The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Draymond Green Show - Mateen Cleaves

Episode Date: September 15, 2022

Mateen Cleaves joins ‘The Draymond Green Show’ to discuss why he chose Michigan State over Michigan, what it was like building the program up with Coach Tom Izzo, how his tough times have helped shape him, his bond with his family, and more. #Volume #Herd Produced by: Jackson SafonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The volume. The Draymond Green Show is presented by Fandual Sportsbook. There's no better place to bet the action than on Fandual Sportsbook during the football season. It's easy to use. It's safe and secure. You get payouts in as fast as two hours. There's so many bet types. My favorite same game parlay bets.

There's live betting, player props, futures. If you're new, just download the Fandul Sportsbook app. To get started now, sign up. Please use the promo code Colin C-O-L-I-N. Fandul-S-Bo sportsbook makes it easy. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Dremont Green Show. It's been a while since we did a podcast.

First, let me set this stuff for you. We are here in the Dremont Green Strength and Conditional Facility or Center. At Michigan State University, I have the honor and pleasure. Well, before we get into that, as you can see, last night was the Hall of Fame. I looked like I just rode out of bed. I did. So my ankles are ashy.

My hands are ashy. But I have the honor and pleasure of having today my big brother, the original gangster who started all of this Michigan State stuff. I know sometimes we can lose sight of the ones that really did it and set it up. And, you know, we're talking about going back to 96, you know, and I think, you know, today you see Michigan State and it's like, man, it's, you know, it's Michigan State. Like, it's one of them programs and it is. But long before it was ever one of them programs, we had a guy come from Flint, Michigan, and it was cool to go to the other school there. But when you are cut, the way this guy's cut, the 14th pick in the NBA draft, 2000, 9.

National champion. I'm honored to welcome my big brother, Matine Cleves, to the Draymond Green Shack boys. Haddon. Baby, yes, sir. I appreciate it, man. Absolutely. So, I mean, let's get right into it. At the time that you came to Michigan State, Michigan State wasn't the place to be. And we know everybody was going to the other school. What was it that brought you here to say, no, I'm going to go do this, as opposed to just jumping on board this right after a five, five. And yeah, say, no, I'm going to go do this. What was it that brought you here? First of all, like, they're not trying to be airing, but I believed in me. You know what I mean? I wasn't a cat that go just jump on somebody else team or ride somebody else

co-tailed. I believed in me, first of all. And, you know, the way coaches are recruited me, man, he inspired me so much because a lot of the other coaches kind of like used car sales and, man, they were just selling you whatever you wanted to hear. But he was so real. I mean, he was at everything. He was at my football games, basketball games, workouts, everything. was there every day and telling me, you know, we're going to win a national championship. And I believed him, you know, and a lot of people thought I was crazy to kind of Michigan State because it was like, honestly, who are you going to pass the ball to? You know, Michigan did have a lot of great players or whatever it was, but I believed in me, man, and I ain't want to easy route.

You know, why not go to Michigan State and do something special? You know, you can ride somebody else's hotel or just fit in. No, I mean, I believed in me so much. I say, hell, why not go to Michigan steak and do something great. You know what I mean? So I believe in me, I bet on myself. And, you know, coming here, what was that journey like? Because it wasn't all peaches from the beginning. Nah. I think people see the end and it's like, oh, man, them guys were that. You know, you see 99 Final Four, you see 2000 National Championship and you get a twisted. But what was it like in the beginning coming to really light that torch? It was different, man. And a lot of people don't know, too. I broke my back right before

I got here. So before I got, when I got to Michigan, I was never the athlete I was. But when I got on campus, one thing I wanted to change was the mentality. And it was something simple as like an open gym. Like to me, if you're taking score, there's a winner and there's a loser. You know what I mean? And that got to mean something, just the open gym game. And I started saying, well, we're going to keep track of wins and losses because everybody, some cats were coming here just to get a sweat, you know, get up and down. I said, no, they're taking score. That means somebody got to lose, all right? So I don't want to be on that end. So what we're going to do is start keeping track of the wins and losses. And what that did started getting pride that brought pride

to winning an open gym game with nobody here, no sports writers, no crowd. We brought pride in just that. I wanted to brag that night that I won more games than you. Okay. So that mentality started to really get the thing going. You know what I mean? So that's what it was. My first job was to change the mentality of people that was okay with losing. I I wasn't okay with that. You know, and there was two people that wasn't okay with losing. That was me and Coach Izzo. He was wired the same way.

So it was easy. We was like tip for tat. We had each other's back. But we was the only two at that point that was wired that way. But like I said, it was changing the mindset. And then at that point, you know, the open gym and making that important winning. All right. Then the next thing was scheduling.

You know, coach, line them up. Let's go play all them dudes they're saying good. All these programs that are, they say in the top, let's go play them. Line them up. So it's your fault we end up with these fucked-up ass schedules every year. I had a little bit of something to do with that. It's your fault.

Hey, because that one thing, that's my man, because one thing he did say, he said, hey, hey, you better get them, you better, I ain't going to say the words he said, you better get them in the gym, okay, you want to play these cats. Well, you better get them in the gym. So we'll be ready. I said, line them up. We'll be ready. So that was the mindset.

We ain't back. We ain't dug her from no. We want to smoke. Absolutely. Yes, sir. You come here and, you know, Mo Pete was already here. Mo Pete, so you're older than you. But no disrespect to Mo Pete, that's one of my big bros too.

But the gravity that you pulled when you decided to come here, then you get Charlie. And then it's this whole Flintstone thing. You got a Tone Smith here, Robert in football. Then it's this whole Flintstone thing. was that is that what you saw this becoming like yo I want to make this

like a Flint thing I want to make this our school because for me growing up and watching y'all Michigan State was just all about the Flintstones and then everybody

then Jay Rich came here from Saginaw baby but Michigan State was it was almost like it was Flint schools was that your vision or did it just kind of roll out that way yeah it kind of just rolled out that way

and you know I'm Flintstone to the core ain't ducking that. But I was all about the team. You know, people made a big deal. The national media made a big deal because that is something unique. You got four cats from one city, that small city that come to a major university and make the noise we were making. That was kind of cool. But, man, we were all about the team. And I made sure they knew that. I was saying all the time, hey, we ain't just, this is a team, all right? But I will pull them to the side every now to say, hey, baby, You know, everybody from the Crea watching these games, so we got to represent.

But I made sure the whole team knew, man, this is a team thing, man. You know what I mean? Like, we don't get it done without nobody. Everybody play a role. I'm talking about from the managers to the walk-ons to whoever. Everybody play a piece in this. So that was kind of cool, you know what I mean, being from one city, you know, and them was my boys.

We grew up playing together and stuff. But, man, that kind of just wrote, it kind of just happened to be honest because, you know, I'm all about everybody. It was all about the team here at Michigan State. I think a lot of people don't know. Coming out of high school, you were one of the top point guards in the country. It's great. But what most people don't know is you were also one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

And I think coming up at that time and seeing like what Charlie Warheads did at Florida State, like, I'm sure how much of a decision was it for you to choose? like, yo, not only I'm going to go to Michigan State, but I'm going to choose basketball over football, because that's a totally different thing. Or you could have went to a school and said, hey, I'm going to play basketball and football. But how much did that decision weigh on you? Or was that just an easy? Like, no, I'm going basketball and that's just that. Nah, man, I thought about that. The car accident kind of had me gravitated a little more to basketball when I broke my back. But, man, I was seriously thinking about playing football.

And like you mentioned Charlie Ward, I kind of smiled because that was my guy. I admired him so much and looked up to him. I actually reached out to him on Instagram another day and just said, what's up? You know, hey, man, love you. Respect because he was a point guard. He was a quarterback. So I was seriously considering going to Florida State because I had just watched him. But Coach Izzo, man, he made a higher, you know, I couldn't tell him, no.

But even when I got here, I didn't rule football out. And that's one thing I love about Coach Izo. So me and him was sitting and talk to Nick Sabin. We together. You know, I never ruled it out. I was like, actually, if I didn't have the great year I had my sophomore year, I was probably going to play football that next year. But Big Ten player the year, we went to the Sweet 16, won the Big Ten,

first team All-American that year with Vince Cardin, which was a hell of a class. So that kind of just happened. But I hadn't ruled football out probably until I had that good sophomore season. Really? Yeah, I would go to Nick Saban. We talked all the time. I was going to play football if I didn't have a good year. It probably would have loved you more.

You know, he more of a football fan than basketball anyway. I know, right? When you come through Michigan State, one of the things that I've always appreciated about is, like, there's errors. And, you know, I'm coming through Michigan State. All we hear about is the Mocles Error, you know. And then for me, the Travis Walden. And then, you know, I was fortunate enough to have a little tiny era than Denzel Valentine. But what I want you to talk to me more about is Coachizo, just the guy that he is, like,

I said in my speech last night, like, I'm a ride for you forever. Now, you know, I get a crack out of talking the dudes in the locker room like, yo, your coach really don't bang with you like that. Like, you go around the NBA and, like, you talk to the guy. It's baffling to me when I hear guys talk about their coach. Like, I don't understand that. That don't register with me that you don't like your college coach or that you can't, you can't just pick up the phone and call your coach and he's going to answer.

Or I'm fucked up and he hop on a flight and land at 11 p.m. and leave at 6 a.m. Just to see me. Like, it don't register with me when I hear guys talk about that. I saw it with you. And I'm like, wow, I want that. But just talk to me more about the guy, not the coach. Everybody know the coach. Everybody know the Hall of Fame, but I just want to hear about the guy.

Man, and it's funny, man. And I am getting emotional when you talk about him because that dude right there. Like, that part. Throw the coach and out the window. Like, we know all that good coach, great coach. It's that, man. Like, the talks that you have and that when you go in his office, he ain't the coach no more, man.

He's just like, damn it like a father and talked to you. He had a way with you, man. And he would, he, he, he got the best out of me like none other. And when I first got up here, I didn't like it. I didn't, man. I was, I don't know why. Why he was always on me, man. Like, if you passed the bar to somebody, they didn't make a shot.

It was my fault. I ain't understand that. and he brought something out of me that I didn't even know was in it. I was a leader, but he took it to a whole other level, but it's them talks, man, when he just put his arm around you and talk to you and tell you how much he love you and care about you.

He don't even bring up basketball sometimes. And that's why I'm so glad I came to Michigan State. That part, man. He would put his arm around me, man, and hug me and tell me how much you love me and cared about me, man. And that's why I would run through a brick wall for him. I know he had my back, and I had he is. And for me, and just like my parents, my mother and father,

I was raised our great parents, so I was used to that. And he just, when I came here, he gave me that same field when I left the crib. But it's that part. You know what I mean? That part when he talked to you, man. And I never wanted to let him down. When he said, we're going to win a national championship here,

I was going to do everything in my power to win the national championship here. It was two people that believed that. Two people, man, me and him. And every time I came on the court, I gave everything I had because I didn't want to let him down, man. And that's what makes him special. I know you love him the way I love him. But that dude is something special, man. And it pisses me off.

And I'm going to address this real quick. When people say shit like, you know, can he relate to the players now? And is he game passing him by? Help, man. Are you crazy? Are you crazy? The people that come here that really want to be great, we love him. Shit, because he going to get the best out of you.

He's going to push you to a whole other level. He's to tell me, hell, I want you to be better than what you want yourself to be. And that day should drive me so much, man. So if you want to be great, this is a hell of a place to come. Yeah, he's going to hold you accountable. But you know he care about you. You know he got your back. So hold me accountable.

I'm with it, but I'm glad you asked you that, man, because that dude right there is special. The hell with the coach and that, he's special, man. He did something for me, man. I never forget it, man. He made me a hell of a person, man. Him and my mother and father had great parents. But that, him right there, he made me a hell of a person,

be able to overcome the challenges you go through in life, that feeling sorry for yourself, he ain't with that. That ain't happening. You have a bad guy. So what? Let we on to the next one. So it's,

it was that, man. It's prices. I can never ever repaying for some of the things he did for me. You know what I mean? That's why I want to repay it and give it back to everybody else. You know, Doug, I think, for me, I always tell people like,

and it's exactly what you just said. I never understood, the yelling early. Like, the fucking meetings to 3 o'clock in the morning. Like, but then, once you go through it

and you, then you don't have that anymore. Right. It's like, then you want it back. Right, right. You know what I'm saying? Because you get out in the world

and you realize, motherfuckers don't care about you like that, man. You know what I'm saying? Like, it took me a while to understand when he's, you're fucking fat ass, getting some shape. And it took me a while to realize like, yo, all the yelling,

all the screaming, the fussing, pissed off, this dude is chasing success for me harder than I'm chasing success. Right. And it got to a point for me when I'm like, as you just said, I can't let him down.

Right. Like, yeah, I want to make it to the NBA. Like, absolutely. But I can't let him down. Right. Because he's chasing this for me harder than I'm chasing this for me. And so then what does it do? It raises your level or you fold. Right. Right. It raises your level

or you fold. And I've seen so many people fold to it. When I was here, before I got here, after I left. I've seen so many people fall to it, and it'll piss me off if somebody, when people will say, it's going to holding somebody back. Or he ain't letting such and such do this. He won't let that guy dribble.

And I'll tell him, he won't let him dribble because he fucking dribble off his foot when he dribble. I ain't really seen him tell him somebody who can dribble not to dribble. Right. But I've seen him tell someone who can't fucking dribble not to dribble. 100%. You should go run this wing. You should catch and shoot. Right.

Right. If you just go do that, you can actually get to the NBA. But once you start dribbling, dribbling off your fucking foot out of bounds, you can't get to the NBA. Yes. And so that was one of the things. And still to this day, that would bother me because it's like, oh, man, he puts you in this box. Man. He put you in the box you belong here.

Right. Exactly. Because for me, there wasn't no. four men dribbling the ball up the floor? No. But I show him I can dribble the ball up the floor and what did he do? He encouraged it. Right.

Hey, you get the ball, go. Keep the ball low, keep it out in front. That's how you make the plays. You can see the next play if you hear. But if you got the ball back here and now you try and make a play, you can't make a play. Yeah. You know what I'm saying?

So to hear people say stuff like that, it will bother me. You know what I'm saying? And to hear you speak? Absolutely. Yeah, I'm sorry. to cut you up a little, bro. But you're right.

Like that part, like, no, you can't dribble. So you're not having to dribble here, you know what I mean? You're not a shooter. Go get a rebound. That's what great coaches do. I remember, man, we were playing the game on national TV, man. He took me out the game. That's my man.

I love him to death, man. I never forget to it. He took me out the game, set me next to him. He said, I took you out. Because you're looking bad on national TV. I'm doing you a favor. Because you're looking terrible on national TV. Get your shit together, man.

Now go back in. That stuff, you know what I'm saying? Absolutely. Like, that stuff. Like, he said, I'm taking you out. I'm doing your favor because you're looking terrible. I was mad and I started laughing. You know what I'm saying?

Now, go back here. Like, when they had a hell of a game. But it's little stuff like that, man. You know what I mean? Like, hey, you damn right. Like, yeah, I'm with you on that, man. I'm going to ride for him. Shit, all day.

You've gone through some shit in your. of life. Yeah. Off to court after college basketball, after NBA basketball. And I think when I take a step back and when I look at it, there's two guys who I have the utmost respect for that row with you through your shit no matter what. And that's is and Matt Ishpian. And I think the loyalty that you've shown to those guys is.

I think it's right that they showed that loyalty back. But the reality is, is most people never show that loyalty back. And it's not that they owed it back because the loyalty that you show, you show because you loyal. That don't necessarily make the next guy, it don't make them have to be that way.

It don't say, oh, now they owe you that. But the way those two guys has rolled for you, it's actually a microcosm of the program that you and it is built. And to have people like that in your darkest times, what did that do for you going through the shit that you had to go through? Yeah, you back at me cry out here. It's crazy, but Matt, another real one. Like, man, I'm talking about came to get me.

I was at my lowest point ever, man. I got lower as you can get before you break. Izzo, pops. He never left my side. Matt, and Matt came to get me. I wouldn't even return the cars. I was just in my little mode, my little, whatever I was going through. I was down, just terrible.

And Matt called me, called me, called me, called me, made me come up and had lunch with him. Like, man, I'm talking about, man, put his arms around me, man. Had my back. Because it's crazy. When I looked around all that I did for other people, and I'd do it again, because that's just how I'm wired. My mama raised me that way.

I looked around, man, wasn't nobody there. A lot of people, and you ain't say your name. You was there. Shit, you, you, you, you was there. You know what I'm saying? I talked to you, man, just, like, when I was going through, what I went through, just talking to you, man. Like, that shit lifting my spirits, man.

Like, little stuff like you was there. You know what I mean? But a lot of people, man, when I looked around, man, they left. They left me for dead. But what they ain't know, man, I kept breathing. I wasn't going to die. You know what I'm saying?

I wasn't going to die. You know what I mean? The world left me for dead, man. But I wouldn't fucking die because I'm wired different. You know what I mean? But Matt, what he did for me, man, standing in my corner to this day, bringing me into an organization when I was going through what I went through what when people was running away from that shit, then nobody wanted to touch me.

He brought me in. He told me, man, you're my guy. You're my big brother. I love you. I got your back no matter what. He brought me in through the thick of it. When he, his company was boom. man, where the only could have hurt him, he didn't care about none of that.

He cared about me, man, having my back. You know what I'm saying? So it's stuff like that. Coach is, man, when I was going through, man, Kane to court, he got ridiculed. A lot of you, why would he go? Because it's family. First of all, they know I ain't do the shit that they were saying I did, but it's family. And that's what you do.

You ride with family. You stick up for family. And that's the shit that separates us from a lot of these different schools, man. That part is being in my corner of Matt. in my corner, you being in my corner. Steve, big bro, he was there, man, talked to me, call me, man. I was fucked up.

He sent me some bread and everything. You know what I'm saying? Like, that stuff, man, that's the stuff that separates you. And I got to get where, even though see where I went to the other school, that's my baby, too. He was on me. He was calling me, checking on me, tapping in with me, send me some bread, too. I ain't even asked for it.

Here, man. Here you go. So you're comfortable, man. Make sure you're all your family straight, man. It's that stuff, man, that got me through it, man. But Coach is old man, man, you Webb, Smitty, big bro, man. Like, y'all love y'all to death, man. I'm in die of my heart, man, anything I could do because when I was fucked up

in that bad space, y'all put your alarm around me, man, that shit priceless. You know what I'm saying? So I appreciate that, man. That saved my life, man. That kept me going because all this, it wasn't that going through that shit. You know what I mean? y'all got me back now I'm back now they're asking trouble here I come let's get it absolutely I and then there's there's also one person who I think stuck by your side like nobody else that I want to

speak on my big sense shandon oh man your wife yeah I think as like we grow up and like you you chase like we chase the prettiest girl and you know we think we big shit and like I can get whoever I want. And then you go through some shit and motherfuckers fleets. And she held you down. She's still holding you down. Speak on. I need you to speak on her.

Man, she's so cold and real and stronger than I can ever be. To have to go through that shit, she went through, man, and still stay in my corner. Go to court with me staying on my side. And hear all the shit people saying, and, man, that one right there, she better than me. I told her you were much stronger than I ever thought I could be. You're a real one.

And now I know why I married you. It's that. You know what I mean? You held me down in my weakest moment. And when I screwed up a little bit, so when she told me she was okay, that took a weight off, that burden off me.

Because I could eat whatever come with whatever. Bring it. I deal with whatever come to me. I eat that. But when she told me, when I hurt other people, that screws with me. If I let you down or Coachizzo or something,

that hurts me because I hurt you. But I could eat whatever come. Well, I deal with it. I'm just why I deal with it. I eat it. But when she told me she was all right, man, that saved me, man. That saved me. That took a lot, a lot, a lot of hurt and pressure off me.

But she, man, she priceless because a lot of people would have just ran. She stood ten toes down with me. That's my dog to this day. She, man, she's special. And I so appreciate having a wife like that. Because she held me down, man. Like just coming out of that course sometimes, man, and just hugging me. Well, she should have been mad.

You know about a lot of stuff. Hugging me. Just being there for me. That's priceless. That's priceless. So I'm glad you brought that up because she definitely needs her roles. And I'm doing, I'm a work in progress. But I'm trying to be a better husband.

every day because she showed me what's real, what's loyalty, what she did. You know what I mean? So I learned a lot from her going through that situation. She's stronger than I ever could be, you know, and all the stuff that went down. But she's a real one, man. I got a real one with me. No doubt. Yes, sir.

No doubt. And before we get out of here, when I think back to that time, because you beat it once and that wasn't good enough, I'm going to beat this shit again. I remember when they first pulled it back, I hit you said what? He said, we're good, little bro,

I'm gonna beat this shit again because I ain't do that shit. I'm gonna beat it again. And when you said that to me, that's all I needed to hear. But it's one thing that you said to me that stuck with me and that I'll never forget.

And you said, the only thing that's really fucking me up is these motherfuckers trying to take me from my son. Yeah, man. They're trying to take me from my son. They try not to let me raise my son. That's the only thing that's really fucking me up. Right.

To get through that, to continue raising my nephew, little Moe, who, by the way, going to be a motherfucker star for y'all that don't know. Don't say that. We keep crying. A star for y'all that don't know. How did that strengthen your bond with your son? Because, you know, we are, you know, you have a son. is you think like, yo, that's going to be my right-hand man.

And then sometimes it don't go that way. You know, like, life takes on his own past. Sometimes it don't go that way. But how did that strengthen two sons, but one was already in college, already out of the house, the raising of him had already been done. Yeah. But at the time, I think, little most seven. Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? How did that strengthen you? And what perspective did that give you about being a father going through that? Man, that's the shit that worry me every day. I would go in there, man, he would be sleep. I just go stare at him, standing in his door. I'm looking at 15 years in prison, man. And that's all I was thinking about.

My manager was like, man, are you scared to go to prison? No, no. That's nothing. When you're in the jungle, you become an animal. I'd be cool. I adapted to that shit. Wasn't worried about that. I was worried about being away from him.

It's my baby. I ain't feeling him out here with these wolves. In this world, man, with no guidance. That's what was killing me. That part, man, I wasn't worried about that shit. Prison, man, I eat that. That's nothing. But I don't want to be away from him.

So that's what was eating me up. But what that situation did gave me more time with him. I kept him on my hip. And you know what's one motherfucker? Excuse my language. I knew that love me, him. When I come through the dog, man, looking at his eyes, Daddy, he running up to me, jumping in my eye.

He was a little boy back there. Just laying on, sitting on my lap, watching the gang, watching you. Like, that stuff right there. That's what it was about. I knew somebody loved me. No matter what, my mama had passed away. my daddy. So I knew it was one person that loved me. I knew I was loved, you know, you is. Big bro, Steve, whatever, all that. I knew that. That little one right there loved me no matter what,

you know what I'm saying? So I knew I had to stay strong and get through that, man, but I would come in and look at him some days. And I was so worried to be away from him, man, because I didn't want to be a statistic, man. I read about that stuff coming from the ghetto, man. You see that, man? Dad's that ain't in their kids' life. And by the way, I don't have zero respect for you if you don't take care of your kids. Zero. You can't even hang with me. So, because that's a blessing, man. You got to tap into him, pouring into them. I pour into other kids.

You know what I'm saying? That's just what we're supposed to do. So that's what I was more worried about being away from him, man. But I had so much time. Coach is always saying, because we always try to say, damn, what's good from this? Like, that was rough. I'm like, coach, I don't know if I can find no good from that shit. But it was the time with him.

And I'm molding him, mowed and even molding him, man. And you're just doing some love. Hopefully he can become a better good basketball. player at some point, but he's going to be good in life, man, because I'm tapping into him. I told you, you're going to be great no matter what. I don't got to tell you to be great. Look at him here and tell yourself, you're going to be great, period. So I'm tapping into him every day.

So the fact that I'm out here being able to do that, man, I'm so blessed and love that. I take pride in that shit. I'm a happy, I love being a daddy, love it. I keep him on my hip. I stay on him. I kiss on him, love him, but hold him highly accountable. You know what I mean? But that part, being a father, man, that, that, that.

That's the real to me. You know what I'm saying? So that's something that I take pride in. I'm going to do a hell of a job with it. I'm going to challenge the hell out of him, hold him highly accountable. He'll be successful in whatever he is. What are he going to try?

Because we don't settle for less. Shit, that's just how we wired. And let me transition to this before we get out of here because I got to tell you, like, how proud I am of you. Like, I can sit there with him and talk about, look, uh, and the shit that you're doing and all this great stuff, the basketball stuff and the podcast and the fucking everything you did for Sackenhaarling, shit you're doing for Michigan State University and all that that you do, man.

Like, that shit makes me feel good. Like a big brother, like a happy big brother. I'm looking at my little brother, shine. Like, that shit, big time for me. I walked out that courtroom. As soon as I was able to get to my phone and turn it on, who on are you? FaceTime. Yeah.

Hollering and screaming at me. You know what I mean? They took my passport. You're like, we're going to cowboy. I said, shit, give you a day. Give me one more day. I'm getting my passport. But you took me and my wife to Cobbo.

man like that, stuff like that, man, is priceless. You know what I'm saying? So the shit that you've done and been in my corner and rolled for me, man, it's crazy because this cats I grew up with, man, that ain't staying with me. You know what I mean? What you did and what you're doing? I'm so proud of you.

You know what I mean? I remember I posted something right after y'all won a championship. I said winning and shut all that hate up. Absolutely. Everybody want to say shit. They don't like winners, man. That's what it is. They don't like you because you believe in you.

You wire different. And people that's not wired that way, that affects them. You know what I mean? But keep being who you are. You different, man. And the people that the real ones love it and respect it and go right with you.

So fuck what anybody ever say. You keep being that. That's what I raised. That. Absolutely. Okay? Absolutely. Yes.

I appreciate it. And as the legend you are, goat, we never leaving on no somber. No, we talked about the bullshit. Yeah. It is what it is. But now let's talk about the good shit.

Motivation with Moutine, where are we taking that? Oh, man. We, every day, little bro, and it's like, I don't know what I'm doing with it. I ain't got no team or marketing strategies or nothing. When I pick my phone up, may not be in the car. I feel like saying something. I'm going to say it because it's somebody out there that need to hear some of the stuff I'm saying. If it's one person, I don't care.

Somebody I said, somebody trying to like, shut up. I said, oh, I'm getting to him. Absolutely. Yeah, they listen it. And that person who said that, probably negative. Life all screwed up. Don't want to be great. You know what I mean?

But that's what I'm going to do. I think that's, that is my gift. I think that's what I'm here to do is I did it in basketball. I'm doing it in business now, corporate America. UWM, I got a shot them out. One of the most successful companies in America. We're killing it. Matt's got something special there.

He, hell of a leader. Set in the tone, we're doing great stuff at UWM, baby. We're the best at what we do. But it's helping me, man. I'm going to help a lot of it. of people, man. That's what I'm here to do. I got to do it. And I don't want to motivate those week to make money. It probably will come. But I love helping people, man. I love seeing people grow. I love empowering others. It's a lot

of people that need to hear like the shit that we put in you, tell you it's going to be okay. Get people to go to the next level. I see greatness in a lot of people that don't even see in themselves just like you do. You want of them people that get the best out of others. Man, that's special. It's a lot of great players, great people. but can you make somebody else great? That's when you're different. So what I want to do is use that as a platform, and we'll talk off camera,

because I'm going to definitely use you for that and use your platform and see how I can grow this thing. But that's what I want to do, man. I want to help other people. I want to motivate people. I want to see people be successful. That's it. That's where I want to take that, man.

So I'm going to continue to post stuff. I'm going to try to get educated more with this social media stuff because I'm trying to get hip to that and get more content out. to people, but we feel I'm going to step it up. I'm going to step it up, man, because I am in the business of helping people. I'm in the business of making people better. All right, so that's what we're going to take this thing.

We're going to make a lot of people better. Let's get it. Let's do it. Big bro, like I said, man, for everything that you've done in my life, the path that you created here, for myself, not only myself, but for all of us to walk through that path and pave the way like you did so we can come to a program that's one of the top programs in the country. I'm from Sagina, as you know.

Sag. We don't get opportunities like that every day. And for what you created, you know, I've been fortunate enough to be successful in the NBA. It's cool. Like that's very successful. But the reality is, like, what you accomplished and what you did, damn, the NBA. People try to make you feel like, oh, man, you didn't have this career in the NBA. you're not great, you're a failure.

You made it out of Flint, Michigan. 100%. And you paved away for a kid from Saginaw, Michigan. And for that, I'm forever indebted to you. I thank you. I love you.

I appreciate you coming on the show. And we're going to turn up again tonight. That's right, man. You turn up, boy. I appreciate you. Yes, sir, man. You too, Pat's her. To the casket drive.

Sirrah. Yes, sir. Draymond Green Show.