The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Draymond Green Show - Chris Paul

Episode Date: January 25, 2024

Chris Paul joins the podcast to discuss how surprising it is to be on the Draymond Green Show, his competitiveness being a blessing and a curse, being teammates with Dray, his injury history and time with the Clippers, Patrick Beverley’s comments about his defense, the up and down relationship he’s had with Dray, how he was traded to the Golden State Warriors from the Phoenix Suns, his relationship with Steph Curry, his issues with Scott Foster, and more. 00:00 - Start 05:00 - Competitiveness 11:40 - Dray’s top 5 teammates 22:30 - CP3’s injuries 29:00 - Patrick Beverley 49:00 - Joining the Warriors 01:30:00 - Referees #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The volume. Draft King Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL is bringing you, yes, an offer that will help you win money in the NFL playoffs. New customers, bet five bucks. That's it. Five bucks. That's it. $5.

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New customers, five bucks. That's all you have to bet. And get $200 instantly in bonus bets only on the Drafking sports book. The code is Colin, C-O-L-I-N. And the crown is yours. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Dremont Green Show. As you know, I'm not really one to keep looking down when I'm doing anything, when I'm speaking.

Definitely when I'm doing an intro. But this intro will take quite a while because it is. quite the resume and I'm not going to butcher it. I'm going to give it all the respect that it's due. So I am going to look down and read you this intro or better yet this list of Acculades, bio if you will. 12-time All-Star, four-time all-MBA first team, five-time all-MBA second team, two times all-MBA third teams.

For those of you that may be like me, that is an el-M-A-1-1-1-3 team. That is an 11-time R-N-B-A player. Seven-time, R-N-A-1-1-1-1-1-1-team defense, two-time, second-team, all-MBA, all-defensive team. For those of you, that's a little like me, that's nine all-defense teams. Five-time assists leader in the NBA,

six-time-stil leader in the NBA, rookie of the year, third-all-time in-assist, and third all-time and steals. I am joined today by none other than the point God himself, Chris Paul, C.P. What up, right, man. Appreciate you having me.

Absolutely, man. I'm excited to have you on the show. I must say, in looking at list of guests over the course of the three years of this show, if we went back to the start of this show, to the inception, even if we went back a year ago, I'm not sure that I could have forecast it. Hell not.

A guest on this show being Chris Paul. No chance. And yet, here we are, man. I am ecstatic. Like I said, I just want to say number one. Thank you. Man. For coming on this show.

Anytime, for real, man. Crazy how life worked. Absolutely. I mean, I could have, I could have never imagined that this was going to get here. And we're going to get into that. Yeah. You know, we're going to get into that. because that will, I think, get good.

But in saying that, I just want to go back to the beginning, man, take me back to Winston-Salem growing up as a kid. And, you know, you look at who you became in the NBA in your path. I know going back, you always heard he's too small. He's this. He's that, take me back to Winston-Salem growing up and just how it all started on the way here. Yeah.

man, I grew up in Winston and I played football and basketball but I just always had to grind. You know what I mean? Like I had a, you know, my older brother, C.J. I grew up as a little brother always running in behind him and his friends. And I don't know.

I just, I mean, I had these goals or whatnot. My parents, like I always had to work, whatever it was, that was like a job or whatnot. But when it came to sports, I just always been extremely competitive. You know what I mean? Absolutely. If it's practice, if it's games, whatever it is.

And so my hometown shaped me and is the reason why I am the way I am. Absolutely. Yeah. Absolutely. In these interviews, I always come in and with like this template. And then I hear you say something. And I'm like, but I need to know more about that.

And this is so interesting to me. I don't want to lose it, so I'm going to ask it right now. You speak about being overly competitive in a sense, like just super competitive. And I call it overly competitive because the reality is what is overly competitive, like you're willing to do whatever it takes to win. Right. Like that's overly competitive. Most people aren't like that.

Right. And I'd like to think that I am a bit like that as well. I've watched you. I've played against you for years throughout my career. for the last 12 of your, well, 11 of your career. And that competitive spirit has always been there. I've always seen it. We've bumped heads.

We've had our run-ins. We've had all of that. And the reality is it's two overly competitive dudes clashing. No question. As you have continued to age in this league, you know, become more season year 19, you're still super competitive, but you channel it in a totally different way. Like even the stuff that I would see you get into through the years,

you know, whether it was me or anyone else, I always love watching basketball. We always talk about guys not watching no more. Like, I always watch. And the things that you would get into with guys, you don't get into none of that stuff no more yet. You're probably as competitive as you've ever been. Like, help me through that because that's also something

that I'm trying to figure out. You know, it's crazy, man, and you know it. I still get into some shit, you know, but I don't know. I honestly don't know. The teams that I've been in on, you know, I've changed teams a number of times now,

you know, and that's something that's different. You know, every time you go to a new team, you basically have to start over. Absolutely. And I really appreciated coaches who sort of challenged me and you're not always going to be a saint. You're not always going to be right because you've got to be who you are. Absolutely.

You know, and I remember Monty Williams, he used to always, he would tell me a book all the time, like, all right, now I would detects. You know, and then he told me, he was like, we had a thing when I played in Phoenix that there was no fourth quarter texts, right? You couldn't get a tech in the fourth quarter. That was like one of our team rules. But you still got to be who you are. and I've found over my career,

I mean, it's different guys that, I mean, Jay Crowder, I got into it with him a little bit when we play in the bubble, wasn't anything crazy, but when I got an opportunity for him to be my teammate, I loved it. I loved it. There's been a number of guys like that who, you know,

you sometimes, you challenge guys, you'd be like, yo, what's up with it? And the guy who tucked their tail, when the front office come tell you, you know, we can get this. guy, what you gonna say? I don't want that guy. Hell no.

I used to tell Bob Myers and I want you to finish that, but I used to always tell Bob, Bob will come ask me like, what you think of this guy? And I would simply say, Bob, I like when he come on the court for the other team. Right. I don't want to play with. Yeah.

And see, I'll tell you, JJ Reddick was like that. So in college, me and JJ couldn't stand each other. I mean, we got in a fight, got into it. And I never forget, I was in standing in my closet in L.A. when Doc Rivers hit me and told me we had a chance to get JJ Reddick. And when I say I ain't like JJ, I could not stand JJ.

And as soon as Doc said it, I said, let's get him. Because I know guys that are competitors, we got a lot of like. Absolutely. You know what I'm saying? We alike in a lot of ways. And that's why, I mean,

I'm sure we'll talk about it at some point, but when the trade happened for me to come to the Warriors and knowing our history, I knew that that would be a conversation, but I knew basketball-wise, he on the same type of energy I'm on. You know what I mean?

And so like you said, I'm a believer in that, you know, some people to say my competitiveness is the best thing about me and the worst thing about me, but at the end of the day is who I am. Right. Right, right. You know, and you just, at times,

you have to figure out ways to channel it. And that's why it's been dope with you because we talk about it. And it's one of those things where you need somebody who you respect on that competitive level to talk to you and challenge you with it. So I've had a number of great teammates over my career who at times when I get a little crazy,

they be like, all right, yo, chill, chill. Absolutely. You know, so. I think that's been a very interesting thing for me, especially navigating this season. I was telling, I've told several people this actually, is one of the things that you've helped me with a ton is how I speak.

You know, I'll come in the huddle. And I'm like, yo, what the fuck? Like, why are we switching this? Like, this don't make sense. We should have been stopped switching this. I've been said, let's stop. And you're like, yo, yo, yo, hold on. Like, what are you saying?

What are you saying? I'm like, all right, well, they keep hitting us with this same play. We keep switching it. I don't understand why we're switching it. It's putting us at a disadvantage here. Then they're getting to this thing. And you're like, all right, so what do you think we should do? Yeah.

I think we should guard it like this. I think we'll take it away. All right, y'all hear that. That's what we're doing. We go on to this. And I remember the first few times you did it. When you finished, I sat there and I felt stupid because I'm like, I just came in here yelling, screaming.

like blurting out what I think should happen. And he just totally calm me down and got the point across just like... But you know why, Audrey, and it's so crazy, man, is because I've almost needed a me too, right? So gang of my teammates are probably here this and be like, what? Chris was doing what?

Because I've usually always been the guy who's yelling. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? And still now, I'll do that. But I think over the years, what I've tried to do is, you know, everybody always remembers. It's just like if you tell somebody how good they are a thousand times, if you tell them they bad one time, they don't remember that. Right? So people may have whatever perception of me or whatnot, but for my whole career, I'm the guy who I text my teammates at night after a game, good job, this, that, and the third.

You know what I mean? I always encouraging them. But people are always going to remember. how you were sort of hard on them. But that is what it is. But like David West, back when I played in New Orleans, I never forget, he came to me one of my practices.

And he was like, hey, Peezy, you got to chill. You got to chill. You got to watch how you talking, Peezy. That's what he said to me. And I remember, and I was like, yeah, D, but I just want to win, you know, listen to what I'm saying, not how I'm saying it. And I still have times where I'm on 10, you know,

and sometimes it's necessary. But that's why I can appreciate somebody like you because I hear what you're saying. You know what I mean? I ain't tripping at how you saying it. You know what I mean? But being in the huddle with you, it's like, I need somebody else to care like this nigger care.

You know what I'm saying? Which they do, you know what I mean? But it's a passion. And I think that's why, like I said, I love being your teammate. I appreciate it. No, I think, man, it's been incredible. And like I said,

you come into these shows with this template, but then sometimes these conversations just go. And, man, I've also told several people this, and I would have never in a million years imagined it happening. If I, I have not sat down and done the exercise. So I will one day do that. I just haven't. But if I put up a list of,

of teammates. And like I went down this list and it's been 12 years now for me and I went through this list of teammates and like I start putting my list in order of my top teammates. I haven't done the exercise but what I'm certain of is that your top five and like my list of top teammates. And it's been such an incredible oddly enough I've had the tumultuous year that I've had as far as things have been going just this season and right in that shit. But the time that I have been with the team and my practices, you know, our practices and time spent together in games and all of those things. I'm like, yo, he represents everything that I could want and a teammate.

Shit going wrong, first person to check on you. Stuff went right. First person to congratulate you. you. Yo, what you're doing for dinner? What you're doing with this thing? What you're doing with that thing? Yo, what do you see on the floor? I'm seeing this. You're seeing that thing across the board. And I'm like, wow, that's what I try to be for teammates. You know, like, I try to be all of those things for teammates. A guy got an MRI. Yo, how was your MRI? Everything good with you. The moment you find out, you know, sometimes you don't find out those things right of the way. You look online like, oh. You know, like, dude, how are they my eye? And so, like, just all of those things and, like, checking all of those boxes.

And I don't even know where I'm going with this, but I just want you to know that. You know what it is, right? It's crazy. And, like, as long as we didn't compete it against each other, right? Like, I told you, like, when this trade happened, you was a free agent or whatnot. And I never forget when they called me and said it was a possibility. And people wouldn't even know this except for my family. I told them, I said, well, I don't want to come if Draymond isn't signing back.

Right? And that's why me and you always talk about it, like the social media world and all that. They don't never really know what's really happening. And so I didn't want to come to the Warriors without you being here. And so as much as we didn't fought and got into it and all that, I saw the way that you protected Steph, Clay, all them guys over this time, man. It was like, damn, if we can figure it out, you know, we can play and be on the same team,

it's going to be hell for the other teams, you know. And so that's what I've appreciated, man. And regardless of how this season been so far, that's where the ups, the downs, the wins, and losses, they come. But that's why we keep saying in our locker room, we're going to be fine. Absolutely. We're going to be fine.

And I think for me, like, you know, you go through these things and you're trying to sort through the things, trying to figure it all out. And I think for me, the thing that I can always turn back to is like, but I got some guys that I want to make this right for. You know, like, regardless of what you may go through mentally, you know, for me mentally going through like, you know, I'm probably done. Like, I don't even know if I can really handle all of these things no more, you know, like, is this really what I want to be doing anymore? And going through and processing all those emotions and filling those feelings, I think for the, But, you know, like this is the, you know, and going through all the things

that I've went through in my career, the ups and downs, I feel like this is one of the first times I really just took a step back and allowed myself to fill it. Yeah, and it's necessary. And it's been dope to, like, be on that journey with you and the guys and all this stuff, man.

But it's crazy for me to see because, you know, all the guys, the guys that are retired, the guys who came before, force, it's a lot to bear. You know, it's a lot, it's a lot of pressure, it's a lot thrown at it's not just to be the best athlete but life. You know what I mean? And so to try to hold it all together for everybody is what we all try to do. And that's why it's been dope to be able to lean on each other. You know what I'm saying? You're going through what you're going through,

a lot of other people, but you're still trying to be there for other guys. You know what I mean? So when you get on the other side of it, man, like we always talk about, you know, we smile, we laugh and everything going to be cool. No doubt, no doubt. And I think for me, it's looking at you. It's looking at stuff. It's looking at, you know, young guys. Clay. And it's like, no, but I want to do it right.

Get right and do it right for them. Like, I think that's probably always my mind saying, you know, Like, I'm a kid that, you know, my mom will curse me out because I give everybody, like I'll give somebody my last dollar. Right. Right. Like, why don't you give him your last? I'm like, man, he needed the dollar.

I ain't need the dollar. She's like, no, but you don't give him your last dollar. And I'm like, Ma, I'll go find another dollar. He needed that dollar. And is, and, I mean, now that I'm a teammate and I can see it and play the alongside you, and I see your life, you do so much for everybody. And that's what was crazy is even me trying to find my way here with this team.

You didn't got on me a few times yelled on me at the right times where you like, see, don't lose yourself. Don't lose yourself. You know, but it's so crazy because I would play against you guys and you'd be coming with the basketball. And I'd be like, oh, he ain't doing it. It's just so easy to make sure you find them, find them and forget to look for yourself. And that's what's been cool for me when we start games out. on how we worked out and stuff this summer or whatnot. Where you catch that ball, you ain't even thinking.

I love it, though. You ain't even thinking about trying to hit somebody on a cut or something like that and to see the joy of our team when you do that, right? It's so crazy. Like, you think people go crazy for Steph and Clay Threes. When you shoot it, everybody goes nuts. But I think everybody does that. And you probably don't even realize it's because of how selfless you've been

in finding them for so long so that when you, And God, see you doing an agent scene you put the work in, it make our team go great. Oh, 100%, man. That's been, like you said, and me saying that to you, like I know the feeling, you know. And, bro, it's hard, man. You, like, you play basketball all these years. Like, you see things a certain way. And then all of a sudden, you catch it and you open for a shot in the motherfucker in a pink.

Like, man, go ahead. Now you're sitting there like, but damn, am I really supposed to? to be shooting this ball now? Because he's just standing way back there looking at me. It's wild. It's wild. It's just like Denver, like put Yolkich on me. You know what I'm saying?

I'm looking like, the hell going on. So it's different. It's different. But that's all the different stages of your career, I guess. Yeah. No, for sure. And I also, I think, is a nod to Steph. because these teams, they try some of the darnness things.

And like putting yokech on you, like in theory it makes no sense whatsoever. Yeah. I think for us and, you know, I think it's something that at some point we'll figure it out when it's time to figure it out. But it's like it's almost like a boxing one, like a team throw a boxing one at you and you're just like,

what the fuck is this? Like I don't even know what to do against this. I haven't seen much of this. It just kind of throw off your rhythm a little bit. Yeah, it's weird. I told Steve that I said, we got to practice that or something a little bit because, yeah, I ain't never seen this.

You know, like, if he guard me, for all due respect, give me the ball and just get out of the way. Got the way. No, for sure. I think I was having a conversation with Coachizo the other day. And he was saying to me, he was talking about guys in the league that are really big time scores and how hard it is for them to also focus on getting other guys involved.

And he was asking me, he was like, Dremont, it just seems so hard. Like, just to see guys do that and, like, help me understand, like, who the guys I can do that. And I'm just like, coach, if you want my eyes, honest opinion, who can do that at, like, in a level, like no one else in this league, and it actually impacts winning, and, you know, everyone can rally around it. I said there's two guys that currently do it, one guy who does it all the time, one guy who still does it sometime,

I said, but there was one guy in particular who doesn't fit the mode, and so now I walk you through it. I said, there are two guys, they're both six-eight, they're point guards, they're once in the lifetime. Luca and LeBron. I said, and so too now, who you can also put in there, and we've seen them do it, and it looked like it was going

the other way in his back. The old James Harden also do that. Yeah, yeah, you know? But I was talking specifically, I'm talking about Luca and LeBron. I said, coach, that's one of the reasons you've never seen smaller point guards

win a championship and, like, lead teams of champions of champions. championship with the exception of a couple guys. Steph and Isaiah, I said, but I'm going to give you one guy coach that did it at the highest of highs. And here's the question I want to ask you with that. I said, Chris Paul was one day scored it, got everybody in position, got assist, ran the team, did the lead it. He was the one guy to do it. And at his stature, you have to wonder, is that too much?

And looking back on your career, you suffer injuries in some of the darndest times. Yeah. At times where you're on your way to an NBA championship. Do you think in looking back over your career, the load that you had to carry and getting everybody involved, the leadership, all the things, do you think that sometimes overbaugged you down in the long run? Man, that's a good question. Honestly, I don't. You know what I mean? I think just it was some.

some crazy injuries or whatnot. And I don't think that the low was too high as far as, you know, that was just how we played. I think the thing that was always different and actually played a role in why I ended up leaving the Clippers was, yeah, the ball was in my hands a lot. But all of them years, I was, you know, making plays and all this stuff. And I defended. at a fucking high level. You know what I mean? And so that that was, but at that age, I didn't even think twice about it.

Mm-hmm. Right? Like I always talk about when I came into the league, it was just different. It was, who we playing tonight? Okay. I got Steve Nash. Okay. I got Steph.

All right. I got Russ. You know what I'm saying? I got Gilbert Arenas, A. whoever is. Dan Williams. De Will, yeah. And it's just I didn't know anything else.

You know what I mean? And that was also a way of competing, right? Like, I think a lot of times, especially young kids now, just think competing is how many points in a assist I drop on him. You know what I mean? But for me, it was also the defensive aspect to it. So, yeah, it was tough or whatnot. And I know they always say a small guy can't lead a guy to a team,

to a championship. And that's also what almost made me mad about, you know, losing at them times because I ain't never been one that go with what everybody say. Yeah. You know, but it's definitely tough and the game has changed a lot, but that's, you know, Luca and Braun and them, they, they're special because even though they have those big number games, they play the game the right way. Yes.

You know what I mean? They hit a guy when they open, you know, and that's big. Absolutely. Speaking of playing defense, told Trow, one day, I said, man, I remember the first time we put Clay on CP. And I remember him walking past the bench and saying, God damn, y'all going to put somebody six, seven on me now?

That's what we're doing now? I remember the first time you walked to the bench and said that. But the NBA started changing with that. Like, everybody started doing that. All of a sudden, you're looking up now, You got 6-7 guy on. You got 6-9 guy on. You look at like J-Dade, like, Jay, I get their names confused.

I think it's J-Den McDaniels in Minnesota. Like, dude, legit 6-9. No question. No question. Every time. And he keep up. He's laying. He got to lay.

Like, the league starts changing with that. What type of adjustment did you feel you had to make? Because you still start getting to your midi. Like, you're still getting to your same thing. You're still getting right whenever you want. wanted to get right, but what challenges did that present when the league start doing it? It really wasn't that big of a change for me because I didn't play it out of the ball screen my whole career. And with those guys had in height, I had over them in quickness.

You know what I mean? I think some of the guys that, and it's crazy to play this long because it's guys that I appreciated, like, guarding me, right? Like Tony Allen. I remember when Tony Allen retired, well, we played them in a playoff season. or something. I texted TA, like after the game or something. Just like, I appreciate the competition. Absolutely. You know, and so it's crazy, man. I used to be on that type time all the time where it was, I'm about to play against like another prime time guard and I walk out onto the court and the other team put like a wing on me or something like that. I used to say that. I used to say it to the coach. I used to be like, oh, that's what you're on. Y'all got a point

guard coming into the league and you don't want to. want to throw them to the fire, huh? Like I was just on that type of energy, you know, and I is what it is, but I mean, I just felt like people was ducking. Yeah. You know what I mean? And I know, like you said, like, the league was changing because they're trying to figure out,

you know, ways to slow you down or whatnot. But regardless, my coaches would tell you at that time, you know, if you wrote up on the board or something like that, that Matt Barnes was gonna guard such and such, I would stop the meeting. No, no, no, no, coach. Nope, nope. I got, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah. And that's just how I was brought up in the league. Now, though, yeah, uh, J.K., one of y'all can run around. J.K., you got him. Wigs, you got him. You got him. You go and run around with him, whatever. But back then, it was just, them coaches know they was trifling too.

You're supposed to. They're a rook. You're out here. Teach them, teach him how to play defense. That's where the league, was different back in the day, dude, hand you 35, 40 or whatnot. Who cares? You'll be better than next time.

That was then welcome to the NBA moments everybody always talking about. They was different then. You look at guys welcome to the NBA moment. Now, you're like, man, what? Our welcome to the NBA moment was like, yo, bro gave me 50. Like, I remember KD giving me 51. Like, I remember that. Yeah, but that just breeds some competitiveness in you, like some type of competition.

and, you know what I mean? That's a fact. And then speaking of defense, I have to ask this. So again, I'm going to repeat nine times all defense. Seven first team, which I must say I'm pissed off because I'm on his tail now. Matt eight, although I ain't got as many first teams. I'm at eight.

And I'm a miss this year. I just can't make it with the lumber games. What was so funny is he was hurt. You missed the first two games. Yeah. Right. And I remember he came in the locker room and was like, all right now, I'm on y'all ass. I'm on y'all.

I gave y'all a couple game here and start. I'm going to get y'all a couple head start, you know what I'm saying? But you already know what it is. No, for sure. And I have a specific question. So I'm going to repeat again, nine times all defense. Seven first team. That's impressive, man.

When Patrick Beverly said, Chris Paul is a chair. nine time all a defensive team seven first team when he went on the ESPN and said we all know Chris Paul a chair a hey what was your first thought we've all had a frustrating experience buying tickets even me you all know I love to go to concert shows and it can be hard to find last minute tickets you shouldn't have to worry when you buy tickets to your next big event game time is the fast and easy way to buy tickets to all the sports, music, comedy, and theater shows near you. I'm looking through the Game Time app right now, and it's really easy to find tickets at different price points.

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Create an account and use the code word green, G-R-E-E-N for $20 off. Download GameTime today, last minute tickets, lowest price, guaranteed. And B, what, like, did you think about saying something about it? Did you think about it? Did you not see it? I know you don't look at a lot of stuff, but sometimes this stuff just make it to you because they're going group chats, all the other things.

It made it to me. Like, walk me through that time. You know, like, first and foremost, I was, you know, a pair of lips to say anything. You know what I mean? Like, seriously. And I get it. I don't have many times in my career where somebody that said this or said that,

you know what I mean? And I know people looking for sound bites and all this, but I, the work speaks for itself. You know what I'm saying? So, you hell, boy. You hell, because you know what I'm saying. I just want to know.

I mean, I still compete on defense. You know what I'm saying? Every night, especially. I'm probably not. the defender I was some years ago, you know what I mean? But, yeah, I... Nine times. It's sound bites.

No, man, I just wanted to know. You know, I never really hear you speak on anything. And when I saw that initially, so my first thought when I saw that, I'll give you the way my mom was working because at that time, I mean, I'm still, like, doing the podcast. and TV stuff and I really love it.

Yeah. And so when I watch these things, I'm also watching as a student, you know what I'm saying, the better myself. Yeah. And I'd be very critical of people. I think Pat is really good.

When he did that, I was like, whoa, ah, I was like, damn. Like, it's so hot. And I'm like, if you actually really listen to Pat talk, he say some good shit. But I was like, ah, because when I saw that, I'm like, like, don't become the hot take guy.

You know what I'm saying? Like, you don't want to come in. So, like, I feel like that was like one of the first days he came on the ESPN. And I was like, whoa, like, you don't, like, don't become the hot take guy because I think Pat is really good. And when I saw that, it's just like, ah. Yeah, you know, everybody has their opinion. And in the world that we're in now, you know, is people going to say something.

You know what I mean? at all times and I'm human just like anybody, you know, and I think that's the thing that I've always tried to do is no matter how I feel or anything like that, even though, I mean, you talk about it a lot of times, I know the real with a lot of situations and how I go down is you got to give it that 24 hours, or that 48 hours or whatnot. That's the hardest thing to do. That's the hardest thing to do. And, you know, when you, you, you know, when you, you, you know, you let something go or whatnot. Like, I'm not a guy who, when something happened,

I run to my phone, you know what I'm saying? And post this or post that or whatnot, you just, you stand on the work. 100%. I still remember a conversation I had with you way back in the day. We was on the phone. He was like, man, I ain't going to celebrate when I score. I put the work in.

I know. Oh, yeah, yeah. I don't need to celebrate. That ain't what I need to do. That's crazy. I remember I said that because I've always said I ain't like a guy that talk junk. You know what I'm saying? And you see now, like, I ain't, I ain't really on that unless you own that. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I always said I never say nothing

first, you know, but in competition, I'm here because if somebody say something, then I ain't going to know when to stop. And we're going to go wherever it got to go. That's how I used to be with me and you. That's how I used to be. But it's crazy, man. It's that competition. And when I'm playing in the game, like when I score, I go from offense to defense so fast. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, you even see it with a team. like guys got celebrated oh man we got to get get back they're coming to try to score on us you know I mean so I think you know what I mean in that pat bear situation that's what was probably crazy in that situation and that game is after I hit that shot and the timeout happened and I was

walking to the bench everybody of course after the game was like man what you say to him man what you said what did you say to him and I was like I ain't say nothing and I think that's probably the part that's the worst, you know what I mean? Is that somebody would probably rather you say something to him. But I remember going to that game, I was just like, man, I ain't on none of that. You know what I mean? It's just, let's win the game. Yeah.

Win the game. Yeah, this ain't got nothing to do with him. Yeah, that's win the game. No, for sure. I definitely thought he says, I mean, thought you said something. I ain't say nothing. Nuts. One of the things that I want to better myself at, you know, I publicly said,

You know, you look at some things, you're like, I don't like that about myself. And so for me, I think you mentioned earlier, you was like your competitiveness is like essentially your gift and your curse. I think that for me too. But when I look at things and I say, what can I change or what would I, if I could improve one thing by myself or something that I don't necessarily love about myself, it's actually one thing that I don't necessarily love about myself. it's actually one thing that I don't necessarily love it about myself but I wouldn't trade it because it actually makes me who I am

but it gets rough sometimes and so I say this to you because you just really said I'm not going to run and say nothing one thing that I dislike about myself it's kind of a love-hate thing is I have to say something like and that's something that I'm actually

working on, but like, I got to say it. Like, I need to say it. Like, I need to get it out. At times, I struggle where I'd hold things in because I need to say it so bad and I just hold it in and bite my tongue. And then it come out the absolute wrong way. Like, you know, you look at some of the situations I've had.

Some of them, KD's situation, for instance, like, I had actually been trying to work through that thing with people. trying to work through it. And I'm just biting my tongue, biting my tongue. You're like, hold this thing and you hold that thing and you bite your tongue, you bite your tongue. But I have to get things out.

And then it's just like, bha! And it comes out. I'm like, fuck. Like, that wasn't supposed to come out that way. Right. But I have to say, I don't love that about myself. What is something about you that you don't love about you? Probably the same thing you just said.

You know what I mean? Now, I'm going to say it. Now, I'm probably not going to say it just like right then and there. But I'm very, like, you know, like if it's some type of issue or anything like that with a person or with a team or whatnot, I'm going to have a conversation. You know what I'm saying? It's not always the best thing, but it's what I have to do to feel better. You know what I mean?

And so that's something. Like it's crazy, man. I really try to be cool off the officials. You know what I mean? Like for real. And like sometimes I watch games back and I'd be like, I can chill there. But it's just, it's crazy when you know the game

in a certain way and all this stuff. That's one thing. But yeah, it's like over-communicating. And I know some people say, hey, that's too much. You're talking too much. you're talking to, but it just take all the guests work out. Yeah.

And I think for me, that's what I battle with is I try to pick my spots when I'm going to say something and when I'm not. You know what I mean? Absolutely. Like what you're saying is, it's right. Like, you bottle that stuff up, it's going to get crazy when you finally do say something, you know, but I'm the same way. But I feel like I'll go nuts.

I've got to go nuts. Something be going on during the season or whatnot. And I'm, I can't be my authentic self unless I let you know that there is maybe this little friction or this issue here that we need to get through. As I said before, you're not someone who sits on social media. I know that in being your teammate and spending time around you. You're not someone who watch talk shows. But like I said, I do know you're someone who's in a couple group chats.

the one specifically that you always talk about your boys. Yes. And your brother. Absolutely. And I know my homies, when some shit said, they said in it to me like, hey, what's up with bruh? Quick fast and hurry. So I was in an interview.

If I'm not mistaken, I was in an interview with Taylor Rooks, who's a great friend. She's incredible. I think Taylor, by the way, just shout out to Taylor, is the best in the business. She's incredible. What she does. And I watch, like, again, I take this stuff very serious. I watch film on her. Yeah.

Like her follow-up questions are like Oprah. Like, she crazy. Taylor is really good. And she keeps it laid back in fun to where guys are comfortable, too. Absolutely. Absolutely. So I watch her. And if I'm not mistaken in an interview with her,

she was asking me about people that I don't like in the NBA. And I said, I hate Chris Paul. Easily 100% my least favorite person in the NBA. I want to walk through these things because, again, we keep, like, I mean every word I've said. Yeah. But, man, there's a journey to get through there, to get to that. And you get something sent to your phone. I'm saying something like that.

Number one, talk to me. Like, how, how you, what were you thinking of what was being said, God damn it, in that group chat when that came out? So first and foremost, just like anybody, just like Trav, anybody, every, all of my homies gonna know who I'm on rock with. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? And so I don't know which time that was, first and foremost, because you just said it a few times if we're going to keep it funky.

So for me, I'm going to tell you. And it's crazy because, I mean, I could name a few guys who didn't have that with me in my career. You know what I'm saying? And everybody who know me know, like, and you know this. I always say this. When anybody say something, I say, I'll be everywhere. I say this all the time.

I say, I be everywhere. And I say, when these people see me, they don't be on that type time. And I know it's a respect thing and all this. And then, hell, we showed up at Braunhaus for the car game. You know what I'm saying? Like, all this different type stuff. So when that come across, like, a group chat or one of the homies or something like that, you know, needs to be like, man, how is he, how are you even on this brand?

I'd be like, man, I don't know. I don't know. Real talk. And so it's crazy, of course, all my homies, they, you know, say this and say that. But me, I don't, I don't know. I think it's that we differ. Like, people differ. And I always said, like, if somebody asked me that, I may say something else around it or whatnot,

but it wasn't never that deep for me. I knew how I felt, you know what I'm saying? But if somebody asked me, I wasn't going to say this and say that. But it was for me, like I said, I'm president of the union for eight years. It's been a few guys in this league who would go out here and say something about me and then. What I always say? I'm everywhere. I'm everywhere.

I'm at the meetings. I'd have had guys who would talk crazy about me on a podcast or a show. And then they come up to me before a game and be like, hey, you see, what we're going to do as far as the union stuff is we're going to play. And I'll be looking like, you're just saying. You know what I mean? But I think, I mean, me and you didn't talk a lot about all this stuff. It was like when I got traded, you know what I'm saying? When I got traded, first thing, you know, I did is I hit you.

You know what I'm saying? Knowing all the different dynamics or whatever it was sent you a text, I was like, yo, excited to be your teammate. We talked it out. Right? And I feel like I've always been able to stand on that. regardless what anybody say, this, that, and the third is that, at the end of the day, if you know who you are, then you get past it.

Now, interesting enough, man, you know, obviously books, a teammate of yours, book, yeah, man, you're still a great relationship. I've known books since, in high school, like, maybe 16 years old or something like that. And so I've always had a great relationship with book. I mean, I love book. Like, that's my dog. we playing the Olympics in 2021

and I'm like book I hate him like book like and book a real one I love book man he's a real one book said I feel you Dre

I don't know if he really feel that strong about it Dre he don't talk about it like that right I said I know he probably don't talk about it book I fucking hate CP man

and he like yeah Dre he don't really he'll be on it like that like hey he like Yeah, he definitely don't fuck with you but he'll be on it like that, Dre. Like, come on, Dre. I'm like, no, book, you don't understand.

And again, that goes back to, I got to say it, but also immaturity. You know, even in like, when I look back and I speak, and I think about things that I've done, like, there are some things that break the internet that I wish I could take back like that. You know what I'm saying?

Like people really value themselves on, can I move people, this way? Can I get people to say this? What they're going to think? And there's actually things that I've said throughout my course of these years that broke the internet, that people love, that people are like, oh, yeah, and I wish I could take it back right away. And I think for me, it's also like the immaturity. You're six years older than me, you know, like, been through a lot more to me, been doing this a lot longer to me. And then obviously there's the difference in personalities as well, but a lot of immaturity involved in my part.

But I was on that type time too, though. Like, it's crazy. And I don't even really be thinking about it. I don't even be realizing that I'm six years older than you because when I'm in it, I'm in it, right? And so, book, that's like my brother for real, you know what I'm saying? And so me and books spent a lot of time together still do. And, you know, it's crazy.

Book would tell me about guys that he was around, you know what I'm saying? That was saying little stuff. And I'd be like, dang, that person don't act like that when they're around. You know what I'm saying? And so that's always been interesting for me. But I'll tell you this, I remember it was a game. We was playing in L.A. You wasn't playing.

You was behind the bench. You was behind the bench. I don't know what year it was, but something happened or whatever during the game. You stood up, said something. I said something. And that was just, that's the type time it was. That was the league. It wasn't like social media like that.

People wasn't putting it all over the Internet. or whatnot, but it was just, it was a competition thing, man. And for me, that stuff can escalate. And I always been, I always say this, I'm on whatever they own. You know what I'm saying? That's just always the energy I didn't have since I came into the league, man. And like you say, immaturity, I had it. I still got it at times too.

I ain't no saint by no means. But it's a process. And you start appreciating different people. players in this league, you would appreciate even being able to play at a high level and all that. But I told you, out of all the guys that told Steve this, I feel like I told the team that out of all the guys that I didn't really had like beefs with over my career, you know, that I could care less if I talk to them or whatever. I said, I'm glad I got an opportunity to be teammates with you. Straight up, man. And I mean that when I say it,

because, you know, you get a chance to see, for real, you know, why y'all is winning championships, you know, the competitiveness, all that, man. So, and I mean that, you know what I mean? I'm glad we get a chance to be on the same team. 100%, man, like I said, as you know, I feel the same way. And I think, man, it's funny. It's funny, see, I have a friend in London. And we were, I mean, he lives in London. We were in Paris this summer, and we had a great wine dinner,

and I was sitting next to him, his name is Virgil. And Virgil asked me, see, I kid you not. This is a guy works a mysterious way. Virgil asked me sitting at the wine dinner, who's your least favorite player in the NBA? Who could you not see yourself playing? I said there's zero fucking chance I'm ever playing with Chris Ball. That's great.

It's not happening. I don't. It cannot happen, Virgil. He's like, I, I knew you'd say that. He's a fan of him. He's like, I knew you say that. Literally see, from that dinner, two days later, I'm flying back from Paris.

I get a call from Mike Dunleavy, and I'm taking off. And I'm like, Mike, I'm going to hit you when I land. I'm flying. He's like, all right, hit me when you land. I'm like, but I'm fine back from Paris. It's going to be a long flight. He's like, all right, well, it's a little urgent, kind of need to know. It's like, we got, we got actually, we got a chance to, you know, bring in Chris Paul.

And I was like, listen, Chris Paul is a competitor. Chris Paul is an adult. Chris Paul want to win. Chris Paul played basketball the right way. We can figure it out. I said, we can figure it out. All the other stuff, we ain't been the best of friends, my. I said, but we can figure it out.

And for me, man, it's like you go through these seasons in your life, as you know. and it's like God placed you here at the right time because I'm not sure if in year nine, in year eight, if I was even mature enough to handle it, right? Like if I was mature enough to even have a conversation with you, like, when you text me, I hit you back, and we were supposed to talk and you call, you call, and I'm like, I couldn't even talk to you, right?

Like, I was like, damn, C.P. going to be our teammate and, like, they're making this move, cool. but then I'm like fuck like what do I say I don't know what to say I don't know what to think like what do I do and then we went to lunch and I said to you I said man I appreciate you letting me go through my process because I didn't know what to think

I didn't know what to make of it I did know like yo if he's my teammate we're gonna make it work and we're gonna fuck some people up Mike I tell you that but like there was a process that I had to go through and you look at like going through these seasons of life and what you can handle It's like, I don't know if you'll ever even meet Virgil, maybe you will, but for me to be sitting there randomly having a conversation with Virgil

at a wine dinner and the next day, you my teammate? That is crazy, man. And even think about that lunch that we had and you know, you know my wife Jeter and it's funny, man. Like, I remember because we went to the Bel Air Hotel and she was almost giving me a pep talk before I left the house. She was like, all right now, be cool, be good, you good? You're good.

She's doing all that. And it's so crazy, man, to know so many mutual people. You know what I mean? I think about Shayla and all these people who are like, man, y'all need to talk. Y'all need to talk. And we went to lunch there. We ended up being there for hours. You know what I mean?

I was, man. And I tell you, and that's where, like, just maturity, adults or whatnot, being able to sit and talk and to actually listen to each other. you know what I mean, and know that you both in a place where you're like, hey, you know, even though we, we ain't got along for a long time, like at this point in my career, I need, I need them, you know what I mean? Not just basketball-wise, it's been really cool, like just the locker room, you know, and like we talk about year 12, 13, nah, this ain't it.

Yeah. This ain't going to work, but everything happens for a reason. 100% man, like you said, Shela. There were multiple people telling me, like, y'all should talk. Y'all are figuring out. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Definitely one of the main ones. So, thank you, Shaila. We appreciate you. Switching gears, you mentioned Players Association President.

Talk to me about that. Because, number one, I feel like you took that thing with the Players' Association president, and I feel like you actually made that a thing. Like, you know, I've been in the league. I think Dee Fish was the president when I first came in the league. And like, it was cool, but it wasn't, and maybe I could have just been young and didn't understand it, but it just wasn't like revered. Like, the job wasn't revered. It wasn't like a real thing.

It was a chore. Yeah. It was a chore. And it's like, you took that thing and made it like a position, like it actually matters. Talk to me about just being the player's associate's president. How you went about that? First and foremost, I wouldn't say, may I say us,

like that executive committee and all of us. But, man, I joined the EC my third year in the league when Billy Hunter was the executive director. And I never forget Billy, it came to me. And he was like, hey, Chris, we need you to be on the executive committee. And I'm year three. That's the year I thought I was gonna win MVP and I'm hooping and all this. I'm like, man, I'm trying to set up my own business.

Ain't nobody got time for this. And that's back when they used to come in there and they come to the union meeting and they be like, who's gonna be the team? team rep and what the vets used to say. The young fellas, you got to do it. You got to do it because it was like a chore. And so now you see guys stepping up and they want to be a part of it.

I'm so grateful for that. And I think I took a lot of pride in it because it was some tough years. We went through a process where we didn't have an executive director and had to go through the interview process. I remember playing in Miami, had a game that night, had to get up at 5 a.m. to do some interviews, and we ultimately got Michelle Roberts in. You know, we built the Players Association office now to court. You know, and just to see players now, hell, this.

You know what I mean? Absolutely. All the stuff the players do now, and we still got a ways to go to continue to get guys to do things together and realize the power that we have as players, as the collective. Yes. Right? Because when we first came into the league and rest in peace to David, you know, Stern, it was a, y'all do this, do that, do that.

You know, it wasn't a partnership. Yes. You know what I'm saying? As much as guys would have liked. But now the conversations that we have with Adam and all this stuff is, it's totally different. You know, because the way you get people to buy in to something is you've got to make them feel like they're a part of it. Yeah. So when you think of the in season tournament, when you think of the play-end tournament, you think of playing, you know,

in tournament and all this stuff. Like, that's where our league differs from all these other leagues. And that was probably the craziest part in being the president of the union for those years is I was getting calls from the players from the NFL, from Major League Baseball, from soccer,

from all this saying, yo, how y'all do that? Like, what? Like, we don't talk to, you know, our commissioners and stuff. We don't, and so it's dope to see, you know, how our league is basically leading the way. And stepping down from that role,

you still get a lot of calls. I spend a lot of time. You're still on a lot of calls about the Players Association. You get calls from people. Like, yo, I'm not the president anymore. Like, CJ's the president. What has it been like in you stepping down from that role? But again, I think that is also a testament to the work you did

and what you made the position mean. Yeah. That you're still getting those calls. as if you're the directors. I mean, as if you're the president still. You know what it is, is even before CJ got nominated, I would talk to CJ a lot about things, but we got a little group of guys with Kyle Lari,

Dwight Powell, CJ, and us. We've been doing calls now every couple weeks since the pandemic. And it's very, very important because we're very open with Adam and other people on the call about the things. things that's going on in the league. And what's dope about is that it's not just all my views. You know, it's CJ as you.

Kyle, we talked to our teammates to figure out, like, when we was in Phoenix and you were saying how you might change the in-season tournament games a little bit. I love getting that feedback. That's the funnest part about it. Now, I'm gonna tell you when I was the president, it's a little different because I'm getting out of practice and I'm getting calls from the office about what's going on

in New York. And I'm like, man, I got a game tonight. I can't. Now, now, I mean, I get an opportunity to basically put myself in the places that I feel like I can be most effective. Yes. Right. And try to get that time with my family because it's a full-time job. It is a full-time job. And definitely didn't take it lightly.

And it was an honor and a privilege to do it. And I'm going to tell you, man, Dre, it's a lot of guys probably would never say it. But it was a lot of hate and stuff that came from that. What? Boy, you should have seen the way people was hitting my phone when we was trying to figure out if we was going to do the bubble or not. You know? You had a gang of guys saying, no, we shouldn't be gone.

Then you had guys saying, yeah, we should be gone. And so, yeah, we got a lot of stories, a lot of stories. But that union stuff was a great time. And speaking of the union, I have, something that bothers me, or I wouldn't necessarily say it bothers me, because it bothered me would be like, oh, it moves me. But it's something that I look at and I'm just like, hmm, and the director, the executive director of the Players Association Unit, direct counterpart or direct person that they're working with, because I think that's one of the things that you changed

is where if it was like you had the NBA Players Union and then you had the NBA players union and then you had the NBA. They were synonymous in any way. Right, right. And I think that's one of the things that you changed in where the executive director now works with Adam. You know, and they work to put, like, yes, Adam runs the league. He's the commissioner.

We all know that. But they work together to make these things work. And there's a respect, you know, on the work level amongst them that allows us to continue to build this league and push it forward. Right. I don't know Adam's salary. the executive director salary is nowhere near that. Will the players ever get to a space of where we raise the amount of money

that the executive director makes? Because due to the salary, it's always going to lessen the pool of people that you can get in that space. If the salary is what it is, do you think the players can ever see that to understand that this is, and you did it? Right, but again, you're also handcuffed by players too. Like, ultimately, you run these things and you put these things in space and then guys vote on it. Do you think the players will ever understand that this is a business? And the person in charge of this business is in charge of 50% of $10 billion per year, a BRI, whatever it is.

I'm not sure what the exact number is today. Right. But just call it 50%. That person is in charge of 50%. of $10 billion. Do you think us as players or you'll retire someday and I'll retire shortly after

but do you think the players will ever reach a space where they say that position and needs to be viewed different, the salary needs to be raised? Because also based on that salary is how that person is going to be viewed going into the negotiation table. Yeah, but and this is

what I would say to that because you definitely have a point there but I would say, and I would challenge you and anybody else to come into some of those meetings and have that discussion. And this is why? Because there's so much that goes into the salaries of everybody and even, I mean, I remember the meeting when we, and I'm sure you notice, we're the only professional sports league

that has insurance for retired players. Yes. Right? Yes. And I remember that meeting. And I remember that meeting and how. how sort of hard it was or whatnot to have all the guys actually understand what's going on, because in order to do that, that means that that money is coming from the players.

Absolutely. You know what I mean? So once guys really start to understand that and understand, like, where the money's coming from, where it's going, how is being, you know, sort of filtered out as far as the union and all this stuff, I think, you know, it's definitely a conversation that can be had, you know. But I think the other thing that a lot of people would be surprised is to see the pool of names who are in these interviews. Yes. Right.

Obviously, there's a confidentiality aspect to it, but I can say this. It blew my mind to see the names that were trying to be the executive. to the director. You know what I mean? Given the salary that it is now. And it's because, and this is a credit to our league and the players, is that you got 450 of the most recognizable faces in the world. Absolutely. You know what I mean? It's people who are CEOs of big companies and all that stuff like that, who are still putting their name in that hat to try and have this job and this role. So yeah, I think as everything continues to grow, and I think the union, like, still are like in a phase where we still building.

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, like, think 450 isn't that many years old, you know, but that's where the business, like we didn't talk about it before, what the licensing check used to be. Yes. And what the license and check is now? Totally different. You know what I mean? So I think it's going to continue to take some time, but continue to build, you know,

like this basically all-star team of people, you know, because you have a time when it's CBA stuff where you may need a lawyer. Yeah. But during all the other time, you need a business person to make sure that, you know, all the T's are being crossed and all the eyes are being dotted. But it's important. And like I said, you need to get your ass in there and tell everybody what you're thinking. Like, for real, because that's probably been the coolest part of me being a part of the union and seeing how many smart guys we got and all the great ideas.

Yeah. I think for me also, again, goes back. to immaturity. I know you remember there was a time where I was trying to be on the executive board.

And I'm like, yo, I know I'm suited for this. I know I'll fight like for players. But another thing, and I'll tell you, Mello, who I also had

your brother, my brother, who also had the opportunity of playing the Olympics with. Man, I came to the meeting in Toronto, and I'm like,

I'm going to get on executive committee. And it was me and Mello who was the last two people. And Mello got, and I'm like, Mello don't even want to fucking be on the score. I know Mello. Mello don't want nothing to do with this.

Y'all voting for Mello because he's called Mello Anthony. And I'm like, this is, man, like, I'm done with this. And the reality is I was in my feeling. I didn't even realize that happened. But that, I get it because that's what a lot of people do not realize is that this is the NBA, but it is still like a high school election. Absolutely. And it's face to face.

Yes. So you find out on that day in front of your peers that you weren't voted in or something like that. So I definitely get it. I know a couple other players who that sort of happened to. And it's crazy, man, because like I said, I can still remember the day that I ran for president. Like somebody nominates you. You know what I'm saying? Like somebody nominates you.

And I wasn't even sure about running for president. And I know Roger Mason ran too. And I don't know who else did. But yeah, that's enough. Like I get what you're saying. But even, and it's hard to say because you are who you are or whatnot. But even if you're not on the EC on the executive committee, because it take a lot of time.

It take a lot of time, man. But I think there's a way to find out if every so often you just jump on the call to get your ideas. And see, that's what I did when I was president, man, is that what helped was that I could get Braun on. the line if need be. Yeah. I could get to book.

I could get to Steph. I could get to any of these guys or whatnot. And it was a lot of guys who at the time would be like, man, why C ain't hit me? When you say you're going to fool with me? So hit one of the other guys on the EC, you know, but I would try to make sure that I got feedback from other guys around the league about how they would feel.

Yeah, and I know from being in those meetings and seeing you talk to different people, I know you was taking that feedback. And I thought that was great. And like you said, and just pushing this to where it is. With Andre taking over, I know Andre has his plans with his fun and all of those things that he's been working on, putting together. The whole time he's been playing here and now he's on the other side of the fence as a player. But Andre just recently took over the Players Association as the executive director interim. Do you see a world where he may continue and say, because he was on the committee?

with you know, it's funny, man. I don't know. I don't think Dre wants to. You know what I mean? But that was kind of news to me or whatnot. But Dre, man, I talk about him all the time because think about all of them years, we talk about how we was competing. Yeah, yeah.

He was on the Warriors too. When I was in Houston when I was in L.A., and so I couldn't stand Dre as far as hooping. But Dre was my vice president along with James Jones at one point. And it's still crazy to think about how well me and Dre work together through all of that stuff, given the dynamics between our teams. But I don't know. I hit Dre after he took over and told him, like, man, I'm here if I can help with anything,

if there's anybody who can dive in there and sort of know the ends and out of what the union needs. And I know he's going to have a union. You know, I mean, at best, you know, always. It's just crazy to see that, you know, because we always talk about we can't even see retirement right now. And so it's just crazy to think about all we did as far as the union and know that he actually, like, be in the office and all that having to see what's going on now. So I'm wishing them the best with that. And, yeah, I don't know. Well, you say you don't think Dre want to do it that long?

Well, then I say, let's get a satellite. campus in L.A. Guys be struggling to get a gym in L.A. So we get a satellite NBA player's office in L.A. In three, four years when you're like, you know what I'm done? I'm tying the strings up. I'm throwing them on wire.

Could we see Chris Paul as the executive director? You absolutely cannot. You absolutely cannot. But I will always be a phone call away just because, man, I learn so much there. And I'm going to tell you what's so crazy is, we talked about our office and a gym in LA at one point, man. But, Dre, we got to talk about these expenses.

Yeah, buddy. We got to talk about these expenses. They got to raise the dues. They got to raise the dues because all this stuff is good and well. But these are ideas that I think are valid. But like I said, the players, we're going to have to talk because we never raise the dues or whatnot. But if guys really want to see this, stuff can happen.

Yeah. But it's both cost. I think dues needs to be raised anyway. The reality is, dues may have been raised $5,000 since I've been in the league 12 years. Inflation alone. Come on, man. We can look at inflation and we can talk about that. Now, granted.

Dre will be at the next meeting. I'll say this. And here's one of the reasons I actually thought I would have been good for the committee when I was trying to do it was that. I've worked myself into a position where I became, you know, a high-paid guy in this league in the all-star. and all this thing, but I started as nothing. I started that second round on the end of the bench, you know, like getting in for a defense to stop the end of the game. That's it, you know?

And so I'm making $850,000. Now, don't get me wrong, people. I'm not out of touch with life. $850,000 is a lot. But when you're making $850,000 living out here in the bay, you slice that in half, that's $400,000. You got an agent fee, 3%. You know, you got, my rent was four or five times the amount that's rookies in

other markets. So I'm paying that. And I'm making that money. I ain't making much money. And so my thing was, I know how it feels to be at the bottom and I know how it feels to be at. So I know how those guys feel. And that's why I thought I would have been good for the committee. And saying that, so when I say we should raise these dudes, know that I'm not some out of touch guy that's looking at these rookies who and like, yo, they should pay more too. Like, no, number one, you get what you pay for in life. Exactly. And if you know the ends and out to the union

and all the things that the union provides and the things during the summer, the trips, all of this different type stuff, you know, like I think we have a very, very, very good union. Absolutely. You know what I mean? So those conversations do come up at times. Chris needs to be paid.

Chris and Chins need to be paid more. The Ron Clemner's need to be paying more. See, I tell you. you what, and I'm saying this on this podcast, the dudes definitely need to be raised. You've had inflation take place. We're still doing all the same things. And guess what? Another thing is, we all know more now.

See, we know more about life now. And these are the things that we want the union to provide, but yet we still paying those same dudes. Well, if we wasn't beefing when I was president, I would have walked you right into one of them damn meetings with me. Because, you know, man, and it takes... it takes, you know, your vets and all that. And I think we as players do a good job now.

But when I came into the league, I ain't know what the union was. You know what I mean? Like it's funny, you know, when they come talk to us, and it's usually people to represent the NBA and people to represent the union, right? Like, when I first came into the league, you damn near shunned away from the union people

and just went to the NBA people. That's a fact. You know what I mean? And they, like, you had to learn and be taught that the union is the ones that work for you. You know, and not saying the NBA is against you, but when you get a tech or you get suspended or something like that, you do a call with the NBA, the union is on the phone for you.

Absolutely. You know, and so I think the earlier guys, guys are starting to realize that earlier now is that the union is in place to help and make sure that they, you know, are able to go back to school. You know what I mean? The union to pay your tuition or whatnot to go back to school. school or whatnot, man. And I'm, I know people that say I'm biased, but I'm so grateful to the people at the union, the, the Toyas, the Cressas, the Rons, the everybody. I don't want to

leave nobody out. All of y'all, man, I'm so grateful for how you taught me. Like, I tell people all the time, I had a business class on steroids. Right? I had a business class on steroids because, I mean, I know what a 20-year lease for where the union office is. You know, in that part of New York. I know how expensive that is. I know what the salaries are like. I know what the employees are like at the union office when they want to raise, you know. And so they taught me a lot and they still teaching me, and I'm grateful for it.

That's incredible. I had a couple more questions. As you know, we'll sit and talk all that. Man, we're good. We're in our building. But I want to ask you something, and I can raise my hand. I've never been one, as I've told you, I've never been one to say I was wrong or hide anything that I intended to do. So I come into the league, Warriors were the laughing stock of the NBA, and I walk in the locker room, and I meet Steph Curry and Clay Thompson.

And I'm working out with these dudes, and I'm like, yo, these dudes are special, man. I've never seen nobody shoot the ball like this. You came in the year after Clay's rookie year. Yeah. Okay. So 12. Yeah. Yeah.

And I'm like, these two dudes are special. Let me figure out what I can do to help these two. Like, and that was my goal from the beginning. As you come in, you start to see the lay of the land. You start to realize there's prior relationships. There's this, there's that. This guy know him. This guy know that.

And so I learned through the Gravevine, the CP and Steph are close. And I'm like, okay, cool. That's cool. That's cool, nice. Yep, they're saying these dudes is the next of you hung dudes out to West. I got to figure out how to change this relationship if I can because what I learned is,

you know, y'all both growing up in North Carolina, families knew each other, y'all knew each other, had a really good relationship. Me being the young, called me dumb if you want, I would say I was young and dumb. You're coming to the league. You don't know what you think you know. And so you come in,

young dumb and I'm like oh cp is going to definitely use knowing him and being the big homie against him let me see how I can get in between this and call some marketments and break this shit up um in a weird way kind of not really but I said all of that to say what's it been like for you to watch stuff like you get drafted you take him under your wing y'all working out together all of those things he come into the league uh angle injuries the whole nine Again, me knowing you now, I'm sure you was texting him, hey, man, like, stick through it. Like, because I just know who you are. He's young.

He's coming into the league. I know you were offering that. Stick through it. Gets healthy. Starts to come up, come up, obviously become who he's become. Y'all have battles and all that. Talk to me about the relationship, like the steps and along the way with you and Steph. It's crazy, man, because I didn't know Steph for a long time, right, coming through North Carolina.

Seth. Like, don't even leave that out, Seth. And then Dale, you know what I mean? So my agent when I first came into the league was Jeff, Austin. Okay. I didn't know that. You didn't know that? Nope. I didn't know that. So Jeff, Jeff, Austin was my agent when I came into the league. Jeff Austin and Lance Young. I was with Octagon. Then Rudy, Rudy. Rudy was too. And then obviously Steph. So I ended up leaving after my fifth, sixth year in the lead when I went to CIA. But I kept my financial advisor guy named Frank Zekka. Shout out to Frank.

Frank is me and Steph's financial guy or whatnot. But when Steph got drafted, I used to have my camp. I used to have my league camp or whatnot. And so the very first year I had my elite camp, Steph came to camp. He was nice. Eric Bletsow,

nice as hell. And so my family went to Disney World in Orlando. my wife, like Lil Chris, my parents, everybody. And Steph went with us. Steph went to Disney World with us, and we worked out and all that. So our relationship was always cool. And I mean, just like, I mean, you know, I got 13 of my kids that play in the league.

And I'm saying Steph as a kid, but you was from North Carolina, you just tried to look out, help whoever it was. And so it was crazy to see, I mean, I forget about the ankle injuries, because I just, just remember how damn good he been. You know what I mean? And it's crazy. The battles start happening, our teams or whatnot. But it was just, it was the Warriors.

It wasn't ever like about me versus Steph or not like it. Because Willie, right? Remember when Willie became one of y'all coaches? Absolutely. Willie is my family. When Willie became one of y'all coaches, me and Willie stopped talking. You know what I mean? Like, for real, for real.

But so, I mean... Willie Green. Yeah, Willie Green. Will you guys don't know. But Steph just kept getting better and better. And I mean, like, it wasn't like it was a surprise to me. You know what I mean? Because he always worked like that and he could shoot it.

And then the way that you guys team, like y'all played with an edge, we did the same. And obviously, like you said, you wanted to build this riff or whatever. It is what it is. The game was the game. Obviously, people blew things up. I mean, when Steph, when did he hurt his hand? He heard his hand in 2021, 2021 season. Yeah, yeah, that's when I was in, in...

No, I'm sorry, I'm lying. No, that's right. He heard his 1920. 1920. Trust me, I suffered, dude, we were miserable. I would suck. I was miserable. That's when I was in Oklahoma.

Yes. Because I remember, I was at my condo, and as soon as I saw, he heard his hand, I sent him a message. to put him with my hands. I'd have four hand surgeries. Really? Yeah. So I hit Steph to try to make sure he got with Dr. Shen and tried to get with Moe, the same person, I'd have four hand surgeries.

I met Moe. I met him. Yeah, yeah. He ended up using Moe. Yeah, yeah. He ended up using Moe. So Mo did all four of my hand surgeries and my rehabs. Okay.

You know what I mean? And that's just, trust me, we didn't battle. Boutle like, hell. Like, I mean, you know, like, my wife was at his wedding and they was at my wedding or whatnot. But to see him become the player that he is, it's dope, man. Obviously, I've been on the wrong side of some of them losses, and I'm mad as hell.

I was mad, I mean, big mad, you know what I mean? But now getting a chance to be teammates and play alongside each other has really been fun. It's been incredible. As we wind down, and again, you've made it very clear. Like, you stay out the way of things. You stay out the way of people. You don't put things in the media.

I didn't realize as an investor, as a businessman, that you have all the things going that you have going. You do it very under the radar, quietly, but you got a lot of stuff going on. Incredible things. Try to. What does retirement for Chris Paul look like? whenever, and I think you can continue to play number one,

just as smart as you are. Like, to go from as fast and athletic as you were, to not even rely on speed and still be as dominant as you've been for the last eight years. Like, I'd say the last seven years of your career, you have not relied on speed. And to do that and still be the player you've been, I think is amazing.

But what does retirement, for Chris Paul. Man, whatever that is. I definitely want to own a team, being an ownership group. And it's because of, it's a few reasons,

but one of them is like my love for the game, right? And Dre, you like me, we try to get back to L.A. and see our family as much as possible. I didn't miss so much of my kids' lives that everybody would be like, oh, he's going to be a coach, you're going to be on a coach.

but I coach AAU. I do that now. I coach AAU, but I actually want to be present for some of the stuff that my kids have going on. So I definitely want to be on ownership. And the reason why I want to be an ownership is because I feel like

you have an opportunity to impact in a lot of different ways, right? And for playing for so long and on so many teams, I've had a front class seat in the CBA negotiations to see what this team does right, what this team does right, been in the locker room for this long, so you see how a lot of the most successful teams are sort of like there's a bond, you know what I mean, that's necessary. So I definitely want to be on ownership. And then I want to continue to dive into different investments, you know what I mean? And I know

that just sound vague, but I mean, I got a production company. I have a, a cricket team over in India. I have a major league, I mean, a baseball team, AAA team in my hometown, Winston-Salem, it's a lot of different things that I've been trying to get invested in, but I just can't sit still. That's one thing I ain't going to do. That's one thing I'm not going to do.

I want to be involved and I want to be around the game. I want to continue to try to impact grassroots because the NBA level, as far as coaching, you can't tell us nothing. Yeah. You can't. Yeah, we feel like we know everything. But for me now, and like we talked about, like Grant Williams, played in my AAU program, Josha Kogi, Kobe White, Harry Jowis,

Colin Sexton, I could keep going on. Windale Moore, Wendell Carter, all these got, man, that's probably the dopes thing for me at this point, my career, is to see them. You know what I mean? It's to see them and to know that. and somehow some way I may have impacted their journey to be able to change their life.

Because you know, once you get up here, you change everybody life around you. Absolutely. That's a fact. So, yeah, I definitely want to do that when I'm done. You've talked about the last seven or something I years. Like once you start bouncing around a bit, switch teams, you left your family home and just would go to the city

and do your job and go back home. Talk about how tough that is. Yeah, that's been and making that adjustment, missing things, you know, like forever, you and little Chris was inseparable. I mean, he was everywhere with you. And then, you know, the team things start happening and you make the best decision for the kids.

You know, sometimes, a lot of times, as adults and parents, people don't make the best decision for the kids. And you make the best decision, selfless decision, kids gaining friends, they're going to school, you know, don't want to keep switching their friends group and to leave them home and go off to work. Talk to me about the challenges that that created. And when I left L.A. to go to Houston, I never forget telling little Chris, he was looking at the TV. He saw it on SportsCenter and he was crying. And I told him, he said, Dad, do I have to go?

And I said, Chris, Dad can't be. himself on the court if you're not there with him. Right? And so the thing happened in Houston, I got traded to OKC. You know, me and my wife, it's crazy, man, because Chauncey, Billis, that's my big brother there. And Chauncey. Love Charles.

Chance, when we played with the Clippers, Chance had told me that Piper and his kids weren't going to be in L.A. And I never forget, me and my wife, we was like, oh, you tripping, Chance. That ain't never going to be me, you know. man, my wife thought it's going to be one year. Then we was like, okay, just do it two years. Now this is year five.

But it's crazy because probably this season is the most I've been able to see them. Yes. You know, and Steve does a great job with letting us know when we're going to be off and stuff, man. But it's hard. It's hard, as you know, because the game is played for three hours. Yes. You know what I mean? The game is three hours.

And as soon as that game is over, we are regular human beings. Absolutely. Right? Who just want to know our kids are good, our family is good and all that. And so I think that's probably going to be a bigger part of my story when I'm done playing than I realized. Yes. You know, is what I've been able to do being away from them, you know, because that's a huge part of my life. And we always say, fill your cup.

You know what I mean? So whenever I get a chance to see them, it definitely feels my cup, man. But it's crazy. You guys and the team have really helped with that. But I go back to that first year when I did it. Shea. You always hear me talk about Shea. You always hear me talk about Shea, Darius Beazley, New Doher.

Them boys, them for life. I don't care what they got going on. Anything, man. They know they can always call me because that was my first year being without my family. they became that for me. Okay. That's incredible, man. I did that one year where it was right after the season started back from the bubble.

So the 2020, 2020, 2021 season. Oh, you did that? My family stayed back in L.A. Because you remember, you couldn't go to the arena. Oh, yeah. Everything was shut down in San Francisco, so you couldn't do nothing here. And the weather was better in L.A. It's like at least they can get outside.

You couldn't get outside here. So they stayed in L.A. And, man, man, that's hard. What? That is tough. So I commend you. That's tough, man. It is.

And they're getting older. You know what I mean? Like I always say, everybody got a story, and I know people got it way harder than I do, but that ain't my normal. Yeah. Right? I say all the time to all those people who pursuing their careers, whatever it may be, like,

big shout out to you because my dream was to make it to the NBA, right? And I would not have made it without my dad, without my parents, but for sure, without my dad, like, fostering that for me. And it's just crazy for my kids, especially my son being older to have these hoop and basketball dreams. you know, but dad don't get to be there. It's kind of crazy, but, you know, we're going to work it out. Absolutely. I mean, you've been doing it gracefully.

JSX. Cool. Come through. Come through. JSX and good Southwest, too. Talk to me about that, see, because I see, I always tell people, they like, yo, you're going to fly private. I'm like, nah, people ain't going to run me out the airport.

Like, you're not going to run me. Like, yes, I will fly private. But I fly a lot. Yeah. I can't afford to fly private as much as I fly. You're not going to run me out there. Got that right. Talk to me about that because I'd be seeing some of these young guys

they fly private all the time. I'm like, how do they afford that? To each his own, listen, I wish I were to knew now what I, I wish I were to knew then what I knew now. You know what I mean? And I've been flying private for a long time. Probably a little bit too much. Show you true.

But, you know, you start to realize, I mean, this morning, I took a 640 a.m. Southwest flight got me here just in time. You know, but there are certain situations that call for a private flight. Yes, absolutely. My daughter, she had a game that I wanted to make it to after practice or whatnot. But I don't care who you are, right? Like, you know, I know billionaires, that budget. Yes. That budget.

So I like how you say that. You ain't going to run me out there. He's not running me out of airport. I'm sorry. Hell, no, no. Well, just get me there. Absolutely. Get me there.

I'll be just fine. Get me there. No, for sure. Man, I thank you. This has been incredible. I know subscribers, listeners of the Dremont Green Show. It's going to appreciate this interview. I'm very thankful to have this conversation.

Before we get out of here, one of my favorite officials, which is, I guess, odd for most people, because most people... Who are you about to say? Scott Foster, you want to talk about him? Knock it off. You want to talk about him?

What it? I love Scott, by the way. You know why I love Scott? Because Scott, to me, like, where I go wrong is, like, the referees that act like they cool with you, and then the moment the game start, you can't say hi.

And I'm just like, bro, you just like was laughing with me and like saying hi. I never knew that was your man, though. I never knew that was your man. I like Scott, because Scott, I know what I'm going to get. Like, I don't have to guess what I'm going to. I know what I'm getting with Scott. Yeah, right. You knew what you were going to get every time you played against us.

That's sound about right. I ain't got him to do with you. But Scott. Let's go look at the record. I mean, you know, Scott, Scott, like, I can say a few things to Scott and he's going to cut it off. It's not like I'm, I'm, judging where the line at.

Like, nope, this is the line, Draymond. And if you cross it, I'm teching you. But we can talk on this side of the line. We can talk. And he's cool. I like Scott. You want to talk about Scott? So he let you say a few things to him.

No, hell, no, he don't. He don't. But I'm cool with that. Just as long as I know I can't say nothing to you. You run into some rough of a reason. They like, they start yelling at you. And then you say something back and it's like, boom. And I'm like, bro, you just talk to me like that.

Scott is. different in that aspect. You know, talk about Scott? Yeah, I can't. I can't. Not right now. I can't right now. I can't right now.

But in due time, in due time, in due time, we'll have that conversation. I can't right now. But it's funny you say that because it is a few reps who you could say something to and say something back. I feel like Sheed or somebody was talking about this recently or something about how you almost appreciate that. Yes.

Like, you know, Carl, Carl, you yell at, call, call, call. going to yell back at you. Absolutely. But you love to leave it at that. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Like, I would respect that more than the reps who grabbed their whistle.

You're like, oh, I'm going to call it. I'm going to take. You know what I mean? I'd much rather them, I'd have a few officials here and there that yell back at you and stuff like that. And I'm, it's an intense game. Yes. That's what I was saying.

You got a bunch of different personalities on the court or whatnot. And I think that's what gets lost at times is that it's a game and it's intense. You've got to realize it's an emotional game. Yes, it is. You know, guys, now, okay, if it's too much, it's too much, tell us. But at the same time, you know,

I think probably one of my only issues that texts, like, the money. It's crazy. You know what I mean? How you just get to determine what my paycheck going to be this week? Like, I always have a problem with that because it's like, yo, at the end of the day,

that's a human being. Like, that human being has feelings. You can't tell me that, oh, none of these officials don't like you personally because that's a human being. I'm a human being. I have feelings towards certain people to certain people that I work with.

You have feelings. And so that be the thing with me to act almost as if, like, they're not human. Yeah, I've been on a competition committee now, right? For 15 years. Wow. You know what I mean? So people who don't know what that is, that's a two hour, two hour, two hour, two and a half hour meeting every so often going over the rules of the game.

You know, I've been doing that for a long time now. And I stayed on that because I get a chance to learn. Yes. You get a chance to learn like all these different, it's some great basketball minds that be on them calls, man. And I know some people probably like, damn, how you got time for that? You do the union stuff. you do this stuff, but you get to learn. And, you know, the competition committee is how the in-season tournament came about.

It's how the play-in tournament came about. It's how the shot clock resets back to 14 now. It's all the different rules of the game. And you see, that's why it's constantly changing. Like, I don't know if I'm allowed to say, but it was one meeting years ago where they talked about getting rid of the corner three. Really? Yeah.

Like, they was talking, like, every. All types of things are thrown out all the time on these committees because there's a vested interest in the business of the game and just trying to grow the game. So, yeah, man, that's why when people see me like explaining something like that, it's like, man, I sit on this two-hour call and y'all explain the rules of this, a take file and all this stuff. So when I get to the game, I expect to see it a certain way. But you would like that, man. Like, seriously, you would like that. It's a long call or whatnot, but you get a chance to get some stuff off your chest.

I think that would be great. I think I'd be great for the competition to me. Not sure if I'm welcome anymore, but I think I'd be great for the competition. Tony Brothers is enough. I love Tony brothers. Tony, I fucking joke on Tony and his goddamn unibroar. My son got a unibrow, by the way.

I talk about Tony, you know, Tony, you know, I don't know how longed Tony. I got a unibroar. I got them thick-ass eyebrow. And I call Tony Ugling. He'd go right back at me. Tony was talking. Tony embarrassed me in front of my teammates.

I went and I talked shit to Tony. He walked past my teammates and he said, I had to, that's when I had the subway commercial. Like, myself is better than yours. I want to talk about this. And like, it was incredible. But that should be okay.

It's incredible. That should be okay. I had a situation with a picture I played in Phoenix. And he called a carry on me. And see, this is what's crazy about real life. It's because somebody going to hear this. and then they just going to get you again. He called a carry on me

and ran down there in front of my teammates and said, yeah, that's a carry or something. He said, if I could drovel like that, I'd be in the league, right? That's what the reps told, my teammates. And so then I got back down there, and I was like, we can tell who ain't never played point guard before. Right?

And he gave me a tech. See, that's the crazy part about it. You can pop your shit, I should be able to pop mine. You know, but you do have some. some of those really good officials like Tony and stuff like that, that you should be able to go back and forth for a little bit or something. But I think it's tough now because everybody got mics on. Yeah, everybody's zooming in on you talking to the official.

Trust me, I know. I know it too well. It works for you sometimes though. It do. It got as far as I say, someone, I did not file out of some games for that tech I took earlier in the game now like, more now. No, but I'm done with this shit. Duncan takes.

I'm going to leave it to you see. Having the mics on and all that. Oh, yeah? Yeah. For sure. That works for you sometimes. No doubt. No doubt.

Amen. That's a wrap from this episode of the Dremont Green Show. See, thank you, bro. I appreciate you, my dog. Absolutely. Maybe we'll do this again one day because there's still a lot of stuff we ain't touched, but we could do this for hours. We'll definitely do it again as long as it ain't, yeah.

See, it's easy to do it like this. It ain't after a game where you beat us and some shit like that. That's the worst. That's the worst. We're going to win together. Oh, by the way, for all you talking heads out there talking and y'all saying like, oh, man, like that team is toast

and this, that and the other, we're still going to win a championship. I told you that before. We're going to win it again. Peace.