The Ringer NBA Show - A’ja Wilson on Cultivating Her Mental Health, the Upcoming WNBA Season, and More. Plus: The Talen Horton-Tucker Wars Continue. | Real Ones

Episode Date: May 13, 2021

First things first, friend of the show Jomi Adeniran returns to collect apologies from Logan and Raja after months of foolishness concerning one beautiful and talented Lakers sophomore Talen Horton-Tucker (4:24), and Logan and Raja congratulate the Knicks on a regular season well done (21:30). Then 2020 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces joins Logan to talk about cultivating her mental health after difficulties in the 2020 WNBA bubble (29:19), this upcoming season for the Aces with Liz Cambage back in the fold (54:00), when the candles from her company, Burnt Wax, will be restocked (58:10), and more. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guests: A’ja Wilson and Jomi Adeniran Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baseball season is right around the corner, and Jake Mintz and Jordan Schusterman will serve as your guides to the good, the bad, and the utterly bizarre corners of the baseball world on baseball barbecue. In the run-up to the season, they'll dive into the rabbit hole on some of their favorite fascinations, from the home run derby to baseball brawls and more. Once the MLB season returns, they'll break down the latest news and developments with their trademark wit and irreverence. Check out baseball barbecue on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. What is going on? Real ones. Logan Murdoch here. Roger Bell.

Producer Sasha Mack. Asia Wilson in a bit. Also, Jem me in a bit. But first, let's get into some pertinent stuff. Rajah, I remember yesterday when we recorded, we're about to record an interview with the MVP, Asia Wilson. It's about an hour leading up.

You know, I get a text in the chat. Right, right. And I may not be here. someone's in the ER. Ra Ra Rai needs to tend to it. Raja, would you like to tell the story of what happened yesterday when we were about to interview Asia Wilson?

I mean, I guess at this point, whether I want to tell it or not is irrelevant, right? Like, I'm going to tell it. You put me, yeah. I asked you for a prepod if you wanted to answer these questions, and you said yes. So now you are capping for the audience. But go ahead.

I said I wouldn't mind. Okay, yeah. So real bit. We're out back. Oh, actually, we were in a garage. We were getting a workout, me and my middle son together. Cool, dad son type stuff, right? So we go to finish it off in the backyard with some explosive type of exercises for him, right, as we're trying to develop him.

And I didn't realize that he didn't have his shoes on. He had taken them off in the garage. So we walk down the side of the house. We get to the backyard. And we're doing this exercise where you're on your knees. You have to picture it, right? Like you're on your knees, standing tall with your chest up. and you're going to sink back with your hips to your feet,

and then you're going to explode up and try to cycle your legs under you and land on your feet, right? It's a good exercise for explosiveness and the core and stuff like that. And so as he's trying to do it on a rep, his foot gets caught underneath him as he's trying to come through and get to his feet, specifically his big toe on his left foot. So the rest of the toe is clear and that big toe gets caught under his body weight. And he's a tough kid, high pain tolerance.

And I saw in his face that dad had fucked up. And, you know, it swole up like a great fruit immediately. And I was like, oh, shit, I got, I have to take it. Before my wife gets home, let me please be preemptive and get this man to the emergency room. Yeah. Was your first, uh, initial action was, you know, because I know you're a tough guy. I know you, you know, you played like a tough guy during the league. Was your first instinct.

Like, he's good. Don't trip. He's fine. I told him he was fine. I told him he was fine. Wait, wait, wait. I was like, you're fine. Because I am not a dad now.

as a dad, is it more so for you to say he's fine? Like, he's fine. He's going to be okay. You're okay, right? You're okay, right? Is that the first instinct? There was some of that. I was definitely trying to talk that into existence. But generally speaking, that's my attitude with a lot of stuff. Like last weekend, we were in a tournament, and he went down the middle and he rolled his ankle to the floor. Like I saw it. Yeah, like all of his weight on. Like Steph Curry rolled ankle? Like one of those? To the floor. So he's laying out there and I have to walk out eventually. And I stand over. and I'm like, hey, man, you're all right.

And he got tears in his eyes. He's looking at me. And I said, you're all right, right? You're okay. And he calmed down. And he looked at me and he said, I am all right. And I said, all right, Matt, let's get up. So we went back to the huddle and I'm like, all right, Ty, what are we going to do, bud?

This is on you, man. I can't feel that. He looked at me. I was so his proudest moment. He said, I'm not losing. And I said, there we go, bro. Let me burn this time out and get you to the free to line, dog. You almost set a thug.

You almost. I was like really proud. But yesterday he was jacked up. He had hurt himself pretty good. Man, well, I, little homie, man, I hope you good, dog. I don't know how much you listen to this, but I hope you straight, man. Real one. Bag time.

Time to pay the bills. We'll be back. Now that is out the way. Apparently we have some apologies to make, Roger. What? Apparently we have some things that we need to. That's what I was told on the timeline yesterday. That's what I've been told for the last week.

And quite frankly, most of the time. of this season, Washington or Los Angeles Lakers. If you are a friend of this show or if you a listener of this show, you know that our resident, a CMO, chief meme officer, Jomi,

has been on this Tht wave, has been leading the THT fan club. I'm sorry. H.T. had a great game last night. He had a Tomahawk dunk in traffic.

He had a few nice highlight moves with LeBron out, with AD out, with Caruso out. He balled out of control. Now, Jomey, in front of the show, obviously here, you know, he's always on the timeline every time Thty ties his shoes. Anytime T.HT is shown waving a towel, anytime THT is shown doing anything on a basketball court, Jomey has something to say. Now, after T.HT has done this, Jomey had to come on the show. And let's see what Jomey has to say.

We have Jomey coming in. Jomey has his mic. He has his headphones on. He has his wild Laker background of Laker champions. Jomey, what do you have to say right now? Well, first off, I just want to say I'm glad that Roger's son is doing all right. Thank you. That's number one.

You know, glad to hear that. Number two, I want. I want an apology from both of you fellas. It could be two minutes, 45 minutes. I've got all the time in the world, right? I need an apology, right? Because I got on this program in December, and I told everybody that THT wasn't just some random second year player,

that he wasn't just some dude that he has a future in this league. And I was laughed at. I was I was ridiculed I was disrespected I was lied on if you remember Sasha Sasha if you want to go back to maybe like a couple weeks before I got on the

program where Logan Murdoch went and said Jomi was talking cash about THT in the group chat he said that I said that Kuzma can get out of town I'm a THT guy, right? I never said that.

I never once said that, all right? I love both my sons equally, right? THT, talented Horton Tucker, all right? Is, is just a, he's a different, he's a different level, you know? Because we've never seen somebody as short as him. He's 6'4, right? But he's 240 pounds. He's got a 7-1 wing span, all right?

The dude can tie his shoes standing up, all right? He's just like a different physical specimen, and you see it, right? The way he can finish around the rim, right? Get past guys on the dribble, you know what I'm saying? He's got a step back, all right? He's got vision, you know? But y'all didn't want to see it. Y'all didn't want to see it when I saw it in December.

Now look at him, right? On Tuesday, the man, he had a rough game. You know what I'm saying? With the turnovers in OT. You know, like watching the game, you're like, I mean, I don't know. But the kid stepped up. He stepped up, even with back-to-back turnovers in overtime

versus the New York Knicks, who, by the way, are excellent defensively, right? He came back and hit a game-winning three. All right. And then tonight, banner night where the Lakers raised their 17th championship. No LeBron, no AD, no Caruso, no Schroeder, 23 and 10 on their heads.

Come on now. Give my man some respect. Logan, would you like to address this? I feel like you should address it. I should address it. I just want you to address it. I just want you to address it first just for the sake of like, we haven't heard your voice all podcast.

And then I will go ahead. First of all, Jomi, Yes. Talen Horton Tucker is a nice player. Great play. Especially for a second year player. Yeah, that's good. Really good. I want to just take a moment to recollect about what I've said about him.

I think my stance on Talon Horton Tucker has always been, he wouldn't get in the way of me having executed a deal for Kyle Lowry. I don't think I've ever said that I don't believe him to be a, good NBA player one day. I said, I don't think he's going to be a star NBA player in this league. And I will stick firm to that. And at the same time, I can say to you, I've watched him play. He has a nice skill set.

He really does. He played really well when it really mattered in the Knicks game. And he played great last night. And he's playing, they're asking him to kind of learn on the fly playing the point guard position. He's got a really well-rounded offensive skill set. I want to come back to the like we've never seen anyone built like him. Do you, what? What the hell are you talking about, man?

This is a league full of freaks of athletic ability and stature. You're going to tell me you've never seen someone 6-4 with long arms that could tie their shoes standing up. Stop. That's rhetorical. Don't do it. Don't even go there. I'm not even bad. So I do believe he's a nice player.

I think it's a great story. I just don't. My thing with THT is I don't know that the upside is NBA All-Star. And so for that reason, I wasn't going to. to be losing out on a possible swing of Kyle Lowry to protect, protect him personally. Lastly, this is my last point, Logan. I want you to go. You guys remember the name Ronald Flip Murray? I do. Yeah, for sure.

Flip was like one of the league leaders in points a game one year. I think when there was an opportunity for him. I think he was with Seattle at the time and Ray Allen might have been hurt and Richard Lewis was down or maybe Richard was playing. He got buckets. He was super gifted offensively. Like, you give him the ball, even until his last days, you know, when I was playing with him in Charlotte in the NBA, he could still get you buckets. There are a lot of guys that grace the NBA that can do a lot of shit with the ball and get buckets. I'm not saying he's flipped Murray, but I'm saying that's not an uncommon thing to see someone come out of nowhere that's super talented and be able to get buckets and play the game. There's a lot of other things that go into whether or not you become a star.

Okay. So, Jomey, yes. You have to put this into context, brother. Context, yeah. When you came here, speaking that gas, in December, it was, correct me if I'm wrong, Roger, wasn't it after the preseason? It was after the preseason game. It was after a preseason game?

Yeah. Okay. It was after a preseason game. He had scored 20 points against guys that are not going hard. Roger can attest. No one really goes. No one goes hard in preseason. So at the time, you were saying he's the second coming of, he's the Messiah, he has all these people.

And we just said, you need to relax. You need to relax. That's fair, right? That's fair. He had one or two good games in the playoffs and he had two good preseason games. You were talking about him being, damn there, a franchise cornerstone in December. We just said you needed to relax. I am one of the biggest Laker fans in this thing, right?

This has been on record. I want THT to succeed. I am just saying you need to relax because I just, you know, I remember me being that way towards some certain guys. I remember the Andrew Bynum gas. Okay. Now, Andrew Bynum was. Andrew Bynum, two-time NBA champion with the Lakers?

I'm saying that, yes, but was he the star that everyone said that he, that Jim Bust said he was going to be? Was he? Mm. He was not. I have a question for you. No, I have a couple more questions for you, sir. Okay.

Because I've been thinking about this all night. I do have a question. I have a couple more questions for you. I was thinking about this and I compiled a list, Raja. I compiled a list, Jomey. Uh-huh. Of who THT is better than in your eyes, right? Oh, there we go.

That's where I'm getting. Yeah, perfect. How much time do we have? There's like 500 NBA players. Do I got to name a mall? Is, is THT better than Kyle Lauer? right now. Look, well, you bet.

That's a great one. I'm glad you brought this up. I'm glad you brought this up. No, no, wait, wait, wait, hold on. This is yes or no. It's a yes or no. It's a yes or no. It's a yes or no.

I'm glad you brought this up. I'm glad you brought this up. I'm glad you got a question for you. Where? So the season ends on Sunday. Where is Kyle Lowry going? Okay, no. All right, he's not better than him.

Where is he going? Second question. Second question. Is THT better than Kobe Bryant? Well, it's just, I mean, you know what I'm saying? It's Kobe Bryant. Yes or no. Yes or no.

In year two. Oh my God. Cut him off. Cut his mic. No, no. Okay. Question. No, no.

I have more question. I have more question. Don't worry about it. I mean, I feel like these are ridiculous questions. Is T.HT. going to be the next Jerry West? I mean, he's probably going to win more championships than Jerry West.

So, you know, I don't know if he's going to be a logo, but, you know, we can have a discussion later when his Hall of Fame speech. Okay. Is T. H.T. going to be better than Anthony Davis when it's all said and done. Well, I don't know if T.HT has that, you know, defensive player of the year type of potential.

No. We can talk about it. Is T.H.T. In 10 years going to be a franchise cornerstone. And in 15 years, get his jersey retired in Staple Center. Oh, yeah. Well, when the Lakers three Pete, okay. And then, you know, LeBron retires, you know, Anthony Davis.

is in like the fourth, you know, year for his contract and Andy Davis looking around like, you know, it's me and Thty, who else can we put around us, you know, to win, you know what I'm saying?

I think, I think we can get there. Again, you know, is T. H.T. better than Kyle Kuzma right now. Right now?

Not, well, Kyle Kuzma's improved a lot. Okay. In terms of like a defender. Listen, what are you, you're asking me,

I'm trying to answer your questions. You ask me questions. I'm trying to ask you questions. All I'm saying is all this stuff and all this gym Jab or Jab is not, it's showing me that he is not, you're not even better than Kyle. Listen, he's not better than all these people.

It's too. Say, all this gas that you are, you are speaking is. You are using names like, you got to find some names that are more in that man's like category. Okay. Right. I'm just making a, but, Roger. That's a delusional. Yes, I got it.

I'm making a point that he is delusional and that all this stuff that he is saying, he needs to relax is all that is making that. It's a couple of things. One, right, a lot of contending teams don't have the chance to develop talent like this, right? When you want to win, when you're trying to win chips, right? You usually send away young talent or you have, you send them off so you can have vets, right? The Lakers, for whatever reason, are championship contenders and have a chance to develop this really young, talented 20-year-old kid, right? That's one.

two more importantly Kyle Lowry's like 36 he's you know he's not but he's an old man all right it's probably cheaper and makes more sense right to have a young THT on a bench ready to go you know what I'm saying who could do multiple things

Joe me wait wait hold on I'm not done that's that's two and three more apparently Logan you got up here talking about how you you the biggest Laker fan out here and he's trees. Cap. I'm calling Cap, right, for a number of reasons. But first and foremost, you know what I'm saying, you always talking about, you know, I don't know, man, you always tweeting about the Warriors and stuff, you know, Steph's your boy, Kevin, you call him Kevin, right? You know what I'm saying? So I don't know. Can we trust your Lakers fandom? Let's talk about

it. Oh, okay. All right. All right. There we go. Deflecting. Here we go. Good job. Deflecting. You were clearly wrong on a lot of different things and you want to come back at me of myself. The point is that I believe in Tannen Horton Tucker's future. Right? I think that he, I don't know if he's an all-star, but I think he can make a really, really, really, really good point on this league.

He could have been traded for an all-star. Yeah, that's not even like, come on, man. Come on, bro. I'm not here for that. Talent, Talon, Toulin-Horton Tucker, R.J. Barry. Hey, look, who hit the game winning three on Tuesday? Talent, I'm aware. I'm aware. I'm aware of this situation I'm asking you. He hit one and then

RJ came down and looked like he was lost because there was no space around him and threw up something to hit the side of the backboard. I'm asking you if you had a choice. You take Tyler Horn and Tucker or RJ Barrett? I'm taking THT all day. Zion Williamson or THT. Okay. What kind of question is that? John Morant or THT?

Because that's how the gas that you give him. That is the gas that you give him. Look, for a guy came out, right? And you're talking about how NBA does not have players built like him. he's literally the heaviest player at his height with his length in NBA history, I believe.

Right? So nobody been built like him. So I did my research. I was out here. I was out here on the NBA basketball reference. All right. Okay. Okay.

All I'm saying is let's stop the disrespect on tailing Horton Tucker. So because right now, as I'm on basketball reference, They have him at 6-4-2-35. He's lost some weight. And PJ Tucker is 6-5-245. He lost some weight. So like it's literally right there. I literally just looked that up.

With his length, if you're not thinking about his life. Who's better in their prime right now? Who's better in their prime? PJ Tucker or Talonhorn Tucker? Talonore Tucker's not even need this prime yet. See, this is just the surface. All right, bro. You know what I'm saying?

This is just the beginning. Oh, my God. You can see the iceberg. It's like me. That's ridiculous. The Talonore and Tucker Iceberg, you can only see the tip. You know what I'm saying? There's a huge, huge ice under the surface.

I need Lakers fans to be really excited. I need Lakers fans to be really excited that you found a potential piece. And I do agree with you. He could be a piece of stuff moving forward that is a part of your foundation. And when you find those and they don't come through the draft and they were relative diamonds in the rough, you've got to be really excited about that. You got to be really fired up

if you're an organization and a fan base. So for that, I agree with you. Because I do think he's a very good player. I think he's going to be a really solid NBA player for a long time. He has that skill set. I don't know what the star, I don't know what the ceiling is on stardom there.

That's all I'm saying. So I can co-sign on some of it, but I got to ask you to like, you know, I got to ask you to like, you know, tap the brakes occasionally. And you know what, Roger? And I appreciate that. I honestly appreciate that, you know,

because you see a vision, you know what I'm saying? like we don't know where he could go, but you understand that. Like, he's got, the kids got a future in the league. Say I see you. Logan, I'm still waiting on your apology, man. You didn't, you didn't.

Oh, that wasn't an apology. That was not an apology. That was not an apology. Roger, I don't need an apology from you. I need one from Logan. I need one from Logan. You, first of all, you lied on me. He said that Sasha could pull the tapes.

Sorry, sorry for lying on you. Apologize for lying on you. How about that? And then two, T-H-T, look. Would I trade him for Kyle Lowry? Absolutely not. Would I trade him for Janus in a couple years

when, you know, things are looking a little dark in the water? Okay. That's a, you know what I'm saying? This is like, this is like, this is like, this is like when Warriors fans tried to say like, it was written to when Warriors fans were like Alan Smileygech could be a great third option alongside Yonis when the trade.

Oh, hey, how dare you? So. But, but, do you? need to relax. Near Ali's, whatever you just said. How dare you? All right.

Thank you, Jome. Our CMO. Let's get on to some other stuff. Speaking of R.J. Barrett and orange and blue skies. The Knicks are in the playoffs. Not even playing. Playoffs.

Tims are in the air. Orange and blue skies are flourishing. Spike Lee is excited. Raja. is your inner Nick fan, however small it is, are you excited right now? I'm excited. I'm excited for the Knicks. I'm excited for the city. You know, I'm excited for my family. My wife and her family that are from New York, and they all love the Knicks. It's all great. Here's the problem. I'm excited for World Wide West

and Leon and everybody up there. It's a great job. It's a great story. The trajectory again is what you want to be seeing if you're a Knicks fan. Now comes the harsh reality, though. That's not going anywhere in the playoffs. Like you made the playoffs and that's dope. But when you watched the Laker game the other night, that's going to be their issue in the playoffs. You have, with all due respect to D. Roach,

who's been a phenomenal story. If it's going to devolve into, okay, Julius Randall can't get a bucket because AD is locking him up. Kudos to AD. He did a great job down the stretch on. on, on,

uh, Randall. But, um, if, if the only other place you have to go is seeing if D. Rose can run around and get a bucket,

New York, we have a problem offensively. And they're great defensively. And you know I buy into that shit. Like I am, I think you can win a lot of games in the regular season with just defense and hard work and hustle and toughness. But then in the playoffs,

you got to have bucket getters, man. You have to have cats that can bonafide bucket getters. Um, and so that's going to be a problem for the, But I am excited for him. I think it's a dope story. I'm fired up for whatever fraction of me as a Nick fan.

You know what? Nix fans as a whole from, you know, we got Kid Mero. You know, we have Monica McNutt. We have all these people that are Nix fans. By and large, they don't give a shit about what's going to happen in the playoffs. They're just happy to be there. And I can respect that. I can respect that energy.

Just happy to be in there. And I have not been to the garden for a Nix game. I've only seen the Knicks on the road. What is the league like, Raja, and what is it like as a player when the Knicks are good? It's not something that you think about. I mean, it's not something that you think about ever,

but when you're going to play in the garden, you know, when we would have that afternoon game in the garden, you know, and you're coming down and a lot of teams now have this, the theater kind of mode where, you know, the Lakers were the next team to start it, where the crowd kind of goes dark and then the court is lit up. But for a while,

it was just the Knicks, really, that practiced that. I mean, it was, you felt like you were on, you know, Broadway, center stage. Like, this is what, this is what it's about. And then, you know,

obviously everybody knows Spike Lee. Everybody sees the stars sitting at court side. The arena, the arena energy is off the charts. And like, I've always told you, why I respected it was because I knew they were basketball fans.

Because if you were on the opposing team, and they were booing the hell out of you and, you know, chastising you and giving you that work, but you had 17 and the third and whoever the Knicks player was couldn't check you. Like, you'd start to get some respect thrown your way from a Knicks fan. Do you know what I mean? And even though they're still cheering for the Knicks, they mess with good basketball. So like that, you always appreciated that. It's a great building. It's a great, it's a great atmosphere.

Was, um, what is the difference? Do you say like Celebrity Row and things like that? And, you know, it's obviously a buzz there. What is the difference between a buzz? at Madison Square Garden as opposed to a buzz at Staples Center because it seems like the same vibe that you just described with celebrities and also people that are, like, it's just a moment when you play there.

But what is the difference for you when, between those two crowds? It's more intimate in the garden. I mean, the Lakers, obviously, there's some star-studied crowds and some cool people watching that goes on at those games, you know? Even when you're in the NBA,

you're like, oh, shit, look, That's such such, you know what I mean? There's a deal right there. It's a hell right there. Yeah, right? Like Penny Marshall was like a good friend of mine, bro, from sitting down on the end of the court talking shit with Penny and Jimmy and like those are, you know, you get to know people.

It's a cool vibe. But the garden is way more intimate. It's a smaller space. The fans are right on top of you the way it's built. And so there's an intimacy to that. It makes you, you know, it kind of takes you back, if you will. It doesn't feel necessarily like an NBA. arena, if that makes sense.

There's an intimacy there. So that's the difference. I mean, L.A.'s got those stars, too. I mean, it's the difference between L.A. and, like, L.A.'s got a little griminess to it, right? A little, a little shit with it. New York's just kind of, you know, pretty people,

top down. You know, we're out here. Yeah. Okay. Okay. I'm excited, man. I'm excited for Nix fans. Okay. I've just, I, they deserve it.

Good for them, man. You know, I hope that they, like, I really want them to be a factor. I hope that, you know, New York is one of the places that we need to go to, you know, that I hope that that is a thing. Who are they pulling right now? I don't have it in front of me. Who would they get if they, if it were to fall today? They are a six seed, so they will be playing the Milwaukee Bucks.

I mean, you know, I'm going to just say it. Bucks and six, bucks and six. Anyway, it's good to be an entertaining. I think it'll be an entertaining series. Well, yeah. So good for the Knicks. Shout out to the Knicks. Sure.

Happy for them. Ruin of the week. Now, I did a young Juan T. Okay. He got his guaranteed deal. Oh, good for you, bro. Yeah. Got a guaranteed deal going into, it starts today on Thursday.

So shout out to him. Asia said her mother. I mean, it was a real, you know. You're on the spot now. You have to give somebody, you have to do a deep ruin of the week. It's on you. I see your eyes are percolating right now.

You're on the spot. You need to figure this shit out. I don't have a real round of the week. You know what? I got one. I got one. Jomey wants a real one of the week too. But one second.

I got one. Raj's middle son, Rewan at a week, bro. I'm just going to say, Rewan. Ty Bell, Rill Rone of the week for short. Well done.

Well done. Who's your real one of the week, bro? My real one of the week goes to one of my favorite people in the entire world, Crystal Fujimoto. She just gave birth to twins yesterday. My boy Keith, he runs the socials with me on Ring NBA and the Ringer, and he is now a father of three. So congrats to them. Coltrane and Clyde came in yesterday. A real beautiful girl.

Coltrane and Clyde. You love those names, right? Keith and Crystal. It's shocked it. Shout out to them. I love you guys. I see you soon when it's all safe and well to do. Yeah, real happy.

Crystal's my real one of the week. There we go. Gang. All right. Let's get to Asia Wilson, who we talked about the WMBA season. We talked about her mental in the bubble therapy. We talked about the upcoming season.

Really deep conversation, man. Real one. Asia Wilson, friend of the show. What's popping? Real ones. Logan Murdoch here. No riser today. But we have a really, really special guest. We have a, we have Shea Serrano's favorite player. We have WMBA rookie of the year. We have an MVP. We have a future Olympian. We have Asia Wilson in a building. What's up, Asia? What's up? Good to see you. Good to see you too, man. How are you doing you? I see your setup right now. What's going on here? Where are we? Where are we in somewhere in Vegas? Where are we? Where are we right now? I had to get my COVID testing, and now I'm in my locker room.

So if you guys hear anything, it's probably my teammates coming in here going crazy. But I'm here in Vegas. Season starting this weekend. So, yeah, you already know where they're here. What's it like going into this season, right? And I mean, you guys are coming off a WMBA finals birth, but you guys have some additions. We'll get to the subtractions in a second. But you have some additions back on the team with Liz Campage and Chelsea, great.

How are you feeling going into this? season as opposed to last season when you guys were undermanned? I mean, I feel pretty much the same because when we were under man, you know, that was where I felt the most comfortable because it's just like that underdog, like he didn't have that pressure on you. You can just go out there and do you and be you. So I'm pretty much feeling the same. I'm glad we're not in the bubble.

I think I'm more happy about that than our additions. But I truly like adding Liz, adding Chelsea, adding our rookies, adding all these different people, it's been great to kind of just mesh with them in a way that we could get things going and pick up where we left off last year, which was I absolutely hate going out like that. But it was a good teaching point for me and my teammates as well. So I'm excited just to head into this weekend and really get this season started. You talked about, you know, the difference in, you know, going into each season

as terms of, like, you know, COVID versus not COVID protocols and bubbles. How has it been different for you mentally just going into a season where you're going to be going into an arena every day? you're going to be traveling again. You're not going to be sequestered into this small space for however many months. How does that different for you? And how do you feel now? Yeah. I mean, it's a, it's like a different approach to even, like, mentally wrap your head around something that's just like being in a bubble and not being in the bubble.

And I didn't think it was going to be that big of a difference until I left the bubble. And I was in, like, an airport with other people. And I'm like, ooh, like, stay away. Like, this is, this is not. But now, you know, we have strict protocols that we have to abide by. So there's a little safety in there. But at the same time, you know, I'm actually enjoying that I'm not in the bubble because now I can kind of use my outlets that I didn't have in the bubble to kind of take my mind off of what's going on throughout the season. So it's hard because protocols are really strict.

But at the same time, I can still kind of see my puppies in between games and my parents can come see me. So it's kind of like you get those little mini wins within the big parents. so I can appreciate those. What was it like when, you know, you guys are, you know, you guys losing in the finals, but then you're about to leave the bubble? What are the range of emotions when you are going, you know, you lose and you lose probably one of the biggest games of your live and then, but then you got to go to the real world after, you know, three, four months of being sequestered in the bubble?

Like, what are the range of emotions immediately after losing? And I know I hate that question because, you know, the athletes hate that question. But what was the immediate immediate response after losing for you? I mean, it was tough. It was really, really tough. Just like, of course, losing is always hard, especially being swept.

Like, it's one of those feelings where I'm like, dang, like, I don't feel like I gave enough because if I did, I feel like we would have at least won one game. So it's really hard in that situation. And at the same time, it was one of those like, bittersweet moments where it was like, all right, we get to leave the bubble. Like, we're done here.

Like, where's my fight? Can you book it? Let's go. I don't want to be in this place right now. But, I mean, I have to credit IMG. They, their hospitality was great for the time that we were there. And I can really appreciate that. So it was tough, of course, losing, getting swept.

It was really, really hard. I still think about it pretty much every single day. I'm like, damn, I really got swept. Like, she, I couldn't get one game in. But at the same time, you know, that emotion was like still like, okay, I get to go home. I get to see my family. I get to kind of get back to being normal. So it was in between.

It was better to be. For sure. You talked about, you know, I was reading your Players Tribune article right before this podcast, and you were very, you were very honest about your feelings, you know, one in the bubble and dealing with depression in the bubble, which honestly does it seem like, it doesn't seem like the biggest surprise in the world that you were, that you were filling down during that time. But what was it like for you to be honest about being depressed and then being honest about your mental health struggles? during that time.

Was it hard? Was it easy to put pen to paper? What was that process like for you? It was honestly very, very tough to talk about it. Even the day that it dropped, I was like, I like anxiety because I'm just like, do I want the world to know this about me? Because like when people see me when they see the Acculase, they're like, oh, she's perfect.

There's nothing could be possibly going wrong with her because she has everything that she can imagine. And it's not quite like that. It's so much deeper than that. and it's like that piece was just scratching the surface of like just my life in general. But I was glad that I could share it because it communicates with people that that I'm still human. Like it makes it kind of like a showing being vulnerable in that way. It kind of makes it easier for people to relate to you to gravitate to that young black girl that

may be going through the same thing that's feeling the same thing to understand that a player like myself or other women in the W go through it as well. So it was easy because I'm like, okay, I could help somebody, but it was tough because You're letting, and the world is so cold. You're letting like complete strangers into your whole mental and your life. So that's tough. So, but I mean, I kind of went through with it. I had a great support system behind me.

And every day is a fight and a battle. So that's, I'm just climbing that mountain. You say, you know, that, you know, people might think they see your accolades and say, oh, she's perfect. She has a great life. What I see is somebody that is dealing with a lot of stuff that's very new to her right now, right? You're obviously one of the best players in your sport, but you have, you're an MVP, but you have to deal with everything that comes along with that, right?

I'm just assuming, but like, you know, I would just say personal stuff is like the pressures of, you know, making it out of your circumstance and maybe, you know, maybe Survivor's remorse because of that, right? What are some of the things that you were feeling in that moment where like, oh, man, it ain't all peaches and cream. I got it. I'm really dealing with stuff right now. that I have to figure out.

And what was that like? What is that process like where people think you're doing so well? And then you're not really and you really need mental health help. Right. I think the biggest thing was just like, I just felt really like disrespected, honestly, in a way that's like when I was watching TV in the bubble and it was like before our season even started, people were talking and like their own media and they're just expressing. And like, I'm like, all right, I'm waiting for the ACE.

It's like, I'm waiting for them to say something about us. Like I'm like, all right, what they're going to say about us? And then they just kept highlighting the fact that we were short-handed. And I'm like, the disrespect. Like, we're still professional athletes. We wouldn't be here if we weren't elite at what we do. And that just, like, fueled my fire. And I wanted it so bad that I was like, I was consumed in it.

I was like, okay, I got to do this. I got to do this. And I was battling with self-neglect. Like, I forgot about myself. I forgot about Asia because I was so worried about, I got to prove them wrong. Oh, I got to do this for my. my teammates. Oh, I got to make sure they're good. And I forgot. And like slowly pieces of Asia was chipping off because I neglected myself. So for me, that was like where I was just like,

okay, I cannot do this. Because then it trickled over into my personal life once I got out of the bubble. And that's what I knew for sure that needed help. Like that's when I was just like, I need help. Because I didn't want that. Like, you know, you got to compartmentalize your life. You know, like you got to have your social life, yes, then your work, then everything. So once my, my lives started to combine, I was just like, okay, I need help. And that was the biggest moment, was just like when it affected me around my parents. And I didn't want my parents to see me like that. I would have anxiety attacks where all I would want is my mom. And it was something that I was just like, I really need help. And I just seeked out for it. The AC helped me. And I have an

awesome therapist. And I'm like, that's like my girl. Like, that's it. And I can greatly appreciate her. So it was moments like that where I just cared for everyone that I didn't. I forgot about myself. Now, I want to get to therapy in a second because you did say something that was really interesting. But one question that I do want to ask, this is an athlete-centered question around that type of

what you were talking about. It's how athletes internalized stuff. And we, you know, athletes internalize things and you're expected to internalize them in a positive way, but it doesn't do great for your mental, right? Like, it doesn't, you know, you wind up looking for for stuff for motivation, but again, it doesn't help you.

Like, in what ways were you actively looking for criticism versus it was coming to you during that time when you were internalizing all that stuff? Oh, every day, every single day. And that's why I had to like take myself away from Twitter during playoffs. I had to just really just like get it out of my life because I was at a point where I was just like, oh, I'm waiting for somebody to say something just so I can prove it wrong or just so I could show off. Was you searching your name? Was you searching your name?

name, A. I searched my name like once in college because I felt like the Mississippi State fans were saying something about me and their app button was broken. So I was like, what's good? But no, like, I'm really not that type because I'm just like, that's where the truth lies and I'm like, I'm good there. But I was like, what's good?

Like, who's saying something? Let me prove them. And like, I didn't really realize that that was not healthy for me. Like, that's not good. Once you get to that, it's not good. So once I got. past that. I was like, you know what? Like, it's okay. Everything's going to be all right. Like, I can get through this. But yeah, like you said, like, it's to a point where you're

fighting stuff just so it can keep you going when it's all from within. Like, that just comes from the heart. You talked about how it trickled over off the court. Was you just popping off at people and stuff? Like, was you just like, was you flinching at people at the end of the season? Like, what were you doing? What were you doing where it spilled off to the, to the, to the, outside of the court when you, you know, you guys weren't playing? Yeah, I mean, I just felt like I was just sitting on pins and needles. Like I never felt like myself. Like I would laugh and it would be like smile,

but I constantly felt like I had to put on this mask. Like I wasn't being, and I absolutely hate that feeling because that, I don't, like my teammates don't deserve that. Like that's, they absolutely do not deserve that. And if I can't keep it 100 to be myself, then I shouldn't be in that moment. And that was a tough part for me. Like I just didn't feel like me.

and I was just trying to just balance and juggle all these things, and they were crashing down while I was trying to do that. So it was tough, but, you know, my circle really rallied around me and really helped me push through a lot of things. I see an image of, you know, when you won the MVP and your commissioner is telling you, and you're just overcome with emotion. Right.

Now that I know what I kind of know now, like, what were your emotions when you did win the MVP? You're crying, but like you're in a bubble and all these things where you, did you feel like you were going? through depression and things like that during that exact moment? Or was there like a happiness mixed with a lot of other stuff? What was the emotions going through winning the MVP? I mean, the biggest was I was over, I was overwhelmed with joy.

Like it was just so much joy and happiness because I wasn't supposed to be there. Like my name was not in the conversation. And it got to a point where I believed it. Like I was just like, maybe I did like, maybe this, it is someone else. And like that's when I was just like, no, like I can't do that to myself. I'm cheating myself. So when she was reading off my stats, I was just like, wow, like this is, this is surreal to me. Like it's incredible to even think about that I'm in this situation right now.

So it was a lot of happiness. And for me to celebrate it with my teammates that I could call my parents in and they were like hollering and screaming on the phone. And I'm like, wow, like this is truly a happy moment. So that was like one of the highs. And my name is forever in the history. So yeah. Yeah, for show. And so talking about therapy, I want to get back to that.

When did you start? And, like, what has been the biggest thing you've learned about yourself in therapy? Oh, I kind of started talking in the bubble, like, towards the interim playoffs, because I knew it was a lot of, like, a lot of, like, a lot of commotion around, and I needed to tune out. But as I started doing it, I started understanding that it's okay to not be okay. Like, it's okay to just have a bad day. And having someone that's not an unbiased ear, that's just listening and really want to be like, hey, like, dig a little deeper.

Like, how was your day really today? And it's okay to be like, it sucked. Like, it was awful. I don't want to do it again. Like, no. So I think that's the biggest thing is, like, for myself, I always feel like I have to be portrayed at this happy-go-lakey girl that's always jolly and hey, he smiles. And realistically, no. Like, you're the homie, you're the homie that, you know, everybody go to you for advice, but you're like, well, what about Asia?

Who's going to help Asia? Right. Like, it's just like, constantly there. You know what I get all the gossip, huh? You're the homie that get all the gossip. They just like, I get all the tea. But when you want to spill the tea, who's there to spill the tea with you? Where can Asia go?

Right. So, yeah, that's the biggest thing that I learned about myself. And I'm like, I love it because I would be able to be here talking to you about it. So it's progress. I'm doing therapy. I've been doing therapy about two years. And I think the biggest thing that has helped me is just learning how to give myself grace and give myself like, yo, man, it's okay. I listen to this rapper named Larry June and he's always like, good job, good job.

And he promotes like, good job, Logan. Good job, Asia, right? But I honestly say that around myself, like around myself, but I'm alone and stuff just to keep myself, you know, up and up. What are some of the things that you have done to give yourself grace and how you think that's going to help you on the court? How has that helped you so far on the court during this short time you've been doing therapy? Yeah. I mean, the biggest thing is just, you know, the power of the tongue, like what we say, how we say it. It's so it can be so real and it's so true.

So with me, I'm just staying true with myself and being honest with myself. Like, if I'm having a bad day, I'm going to try ways to dig out of it. But if it doesn't work, I'm having a bad day. So just my biggest thing is telling Lynn from within. Like, I lose sight of who I am deep down inside and I lose sight of. a lot of other things. So for me, just being truthful and honest with myself from within. That's what's up.

Um, um, I don't he do it. Um, but, uh, what, what,

what is it, um, you know, switching gears. I do, I do want to get into a few things about, you know, this season,

um, you know, Last time we talked about, last time we talked, it was about how the W is supposed to be covered and how it's supposed to be marketed. You have been a part of a rollout with Sweetie, which was pretty tight. What was that? What was that like? That was a really big commercial. And that's something that, you know, one of the big steps where obviously the WMBA can do a lot on their part.

But, you know, it has to be a bigger. It has to be more than just one entity. doing things. So what was it like for a big rollout like that to happen? What was it like to, you know, do a commercial with sweetie, which was tight? Yeah, it was super dope. Like, just being in the moment and seeing the world's like collide because, you know, athletes love music, you know, musicians love the game. So just to be a part of that, it's like seeing the world's cross brand with something that's just so dope to be in the moment and to see it all rollout, to see it like, actually saying to myself, like, wow, like I'm a legit in a music video. Like, this is pretty

dope. Like, this is everywhere. So I had a lot of fun with it. Um, definitely different. Like, you know, the worlds are similar in some ways, but like really different on the both ends of the spectrum. So it was cool to be in it. Hopefully video big sin A could be more, but we'll see. Um, what about also like, you know, you've been a part, I think you've been a part of, you know, you've been part of the Nike rollout and stuff like that. Do you think that that companies are still starting to come around to marketing women? And I know there's a long, way to go, but do you think that, you know, companies have made strides over the last year? Yeah, I feel like it's in due time it will happen.

But at the same time, you know, it's kind of like a put of money where your mouth is. It don't just talk to talk but walk to walk. Like, especially now where it's about empower women and power women. Like, that's the move that we're on, especially the black woman. She's being more brought out there, more of the forefront. It's 2021. So thank goodness. But it's one of those situations where it's like in due time, we'll really see what

companies are really talking in a talk. I'm honored to be sponsored by and to partner with such companies that are so open with it within like Mountain Dew and Nike and things like that. So I'm happy to be a part of it, but we'll see what other companies are talking about for sure. All right. Now, I forgot to access last time I talked to you and I kicked myself in the foot about this. So when you put the Nike rollout out, right, when you were marketing the Nike shoe, It looked like a pump fake to me

because I thought you were getting your own shoe You feel me? I thought you were going to get I thought the AirAsians was coming out And you know And the post you know what you did You know what you did When we get into AirAsias

Bro, when Nike driving the Air Asians What's popping? What's going on? We got to talk to Nike We got to go there And have a conversation with them But fingers crossed I would love that

That would be so dope But we'll see We'll see what's in the works Okay And we talk about, you know, the discourse around the W. And me and Roger were talking about how, at least in the NBA space, how players are not marketed, but are covered. And the discourse around it, we talked about Russell Westbrook. And, you know, the early discourse around Russ about, you know, he's chasing rebounds, you're doing all these things.

I thought me and Roger thought that was stupid discourse in general. but that is light work compared to the discourse of the W gets around this idiotic discourse that the W gets. How do you manage that discourse when it's a lot is not based in truth. A lot of that is like the common retorts, man, when we can't dunk with Ben, it ain't even a fun game to watch. But they haven't watched the game or it seems like they're trying to get talking points off. how do you manage and decipher through that discourse and how do you maybe pay attention to it or not pay attention to it?

Yeah, I really don't care when it comes to that. Like, I could care less about you telling me to get in the kitchen and make a sandwich, go dunk a basketball. Like, I can't, I don't even give that energy because I'm like, you guys don't even have, if you would just give it a chance, it would change your mind. But the mere fact that you know that,

you're not going to be watching it. So I can't even give that energy because I'm just like, Whatever. You guys don't know anything. If you're a real sports fan, it doesn't matter the gender. You would still love the game. But I can't stop the people from talking. But I don't.

It goes in one ear and together. What's the coldest way somebody has tried to, like, my coldest, I mean, idiotic. What's the coldest way somebody tried to tell you, oh, man, let's go. I'm going to see you on the court. Like, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, we can, you know what I mean. Like, you know, like, you know the whack 11 basketball line that everybody try to use.

What is the wildest waggist line? It's like the biggest thing is like I'll be in like a target or somewhere and like they'll come over and like air cross me over and be like, oh, you can't see me. And I'm like, if I was an NBA player, would you do that to me? They don't. That doesn't happen. That does not happen. You would shit.

You piss on yourself if you saw NBA player, but you're going to think you can cross me over. Like you're crossed me over and slides. Like go get some new Nike slides. Like get out here. Oh, I bet I can post you up, Asian. Right, it's like, move along. Okay, so we talked about, we talked about Shea Serrano, and I talked to him beforehand, and I told him that you were going to be on.

And I asked him if you had any questions for you. And in true Shea Serrano fashion, he gives me a very long question to ask. And I would have just asked like the Cliff Notes version, but it's very entertaining the whole version. So I'm going to read it in the best I can in Shay's monotony voice. He says, last year, the Aces were playing game five of the semis. It was a fucking brutal game. Both teams were just swinging sledgehammers at each other.

And Asia, with the chance to go, with the chance to go the finals on the line, went the fuck to work. She outscored the son by herself in the fourth quarter. Every time down the floor, she was yelling for the ball. I remember watching the last few minutes and being like, fuck yes, here it is. She made the leap. She knows that no one is fucking with her. she knows that from here going forward there will never be a moment

in the playoffs she won't be able to handle. I always wonder if players can feel it when that is happening. So you can ask her if, after she walked out of the arena that night, had she known everything had changed or was it something that only fans think about? I honestly have to say that's something that fans only think about

because with me, every possession, my mind is focused on just that. Like, I don't even know what happened the last possession or what's possessions that are going to come. So I think that's something that fans only think about. But once I start screaming and jumping, then it's like, all right, now it's go time. It's kind of like, you know, when like Kobe bites his jersey and stuff like, like, and tuck, like that's what you know is a different ballgame.

So for me, it's like once I start getting rowdy and I see my teammates getting rowdy, it like fuels me. Like I feel like I'm just like about to take over the world. So I feel that. But when it comes to like stuff like that, I think it's more of a band thing. No, you didn't feel like you didn't, you just knew, you already knew you was cold before it. It wasn't like another level.

Is that what you're saying right now? Is that what, that was going on? Pretty much. Yeah, you know. Okay. Okay. All right. All right.

All right. Respect. But I was, I'm still thinking about reading that over. Like, it's, it was hell funny because I know he thought that through. But when it comes to, um, this season, you know, you have, um, You know, Liz coming back, which is, you know, also one of the best bigs in the league, one of the best front court players in the league. How do you adjust your game? I've seen you've been shooting threes a lot, you know, a little mini controversy on that, you know what I'm saying?

But how do you adjust your game to, you know, fit a player like that? Oh, God. I don't even know, because it might sound bad the way that I say. But, you know, you really don't adjust to that. you just kind of continue to grow your game and let the game just speak for itself. Like I know, I'm not going to look and be like, okay, Liz's coming back. I need to just shoot one three.

It's like, no, that's not my mindset. That's going to be a part of me expanding my game and being more versatile as a whole. So for me, the biggest thing is just continue to be consistent. Like, that's all I can do. That's the best way that I can adjust my game is constantly being consistent because that way my teammates know exactly what they get out of me.

And then once you know that, you know your role, play into it. go with the flow. So for me, that's kind of how I attack. That's how I approach every single year, honestly. It's just being consistent in my game and everything, whether that's just deeper into my bag or expanding it in the three-point line, anything. Are we going to get three-point Asia this season?

Like, is that going to happen? What's popping? You know, you got to watch the games and see. Like, I can't give you all the tea. Like, you feel me? Like, I can't, I can't do that too. I'm trying to get the tea. I can't do it to you.

You got to just watch the gaze and you'll see she might pop up. She might be like something in a midi, so you never know. Okay, okay. All right, because you was, in the scrimmage, you was like, ah, ah, ah, ah. Yeah, he was spilling it. Yeah, he was spilling it.

How was, how would you felt during the scrimmage? You guys had the games to get the sparks. One was a tie, I believe. What have you seen during those times, you know, have you seen about the team? What have you seen? going to be okay. Like, we're going to be good. I think the media puts a lot of pressure on us to get-go, because on paper, we look, like, phenomenal. Shea, I'm a real. I'm a Sparks fan. Jemey on here is a Sparks fan as well. But Shea keeps trying to get me to Vegas. He's trying, you know, he's trying to, like, yo, you know you want that merch. You know what I'm saying? You know you want that. You know you want to get. But y'all are making a compelling case, is all I'm saying. You know, you know you want to get. But y'all are making a compelling case, is all I'm

You guys are making a compelling thing. Yeah, and like, I just think that's what it's going to be. Like, we're going to be really good. Like, we're going to be good and we're going to be okay and just going to have fun with it. We got a lot of stuff. Okay, Asia, you're underselling it right now, okay? You guys are an elite team and you guys are in the, in the finals. I don't care that you in the locker room.

They need to hear this too. You guys are, you guys are in finals contention right now. I've watched the W. I know what it is. You guys are one of those teams. You are really, we'll be fun. We'll be okay. Nah, bro.

We already know, we know, we know how good y'all are. You know how good y'all are. Why are we doing this right now? I can't give out the scounder for you. I don't know who's going to see this. We got to keep them under here. She's capping, y'all. She knows that they are an elite team.

She knows what it is. She knows. She's very much underselling. You have Liz Cambage in Asia on the same team. You know what I'm saying? We're going to be ready. When the time is right, we're going to be ready. That's all I'm going to say.

All right. But what is the injury with Angel McCotry? That sucks. How's that going to affect you guys? You guys are bringing, you know, everyone's coming back with plum and with Liz. And then you have Angel being out of the season. That's a tough one, yeah. That was definitely a tough one.

Like, you know, angels are a big bet. And it's going to be harder to be, like, not on the court with her because she, she scores and spurts. Like, it's just, it's crazy to me. But she's going to always be in the locker room. She actually texts me with like, hey, can you FaceTime me before the game? So I can hear coach talk? could all, yeah, of course.

So she's always there. So it's, it was tough, but we're going to get through it. We're going to be good. We got it. We got it for her. Okay. Is this season, like, is this, it was just tough to just see that go down because she was in a, I feel like at the stage of her career, she was in a perfect role.

All you needed her to do was just hit hit jumpers, man. All you needed her to do was score and scoring bursts. And how are you, who, I'm, all right, we in the locker room right now. Who are you telling right now? Y'all need to step up. Step your game up right now. Wake your game. up right now because Asia's injured

Angel's injured. I'm definitely telling Jackie Young to do that. It's time for her to have her break out year. It's time for her to really like she understands now what we need from her and the pressure is not on her anymore because she's not on the ball as much because she was

she was our PG and that's a lot. You got to think about everybody. But now that we have Chelsea Gray, we got KP bat, like now she can just play her game and like that's going to be the biggest. That's going to be our, that's our glue. Like Dierka's our X Factor and Jackie's our glute. So for her to get going, that's who I'm telling her.

Okay. Tell her to listen to this pod. Tell her, I don't even tell her why. I just be like, yo, I think you should listen to the end about 30 minutes in. You should listen to this. And I got something to tell you. You should just. For sure.

Before we get to the real one of the week, I got to ask the most pressing question of the podcast. It's really the most one. It's the one that's really putting you on the spot right now, like I said before. I told all the homies, because I was hell of juice that you was coming on. I told all of the homies, yo, Asia Wilson's coming on. MVP is coming on. And all of them were juice and all of them had one question. A very pressing question.

Very, very pressing. One of the candles getting restocked, Asia. Oh, my gosh. What's going on? We just know that they're coming soon. Like, I don't want to say a date because y'all going to try to hold me to it and I don't know if I can back it up. But it's coming soon. I promise, like, by the time, y'all ask me again, they should already be installed.

They're going to be up. So, um. Do we need a sneakers app for these damn candles? Do we need a sneakers out for these damn candles, dog? Because, like, I was trying to get a candle, but I came late. It was like, a hour late. And it was sold out. I was like, what are we, what's going on?

Like, what are we, what's going on? So what am I going to need? Am I going to need a bot to get into this? What am I going to need to get a? candle. What's up? I got to. I'm going to make sure my agent can drop you the link and I'll drop you the link like about 15 minutes before so you can get your candle.

I'm trying to get my MVP candle. It's dope. That's my favorite. Okay. I'm just saying, what does that been like you to get onto the business side, right, of doing that? Because you're someone that's in a space where, you know, you don't got to go overseas to bake bread. You're fine. You're good. What has it been like expanding your brand to that and just being business savvy. How have you been able to do that over the last

few years? It's been a lot of fun. It's crazy how it can all start with just a thought. Like, my parents came for Christmas and my mom saw how many candles I had. She was just like, you couldn't like make your own at this point. I was like, you're right. I can. Like, let's do this. So we started doing research and then once I tapped into it, like, it's just crazy how like everyone would just, they like it. Like, I was so worried. because I'm like, this is a candle. Like, you guys can't smell it. You have to literally trust me about the scent.

We got to trust, yo. Yeah. I was nervous. I was nervous. I was like, uh-oh, they might not like it. But like, once we sold out within like two and a half hours, I was like, this is so crazy how the world works. Like, I just have a lot of fun with it.

And I love candles. So I'm doing something that I love. So I've had a lot of fun with it. I've like saved my Christmas money and like everything. What else we're getting from the can? We get in what else we get in with the candles, man? And we get, what's the bundle packs looking like? What's popping?

What's up? Hey, you just, just wait for them to drop. Like, you just gotta wait for them to drop. Like, you get little, it's like our next collection, fire, like, fire. A true businesswoman out here building up demand, not trying to tell nobody was really going on, not even trying to tell nobody the true plans, you know what I mean? No, can't do it. Can't do it.

All right, I guess. I tried. I tried. Jomi, I tried to get the candles. You know, I tried to get it popping. You know, I tried, you know, I talked to, one of the homies was Roz, Gold and Woodie, and we were talking about it.

And she was like, we were talking about the candles. I was like, Brian, what was up? You got to do plugs? What's up? But, all right, well, I guess we'll be on the lookout for that. All right. Let's get to a segment we like to call Real One of the Week, which is a segment that we like to do,

shouting out a person and entity or an organization that just won the week. I will go first just to lay a little blueprint and then we're going to have the woman of the hour do hers. Mine is one, Juan Susano Anderson, who got a guaranteed deal this year and has literally been laying his life on the line for the warriors out here getting concussions and stuff.

So, you know, shout to Juan. Town legend, Oakland legend. And, you know, we're going to leave it at that. Asia, who is your rural one of the week? Ooh, I got to go with my mom. I got to go with my mom. she's been like super real like for me this whole week because it's it's time. It was like training camp is ending and like my anxiety.

Like I'm really pumped and she's just been like consistent rock for me and like Mother's Day. Like she got a day to where I wasn't able to call her. She just got to herself and I was just like that's the day that she needs. So she is my real one of the week, probably of my whole life, but particularly this week. For sure, man. Well, thank you so much, Asia, for coming on. Friend of the show, come on anytime. time, you know, this was dope.

This was dope. Make sure you listen to the real ones every Monday and Thursday. Make sure you listen to all our pods on the Ringer MBA feed. That is a group chat. That is the answer. And then go watch all our other stuff on Ringer Music Show, Black Girl Songbook with Town Legend, Daniel Smith, and also R2C2 with Vallejo legend.

C-C-Sy-C-Sabathia. We will see y'all next Monday. Holla.