Club Shay Shay - 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 spent 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.

Wake up with football every morning and listen to my new podcast, NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal. Five days a week, you'll get all the latest news and the best analysis delivered by the time you get your coffee. The show hits every single game every single week, but I can't do it alone. So I'm bringing in all the big guns from NFL media like Colleen Wolf. Subscribe today and you'll immediately be smarter and funnier than your friends. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 to your next big event game time is a fast and easy way to buy special tickets For any event game with great last-minute deals all in prices the best views from your seat Game time takes away you having to worry about all the other stuff and gets you right straight to the event.

So go ahead and take the guesswork out of buying tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code CLUB520. If you use code CLUB520, man, you get $20 off. So go ahead, download the Game Time app, sign up, and while you're at it, go ahead and use the promo code club 520 for 20 off your first purchase on the app terms apply again when you sign up make sure you use the promo code club 520 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. 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. Shout out to the bartenders. Make sure y'all tip the bartenders.

The 520 drink be here. What's in there, man? You got, uh, goddamn, I done forgot. Goddamn. Red Bull, I done forgot. God damn. Red Bull, pineapple. That's a great advertisement. Consomigos. Rep.

And that's it. Hennessy, man. Henny. Shake it, pour it, mix it. What are y'all doing? He asked what was in the drink. What are you doing, bro? Come on, bro.

Shout out to Hennessy. Let's go. Come on. We ain't going to never go corporate. 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. 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 ever wear black forces. They say you be pump faking. Nah, we back at it today for the city. Out the gate to my right, my dog. Young Nacho, Young Teague, how you what? I'm chilling, bro. I'm happy to be here.

I'm glad everybody came. What did I see? All my partners in the crowd, so that's cool. Them forces weak as fuck, though. I'm going to keep it a bean. Them weak, bro. Come on, man. Let this fuck get on his ass.

Get rag on your head. All right, you know what? Let's go Now 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 You always do

DJ, introduce the sneaky 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 Oden How you doing sir, appreciate you pulling up the 520 my boy I 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. Appreciate y'all for having me up here.

Everybody appreciate y'all coming out. Now, we got to tell the people, we had you down in his house 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 Petrinasi. Yeah, I learned that shit on the west coast. Damn. When I was drinking here, I was drinking in Terre drinking Petrinacy. Yeah, I learned that shit on the West Coast. Damn. When I was drinking here, I was drinking Terre Haute, Indiana.

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 I moved from Buffalo, New York, in the fourth grade.

So I grew up there. I didn't come to Indy until eighth grade. For sure. But how did you, like, how would you make Udonis Hasselman, 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 paternity? That shit is nasty. 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 quick, so that's what it was.

I see your method. When you start drinking that, though, when you got drafted? Uh, no drafted Before that High school I had a nice getaway in high school I knew y'all East Side was crazy boy We ain't do none of that out west do we

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 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 tell you that.

I was like, man, this dude is tall. We seen you playing for Indy 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 um you know i grew up in the 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 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 I was 6'6". Trash. What size shoes were you wearing? What size shoes? Right now I wear 19. Nah, I'm being serious. Look. Pause.

That's crazy. I'm talking about 5th, 6th grade. Probably like 13. What fuck has been in trouble yo 13 boy you won't get no jewelry it's nothing well you had to play the full 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 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 still going crazy right now how was that going into that school you know i'm saying you clicked up your boy y'all was already nice and y'all just dominated all through high school he was nice he was on the front of uh, like, Sports Illustrated for kids 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. And, yeah, we got three state championships. That's all I got to say. Mike, seeing Mike still playing right now, what does 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 are you in, like year 17? Yeah, year 17. Special, man. I mean, I'm like, it's amazing to see. What are you, 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. 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. Yeah. I kind of don't 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. 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, they going to have an after party? No, because he play. Oh, damn. It had a great career. That's why I don't eat this food. I don't like

that real. But anyway. 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 Speaks team pulled up when they were Riverside. Yeah. 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. Remember my guy Devin? And you, early career. I don't tell nobody about that. But you know, they all pulled up with Coach Mike Conley and they came, knocked on my door, seven black kids my age asking to speak to me, asking 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 then went back in the house. And then that following week, they got me out to play in the men's league. 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 gonna talk about y'all going to school to college together but i'll talk about y'all in high school because i had some battles on the low you know i'm saying yeah we never beat them we never beat them they they always beat us about five or six points i remember one time we played y'all might have been my junior year i think it might have been your senior year uh we played at ln i

went to the basket it's the first time i knew i couldn't 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 want to ask you what the fuck was you thinking honestly i want to say after like so after sophomore year so junior and senior year high school i found the energy drink boost and i used to drink like two or three of them before the game and i swear to god i don't remember nothing i don't remember none of that so i apologize but i remember like there was a couple of games i used to dunk and it would be like they'll call a foul and it'll just be like i was i was awesome

you was doing their dolphin in high school three energy drinks that's crazy you remember uh was the regional days at Hinkle? You had to get two games, one in the morning, one in the evening. Yeah. Yeah. Threw that shit out. Next thing I know. We played y'all every morning and lost every time.

Besides freshman year. 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 but. Who was your toughest matchup in high school that you can remember? Josh McRobbins, of course. Legend.

He was nice. 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 read or write.

It was Arlington, man. 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. How long did you celebrate?

We played them in the second round of sectionals. It was either the second. Yeah, your first man, L.C. Yeah. That was the state championship. No, it wasnals. It was either the second or the third. That was the state championship. No, it wasn't. Yes, it was. It was number one versus number two. No, that was a sectional game.

He's saying they were the best teams. Okay, I got you. That was the state championship. We would have beat Arlington as though. Yeah, we would have. They weren't smart enough. I ain't going tolington ass, though. Y'all would have. Yeah, we would have dogged them. They weren't smart enough. I ain't gonna do that to my niggas. Chill out. You're right. Y'all was a better team.

Shout out to B, shout out to Buck. 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. And I'm glad you're here so I can tell you about yourself.

And your cheating ass coach. And y'all paid them motherfucker refs. So shout out to my niggas at Arlington because 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? Yeah, that's specific. His school don't exist no more. I'm like, fine.

We still want to know so he can talk about the shit he want to. We still want to know. That's when I knew basketball was rigged. 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's the motherfucking power drinks. That Lamar Odom pregame. Crazy. That was a crazy game. 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. Nah, I had to get that off my chest. Nigga, I was saving that. Yeah, you was. Yeah, I think it's RP or IPS school system? Nah, I had to get that off my chest, nigga. I was saving it. Yeah, you was. Yeah, that was shitty.

RIP to IPS school system. Nah, for sure. Nah, but I will say in high school, that was probably our best game, because they would get us during the regular season, and then we would beat y'all and section those, you know. Respect. Respect. Even though you only beat us like once.

Yeah. Oh, you guys, they living on that. Bro, I get texts every month. Our team was the best team in the world. He over there, his name Bubby. Shout out to Bubby. They was number one, though. They was.

They was. But you went crazy in high school, 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, just the type of talent that's getting the 500,000s, the millions. Sometimes you be like, well, damn, what would we have got? When's somebody going to sue so we can get our shit back? I can't wait. You would have got 5 million off top. You was the best player in the nation. You was a

generational talent. 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. I said foot pulse. You got a 40-foot-inch vertical, whatever it was, 40-inch vertical. I said foot pulse. You got a 40-inch vertical. Like, you was going crazy.

Like, nobody in the world was like you at that time. You would have got $5 million easy. That's on the low end. On the easy, bro. I would have took it. Five mil after taxes. I mean, you already got that anyway when you went to Ohio State. We ain't going to talk about it.

I know the truth. Oh, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. I do got to 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.

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. Belly laughed hard when I said I didn't get paid in school. I would have laughed at you, too. How much you got? Shout out to weight. When I had that freshman year,

my mama was straight. You only got a thousand at Ohio State? I just got Pell Grant, man. Yeah. Didn't get paid. Yeah, out of pocket. You got to talk to Evan Turner. 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 if you do everything the right way for ohio state the buckeye faithful will love you for life man i had to give go back and get that man that $100. 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 $100. Fuck Jim Jackson. He was getting $1,000 every six months. You needed that $100. That's actually what I lived off of

before the draft. But now, man, needed that honey that's actually what i lived off of for the draft but now man at that time you know you couldn't get none in ohio state you know with the maurice claret stuff it was just that's right everything was on so you just had to do stuff the right way you right maurice fucked it up for y'all for sure and that year you was there you know 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 of 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. 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 offhand though. That's crazy. 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 Yeah And then Somebody else

I want to say That got drafted 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 Mike Ron Lewis Shout out to Daquan Cook What was 33 name I forgot his name The shooter That y'all had.

Daquan Cook? Nah, outside of Daquan. Who else was on the team? Ron Lewis. Ron Lewis. Ron Lewis, who hit the shot against Xavier. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Othello Hunter.

Othello. Matt Tullo. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Y'all was in Atlanta together. Yeah, I played in Atlanta. Yes, sir. O played a long time, man.

O Sheez. We was seeing him, man. Big fan of O, man. Yeah. Crazy, sir. O played a long time, man. We were seeing him, man. Big fan of O, man. Crazy as hell. Crazy. Wake up with football every morning and listen to my new podcast, NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal. Five days a week you'll get all the latest news,

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Listen now 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 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. 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 of Hennessy.

Come have your favorite Hennessy cocktail with your guys, man. And for your next pregame, let's share a twist on your favorite classic, a Hennessy margarita. Scooze a fresh lime and a spice of agave. Topped off with ice and a salted rim. Mix it, shake it, pour it, and enjoy the spirit 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, you know, y'all went crazy, 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, you was always highly recruited, always talented, but to be officially the number one pick, like, how was that process for you? It was a whirlwind of shit, just going through the draft process

and everything you got to do, especially knowing you could be one or two, just always doing interviews, just going here and there, never really getting the time to yourself to sit down. But I remember at draft, like, right, you know, going here and there and 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 geo we gonna turn up in the city where are we going and motherfuckers 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 but that parade in portland and being the number one pick and seeing everything in that city um what could have been um was definitely a experience i will never forget and so thankful for because it changed my life for sure and obviously that portland team obviously we're going 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 their teams how was it to play with like a lamarcus audrey and to have a bernard royale squad because y'all all was super talented yes we was just super young and i rarely got to play with them. You only played like 76 games, I read, together. Damn near.

It might have been 72, for real. Yeah. But those dudes were so talented. 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 Mann, just one of the most unstoppable games.

He said, you going to stop me going to this hook? Yeah. 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 – A hell of OGs. No, was. Hey, hello, OGs.

No, we did get a lot of OGs. But that was necessary back then, though. Yeah, yeah. Playing with Marcus Camby, Joe Prisbilla. Damn, that's some names right there. Hey, man. Dude, I learned a lot. 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. Like, 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. 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. man like everybody around here know you we know how dominant you are so the injuries suck it's part of the game but yeah you definitely was one of them dominant guys for sure appreciate that you was on the cover of college hoops like i know college football 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 did i get paid for that no i think i took the honor man i wish i was no agent in fucking college i had no agent in college man oh man man tap me in and i have kids i got y'all i mean you know just being able to look back at it i mean i think it was the last maybe one of the 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, boy. Nah, homie did a reel of all your graphics from like college to 2K. Weak. Them first 2K graphics is crazy. I don't first 2k graphics. It's crazy. And they had a mohawk. I'm sick of this shit, bro.

Wow. I know we interview on Greg. What made your lame ass get a mohawk? Bitch, you was up. Why are you getting a mohawk? Corny ass. Y'all laughing at this shit?

I was living in Atlanta, bro. And he got a dot. I didn't get that shit dot, nigga. I was real, nigga. I didn't get a dot. But I did ask for a design on the side. Ah, shit. Hell nah. 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, he like, how 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 being in Atlanta.

How I'm going to get in? I used to hate. I ain't going to lie.. Fuck being in Atlanta. I'm going to get in. I used to hate. I ain't going to lie. It was you and Al Horford, man. And after that was in the Sierra video, I was hating. Every time I seen y'all niggas, I was like, what's good, man? I was hating, too. You already worried about playing time.

I'm worried about partying and shit. I'm injured, man. I got free time on my hands. Goodies was a nice video. Spectacular. Back in the day. How was that, though, watching Brennan Roy, because his career got stopped with injuries, too, man.

How was that? We talked about him before on the show. I think Joe Johnson was better personally, but Brennan Roy was a dog for sure. I mean, they're 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. Like he would just do things that you just – nobody was even thinking of.

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. They're just bucket getters. He was just such a good dude. I wish he could have played a little longer as well, man. So talented, man.

He carried the teams we did have. It wasn't a long time, but he just did things. Sometimes I find myself going back and watching Brandon Roy's top 10 plays on YouTube. Hey, man. That boy was cold.

Nah, he was cold. Definitely cold. 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. That's crazy. Chill out, bro. That was crazy. Let's move on. You're doing a lot. Okay, my bad.

You're doing a lot today. 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, you know, 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. 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're talking about Hall of Famers playing at the top of their game. 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 dancing around.

I'm about to die. My leg about to fall off, off of 16 minutes. Like, the man just had crazy energy, man. And 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 until the end of the season. Oh, he was locked in. Oh, yeah.

Couldn't have been me. Boy was outside, ain't he? Boobie trap. Live on Sunday. You better know it. They would have hung my jersey up for real. Nah, bro, that's Mike. Don't do that, bro.

Don't try to add my name, bro. So what's up with your charities now? What charities you working with now? So the first one right now coaching at Butler, a big charity is called A Kid Again. It's throughout the country, 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 a hospital and dealing with whatever illness that is so a kid again it's a

great organization right here in the city the Colts mess with 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, in 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. 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. 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 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 you know what they need to do to get to that level so i'm gonna go ahead give him and his props as the nba champion he is appreciate that I think they took my ring back though. Yeah, they took my ring back. The Bucks fans vetoed it. 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. If you don't feel like your son in the best situation, they're probably going to complain a little bit. It's a tough environment right now. So, you know, if you don't feel like your son in the best situation, 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. 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 you know 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 so it's just you, 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. 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 term so now they dropping out of school early and then trying to catch up so a lot of them not gonna finish their degree that's and another thing they don't get any financial education like all these kids at a young age are getting all this money and nobody is really telling them what to do you know a lot of these kids are paying agents 20 percent uh lee i mean like in the nba like in the nba you're only paying like three three four percent like and a lot of these kids or even the parents or even the families from where these kids coming from don't even know so no that's it's gonna be a lot so in the long run i

think it is gonna hurt the game until we get some capital. 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, is 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. 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 think they're going to the nba so you saying that it's big yeah um i've been working with this company educore um for about four years now and just teaching financial literacy to athletes and entertainers and we we're moving to the college, but we're also still doing professional athletes and entertainers.

And it's definitely a lot. It's definitely needed. And, you know, 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, 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 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. Well, shit, I'm in the club one day, and that motherfucker's credit card didn't work. And it's like 1.30 in the morning and it's to

the point where I wasn't as 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 card, 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 it's going know who who the people are that's handling your money because you don't want to be stuck in a club like me emailing the financial guy in california and it's two in the morning. Did he hit you back?

No. That's tough. That happened to me at Louis Vuitton one time. I was in there trying to purchase something for P. I was trying to purchase something for P. Trick or root. Trick or root. Why did he get me sweet, man? My card declined.

I was in Atlanta. I was at the store called Jeffrey's. My card declined. I leave because I'm embarrassed. I go to the bank. I was in Atlanta. I was at the store called Jeffries. My card declined. I leave because I'm embarrassed. I go to the bank. I go get like $20,000. I got it, motherfucker. Don't play with me. I'm buying stuff I ain't want.

That's stupid shit, but that happened to me too. Nah, kids need them stories though, bro. Especially like you said with the transfer portal. The NIL is so crazy is that they can have these agreements for money, but they don't have to fulfill them. Because there's nothing backing those situations. Like bigger companies, you can do that. But it's so many whoreshorts of kids that in transfer places promises money, but they ain't perform like they was 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 wait to protect these kids growing up now yes a lot of money throwing their face but none of this is actually like solidified yet so y'all having a company is saving a lot of people yeah and another thing on on that is well if you're going to come in and say i need my money guaranteed and we're going to come in and say well then i need 15 points a game. And 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 rid of it, bro.

I need to get paid. Get paid. I'm saying though, like you said, 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're getting for real that's hate let me get my bag no get paid but i'm saying though bro a lot of kids be cold at a small school and like he said a dude could be the 12th 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 Duke. You know what I'm saying? With the NIL. So that's why it's tough. For sure. Fuck it. If I know I ain't going to the league, I'm getting the biggest bag. I can't out the gate. Respect.

I can ride a bitch. Respect, bro. We can move on, bro. I don't want to get into my spill, bro. Now go ahead. You're home. You can do it. Nah, we good. For sure.

All right, Greg, I got to ask you. What's the best team you've ever been on? The Miami Heat team. Oh, is that easy? 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. 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, Brian 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, Michael Jordan.

But for me personally, it's LeBron because I've seen him do stuff that, like, I didn't think was possible. Nah, LeBron, Cole, 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 Bron.

Like, not everybody want to be Bron, bro. You look in the crowd right now, there's Jordans everywhere. Everybody wear Jordans. Everybody still want to be Jordans. I got Jordans on. I don't know what the fuck you got on. Boy's showing his ass today, 80.

Boy's showing his ass. I got you, brother. Go ahead. He the ice indoor and basket door. I didn't even see the brand. He even labeled up and defeated. Look at the real. Look at that 360 deal, man. Shout out to my nigga, the real.

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. As a big man, I got to ask you, how you feel about Jokic running the NBA right now? 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. His IQ of the game and just the things he can do with his body and lack of athleticism is just amazing.

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 not just being athletic it's going to get you there for sure all right before we get out of here obviously i know who you taking in that temple wolves nuggets but who you got tomorrow game, seven Pacers-Knicks? I got Pacers. My nigga. Jokes. 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. But I am all in on the Pacers the microphone, Greg. I am all in on the Pacers right now, man. I like the Pacers. Playing at the Garden, Game 7.

Right now, I think the Knicks is just too banged up for me to see them. But that crowd is going to be crazy. You know how the atmosphere is. A lot of people shrink in them kind of environments. It's going to be New York, Game 7. New York. I know they did some yesterday. They went to some will shrink in them kind of environments. It's going to be New York. 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. 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 know that. Nixon 7. Is OG back? Nah, don't matter. Paciocin 7. I heard you talk about Madison Square Garden. I'm going 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. I'm 19 at the time. I was like, hold on, man. I didn't tell him how you look. Hey, so nobody said nothing on my team.

And I respect them for it. But when we went in the back, my mother was like, hey, did y'all hear what they said about Greg? I ain't going to lie. I was like, yo, y'all hear what the fuck they said about Greg? I ain't going to lie. I used to be like, yo, y'all got to get his birth certificate, bro. Bro, damn, they're one of the Africans, bro. Yeah, you said Greg's a real Pascal? He called him an African. It's crazy.

You know what I mean? No, to my face it's crazy. That's crazy. Oh, man, my fault. I'm wilding my butt. Disrespectful. Nah. i look at it like this they told me when i was uh 16 i looked 35 when i was 21 i looked 35 i'm 36 right now you look hopefully when i'm 50 you look i look 45 oh you got brains 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 in my little space Right here You're going to cut them hoes off Them crazy The real last dance You know what

Y'all I ain't going to start heating against them That's our dog last dance hey you know what y'all you gotta bring back the pike berries boy this shit barely hanging on hey this is a shout out to you the real idiot my sh shoes were like nipsey bro don't do that oh i hate to i got the devin williams that's what they get before they put their soul in here who got the soul in here mike did he want questions mike we can't hear you.

We don't know sign language. Come on, Freaky Mike. Don't ask him. Three questions. Anybody? That one for Carmel shirt on. Sorry, Mike. Mike got every kanky version of Nike.

It got matching socks. Where the fuck you get a Carmel blade to? I thought you had no socks on. I'm about to hurt your ass. Anybody got questions? Questions? Questions? Anybody got questions?

No, bet. Damn, Mike. Shout out to Freaky Mike, man. 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 great crowd. Gio, appreciate you pulling up, my boy.

For sure, bro. Strip about to get the party back rocking. You know what I'm saying? We got food over here. The bar is back open. Food event is back open. Enjoy yourselves. Have a good time.

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