The Ringer NBA Show - Anthony Edwards on His All-Star Snub, Playoff Hopes, and Favorite Players to Go Against | Off Guard with Austin Rivers

Episode Date: February 3, 2023

Austin and Pausha are joined by Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, a.k.a. “Ant-Man,” for a fun, wide-ranging conversation. They start by reacting to the fresh news of Ant not being selected as a Western Conference All-Star and discuss other players who may have been overlooked (3:48). Then, they talk through his past playing football before eventually finding his passion in basketball (9:38) and dive into last year’s playoff run against the Grizzlies and how playoff experience has impacted his performance this season (13:07), before touching on his favorite players to face off against (20:01). Plus, a hilarious Rapid Fire: Timberwolves Edition segment (36:28)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Guest: Anthony Edwards Producer: Ben Cruz Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Additional Production Support: Megan Schuster Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's popping, everybody? This is Logan Murdoch from Real On I have some big news to share. On Saturday, February 18th, the Ringer NBA show will be hitting the road for All-Star weekend for a live show in Salt Lake City. You heard that right. We are taping the pod in front of a live audience in Salt Lake next month and we want you to join us. Pull up on us at the Stateroom in the heart of downtown Salt Lake. You can grab your tickets now at thestateroom.com. That's thestateroom. Doors open at 9 o'clock. Show is at 10. It's going to be a 21 and up event. Come hang with the gang and chat, mid-season updates, draft preview, and even have a Q&A with us. Space is limited, so grab your tickets while they last at the stateroom.com or click the link in the description of this show. Hope to see y'all in there.

What's up, everybody? Welcome to another episode of Off Guard. My name is Pasha, and as always, I'm joined by our co-host, Austin Rivers. Austin, why don't you tell the listeners why today is a special episode? Today is a special day because we got our boy, Anthony Edwards, in the building, man. My teammate, the homie, aka A.k.a.1. What's up, Sam? You're having it. First of all, I am a big fan. I actually first heard about you in Memphis a few years ago.

I was with Marshawn Brooks, who was playing for the grinses at the time, and he told me there was a kid in high school who could play in the NBA right now. So I went home, watched the highlight tapes, and you know what, Marshawn was right. You were a man amongst boys out there. And I've always been a big fan That's actually crazy You said that Appreciate it He always talks about Marshawn

Yeah Yeah And by the way Shout out to Marshawn He's a hooper He was a bucket in the league He's getting that bag overseas

Awesome guys So I just want to say Shout out to my guy So last night Huge win for you guys And I'll let you guys Get into it Big win

Against the defending champs At home Overtime game You guys were down A couple guys Dilo fouls out Naus Reid steps up You both step up

Can you kind of take us through what happened? I mean, shit, really. I told Austin after the game, bro, like, without him, we want to win that game. Because, like, the way that he guards is just, like, it just bring energy to everybody. Like, it makes everybody want to lock up. So, I mean, like, when he checks in the game, we know we're going to get stopped. So, like, he did a great job on Curry, him and Jaden throughout the game. And, you know, that changed the game for us and, you know, they got stops.

Yeah, it was crazy. It's always fun playing against the really good teams, the Warriors, the Celtics, etc. And I feel like it always brings the best out of us. This year especially, we've had a kind of a weird thing where we've played like subpart teams or teams that are maybe not the most exciting to play. We've kind of like leveled down on our overall like approach to the game. You know, any team that we played below 500 has been maybe not our best performance, but this year, or I mean, as of lately, I should say this year, 2020, yeah, we've been doing our thing, man.

We've really been locked in, especially in the defensive end. And then offensively, this guy right here has really just leveled up. And he is an all-star, no matter, you know, what they put in the game. but he's been a superstar for us and his main catalyst of why we're going to be in the playoffs. So it's been fun. Last time it was a big win.

And for everyone listening, moments ago, the All-Star Reserves were announced and our guy, Ant, wasn't on it. Who's on the list? I don't even see it. Yeah, we'll get into who made the team in a minute,

but for you guys to have, you know, Kat being out, 33 games, guys in and out of the lineup, and you haven't missed the game all season, right? and you've been putting up great numbers, put the team on your back multiple nights.

Facts. One game out of the four seed, you're the sixth seed right now. I think it's crazy that you didn't make it. Another guy that definitely should have made it is Deane Fox. Man, listen, with all due respect, some of the folks were not supposed to make that game.

But me, I don't really care. I'm just like, De Aaron Fox. I'm like Deer and Fox didn't make it, but this person made it. Like, I'm not even worried about me. Right, right, right. I'm like, Deere and Fox didn't make it, and this other person made it? I'm like, that's crazy.

Yeah. And they're like, what, a three seed? Yeah, like, I'm not even worried about me. Like, I ain't even tripping. Like, I started off the season bad, so I'm not even tripping. I'm cool. Like, as long as we go to the playoffs, I'm cool. I'm like, Deere and Fox supposed to make that game.

There's no way. Yeah. No way he don't make that game. They're third in the West. And some of them people that made that game is like, you like, man, ain't no way. Yeah. Yeah.

That's the thing about the All-Star game. It feels like every year somebody gets in and somebody does it. They always say you're supposed to get like snubbed the first year. And then the next year, you know, they do you right. I feel like every great player gets snubbed the first year that's supposed to go. And then after that, they end up doing everybody right or, you know what I mean? You got to like validate it almost. You know what I mean?

Like next year you played the same way or better what you're going to be. You'll be an All-Star game. And I was going to ask you this before the, the All-Stars got announced, you have the most threes by any NBA player in NBA history under the age of 22, before the age of 22. And it's not even close, actually. I think Lucas second, it's not even close. And I was going to ask you if you're going to go to the three-point contest.

Now that you're not in the game, is that even something on your mind? Hell no. Can I say that? Yeah, man. Hell no, let it on my mind. If I would have been an all-star, I would have did it. But yeah, I'm straight. I'm going somewhere, you know, till I probably go back and see the family.

or something, chill with the fan, which is even better for me. Either All-Star or, like, I ain't going. Yeah, for sure. So, yeah, I probably go to the career. I couldn't imagine you just going to Salt Lake and just swinging by for a three-point contest. Man, no way. But I would. I probably win it, though, for real.

Like, I really can shoot, bro. Like, that's what a lot of people don't know. Like, I really can shoot the ball. Like, you better close out. Austin, you agree with that? No, we do shooting drills, especially before the year. Now that we're like in the full swing of things, we don't really do it as much anymore,

but before the season started, we used to compete all the time. And yeah, you've got to be on your best to, you know, to shoot with them. You and Bryn. Yeah. Yeah. Brin Forbes is no joke either.

Yeah. You said you're going to go back and see the fam. You're from Atlanta. Yeah. And was that the main reason you went to Georgia? I mean, I know Georgia Tech's right there. Yeah. What made you do that?

I like Tom, You know, he was super cool. He had a, the dude that was recruiting me was the assistant coach. And he ended up getting a head coaching job at another school. But he had already had me hooked on Georgia, so I was going still. Gotcha. And if you didn't go to Georgia, what would have been your second choice? Probably, probably Kentucky.

But when they had one, I think when Tyrese and Khalil committed, I was like, nah, I ain't going to commit. They got two. You all the same class, Tyrese? Yeah. Cleal. Tyrese's hoopin this year. Yeah, he cold.

Who was the best high school player that you win against? Like in high school, who was like the player that you went against? You were like, man, this guy is really good. Not even like what you thought he was going to be in the NBA, just like in high school. Like, who was the guy you went against? Like, man, this dude was good. I mean, when I was in 10th grade, I played against a 12th grade Cam Reddish. And I was like, boy, dude.

Cam Reddish? He gave a 50. He gave you a 50? Yeah. I said, buddy, boy, boy, cold. And he good. Cam Reddish. Shout out to Cam Reddish, man.

Yeah, buddy. I still think you. I'm doing. He cold. I'm talking about a 50, I'm talking about pulling up from everywhere. He would cold. Yeah, and Austin always talks to me about how basketball is all about opportunity,

especially in the NBA. Got like Keanu Reddish. Yeah, he's buried on that next bench. He's not in the rotation. Yeah. Hopefully he finds a spot. New York. He's in New York, right?

Yeah. That's crazy. I don't even think Evan Fortier is playing right now. Yeah, you know Thibito, though. And he, yeah, he's, He's good, man. You know what I mean? Evan can play.

Yeah. They just got their own. They're playing Grimes. Who are they here at coaching game? Tibido, Tom Tibido. Yeah, I heard. The D. Rose isn't playing. Cam Redis isn't playing.

And Fournier isn't playing. And those are three good players. Yeah, that's crazy. When you were in high school, Ann, did you see, actually, you were a lot younger. Did you ever watch Austin's Who Mixed it? You know what's crazy? I've seen it. Like, I've seen it a couple times, but I never really paid it any attention.

until he got on my team. Like, when he got on my team, I really went back and watched it because my teammates all was talking about it. I'm like, oh, yeah, he did have that, he did have that shit to him for show. The mixtape. Yeah, that was, that's a different Austin than we know now.

You were talking about his defense earlier back then. I think it was all offense. It was way, way, way more offense. It was all offense. I didn't play any defense, man. And high school, I didn't play any. It played little at Duke. And then I got the league.

And it was backwards for me. like I was all defense basketball growing up. Like I was only good at defense. Is that because I played football? Football. Yeah, I was going to say. So I started with football and then I went to basketball and I was super good at defense. Like I couldn't shoot.

I couldn't really dribble. I was just out there guard and they best player. And like maybe 10th grade, that's when I start really getting in a gym and I developed some offense. That's where I figured. I always wondered if you derived from football because every week, all you do is talk about football. Yeah. In the locker room on a bus. Before the game, after the game.

Just talking about football. Football, football. If you didn't play basketball, is that the sports you would play? Yeah, for sure. What position? Whatever they want me to play. Yeah. Yeah.

Like, who's your favorite? Is it hard to say you have a favorite player in the NFL? No, Julio Jones. Julio Jones. Oh, Atlanta? Yeah. Okay. Man, that boy had that catch over Luke Keecliffe versus the Panthers.

Julio with the truth. That's that they, uh, so your heart was truly broken when they, When they traded them When they traded them in When they lost to the Patriots When they lost, yes What? My uncle, we was at the crib

We was all hype Like we ain't going to school tomorrow Oh word Man We turned the TV out If they were the one School would have been canceled Huh

School would have been canceled Everything That's crazy Being from Atlanta Is it a big adjustment Living in Minnesota? I mean not really for me

Because all I do I'd be in the crib For real playing the game chilling with my dog. So other than it being cold, that's the only thing. Yeah, it's been an adjustment for me. I'm going to speak. I'm trying to get used to this, man.

This is tough, man. I like Minnesota too. It's been cool. People are cool here as a lay bag. It's cold, though. It's just, it's freezing, bro. Like, this is different type of cold. The walk to the plane, be crazy.

When we land at, like, 2 a.m. off a road trip, that 100-yard walk to your cars, it's the hardest one. walk you could ever make. Yeah. Yeah. That walk, yeah.

Freezing posture. I'm talking about blistering cold. Harts your face. You got to have gloves on, a mask on. Yep. It's not like you can just put

on a coat and go outside. You got to cover it up. What's your, we mentioned Salt Lake earlier, how, I mean, you're not going to swing by there and do a three-point contest if you're not in the game.

What's your favorite city to play in? My favorite city to play in. I mean, of course, the crib. I love playing at the crib. Yeah, I love playing at the crib. But, like, on the road-wise,

I say Sacramento Really? Sack. I love Sack James. Like just arena or something about it? Just the, I think the Nets like The Nets. Every time I play SAC and SAC,

I just feel like I can't miss. Hmm. I love Sack Jams. I mean, what were you expecting, Pasha? I feel like every time that question's ask, you get Madison Square Garden, staple center, the heat, you know, like the Boston Garden.

A Raptors. like a Toronto thing. Like a lot of people just like, yeah, I haven't never heard anyone since you know what mine is. Other than the garden. You were telling me, you said you like the Boston fans

how much they got into it. Yeah, Boston's just, it's just an environment. I like playing in like those environments. Yeah, yeah, I like those.

I love Dallas because they got the speaker on the net. Every time you make it, I hate Dallas. You don't like Dallas? I hate it. I hate the speaker. Under the rim. Yeah,

I say, I like that. I like that. Sacramento got that. I don't know what it is. Sacks a brand new arena as well. It's beautiful. It's one of the better arenas in the league.

I love a sack arena. So, Austin, you've been to the playoffs a bunch of times in your career. And last year you got your first taste of it. What was the biggest difference? Was it just a whole different level of intensity, the crowd? What was the biggest takeaway there? Man, I'm just, I'm so ready to get back to the playoffs because I feel like I just, I left something out there.

But that's the most fun I ever had playing basketball. You dominated, though. Yeah, it was. it was just really like streetball to me like man they know everything you're going to do they just got to stop you at this point and I had in my mind like I had my mind made up like they're not going stop me so right I love that I love that type of basketball that was and a fan like I love all that that was I live for those moments do you feel like the Grizzlies are now kind of your rival your team rival I know I won't even say that I just every time I play them I don't want to lose

because they kick me off the playoff if we can get them in the playoffs this year I would love that. Like, I would love that. That's not our rivals. Like, I don't think so. That's our right. I think they beat us in the playoffs. I know Austin wasn't on the team last year when you guys won that playing game, but he did in an earlier episode make a little fun of the way you guys were celebrating after that play in. Everybody made fun of them. We talk about that on time in the locker. Yeah. Yeah. They was. So we have regrets though. I mean, like, y'all was really grinding for you. Yeah, yeah, so I respect that. I respect it. Yeah, big facts. And y'all honestly should have won the Memphis series.

Y'all, we're up every game. In a fourth, five, six minutes left. We're up ten every time. Is that, I would have to imagine, like, those experiences going through that in the playoffs. Has that help you? Because especially as recently, bro, just watching you close games. Like, I wonder, did those experiences in the playoffs help you, like, really learn how to close games better? Like, know how to control a game, take over a game.

You know what I mean? Because even lately, not only have you making shots, bro, but like you making the right plays, you finding guys, like even the past last night to Nas, you know what I mean? And the game, a couple games before, the game went in three to Jaden, where you could have forced something. Right. Maybe you would have two years ago. Yeah. But you drive it and kicking and making the right play. Like, did those experience in the playoffs help you at all?

Yeah, for sure. Because, like, I would turn it over last year in the playoffs, like too much at the end of the game. Like, I'd be in a one-on-one situation. and I'm missing the shot, but I know I can make the shot. I just got to go work on it. So, like, the next summer, I'm just like, listen, bro,

I'm going to have three, four shots and spots that I'm going to get to at the end of the games that they can't do nothing with it. So, like, now I'm just like, I'm watching the film. I'm seeing like, okay, I can get here and pull up. So I work, you see it. I work on it there and practice. Like, I'm going to get here,

and I'm going to pull up every time. And just being able to read the game. I'm watching a lot more film now. Have you always been a film, guys? Have you always been a film, guys? Is that something new? No, it just started for real, like this year because they've been doubling me. Like, I'm trying to like learn more.

So, like, watching the game, it makes it a lot easier. I know films recent, but did you ever grow up with a guy that you used to, like, tap into and like lock into and watch his games and try to emulate? No, see, I was a big football. Really? So it's football all the way through. I would watch a whole Vikings game and watch him run over everybody and be like, boy, this is what I'm going to do when I get old. That's crazy. And the dude, my brother, he's the reason I started playing back.

Like, if he wouldn't have been that good at basketball, I would have been like a... See, this is crazy for me to hear because from our background, me and Pasha, it's just, I don't know anything else but basketball. You know, that's all. So Pasha, you're a brother. No, that's just my homie. Oh, okay. But he, well, tell you a story, Pasha, just so he has an idea of where you, so you know some... No, I've been obsessed since I was a little kid.

I grew up with Austin, obviously made it. Yeah, he just grew up around us a lot of pros in the city. I'm the biggest, I'm the biggest basketball nerd, I'm going to have to say. Like it's just, you know, and it's such crazy to hear that you, you know, we're a football guy. And then just started watching film. Yeah. And you're already this good and you haven't even, you haven't even scratched the surface. It's just scary to me, like, how good you're going to be now that you're like really into it.

This is why we get frustrated with him all the time because he's 21 and he doing all this, whatever. And this dude still dominating the NBA. We're like, man, if you could just do this, this, this. But then we just, I got to understand. It's just, you knock it, but you knock on one thing at a time. You know what I mean? Like, it just seems like each month you just keep getting better and better and better and better. It's crazy to see.

But yeah, no, it's, it's always interesting to hear how guys got into the game, how guys fell in love to the game. To hear that you was a football guy. Super big old football. And then just turned out well, huh, Pasha? I just think it's insane that you, like, that he just wasn't. Who was your favorite basketball player growing up? How about that? My brother.

Like, I didn't watch no basketball. I didn't sit down watching no NBA games. Like I was football all day. My uncle would be like, but you need to turn that football off. Like I play Madden all day. And when Bubba got a game, I'm going to watch him play. And I had this thing. Like I always wanted to be better than him at whatever sport we played.

So I was already better than him in football. He started playing basketball. I need to get better than him. And I just start working. And I didn't beat him until like 10th grade. And then that's when I realized like, all right, I can be pretty good at this. What about now? I was going to say, do you watch teams now?

Now, do you have a player now that you like to watch? It's still just not really, just whatever. No, yeah, still not really. I just watched the film on me. Like, okay, they're going to let me get to this spot. That's what I'm going to work on. Okay. So whenever everyone retires or do whatever, they stop playing basketball,

let's say you have this long career. You're in your late 30s. What sport do you think you're going to pick up? Because I know a lot of guys get into golf. Austin, are you a golf guy? I'm getting into it, yeah. But that's what I will be. When I get done playing basketball when I'm older,

I'm definitely going to be golfing. Macaroni Tony This is what he calls me My name name is Macaroni Tony He's talking about he's going to golf I'm probably going to go do tennis or bowling or something Can you explain to the audience

What macaroni Tony means No man Macaroni Tony is like You know If we're No I can't say that Uh-uh Don't worry about it

Just he know he know what he is Macaroni Tony Austin what is Macaroni Tony Please tell me It's it's everything that I embody, I guess. Yeah.

That's how I explain it. What part of you? Listen, my job, a part of my job is the key everybody locked in. Yeah. And whether I was playing or not playing, I'd be the loudest on the bench, talking the most on the bench. If anything, I get on people's nerves sometimes because I'd be talking so much. But that's part of why I'm here.

You know, I got it. He got back door by Wiggins and the ball just so happened who got to bounce. And I looked at the aunt like, and goes, Damn, my bad, I got lock in. It's the fourth quarter with five minutes left to go to the game. Or seven or ten or eight minutes. Yeah, something like that. It's a fourth quarter.

I know that. Man. I know playing against the defending champs last night, playing against Steph, you know, you get up for that game. Are there any other teams or players that you get up for? Like, the night before, I got to get some good sleep. Kevin Durant. I thought of who was.

I think you and Donovan Mitchell go out of each other. Yeah, Donovan Mitchell. You always get up for his games. Yeah. Even Kyrie, I always, like, anytime I'm going to play Kyrie, I get up for his games. We haven't played them yet, have we? We haven't played them yet. I know he says he got an ISO player.

And I love people that, if you can score on me, Brian, I got so much respect for you because, like, I feel like I can guard. Like, ISO situations, I feel like I can guard. So I love playing Kyrie. I love playing against Embed, like, I don't guard them, but just being out there watching them. Like, I'd be like, man, that's impressive. I feel like, Imbeet, Joel talks a lot of shit. You talk shit with him, or? I don't really hear him.

He don't really say too much for real, unless, like, he gets an N-1. He's going to let you know N-1. Are you a big trash talker? I'm trying to think, I don't ever hear you really get into it. Nobody. Yeah, Ann doesn't say anything to nobody.

Mm-mm. I'd be laughing the majority of time that they be trying trash talk to me. I'd be laugh. We don't really have any trash talkers on our team. Dilo. Yeah, Dilo be talking. He'll be talking that shit.

But he does it in a good way, though. He does it like in a little... Dilo be talking that shit. I love that. Dilo, he'll start soft-ed. Dele be talking their seat. He'd been hooping, too. Yeah.

Deedle been killing. Last night's fourth quarter, he went off. Yeah. He's done that a couple times. Yeah. Multiple times. He's been, I mean, and keep closing the games for us. Game of Utah?

That's been great. Yeah, y'all, you've been like a one-two punch, man. That's been really good. Yeah. I feel like Deelow gets a bad rep out there sometimes or, and every time, you know, he'll come up with big games. He's super talented. Yeah, he does, man.

Why do you think that is? He's good. I'm talking about what? He's got a game. It's uneniable. No doubt. No matter what people say by him, he, that boy can't.

Who? Yeah, he's almost 50, 40, 90 this season. Yeah. But good. And Nas Reid, I mean, last night was crazy. The problem with Nas is the secrets out now. So everybody. Now everybody want him.

Yeah. Everybody wants my boy. And everybody knows how good he is now. That boy, co. That's just going to be a problem, you know. We have so much. We even got a guy like Nathan Knight. He tough.

Nate, too. Like, he can hoop. He don't even play just because we have so much already. But Luke good. Yeah. We got Jaden McDaniels. Jalen. Jalen.

Yeah, we got a lot of young talent. Yeah. I feel like you've had in your three years with the Timberwolves, you've had a lot of different teammates that, you know, the team switched up a little bit. Different coaches. Yeah, what vet has given you some of the best advice who's kind of been there for you? So at first I had Ricky. Ricky was super good.

Pat was super good. and shit, now I got Austin. So, you know, they all been super good to me, and they all help me. Austin, you're stepping up as that. Austin is the oldest guy in the team, one of the oldest? I am. Yeah, he's the oldest guy on the team, yeah.

It's just crazy because when I think of Austin, I think of, like, the young Hooper and I'm the young one in our crew. Yeah, and you're only 30, and you're the old Wiley vet out there. Strap it up on D. 30 years old is the oldest on a team? Yeah, that's crazy. Yeah, like some of these teams, like,

if I was on Philly or any Brooklyn, Like those guys are 35, 34, 36, like, I'm 30. But I mean, I guess this is my 11th year. So, I mean. And you, so you've been in here since you went 19? Yeah. Damn. You won and done.

Yeah. What pick you went? Ten. At all right. 10th pick. Duke, man. Duke. Are you, are you like a, are you, you follow Duke still?

You're a proud alumni? Like, they're playing North Carolina soon. Like, are you? I am a proud of this game. Listen, am I, am I, you know, a Duke historian or like a guy that tunes into every game? No, but I definitely keep track, keeping, you know, keep watch on the players, you know, especially if they get like a really big time player. I always like to watch, but I was going to go back this year.

I haven't been back in like seven years. It's been a minute since I've been back. And I need to head back there. See, it's changed a lot. They like redid the school. But John's down there. Emil, they got a lot of players that I grew up playing around and playing with that are coaching now, which is pretty cool to see.

I feel like some of the craziest highlights, a couple of them the other night on Shangoon, which is wild because you gave him a compliment earlier in the year, hyping his game up, and then you just kind of dunk on him a few times, nothing crazy. What's your favorite highlight that you've had in the NBA? And also, like, the one on Yuta is mine when you went baseline. What's your favorite highlight that you had? My favorite one is, I ain't going to lie, the dunk on the clippers in a playing game.

Yeah. Yeah. Because they caught a timeout, and it got super loud. It's more like an adrenaline type thing. Yeah. But you're talking about that that went viral. Well, sure, yeah. I mean, no, whatever your highlight.

He's saying this, whatever, yeah. Yeah. What you said in. Yeah, that's my favorite. The shot you hit the other night where you weave through the traffic to get to the fadeaway midi. Oh yeah, that's...

Borset. Yeah, that was... Since I've been here, that was the craziest thing I've seen. And I know it went like... It's just a mid-range jumper, but that was a... Yeah, that was like Kobe type shit.

Yeah. Two, three guys on you, we've been through a double team, raise up. Boom. Yeah. That was. Yeah, that was pretty nice.

Yeah. We was on a bench. The one lair night. I like the one lair a night. the, uh, when they, when you came and set a screen on me, they sent two. Oh, and then you, you go, weaved out of it. And I, I'm beat past it and then got back out of it. That's when you finished with the left. Yeah.

That was crazy. What do you think is kind of the next thing you're going to add to your game to hit that next level? Uh, just being better at closing the games. Um, I feel like everything else, I'm good throughout first through third quarter, just getting better and better at closing the games. Knowing when the run up bleed the whole shot clock, um, knowing when the run up, bleed the whole shot clock. Um, knowing when. when to get off of when they put two on me, knowing when to go, even though they got two on me.

So just being better at that. Stop turning the ball over. What's been the hardest adjustment from lifestyle in terms of just like, obviously you grew up in Atlanta, you know, went to Georgia, you know, close to home, and then you go straight to Minnesota, now you're in the NBA, you're making millions, you're on the road a lot, you know, life moves very fast. Like, what's been the biggest adjustment? I just stated myself,

My brother come with me everywhere I go. So I just keep somebody that I can. Shout out of the bubble. Yeah. So I just keep somebody that I trust, like, super close to me all the time. And we just, we chill. We be in the room. We act like we still back in Atlanta.

Back in college or something. We're back at the crib, huh? Yeah, we'd be chilling. And you had your brother perform at halftime the other night, right? Yeah. His performance. Oh, that's cool. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. We thought that was dope. Yeah, he dope. Austin's girl So I got to ask you this And we don't have to stay on it too long But Austin's girl loves

You know the hot fries I saw recently you said that you eat a bunch of hot fries Is that like a Gen Z thing? The whole hot Austin you remember talking about it before We don't understand like snacks Like LeRon has his own hot chips And hot fry

I mean them hot fry I don't know by anything else But them hot fry I got by 3 4 on most still And when I get done Talking to Macaron Tony I'm gonna get on their game And eat me some hot fries

I ain't gonna lie to you, but I'm hot fried good. I don't know nothing about done nil. So we're talking about how many realistic packs? You said 21 of G2. Yeah, you know I would be in a little, but I probably eat one a day. No, at home, if we in Minnesota,

look, real talk, if we in Minnesota, I probably don't eat that minute. I probably eat one, air, two, three days. But if we're on a road, every day we're on a road. I got to get a pack. I don't know when it was it. this season, but at one point, Pasha, we were on the road.

It might have been, it was really early in the season. And he had bags with him, like a backpack with him. And I'm thinking he was unzipping it to put something in there. I'm thinking it's just like a normal travel backpack like I got. But I realized he already had one on his back. So I'm like, what is that backpack for? This man opens this backpack and it's full of snacks. Like just every candy and snack you could think of,

he's sitting there looking at me like, I'm like, this. Yeah. And then he goes close to game tomorrow. Yeah, what other snacks were in there besides hot fries? What did you see? Some Reese's. Reesies? Some Jolly Rancher, Chewis.

Starbursts, probably. Bro, it's not Halloween, man. What do you have? The white chocolate and hers. I'll make sure I can give me some snack going. Some honey bun, little Debbie, short, all that. I need all that. You'll be a-a-it-all-it.

We'll be all right. I took them to, we always go to restaurants on the road. And you know how the steak will come season with like all these different, you know, flavors that bring out the steak. Where I catch steakhouse in Vegas, Pasha. He like, what's all this stuff that comes on the steak? They're like, it's a seasoning. It's, you know, this is how we make our steak.

He goes, hmm, I don't want none of that. They're like, well, how do you want your steak? He goes, well done. But no sauce. Matter of fact, you got A1. And then we ended up making them eat some of the stuff there And you was like, this is the best I've ever had Yeah, yeah.

Scores, I never get them. Whatever them are right there. That was it. Town them away, Pasha. What's your favorite restaurant, I guess, like major restaurant chain or anything like that that you would go to? Mastroos. Okay, so we like Mastroos.

You get the butter cake dessert? Mm-mm. I don't like cake. No cake. It's a little different, Austin. Like buttercake, it's like it's not cake. What is? I love buttercake.

That's my favorite thing. Yeah, Mastro's buttercakes, a must for me. Mastro's, five. Mastro's definitely a good vibe. You just get the steak there? Yeah, that's it. Yeah. What's the, I'm sure you have a lot of fans now.

What's the craziest thing of fan has ever said or done? That took you by surprise. That's a good question. Someone ever throw you off guard or you've been on the road and someone say something to you're like, I have too many experiences with that, unfortunately. No, this kid. This kid was holding up a sign that said something like I flew from somewhere.

It was like far, far, far, far. I don't remember where it was, but it wasn't like United States. And it was somewhere far. And I was like, damn crazy. Like, I got fans all over the world. Yeah. You really touching people from way across the globe. That's really cool, man.

Do you feel like it's a little unfair that, you know, your career kind of started during COVID? You're in a smaller market like Minnesota. you're putting up these big numbers. You'd think if you were, you know, different circumstances, you'd be a bigger name, or you don't even think about stuff like that. Yeah,

I don't even, I ain't never even thought about it like that, like small market or nothing like that. I'm just like, man, we're fin the, I'm from the coming to Minnesota and we feel to turn up. Like, I'm thinking it's a big market.

We're going to turn up. Make the culture of your own type thing? Yeah. That's dope. Kind of like what KG did here. No? Yeah. Pasha?

No, I feel that. What's your favorite thing about Minnesota? I know you said you stay in mostly. Probably the snow. Like, growing up in Atlanta, I didn't really snow like that. He didn't snow at all, for real. So now I see snow every day. And I like the snow.

Like, I used to love when it snowed in Atlanta. So I think that's my favorite thing. Like, every time it's snow, I'd be having fun. I go out and have fun. What's, you know, I'm always interested in how players approach the offseason, you know, how they go about the timing of the workouts, you know, how much time they take off what's your like

normal summer look like like season ends say the season ends tomorrow right what do you do and you got three months three and a half months do you take two three weeks off do you just stay training rear round uh nah i take like three days three days off like three days

go somewhere don't do nothing because like i got the type of body bro you know i got the type of body like if i take too long you saw training camp i took five days off and i came back 19 pounds old, like too big. Now, he could have played like full linebacker. Yeah.

So like if I take, if I take too much time off then and just be eating, I'm going too much weight. So I take like three good days where I just don't do nothing. Don't do nothing. Be chilling. And then after that, like I start doing something every day. Like I make sure I do something. But I start like working out basketball wise like week and a half.

Mm. But I make sure I stay in good shape like condition. And you have things you focus on? Like do you go into the summer like, all right. these are areas I got to get better. Like, do you talk to Finchie or whether it's your trainer or your whoever? Yeah, I taught my trainer. And we always talk about mid-range.

Like, because in college, I was a big mid-range guy. I loved giving to the mid-range. And last year, I didn't shoot it very good in the mid-range. Finchie was like, man, I don't want you taking out of mid-range. So I'm like, bro, I'm going to take my mid-range where we like, where we got to make them. So, yeah, you won't have no problem but you're taking them. So this past summer, like, I was focused on that mid-range. and teams forcing me right.

Yeah. So last year, bro, the whole playoffs, they was forcing me right the entire time. Like, they'd give me the lane. All I do is just rip through and go dunk the ball. And I would never take it. Like, I'd just do something and get back left and go score. And this year, he's just like, man,

your right hand going to be nice. Like, we're going to get your right hand nice. Yeah, you're starting to really, whatever the defense takes you or gives you, you're able to just go ahead and take. Yeah. Was there ever a moment in the NBA where, you know, you were star-struck, like maybe a rookie year,

where you saw maybe, maybe like LeBron or somebody for the first time, and you were like, damn, like, that's, that's LeBron. Like, what player was? Yeah, this is my reality. Like, this is why I'm going to guess now. Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant, yeah.

We played KD. I was like, oh, he really don't miss. It was KD first and then I ain't going to lie. When Mello was with the trailblazers, I was like, oh, yeah. Yeah, he's real. He ain't done to play with. Like, he's a real professional. Like, I love to watch people who, like, really professional shoot the ball and workouts.

Like, I'm like, oh, these folks, they really don't miss. You can't leave Carmelo and Anthony open at all. Never. Yeah, shout out to Carmelo, man. Facts. Yeah, legend. When did the game, like, really slow down for you where things started becoming easy?

Like, what, what, was it a re- rookie year, right off-rip? I would say my second half of my rookie year. That's when we got Finchie. Oh, man. He was just running plays for me. And eventually, like, I started feeling, like, more comfortable. And then my second year, everybody was like the buzz. I was like, I got to come back a little better.

And then I got better. And then I started hoping. And now it's just like, well, like I often said, I'm going to take what they give me. And right now it's super easy. I'm not really stressing about anything right now. What do you think is the hardest part about being in the NBA? And like some examples are, you know, travel schedule, playing back-to-backs, which you don't do in college.

What's the hardest thing for you? Maybe being away from family, stuff like that? I don't see nothing hard, man. I get paid to play the game I love, play back to backs. Like, I don't want to miss a game. So I don't see nothing hard about it. I think we got the easiest job in the world. Yeah, that's always been super impressive to me, Pasha.

Dude doesn't miss the game. And there's been games where, or days, he hasn't felt good, he's been sick. You know, everybody has stuff going on in their personal life. You know, there's a million excuses to miss a game, especially in today's day. You got half the league doing load management, which is a whole different topic. But here we got a guy that goes in, night in and night out, depending on, not even depending on how he feels or anything, you just go play, bro. I've always admired that respect to that.

Are you ready for some? So what we do every episode is we do rapid fire where I'll just ask a question. You got to answer it without really thinking too much about it. Just give me the answer. Then we can elaborate. Austin, you're involved in this too. This is going to be, we're doing a Timberwolves edition. of rapid fire, okay, Austin?

Yeah. Who is the best dress player on the Timberwolves? Am I allowed to answer these two? Or is this just... Yeah, it's just both of you guys. And then you guys could, you know, if you disagree, then maybe talk about it.

Me. Me. Okay, so the best dress on the team would definitely be myself. But if we're going to go by... Macaroni Tony? Macaroni Tony. If we're going to go by who puts in the most effort and who consistently.

Dilo. Dilo. Yeah. Dilo is the most professional dressing our team. He's trying to make lead fits every day. Big facts. He dresses up every game. See me?

The reason I don't get the award is because, like, I wear this with some great Adidas sweats with some. Oh. Same. Same. It doesn't help. I love Minnesota. That's just me being sad. I ain't really any.

trying to do all that. I'd be chilling. Macaroni Tony here, he's going to put on him a vest with a chain, with some ear rings. He's going to spray a cologne on that Mahave goes. Buddy going, buddy coming in.

Yeah, buddy making an appearance, man. Macaroni, Tony, Pasha. I cannot. I'm going to keep calling you that. Every episode down is going to be Macaroni Tony. You're going to be so mad. They're going to call him. Yes, sir. Oh, my God. Pasha and Macaroni Tony. There it is.

That's the name of the show. That's the new name. Yeah. Who is the worst dress player on the team? Kyle Anderson. Slow mo. Slow mo be dressing like he's from Hawaii. And they had on some deep, some Louis Vuittons with some oversized jeans with a, with a surfboard button down.

It's just as butt in. button downs, Pasha. No, it's everything. No, well. Big old jacket one. It's just his button downs. He has, he wears these button downs and they're just, they're insane. Who is the funniest guy on the team? Austin. You know the crazy thing is? A lot of people don't like that. I don't like it. I don't think I'm the funniest of the team.

A lot of times they're not laughing with me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. they laugh at me. They think what I say is funny when I'm not trying to be funny. But hey, it's mostly when I get mad. Buddy funny.

Austin, you're getting, you're getting laughed at it. They're not laughing with you. This is not the way we have been like, it's not a bullying thing, if that's what you mean. I'm not getting bullied.

That's not what's happening. They're laughing at me in a sense that they think what I say is funny, but sometimes I'll be in the plane and they'll be like, something, something. And I'll like, I don't want to say spaz but I'll go in a rant and they just think it's funny

but I'm not trying to be. Relax, Pasha. What do you mean like a rant? I'm not saying you're getting bullied out here. I'm not saying like, what do you mean like a rant? Like what do you like a Larry David? Like kind of, like an old grumpy man like rant? Like what kind of ran are we talking about here?

No, not an old grunt. Yeah, kind of. A complaining, a complaining. Yeah. I'm boozy. Yeah, he definitely bad and booge. Yeah Nigo definitely left him out there

Austin Who do you think is the funniest guy on the team Since you don't want to say yourself I think Bryn Forbes is hilarious Yeah He's kind of funny He's kind of funny I think brand

You got it though You got the crown Dilo funny Dilo funny Dill is funny But you got the crown though Like, you're going to throw a temper tantrum every time. We'd be asking him to play card.

Let me tell you about Macaron de Tony, bro. He's so bad to booze him. We'd be like, I'd be like, hey, y'all, come on, bro, come on. This man be like, like, you all want to ask me to play card? Are you having nobody else? Check this out, Pasha. We got 14, 15 guys on a team. And it's always dependent on Austin River.

to play the card game so they can have a fourth. He's sitting next to TP, he's sitting next to Naz, Nate, Jalen, this guy, that guy. So is TP? No, you to vet, you 30. I'm 20-1 and I'm playing,

so I'm like, the oldest one got to play, the youngest one playing. Austin, are you losing the most money there when you play? Who's the big winner in the card games? You 30's comedy, huh? You 30. We're going to get T-shirts, man.

You're 30. You're 30. I'm 50-50. I'm down right now. I'm in, unfortunately, I'm in some people's books. I'm,

I'm down to Dilo, but up on everybody, you know? That's the thing, too. You got to be careful about playing cars with D-Lo. Yeah. Got to be careful

playing car. He's a crafty little dude. Yeah. Yep. La buddy, the buddy know what he doing. Who? Who is the last guy on the team that you would hand the oxcore to?

No, I also know some good music. I'm not about I said. I bet you're playing some good shit. Rudy. Oh, my gosh. Is that like a French thing? Yeah, yeah. It's a cultural thing.

No, yeah. I love Rudy, but his choice of music is. Yeah. It's just different. You know what I mean? Is it hip-hop or? I mean, it's not bad. It's just like, it's not what you would want to listen to consistently.

Yeah, I don't even think, you know what it is? I don't even think that it's bad music. Just mistiming. At the time. Yeah. He had played in a locker room. We'd be like, bro, we don't want to hear this shit. Or he had played when we're going to go into the gang.

Like, bro, what the heck? Like, no, bro, that ain't going on. He'll play, like, some island music. And, like, we're getting ready to go out and play. Like, bro, guys try to listen to a little baby future. Whatever, whatever. We're trying to hear some baby, some future. I'm trying to put my headphones on, listen to me some book.

I'm trying. I'm not trying to hear that. Not right now. Who gets the ox cord if you had to pick somebody? Nate. Yeah, Nate be playing music. Nate played the music year time. Nate the night.

Shout out of Nate Knight. Yeah. I keep that Shazam on. I'm really in. I'm 30, Pasha. Yeah. I'll be over there sneaking the shit. Like, they'll play a song, you know,

because I don't want to ask them because then I look old. You know what I'm saying? Like, what's his song? Oh, buddy funny. I mean, so I shazam it. I feel like Austin. I feel like. Austin, you're, like you said, you're a little older, you're a Drake guy.

And is Drake just not a part of kind of the way you're right here? Oh, no, Drake, hold. Drake. I'm not how you're just choosing my artist for me. If that's just not a light skin hate crime, I don't know what it is. Yeah, I felt like that with that war. You don't like Le Wayne? Yeah, I love Loisand.

Oh. I mean, I like Drake, but for you to just assume that's who I listen to only, it's just crazy. That is, but look, macaroni toning. That was a good. That was a good selection, though. You hit them on the head with that Drake one. That was a good one. My favorite is the same time.

By the way. Pluto. And when you think of Atlanta hip-hop, who do you think of? Like, I think of Alcast. Pluto. But I'm older than you. Outcastes. Okay.

I ain't gonna lie. I grew up with that. I ain't gonna lie. Pluto. Future. I mean, I said, uh, thud. Baby. I'm, I'm, I'm young, so I don't.

No, of course. I mean, geez it for show. Gucci man So this dude calls me After a game the other night And goes Come to this concert with me I go

Okay who He goes Jeezy I'm a big Jeezy fan Growing up in Florida Pasha You know everybody listens to him Where we from Of course So I'm like all right bet

So I take Adriana And I figured I'd probably have to hire security Because his concerts can be, you know, interesting environment. You know what I mean? I call this man when I pull up.

No answer. So then we have to figure it out. I end up at like, you know, we ended up getting a section because it was like a theater type stadium. Oh, oh my God. Pasha, I wish you could have seen where my father probably would have had a heart attack.

My parents would have had a heart attack. It's at my parents with it. But we try to get out, we try to get out the concert. I'm getting looked at by, bro. I'm talking about, like, this is looking at me like, I'm like, oh, man. So then this dude starts tapping my security pockets. Talking about, you ain't even holding. We could, this is what he'd say to us on the way out.

Say, I'd get you right now. He's like, but nah, I just got out. I don't even know if he was lying or not. We don't know. You just mess with him. I was like, oh, damn. So I tell him to call Pierre. and ask him who he would call him.

Pierre from Adidas. It's a different pierre. Cool. I accidentally called a different pier. Okay, cool. Because I told Pierre, I'm like, hey, bro, Austin probably going to get that before me. I had a good night, though,

because I like going to those environments, honestly. Yeah, it's good to, especially a GZ concert. Like, that's the whole ambiance of everything. Jesus, cool, yeah. Shout out to GZ. He had you on stage, too. Yeah. Yeah, that's dope.

I was a big thug motivation. That's like one of the classic albums. Yeah, one of the best albums ever. For sure. Every song he sung, everybody in the whole concert knew every word. New everywhere. Yeah, every word. Yeah, I had a blast.

You know, we was up there just jamming, man. He's playing all his throwbacks at a good time, man. It was a good environment, too. So, I mean, it was crazy and a little scary just because it was, boy, it was ratchet. For real? I didn't even see them. Boy, I was parked in a bag. It was an environment in there, bro.

But that's kind of what you expected. That's what we were looking for. It was fun. Austin, you didn't answer, though, for you. When you think of Atlanta hip hop, you think of ludicrous? Who do you think of? I think of Jeezy and Gucci. Like, Jeezy, Gucci, future.

Those are the guys that, like, we kind of grew up listening to. Ludicrous for sure. But, like, I was like... I was thinking of someone older for you. You're like five, six years older than me now. I know, I know, I know. I'm about to say. I'm 30, you're 36.

This is the Macaroni Tony episode. Yeah, yeah, I'm old. It's a lot of gray right here. Here, you see it, Aaron. Yeah, you do. I like great going, John. So tomorrow you're playing the Orlando Magic. By the way, I'm from Orlando.

I'm a die-hard Orlando Magic fan. Yeah, appreciate you coming up, man. Supporting me this year, Pasha, coming to zero games. You talking about it in Minnesota? Yeah. I went to your game in Orlando. Minnesota blew us out. That don't count.

And I wasn't even active then. You asked me about what game. I wasn't even playing yet. The first like 15, yeah, 15 games at a year, 20 games at year. I was, that's why I got hell of energy right now. My leg's so solid. Why, you be sliding up. I'm 20 games behind y'all, though.

Oh, my God. I'm 30 games ahead of everybody. You're about 40 games ahead of everybody. Well, I got the most minutes played in the lead. Are you up there? I got number one. Number one. And I'm like, I'm like a whole bunch of.

of minutes above the second person. Oh yeah, that's crazy. Julius Randall. Me, Luca, Julius Randall. There are no tips in there. That's good company, though. Yeah, facts. Those are all Hoopers.

And you are our first guest on this show. Another record for you. You're breaking a bunch of records. That's another one for you. Big facts. We really appreciate you coming on. Austin, thanks for getting them on. Yeah, facts.

All day, man. We wanted you to be the first guest, bro. You know, we're going to have a lot of guests on here. Yeah. We were thinking about it. We are just like, you know, what guests do we want to start with? I was like, man, we got to go to bro. Yeah, big facts.

Plus, you do realize, like, the following you have, right? Like, how many people really enjoy listening to Utah? Yeah, yeah, facts, yeah. Have you always been this unapologetic, just raw energy, just who I am, taking how you leave it? Never change, never change. You never will, no matter what. Nope.

Yeah, I love that. And that's why we had to have you on, man. Thanks for coming on, bro. Fats. Appreciate you, sir. Thank you, brother. And thank you for introducing us to Macaroni Tony. That's going to be something I'm keeping in. You don't even say it right. So, no. Stop.

I appreciate you. Good luck tomorrow. And we'll check you out. Austin. Talk to you next week. All right. All right. Yes, sir, brother.