Club 520 Podcast - Club 520 - Jeff Teague & Donovan Mitchell on GOING OFF in the NBA bubble, facing Anthony Edwards & James Harden

Episode Date: February 28, 2024

Donovan Mitchell drops in to chat with Jeff Teague and the Club 520 squad at Adidas in Indianapolis! Mitchell tells his crazy story of getting drafted and then getting his own signature shoe with Adidas just ONE YEAR into his NBA career. Spida Mitchell shares stories about some of his insane scoring performances this season, and ridiculous battles with Jamal Murray in the bubble. And Donovan Mitchell talks about going up against Anthony Edwards and James Harden, and why his Cleveland Cavaliers have gone under the radar. Plus don't miss Jeff Teague and Mitchell relive going up against Avery Bradley's defense. 0:00 - Intro0:50 - Donovan Mitchell's first signature shoe2:45 - Favorite Basketball shoes4:30 - Playing against guys wearing his kicks8:00 - Toughest matchups in the NBA10:00 - Jrue Holiday + Avery Bradley = Nightmares12:10 - Going CRAZY in the bubble13:10 - Three people he wants to wear his shoe #Club #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Volume. This is an iHeart Podcast. The Made for This Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and then climb that mountain. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 on the iHeartRadio 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 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. 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 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. All right, we back another episode of Club 520 Podcast. You know what I'm saying? We had a neutral site, but we still at the crib with it. We got a special guest in a special location. Introduce my man's last.

My far left, I got my dog, Bishop B. Hinn. Out the Prillies. How you doing, Nasty? Cool and nasty. Let's pod, baby. Out the gate. Got my dog, young Nacho, young T. What's happening with it? Good, man. I'm back home, man. Y'all know I was Adidas guy when I was in the league. So, man, back home. Back home with it. Got a special guest on my left. For me, I don't really get too excited about episodes. You know what I'm back home, man. Y'all know I was Adidas guy when I was in the league. So, man, back home. Back home with it. We got a special guest on my left.

For me, I don't really get too excited about episodes. You know what I'm saying? Everybody's normal. But this is a guy, one of my favorite players. In my opinion, one of the best players to come out of the University of Louisville.

We got Spider to Don. Donovan Mitchell, appreciate you for arguing with us, sir. Appreciate y'all, boy. Alty Gay, appreciate Adidas for the hospitality and the opportunity. You got a crazy, crazy, crazy order story about how you even got to Adidas,

man. Please, let's start there, because I know you was rocking them at Louisville, you know what I'm saying? And then tell us about how you went crazy in the Summer League, and they all went together. So, yeah, so I was supposed to go to Charlotte. I was supposed to get drafted by Charlotte. You know, when Micah was the owner, if you go to

Charlotte, you go to Jordan Brand. You know what I'm saying? So, I end up not going there, get drafted by Utah. We're going through the contract negotiations. I signed with Adidas. Cool. I played my whole first year. We won the dunk contest. And then Adidas ripped my contract up right after that and said,

we're going to give you a new one. We're going to give you a shoe. So I went from just being on the roster to next thing you know, being a signature shoe within a year. That's crazy. That's crazy. That's love. And you being modest about it, because what people don't understand is you killed summer league to get that.

Facts, facts. You had to go crazy in summer league. Not so many people have gotten a shoe deal from killing in the summer. T, you know how that Vegas. I didn't get that. I didn't kill no summer league. I stayed on the bench and the whole rookie year didn't play. You're right.

So don't worry about that. Obviously, man, with you being a universal Louisville legend, I mean, we're going to take it. How is it now that they wear your shoe? What was you rocking at Louisville, though? I was wearing the Dames. I was wearing Dames nonstop. I forgot.

I think it was like the threes or the fours. He was, it was those. There was some low tops tops but it's come the Adidas first of all Adidas has come a long way since that time absolutely

first and foremost but to see them wearing my shoes honestly it's crazy to me like you know it's I know I've been in the league seven years

I feel like I've been in the league for a while but I don't feel like that far removed from Louisville you know what I'm saying from where I first started and so

to come here now to be watching the game, seeing them wear my shoes, some of the guys on the team calling me, asking me like, yo, like, can I get this?

Can I get that? You know, that's, to me, that's just honestly surreal. You know, you grow up as a kid, you want that.

You know what I mean? So now that I'm here, it's a blessing and I'll forever cherish that. For sure. I know you'll be getting a phone call, hey,

let me get some shoes, cuz. I'm gonna be calling you too. For sure, yeah. What's your, what's your favorite Adidas shoe ever? because you ain't never had I'm going to be calling you too for sure yeah what's your what's your favorite Adidas shoe

ever off the court shoes might be these you can wear them on and off the floor but if I couldn't choose my own shoes yeah you a shell toe kind of guy

I wear shell toes a little bit I got big feet though so like you know what size you wearing 15 oh you out of pocket yeah the shell toes you can't wear the shell toes.

You can't wear no stairs. That's a whole. That's a whole shit. That's a whole life. That's a whole life. I'd probably say those. This new Jerry, Jerry Alenzo Fear God collection is fire.

Yeah, it's fire. We all wearing it. We all telling it. He got some, he got some, he got some shit. I think that's probably my favorite.

All right. So what was that moment like for you in the creation process? Shout out to Cam Mason, my dog. Creating that first one. How was that process? Because you was finding your way in the league and still doing it at the same time, but how was that process making the first one?

I feel like everybody's different. I've talked to different guys who have had different shoes from different brands and how they go about it. For me, my process is make the shoe show me the shoe and i say yes or no like it's real simple like i ain't got i'm not the one to be like i i want the the webbing on this to look like that i ain't want to be like as long as as long as my ankles feel cool and i'm and i think it looks good like that's fine so you know like i

said for the first one the first one was kind of sped up because everything was so last minute absolutely it was kind of like quick. But then once we got to two, three, four, now we're playing a year in advance. It became a whole process. It became like we're doing three different segments of it. It's like, you know, we're doing one in August. Then we're doing one in January. Then we're doing one, like, you know what I'm saying?

Just kind of going over it, making little tweaks here and there about what I like and what I don't like. But it's a process. And you get as much as you put into it, though. If you don't care, if you don't want it, you ain't going to put out a good product. But I know it's that gratification when you look on Instagram, you see the AU kids rocking your shoe. Now I got to ask you, how I feel when you're in the league and somebody

rocking your shoe and they play against you? I know you got to turn up a lot. I wouldn't be rocking your shoe, bro. I'm playing against you? I know, but if you saw me, I'd rock them. I'm playing the big three. I don't be rocking your shoe, bro. I'm playing against you. I know, but if you saw me, I'd rock on the big three. I'm playing the big three. I don't rock them. I feel like you have to.

First of all, you have to go at them. You got to bust their ass. You got to at least, you know what I'm saying, off rip. But in the second token, I'm like, I'm a dude that's like, man, that's love. I'm the same. I'm not one to be like, you know how niggas in the league are like, I can curse my way out. Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Go curse. You know what it is? Like, you get to a point where you're so far removed from that childhood. Like, you know, Jeff, like, you was a childhood kid dreaming about being on this stage. You know, so I'll never lose that aspect of it, too. So, like, yeah, I want to come at you. I want to drop 40 on you. But the same token is, like, the fact that you wearing my shoes, I grew up

trying to be like this, trying to be Donovan Mitchell. You know what I'm saying? So I always forever cherish that. And I always, I show I appreciate it. But, you know, there are a few guys out there that always, my former teammates, always wear my shoes. Like, they always ask me. So I appreciate them. But, you know, I definitely have to try and give them 40 at least.

Oh, yeah. You got to kill it one time, let them know what it is. Then you can come on Team Donovan, Team Donovan. You know what I you can come on Team Diamond, Team Diamond, you know what I'm saying? Got the new line popping out, you know what I'm saying? How'd that feel? Because now you move, now you what? You shoe six now, right?

Shoe six. Shoe six. And you got the own brand under shoe six. It's going crazy, bro. Yeah, so we, honestly, man, like I said, I'm going to keep repeating myself,

but it's crazy to me. You know what I mean? It never feels real. When I do these interviews, I do these events, I see my shoe, I see people talking to me about it.

Like, it's one thing I'll never forget. But now you become a, you become your own boss in a sense. Like, you become like, all right, cool. Like, you know, you dictating like, all right, but I want this. I want that. I want it to look like this. This is what people are saying. But the biggest thing, like I said to you, is how you get what you put into it.

You know what I mean? So I've called guys, I've asked younger kids, like, to make you stay tapped in with the younger generation. Absolutely. Because honestly, they would drive all the sales. Like, we ain't buying hoop shoes no more. We old.

Like, you know what I'm saying? Hey, you babies. The kids are the ones. The kids and their parents. I'm still tapped in. I mean, hey. You ain't have to buy. I got you.

You ain't got to buy. I got you. She ain't just plugged, man. I want the shoes, man. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, man. It's dope. For sure. How was it to tap me in? I know you got to collab with the HBCU team. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, man, it's dope. For sure.

How was it to tap me? I know you got to collab with the HBCU team. You know what I'm saying? They got an official team for your shoot. Yeah. Like, that's crazy. Like, were you a part of that process? How is it just to see, like, you know what I'm saying,

Black Excellence representing you and you help perpetuate that at the same time? You know, you never forget where you came from. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's my biggest thing. You know, I didn't go to HBCU, but, you know, there's always love there. You know what I mean? To see one that's my biggest thing. You know, I didn't go to an HBCU, but, you know, there's always love there. You know what I mean?

To see one of us continuing to do what we do, especially not just on the floor but in the community. You know what I'm saying? And I think that's one of my biggest things and understanding that we're still trying to find ways. And the league's done a good job with the PA. We've done a good job of putting them on at All-Stars, showcasing the games, but, you know, continuing to fund

and continue to put money into these HBCUs and, you know, with shoes, with, you know, equipment, with gear. Like, you know, that's really where it starts. You know, that's the least we can do as athletes. We got that for free. Like, all right, cool. I'm going to at least do that for y'all. Now we can do more and build upon that.

So now that I'm able to do that with HBCUs, man, I love being able to do it. I love just seeing the faces on kids that just happy with one pair of shoes. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, that to me is dope. And I want to continue to build, you know, through HBCUs with my shoe and my stuff. And I'm glad

that we've been able to do that. And that's the thing you said, like, remember who you are. Like, we was a kid going to basketball camps, dog. We was geeks to go

to whoever camp got their t-shirt. If you got some shoes that was super lit. So for you to be able to give that moment to a lot of different kids, like, it don't even matter

what happens after that. They're going to remember that for the rest of their life. For sure. What's your favorite Adidas matchup in the league? What other opposing player you look at

that's in sign with Adidas? I got to say, Ant bring it every night. Yes, sir. Ant the dog, man. I think Ant's a guy, he bring the best out of you. You know what I'm saying?

He talks and all that, but as a dog, man. Like, I think Ant's a guy, like, he bring the best out of you. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, yeah, he talks and all that, but, like, as a competitor, like, that's what you want. Like, you want to go against, you know, a guy like him. You know what I mean? So, hey, I would say he's probably number one for sure just because of the energy he brings. Is James a close two? James is up there for sure. I played James twice in the playoffs two years in a row,

so I feel like I played him a bunch. You know, we done lost twice too. I remember y'all was guarding behind him. I called Quinn about that. I said, Quinn, bro. That ain't it, bro. I forgot you had Quinn. Yeah.

I said, that ain't it, bro. Y'all were standing behind him. That wasn't it. That wasn't it. That wasn't it. We needed to – you seen we lost 4-1, I said. We lost 4-1. That wasn't it. So I would you seen we lost 4-1, I said. That wasn't it. I would say James up there too,

for sure. I think James and Ant are definitely the two. Oh, Dame too. Yeah, definitely. Dame for sure. And what's crazy now, like,

y'all killing right now. Y'all going crazy absolutely right now. Under the radar, which is crazy, it's under radar, but y'all been going crazy in large part because

obviously you've been doing your thing, man. How you feeling about this season, man? I'm excited. I think a lot of it under the radar has to do with how we, you know, we your thing, man. How you feeling about this season, man? I'm excited. I think a lot of it under the radar has to do with how we,

you know, we didn't really do shit in the playoffs last year. You know what I mean? You know how that goes. Like, we didn't handle business. You know what I'm saying? Like, we got embarrassed

to be honest with you. You know what I mean? So that kind of carries with you into that next year until you do something about it. So, shit, we can go 82-0. I don't think we get the credit we deserve just because

that's just all that matters in this world is the playoffs. You know what I'm saying? So for us, not getting too hyped, like understanding like this is what we do. This is what we expect of ourselves. It's like understanding we're trying to build. Like, yeah, it's an all-star break.

You know what I mean? It's great. Like we're playing what we're playing and we should be happy for that success. But at the same token, we're not surprised at what we do. Like continue to build upon that. So then April, May, June comes around,

you know, time to handle business. For sure. Now it's a 5-20. Should we be remiss if we didn't ask you a couple of questions how we June comes around, you know, time to handle business. For sure. Nelson, 5'20", should we be remiss if we didn't ask you a couple questions how we were? Obviously, you know what I'm saying?

You came in the league going crazy, but who was that first matchup you was just like, damn, like, this is how they do this every single night in the league? Like, maybe not even

a marquee night, but at one point, he was like, oh, I didn't even know he was like this. Oh, man. I'd probably say Drew Holiday. Damn, he get mentioned a lot.

Drew Holiday, for sure. I was just like, and I'll never forget my assistant coach at the time, Johnny Bryant, he was like, yeah, lace him up. Like, this motherfucker, like, he don't play. And I'm like, all right, man, whatever. I had 40 the first time we played him so I'm thinking that's how it's supposed to be like I'm thinking it's sweet he going under on screens you know I mean they don't know what that's like you know what I'm saying and after that I think

we play in New Orleans just oh you call him in New Orleans yeah you know who else is up there too A.B. Bradley when he was in uh come, man. I'm still having nightmares. Who you taking, though? Better defender. Real shit. Who you got? Depends on what I'm trying to guard. You get buckets. I ain't going to lie.

It's a true story. I probably... Avery retired, right? Yeah. He done? All right, so I can say this. We playing in Detroit, and it's probably a film on this, too. I'm the point guard at the time. I don't know how to play.

My ball handling really ain't like that. I had to stop bringing the ball up the court because he was on the floor. I had to stop. And I don't think I've ever, I've never,

I've never felt like that with anybody else in the league. So I got to give it to Avery probably. You ain't the only one. Just because. He got that same score. Once you get to half court, like, you know,

the half court line, he didn't get you. You just, you ain't going nowhere. Like, he quick, he strong. But I would say probably Avery Bradley for sure sure what's crazy is him jordan crawford and other people that said he was like he's like it don't matter how good you dribble he don't turn you in every possession and i ain't have the confidence in my hand like this is my first year

in the league oh yeah my handle like i'm like i'm used to coming off screens coming on different things but i'm not really like if you pick me up full court at this time it's like oh shit like i don't really know what i'm doing just like this't doing that shit. He just standing there just like this looking at you like, nah. He was in it. He wouldn't do that now, though. Oh, no. He know what it is, man. I always wanted to ask you about your bubble moment.

Like, I know we don't got that much time, but what you did in the bubble, you and Murray was going back and forth. Bro, that was crazy, bro. Nah, that was, that for me was really the emergence of myself, like, taking that step. You know what I mean? Like, I had a great rookie year in the playoffs. I would beat OKC, of myself, like taking that step. You know what I mean? Like I had a great rookie year in the playoffs. I would beat OKC, whatever, like all that happened. Then the second year, whatever.

But that year for me, like scoring outbursts and all that, it was a big part of that. But like it was really where I felt in control of myself. Like, all right, cool. Now I'm seeing situations. I'm understanding situations. I'm understanding the blitz. Because, you know, I had 57 game one, but but people don't know i only had like 20 in game

two we won by 30 because they were like all right fuck it he not scoring and for me like to be able to make that adjustment from game one to game two and be like i bet i don't need to score i can get off it and then we went by 30 now ultimately we lose to we lose the series but like that for me really unlocked a lot of shit for me mentally but to it game it honestly came to a point where maul was scoring i'd be like i bet i gotta score like it became one on one kind of cancel each other out and like everybody else had to figure it out like you score i'm scoring i love how you just say i had 57 like something's like yeah before we get up out of here,

I got to ask you, if you could have three people wear your shoe, who would those three people be? It could be anybody. Like in life or in who? Period. Michael Jordan.

Barack Obama. Okay. Y'all can get his address. In the O office, if you could wear him in the O office for sure. I'd probably say Jay-Z. That's a five out of three.

Probably that was three. That's a five out of three. I swear I thought you were about to say me. I was like, what did you say? What did you say? One more time.

I said Jay-Z. The wrong Jay. The wrong Jay. What's up, man? What's up? What's up? What's up? One more time. Oh, Jay-Z. The wrong Jay. The wrong Jay. But on that note, we're going to get about it here, Don. Appreciate you. Man, for sure.

You know what I'm saying? Be here. Hey, that's our admin right there. You know what I'm saying? Tell them about the people I need to cop them. Man, cop them everywhere, man.

These is damn near horrible. I might get back on the court. I'm going to have to holler at DM about this for real. Nah, for sure. We appreciate you coming on the show, man, for sure. I appreciate y'all, for sure. Shouts to the good people at Adidas. Shouts to Donovan Mitchell, Club 520.

Thank you, bro. Appreciate y'all. The Made for This Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and then climb that mountain.

You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify, the thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain, this is the struggle. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. On the 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 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. Thank you. 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. 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 coach, Dillon 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.