The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Draymond Green Show w/Baron Davis: Norman Powell REACTS to Draymond’s night night celly vs. Rudy Gobert + funny Kawhi Leonard Stories

Episode Date: December 10, 2024

In today’s episode, Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell joins the show to discuss several topics. He reacts to Draymond Green's exciting play against Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00), shares his experience of becoming a starter (28:00), and talks about what it’s like to play alongside James Harden. Norman also reflects on his long-time relationship with Kawhi Leonard, sharing the funniest thing he has seen Kawhi do, an example of "Kawhism," and his thoughts on how good the Los Angeles Clippers will be when Kawhi returns (1:07:00). Additionally, Draymond discusses what was necessary for him to transition to coming off the bench for Jonathan Kuminga (52:00). Lastly, Norman highlights the scouting report on Draymond, shares some wild trash talk with Dray, and expresses how great it is not to share an arena with the Los Angeles Lakers (1:20:00). (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) #Volume #Herd  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The volume. This episode is sponsored by Game Time Ticketing app. The start of the NBA season is underway and you don't want to miss the hype atmosphere watching a basketball game live. Energy of the fans at the beginning of the season is incredible and Game Time has a new feature called GameTime Picks that makes getting tickets to see your favorite teams play live even easier.

And it filters out of the flump to show you incredible deals on great seats so you don't have to waste time searching through. thousands of tickets. I like using the Game Time app when I want to attend a concert or comedy show. Game Time Ticketing app is the only ticketing app that gives you a complete peace of mind

with your purchase. I really like the all-in pricing because it shows how much I'm going to have to pay. I'm looking at the Game Time app right now, and it's easy to find different tickets and different price points. The NBA season is beginning, and I know your favorite team is going to need your support.

Take the guest work out of buying tickets with Game Time picks. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code green for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem code G-R-E-E-N for $20 off. Download Game Time today. What time is it? Game Time.

What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Dremont Green Show with my dog, B.D. What's up? Before we get into this episode, make sure you subscribe to the Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis so you don't miss any episodes. Follow the show on Twitter, Drey Mon's show, so you don't miss none of these major announcements.

And I'm happy to introduce a Bruin Legend, NBA champion, Mr. I'm not a shot, a tough shot taker. I'm a tough shot maker. See a bucket, be a bucket, certified bucket getter,

my dog, Los Angeles Clipper Guard, and NBA All-Star candidate Norman Powell. What's going on, man? I appreciate the interview and the intro, man. Excited to be here. It's great to see you having a year you haven't because I feel like every time we will play all,

you will bust our ass anyway. So it's good to see you doing it to everyone else now and everyone get a taste of what you've been doing to the Warriors for years, brother. but the year you having, man, it's great to see. I appreciate that, man, especially coming from you, man.

It means a lot. Norm, I remember your pre-draft workout with the Warriors and sitting in the locker room chopping out with you after the workout. Yeah, that was a minute ago, man. Damn, 10 years.

I thought there was a chance. I thought there was a chance you would end up with us. That would have been... See, the problem was back then, I couldn't shoot. That is true. That is true.

And we needed shooting at that time. Yeah, because I remember you at school at UCLA, and like you was a slasher, defensive player, just talk about really your evolution, you know what I mean, from, you know, UCLA coming in as a dunker, highlight dude, to like your senior year being the score, one of the top scores on the team, and then your NBA progress.

Yeah, I think just the development piece, you know, I mean, especially going to UCLA, like all of us coming out of high school, we was a guy, you know what I'm saying? we're scoring, we're doing everything, teams playing through us. You know, going to UCLA, you know, I still thought I was going to be that guy. But being under Coach Hallin, you know, Holland was in the half court, you know, it was all defense, slow it down, grind it out, run sets. You know, it really didn't tailor my game. But I thought those two years under him helped me defensively.

And then when we got Coach Alfred, it really opened up my game offensively, you know. But I think still by that time, like I wasn't sure. shooting the three ball that well, you know, still slashing transition, getting to the basket, you know, getting on the rim. And then going to pre-draft and working out, we did a high emphasis on just making sure my shooting was consistent. And we knew that, you know, for me to get drafted and me to make it on the NBA floor is going to be the defensive side of things.

So I was just focused on that, you know, and then once I got my foot in the door, it was all about showing them a little bit more. You know, I always felt like I was a score. I always was able to put the ball in the basketball. I just wasn't able to do that and show that consistently in my college career. And once I got a chance to do that, and, you know, the floor on the NBA opens up. There's nobody sitting in the paint. You know, they got a lot of rotations and things.

So I think just going in the summer league, it really opened up my game fully, you know, and being able to show that I can score. And I think I average 20 right off the bat in Summer League. And that really kind of put the eyes in that I can, you know, I have the ability to put the ball in the basketball. NBA level. And then it was just continuing to work, you know, and learn and grow the game. Yeah, absolutely.

Hey, before you say something, Dre, you know, you talked about the league. You talked about ISOs. Like, you know, I like to throw in these icebreakers, you know, Norm, you know, before we move to the next, you know, this is about you. But I got to talk about defensive players. and my boy, Jemond Green's playing against Rudy Gaubert, walked him down,

Norman Powell style, you feel what I'm saying? Cove dunk, then the Monday night, night night celebration. You feel like that? I was telling him before that, man,

what had come from, went back to the founding youth. I ain't seen it in the minutes. You know, I don't dunk anymore, man. If I have the opportunity, I just lay the ball,

I'll go against it too. I just run back, man, but I knew. I don't know, man, I turned that corner. I knew I had to turn that over. The funny part is it was the perfect setup because it was against Rudy to do, like, all the stuff going on. It was against him. He backing up to, I knew what time it was.

I was like, he was about to go at him. Hey, man, he started throwing elbow. He kept throwing elbows at me, bro. I was chilling. I was trying to cause no issues. And he kept throwing elbows at me, bro, even the one where he flopped. Like, ah, like a hot.

Man, flop. Like, before he took off, bro, he threw this crazy up on him. I'm like, man, y'all keep letting breath throw elbows at me. This is crazy. They don't know, man. Rudy sneak dirty, man. Rudy sneak dirty. It's crazy.

It's crazy, bro. Dude should be throwing elbows. But, hey, Jay, hold on. That was falling, man. I want to know. I know you got to walk. You got to walk us through the setup. What made you?

You know what I mean? Like, you saw Rudy go bear. You know what I mean? So I know, Norm, though, as an ISO dude, oh my God, this is the dude I have problems with on the island. Because you went between the legs. You had a bop about yourself. So I'm going to take you through the whole thing.

So we go to, we go to the time out. And then Seth Cooper tells me, like, yo, you should get it and go. and like you're going to have Rudy on you. And so I'm like, all right. I'm like, all right. But I ain't about to say that to Steve. Like, yo, Steve, get me the ball. So I'm like, all right.

Sure enough, he comes from behind the bench. And he tells Steve like, yo, you should give Drey. Like get a bar to Draymond. He's going to have Rudy on him. He can just set the offense. Everybody else, Jayton McDaniels is all of them. They're going to be pressure on everybody. He's like, so get a bar.

Or Draymond, he can set the offense. And so I go into, I start going to tween, tween. Now, what I'm initially thinking is he dropping, I'm going to hand his ball back to Steph. But once he started dropping and Steph started coming up, I just took the rub, rough screen, Steph set a great screen. I turned that mug over. And then I hit him with the night night.

And it's crazy. because I really start doing the night night because I thought they called the file because Jay McDane's pushed the shit out of me. So I thought they called it and one, but I couldn't hear it. So I started doing the night night. And then I realized we needed to run back.

And it's crazy. Katie texts me last night. The first text I saw was Kate saying, yo, you're a fool for running down the court full speed doing night night. I didn't know until I watched the, bro, I had blacked out. I didn't know until I watched the video.

All the way down court. That was hilarious, man. They got this man going crazy. Somebody. I did not all the way down the court. Somebody sleepwalking. It was a big step down the court, too, man. That was hilarious.

It was like a night-night mixed with a shot. Come back down the court. I appreciate. I appreciate the big fella. stuff and let me do a rendition of what they do, man. I appreciate it. Hey, Norm, speaking of going back to college, you just spoke about Coach Howland.

And I have an issue, you know, oftentimes teams have shoot-around or practices when they're in L.A. At UCLA. And every time I walk in that gym, I get offended. And I want to know how you feel about this. I get offended because... everybody's on the wall is a first round pick

and it's just like it's no like respect for second round picks and I look up there and I'm like, damn, if I'm a second round like, if I went here, y'all wouldn't even have me

on your wall. I think that's quite dumb. And so then I immediately think about you, Norman, I'm like, y'all are not going to have Norman Powell on your wall? Now, you become an all-star this year, possibly.

And if that happened, and then it really looks, stupid like, wow, y'all don't have Norman Powell, y'all? I get offended every time I walk in there. So I just want to know how you feel about that. Because BD was just talking about, man, I come into UCLA football game and norm go to that seat. I go to the ball.

But Del got you on a wall. And I personally feel some type of way about that. So I need to know how you feel about it. Yeah, I mean, you know, I do feel some type of way about it. But at the same time, like, I respect the tradition of UCLA. You know what I'm saying? Like, you got, like, all-time greats there. Like, it's, it's so hard to crack that, that, uh, that door open.

Man, it's, you know what I'm saying? Like, even like BD, like, BD is like, you know what I'm saying? They like top three, top, you know, five point bars that ever come out of there. You know what I mean? Like, you know, and. But I ain't crack nothing, Norm. I ain't crack nothing. I ain't got no final four.

I ain't got no all-American. That's what I'm saying. It's so hard, like, the requirements. Like, even, like, like, the requirements. Like they have a setup. I don't know if you've been in like the, like the Polly hallway going to the basketball, the men's side. Like they have a whole wall of like the All-Americans. And it's like four-time NCAA, whatever, like first election.

It's three-time this. I'm like, dudes ain't even like in school long enough to get that. So y'all, neither one of y'all did. Nothing. Like the standard is so crazy. The standard is crazy. I was good. I didn't go to UCLA.

I was gone. I was gone. I was gone. I was sparked off. I know. I know. It's tough, bro. Like, you know what I mean?

At UCLA, it's tough. It's just tough to crack that code. You got to win the national championship. You know, it's like, it's Kevin Love, Jersey. No, he went. No, like they, like, Russ, Caleb. Like, we can go down the line.

Like, nobody, like, Drew, none of those guys, Jersey will ever be retired. Who's the last Jersey to be retired? Ed O'Bannon Jesus Y'all some don't know 1995 All-American

BD I just want I just want all y'all to know you, Norm Russ Kayla Drew I just want

all y'all to know Zach you too Loon Loon I just want I like Yon

Slop Yon I just want all y'all to know. Y'all some bones. I just want to know. You just know the Spartans wasn't mentioned with it, so it's all right. Yeah, I got to get them ships up. You know what I mean?

Y'all got to get them ships up. Man, you would have to. Yeah, man, literally. If you're not winning a championship, like they're not even hanging up like anything last. Like, Sweet 16s don't get hung up. Like, Elite 8 is going. Final four is none of that.

If it's not a championship, it's not going. And if it's NIA championship, whatever it is, like, it's going to the student recreation center. Like, we're not putting that up in Pauley. Like, it's crazy. Come on, man. We lead the universities in the most champions. You know what I mean? We are a championship.

Draymond, you don't want to do this. I know. I love you, you guys. I actually love you, sir. I actually love. It's actually Tell him, Norm. You know what's ironic about UCLA

is we don't live too far away from L.A. My kid, like DJ, loves UCLA. And so it's, it's, you know, I'm staring at the Michigan. Yeah, man. Go ahead, make him a broom, man. He's going to be a broom.

Get your head clamp? Can you say that? Don't worry about it. Yeah, all that. No, Michigan State. You know, but he ride past. every day and it's like, oh, that's UCLA, that's UCLA. I go work out there. That's UCLA. Like, Daddy, we're going to UCLA. It's just a familiarity with it for him.

But I will say, as much as I love UCLA, I love the campus, I'm appreciative. Like, it's going to be very hard for UCLA to reach that level of success again. Like, it's just too competitive. It's so competitive. Why? Like, what's happening? What is this thing? Like, because y'all ain't. The biggest thing is, I think it's tough, man. We, it's no knock on you. Like, we, we are tough with adapting to change. Like, the standard that John Wooden, like, the pyramid of success, like, the core foundation

of, like, the fans and, like, the donors and boosters and stuff are, like, so stuck on the old days, you know, and, like, the times have changed and how you recruit and how you get players, what's going to attract you. Like, yes. like being a champion and the history of UCLA is still appealing and it's at an all-time high, but a lot of players still don't have that mindset.

I'm going to stay four years. I want to win an NCAA championship. I mean, I want to be a player of the year. You know, they're trying to get to the next level. And, like, how can they do that the most efficient and fastest way possible? Like, they're not really focused on the tradition as much as it was back in the day. You know what I'm saying, what it means to be a broom,

what it means to be a Spartan, like, and carrying that with you. You know, they're looking at what is the best avenue to get me to that next level. So the standards of what UCLA has doesn't really fit with where the game is today. Yeah. For a modern-day athlete.

Yeah. I always say we got a remix the tradition. You know what I mean? And I think to Jay Maher's point, it's like we got to show that Norman Powell, Zach Levine, Drew Holiday, all of these people, right, even though they didn't win national championships at UCLA,

but Final fours, sweet 16s, like whatever, however you've been decorated, should be, you know, over-marketed, especially for these new kids coming in,

because they're still looking at you and coming up to you, especially you playing for the clippers and being like, yo, I'm in L.A. I can have the same career, Norman Pott.

Right? And so I think UCLA, you know, one, the school should kind of remix the tradition and we and we got to make sure that people like you are coming back. You know what I mean? Zoh, K-Love, all these people are coming back.

And really, so these young kids can be like, yo, I want to go to UCLA and I want to win. And then we get that influx and talent because people want to be, you know, closer to the stars. We're missing that. We're missing that. Exactly. These kids today don't know who Ann O'Bannon is.

So you walk me in that gym. And I look up, no disrespect to Ed O'Bannon, by the way, but the young kid today... Every N.I.L. kids should know who Ed O'Bennon. Every N.I.L. kid should know who Ed O'Bannon is, but let's face it, these kids don't educate themselves on things like that. So we can say what they should know, but the reality is they don't. And today's kid, sadly, don't care. And so, to the point, they don't know who Ed O'Bannon is. But even if they know who Ed O'Bannon is, but even if they know who Ed O'Bannon is. They didn't know who Ed O'Bennon is from

the tribe. They don't know about the Hooper. He took NCAA to court and won. They wouldn't know about Ed O'Bannon, the basketball player that won in 1995. And so there's a huge gap in between Ed. O'Bannon and 2000 and

24. And like the guys you just named. And if you don't showcase any of those guys because of your tradition when John Wooden was there, Like, the tradition is rich, but there's a big gap, and you're just not going to attract the top kids. Like, because the kid today is just,

the kid today is impressed by something totally different than I was, and Norm was. Like, BD, you're, what, 10 years before us, but the kid today is even not impressed by what we were impressed by. No, for sure. And for us a totally different ballgame, and you got to go all the way back to Ed O'Bannon. And, like, that's how you go to the kid.

I just think that's going to be tough to do and compete at the level that y'all going to want to compete at. So you're going to look up. It's going to be 40 years. And y'all ain't going to have nobody. And that's tough, I think. Every kid, NIL, it should have been 3% went to the Ed O'Bannon Foundation or something because that is the guy.

He is responsible. I got everybody. Now they're walking around with Maybacks. And so it is crazy. Come on, man. It's insane. The NCAA, you know, Ed O'Bannon said, you know, and you just think about Bruins, Bruin's Brewerin legacy.

Shout out to Ed O'Bannon. You know, you know, he just changed the game. You know what I mean? And to your point, Jay, there is a huge gap. And I think that the NCAA and UCLA and everybody should, you know, really think about, you know, what he did and the impact he has because it basically changed the whole way

that we look at, you know, NIL. Norm, can you imagine, you know what I mean, going to school now with NIL? Crazy, like, it was funny because, you know, I talk to the, I say young dudes now because I'm on year 10, it was crazy. I was like talking to Kobe and Jordan and Trenton and Cam,

the young guys we got on the team, you know, they were already, he's got designer on and everything. I'm like, man, y'all only understand the struggle that. I went through, man. Like, my first, my first, for me, like, when I got to the league,

I thought I was going to be living. You know what I mean? And, like, my first check was less than what I got in college. And what I got in college was $5,000, you know what I'm saying, for Pilgrant? And I'm like, man, y'all was sitting around here with a hellcat. Man, I got prodder shoes on and LV bag, bag, go yard, this, this, and the other.

I'm like, man, I can't even imagine what it was like if I do that because when we're as good like when we're in college NCAA had the dumbest rules like you get you can get bagel but you can't get cream cheese you know what I mean like it's an extra benefit

to get cream cheese on a bagel it's crazy right right that's a fact that really they don't understand a struggle man I say when I first came into the league,

man, I was one day, I was one day away from taking a loan for one of my homeboys, Jarreworthy. He was about to look out for me. He had just got drafted in the second round to the Green Bay Packers.

And, you know, they get assigned in bars. They get money right away. I ain't got no money from college and I don't get paid to November 15. And I ain't know when I was going to, like, you know, a second round pick like yourself.

So they ain't signed me until later in the summer. didn't wait on the advance. I ain't had no money. And, man, I, I had a, I had, I had, I had, I had, I had, I had, I had, I had, I had enough money to get a car. So I had to rent a car from Enterprise. It's crazy. But because they, because they would let me, because Enterprise would let me, um, rent and like the Warriors at the time was able to take care of it. Because like just some rules of rookie.

I end up with like a 20-something. $10,000 bill on Enterprise rental. I could have put that so as a car, but I couldn't afford to get a car. And so I had the bill, and then Jared Jack ended up, Jerry Jack had a lease, a lease range rover,

2010 range rover, and he had like 9,000 miles on it. So he was about to turn his lease back in. Jack let me take over the lease. It was only like $37,000 left to pay on the truck or $47,000 left on an incredible super

charged 2010 range rover. I'm like, man, Jack, I'll take that over. And I didn't have enough money to put on a down payment to get a car. So that's how I got my first car in the NBA. Like it was rough, man. I ain't, like for a while I ain't had no furniture. Then I got to have the best. I was able to get furniture.

It was rough. It sounds just like, just like me, man. I had from pre-draft to draft to when I had to go to Toronto, I had to get a rental car just like itself. And I remember it was a Chevy Impala from Enterprise. And I had that for the whole summer, man. And I had to take out a line of credit just to be able to pay the rental fee off. And then just to have some money for I could be able to move and get my stuff to Toronto and everything like that.

Man, it was crazy. I'm like, bro, this cannot be what the league is like. There's no way. I got drafted and I still have no money in my pocket. And then the first check, like, man, that first check, man, was less than what I got in college, man. You know, a second round pick. I'm like, there's no way, but I'm getting taxed in Canada and Cali. So, like, I got nothing, nothing.

It was crazy. The only bonus I had was that in Canada, the conversion rate. So, like, we're getting paid in American, and so, you know, you got money coming into a Canadian account. And that money is double at the time, you know what I'm saying? So, like, I open up my Canadian account. I'm like, oh, man, I got money now. I can, I got a breathing room. But it was crazy.

That's funny. You got to complain now because y'all both pay. We're doing, we doing well. We're doing it quite well. We're doing well, no. The struggles are over. Speaking of the NBA, oh, by the way, before we move all the way on from UCLA, I love my brewing.

Shout out to my man Bob Myers. Mattel Chiswis Hospital. They are best in there. Shout out to them. Right? Eric Israeli. Incredible man. Shout out to him.

Shout out to him. I got a lot of deep love for the UCLA Bruins, my brother. He tied in. He definitely tapped in. He tapped in. That's why DJ going to UCLA. I'm a spark through and through, but I got love for the Brewers.

Welcome to me. the big 10 fellas. You know, but you know, and speaking of now we in the NBA earlier this year, you had an interview where you said it's a dish or by subtraction. Did you think

it would become this big of a deal? That you say that you play how you play, Philly, look how they know. Like, and everybody blowing that up, like, what did you think of that when you said that? Did you know? was head of here.

Nah, I didn't, I didn't think it was going to be as blown up as it was, you know what I'm saying? Like, honestly was just looking like as just motivation, you know what I'm saying? I'm going to finally get the opportunity, you know, like I always felt like I was the guy that like the teams relied on, you know what I'm saying, that's that X factor to help, you know, get us wins or push us over the top, you know, but I always had the feeling that, you know, I could be in that position, you know, and when I, you know, the moves that were made and that opening was there, it was just like addition by subtraction, because, like, I I can feel that void.

You know what I'm saying? I can be the one to step in and have that same production or impact, you know, and it was just like a mentality approach to it. It wasn't like a stow shot at PG and do all that, you know? It was just like, like, I'm here now, you know what I'm saying? I get an opportunity, you know, to be one of the guys that I've always wanted to be. But then, you know, media takes it in and runs with it. You know, you got people talking about it and then Philly starts the way they start.

Got people mad at PG for leaving. and then it just turns into this like norm versus PG. Norm's playing better than PG right now. The clippers are better than the sixers. Like it just turned into this whole crazy thing. And it was just like, nah, like we got like not only myself, but we got other guys who were scratching and clawing as well. We had four Hall of Famers on our team.

You know what I mean? For for two seasons and we had to figure out how to how to make it work. You know, you've got to take a lesser role, you know, and play to help the team win. And now that that's not here anymore, like, you got the addition to these other guys and the addition to me to be able to step into a larger role. No, I like it, man, because, you know,

I was calling Baller Vision for a couple, I think two seasons. And just to watch your evolution just coming off the bench, you know, candidate for six men in a year, you know, coming in and being focal in the offense, right? Being a focal point in the offense over the last two years and now becoming, you know, that guy. I remember, you know, I would say my third year when I kind of stepped into the role, like,

hey, it's up for grabs. There's five, six, seven more points for me. There's more responsibility, you know, talk about this for you, you know what I mean, this being a year, you know, to be able to show what you can do. And not that it was something that, you know, you've been waiting for this moment. you know, you can pretty much say nine years of your career. You know what I mean? Yeah, man, yeah.

I think, you know, it's just being ready, staying prepared and continue to have faith and belief, you know, like in yourself throughout this grind. You know, like I said, like, I've always been the guy that teams, like, value in terms of, like, a winning player, you know, that can come in and help a guy that you can plug and play in situations, you know? And, like, I've had sparks and moments and stints in my 10-year career where, like, guys. guys get hurt and now I'm playing for 15 straight games, starting, averaging 20 plus, shooting efficiency, good, everything, but then guys come back and now I'm at the end of the bench and I got to fill that role again, just being up and down with that. But like I said, I always believe that I could do this, you know, and I always wanted the opportunity, like talking to AJ, my trainer, that you all know, you know, is just like,

man, like we used to have conversations in the summer, like, I really want to see what it's like when when I got the reins, you know what I mean? Like, because I feel that I can, I can produce. I can do this. Like, I've seen it up close. I've had it in stints and spurts. I've learned. I've watched the guys in front of me,

Damar, Kyle, Kauai operate, Dame, CJ. Like, I've seen how these franchise players and organizations that hold these guys to a high standard, operate and approach the game. And I have the same mentality. I have the same approach. I have the same work ethic, if not more. and in some cases, like, I want to see what it looks like.

But it was just about staying ready and staying prepared and believing in myself through all the ups and downs and just waiting, you know, and having talks with Elle and Mark when they traded for me, you know, about my value. You know, like, I just came from starting from Portland. I don't really want to come off the bench again. Like, I'm trying to keep elevated my career, you know what I'm saying, to hopefully become one of those guys. And, you know, and they said it, like, we see you as a starter, you know, but in terms of how our team is configured right now, like we think it's the best street to come off the bench,

you know, and be that spark plug and help us in that way because we need firepower off the bench. And me being, I want to win at the end of the day, no matter what it is, like I want to win, I want to win championships, I want to win games, I want to be known as a winning player. So I'm going to do whatever it takes for the team to win, whether that's me taking a lesser role,

me stepping up into a bigger role. Like, I'm all about winning. And that's what it is. And with this opportunity here, I told Elle, in the summer, like I'm ready for it. The ups and downs, like, you can lean on me. You know what I'm saying?

I'm going to be ready for. I'm not going to shy away from everything. Like, it's going to be a learning experience because this is my first time, you know, in the league, actually having this leadership role for a full season, you know, and being looked upon. So it's not going to be pretty every single game and every single night. But, like, you know, you've got somebody that you can lean on. It's going to continue to put the work in and go out there and try to help this team win.

The Emirates NBA Cup is here, so you can win big getting in on the action at Draft King Sportsbook, which is the official sports betting partner of the NBA. There's sure to be rim rattling slams, no look passes, get behind your favorite players and the prop bets you can make on Draft Kings, the home of NBA player props. If you're ready to place your first bet, make it simple. Pick a team to win. Go to the Draft King Sportsbook app, 90 seconds download it, make your pick, a team to win. First time, here's something special. New Draft King's customers, bet five bucks, that's it. And you can get 150 bucks in bonus bets if your $5 bet wins.

So score big with Draft King Sportsbook. Every point counts. Download the app and use the code, Collins, C-O-L-I-N, C-O-L-I-N for new customers to get $150 bucks in bonus bets. Betting just $5 if your $5 bet wins. Only on Draft Kings.

The ground is yours. Gambling problem, call 1-800 Gambler. In New York, call 8778-8-Hope-N-Y or text Hope-N-Y-4-67-369. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-78-98-9-77-7-7 or visit ccpg.org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas, 21 and over.

Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng.com slash B-Ball. Speaking to just your team and what you brought to that team, what has Jeff Van Gundy coming back to the NBA

a coach on your staff. What has he brought to the mix? It just seemed like y'all have a different energy in a different way about y'all. And I know that I feel like he has, he's right in the mix of that. Nah, definitely, man, JVG, man, I love that dude. Probably not before when he was done,

you know, talking to the games and stuff like that. I don't know if it was him or his brother. You know what I said? I think there was a little bit of some hate going on. but not, I mean, he's been great for us. Like, honestly, he's a little bit annoying with the guys just because how much he loves the game and, like, his attention to detail.

You know, some guys like, ah, that's the other. But I always tell him, man, like, we need it. You know what I'm saying? Like, we need that firepower, that intensity, that passion that he comes in with every single day. Like, we hear T. Lou talking about it. Like, man, sometimes I got to pull himself.

Like, yeah, man, go home. Like, stop watching the tape and everything. But he's so detailed. I mean, like, a walkthrough that I've had before, him as a defensive coach would probably be like 15, 20 minutes. We go through here, this rotation is right here. We're going to send this person left. Like, he comes through, like, no, he's pulling your jersey. Like, now, we need you right here.

The ball's going to be right here. They're going to turn around and do this. And when you come here, you've got to be a step higher, not a step back, but a step higher. Like, he's, like, so detail-oriented. And then just his approach of, like, we're going to attack. Like, we're not going to sit back on our hills. Like, we're playing against y'all. Like, we're not going to let step.

come down and do what we're going to pressure him, we're going to blitz him, we're going to pick him up, we're going to do things different. Like, they're butt dribbling, we're going to attack the ball. If they're, if they're doing a DHO, like, we're going to jump it. Like, everything he's doing is talking about being aggressive and playing hard and being the one to attack the basketball, to attack the game. I think we have a group of guys. One, we got younger, two, we got guys that got something to prove, you know what I'm saying, that have bounced around the league have their own story and their own journey. You know what I'm saying? And they're trying to make a name for themselves.

They're trying to stay put. And you got guys that are locked in and want to play basketball the right way and everybody's feeding off his energy. Him being back is definitely the energy and what we needed, you know, to jumpstart this start of the season for us. Now that J-Mond is coming off the bench, do you have any advice for that? They keep them legs more, man. They're going on that bike.

Get on that aerodyne bike or that Kaiser bike, man. No, but serious, you know, having that role. And then, you know, Jay and I, we talk about it. You know, I think it's, you know, J.Mond can, you know, type of player can do anything similar. And Norm, you're showing it coming from the Sixth Man to starting. But, you know, just the importance of like, and both of you all talk about it, right?

Because, like, Norm, here are you all. you know, six men, six men of the year. Now you are in New Terrain. Dre, Hall of Fame career, Hall of Famer, defensive player of the year candidate. You know what I mean? Injuries, you know, getting older. Now looking at the young dude,

mentor coming off the bench and being more explosive. Just talk about the role and how important it is, you know, to have that conversation with yourself, but also like, you know, what is, like, how do you invent, reinvent yourself? You know what I mean? And stay hungry. Let me go first.

Norm, you go ahead. Yeah, you go ahead. I think the biggest thing is one to make it in the NBA, you know what I'm saying? Like, I always tell the young kids, like, everybody is not going to be the number one option. Everybody's not going to be the franchise player. So how do you stick? you know, how do you find success in the league and still work your way, you know, into the player that you believe in yourself or see yourself as being, you know, and it's all

about finding that role that the team needs and maximizing that. Because once you maximize that role, you're going to get more opportunity to showcase your game, right? But a lot of kids today, you know, they do it backwards, you know. They think they should be the franchise player and get all this to any other, and they're trying to figure out why they don't have success, you know? And it's like, okay, if the coach is asking me to be this pick up 94 feet and be the scrappy defender guy, then like, and that's what I got to do to get on the court. Like, I'm going to do that, you know,

but the mentality isn't, no, like, I want to score. I want to do all these things. Like, people don't want to get down and dirty, but it's really important in the league to find that niche. Like, I wasn't a scoring guy when I first came in the league. It was, man, I was picking up Ky Reed, prime John Wall, like, prime Russ, like, like 94 feet. Like, they were putting me on Porzingis, Mello.

lot like I'm six three you know what I mean I'm guarding I'm guarding porzingis in the post you know what I mean like but but that's what got me on the floor you know and like as I'm doing that it's like okay like I'm an opportunity score I'm a defender energy guy opportunity score okay so now I'm gonna take this defense and I'm gonna create my opportunities for myself so now it's like oh damn no he can shoot oh he can get to the basket oh he can put up 10 15 points you know what I mean so it's all about this is my role and I'm going to execute this role but I'm also going to continue to strive for more, you know what I'm saying, it's show that I can and I can and will do more for the team. And that's how I've been able to find my success. But it was all about, you know, taking a step back, you know, and having that honest conversation with yourself. Like, what are you going to do and how are you going to get to where you want to be, you know, and a lot of people aren't really ready to have those conversations, right? They take that step back and be like, my path to where I envision myself long term

might not be the exact path that I have set out for myself, but it's going to be a path that I'm willing to take, you know, to achieve that. And it might be a longer road, you know, but I'm ready to endure that journey and that grind to get to where I'm at. But for me, it was everything about filling that role and finding out how it's going to be successful in this league. And I had the honest conversation with myself, and I was ready for that grind.

I think I had a very similar coming in as well with me, whether it was to go in and Gar- Andre Miller, who was taking the last shot for Denver or obviously going in to stop Cove if we're playing against the Lakers on the last second shot. Like sometimes that was my only way onto the floor.

Garden of Marcus Alder, Garden Blake, Garden Zebo, Guard Markisaw, like an older Tim Duncan. Like that was my way, Powell Gasol, like that, that was my way onto the court. And so

then you start to do that and like you said, you add more and you add more and you show more. But I always tell young people and people in general, when you add more, you can never not do what you started off to. So you can never just become a scorer

and not check at all and you came in the league check. Nobody going to respect you no more. They're going to just be like, oh, but he lost it because he can't guard. no more. You see what I'm saying? It ain't going to be like, oh, no, he's scoring like at this. And so that's why he, no, they're going to be like, yo, he's slowing down because not, look, he can't even stay in front of that guy. And remember when he used to do this, right? So you can never

not do what you can't amend them. And so for me, then I had to grow from there. At this point in my career, I'm 13 in. The chase for greatness is still there, right? Like, or I wouldn't do it. The capability is still there. I've continued to show that. But the attitude that was is not. Coming up young in this league,

to a certain extent you got to be about you. Like just to make it like y'all both know to a certain extent you have to have someone that it's about me and you in order to do it.

And so you go through and you learn and you experience and with everything I've experienced at a certain point you got to know when to let go

of it just being about like and not just about me because I've always been a team guy but you got to know when to let go of the me. And me at this point in my career, I am very well accomplished, and I still got a lot left in the tank. But it's also,

I also notice business like the back of my hand. And so Jonathan Kaminga's in year three, which means he's extension eligible this summer. Excuse me, he's in year four. and he'll be restrictive for agents or something. And so you look at it from the business side, he has to get the opportunity to show his worth. Like just so you know as an organization,

like he has to get that opportunity. And he's earned the opportunity. He's more than earned the opportunity. So you take those two things into account. I know the business. Stand down, bro. Like, stand down. Check this out.

I'm also a fan of Jonathan Camiga, and I am Jonathan Camiga's vet. I want to see the Jonathan Camiga do well. So me and you're 13 that this is going to happen, but could decide tomorrow, want to play anymore, why would you stand in the way of his opportunity? No, that's real.

I'm not going to sit and like, oh, this is, because at the end of the day, I'm going to finish game, I'm going to close games. I'm going to be in when it matters. Not that he's not going to be in, but I'm going to be in when it matters. And I'm going to do what I do. So whether I start or not, I've started so many games in the NBA, my ego isn't in it. And as a matter of fact, I'm all four because I want to see young fella get off. And guess what?

I know starting to him means something. You know why I know starting to him means something? Because when I was in year four, starting to me does something. And so David Lee took the backseat for me. And not that he took the back seat, like he could have said, oh, no, he still supported me. he still taught me when I was coming up against starting matchups

hey this guy because he's seen him so much like it was never yo I can't do this or it was never that and so like I said being a product of that

Pete Myers would always tell me you owe it to the game to get a young fellas back you owe it to the game to leave it in a better place than it was when you found. You got to get back to the young fellas.

You got to pour into them. I'm at the point of my career now where I am 1,000% a starter in the NBA. I know that. Not tripping on that at all. But if this is going to help

Jonathan Kaminka, and this is going to help this team, then let's check it out. And if it don't pan off, we always know we can go back to me starting at the 4-on-5. Like,

so we can always go back to that. but let's see what he got. He deserved that. And I've never respected guys who's like, if it comes down to that album, and it's like, I don't know I would say respect, but I've just always been like, if it's me in the position,

and it comes down to, yo, now maybe two years ago, I wouldn't feel like this. Like, let me, you're 13. Like, so if it comes down to you and this kid getting an hour, opportunity to change his life, to change his family life, move on. Like, give it back to the game. And like I said, then you add in the personal relationship

that I have with Jonathan Caminger. I can't look him in this eye, tell him all the love I got for him and be the person standing in the way of his opportunity. I can't do that. That don't work for me. It's crazy that you say that because I was in a similar situation as Kaminga in Toronto. You know what I mean? Like, where opportunity, like I work my way. I was grinding down to the league at the time back up. And they were trying to figure out what they wanted to do for the starting role with Damar and Carroll.

He had a messed up knee, so he wasn't playing back-to-backs. And I had Charrence Ross and James Johnson and Patrick Patterson in front of me. And then I was a second round pick. I had DeLon Wright. He was the 20th pick, you know, like their first round. And the team went with me.

And mind you at the time, like James Johnson was my vet. and, you know, all the stuff that I was going around the league about him, like, all that years ago. You know, so, you know, I felt some type of way. I was like, damn, like, he's my vet. Like, you know, he's showing me love. Like, he's taking me around, taking me under his wing, gave me so much advice, you know. And, you know, I got wind that, you know, whatever was going on, I don't know if it was true or not.

But then I went to him like, you know, like, I didn't want him to be mad at me, you know what I'm saying, for the opportunity, you know, I'm saying, for the opportunity. You know, you know what I'm saying, for the opportunity. you know what I'm saying for getting your opportunity you know what I'm saying I want to see you do great you know there's enough out of here for all of us you know what I'm saying I want you to be successful so like don't don't trip I'm rooting you on every step of the way you know what I'm saying I'm going to be in your ear you know making sure that you know you stay you stay focused and locked in and he always got me ready you know I'm saying after practice he was playing one-on-one you know talking shit to me you know like getting that that fire that dog making sure I was you know

picking up and pressuring and not backing down but like simply situation, you know what I'm saying? He event in the league. He should be, you know, getting his opportunity as well, but, you know, they wanted to go with somebody younger and see what he had and see what I, what I had and what I was working with and how I could help the team, you know, and he was a full supporter of that, you know, and really like help me along the way, along with DeMar and those other guys, but, you know, I had that conversation with him, you know, and he removed himself, you know, like, you know, like, this is about you, it's not about me, you know what I'm saying, I want to see you be successful and,

like, and you need that, you know, because now, you know, from that experience with him and tomorrow I'm talking to those guys. Now I'm going to, you know, passing down game and knowledge and giving the young guy some, you know, strategies on how to navigate being a professional and waiting for their opportunity and being ready for it and stepping into that role. You know, I got Jordan Miller as my youth as my rookie. And, you know, now he's getting an opportunity to play. You know, he had to go through the G-League grind.

You know, he was an older guy coming out of college, you know, and now I'm telling him in the game, like, bro, take this shot. take this three, you know what I'm saying? Attack down here right here. You know, be aggressive, you know, because that's what we need. I'd rather you make mistakes being aggressive than being passive and worried about, you know, making a mistake or if coach is going to pull you out, you know, so to your point, DG, you know, just about leaving the game in a better place and passing down that knowledge

and removing, removing the me, you know what I'm saying, the personal of, I got to get this, like, like, this is about me. Like, how do I prove that? You know what I'm saying? I feel like, I don't have all the accomplishments and things like that, but, like, I've, I've become a household name where people know what I can do every single night. This is what Norm's going to bring to the table. So if it's not my night and my young fella got it going, man, I'm a feed.

They carry the team tonight. Boy, I ain't backing out. And like, I want them to be successful because I know, you know, when I was in that role, I had somebody else passing that knowledge and that confidence down to me. You know, so that's the biggest thing, you know, in terms of, you know, passing the knowledge down and leaving the game in a better place and removing that me, You know what I'm saying? Like the same situation that you're talking about,

I experience and now having to be that vet and do the same thing. Oh, 1,000 percent. I think that's dope. I've heard several guys now that's coming from under James Johnson, Wayne, talk about him as they vet and how he took them under their way. That's dope.

I know, you know, this year you've been having a kick-ass year, you know, All-Star year. I want you to tell everybody, you know, why you believe you're all-star. start this year. Hey, man, you know, BD, I don't like talking about myself, man. I know you don't like, I mean, I could do it for you, but, you know, just talk about, you know, the role, the role you stepped into, you know, where people didn't think, you know,

let's say with PG, right? And, you know, Russ not being there as well. And then, you know, the Clippers not being, you know, thought of as well. you know, James Harden saying, I am the system. You know what I mean? Like, you know, talk through all that. And then how you've emerged, you know, as their counterpart. You know, I think, you know, I want to hear from you,

but also the fans want to hear from you, you know, just about your good deal. You know what I mean? And you're in your approach this year. You know, I mean, I think for me, you know, I think I'm also just like you said, like, what the team and where they saw. all sat. You know, like, we just think second to last in the West. Like, they had no belief that we were going to be a good team because we lost PG,

we lost Russ. And then the whole Kauai, you know, being out and being hurt. And then the narrative around James, you know, he's not the same player that he was. He's not going to be able to carry a team. That, you know, his best basketball days, you know, are behind them, you know. And for me and him to, you know, come together, you know, and be the two guys. that he's leading this team, you know what I'm saying, on a nightly basis and making sure that we're competitive.

You know, that's a testament to who we are as a players. And then just my production as well, you know, from being able to be in a role of six man behind four Hall of Fame guys, you know, still putting up production and points last year to stepping in and increase some of averages across the board, being super efficient. from the field, from the three-point line, and still being competitive. Like DG said at beginning, like, if we can stay in that top five in the standings, you know, I have a good chance,

but just me emerging as a guy that, you know, people didn't think would be able to do this in year 10, you know, that I was just fit in this certain role. Yeah. I think that's the strongest candidate that my strongest pitch that I have, You know, I'm producing every single night, you know, I'm doing my thing. I'm holding it down against the top dogs, the top teams. And my mentality and approach has always been the same.

You know, my work ethic hasn't changed. I think the biggest thing that I've done going into the season, knowing that I'm going to have a bigger role and more pressure and stuff on me from myself. And I'm not as external because I don't really care what media and stuff talking about because they don't really know, but just with myself, it was just a mental approach, you know,

just like, what is my going to be, what's going to be my, my daily approach to the game, you know, good days, bad days,

days and games, like, am I going to be somebody that rise the wave? I'm going to be even kill, you know what I'm saying, and going at it the same way. So I put a lot of emphasis

and just like the mental part of the game, making sure that my mind is ready, night in and night out, because I know my body can do it. You know, I stress my body out, all summer long, three workouts a day, five days a week. You know, going at it three weeks on, one week off, traveling, still train, still getting it in.

So I know my body's up for the grind, but where's my mental going to be? You know, when, you know, I go one night, you know, I got 30, 37, and then the next night I got 22 or 15, and I'm shooting five for 19, you know, like, I'm like, oh, man, like the team meeting me tonight, man, like, I can't do this or it's going to be like, you know, this happened. like how do I get better, how do I improve? How do I still get the best from the team? So that's the biggest thing that I changed going into this season is just making sure that I'm mentally strong,

no matter what it is, whether I'm playing great for a stretch of games or, you know, I have a few games where, you know, the ball's not going into the basket. How can I still be that leader? How can I still be impactful? And keep this team, you know, as one of the top teams in the conference.

And I think I've been able to do that so far, even with being out with injuries and things like that, still being in guys' ears, still bringing that competitive fire and grit to the game. But when I'm on the floor, like, we're hanging in there, you know what I'm saying? We're going to figure it out. We're going to be competitive every single night.

I think that's what makes me an all-star this year. I agree, bro. I definitely think you have an all-star season. You know what I mean? To me, there's so many all-stars, you know what I mean? And just putting your name on the board and putting your name in that category is just like that next leveling

and as I continue to watch you I just see you keep leveling up you know what I mean and as a booing I'm proud you know what I'm saying as your OG I'm proud and shit you got my vote bro I'm campaigning

because you know what you guys are doing with the clippers and the type of year that you have in is I call it it's the show and prove you right every every game you know you're showing up y'all showing up. I'm campaigning for Jay, the defensive player the year, because

you're showing up. You know what I mean? And I think that, you know, I love the young guys. I love the young guys, the young energy in this league, but it's also, you know, we got to recognize veterans that take that journey, that take that step, you know what I mean, and reinvent they self, you know, multiple times

because that's really the staple of the league. And, you know, I fight for veterans, more vets, you know what I mean? But we definitely, We got to, you know, make sure we shine a light on, you know, the vets that's in here because y'all showing up every night, y'all prove it. And, you know, that's really the cornerstone of the game, you know, what I'm saying? And these young guys are the energy.

And so when I'm watching the game, I'm really watching, you know, basketball at its finest, that is purest with a fine tooth cone with a fine eye. And I love what the young guys are doing. But, you know, I just, from the respect level and how you've been getting down all year, I'm just loving your get down. Appreciate that, though. Most definitely. I've had a lot of battles with James Hardin over the years

with James Harder playing like James Hardin playing this year. And you can imagine six years younger and playing how he played this year. Crazy, crazy battles, fun battles. A lot of respect for James. What have you seen differently from him, from him this year, as opposed to what you saw last year when he was with you guys. I just think his approach, man, like honestly, like a little different, you know, like,

guy coming in, you know, we're, wasn't crazy long into the season. I think we're like three games in or whatever it was. And then when he finally gets on, we're probably like 11 games. But, you know, just trying to get acclimated, you know, and figuring it out, like, everybody got to take an adjustment, period, you know. So he's trying to figure out the guys and, you know, how he can insert himself. into the team. So, you know, we went to that six-game losing street, you know,

when he started playing and, you know, it was just a full adjustment period. And then we got a little rhythm and stuff. But I think this year, his approach overall, you know, I said it in the media, like, during the summer, he was working out with the young guys, you know what I'm saying? Like, we're doing the beep test conditioning and running up and down the floor, you know, after their individual workouts. And he's right along with them.

You know, he's going through the coverages. talking to him and being vocal, you know, on how we need to play who we have to be this year. And, you know, vets can do whatever they want. You know, nobody's checking in on James to see if he's getting his work in. You know, it's trusted, you know, that's for the young guys that have to come in and be seen every single day under the coaches. You know, and he's there. You know, and I think that builds trust. That builds the chemistry, you know, you know, saying like, if James is in here doing this,

then I have to do as well. and then just his care with his body. You know, I see him getting his workouts in. I see him getting his treatments and, you know, and being really vocal about what he needs, you know, after the game's lifting and doing all the things to make sure that, you know, he's able to be ready to lead and play every single night. I think that's been the biggest thing.

Like even just being in the locker room throughout the course of the games, start the games, half time, in the games, like talking about what we need to do, the adjustments, keeping our heads up, you know, on tough nights when we let games slip away from us or we get blown out, you know, just refocusing everybody. He's been amazing with that. And that's what we need, you know, seeing that side of things from him and being, like you said, an opposing player, you know, you don't really know what goes on behind the scenes and all the articles and things that were being put out about him, leaving Philly and all that.

Like, you know, you get a one-sided narrative, but then actually being in the locker room with them and talking to him, our locker is right next to each other. So there's a lot of dialogue on the game and the approach and what we have to do. I mean, he's a great dude, great teammate. You know, I'm honored just to be able to play with him on the floor, you know, with all the things he's been able to accomplish and looking up to him. But he's been great. Talk about also like your relationship with Kauai. We know Kauai is out. You know, definitely when he comes back,

I think y'all going to be one of the most dangerous teams in the league. You know, you play on the same team when the championship. Relax. Hey, man, he's getting mad every time I'll say that. Relax. Man, we can't get one, bro. We're going to get one. Relax, bro.

It's cool. You have to get one, dog. My bad. You know what I mean? I'm glad that it's still I'm glad it still bothers them, man. It will never not bother me, bro. It will never not bother me.

But talk about your evolution is, you know, teammates, y'all relate. to the teammates in Toronto and now, you know, how that's evolved. And then when his return come, you know, just how that's going to help, you know, kind of your game and the way you plan, how that takes pressure off of, you know, him coming back. Kauai's been great, man. I mean, I've known Kauai since I was in high school, you know, I was in San Diego.

I was at Lincoln. He was at San Diego State. San Diego State was the first school to offer me a full-right scholarship. I took my official visit there, being San Diego, respecting coach Fisher. Jeremy, you know, Kauai's a right-hand man. He hosted me actually on my visit to San Diego State. So, you know, knowing Kauai, being around Kauai for a while, he's always supported me and showed me love, even when he was in San Antonio playing.

You know, you put me to the side, like whatever I need it. You know, make sure I hit him up, you know, back down San Diego, get workouts in and things like that. But just being able to show the Florida, um, talk to him, you know, pick his brain and his approach because, you know, everybody thinks he's just like this, like, I don't know what, statue, um, robot that has no feelings, no emotions and things like that, man. Like, I always try to tell people, man, Kauai is literally like one of us, you know what I mean?

Like, he's just, he's just quiet and in the media and everything like that. behind closed doors in the locker room. He's telling jokes. He's talking. He's normal. You know what I mean? But this is approach to the game and his diligence, you know, and his focus is what I've appreciated as a teammate.

You know, I've learned so much from just no matter what's going on, you know, just staying even, you know what I'm saying? He's never too high, never too low. He always has this like demeanor of like effort, you know what I'm saying? and like, like, I miss a shot. Like, I'm going to miss another one. You know what I'm saying? I'm still going to approach the,

I'm still going to go out at the same way. And so that's kind of like rubbed off on me, like where it's like, no matter what's going on, like I know who I am. Like, I know what player I am. Like, nothing's going to change that. So that's what I've learned most about Korn. So like, like being teammates or not,

like we've always been cool. Him working out with no socks. It's crazy. I think that's probably the funniest thing. He on the court with full setup and no socks is probably the funniest thing I've seen. What? That's sick.

What? That's nasty. I don't know if I'm going to get you. I'm saying that, man. It means. No, I was going to say, like, what is the Kauaiism? Like, I heard a Kauai isn't was the coach was saying, like, all right, you know, dude in the game, he can't shoot.

He said, well, why is he doing this? Oh, my gosh, man. Oh my gosh, you want to quaiism? We're in Toronto, right? We just got blown out by Milwaukee, and we come in the film the next day, and Nick Nurse is talking about, you know, roles and how our office can get better.

You know, we just got blown out. And, you know, and so he's telling everybody what they should do, and he gets to Kauai, and he's like, he's talking about trying to move the ball, you know what I mean? And so he's like, you know, like, even Kauai, you come down, man, you know what I'm saying? Just moving the ball for the hell of

of it. And Kaua was like, you know, I got the deep voice, he's like, yeah, I don't think I should move the ball for the hell of it. I was like, man. And like, like, like, my job is to score the ball. And like, you know, you know, as a head coach, you know, you usually got something to say back.

And you don't know what to say because, like, nobody who's expecting it. And he's just like, nah. And it's monotone as hell. Like, like, nah. I ain't going to move the ball for the hell of it. And everybody just started busting up laughing in the, oh, my gosh, in the locker room. I mean, in the theater room and watching that film. It was hilarious.

But he got a little one-liners all the time. He got one-liners all the time that people don't know. And he's hilarious. But him coming back, man, it's going to be huge for us. I mean, just the attention to detail that teams have to have to focus on. You know, it's going to take the pressure off James being picked up, you know, full course. It's going to take the pressure off me, getting double.

team than face guard and boxed in one when you're playing against certain teams. You know, having to guard Kauai, you know, he draws double teams. Like you can't guard him one-on-one for a full course of the game. So now I'm getting more catching shoot threes and more stuff out the floor of the offense from his double teams and stuff like that. I think it's just, I mean, he's a generational talent. When he's on the floor, man, and he's healthy. I mean, he's top five in the league with his production and his play.

And he's going to elevate the team. I mean, he's a two-way, two-way threat, offensively, defensively, you know, and it's going to help other guys get into their more natural roles to help our bench as well. You know, some guys playing in the bench starting right now with the lineups. And, you know, when he's back, it's going to have a full team to where we can, you know, do a lot of different things defensively and offensively. No, so new season, new arena. How does it feel to have your own arena and not?

be a visitor at home. Man, it feel great, dog. I can't even lie, too. Man, just having, like, you know, having your own setup, having your own locker room, you know, being comfortable, having your own routine, now having, oh, we got to get out early, we got to move this, we got a game at 1230,

we got to go this way to exit, like, we know, we know where everything's at, you know, so it's more relaxed, it's ease, and you got your own fans, you know what I mean? We have the wall, the dedicated section for just us. So even when y'all travel down there and y'all like to bring all your fans and everything down to LA, you know, we got our section still rocking and competing, you know what I mean? But it's great, man, to have your own identity. The rebrand is amazing, kind of gets away from the whole Sterling thing and all that, you know, having our own identity.

You know, bomber's been great, providing everything that the team needs as players and as organization. And the arena is top-notch. I mean, I haven't been over to the visitor side, but I'm sure y'all ain't complaining about the locker room because, you know, some of these arenas and visiting locker rooms, you'd be in a box, you know what I mean? But, yeah, it's amazing. I mean, the halo board is probably my favorite thing in that arena.

Yeah, it's incredible. I had walked all the way up to the top of the wall when we were, when we played y'all there, it just kind of got that vantage point of the top of the halo board and then kind of come down a little bit and see inside it. It was dope to see now. But we appreciate you, Steve.

I've heard, you know, there's a hot tub and cold tub and stuff in the Warriors guest locker room. And Bowmer got that over there. It's great. So we appreciate you, the weight room, training room is great. Another thing, the seats. The seats are high. Oh, man. You know, you go to this different.

No, I'm talking about, well, number one. on the bench seats are great. But even in the locker room, you know, you go to these arenas, man. They'd be having these chairs that's super low and it fucking gets up. And so, you know, with, you know, they, in, in Tewit, they got the ones you can let up.

And they got a seat, warm on them and stuff. But I think the NBA should have a rule about the bench in NBA arenas, man. Like, again, you want the product on the floor. You want guys to be healthy. part of that is the little things like when you're sitting down, your hips being level. And a lot of them benches put you, yeah, yeah, hips in the wrong position. All that stuff plays a part in injury.

Absolutely. So the NBA, you, like, you go to dollars, they got the old-ass chairs, man. Hey, bro, y'all still sitting in concert seats. Yeah, it's crazy. You know what I mean? Y'all sitting in the same seats, we're sitting in. You ain't got no upgrade, no, you ain't got no gamer chairs. You know, like, in some role games,

you got to bring, like, the team brings, like, those, those, the pens. That's like, like, uh, that's just like, uh, that's just like nasty. Y'all sitting over there with the end. It's crazy. Sitting on kid, I don't even look right, man. Let's, we got to upgrade them seats, man. Let's find, let's find a seat, uh, partner or something like that.

Come on, man. Hey, Jay. Hey, we put the APB out. anybody who make dope seats we need vets seats we need the bitch right shit come on man shit

exactly there you're back up that's a big part of now that's a big part being on that bench you got everything you got the back thing and then and then you still

got the hole in the back of the folding chair so you can't really get a proper you know what man yeah come on man you know I know all about that bro that is that is not how we wanted to do uh but back to the into it you know i think into it is dope i don't think it's a bad seat in the house you know being from san diego going to ucla

being a clipper being a part of this new frontier just talk about you know what this mean really because y'all pioneering a you know a whole new system you know what i mean you know fans and just what you talked about but just talk about you know you know your career, where you at, the evolution, and just, you know, just I feel like you're in a moment of, you know, being home and also being a part of this, you know, this new clipper regime.

Honestly, it's full circle for me, you know what I mean, to be able to be back, um, where the, the NBA journey started, you know what I'm saying, going to UCLA, um, being able to be around my family. Like, you know, having to be away, you miss so much, uh, time, you know, you got a sacrifice, um, you know, to be successful. in this league. A lot of that sacrifice means, you know, giving up family time, personal time,

whether that's with workouts and things like that, but also being on the road, you know, and then, you know, if you play for a team that's not in your home market, you know, so I've been, that's my third season with them now. So for three years, out of the 10 years I've been in the league, I've been home. The other seven, I've been on the road. So I've missed so much time with family. and it's been amazing these last three years just to spend time with my niece, spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, and just to be able to, we have an off day,

I can shoot down to San Diego, you know what I'm saying, for a few hours to see my moms and my sister and go to my nephew's football game who actually plays from my high school now and support there. So it's been amazing, you know what I mean? And then, you know, this kick off this season, you know, the Clippers, started the G-League down in

in Oceanside, you know, so to actually go down to San Diego County and where, you know, I had my hoop dreams growing up in San Diego to play a game there, you know what I'm saying, and gave the intro, you know, to kick off the arena is amazing. You know, it's something that, you know,

you can't really put down or dream about, you know, as a kid growing up. So just to be a part of this whole new redesign, you know, and be a focal point in it, knowing where the send the Clippers started, you know what I mean? And being from San Diego and that history there is definitely dope to be a part of it. Like you said, it's a moment that I'm in and I'm enjoying every second of it. I'm not taking it for granted.

One, because I know the work that it is taken to get here, but also just being a part of where the organization is trying to go, you know, and being a focal point in it has been truly amazing. Face the Warriors twice this year, you know, coming into a game, how do y'all team prepare for Draymond Green? Pressure the dog shit out of me? What do you do about his? Y'all talk about him talking shit? Oh, man, yeah.

So we say, don't worry about the, don't worry about the bullshit he's going to do. You know what I'm saying? He'll come in, flailing and throwing and screaming. We're going to pressure. We're going to pressure the hell out of his handle. You know what I mean? And then when he's driving. to the basket, wall up, and go vertical and make him a finisher.

Literally the setup. Don't get drawn into the BS. You know what I'm saying? Pressure the shit out of him. And then don't foul him when he's going to the basket. I just gave you the game plan right there. It's been obvious for years. The team looks same game.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Now Jay going to start talking to you. No, the funny thing is. I remember, oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. What are you saying? I'm glad you brought that shit up.

Thank you, Ro. Oh, my gosh. I know he said so. So I was playing, it was when I was in Portland. I remember this shit so vividly, man, because one of the citizens coaches was like, you hear this shit, and Draymond Green said to you? I said, what are you thinking about? What do you say?

Because I'm being ignoring his ass because I know he's going to be going to do something. I know he's going to say something. So I try to attack him on the right wing between the legs crossover. I try to body him, whatever. You know, I try to get my little, you know, my rape through foul. And I don't get the call and ball go out of bounds, right? And I don't even know what the hell he said. But, you know, Drake did.

You know, he'd be getting hype when he gets stops. You know what I mean? And he'd be saying shit. And so, you know, I just ran back on defense because I know he's about to say some shit. You know what I mean? He was already into the game. And so then I was mad as hell because I would have said something. if I knew it.

But then there was a clip, you know what I'm saying, on Instagram, and I'm running back on defense. He gets to stop. He getting ready to take the ball line. He's like, yeah, you bitch, yeah. Come on. I was like, that's what he said.

Oh, man, I would have turned around and said something. I wouldn't have said that to you on face, Norm. I got too much respect. But I know, like, I don't take it person. I know that's, you know, that's you. And I like that part of the game, you know. But I would have turned around and say, like, what you think this is, man?

I'm right back, too. I'm here too. You know what I mean? But, yeah, man, I remember that. He always saying something. He won't back down from nobody. You get a lot of guys that you know you got them. Norm may never, ain't never backing down from that.

He ain't listening to you, but not. A lot of guys in the league that you know. Norm, don't listen to him. It takes a lot for me to drive. You know what I mean? I don't hear of who. Hey, Norm, Norm, don't listen. He'll say anything.

I know how I would go. Just got a fine angles, brother. He got a fine angle. Hey, no, man. It's been a pleasure, brother. We appreciate you. My job. You have, you're having an incredible year.

Keep it up. Stay healthy. And I hope the best for you, bro. Be an all-star. keep chasing it, bro. It's incredible to see you leveling up in year 10. Only Kyle Lari has leveled up this late. You keep going, my dog.

I'm going to try to pass him. Hopefully, you know what I'm saying? Things go right. I'll be right there all starting to experience that, man. But I appreciate y'all having me on here, you know what I'm saying, taking the time, man. I looked at both of your careers. and it's an honor, man,

to be, you know, talking to y'all and being the same category as you are in some aspects, you know, so I appreciate it. I appreciate you, bro. Just invite me to the football game so I can sit in the lower ball. I got you, man. I make sure Doug take care of you.

Hey, man, I'm sitting up there like this, man. He's sitting back like this, watching the game and shit. I got a beer right. here. Popcorn. Come on, Norm. I'll get you right,

man. I get you the floor seats, man, and get right there. First row. Take care of the old dude. I got you.

Let's go. Brewing legend. Love. Appreciate you. For All-Star. All-Star campaign. Yes, sir. Appreciate it, man.

Appreciate you, bro. The volume.