Club Shay Shay - Club 520 - Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver & Paul Millsap on 60-win Atlanta Hawks, NBA playoffs vs. LeBron James

Episode Date: March 8, 2025

Jeff Teague and the Club 520 guys are back with a bonus episode LIVE from Atlanta where Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap join to talk about the historic 60-win Atlanta Hawks season from 2015. The guys talk about sending four players to the All-Star Game, when they realized that they were one of the best teams in the NBA, and reflect on getting swept by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. #Volume #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from All-Star Weekend for a new podcast called GOAT Greatest of Their Era. And we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s. Major Five, Dirt Four. Major is a lead. You won't believe who Steph left off his list. That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations. Yes, absolutely.

I love it. Listen to GOAT, G-O-T-E, Greatest of their era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that. We're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season.

From DJ's mock drafts to my top 101 free one free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL draft. Listen to forties and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up everyone? Julie Swift, banks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The name? Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey, life, all topics are fair game, right? Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe. Listen to Energy Line with Nate and JSB on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tickets are on sale now, y'all, for our 2025 iHeart Country Festival, presented by Capital One, happening Saturday, May 3rd, at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Don't miss your chance to see Brooks and Don, Thomas Rhett, Rascal Flatts, Coles Wendell, Sam Hunt, Megan Maroney,

Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. The Volume. on sale now at Ticketmaster.com. The Volume. All right, ATL brought out the nice chairs for us. Shout out to the Hawks, man. Let's make some noise for the Hawks one time. The show, two times for y'all.

We appreciate y'all pulling up one time for the one time. It's Club 520 Live and the ATL, man. Young Nacho back home, man. Yeah, I'm glad I don't see no double zero churches. I appreciate that. So, real time in my life. The PTSD jersey. For sure, man.

Well, listen, this is Club 520. I'm the host. My name is DJ Wells. We got some special, special guests with us, man. Honor no legendary team in the NBA, especially for the Hawks history, man. To my immediate left, we're gonna introduce my man's last, but to my far left, my dog, this should be hand out to Pearlies. How you doing, nasty? Whatks history, man. To my immediate left, we're gonna introduce my man's last, but to my far left, my dog,

this should be handing out the Pearlies. How you doing, Nasty? What's happening, man? ATL, thank you. He don't even sound the same, ATL. You know what's up, Sean? Tomorrow he got the zero drugs, turn me up. Yeah, I like that one.

That ain't those, you all right? All right, cool, here we go. For sure, for sure, to my right, y'all know what it is, man. ATL's finest, Young Nacho, Young T. I feel the beat back in the A, man. Feel great, man, it's always home. My favorite place to ever play,

so I'm glad I can have my guys show up with us today. I'm actually really, really happy about this. We've been trying to get Paul on the show. I wanted to get Kyle. Kyle's my guy, so to be able to do this live with y'all, this is great. For sure, man. Shout out to the Hawks one more time

for making this wonderful situation happen, man. Most definitely. Shout out to y'all. This is great. For sure, man. Shout out to the Hawks one more time for making this wonderful situation happen, man. Most definitely. Shout out to y'all as well for pulling up. But last but most certainly not least, man, to my left, man, we got two Hawks legends in the building, man. Both on their own right hand. Amazing NBA careers, man. We're no further ado, man.

We got Kyle Corvin, Paul Millsap in the building. Appreciate y'all sliding on us, man. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. For sure, for sure. Like we said Appreciate y'all sliding on us, man. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. For sure, for sure. Like we said, we're going to highlight that wonderful year, man. Obviously, y'all had many good years here, but that was a really, really, really special one.

But before we get into that year, we got to talk about how y'all all came together, because obviously, Nacho, you was already a Hulk. Paul, Kyle, y'all came from different situations. Let's talk about how y'all got to be in Atlanta Hulk. Well, I guess I'll start. Yeah, I was I was in Utah. You know, I spent seven years in Utah. Had some great years in Utah.

And then, you know, it was time to go. You know, I was looking for a place to be closer to home in Louisiana. I mean, my wife actually were looking at homes, you know, in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas area. So we want to move back somewhere. And the Hawks offered me a two year deal and the rest is history. Most definitely. Kyle, man, how'd you come up? I played with Paul in Utah for a couple years and then was in Chicago and then was with

Derrick Rose when he was MVP. Chew, chew, chew. Chew, chew, chew. Yeah. But then, you know, things happened. Had to get traded. I knew that I was going to be on the move. It's funny, we actually, I was driving with my wife. We drove from New Jersey. I don't know why we did this.

We drove all the way to Santa Barbara. And on the way, we knew we were going to get traded somewhere. And we were like looking around what teams it was going to be. And we got all the way to Santa Barbara. And I got a call from Danny Ferry saying I had to get traded somewhere. We were like looking around what teams it was going to be. And we got all the way to Santa Barbara and I got a call from Danny Ferry saying I had to file it back. We like drove across the country, got there, went to the airport and flew all the way back to Atlanta. And it was funny thinking back about it now.

We stayed at the Ritz Carlton downtown and Danny Ferry came down that morning and asked me to come to the table and talk to him. And I thought it was going to be like a welcome to the Hawks moment. And he was sitting there debating with the doctor if he was going to accept my physical or not. Like right in front of me. He's like, I don't know this guy's been... I had a foot injury the year before and he's like debating if he was going to accept this thing. And I'm like, man, should I be sitting here? Should I like walk away? And he decided the last second, he's like,

all right, we're going to do it. Welcome to the Hawks. And I was like, okay. So how did I get to the Hawks? And physicals Ronnie made real tricky right now for sure. Now for you, he was already here with a different regime, obviously new culture, new situation. How was that welcoming them to the team?

I probably wasn't the best at welcoming people to the team. I didn't talk much. So when I met Paul, he just came in, what's up? You know, he don't talk a lot either. So he like, what's up, bro? It's gonna be a great podcast. Yeah. What's up, bro?

That's all he gave you was a hit? Nah, what's up, bro? And Kyle, he was, y'all see Kyle, he lights up a room, he comes in, what's up, bro? That's all he gave you was a hit or not. What's up, bro? And Kyle, he was, y'all see Kyle, he lights up a room, he comes in. What's up, brother? I thought he was like a surfer kind of guy, so I'm like, what's up, cool dude? But he was super cool, super chill, and it was easy. It was easy to work with. That's crazy.

I mean, before we get past this point, we got to talk about Kyle, man. You got one of the legendary picks in the NBA, man. You were the Jordan zone. Has that ever like came across your timeline recently? What's that again? You got the rookie pick. You got the Jay's on and everybody's like, dang, we thought he was a surfer, but you had the heat on your feet. Please revisit that. That's where that's like, it's like there's a date on the calendar where that picture has to come back on the internet every single year. It's like two pictures. That's one of them. Um, but yeah, man, you know, that was All-Star weekend. You gotta come with something, right?

For sure, a little bit different than All-Star weekend now, for sure. That's the truth. Yeah. My fault, I'm petty, y'all. But listen, man, legendary scene to start off, man. First of all, who was coaching that team about the song? Mike Budenhozer, Coach Bud.

Coach Bud, your man. Yeah, that was my guy. Oh yeah, you can clap it up for Bud. You can clap it, Coach Bud. Shout out to Coach Bud. Coach Bud. The man. Yeah, that was my guy. Oh yeah, you can clap it off for Bud. You can clap it off for Coach Bud. Shout out to Coach Bud, that's the homie for sure. Yeah. Coach Bud was cool. When he first got here, I didn't like him.

Not to say it like that, but we ended up becoming really good friends. But we played the ISO style, you know, before they got here, we had Joe, everybody played one-on-one basketball. I don't know if it was the best brand of basketball, but it was fun. And he came in and changed all that.

And for me, it was my time to shine. I thought I just had got the team, like it was my first year really about to start. And he was like, nah, we don't play that way no more. I was like, he hating. So after that, we didn't start off on the best foot. Yeah, no, me and Bud, you know, we kicked it off pretty, pretty good. You know, our first time meeting each other.

For me, I was just evolving into, you know, a more high volume player. And Bud kind of brought that out of me. You know, I actually reached out. They actually reached out to me a couple of weeks ago, you know, when I officially decided to retire. And he said congratulations. And I was like, you know, I appreciate everything that you've done

because he helped bring that, you know, whatever it was that I had, you know, out of me. And, you know, definitely appreciative for that. Most definitely, man. And congratulations as well, man. I'm retiring for sure, man. Here we go, chosen love Most definitely, man. And congratulations as well, man. On your retirement for sure, man. There we go. Chose some love.

Congratulations, man. Now, before we get into the season, me and B here gotta talk because this our man. This our man from the day one. So naturally we got to hate. And y'all was our favorite team to hate on, man. Yeah, y'all was, man. I ain't fool with y'all like that.

I'm gonna keep it real. I was supporting my guy, but I was like, how do they keep winning, man? Who did you root for at that time? I was really just a player. Like, Carmelo Anthony was my favorite player. But me and him, it was deeper than y'all. Like, he made me not like him.

Like, he used to come back to the crib, Cal Corver, Schubert, and everybody in the crib, Cal Corver, shoe bearing everybody in the league, Cal Corver, shoe bearing, man, I can't say I don't hear it, but yeah, I know what Corver. But no, I just used to be like, dang bro, really leading the Hawks, like, and I honestly thought that y'all could have made it for real run, but I had to hate,

cause that was just our beef for real. But I didn't see y'all with no- Yeah, yeah, yeah, that was just our beef for real. But I didn't see y'all with no cash. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was always real beef though. They call us the little giants. You ever seen that movie? That's what they call me every day. Y'all was the little giants, man.

Y'all had y'all one shot. Then y'all went on that crazy run, but you know, shout out to y'all. Y'all did y'all thing for sure. For sure, man, we ain't gonna get too far ahead of ourselves, but starting that season off, y'all started off 505 and five. Initial thoughts on that, like, are you

trying to figure it out or just get used to new players, new tools with Bud, every day, new systems? Or did y'all know we have some special we just got to get there? I don't know that we knew that we were going to end up with the season that we had. And I think that our group really had been in the works for a couple of years. And that's really how these really good teams happen.

It never just all comes together. There's very few instances in the NBA where a bunch of moves are made and now we have this super team and they're gonna take off. That's happened, but it's not very often. And I think what we had all been doing, it was just really trusting a process. And Paul been there for a couple years now, I've been there a couple years. Jeff, you've been there. But we didn't really add anything new that was going to like put us over the top. And so it really is we started off, like you said, we started off five hundred.

But like our style of play, our chemistry kept on building. And then we end up in, you know, later on in the spring, going a whole month without losing. And we're like, wow, like I think we're good. I thought I was going to get traded. When we started off like, yeah, they got probably have to move me. I'm not mixing in pretty well. But now we just got in a groove.

And like when we got in that groove, it was over with. Our defense was connected. Our offense was connected. And it was times out there during that year, we didn't even get to play the fourth quarter. And it messed up my stats. I still made an All-Star team. Barely.

Who was the vocal leader on that team though? Who had the biggest mouth on that team? It wasn't me. It wasn't me. Cause I just though, clearly all three of y'all is quiet. So. I mean, that's funny because, you know, Bud always tried to get somebody to be super vocal,

one of those guys, right? Yeah. And neither one of us, you know, really had it in us. So each one of us would say something every now and then, and we'll put our input in. But Bud was the vocal leader. Okay. You know, at that time.

All right. I didn't say a word. Kyle, Kyle talked, he talked a lot. You know Al, you know Al. Yeah. So y'all used to just kill people and not say nothing to nobody. Nobody talk crazy to the opponent or nothing.

Not even nobody on the bench used to talk crazy. Dennis. Dennis, yeah. Most definitely. Dennis talk crazy to y'all. You didn't get about those UNO games yet. Oh, no. I took that, oh, this is just a sidebar.

I took that UNO game, and we have them at our house all the time. They come from you? Ultimate UNO? Us? Oh, okay. I didn't know where you got that from. It was more intense in the UNO games than on the court.

Y'all answer. That's how it is now. I was gonna say, y'all are responsible for a lot of random disagreements. Maybe Baby Fist fights out outside the club, 520 due to Ultimate UNO gonna say, y'all are responsible for a lot of random disagreements, maybe baby fist fights out of the club, 5'20 due to Ultimate Uno, so thank y'all for that. We appreciate that footage for sure. That's crazy, the fact that y'all were really that like,

kind of just monotone with just killing, but you talked about the makeup of that team and stuff, but also shout out to Al. Al's still hooping. Ain't that crazy? Super crazy. Still hooping. Still winning championships. He's super good still.

So it's just Al and Dennis from that team still playing? Yeah. Man. Damn. We fizzled out pretty fast. Yeah. That would be real quiet. You know it's bad when the crowd got like a definitely quiet like, like R.I.B.

That's crazy. For sure man. Well listen, y'all caught y'all stride. January, historic month. Like basically your entire team, this player of the month. How was that feeling? Y'all all killing, y'all all getting the recognition from that.

I know that has to feel good in the locker room for sure. I don't think any one of us cared. You know, at that time, I don't think we cared that much, right? We were so in the zone in the process of winning that none of the stats and accolades actually mattered. You know, it's after the fact, you know, when the career is over with, I look back and say, this probably will never be done again. You know, it's an amazing accomplishment, especially when you got four, you got four

teammates, you know, it's all stars. Probably will never be done again. Yeah, let's talk about that also a bit, man. Listen, four teammates into the all-star situation. How do y'all find out about that? Cause I know some made a little bit earlier than those, like, what's that like when y'all find out that all y'all gonna be representing the squad?

I didn't know that all of us was gonna make it. I was just worried about me. I was over there praying. But I knew Paul would make it. He was having a great year. Most definitely. And I knew Al was gonna make it. He had already been making them anyway.

So I knew them two were gonna make it. So I didn't know if I would make it and I didn't know if Kyle was gonna make it. But I was going to make it. He had already been making them anyway. So I knew them two were going to make it. So I didn't know if I would make it. And I didn't know if Kyle was going to make it. But I was excited for us. Kyle, what's that feeling like when you find out you're going to be representing the squad? That was pretty wild for me. I never saw myself as an all-star player.

Like, I always wanted to be the piece that, like, made a team go and someone that you always wanted to be the piece that like, like made a team go and someone that you really wanted to be, you know, you could count on depend on like you like I wanted to be that that that perfect teammate. So I never really like looked at myself as being like that. So I think with the beauty of that team, man, is like we all made each other better for sure. Like, and that's really the hallmark of the good teams to me is when everyone is looking at each other and it's not about me, it's how can I make the guy next to me better. And the beauty of that squad was like, we didn't need, we were talking about words. We didn't, we talked on the

court, we talked in nods and winks and looks. And that's what made us special. We didn't have to communicate, like yelling at each other. We was like, we didn't have to like communicate, like yelling at each other. Like, we was like, I looked at you and looked it out and I knew we were gonna run wide. You know, like it was just, we had this kind of sixth sense to us and that's really what made that team special and what made it so fun to play on. Definitely.

That's the problem now with me coaching basketball. I think I got Kyle. Yeah. I think they can do that. They looking at me like, you all right? You about to pass out coach? I'm like, no. Yeah, Kyle Corbett's not walking through that door

and shouting the pipe for sure. No, that's not. Yeah, I mean, for me, I was happy. I had teammates going to the All-Star game. I was, I don't mess with the other guys. I didn't care about all that. But to have my teammates with me going to the All-Star game with me. I was, I don't mess with the other guys, man. I didn't care about all that. But to have my teammates with me going to the All-Star games, it definitely meant something.

And on top of that, but I was angry because Demare didn't make it. And Demare was my guy. Demare, everybody knows was like the engine guy. He was the glue guy. He did a lot to help us win. And it just sucks to see that he didn't be a part of that moment, you know what I mean?

So for me, it was a bittersweet moment, but definitely was glad I had my other guys with me. I was gonna ask that question, I was the sense of top of being. If everybody on the starting five make that, that all-star team, but you don't. He got paid though, that next summer. That's what it is, that's what it is.

I never had my spot. Be a legend at the bank. No, that's what it's about. Did y'all used to ever run a special play that y'all knew couldn't nobody stop? Or did y'all just free for all? I know we had some go-to plays. I would just ask cause Jeff be trying to get his players to run some of those.

Most of them was the cow. You know, when, when, when Cal Cover came off a screen, he had the whole building looking at him. Yeah. You know, and when he made that, he either he was had an open shot or he made the pass down. I mean, we got that every single time. Every single time.

Yeah. That was easy. Like I remember it's a video going around. Well, I think you scored scored 11 points in like a minute or something like that. You're like, it's crazy, he checked. And I just remember, we used to just throw you the ball anywhere. We'd be, you'd be running around like,

he gonna shoot it, it's good. Yeah, yeah. Every time, I never really thought you ever gonna miss. Like when you missed, I was more like surprised. Like you missed? But I think, you know, we're sharing the love here, which I think is great. But, you know, like I was a product of how we played.

Yeah. Right, like I remember you and Kenny Atkinson watching so many clips of that, like why, like when exactly does Kyle wanna have the ball and where does he wanna have it? You remember that? That back little gym over there, like, and you would watch it and then we come talk about it

and we watch it and we come talk about it. And like the screens and all the movement, like it was just perfectly set up for me. So it was wonderful, man. I love coming off all those screens. It was fun. What's the most threes you hit in the game that season? You remember?

Eight. Oh, God. So, it's a whole new world out there now, man. Yeah. He's not that many. You would have had to shoot 15. Shh. Yeah, did you?

Yep. You think you would have been able to rock out in this league today? Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from All-Star Weekend for a new podcast called Goat, Greatest of Their Era, and we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s. Paysia five dirt four. Paysia is a lead.

Okay. I'm mad I left them off my list, but I still like my list. You won't believe who Steph left off his list. That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations. Yes, absolutely. I love it. Steph talked about what separates the truly elite NBA shooters.

When you have a scouting report and you're on the list as not just a shooter, but we have specific rules for how we guard you. There's a fear factor that's associated with it. Anytime you're wide open, you might as well just count that and get on back on defense. Listen to GOAT, G-O-T-E, greatest of their era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Julie Stewart Banks. I'm doing a new podcast from iHeart Podcasts and the National Hockey League.

And I'm paired up with one of my favorite players, the always quotable Nate Thompson. I wore nine NHL sweaters, and I have story after story to share. And believe it or not, I have plenty to say, and not just about hockey. Believe me, he does. Energy Line with Nate and JSB is the name of the podcast,

and it's gonna be, well, it's gonna be quite the ride. We're officially line mates, Nate. We're the Energy Line. We'll have plenty of folks join us, current players, some of my former teammates, Hall of Famers, and wait to see some of the connections that Julie has. She has quite the Rolodex. OK, we'll lean into Nate's playing experience

and tap into our interests away from hockey and try to do what Energy Lines are supposed to do, provide an emotional boost. How do you feel about all that, Nate? I'm vibing, Julie. I'm ready to roll. Listen to Energy Line with Nate and JSB on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, you guys. I'm Catherine Legge. I'm a racing driver who's literally driven everything

with four wheels across the planet. And I've got a new podcast. It's called Throttle Therapy. This season, I'm gearing up to make history competing in some of the world's most notorious racing events, starting at the Indy 500. Join me as I travel from racetrack to racetrack in my quest to continue a memorable career in racing. I'm also going to bring you inside stories with legends of sports, new faces from the next generation of auto racing, and conversations with the people who supported me throughout my career. We'll be getting into everything from karting to NASCAR, even Formula One.

Whether you dream about being a pro athlete or an astronaut, we're talking about what it takes to make it. Listen to Throttle Therapy with Katherine Legge, an IHART women's sports production, in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One,

founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. John Stewart is back at The Daily Show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives

you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. For sure. Yeah, okay. I was just about to ask you that. I had to eat chicken.

I had to eat chicken, you can had to heat check you, Kev. Go talk, Kyle. Before we go further in the season, for y'all being his teammates, how is it like to see him now, like, because obviously, you know, he didn't really talk too much, to see him on this platform,

is that like a big surprise to you? The man that doesn't talk has a podcast now, is that what you're saying? The last time I saw Jeff, he was a scout for us, and then the next day he had a podcast and it was like nationally in ranks. Like, I'm like, okay, Jeff, tell them stories. No, no, man.

I'm definitely not surprised. I mean, Jeff talked in the right situations, you know, with the right topics, even in that, you know, he'll spill whatever. So, you know, I'm not surprised, but definitely congratulations to all of you, man. What y'all doing? Appreciate it, appreciate it.

Love it. For sure, like you said, y'all going to the All-Star break, you know what I'm saying? Now it's time to be all right, real. Can I say something about that All-Star game, though? Y'all remember how cold it was in New York? It was so cold. I was talking to my wife about that this morning.

It was awful. It was like negative 30 degrees. It was so bad. It was awful. It was like negative 30 degrees. It was so bad. It was cold. I just remember my room service. I'll tell you this story about my nephew. I had this room service bill that was like eight grand. Right?

Yeah, I was like, y'all saying the same thing. And he was, I guess he thought he was on Home Alone. So he was just ordering everything. And I remember going to the office, about to check out and I seen Bud. And we remember we was running kind of late. And Bud was like, I got it all. I got everything.

And I looked at him, I said, woo. Good luck. I walked to that bus so fast. Funny thing about that, his nephew is now working off his debt at 520. So he still covering that bill for sure. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Shout out to my uncle. But like you said, man, have a crazy All-Star break and now it's back to the season. At this point, y'all locked in. Y'all feel like it's time to contend. What's that process like? All right, we got a chance to really make some noise now. Say it again, I couldn't hear it.

Oh, my fault. I was saying, okay, so now after All-Star break, everything's copasthetic, y''t hear it. My fault. Okay, so now after all-star break, everything's copa-static, y'all playing good, it's not a surprise anymore. It's like, all right, do y'all have championship aspirations? Like, what's that lock-in like? Or like, all right, we here, we can do it now? Yeah, absolutely, that was the goal. You know, I think we had a moment.

I think, I think, I remember looking at the standings a couple weeks after all-star break and we were like 13 games ahead of whoever was in second place. We were so far ahead and I think there was this whole mindset of okay How do we prepare ourselves to really get into a playoff run and a lot was based on like let's be fresh and let's be healthy And let's have our minds right And so that's kind of where we were going right like trying to prepare ourselves to like's be fresh and let's be healthy and let's have our minds right. And so that's kind of where we were going, right? Like trying to prepare ourselves to be fresh.

I thought that in that stretch, I thought a lot of how it made us great was just like our edge and how connected we were. And I thought a little bit of like in that next month and a half or so, we lost a little bit of that, if I'm being honest. We were just like, we're so far ahead of everybody. And, you know, we lost a little bit of that,

whatever was making us really, really tick going into the playoffs. Yeah, we started like sub and five in and five out. It was kind of weird. I remember Paul got mad one day. He was like, man, we can't play like this. Like, I can't catch a rhythm. I just remember that because above a seven, five in, five out. That's when my stats started hurting. No, but I was just like you said, we took our foot off the

gas a little bit. But I just remember LeBron at the All-Star game saying to me like, I'm gonna figure y'all out. And I was like, we don't even know what we're doing. We're just playing. And he was like, no, y'all got something going on. I'ma figure it out. When I figure it out, I'ma get you. And I was like, we don't know, bro.

I was like, we just be playing. And he was like, nah, he sure figured it out. He did do that. Yeah, I think that whole stretch, you know, I think, you know, I don't want to speak for Bud, but it was for us to try to, we knew who we were going to face. That was some point, right? We knew exactly who we were going to play and, you know, what was going to be our best lineups? What was going to be our best plays, our best strategy, you know, going up into

that moment. So that whole time was pretty much like a figuring out process. And like Jeff said, it didn't work. I think I think that we had moments, you know, I don't want to get too far ahead. But you know, even during the course of the season where we knew that, whether it's one play or two plays that we took our foot off the gas that you know could have elevated us to the next level right and sometimes it'd be like that you know especially in this league is you know one or two plays can

kind of throw your rhythm off within a game within a season within a playoff series and you know we had a couple of those we were able to shake back a few times but you know, we had a couple of those. We were able to shake back a few times, but, you know, somehow we had, we just had too many going into that back season. That's interesting that you say that, because I'll take it. So a February game y'all had against Golden State, and I remember, you know, that kind of little bit of foreshadowing, but the way y'all played against them was just like, oh, they can do this against anybody. Yeah. And like that adaptive style, not saying this direct correlation,

but how y'all played the free-moving basketball, like kind of similar. It was like, oh, they can do this against anybody. Now it's up. So to hear you say that then what transpires after that's very interesting for sure. Yeah. I mean, you know, we looked at Golden State and how they, how they played and, you know, we wanted to be the Eastern Conference type of, you know, Golden State Warriors team at that time. We had Kyle Corba, who we considered the best shooter in the league. And we ran a lot of stuff, you know, through Kyle. Kyle was a big part of our offense because, you know, he's dangerous behind the three point line, you know, and that opened up a lot of windows

for myself, Jeff and everybody else. And but, you know, when that shut down, you know, what were our next options? And I think those are kind of the things we struggled with at that time. You know, what were our next options? And I think those are the kind of the things we struggled with at that time. What else are we gonna do? Do we have a counter for the counter for the counter? And LeBron figured it out and shut it down and those type of things took us out of our rhythm.

For sure, man. But I wanna talk about before we get to that part, where y'all was still killing. The city was really behind y'all. Obviously, you know what I'm saying, Lil has a great fan base, you know, the Hawks had some up and down years. Y'all had some good years before with Joe, Josh, obviously,

but the city was really behind y'all. Like the way you even see, like you just go to the Hawks game, the opposing team might have had more in the crowd. That time period, nah, it was up in the city. What's that like feeling that love, you know what I'm saying, on and off the court, y'all in the city, y'all still killing on the court too. Yeah, I was in the city, so I used to,

you know, they didn't go out. That boy was outside. I was outside. So I got a chance to see the people talk to you, like, man, we love what you guys are doing. They was excited about our team. And then the fans, like, the arena used to be lit. Like, every time Kyle hit a three,

you hear three and all that stuff. It was lit. Even Dennis, when they used to say, got him and all that stuff. It was just the time was just amazing. That year was unbelievable. And I have been here already for, I think, six or five or six years. But in the crowd, I was like, man, it's just I haven't played in front of the crowd like this yet, and it was lit every game.

He represented well for you'all outside, Gal. Oh, man. Oh, man. No, I think when I first got here, there was some criticism of like, you know, what's the atmosphere like at the games? And in the middle of that season, when everything turned, like what they said, this place, it was so fun

to be in these games, man. And everything that you guys have built now has just added on to that as far as the experience. But there was a real appreciation, I think, what I felt for how we played the game and the intention of the players trying to make each other better, playing a certain style,

even overachieving to a certain, we all knew this is a group that needs each other. And there was like the purists in Atlanta, like came out and everybody loved it and enjoyed it. And it's just, it's just, it's, it was a team that I love to play on. It was a team that was fun to root for just because of the posture everyone had towards the actual style of play that was happening out there. Most definitely. So obviously, keep killing, you get to the playoffs,

we talk about that environment. What's that first home playoff game like? A breeze. We knew we was gonna win the first round. Like that was easy. I don't even remember who we played. It was game one, it was game two. Wasn't Watch 2, no it was Brooklyn, was it?

I don't know who we played, Who did we play in the first game? We played Brooklyn. It was Brooklyn? Okay, Shaw's one of those games. Yeah, but I knew like, we knew we had them. I wasn't worried about them at all. Team I was worried about was like Washington, I think.

That's who we played next, right? In the second round. I was like, yeah, this might get a little tricky. My defense was never the best. And I was like, that's prime John Wall, right? Yeah, I was like. As Prime John Wall, right? Yeah, I was like, De'Var, you might have to. John Wall's really fast. De'Var, you might have to switch.

Washington was good that year. Yeah, they were really good. I think we were good against teams that didn't execute well. You know, we were good against teams who didn't communicate on defense. And we just knew teams that we were going to beat because we were good against teams who didn't communicate on defense. And we just knew teams that we were going to be because we were going to. Right. And that first round was definitely one of those. So I had a business for sure. Like you said, I get into Washington, no, I'm saying different series,

but I still prevail. And let's talk about that final matchup, you know, saying our chips on the table. What's that environment like preparing to go into that? Because you playing against LeBron. I was excited. I was like, yeah, I think we can beat him. Because in the regular season, we beat him pretty good every time. And I was like, yeah.

And I seen the first play, he ran a pick and roll with me. I was like, oh, that's what we're going to do the whole game? You're going to bring me in a pick and roll? Like. I was like, oh, that's what we gonna do the whole game? You gonna bring me in to pick and roll? I like, it's over. So you knew then he figured it out. Yeah, I was like, why you keep calling me up in the pick and roll? Trying to get that switch.

It was over. I was like, can't go to LeBron. I couldn't go to Deli. I'm gonna. What you think went wrong, Cal? Nah, it wasn't that. What you think went wrong? It was not that. It was not that. It was not that. Just funny. I was thinking Kyle was going to be like, well, yeah. Nah, I ain't throwing my guy in the face like that. It was not that.

You know what? I mean, we got we have some injuries too, right? Yeah, I definitely I mean, I feel like I didn't get to compete in that whole series. Right. I got my second game. But I mean, they're you know, the playoff play is you play and you play in the regular season and you play in the first couple rounds and you play in the last couple rounds. They're all different. Right.

There is levels. And I think that was a group for them that they had, like the Brawn had been through more of those third and fourth rounds. Like third and fourth rounds are different. And that was our first time as a group going through that. And there's not, I don't know of any groups that go through it together the first time

and get it right, right? So I think there's a whole lot of grace in my mind for that group. Like I thought that we showed who we are, and I thought that we showed, throughout the regular season especially, like what Paul said, we actually beat them I think three of the four times, right?

But those late rounds are different, and it's something you have to just keep on experiencing and building on and adding to. And this is sport. It's what it is. Oh, Zeffie, for the fans in here, obviously, who don't have that feeling, obviously playing at home, different environment.

What's it like playing on the road in a high intensity situation? It's the best. It's the best? It's the best. There is nothing in sport like silencing a home crowd. There is nothing like it. It is the best. There is nothing in sport like silencing a home crowd. There is nothing like it. It is the best. And then, you know, it's a bunch of teams in this league that have great home crowds. But when you can silence a team in the playoffs, like it is the best.

I thought we were going to win game three. I remember that plays in my head a lot. I thought we were gonna win game three. I remember that plays in my head a lot. I thought we won game three. And LeBron was LeBron. He's good. Yeah, he's pretty good. He's good. Y'all was up, what happened?

We went overtime that game. He hit us three in a corner. Oh, okay. And tied it up. I thought he caught a cramp. Magically he came back. I'm like, I'm like thought he caught a crimp, magically he came back. I'm like, I'm like, caught a crimp, he done. No, he's back.

We lost in overtime. I think Shelvin might've got a shot to win the game or to tie the game or something. Respect. And granted, I mean, we felt like we played okay, but they played exceptionally well. They shot the ball. Historically.

Historically. You know, first, I remember the first quarter, I don't think they went on a run where they didn't miss a shot. I think they went on like. Our defense was kind of, well who we said was gonna let shoot? I mean, JR Smith was knocking down shots.

I mean, it was tough. They got in a rhythm that, you know, in basketball you get in a rhythm like that, you know, you have to stop it. You have to stop the rhythm. And, you know, we just got ourselves, dug ourselves too big of a hole by not getting them out of that rhythm

in the first or second quarter. And, you know, when you're on the road and you're up against a good team, you're up against LeBron James, it's tough to come back from that. But I felt like we definitely fought and we had opportunities to change the rhythm and change the dynamic of the series.

We just didn't capitalize on it. You know, I know something funny about that. You remember when JR started hitting those threes? I came to the bench and was like, I got him. And I got on him and he hit the next one. I was like, I got him, I'll chase him, I got him. Kyle was like, okay. He came off the screen, he hit another one. I was like, you got him, I'll chase him, I got him. Kyle was like, okay. He came up on screen, hit another one.

I was like, you go back over there. I don't know who I thought that was. I was five, 10. The funny thing is you mentioned that, you talk about the LeBron pick and roll, so there's a clip going around, LeBron demands that pick and roll from you like four or five times in a row,

and then what you just like, all right, bro. Yeah, he kept doing it. I knew, I was like, they figured it out trying to get the switch. Then we had the double. They're going to kick it out, get a three. I was like, no, we can do most definitely. Obviously, you know, season came up a little bit short of expectations, but you guys had a hell of a season.

Obviously, playing in different situations past that. How does it make like the memory of this team feel when you go back? All right, I played different places after this. But the camaraderie we had, this magical season still lives on. Go ahead. I mean, for me, I went to Denver after that. A lot of young guys, you know, but a lot of young honky guy, they were hungry.

You know, all they needed was a little bit of mentorship to get them over the edge. But as far as locker room presence, I mean, I don't think there'll ever be another, you know, situation like we had in Atlanta, everywhere else, you know, guys are cool and whatever. But the bond just goes from there. You know, for us, you know, we knew each other's families, we went out to dinner on the road. We had team bonding. We went to the, what is it, the Braves stadium and played baseball, man.

As a team, we did things like that, that when it gets on the court, it makes it a lot easier to gel with a team. So there's not a lot of teams out there doing that. Yeah, man. That team lives on in me. I'll just say that. Like for me, it's almost like when there's someone that you admire in life and they pass away or something happens and it's like you take what was good grade in that and you want that inside of you. Like that's what that group is for me. Like there was it was so pure.

Like I always tell like I'm told whenever I talk to kids about basketball, it's just always no younger. It's like enjoy this because the higher you go, it may be more rewarding, but it loses its purity. Yeah. And it's not often that you get to be around and being a group in the NBA, where like we were all about the right stuff. And like a lot of work for me now is we're working on building out the Hawks like that. It's not necessarily the blueprint, but it is a North Star all the way. And you want to try to continue to add more talent and all those things. But like how

that worked, like going back, just thinking back about how this team came together, it wasn't necessarily about adding a bunch of superstars and figuring it out. You got really good humans who loved to work, who loved their craft. You got really, really good coaches, like the coaching staff that we had that year,

like Coach Bud. But then think about all the coaches we had Quinn Snyder was there the first year and then he left we had you had Kenny Atkinson you had Nevin who's been a coach in Europe forever you had Charles Lee you had Taylor Jenkins you had those are just head coaches who've been on the league you got assistant coaches Ben Sullivan's been a top assistant you got Pants they're Pat St. Andrews you got Jordan Ah it was in the video room like these guys are all front of the bank coaches like that's who was teaching us every day what it meant to play Hawks basketball right so it's like this is

this is the formula for me like I'm pulling from that here, right? Like that to me is like, again, yes, you add more talent. You try to find, hopefully you get a number one pick and he becomes an amazing player. But like this is the formula to me. And like it lives deep in me. Like I have a real love of the game of basketball. Like it's what drives me.

It's why I wanna keep on working in this business. And that again, is like a North Star. Like it was a wonderful, wonderful experience. Like the bonds and the friendships that we had with these guys is real when we see each other. Like it is love. But when you go through heartaches and playoff series and you bond and you work,

like there's things that happen in those moments that you can't get in any other way. yeah just it's a group and a team that like I said I will pull from the rest of my life yeah for me as far as basketball on the court I never went to a team that had that same synergy and energy together you know what I mean so I went to go play for the Pacers two years later. And like you said, I'm winking at guys and they like, nah bro, what you got going on? I'm like, cut back door. You know what I mean? So I'm like, it just wasn't the same.

Like I went there and I thought like everybody else were dumb basketball players after playing on that team. You know what I mean? We just read each other well. We knew everybody's movements, we knew where everybody was gonna be on the court, and then going to these different teams, it wasn't the same.

So I'm used to somebody setting a back screen so you can get a wide open jump shot, and they like, nah, beat him, beat your man. I'm like, y'all don't play together at all. I gotta run to the corner every time? Nah, so it just was a beautiful way to play basketball. I enjoyed that so much that I even run to the corner every time. So it just was a beautiful way to play basketball. I enjoyed that so much that I even try to, like I'm a coach now, I try to bring that same philosophy

when we play, move the ball, everybody get a chance to score. No go-to guy, but everybody can be the guy. And that was just a beautiful way to play. It's just to piggyback off that. I mean, I don't know if everybody knows that, you know, an NBA team, you spend more time with your teammates than you do your family. We see each other every single day, right?

And you don't get that feeling, you know, once you get up to the door and say, damn, I gotta go to work again. I gotta go in here again, right? You had people who you wanted to play with, people who understood you, and that's what made it so special. Yeah.

Stephanie, now, Kyle, we talked about the soft camera. Did you know that she was going to be the team's dietician because, you know, some of your teammates, you know, they lived a different life and I'm saying in that kitchen. Hey. How many guys you say didn't drink water on the scene? Oh, my gosh, man, we had you guys. We had guys that didn't drink water on our team. One of those little bands on stage.

They wouldn't drink water. I'm like, you are an NBA basketball player. Your job is to run on the court. How do you not drink water? And like, I don't like how it tastes. I'm like, I don't like how it tastes. It tastes like water. Listen, if you guys, one of them may or may not

be on the stage, wouldn't drink water. They're getting like IVs before the game. They're in the training room with like hooked up to an IV so they can play. I'm like, man, just drink this cup of water. That's crazy. I couldn't believe you was living like that, man. Listen, man. Legendary team, man. The city remembers you. The city embraces you. Shouts to everybody here, all here, because of this very reason, man. You might want to answer that. Text on. Tap in. Are we opening it up to the crowd by chance? Okay. We're

opening it up to the crowd. We have a couple of questions, couple of light questions before we get out of here. Anybody braving up my mans? No, you, yeah, you got your hands up. Yeah, go ahead. Okay. Oh wow. It's on the way. It's on the way. It's on the way, man.

We're going to play. We're going to get that game. We're going to get that game. Yeah, we started over under right now. Please play your best and draft. Gentlemen in the hat, yes, sir. I can start it. If you go look at our numbers, how many minutes we played,

we didn't play high numbers of minutes. Like, I think we played like 26 a game. I did, like around that time. So didn't shoot her. of minutes. I think we played like 26 a game. I did, around that time. So, Dennis Schroeder. Points per minute was great then. Yeah, I was killing. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Dennis Schroeder was great. Even Shelvin Mack, Ken Basemore came off that bench. It was a bunch of guys. Mike Scott, my guy, they had amazing seasons. That whole year, everybody played well.

And we all just wanted everybody to win. It was crazy. Like he said, we'd be on a plane playing UNO and all that stuff. And those were my guys. I mean, me and Dennis, we used to go at it a little bit, but other than that, we love it. I love those guys.

Dennis was like, cause we were all, we were a pretty steady group, right? Yeah. Like Dennis was like the little brother that you needed. were a pretty steady group, right? Yeah. Like, Dennis was like the little brother that you needed. That get under your skin, agitate you, get you going. And it was, he was a super important part of, we needed it, right? You needed guys like that. We needed guys like Elton Brand and Perro Antich and Mike Mascalla.

And there's so many guys who starred in their role for that group and we're about the team. It's a long list. It was a great group. Gentlemen in the back, yes sir. I seen Bud at a concert. Yeah, he used to take his kids to all the concerts here and I seen him and they were having a good time.

He didn't know any of the songs, but he was vibing out. I'm scared to ask which artist it is, but I don't know. I know this is a brand, same kind. We was rocking, we was messing up some commas that night. It was Future. Who, Bud, wants to go see Future? Shout out to Bud. My God.

My God. Yes, sir. Would have loved to have known. 100%. 100%. Injuries are part of this whole equation. It is every year for every team. There's a lot of things that have to go right to still be playing at the very, very end. And, you know, wish we could have had a full spot.

For sure. And last one. Right here, my man in front. Yeah. I like that. That's hard. Yeah, I like that. Very fake.

OK. Oh, you grew up in Brooklyn. Luis, pull it up. We appreciate that. For sure. Unfortunately, we are out of time. We want to say thank you all for pulling up. We appreciate y'all.

Make some noise for yourselves. Thank you. For sure. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Two times for our wonderful guests up here.

We appreciate Paul and Kyle pulling up. The Hawks appreciate the hospitality as well. We'll see y'all another time. Club 520. The Volume. Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from All-Star Weekend for a new podcast called GOAT, Greatest of Their Era. And we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s.

Paysia 5, Dirt 4. Paysia is a lead. Okay. You won't believe who Steph left off his list. That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations. Yes, absolutely. I love it. Listen to GOAT, G-O-T-E, greatest of their era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that. We're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJ's mock drafts to my top 101 free agents, we'll have it covered for you with all new episodes

every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up everyone? Julie Swirpinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together.

Here we go. The name? Energy Line with Nate and JSB. Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey, life, all topics are fair game, right? Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us. Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

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