The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Draymond Green Show - All-Star Weekend, Juwan Howard + a Damian Lillard Interview

Episode Date: February 24, 2022

Draymond discusses the incredible All-Star weekend including Steph Curry and LeBron James' performances and the Juwan Howard incident before welcoming Damian Lillard on the show to discuss his injury recovery, how he felt about the Trail Blazers trading CJ McCollum, how the Blazers are building for the future, whether he thinks he gets the respect he deserves, whether playing in Portland has hurt his luck with free agents, and much more. Produced by: Jackson Safon Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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If you're feeling anxious about the future, you're not alone. Cal Hope offers free COVID-19 emotional support. Call 833-3-317-4673 or live chat at calhope.org today. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. This is our 14th episode. And boy, do we have a great show this week. extremely excited about this one.

I think it's the best conversation with a guest that we've had to date. And that's obviously no shade to all our guests that we've had because I think it's been incredible. The podcast has been getting incredible ratings and views and just a lot of people reaching out and saying that, you know, it's been a great listen for them and it's a real listen. So I am thankful for that. I'm thankful to everyone who, too, tunes in and listens every week and most importantly thankful to everyone who's taking the time

out to come on the podcast, share their stories. It's incredible. And it's always extremely fun for me to do. But this convoy was very good. It was very insightful. And it was with none other than the top, NBA top 75 player, perennial all-star, brother of mine, gold medalist, Dame Lillard. We talked about his injury recovery. We talked about the CJ trade and we also talked about his future in Portland and a lot more. Man, we probably talked for about an hour and it was incredible. So I'm looking forward to everyone, getting to having the opportunity to listen to that interview. But before we get to that, as you know, we like to go around the world, around the association and just share a few thoughts.

So we'll start today with, obviously, I tweeted last night about one of the most respectful statements. And I know everybody's like, oh, man, what is he talking about? And the reason I said one of the most respectful statements, because as a competitor, as someone who's currently in this league, I always say the most important respect you can get when in this league is from your peers. from other players. It's from the guys that you go up against every single day. It's from the guys not only do you go up against every single day, but also the guys that are in your locker room

that you take to court with every single day. So that is the most respect you can get, which is why I said this is one of the most respectful statements I can say. Obviously, we just got through All-Star weekend, which let me tell you, was one of the most incredible weekends the NBA can possibly produce. It was amazing. I mean, from All-Star weekend being in Cleveland, LeBron James, I mean, LeBron was essentially Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog hosting the Super Bowl. That's what LeBron was to this. He and Rich Paul and Maverick Carter, Randy, that's what they were to this All-Star weekend. And I don't know, most people obviously don't know them personally well, but let me tell you, they know how to host. And not only in Cleveland for All-Star,

But they do it the right way. Maverick has this saying, he always says, hey, Dre, he's two things. He's Hey, Dre. A lot of people has done it. I don't know if any has done it better. He always says that. And another statement he always says is, who's having more fun than us? Like, you can't find someone having more fun than us.

And I agree. And obviously, in being a part of the family, you know, you just see all ends and and how fun it is and the great business moves that lead to more fun and so on and so forth. So they were the host of the weekend, which obviously they blew it out the water. But just being surrounded by greatness, like, you can't script that any better. Now, here's where the statement comes in that. LeBron James and Steph Curry, two guys born in the same hospital in Akron, Ohio, goes back, to Cleveland. Steph obviously played against LeBron

in NBA finals, Warriors versus Cavs. The booze were raining in. Any time they mentioned my name or Steph named the booze were raining in. All of these things. And then Steph comes out and hits 16 threes and go for 50. MVP. Scripted it, right? LeBron James comes out. You know, he's doing LeBron. He's dunking a little bit. But you can tell he's out there.

going for the MVP, but he's dunking a little bit, putting on the show. But then LeBron James gets the ball in the mid-posts. We all know what move he's going to. We all know before he even shoots the ball, this ball is going in. Like, you just felt it. Scripted, right? What Steph Curry and LeBron James did this weekend was the exact reason people think. they're so great at what they do

that what they did this weekend further led people on to think the NBA is scripted. I mean, you can't draw it up any better than the way it happened. One guy goes for 50, breaks the record, shatters the record. He almost hit double the amount of threes

than the previous record was. He probably broke that record with six minutes to go in the second quarter. Incredible. I know, matter of fact, he broke it early on in the third quarter. But you can't write it up any better.

Again, that's two guys born in Akron, Ohio, which is 20 minutes away from Cleveland, goes to Cleveland, one wins the MVP, the other who's Cleveland's son, who owns that city, who put that city on the map, who brought them their only NBA championship

in the history of the organization. I mean, really, almost, probably in the history of the city. You know, I got to throw that in there. My thing with Cleveland is going to stay my thing with Cleveland. But a guy who was sought out by Cleveland, they tanked to get him, didn't only live up to the hype but surpassed it, which had to be nearly impossible to do. They actually did something that made everyone think, again, that the NBA is scripted.

And you couldn't draw it up any better. Like, I'm sorry, but the NBA can start. script as much as they want. You can't script Steph Curry actually making 16-3s. Like, you actually have to go hit those shots. With people running, flying at you, him shooting it right across. Like, you actually have to go make those shots. I'm not sure how that can be scripted.

LeBron James, like, it was destined. Like, when he shot that ball, we all knew what was coming. Joelle tried to double at the last second. No problem. The ball looked like it came out of. Brian Hans so nasty. It didn't look like the shot was going in. Of course he cans it.

You can't script that any better. He actually has to make that shot. And so what my statement simply was was those two guys are so great at what they do that they actually did something to further the notion of the NBA is actually scripted. And I was there to see it. I was there to witness it, and it was one of the most beautiful things.

I hope everyone appreciated the greatness that was on display this past weekend in Cleveland, from top to bottom, the top 75 list. I hope everyone appreciated the greatness that was on display, because I'll tell you who did. I did, and it was amazing. I truly enjoyed my role in the weekend with my T&T family. I hope everyone checked out the broadcast. Maybe next year that'll be the number one broadcast.

But next year I'll also be playing, so we'll have to figure that out as well. But there are ways, and Craig Berry's great, and he's going to figure it out, as he always does. And I hope everyone enjoyed the telecast as much as I enjoy being a part of it, because I thought it was incredible. So that's that. I hope you guys, again, appreciate those two guys because they are legends. And no, it does not matter which one is better or who did this. They both are legends.

They're both born in Akron. And they both led you on to think the NBA was scripted due to their greatness. The three-point contest, I truly enjoyed. I thought it was incredible. It was great to see Kat become the first big man to win it since, 2012 since Kevin Love, who was also a Minnesota Timberwood at the time. I thought that was incredible. I actually chose Kat to win, as you know, because, as I said before, it's not much movement.

He does not jump, so it's no extra wasted energy. It's literally him picking the ball up, boom, boom, boom. It's no wasted energy. And so I actually thought Kat will win. did win. Kudos to him. He shoots the lights out of the ball. And this is the best year he's had shooting it.

He's shooting it at a career clip. But you saw this coming. Like you've seen this over the years coming, his shot, taking more and more of them. And the more that he's taking over the years, the better his percentages has gotten. So I thought that was absolutely incredible. Congratulations to Kat. Well-deserved, incredible shooter. Definitely probably the best.

shooting big man that we have in the league. And, you know, you have some specialists. And so you maybe can find a specialist big that can shoot better than him. But someone with the whole entire package like Kat has, Kat will give you a bucket any way you want to. Dribble, pose, three, step back, you name it. He's giving you all of those buckets.

So he's the best at doing that. You got to give him his credit. He shoot the lights out. Three-point champion. Congratulations to Kat. Job. Well done, my friend. Way to hold it down for the bigs.

That's two for Kat now. That's Kat. Got a skills competition. And that's also another one for Kat three point competition. Maybe he'll go to the dunk contest next year, which is a totally different story. I mean, there's been a lot of riff rave and a lot of talk on the dunk contest. Quite frankly, I thought it was terrible. I thought it was bad.

I didn't really enjoy it much. What I did enjoy was watching Juan Tuscano Anderson compete on the biggest. stage. That's a guy who got it out the mud straight from 95th Street on Oakland, who did a G-League tryout, paid for a G-League tryout, made the team, continued to work, gets the training camping vibrant, Warriors, gets cut, goes back to the G-League, continues to work, get a call up, and obviously we know the rest is history. So to see him on that stage and only be one dunk away from winning the slam dunk competition, I thought was incredible. And if there was any thing that I enjoyed from that dunk contest, which it wasn't many moments to enjoy.

It was that. Because I thought that was incredible. That's pure. That's what we all love. You love to see the guy get it out the mud, underdog, and make it to that stage. And so, kudos to Juan, Tuscano Anderson. Congratulations to Obie Topping. But yeah, the dunk contest has to be figured out because it was not.

I mean, that used to be the marquee event. There was a time where the dunk contest was more important than the actual All-Star game. Not quite anymore. I mean, the three-point contest was the marquee vintage. But in the same token, the three-point shot is the most important shot in the NBA. So it makes sense of why that would take precedent. You think about the NBA back in the day, it's all about slashing, getting to the cup, highest flyer. Tough, physical, tough as nails.

nobody's really shooting a three that was condemned and everybody talked about if you live by the three, you die by the three and so it wasn't a big thing. And so the reality is, is it makes sense of why that was more of the marquee event because the NBA is built on three-point shooting right now thanks to Steph Curry and Clay Thompson.

So I get it, but something has to happen because it was not great. I'm not sure there was many things that took place during the dunk contest they got you out of your seat. And of course, we saw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar infamously walking out of the dunk contest, mid-dunk. So, and I also told y'all Jalen Green was the guy who has the most bounce

and he's going to try to do so much and miss the dunks. I knew it. I knew it because he's supposed to win, like all the pressures on him to do something spectacular. If he do normal dunks, he doesn't win. So he has to do some spectacular. So I don't know, man. You can see it coming.

It's kind of the same thing every year. The guy who's supposed to win doesn't really win. You think back to James White, the High Flyer, dunk from the free throw line. Like those guys, they're supposed to win and they just never win. Zach Levine was supposed to win he did win. But most guys don't. So I thought that was very interesting or lack thereof of interest.

But I will see. The NBA has done a great job of revamping things for All-Star weekend to keep the energy going. And I have no doubt in my mind, they'll figure something out with the dunk contest to make it more interesting. So we'll see. We'll wait and see until next year, which is another All-Star weekend that I'll be at. I'll be planning this time around. And lastly, before we get to the Dame interview, because it was a pretty long one. So for the sake of time, we'll try to keep this open a little shorter.

But before we talk about the damn interview, I have to say something. Like, it's absolutely necessary that I say something about the Joanne Howard situation, in part due to I hate Michigan Wolverines. Like, I'm all the way good on them. So anytime to see their programs in turmoil is always fun for me, because why not? I'm a Michigan state guy. I'm a Spartan through and through.

They hate us. We hate them. It's no surprise there. It is what it is. So anytime that happens, and not necessarily the incident with Joanne Howard, but anytime their programs are in turmoil, fire, hardball, like, I enjoy that. Let me say that first. Now, Joanne Howard, it baffles me how no one spoke about the guy grabbing his arm

as he's walking through the handshake line. It's almost as if he walked up to someone and punched him in their eye. No word said premeditated. I made up my mind. I'm walking up to you and I'm punching you in your eye. That's what it almost, that's what the narrative around this thing feels like to me. No one's talking about his arm being grabbed. It's a reason Joanne didn't apologize.

I have the utmost respect for him for not apologizing. At the end of the day, you did it. It's done. it is what it is if you ultimately want to reach out to that guy and apologize to him for punching him, totally fine. But the whole, he needs to get in a press conference right after, I haven't had time to process his thoughts, hasn't had time to go through. And this whole notion of he needs to get in the press conference

and apologize right away, miss me with that. That's ridiculous. You did it. It is what it is. You have to live with it regardless if you apologize or not right then. you take it on the chin, you continue to move. And I'm so happy I didn't go to the University of Michigan as I almost did.

Because the way their athletic director comes out immediately, like, oh, I reached out to them and I apologize. My man, have you even had an opportunity to talk to your coach yet? You came out with this statement within a couple hours of this thing happening. I've reached out to them and apologized. Like, number one, War, man,

like, you're not involved directly. Now, you have to make decisions, but you're reaching out apologizing, you're almost saying as if Jouin was wrong. Was he wrong for punching him? Absolutely. Okay, we all know you keep a certain level of professionalism, blah, blah, blah.

But you didn't ask their athletic director to reach out to you and apologize about their head coach grabbing Juan's arm. But I reached out to them. Our president is reaching out to the chancellor to apologize. Like, stop it. Like, how about how that man back? Instead of just throwing him under the bus like that.

How about coming out and supporting him and saying, I don't agree with what Joanne did, but ultimately I stand in support of our coach. I will handle and we will handle and discipline as we see fit. But let us further figure out what happened first, as opposed to, oh, we apologized already. and we can't like stop it that's ridiculous so i thought that was pathetic yet it wasn't surprising to me because i know how they are up there i'm always rolling with the spartans i'm rolling with tom iso

but the fact that there was no support from the people that's supposed to be on his side it just further validates why i chose the green and white and not scum up to high highway because I couldn't believe that. That was baffling to me that their athletic director ran out like that apologizing and not supporting his coach. I hope I hope Jouan said forget your rest of the season suspension. I'm out of here. You can hide that. That's what I'm hoping for. But we'll see. We know how it goes. Whatever. I thought it was absolutely ridiculous. Also suspended for the rest of the season. can we also know what the assistant because see as someone who's been suspended from very important

things there's there's also two sides to it and i've been in trouble before for coming into a scrum after the fact in the NBA saying you escalated the situation so how does this guy Joe Krabbenhoff not get anything for coming in and escalating the situation obviously you got punching your face so you did get something but he gets absolutely Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

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Nothing for coming in and escalating the situation. And the guy who grabbed Joanne runs out scotch free? So does he get anything? Like nothing happens for him running out and grabbing that man's arm? Like, he's not your friend? you're going to grab his arm? That's ridiculous. In 2022, you can't even grab your kid arm without getting in trouble.

You're going to grab the arm of another grown man in a heated situation. That's ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. So I absolutely hated the way Michigan's athletic director came out and did that, showed no support for Joanne in coming out and do that. I absolutely hate the fact that no one's talking about. him grabbing Joanne's arm. And I absolutely hate the fact that no one's talking about Krabbenhoff coming in

and escalating a situation and ultimately getting punched in his face. But it's not a Michigan state thing, so ultimately it is what it is. I really don't care. That's just that. We'll move on from that. Good Michigan's in turmoil. I love it. But let me welcome in my brother, Olympic girls.

gold medalist, six-time NBA All-Star, rookie of the year, cornerstone of the Portland Trailblazers and NBA top 75 performer. Dame, Dala. We just can't seem to catch a break, huh? So many rough fire seasons. But we made it through, and now there's another risk.

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Man, I'm honored to have this next guest on, a guy who I've now had the opportunity to play with, win a gold medal with, but someone who I have the utmost respect for, that I've kind of built a bond with. And it's funny because it just kind of happened, like right at the combine. We was in the draft together, sixth overall pick of our draft. But just kind of had that same underdog coming up and just clicked right off the back. that has become a brother of mine, built a lifelong relationship

that will go far beyond our basketball years. And I think that grew even stronger and getting some hardware together than a gold medal. But I'm honored to have you on day. Welcome to the Draymond Green show, my brother. Appreciate it, bro. Six-time All-Star.

First off, man, how are you feeling? Obviously, we know you're coming off. Well, you have surgery. You're trying to rehab back from the injury. How are you feeling, first of all? I should have listened to y'all, when y'all told me to do it. I should have got it done.

But, I mean, should I have to do what I had to do. I ended up getting that surgery where our team was at. It just made sense. You know what I mean? Just go ahead and correct it and move forward. But, I mean, it's a, it ain't a bad surgery. You know what I mean? It was like, you know, it's an aggressive recovery.

So I had surgery on January, 13th and on at like 6 a.m. And then on the 14th at 6 a.m. I had therapy, yoga. It was like right away. Just like get back moving, start attacking it and building that strength back up. And since then, it's just been every day, bro.

It's rehab all that. So, I mean, I'm back on the move now. Just cutting, sprint, and jumping and stuff like that. Now it was just a matter of, you know, strengthening my adductors in that growing area, my hips and getting my core back. from, but I'm getting there quick, bro. Like, I'm moving.

I'm just not in a rush. That's beautiful seeing. I, obviously, as you saw, I said on, I think, Instagram, like, this dude finally going to get to surgery. It made me happy. And I don't think, I don't think. To my defense, bro, I didn't realize how hurt I was until now when I'm walking around and I'm doing stuff.

I didn't realize how hurt I was, bro. Like, I knew. I know I was hurt, but I didn't know I was hurt like that, too. It's funny because the reality is, like you just said, we're all telling you like, dame, get to surgery, dame, get to surgery. And the reality is you're stubborn as hell and you don't listen. But what most people don't understand is that's actually what makes you great. Is that you are stubborn, that you do carry that chip on your shoulder.

And so it wasn't ironic to me that you would. wouldn't listen to none. I'll tell you get surgery. I almost did, bro, but I was like, I couldn't cool. Until my ass couldn't move, I was like, and I should have got there to do some good. But it's all good. I don't think people really understand.

There was a lot of talk after the Olympics. You know, Dame don't look healthy. It is. And then, you know, you, you rehab, you come, or you took a break, you rehab, then you come in for training camp. Yeah. And you having those days still,

but people don't understand when we were over in Tokyo and seeing you not be able to practice and seeing you like, hey, man, I'm hurting today, but tomorrow it'll loosen up again. And I'll, like, it'll loosen up again and I'll be able to play. Like, I don't think people really understand what you were going through over there. So, like, walk them through, and I can help with that, but walk them through what you were going through in the Olympics

and still continue to fight through, continue to help us win that gold medal? I mean, I think the number one thing for me, Brad, I don't, I ain't even comfortable with excuses, you feel? So my main thing was, like, shit, I just got to find the way to get through it. But I think what it came down to is it had been getting worse every season.

You know what I'm saying? Like, at first it was like, all right, I got to get treatment and it'd feel better for the next couple games. and then it'll be like bothering me. I get in the cold tub, get a massage, and I'll be good for a month. Then the next year it was like,

every week I got to be on the table before and after practice. And then the next year it was like, I do the same stuff. It ain't really helping. And then last season, it was bothering me the whole season. Like the whole year, I'm like struggling.

Like in between games, I'm trying to walk up my stairs and like my shit is completely locked up. So I'm like, I start realizing, like I'm really hurt. Then I stopped being able to explode, like, vertical when I was running full speed. And usually I can just pop up there.

I'm like, damn, I can't run fast and jump. But run fast, change direction and go out one foot. So we get to the playoffs. And during the playoffs, like, I was getting so much treatment and, you know, doing medication and stuff like that. To where I was able to have a good playoff, we lost. And I started getting ready for the Olympics. So after a long season, and then I kept training, then went to Vegas, and then I was there for three weeks,

and then went to the Olympics, and shit, it pretty much just gave out on me. Like, it was done, bro. And the whole time we was there, I was like, bro, this ain't the experience I plan to have on the court. It was already, like, half the experience just being there because we couldn't do nothing. So, but on the court, I'm like, shit, I'm going to play with Dre.

I'm playing with KV. I'm playing with all these people. I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to, hit eight threes a game. I'm going to get some dunks. We're going to have some fun. And then it's like you get there, I can't really move.

My shit hurt and I couldn't even walk on them. So I'm like, as long as we don't leave here without winning this gold medal, like, I'm cool. Like, we just got to win a gold medal. KD. just telling me, you know, in between time I was like, bro, just, you're going to need you to hit a big

shot. We just going to need you to do this, do that. I'm like, if I can do anything, I can do that, bro. I can't, I mean, I ain't going to be out there playing all these minutes, which I didn't need to. But, you know, I can have some moments. And, you know, we accomplished what we went over there to accomplish. And, you know, I'm just happy I was able to get through it. But after that, it was all downhill.

You know what I'm saying? That's why I said I should have just had the surgery because after the Olympics, I took a bunch of time off. But then when I came back to training camp, it was like the first day we started, like, moving around. We got to the end of the day. And I was just like. you know when you know something but you don't want to tell nobody because you're like, man, I'm fucked.

You know? Absolutely. It's past the point. Like, I got to camp and I was just like, after the first day, I knew. I knew at training camp. Like, it ain't never been this bad.

You know what I'm saying? Like, I could at least practice a little bit. I got out the next day and, like, it was done, bro. Like, it was done. So that was it. But, I mean, it is what it is. I never really.

really had, I never really thought a whole lot about, you know, what other people were saying because you got to ask the people who've experienced the injury to really know. Because it's hard to explain, so you don't want to be explaining the shit and then sounding like you just making a bunch of shit up. So, you know, I just did say nothing. And I'm still not going to say nothing. I just, I just handled it so I can get healthy. And then when I'm healthy and then they see me, they're going to be like, something's wrong. You know what I mean? When they see how I return, they're going to be like, damn, you know, like something was really wrong.

And that's all I really care about, you know what I'm saying? It's being healthy when I know I wouldn't help. No, no doubt. And I think for me who already had a bunch of respect for you, I gained even more respect, you know, and going through those times. Me having to go to Coach Pop, like, yo, take damn out of practice. Like, he's not going to come out. Like, he'd be hurting. Like, he can barely move.

Like, just let's get him out of practice. At least we can get him for the game tomorrow. So I gained a bunch of respect for that or for you and just watching you handle that. You know, but, and moving forward, obviously, now, can we expect you back this year or should we expect you back this year? I mean, right now, when I first had the surgery, I was, you know, more optimistic, like, you know, we don't see. But I think where we are right now,

And what we need to happen for us to be able to take full advantage of, you know, the opportunity we created with all the moves we made. I don't even think that's the play to make. You know what I'm saying? I ain't a thousand percent sure, but, I mean, at this point, I'm not sure how much sense it made. Yeah. No, and that makes sense.

And obviously, you had an opportunity to use all this time to get healthy. I think people don't realize you, like, how, much you've been in the playoffs and how the toll that that takes on your body. So I think it's great for you to get this rest. And speaking of the moves that y'all made and trading away Norman

Powell and Robert Coventon. And then of course, obviously trading CJ away. And I know I've spoke to you about this before, just you and CJ. And I remember you telling me like, me and CJ talk all the time. Like, we know at some point this is going to happen. It's kind of just a matter

of when it does happen. Obviously, it's happened now. How did you feel about the move where how it, how you feel about what it was for CJ and him going to New Orleans and the type of situation it is for him, but then also what y'all got back and where that leaves y'all going forward? I mean, frustration going back, you know, three, four years,

where it's like, I remember when we lost the New Orleans in the playoffs, it was like, man, we don't know what's going to happen at this point. We just got swept as a three seed, like, We don't know what's going to happen, but we knew it was a possibility. And, you know, I think at that point, we started to line our contract up to where we was basically on the same time, you know, where like, all right, there's something going to happen. You know what I mean? Like, we was already aware of what the possibilities could be.

And I think that's what being solid and, you know, really being partners is about, whereas, like, we know that discipline. possibility. Like, I'm never going to be like, I'm never going to hang him out there and I'm never going to know something and now I go to him, like, look, brought in something, something might go down or whatever, you know.

Like, two days before it happened, we talk on the phone for an hour, you know, like, just talking about it. So, you never, like, if it was going to be something where I was going to be moved and, you know, CJ Day knew about it. I would never want him to be like,

I would never want him to be like, I would never want him to, tell them like, no, I don't do this. You know, I would want to be there on the strength of them wanting me to be there as opposed to me being there on the strength of somebody making them make me be there. So, you know, and I know he feel the same way. So, you know, you get to a point where, you know, maybe something run this course, you know, and you got to reroute yourself and try to figure out what's the best thing, what's the best

angle to take at this point. And that's where it had reached. and, you know, he went into a great basketball situation, you know, with B.I and Zion and Balanchinus. And also, people don't realize how good CJ really is. I think that's another thing. It's like they don't realize that how nice he really is. So that shit was tough to deal with, but I ain't a lot.

Like, I was, you know, when you know something could be coming and we know that it's a possibility, but when it happened, it's different. Like, damn. And I kind of been stuck in that space the whole time. Like, I've been watching every game in the Orleans. Like, damn, like, he really ain't coming back. You know, it was over. So that's kind of where I've been at.

I still kind of haven't even really moved past it because I ain't had to play. So, like, when I ain't had to get on the court and he ain't on the team anymore, it's like, it'd probably take a little bit longer to be like, man, it's just really over, you know? So, you know, the end of the era, bro. Absolutely. And I think obviously, y'all had a great run. We met y'all in the Western Conference Finals and another playoff series as well.

But looking back on these years, I think it's nine years y'all played together. Or eight years. I mean, nine years as teammates, eight years because of the injuries. But what was your favorite moment in playing with CJ that you can go back to him and be like, that was the moment that we'll hold on to forever? Or is it just the relationship overall? I'll say a relationship overall because there was a lot of moments where I was just like, you know, that I think about it. I'm like, damn.

But I think the moment that I think back to is, and just because like even when CJ wasn't playing all the way up until last season, when COVID hit me and CJ sat next to each other on the plane for the first eight years we played together. We was like sitting right next to each other on the plane. So we used to watch film together. We used to listen to music right there.

we used to be watching TV shows, like everything. Like, we used to sit right there next to each other. And when we made the first move when, you know, L.A. left and Patoon and West and Rolo and all of them. When that team first broke up, C.J. came in and he was like, bro, I got you. Like, we ain't about to just be trapped. You know what I mean? Like, we probably ain't. We just don't take time.

But, like, I got you. And I remember we, like, squeaked our way into the playoffs that year. and we end up being like a five seed or something like that. A five seed in 2016, it was my fourth year. And we played the Clippers in the first round. And in game, I think game four, CP and Blake got hurt. And then we tied the series up to 2-2. And then we went to live to LA game 5,

one now when it was up 3-2, and then we closed them out in game 6 at home. And I just remember like walking off the court and I turned around and he was behind me. And he just hugged me. And I was like, bro, we just won a playoff series, brother. First year, like, we're going to be all right. And I just remember, like, I just remember we embrace each other.

And I was like, bro, we're going to, like, we're about to get some shit done. You know what I mean? Like, I never forget that because I was like, all right, you know, it's real. We really, as long as we can put it together, like, we got a chance. So. And so in making those moves, I think y'all will have some. somewhere around $60 million or something like that in Capspace. Like, you're turning 32 as I am turning 32 next month as well.

The one thing you don't have on your side is time. And so you don't have like, oh, man, I can watch this play out for four years or five and grow with this. Like, y'all have to go for it now. Do you feel confident in the team's plans and what they want to do moving forward? that's going to help you get what I ultimately know you want to get to, which is winning the championship in Portland. Right.

No, I think what we've done, bro, is put ourselves in a position we have not been in. I don't think here when we signed E.T. We signed E.T. We signed Mow. We signed a chief. You know, we just signed a bunch of Myers. We signed a bunch of people. And we haven't been in this position, you know, with...

with talent on the roster already since I've been here. You know, you look at what Anna's doing. And then you look at what Nas was doing before he got hurt. And then you had Nerk, like Josh Hart, Joe Engels. Like, we got some pieces to the puzzle now that we just got to use what we have available to add to that. And it's just a matter of us being able to execute that, bro. We in play to get something done. And I trust the fact that we're going to be able to execute it, you know,

and we just got to, you know, we just got to see where that land. That's what we have now. We just got to see where we land at the end of it, bro. Absolutely. And I want to talk to you about a young point guard that has earned a lot or gained a lot of respect from me. And I know how you are. Like, a lot of guys in this league, you really ain't rocking with. you kind of stay to yourself.

But I also know you do respect guys who get it out to mud and another mid-level guy like yourself, I mean, mid-major guy like yourself played at the mid-major level. John Moran, what do you make of what he's doing with his team, especially at this stage in his career? Because not many people can really relate to what he's going to. Like, I can't, as much success as I had early on in my career, I can't tell you what John Moran is doing.

And there's other guys in this league who's been. big time that can't either, that did it at the level that you've done it at as early in your career as you did. And now what he's doing? What do you think about what job doing and where he's falling in that peck in order of great point guards in the league? No, I think he's rising quick, you know? And I think a few things, bro, when from experience as a mid-major point guard, that ends up

being a top pick in the draft and being a good NBA player is that as a mid-major, player but you're playing with less talent than what everybody else play with and you're learning early how to get the most out of that and how to make a team win without everybody just being nice everybody you know having the same ability that you have so you got to learn how to lead and that ain't always scoring all the points of getting a bunch of assists you got to learn how to make people go you got to learn how to make people like come along with you like and do everything they can to have a part of winning. And I think you saw that, like, CJ did that.

Kauai did that. Steph did that. You know, it was like all of us that come from small schools, it's like we have that responsibility in college with lesser, like, less talented players. So when you come to the NBA and you plan with more talent and you got the ability of yourself, like, you know how to make it happen. You know, there's one thing I know how to do

and that's make it happen. And I think a big factor in the level that you do that at is what are you surrounded with. Sometimes they get it right. Sometimes they don't, you know, like I feel like if I had the team that I came into the league with for two more years, I would be a champion already. If I still, if I play my fifth six year with Lamarvis, Robin Lopez, West Matthews, Nick Baton, Moe Williams, like, if I still had all these dudes on my team as a six-year player, I would have one more. but, you know, that didn't happen for a long enough period of time for me to come into, you know what I mean, what I was coming into. So for him, I think they've got it. We got Jaron Jackson.

You got Stephen Adams, an experience center that's going to set screens and go rebound. He's going to talk. He's going to be the enforcer. And then you got Dylan Brooks. Then you got Desmond Banks. then you got job and then you got Jones coming off the bench

and then you got the Anthony Melton the Anthony Melton like what's the athletic they'll be throwing a lot to Brandon Clark Brandon Clark like they got him right you know what I'm saying

so like they got him but they got everything else right so now it's like he got a shot they just got to keep the team there you know what I mean So, I mean, he, I got a lot of love and respect to job. Like, I, the thing, the number one thing that I love is when I came in the league, like,

and you were the same way. Like, people might not have liked you like that. Like, I don't think people dislike me. But when I came in the league, bro, I didn't have just no above and beyond respect for the dudes like that. Like, I knew who was who, but I wasn't coming in and bound down. Like, my mentality was like, I can fuck with him. everybody. Like, it might be more highly regarded or got a better body at work, but like, I'm not

doing no bound down to nobody. Like, and I feel that way to this day. And he has that about him, you know? Absolutely. He has that about him, like, ain't no bound down. And I think that's my number one favorite thing alone. Man, I absolutely love that because the reality is you come in and you bow down to these guys who, you know, we've put ourselves in a position and now be those guys, right?

But you come in and you bow down to those guys, everyone's going to continue to follow that. Or if you give people something else to follow, they're going to follow that. And it's funny because I be talking to my, I talk to my fiance all the time, just sitting in the crib and I was just talking to be watching the game and start talking to her about, like, the games within the game, you know, or talking to my mom. And I remember I was telling my fiance the other day about the about the Bengals.

I said, baby, the thing about this team is they're young and they're unfazed. When you're young and you're unfazed, a team go up 10, you're just standing there like, you know, or... You won three to the cheats, bro.

Absolutely. Like, they're not even really they haven't been around long enough to even process how big that moment is. And so For them, it's just like, oh, we down 21 and 3. What people don't understand is when the chiefs are up 21-3, the chief's supposed to win that game.

So once they go up 21-3, they get tighter than the other, than the opposing team. And this situation was the Bengals. They get tighter and they, like, loose. Like, no, we're good. Like, we're just going to keep playing. And so that's a good trait for a young team to have. and you only get that by having,

in a lot of cases, actually a young leader because he doesn't process what that moment is and because he don't process what that moment is. Everybody who follow him, they don't process what that moment is. And I was telling her the other day, I said, that was us. My first year, we won a championship. In my third year, Clay in his fourth year,

Steph's in his sixth year. But for Steph, his sixth year, the first three years of his career, he missed half of each one of the seasons. First four years didn't count. Like, basically, like, he ain't know what was going on either until y'all, into the year, who did they lose, who did y'all lose to the Spurs? Yeah, we lost to the Spurs in the second round after beating Denver. Yeah.

And then that's when it was like, oh, man, you know what I'm saying? But even then, it's like, dang, we actually just did that. All right, let's see what we can do. again, you know? And then we lose seven to the Clippers. And you're like, wait a minute, but then Mark Jackson get fired and so you kind of go through that whole thing. But even then we get to that, to my third year. And that's when we, like, we come into the season,

we're playing well. Steve Kerr first year. We're playing well. We're like, oh, okay. All right. And then you kind of win a couple games. And I remember the one game where we knew like, oh, okay. That's when we was playing at the Clippers. And, you know, and Steph dropped CP with the double behind the back on the baseline. They were up 20 points that game. We came back and we won that game. And after that game, that was when, like, oh, no, like,

we're really supposed to be this good. But you go through that whole year and you're not really processing how big those moments are. So we go up in the NBA finals against Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron Jane. LeBron know how big that moment is. Like, LeBron has to win that championship because he's LeBron. Jane, we're going in there like, man, what? Y'all see all these people around the court?

This is the NBA finals. And you just, you're almost dumb to what's going on. And I think that's where the Grizzlies are right now. And in large part, due to all of those guys just followed Jai. And Jow, they're like, I don't see none of y'all in front of me. I'm him. I'm that guy. And I just remember seeing a lot of that in yourself because you, I think what,

Lamarckism left after your second year, after your second and third year? after my third. And you took on that team. You had really already taken over the team, which is part of the reason I felt like he left because he felt that switching the organization. But you had already taken on that and then now taken on the team by yourself.

You know what he's going through. So I think that's a dope thing to watch. Yeah, it is, bro. Because you know, like, when it's infectious, like, even when it's not on purpose, people have, like, they start to just follow that energy. bro. Like, I came to Portland, bro, I came in here walking in the building, rapping on my phone with an instrumental playing and dancing. And, you know what I'm saying?

I brought something that was, that felt like confidence and belief. You know what I mean? As opposed to before that, it was kind of just quiet. And almost a little bit like on eggshells. And I had that, like, I didn't give a fuck. I was just like, I work hard. I do what everybody he asked me to do. I don't be walking around like I run the place. I just do what I do. And it was a belief. People had belief in that. You know what I'm saying? So they definitely got that going on where I can see it. You know what I mean? Absolutely. And so and just speaking of mid-major guys who at some point obviously were overlooked, I thought, I think everybody thought and you were outspoken about it in 2016, 2017, when you were snub for the All-Star game,

both of those years. And obviously you made All-Star every year since except this year due to the injury. But and being snubbed that way, I also thought last season you should have been higher up. Like with the year that you had, you averaged 30 and 8, you shot 40% from 3. I thought you should have been higher up

in the MVP conversation just based on what you were doing. And, you know, when guys, when other guys get those numbers, you're talking MVP, runner-up MVP right away. Didn't quite seem like to say to you, do you feel, do you still, do you feel like you still don't get the respect that I personally think you should get or that you think you deserve in this league and as far as what you've accomplished and how you go about your business and what you bring to the table every night? I think, I think I get the respect.

I think people respect it. I think is, I just think that because what I do is not loud. My game is loud. Like I have 60 and 10 and 7 and we'll win a bunch of games. Like, I have loud performances,

but I'm not loud. I don't get on social media, say crazy shit. When stuff is happening, I don't respond crazy. Like, every once in a while, if I feel challenged or somebody, like pushing the line on me like they think something, like they think something sweet, then I come back, I'll say something real aggressive,

and then it'll be like a headline, you know what I mean? But like, I'm not outspoken about everything and I'm not loud, you know, that isn't, I don't think that's really attractive. Like I don't give them enough of a topic, you know, to fit them to be like, because in reality is like, for example, last season, when y'all, We, y'all lost the Lakers in the playing game.

We lost to the Lakers, then the Grizzlies. Then the Grizzlies. So last year, like, Steph going on this crazy run, right? Steps going on the crazy. Absolutely. Like, he's going crazy. Y'all lose to the Lakers, y'all lose to Memphis. But there is a significant amount of people out there saying,

he should be MVP. You know what I'm saying? And in my eyes, I'm like, he probably should be MVP. Like, he probably should be because what he's doing is that crazy with what he's playing with. But for me, I'm averaging 30 points, eight assists. Then there are five rebounds, 46% from the field, 40 from three, 90 from the line. CJ missed two months, nerd missed two months. everybody than being hurt.

We get to the playoffs. And it's like, yeah, Dave's having a great season, but they had seven seed, they had an eight seed. So, like, I say that to say, bro, that, like, I get my respect, but people are going to respect what I've done and how consistent I've done it when I'm done playing more than they would now. Absolutely. And, you know, it's a thing where, like, if I,

when you say the truth sometimes, people say, you crying. Like, you know what I'm saying? When you say the truth, it don't line up with what they wanted to be, you're crying. Or, oh, he's saying this

or he's saying that. But, like, that's just the truth, bro. Like, I definitely should have been up there in that MVP, bro. Like, when you weigh in,

when you weigh into, like, everybody's situation and what you're able to make happen, like, for us to get into the playoffs, bro, and I'm coming out here, I have 60 against y'all. I have 60 against Brooklyn.

I had 60 against Dallas, 50 against Philly, 50 against Denver, 50 against the Lakers. Like, bro, this is the season where I'm like, player a week. I literally was averaging 52 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds for player to week. Then the following week, I averaged 47 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds. And it's like, had that been anybody else, they would have been ready to hand them to MVP, bro. Absolutely. I'm just saying, like, the shit is like,

so for me, bro, I've accepted my place. You know what I'm saying? Like, when you ask, when you ask, like, a lot of college players and, like, young players, like, who you, you know, who you fuck with? Like, they fuck with me, bro, because... Absolutely. Because they know I'm solid.

I say what I mean. I mean what I say. I ain't no hater. I don't be jealous, but I just do what I do. But I do feel like what I do is not, it's respected, it's not appreciated and valued as it should be. Like, that's just what it is. That's what I see.

Do you think, and I actually agree with that 100%, I think in Steph's case, it could be a little different, but I'll ask you this question because I would love to hear your opinion. Do you think for Steph is viewed a little differently because he already has rings as opposed to not. Because, however, I think even in what you're saying, there are still other guys in this league that don't have rings, but they'll still get that now.

But I think in Steph's case, it could be a little different because he already had the rings. Do you feel that? Do you think that or am I low off with that? I mean, I don't think into it that deeply. You know what I'm saying? For me to weigh all of those things. Like, I always tell people, you know, like, people ask me, like, you know, what about this?

Like, kind of like along the lines of what you're saying. What about Steph? What about this person? And I'd be like, at my position, Steph is the one person that I'm like, you can say what you want. Like, if you say, who's the best it is? Who's first like this? Steph is the one person that, like, I can accept coming behind. because

Steph came from a mid-major Like Steph went through injuries Steph team struggle Like Steph is a two-time MVP Three-time champion Like I respect step You know what I have no

I take nothing away from Steph I respect it 1,000% But like after that Like I don't I ain't put You know what I'm saying Like I can't

I can't take it I can't take a back seat after that. You know what I'm saying? Like in our time. And I'm not talking about numbers or none of that. I'm just talking about lining it up. You know what I'm saying?

And Kyrie too. Like I, like people don't give Kyrie enough credit because they'd be worried about the wrong shit. You know what I'm saying? Like they be worried. They, them the ones.

So like, um, I don't really like, I think it is, you know, certain people are going to have certain things based off of what they've done, you know, what they've accomplished.

But I think you got to, anytime you start to have these conversations, you got to weigh in the positions that everybody else, everybody's been put in. Like, look at who, look at everybody who, the teammates that everybody at the top have had. Yeah. Okay. Who has Steph played with?

Who has Brown played with? Who have you played with? Who has AD play with? Who has Russ play with? Who has James playing with? Who has CP playing with? Like, if you look at everybody, at all these guys that have played with everybody has played with,

everybody has played with everybody. Mm-hmm. And had a chance, and they didn't have to leave their teams for that to happen. Yeah. So some cases might be like, well, you could go and do this and go through that. But, like, in many cases, nobody has had to do anything. they've been afforded these opportunities to play with the best. I have not.

Do you think, well, first off, how many all-stars have you played with? One? Lamarcus. Lamarcus, that's it. That's it. That's interesting. Lamarcus was an all-star. Me and Lamarcus was, he was an all-star in my rookie year.

and then my second and third year, we were All-Stars together, my second and third year. After that, I've not played with the All-Star. Rookie of the Year, like none of that. That's interesting. But do you think some of that has to do with where you play and getting guys to come to Portland?

I think part of it, I think part of it is that. But, I mean, bro, people going to Oklahoma City, right? Like, no offense, but like, people going to Oklahoma City and people going to Milwaukee and, you know what I mean?

Absolutely. Like, Portland is a better city than both. People are going places. And Portland ain't what people think it is. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been living here this long. You know what I'm saying? Absolutely. If you just couldn't live here,

like, I wouldn't be living here this long. So, like, I think that's part of it, you know what I mean? But at the end of the day, people are going places that's like, you went there. You know what I mean? Like, Mello went to OKC. Yeah. When we was trying to get Mello to come here, ask Mello where he will go. Ask him where he will go first.

Me, knowing Mello, I know what that answer would be. Exactly, bro. Like, and not just, and I say this. bro, not just because of the living situation, but like, bro, people that play with me, bro, I don't play the game selfishly. I don't operate selfishly. Like, I want to see everybody getting, get, having their way. I want to see everybody getting to be happy through that thing, bro. And even on the court, I don't get

in the way of that. I know how to do me while not getting in the way of everybody else having an opportunity. I'm not holding on to the ball until I can get an assist or a shot or all that. passing the end. I'm hockey assist, boom, boom. I'm making the right play. I ain't fucking walking around a facility and everywhere trying to run everything and have everything my way, bro. I play fair. So like, when you consider all those things, like, come on, man, that can't be that can't be the reason. It's like, it sometimes, honestly, it looked like which route is the easiest. Like, oh, over here, they got this dude and that dude. So if I go over there and then when

get there, it's like, I ain't given my shots. I ain't get my numbers. I can't do me. And then you see him going somewhere. I'm like, bro, you could have just came and got with somebody that's going to, somebody that can meet you there. Like, I ain't trying to, I ain't trying to compete with you. You know what I'm saying?

Like, I know how to win, bro. I know how to get along with people and, and makes shit work. You know what I'm saying? So, I don't know, bro. Like, do you? Do you think, like, bread, there's going everywhere, bro. Like, they do it.

But they go to all kinds of places. So that can't be the reason. Yeah. Yeah, that's true. That's true. But tell me this. Do you think, like, what's made you greater in who you are is I think you have, the toughness that you have, like, but you're very silent. So, you know, if you don't know, if you don't know, you can mistake you for not being the alpha that you are.

You know, if you don't know, because you don't say much. you said. Do you think in your career that that's maybe hindered you a little bit from the standpoint of, like, most guys in your position are constantly telling a GM what they should do, you know, or, hey, you got to give me this or you got to do that or you need to move this guy. Like, I don't think that's no secret. Everybody always talk about LeBron and like, hey, Brian I'm about to trade you. But the reality is guys who are in that position and you, you, you're are to face of franchises, you do have that power to go to a GM and say, hey, I need you to remove this guy, I need you to go after that guy.

You're not quite like that just because you're going to take whatever situation you've given and treat it like I'm still growing up in Brookfield. And if I can make it out of that, I can push through this. Do you think that's hindered you in a sense of like, yeah, you're always going to get your team there. You haven't been able to get over the hump. And I think that's for way more reasons than people are going to attribute it to. But do you think that's played a part in it?

I think that's definitely played a part in it because, you know, I think the solid parts of me are like, I can't go in there and say, do this and do that, do that, and be, you know, putting other people's lives and their families and their situation just out like it ain't nothing.

You know what I'm saying? Like, I've never felt comfortable operating like that. But, you know, I, before now I reached a point where, I knew that I can't I can't ask the team to say you know give me an opportunity to win and then not be willing to deal with the you know the hurt that comes that comes with that you know what I'm saying and and that don't mean I'm going in there telling them do this to do that but I'm telling them like man if y'all you know I'm not going I'm not going to tell y'all

what to do like but I'm also not going to tell y'all you know stop y'all from doing your job Like, I want y'all to give us a chance to win. You know, so, like, that's kind of, that's my stance. It's like, give us a chance to win. Like, don't feel like, oh, we're going to, you know, Damon's going to be mad or anything like that. Because it's been plenty times, like, throughout my time in the league, where I was like, man, Mo Williams is my God.

Like, to this day, we didn't bring him back. D-Rob was my God. Like, none of this stuff goes over easy. So it's just, like, they know where I stand. Give us a chance to really win. So I do think that that has played a part, you know, probably in it because you just put out another thing is I don't think being an alpha to me don't mean to be like the person the loudest one telling everybody everything.

Like to be a, to me being an alpha like is the presence. You know, the presence of an alpha is more known than anything. And that's, I don't think anybody that's been around, like anybody hasn't been around, they'll know, like, you know, this, I ain't know he was, I ain't know that I was there, you know what I'm saying? Absolutely. Until they know it's, until they see it's there. And then they'd be like, it may it all make sense now.

So, like, that's been my stance, but I do think, you know, for a long time in my career, I took too much of a stance of, like, you know, I can't, I can't, you know what I mean? I don't want to, I don't want to see that happen type thing when it's like, man, you know, you can't want to win and then also want everything to be all peachy, you know what I mean? It don't work like that. No, absolutely, because ultimately it's a business.

And you have to make those decisions best for the business. Like, I know, for instance, right, like, I, to this day, Harrison Barnes, I've actually never spoke on this before. But Harrison Barnes, I think to this day still don't like me for KD coming here. And the reality is, brus, like, I didn't tell him to trade you to bring Katie in. Now, the reality is, if KD did come in and you were still here, you would have had to come off the, you would have had to come off the bench. It's fucking Kevin Durant.

And, like, it just is what it is. If you were still here, I didn't tell them to trade you. But he took it very personally because of the story that came out that I cried to KD in the car or whatever. Like, he took it very personally at me. And so, for instance, this dude invited Steph, Clay, everybody in this wedding except me. Right, bro. You want to get invited to play, bro?

All these dudes was at the same meeting that I was at with KD. They was all there too. You know what I'm saying? However, I didn't take it personally because it is what it is. Like, I wasn't invited to your wedding now it is what it is. I thought it was funny. I thought it was funnier than anything. I thought it was funnier than anything.

But in that same light, it's like it sucks that you got traded, but you went to major money. You know, you went and got a great deal. You're still making money. But I did get two championships. And again, I did that. I didn't go in there and ask them to trade Harrison Barnes. I didn't do that.

But I did have a conversation with him about how much Kevin Durant could help. help us. Right. What move happened after that ain't my job. Like that ain't really what I do. That's not my job. But I do think Kevin Durant can make us better. And so it seems like now with y'all, absolutely,

with y'all, with your current GM and the route you're taking more of an approach like, hey, man, I'm trying to win as opposed. And you've always had that approach on the court, but now in those, in the decision making around the team. Yeah, it's just, you know, it's like what you were saying, where it's like, man, you got to actually win, it's like you can't just go on the court and think, all right, I'm just going to play great,

and this don't happen because some people just built better than you're built. You know what I'm saying? Like, I never went on a court one game where I was like, we about to lose, literally. Like, we played the Lakers New Year's Eve, and, you know, we had eight players out with COVID, and they had brown on the run, Russ, they out there, you know, they was flown. And we went out there, I'm like, we about to win tonight.

I really thought that in my head, we about to win tonight. We get blew out. I re-agravate my abdominal, and I'm, like, walking off the, like, the way they walked on the court when we was about to do the tip, like, they walked out there like the champs. We walked out there and I'm like, you know, the underdogs. It felt like, and it looked like the underdogs. And at that moment, I was just kind of like, man, I want to, like, it's time for me to, you know,

had that feeling of walking out there and feeling like the champ, like, we got, we really got it. You know what I mean? Like, that's what, and I remember looking at them walk on the port and they was walking out there, like, and they didn't even have AD. But it was like, they walked. out there like that. And it was, to me,

it was just like, man, I got to, I got to be in a position to, to win it. You know what I'm saying? So that don't mean I'm going there and say,

you know, trade everybody. Like, I didn't even, when we, when we made the move to the Clippers, I didn't, you know,

I knew after, you know, like, I knew after, but like I said, it was the, the thing of, like,

I'm not going to stop you all from doing what y'all think is going to make our team better. So, So, you know, that's where it's at, bro. Just, and now we're in position to do that. So, you know, we just got to execute that plan to make some shit happen. I think you just said something that really sticks out to me because,

and being in the position I've been in, my first couple years, obviously, we made the playoffs. And then the five years after that, we went to the finals. You tend to take that for granted, you know. And I think for me, in all of those years of knowing, like, you just said and walking in and saying, yo, like, we're going to win today. Like, there were times during our season where we would say, hey, yo, let's approach these next three weeks, like, the playoffs. Let's lock in.

Let's, let's, we set a need, we need to hit these things and work on these things to get great. And, like, in those three weeks, we'll go 11 to 1, like 12 and 2. Like, and that's like getting up for regular season games, but you know, you get the old cliche saying like you can't flip it on or flip it all. Like that shit is, that saying is cliche, but the reality is for our teams, it was true. Like, we could click it on and off. Like, hey, yo, stop playing. Let's go.

Like, let's go. Or walking into a arena like, hey, yo, we need to send a message to them and we win by 20. You know, it's like. And then. Two seasons ago, last year was rough, I mean, was better, but two seasons ago and walking in every arena and knowing like, yo, we don't have a chance to win. Like, it was the most unnatural, mind-boggling thing to me. I lost love for basketball. So people are like, yo, he washed up, he this.

I'm like, you want me to get excited to go play in this game? We, like, we're seven and 39, bro. How am I supposed to get excited to go play in this game? Like, I can't begin to even think about getting excited. If we win, we are moving to a whopping 8 and 39. Like, you can't possibly think I care about this game. And so that really just stuck out to me when you said, like, you never felt like you were going to lose until you was like,

damn, like, we can't win. It's like it's I mean, we're in the middle of COVID. I'm looking. I'm like, I think we're probably six games under 500. And I'm just like, I ain't healthy. No, I'm just like, I'm putting it all together. Like, bro, I'm really like in pain.

I just, you know, I didn't do these cortisone shots. And I felt good for about 10 games. It's wearing off. Like, I just was sitting there. I'm like, man, I'm trying to, I want to walk on the court and look like the team. looking at us like, we gotta be, it's got to be our night tonight to beat them.

You know what I'm saying? So, yeah, bro, hopefully we can make this happen, bro. Absolutely. And I've held you long enough. I can sit here and talk to you all day because it's just me talking to the homie. But moving off to court, obviously you said your rehab is going well.

We all know what you're doing, your spare time. Dame Dolly. You've been in the studio all. lot. You got some new music coming. Like, what's the deal on that side? Yeah, bro, I got some, um, I didn't know. I got a lot of new shit, um, just stuff that I did. It's some, it's some stuff that people have heard. Some of the stuff I sent you at during, like, during the Olympics and stuff that I still ain't put up. And I even did more since then. But I got, I got a lot of stuff, all the stuff that I'm trying to, um, put together for, like,

you know, post-career, end of career, just stuff that I want to, you know, do the ground. work for it so it's already done so i ain't you know sitting here trying to put it together at the end now that i got this time i just been you know playing those seeds getting all that stuff ready that i want to do and uh i'm also about to get back to uh i'm about to restart i did this series on youtube during the draft where i called license to lillard and uh that shit was it was big during that time like it was being a lot of people was following it out the whole 10 years we've been in the I'll be getting, like, tweets all the time. Like, when are you going to start back in license to the little?

So, like, I'm about to pick that shit back up. And I started putting those back out. I think that's going to be cool. So that's probably, like, the main thing I've been getting ready for. And what would license to literally look like now? Will it include your family? Is it just like hoop, it's rap? It's like, what are it looked like now?

It's going to be everything, bro. Like, it was a lot of stuff that coming from Weber State, all that basically making myself knowing and I think, Now, we probably started just kind of reflecting, you know, just all the way up to this point, just all this shit that then took place that I never kind of, you know, when you were in the middle of something, you don't really realize how big it is.

Absolutely. So, like, it would be just reflecting on that stuff because now that I'm sitting still, I'm just looking at stuff, like, damn, like, I still got, like, I still have, I still feel like my absolute best, are coming in the next three years, bro. Like, I really, I really feel that in my heart

and in my body, like, I didn't know how hurt I was, bro. It's crazy. Like, but just being able to reflect on, like, all that stuff to this point and just going through the process, just keeping, you know what I'm doing, you know, and just keeping people in the loop tapping in. It's going to be smooth. And you, you, you're supposed to,

spoke on what you're setting up post career. What does that look like for you? Is it trying to make one of your label, one of the top labels, is it trying to be a number one charting artist? What is that? Is there some mixture of both? What does that look like for you post career?

Post-basket bar career? On the music side, it ain't really so much with my music. I'm still going to be recording, but it's more creating opportunities for other aspiring artists. Like, that's what I'm going to do. I am tripping on my own stuff when I'm done. It would be just lining other artists up. But the main thing, brother, is just putting together these

is just empowering to youth. Like, I got a couple situations that I ain't, that I haven't finished setting stone, so I don't want to put nothing out there like that. But I got some stuff that I'm going to be doing, brother. It's going to be different. It's going to be different. It will be the typical,

money grab for show, like, oh, this is what this is. It ain't going to be none of the fiction. It's going to be authentic. It's going to be something that, you know, it's going to be something for real. I mean, it's going to be truth-telling, like character-building type stuff

where it's like, I don't need nobody's money, bro. Like, I don't need nobody's approval or nobody's validation. I'm telling you the truth. I'm telling you the truth. I'm telling you the real. from what I know and what I experienced. And people that also come from that same angle

is going to be a part of it. It's going to be a real thing, bro. Man, I'm looking forward to that. I think speaking on things that you've done, one thing I appreciated that you used to do, and I think you should bring it back. If you do bring it back, obviously, you know I would always attend, but if I can help with any way, I would love to.

But I definitely think you should be. bringing back the black party you used to do. I thought that was super dope. And I think for, even speaking for myself, we get so busy, you know, and so into our own lives, you know, that things like that, like the block party you used to do.

Or, like, for instance, for myself, like I used to do this camp in my hometown. I haven't done it in years now. Because you get busy, right? You start having kids. You got a wife. Like, I got a wife. I got kids.

You get these two to three months off. and I don't think people really understand how special and precious a day or two is. You know, when you have 67 days off, like that one or two day, and then for the next 280 or 278, whatever, 288, actually, something like that. My mask is a little off right now,

but that's not the point. The point is that day becomes so much more precious because now it's to travel. And so it's not just that four hours that the block party could be going on. It's everything you're doing to set it up is getting there the day before. You're probably there a day after.

Now that's three days of 67 gone. And so I do understand. And I think for myself too, I've been exploring things of what can I start back doing back for my hometown? The reality is it probably won't be the camp because I don't have the time. time to necessarily go do a camp.

Like, I didn't stop doing, I didn't stop doing that because I was just like, I'm over it. Like, you just kind of run out of time. And so if that's something that I think that you should do again, and I would love to be involved, even like in moving over to San Francisco, like, I always tell people, Oakland is home for me, man. Like, that's my second home. I really grew into manhood in Oakland, you know what I'm saying?

And so I have a soft spot for there. As you know, I mean, I don't care what no one's saying. Oakland and San Francisco are two totally different places. And when you live in San Francisco, you're not in Oakland much. Just like when I lived in Oakland, I was hardly ever in San Francisco, you know. And so I've kind of lost touch over there too. And I want to put my hands back on that community because I know how special and important that community was to me and who I am, as I want to do that again in my hometown as well.

So just something I would love to see you do, my brother. Yeah. I thought it was amazing. I'm going to definitely bring it back. I think we didn't do, I think the last two years we haven't done it because of COVID. But, like, I'm definitely going to bring that back to show. Because I brought it back from when I was a kid when they used to have it, Brett. Like, they used to have that when I was a kid.

That's what made me do it anyway because they hadn't had it since I was like nine or ten. So they stopped letting us have it because people start. The last time they had it, it was like they started shooting, you know, the type of shit, bro. It's crazy. No, no doubt. But I think that's what the power of your name, you know, and then you bring in some of your teammates, you brought me.

That's a different thing, you know what I'm saying? That's like one of your own bringing something back. People don't come on that same thing. You know what I'm saying? So, that's a beautiful thing, bro. But I truly appreciate you coming on the show, man. Obviously, always wishing you a speedy recovery. I can't wait to see you get back.

I was dying this year watching you come out and score 14. And everybody like, oh, damn ain't got it here. And I'm just sitting there like, hey, man. Hey, get their surgery, bro. Like, these people pissing me off talking now. Hey, bro, but look, though, like, they're going to always talk. Like, it's some people that know the truth and some people that don't. I don't really care.

I mean, obviously, we all care what people have to say. but you got to take it with a grain of salt. Like, if you know their understanding of what's actually happening is so little, then what they're saying and their lens on what's happening is understood. Like, I understand. They're used to me scoring 30 points every game. And they're used to me blowing by people and dunking

and step back left, step back right, and all that stuff. And when you don't see it happen, and he's like, oh, he washed. And he came. they ain't missed this stat and I'm like bro I'm a healthy 31 I ain't enough beat up 31 I'm a healthy 41 years old I've never missed games like that like you know what I'm saying so like I don't live a hard life bro I don't be out partying all the time getting high and drinking and all that bro I be chilling I take care of myself so like it only gives it only they're only giving me more

power at the end of the day because now that I am fully healthy and I have not given them a single excuse. Like, I have not given them a single excuse. So now that I'm fully healthy, they're going to see. And when they see, they're going to be like, they just don't leave stupid. You know what I'm saying? Like, they don't leave stupid. And it'll be like, damn, like, and ain't nobody going to tell them take nothing back.

You said this. But what about it? They just don't act like never happened. Like, they act like they never said a thing. Absolutely. That's the funniest shit in the world to me. They don't act like nobody said a thing. And it's like, all right.

We're going to speak that. No, man, I definitely appreciate it. I've never seen a job that people could just make bold-ass statements and not be held a comment before. Yes. And look, let me say this before we go. They have so much to say all year. I have 24 points, 24 and a half points in seven assists, bro.

Like, y'all hear people in the All-Star game and giving praise all these people that are not even doing that. Yeah. How great do I have to be? How great am I if that's really what you're, you know what I'm saying? Like, I want to get great, the cities and all that. But like, bro, what do you know what I mean? Like, we're not doing that. So it is what it is.

bro. Like, we'll see. No, that's facts, man. Many people has done it. Not many has done it the way you have, bro. Like, from coming from where you come from, the way you go about your business, I think people can say what they want.

And people on the outside, always going to have something to say. I always say the ultimate respect for me and the ultimate acceptance that I look for and I appreciate is the acceptance of my peers. And I don't think there's a guy in this. lead that will have anything to say about you, how you go about your business, how you handle yourself, would it be any different than what people see and how you carry yourself.

It's the same across the board, and I got nothing but respect and love for that, bro. I appreciate you coming on the show. Like I said, we're looking forward to you getting back healthy, my dog. Appreciate it, bro. You get healthy too, bro. Yes, sir. Soon come. That's a wrap.

Dame Dollar, Draymond Green Show. We out. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an Acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way

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