Digital Social Hour - How I Gained 1M Subs in a Day: My YouTube Journey | The Professor DSH #864
Episode Date: November 6, 2024🎥 How I Gained 1M Subs in a Day: My YouTube Journey with streetball legend, The Professor! 📈 Tune in now to Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly for an exhilarating ride through The Professor's i...ncredible journey from high school standout to global YouTube sensation. Packed with valuable insights, this episode delves into his experiences with And1 mixtapes, acting with Adam Sandler, and his transition to YouTube stardom. Join the conversation as The Professor shares his groundbreaking Spider-Man viral video success and how he navigated the shifting tides of digital content creation. Don't miss out on his unique insights into the evolving basketball landscape and his plans to hoop until 50. 🏀 Watch now and subscribe for more insider secrets. 📺 Hit that subscribe button and stay tuned for more eye-opening stories on the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly! 🚀 #howtostartayoutubechannel #howtogetmoreviewsonyoutube #youtubegrowth #howtogrowyoutubechannel #youtubealgorithm CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 00:27 - How the Professor Got into Acting 03:29 - The Professor's Basketball Journey 06:42 - Can AND1 Make a Comeback? 11:26 - Transitioning to YouTube Content 15:00 - Upcoming Content Changes 18:19 - NBA Viewing Habits 19:15 - Is the NBA Too Soft Now? 22:40 - Why I Don’t Trash Talk 26:47 - Playing Basketball in 40 Countries 28:45 - Basketball in Prisons 29:00 - Global Basketball Fanbase Insights 30:15 - Top European NBA Players 31:08 - Closing Thoughts 31:10 - Where to Find The Professor Online 31:34 - Outro APPLY TO BE ON THE PODCAST: https://www.digitalsocialhour.com/application BUSINESS INQUIRIES/SPONSORS: Spencer@digitalsocialhour.com GUEST: The Professor https://www.instagram.com/theprofessor/ https://www.theprofessorbiz.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Professorlive LISTEN ON: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-social-hour/id1676846015 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Jn7LXarRlI8Hc0GtTn759 Sean Kelly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmikekelly/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Transcript
Discussion (0)
There's a lot of good players, don't get me wrong.
They're all pretty good that are on, but it's a myth that,
like some people, it depends who you ask, right?
Some people think and one players were like better
than NBA players.
Others will say like they weren't even good at all.
But the truth is like, it was actually pro
and like we would mix it up with NBA players
and run all the time.
And like you might not even be able to tell
who's in the league and who's not.
That was a super high level.
Ladies and gentlemen, street ball legend here today, the professor. Thanks for coming on my man.
Hey, helpful man.
Appreciate it.
Thanks for having me.
I haven't seen you in six years, dude.
Yeah, that is crazy.
Wow.
Was this, I didn't even think it was six years, but like, yeah, I was 21 when I met you.
That's right.
I remember you're young.
Yeah, I was just starting out to see your growth too.
It's been awesome, man.
Thanks so much. Now you're appearing in movies. Remember you're young. Yeah, I was just starting out and to see your growth too. It's been awesome, man Thanks so much. Well now you're appearing in movies appreciate that man. Are you getting into acting pretty heavily this year?
Um, you know, actually I moved to LA. I had a lead role in a movie 2006 and uh,
I was always doing acting stuff throughout my career, but it was more just like opportunities that came directly to me
Yeah
so
Now i'm trying to like put one foot into acting and kind of like pursue it a little bit more I mean, I was a football player but it was more just like opportunities that came directly to me. Yeah. So, now,
I'm trying to like put one foot
into acting and kind of like
pursue it a little bit more
because I mean, if I look back
now, I've probably been in like
three or four movies. Uh maybe
50 to 100 commercials. You
know, tons of YouTube stuff been
in front of the camera. So, it
was something I always enjoyed
doing but I never really like
pursued it full time just
because basketball made most sense. You know, all his life. Yeah. So what I'm doing but I never really like pursued it full time just because
basketball made most sense. You
know, all his life. Yeah. So,
I'm actually trying to release
that movie I did in 2006
though right now. Oh yeah. It's
called Don't Lie. Yeah, trying
to put it out on Amazon. Wow.
So, you filmed it 20 years ago
and 20 years ago, I had like an
A-list cast and everything.
Yeah, but it never released.
How come? Um they held out for
like they were trying to hold out for like a
big box office release which at
that time was like over 3500
theaters. So, I got tons of
DVD offers, tons of small
theater releases. Uh it was
actually supposed to be the
first ever movie on Amazon
Prime. Wow. In 2009 but
remember we were talking about
how like we didn't think
anybody would watch a movie on
a phone.
You know what I'm saying? Back
then, little did we know. So,
they held out and I think like,
producers got busy. The guy,
the guy who produces pretty
successful. He's got a bunch of
films. So like, it just got
deprioritized over the years and
then, here we are trying to
bring it out. I love it, man.
And you were in that movie with
Sandler recently, right? Yeah,
hustle. That was Adam.
Yeah. What was that like, man?
It was dope. Uh Adam's just a
cool guy. Adam's reputation in
Hollywood and just amongst all
his peers that he's super down
to earth. Uh loves basketball
like when I first met him like
he wouldn't even let me give
him props like he's just telling
me how much he loves my YouTube
channel. Wow. Yeah. Which I was just like not expecting at all. You know what I mean? That's unreal man to get that from him. Yeah, we had a
mutual friend who wanted to put us on the phone who I hadn't talked to in years but I guess he worked for
Adam and then you know we ended up talking for like an hour or two and he's just talking about
basketball and then he told me he's writing a film you know in a couple years he wanted to write me
a role and I was like oh let's get it you what I mean? Sure enough, hustle. That's legendary. Could he hoop?
Yeah, Adam could hoop.
I mean, there's levels to hoop it, right?
So I think like it depends who you ask, right?
It's kind of subjective.
Like is somebody plays pro or like really balls like their
brow of like what's good is like way higher.
But I would say like Adam's solid.
You know what I mean?
Like presumably go to Ellie fitness and pick him up.
Yeah, solid.
Okay.
Yeah. I've seen a couple of jump shots from him. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like presumably like go to Ellie
fitness and pick him up. Yeah.
Solid. Okay. Yeah. I've seen a
couple of jump shots from him.
Yeah. He's got that jumper.
Well, he's like a passer. He's
a good passer too. Okay. I
mean, yeah and you played at a
high level growing up, right?
College, high school. Yeah.
Well, actually I always had a
high skill level but didn't
necessarily play at a high
level until I got on the and
one mixtape tour. So, I always
look like I was 10 years
younger than I am. Mm hmm.
Growing up. So, by the time,
like I always had skills like
in fourth grade, I mastered
the Iverson crossover. Fourth
grade. Fourth grade. Damn. I'm
like this tall, you know what
I'm saying? But I could cross
over like grown adults with
that move and I had a trainer.
He taught me like in and out
across Tim Hardaway crossover, Iverson
crossover, all his handles. So,
I always had a high skill
level but then by the time I
got to like my junior year in
high school, I got cut from the
varsity team. How come I was
on the J? Uh just cuz I was
like so small. I think like the
way my coaches played, it was
about being physical and being
like very defensive and like
they favored like big man
offense and I was all like like guard uh you know with like handles and stuff didn't favor they were like, they favored I got a second team all state of the small Christian school I transferred to then. In Juco, I got cut from three community colleges, finally landed a spot as a red shirt.
A couple people got injured. Then I ended up suiting up and I only played three minutes a game.
But I was actually good and then but I just didn't get that opportunity.
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Freshman year, I improved like 300%. Like I hit the weights.
Mm-hmm.
I was doing three a days. I improved like 300%. Like I hit
the weights. Um I was doing
three a days like I already
spent my life practicing but I
practice even more now. Damn.
And I literally improved like
like I was three times as good
by the end of that like spring
summer after my freshman year
in 2003 and then I went to try
out for and one and it was just
like this. My idols just became
my teammates in one. It was like a movie. You know, wow. Three a days. I've never like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was
like, I was like, I was like, I
was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was
like, I was like, I was like, I
was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was
like, I was like, I was like, I
was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was
like, I was like, I was like, I
was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like,
I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I was like, I'm like, that's crazy. What were the and one trials like? And one trial is more
just like whoever came like
hopping this run and do your
thing and then like figure out
who stands out and then pick
some guys and you think you're
dribbling kind of really stood
out from everyone else. Yeah.
Yeah. I went out there and you
know, like I was going as a fan.
I was actually just going to
watch the game. You know what
I'm saying? I was like culturing and one in
high school. Like if you look at
my my mixtape from like my high
school years, I have on like
and one sneakers. Wow. So, I'm
just going to watch my idols
play figured I had nothing to
lose. So, I hopped in the run
and I shook a few dudes up and
people started going crazy but
it was my look. You know, I
forever just don't look like a
hooper. You know what I mean?
Yeah. Yeah. Look like an
underdog and so the crowd took to that.
And then next thing I know, I'm playing against my teammates.
That's so cool.
Future teammates at that time.
Yeah.
I think people want to root for the underdog.
You were smaller than everyone.
You were white, obviously.
And you were like, who is this kid?
Yeah.
Well, I think that's timeless.
People always root for the underdog.
So it favored me for sure.
Do you think something like Anwan can ever come back
in today's social media world? I heard rumors they were actually going to favor me for sure. Do you think something like Anwon can ever
come back in today's kind of
social media world? I I heard
rumors they were actually
trying to bring the tour back
but I don't know. I guess
nothing's impossible, right? So
I think if it had a great TV
show like if you brought it
back and you just had its own
YouTube channel like I don't
know how much that could really go off just
because like there's a million
great basketball videos on
YouTube and like at that time,
it was the first time Street
Ball was like, you know, being
put out to the world, you know,
mainstream. Yeah. Yeah. Street
Ball in the East Coast. They
knew it at like Rucker and
like different parks like that
like big cities on the East
Coast. So, yeah, it was more
mainstream and people were anticipating those moves and
the fan excitement was crazy.
Aired on ESPN literally like
sometimes like 30 to 50 times
a week. Do you know what I
mean? Yeah, cuz the ESPN at
that time only had like five
shows, you know, it's like
poker, Sports Center, like a
game and one and maybe like
something else but like it might
air all night as like that filler show. Yeah, yeah. You
know, and then there's only like 50 channels at that time,
right? 50 to 100 channels. I remember those days, man. So,
think about the view count. Like, think about YouTube. We
know how many views like YouTube videos get. Like, this is say
my channel, right? Yeah. But think about there's only like
50 to 100 channels in the United States. Mm hmm. So,
like, think about what the view count was on those TV shows.
Probably tens of millions, right? Yeah. So, like the fan anticipation like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm
like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, like a pro level. It's like a super high level. A lot of guys had NBA talent. They may you know, you're running all the time and like you you might not even be able to tell who's in the league and who's not.
Wow. I didn't know it was that
high level. Yeah. And I was a
super high level. A lot of guys
had NBA talent. They may they
may have had things that held
them back from making the league
but a lot of guys had NBA
talent. So, I don't know to
recreate it. I think it would
be tough but nothing's
undoable. If you have an
entertaining TV show, maybe it
could be remixed and done
differently somehow. Yeah. Did
you see the downfall coming at all? differently somehow. You know, did you see
the downfall coming at all?
Were there signs of it or did
it just abruptly happen one
day? It kind of abruptly
happened. There there were
signs now but that's like a
hindsight, you know,
hindsight's 2020 viewpoint. Uh
we got bought out, right? So,
that's already a sign, right?
But but when I was, you know,
when Anwan in, I was
only twenty-five or twenty-four
years old. So, I wasn't able to
assess what that even meant,
right? We had a buyout a lot of
the same employees stayed
though even though there was a
lot of new faces too. Yeah. We
still like did the tour but I
think they tried to fulfill
their either their production
contract or their contract with
ESPN. So, we still did it for
two or three more years. Mm. Under the new ownership. Mm. So, we're thinking like, So, we still did it for two or three more years under the new ownership. So,
we're thinking like, oh, we
still got our jobs. You know
what I'm saying? We're still
touring. The TV show's still
spinning quite a bit but every
year, it was like a little bit
less and less and then they put
less money into the tour and
and you could I can see it now
looking back but at the time,
we were still massively popular
and like we were getting paid
more. Yeah. I think like as time went on, they like we were getting paid more. Yeah, I
think like as time went on,
they felt like they owed us
more. So, uh at the time, we
didn't know. It was very
abrupt but there were there
were signs now back. Yeah. So,
oh wait at the end of the oh
wait uh season, it just ended.
Yeah, that was it because back
then you had to be in the NBA
to make money hooping. That
was like a rare thing, right?
To do content. Yeah. And you know, we we had our uh we were optimistic
though. We were thinking like Anwan was so big like you would think another company would do it
or another tv show would star or like somebody else pick it up but it just didn't like. Wow.
No one even tried to do that? A couple people tried you know from 2011 to 2015 there was a
whole new
regime. It was called Ball Up
and I was on that. We toured
but for that, the marketing,
the marketing wasn't on point.
It was like at a show on Fox
Sports but like no one really
watched Fox Sports for no like
basketball reality, nothing and
then digital was becoming the
new thing, right? As far as how
to market your thing and like
we had a YouTube channel on the Instagram but like like it was just, you know, like kind of like whatever. Yeah. So like,
I think it missed the wave of digital marketing early,
at least maximizing on digital marketing and kind of was slated like old school,
like looking for that hit TV show on cable. Yeah. And right then the times were
changing. So yeah, it didn't work out.
I feel that so it's some great events, but it just wasn't, it's not Ant one,
you know? Yeah. When did you make that shift to YouTube?. I feel that. So, there's some great events but
it just wasn't. It's not Ant
One, you know? Yeah. When did
you make that shift to YouTube
because I feel like you've done
the best at maintaining
relevancy from the Ant One
days. Like, you are still known
to this day. You know what I
mean? Yeah. Uh so, I actually
was aware of YouTube like
early like when it started, you
know what I'm saying? Uh people
were ripping our highlights
from the ESPN show
and making fan compilation. So,
there was like a hot sauce mix
of main event mix and
professor mix and they all had
like tens of millions of views
and like YouTube is like empty
at that point. Like, I remember
one point if you search
basketball, my mix will pop up.
Damn. On YouTube. Yeah. So,
like, I realized there was
something to that because fans
would approach us and you know, show love and as habit, I would always be like, you know, thanks for watching the show. I realized there was something to that because fans would
approach us and you know, show
love and as habit, I would
always be like, you know,
thanks for watching the show.
You know what I'm saying but
some people would be like, oh
no, we saw yourself on YouTube.
It's all like YouTube. You know
what I mean? So, I looked into
it. So, when 2006 and 7 rolled
around, I was actually having a
homie make edits to put on
YouTube to kind of like flood
the market for like marketing but AdSense hadn't rolled out. So, then when and when ended YouTube to kind of like flood something to it and it was I didn't know that was going to be the top streaming platform in the world. I knew there was
something to it and it was
growing but I didn't know to
what level so you could get a
DM on YouTube back then. So I
was getting like bookings
primarily internationally
because and one kind of died
out in the states so I would
you know get these bookings
from my videos and then I
think at that point it was in
like 15 countries or 10
countries. So that was like free TV. I'm knowing it's free TV. You know what I mean? Yeah I think at that point, it was in like 15 countries or 10
countries. So, that was like
free TV. I'm knowing it's free
TV. You know what I mean? Yeah.
Um but then 2013, I had a video
go viral and I got a million
subs in one day. Was that the
Spider-Man one? Yeah. Yeah. So,
then it became a business like
overnight but I was still under
these endorsement deals. I had
like an old school endorsement
deal up until 2016. Oh, they had 360 on you? Pretty
much. Damn. Full exclusive. Uh
they would let me do my YouTube
and they didn't really know
much about it. They, like I
said, they were a little bit
behind on that whole like wave
of like seeing digital go to
the forefront of marketing but
yeah but life was good. I was
still doing my tour thing. I
would do YouTube when I was
home but I can never be a full time YouTuber like I wanted and I was making three times as much on YouTube when I was home but I could never be a full-time YouTuber like I wanted and I was making three times
As much on YouTube as I was my endorsement deal. Holy per month. Crap. I know and I was a decent on the endorsement deal, but
Yeah, so when it ended it was cool got to go into it, but I think to answer your question more specifically. It's just like
just like trying to stay ahead of the the trends of like
Different ways to edit what platforms are going off? I'm trying to what it was on YouTube. I feel like I was. Yeah, it's actually the first
basketball influencer. That's
not ever. Yeah. OG. Now,
there's so many of them. Yeah,
it's crazy. I know. Um it's
funny. Yeah, I was just doing
it as a means to figure out
what's next. You know what I
mean? I knew that was
marketing. So, I was like,
can't be bad. You know what I'm
saying? And then a fan actually
taught me how to edit. One of
the dudes who was making the
the fan compilations, I hit him up. He
lives in San Diego and she he
actually showed me how to edit
so I was making my own edits
on YouTube. So you edit your
own videos till this day. I'll
only edit it if I feel like
it's like a banger that I can't
really convey the vision to
somebody else. I try not to
though. Yeah. Are you shifting
your content because I know you
have that major injury and
you're getting older. Do you're you're shifting your content because I know you have that major injury and you're
getting older. Do you have a
shift in content for the next
few years? I've done videos
where I don't hoop but people
still want me to hoop. So, I
can't say I've really came with
a solution to like like how do
I, you know, turn my content a
different way that's still
massively appealing because you can do a bit like as time goes, you know, it's massively appealing. Mm hmm. Cuz you can
do a bit like as time goes, you
know, you're you're you're you're
bill spend might change and
also like your standard for
what you consider as a good
video might change. So, a lot
of people might be content with
like 100K, 150K. I'm like
bummed though, you know. Really
with 100K? We're trying to do a
million. You know what I'm
saying? Damn. You got Mr. Beast
standards out here. No, but
maybe we've been at 20 years. You know what I'm saying? So, so I look at it like, I'm like, you got Mr. Beast standards out here. No, but I mean, we've been at 20
years. You know what I'm
saying? So, so I look at it
like, well, mister Beast, he
trying to get 100 million.
That's true. You know what I'm
saying? So, it's it's different
though. You know what I mean?
So, think about him. He's at
the top of the YouTube food
chain. Yeah. He'd be bummed if
video didn't get 100 million
today, right? There's over 100
million every video, correct?
Yeah. At least 50. I've I've
looked at in a while. I think
over 100 though. It's over 100. Yeah. Yeah. So, so,
you know, yeah, I'm like a
video success if it gets a
million. If it doesn't, it's
all good because you can't, you
know, you can't win on every
video but you want it to go
off. So, I can turn the content
and get 100 200 K view. I
think I'd have to like
probably like lower my
standard and try to like
rebrand if that's the case but
my goal is to hoop till I'm 50. Wow.
I'm trying to hoop till 2034.
50 years old. That's impressive.
So, well, I don't know if I'll
make it but that's you know,
that's that's my it's a good
goal. They say shoot for the
moon, land amongst the stars.
Yeah, you might have to get
some stem cells but you could
probably make it with all the
technology these days, right?
Hopefully, hopefully. I mean,
like I had that Achilles injury
you mentioned. Yeah. I was able to recover 100%. 100%.
100%. You don't feel like that
lost a step or anything? No.
Wow. Cuz KD had that one and
people said he was done and he
he looks like he's back to
normal too. Sports rehab is
going a million miles an hour.
You know what I'm saying? Sports
rehab is getting better and
better and better like like
every day and it's kind of like unspoken about
because people don't like to
think about injuries. So like
if you say you tore your
Achilles, a lot of people don't
even know what that is. You
know what I'm saying? They'll
think it's like your knee or
something like ACL Achilles,
MCL. It's all like the same.
Yeah. So, uh like I think
people don't really talk about
it. You don't really know what
the injuries are until you get
them. Like I remember I I got hernia like two hernia surgeries but I tell people that I don't even know what the injuries are until you get them like I remember I I got hernia like
two hernia surgeries but I tell
people that I don't even know
what it is. Yeah. So, I think
it's just an unknown thing.
The sports sports rehab, sports
therapy, treatment, and all
that is like going to the moon.
You can almost recover from
anything. You know what I mean?
I mean, granted, you know, bad
replacement, hip replacement,
bad back. Those things are
going to end you at, you know,
from playing at a pro level. Yeah. But a lot of things you can recover from that we couldn't before in the 80s.
Yeah. Shaq, Isaiah Thomas,
was it Chauncey Billups?
A lot of these people retired off the Achilles tear. Damn, I didn't know Shaq Torres.
Yeah. Wow. That's what ended it. Yeah. Yeah. They say that's the worst one, right?
It's the it's the worst basketball injury, like single injury you could get, you know, I guess outside like a bad back,
right? Like Larry Bird retired from a bad back. Probably still would have had to retire current
day. Yeah, I'm saying the back is a confusing one. But yeah, it's getting better all the time.
Absolutely. Do you watch the NBA pretty heavily right
now. So funny enough, I'm
actually a kind of a casual
comes to the league. I think
like I still keep up with it
like on sports. I launched a
little bit of sports talk, a
little bit of IG narrative,
watch a game every now and
again. I'm in LA so I support
the Lakers. Uh I try to go to
like three or four games a
year. Try to sit course side.
It's one of my favorite things to do. So
I guess, yeah, I keep up with
it but not as much as I did in
years past just because you
know, when you're on your
grind, like, it's hard to
really binge watch or keep up
with anything. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
A fact. So, when I was a kid
with all the time in the world,
I would watch almost every game.
Yeah, same. Like, I could name
everybody on the roster. When I
was a young, then I collect
like basketball cards. I can
name everybody on the roster of every team.
Damn, that's impressive. Yeah,
but then, you know, as you get
older, I think as I get older,
I fall like less and less.
Even now, I fall less than I
did five years ago. Just, I
don't know. You get busy.
Priorities change. Yeah. What
do you think of the game?
Because when you played, it was
more physical, right? Like you
said and now it's like you
touch someone. It's a foul. Do
you think it's a good thing or
bad thing? it's a good thing or bad
thing? That's a good question.
I think it has its pros and
cons both ways. Yeah, I think
it has its pros and cons both
ways. I think when it was more
physical, like it's, I mean,
it's better for the defense.
Yes. And then I think it
creates a tougher mentality like just for the
side of the game. Part of me
wishes I could play. I feel
like I never get that right
because I play streetball. So
like there's not a referee. You
know what I'm saying? So
everybody's filing and then
like when we played on and when
we actually could foul, that's
the crazy part. They tried to
they tried to make it like a street ball game in the game. Yeah. And when we actually could foul, that's the crazy part. They tried to, they
tried to make it like a
streetball game in the park.
Yeah. Even when we played in
the arena and they kept it
really loose. So, I feel like,
I feel like that was a conflict
of interest a lot of times too
because like we would go in
there and try to entertain and
try to put on this amazing show
for thousands of people. Yeah.
But like a lot of times, I play
a dude that outweighs me by 100
pounds. 50 to 100 pounds and he's like foul. So'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a
player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a player. I'm a I mean, I mean, I think they're going to have more threes but I think you know, the game always changes. If Allen Iverson was
coming up today. Yeah, he'd
have been more of a three-point
shooter, right? Cuz that's more
of the trend like how they
play. He barely took any when
he played. So, could he average
40th? Probably. Yeah, he's one
he's one of my favorite players
girl. Oh yeah, that was your
well, what the handles, right?
And that was a dope interview.
I watched that whole thing.
Sam, that was a great interview
man. It's cool to see these
players starting their podcast
actually cuz you never got
their perspective growing up. You never like realized what they're like outside of the court
and how they think.
Right, right.
Like Draymond Green, that's a great one.
Paul Pierce has one now.
It's really interesting, man.
Yeah, KG, Paul George, yeah.
I love that shit.
You said you were a big AI fan.
Do you think he had the best handles of all time?
They were, it's funny, they asked him that, right? Yeah. And he said Kyrie. the best. Do you think he had a good a move as that AI crossover had the most effective move, right? Like that I don't know if I
don't think Kyrie has a good a
move as that AI crossover. You
know what I'm saying? And he's
not as quick on any move as AI
was on that move. But but yeah,
I think Kyrie's handle is
retarded, right? Yeah. Probably
the best handles all the time
but I think it's like Shaq, he
said J. Will, right? Shaq said J. Will. Yeah, J. Will. This is a good argument, right? Yeah. It's a good argument. I think a lot of it's subjective too because
there's a lot of guys who had
amazing handle. You know, Steph
Curry has a nice handle. Um
Jamal Crawford had a great
handle. Um CP three, a lot of
guys. Absolutely. Um now I
noticed when you play, you
actually don't talk that much
**** and I thought that was
interesting because in street
ball, that's common and I watch
your videos. People are trying
to get in your head. You don't
even respond most of the time. Yeah, I mean, I think it's I noticed when you play, you actually don't talk that much **** and I thought that was
interesting because in street
ball, that's common and I watch
your videos. People are trying
to get in your head. You don't
even respond most of the time.
Yeah and I think you don't
really need like here's the
thing to also is like a lot of
people when they play ball,
they take it like really
personally. Yeah, I don't know.
I've never been like that. You
know what I'm saying? Like
like taking the game that
personally but also I've played it a lot higher level been like that. You know what I'm saying? Like like taking the game that personally but also
I've played it a lot higher
level than like when I play
like Venice or like I play
dudes on the streets. So like
I'll view it as that high
brow of a game like I always
feel like I'm going to win. You
know what I mean? Mm hmm. So
like they're taking it super
personal. I just feel like the
game is going to do the
talking. The truth is but I
actually do talk trash but it's
more in a sarcastic way. You know what
I'm saying? Okay. Like I'll
like cross somebody up and go
by and be like, oh thanks.
Appreciate you. You know what
I'm saying? That probably
pisses them off more. Yeah or
or like I'll shoot you and be
like, oh thanks for making that
so easy. You know what I'm
saying? It'd be more on that
tip but for me, it's more fun.
It's not like personal. You
know what I mean? Yeah. So and
I just think you don't really need to anyway. So I just it's just about I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean? You know what I mean, I don't know if it's really like generalized but a lot of the times it's the shorter guys. I don't know why.
I don't know if it's like a
height thing and they feel some
type of way. A small man
complex. Yeah. Who knows? I
mean, you go to the league
though. You got, you know,
legendary, you know, crap
talkers. You know what I mean?
Yeah. Perry Payton and even
Jordan, you know what I mean?
So, it just depends.
Absolutely. You ever let the
talk and get into an actual
fight? Maybe when I was younger. Yeah. A few times but you ever had a controversial. I have like a camera
crew and security. So like you
don't want to make people feel
ultimately victimized. You know
what I mean? So if I'm trying
to embarrass you on the court,
I try to big up everybody and
show them love and like it's
more about fun within the sport
and I think they get that vibe
for me. So people don't come as
like hostile. Yeah. But I mean
we have I've had a lot of
situations. You know what I
mean? One time I was in China and like,
it was playing the CBA, right?
It's like their NBA.
It's like a pre-season game.
So I came down on a dude and like,
I faked up, did an in and out behind the back,
and the dude slipped.
I was saying like, did the splits and I hit the shot.
So now the crowd was going crazy,
but it's like his home crowd.
And we had a little momentum before that too.
And so a couple of plays later, I come down,
I tried to go off the heezy, like, you know, it's like pro game, you know what I was like, I'm going to get a little momentum before that too and so a couple plays
later, I come down. I tried to
go off the easy like, you know,
it's like the pro game. You
know what I'm saying? Try to go
off his head but he like moved
so like hit hit the side of his
head. You know what I'm saying?
And then it like I messed it up
and so I tried to like kind of
like get it back but I got it
back in an ugly way so like he
didn't know it was a move. I
think he got confused or
whatever and he didn't even speak English. Yeah. So, he
couldn't communicate. So, he's
like picked me up and he like
threw me. He threw me like five
feet and then like both benches
clear. It's like big brawl. You
know what I mean? Damn. It's
all sports center. Yeah, he
he thought you were throwing
the ball at his head, right?
Yeah, I guess I don't know what
he thought and he was he was
mad from the plays before he
didn't like it. Yeah, it was
crazy. I'm surprised because
those Asians don't usually
scrap, you know?
Yeah, but you know, they're mad physical though. Some some American players think they like cheap over there like the play style. I mean, you can't generalize, right? You can't make a yeah, I don't
want to generalize but I'll speak on this because I'm Asian. So like Asians tend to be not as
athletic. So I think they have to make up for it by being sometimes being physical, right? Yeah,
or cheap. Yeah, I think Americans have said make up for it by being sometimes being physical,
right? Yeah. Or cheap. Yeah, I
think Americans have said that
but a few times, American teams
have went to play Chinese teams
and and like it's broke out
like a big old fight. Wow.
Cleared benches. Yeah, you can
like looking on YouTube.
There's at least three or four.
Damn. Mine was one of them.
That's surprising. Yeah. Well,
they don't like to lose. I know
that. I think there's something
with Georgetown over there like a few was it five, seven, maybe
ten years ago. Wow. It was by
fast. You played in uh forty
countries when you were at and
one. Do any of those countries
stand out to you like you still
remember when I was in and I
probably did twenty-five or
thirty. Forty is like how many
I've been since then. Um yeah,
I had great cultural experiences
a lot of
places because like not it
wasn't always a vacation,
right? Like you might go to an
amazing place but you really
just do your promo tour, have a
little fun, play the game,
after party, and then you like
out. You know what I mean? So
you don't always get to see the
place but I spent a lot of time
in Australia. We had like long
tours over there and that was really cool. Dubai, my last and I went to the I went to the I went to the I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the
I went to the I went to the the best game. Um our highest crowd energy games that we ever
went to was in Tokyo, Japan.
Wow. Which we we I played there
probably like seven or eight
times. We did Japanese tours
and then uh we went to Sao Paulo
Brazil. That might have been the
most popping game ever played
in. There was like 20 thousand.
Yeah. Sold to join out. The
energy was so crazy. I remember dribbling up the
court and like I just did like
behind the back at half court
and they freaking out like the
yeah, it was different. I think
when you go overseas, it's more
like they know you're not going
to be over there that often. It
might be the only time you ever
come over there. So, it's like a
bigger deal. Yeah. But I
remember we sold a game out
there like on a Wednesday and
then they paid us extra and
asked us to go on a state till sunday and
so we like stayed again. It's
awesome man. So that was dope
but I mean it's really hard
for me to say like one spot
that stood out amongst the
rest. I think I had amazing
cultural experiences in uh
India, Mumbai, Africa went to
Angola and I went to uh
Uganda. So a lot of cool places. Yeah. It's cool to see you play everywhere. You also played in some prisons. I saw played against the prison I went to Angola and I went to a ball handling program 10 years ago and I remember when I'm not sure if I'm gonna say the number one basketball is now and it's actually 900 million. Holy crap. Yeah. So,
it's grown like if you look at
the top sports in the world,
basketball at one point, I
don't even know if it was top
ten or it was like closer to
ten. Yeah, I think now it's
more middle of the pack. It's
like five or six but it's you
know, doubled in fan base. I
could see that because the US
seems like it's no longer like
the number one like we used to
be by far. Now, it's debatable
if we're the number one. You know what I
mean? We just lost in the last
world. Uh what was that world
championship or whatever? Oh,
you're saying, yeah, like, well,
if we put our best team up
there. Right. It's different but
yeah, I mean, the world's not,
yeah, getting nice at
basketball. They're catching up.
They were always really good
though too. That's unfair. I
think like our dreams, our first two dream teams were like so good and like probably I think that's like from I played with a big old's good hoopers everywhere.
Absolutely dude.
It's been a blast.
Anything you want to promote or close off with?
Oh yeah, man.
Well, I appreciate it.
Check me out on YouTube, Professor Live,
all other platforms is the professor.
Also dropping a ball handling program
is gonna be called Crossed Up University.
If you go to crossover spelled out in number5.com,
you get a free video right now,
five steps to the perfect crossover,
and you'll be notified when my program drops.
So we'll get in the video.
Let's go.
Yeah, thanks for coming on, man.
Hey, thanks for having me, man.
Thanks for watching, see you guys tomorrow.
Go.