New Rory & MAL - Rory & Mal Don't Know Ball | Zach Randolph

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

On this episode of "Rory and Mal Don't Know Ball", the guys are joined by former NBA All-Star and Memphis Grizzlies legend, Zach Randolph. Rory and Mal ask Zach about starting his own record label, signing Moneybagg Yo, his time with the "Grit and Grind" Memphis Grizzlies, what went wrong in New York when he was on the Knicks, and having his name shouted out on hip-hop tracks. #volumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,

my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

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And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

It's Financial Literacy Month, and the podcast, Eating While Broke, is bringing real conversations about money, growth, and building your future. This month, hear from top streamer, Zoe Spencer, and venture capitalist Lakeisha Landrum Pierre, as they share their journeys from starting out to leveling up. There's an economic component to community striving. If there's not enough money and entrepreneurship happening in communities, they failed. Listen to Eating While Broke from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Daniel Alarcon, and this is my friend. This is much more famous than I am. I wouldn't go that far.

But I'm John Green. Co-host of the podcast The Away End with my old friend Daniel on our podcast The Away End. We'll share with you the magic of international football. all leading up to the 2026 World Cup. Together, we'll find out why, of all the unimportant things, football, soccer, is the most important. Listen to the away end with Daniel Auer Kohn and John Green on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume. All right, we're back for another episode of Don't Know Ball.

Today we are joined by somebody who absolutely knows Ball. One of my favorite players, 17-year NBA veteran. a guy that, you know, dominated his position, was fun to watch, very smooth, you know, was lefty down there on the block, so, you know, you can't do nothing with that down there on the block when they left. Good, good dude, man, a guy that I spent some time around

while he was playing, had some good nights, good nights out in the city. We are joined by Zibo, Zach Randolph. What's up, fellas. What's up, fellas? Before we get into anything, I want to ask you, Do you have any mall's stories? Ma, Ma, Ma, that's my brother, man.

What's mall's club swag like? I see Ma'am do a lot of practice, man. Ma'all won the best ever ball handlers that ever played the game. He told him to Ma'ammer. He told him to Crawford. I was talking to him to Ma'am. Okay. I told him, Ma'am, man.

Yeah, yeah. Zeebaugh, how you've been, man? First of all, congratulations on retirement. And wrapping up a great career as a guy that, you know, watching you play, you know, one of my other favorite players to watch growing up, Derek Coleman. Remind me a lot of DC, Derek Coleman. Oh, gee. How was adjusting to retirement? How has that been for you?

Man, it'd be good. You know, for me, because I had things set up, you know, I got an entertainment company called Enlist Entertainment, which started back in Memphis. me and my partner, one of my best friend, Marcus, Hal, and, you know, had a chance to, you know, being blessed to sign money bag, you know, one of the best rappers in the game. Best artists, best lyricists.

And, man, it was a blessing, you know what I mean? And got more talent in the city and other states and just been working, man, just been grinding. Yeah, you, you, I mean, you know, obviously what you did in Portland and here in New York and your career was great. But what you did down in Memphis, you know, So it has to be at least 12 statues of Zeebo around the city of Memphis around the city of Memphis at some point.

How has it been adjusting to getting into business and like you said, signing money back? Yo, how was that experience been for you? Man, it been good. You know, I started the record level while when I was playing in Memphis. So I was still, you know, working and grinding with the team. So it was good. It was a smooth transitioning. You know, a lot of guys that starts.

labels, it's always the opposite. You know, it always, it's not a good turnout. You know, I know guys that, when I came into the league, guys started labels, they're like, man, I lost four million. I'm 18, 19. You know, I got OGs talking about how they lost four members. Like, shit, I ain't even had them a million.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I always was, you know, just, always was annoyed and scared about, you know, getting to music, but Memphis has so much talent, man, and so much, you know, culture. and so many talented artists, man. It was the best thing to do. So, you know, it was a blessing, man.

How did you first originally get in contact with Moneybag, you? The city that's been in Memphis. You know, me being in the city, I give it back to the city. You know what I'm saying? I give back around the city, around the community. You know what I mean? And he wanted to work with me. You know what I mean?

He was up and coming. You know, he's seen the loyalty there. He'd seen an honor and he wanted to get on the train. I've seen it in him too, you know, the talent and, you know, a special artist he was. And so it was just perfect fit. What was it like navigating starting that label and having an artist like Moneybag, yo?

It was good. It was good, man. Just being, you know, just getting out there learning things and seeing how that music industry work with bag coming up and all kind of different things. So, man, I could. It was the best experience ever, you know what I mean? Yep. So it was the best experience ever.

And I can't complain, man. It's been a blessing, you know what I mean? Just not only that, just to work with other artists in the business space, you know, we got artists named D. Muley, Big Homie G, Big 30, Mud Brother Bow, you know, Nick Hardbody. We got so many artists with so much talent. And our artist's lonely girl. So it's like, it's a blessing, man, just to get in there, getting the studio to, you know, listen different beats and hearing different artists and, you know, tell their side.

that story. Now, Zibo, we from the same, we, we was born the same year. We came up, you know, the same era listening to music. How was the music, adjusting to the music now for you, as opposed to when we was coming up listening to hip hop? How was it like, is your ear still like, damn, this ain't what I'm used to, but I got to kind of get used to this new sound, this new way, because now I'm invested financially and as a businessman with these artists. Yeah, it's definitely different now. I think these, now it's more, you know, you got different, you got different zones, We got the hip-pop, but she also got the different kind of hip-pop. Right.

You know, I like where it's at. You know, I'm a fan of music. Not only that, man, I love all the music. I listen to a lot of R&B, a lot of old R&B, a lot of, you know, hip-pop. You know, I like Latin music. I like all the type of germs and music. So, you know, just learn about different genres. I think with us, we'd be so just stuck with the hip-hop.

But no, it's other genres out there that's good music. So for me, I love music. man, all the way around. What type of artist were you listening to as a kid? Man, you know, I'm from the Midwest, from Marion, Indiana. So I grew up listening, you know, MC8, you know, MC Breed, you know, Top Authority, Buster Rhyme. So Spice One, you know, Brother Lynch, hung, Cibow.

Yeah. You know, so 3-6 Mafia. you know so I I'm from we we we listen to everything I from the Midwest so you know I grew up listening to everything what you got how far are you guys from Chicago uh Chicago about two hours two hours okay so you attach more to the Chicago scene too sometimes like like Twister Twister all right am do or die like I grew up that's my era you know what I mean I grew up listening to that you know what I mean now you was drafted to Portland at the time where you got they they they dubbed y'all the jailblazers because of your style of play.

Talk to that transition coming in from college, coming in from Michigan State, highly touted, one of the best players in college coming out. When you got to Portland, who was your vet? Who was the guy that put his arms around you and kind of like helped you get your legs under you in the league? Man, you know what? It was all the OGs from Buzzi Wells to Damon Stademeymeyer

to receipt Wallace. All them guys took me under their wings some way or somehow. And I learned something from every one of them guys, you know, as a young man coming into the NBA, trying to find my weight. And looking up, and them guys looking up to the receipts

and watching how they, Scotty Pipper, how they conduct being a professional, you know, showing up, being a first at practice, you know, in the weight room, doing things like that. So I learned a bit of, I learned something from all of them guys, man. Now, a name you mentioned, that's another, you know, revolutionized a powerful position for Shea Wallace. What was those battles like for young Zbo coming in and having to be in practice and having to guard Sheed and go at and go out of Schewa Wallace?

That was tough, man. Like you said, coming in, you know, 18-year-old, 19-year-old rookie, looking up to them guys, you know what I mean? She was one of my favorite players coming, you know, growing up. You know what I mean? And so just getting to compete against him, you know, the big, Ravita Sabonis, the bonus, one of the best passing bigs, they've ever played the game. And so just competing against them guys every day, you know, coming in. I didn't play my first couple years in a league, but I got so much better in practice.

Yeah. Going at the boys, talking shit, going in the street, she's talking, you know, shit to me and all the other guys, but that making me compete harder. You know, our practices, it was, man, it was, it was, it was, it was on. Like, guys literally get to fighting and cussing each other out. Like, it was that type of, like, no, we're going to bust your ass. Like, the second team, like, we had a whip, you know what I'm saying? We wasn't just going, you know.

Yeah. One of the names you threw out there are Vita Sabonis, you know, I'm a little, you know, we obviously the same age. But I hear a lot of, you know, praise and talk about Yokic, and rightfully so. I think what he's doing is amazing, and he's one of the, one of my favorite players, to watch. But I'm old enough to remember what Sabonis looked like. And, and, you know, a lot of people, a lot of people don't know, but subonis before the injuries and how he dominated over in the Euro league and things that he was doing. How was it, you know, for somebody like you who actually saw that up closing personal and then you get to look at guys like joker today in the league

and you don't, but you don't hear guys, you know, they say, oh, we've never seen nothing like this, but somebody like Zach Randolph who was in practice with a Arvita Sabonis. How was that for you, like, to sit down and sit back and hear God say, that we've never seen nothing like this, and you've actually played with some of the most legendary big men of the game? Yeah, like you said, just notice people, you know, and it's the pen of who's saying that too, because, like you said, Arvita's, he was one of a kind, like Yolich.

Yolkish, he's a special player, one of the best of play the game, but Yolk has got a lot of Marcus Sault. Markis had the same thing. Yolkish, they remind me each other a lot. You know what I mean? They lead the team with the past. Like, Mark was our IQ on the team, defensively and offensively. He'd get everybody going.

He got me going on both ends. You know what I mean? And it got me a test. So just seeing how they play, they remind me so much of each other. And like you say, he got a lot of Ravitus in him, Yokish does. You know, he's a special player. But like you said, there's players that's before him that you can put in that same realm of things with Yokic. Like, hey, you got a lot of this.

You got a lot of RVitas. You got a lot of more opinion. The guys should play this game. Do you ever sit back and watch the game today when you see guys like Yoghich and you kind of sit there in front of the TV and rub your hands together like, damn, I wish I had a shot at him because I know exactly how I had to guard him. He got to come back and guard you now.

Like, how is it watching the game now with these guys like Yogic and you sitting back knowing what you did and your style of play? Like, do you ever sit and wish you had that opportunity to match up? You know what, man, I got to play. against Yokin's younger years. You know, when I played against him, he always had talent. Like you say, he always had him intangibles, always can score the ball, can pass the ball. And he can shoot it.

And you know he was going to be a good player. And you look at his progression of playing, and you see that he's getting better. So, yeah, man, I sit back and watch these young fellas play. Man, it's a lot of talent. But damn right, I wish I can get out there and go at them boys and throw some elbows and, you know, give him a little that old school, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Not the boys is tough though

Do you ever Do you ever watch the game now today And ever feel like You know most of the fans today We kind of feel like the game has changed so much Because like when you were in Portland The style of play in the league then Even shit not even Portland

Memphis The style of play is so different And not just team by team It's like around the league unanimously Everybody is playing the same It's just shoot three shoot threes. I read something that the commissioner is thinking about introducing the four-point shot at some point in the next couple years. Do you just feel like the game is kind of getting

away from one to physicality and two, just the essence of like real basketball? Because, you know, you see guys get up and down and everybody stop at the three-point line and just shoot threes. It's like, okay, I get it, but that kind of takes away some of the fabric of the game, though. Yeah, I definitely understand what you're saying. You know, the game has changed. You know what I mean? Like, it's a lot of more shooting, a lot of more three-point. But at the same time, I get the game credit because the fundamentals is definitely not where it was. It's more. These guys are six, seven feet shooting three, he's picking and popping. Like, the game has changed. But at the same point, you know, I feel like for me like basketball, it's not like it used to be, but you're going to

get that. It's like a revolving clock. I always say it all the time. I think it's going to always come back around. You're going to have a draft for maybe five. years from now, six years from now, you're going to have six, seven footers, you know what I mean? Like, you're going to have two sacks coming in where guys like Zach Eady, you know what I mean, in a post and playing. So I think the game has changed. And a lot of guys want to play, a lot of teams personnel want to play like Golden State. I don't know who set this screen and started playing this way with the three points to. And I think for that, you got to have a personnel. Now, if you got a team, you got some guys on that team,

that you got shooters and you got knocked down threes and you could play that way. That's understandable. But I feel like the teams need to play to their strength of what their personnel is on our team. You know what I mean? And some strength might be post-player, pick and pop, shoot threes, but teams need to play to their strength of their personnel. Now, a couple of seasons ago, the new face down there in Memphis, Jama ran into some troubles away from the court. Did you get an opportunity to kind of like tap in with him and really? reach out to him and kind of put your arm around him and guide him a little bit.

Oh, for sure. You know, that's a little bro. He's family, man. His dad, his sister's mother, you know, that's family. You know, Memphis is a small community and it's all love. And, you know, I've been through a lot of shit. You know, I don't tap my head a few times. That's all right, though.

You know, how you bounce back is how you come. So, that's how you be. Your bounce back is real. So, like I tell a little bro, just, you know, adversity, man, a small thing to a job. you get knocked down, get back up. And that's what he's doing. You know, I mean, like he's saying, like, he's one of the best players in the NBA,

really to face the NBA. All these kids want to be like, you know, at the end of the day, you know. So I just feel like it's just a minor setback for a major comeback. And that's what he's doing. He's on a major comeback, you know, just keeping his nose clean. And that's all it is, keeping nose clean and stay out of things and everything else to take care of itself. Stay off Instagram.

Stay off Instagram. So, got stuff that I do. Register your guns and stay off Instagram. I was reading a stat that Portland has the most strip clubs per square mile in the entire country. Every quarter, bro. I've never been to a strip club. I've never been to a strip club in Portland. What's the culture like out there?

Tell people about because I got a chance to go to Portland a couple times and I was surprised. But you actually lived there for some years. tell people exactly how like Portland is an underrated city man Portland is a great city man the fans is great only thing about Portland just go there in the summertime during the season it rains every day bro I mean every day like that shit can be depressive yeah yeah I mean so but size of rain this city great man the fans some of the best fans that I ever play

for every night they're they're loyal they love their trailblazers man And Portland, Portland. It ain't got nothing bad to say about this city. You know what I mean? It rained a lot in the season. But in all season, it's so beautiful. It's green. No humidity.

I got business still down there. So I'm always in Portland. A lot of friends around there. So I'm always in the city. Memphis strip clubs or Portland strip clubs? I'm staying on the strip clubs. Got to go Memphis. That's Z-boy.

I go Memphis. Memphis is cool, but Memphis small, too. And Portland is small. But, um, I'd say Portland got a lot more exotic, so I like Portland. Exotics. They got more excited. They got more flavor.

Yeah, they got more. Every four feet. I mean, you got to splice it up. Zeebo, who was the hardest player now? Again, I watched a lot of your games, and I can't remember, but I'm going to guess you're going to say Tim Duncan to this question. But who was the hardest player you had to guard? Man, for me, it's a lot of, Tim Duncan.

definitely. Tim Duncan, KG. Them two guys, for me, was the hardest. And Dirk New Whiskey. You know what I mean? Coming up in my air, you know, the Wild Wild West, man. You know, I played in the Wesley. And then it was all fords.

Yeah. Chris Weber one night. Dirt. Tim. K.G. Carlos Boozer. Andreke Carolenko. Elton Brand.

the more old them. Like every team in the West, their star players, the power force. Marcus Aldridge. L.A. You know what I mean? So it's like where it never was an all night off. Yeah.

You know, in Portland. Who is the hardest to guard at all those names? I probably say KG. KG and Dunk in my top two. You know, ticket just being long and being, you know, wiry, grabbing you hands this big. He grabbed me, the reps letting me do it. The reps looking at him do it.

So he like, you know, he got away with murder. I say KG. I remember one incident you had on the court a few years ago. It was personally, personally I liked it because, again, I got a chance to spend some personal time of rain, so I know your personality. But I also know it was out of love. You and DeMarcus cousins got into the little bit. Love bro. Yeah, yeah.

And I know you love him. I know you got love for him, but you told him, you said, when I'm from, we bully the bullies. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What did you mean by? I know what you meant by that, but a lot of people didn't understand what Zach Randolph meant by that. man you know what man you know me and demarkas we always talk shit when we used to play against each other yeah um this time he's fucking with his teammate buddy ill you know him and buddy he'll play together yeah um so i hear him just talking to buddy i look up i say yeah i'm working from the bullies get

bullied you know i mean i just buddy in their conversation yeah we laughed this shit laughed about it but nah it's all good though he was one of the guys i'm wrong where the bullies get bullied though no that's a fact that's a fact he was uh demarcus cousins was one of the guys um too you know when they talk about the big men and, you know, the Yokic's and the Zizibos, before his injuries, you know, Demarchus cousins was one of the most electrifying big men to watch. I mean, he was the revolutionized the position, too, for his window that he had. He could run the floor, he could pass, he could shoot, he could dribble, he could post up. How was it watching his development, again, him being your little bro?

How was that for you? Man, watching, watching Boogie was great, because, like, Like I said, he's like what you just said. He's one of the guys that Revolution, a Revolous Power Center, he can shoot the ball. He was big. Every time I played against Boogie, I had to get my arrest that night because I knew it was going to be a dog fight. And so definitely. So, but like you said, little broadway, he plays a game.

Like you said, I think he definitely should have played longer than he did. But, you know, there's a lot of politics in the game, too. But he's definitely one of the best ever to play in the game. still, even though what his career he had for me. Because I know Boogie, he can shoot the ball, he can handle it. And he seven feet. And he likes contact. He gives you, he hits you first.

He like me. He's a hit type first guy. Yeah. So, and, but definitely. And I feel like, you know, I feel like guys like me and Boogie, we don't get our due. You know, we kind of rough around the edges. And, you know, we kind of, you know, don't get to respect or get the dude we need to do. But Boogie's one of the best to ever do it.

You played at Michigan State under legendary coach Tom Izzo. What do you feel about one, NIL and two, the transfer portal? How do you feel about those two things? Man, the NIL, I feel like it's a great thing. A lot of these kids aren't going to never have a chance to make that much money in their career or in their college life or even after their career playing sports. So I feel like that's a great thing for them. But I think we need to put a cap on it somewhere.

We need to start making it like a, like contracts, kind of how like the NBA is like, you know, you need to put in stipulations. You know what I mean? I think that's where it's going. I think eventually it's going to have rules and stipulations, you know, like a cap or something with this NIL because, you know, every year, you know, the teams, no more Cinderella teams.

There's no more teams building up from, you know, to be able to have a good team. It's like the money, you know, how much money you got. Right. that's how I go. So if you got some money, that university, you got some money,

you're going to have a good team. And I think, you know, it's kind of hurting the game. It's definitely hurting the younger players because it's definitely a lot of high school players don't get scholarships no more. There's a lot of,

a lot of players, younger players, just missing out because of the older guys and the transporal and you can be a certain age now. So I think it needs to get looked at again and put some stipulations on it. You think that's a great thing.

Do you think that'll keep the players in college, longer rather than one and done and going right to the league? Well, I feel like the players just one and done. Like I was a one and done player. Them players stand alone. Yeah. Because Cooper flags, the Queens, the Ace Bayleys and the Harper's Dillon,

them guys stand alone. So nephew, James Richardson. So those guys, I think the top players, they stand alone. But like for everybody else, you know what I mean? Yeah. That's not a first round pick or, you know, they own a teeter of being an NBA or going overseas. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years. for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. I feel like it was a little bit unbelievable until I really start making money. It's Financial Literacy Month, and the podcast, Eating While Broke, is bringing real conversations about money, growth, and building your future. This month, hear from top streamer, Zoe Spencer, and venture capitalist Lakeisha Landrum, Pierre as they share their journeys from starting out to leveling up. If I'm outside with my parents and they're seeing all these people come up to me for pictures, it's like, what?

Today now, obviously, it's like 100%. They believe everything. But at first, it was just like, you got to go get a real job. There's an economic component to community striving. If there's not enough money and entrepreneurship happening in communities, they fail. And what I mean by fail is they don't have money to pay for food. They cannot feed their kids. They do not have homes.

Communities don't work unless there's. There's money flowing through them. Listen to Eating While Broke from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. When you listen to podcasts about AI and tech and the future of humanity, the hosts always act like they know what they're talking about and they are experts at everything. Here, the Nick Dick and Poll show, we're not afraid to make mistakes. What Cougler did that I think was so unique. He's the writer-director. Who do you think he is?

I don't know. You mean the, like, the president? You think Canada has a president? You think China has a president? Those law crusette. God, I love that thing. I use it all the time. I wrap it in a blanket and sing to it at night.

It's like the old Polish saying, not my monkeys, not my circus. Yep. It was a good one. I like that. It is an actual Polish saying. Yeah. It is an actual Polish saying. Better version of Play Stupid Games win stupid prizes.

Yes. Which, by the way, wasn't Taylor Swift, who said. that for the first time. I actually, I thought it was. I got that wrong. Listen to the Nick, Dick, and Paul show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Now, when you was out here, Zibo, with the Knicks, y'all had a great, looking at that roster, man, I just don't, I don't understand how y'all didn't have more success. Y'all had some dogs on that roster. We was hopeful. What do you think went wrong there? With the, with the talents you had, that may have been

one of the most talented Knicks' rosters. man you know what it was bro if the first year i got there i think i got there for beginning this season i got traded the next season during the deadline the next season when we was off and running i think we had we was nine and two or eight i mean we was above we was like four or five games above 500 so we were starting to take off and then you know the big lebron dilemma coming in they thought lebron was going to come to new york and they had a chance and they got rid of all of us. They got rid of me, mall. They traded all the guys. And I felt that was the team. They're right there. That team was right there was going to build to compete. And we

off, we was off to a great start. And boom, all of a sudden, everybody got traded. Planning in a couple organizations. Do you think James Dolan mismanages the entire Knicks organization? I definitely do. I like Mr. Dolan, but I think, you know, and I think that's what he's doing now. I think he's kind of understanding that because he brought great people in. He got West. Yeah. I think Leon Roe. Yeah. You got the great guys that's

coming in. So I think now that you know, it's different than when I was there, you know, because I heard all to talk Dolan needs, Dolan's this, Dolan's that. But for me, I met Dolan a few times and, you know, he had brought me to the Knicks and, you know, I ain't got nothing but respect for him, but I think he's starting

to understand now that let other people, you know, take over and, you know, maybe him, maybe I step back a little bit and let these guys run the show. So I think this was going on now. What was it different? New York's the mecca, bro. I mean, shit, that's the mecca.

But, you know, and Nick's got a lot of history. But Dolan, I think, I think Dolan's thing was because, you know, you played in the garden. It's sold out every night, no matter who's on the roster. It's in the middle of Manhattan. So I don't think that, yeah, Dolan, he don't really have a, like, it's not broke. The brand sells itself.

And no matter who I have on this team, who's coaching, every game is going to be sold out. But that roster that while you were here, looking back, I'm like, I just don't understand how this team didn't like, you know what I'm saying? Like one of the greatest power folds ever, the greatest sixth man ever, one of the greatest point guards ever, all of these got, David Lee, like all of these guys. And I'm just like, how the fuck did they not keep this core together and at least get to the finals? I didn't understand that, man. I really didn't because, you know, like I said, the squad that they had and the squad that we had, when I was there that short period of time, we had a squad, bro.

Yeah. And we all got along. And we all believed. Like that year we got traded. We was like, oh, yeah, we bought to whoop their ass. Okay. Oh, yeah. Come on.

Like, it was, you could see it. Yeah. What was the difference like playing in New York as opposed to Portland, Memphis, etc? Man, like you said, it's the Macca. It's been in New York. It's just the lights and the glitz, the camera, the action. man you know what i mean don't get no bigger than new york city you know i mean portland it was like you said it was sold out you know most every night in uh in portland

so the fans was great there too but that new york just got a different different different man it's just different that new yorks just different man what what celebrity court side made you play a little bit harder that game that's a good question yeah i know it wasn't ben stiller You know who it was, though, Holly Berry. Okay, okay. That'll wake you up. Yeah, Holly Barry turned me up.

Yeah. Man, you were born to him. You were like, okay. Yeah. Remember your stats from that night? Man, you know, my stats from New York was good. I had plenty of two. I think that game probably 20 and 15.

I had a show out of that game. Yeah. Halle Berry night. Allie Barry night. Yeah, but you know, every night, every home game, New York. Turned up. It starts studied. You know what I mean?

So shit, it was like, damn, damn, you know what I mean? Yeah. How has it been, because you have a, you have a personality. I think a lot of people know that, you know, obviously your personality is big, as big as your game. But how has it been transitioning into the pod? Like, doing podcasts with you and T.A. Y'all get to sit around, talk shit, tell some stories. And from two players who were very, very aggressive on the court.

Now I get to sit down and talk to guys that you played against, relive some of the the battles and some of the moments you had. How has podcast it been for y'all? Man, it's been good, man. It's been good. Just, like, getting a lot of feedback from our peers, from, you know, from Matt and from Stack Jack and, you know, guys, then we talk to Gil and D Miles and the Quiddish, yeah. The guys is in the space, which I think every one of the guys should be in a space from

Draymond, like Draymond, Barron. All them guys, them guys are motivations. So for us, we rough around the edges, you know what I mean? Like, it ain't no. we didn't give it to you person, we give me to you raw. You feel me? Like, this is us.

Like, it ain't going to be no, we're giving ponies they love, showing love, but we're going to talk about some real shit too, but it ain't never to get on there and I ain't never try to, you know, talk down on nobody. Are we just giving them brothers' day flowers?

You know what I'm saying? Just showing love. You know, out the mud, everybody out the mud somewhere somehow. You know what I mean? Right. You know, everybody got a story, you know what I mean?

And it ain't got to be coming up in poverty. You could be the wrong. richest you could be whatever but it's still out there you still got out the mud experience somewhere somehow in your life you know what I mean who's been your favorite guest so far man you know what we'd have some good guests man they'd have some good guests and it just right now it ain't no favor for me because all them being good like we just had sasha voge it you know he's a champion you know he never did a pie so that was great sitting talking to him you know he comes from a different country were awards that

where he had to, you know, war. They was dropping bombs and like real out of the mud shit. So it's like, wow, you know what I mean, hear what these guys been through and talking to Big Spain, Arkansas, just his experience and it been great, man.

Katie, D. Rose, all them guys showing us love, man, and we showing love back to the real ones, man, and it had been great, bro. For sure. Who, out of everyone you play with, would you say at the Worst music taste in the locker room ever. Yeah, who's playing that bullshit?

Who's playing that bullshit? How many times you have to unplug the speaker? Oh, I had to unplug the speaker a lot of times. I asked who playing this bullshit. You know, who, uh, nah, T.A. play some good music. A lot of them guys, probably, Rashid Wallace, he's kind of playing some boys. What was she listening?

Bro, what's this? You know, I'm listening. I'm bumping the E-40. He's talking about, man, what's? I'll put on an old E-40. He put in some beans, but I listen to beans. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know he's going to keep it Philly.

He's going to keep it Philly. He's going to keep it straight to Philly either, because, you know what I mean? I'm from the Midwest, so I'll keep it a little everything. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Nah, but, man, my guys always play music. I think for us, we love music, man, and I think the artists, they used to play basketball. So it's like a perfect, you know, man.

It's always, it's always rappers and ball players mix. Yeah. Yeah. So it's crazy like that, you know, that, you know, each artist probably isn't a play ball, a bag, money bag, he thinks he got a jump shot. You know what I mean? Tell him he ain't, he ain't good, you know what I mean?

So I just think all these guys, all these guys love music, man. All the NBA players, you know, that's all we, you see it. We got our, listen to us, warming up with our headphones. on now and it just it fits good with us man with the with the athletes you know what i mean and vice versa who is trying to rap in the locker room mike conley mike conn used to rap a little bit what i can't see mike conley rap he just said he said a few little bars you know he said a little j cole he got to say a little j cold bars or something okay okay all right i thought you may he right might so laid back and quiet man yeah how yeah he laid back and quiet so you get to knowing who else

a lot of guys rap, man. We're going to be rappers or in the game. Yeah, I can't do no rapping, though. You ain't doing no rapping? Nah, I ain't doing no rap. I might get in a booth, though, and drop a 16 or something, man. Yeah.

How has it been, first, or I meant to, at the top, I meant to congratulate you. Your daughter, congratulations. She's at Louisville now. She was also McDonald's All-American. And I saw you posted, your McDonald's All-American Card

and her McDonald's All-American Card. How was that for you just as a father? Like how crazy was that moment to really like see that happen? Man, you know what? It gave me butterflies, man. Just being able to relive that again and see my daughter do it better than me.

You know, I want my kids to be better than me and see her worth ethic in the way she loves playing. And it meant so much more to me to see my baby. in that situation in that light and seeing her playing the McDonald's All-American game.

It really gives you flashbacks like, damn, that was me. You know, I remember my game was in Boston, you know, their year. And, you know, they're doing the same thing, going to see the sites and, you know, the McDonald's houses or whatever they're doing for the itinerary.

And it just brought back flashbacks. So, man, it's been great, man. My daughter, she works hard. I'm proud of her, man. It's a big summer for her. So she'll be a sophomore next year. and we work it. We work.

I know you got in a gym. I know you got in a gym. Work, work, work. I've heard, like, Blake Griffin talk about his pops, was his coach all throughout his entire life. Did you coach her through high school or just trained? How did you balance that between being her dad and then training her to be at the level that she's at now?

Well, you know what? It's so funny. I'm near because she's like, Dad. So I'm like, come on, do this. She's like, okay. But then I get a trainer. She's like, okay, so I'm nearer. I just let the trainer do the work.

And then I rebound, short some things. You know what I mean? So, you know, with them kids, man, I don't know. They want to, they work harder for the next person. I don't know. Yeah. They don't, they don't. She doesn't.

Yeah, you dad, you, because you dad first, she don't know Zeebo. She don't know the killer on the court. She know dad, man. So she ain't listening to Dad. But if she go turn that YouTube on and look at some Zach Randall highlights, she going to know who she needs to be listening to. That training ain't. That train ain't do it at that level.

He ain't do it at that level. I try to tell him, man. All right. We scoured through some of the rappers that mentioned your name and their bars throughout the years of you playing and things like that. So we're going, we're going to, I'm going to try my best to give you the same cadence and the same flow, but I'm going to recite some of these lyrics. And I want you to try to guess who the artist is that, uh,

that wrote these bars. Mall is going to have to take most of this segment because I can't say a lot of these words. There's some words that Rory just can't say, Zbo. He can't say, he can't say the words. I can get the cadence. I just don't want to. All right. First one.

Ball and four, I went to Memphis. Nigg, I'm Zach Randolph. As soon as you change the price, I ain't think twice, nigga, I ran off. ESTZ. That's correct. ESTG dead wrong. Boy, Z. Tiski.

Yeah. We have to stop. with this trend of running off on the plug. Yeah, that's just crazy. Yeah, that's a dangerous. That's a dangerous energy to be putting out there. We're going to do another one. He's going to get this one.

On a private jet, about to take off. I ain't really with the back and forth talk. 50 in the Glock, Zach Randolph. Man, money bags. Money bag, yo, prayers. All right, let's see. Let me try another one. It was three digits in the clip

until his man's ran off. Dumb decision gave him half, Zach Randolph. Three clips. Oh, it's a tough one. That's baby Tron, cat dog. Such type of baby Tron, man. Yeah. I think my son might have told me by him.

Yeah. Yeah, baby Tron, cool. Let me see. Let me give me one more. The last one. The last one. All right. Living my best life,

Shorty, you can never get attached. Went to the plug, got a couple P's. Then I ran off like Zach. Boy, Rowdy. Roddy Rich. Roddy, Roddy, Rich. Shout of my boy, Rowdy, Roddy. Roddy Rich.

Everyone did the runaway scheme. Yeah. So, Zach, you listen, so you hear when these niggas got your name out there, Zach, you might as well go with this one to you.

Which one is that one? Okay. One more. War to wall to beat slapping like I'm playing handball. In the jungle, I'm a grizzy like I'm Zach Randolph. No, that one.

I'm going to give it to you one more time. War to wall to beat slapping like I'm playing handball. In the jungle, I'm a grizzy like I'm Zach Randolph. Damn, I don't know what that one is, ma. That's Drake the, Drake the ruler. Oh, Drakeio, Draccio, rest of peace, Dracio.

How was that, how was that the first time you heard your name in a rap? Like, how long did you play that song? How many times you brought that verse back the first time you heard it? And who was the artist? Who was the first artist you heard, put your name in a bar? You know what? Man, the little homies out of, um, from. You know what I mean?

A little germ. He, he, one of the first guys, you know what I mean? They rap, he started rapping. You know, I got in the league, he put my name and some songs. So really, people from where I'm from, you know what I mean? And like you said, like the Rowdy Riches, the money bags, say, yo, gotis, you know what I mean? That's my man. So a lot of guys been showing me love, men on these, put me in these verses.

I like that, you know what I mean? I got a little young brother out here and they pay so. He hard, too. You know, he got a, he got a song called Zach Randolph, you know what I mean? So, wait, wait, where's, where's Paiso from? A-F-N, A-F-N Pesto. He got a song called Zach Randolph. Okay.

He's hard. Yeah, he's from L.A. Okay. Yeah, I check it out. So, yeah, FN, he, he's been making noise. Is that the same Peson that was on Kendrick's album or a different Peso? Hmm, I don't know. A-F-N Paiso.

No, that was the same Peson. He's a little. He's cold, though. Y'all have to take him out. He's hard. But yeah, so it's a lot of guys to be showing me some love in the music, man. You know, they recognize a real one, man. I recognize them, too. You know what I'm saying? So it's all love for sure. Who was the first rapper that you met once you got to the league and they knew who you were? First rapper I met. He got to a league, man. He got, well, I've been doing shit for the long time, man.

I know all them guys. Probably ludicrous. When I was 17, when I was 18, I had a came to Portland, Oregon to do a show. Oh, wow. Yeah, this is before season. My rookie season, and I came. I met his little brother, Faye, a little Fait rap. They were like, man, we fuck with you, Zibo, man.

And, you know, I had gave him my jersey. This is when I was wearing number seven. I had just got drafted. I had number seven. I gave him my jersey. I was at the show. I was like, man, we're a big fan. Oh, he got a number seven, Zach Randolph, Blazers?

Yeah. Oh, my. That's when I first got drafted. They ended up changing to 50, but it was seven. That's true. I think we had, I think Greg Anthony had got traded their year or somebody had that 50. Probably Greg Anthony. Greg Anthony or Brian, I forgot Brian last name, but he was a big.

So that's when I got that 50 back. Yeah. Zibo, you ever thought about getting into coaching, like on a real level, like at the league level? You know, I always think about it. And the guys always tell me how shit. just to, you know, get that knowledge. I got to help the Biggs in my game and get the knowledge of the game that I know to help.

So I'll be thinking about it. I really do, but, you know, I know the coaching is a lot. I enjoy, you know, my kids, my daughter, she got games in college. I like going to her games. You know, my son, I got 11-year-old and a 15-year-old daughter, 7-8, be busy. So, like, I like to be, you know, go watch them play and enjoy it. So they're coaching, I don't know.

But I thought about it. I don't know, maybe, you know what I mean, in the future, but not right now. Yes. We just saw last, well, maybe two weeks ago now, the Nuggets fired Coach Malone out it would seem like nowhere to us. Like, we didn't have no knowledge of that. As somebody that, you know, obviously played at the highest level, how surprising were you of the news of them firing a coach that I just come fresh off a championship

about two years ago and his team is still one of the best teams in the league. How surprised were you at that firing? I definitely was surprised. Coach Malone was a great coach. You know, I don't know what, you know, what was going on intern or, you know, what they got from the outside looking at the players respecting him. I don't know it. Coach Malone was a loyal coach.

You know, he bled different nuggets and he did whatever he could, excuse me, for their team to be successful. He gave his heart and he gave it all. So at the end of the day, you know, coaches get fired. Players get traded. You know what I mean? So it all comes hand in hand. But I could say one thing about Coach Malone, he's a great coach, great guy.

And he's going to go to war for you. He'll go back for his players. Now, you obviously, I think it's safe to say this. They had to run that by Yokic before they did that. Like I don't think they could make that move without. consult for Yoko first. Because it's, it's, it's

it gets tricky, man. She'd get tricky when it comes to that. You know, these guys, these owners, they don't, you know, some of them do,

some of them don't, you know what I mean? So, I don't know. It can get tricky because you got some owners, you know, they're like, shit,

we, this is our team, we run it, you know, like they don't tell players when they're getting traded. They just trade you. So it's kind of like hand in hand. So I don't know if they told Yoka Chad,

you know, they could have. I think he came out and said that they, you know, they say spoke to him, I guess right before they was about to fire him. They told him why they were doing it. But he said basically he had no calling it. I don't know if I believe that.

I believe Yokic is the, he is the franchise. And I think that they have to run everything through him. I'm not saying there was a personal thing between Yokic and coach. I'm not going to go that route. But I do think that he had to know something. I think that it was more surprising for Luka to get traded. there was for Coach Malone to get fired from Denver. I think the Luca trade was absolutely.

I think nobody, you know, I don't even know about that. Correct. I think that, I think that Yocas definitely knew about Coach Malone being let go before they obviously did it. What did you think about the Luca trade? You know, it was surprising when I heard it, but I'm like, you know, what the hell? You know what I mean? Just like everybody else was. And, you know, Coach, and Nico, that's my man, too, you know what I mean?

So, like I said, Nico seen a vision too. You know what I mean? That, you know, he saw and the owners or whoever above him saw, and they went with the move. Like I said, this is the NBA, man. Anything can happen. You know what I mean? Shit. You know, some of the best go to different teams.

So, like I said, it was God's playing. Like I said, this is probably what guy I wanted for Luca and is working out the best now. being from Indiana how do you feel about Freddie Gibbs man I fuck with Freddie Freddy, Freddie's got a great talent you know he put an owner for Indiana putting off of GI you know what I mean so

in a number of respect you know you got an Indiana guy coming out and hard like he is you know what I mean so I fuck with Freddie Have y'all you connected before? Oh for so hell yeah I'm surprised We try to do some shit together you know what I mean

with some of the artists and him because you know he hard and you know what I mean and I like his music. I'm surprised he knows Zach Randolph bars from Freddie. I think he's due up for a... Oh, absolutely. Because I hollered a friend, man.

Yeah, absolutely. Pop my thing, getting in this video and pop my colleague, you know? Exactly. Before we get out of here, top five Memphis rappers of all time. I ain't got no order because there's so much talent, so much, man, from Project Pat to Moneybag Yotes, to 36 Mafia, you know. young dove to A ball, MJG. Man, Memphis got so much talent.

I mean, I keep going. Yo, Goddies, to the, you know what I mean, to Claire Fly. Like, it's so many artists, gangster black, you know what I mean, like little white. Yeah. So many, you know, Memphis got so much talent, you know what I mean. I don't think they get the credit they deserve. Memphis is a help. But we do and we don't because they know what it is.

is. You see what I'm saying? They know, they don't want to say it, but everybody knows it. You know what I mean? That's why you got all the big time labels. In Memphis, signing all these artists, all these producers. Every label, they in Memphis, they got guys on the ground. Yeah. Going around, looking for talent. You know what I mean? We need to keep all the talent in-house. You know what I mean? I'm just saying to in-list, to in-house to the people that's got it going on where they can put these artists out. So they're in the city, man. They in the city. They work. They're trying to take everybody out the city, man. Which I don't blame them because it's business. Yeah. These kids and men and women in Memphis are talented. You know what I mean? Not just on the musical side on the creative side too. You know, let's not forget about the creative side.

You know what I mean? So city got it going on. It's got a bad negative light. People be scared of Memphis, but Memphis is a blue collar town, Blue-collar hardworking people like myself. You know, just out the mud, there's nothing given easy. Being a music exec yourself, can you speak to what YoGadi is built with CMG? Because I feel like he doesn't get brought up in the conversations when you're talking cash money,

Rockefeller Def Row. Like, Yogi has really built an empire with CMG. Man, man, hats off. Kudos to my bro, Yogadi, man. Not only that, I've seen Gotti grind. And I've always was a fan of Gotti music. And just to see him being able to be around him and see him grow to where he's at now,

he's been grinding. This shit ain't, this shit wasn't easy. Goddy out the mud. He really got to mud. Like, that shit he's rapping about, like, he ain't telling the lies. And God is respect him. You know, he's a businessman.

He's a business-minded person. And all he does is work, work, work. You know what I mean? God, he's a workaholic. And you got to work to what you want to do. And God is a prime example. of being in this game, taking steps and working to where he get.

And I'm proud of him, man. He didn't create something for his family and a pass on and a key building. For sure. No, it's a legendary label already. All right, Zibo. Well, we appreciate you, man. It's good talking to you, man.

I got a link with you next time I'm out there on the West Coast, man. We got to hang out, man. And we love what you and Tony Allen is doing. Continue to do what y'all doing without the mud. And definitely one of me and Roy, we got to come by, I sit on the couch and kicker with y'all and talk some shit. We know you gotta get your own, man. Yeah, for sure.

Definitely. Definitely. We're gonna make it happen, man. It was good talking to you. We appreciate you, bro. Show, fellas. Man, appreciate you all. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Cliver Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Financial Literacy Month, and the podcast, Eating While Broke is bringing real conversations about money, growth, and building your future. This month, hear from top streamer, Zoe Spencer, and Venture, capitalist Lakeisha Landrum Pierre as they share their journeys from starting out to leveling up. There's an economic component to communities thriving. If there's not enough money and entrepreneurship

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