The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Draymond Green Show w/Baron Davis: John Wall REVEALS NBA Secrets: D-Rose battles, Wizards mistakes & All-Star drama

Episode Date: February 17, 2025

3x NBA All-Star John Wall joins Draymond Green and Baron Davis to chop it up about untold stories of his battles with Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls, what really happened in Houston with the Rockets, and the truth about his time with the Wizards—including the draft mistakes that cost them Klay Thompson, who wound up on the Golden State Warriors (20:00). The trio dives deep into the evolution of the NBA, discussing whether superstar players are scared of the Dunk Contest (44:00)), the struggles of the NBA All-Star Game (48:30), and the importance of mentorship for young players (1:37:00). Wall also reveals his thoughts on NIL deals (1:40:00), his all-time Top 5 No. 1 Draft Picks since 2010 (2:02:00), and whether he’s planning an NBA comeback (1:56:30). (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #Volume #Herd Follow The Draymond Green Show on social media:  https://www.instagram.com/draymondshow https://x.com/DraymondShow https://www.facebook.com/people/Draym... https://www.tiktok.com/@draymondgreen...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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You know, I'm working, working, putting the work in so I can get back. Now playing basketball is boring. So doing rehab sucks. I do a lot of rehab, so I shorten it. Doing that shit every day is what. But I feel good, bro. I'm getting stronger. That's the goal.

We'll see. You know, so. But I feel good, brother. Good. Can't complain. Good. But before we get into this special episode, please subscribe to the Draymond Green Show with Barron.

Davis so you don't miss any episodes. That's right. Follow the show all social media platforms at Dreymon's show so you don't miss none of our amazing announcements. Before our guest interview, I like to hear your thoughts, Dre on the recent buzz suggesting that it may be time to blow up the warriors. It's crazy. I saw that.

I was like, I saw, I saw something that had a trade. pack with me and Steph package together. I said, damn. Damn. That's harsh. And I was like, damn.

Oh. And then they gave reasoning behind it. And I was like, man. And, yeah, I just don't know like, like Steph Curry is an all-star starter.

Yeah. And like, and, and I like to think I'm a halfway decent basketball and so I just don't know that the answer is like you got an all-star like if you say you want to be a good team right right I'm not sure the answer is like trade away an all-star start okay so let's get past that I'm also not sure the answer is trade away just at the trade deadline guys who've built a dynasty of an organization that never had a dynasty. Like, I don't think that's just the method of things.

So I get his point, you know what I? So I get his view, vantage point, you know what I'm saying? I understand what he's saying. I got what he was getting at. I'm just not sure that, like, that's what's going to happen at a trade deadline. Like, that's kind of, that's like something that, like, so many people have to talk just on a respect level on what's been built, you know what I'm saying? Yeah.

To do something like that at a trade deadline, I just don't think it's highly likely. No, I don't think. It's just too many moving pieces. Like, I just don't foresee that happen. Definitely not trade deadline, but as far as, you know, that time, people are starting to say, oh, it's that time. Like, what are the warriors going to do? They've been hovering. They started out hot, you know.

But when I look at chess season, I say this is going to be your ultimate test. because once you guys get everybody back, y'all got to hit a, yeah, y'all just won six game, five game, went a street away from being back and forth, quiet building. And then you have the talent, right?

Kaminga came a long way this year, right? Especially with you out. I think his breakthrough game was the Clipper game I went to when he finally figured out. I could do everything, right, offensively. defensively, you know, I think that he has so much more room to improve. I think the whole team got room to improve. But when you look at the injuries and how you guys have been injured, it's been staggering.

And it's like staggering injuries, right? Get off to a good start, then everybody start falling off. First it was Demel, boom. Then that was just a domino effective, you know, the testament to the season. so I don't think personally that you're at the blowup face

I think when you look at the record you say oh shit they're in 11th or 10th but you're also three games out of fifth but four games out of third five games out of third or something like that so I wouldn't panic but I know like long term

people are thinking oh it may be time to blow up Warriors, I feel like, just like I felt in the beginning of the year, you guys are right there talent-wise with everybody else. There's not many teams. That is, from a talent perspective in the NBA, Cleveland has a good amount of talent, okay, C, obviously Boston, right, like. But most NBA teams in the talent pool is kind of like right there, which, by the way,

is what y'all wanted. Like, y'all wanted no super teams, y'all wanted, no dynasties, y'all wanted, like, fair play. It's like equal playing. Like, that's what everybody wanted. And that's essentially what you got. And then everybody's saying, the league ain't that fun like that. Like, now you see, but, but like, beggars can't be choosers, right? Like, you chose that.

Like, that's the game that everybody wanted. Like, oh, we don't want to see Kevin Durant with the Warriors. We don't want to see. And now that you don't see those teams. it's not as exciting because you always speak about like those rivals you know what I'm saying like having those rivalries it's hard to create that yeah charity yeah it's hard it's hard to create that and so yeah I definitely think we're still um hey if I just look at the games we've just completely blown this year just those games alone we're in fourth place third place yeah that's four

games right there. Like, we've completely just blown, like taking games, light a match to it, like completely blown games. So just those alone, we're right there. And what does right there mean? Does that mean we're right there to win a championship? No, that's not what that means. That's mean we're right there with the rest of everyone else that's trying to figure it out.

And we have a chance to figure it out and we're going to do that. And we're going to go for that. So that's what it is. That's where it's at. it's going to be for now and we will continue on long term um long term at some point it's got the end right like all great things comes from then like a long term it's ending for sure is it closer to the end than it is the or it's a transformation right yeah yeah i wouldn't necessarily say you guys have the ability to create to have a transformation yes right and that's

That's kind of the whole idea of when you're going to two-part timeline, right? Like, not just going to go in our vests because you know you're going to bottom out. Right, so you've gone this two-part timeline. Right now it's starting to get to that point in where you start to see it. Yeah. That's kind of what you were going for. So you still got to give that a chance to work. You can't just abort Michigan because that, a two-timeline thing, that's not a one-year thing.

No. Like, it takes time to build up guys to be ready to get at that level. So that's kind of what we went with. And you're kind of getting into that space now or where you see if it pans out ultimately. But you're still not at the point of where it's like, oh, it was supposed to pan out this shit. Like I think you're still in that room.

Like Jonathan Camingo doesn't have a new contract. Right. So you're still in that space, I think. The smart teams make transformations. They don't blow things up and start over. No. Because if you blow something up and start over, you have to get lucky.

That means you got to have the number one pick when it's the number one pick and it got to be a wimby. It got to be one of them ones. And then you have to have, you have to rebuild. It takes you way longer to rebuild to be mediocre,

right? Or to be mediocre and not make the playoffs, right? Then it takes you to transform to be in the top 10 which is still a playoff position and be one or two players away

from being in the top four. Yep. Yep. That's a fact. Well said. And I like that two part. I like what you said about that. Like playing the two parts because that's the transformation.

As two more years, those kids are going to be all stars. And they take the war. And they take the rain. and now you don't have to go and get veterans because your veterans are contribute, high level, like, just like we talk,

you know, on previous podcast, you need vets to stabilize, but the vets are going to win the playoffs for you. One thousand. Right? So new terrain for them, old terrain for them,

you know, it's, they've been through it together. Mm-hmm. 1,000 percent. Yeah, I like that. Who's scoring big in the NBA this season?

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Draft from the University of Kentucky All-N-B-A All-Defensive team member five-time NBA All-Star NBA slam dunk champion None another The one and only

Jay Wall What's up, my brother? What's so? What's so? Ain't much chilling. How are you, bro? I can't complain, dog. I can't complain at all, man.

We appreciate you coming on, bro. John Wall, my dog. What's up? What's up? Happy to How you on the show, well Happy to how you on this show You know, I feel about you

You know, you're one of the greats You want the grace of your time You're a game changer, you came in And I say, you know, you have the same kind of effect From the media side Like an Allen Iverson When you think about social media

And when you think about, you know, becoming an icon early, right? And being able to holds that carry that torch, right, and lead this new generation. I always look at you as, you know, a legend in your own, right? And the pioneer as far as being able to, to shepherd in this new energy of point guards, right? The dudes is Dunkin, guys with personality, speeding quickness, you know, how do you guard somebody like that?

Just wanted to just shout you out, man, just get your flowers on the show, you know, before we get going. Appreciate that. Appreciate that. Yeah, that's fine. That's well, sad, brother. I tell you what. Hey, BD. That was incredible. You had no choice but to get that brother,

it's flowers. After he ducked home for my birthday. I'm watching this video. Hey. Hey, Dre, you know what? Hey, Jay, I'm telling you. It's going to be a moment. You're going to be a moment.

you're going to be like, okay, I'm on my way out. Damn. That was that moment. That's what you knew the end was there? I jumped for the live and I don't know why I jumped for the live. Like I wasn't going to get the ball, but I didn't, I wasn't thinking nobody was, I didn't, I wasn't thinking like a guard. Man, this man jumped all over me, dog. And bang.

I liked that Mike Bibby. He was like, happy birthday. I was like, this shit over, bro. That shit over. You thought that shit was funny, bro. You thought that shit was funny. Oh, man.

So question, how much money did you proceed to steal after that? If you knew, if you knew right in that moment it was over, how much money did you proceed to steal after that? No, I was done. That was done. That was it.

That was the year I got hurt. Yeah. That's the year. Hey, bro, I just came back. So I was like, damn, I'm feeling good. I'm getting some minutes. After that dunk, I was like, okay, I ain't got too much long. It's over.

And it was over at the end of that year in the playoffs. That's fucked up. Hey, man. When you know, you know, you know. Yeah. And Jay Ward, that's your rookie year. No, hell, no. No, second year.

That's my second year. Yeah, that's my second year. No, that's probably like your third year, bro. No, you're trying, don't try to advance him along. No, it was a start, man. It had to be a third year because I remember, I think it was his rookie year or second year. Now, rookie, I had them Zit texts on them hot top, so I knew it wasn't that. I ain't had them on it.

Give me one second. No, but I played it. They say, they may say the year on this clip. Give me one second. Yeah. The rookie. Now it was another person that was a rich. So what year, how far apart?

And then it's like a huge Olly E. Chris Singleton is a rookie on this clip. Yeah, it's like a huge. That's my second year, I think. Yeah, I think it's my second year. Because that's what I remember when, when, uh, it's mellow, it's mellow, mellow on the Knicks right now, right? Uh, I see, I see Shump.

Huh? I see Shump. I see. That's 2012. So that's my third. Yeah. Yeah. No, I see Mello.

Man. That's the year Mello came to the, y'all came to D.C. Yeah. Mello had like 20 straight with like four years ago in the second,

second quarter before having. Chris like, don't see no help. I don't need no help. I say, listen. We need to send double team. This ain't no fucking child

to the state where you got boxes and elbows. And we just sat there literally watching get abused in the mid post for four minutes straight, Drake. Who was the coach?

He had four fouls going into the halftime. Was Flip still the coach? I think Flipson. I think that's when Randy Whitman took over. That's old school NBA, though, bro. That's what I'm saying. When I came in there, it was like, listen, we told coach, listen, we ain't helping.

If he gets five, one and a half-off. He said he don't need no help. We're going to leave him on his aisle. That's old school NBA, though. We keep talking about what these guys don't go through now in the NBA. Yeah. And that's another one of those things, bro. like, rookies don't get thrown in the fire and be like, you're going to stop that guy.

Like, if a rookie can't guard, they're going to try to hide the rookie. Like, it's crazy. You know what I'm saying? Or like, yo, they'll try to go zone. And as opposed to like Chris Singleton, a guy who actually was a good defender his years in the league, right here as a rookie getting cooked. Yeah, for sure. And y'all just like, nope, that is what is. That's old NBA, bro.

They ain't like that. He asked me. Yeah. Then they run his own. They're showing those screens. Yeah. Yeah, it's way different. But I do remember, I think I was in Golden State.

It was your rookie year. And we was beating the crap out of the, man. And I don't know what you did, but you just kept getting the ball out of bounds. Remember that? He was going one on five fast break. Yeah, I was just going. Hey, Jay, nobody could stay in front of him. Coach called three timeouts.

He was like, no. Nobody can stop him. So he, with his shoot, boom, say we score, he'll get the ball, boom,

right down the court. And he was trying to bring him back. I damn near dove in front of you, bro, just to try and say, how you, it was no way. I was like,

damn, dude, I ain't never seen nobody. This, this was crazy. I had never seen nobody that fast in my life. The war in the end speed. Hey,

bro, he was, peon, peon, pew, everybody on the team. Nobody could stop him. That shit was,

Well, Jay Wall, have you seen anybody in the NBA from baseline to baseline as fast as you, either after you, for you? Only one I can compare. You know, like, you know how this year ago, Dray. Everybody tried to compare somebody to somebody. Only guy seen that's like close to me. I'd say Deering Fox. He just left. Like, I wonder, I remember, I forgot what year was.

We was in Houston about to play. We had a day off for the game. I drove like an hour, two hours ago, go watch him play. Wow. And I was like, you know what? This is the one kid I can say is close to what I could see in myself. Because I was basically supposed to be left-handed, but he was really left-end. And I'm like, this is the only guy I seen that was close to me with that type of speed.

Like, don't give me more. You know, like, D. Rose is quick. Like, his quick is on a whole other level. You know what I mean? I feel like Jai got a different type of quick. But they don't have that speed to go baseline and baseline. That's a different speed. Yeah.

So I say, the only one I can say is Deering, Deering Fox. Speaking of D. Rose, it's funny. I was just about to ask you a question about D. Rose just in, you know, in light of him just retiring. You, you coming into the league where, like, Prime D. Roe, not even Prime D. Rose, because I

would say, like, he never got the opportunity to really reach his prime. But what we know in his career is Prime D. Rose, you coming into the league, what was those matchups like you, with the because the thing about your speed was, it was speed, but your speed

was powerful. You know what I'm saying? Like, you played with so much force. To where It just wasn't like, like De Aaron Fox, speed was like, and he still got it, but he played with way more pace now. But, like, his speed was just like fast speed. I feel like yours was like fast, but it was also like powerful. And coming into the league, with a guy like D. Rose that, like you said, quick but also powerful. What was those matchups like early on in your career against D.Roe? Well, I tell you, this, my rookie, it was NBA year for him.

Wow. So that was hellful. just to be honest. But, I mean, we played them in preseason. I was just like, damn, this might be like the first guy. I say that's like quicker or faster to me. I mean, just because he's already been in the league, he already had his Twitch.

He already had no what he wanted to do. Because me, like, when I watched him play in college, I forget that's playing Tennessee. I'm Oklahoma in the Garden. And I was like, this is where I'm going to school. Like, when I seen that game and I've seen him play Tennessee in Memphis, I already knew in my mind I'm going to play for Coach Cowell. Just because the way he allowed D. Rose to play,

I knew I played this. similar way. But when I was in the league, like I always tell you people, it's three people that was like three people, three people, three people, like three people, three people, hard as me. Kyrie, because he could do everything, scoring every level. But the hardest person I had problems with was D. Rose.

Yeah, it was a problem. Because you got to think with Tim system, everybody around him was located to play defense. And he was the guy to get the ball. Yeah. Go get the ball. And you couldn't stop. It's unlimited picking rolls. He's scoring that wheel. And you look at any other guards that played for Tim, they all got that freedom. But you know, D. Roe

just on a different level. And like I said, like I always say like, you know, injuries are part of the game, but I feel like if he ain't ever had no injuries, bro, we wouldn't even be talking about a lot of these other guards the way we do. That's interesting. That's interesting. I was going to ask you.

Because a lot of guys was acting like they were sick when he came in town. Yeah. I got an ankle injury or I got the flu. Like, he was scaring people. He was at, you. And I look at it like my third year, I kind of realized that build my confidence to another level. Like, I really can go at this guy toe to toe.

But at first, I'm, Ricky, I was like, man, this shit is right. These guys are different. It's always interesting to think,

like a, what, what does the, the guard race, if you will, or the guard outlook, like the outlook on the position look like if a D.

Rose never got hurt. You know, if a penny never got hurt, right? John, you never got hurt. Like, you got,

I don't think people realize you got hurt right in the middle of your prime. And then, like, and we'll get into the injuries to a little later, but I always wonder, like, what does the guard position look like if that never? What does the rap game look like if Biggie or Pock never get killed, right? Like, you always had those what-ifs of, like, you see how it played out, right? Like, Steph's, scotted, like, russ, like yourself, like the work everybody put in, but you just always wonder if it looks different at all. if D. Rose never gets hurt.

Like, how does that pan out? It's interesting. To be honest, I feel like, man, I don't know. Like you said, like, they were so close to getting close to the championship in the East. Like, if he don't get hurt, like how they was giving Miami a run every time. I mean, when they started to get to that point,

he was right there on their toes. So, and then you had to end the end, you know, like with Paul George's there. It's just, like you said, you just never really know what could have happened or what would have went on. For sure. But, you know, like you say,

you definitely got to get DeRose's flowers, bro, because being the youngest MVP, having the battles against him, man, it was super excited. And to see him go through the journey, he did a fighting back. I mean, I watched the game, and he had his first 50-point game and breaking down in tears.

And I've been watching a lot. You know, he never really talked. So I watched a lot of his podcast, you have to be happy, you know what I mean? He was talking about, like, when he realized he was injured with his tour of the ACL had to come back. Like, people don't realize. That's the hardest thing in the world. Like, you'd be on top of the world,

and then you just feel like you hit rock bottom. And you just got to get through that. And everybody thinks everything's fine because we make the money. and we living his lavish life, but the game we love is taken away from us for the time being. So you got to fight your ass off to get back to even feel like you're 100% healthy. Yeah, that happened to me.

You know, but I was, I was. I know, I watched you. I was in college. But in college, right? And it's a lonely island, especially as a point guard when you're an explosive point guard because now you have to figure out a different way to jump, a different way to land, you know,

you got to change your game. And I was going to ask you that, you know, as you came into the league, you know, as fast explosive, one-man fast break, talk about, you know, the steps of how you evolve, right, from a point guard perspective, from like year one because you made the leap from year one to year three to being dominant, right? Talk about that process. I think, like, really just, man, like having Sam Kucel around, you know what I mean, him being my coach, like, he was a massive. of a mid-range. So he was like, yo, you can't outrun everybody

because I'll be pushing to break them. Like, damn, where about yet? They're not even past half the court yet. So he was like, you've got to slow down.

Like, you got to figure it out. So just watching film with him and understand like you had to master the mid-range. But like I always told me my whole life, I never had to shoot. Like,

I always got wherever I wanted. I mean, no matter if I played up or played, I never tried to play my age where I played up. I always got wherever I wanted. Even in college, like there goes zone or box, I find ways to get there

because we were just so talented. But in the league, we had real powerful, real centers. So nobody's, you might, would probably shoot 10, 3, 11, 3 is a whole game. So your most mid-range is your form. So the pain is back. And then you come across the lane, they're hitting you. So just working with Sam a lot, working with Rob McClainham at the time. That was D. Rose, you know, Kevin Love, Russ, Kevin Durant, all those guys,

trainer, just teaching me the base of like, you just got to slow down. You got to be to knock down the mid-range. Because, no, you was going on the screen. It's a race to the back. I feel like I can get there every time. I might have a seven foot of there. So just learning that, like learning how to change my pace and learn how to knock down the mid-range a lot more with confidence.

I think that made my game evolve. Like I was always good at passing, always trying to get my teammates involved and finding those guys because I knew in the fourth quarter, if I passed the bar early on in the fourth quarter, you can't double team as much because my teammates have the confidence to make these open shots instead of them only getting the ball in the fourth quarter. And they're like, damn, bro, I don't got no rhythm.

So that's kind of how to my development. Just working with Sam a lot, working on my, mid-range working on change of pace and just watching film, bro, and just watch our teams was guarding. On a side note, I wanted to, you know, like, what was your favorite memory? You know, you talked about Derek Rose. What was your favorite memory about playing against J-Mond?

Beside his glasses. I know every time you played against J-Mond. He was always going to be somewhere of fucking hell, and I was getting tired of J-Mond. And then if he switched on me, he's going to talk a little shit while he guarded me. But we had a funny bra. Remember that bra? We had Jersen and go to sick.

Man, listen, I got bullied by God. Brad Bullied. Brad wanted to be a bully that night. I got bullied. I tried not to let myself get slammed. I don't let myself get slammed. And I still got fined $35,000. And then on top of that, I run over there to see what's going on.

And I get punched by Kelly Uve's. I got punched by my teammate. I look back like, damn, who unstowed me? It's my own team. I said, I ain't going no fight. Damn, yeah, I was getting down like that. I just, but I just think just, I mean, I think Draymond just get credited, discredited for a lot of stuff you do. But he plays with that old school mentality.

You know what I mean? Like, he comes with that grit and grind. Like, he's probably been a 20-point score in high school. And I mean, go to college, things change. Get to the league. Not playing early on. He finds his role. He finds his niche.

And that's been his guard, being a dog for it, been a junkyard dog for his team. But on the also on the other end, on the office end, he's a point forward. He's a point forward. He can run his offense. team. So I think every night going against Jemont, we couldn't really put our firemen on them, which most teams try to do. Because if you try to pick and roll with Steph, he's good at passing, throwing lives and finding shooters. So you've got to try to go small, but that shit don't work because he's still going to close up and find ways to do it. So I think just going against J. Ma'i,

we know he was going to bring defensively, his intensity. And if you try to get him in Filed trip, that's the only way you can beat the Warriors, because when he in, he makes the whole show go. We know, Steph is this great in that goal. We know what Clay was. But he was just a glue guy For me, when we played, then we had the key in on him because he makes their whole shit go. Yeah, I was going to say, uh, I know what, yeah, I always tell you that. I know what Jaymond, uh, favorite moment was playing against you.

What's this? Do you remember when Jemond Green ducked on you? Hey, I got to see that. Show me the highlight. Bring him the clip. Oh. Hey. Hey.

Hey. Oh. No file. Oh, look at that. At the end of speed, we're talking about John Walsby. Did you just see where I started from? Okay, he took off.

He took off. Drake got him. Damn, Drake got me. Drake got some sneaky balance, though. He'll dunk something. Thank you, J-Mine, because he got me. I got to see, see, and y'all show that.

Y'all got to show BD. Oh, man, show me. Oh, that was. I was crazy. I was nice. It was like, oh shit. It was like, oh shit. You got to show him that, Charles.

BD, you had no business jump. I ain't think he was going to jump. Man, I don't know what the fuck I was thinking. You know what that's called? It was my birthday, too, bro. That's called getting old. But I didn't think he was going to jump. I just told Joe, like, throw that loud, throw the law.

I'm in a guard and I needed some highlight. You're getting spanked anyway. Man, I was going to knock. the ball, I thought I timed it. Oh. Mike Bitt. Mike Bibi over there crying, dude. That is hilarious, man.

That's the only time I got dunked on like that. All right, Charles. That's enough, dog. Okay. I never forget that, man. I never, forget that. I never show my son either. Well, you know, YouTube. He can't happen to nothing.

Brian might be the only one gets stuff deleted off YouTube. What Brian get deleted off YouTube? Joy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he went and burned. He tried to burn. They got to go. It got to go. Cut. That video got to be somewhere in the world.

Now, somebody, the only is why I brought up Somebody just posted on Twitter not too old ago. Yeah, they found they said, Brian, they didn't get this one to go away, but I'm like, I ain't seen it in years. They found the way they find it. And it's super janky the way they filmed it. Like, it ended in the film.

It's like behind the basket. Like, you don't even know what's going on. Yeah, I feel Brown probably put that out itself. Like, this is this is the blurry edited version. Let me go on and drop this. Dremont no, he knows. That's his dog. We mentioned you as a slam

dunk champion and I'll be one of the judges this year for the slam dunk contest. Why do you think superstar players haven't recently wanted to participate in the dunk contest? I don't know. I think they should, though. You know what I mean? Like, I think like the older they did. Like, I ain't really want to do it.

But I told me, I said, if I make the All-Star game, I'd get into the dunk contest, you know what I mean? And it was different. Don't get me wrong. I'm going to take my win, but it was a different set up the year I did it. They won't the regular way. but I never did that dump before neither, but one time, like the day before I tried

and I was like, man, shit, I don't got nothing else to do. Either this going to win or we're going to be losing. But I think all the stars should get into it. Like, I think that's what made All-Star weekend fun, you know what I mean. You're saying all the great stuff that was going in the All-Star game to be in the Dunk Contest.

That's what people want to see, you know what I mean? Like, you got so many John Morant. You got LeBron, you got LeBron, you got Zion, you got all these great stars that be in the All-Star game that usually be in a dunk contest. And I think, you got to kind of try to get back to it because a lot of the guys that get in it,

they're in the league. We know who they are, but they're not like the name that everybody want to go see and be excited. I think probably, you know what I mean? Dre, we was there. I think the best one we had in a while was when that Aaron Gordon and Zadivine went back to back.

Like, that was the best one. That was sick. You got to have those type of guys that's doing shit we ain't ever seen if you ain't going to have the stars in it. But it's kind of like you run out of options. Like what more tricks can really come up with? Yeah, I was going to ask you, what would you do to get them to,

what would you say, like, what would you do to get them to compete? I don't think you could do anything because they want to do it before. Yeah, no damn show. For sure not doing it. But, you know, if when you look back in the league, the reason why the dunk contest to your point, the superstars, even if they got in the dunk contest and didn't want to do it, like they still gave the fans something.

And then that name, that next name became a name, right? Like a Spud Web, right? Like Sput Webb became a thing and became a name. because all the top dogs still got in the dunk contest even if they wasn't tripping. And so I think, you know, it's an entertainment cadence too that go along with this kind of like a passing of the torch

or all these dudes around, you know, a young dude like, what's his name for the clippers who won the dunk contest? Yeah, James. Like that type of energy, right, around these young dudes. even this year, like finding a way to get the, you know, to get them some more exposure. I like it, be like, oh, who is that? Like, we know who these dudes are, but who is that?

And, you know, that's the person who wind up winning and getting the name. That's how D. Brown got on, right? It wasn't because he was, you know, killer, like, or just killing. He got on because, you know, the dunk contest and got his name. Yeah, I think, like, if John the Comingga won't hurt, like, you know what I mean, Dre, you see him probably do some, I feel like he'll be one of those guys that, like, people like to see him because the dunks he did during the season.

If he was healthy, if he got in there because I see him in my tournament, my high school tournament and stuff I see him do, I'm like, he'd be somebody that's a name that's right there that people are starting to hear about that can take that next jump to put him in that spotlight. Well, I think, I think, like, for young guys like JK, I think the thing that, and isn't just him, I just think as a whole, like, the thing that those guys don't understand, is if they do like the dunk contest, what it can do for their personal brands. You know what I'm saying?

So everybody, we live in this day and age where all of these young guys want to kind of push their own personal brands, right? But you have these rare instances, like a NBA All-Star, I mean, like a dunk contest that you can do. Like, Mack McClung became somebody doing a dunk contest, and not even in the NBA.

You know what I'm saying? So just, for what it could do for guys personal brands, you would think that more young guys would do it for that reason. You know, before Zach Levine ever became an all-star, he was at the dunk contest and made a name for himself. You know, and so I think young guys miss out on that side of it when they decide not to do it.

I think they're leaving a massive opportunity on the table. I agree. Speaking of All-Star Weekend, in general, I feel like your All-Star appearances, the game was still better. Like it, like, it wasn't the best, but it was still competitive. Competitive, like. Entertainment, I would say. What would you say has to happen today to get the game back good?

Like, the game, last year the game was pathetic. Like, what do you think has to happen to get the game back good? I don't know. I think, like, what they try to do, like, a, total score every quarter, like every half or something. Like, I think they just got to go back East versus West, you know what I mean? To me, I feel like you should go East versus West.

But it's hard to see, man. Like, I don't know how can you raise the stakes to get everybody that want to compete, you know what I mean? Yeah. Because if your star, stars, like the guys that we want to go see and competing at a high level, it's kind of hard, you know? Yeah, it's too friendly. Like, it's like, everybody just,

everybody too cool. All right, well, I'm going to let you shoot 23s, or I'm going to let you get 90 dunks and go get 50 points like, it's like it's no pride into it. You know what I mean? Like, you know what I mean? Early on, you might get a little bit of showcase here and there, but like you still want to keep the game closer.

And then, you know, we knew it going into the fourth quarter. It's cold time. Lays and what we're trying to win. But like, now it's just like, you might be down 50 by the third quarter. I don't know. It's kind of hard to say, because I like, you probably wonder too. Like, how can you get the game back? And I'm like, I think it's just slipping away.

Like, I think it got like a new format this year, right? That's a new format. It's like, like, if the rookie sophomore game, whoever won that one play. I'm not by trying to see that shit. At all. It's just a lot of gimmicks. Instead of watching those, too.

But you're giving the rookies and sophomores an opportunity to feel like, oh, well, I'm an all-star. Like, for them, if they get the opportunity to play against the real All-Star, they're going to feel like they're all-stars at the time being, you know, I mean? So they got to find a way to get in back. What is happening?

You're going to keep losing the fan. I think, like, the rookie sophomore play each other, right? So the way is, so, you know, it's 24 all-stars, 12 from the East, 12 from the West. There will be three teams of three teams of eight. And they'll make up

three teams. And then the rookie All-Star game is doing the same thing. It's like three teams of eight or something like that. And the winner of their little bracket is going to be the fourth team versus the three teams of eight

All-Star. Oh, wow. And they'll play like some game. But don't they like one team play a game? They go to the locker, come back. Yeah. And that's It's going to be hard to get All-Stars to one-play eight minutes, then go in the locker, chill, and wait for another game. Yeah, they're going to check out. I mean, but what's missing, I think, is an old-school way, and nobody had no beef with each other.

Nobody really like, oh, I get double-team, so, you know, you can't double-team me now, kind of like that mono-a-mono, right? It's none of that. There's no beef. If there's no, you know, nobody like, there's nobody antagonizing the opportunity to get people riled up to go at each other. Nobody goes at each other. And so at the end of the day, if everybody, the John point, if you cool, then everything cool.

And what we're watching is a lot of threes, dunks, and, you know, kids are like, man, I can go do that outside with three people. right it always looks like three people on the court and never like a full court game so they got to make it a full court five on five the best players playing against the best players just for reasons for names alone and I want to make sure that people know I'm the best shooting guard I'm the best point guard I think that's what that was your that was the last era of like yo time john you feel what I'm saying yeah you win at each other like I don't like you throughout the season and then I think like with these teams like I might have be with you I might don't want to play against you. I'm going to just put you on my team. You know what I mean? But I feel like the one person that can't, not one person can change.

Don't all-star form of that, how they do it. But I feel like the one kid I know that God is aunt me. Yes. Like I feel like he going to find somebody if he's starting or I'm going to find somebody I don't like and I'm going at him. You know what I mean?

Like you need that type of competitive. Like, I mean, just what you need. I mean, I feel like if he go against KD or if he goes against D. Book or he go against Donovan Mitchell or whoever the next two guard is, he's trying to let them know, like I'm the best two guard in the league.

And I feel like he can bring that to the All-Star game, but I don't feel like he's at the level now where everybody will follow along. You know what I mean? But I feel like he can get there at some point, but you hopefully assume so that the All-Star game don't kind of go away with people just like me. You know what?

I don't even care about it on the weekends. Yeah. We used to wait. We used to come wait to Sunday. Be like, man, I'm ready for this game. Now it's like Sunday people want to leave. They don't even care about going to the game. I think one of the things, you know,

that the NBA has to realize is also like, when the games were good in the games were competitive, you also have to remember, like, BD, back in y'all time, the prep that you all have for, to get ready for a game and the prep that guys have today are totally different. Yeah, way different. You know, there's osteos, you know, you got PTs. Like, you have a whole different type of prep now for games than when, then back in the day.

And so I think that's a huge part of it. Like, I think the NBA need to prioritize, yo, for every one of these guys, who gets them ready for games during the season? Okay, I know that person supposed to be on All-Star. I'm going to pay them $5,000 extra, $10,000 extra to be at All-Star weekend to prep Steph Curry, to be at All-Star weekend to prep, you know, and to make sure every single guy has their prep. Now, with that being said, no other requirements. From All-Stars, there's no other requirements. If you do some personal things that you want to do, then do that. But there's zero other requirements from All-Star.

The only thing you are here at All-Star weekend to do is to be ready to compete in this game, get your body ready to play at a high level. And I think that's what the NBA needs to do. They need to make, because to John's point, by the time you get to the game Sunday night, you've done so much. You've had so many obligations that it's like, oh, now we got the game? Like, man, get me out of here. But as opposed to if you don't have anything on the weekend, like nothing, no requirements, you got this game in the NBA. But you can't make it so corporate, though.

So you got to pick what you want, right? Do you want a great game or do you want this corporate thing where, oh, the All-Stars are here. And I think they need to make that decision because right now the game is suffering. And guys live, like, it's just different now. Those used to look forward. They can choose one.

They just on that vibe. Yep. It used to be a thing you look forward to the game, right? You're going to get some dudes, going to get the big dogs are going to get their rest. The new guys are going to be out trying to get their name up. But you knew you had to show up at practice, media day.

probably one or two appearances. That's it. But now you look at, you know, the game is so global, the responsibility on these dudes, the attention on these dudes that they kind of just want to not be seen and chill. Like, All-Star Weekend was like,

it used to be rest, but you treated it like it was another game. Like, this is the game. I'm playing with all the juggernauts. Like, let me show who I am. And I don't think people get, We're not setting our guys up for that or sending them up to fight. That should be the best fight, the most entertaining fight.

Moving on, we had, you spoke about Sam Cassell and the impact, you know, that he had on your game. We had them on the pod. He shared the story about you getting emotional after losing 25 games when it wasn't even December yet. Tell your story, John Wall, his rookie year. He lost eight games from high school to college. two years. Knocked in my door. I said,

Oh, what's going on? John Wall. In tears. In tears, crying. He lost 25 games. It ain't December. He asked me, say, O.G.,

is it going to get any better? You got any guys I ever coach. I'm not going to lie to you. I ain't going to lie to you. I ain't a lie to you. I said, I looked at him in the face, I'd come on.

I broke on the moment and I said, no. And guess what, J-Dubb? I throw him a towel. Man, I say, it's going to be bad next year too. But we got to grow. Absolutely.

You've got to keep working. Can you walk us through that moment during your rookie year? I ain't go a lot, man. We went on the road. We probably lost like 24 straight road. I'm like, what the hell is this? My, you know, like my whole life, I probably never lost that.

many games like in one year. I just left college, lost three games. And they called it the doodoo bowl, bro. We're playing Cleveland. Like, they lost 24 straight games complete.

And we lost 24 straight on the road. So we just like, man, we got to win this game. We finally get a win. I was like saying, is this how I go? I'm like, yo, we're going to lose like this.

Can y'all just pay me? And I go back to college and play? Like, can we make this work? So, wait. I don't know. Like, how long is going to last? He's like, probably about two more years. You got to, you got to,

you got a draft. some more guys. We got to hopefully trade for some people. And I'm like, bro, the league is not like this. I'm like, it's no way people don't care about. Because you know you first come in, you just looking like, I know people care about the game. Yeah.

It's like, we lose. It's just outside. We're grown. Like, we outside. I'm like, bro, I don't want to be seen it. We just lost by 30. Like, I want to just order room service. I don't want to be seen in the bar.

Nowhere downstairs. But like, it just taught me a lot, though, because I had a lot of good vets, though, throughout the years, you know, like Drew Good and Trevor Reza. Al Harrington, Andre Miller, Paul Pierce. Just always talk to me this before. It was my teammates.

Like, after game, they come whisper to me my ear, like, just stay the court, just continue to work. Like, it would get better at some point. And I think that kind of helped me a lot because I wasn't used to losing that much and I wasn't used to, like, being that type of environment. But I think just having great bets around,

understand that I was willing to work. I was willing to listen. I wasn't scared to ask questions. They kind of helped me pay my way to figure it out throughout the lead. Did you ever get used to the loser? Like, do you feel like, at some point you ever, like,

just was like, you know what, it is? Or did you ever not reach that? I kind of knew going like, you know, you go high pick, you're not going to really go to a good team. I wouldn't know. I would know. I appreciate that. I wouldn't know.

I was like, I knew it's like going to a rebuild process, you know what I mean? So I'm just like, all right. You know, I mean, Gil was there, so they was getting ready to trade Gil, you know what I mean? Then I had like Andre Blatch, Nick Young. Javille, and those guys was young because they didn't play as much when you had Karam Buller and Twain Jameson,

and those guys there. They're huge. So just learning from those guys They're just trying to build like who we drafted And I remember like what two three years in a row We had like a top seven pick You know what I mean? We had number six pick then we had

I mean we had like two first round picks Like back to play two years in a row So I'm like all right hopefully we drafted The right guys to fit with our team And I think that's the key to like all these GMs They like a lot of GMs they don't I think a lot more players should be GMs I mean because we know the game very well

Just because you're nice and I'm nice Don't mean we messed you together You know what I mean? You got to figure out, do they, is they going to balance it out right? So I think that's some more thing. We got to figure out with more GMs and things like that. But I think like down the road, it's about the work you put in as a player. Don't get used to the losing.

So I never got used to it. I just like, okay, we got a final way to get out of this. Like, what can I do to get better myself? I never try to blame the team. I'm like, well, John, can you come back better? And hopefully my other teammates are coming back better. And then we finally figured out, like, my third or four of year, figuring out getting over the home.

And looking back on there, do you think the GM, that you had that was doing the draft? And do you think he ultimately did a good job? I think we missed out on some places. I think we missed out on a couple of pieces. You know what I mean? Like, we could have drafted Clay. I mean, we took, we took Yon best to that we thought he was the overseas

Blake Griffin at the time. No, we did. That's what they drafted. That was it. That was it. Yeah, no, for sure, because he was avlated. But I'm like, we need a two guard. This is before we drafted Bradst.

I'm like, we need a two guard. You know what I mean? With me, I'm like, I need a two guard. knock down shooter the way I get into the paint fine shooter that would have to work for us. You know what I mean? I think, I mean, we got Brad right for sure. You know what I mean? I think Otto Porter was the best situation at that time coming out, being a great three-man for us and a slasher.

We had got Trevor Booker that was at that time for the four-man. He was a hard worker, played hard and do all the dirty work. So those guys we drafted, you know what I mean, you try to hit on the right ones, but same time is hit or miss, but I feel like we missed out on a couple of pieces that could have helped us. Because you imagine we draft Clayton next year you get Brad. Are we cool then? I'm straight. I got a two and the three

that's shooting the piss out of the ball. I'm okay with that. You know what I mean? But it goes like that. But I also think so like when we got to that point, you also got to try to make some trades. I think we did some great trades of getting gorethai. You know what I mean?

It helped me a lot of my pick and roll having Ney-N-N-A. I mean, then we got Trevor Reesie to help us at the three-position, you know, going against Bronn in the East. And those guys, so he was a great mentor for us just because he had a championship championship pedigree to know what's going on and things like. that. So it kind of helped me mold and understand like, okay, bro, you're the best player out here

every night. You got to think that. Like, you can't think nothing otherwise. I think we all have a moment in our careers, like, where there's a matchup that you take personally. You just mentioned mine. Like, for years in my career, I say maybe my first seven years, like, until I really felt like, all right, I've done enough in this personal matchup and in my resume to where, like, all right, I feel like I'm good with that now. Like I've done that. And we all had that match up a guys in our career. For me, it was Blake Griffin. Like when I came in, everybody like, yo, this is the next young dude up, right? Like Blake was in. All-MBAs. And he was in the West. And so for me, I'm like, all right, if I'm trying to become an all-star, that's the guy I need to go at and I need to take down.

Who was that guy for both of y'all? I would say for me, Miseson was going to be D. Rose. You know, I mean, then he got hurt. other than that it would be Russ because Russ was on the West but for me I'd say Kyrie I mean he was on the east okay you know what I mean every time he played Cleveland I know that game was on

TNT I know it's on ESPN I'm like these shoes got to be laid super tight because you know what Kyle Brangley like you've been against kind of finals and he's just for me I feel like he's the most skilled basketball player there's nothing he cannot do on the basketball court catching shoe off the dribble post-ups

left-hand floater so for me I knew I had to lace these boots up like Forget what happened the night before. Forget going to dinner late. No, I'm in his bed getting some rest and I'm going at it. So I feel like Kyrie would be my guy. Like that's who I would say I would always look forward for that matchup. Yeah, I'd say for me it was always like Iverson or Kobe.

Kobe because that was the only time I got a chance for people to see me on TV at home. It was different back then, bro, when no league pass. You know, they come back. It come to Charlotte. Kobe coming Charlotte at to put on the show or you know Alan Iverson because growing up everybody wanted to be like AI had a crossover like AI and I knew I need to put myself in a certain category but in our era it was like night after night you had like you had nightmares Sam Casale yeah you got nightmares you better get some sleep Nick Van Exel you're gonna have nightmares you better get some sleep Tim Hardaway like all these dudes was like, you know, where I was when you ducked on me, John. Right. And so it was like one by one trying to take them out.

And I think as I got older, you look at like Chossey Billups, Steve Nash and Tony Parker, which a lot of people don't give a lot of credit to those were the deals that, you know, I wanted to take out or had a certain chip on my shoulder when I saw them. Yeah, I had to stretch my rookie. I was like, no, the league hit me up. I had, I had, I had D. Rose, Rondo. And I go out west, I got Dan Williams. Utah.

Russ and Steve Nash. I said, this is some bullshit. Steve Nass won, then it's like 10 for me against me. And like, you know, you know, it's nothing you do. He's running around the basket. He don't stop his dribble. I'm like, bro, this dude is cold. Like, so I had it, like, I was just like, I had that.

You know what I mean? I can't forget. CCP, you know what I had CP at the time. You still had Tony Parker. I mean, people forget about going dragis. He was hooping at that time. Like, it was, I was like, yeah, the league is some guards in this shit. That's where every night at the point guard position was head.

Oh, yeah, for sure. And then also, I couldn't go guard no three man or a small four man that might can't shoot in the corner, you know what I mean? Like, I have to guard every night. You got to check your man. It was no ducking, no matchup. And I'm like, bro, I got to do this on the office. and do this on the other end.

So it was great. It was a time. Like I came in a great time where I had to play against a lot of great guards and it kind of like molded me to put my competitors level to another level. Yeah, I was going to say that as a guard, you come in and you shape by,

like a rookie year, you played against Rondo. He played way different than Steve Nash, who played different than Darren Williams, who played different than Chris Paul, who played different than Derek Rose. And if you get caught, up in trying to figure them out, right?

Then you'll never figure out who you are and make them, you got to make them scared of you. That's what happened my rookie year. Yeah, that's how I looked at it. I had to make people like, okay, like, and I try to make it to where it's not a matchup. You know, like I'm trying to go every possession back at them. Because if you like D-Rose at that time,

you try to, oh, he's score, I got to go score, you know what I mean? And then we can't forget, like, when Steph started to figure out and doing him, I'm like, oh, this is a yes. Like, I got to run around 90 screens. Like, you know what I mean? Because he don't stop moving. So I feel like that's the, like, when people say guarding stuff, I like, it's a whole other level because y'all said too many screens.

Like, he might have a shot through it. And they hold and he's going off two more screens. I'm like, fuck, I ain't guarding anybody like this. So I'm preparing myself for this one game of how he's going. You know what I mean? Like you say, it's always different ways you got to guard certain people. And it just make it difficult. Yeah.

One of my favorite memories of your career was your game when he shot against the Celtics in 2017. It was ironic. What do you remember about the shot? And what was that play? Was the play designed for you? No. Dre know the play.

I know Jay Whitefield. It's the same play we run all the time. I decoyed to the corner. The four-man dive. Bragg gets a pin down from Gortai. He pulled the catch ball to top of the key. Marcus Smart was on top of the play. So I just legally run out the corner and just give me the ball.

Then he got a five-second violation and stepped down the bound. And I'm going against a great defender, which I don't understand how he never was all-N-A-1-N-A-1st team. If I'm wrong, please correct me. But I don't think everybody ever made all-N-A-1st team, which he should have. I might be wrong. But he was a hell of a defender. I played against him since my 11-grade year in high school. He played with Doug Gaddy on the Seattle Air U team.

So I take one drill, but I'm like, bro, I can't get to the bass because I know they're not calling no foul. So I'm like, my only shot is to shoot a three. Like, we either win or go on. And I mean, the bitch went in and it was up after that. One time, 2016. One time. That year, fuck it. Now I'm wrong.

He made it ain't one year I was about to say. But I knew like trying to get by him with a certain time on the clock, I was like, it ain't going to work. So I just pulled up and the rest of the issue. Iconic. Iconic. But then IT almost hit a damn bank shot over Gortown. My heart was like, please go.

I need my game winner. This one. Man, I need this. This is my one. That made me, that they helped me get my all you. Right here. 13. Okay.

And that, in that same vein with the Celtics, that series they came in in all black saying game six was a funeral. I remember you mentioned in the post game. Was that a discussion for y'all going into that game? Like, yo, like talking about that? Because at that time, like the fashion wasn't as in your face like it is now. Nah, like for me, it's like, you know how you sit back in the locker room? They got a little TV on and they show the teams walking.

And I'm like, damn, these niggins were all black. Yeah. I was like, no, hell no. Yeah, that used to be the thing. He just can't wear no. I mean, he can't wear no, like all black. And tell him why I said, funeral. So I kind of took it personal.

You know how you warming up for the game. I told the guys, like, yo, we can't lose. Like, they're treating it like we're done with. Like, they already put us in the cast. We owe with it. I'm like, we just got it. We got to figure a way out. So, I mean, luckily we came back and got to win.

And then, you know, we lost in game seven. But I feel like, ironic, like, like, despite one of the best series in a long time, like, was going total to,

tone. We really had real beef throughout the regular season. Like, we had real smokes out of regular season. So to get to them was very,

like, we needed that. Like, I wanted that smoke. No, that, them to find times, man, when you got a little

chipping this back and forth with a team and then you get matched up with that team in the playoffs. Yeah. Like, we've had those times

with, like, the Memphis Grizzlies, we've had those times with Houston where it's like the chipping It's amongst you. Every game, you got that same champion.

And then you meet in the playoffs, and it's like, all right, here we go. Like, I got you. And you know, every game is different, bro. Every game is going to be different. You're like, even you go down, too old, you're up too old. You're like, man, shit. It ain't over. It don't matter.

It don't matter. And, like, that's how I felt when we played Atlanta. We got to play Lenin earlier that series. And I was mad because 2015, when I had Paul Pierce, I fractured my hand. And I finished the whole game one. I didn't know I had five fractions in my hands. I go to the back and take a shot in my hand, like a little white. I'm like, yo, I can't watch my bat.

I'm like, shit, I'm out. I got I missed like three games. I let me numb my hand up and finally came back and play. And I never forget, I blocked Schroeder's shot game five. And, uh, forget the rebound and score a live. Then they go up three, too. I never forget, then it showed in the Kent Basin were like, did it. Like, looking at me and posted a picture.

I'm like, oh, I got to get these motherfuckers. I got to get them. I got to get them. So when we went back and we got to play them that year, and I had like 24 and the fourth. Like I ended up with 42. I was like, I told you I was coming back. I told you I was coming back.

So, you know, like you said, you have those beefing, those personal battles. That shit means something. Yeah, that all black to the funeral. That's kind of like a whole, a whole little mantra, you know. But at the time, y'all had to playoffs, you're making waves. Was there ever a Big Three era moment for Washington where you and Brad were potentially going to get somebody or who was that player you were trying to add

that you guys thought could help you get to the finals. I really tried to get Paul George. You know what I mean? Like that year we were trying to get KD. I was like, bro, we got to get Paul George. Like we needed, this is a perfect three-man forage. I mean, I feel like we had the four and the five that was solid for us. Me and Braddon in the back court, we just, I just think Paul George could have help this.

Because I feel like that time in the east is LeBron. I mean, everybody knows Bronner. You got to have a three that can guard. Not saying you're going to be able to stop him because we know how dominant and Grady is fucking go back at him too that he has to respect. And I feel like Paul George would be in that guy. And we was trying to go get KD. And I was just like, we're not getting Kevin Durant.

Like he's not coming to D.C. Yeah. It's too much family stuff. It's too much. Nah, he ain't trying to do it. And we end up having Paul, which Paul ended up being great for. You know, like great vet for me. taught me a lot of his routine, the way he worked.

It was amazing. And we kind of got Paul because he thought Sam was staying. He thought Sam was going to stay with our coach. And that's the year Sam went and went to the Clippers. So Paul stayed for that one year And after that we just had to try to figure it out Yeah But for that one year I feel like we could have got

To the East guy to find anybody and break my hand But that's the guy I was going for for sure Paul George I remember you're on the list for KD But I think he went to Is that same year or the year after he went O KC? Yeah He got to yeah

So I was like man we got get him like Because come on right here What are we doing? Yeah That would be nice Kevin Durrance not cut But if y'all could have got KD If y'all could have got Katie.

It would have been written. Like, we know what the hell that would have been, but in my mind, I'm just saying we're not getting Kevin around there. Like, where we are, we're not the level where we feel like we're a championship team. That's what Kevin was going for. We need a person that's going to help us get there,

which Kevin would have got is there. But I just felt Paul George would have been the best fit for us at the time. I knew when I was looking at KD list of, like, teams that he was looking at. We was in that running to trying to get it. I knew the one team we didn't have to worry about with y'all because I knew he wasn't. I knew he wasn't going.

I'm like there's no chance. I told everybody, we're not going to. Yeah, you know. So I just knew like, just for that reason alone, like I knew, I'm like, Brunna had going to the crib. Like, so I just, I knew that. I was telling this the whole time, like, well, we got to go get PG. Like, put all our focus on PG, like, I mean, Kay ain't coming home then.

Yeah, that makes sense. And speaking of that big three, uh, and just you and Brad, like, playing together for eight years, what's your thoughts, kind of on what's happening with him in Phoenix right now, whereas kind of like he's kind of like the, almost in some instances it comes off as like scapegoaters, but I don't know they locker rooms, so I can't necessarily say that,

but like he'd obviously not start, you know, like, so just kind of what he, his whole situation and what he's going through there. I think it's tough. I mean, because like, I thought it was a tough move anyway going there early on, you know what I mean, three guys that could score the ball at a high level

and they all three need the basketball, you know what I mean? But we know, But Kay's the one guy of those three guys that you just say, you know what, just give me the ball on the mid-coast. Mid-post in the fourth quarter, I'm going to do my thing. I'm very efficient. So I think it was kind of tough because he didn't know where his shots was coming. And then all of his shots turned him to being just catching shoot shots for real. I mean, I think that kind of like wasn't his role.

And kind of, kind of listened to Kay had a post-in interview and he was like, I know he probably don't want to come out of the bench. He's still playing starting minutes like 35 minutes a night. But I think now he knows where his shots is coming from. like he's able to get into his rhythm he's able to have a bit more scoring game but it's like, yeah, I'm making $50-something million. Like I'm coming out of the bench. This shit don't add up.

It don't add up. You're not really getting a guy paying $50 million to come out of the bench. So I think in their mindset they're kind of looking for a guy that's more like a slash or like glue guy for them and it probably would fit better for them. You know what I mean? Because I feel like Brad,

feel like the same time right now, he still can go get 20, 25 at any given night. And he's had proven that coming out of the bench. So I think he wanted to kind of roll where he's going to have the ball more. And I think in Phoenix, he's just not going to work with D. Book and Katie or with it. Yeah, and I think it'll always be,

and it's tough in general, because whether you're playing starter minutes or not, if you're coming off the bench, it essentially slots you into a role. And just as a role player, I don't think people understand. You're not going to get the same shots every night. I don't care how many minutes you play.

As a role player, you just not going to get the same shots. every night because the offense isn't built for you to get those shots. Like, the same shot every night. It's always a different game plan on how they guard it. Absolutely. And so as a role player, the game plan may delete you right out of the offense because the offense ain't built for you anyway. So I'm wearing there, guard it's something. You may get two shots that night. I saw the other

night where I think Brad had like five points. He had like four or five shots. Right. Like, there's going to be some nights like that one is not designed for you. And I just think, you know, to have those nights. I like that. Too much talent, bro. Like, it's not, it's not, you're not getting the best out of. Bradley, man.

And it's like, if you come off, yeah, and I feel like if you're like, a guy that's been starting and been in that role, and I get it sometimes in some point of your career you have to take the back seat and come out of the bench. But if you feel like you're still in that moment, you feel assuring that you can still be that moment,

it kind of fuck with your mind, your mentality coming into the game. You know what I mean? Like, it kind of puts your position like, man, I know I can be out. Like, I know I can help better. But like you said, you come out of the bench, like, well, you might get 15 minutes now, you might get 20 minutes now, or you might get two shots or your leash is a lot shorter than it is when you're the number one, number two option, or you're that franchise guy.

So kind of the septing that role is a little bit difficult than a lot of people think. You know what I mean? They think it's so much easier. But if you used to being that guy and been that movement, it hurts, yeah. Like the worst thing to do is somebody with that much amount of talent and that much amount of game to know every game, how much time they're going to play. If you're a superstar, you know, okay, I'm finishing out the game, I'm closing out the game. If you're somebody like Brad and you're looking like, oh, man, I'm like 25, 30 minutes.

I don't know how this is going. Once you start, once you got that mentality, it's frustrating. It hurts because you can't think past, like the confidence of I'm the closer or I'm on the closing team. it's unpredictable. So you're ready, you're unready, you're getting shots, you're not getting shots. So it really just play with your confidence and your psyche

and more so your mentality going to the game. Because if you know like, all right, some dudes who come off the bench and play 20 minutes a game, they know they play in 20 minutes a game, that's their role. Somebody who is nice like Bradley Bill that should be overcapacity and can affect the,

game, that could potentially, you know, hurt his psyche or just hurt his rhythm and hurt the opportunities for the team to have a better rhythm and knowing how to win. But that's ultimately a coaching thing. You know, if you, if you got three higher guns on your team and you're not putting them in position to all be in rhythm, then you got to start looking at, man, who, who's mixing and matching these lineups where these dudes can't all get their game off? You went to a Wizards game earlier this month. How was it for you going back there

to receive the reception that you did in your return to a game? It was dope, man. I was in town because one of my close friends had a baby shower, and I was like, man, the game on Sunday, like, I just stay and go to the game. You know what I mean? Just to be back around at love,

you know, I mean, see a lot of people in front of facility that I haven't seen in a while. So it was dope, man. Like, I appreciate the tribute. The fans still show me the love that I feel like I deserve. And it was dope to be back in that environment. I mean, you kind of get the chills. They're trying not to, like, break down.

Because, you know what I mean? That was home for me. That was a place I never wanted to leave. I wanted to kind of play my whole career there. Until it got to a point where, you know, the front of my life, like, you know what? We just trying to completely rebuild. And we feel like you should go somewhere else. I mean, that's kind of the role I wanted to be is playing for one team,

my organization. But, you know, it's a business. Shit happens. you move on from it. But I still got a lot of love for the city. That's my second home. The city still show me love. And I always try to do as much as I can

when I go back there and try to visit as much as possible. So to get that type of love still and know how much I meant to the community outside of just basketball. That's what I really prided myself off of. You haven't officially retired, though, so they can't tell you yet when you're in Jersey getting retired. No, that bitch got to get retired. For sure.

Got it. Absolutely. Absolutely. Got it. Yeah. With your love of basketball, And, you know, you watch a lot of games. What do you think of the current with your squads?

And how would you improve the team? Oh, for me, I feel like they got to find that number one guy. You know what I mean, the franchise guy, you know what I mean? I think the young guys, they drafted. It's pretty, they're going to be good. I think they're going to be some great role players to kind of go into what they system needs. But I think they, like, you know what I mean?

Like they vets now and don't want to, they kind of see like they want to be out, you know? Yeah. So I think they got to find. And Drake probably contributed this. A lot of these teams don't really have vet. that's mentoring these guys that want to be there. Like, you know what I'm like,

all right, you know you signing me as a vet. I'm not going to play as much. I might not play, but I'm going to help the young guys know what the league is about. I think that's what some of these teams are missing. So I think if they can get a couple of those guys

to help out. But, I mean, they're probably going to be in a draft with the next two, three years, probably trying to get that one guy. That's that guy. And I think, I mean, once you find out who your guy is,

I think all those young guys can learn from. You know what I mean? I kind of look at the Rockets. You know what I mean? they found out who that guy, I feel like it's Jalen Green right now on Sagoon, and they put a lot of bets around him. They got a new coach, a new coach.

And so he don't fuck around. He's like, this, what we're doing, it's how we going. And they drafted a lot of young, great talent. I think they drafted too much great young talent that they might have to get rid some of those guys

because they don't get to get on the floor. Yeah, I mean, but I feel like the wizards are going the right direction. They just got a new front office and things like that. So it takes some time. I mean, but, you know, a lot of teams,

a lot of fans don't want to waste no time waiting. And the worst thing you can have a player, development when you have rookies and a young team is you can have the worst thing to have is vets that don't want to be there because that means that they don't really want to play or show the young or groom the young guys they show the young guys what's going on there's no there's no culture being built so i agree i got i got to i got to be blown up fast also one of the biggest trades uh being discussed obviously is jimmy butler you went through a tough trade uh you were traded from the Wizards, right?

The city you love. You arrived in Houston when Hardin was trying to be traded. You know, we thought, hey, man, I thought, okay, we crack it. You know, I thought it was going to be cracking. Man, that was. Yeah, I thought it was going to be too. Shit, I got then, it was.

You know, you went to the charity day. He was picking up full, locking up. Oh, that seemed like it was going to be social media is tricky, bro. Yeah, like, we was going at the charity game. Yeah. But I thought it was going to kind of work out. You know what I mean? Like, trying to figure out, like, which way they was going.

And I feel like it just was a tough spot for me. I mean, getting traded there, which I love. Like, didn't have no problem with the city of Houston. I mean, they showed me a lot of love. It was during COVID. It was a tough time. But it was just tough because I just came back. And I'm like, okay, I'm getting back to myself.

I'm healthy again. And I'm like, okay, I'm ready to hoop. Like, I ain't trying to sit down. I'm not trying to miss no time. I miss two years, you know what I mean, from my Achilles injury and then dealing with COVID and all the other personal problems I went through. And then after the first year, they just wanted to go to a rebuild. So I kind of got stuck in a position where it's like, I want to be playing.

Like, I know I can still start and play the high level for a team. And it's like kind of like we were just saying, you're like, I don't want to come off the bench. You know what I mean? Like, now if I do, this is going to be my trademark to everybody. Every other team in the league is John Walk is a bench player. Unless I'm going to back up like John Moran or Steph Curry. the one of those guys is that guy,

then I could be okay with that, but I didn't feel like I was in that right situation, the right time. And they even told me that I don't feel like you should, but what they did, how they built their team out and made the changes, they're in a great position. So I can see what they future and what they plan was. It was just a bad spot for me.

And then what was the atmosphere like, you know, having a teammate trying to be traded, you know, similar to what Miami going through with... To be honest, for me it wasn't bad. Like James showed up to every day, he did his work. He was professional. He came, did his work.

He didn't kind of add like he had any problems with us. Like whatever problems he had with the front office or whatever anybody else was doing and he didn't affect our team. You know what I mean? He did his job. He did his work and he got up out of there. So I can't say nothing bad about a guy that's still being professional coming and doing his work and going about his way.

That's the way I would look at it. I mean, I feel like you just got to continue to do what you got to do. And eventually it happens the way you want to happen. Like I know they probably like, damn, Jim, you just still missing planes. They're like, they're like, they, they, They ain't messing with that. You know what I mean? That's crazy.

And I had to explain to my home boy because he was like. I've been on that though. I was on that. But he was like, he was like, he was like, don't y'all just get to fly probably? Whenever I want him. Like, no, bro. Like, unless you got a family matter or something going on. You've got to be on a plane.

Yeah, you got to be on a plane. Yeah, I went through some shit like that when I was having beef with the organization. I wouldn't fly my own plane. But I was when you got to the airport having my driver come get me. And dunking out. Oh, we y'all lived in the city? You know, that happens sometimes. You know, I mean, you might get in late.

You might want to do your thing. Well, missing it to the plane completely, and they're waiting for you. They're like, we wait an hour for you. It's like, man, I'm going to make you. I'm on my own playing. Also, he pull up. Oh, he pulled up beside you and his jet,

like, he's jet waiting right there. Oh, yeah. I'm sorry, but put me on the team playing, man. No price of playing is expensive, man. Oh, my God. Tell me about it. I did my share. I did my share there.

And I was like, this is nice. And you don't get the food you get on the team playing. Team playing. Well, you know, for us, I was telling them, we had to order stuff. What we got there. We got all the rules, go get the catering food. We go. But yeah, I think, like, you know what I mean?

Like, in that position, it can be, like, kind of a distraction. You know what I mean? Like, you know what I mean? Because, like, I never been played for the heat, but I, like, I understand what the heat culture is and what they believe in. I think, like, me, I look at it, but I'm ever going through something.

I'm like that. If I'm between these four lines, I'm giving everything I got because this could fuck around be your last game, you know what I mean? So as long as you just being professional, I think that's the key. You got to look at it into it. And hopefully they do the right thing by you, by you being professional and doing the right thing by them. But like, we don't know.

I can't really say too much because I'm not in the locker room. I don't know what those conversations are like. They're just like if it was a different scenario and what I knew what it was. You've always been passionate about the younger guys coming after you. and having a high school tournament, you know, and being involved in the AAU scene, just always been seeing giving back. Are there any young guys that you are mentoring

in the league coming up right now? Oh, yeah, like, you know, I still try to talk to Jalen Green as much as possible. You know, I was there when he was a rookie. He's blossomed into what everybody thought he could be, and I think he just finding his niche. I still talk to KJ, Kian Martin, Jr., I mean, helping him out a lot.

And then Rob, you know, Rob Billingham, I know him since seventh grade, when you play for Combine, Jeff McGinnis' old high school team. So just try to talk to those guys. And I always tell all the young guys, like, I'm a phone call away. Like, I'm not one of those guys that's bitter that you getting to this level or doing that. Like, there's my job to pass along what I learned and the mistakes I made to help you out. So I even talk to all these high school kids.

Like, I got the old Glasgow tournament, which is mine. We just had it and I got like a lot of top kids in it. So it was dope. We had Westchester come out there for Trevor Rees' son. So they played pretty cool. But yeah, I just got a lot of guys I just talked to, you know what I mean? I try to go to games whenever I'm in certain cities and they see me and I say what's up? College career.

So True 41, do to John Wall. True 41. I don't know. Do the John Wall. That was out of nowhere. Where were you when you heard the track for the first time? I mean, you had a, come on, man, you got a song in college about you. I wish they had in Iowa.

Yeah, what? It's crazy, huh? But, no, it's crazy because I, I didn't even know they, like, I knew them they're younger to me. And they kind of went to school, like with my sister and covered my own boys. And I forgot, I forgot words. I think I was still in college when they made this song like in a regular season or in the tournament. And it was like, you got a song.

I'm like, what? The hell I got a song for. And it was just lit. I mean, I went up there and dance when I was up there. And then, yeah. It kind of blossomed. You had to John Wall. You had to dance.

You know, like, think about it. You would have got bread. What are your thoughts? Yeah. What are your thoughts? about NIL and how it's changing. Legally, you got the bread, because they was getting a bread at Kentucky.

Oh, man. Legally, it would have been able to get your bread. No, no. Legally, it would have been posting. And listen, I don't care. Listen, legally, not legally, I didn't get a dollar for me.

Like, this is. No, I'm done. I don't care. Listen, if NCAA's listening, not listening. This is the honest truth. Like, on everything I love, I not got nuts. John Callup.

No, B.D. We can have this conversation off camera. Coach Cowell. What I did do is Went to summer school Had a job We got paid for $1 an hour But only signed it for one hour

But like the money They ain't getting like $50,000 I couldn't wait for that paragraph That paragraph was everything Like I was wearing polo or sassie I was getting Levi jeans Like yeah this is what was going on in college But I feel like

Like a thousand dollars going to my mom for Like, it was nothing else. I couldn't take the hole, you know what I mean? But I think, you know, it was dope to a certain extent because it was supposed to be name and liking, I mean, what you're selling jerseys. Like, now it's to, like, a full bidding one. It's like every year, let's say like, Dray, like,

okay, look at the kid from Ohio State, Jeremy Smith, right? Somebody offering them 4.5 to hit the portal. Yeah. Like, why am I leaving the Ohio State? Like, I just won that championship, probably can go back the next two more years if I really want to, you know what I mean? So I get it for some kids that's, probably not going to make it to the league,

and it's probably the most money they might see. But I think they got to take the portal out, though, because, like, everybody's just going to the porter every year just to see, oh, who's going to offer me the most money. Like, I know one kid that was at this school last year was making $20,000, right? Here, the porter made $1.5. He only played two minutes a game.

Jesus, Christ. Happy for him, though, don't get me wrong. He's making the most money. He probably will unless he do something outside of basketball, go overseas. I mean, because he's probably not going to be a pro. But now it was like every year, okay, who's going to offer me the most?

I'm gone. Like imagine Drake when he's in high school, they're making $6 million. $6 million. So you're pulling up to your school with the best car. Yeah.

You think you really listen to your college coach unless you got a great foundation of like an assistant or mom or brother that's keeping another thing in control. A lot of these kids lose their passion and the love for the game because they're already reaching

what we try to get to the leaf for is to take care of our families, take care ourselves. They're getting this in high school. Yeah. A lot of these kids are going to be short-sighted and think they're doing it. Yeah.

You're going to miss out on the $500 million that's coming up in the England. Yeah, I'm in my tournament, right? Man, my tournament, I'm seeing kids iced out. Like, walking in, iced out, Gucci shoes. Gucci shoes. I'm to my merry pants. I'm like, all I had was a Nike sweatsuit. This is all I care for.

Like, you know, me going to a high school game. Even if you go to the summer, like, if you go, like, to the AU tournament they got in the summer, I didn't even think about walking into the Louis store. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I didn't know what it was. I didn't know what Louis was. You couldn't walk in there.

I knew the flea market one and put the Louis on the divorce and then hoping those work. But I hope they figured out and do it better. I mean, I feel like it's great for kids to get paid for what, like I feel like we all should have been paid for what we brought to the game, like lightness and selling our jerseys. But I think some of it is going a little too far, in my opinion. For sure.

I was thankful. I was thankful to get a little nice little Nike package from Uncle Wes or Vince Ball. Yeah, you was cool. Look out. They send you a Nike package every now and then. I get a couple sweatsuits out of there, a couple kicks. That's all good.

I do got one more. And this is for you too, Jay. I just thought of this. John, give me your top 10 all-time Kentucky team. And then do you think that Kentucky, with all is great. Blue Kentucky, blue spirit and heritage, could they beat Michigan State?

Hell. All time, team. No chance. What? Jay, you don't even believe that. Are you crazy? Hell no. All time?

No time. All time? No chance. Like you're saying college, like playing in college? I said, must we do this? Yes. Yes, please. What? Are you crazy?

Are you crazy? Come on. What? Yeah, we're the number one pick. Yeah, who's the starting five? Who's the second five? And can that team beat Michigan State all-time team? I got, I got DeMarcus at my five.

All right, so you're taking DeMarcus number one pick. I'm going to take the Irvin Magic Man, Johnson, himself. Okay, I got 80 at my four. 80 at the four. at the four for us, I am going to go the all time started five. Oh, let's do this.

A.C. Green. Hmm. Lebaugh me. Did A.C. Green go to Michigan State? No chance. No chance. I think at the four,

I'm going to go with myself. Of course. Okay. Of course. At the three, I'm going Jamal Madden. At the three, I am going Steve Smith, Motorson, Smith. Oh, shit.

At the two, I'm going, Tayshan Press. Tayshan Press at the two, at the two, I am going, it's getting real. Damn. Do I want Scott Scows at the one or two? Magic at the one. He got to match up with me if he had the one. Magic at the one. So Scott Scows.

Oh, I'm at the one. Scott, Scots. And then that center. You gotta go with that jumping dude. Zeebo. Johnny Green. You know jumping Johnny Green. Yeah.

Jumping Johnny Green. You got Zbo too. Zbo animal. But Zibo, Zob, I get y'all to play one. I get y'all six men too. For sure.

Six and seven men. There's too much. I don't even know. I got too many people. I just put anybody there. I got too many people. Y'all going to lose for sure. You're crazy as hell

He's a better coach than Cal so we're gonna out coach you off a show It's happening That's cool Y'all you can out coaches We don't out play y'all So we got We're gonna beat y'all

We're gonna be way tougher We're gonna be up and down that court We're up down that court Oh yeah We got scouts ain't tough I'm worried about Scott Scal's is tough I know I'm just talking shit

I know Scott Scott Scott I'm just talking shit I want to see what Jake bottom to say You see his own face expression He like Scott Scals Hey dude The Jamar Mazz man Tayshan Prince

AB Magic Magic is magic I'm putting Tayshan on magic Tashon on magic Tashon on magic Tashon going to get

body put in that post I'm saying I just got to put him on him though Body in the post Tash Who your fireman because

Buggie is bull and whoever your fireman is Who are then AD you're not finished over A.D. Dr.

Mike Kyle I would D. HAL Kyle was We almost play AD them and we

lost A D back there having bad breakfast He was about to catch all the type of hell. You're about to give him all the type of elbows. Oh, one elbow, shot, make out of here, y'all, all the gay, all the type of hell on that block.

And he was smacking shit pushing the break. Not for sure. Well, your five, though. Your five got to match your bug. Because bug on the bully shit, too. I'm trying to think of that one. Y'all two should have matched. Y'all would have got a jet in first quarter.

Like, first two minutes in the game, Dr. Oh, yeah. It wouldn't be. Jemon Green. and Demarcus cousins. They have. They out. Hey, Dave,

hey, hey, Drey, y'all would have been like with Bud, dropped the elbow on Swash right. We played Louisville. He was supposed to be in the first two minutes.

We had eight texts in the first minute of the game. That's crazy. That's crazy. I'm crying. This is a funny story, right? Tony Delt was on our staff, right? It's his cousin or nephew was on the Louisville team starting.

We could not get E. Bled to calm down. He told, Tondale, I'm gonna whoop his ass. Which side you pick of his? I'm like, boy, you can't tell the man the biggest cousin to nephew, bro. I'm like, what are you supposed to do?

I forgot who Glenn was there too. That was my rook. Yeah, that was a pit bull. That was a pit bull. That was a pit bull. I think, I don't know. We might, we, Boog gonna have an advantage for sure.

He'll have an advantage for sure. That's all we need. But we're gonna get him in foul trouble, all that. Like, it's ways around, just his talent advantage against us. like like that I still think we win

it just won't be talented talented there like he gonna have that advantage for sure 100% no matter

who I choose he'll have an advantage at the five but everywhere else what everyone else hell where

don't like Jamal Madbair and Steve Smith ain't a great match that's a great matchup but Smitty and oh man Smitty

but Smitty was a breakguard in college he was that's true so you got magic to get smitty at the guard.

But you figure that out. Like, that's fine. Like, we'll be all right. You putting both for them on the person. I have to say, Jaymond. A lot of side. J-Mine, I feel like John Walt really know Kentucky basketball history. I feel right now,

J-Man, you kind of stuck. You kind of stuck. I'm stuck on a five because. I'm stuck on a lot of position, bro, because I forgot, like, Derry Anderson. No, for sure. Like, I can go way deeper into the vault.

Yo, I know what I'm saying? I got like 15. I can go way deeper into the vault, but I've been, I've been stuck out of five, man. I think like that's where, that's why I said, we're going to, we're going to struggle at five for sure. But everywhere else, I can go deep into the vault now. I built an AI called Kobe. Let me ask Kobe. You got Greg Kessler.

Grant Kelsler. Yeah, Greg Kelsler. Gregory Kelser. But Kelly got some sense. You got Paul Davis. Paul Davis. I can't be like, I'm a big part of his family. I can't be like Paul Davis against Andre Hudson.

DeMarcus cousin. Now, Paul Davis, in real life, would a game. Kevin Willis? Kevin Willis. Kevin Willis? Kevin Willis? Kevin Willis? No way.

No way. He knows what he gave him some hell. Yeah, but he wouldn't have bullied him. No, not bullied him, but he would have him. He would have him hell. He wouldn't bully. No chance. Ain't nobody from Michigan.

Staying him bullied. Adrian Payne that's what I was thinking of AP Adrian Payne he was too little but he was good college play

I like Andrew Pay for sure AP No that's what I'm saying I'm going to go But if I was doing Michigan State I was say Matine Cleaves

Of course Magic Johnson I can't start Steve Smith No you start You start Magic played One two three

four five For sure Steve Smith played a one two three For sure Put Mattine Cleave, Steve Smith, Magic

I pick Smitty Smithy Smith? Yeah, Steve Smith Yeah, I think Smith I pick Magic Yep

I picked myself Oh, you put Scott Scows though Yeah Scott Scows is a good one too You need a center though I got I left I got Rondo

I got like He got more he got Ron Mercer Antoine Walker Uh-oh He's going to Okay Oh there we go

I was reading when you were going to say to him. Pete, okay. I go Deer and Foggling. I go, Dan, I go to leave mom. Okay. Go follow on him, Jay. You know what I'm saying? I go max.

Yeah, we keep going. Okay, okay. It ain't sweet now. Yeah. No, I know what y'all got. I don't know. You know, I'll put it into my AI algorithm and I'll see, I'll see, I'll say, got a tech.

What your AI algorithm says. Yeah, who got the best. got the better team. We know UCLA is incomparable, so we won't even go there. Y'all can't compete with us. Who can't? Not Kentucky. You crazy is here. Come on, don't do that.

Y'all got some shit. Lou Alcender. Lou Alcender. Lou Alcender. So all you need to know. Stop being here. Stop. Karee.

Stop and Kareem. Stop. Bill Warren. Oh, Kareem and Magic. Like, come on. Now, we ain't going to do that. No, we're going to do that. Lou Alcender in college, bro. Louis Alcindor in college is a phenomenon.

We're not even, we're not going to... So it's magic. No, no, no, no, no. We're not going to even discuss that. Don't do that. We're not going to... We brought Deep Book off the bench on our team. Like, that's how Loisie was.

He wasn't good enough yet. It's cool. Listen. No, he was cool. He just won't no start of yet. He wasn't no start of yet for sure. Hey, Book about to break the all-time leading score of a record. in Phoenix history.

So before he do it, I'm gonna just say it right here, congrats the deep book. That's fire. Congrats, congrats. That's fine. Kentucky, dog. Hey, but BD, hold on.

Magic and, come on. Three national championships. Magic won one. Four years. One one sophomore year and got out of there. Hey, hold on,

Drake. Hold on, Drake. Who was he playing against people? He beat Larry Bird. He beat Larry Bird in the national championship. No, I know, I know Magic B. I'm tomorrow.

Korean was playing against BD. Yeah, that's all I said. I said, I know Magic Beat. He started sitting. Elvin Hayes, he was playing against, come on, man, he was playing against all kind of great. Come on, dude. No, they are great.

I'm not, man. I know him. I couldn't wear number 11 in D.C. Exactly. I know how great he was. The teams we name is like three or four guys. It's like that. Come on.

You name a team. They got one guy. Who's going to stop? Who's going to stop. I cried. I couldn't wear them 11. Kareem. I'm Dijab.

Nobody's, stopping him, but I'm putting AD on them, but nobody's a goal, but I'm just saying, you're not going to act like, like, I am going to act like that. You got to, y'all got Kareem when it comes to like we can sit right in that conversation. No, you cannot at all. When it's like in college.

No. Right there. In college, are you what? Are you kidding? Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? What? Are you kidding me? Magic could have did it again. It was just like Oh, my God. Los Angeles. Put your glasses back down, bro.

Put your glasses back on. Now, who's the other? Man, Charles, what's you writing in a chat, man? Charles, you? Yeah, we want to hear them out of the UCLA player. Bill Walton, Ed O'Bannon. No. Marcus Johnson.

We only know, no, no, it's only because of the- Marcus Johnson. Nope, he came standing in this conversation. Man, they all won. So, yeah, that's fine. They all won. So did Matt Ispia. Oh, my God.

I'm saying? It's one of the national championship. I know, yeah, I know. But we're talking Steve Smith. So, man, it's a should be in. Hey, hey, hey, like you're not about to mention. You better stop it.

And your uncle, rounding out the five, I'm going to take myself off the five. I'm going to put Draymonds, God, uncle, and the five, the creator of the Warriors run, Bob Myers. Talk about impact. Now say something.

I got nothing to love. That was a good one. You can't do that. Joe, Jay, Jay. I got nothing for a man. Who's going to stop Bob Myers? What? When he doubled down to J. Maher,

when he tripled. down on Draymond. Come on, dude. I got nothing below for Bob. We're going to move on. Jay Wong, for you, what are you doing to continue to stay ready,

optimistic about returning to the NBA? Are you kind of moving on from that? Are you optimistic? You still want to return? Kind of where are you staying with that? I still got like a year. I think like a year or two, I'm going to give it, you know what I mean?

But I'm still working out every day, you know what I mean? But doing broadcast and getting into that. field, you know what I mean, trying to do some games. I went to the G-Leod showcase, speak on that. I mean, I think that's something like I still want to be involved in basketball. You know what I mean, I broadcast and try to be a GM one day. But also, you know, we're just doing business stuff, networking, I mean, investing in certain things. But most important thing I'm joining them is being a father, you know, I mean, being hands-on,

being able to be around my kids all day, every day. I mean, they get into all the sports. Yeah, I mean, my oldest son just asked me two weeks ago to play basketball. That's killer. I mean, they kind of brought some, brought some cheering joy to my eyes because I didn't want to force me, you know what I mean? a lot of parents forced their kids. I want him to fall in love.

What do you want to fall in love? He loves soccer right now. He's a soccer star. So he just got into basketball, baseball. My youngest one, that's the football guy. You know what I mean? He playing flat football. They're telling him put a flat.

He hit the kids so hard and followed me out of the league. I'm like, I got one of those broozers, you know what I mean? So I'm enjoying that, though. You know what I'm still like staying ready, putting the work in, you know what I mean? Enjoying the game watching it. But, you know what I mean, you never know what happens. but I give it like another year, like next season and see what happens if it don't happen,

then I'm cool with like, like, you know what I mean, giving it up. I mean, I feel like I had a great run. I wasn't mad about it. I mean, injuries are part of the game like we talked about. But, you know what I mean? Basketball don't bounce for every, you know what I mean? I always want to be known as something more important

than just a basketball player. That was a great thing and a great run in my career. That's how it ends. But, you know what I got a lot more life to live. So, I mean, I can't trip off that. Yeah, you got a lot more to give to the game. I know when I was, I call it basketball, purgatory when you want you know it's like i got one or two more years i just want to walk off the

court on my own terms and fill that one more time and find a young dude that the last young dude i can mentor i think you know um all of that kind of like just tug at your soul so i just wanted to know you know from you like going back to the league kind of what would joe role like what is your mentality, you know, going back into the league, you know, in these, and I would say not the last few, I would say last few years, not too, right, because having someone like you would be valuable to teams. Oh, for me, like, just be real. Like, you know what I mean, me, I'm just always want to be an honest person.

So for me, if I go to a team that need help and I feel like I could feel that boy cool, but if I go to a team where they're like, you know what, we don't even, we just need you to be a great vet presence. I'm fine with that, you know what I mean? Because up front, they're being honest with you, you know what I mean? It's kind of like you don't never want to be blindside, you know, but it's all part of a business, but just let me know what it is when I sign up for it. And if I sign those papers, I know what it is.

And I mean, I feel like I can help a lot of young guys out. I think a lot of teams need a vet to mentor these young guys. And that's even showing them how to watch films, showing them how to be a point guard, all those things I think I can help with. And I'm cool with every role I get out between the being. Like you say, you just want to go out the way you want to go out in any on the crew, Salem. That's the fact, do you see teams right now that you like, that team for sure, I could be a vet and help these guys out to help culture all of those things?

Yeah, I see a few teams. I mean, you got D.C., a special team I've been there before. I feel like you got Charlotte that can help the young guys out in Lamello and Brandon Miller and those guys. I think Utah, Utah can use some vets to help those guys out, you know what I mean? but I think a lot of these teams are doing a better job that they know that they need nowadays because a lot of time they was booting the vets out and I think because they

they was giving the vets kind of mixed signals like we might want you to play a lot of men that we might not I think you just tell them like you know what I mean kind of like a Todd Gibson role like he's doing me out there in Charlottow you look like Patricia Thompson Roe he's helping those guys out in Cleveland you know what I mean like if I get in I get in if I don't I'm here to help help the mentor and try to keep those guys on the right path

and I think Ali needs to continue to have vets. Even if it's me or not me down the road, I think all team lead vets to help these young guys to keep them in that platform to keep them to understand. And like you said, we kind of got to get that old culture back to them to understanding. It's not just sweet. Like these rookies get the walk in there on this,

no rookie duties. It's cakewalked to it's handed to them. Like, we all had to earn it. No matter if you was a top five pick, second round pick on draft, we had to earn what we had. Atlanta and New York, too. I would add those two teams.

Atlanta and New York. New York, hey, New York, you might not be a vet just on the sideline. Tills might have you doing suicide. Those guys got like four guys in the top five minutes. You know, New York, they're going to phase out or they're going to tire out. Yeah, they're going to burn out. They're going to burn out. Jalen Brunson being a small guard, that score a lot, I just see you being, you know,

you could be a key component defensively, you know, and it's to help stabilize, especially in the playoffs, right? because you are born, you know, veterans are born for the playoffs. And I think that's where, you know, you really start seeing the true value of an experienced guard or experienced vet. Because when you put them in in the playoffs, they've been there, they know,

and they know how valuable possessions are. So, you know, I say the Knicks. Trade them had one, S-Dod. Absolutely. Y'all had S-Dade. S-D. I had S-D. I had S-D.D.

I had S-D. Man, it was special. And that's another guy we forgot, like, didn't have an injury. Yeah. Hit him in crazy. Bad boy. That's a fact. But he mastered that mid-range, though.

Don't give him no way. You're not blocking. You're trying to block him. You're following them every time. You're going to foul him every time. Like, go and give him two free throws. Yeah, I. Forget about it.

Daily is mid-range in the game. Crazy. Before we get out of here, always love a good list. Who's your top five number one picks? Since when? Since, go back to, yeah, 2000. 2000. 2000.

That's my era. Decades. I can add every now. From 2000 to now. And you, number one pick, you should be. He's looking at his computer right now, John,

Tommy. I'm telling him fully. I'm looking at the, uh, you're right? He got the Wikipedia. He got the big screen behind. He got a big screen.

I go 2010 to now. 2010 to now? 2010. I go. me Kai AD Anthony Edwards

and Wemby I really wanted to put Apollo up there but I go Wemby Antman I got to put Antman up there though For sure Not Ben Simmons IDJA But if you take me off

If I take myself off I put Paulo in there You know what I mean? But are you taking yourself off? Huh But are you taking yourself off? No. So you got. No, I'm not.

Me, Kyrie, I'm the one, Kyrie the two, and my three. AD is my four, and let Wembe play the five. It's a great time five. No Zions. That's a good one. No Zion, no Ben Simmons.

Don't start your shenanigans. Carl Anthony Towns. See, Kat is up there, but I just like AD. You got AD and then the shit Wemby doing it. Markell folks, you got Markell folks. I think he would have been special if he didn't have that show then.

Anthony Bennett. Anthony Bennett. Hey, he might be close to, um. Man, he could have been a Draymond Green type of, you know. Man, like, did he start his career? He missed like his first, what, like 20-some shots. Yeah. Oh, yeah, that I heard.

He didn't score. That set you back. I think that's what kills him. That's going to set you back from. Your first three games, you don't score at all. Like, you couldn't get a free throw. I think they kind of killed this company. Yeah, no, that's set you back, especially as a number one pick.

What? You want to score at least 10 on the first game. You might not, might have a bad game. Like, my first game, we played Dwight. I'm like, shit, I can't shoot no limbs with this. This is like, damn. I remember I spit down the court, he blocked the shots. Bro, that's probably three, that's probably three games every year that you showed up.

Like, oh, that's the number one pick. You got a donut. Ah, damn. Hey, dude, you out here, you're out here showing up serving donuts. Ouch. That's got a kid. You know what,

but you, but you know they say, this is the game. Right. You know, that's starting with your mind and then. He was like,

am I? Like, I ain't scored. Shit. Am I? I ain't scored. I think, I think if he wasn't the number one pick,

he would have a possible chance that had a decent career. But who went to that year? I see him to beat. Nah, hell. The beat was in league way before the end. Victor Oladipo? Is that Vitt?

Did he go three or four? Did Vick go two that year? Let's see. To the match? Yeah, I think Vic, maybe. Is that Wade's draft? Yeah, four. That is.

He was four. Wade is four. So Otto was three? Yeah. Yeah. And Vic was too. Yeah. Man, damn.

I don't think they knew what to do. You know how you look at it like that? Who's supposed to be one out of these five? Like, I mean, I think I would have Alex Lynn. Alex Flynn. Alex Flynn. You had Anthony Bennett, Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter, Cody Zeller, Alex Lynn, Nerlet, Neurlis, Noel.

Ben McClamore. He was supposed to be the number one pick, but he had towards ACL that year. Ben McLemore, 7, Contavius Pope. uh eight he was cold at jay bark nine uh c jay mccullough he was cold and miss michael carter williams was the rookie of the year at 11 janis was 15 15 even adams 12 a limit yeah nobody would be that but that bitch should have been him you know he got back sometimes it looked like we go ahead he was it rooney gobert he was it Rudy's going to have Rudy go bear. He was 27.

I'm doing it today. I do. Keep my mouth closed today. I see. He's out there getting barbecue. John Wals said it. It's unanimous. I'm just saying to like,

listen, this is my point. I do. Like I said, then we could go wherever y'all want to go. You're defense of play here, but you've got to be able to guard people. You can't just get put on the bench and for a quarter. It's hard out here.

If I got to take you out because you're getting cooked. How are you the defensive player here? That's all I have this conversation with my friends all the time. I'm like, bro. That don't make no sense at all. No brain. Yeah, it's tough. You mentioned a little bit that you went back to the G League,

when a showcase, started doing some analyst work. You know, talk about that. How is that feeling for you? You know, what you like about that? It was dope, man. It was something new. You know what I mean? Try to branch out and try something else.

But I mean, I see Dre do it. You know what I mean? I see Jamar Crawford, one of my good friends in the league doing it. And I just get to talk about the game in basketball. You know what I mean? Something that I love to do. And everybody always say you're always talking about it 24-7. Like when I'm watching the games, I'm always acting like I'm coaching them playing still.

So just being at a problem where I get to talk about the game and be around the game I love. I'm willing to try to do. And possibly anything except for coaching. I just can't do don't coach. These young guys, you make you want to get over here. With a man purse. Nah, Dre.

No, Dre. You coach you. Hey. You got somebody in the fool Nelson over there. You're going to be like Charles Oakley in the court. Like, get your, get your ass over here. I can't. You're going to be that $10 for lunch.

I can't do a dude walking in the gym with a man purse, not working hard. I mean fire. I be fired. Don't be, BD, you can't do that today. I go in there

I want to the ball boys cut all your fucking Louisville time luggage. Cut his purse up. I bet you we get a reaction. Still his purse. Oh, my purse! My purse!

Jay Wall, we appreciate you coming on the show, brother. Good luck. Whenever you do decide that you're done with it, congratulations on your jersey retirement, bro, because it's happening for sure. But man, it's been an incredible journey. And regardless of what happened with it,

like what you did in the league, what you did coming from Raleigh and just continue, like you look at the young guards that come out of Carolina, like, CP a little removed from them. You know what I'm saying? And like, you kind of filled that gap. You know what I'm saying? Like with Steph,

Steph is from Charlotte, but it wasn't like that, right? Like, Steph, like, he was the kid of an NBA player. And so his upbringing was just different. It wasn't like he was the guy that was giving a young kid from North Carolina hope, you know what I'm saying? Like, because his upbringing was different.

And you were that guy who was like giving these young guys hope. And now you look at the Rob Dillie Ham's, you know, you look at the, The eight and holloways, you know, and all these young guys coming out of Carolina. Like, that come off the hills of what you did and what you brought. And the swag that Rob Dillenham walk around with, like, that come off the hills and what you brought to the game. And we honor that, bro. Like, a lot of people try to make it, you know, try not to respect what's been done, brother.

Your career, stellar lived up to the hype, a number one pick and live up to it. We just talked about it. How many guys don't live up to it, bro. So I just want to tip my hat to you. Brian, thank you. We thank you for coming on the show. Appreciate that. Appreciate. Thanks for having me for sure. I want to just echo that. Like your character, man, just keep walking in your light, you know, keep basketball around you. You are basketball.

And like everything you gave to the game and giving to the game, you know, it's more to come. And, you know, who you are as a person and your game, you like the pride of every kid growing up that was a have-not, you know, or a kid that want to have. And so you are, you, your story and every day you walk, you know, just know that you're giving that to people and your character is what's going to continue to make you blossom for your second back at best act, you know, in basketball. Appreciate that. Appreciate that. Appreciate every show.

Yeah, absolutely. That's a wrap from this episode of the Dreyman Green Show with my dog, B.D. Special guest, Jay Wall. We appreciate you, brother. Peace. The volume.