The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Draymond Green Show - R.I.P. Dejan "Deki" Milojevic

Episode Date: January 23, 2024

Draymond Green discusses the tragic death of Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, the Pascal Siakam trade from the Raptors to the Pacers, Kevin Durant's comments about wanting to be in the GOAT conversation, Kevin Garnett's comments about the lack of intensity in the new generation, and the budding Anthony Edwards vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rivalry.  0:00 Start 1:45 RIP Decky 14:00 Pascal Siakam trade 23:00 KD's comments 31:00 KG's comments #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I know we told you all last week we have two episodes, including an interview. We decided to push that back because of the tragedy. within our Warriors family, just didn't feel right or like a good time to release anything. Yeah, it just was a lot going on, as you all may know, which we'll talk about. But we'll talk about that. We'll talk about some other NBA topics.

First, before we get into that, just reminder, please subscribe to our YouTube channel. That is YouTube.com forward slash at Draymond. Green show. Please check that out. Subscribe. We appreciate you. Now let's get into it.

Something I've been dreading since. I mean, not dreading have to speak of, but really just living in. The passing of our assistant coach, Dejan Milo Yevich, Decky, as he's known to most. man just honestly not many words

I think you know just send love to Deky's family his friends players like myself that had the opportunity to play for him all those that were

touched and effective by him, there's not a way you didn't have a positive experience if you had any contact or connection or spent time with or played with or coached by. It's no chance you didn't have a positive experience if your life had been touched or grace with the presence of Decky. always smiling, always had the same energy. Like, no matter what, just always had that, like, just a good vibe and presence.

And, you know, when you spend your life, like, as an athlete, as a professional athlete in the NBA, like, you spend so much time together, whether that's on a plane, games, practices, road trips. Like, you name me, you spend so much time with the people in that locker room. And because you spend so much time with those very people,

you see the good, the bad, and the ugly, like, of everybody. Because you're going to, like, we all have bad days. And so you're going to see the greatest days. you're going to see the highest of highs, you're going to see the lowest lows. Throughout the course of nine months, like have you imagined nine months of your life? Like, in what goes on in your life over the course of nine months?

That's the amount of time we spend together each year, like a lot of time within those nine months. And so if you imagine the things that you see, like you see the best and you see the worst when doing this job. And Clay said, one of the most interesting things to me. We just sat down, we played Domino's on Wednesday in Utah.

We were supposed to leave. We got stuck there. Miserable. It was like everything was just on a loop. You know, like then you come down the next day, you see everybody in the same clothes the day before at the hospital, and it's just like,

you live in this nightmare and can't escape anything. It was miserable. But Clay said to me, he said, man, when have you ever walked into the facility? and being like, man, what's Decky on today? Like, because we all have our days, right? Like, I'm sure there are some days Clay walk in and be like,

Dre on some bullshit today. And, like, some days we all walk in and be like, man, what is Coach on today? Like, everybody, because you see the best and the worst from everybody. Like, that's just the life we live. I don't know what the worst of Decky was. Like, he was always the exact same. always smart super smart smart as hell joyful just bringing the like great energy stay out the way but like

you feel his presence and he walk up to you he's shake your hand hug you smile what's up that laugh like and like that's what you got from deckie and you couple all of that with the most brilliant basketball mind. It's just a special presence. And like, oh, that's great, right? But, like, we lost such a great, incredible person. Great, man. And being that close to someone, it hurts.

Like, we, here we are. Monday night. We haven't played a game since last Monday. and our first practice was today. And it's crazy how it all worked out. Like the two games were canceled and like I'm thankful to the league for canceling those because I'm not sure how emotionally you can step out there on the basketball court. But yet there's another side where it's like sometimes the basketball court is our safe haven.

Like it is our escape. It is your way of losing yourself in the game. And so it's just been a weird space to be in, in the same token, in that same breath. On Thursday, when we finally made it back, I went to the gym to get shots up. And, like, in a 40-minute workout, I stopped and started talking to Jacob and laying, like, six, seven times, just talking about decking. And so then I realized right there, like, dang, this court is not offering an escape that it normally does. how most of us use it in times and need where you hurt, you down, this court not really offering that escape.

And I realize, like, every time I'm on the court, I'm stopping and saying something. Like, oh, you, Decky, and it's just, it's tough. I saw one of the most incredible things today when we started off film. Decky, again, for those of you that don't know, Decky is a legend in European basketball, a fever basketball,

play with Partizan in Serbia, big club, Euro league, legend, three MVPs in a row, legend. He comes over here and act like he's no one. Like, I'm just here up, I'm here to coach, like, no. Legend, up, I'm just here to coach, do his thing, stay out. Like, act like he's none of that. So today we had the opportunity, but right before we started,

film or golden hour, what we call, ironically, Dekke's team, club that he played for a partisan in Belgrade, Serbia, was playing against the team that he coached, mega, Nicola Yokic, Timothy Luwahu Cabo. Cabo. the list goes on and on. That's where he coached most of those guys

with Mega. And ironically, they're playing today or they played earlier today, but we got to watch the tribute at the beginning of the game. And it was so powerful. It was incredible. The love that he had,

the tears that would drop, the emotion, the chance, the amount of time they clas. The amount of time they allowed the memorial to be. Then a moment of silence. Then they cheered again. Offer Decky.

They had a huge poster of him. They start lighting their flares. It's incredible to watch. Because when it's all said and done, you can only hope that you had that impact on someone. There's 20,000 people in those stands. It's incredible to watch. But it hurts.

And so, He was a fun guy to play for a straight shooter. You know, there's a little bit of a language barrier. So you're getting it straight. Like, you know, sometimes people sugar-coded or try to find a nice way to say it. Like, you're getting it straight from Decky. Like, whatever he means, he's saying it.

No, not pacifying anything. And the NBA, people are very careful on what, like, the things that they say players. Not Decky. Say the players, not Decky. He's going straight to it. And don't understand why you won't say it because he's going to. And we lost a special, special person.

And it, it hurts. You know, I feel for Steve, like coaching staff. Like, every day you got to walk in there and you got to see that seat. Like, you know where he sits. Like, I feel for them. Like, Kavanaughn, all of a sudden, you're going on the court and you're working out with someone else. like Dario, Trace, like, I feel for them. Because you'll be reminded of it every day.

You know, like, we've lost people, friends, family, that you don't necessarily interact with every day. And so there's an escape from it. Like, this is every day. His family going to have to live that every day. And like, when legends go, the family don't necessarily ever get to live it down. down because the world never really let it go down, never really let it die down.

And so I sent my love to his family. Um, everybody lives he's touched. Um, I know how special it was. Um, to all his family and friends back in Serbia, fans, uh, we all took a, a hit, big hit. Um, it hurts. It hurts. It hurts. A lot.

But I ultimately just praying and sending my love to his family. In other news in the NBA, Pascal Siakum, all-N-B-A player, All-Star, Pascal Seaccom, NBA champion, not to be forgotten. Former Draymond Green Show guest, Pascal Seaccom, traded to the Indiana Pacers. Very, very interesting trade. Number one, I don't think Indiana Pacers, I think that was a place that Pascal Seacom approved to get betrayed to. Because, number one, Pascal Seacom is a Toronto Raptor Lender.

No debates. They're done. He's going to be respected. Maasai Ujiri is a very respectful man, known to respect guys, respect for the work with. And so I know there was some communication there. He's not going to send Pascal somewhere that Pascal doesn't want to be just to get the biggest bang for the buck back for the Raptors, not how Maasai moving.

So I know that somewhere that Pascal had to say, oh, I'd be cool going there. And why wouldn't he be? You got a very young, just signed a max contract, point guard, soon to be all-star, all-star point guard, fake all-star point guard, Tyrese Halliburton. That's a dream for a guy like Siakle. So when you look at it from Pascal's point of view, I can go play with this all-star point guard,

also got a big man, rim protector and Miles Turner. Pascal, who you know can switch for, can guard on the perimeter. Now I can press up even more knowing that I got a great rim protector on the back line and Miles Turner that will allow them to mess with the pieces a little bit. And Pascal Siakum has come through the East to win a championship. So he's very familiar with the Eastern Conference. So he's probably looking at that, like, wow, we got this. We got Miles Turner.

We got Buddy Hill. Like, I can roll with that. Nimhart, young, young, knee-smith, young. I can roll with that. Now I come in, I bring my championship pedigree, my veteran presence with those young. Them boys running. Like, I don't know if y'all watched the NBA Indiana Pacers play this year.

Them boys is running and gunning. Now I can bring my veteran presence to that, my championship pedigree. I like the look of that. So I have no way of confirming that, but I think I know this business pretty well. And I think that's something that Pascal approved. Job well done, sir. I think that's a great fit, great trade for the Indiana Pacers.

I also think it was a great trade for the Raptors. You got Pascal four months away from being a free agent, unrestricted free agent, which means he could go to wherever he want to go. Now, you may say, oh, he's just not going to do that to the Raptors, but 10 days after winning the NBA championship, Kauai Leonard did. So that's a very realistic thing for the Toronto Raptors. That is a reality.

And last season, Fred Van Vleet walked for nothing. There it is. So you've seen this loud and clear. You know it can happen. So they get three first round picks back And although I don't think their picks will be great Maybe the one down the road will be great But these two I don't think will necessarily be great picks

But again, you got a guy who you want to do right by Because he's won your championship And you get three first round picks For a guy who's about to be out the door in a couple months I think it's a great trade for both I think that is beautiful to see how Masai worked out with a guy he wants to be a championship with, if I'm not mistaken, may have drafted.

I'm almost positive my site drafted, Pascal. But they both have African ties, obviously both being men from Africa and the NBA doing big things. To see them work that out, that's very respectful, very respectful trade, great trade. I don't think there was a loser in the trade. I actually think it's every now and then you get a Tyrese Halliburton, DeMontas Sabonis, that works out for both teams. Every now and then you get great trades for both sides. It's not always a winner and a loser.

There can be two winners when you're talking about a trade. And maybe Indiana are just a team to make those wins happen for both sides. Hope them GMs out there taking notes. They may be a team that say, hey, you get something great, we get something great. But I'll tell you what, and looking at that team and what they got, the key to how great that team can be coming.

And again, it doesn't just happen in four months. You got some young guys. You got Pascal Seaccombe, I think, is 29 years old, or 28 years of 29. Like, still fairly young with experience. And you got a bunch of. bunch of young hogs going to get it. The key that's going to make that team what that team is going to end up being,

whether they can push it past the Germain O'Neill conference finals, Reggie conference finals, whether they can ultimately push this thing to where we all want to go. The key to that is Benedict Mathrim. Young guy they already got, not, I ain't saying, go get this, Benedict Mathuron. That kid, I think, has a, a great deal of potential. He a go-getter.

He's not soft at all. He ain't a bully, which you ain't got it. But he ain't soft. Like, you ain't bullying him. He ain't backing down. He can shoot it well enough to where if he and that gym, his shot can become good. He can handle it.

He's pretty athletic. Benedict Mathuron, I think, is the key to that team. Because I love his potential. I love that draft pick for the Pacers. And I think he's on a good trajectory. Like, it doesn't happen overnight. that's a part of the growth, that's a part of getting young guys and grooming them. But what Benedict Mathrin can become will decide ultimately what that franchise can become.

Tyrese is great, right? Like, I won't say great yet because the young fella is still on his way, but he's one of the better point guards in this league for sure. Pascal Seacom champion NBA All-Star. Like, Miles Turner is a great rim protector, knocked the three down, athletic will finish on you like buddy we know buddy shooting it obviously you don't know what happens with buddy's free agent will they trade and will not i mean if if they keep them we nobody can knock it down if not they got young fellas and they they free that cap space up i think it's a

win-win there um but benedick matherin is the key uh his growth will determine ultimately how far the indiana patients can take 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

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Terms apply. Create an account and use the code word. Green, G-R-E-E-N for $20 off. Download game time today. Last-minute tickets, lowest price, guaranteed. Kevin Durant says why is he... Well, I'm going to read this because I want to quote this. Katie kind of asked a rhetorical question in a sense.

He said, because I went to the Warriors. He's speaking on the goat conversation. Why is he not in a goat conversation? He said, because I went to the Warriors. Why shouldn't I be in that? Question mark. That's the question you should ask. Why not?

What haven't I done? Well, I said you got to be very careful and saying that you yourself is a goat. That's something you have to be very careful of. Yet I, Draymond Green, said I am one the greatest defenders of all time. I may have said the greatest defender of all time. So I totally get where he coming from.

I can't be one to sit here. and be like, you can't throw yourself in that conversation. I did. And if you ain't going to put yourself there, ain't nobody else going to put you there. So you got to embrace that. So I respect that. What I will say is,

I think oftentimes Katie has a huge problem with the media. He'll probably come out and say, why everybody say I got a problem with the media, it just seemed like you do. He'll probably come out and say, Like, uh, or these dudes say anything on podcasts and like all that stuff. He got a podcast, by the way. Or have one.

As far as my goat conversation, though, I think Katie is one of the greatest scores we've ever seen. Like, no one ever says LeBron James is a score, but he's scored the most points of all times. because it ain't the flashy Bron going to get to the bucket he going to get to the cup he going to get it done. We know who Brian. But people always say

KD's the greatest score of all time. Like you can make that argument. Like the way KD scored a ball is so effortlessly. Like so effortless. Like that's what KD do. He's never seen a bad shot. Like he's going to get you 31 points

on 14 shots. He's going to be 10 for 14, six for six from the line, two for two from three. Like, that is a normal KD night. As effortless as anyone we've ever seen. Like,

and KD works. Like, one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. I've already told you all, like every rep is gain speed. That's mind bog. Like, that's crazy. Steph worked like that.

And like, obviously, not one that's going to be like, KD's championships aren't real. Like, stop it. Like, there's no championship that's not real. People say the bubble championship, like, there's no championship that's not real.

And KD put in work for them championships. The average 36 in one of the series and maybe 33. Like, KD put the work in. So the whole, the championships is not real. That's not a thing. You couldn't help off Clay and you couldn't help off Steph at all, ever.

And you had to play one-on-one with KD and good luck, good night. And so that's what it is. And KD defensively, when he was here, was insane. Like, KD allowed our small ball lineup. We had two rim protectors. I was a rim protector. He was a rim protector. And really kind of two and a half,

because Andre kind of does some of that too in a different way. but like in a much different way. Anyway, KD was incredible defensively too when he was here. So the whole championship thing, he ain't got real championships. That's not a thing. Stop it. However, Steph didn't get the credit that Steph gets today until 2022 when he led this team to a championship and won the finals MVP.

So if you're not giving Steph stuff that. credit, which people didn't, just didn't. Like, and by the way, as a fan of basketball, I've watched Steph do everything. When I watched him do what he did in 2022, he took steps up for me. Like, oh, no, this dude is like, he up in that conversation now. Yeah, yeah, he there now. You got to go do what Steph did to get to that conversation, in my opinion. I'm not in the gold conversation.

That's fine. But in my opinion, my opinion, you got to do what Steph did to get to that conversation. Maybe the team ain't as ideal as you wanted to be. Maybe, you know, maybe, you know,

everything ain't perfect. But guess what? When it's time, I'm going to say, hey, come get on my back, let's go here. When everything, all else felt, Hey, come get on my back and let's go here. The team ain't going to always be the most perfect. Our 2022 team sure wasn't the most perfect team.

But when it was time, and by the way, guys contributed in the major way, Andrew Wiggins, myself, Jordan Poo, Clay, Loon, like we all did our things, like belly, like every GP. People stepped up and did their thing. But like, you're not going to go back through that team and compare it to any of our other championship rosters and be like, yeah, that's it. Otto, Otto was huge.

Like, but we went and got it done. And in large part, when all else was failing, Steph said, all right, fellas, come on, let's go there. Period. That's how he got to that conversation. So for me, you got to do that first. When all else was failing, the team ain't ideal, all right, come here, let's go do that.

I got nothing but love and respect for KD won two championships with KD. So it's never no hate and all love, but for me, from me, I can only speak for me. But you got to go do that thing. Nobody mentioned Braun, like really respecting Brian like that to 2016. Yeah, Brian had respect

Before that We all know who LeBron James was But really calling him the goat Like really saying LeBron James is In the goat conference 2016 That's when that happened So you got to do that thing

Man, before we get out of here We always talk about the old debate The old school, new school debate I myself along with my team the new media, which is official, by the way. Y'all know how I kind of fill on those things.

It gets weird. You know, you get some old schoolers talking like this. You get some old schoolers talking like that. You get some old schoolers saying what they think about you and don't realize what you really saying about who you act like you were. Like, you get all of that, man, it's funny. How are with these older guys, you know? Sometimes guys don't keep it real.

It's funny. Give us to Shaq Diesel. Shaq. Shack always keep it real. And every instant, Shaq keeping it a hundred. I can respect that. Ironically, been my favorite player since I was, since I, since you, Landau Magic, since I was born, Landau Magic, Nightlight, Wansy zip up,

Shaquille O'Neill, Iron on my first jersey in my life. 32, big fella. I got nothing but love and respect for Shaq. And to see how he is and growing to become the man that I've become, to see how he is, it's just crazy to me. When I go back to, like, my five-year-old self, like, 11-year-old self, like, die-hard Shaquille O'Neal fan. To see how he is and, like, what he stand on, what business he's standing on,

it's just crazy how life works. It's insane. It's saying that the big fella keep it real, a lot of people don't. Um, KG keep it real. I got a lot of respect for KG. KG do keep it real. KG was recently just on his podcast, KG certified, uh,

with all the smoke productions, um, with Paul Pierce. And they were talking about, uh, the cold and like, the, the element of the game that's lost,

uh, you know, which is the competitive element. they said is loss. One element that's missing from, I think this era from like yesterday eras, is that competitive energy. I don't want to shake your hand.

I might not, I might be staring at you the whole time. It was an energy of brain boxing. I respect it because a part of it is lost, although I know when you get between them lines, like, most guys, you're still trying to kill this dude. Like, yeah, you may laugh. Okay, maybe they didn't laugh.

I don't know. You may say something here and there. It's respect. You know what I'm saying? Like, a lot of guys, they'll go out and they'll say these elements lost or like, we ain't talk about. Like, they asked Joel what he said to Joker. He said, I told him you're still the best big man in the world.

There's something of that nature. And it's like, I never really find quotes from back then of those. guys like really going in how they be saying they went in now again I know how KG talked because I know how KG tried to talk to me when I came into the league and I've heard a million stories from guys personally of what he said to them like so KG really talked like that and like really walked that like I get it but like a lot of guys be saying how they said this or they but like you can't find those quotes you can't find the quotes like if we can find those quotes then I'll believe more of it.

But, like, if we say anything, it's all over everything. And now you got to deal with that, not even from that person. Like, forget what the person says, right? Like, like, forget if Joel was like, ah, I don't think Joker that good. And Joker took it personally. Like, they're going to play.

Like, all right, man, he's going to take it personal next time we play. If I really feel like that, then I stop them. Like, or not. Like, you're going to go play the game. but all the other stuff that you have to deal with coming from everybody who knows nothing that's when you like,

I don't really know if I even want to say that to even deal with that. Like, sometimes it's just not worth it. So I have a problem when older guys be saying, like, oh, this guy shouldn't have said did this or like he, like he, they don't do this or do that. And it's like, yeah, to a certain extent, everybody, like if you do anything, say anything,

everybody else pick it up, making a thing that you didn't have to live and deal with. Because it's a totally different day and age. Like, you're talking social media. You're talking everybody got an opinion. Those that don't know shit got an opinion. Everybody think they should be doing a podcast and doing this. And they got a Twitter. They should say this.

And they create all these different pages and different public. Like, anybody can have a voice today. You're subject to all of that. So even as, like, putting something out there, is it really worth what comes with it? It's not necessarily what you think the other guy gonna do that you could be talking about,

but, like, what all these Twitter fingers got to say? And Instagram commenters and people that blow your comments up because they either don't got no money, got a bad job, got nothing else to do, no responsibilities, suck at taking care of their responsibilities and would rather comment on your responsibilities.

Like, these are the things that you, subject or do you subject yourself too? And so the whole thing actually don't even make sense, man. Guys still compete at the highest level. The NBA is at the highest level has ever been. The talent in the NBA is as best as it's ever been. Like, so let's stop. Like, the game is big as it's ever been.

Yeah, social media and all that has something to do it. You still got to be able to play. And like, there was still a time in the NBA when guys we're going left with their right hand where guys can shoot if you can't shoot in the NBA today it's going to be hard for you you get away with not shooting back then

like the game is as good as it's ever been like let's stop it let's stop the oh and by the way this ain't even the KG thing because KG is actually one of those guys that really lived that and did that but like so many guys we talk

stop it enough like we get it it's old it's tired it's not new. Just stop. The game is great. It's in great hands. As we all know, She Gildes Alexander has the best post-game captions.

His captions are like full, like, bars is great. You don't know, you should go check it out for yourself. It's incredible. Dude got like real bars on his captions. And he's obviously dressed to part. Like, he do his thing. Like, you know, Shay's, league's best dress, all of that.

With the captions is insane. And playing the way he'd be playing first team all, NBA, carrying that team number two seed in the West. Like, you kind of got to respect you. You have no choice but to respect at all. Like, you got to respect the whole makeup of it. His caption the other day said, I'm going to read it to you.

I'm going to read you the caption because don't leave it to me to butcher the caption for you because how a bar was intended is exactly how you should receive the bar. The caption says, they talk about me for my post game. Two words, post gain, comma, not my post game. One word, post game. That's a bar. Because you can actually read that a couple of different ways, which any bar you hear,

Drake or Jay or some of it actually can have a few different meanings, which is what makes those guys great because then you're like, oh, wait, like, that's a bar right there. And I then went to see Anthony Edwards said something about him post-game getting free throws.

He was 12 and 13 from the free throw line. And I'm just here to say, if that is a response to what Ant-Man said, the caption is even crazier, which I think it probably is, because Shay real quiet but talk like that and with all that. But keep to himself,

but like, all that. This young butt and rivalry right here, Shea Gildes-A Gildes Alexander and Anthony Edwards, my God, I'll be watching it for the next

15 years, because this is going to be a special one. Let's go 10, 12. Shay and your 6R, 7, let's go next 10 years. I'll be locked in, because there's going to be a great one. Neither one of them guys

back and down. and it's going to say a little more. She don't say much. These captions are going to say everything, but they both like that. Both all NBA players, both all-stars, both guys leading their team number one and two in the West.

Young guys doing it. Got to respect it. Got to love it. So if that's happening, bulk of your seat belts up, people, and go along for the ride because I am. I'm going to watch it. Got to respect it.

I love how they bump it. Until next time, that's a wrap from the Draymond Green Show. Peace.