Starting point is 00:37:47 definitely both I mean what's cool about the Drew League or Rucker or anything else is that it's truly organic I can take zero credit for that but then we can be very intentional about it and say the NBA app is a central repository of basketball of every you know, over time, truly everything basketball, but right now anything involving NBA players. NBA players are playing in those summer leagues, whether it's summer leagues here in New York or in LA
Starting point is 00:38:16 or Drew or whatever else that you know, especially one thing about social media, it's not always fine, it's not always easy to discover what you're looking for. If you think about X or Instagram, whatever else, like those algorithms are pretty good at feeding you more basketball if you show an interest in it, but there's nothing like that ability to go to the NBA app and that is identifying for you. If there's great basketball out there involving NBA players Offseason or future NBA players or what's happening in Europe or Asia?
Starting point is 00:38:48 We're gonna deliver it directly to you and that and that's a place where we're trying to get a lot more sophisticated But we want to take advantage of of all that great all that great content all those great games that are already out there Most definitely for sure Now listen, I got the jersey on. You know what I'm saying? The goal. A lot of fans miss the classic jerseys. Is there a world where we could possibly have the all-star game back into the original uniforms of the players?
Starting point is 00:39:15 You know, I'm looking around. There's a gentleman out there named Sal LaRocca, and he oversees all of merchandising. So, Sal, you heard that. Are you nodding your head yes? He's saying yes. We're looking at that idea. No, we go back and forth. People want new uniforms, they want old, but I love the idea of the classic jerseys. Hey, I love how you put him on the spot and everybody starts clapping. Show us some love,
Starting point is 00:39:38 my man. Hey, you know, the feedback from our fans is critically important. So, thank you, everybody. Most definitely. Well, listen, commission, we appreciate your time. It makes a noise. Mr. Silver one time. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Starting point is 00:39:50 Most definitely one time for Fanatic. Six two pounds for Boost Mobile. $25 unlimited tall text data when they add to. 5G nationwide. For sure. We appreciate y'all. Y'all be safe. Hotels in Vegas might be booked solid this weekend,
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Starting point is 00:43:24 Listen to Good Company on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yes, sir, man. We back at it again, man. Another episode of Club 520 Podcasts. I'm the host. My name is DJ Wells. Still got my brothers on stage with me. To my left, we got my dog, Bishop B. Hinn out the Prillies. How you what? Sending Nancy. What up, Fanatics? What's happening, Fanatics Fest? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. To my right, my dog, young Nacho,
Starting point is 00:43:56 young Teague. How you what? I'm chilling. I see you back there, friend. What's up, man? What's happening with it? For sure, man. Listen, man, we have Fanatics with it, and we got another wonderful guest, man. Long awaited guest, man. We are very excited about this episode. Hall of Famer, one of the coldest to do it. We all grew up on his shoes. Pure Hooper, man, the one and only Mr. T. Mac
Starting point is 00:44:16 Tracy McGrady Big Darrell. Join us on stage. Show some love. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Starting point is 00:44:28 Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Starting point is 00:44:35 Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
Starting point is 00:44:41 Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! What's up, man? You remember you punched me. Let's get this out the way. Let's just get it out the way right now. This dude right here, man, he used to play so much, I just wanted to beat his ass, yo. He played too much. He was young, bro. He just played entirely too much, man.
Starting point is 00:44:54 I'm trying to get back in the lead. This dude's playing around too much. I did play around a lot, but... We had to get your side of the story. You know what I'm saying? It's two sides to the story. So do you remember what happened? Y'all really bleed to you going that he said it really Put it for you so I used to mess with Mac every day and he used to be like man shut the like shut up
Starting point is 00:45:16 Why you always talking like so I used to mess with him. He was like one day we was eating I was we was in the thing and I was sitting back and he walked up, he was like, I was like, I was hot. You didn't hit him in the chest. Probably ain't thinking nothing of it. I'm like, man, what the? And Marvin like, what you gonna do? OG initiating a young fella.
Starting point is 00:45:39 That's all that was. That's my little homie, man. Yeah. What's up, man? Y'all doing good things up here, bro. Been watching y'all. Man, we homie, man. Yeah. What's up, man? Y'all doing good things up here, bro. Been watching y'all. Man, we trying to, man. Long awaited episode, man.
Starting point is 00:45:50 We happy you could pull up, man. Like we said, we all big fans of you for sure, man. Grew up with the C-Mats. Man, we're going to start first and foremost. We all love the good feet game. And you got some legendary kicks, right? So what's it like? We know how you came into the league.
Starting point is 00:46:03 But what's that moment when T-Mack gets his first signature shoe? It's like that kid, man. You know, we all was a kid playing on the playground, and you was out there with your favorite player hooping in them shoes. And for me, it was MJ's, it was Pips, and then Penny came along, and that's all I wore when I had,
Starting point is 00:46:22 you know, an opportunity to get some pennies. But then when it came along when I got my shoe and then it wasn't to the point, I saw my shoe, had it in hand, I wore it. But when you go out in public and you see kids or your fans with your shoe, that's the validation right there. That's like, damn dog, I made it. What's crazy, you're seeing somebody with your jersey on or seeing somebody with the sneaks on?
Starting point is 00:46:48 Nah, the sneaks. Because anybody in the NBA gonna have a jersey. Everybody can have them sneaks. Everybody can have it on, see. That black and blue colorway, crazy. That OG colorway. And what's crazy is, you know what I'm saying, you had like iconic moments in your shoes.
Starting point is 00:47:01 Like, you know what I'm saying, the T-Mac ones, the All-Star moment off the backboard, like. Yeah. When you see that, you just see like moments. Like, when we look at moments in your shoes, like you know what I'm saying, the TMac 1s, the all-star moment off the backboard, like when you see that, you just see like moments, like when we look at other people's shoes, we think of moments. So for you to have your first couple of signature like crazy moments in them, it just kind of like cemented it all in our minds.
Starting point is 00:47:15 I wanna ask you, what's your favorite shoe that you designed? What's your favorite TMac shoes? For me, it's the 3.5, and a lot might not know about the 3.5s. I wore those when I was on a USA team, it was a qualifying team, but by 3.5s, but because they don't know, I'll say the T-Mac 3s. The 3s was the most, the fire that we still sell into this day. Yeah, the T-Mac 3s, you know what I'm saying, almost got me a whooping in my household because
Starting point is 00:47:40 I asked my mom about two pairs of shoes so I could mismatch them and she was like yeah we ain't going for that. Most definitely man but listen man before we get to the episode we got a gift for you man shout to Tommy John. Tommy John. Tommy John. Yes sir be here tell the people they need to do for you sir. Man just wear them drawers. Dross? Wear them drawers. I don't know if they want to start a fit song. They ain ain't white. They ain't white. They ain't even in no white drawers. Nah, they not thin. They got the elastic band to extend open. Come on, man, for today is how it takes the ball, handling batters, balls.
Starting point is 00:48:13 Not on the court, but I'm talking to you. Draws, keep it balls, handle with Tommy John. You see that little pouch in the front? Yo! That's to get him together right there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Great drawers are like great sweatpants You know, we're I can have it with y'all man, but you've been going crazy recently man, we gotta talk about it instantly
Starting point is 00:48:42 Oh, you about to see it. Hey you you brought up, and we ain't going to get to it. We ain't trying to be messy. But you brought up an Indiana pace legend, man. One of the coldest of laces about the PG for the Pacers. Our dog, Jamal Tinsley. Yes, sir. We heard the back and forth conversation about Kyrie. That's cool.
Starting point is 00:48:56 We ain't going to get to that. But it's dope to hear players, especially who is around, show love to people who don't get recognition all the time. I'm glad you said that, because that was the sole reason for me saying that. I know I'm a trust me. I know basketball bro. And I know Kyrie is the best when it comes to handles is two of my best and as I'm on record of saying this is Kyrie and it's skipped to my little my old teammate.
Starting point is 00:49:21 They're the two, like for me. But yeah, when I get an opportunity to highlight somebody that's in my generation of basketball, my era, I'm gonna take the time to do that. The thing is, people don't know my agenda when I say it that. So of course, I expect that reaction. And it's the reaction that I wanted, right? Because I'm highlighting somebody, like when you look at Jamal Tinsley, bro,
Starting point is 00:49:48 people in comparing him to Kyrie, yeah, they gonna laugh at that. But you go and really see what that motherfucking did when he was a rookie, it ain't too many cats that had 23 assists when they was a rookie. So although you might laugh that he's not compared to Kyrie, he's still somebody you can learn to
Starting point is 00:50:04 and appreciate his game. So using Kyrie was my main goal. You gotta use somebody like that. And then the trigger words is, yeah, he better. He got better hands, right? It's the internet game, bro. Oh yeah, that's all I did.
Starting point is 00:50:18 So shout out to Jamal Tinsley, man. Now these young fellas know who he is. That's the first. Like, looking in the crowd and you still see people with T-MAC jerseys and stuff like that. What is that like? Because I don't never see a T-MAC jersey.
Starting point is 00:50:30 Anybody that's 55, Boston, I don't never see a T-MAC jersey. But to see that, what's that like? You know, T-Man, it's love, bro. And I don't take it for granted. I appreciate every time I see somebody with a T-Mac jersey on, anything T-Mac, you know. Even 12 years after being retired, that shit still does something to me
Starting point is 00:50:53 because I appreciate that. I appreciate their appreciation of me. And I'm always gonna show love. Oh, facts, facts, facts. That's the best one right there. Which one? That pinstripe one right here, the buddy. The pinstripes, what's up? I was gonna ask you the next one, there. Which one? That PN Stripe one right here. The buddy that strikes the stuff.
Starting point is 00:51:06 I was going to ask you the next one. What's your favorite jersey? Because you got a lot of iconic jerseys. You know what I'm saying? You got the Raptors, you got Orlando, you got Houston. What's your favorite jersey? That purple Raptors jersey is fire. I'm talking about like out of all jerseys, that purple Raptors is fire.
Starting point is 00:51:21 The rookie year? Yes. That's the one. That's the one. That's? Yeah. That's the one. Yes. That's the one. That's the one. Now you look at today's NBA, right? Little bit of a difference between you play a little bit more freedom.
Starting point is 00:51:32 We got the finals going on right now. Game seven, OKC Pacers. I want to ask you, if you could play for either one of those teams right now, where are you pulling up to? Indiana? Yeah. Indiana? I mean, first of all, they got a freaking great coach. Rick
Starting point is 00:51:48 Carlisle is probably one of the best basketball minds in the game right now. And we're seeing that every night. But I like their cohesive. They don't have a superstar. So I like that cohesive. I like that they do it by committee and integrate somebody like me that could get buckets consistently with what they already have. Great shooting. You got great penetrators and ask someone that could get buckets. I like my chances.
Starting point is 00:52:12 Most definitely. You got both those things, obviously, with all star superstars. You have a lot of role players. You see the league gravitate more towards that because I know back that you had the hierarchy was a little bit different. We had like two or three guys took a majority of shots. Everybody kind of filled their roles. Now with both these teams, you got somebody off the bench who can go shoot six threes and it's all gravy.
Starting point is 00:52:29 Hell yeah. I love it. I love it because in today's game, there's a lot more hoopers. Okay. I mean, there's not guys that just do one specific thing, right? One thing that's really great. You got these guys, man, they can score on both sides of the body. They can do most of the things on the basketball court coming off your bench. When I, you know, when I played, so you had somebody that, you know, can only, he's only a guy that can shoot in the corner. That's it. Like you just stationary pieces.
Starting point is 00:52:57 Now you could interchange with these type of players that that's playing the game today. I like how you said that. Would you think your game, obviously you could score in bunches, you could score any kind of way. You think your game would have translated better now than it did back then? I mean, yeah. Come on T.
Starting point is 00:53:12 No, I'm being real. I mean you have it. So you probably would have averaged 40. I'm not gonna be arrogant and say 40. In my mind, yeah, I feel like I can score 40. I mean realistically I think I feel like I can score 40. I mean, realistically, I think I... Shay averaged 32 this year in a wide open league, wide open game.
Starting point is 00:53:31 I averaged 32 when that shit was tight. Score was 78 to 80. You see what I'm saying? And I only shot like four or five threes. Put me in today's game where I can shoot 10, eight to 10 threes. And I'm gonna get to the free throw line because I'm going to get to my spots. That's definitely a 40 piece.
Starting point is 00:53:48 Yeah. He probably an average 40. That might be a 40 piece. And you had that mid range. I remember when he was in Atlanta, you used to shoot the middie. You used to, like, yeah, he probably average 40. I'm thinking about it like 32 back there. You probably average 40.
Starting point is 00:54:04 Yeah. I mean, it's an easy game now, bro. Defensively, like, nah, I didn't want to try to add the physicality to it, but if you can't touch me when I got the ball in my spot, like, you got to back up and give me, nah, I'ma shoot right up. I ain't even got to put the ball on the floor. I'ma shoot right in your face. People don't realize how tall you are.
Starting point is 00:54:25 Yeah, you like 6'10". Nah. No way. Unless you've got some heels on. That's all he is. Y'all know they had me guard him one time when he was in Detroit. Did you lock his shit up? Hell no.
Starting point is 00:54:38 He went straight to the block. They like, just pick him. LD, pick him up for a court. Smart man. I can't can move really. No, you didn't, you said. You know what's crazy? Ty, for him to be so good, I identify him,
Starting point is 00:54:57 when I look at Magic Johnson play basketball, I see Tyrese a little bit. Okay. Well, here's what I mean by that. When you watch Magic play, dominant right hand player, dominant, dominant. You don't really see them do too much on his left side of their body.
Starting point is 00:55:13 Tyrese is the same way. If you only could be dynamic on the right side, and you got two killers that can play both sides all over the court, you think you're gonna beat me being dominant on one side? So for him to, for Tyrese to be great, Tyrese going to have to, if you're going to have four points, damn it, you got to accumulate for your team at least 40 points. That has to be the accumulation.
Starting point is 00:55:37 You can't have four points and only accumulate like 12 points for your game. Now, if you want to be a superstar, I'm fine with four points, but give me 15 assists. Give me eight rebounds. That right there to me is like a Jason Kidd. That's a match. Like that's having an imprint and you don't have to score that much, but you can't give me four, seven, six. Nah, fam.. Now I respect it. Team that when I'm banking on it is, you know, two years ago, they try to make their jokes about Jaylen Brown and say his left hand isn't the strongest. We know what he did.
Starting point is 00:56:12 He went and got paid and got a chip. They all right. So about Tyrese, they got, he ain't got a left hand. He ain't going to left. Cool. Don't you gotta have a left hand to raise that banner up. You kill it. Speaking of Jaylen Brown, I know it's like your little brother. It's like who reminds you of you in the league right now?
Starting point is 00:56:27 Like me, only person I really see that kind of remind me of you is like Kevin Durant. The way y'all scored the ball is really kind of similar. That's really it. I mean, it ain't too many. I used to think Paul George, but then when I watched PG, y'all kind of a little different. But like you and KD, y'all do the rocker hang, dribble, pull up. Why, why, why, why, PG, what?
Starting point is 00:56:49 He was a little more like, pinned down, kissing, shoots, he try to be funny. He try to be funny. Hey T-Mac, part of the day. He try to be funny. See, I'm trying to be cool. That's my nigga. Hey T, I fuck with you.
Starting point is 00:57:03 I like that. I fuck, funny. See, I'm cool. I like that. I like that. But speaking of comparison, some of the youngsters coming up, I've seen a lot of people do a lot of comparisons for Ace Bailey to say, you know, best case scenario, he could be a really, he could be close to Tracy McGrady. How you feel about that? I like the Bailey's game. I actually went and see him play this year. Kid has tremendous upside, smooth, about six, seven,
Starting point is 00:57:31 six, eight, got a nice shot, tough shot maker. You gotta be a tough shot maker. If you wanna be compared to me, you gotta be able to make tough shots. And I think he's gonna be able to develop in that. Creativity off the dribble needs to get better, but he has the potential. Most definitely.
Starting point is 00:57:46 Obviously, you went straight out of high school to the league with the NIL situation. Now, you do a lot of mentoring around these kids. What's the advice that you give them now? What you know what I'm saying? You could possibly make more money going back to school than being a first round pick. You saying what would I do?
Starting point is 00:58:01 I know what you would do. What advice would you give the youngest? Man, honestly, I think you got to have people around you that understands finances. You know what I mean? Because given high school kids $2 million, $5 million, that's tough to have for them on their mental. I was 18 years old coming out of high school,
Starting point is 00:58:25 signed a $12 million deal, but I still kept my drive. Like I didn't let that affect where I wanted to go with my game. And I think a lot of these kids now, man, I'm hearing them, it's like, they feel like they made it when they get their money, bro. It takes a little bit of that drive away. And I don't think these kids have that same type of drive
Starting point is 00:58:46 or enthusiasm to reach the highest level of basketball within themselves, you know what I'm saying? When they get this money, I think they lose a little bit of that. And it's strong and important that they have people around them that can understand the money and what to do with it, but also keep them level-headed and keep them focused on the task at hand and that's improving as a basketball player
Starting point is 00:59:12 because you're nowhere near where you're gonna be in five to 10 years. Most definitely, and you talk about this all the time because Tig is a coach right now. The NIO, it looks good, but it could stunt your growth. You get this money now, you could jeopardize the money later, but it's crazy how y'all talk about it as professionals, but it could stunt your growth where you get this money now. You could jeopardize the money later. But it's crazy how y'all talk about it as professionals, but they take advice from other people who ain't even got to that level yet.
Starting point is 00:59:30 Yeah. It's like they forget the main thing. Like the goal is to make it to the NBA. Like that's the goal. I tell all the kids that I come in contact with, like, okay, you can get this money. That's great. You can help your family right now. But the goal is to make it to the league like $2 million. Believe it or not. It go kind of quick. It's not a lot. I used to think people was crazy when they said that I'm like $2 million. You crazy. I'd be good for life. But in that world, it goes kind of quick.
Starting point is 01:00:00 You're trying to keep up with the Joneses. Yeah. Then when you run out your money, then your family looking at you like what's next. You didn't fuck your whole money, then your family looking at you like, what's next? Now you done fucked your whole self up and your career. So I get it. Yeah, that'd be the first thing, is they take care of everybody else with that money. They stressed out.
Starting point is 01:00:12 Now they don't get no more money. It's scary, man. It's a scary situation, you know what I mean? Because these guys are so fragile, and it's glorified on social media. So that's all they see. Yeah. They're consuming all thisified on social media. So that's all they see. Yeah. They're consuming all this information via social media.
Starting point is 01:00:27 And they think, damn, I'm getting this money. Like I got a lot of money in my pocket. I'm rich now. Nah, bro. You ain't nowhere near that. You could blow that shit to them tomorrow. Most definitely. Now you talked about you came into the league at 18.
Starting point is 01:00:40 You know what I'm saying? Got you some chicken. We know you're responsible. But what was your first like wild out purchase? Was like, all right, I'm on that today. My first wild out purchase? Honestly, my wife. Listen.
Starting point is 01:00:53 Hold on, look, man. Now look. Let me explain. All right. Let me explain. Let me explain. So, I'm crazy. You married?
Starting point is 01:01:02 Yeah. Yeah, you is crazy. You married? Yeah. Yeah, you broke bread. Yeah, you broke bread. So, let me tell you. So I always, like Biggie was my favorite artist back then. And Biggie used to talk about Lexus Land Cruiser. Okay.
Starting point is 01:01:14 So I always wanted a Lexus Land Cruiser, bro. I always wanted a Lexus Land Cruiser. I always wanted a Lexus Land Cruiser. I always wanted a Lexus Land Cruiser. Okay. So I always wanted a Lexus Land Cruiser, bro. So when I graduated high school, I drove to Raleigh, because that's, I was in Durham, North Carolina.
Starting point is 01:01:35 I drove to Raleigh. I'm at the Lexus dealership looking to get my Land Cruiser. I see this, this female, that's the receptionist. I was like, damn. So I had to go talk to her. See what's up. I see this this female that's the receptionist. I was like damn So I had to go talk to her to see what's up After that, this is the time where before the draft I'm driving I'm going around touring all my teams Man, so I got connected with her. The bulls are playing we go to dinner watching the NBA Finals. I
Starting point is 01:02:06 Felt like this is to be my wife, bro. I'm traveling from city to city, calling her on the flight, on my flight, checking in. That's when they had phones on the plane. So I'm swiping my credit card, calling this woman. This was 1997, fam. It's what, 2025? Still married. That's five.
Starting point is 01:02:24 Four kids later. So yet. So great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Great.
Starting point is 01:02:32 Great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Great.
Starting point is 01:02:40 Great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Great. Yeah. I was a teen. Now I got to ask a question. Did you still buy the car? I still bought the car. Oh, I saw it. Probably crushed somewhere in the great in the junkyard. I wanted to ask you, did you ever have any one on one matchups? Nah, never. Nah, we did.
Starting point is 01:03:02 What? Tell me about your one on oneone lead man. How that's so I started my one-on-one lead in 2022 and It's really just based off of my story and how I got to where you know, I ended up being 1996 Junior high school one of the best players in Central Florida. No one really knew about me and outside of my region. This guy from Adidas comes to my high school and he has a camp that wants me to attend this camp.
Starting point is 01:03:37 I go to ABCD, we all know about the ABCD camp, Lamar Odom, top high school players. I make a name for myself on this platform. It's not that anything changed about me. It's just a platform that I got on and it created some buzz for me. I ended up being the number one player in the country. Well, for these kids out here that has been overlooked, probably had some turbulent times
Starting point is 01:04:07 on their journey to play basketball. Who knows? Somebody in the family probably died. He had to step up as a man and take care of the family. You just don't know what their role was for these casts. I wanted to create a platform for those type of dudes that get overlooked. And one-on-one basketball is not for everybody.
Starting point is 01:04:25 There's a lot of talent out there, Jeff. You know, there's some castle on your block where you come from, nice as hell at one-on-one. So, and to me, we all grew up playing one-on-one basketball. That's the pure essence of our sport. So creating that foundation for these guys, that platform, I wanna create stars through one-on-one basketball.
Starting point is 01:04:43 And that's what OBL is really about, just really giving guys another chance, giving them a hope to live out their dreams. That's fun. Because we all come from places. It's like, such and such could have made it. But such and such could have did this. But so if somebody else have another outlet,
Starting point is 01:04:56 maybe not the most traditional route, because you never know what they got going on. But a chance to make it, to feed their families from basketball, that's always a good look for sure. So check us out. OBL started a YouTube channel week, we're going on a five part series right now, we got four episodes out,
Starting point is 01:05:09 and you can see what I'm doing with these guys, man. I think they appreciate that. We need to come commentate one of them, bro. Y'all come do it, bro. I love to commentate one. I wanna come commentate one. Let's come out here and act a fool. My next one.
Starting point is 01:05:20 I'm for real. You pull up. All right. Don't wax. I love that. Most definitely, man. Make some noise for T up. It's on wax. I love that. So most definitely, man. Make some noise for T-Mac one time for the one time. Mac.
Starting point is 01:05:29 Wear them drawers, Mac. Them your size, boy. And they ain't thin. And that little pouch. Can I walk around the beach with them? Walk around the beach? Well, that's on you, Sam. No shirt on with just these, just the drawers.
Starting point is 01:05:41 You out of pocket. Respect, man. Y'all just talking about wearing them boxes for show, man. One time with Footsmobile. Y'all keep doing your thing, man. Appreciate out of pocket. Respect man. Shout out to Tom Scott. We're in them boxes for show man. What's up with Foos Mobile? Y'all keep doing your thing. We appreciate y'all. Yeah. Give it up, give it up, give it up again for club 520.
Starting point is 01:05:53 Okay, on the big stage. Y'all was holding it down. Hey, I don't know what they doing, but hey, don't worry. Be back here at 1 45 for the subpar golf podcast with C.C. Sebastian. We're going to be going all day, all week. I know a lot of cops and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer
Starting point is 01:06:25 will always be no. This is Absolute Season One, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season One, Taser Incorporated on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of 2B.
Starting point is 01:06:56 We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there there and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. guests. Hi, I'm Sarah Spain, host of Good Game with Sarah Spain and the co-author of the new book Runs in the Family, an incredible true story of football, fatherhood and belonging written
Starting point is 01:07:36 with and about Las Vegas Raiders running backs coach Dylan McCullough. It's the story of a football coach and father of four who sees his life forever changed by the unsealing of his adoption records. And it's got a twist you won't believe. Based on the viral ESPN story I did a few years ago, this book will blow your mind and bring you to tears. Buy runs in the family wherever books are sold. This is an iHeart Podcast.

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