Club 520 Podcast - Club 520 - Greg Oden on being #1 NBA Draft pick, playing with LeBron James, injury misfortunes

Episode Date: May 20, 2024

We’re back with Season 2, Episode 68 of Club 520 where Jeff Teague and the guys are joined by Greg Oden to discuss becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Oden talks about his time sp...ent at Ohio State, and then getting drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers. The guys discuss how Greg’s career was cut short due to injury, getting to play alongside LeBron James on the Miami Heat, and his current coaching position at Butler. #Volume #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an iHeart Podcast. Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Glott. And this is Season 2 of the War on Drugs podcast. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports. This kind of starts that a little bit, man.
Starting point is 00:00:48 We met them at their homes. We met them at the recording studios. Stories matter and it brings a face to it. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
Starting point is 00:01:09 I'm Michael Kasson, 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 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.
Starting point is 00:01:49 The Volume. Man, as a Louisville fan, it was so hard trying to get tickets to the Louisville-Kentucky game. I know it happens every year, but it's so hard to get tickets. It should not be that hard to get a ticket to support your team and be a true fan. And with game time, that problem is no longer an issue. You shouldn't have to worry about buying tickets It should not be that hard to get a ticket to support your team and be a true fan.
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Starting point is 00:02:35 So go ahead, download the GameTime app, sign up, and while you're at it, go ahead and use the promo code CLUB520 for $20 off your first purchase on the app. Terms apply. Again, when you sign up, make sure you use the promo code CLUB520, and we'll get you started off with $20 off your first purchase. Download Game Time today. Last-minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Hey, we appreciate y'all rocking with us. CLUB520 live in Indianapolis.
Starting point is 00:03:03 We at the crib. We appreciate y'all pulling up to the app. We appreciate y'all rocking with us Club 520 Live in Indianapolis We at the crib We appreciate y'all pulling up To the amp We appreciate y'all having us In over wings Appreciate y'all with the wonderful spread Check out all the food vendors Want to show us over
Starting point is 00:03:13 Shout out to the bartenders Make sure y'all tip the bartenders The 520 drink be here What's in there man? You got God damn I done forgot God damn Red Bull, Pineapple
Starting point is 00:03:23 That's great advertisement Consumigos Rep And that's it Hennessy man Goddamn, I done forgot. Goddamn. Red Bull, Pineapple. That's a great advertisement. Consomigos. Rep. And that's it. Hennessy, man. Henny. Shake it, pour it, mix it.
Starting point is 00:03:33 What are y'all doing? He asked what was in the drink. What are you doing, bro? Come on, bro. Shout out to Hennessy. Come on. We ain't going to never go corporate. Fuck it. We'll be here.
Starting point is 00:03:42 Hey, we appreciate y'all pulling it up, Club 520 Podcast. I'm the host. My name is DJ Wells. We got a special guest to my left. Legend Fuck it, we'll be here. Hey, we appreciate y'all pulling up. Club 520 Podcast. I'm the host. My name is DJ Wells. We got a special guest to my left. Legend, legend, legend of the city. Introduce my man's last to my far left. My dog, Bishop B. Hinn. Out the pearlies.
Starting point is 00:03:54 How you doing, Nasty? Cool, Nasty. Let's get to it, baby. I see you got your work shoes on. Every time we go out of town, you don't never wear black forces. They say you be pump faking. Nah, we back at it today for the city. Out the gate to my right
Starting point is 00:04:05 my dog young nacho young t how you what i'm chilling bro i'm happy to be here i'm glad everybody came rock what does i see all my partners in the crowd so that's cool the force is weak as though i'm gonna keep it up every week bro come on man or this get on his ass get rag on your head all right let's go now you are You out of pocket you real comfortable today You at home Let me be me Damn you about to start making me cuss on this motherfucker DJ introduce the sneaker
Starting point is 00:04:32 So we can go with the show Alright man we got a legend from the east side of Indianapolis Number one pick you know what I'm saying Legend legend legend Mr. Greg How you doing sir appreciate you pulling up to 520 my boy I'm good I'm good fellas I'm good, fellas. Appreciate y'all for having me up here. Everybody appreciate y'all coming out.
Starting point is 00:04:49 Now, we got to tell the people, we had Udonis Haslam on our podcast. You know what I'm saying? He said he knew about Indianapolis because of you. He was scared of the east side because you had him in Miami drinking Patrinity. Yeah, I learned that shit on the west coast. Damn. When I was drinking here, I was drinking Terre Haute, Indiana.
Starting point is 00:05:07 Whoa. I mean, you was drinking meth. That nigga had a straight cup of Breaking Bad. That boy was out there moving and shaking pour, wasn't he? Hey, man. Those were my people. When I first moved here, I moved to Terre Haute when When I moved from Buffalo, New York in the fourth grade. So I grew up there.
Starting point is 00:05:27 I didn't come to Indy until eighth grade. For sure. But how did you, like, how would you make Udonis Haslam, you know what I'm saying? Because that's a strong nigga. We done met him. He do a lot of shit in his spare time. How did you make a nigga like that, like, lead a club off the patronage seat? That shit is nasty.
Starting point is 00:05:45 Nah, it is. It's simplenity seat. That shit is nasty. Nah, it is. It's as simple as that. That shit is nasty. But it's strong as fuck. And at that time, I just liked to get fucked up and quit. So that's what it was. Yeah, I see your method. It'll do that to you.
Starting point is 00:05:57 When you start drinking that, though, when you got drafted? Uh, uh, nah. Before that? High school. High school. I had a? High school, high school I had a nice getaway in high school I knew y'all East Siders was crazy, boy We ain't do none of that out West, do we?
Starting point is 00:06:12 Y'all still partying together right now I see y'all tonight at All Stars Shout out to my West Side nigga But now I got a question So, growing up I seen you, man You was in seventh grade. I seen you at Craig Middle School. You wasn't the number one pick in seventh grade, I'll tell you that.
Starting point is 00:06:33 I was like, man, this dude is tall. We seen you playing for Andy here. You weren't playing as much. Like when did basketball start picking up for you? Like when you seen it, like the difference? Actually, it was the summer after seventh grade. Okay. I grew up in a boys and girls club so uh while my mom worked late nights i was just sitting there hooping and uh seventh grade i dunked the basketball and said why don't i just
Starting point is 00:06:56 do this it's easy yeah and that's when everything started looking up for me so how tall was you then six seven god damn at 12 your mama better have a chance she had to walk around with my birth certificate when we went to au tournaments but like fifth grade in the fifth grade i got to like 5 11 and by the end of sixth grade i was 6 6 trash what size shoes you wearing What size shoes Right now I wear a 19 Nah I mean Balls that's crazy I'm talking about
Starting point is 00:07:34 Fifth sixth grade Probably like 13 What fuckers been in trouble Yo 13 boy you won't get no jewelry What fuck has been in trouble Yo 13 Boy you won't get no joints None Well you had to play the full
Starting point is 00:07:50 I can barely get them joints now I already know That's crazy But like you said Everything clicked for you Got a little bit taller Once you got to high school Like you honestly have
Starting point is 00:07:59 One of the best High school basketball careers Of all time Like It pains me to say this. Shout out to Ellen. Y'all went crazy. Shout out to Mike.
Starting point is 00:08:07 Still going crazy right now. How was that going into that school? You know what I'm saying? You clicked up your boy. Y'all was already nice. Y'all just dominated all through high school. He was nice. He was on the front of, like, Sports Illustrated for kids
Starting point is 00:08:20 when he was in the second and third grade. So, just playing with Mike, I mean, it was easy. Like, you know, everybody think that I did something. I might have did a little bit, but he was the type of point guard that, you know, put you in your right spots. He made everybody on the court better. And, you know, after that blunder our freshman year, we finally, it finally clicked.
Starting point is 00:08:43 And, yeah, we got three state championships that's all i gotta say like seeing mike still playing right now what is that like what did that do for you like me watching him still play i'm like dang boy he's been playing he's been great since we were in second grade like you said and he's still killing and i'm like it's amazing to see what he in like year 17 yeah year 17 special man i mean I'm happy for him, man. You know, like, shit, I can barely walk down these stairs without my knee hurting. Me too, boy. Just to see some guys out there that's our age, you know, still going out there and balling, playing at the highest level.
Starting point is 00:09:17 And I want him to win a championship. You know, he deserves it. He's been playing good basketball for a long time. No, that's a fact. I kind of don't want him to, though. I kind of like being the only one. Is that because it's your ex-team? No, it's like I'm the only one that won.
Starting point is 00:09:31 So, it's like, cool, you know what I'm saying? I'm hating. Yeah, you are. His would be a little bit more meaningful, though. Why, are they going to have an after party? No, because he play. Oh, damn. It'd be your guy.
Starting point is 00:09:46 That's why I eat his food. I don't like Don Reed, but anyway. What's crazy? How did y'all meet, though? How did you and Mike meet up? So, I guess his dad got wind of me when I was living in Terre Haute at the time, and the speech team pulled up when they were at Riverside. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:10:07 And they all drove down. I want to say it was like seven or eight of them. It was Mike, Curtis White, Reese Cheatham, Devin Williams. A little shout-out to Devin Williams. I had to get my hair with the straight backs. Oh, yeah. And you, early career. I don't tell nobody about that. But, you know, they all pulled up with Coach Mike Conley,
Starting point is 00:10:30 and they came, knocked on my door, seven black kids my age, asked me to speak to me, asked me if I wanted to play basketball. And I looked at all them right behind my mom and was like, it's Saturday, I'm watching cartoons. Damn. And they went back in the house. And then that following week, they got me out to play in the men's league.
Starting point is 00:10:49 You know, the Riverside team used to play in the men's league. And since then, I want to say that was sixth grade. Me and Mike Conley played basically every game together from sixth grade until we got drafted in the league. That's crazy. And we're going to talk about y'all going to school, to college together. But I'll talk about y'all going to school To college together But Y'all talk about y'all in high school
Starting point is 00:11:06 Because y'all had some battles On the low You know what I'm saying Yeah we never beat them We never beat them They always beat us About five or six points I remember one time
Starting point is 00:11:14 We played y'all Might have been my junior year Think it might have been Your senior year We played at LN I went to the basket It's the first time I knew I couldn't
Starting point is 00:11:23 Beat your ass But I was like gonna have all my west side homies they in the crowd too i was gonna tell him like we're gonna be his ass we're gonna figure this out but uh now i went to the basket and you blocked the shot and you pointed at my temple and said what the are you thinking and ever since then i wanted to ask you, what the fuck was you thinking? Honestly, I want to say after, like, after sophomore year, so junior and senior year of high school, I found the energy drink boost. And I used to drink, like, two or three of them before the game.
Starting point is 00:12:00 And I swear to God, I don't remember nothing. I don't remember none of that. So I apologize to my brother. But I remember, like, there was a couple of games I used to dunk, and it would be, like, they would call a foul, and it would just be, like, I was on some shit. That shit was tough, though. You was doing your adult thing in high school.
Starting point is 00:12:19 Three energy drinks per game. That's crazy. You remember those, what was it, regional days at Hinkle? You had to get two games, one in the morning, one in the evening. Yeah. That shit out. Next thing I know. We played y'all every morning and lost every time. Besides freshman year.
Starting point is 00:12:36 Oh, yeah. Shout out to Courtney and MC Lee. That hurts me very much. Yeah, I'm glad they got y'all because nobody else. Who was your toughest matchup in high school that you can remember? Josh McRoberts, of course. Legend. He was nice.
Starting point is 00:12:51 That's my guy. But the school was Arlington for us. Not them Knights. Look at Bubby. We got one in the crowd. Any of them. They couldn't be the right. It was Arlington, man.
Starting point is 00:13:02 I want to say it was like it might have been junior or sophomore year. Junior year? Okay, so we played. He got one win. He called it out. Get your ass on. We played them. How long did we celebrate?
Starting point is 00:13:16 We played them in the second round of sectionals. It was either the second. Yeah, your friend's name. If it was three. Yeah. That was the state championship. No, it wasn't. No, it wasn't. Yes, it was. No, it wasn't. That's what y'all talking about. It was either the second. Yeah. That was the state championship. No, it wasn't. No, it wasn't, nigga.
Starting point is 00:13:26 Yes, it was. No, it wasn't. What y'all talking about? It was number one versus number two. No, that was a sectional game. Hold on, nigga. Nah, that was the state championship. He's saying they were the best teams.
Starting point is 00:13:35 Oh, okay. I got you. Yes, that was the state championship. We would have beat Arlington as though. Y'all would have. Yeah, we would have dogged them. They weren't smart enough. I ain't going to do that to my niggas. Chill out. I'm on my phone. You're right. I'm on my phone. Y'all was've Yeah we would've Dogged them They weren't smart enough I ain't gonna do that
Starting point is 00:13:45 To my niggas Chill out I'm on my phone You right I'm on my phone Y'all was a better team Shout out to B Shout out to Buck
Starting point is 00:13:50 But you had They was cheating for you though When y'all played them In that sectional game You had like 18-19 blocks bro You was go tended Like a motherfucker You said niggas go
Starting point is 00:13:59 And I'm glad you're here So I can tell you About yourself And your cheating ass coach And y'all paid Them motherfucking refs So shout out to my niggas At Arlington
Starting point is 00:14:09 Cause y'all was really Supposed to lose That motherfucker But we can keep on With this He just with the IPS bro Just some IPS shit You feel me
Starting point is 00:14:16 His school don't exist No more We still won though So he can talk about The shit he want to We still won That's when I knew Basketball was rigged
Starting point is 00:14:25 I'm like man I hope this nigga tears ACL God damn I was on that back then Hold on so you mean I got you to blame For all my shit Nah that's the motherfucking power drinks That Lamar Odom pregame crazy That was a crazy game
Starting point is 00:14:44 I ain't gonna compare him to Lamar Odom pregame, crazy. That was a crazy game. Nah, Lamar Odom did something different. I ain't going to compare him to Lamar Odom. Yeah, don't do that. Don't do that. They be trying to do that in front of my daughter. They be like, Lamar Odom. My wife be like, hell no. Don't do me like that.
Starting point is 00:14:59 Nah, I had to get that off my chest. Nigga, I was saving that. Nah, you was. Yeah, I was shitting. R.P. It's the IPS school system. Nah, for sure. Nah, but I was saving it. Yeah, you was. Yeah, I was shitting. Our peer-to-IPF school system. Nah, for sure. Nah, but I will say in high school, that was probably our best game
Starting point is 00:15:09 because they would get us during the regular season, and then we would beat y'all in sectionals, you know. Respect. Respect. Even though you only beat us like once. Oh, you guys, they living on that. Bruh, I get texts every month. Our team was the best team in the world.
Starting point is 00:15:26 He over there. His name Bubby. Shout out to Bubby. They was number one, though. They healthy. They was. They was. But you went crazy in high school.
Starting point is 00:15:34 You know what I'm saying? How was that decision to go to Ohio State? And I wonder what that decision would be now with NIL. Well, the decision would have been the same. But I would have been getting paid just as much as quarterback at this time. Yeah. I mean, NIL is crazy. And I think I was talking to Jeff earlier about that.
Starting point is 00:15:53 Just the type of talent that's getting the 500,000s, the millions. Sometimes you be like, well, damn, what would we have got? Like, when's somebody gonna sue so we can get our shit back shit i can't wait look you would have got five million off top man you was the best player in the nation you was a generational talent like it wasn't too many people walking around like you you was jumping 40 you had a 40 foot inch vertical whatever it was 40 inch vertical foot pulse you got 40 inch vertical like you was going crazy like nobody in the world was like you at that time you would have got five
Starting point is 00:16:29 million dollars easy that's on the low end i want an easy bro i would have took it five mil after taxes i mean you already got that anyway when you went to a house that we ain't gonna talk about i know the truth oh but hold on hold on hold on i do gotta tell this story because this hit a nerve i remember one time i was in the locker room and I was talking to Brandon Roy and LaMarcus, and I was like, yeah, man, I ain't get paid. All I got was Pell Grant at Ohio State. Shout out to Coach Mata. He do everything the right way.
Starting point is 00:16:57 But I was able to get Pell Grant, so that's my little thousand every couple of weeks. Man, these fools laughed in my face. Like, belly laughed hard when I said I didn't get paid in school. I would have laughed at you, too. Oh, man. I know the markets got paid. How much you got? Shout out to weight.
Starting point is 00:17:17 Oh, when I had that freshman year? Oh, my mama was straight. You only got a thousand at Ohio State? I just got Pell Grant, man. Man. Get paid. Get out of pocket. You got to talk to Evan Turner.
Starting point is 00:17:30 Oh, no. So I remember the story. Ran into this little runner back in the day. It was like Asians trying to get guys. And one night, gave me $100. Anything, you know, I'll take care of you. The next day, Jim Jackson comes and talks to the Ohio State basketball team. He's talked to us for 30 minutes and ends on the, you know,
Starting point is 00:17:52 if you do everything the right way for Ohio State, the Buckeye faithful will love you for life. Man, I had to go back and get that man that $100, man. I did. I really did. I did not take any money while I was at the Ohio State University. You a damn fool. I might give a fuck about that
Starting point is 00:18:09 $100. Fuck Jim Jackson. Well, back then, man. Nigga was getting $1,000 every six months. You needed that honey money. That's actually what I lived off of before the draft. Yeah. But no, man you. But now,
Starting point is 00:18:26 man, at that time, you know, you couldn't get none in Ohio State, you know, with the Maurice Claret stuff. It was just,
Starting point is 00:18:32 everything was on. So, you just had to do stuff the right way. You right. Maurice fucked it up, y'all. For sure.
Starting point is 00:18:40 And that year you was there, you know what I'm saying, y'all went crazy. In particular, you went crazy and you had to play without your dominant hand. That's like one of the most amazing feats in basketball that don't get spoken
Starting point is 00:18:49 enough, that you dominated college basketball with your offhand. Respect, bro. I appreciate that. Nah, that was crazy. Nah, you was killing, bro. Like, nah, it's amazing that you were shooting free throws with your left hand at seven foot. You know, big guys struggle at the free throw line.
Starting point is 00:19:04 And for you to be able to switch hands to do that, that was crazy. It wasn't that crazy to me. I just went up there and was like, don't air ball this mother. Damn. 67% maybe. Shit, that's with the off hand, though. That's crazy. That's crazy.
Starting point is 00:19:19 That's good, though. How was that matchup against Florida, though, in that championship game? Who was y'all toughest? Who was the toughest matchup, you think? Was it Al Horford or Corey Brewer? Joakim Noah, too, was on that squad. It was Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Torian Green, Chris Richards, Maurice Spates, and then somebody else, I want to say that got drafted
Starting point is 00:19:46 Or played on the NBA team But shit Y'all had a whip too Nah y'all had a whip too It was you, Daquan, Mike Ron Lewis What was 33's name? I forgot his name
Starting point is 00:19:59 The shooter that y'all had Nah outside of Daquan who else was on the team? Ron Lewis. Ron Lewis, yeah. Ron Lewis, who hit the shot against Xavier. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Othello Hunter. Othello.
Starting point is 00:20:13 Matt Tuller. Yeah. Oh, yeah, y'all was in Atlanta together. Yeah, I played with O in Atlanta. Yes, sir. O played a long time, man. O, geez, we was seeing him, man. Big fan of O, man.
Starting point is 00:20:23 Yeah. Crazy as hell. Crazy. 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 will always be no. Across the country, cops called this taser the revolution. But not everyone was convinced it was that simple. Cops believed everything that taser told them. From Lava for Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi-billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1, Taser
Starting point is 00:21:07 Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really bad. Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2, and 3 on May 21st and episodes 4, 5, and 6 on June 4th. Ad-free at Lava for Good Plus on Apple Podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Lott. And this is season two of the War on Drugs podcast.
Starting point is 00:21:43 Yes, sir. We are back. In a big way. In a very big way. Real people, real perspectives. This is kind of star-studded a little bit, man. We got Ricky Williams, NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner. It's just a compassionate choice to allow players all reasonable means to care for themselves. Music stars Marcus King, John Osborne from Brothers Osborne.
Starting point is 00:22:03 We have this misunderstanding of what this quote-unquote drug thing is. Benny the Butcher. Brent Smith from Shinedown. We got B-Real from Cypress Hill. NHL enforcer Riley Cote. Marine Corvette. MMA fighter Liz Karamush. What we're doing now isn't working, and we need to change things.
Starting point is 00:22:22 Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to hear episodes one week early
Starting point is 00:22:37 and ad-free with exclusive content, subscribe to Lava for Good Plus on Apple 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, for a conversation that's anything but ordinary. We dive into the competitive world of streaming, how she's turning so-called niche into mainstream gold, connecting audiences with stories that truly make them feel seen. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. It's this idea that there are so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help the
Starting point is 00:23:26 right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Get a front row seat to where media, marketing, technology, entertainment, and sports collide. And hear how leaders like Anjali are carving out space and shaking things up a bit in the most crowded of markets. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Without the ball, it's just a court. Without the spirit, it's only a game. So together with the fans, we bring our best. Hennessy is excited to celebrate the intersection of basketball with art, music, and fashion. Each of these elements of culture represent the ways that players, fans, and supporters
Starting point is 00:24:15 all pay homage to the game, both on and off the court. Hennessy and Mitchell and Ness came together for the ultimate drop. To show they share love for basketball and the culture. Look, man, Hennessy and Mitchell and Ness got together to do a limited collab for both of them to share how they love the game of basketball. Hennessy's had a long partnership with the NBA, so has Mitchell and Ness.
Starting point is 00:24:35 It's only right. The collection will be available in retail and online stores and also available in the Hennessy Arena. Tours are making stops in San Fran March 9th, Dallas March 17th, and Atlanta March 30th. Club 520 will be in attendance doing what we do best, also having a drink at Hennessy. Come have your favorite Hennessy cocktail with your guys, man.
Starting point is 00:25:01 And for your next pregame, let's share a twist on your favorite classic, a Hennessy margarita. Squeeze a fresh lime in a spice of agave. Topped off with ice in a salted rim. Mix it, shake it, pour it, and enjoy the spirit
Starting point is 00:25:15 of the league. Hennessy without your spirit is just a game. Please, this is only for the 20-plus and up group. Drink responsibly. And so obviously, y'all went crazy,
Starting point is 00:25:26 came up short in the national championship, but you ended up being the number one pick that summer. How was that summer for you going from Ohio State to being the number one pick? Like, obviously, it was always Hollywood cool, Ohio is talented, but to be official the number one pick, like, how was that process for you? It was a whirlwind of shit,
Starting point is 00:25:43 just going through the draft process and everything you got to do especially knowing you could be one or two um just always doing interviews just going here and there never really getting the time to yourself to sit down but i remember uh at draft like right you know after we got called i remember running to joe kim He was like, Gio, we going to turn up in the city. Where are we going? And motherfuckers in Portland was like, yeah, you got an hour to say bye to your family. We got a jet. We got a whole parade set up for you the next day. So I will say I missed out on my turn up night with all the draftees in New York.
Starting point is 00:26:19 But that parade in Portland and being the number one pick and seeing everything in that city, what could have been was definitely an experience I will never forget. I'm so thankful for it because it changed my life. For sure. And obviously that Portland team, obviously when you playing, you know what I'm saying, despite the injuries, y'all had some really talented people on that team. Y'all definitely like one of the one of the teams.
Starting point is 00:26:46 How was it to play with like a LaMarcus, Aldridge, and to have a Brandon Roy in your squad? Because y'all all was super talented. Yes, we was just super young, and I rarely got to play with them. We only played like 76 games, I read, together. Damn near. It might have been 72, for real. Yeah. But those dudes were so talented.
Starting point is 00:27:04 You know, Brandon Roy always walking in. What up, Greg Oden? He never just called me Greg. He always had to say my full name. That's my guy, LaMarcus, man. Just one of the most unstoppable games. Say that you're going to stop me going to this hook or I'm going to do this turnaround J. He was just so smooth. And, you know, I really wish I was healthy enough to be able to help build what Portland had, man. We had some guys coming in, the Steve Blakes, the Andre Millers, Gerald Wallace. You know, it was. Hey, hello, OGs.
Starting point is 00:27:36 No, we did get a lot of OGs. But that was necessary back then, though. Yeah. Yeah. Playing with Marcus Canby, Joe Prisbilla. Damn, that's some names right there. Hey, man. Dude, I learned a lot.
Starting point is 00:27:48 I just wish I was out on the floor. I seen an interview with Brandon Roy. He was talking about how when you first got there, you was just dominating. And he was like, it was so impressive to see you. He was like, I knew I was going to win two or three championships with him. He was so good. And it just took me back to, like, you in high school and seeing you in AAU. I'm like, bro, he was so dominant.
Starting point is 00:28:08 So I knew what he was talking about. You was the man. Like, everybody around here know you. We know how dominant you were. So the injuries suck. It's part of the game. But, yeah, you definitely was one of them dominant guys for sure. I appreciate that.
Starting point is 00:28:22 You was on the cover of College Hoops. Like, I know College Hoops coming back this year. Niggas is geeked about that. But you was on the cover of one Hoops Like I know College Hoops Coming back this year Niggas is geeked about that But you was on the cover Of one of the best Basketball games ever How was that? And did you get paid for that? I
Starting point is 00:28:32 Did I get paid for that? No I think I took the honor Man I wish I was your agent In fucking college I had no agent in college man Oh man Man tap me in. NIO kids, I got y'all.
Starting point is 00:28:46 I mean, you know, just being able to look back at it. I mean, I think it was the last, maybe one of the second to last, like, college, you know, putting college players on, you know. So, it was nice. Have you gone back and see what we look like in them games? No. Somebody randomly, like, Instagram me with them. I was bad hanging up. Have you gone back and see what we look like in them games? No. The graphics is crazy. Somebody randomly, like, Instagram me with them. I was bad, boy.
Starting point is 00:29:09 Nah, homie did a reel of all your graphics from, like, college to 2K. Weak. Them first 2K graphics is crazy. And they had a mohawk. I'm sick of this shit, bro. Wow. What made you? I know we interviewing Greg What made your lame ass get a mohawk
Starting point is 00:29:28 Bitch you was up Why you get the mohawk Corny ass nigga Y'all laughing at this shit I was living in Atlanta bro And he got a dot I ain't get that shit dot I was real nigga I ain't get a dot. I didn't get that shit dot, nigga.
Starting point is 00:29:46 I was real, nigga. I didn't get a dot. But I did ask for a design on the side. Hell no. Obviously, y'all played each other in high school. How was that? Did y'all catch any games each other in the pros? Yeah, I got to play against Greg. Every time he walked up to me like how
Starting point is 00:30:05 the hell you get to atlanta i'm in portland he would say it to me every single time i seen him i'm like shit i can't get in the game fuck me in atlanta how i'm gonna get in like i used to hate i ain't gonna lie it was you and al horford man and after that was in the sierra video i was hating every time i've seen y'all niggas i was like i was hating too i'm worried about playing i'm worried about partying i'm injured man i got free time on my hair goodies was a nice video spectacular back in the day how was that though watching brennan roy who because he got stopped His career got stopped with injuries too We talked about him before on the show I think Joe Johnson was better personally
Starting point is 00:30:50 But Brandon Roy was a dog for sure I mean they both really good But Brandon it was just so natural to him That's why out there in Portland They gave him the nickname the natural man He would just do things that you just Nobody was even thinking of.
Starting point is 00:31:06 You know, he's just – I mean, a lot of guys from that Seattle area got game like that. They can just score, man. They're just bucket getters. Right. And just such a good dude. You know, I wish he could have played a little longer as well, man. For sure. So talented, man.
Starting point is 00:31:20 And he carried, you know, the teams we did have. It wasn't a long time. Yeah. But, you know, he was – he just did conservative, man, and he carried, you know, the teams we did have. It wasn't a long time. Yeah. But, you know, he was – he just did things, man. Sometimes I find myself going back and watching Brandon Roy's top ten plays on YouTube. Hey, man, that boy was cold. Nah, he was cold. Definitely cold.
Starting point is 00:31:37 He was right behind Kobe if he didn't get hurt. Nah, he was like that. Nah, I love Brandon Roy's game. You putting him right behind Kobe is crazy. Pause. I mean, but he was like – Yeah, that's pause. Yeah, he – like that. Nah, I love Brennan Roy game. You putting him right behind Kobe is crazy. Pause. I mean, but he was like. Yeah, that's pause. Yeah, he.
Starting point is 00:31:49 That's crazy. Chill out, bro. That was crazy. That was crazy, bro. Let's move on. You're doing a lot. Okay, my bad. You're doing a lot today.
Starting point is 00:31:55 Okay. Let me chill. Hey, you may not have got to Atlanta, but you definitely got to play in Miami. I did. It was one year, LeBron's last year, and I learned a lot basketball-wise and off-the-court-wise just with being with all those Hall of Famers and great players for a long time. And then basketball-wise, man, I've never seen basketball at that level. I mean, basically, you were seeing guys playing at the top of their game. And we talk about Hall of Famers playing at the top of their game.
Starting point is 00:32:28 And I will say to me, LeBron James is the best player to play the game. Even though I love Jordan, I love Shaq, and I think Will Chamberlain is the man. But watching Bron do it, like out there, like watching him get 63 points in the game and I'm getting four points playing 16 minutes tired as hell game over he's dancing around and I'm about to die my leg about to fall off off of 16 minutes like the man just had crazy energy man and I'm that that year in Miami was good and I didn't go out that much because I knew I didn't want to get in trouble. So I told myself I could have one cheap meal and I can't go to South Beach.
Starting point is 00:33:10 Oh, damn you. Until the end of the season. Oh, you was locked in. Oh, yeah. Couldn't have been me. Boy was outside, ain't he? Boobie trap. Live on Sunday.
Starting point is 00:33:22 You better know it. They would have hung my jersey up for real for you no bro that's mike don't do that man don't try to add my name so what's up with your charities now what charities you working with now so the first one um right now coaching at butler a big charity is called a kid again um it's throughout the country but but basically, A Kid Again, they provide adventures for families that have kids dealing with life-threatening illnesses. So basically, something for the whole family just to get their mind off of being in the hospital and dealing with whatever illness that is. So A Kid Again is a great organization right here in the city. The Colts mess with it.
Starting point is 00:34:04 The Pacers mess with it. Butler messes with it. So if you all want to check that out, or if you have people who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses and just need something, need a community, you guys should look them up. That's dope, bro. What made you get into coaching? Honestly, I just kind of fell into it just trying to be around basketball. You know,
Starting point is 00:34:27 my career, it was basically taken away from me with all the injuries. So just trying to be around the game, went back to Ohio State to get my bachelor's degree and, you know, just was going to practices every day. And then I just figured, you know, I got a lot to offer some of these young kids. I know the game. I got experience in life and the ups and downs of being a pro. Play college at the highest level. So it's something that I kind of just pursued. You talk about coaching.
Starting point is 00:34:59 Could you have ever seen him being a high school coach? Knowing him as long as you know him? I think so. I think so. I think so. Because these kids need it these days, man. Honestly, you need somebody like him that's going to go out there and is going to show them and probably cross them over and cuss them out at the same time
Starting point is 00:35:18 because they really do not listen these days. You need somebody that's proven an NBA champion that can go out there and tell them what they need to do to get to that level. I'm going to go ahead and give him and his props as the NBA champion he is. Appreciate that. I think they took my ring back though.
Starting point is 00:35:36 Yeah, they took my ring back. The Bucks fans beat up me. Hey, yeah, I did. They don't fuck with you. He said he still got to deal with parents, bro, at the college level. I would imagine. I mean, there's a lot of money being thrown around now. So, you know, if you don't feel like your son in the best situation,
Starting point is 00:35:56 they're probably going to complain a little bit. You know what I mean? But it's a tough environment right now. You think that hurt the game, G? I don't. What? You talking about NIL? Yeah, NIL.
Starting point is 00:36:07 No, because the players should have been getting paid a long time ago. I just think it needs to have a cap on it. Because right now it's kind of the have and have nots. You know, the big schools can just – you can throw $500,000 at a player that's going to be your 12th man out of Kansas when this kid can be your best player and the most you can give him is $200,000 at a small school. Gotcha.
Starting point is 00:36:33 So it's just, you know, and then the transfer portal is going to add to that because you got all these good kids going and sitting the bench at a big school and then they're going to transfer and they're going to go somewhere else, maybe a smaller school that didn't recruit them then they're going to transfer and they're going to go somewhere else maybe a smaller school that didn't recruit them they're going to dominate so now another big school comes in saying you can be the man so now they transfer again and then another thing that's happening is these kids ain't finishing out they spring they spring term so now they dropping out of school early and then trying to catch up so a a lot of them are not going to finish their degree. Got you. And another thing, they don't get any financial education. Like, all these kids at a young age are getting all this money,
Starting point is 00:37:12 and nobody is really telling them what to do. You know, a lot of these kids are paying agents 20%. Lee. I mean, like in the NBA, like in the NBA, you're only paying like 3%, 3%, 4%. And a lot of these kids, or even the parents or even the families from where these kids are coming from don't even know. So it's going to be a lot. So in the long run, I think it is going to hurt the game
Starting point is 00:37:36 until we get some cap on it. Now, I remember you came to talk to us in the NBA. You came to Minnesota. I was in Minnesota, and you came up and told us about your experience when it came to financial stuff. And you doing that and sharing that kind of info with the kids, man, it's big. Because right now it is an environment where everybody is just getting a lot of money, buying scat packs and all type of stuff.
Starting point is 00:37:55 And that money can last them and give them a really good head start on life. But I don't think they see it yet because everybody thinks they're going to the NBA. So you saying that is big. Yeah. I've been working with this company, Educore, for about four years now and just teaching financial literacy
Starting point is 00:38:11 to athletes and entertainers. We're moving to the college, but we're also still doing professional athletes and entertainers. It's definitely a lot. It's definitely needed. When I go and talk, I had a lot of horror stories. So I kind of come in as, you know, an ex-athlete that can kind of tell these guys to, you know,
Starting point is 00:38:33 basically be better with their money. Don't do what I did. And I'll just say I like to tell this one story. It was like, you know, when you was young, you was getting your checks. You knew it was coming. It was being direct deposited. And all I knew was that my money was on my card and I could get whatever I wanted off my debit card at any time. And it was going to be there next month.
Starting point is 00:38:52 Well, shit, I'm in the club one day and that motherfucking credit card didn't work. And it was like 1.30 in the morning. And it was to the point where I wasn't as engaged with my financial people. So I didn't even engaged with my financial people. So I didn't even know who to call. Like if I was going to call the back of the car, I wouldn't even know my own security number to even verify myself because I just had people handling that for me. So the biggest thing we like to say in the financial literacy is as the person who's making the money, be as engaged. Know where your money's coming from and where
Starting point is 00:39:23 it's going. Know who the people are that's handling your money because you don't want to be stuck in the club like me emailing the financial guy in california and it's two in the morning you know you hit you back no oh that's tough that happened to me at louis vuitton one time i was in there trying to purchase some for For P I don't want to say P So I was trying to purchase something for P Trick or root Trick or reed Why did he give me sweet meat
Starting point is 00:39:51 And my card declined My card declined I was in Atlanta I was at the store called Jeffries My card declined I leave Cause I'm embarrassed I go to the bank
Starting point is 00:40:00 I go get like 20,000 I got it Don't play with me I'm buying stuff all you want that stupid but that happened to me too now kids need them stories though bro especially like you said the transfer reporter the nil so crazy is that they can have these agreements for money but they don't have to fulfill them because there's nothing back in those situations like bigger companies you can do that but it's so many horror stories of kids that then transfer places promises money but they perform
Starting point is 00:40:29 but they were supposed to perform and they ain't get that bread but you can't sue nobody for that shit and i think that's the most important thing going forward is to way to protect these kids growing up now yes a lot of money thrown in their face but none of this shit is actually like solidified yet so y'all having a company is saving a lot of people. Yeah, and another thing on that is, well, if you're going to come in and say, I need my money guaranteed, then we're going to come in and say, well, then I need 15 points a game.
Starting point is 00:40:54 That's going to start messing with it again. That's tough. Get rid of the NIL, though, bro. Oh, I don't know about that. You tripping. You're rid of it, bro. Nah, I need to get paid. Get paid. I'm sayingIL though, bro. Oh, I don't know about that. You tripping. You tripping. Get rid of it, bro. Nah, I need to get paid. Get paid. I'm saying, though, like you said,
Starting point is 00:41:09 well, I'm not going to say get rid of it, but put a cap on it like you said, though, bro, because a lot of these kids don't be worth that what they getting, for real. That's hate. That's my hate. No, get paid, but I'm saying, though, bro, a lot of kids be cold at a small school, and like you said, a dude could be the 12th
Starting point is 00:41:25 man on kansas getting 500 bands i ain't counting nobody's bread i'm just saying like spread the money so it's not as sienna can't compete with dude you know what i'm saying with the nil so that's why it's tough for sure if i get if i'm if i know i ain't going to the league i'm getting the biggest bag i can't out the the gate. I go ride a bitch. Respect, bro. We can move on. I don't want to get into my spiel. Now go ahead. You a hog.
Starting point is 00:41:52 You can do it. Nah, we good. For sure. All right, Greg, I got to ask you, what's the best team you ever been on? The Miami Heat team. Oh, is that easy? 2013, 2014. I mean, we made it to the NBA Finals.
Starting point is 00:42:05 Not going to lie. I think you out of pocket saying Brown better? 2013, 2014. I mean, we made it to the NBA Finals. Not going to lie. I think you out of pocket saying Bron better than Jordan, though. Oh, no, no, no, no. Nah. I grew up with Jordan. I'm saying the person I've literally seen with my own eyes do it. So, that's when I go, Bron is my goat because i've actually seen it now i grew up on jordan i love jordan i think he's the greatest thing like everybody else like i would tell my daughter
Starting point is 00:42:31 michael jordan but for me personally it's lebron because i've seen him do stuff that like i ain't think it's possible nah lebron cole he didn't he he probably is. He like 1A. And Michael Jordan, like, not in the system. Like, he by himself. Because, like, MJ, everybody wanted to be MJ. Not everybody want to be Brian. Like, not everybody want to be Brian, bro. Like, we still, look, you look in the crowd right now, there's Jordans everywhere.
Starting point is 00:43:00 Like, everybody wear Jordans. Everybody still want to be Jordans. I got Jordans on. I don't know what the fuck you got on. But everybody still. Boy, he's showing his ass today. My fault. Boy, he's showing his ass.
Starting point is 00:43:12 I got you, brother. Go ahead. He the ice and door and basket door. I didn't even see the brand. He even labeled up in the video. Look at the real. Look at that 360 deal, man. Shout out to my nigga, the real. I don't. But I up in the theater. Look at Darrell. Look at that 360 deal, man. Shout out to my nigga Darrell.
Starting point is 00:43:27 I don't, but I think on the court, though, it's kind of hard to be like LeBron James. That's what he's saying. You don't train your kid to be like a LeBron because he's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime type of talent. He's saying influential-wise, Jordan is more impactful. I would say that. More relatable. You know what I mean? As a big man, I got to ask you, how you feel about Jokic running the NBA right now?
Starting point is 00:43:50 I'm proud of it. Jokic is – me and Jeff was talking. He got that game that he's going to play if he wanted to for 25 years and can still dominate as long as he can move, man. His IQ of the game and just the things he can do with his body and lack of athleticism is just amazing. And I think a lot of these kids coming up need to take notice of the skill and just the IQ of the game to be that type of dominant player,
Starting point is 00:44:25 not just being athletic is going to get you there. For sure. All right, before we get out of here, obviously I know who you're taking in that Temple Wolves Nuggets, but who you got tomorrow game, seven Pacers-Knicks? I got Pacers. My nigga. Jokes.
Starting point is 00:44:41 Jokes. My nigga. Knicks in seven, bro. I got Jalen Brunson. Well, I've been saying I think the Knicks are the better team, technically. You're not supposed to say that on the microphone, Greg.
Starting point is 00:44:54 I am all in on the Pacers right now, man. I like the Pacers. Playing at the Garden game seven. Right now, I think the Knicks is just too banged up for me to see them. But that crowd going to be crazy. You know how the atmosphere is.
Starting point is 00:45:10 A lot of people shrinking them kind of environments. It's going to be New York, game seven. All of them in New York, and that's – thank you. I know they did some yesterday. They went to some bar or some. Yeah. It's over with, bro. Yeah, it's over.
Starting point is 00:45:24 You know my motto. Miles Turner, Tina Turner, Brittany Turner. Nixon 7, bro. No, I don't know that. Nixon 7. Is OG back? Nah, don't matter. Damn.
Starting point is 00:45:38 Pacers in 7. I heard you talk about Madison Square Garden. I got to ask, what's one of the most craziest environments you played a basketball game in? Michigan State, man. Michigan State. We went out and we was warming up before the game, and it got quiet. Greg, how was World War II? Damn.
Starting point is 00:45:59 I'm 19 at the time. I was like, hold on, man. You look 30. I ain't talking about how you look. Hey, so nobody said nothing on my team and I respect them for it,
Starting point is 00:46:08 but when we went in the back, them motherfuckers was like, hey, did y'all hear what the fuck they said about Greg? I ain't gonna lie. I used to be like,
Starting point is 00:46:18 yo, y'all gotta get his birth certificate, bro. Bro, damn, they were one of the Africans,
Starting point is 00:46:22 bro. Yeah, you said Greg's a real Pascal? He called him an African. He's crazy. He's racist. No, to my face, it's crazy.
Starting point is 00:46:33 That's crazy. Oh, man, my fault. I'm wilding my butt. Disrespectful. No, I look at it like this. They told me when I was 16, I looked 35. When I was 21, I looked 35. When I was 21 I looked 35. I'm 36
Starting point is 00:46:47 right now. Hopefully when I'm 50 I look 45. You got braids so I can't do them no more. Shout out to you. What old nigga that you don't know ain't have his braids before he cut them off? I'm just
Starting point is 00:47:03 in my little space right here. Oh, okay. You're going to cut them hoes off. Hey. Them crazy. The real last dance. Hey. You know what? F*** y'all. It's crazy. Hey, I'm going to start heating the guests up.
Starting point is 00:47:20 That's our dog. We at home. Hey, Jeff, you got to bring back the pike braids. Boy, this shit barely hanging on. Hey, this is a shout out to you. He at him? The real idiot. My shit's like Nipsey, bro.
Starting point is 00:47:34 Don't do that. Oh, Nipsey. You two have a lot. I ain't talking. No, I got the Devin Williams hang time. I told you. That's what they get before they put their soul in there. Who got the soul in here?
Starting point is 00:47:49 You ask questions. We out here. Mike, do they want questions? Mike, we can't hear you. We don't know sign language. Come on, Freaky Mike. Don't ask him. Three questions.
Starting point is 00:48:04 Anybody? I'm going for a caramel shirt on. Freaky Mike. Don't ask him. Three questions. Anybody? That one for a caramel shirt on. Sorry, Mike. Mike got every khaki version of Nike. It got matching socks. Where the fuck you get the caramel blanket? The guy got no socks on? Oh, I thought you had no socks on.
Starting point is 00:48:17 I'm about to hurt your ass. Anybody got questions? Questions? Questions? Anybody got questions? No, bet. Damn, Mike. Shout out to Fre? No, bet. Rapper. Damn, Mike.
Starting point is 00:48:28 Shout out to Freaky Mike, man. You ain't give him a chance to raise a hand. Oh, I'm just playing. It's all good. Hey, we appreciate y'all, man. Y'all been a great crowd. Gio, appreciate you pulling up, my boy. For sure, bro. Strip about to get the party back rocking.
Starting point is 00:48:38 You know what I'm saying? We got food over here. The bar is back open. Food vendor's back open. Enjoy yourselves. Have a good time. Turn this bitch up. We appreciate y'all rocking with us.
Starting point is 00:48:46 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 1, Taser Incorporated. I get right back there and it's bad. Listen to Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated
Starting point is 00:49:14 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Clayton English. I'm Greg Lott. And this is Season 2 of the War on Drugs podcast. Yes, sir. Last year, a lot of the problems of the drug war. This year, a lot of the biggest names in music and sports.
Starting point is 00:49:32 This kind of starts that a little bit, man. We met them at their homes. We met them at their recording studios. Stories matter, and it brings a face to them. It makes it real. It really does. It makes it real. Listen to new episodes of the War on Drugs podcast season two on the iHeartRadio app,
Starting point is 00:49:48 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 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 the right person discover the right content,
Starting point is 00:50:18 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. This is an iHeart Podcast.

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