Nightcap - Hawks AF - Jeff Teague on the 2015 team, getting left by the team bus, becoming a podcast sensation

Episode Date: April 29, 2025

Former Hawks great Jeff Teague comes home to join DC Young Fly on the latest episode of Hawks And Friends. Jeff & DC reminisce about the historic 2015 team, that time the team bus left the arena without him, and how he became a comedy star on his podcast.0:00 Intro1:15 Favorite memory as a Hawk2:20 The special 2014-15 squad3:50 Playing in different eras of the NBA4:30 How Damien Wilkins saved his career6:07 The bus leaves without Jeff and his pizza7:20 How he got into podcasting8:37 His hard foul on LeBron9:04 Favorite ATL restaurants10:05 Excitement about Trae & Jalen11:39 Speed round @ ClubShayShay @ Nightcapshow_ #ClubSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. The Made for This Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well-being, and then climb that mountain. You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify, the thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on good company. The podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there, and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran-Contra affair. The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do.

To hear the whole story, listen to Fiasco, Iran-Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I just think about how many people wanted to kill me when I pushed LeBron. I remember that. I thought the fans was going to ride with me. I was like, stand up, Hawks fans. They're like, nah, oh, oh, oh, oh, America.

Welcome to a brand new episode of Hawks and Friends, man. You know what? This feel like the backyard. It feel like my homeboy came back. You know what I'm saying? It feel like the one who went to college and came back to the high school just to make sure the team still good. We got an icon in the building we got an atl's legend in the building uh nba champ uh nba all-star one of atl's own jeff t appreciate y'all having me on the show oh man man it's an honor my guy welcome back to the city i'm hype

you know i'm every time i come back back to Atlanta, it's always like home. I had to get some J.R. Crickets when I first got back. Fact. Yeah. Probably get some American Deli. You didn't go to the Blue Flame, did you? Nah, I ain't been there yet. Okay, okay.

Table four. I'm home. I'm on my way. You on your way. Nah, man. So, look, man. What was your favorite memory of playing with ATL Hawks? Getting drafted here.

I got drafted here 20 years old. Getting drafted. Living out your dream to come to Atlanta. One of the greatest cities in the world. And then be able to play with the Hawks and some of my favorite players growing up like Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson, those guys. It was just dope.

Speaking of that moment, that draft day when the Hawks called your name. Give us that rundown. Yeah, I was at home. I didn't work out for the Hawks. I didn't know anything about Atlanta. I'm from Indianapolis, Indiana. I really didn't travel like that.

I went to Wake Forest, moved to North Carolina, and that really was my furthest I ever been. So then when I get called by the Hawks, I knew nothing about Atlanta. And my brother was like, Lil Jon. That's all I kept saying. Yeah, yeah. Lil Jon. You about to be with Lil Jon. And I was like.

That's crazy. That's the first person he called? I swear. Lil Jon. You about to be with Lil Jon. Did you see him? I ain't never meet Lil Jon. Okay.

See them both. Man, you know what? You was a part of a unique squad, man. That 2014-15 squad. It's hard to build momentum. It's hard to actually build a team that you can trust. Tell us about that squad. It was an unbelievable group.

We played together. We enjoyed playing with one another. We just wanted to win. Right. And we thought we had a team to win a championship i think we had a really good season i mean we went up against lebron yeah i did it's gonna be tough to be lebron but that group we played good together we enjoyed playing for one another we wanted to win and we ain't care who got the glory right we just like man if we win we all gonna win

and that's what it was what did you miss most about that 2014-15 series? What did I miss? I just missed the guys, like seeing them today. Right. And, like, being around Kyle and Paul. Even though we don't talk every day, but when we get around each other, man, it's like old times. We were just reminiscing about all the good stuff that we did. Just riding the bus rides, talking crazy on the court.

Me and Kyle used to do a shooting game every day. Obviously, he was a way better shooter than me, but I beat him a couple times. And I made sure to let him know when i won and uh we was just talking about some of those moments now you know i'm playing in a couple a couple eras man you know what i'm saying like now to be in the game what what how y'all said like after seven to eight years you are now like a super veteran yeah people don't really last that long. So explain how the game changed from when you first started out. When I first started, it was like a slow game. You threw the ball in the post.

And then you had Joe Johnson. I was on a tournament with Joe, so he got the chance to play ISO a lot. The last years went on, it was way more three-point shots. Like, you didn't shoot fast break threes when I first got in the league. That's what I'm saying. All this Steph Curry. Nah, you ain't do fast break threes when I first got in the league. That's what I'm saying. All this Steph Curry. Nah, you ain't do that. Shoot that now, you get kicked out the game.

Yeah, but now you got to shoot them. So, like, watching that, just that whole transition is crazy. But it was just so cool to be able to be a part of both of those eras. So, I get to hear the old heads talk crazy about how bad the game is. But then I was also a part of the era where you got to shoot a bunch of threes, so it's cool. So give us a teammate who had, like, the biggest impact on your career because it's a lot of ins and outs when it comes to the game

and when it comes to the business. Like, who was that big bro for you? Man, it was a guy, Damian Wilkins, Dominique's nephew. He was on the team with us one year. And that was my second year in the league. He just pulled me to the side because I loved Atlanta. And when I say I loved Atlanta, I was outside. That means you was outside.

Yeah, I was outside. So he just pulled me in and let me know you can do both, but you got to keep the main thing the main thing. And it kind of really saved my career because I was on a path of this. I was going to be out of there. You know, you don't play long. It's only four years is like the average career. Right.

I was in year two, and I wasn't playing that much. So he pulled me to the side, and he helped me out. So speaking of not playing that much and knowing your potential and knowing like because I watched you. I watched you grow here, and I watched you become a starter. I watched you go and go to the other team you played for and become a champion. I know.

I know. It hurts. But just talk that elevation and that transition in the game when you got to wait your turn, and when it's time for you to shine, that's when you got to go out there and give it your all. Yeah. At that time, when I came in the league, you had to learn. Like, not too many people just started right away.

You had to be, like, the top ten pick, top five pick, and you got your chance to start. It's a little different now, but I had to wait my turn. We had Mike Bibby here. Right. Mike was a vet. He was a good player. He was nice.

Right. So I had to wait my turn, and he got traded. Kurt Howard came here. He was starting. Then he got hurt, and it was just my opportunity to play. And I just tried to make the most of it, and I ran off with it. And I tried not to look back. Pop it, pop it.

Now, we going to pivot a little bit because I seen the pick. Everybody seen the pick. You know the pick I'm talking about. Go on, pull it up. Pull it up on the app. Click this one. Now when I got left by the pic. You know the pic I'm talking about. Go on, pull it up. Pull it up on the app. Click this one. Not when I got left by the bus. Damn.

That was it? With you holding the pizza? Yeah, they left me, man. And that's why you holding the pizza, bro? Yeah, so my sister had came to the game in Detroit, and she hadn't seen me play before. Right. So I was out after the game.

You get to go talk to your family. I was talking her and we just chopping it up and i started looking around the arena i'm like ain't nobody else out here like i know i ain't the only one with some family in detroit then i go to the back and the dudes on the detroit the ball boys was like dang they left you they left you bro but don't they do a roll call? They forgot. I guess I didn't get the call. So I start calling all the phones. And I'm like, hey, y'all left me. Come back.

And they like 10 minutes out. They come back. And I get on the bus. If y'all don't know me, I talk crazy all the time. I'm like, hey, y'all going to leave me? I'm just playing. And Coach was like, sit, yo. And he got me up out of there.

He was hot. Damn. How you mad at me? How you mad at me for leaving me? You left me. But it's all good. It's all good. But I know a phone call you did get.

And that was to tap into this media space. Yeah. Yeah. Like, you got a podcast. Podcast Club 520. You dig? Like, what made you start getting to the media into the media world man my homeboys I do the podcast with they were already doing a podcast and I was just like went

on that show one day and I had fun right and I was like man I can do that right I can do that but I was like I'm really kind of crazy I'm like I'm a little raw right and they like that's what we like we like we're gonna keep it real. And once we started doing it, it just started flowing and it was cool. Now, speaking of raw, you got like the best story. Like, I be tuned in, gang. You got some of the best stories. Give us a real, like,

dope, behind-the-scenes NBA story that you ain't exclusive. A Hawks of Friends exclusive. Uh, NBA story? I can't think of nothing right now I gotta I gotta be putting

a moment so that's the thing about our podcast we don't just tell stories it be organic like something to happen and I be like man I remember

since we in the Hawks cause like you came on the show I remember we was talking and we was talking I'm talking about it got real

I was like dang am I supposed to even say that okay but we in the Hawks what happened here that you could think of every time you come in you think about it you like why i just think about how many people wanted to kill me when i pushed lebron i remember that i thought i thought the fans was gonna ride with me i was like stand up hawks for a day like nah that's the key no man so so when you die in the a like i know you bust a couple old you know what i'm saying corners and some of your old

favorite spots that you used to hit like what's what's the jeff t favorite restaurants when he and atl well i used to eat uh u.s cafe a lot there i don't know if that's still open. But J.R. Crickets was my spot. American Deli, obviously, was my spot, too. I think American Deli got crack in it, man. When I was younger, when I first got here, I used to like Mary Mac's. I don't know what it's hitting on now. Mary Mac's? When is it?

It's downtown. It's down here. Oh, yeah. See, that's downtown from the west side. We ain't going to do Mary Mac's. I know a lady named Miss Mary. Yeah, but that was really it. Obviously, you know, Lou.

Lou know we're the good chicken. Yeah, you already. When you brought Lou in, I already knew. I just, all I saw was. You know what, okay. Okay, that's crazy because I need this card right here. Look at the dollar. Fell in my lap.

So, look, this is speed round right here, gang. Okay. Because we got to go back out here and see these hogs. You know what? Hold on. Before we get into speed round, because you talk. I cannot let you get out of here. This just hit my mind like a light bulb, like ding, because you wrong.

I want you to tell the truth. How do you feel about our Hawks right now? I'm a fan of the team. I know we went through some tough injuries. Right. Jalen Johnson. Right. I think he an all-star. He's a super beast. team. I know we went through some tough injuries. Jalen Johnson. I think he an all-star. He's a super beast. Yeah, I think he cold. Obviously, Trey Young

is who he is. All-star. Cold. I think when you got those two as your foundation going forward, they in good hands. Did you like our trades? Do you think we won? George Nguyen, he was my rookie. When I got traded from here to the Indiana, George was on the team with me. He was my rookie When I got traded from here to the Indiana

George was on the team with me He was my rookie, so that's my guy That's your dog Yeah, that's my dog I'm hypey here Because I know what Atlanta is like I know he love the city We already talked about it

He love it here already So good to see him here Playing with Coach Q already With Quinn They played in Utah He coached them in Utah So I know that's going to be a good blend I like Karis LeVert

He can hoop And I like T-Man He aggressive Yeah T-Man good too They all Everybody we got in the trade Is dope Okay

D-Hunt was my guy That was my dog So when I got Traded back here When D-Hunt So seeing D-Hunt leave And he was having A heck of a year

He was having A heck of a So I mean They gotta do What do what they got to do. I know, man. It's business, but you know. I understand the business side. Yeah, I understand.

But D-Hill was having a heck of a year. But shout out to them. I like the guys we got, though. Yeah, I do, too. All right. Okay, here we go. We got the speed round. Okay, we got to go see the guys play because, you know,

they're formal ain't trying to build energy. And we got to make sure we see play by play. favorite hawks jersey uh the pac-man okay okay toughest defender you ever had to go up against toughest defender uh tabo cephalosha oh okay okay best trash talker you ever played with or against kevin garnett yeah he talking he talking heavy first nbaer you ever played with or against? Kevin Garnett. Yeah, he talking. He talking heavy. First NBA jersey you ever owned? Penny Hardaway. Penny Hardaway.

Okay. Hey, man, there you have it. ATL. Listen, man, y'all really called this exclusive. Like, they really was calling in, sending in emails, like, you got to get Jeff Teague. As soon as we had Joe on here, I don't know how many more NBA players we're going to have, but y'all are more than welcome, bro.

We appreciate you stopping by. I appreciate y'all having me, man. Keep doing your thing. You too, brother. Most definitely. And make sure y'all stay tuned, America, and make sure you watch Jeff T. podcast, Club 520 as well. You did?

Hawks and friends. How? How? the made for this mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them so during mental health awareness month tune into the podcast focus on your emotional well-being and then climb that mountain you will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say, hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. Listen to Made for This Mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of 3C Ventures and your guide on good

company. The podcast where I sit down with the boldest innovators shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Anjali Sood, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming. What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core. There are so many stories out there. And if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content, the term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen. Listen to Good Company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran-Contra affair.

The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do. To hear the whole story, listen to Fiasco, Iran-Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart Podcast.