The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Draymond Green Show - Baron Davis

Episode Date: July 11, 2024

Baron Davis joins ‘The Draymond Green Show’ to discuss growing up in Los Angeles, the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake rap beef, why he chose UCLA over Duke, Coach K being a “hater,” the “We Believe” Golden State Warriors team, partying with Snoop Dogg, Donald Sterling’s Los Angeles Clippers, Jeremy Lin facing Kobe Bryant, and more. 0:00 Start10:00 Kendrick vs. Drake17:00 Coach K a "hater"30:00 The "We Believe" Warriors38:30 Partying with Snoop Dogg48:00 Donald Sterling's Clippers1:10:00 Linsanity Produced by: Jackson Safon #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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On behalf of Boot Hill Casinoin Resort in Kansas, 21 and over, age varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire, 168. hours after issuance. See dkng.com slash B-Ball for eligibility and deposit restrictions, terms, and responsible gaming resources. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green show. I'm honored to have this next guest. Third pick in the NBA draft, something I'll never know anything about 1999. I was also nine. He's old. Two-time All-Star, one-time NBA, two-time NBA,

a still leader. But this one go way deeper for me. And I'll tell you why this goes way deeper for me because obviously I was drafted to the Golden State Warriors in 2012. And the Golden State Warriors had just come, you know, in the last five years of that, had just come off the most success

that the organization has seen since 1975. And so I really came in, living through that. And I always tell people, like, one of my fondest memories, or not even necessarily fondest, but, like, one of the memories that's, like, ingrained in my head was always being an Oracle. And everybody said, and they would ask the Golden State Warriors fans, Dub Nation, what's your favorite warrior moment?

And everybody's favorite warrior moment was always the Baron Davis dunk on Andre and Caroline. And I heard that so many times and I saw that video so many times. I feel like I was there for a video. Nonetheless, I am honored to have you on. So welcome to the show, my mom. Appreciate you, my daughter. Absolutely. A lot of love and respect, man.

I think, you know, for me, what I want to get into first is like growing up in L.A. You obviously grew up in South Central And obviously Crips and Bloods is originated here You know, this is the heart of it Yeah Growing up in L.A., growing up in that,

how was it to navigate the Crips in the Bloods and trying to play basketball and trying to go to school? How was it growing up in that? I think, well, one, you got Crips in your family and you got Bloods in your family.

And so they are your cousins. You know what I mean? And at family reunions is kind of awkward, you know, because they miss each other, but they can't, you know, fuck with each other or hang with each other. But they grew up together. So, like, dealing with that,

just in your family alone, you automatically, like, forced to like who you, you know, you got to pick aside in your family. All right, I'm going to fuck with my blood cousins because they're cooler. You know what I mean?

My crib cousins, they, wow. I don't want to, you know, don't go that way. But just in LA, I think basketball, if you stick to the game, you feel what I'm saying? Somehow, some way, like, you, it's around you because, you know, Hoopers, hoopers come from more inner city shit just as much as rappers, you know what I mean? Absolutely. And we're more visible, but, like, you can navigate your way through it, you know? And I think for me, basketball was like, almost like an instrument, bro, that I remember playing. And, you know, we play every day outside the course at the elementary school.

Sometimes it's shootouts. We see it all, but, like, we were still hooping. You know what I mean? And then you start playing in different parks. I was just telling the story. My first time really playing on an AAU team, we had K-Swiss, Red K-Swiss, Harthor, High School jersey. So it was Red and Go.

We had a Red K-Swiss back. We pull up and at the time I don't know the jungles, you know what I mean? South Central. I don't know nothing but maybe five or ten blocks. So we pull it up to the jungles and I'm like, damn, dude, that's a gang of dudes outside. You know, I'm telling my, hey, you coach like, hey, bro, you're sure, we're about to get out like this, you feel what I'm saying? And I'm in there nervous to say I ain't even really, because I'm like, you know, I'm

as a kid, you thinking like, oh, I'm from this too. Absolutely. Man, we get out the car. We're in the Junkles. You know what I mean? So it's number of bluds. And, bro, they lined up and they were slapping our hand going through the Z. These little fools hard.

You know what I mean? We went and bawled out. But it was just like you start to learn through your teammates because A.A.U, everybody come from different places. And then you start to see, like, those who are good enough to make it, who ain't going to make it. Like, you know who the kids who are going to fall in the gang back. You know what I mean? And so for me, I was just, like, it was so much bad shit happening in my family. You know what I mean?

It was like so much negativity in where I live. It was so much, like, trauma and traumatic shit that it was like, I just didn't want to, like, get in trouble. Yeah. You feel what I'm saying? Like, I ain't never been arrested, bro. I ain't never been, I ain't never been caught doing no goofy shit. You know what I mean?

And it was all because my grandmother, like, it was like, I'm seeing it all come through the house. You know what I mean? or outside the house. And so I was just like, I just, it was like, fucking basketball is my thing. And when I get here, I'm never going to let,

I'm never going to tell people where I come from or my story or none of that. I'd just be a funny dude and a silly dude and, you know, trick them so I can stay. You know what I mean? Like, that shit was like survival, you know? Mm-hmm. It's like, how do you, how do you stay somewhere

where like, it's just you? You ain't got nowhere else to go. You know what I mean? You ain't got nowhere to fall about. That's interesting. And then to make it as a pro, then how is it to navigate it? Because the whole dynamic changes.

Yeah, yeah. Now it's like, oh, ain't he of blood or, you know, ain't his cousin Chris? You know, it's like now you're starting to get identified at a higher level, you know, and now you're guilty by association. I used to always tell people like, you know, how you move, who you move with because you're going to be guilty by association. And so you're going to be moving with them dudes in a space where you don't know they fonking with them dudes over there.

You know what I mean? And so you can be the cool athlete, innocent bystander, but like you're the first target they're going to hit. And so for me it was like, I'm public enemy number one, bro. Every time I come home, I'm public enemy number one. They want to rob me. They want to jack me. You know, it's just all kind of shit. And it wasn't a lot of LA, wasn't like LA, LA, LA dudes, you know, dudes from LA,

but they wasn't like, you know, big in LA. You know what I mean? Big in their hood. Went to UCLA, you know. So it wasn't a lot of that. And so I was like, fuck it, man. I'm just going to stay focused on basketball. You feel what I'm saying?

But at the same time, you can't let nobody push you. Yeah. Right. And it had to be a decision where it was like, all right. dude, I see how this go. This ain't going to never happen with me. You feel what I'm saying? And so I had to go and start thinking three, four, five steps ahead and just like, all right,

man, I'm just going to bring my family together. You know what I mean? And if I can do that, then ultimately I can help bring L.A. together. But if I bring my family together, you feel what I'm saying? Yeah. Then I ain't worried about nobody. We can move how we move. And then we just start really like moving through the city, collecting family.

And LA became a bigger place. Yeah. You know, you got the Jackers and all, like the haters and shit. And back in the day, I say this, when I came up, bro, they shot at Jalen Rose. Why Jalen Rose? You know what I mean? Like, he's the nicest dude. I remember that.

You know what I mean? Incredible dude. Hooper. You know, they was shooting at people, bro. They was shooting that. And it didn't matter. Rob, you're coming out the club. You know, it's all the Jackboys out there. When I was in college, you know, I used to hang out because I couldn't get in the club.

So I'd be hanging outside and I see all the dudes, you know, getting ready to bust their moves and shit. I'm just, you know, out there trying to get in. So you grow up through all that and you just know when to leave. Yeah. I always say be smart. Know when to leave. You know what I mean? Know who to shake hands and keep it pushing.

Right. And then no discussions. Right? It's like, I don't know nobody. I respect that. That's the way you keep it. It's like, man, I hoop. I don't know nobody because, you know,

LA is like a vortex. And we all come from something. We all come from the hood. We all come from these people. And it's not like something to be afraid of. Because they're your friends. You play dominoes with them. They remind you your uncles.

And it's like, but at the same time, you know, the channel they live on, you feel what I'm saying? Ain't the channel you live up. That's the fact. You're supposed to be, you feel me? That's a fact. Yeah. That's public access.

Absolutely. You got to live, you're on cable, you know what I mean? So you got to know how to navigate that. So being an L.A. guy, and I think we're living in a far, I mean, just the last few months with the rap beef, Drake. and Kendrick. I wasn't there in person, but I saw online the concert. But being an L.A. guy

and to see all those guys up there, Crips, Bloods, United, like that. And then I was talking to DeMar a couple days later, he's like, yo, it's been two and a half days. There's been no shootings, no fighting in Compton. He's like, see, this is the piece people ain't talking about. Right. He said, so it's been, number one, two and a half days is great.

Yeah. He's like, it's been two and a half days. He's like, it's been two and a half days. Yeah. And ain't nobody chipped. And ain't nobody fought. Yeah. Ain't nobody shot at nobody.

And nobody been killed. It's been two and a half days. He was like, what that meant for the city? Like, too, for you as an L.A. guy, what was it to see that and what did it mean, you know, from your perspective. I say maturity, right? Because like the basketball deals, we do that. Absolutely. And then I think you're starting to see, like, the rap community,

all these deals is just maturity. You know what I mean? When you see the G. Perico, Jay Worthy, you know what I mean? You know, the whole meet the whoops coming out. Like, you got bloods, you got crips, you know, And for that to be at the forum in LA, like how it was, it just show a level of maturity in LA. So a level of appreciation for like,

and separation for music, you know what I mean? Because we all artists. And we should all be kind of like pushing this movement and our sound and our music because it is a character of LA. We all characters and play a part of the storytelling and in the streets to be like, this is what's needed. You feel what I'm saying?

So I just give a shout out to all O'Gs. I give a shout out to K dot top. You know, people like Jay Worthy, G. Perico for sure. You know, people like these dudes, they always fuck with each other. You know, some knick, knacks and shit like that. But a lot of these dudes really fuck with each other. Rest and peace to Nip,

because, you know, I always felt like Nip was going to be the person to bring everybody together. You know what I mean? And it takes that level of self-respect, you know what I mean? And respect for your city. And I think seeing all them do is on the stage was crazy because I wish I was there. I threw my back out, bro.

Top dog was like, meet me at 430. And my back went out. I was watching it on the floor. I ought to be on stage too, bro. You imagine my shit with a way of my own stage? I had already got hurt me, go. You know what I mean? Carted off on a fucking, no, I'm cool, my nigga.

I'm going to stay. I think I'm going to stay here and watch this shit. So it was really perfect time for you. It was perfect. Hey, bro, if I had to slip, if I don't try to bust one that, one of the moves that would have slipped. Oh, it would have been over. Oh, that would have been over. That would have been bad.

Not one the league, now one and right. Two career in the injuries. Wow. So, and now, but then speaking of navigating that, navigating the Crips, navigating the bloods, just growing up in this, then why the choice to stay home and go to UCLA? For that reason, specifically, like, you know,

I wanted to go to Duke. I thought Duke was going to be like a place where I can get out of LA. I have to worry about none of this shit. And I can go hoop. And I wind up being like one of the greatest hoopers ever. You know what I mean? Or the responsibility was like, yo, you got young pool. You got young Trev.

You got, you know, all these young PGs that's coming up in L.A. And they're going to Artesian and Christian Shaw and losing. You know what I mean? It's like, man, they need to see me. You feel what I'm saying? And I need to stay connected. I need to revamp this whole UCLA as point guard university. And so that's what it was.

It was like, where do I want to live for the rest of my life? Where do I want to be comfortable? And at that point, it was like, all right, dude, I want to, you know, do I want to be the top five greatest point guard to ever play? Or do I want to walk in the row and things be like, damn, that didn't get caught. I can't fuck with him. Do you think you fuck me?

No, no, no, no, no. You know what I mean? And so I'd rather put on for my city. and I was just thinking about like the next generation. It's like, man, if they can come watch me play high, I've been coming here getting recruited, man, I'm giving tickets to all the little homies to come, you know, while we rock out of UCLA.

So when you look back on that decision, do you think it ultimately panned out the way that you wanted it to? I mean, you know, I don't regret it. You know, I always say, like there's always a what-if moment. Like if I would have went to Duke, I don't know, if I would have went to Kansas, I'd have been a different type of player and shit. You know what I mean? But if I would have went to Duke, what that would have done?

You know what I mean? Because I'd have been in and out. You feel what I'm saying? I've been in and out. All the East Coast love, all the flavor, you know what I mean? All that shit in my game fit with all that was cracking and I would have just had to focus on basketball. You know what I mean?

But who knew? Deep down in my heart, I always felt, you know, Ricky Price went there, he got hated on, Cherokee Parks wound up getting hated on. Chris Burgess hated on. So I was like, man, I'm from LA. And it's something about like the LA dude at Duke that, and where I'm from, like, they think I'm a nice dude, but when I snap, like, they're going to send me home. Yeah.

You know, and so I always felt like Coach Kay had, like, we hate on them. You know what I mean? And I was right about that. You know what I mean? So I wasn't shipping. Why do you say you was right about that? Because he hated on me. Where?

During the Olympic tryouts. I was coming off of 23, 8, and didn't get a tryout. So. I feel that big hate. You know what I mean? Bro, I can't get a tryout? Like, name. 30 people better than me.

Okay, name 12. Name four guards better than me. Okay, cool. Now, can I practice against them? Now, ask them, niggas that. All right, enough said. You know what I mean? I don't get a tryout.

The coach, I got a hater. I ain't chicken. Do you think that stems from you not going to Duke and going to UCLA? Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. That's all. He wrote about it in his book.

Oh. Yeah, I always had. Like, that was my whole, and they can blame it on like the USA team and shit like that. But every sorry, every motherfucker that was in front of me or that got invited was sorry. Guards. You know, you asked me, they're sorry. Who were the guards? Luke Rittonauer got invited.

He's weak as fuck. No, knock on him, you know what I mean? But, like, you know, this is my hurt talking. I respect his game. I think Lou Rittenauer was a good player. We're like, you know, we talking as Hooper's. It's like, are you fucking kidding me? You're like, start there.

Now I go to the top, top guard and be like, damn, I don't get a shot. This is ill, homie. But I wasn't shipping, dude. I knew what it was. I was like, this result, you know, this is coming back, you know, to Roos from college. So, Kyrie recently just said that. Kyrie recently was like, the team came out, they asked Kai about it,

and then Kai said, I'll be cheering them on. Yeah. But I just remember the days when we had to go play against each other. You had to go prove yourself, bro. And it's not even that. It's like, there's a hundred dudes in the league

that deserve to all be in the gym together. If y'all really want to know who the cream of the crop. Yep. You can't just handpick just so popular. They're like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know. If you have a trial, you gotta have like, once you have one child, you got to have them try out every time.

Because it's also showing like a level of chemistry, dedication, and who fit. You know what I mean? Who's a real glue to, not all these superstars, but who's going to be the glue? Yep. Who gonna be the central intelligence? Who quarterbacking the defense? You know what I mean? Who making the ultimate sacrifice to make sure everybody's sacrifice?

You know what I mean? And so, you know, I'm rooting for them. I know they can do it because shit, we got superpowers. Absolutely. There's on a team, everybody is a superstar in a row. Yes. And in order to have a team, you got to have those dudes who are super superstars in they row.

And you got to let them try out. Like, how to fuck Kyrie can't get a tryout? Yeah. It's a fact. No, I get it. And speaking of Olympics, I was actually- John Ryan Green don't get a try out. You feel what I'm saying?

I think I should have got it. You know, the thing that really pissed me off about it. I haven't said much about it, but the thing that upset me about it was a 41 name pool came up. And I ain't on the pool. And I played in the last, I won the last two gold medals. Right, you got two gold medals. And with winning those two last two gold medals, I wouldn't necessarily say. I'm at the absolute best.

No, you was killing. But I, but right now, today I am, you have to wreck it with me. You have the top, you at the top and at the peak of who you are. Absolutely. Like I, this means so much more. You know what I mean?

Because it's like, I don't understand, bro. 100%. I feel that. You know what I mean? I'm sure. And when are you not qualified to like keep, Usually people who win gold medals, they keep playing. For sure.

So that's why you need to try out. Like some of these dudes got to go, they got to go take and say, hey, big dog, I got to retire. You got to be like, you know what? Damn, don't. You got to. But you got to give you that chance. You got to get that, them that chance. You got to get a whole history of the legacy of the game and the storytelling that chance.

I agree. Because, like, dudes ain't retiring. Ain't nobody retiring. Ain't nobody getting retired. It was just like everybody walking away like hey, thanks for the service. You know what I mean? Yeah. No, I feel that.

And I said for me, I am going to cheer for them as hard as I would if I was playing on the team because I know how it feels to be on that team and everybody in the world cheering against you. And by the way, when I say everybody in the world, I mean everyone in the world. Americans too. Americans be cheering again. I know how it is. We was in Tokyo locked in a hotel. We couldn't lead a hotel. Couldn't go outside unless we were going to the gym.

Because they was hating. Well, we know we was locked down because it was a 2021. They were still on lockdown from COVID. And so... Damn. We're in a hotel for 22 straight days, not leaving a hotel. And so in turn, you see everything everybody's saying now. And then we lose the first game to Friends.

Mind you, DeBook, who ended up being a critical piece. Drew Holliday, who ended up being a critical piece. Chris Middleton, who ended up being a critical piece on that team. They all arrived the day of the game. Yeah, from the finals. From the finals. We lose the first game. and the rest of the Olympics,

you turn on like, ESP, anything, and like, the way they were talking about us. They let us celebrate. Rooting against, I couldn't believe it.

I'm like, yo, these are Americans. And I talked to Dee Wade about this, because D. Wade tweeted, like, uh, good luck to Rudy Gaubert.

Like, uh, and I talked to him because we, we all sit over there and we like, what's going on? No, you, I get you,

just brought into the team, that's cool. But if you don't tweet that, nobody going to be like, damn, Dee Wade ain't say good luck to Rudy in the play in the Olympics. And I think it was one more player on their team that, but Rudy was the bigger name for sure. And then we lost the friends the first game. And I'm just like, we're all over there like, yo. Wow.

Like, you're one of us. Like, you wore this jersey and you know how it feel to be on this island. And so between that and all the people talking, you're like, oh, this is crazy. And so I said, like, I know that feeling. Yeah. And I know how I was sitting over there with my brothers. Like, yo, it's us against the world.

For real. And I don't want to be a part of that world. I want them to know, like, not, like, the support coming from here. We want to bring the go back. Yeah, like do that. Flying colors. We got to eliminate all, everybody else is close to it.

we got to make sure we the bus. By far. I'm rude for them. But then speaking to that team, it's been a lot of talk. There's been a lot of talk about who should be starting on this team. Ant Man just came out yesterday and said,

no, I'm the number one option. They got to learn how to fit in to play around me. Ant Man comes out of saying that yesterday. It's crazy, yeah. With a roster Bam book Steph ADKD Antman

Joel Tyrese Halliburton Drew Brun Kawhi and J.T. Who's your starting five if you're putting

that star line up together? Start with the easy one LeBron first. Absolutely. No question. Second easiest one. Steph Curry. No question.

Third, KD. Then I'm going to then I'm going to rank them by merit based on previous Olympics. Some Jew holiday. So I like the Jew holiday stuff.

LeBron, Katie, and then... Bam. Bam, playing the last Olympics. Then, bam. Oh, yeah, this is Joelle's first time. AD also has played in the Olympics. Oh, but he was young. You got AD too. He was young.

AD or Bam? 80 probably. 80 probably, because 80 got to get off to a good start. and we got to get off to a good start defensively. So I would go 80 over BAM. But have BAM come in with Joanne B. Because Bamb can, he's mobile at the fore.

You feel what I'm saying? And then put shoot, put out all offensive players around the next group. Like book, all them do's. So you're of the mindset, though, that you can start small. Because Fibba different. You know, France will go. France lineup could possibly be. Go Beard.

Rudy Gobert. Wimby. They could move Wimby to the three if they want to, for real. Because you can go hot. You can do that. And then they got a couple other bigs. Porre. I know they got a couple.

So you're of the mindset that you can't start the game small with Brun or Katie at the four. I mean, no knock on Rudy or Bear. He is guardable. You know what I mean? Like you just got a rebound against him. him and keep him off the offense of glass and don't let him get close to the rim to shoot. You know what I mean? So I'm not worried about Rudy Gobert.

I'm not worried about Wembe Yama in that setting. You know what I mean? Because he's going to be more perimeter oriented. You know what I mean? They're not playing him down. Like I think that he's going to be shooting more three. So having a Kady or a LeBron or someone like that, Kauai, you know, someone out on the perimeter with Wimby, he gonna be trying to do all the shit.

Yes. You know what I mean? He ain't going in there. He ain't going to mix it up and getting dirt, get dirty. So I would say a lot of jumpers, a lot of mislayups. If you're playing against France. And then you got Baton. He can't get his shot off by itself.

Who else they got over there in France? Fournier. He cold. He'd get off. That's the one you got to worry about. But then you got Drew, you put a Drew Holiday on it. That's going to disreact. his magic, you know what I mean?

And so his playmaking ability. And then the rest, like, not that I'm, I'm not worried about the rest of the French guys, but I just think, Fornier is like, they're Michael Jordan. You know what I mean? During the Olympics, like, you see a whole different dude, but you put Drew on him, everybody else saying,

you know, they're going to get 12, you know, looking at people getting 12, 8 points, you know what I mean, superstars. So it's like, who has the highest, like, who has the most impactful, 15 points. You know what I mean? And I don't think it's going to be Rudy Gobert or Wembe at, you know what I mean?

It being his first major Olympics. Yeah, no doubt. And moving on to our next topic, obviously I started off with this. This one is very close to me as I know it is to you, the Warriors, the organization. Organization that I think, quite frankly, is the best organization in the league. But as I said in the beginning, coming in off on the hills. of the we believe team and you being the leader of that team

I heard a ton about you that team in general that team it's largely celebrated in Warriors history but like let's start at the beginning that when Don Nelson

gets higher what are your immediate thoughts thank God thank God you Lord of mercy. You know, I had Mike Montgomery the year before. And, you know, he coached like, you know, like we're stupid. What?

He talked like we're stupid. He talked to us like we're stupid, bro. Like, you know. Like he's basically like he, you know, our coach, like just keeps coaching. And telling you everything to do. And then when you, like, do something, he's like, no, don't do it. I'm like, whoa, homie, like, you know, like people who coach every play and don't understand that. I thought, dude, this is a performance.

You know what I mean? Like, yo, you got to chill, yo, you got to chill. Absolutely. Like, it got to a point with Mike Montgomery, where we had a team meeting. And, you know, everybody was just not saying nothing. And he was doing all the talking. And then he was like, you know, because everybody is saying this about shit. I'm like, man, who?

Then we all right here. Who got a problem? Who got a problem? Who got a problem? Who got a problem with who? Like on the tent. And so I had to address it. You know what I mean?

And I had to get people to start speaking up saying what they had problems and what they had issues with. And when it came out and dudes were speaking up about their problems and they issues and what they was going to the coach for, it was some petty shit. That's why we suck. And so I had to tell Mike Montgomery, don't talk to me for the rest of the year, bro. Don't say nothing to me. That coach, you, you, you, cool. If you need to translate a message, please send it to them.

You know what I mean? Because the signal is disconnected, bro. I have disconnected this line. There's, you're telling me nothing to help me out here, bro. you ain't telling us nothing to help ourselves out here. You just out here coaching. You know what I mean? You're just coaching, bro.

You're just coaching. Like, every game you come prepared, you're ready to coach. You ready to coach more than you care to see us play well. It's all about it. I hate coaches like that. Oh, my God. Because it's all about you. You're going to over-prepared us, which we don't need, like, all of that.

And it's ultimately just so. you can feel good about yourself. I don't remember nothing this man has told me. That's why I can get you no scenarios. I cut him off, bro. I had to cut him off. When I first got there,

when I first got to go to the state, I walked into, you know, you walk into the, you know, dudes on the, the Bosu ball on the little mat part. And I walked in, it's like, you know, practice like probably like 10, 15.

You know, I guess they started practice that had a little, was going to start. Like, nobody was on the court. Boos was, like, still in the training room. One dude was lifted. A couple of dudes on the court. And I'm talking to Chris Muller.

I said, God, damn, what's wrong? What's wrong with y'all? It's like a damn funeral. Like, every day you walk in, it was like a funeral. Like, damn, man. Somebody don't want to be here today. I was like, yo, we can't keep doing this, dog. I can't keep coming to the job.

I can't keep coming to the gym and it ain't cracking like why are we depressed? Like we hoop And it was really because of like how we was practicing You know what I mean And like when I first got traded

I was like a back to back player At a week And that was because I was like All right man look this is what we gonna do We're on one play Other than that We hoop it Like man don't look to the sidelines

Like we don't get cracking And I think that kind of like start giving us life. We had a great, we finished like nine and two to finish the season. Okay. We believed, but we was way out the playoffs. Then the next year, man, we came back, man.

And from the first day he started coaching again. And it was like, God damn, dude. We're about to have a whole. We're about to have a whole season of this shit. Like, you can't, you can't perform when you just constantly someone's trying to, like, tell you what to do. And, like, then it's kind of,

descending, you know what I mean? Facts. And so I just kind of like wrote Mike Montgomery off and just was like, you know, if I see him today, what's up, Coach? Like, he is not, to me, a basketball mind. You know what I mean? And some people get credit for being highly intelligent

in our space. You know what I mean? That is a fact. Where we have to be of the most intelligence, where our senses got to be connected. You know what I mean? We got to make the decisions or make a decision to make a decision.

You know what I mean? And like, you're getting credit for this, bro. You better knock it off. Yeah. Get out of the... Shut up. Get out the way. So that was kind of like walking into that corpse.

And then when Don Nelson came, it was like, oh, man, hell yeah. All I can think about was run TMC. Okay, we out. He called me. He was like, man, get in shape. You know, this is going to be the type of game. I'm going to use you in the post, how you play below the free throw line, you know,

just kind of use you all over the space. And I was like, all right, shit, I'm with that. You know what I mean? Like, shit, I get to fly up and down the court and, like, and play free, I'm with it. And then when the season started, we was, we was good, but we wasn't good. You know what I mean? We just, like, we couldn't beat, we could, we could beat people. We couldn't beat nobody.

We couldn't put it together. and we were missing something. And I didn't, you know what I mean? It was like I didn't, I didn't, I wasn't there with what I was in New Orleans. You know what I mean? Like, I, damn near, you know, New Orleans had to trade me and I had to get out of New Orleans because it was too fun. It was cracking.

It was culture. But I was just there to play basketball. So the culture part was like, that's what was missing. So when they made the trade, it was stacked. And out, they kind of like woke everybody up. Like, no, it's cracking. Like, we're going to have parties. We're going out.

We're going to hang out. We're going to go to mall. We're going to go eat. We're going to go eat. We're going to have fun. Because before that, nobody on the team fuck with each other. And so that just kind of changed the dynamic to where we was like, all right, man, we like a new, we like the new rap group. And we just took on that persona everywhere, every city we went to.

and we was like we gonna we gonna party on the court is our club if we win we're going out you know what I mean and it's up and it's up and whatever you know it's up and so that's that's kind of like how that energy started because we was like uh no we was winning going on the we believe run but them fools go out all the time but once we start winning like all this is way before the playoffs we had one like you know you win Well, you don't know that

because you only won championships from before. Like, you went three or four games in a row as the Warriors. Oh, it's sold out in Oracle. It's cracking. Yeah. We was winning, like, three in a row,

go out to the club, it's cracking. Oh, we won six out of eight going to the club. It's crack. The whole we believe run, we was just out. Yeah. And so, like, the fans was like,

damn, like, these motherfuckersers real. You know what I mean? Like, they partying with us. Like, we don't know if this shit is going to last. So everybody was getting it in. So you were embracing. Yeah, everybody. It was a big party.

It was like a big party, dude. I heard a story about y'all partying before. I don't know if it's true now, but I heard the story. One night was Snoop. Yeah. That was a... That was... That was...

I think that was the night we beat Dallas. Yes. Yeah, that was a night we beat Dallas. Yes. Yeah, that was a night. be Dallas. And, uh, Snoop,

we went to go fuck with Snoop. You know, Snoop was at the Ritz or whatnot. And then we was all fucking with Snoo. Of course, you know, Snoop, we're smoking. So we're smoking and Snoop like, hey,

Cah, man, you know, let me show you one of these cartoons. Right? Did they tell you this? No, I hear this. Hey, Doc. Snoop Dog had a cartoon, like music videos, right?

And I think it was to us. to his whole album. Hey, yeah. Hey, bro. We were sitting there. No bullshit. Watching the cartoon.

I thought for like 45 minutes. I was like, hey, bro, I got a good. Hey, it was none but music videos. And it was Snoop. It was like a Snoop dog

video album of cartoons. Bro. We were sitting there talking who, and all that was playing was the cartoon. And I was like, I was like, Like, damn, is this shit on a loop, bro? Is this the same song?

Or is these the same three songs? And I was over there fucked. I was like, yeah, I got to go, y'all. I'm done. I can't do this. You got me, Snoot. He smokes y'all out. Man, big time.

Snoop. Good time. It was cracking. What was it like? y'all beat Dallas and then going into that next round was it like man we done like or did y'all start to really believe

like no we can keep we believe we believe we could beat Utah it was all predicated on like it was almost like we before the series we start tripping with each other but not so much much like the team, it was just like, when we started talking,

those was like, all right, how much you got left, bro? It was like, man, I, like, bro, honestly, I ain't got much left. But, you know, like, we had, we was just like, pretty much depleted. And so, you know, like, in that next round, it's just like, four good minutes of mental focus and plays that can turn the series, you know? Yeah. And I think, you know, at the time,

Like, we didn't get game one. I missed some free throws. Mike McHale Peaches missed some free throws. And then we won the overtime. So we had game one. We didn't get it. Game two, we thought we had. We didn't get it.

Game three, we blew them out, dunk on them. It was like, all right, we finally over the hump. We back. And in game four, they get, they snatch it from us. It was like, God damn, 3-1 going back to Utah. I think it was like, man, you know, Monta wasn't playing in this series Stack was Guarded Memino Cure

Al wasn't matched up with Boozer It was just like All our matchups was right for Dallas All our matchups for Utah Was all the way off, bro You know what I mean And dudes is like You know if you ain't got that matchup you want

It's hard to like It's hard to be effective People don't understand Matchups in the playoffs are everything You get the wrong matchup You fuck Stephen Stackjack was like, yo, bro, I'm, I want, he wanted to guard Carolico. He's coming off, you know, Garden Dirk, you know, Carolico, big time defensive player.

Stack like, man, put me on Carolinko. You feel what I'm saying? Because Carolinko go guard Stack. And then Al and Bulls, like, they had a little battle thing. But, like, we didn't, we didn't use it. We didn't play our talent to our advantage in that series. You know what I mean? Absolutely.

We were trying to, like, figure it out when guys were convicted. You know what I mean? I'm like, man, I know how to, you know, I need this matchup. You know what I'm saying? And it was just like, man, we was just arguing every game about the matchups or what, you know, and it was just, it wasn't that same. Oh, we're going to beat these fools. So for y'all then having that level of success, and then five years later,

I'm drafted, which puts it eight years later we win the first championship. What's that then like coming back? Man, I just wish I had one year on the team to get one. I said to join Matt. Like, Matt, man, tell him, plug me in. Yeah, that was straight. By then, for me, it felt incredible

because the day I left the bay, you know what I mean? I kind of like knew I knew I had to leave for bigger reasons. You know what I mean? Because like it wasn't never going to get no better. The owner that was there, he was never going to do right by the dudes. And then at the same time, it was just like, if I'm not valued here, I'm not going to never value nobody here.

You know what I mean? And like, we're not trying to win a championship. Like, we was close. You know what I mean? Or we was close to like being. close. You know what I'm saying? And we didn't take that step.

And it was just like, the fans deserve better. And they struggled with the next year. They got Steph. And when Nelly drafted Steph Curry, I remember watching the draft, I said, oh, shit, he found his guy. I was like, he found his guy.

He found his next Steve Nash. You know what I mean? That potentially could be better. And with him and Monte and Stack, I was like, oh, shit. And so I used to all. I always dial in, drill in, watch the Warriors and shit. Because I was like, man, if this kid can do what he, you know what I mean?

What Nelly want him to do or where he can get to? Like they're going to be tough. So I always root in them when you came and then Clay, you know what I mean? And then you got, and then y'all start bringing back older dudes, you know what I mean, from the legacy. And I was like, man, this is y'all rocking our job. Jersey's to the game, bro, all that shit. Y'all was turning it up. Like, how can we not be excited?

You know, I would say, well, like, when y'all won the first one, I didn't go. You know, everybody was like, come out to the parade. Come out to the parade. I was out there, party in my damn self. Man, the homies, I ain't go to the parade, but we was in the city.

Oh, man, we was up. That was a good time. That was a great time. Great time. And it was deserved, and it was just like, man, it was safe. 17 years to when we had, we believe, and then another, what, eight or nine to y'all? And I was like, man, this is like all of people who are a part of, I'm glad, I'm glad y'all

who won it so fast. Yeah. So people can feel like that connectivity because it was a lot of people that when we got there for We Believe, they was like older people like, man, we never thought that we would win again, you know what I mean? And that shit was just crazy to see how everybody came out and showed out for for y'all, how y'all shout out for the city. And then, like, y'all just start embracing each other.

Yeah, absolutely. Nope. Nope. You know what I mean? And I'm like, darn, that's what we was on. You know what I mean? Like, that's what we was on. Like, we didn't know all the songs and shit, but we was, you know what I mean?

Absolutely. But y'all was like, yeah, it became one. Yeah. You know, Mr. Fabb, he got him a championship. Mm-hmm. Too short. You know, all of Bay Area legends for y'all. 40.

Like, E40 didn't really come to the games like that when we play. You know what I mean? But, like, that's how you know, like, the Warriors had evolved than something new. Because now E40 at all the games. Yeah. You know, E40, like a juggernaut. You feel what I'm saying? So for him to start making that a thing, it's just the Bay just start rising.

You know what I mean? I always tell I start. I started telling the story. Love Marshawn of death. That's my big bro, Marshaun. When I got drafted to the Warriors, he laughed in my face. He was like, y'all suck. Like, yeah.

You're going to the Warriors? Warriors ain't never been good. I'm like, ah. So, to your point, the way they rally behind it's crazy. It's crazy. It's crazy. No, it's dope. You then lead to Warriors.

You go to the Clippers. What was your experience like with the Clippers? Terrible, man. Was it, answer me to, was it hard for you growing up, being so L.A. Growing up in South Central. It was. Then you go to the Clippers and not the Lakers? Was that hard for you?

It was very hard. Like, I always wanted to play for the Lakers and go ahead and be a Laker. Like, my entire career, every time I tried. You know, I tried. And then I was like, well, fuck it. I guess I'm the underdog guy. So I go to the Clippers. In three years, I'd be able to create a week.

believe type of magic with the Clippers if we can get the right people involved and shit and then like going to the Clippers bro was like the worst it was like the worst I thought the Warriors was bad like it was like a bad soap opera

the Clippers bro was like a bad soap opera in prison what it's like it's like imagine going to art class and they take all your paint and your tools,

you know what I mean, and all your paint brushes. Then they give them back to you, and when you're painting, they be hitting your elbow, say, nah, you ain't doing it. It's like they, they, it was, you walk it, you know, you walk into the warrior facility. You're like, all right, cool, I can who? You walk into a clipper's facility.

You're like, man, who is about to snitch on me now? Where are these fucking cameras at? You know what I mean? And who's crying today? Somebody is crying today. Somebody. Somebody is pissed off crying and it's all because of the owner.

You know, you walk in community service, community relationship, she boo-hoeing and shit. Like, what's wrong? Like, I'm like, oh man, now, before I get to the gym, bro, I got to have

all kind of diplomatic conversations. You know what I mean? This is Donald Sterling. This is Donald Sterling and the Clippers. with Mike Dunleavy coaching. So I leave Nellie, man, I got him Mike Dunleavy,

who's like a little bit like Mike Montgomery. He just got more personality, and he, you know what I mean? He got more stories to tell. But Mike Dunleavy will tell you what, play to call who you're supposed to throw the ball to, where you're supposed to go. All in the game.

That's just like the old school way of coach, because the Van Gundy's were like that, weren't they? Well, I don't know. I ain't ever played for him. I heard they were like that. I'm pushing the break. I'm pushing the break. We get the still.

I'm pushing the break. I'm just about to cross half court. He's like, man, pass it. All you hear is going pass it. Pass it. And I don't see nobody. You know what I mean? So I'm like, pass.

And I keep hearing, man, pass the ball. And I see somebody over here. So I'm about to go, you know what I mean? And I see. Somebody run, I'm like, okay, so somebody must be hauling ass. So I dropped it by the hash. Man, it was, no offense, it was Paul Davis. He coming off with knee surgery.

It took him like seven jubbles to get to the rim on there. And so, you know, it's like you look at the coach. Like, what the fuck, yo? Like, leave me along, you know? So that's how it was with Don Levy, but then with, with, With Sterling, it was like, you know, he used the team as like his, like, almost like his duck off, like his little duck off business. You know what I mean?

So like his PR, everything. All the shit that he did was all through the team. Okay. You know, and then he was just a weird old, bro. He was just hallow weird, weird people around him. And I felt like anybody who hung around that dude had to be a weird motherfucker. You know what I mean? Because, like, he was, like, beyond weird.

You know what I'm saying? And not that he was racist. He was a hate everybody. So it wasn't even that he just hated black people. He hated everybody. Well, he hated everybody. He probably hated himself. Like, he just, he was delusional and hateful.

So he would say anything to anybody. Woman, man, black, brown. Man, he brought some old-ass ladies in at the end of the, one of the games. and was like, man, when we get... I'm gonna leave out alone. No, you cannot tell me now. Hey, bro, they walk here, bro. It's like seven old-ass white ladies, right?

And he walked at the locker where at one. And then he had walked out. He was like, man, you wait for them to get in the shower. And then he pointed out, man, he was like, especially him. Like, you should, and this lady was just sitting hanging out at my locker room. I was like, hey, hey, yeah. You know, I'm sitting there just like she's a reporter, so I'm very respectful and shit.

But she's just talking like, where are you from? Oh, you went there? I'm like, fuck. Bitch. So. So you're like waiting for me to get up. You know what I mean? Like, oh, it was, it was foul, bro.

It was like, it was hell of foul. So you're. So when the thing happens in 2000, I could have sued for sexual harassment. Facts, that's what I was just thinking like. Yeah, bro, trauma, all that shit. Hey, bro, it was the worst. And I'm from L.A.

So you got to think, I'm from L.A. I ain't hooping. I ain't playing the way I normally know how to play. They plodding against me every day. You feel? You feel me? Mm-hmm. And every day I lead this place.

I'm trying not to, I'm just trying to come here and work. And who? Yeah, about to make me turn into somebody I don't want to be. So I'm struggling with that. And then you got the hummys like, yeah, you know, you're playing like that, man, you're a bus, you're gonna' you know what I mean? It's like, yeah, I used to think about it every night.

Like, man, am I gonna walk in here and lose my mind? Am I, you know, I used to tell people on the team, they were so scary, y'all. I used to tell dudes, man, run down the side. line. You know what I mean? So I, they were like, no, man, no. I was like, I throw the ball on the side. Like, I used to, I used to go to the game thinking like that. Like, J-Ma, run down the left. When you pass the owner, I'm going to throw the ball as hard as I can and try to pop them in the face. And the dude would be like, no, man, I'm not doing that. I'm like, just one time. But that's just one time. But nobody would do it. So when this.

story comes out in 2014, you're not at all shot. Nah. Hell no. Like, I, I was more surprised that they were, like, I couldn't do it, bro. I was struggling with so much. My identity, who I was, where I was from, all this shit, bro. Like, is this dude racist? Like, what the fuck?

Like, I'd never been in no shit. Like, I've been in some bad shit. I ain't never been in no shit where I feel depressed, you know? what I mean. And so I had more admiration for those dudes because I was like they must have figured out how to like

win for themselves and not include him. You know what I mean? And not think that they went in. You know what? It was hard because it was like, man, if we win, he win and then it's more of that shit and it's like that shit, you don't know what you win it. You don't know what you plan for

at some point. You know what I mean? That's interesting. And we didn't have enough like we weren't like crystallized and you know blake was a rookie and all that and so everything was catered to blake so blake wasn't really aware of like at some point bro they don't they're gonna pit people against you too you know what i mean like the more tension you get definitely this ain't the type of tension you won't but i was i was i was i admired the fact that them dudes were able to play like that and build a team like that and I was like damn dude like you never thought that they would get the talent and once you

got the talent and start winning it was like he didn't matter you know what I mean yeah yeah and so when they when they I was at that game too really yeah I went to the clipper locker room okay I was at that game crazy man because I needed to ride back on the plane with the uh the dude who was like the at the time like his right, like the right-hand person of the owner. Okay. And I need to ride back on the plane. I needed him to see us on this private plan. You know what I mean?

And it was just four people and I need to sit there and say, Mm-hmm. Have you watched this show clip? Absolutely not. I don't watch that goofy shit. That's a, I haven't even, hey, bro, that's like. I haven't watched it. I don't know.

But then I think, like, by the time all that shit came out, It was like, that shit was already happening. So people took, you know, and then you take your jersey off and throw that. I went in the locker room because Doc was like, man, go talk to them. I was like, man, what y'all going to do? Man, shit. I would wait for them and be like, BD what you think, man, whatever y'all think. If y'all don't want to play, I stand beside you.

I was going to go over there and be like, yo, da-da-da-da. Them fools and not look. Like, they were shook. it was just like what are we supposed to do you know what I mean like that was the energy like they didn't know they were caught into something

that nobody on that team was prepared for or had an opinion of you know what I mean or it was really privy too you know because they hadn't maybe they hadn't had to deal with it you know what I mean at that time

like that was just some whole other shit that his his girlfriend and snitch him out. You know what I mean? They ratting him out. So it wasn't like, we don't know his dynamic in effect on that team. You know, we just know, like,

who he was and what he was doing, you know, how he was talking shit about magic and people like that. Speaking of magic. So being from L.A., I also played with the Clippers. It's my last question on the Clippers, but I need to know this because I think I know the answer to this.

If the Clippers were to win a championship, what does that do to the city of LA? Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Do you think the city wouldn't care if the Clippers wanted to change? No, no, no, I think the city would care. I think the Clippers have their own fan base.

I don't think it would be as big media coverage as the Lakers. Okay. Right. I would, I would, I don't think it would be, you would get, you get a, like a local city turnoff. Yeah. You know what I mean? Because the clipper fans are great. The clipper fans are incredible.

You know, you go all away from the South Bay to the valley. And I would say, you know what? I would say I take that back because now the clippers are actually putting in the work in the city with the courts, you know, bomber, new owner. They're doing a good job, man. And can they do a better job, of course, you know, to just establish more. Like, they got to tell a better story. Yeah. And they can't be afraid to tell the story that they pass of a losing story.

You know what I mean? Because they so accomplished now that they have the cuss of winning, which I'm not going to say the city. You ain't going to turn the city, you know what I mean? But you got players on the team that's from the city. That's a fact. That can bring the city out. That's a fact. So the Clippers got to do a best.

better job of like bringing the city out. You know what I mean? Because when you look at the Lakers, Lakers is an L.A. team. People got tattoos, you know, yellow bumper stickers and shit on green cars. Like, they don't care. You know what I'm saying?

Like, it's a city thing. And people don't remember, like, when the Lakers, back when I was a kid, they used to have tryouts for everybody in the city. Trial for the Lakers. That's crazy. Really? Yeah.

So it was always like an L.A. legend or like some L.A. high school legend who wound up on the Lakers. That's crazy. That's crazy. That's dope, though. That's super dope, right? Because it's like, L.A. is a basketball town. Dr. Buss respected that and he respected, you know, like, you look around, like, all the kids there, you're like, this is a real basketball city. And so, like, for them to embrace that at that time, you know, but I think the clipper is out of same chance to like really dive into like all these dope all this dope local talent and local

talent that's been in the league that live here to like brink built built their own culture and then they can turn the city no doubt no doubt a few more questions before we get out of it because the laker stars are like sideline stars are getting old like you know what I'm saying yeah like they highly like the Hollywood shit ain't sticking no more you know what I mean like I mean like If Denzel is there, that's Denzel. But, like, who else? Who else is moving to Nita? It's like, oh, you know what I mean?

Like, if Denzel, okay, Denzel at the game. Who else is a, like, the Lakers ain't refurbished, they ain't updated they star and legacy roster for them to be. No, I never thought about that. That's, facts. I never thought about it like that. Yeah, yeah, they need to. That's an interesting dog.

I mean to rotate them seats, bro. Get some new start. Like Kevin Hart, he ain't no Laker fan. He not. Philly. You know what I mean? But he don't be at the game when they kick Lil Wayne out. He was going to the games.

Then they ban Lil Wayne. Yeah, I heard. So Clippers can do all that shit. Yeah. And they can actually turn the city by with the young Hollywood stars and rappers and, you know, just piggybacking off like really the city vibe. I wouldn't talk a little more about you. and who you were as a player is I think there's a lot of guys from this young generation

that don't know who you were as a player, how nice you were. And I go back to one person in particular of saying that you was his toughest guard, and that's AI. And I think AI for all of us, man, like what AI meant to the culture? Man. Like how good he was is one thing, but what he meant to the culture. It was crazy. It was crazy.

And for him to say about you, like, this is my toughest matchup, what was that like for you coming from AI at that time? You know, you look up to AI, you know what I mean? Because there was a part of Allen Iverson that everybody wanted to be, and that was like 100% themselves. 1,000% and not what the league wanted them to be. You know what I mean? And so anytime I play against AI, it was like a moment for, you know what I mean?

A moment because, like, you watch him at George's town. You know, I was like, he was the dude that I was rooting for all the time. And now you match up against him, you know what I mean? And it's like, I was just trying to catch him on the island like he called Jordan. It just never happened. You know what I mean? Like, like, you see that shit? It's like, damn, dude.

You know, like, that was that, Iversenjoyed. That was a moment. Like, at the top of the key, I don't know, let me back up. Let me make sure everybody's watching. Like, I never got that moment. What they are? You feel what I'm saying? And so it was just like, I was just going for broke.

You know what I mean? And I feel for me, like passing was it? thing that I love to do and then like making moves. You know what I mean? It wasn't a move. It wasn't like a killer crossover. It was like moves. You know what I mean?

Like this dude got a thousand moves and a thousand counters to those moves. You know what I mean? And so it was really about like can I get to the front of the rim and drop a dime. But you know, if I can dunk or lay it up, I'm cool. But all I did in the summer, rest in peace of my dude, his name was Mitch, Mad Moves. We just work on combos and counters. Combo's encounters. You know what I mean?

With Rico, combos and counters. With dark, combos and counters. So it'd be like in and out. And like in and out, in and out, in and out. Hez up, has he pushed through high crossover, Euro step, reverse layups. Like, what? And it's like you got to do all that shit when you're tired. You know what I mean?

So like a boxer. So it was always like, do to Steve Smith, you know, Smitty, Smitty, you know what I mean? Going out long, Elijah Watt, Dreamshake, step through, step under. It was like all these kind of callouts. And so when my game, it was just like I was unpredictable. You know, if I was going to post up or come out shooting threes or, you know, going to the hole, you know what I mean? or if I wanted to try to embarrass you. And so that's just kind of, like for me,

it was just like, I want to be that maestro. I want to be that painter. Basketball is art. So when I'm coming to the game, I'm thinking about, man, how can I get this crowd going? How can I get my teammates to look good? You know what I mean? And like, I'm going to have a moment.

You know what I mean? I hope that moment is at the end of the game where I get the last shot. You know what I'm saying? Like, I don't mind that. That's the moment, but it's going to be some moments. And I'm going to be a curator of that, you know what I mean? And so, you know, with the young generation, I'm starting to get, like, a lot of their dad is like, yo, brother, got my son watching your highlights and shit.

But, like, when you watch the highlights, you just really seem dunking on people. So, like, you think, like, all he do is dunking is like, no, bro, you got to go, you know, you got to dig in the files because I let it pass and I let it, like, make plays for my team. I think the past, like you, like what you do, bro, is just like, like, you have to be so smart and intelligent, you know what I mean, to be a great passer. Facts. And to be able to play defense, right? Because I love playing defense.

Get the rebound. So I am my, I am my own engine. Yes. I'm going to stop you, get the rebound, push, get the system. I know who to pass to, when to pass. Yeah. That's, you know what I mean? That's kind of like what you live for to see your teammate be jogging back after

they hit a shot and know, like, I just said, I did all the work. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Like I got it. I did all the work. I feel great about it. It's cool. I'm moving on.

Do what you got to do. I'm gonna do all the work. I got you. Exactly. And that's kind of like was my joy of plan was like, I live to make, I let it get my centers paid. Any center that I play with, watch, look at their numbers. They got paid because I'm at the rim, but you know what I mean?

Here you go. Make you look good. You see any of the young guys in the lead today that remind you some or some similarities to you? Yeah, I would say I like tomorrow Murray. You know, I feel like because he posts up. Yeah. I like him because he post up and he, he know how to. He bigger than everybody.

So he kind of know how to use his body to, you know, to get into a shot and shit like that. So I do like Jamal Murray. I love Halliburton game just from like his playmaking ability and his science. Jalen Brunson is nothing like me. But like, God damn, I wish I was like him. I wish I was like that. He'd get busy. You know what I mean?

He gets super busy. And then Kyrie, I would say just from... I think I got top five handles all the time, but I ain't on people list. But I ripped like four of the people on the top five list. You feel me? So how can you be on the top five handle list if you get ripped? That's a fact. All right.

That's a fact. You know what I always think about when people get ripped like that? Man, when I was growing up, I used to watch this document like crazy. shout out to Bassie. Bassie was Oh yeah. Bassey was the ghost of me through the fire.

Yeah. But his brother told him you get ripped at half court, you tired. Yeah. Like because there's no way and what he was pretty much saying was like,

there's no way you just got ripped. Yeah. So if you just got ripped, you must be tired. Like. Or your handles ain't all the way that. Facts. You don't get like,

people with handles don't get ripped. For sure. So. No, that's a fact. I can agree with that. Um. Before we get out of here, on your journey with the New York Knicks, Linsanity, and playing through that.

First off, what was your point of view just on that whole thing? I went to Mike Nantone, and I was like, yo, I need another week to come back. So that's how I started, because I could. He was supposed to get cut. Remember he was supposed to get cut. I was supposed to get activated. But my back was messed up. And so it started with that.

And then we lost to Houston. And I was like, coach, you got to play Jeremy Lynn. He was like, you're out your mind. He's the only guy that goes north and south in your offense. Tony Douglas this way. Amman Shumper this way. And so if they go this way, nobody dives. So when Mello come up, Mello frustrated.

I don't care who it is. is you got to find somebody to go north and south. You know what I mean? And he played Jeremy Lynn in the Houston game. I think the fool had like six points for four rebounds,

like in a steel, assist. We got beat by 30. And I was like, C-Cubs. Like if you can get four in a regular, if you can get this just in a regular game

while we're losing by six and eight, we'll be like we got enough. You know what I mean? And so Jeremy Lynn, locker was next to mine. So I got to witness the whole entire thing. From the first game he balled to the next game he ball, like it was like we got his locker here. We got an empty locker here. And it's my locker to where like I was getting dressed, bro, and like the damn near, uh, in the bathroom. In the handicapped store, I had to hang my shit up.

Bro, it was like a thousand people in the locker room. I mean, you was hooping, right? Yeah? So you weren't, I don't know how y'all was looking at it, but he was on CNN, MSNBC. It was crazy. MTV, BET, the Weather Channel, VH1, that was all in there.

Because I kept having to move my seat out. I'm like, damn, what's the weather channel doing it in? It's like Jeremy Lynn, make it rain. Chinese, I bro, so many China media. It was crazy. They had to move them to a press conference. Like, granted, this is like maybe like three weeks before All-Star weekend. He is doing press conferences in a full room of people.

Kobe came in town. Hey, Kobe. Don't let this dude, bust your ass. You're hot. You know what I mean? He's hot. Don't let him get you, bro. You know, Kobe, like, come on, BD.

Not worried about none of that. I'm like, hey, yo, he is going to kill you guys tomorrow. And I'm telling you this now, bro. Just when I come in here after the game, right, you're not mad at me. So me and him at dinner. And this is all I'm talking about. No matter what Kobe is talking about, all I keep coming back to, like, hey, doc, he's going to bust your last tomorrow. And I'm going to show up in your locker room.

And I'm going to be laughing. Raleigh, Lakers come in town. Hey, dude, he served the Lakers. And after the game, I went right down here. He was tight. Hey, dude, Kobe was so tight. He was so tight. He was hot because he didn't, you know what I mean?

He didn't, you didn't know what to, like this kid had magic. It was just like, it was just some shit that you only see the greats have. You know what I mean? But you see people have these moments on 10-day contracts or like filling in for somebody. Like you see somebody have a great one or two weeks. But like the attention and the level he was playing at was like, Ridiculous. And then we played Miami and LeBron

and was like, all right, we've done with all this shit. It's over. They ended it. They ended. You being the veteran point guard on that team,

what was y'all relationship? With Jeremy Land? Yeah. Oh, we were super cool. Super cool. Because remember, that's supposed to be my spot. I'm supposed to start.

But now he's balling, so I'm like, oh, shit, I'll come off the bench and lead me, J.R., you know what I mean? No back. So we had a, we had a nice little bench,

my that complimented it. So I was just, I was for him starting because I couldn't really, I didn't know how long I was going to be able to make it through the season if my minutes were to increase. And so me playing 20 minutes a game right now, you know, for the second half of the season and get myself all the way right for the playoffs,

that's all I was banking on. And so I needed him. You know what I mean? And we would work out together because he was trying to get me right to come back to play. Yeah. So had a great relationship with him. You know, and you watch a lot of people see an opportunity.

And a lot of people was trying to help them. And it was just like, I just think all that shit was just overwhelming. You know what I mean? It got real overwhelming. And, you know, for a dude who's never had media attention. Like, bro, I don't, like, I don't think you could have handled it. Like, I couldn't have handled it. I definitely couldn't handle it.

You know what I mean? But, like, you get a lot of media. I don't think you could have handled it because it was just, just like where are these people coming from? Yeah. You know what I mean? And it was like in the middle of the season. And it was just at some point this shit was going to have to die out.

But the media coverage wasn't dying out. You know what I mean? So it was a little dissension whose team is it. You know what I mean? Like all the goofy shit. Like, fool is mellow, Amari. Everybody team but Jeremy Lynn. You know what I mean?

Like we're going to rock with this Linsanity. And, you know, we're going to write that way, but it definitely ain't his team, you know, and there was a little bit of confusion in that. Now, I talked to, I talked to Mello on about the podcast because they had a, at a breakfast. Island fools. And I was in Milwaukee and I passed, well, I was like, what's y'all doing? He was like, man, you know, we're trying to, you know, figure it out. I was like, figure it out. Shotin, Shotin, Shotin, Shotin, you?

Come on here with us. you bawling you bawling you're about to get paid but it's not sure I think this is you ain't built for what these dudes is built for you know what I mean but the type of year you haven't

we're gonna rock with you you know what I mean ain't gonna be no hey we're gonna love you you know what I mean we're gonna protect you we're gonna learn we're gonna grow together but

these are your guys it's yeah I don't think people understand the mentality, but also what it takes to be a superstar in this league. He was getting superstar attention, superstar treatment.

But to really be a superstar in this league, like how different you got to be. To have to do that on that level every single night, it's a totally different ballgame. And you got to be wired different. Yes, you do. You got to be completely wired different

and you're not wired like that. You know what I mean? Yeah. You got to be like the world revolves around me all the time, me only. And everything that I do tonight is about us. You know what I mean? My performance is a win. Yep.

You don't want that pressure on yourself as you start. Now, as a point guard, you want that pressure because if you got these three people, okay, I like my chances with my superstars. Yep. Which makes a point guard a superstar because of your value. You know what I mean? 100%. That's a fact.

That's a fact. Was there any misconceptions about mellow? Like how mellow. Yeah. Because you just started this off. You said, yo, we need somebody to get downhill for mellow rolling up. So if he's didn't getting downhill, then it sounds like Melo would appreciate him as opposed to the way it was built out during that time. Yeah.

Well, you got to think less sanity. happened when Mello was out. Yeah. So whoever was rolling, like the offense is rolling now because it spots to feel. And there's no Mello around and Mello want to post. You know what I mean? Mello want to get into, Mello got to get into his rhythm for end of game shit. Absolutely.

So when Mello came back, it was more so like, Mello just didn't want to stand in the corner, you know what I mean? And so- Rightfully so. He caught Mello on Anthony. Oh, he caught Mello. And so when Mello came back, our bench was a line. Like, we was smacking people.

But it was the bench that was running up to score. Yeah. So people were, like, relating that to, like, they weren't really, like, working and clashing in together, but it was a different offense, too. It was Woody's offense. Yeah. So it went from Dan Tony to Mike Wilson in the same season.

So it's a totally different offense. Like, Wilson is like, hey, this is my guy, this is my guy. My point guard does this, and I'm going to let my point guard eat and however, but like, this is how my point guard was. So Woody was the worst thing that could have happened to Germiland? No, Woody was the best thing that could have happened to Jeremy Land because he was going to save him from, like, walking out there by himself. So save him from the false sense of whatever.

Everybody else was trying to get in. You would have had to maintain Lynn Saturday and go this way with Dan Tony. Uh-huh. Which means, yeah, if we went in and we rolling, like, dude, you're the next Steve Nash, Luca. You know what I mean? But, like, at some point, people ain't going to believe that shit. Yeah. No, that's a fact.

You got to make people believe it every day. And it's not just two weeks. You dig on what I'm saying? So when Miami went and, ah, locked it, you know, came and was like, okay. we locking everything up. You know what I'm saying? It forces you and then DeWill came back in New Jersey, had a great game.

We lost to them. You know what I'm saying? So now it's like, oh, you're a superstar? Okay. How do you feel about superstars? You know what I'm saying? Now he was loved. Now you hate it.

Superstars are hated. Hate it. That's a fact. Can you play being the most hated person on the court? That's a fact. And so that was like Woody coming in was like, yo, man, he can be a starting point guard with, you know, Mello, Amari Stademeyer, Tyson Chandler, and I think it was maybe like Landry Fields or something like that.

You can be in this starting five and wind up being a good point guard, growing into the guards he had, Bibies and Teagues, and, you know what I mean? And then I'm coming off the bench so I can stabilize you, you know what I mean? So like, all we got to do now is just play for wins. But you ain't about to be getting these 25, 7s, 10, 15s, like, those days are over. You know what I mean? Because we're actually pretty good.

We got deep. We got 10, we go 10 deep. And you're a good fit with you guys. But if you want to come off the bench and rock with him, like you may have a little bit more freedom. But you're not because you got JR. You got some. Like we all clicking and rolling.

And I think what Woody was trying to do for Jeremy was get him in. So like, you got a name, bro. So people be like, okay, you're not a flute. You know what I mean? You're a starting point guard in this league. Yeah. You dig what I'm saying? And so I don't think would he hurt, I don't think what, Jeremy Lynn got hurt.

Yeah. And he didn't come back. I think that's ultimately what hurt his, how people looked at it. You know, because when you went to Houston, you know what I mean? Now you got a big deal. Now you're the man. Yeah. And there's no insanity, you know what I mean?

And so sometimes you gotta realize when you are of a moment and a moment and how to take a moment and like create something bigger than yourself or other people, you know what I mean? But I don't think he could have kept up that frequency, you know. And so as it was dying off, I think him being established, solid point guard would have been the best thing for him. Mello was trying to help. Like, him and Mello was cool. The only thing they were trying to figure out was off, like the offense.

But everything else, like, Mello was trying to help him get marketing deals with his team. Like, because the dude was, like, it was crazy. Like, Hollywood actresses that I knew, and I ain't going to say no names. They was like, uh, so, like, yeah, what's happening? How you like New York? I'm like, good. What's happening? How you doing?

Like, what's up with Jeremy Lynn? Like, huh? Jeremy Lynn? Like, well, how is he? I'm like, who's asking? I'm like, is that the word? It was like, yeah, we have a couple friends want to meet him, come to the game. I'm like, dude.

Wow. I'm like, Jeremy, you have no idea, bro. Like, everybody, he was the most famous person in the world for like two weeks. That's crazy, man. That was a crazy, bro. Last one before we get out of here, as a former warrior, thoughts on Clay. Clay going to the bad.

Damn. You know what I mean? Like you hate to, I hate to see it because, you know, y'all was babies. Yeah. You know what I mean?

And it's, and, you know, it's similar to how we feel about Kobe here in L.A. Yeah. Because you watch, watch y'all go from young,

young men to men, to superstars to, like, legends. You know what I mean? And so, you know, I wish Clay the best because I'm a Clay fan.

I'm the player fan first. So whatever the player feel like is best for them, I'm always rocking with a player. But as a warrior fan and what he meant to the Warriors, I just hope like they do the documentary to welcome back. Like let me direct a video or some shit like that. Like just honor them in the way he's supposed to. But shit, man, the dynasty is over.

You know what I mean? And I don't know. I want to ask you how you feel because I ask you on my podcast, but like I don't know how you just kill my, you know, how you kill the dynasty without letting, you know, letting your gunsling is right off in the sunset.

You know, I'm a movie dude. I'm like, damn. Like, who did this? Who took my guy out? Where's the storybook ending? That's not the story. story look ending that is supposed to happen. But, you know, the league is a business.

I think it's good for Clay. You get to go to the team that he can help win. I think it's good for the Warriors because the Warriors are going to get better. You already got, you know, Derek Jones. Is it Derek Jones, Jr.? No, I saw Anthony Milton, Kyle Anderson. I thought that – Ben and Jones, Jr. went to the Clippers.

Went to the Clippers. He went to the Clifton. Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson. Kyle Anderson. And Buddy Hill. Yeah. Yeah, my fault. Yeah, y'all got better too.

Mm-hmm. You know, because you replace Clay with some shooting, you replace, you add some playmaking shooting, you know what I mean? Mm-hmm. And, like, I just think that the way y'all play, y'all gonna beat you. You just need one of them young dudes to figure out that shit easy out here for them. You know what I mean? Like JK.

Yeah. Yeah. Hell yeah. No doubt. I appreciate you, brother. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you.

Absolutely. That's a wrap. Peace.