The Ringer NBA Show - Austin Rivers on the NBA’s Return, Doc Rivers' Move From LA to Philly, and More | Real Ones

Episode Date: November 10, 2020

Logan and Raja are back talking about the NBA’s plan to return to basketball December 22 (45:00). Then, Austin Rivers joins Logan to discuss the Rockets’ 2019-20 season, Doc Rivers’s new job as head coach for the 76ers, which teams will be at the top of league next season, and much more (30:00). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Austin Rivers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's good. This is Logan Murdoch from The Real On today's episode, Roger Bell and I talk about the NBA's return plan and then Austin Rivers hops on with me. We're getting all sorts of things like Doc Rivers, the NBA's return. What he's going to do in free agency. It was a really, really fun conversation. Tap in and check it out. What's popping? Real ones. Logan Murdoch, Roger Bell. You're doing all right, man. We kind of had, we had you a little late. Logan, I'm coming to you live from the eye of the hurricane. We need hurricane coverage. What's going on?

What's going on? Live from the scene, we have Roger Bell in Florida right now. We've got a spike from the wind right now. Hold on, Logan. Okay, we're good. The power is now back on. It's like family guy. It's raining sideways.

So you are in Florida right now. It's not a hurricane, but it is a tropical storm. And it took you a little long. I got a text this morning saying, yo, man, it's raining. Powers out. I don't know what's going to happen. So we were doing a mad scramble to see if we can get a guest, but you're here. So we got the real ones right here.

Tell me what's going on. Tell me how you got to this point. Tell me what's popping. Are you safe? Are the homie safe? Is the neighborhood safe? The neighborhood is safe. We've got a hell of a neighborhood watch.

My next door neighbor, like his Channing Crowder used to play for the dolphins. Yeah, he keeps things safe. We're good. We're good. We're all right. But in terms of the weather, dog, like, this is basic cable for us. I mean, this time of year, you're going to get to try. tropical storms, it's a lot of rain.

So the flooding is a little concerning because I have like a lake canal in the backyard and it's at my fence level. So you could have some gators in your backyard before you know it. Yeah, like real talk. Gators? Yeah, you could have some gators in your backyard or in your pool. So you got to watch out for that. But other than that, the power is just one of the things that comes along with living in

South Florida. Like it's going to be out sometimes when you have the tropical storms. You deal with that. See, we, this is why you, all your people in the South and all the people in Florida always talk about us. Californians is being soft, right? This is why you guys, this is why y'all roast us when you're all coming in. When we, when we get, oh, my God, it's 50 degrees. How we're going to live? That's why you guys tell us we're soft, right? Amongst other things. But not. Like, I don't want to see, listen, I don't want to see an earthquake.

I know fully, like, well, I've been well versed. It's been my whole life. I know how to deal with hurricanes. Like, that's not a problem. I'm not afraid. I don't know what I do in an earthquake, though. Or, yeah, I don't know what I do with that. I mean, earthquakes are fine. It's fine, bro. It's It's all right. A little shake. You feel me. Make sure that you're still alive. I'm curious about the gators, though. Like, what's popping with the gators? Because every time I go to Florida, I'm scared. I haven't seen a gator in Florida, but I have seen some, like, wild, like, animals that I thought was, like, reserved for a zoo or, like, or not in captivity. What does it like to see a gator?

Yeah, it's unnerving. And I'm going to be honest with you. Like, when I grew up, it was gators and freshwater, like, don't swim in any of our lakes because, they're gators and they're cotton mouths like, you know, uh, snakes. So, you know, you don't want to see a water moccas in and you don't want to see a gator. But if I'm going to keep it a buck, like I live just west of Fort Lauderdale now, right? And so we fish in the Everglades. My sons love bass fishing and stuff like that. But gators aren't even like the gators aren't even like the apex predator now because we have

20 foot pythons. Like people are taking these things as pets. When they get too big, they take them and they drop them out in the glitz. They're killing everything. Wait, wait, wait. You guys are taking... 20... Python's, bro.

You guys are taking pythons as pet? Why? But why? I don't... Listen, I am anti-reptile, like, from top to bottom. It doesn't matter what kind. I don't care how big I am out. But they exist maybe, I don't know,

10 miles from where I live in abundance and in like really, really massive sizes. So this shit is like living in the jungle, bro. Not to mention in... and I know this is an NBA pie and we can get to the shits as you would like to say in a minute but in Palm Beach dog

we got we have monitor lizards now like in the canals fam if I see like a bug I'm tripping out you know what I'm saying like if I see like a little like small you've been to California you've been to Piedmont

you've been to the Mott you've been to the P you know the vibes beautiful you know we don't got nothing in the you know we don't have nothing in the bay ducklings bro ducklings and turtles that's it very

very like just chill environment. You got something that'll kill your ass. Like it's something that will like literally hurt you and harm you. Listen, dog, we have this to be. My wife is a huge animal lover. I like animals. I mean, but the topic of conversation always comes up about our dog, right?

And dog's name is Nike. I love Nike. But I'm like, yo, you got to be careful walking Nike by that water's edge. Because Nike is like right in the wheelhouse of a baby gator to eat him. So, you know, you can't take your eyes off. And, you know, what then happens? Because if a gator pops out on Nike's ass, Nike got to go. Yeah.

Because I'm like, I'm not, I know. You're not messing with the gator? No, no. Have you ever seen a gator eat something? Like, just out in the wild? No, not out in the wild. Nope. But I don't, I want no part of gator.

So when I see them, like, even when we're on fishing trips and I'm on the boat, like I'm telling the fishing guy, yo, wrap that shit up, dog. It's time that we're good. Hey, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, chew, We're good. We're good. Let's pod. You ready to it?

Let's do it, buddy. Let's do it. Put it in the fucking chat. Put it in the fucking chat and slack and all the slacks. NBA season that is back. Yeah. I was a bar. December 22nd, first game of the season.

If I remember correctly, the training camps open December 1st. We had Danny Green on the podcast a few weeks ago, and he said, this is probably not going to happen. It's probably going to be later, right? While I believed him, in the back of my mind, I was like, all right, bro. Just for the simple fact that money talks and money has spoken, they were talking about if they do push the season back, about a billion revenue lost. Are you surprised that they're playing so soon and this such quick of a turnaround, Roger? No, no. I appreciated what Danny said.

He was a fantastic guest. And I'm sure a lot of brothers felt like that, especially ones that had played deep into that bubble. But you always have the difference of opinions on whether the season is too long versus too short. And that's all depending on how long you go and how deep your run is into the playoffs, right? So if I lose in the first round or don't make the playoffs,

I'm chomping at the bit by the time, you know, July and August come around because I'm thirsty. And then those guys that just got off the court in June, they still need a couple months. So that's never something new. I believed Danny, but do, am I surprised? Hell no. A billion dollars?

Like, the league is at financially a place where they've never been before. Everyone is eating. The contracts are, you know, I ain't one of those old dude who bitches and complains about the money these cats are getting. Like, you know, hey, more power to you. But everyone is eating. Ownership, players, everyone. So if it's a matter of a month of rest or getting back on the court,

so that we can have these Christmas games. You're going to get your ass back on that court so that everyone can continue to eat. And that's just good business. I mean, I feel you on that, Rajin. And no, like, Shay, to Danny, like, he, I feel like what he was saying is what he believed to be true at the time, right?

They just got off of playoffs. They just got off of... It's a quick turnaround, right? But he speaks for the Lakers, and he speaks for the guys around him. Like, if you talk to people around the league, there's a fraction. There is the time... the side of like the teams that didn't play since March, right?

Who are like, dog, tough shit, we want to play. Like, we haven't played in seven, eight months. And then there's the fraction of players and coaches and organizations that have played in the playoffs and are like, motherfucker, we're tired. And I think what wins out is always bread. And I think that there was a smaller fraction of players when it came down to it that were like, oh, we can't do this turnaround right now. We just can't.

Yeah. And that's what it was. That's exactly what it was. And, you know, I hadn't even factored in the teams that didn't even get to the bubble. Like, that's a great point. Their teams didn't even make the bubble. Like, they got to be chomping at the bit to get back out there and hoop. And then, you know, take teams like Phoenix, for instance, who were like the bubble story pre-playoffs and how hot they were. Like, you know, when you end a season on a note like that, say you're not a playoff team, like organically, you're ready to get back out there.

You have more juice going into the postseason. You're more hyped to be back in preseason and the next regular season. And so teams like that, they're out there. So, you know, and money is money, dog. Everyone understands the opportunity to make it is limited for most guys. There are some guys that transcend the sport and they'll have lucrative, like, financial opportunities afterwards. But for a lot of us, you've got to get it while the get in is good. How would the Phoenix Suns deal with this?

let's say the 05-06 Phoenix Suns. How would we deal with getting back out on court right now? Right now. Because, I mean, I'd imagine you guys be one of those teams at the end, right? You guys would be at least Final Four, you know, top eight? Yeah. You know, how would you guys fare, you think, in that turnaround? Because you guys are a bit of a veteran team.

We were a vet team. That'd be a good. See, we had the type of team that we were all pros. Like we were, and I obviously, by definition, everyone on that team is a pro, but some guys are more professional than others, right? And you can trust them to go back to where they're from, keep their body in good shape, be ready to play when they get back,

don't necessarily have to have a month in town before preseason starts to make sure that everyone's good. The only person we had that you had to worry about sometimes was Boris Diao. And I think they sent our training staff over to France for like a month. But everyone else was on their own court. How was Boris, man? Because I hear a lot of stories about Boris.

He seems like a great guy. Like, he's cool. He's cool. Listen. But why do you guys eat to monitor Boris? Bubu was one of the best teammates I've ever had. And I don't say that lightly. He's a fantastic dude would do anything for you.

But, you know, Boris loved his wine. Boris loved his cappuccino. Boris loved his rich, like, French foods. And so, you know, Boris is a big dude by nature. Like, he's, you know, just big-boned. And you had to, watch him like in the summers. So that's, that's what they did.

They sent a contingency over to a contingency over to a contingent. What is it? What's the word I'm looking for? They sent a contingency of people. Yeah, they sent them over to France just to make sure that, you know, he was in great shape. So when you asked me what the sons would have done, you know, I think we would have approached it like any other offseason.

Like we trust those guys to be in shape, be ready to go. And then maybe let's get back instead of a week before training camp, maybe three weeks before training camp and all try to get on the same page. I'd imagine Nash is the guy that's the most in-shaped dude, right? When it comes to eating and it comes to working out, he would have been fine no matter where he was, right? He would have been great. He would have not.

Listen, bro, this dude used to be like, no bullshit. We'd be like in L.A. It'd be a day off. We wouldn't be going to the gym necessarily. So, like, I'd see him later in the day. Like, we'd go get something to eat or something. And, you know, I'd be like, you know, what'd you do earlier? What were you doing?

I was in the stairwell. You know, I ran the exit stairs, you know, for an hour. I was in the room getting my burpees and my push-ups. I'm like, damn, dog, I slept till two. But that's who he was. So, yes, he's in shape wherever he goes. He's in shape. How was Nash when, have you ever worked out with him?

It's a quirky workout with Nash, right? I've never done that workout. Very quirky. So the first time I saw him, it was him in Dunders. Dirk working together. Like, that's when I first met those dudes when I played for the Mavs in 03. And Dirk's got a really interesting

on-court workout with his guy named Holger, who was his youth coach and stuff, kind of his mentor. And that shit looks like, I mean, I don't know how you would describe it. It's like some old Miyagi-doh type of, like, what is that? How does paint the fence translate?

You know, you got to put all of that together. Nash's stuff is kind of like that, but without the basketball. like Rick, Rick Scalabrini, I believe. Rick Sellebrini, he was also with the Warriors, Golden State. He's with the Golden State right now. Right. So before he had attached really to a club, he was Steve's guy.

And so he would come into town and, like, I'd pop in to shoot jumpers and they'd be down on the other end, just doing a lot of body movement type of stuff, you know? And this was pre, you know, LeBron and all those guys do that now. But when back then no one was doing that, so it was pretty interesting to see those workouts with him and Rick because I didn't know what the fuck was going on.

Well, he's doing that. I've seen like, because, Because Kevin does these workouts where they're doing like the, they're crotch down. They have the ball of their hand. And then they're doing the baby steps right into a jumper, right? Or they're doing somebody has his hand on his back right into a jumper. Spin move right into a jumper. It's all about balance with them.

It's kind of wild to see in practice, to be honest with you. It's pretty fascinating stuff. There's a guide that we'll have on the pod. a long-time friend of mine, like he is, he's the head shooting coach for the Miami Heat. Okay. And some of the stuff that he does, his name is Rob Fodor, some of the stuff that he does in terms of shooting the ball is similar to what you're just talking about. But it's way unorthodox.

It doesn't look like it would ever translate into a game, but the results are pretty, like, remarkable, you know? And so, you know, kind of along those lines, just really wild out of the box. balance type of stuff have studied ballet and cats and everything with good balance and kind of incorporated into basketball workout. Yeah, I mean, it's funny. It's crazy how balance is so integral into a basketball player's game, right? I mean, I think one of the reasons why Kevin is great is because he has so much balance on his shot. You know what I mean? Everything looks crisp when he shoots and same with Nash. So, yeah, man, I wish I would appreciate Nash a lot more in his day, is all I'm saying.

How do you think this affects star players, this turnaround, right? Because even when we talked about with Danny Green, he was saying LeBron might sit out a month or he might not play a lot. I can't imagine that LeBron doesn't play tonight he gets his ring. I can't imagine that it might happen. He might sit out, just LeBron James. But what do you think, do you think that that's going to be the norm of just guys sitting out every game that's not on national television?

because there's going to be a lot of back-to-back, a 72-game season. Yeah, I think there are going to be a few factors. Number one, a few factors. How old are you? What year are you in in the league? So, like, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are clearly stars, but at two different points in their career. So, you know, I would just imagine that naturally,

LeBron and guys of his, you know, age and experience in the league would wind up sitting out in more of a protective fashion than younger guys would. I do think it's interesting. what it does for a guy like, let's say, a Janice or, you know, Luca or guys that are really young and still skill set-wise on an upward trajectory, you usually take that off-season, Logan,

to continue to add pieces. And that's what makes them great. Like, they come back, and not only did they do what they did the year before, but they've got this new weapon that continues to have them ascend the charts of, like, the NBA greats. And so, you know, that's going to be interesting to watch because with the kind of, you know, with the shortened and abbreviated offseason,

you don't have the same amount of time to commit to that improvement in your game. So it's going to be interesting to see that for me. I'm kind of on that way with you, too. I think LeBron is going to sell a lot of games. And just for the simple fact, the wear and tear, the mileage, all the cliches you want to say,

he has those. You have to sit him out. And I think I've said this in a few pods before that I don't think the Lakers record, necessarily matters as long to make the playoffs, honestly. I think that they're a veteran team. I think they should get Rondo back.

But I think that they're a veteran team where they can turn it on into playoffs. And they need the regular season to fine-tune as opposed to being hitting on all cylinders during the first month. It doesn't really, I don't think that matters. What would be interesting for me, though,

is to see how Golden State plays. and because they're a team that hasn't played, they're one of those teams that hasn't played since March, didn't play, you know, they weren't a great team, but they have Draymond coming back. They have Clay coming back. They have Steph coming back. So I'm curious to see how they play,

because I think they're going to come out of the box swinging, and I think that they will be a top team for the simple fact that they haven't played in so long and have three all-stars healthy. and hungry. And, you know, I do think Andrew Wiggins, you know, provided he's still there at that point, is going to be a nice complimentary piece to what they're doing out there, though.

Like, I don't, I feel like, and I don't know anyone really in Minnesota to confirm this. This is just me watching it. It doesn't feel like a great place to, like, really develop the younger talent. And so I've seen Andrew Wiggins be kind of the same player for a long time. And he gets a lot of the blame for that.

And rightfully so, I'm not trying to give him, you know, an out. But I do think it has something to do also with where you are, the way they develop talent and kind of help you, you know, navigate the first few years of your career. I think Golden State is going to be a much better fit for him. I think the development of his game and the way he kind of complements that is going to be helpful to them. So I, you know, I know we always talk about the big three.

And I'm cool with that. But I think Wiggins is going to be valuable for them if they can. keep him there this year. I think Wiggins, you know, last, the backstretch of last season before they went out, he was playing really good basketball and showed a lot of things, right? And we already know that he does not have to be a star on this team. He's actually in the perfect position that he doesn't have, the money is the money, whatever, that's it. But in terms of what his role can be on this team, it could really be something, honestly, if they keep them, you know. And, like, if you can get 19 a game from Wiggins as a fourth option, okay, cool.

Logan, let me ask you. I know we're not doing this. I'm going off the rails. But, like, their pick, they're pick in the draft, right? Because you know that team way better than I do. With the four pieces you talked about, not digging into their bench and all the pieces that, but what is the most complimentary piece if you're trying to win right now? Like, what do they need to do?

Is it even in the draft? I don't think it's in the draft, to be honest with you, especially how bad we've talked about how this draft is. But I don't think you go Wiseman. I think you go Wiseman if you're going to go pick somebody, right? You pick, I don't know why you would pick a guard necessarily when you have two of the best guards that's ever done it. Of course, you could probably bump down Clay to three and that would work out. But I just don't see why you would, you're just going to stunt dudes growth.

And it's not really a fit, in my opinion, if you go get a guard. So I would say get Wiseman or trade it if you can get a good enough package. But I don't, that number two pick isn't is at least right now because, you know, the draft, we judge the draft now, but the draft really doesn't, isn't supposed to get judge until down the line, right? It's not, you know what I mean? But as of right now, the draft just doesn't seem popping right now. It doesn't seem as good as in past years. So I would just go get Wiseman if I was them. And by the way, the warriors have done a great job concealing who they're going to pick.

There's been a new story every, every few days about, hey, they'd like this guy. No wait, they like this guy. No wait, they want this need. They want this need. Then they like this need. And, you know, they've done a really good job with that. But I do think that they go get Wiseman. And so I think, you know, what we're talking about,

I think I wanted to plug a piece that was really good. Rob Mahoney did a piece about the NBA season back, our own Rob Mahoney. One of those things, though, is that I was reading in his piece was, with the new season coming back, what do you think about, how does COVID, how does COVID kind of venture into this, right? Because they had the bubble, right?

But by all accounts, you know, I know you've talked to people in the bubble. I've talked to people in the bubble. It fucking sucked. It sucked. It sucked for everyone involved. No one liked being in there. It was a very taxing mentally, spiritually, emotionally all of that. That is the, as Rob said in his piece, that is the absolute last resort for next season.

And with that being said, how do they go forward? How do they stay true to protocols? Because, you know, they're not going to be in a bubble. They're going to go home to their families. They're going to travel. It's a lot more risk right now than it was back than it is in that bubble. How does that affect things for you in your mind? I don't know what to think about that, Logan.

I think you're seeing that every sport that did not partake in a bubble type of of environment has been affected by COVID. Like Major League Baseball had to shut games down. You know, NCAA football has had to shut games down. The NFL's had to shuffle games around and move people shut down facilities. So it's going to have an effect on you. The question is, do you have enough flexibility in an NBA schedule? And I don't know.

I don't have the answer to this. Do you have enough flexibility in the NBA schedule to shuffle like football does? You know what I mean? Like they're able to kind of flip that to an off. an off week or slide that game to a Thursday, giving people time to clear protocol. I don't have the answers for the NBA. It's going to be, for lack of a better way to put it, it's going to be a shit show. If you don't have guys in a bubble and they're going home to their families,

not that they're going to be irresponsible or putting anyone. It's just what it is. It's just what it is. And so you got to factor that in as you're planning and understand that you're going to have to be flexible with schedules, with a whole host of things, if you're not going to have the bubble. And I'm okay with that, but you got to be okay with that if you're the NBA. Yeah. I mean, they did a great job with that bubble.

It's not realistic, man. It's just not. And especially with also, another thing that's been reported, I think it was reported by Shams, is there's going to be courtside seats for arenas and places where you can have fans and crowds. You know what I mean? Because this is all the money grab. Let's make no money. mistake about this. This is about getting your bread.

Yeah. How would you feel as a player with court side seats? I would not like it. I would, look, I am still the dude. I don't, I don't want any fans in the building. Like, I don't. That's, that's me. Everyone's got their own approach to COVID. Like, and I'm okay with that. I respect everybody's, you know, feeling about an opinion. I know people have had it and gotten better. I know people have had it and passed away. Like, I do. I don't want COVID. And I don't want to, you know, I don't want to be. put in jeopardy of getting it because they're fans there. Having said that, if my job is to go out there and entertain and it provides like millions and millions of dollars for me, and part of the

reason I'm able to make those millions and millions of dollars is because the NBA and these arenas can sell those seats, then I've got to be okay with that or I've got to say, you know, I'm willing to give this up. So how are you going to feel, Roger, because you love the corner three. You were a corner three guy. A fan's talking mess or whatever, but he's far away. How do you, like, how do you do you, when you're in the corner right there, the fans are right there? Are you, like, how do you talk shit? Like, what are you doing?

How do you approach that as a player? Listen, I'm shooting long twos in the corner from now on. Analytics be damn. Fuck that. I'm not getting over there in that corner. You're not even looking their way. Fuck that. 18 feet and in from the corner, bro.

I'm not getting over there. Nah. I mean, you know what you would have to do. NBA guys will be fine with this, is you're just going to have to go back to normal. And as crazy as that sounds, because nothing will be back to normal. When you're out there on the court,

it's got to be normal. Because if it's anything less than normal, I mean, you're not able to do your job. So you're going to have to forget about it. I'm sure I would. I'm sure if I were back out there playing, I was still getting paid to do that. The quest of the championship,

the day-to-day or the grind, like I'd probably forget about it and get back to normal. Like I watch, I don't know, I watch a lot of football, and I'm watching these dudes like, you know, my sons play football. So we didn't let them play forever, Logan. Like they didn't get to play their seasons this year.

We're letting them play in the FBU national championship. But they both go out there. One of them's a quarterback and one of them's a receiver. And they both have their masks on, their mouthpiece under the mask, and they've got visors across their eyes. So, you know, we've done as much as we could do. My receiver wears gloves. The quarterback's not allowed to kind of put his hands in his mouth.

You're like, that's what you have to commit yourself to doing if you're not going to play. But I watched these sports, you know, and quarterbacks are still licking their fingers and shit. And I'm like, I'm like, damn, they're back to normal. Like, ain't nobody tricking. There ain't no mask in the NFL. They, they're good. So I imagine, like, if you're in the NBA, like, you're going to get back to just being normal. And if you get COVID, you get it.

I don't know, bro. That's just scary, man. Did you watch the Notre Dame game this weekend on Saturday? What? The Notre Dame Clemson? Listen, I woke my wife up in the other room. I said, Siddy, come see this shit. Yeah, I was so scared.

Bro. I was so, I had so much thing. anxiety, bro. Those kids didn't care, dog. They were like, too. What? That was, that was, that was, I said at the time, I was like, Notre Dame's done, bro. Like, their season's over. Because any kid, any kid caught up in that on the team has COVID now. Notre Dame's done. Climson might be done, bro. You're all done. Damn, what are we doing? What are we doing? What are we doing? There's no pro, there was no protocols at all. Now, that was, even when you were looking on television, they were, they were supposed to be socially disliked. since they were all in a crowd, bro. They were just lower level.

They were, you would trip. Bro, there wasn't like one kid in the stands. It was like, yo, chill, chill. Like, not one person stayed in their seat. Security was like, players weren't even scared, bro. Players weren't even scared that people were coming on. So I think that's my point, right? That's my point.

Like, if you were, if I were out in the NBA, I'm just, I'm in my world right now where my kids are homeschooling. I'm not out of the house a lot. like so I'm still kind of like on edge about it and a little leery of it and and if you're back in the world doing what you do not at home not you know to whatever degree not socially distancing or masking or all of that you'd probably forget about it whether that's whether that's good or bad that's another topic of conversation but you know like on the court you'd probably forget about it and just be normal yeah yeah all right man we'll um we want to take a quick break and

I think we might have a little guest soon. So before we get out of here, I like to do our segment that we love every week called Real One of the Week, where we exemplify a person, an entity or an organization that exemplifies the characteristics of being a real. I got a little heavy one, man, and I always go last, but I think I should go last on this one because it's pretty heavy. It's pretty important. Okay.

Go ahead, Roger. All right. Well, mine, his name was Marcos, Shakespeare. Shaky Rodriguez. Shaky was a legendary high school coach here in Miami, Florida for the legendary Miami High Stinger Rees. They were multiple times state champs. They were national champs. Shake took the job at FIU right when I was coming out of high school.

I didn't get to play for Shake in high school, but when I transferred from Boston University, I had some legal troubles and no team in the country basically would touch me. Shake was one of those dudes because of where he coached in high school and who he was. He was into giving guys opportunities, multiple opportunities, even when they maybe didn't deserve it. So he gave me one, brought me to FIU, really embraced who I was as a player, my mentality, even though a lot of people before that, it kind of made me feel ashamed of being that dude, like, Shake embraced it. And because of that, I was able to make a career at a plane in the NBA. And he's a very big part of that, amongst other things. But his opportunity

given, even when I was fucking up, when he brought me there, had legal troubles, it was still fucking up. Shake stuck with me, helped me get to where I was. trying to go. He's my real one of the week. He passed away last week, had an aneurysm, was still coaching high school basketball with his son, Eric, 67 years old. But I'll forever be grateful to shaky Rodriguez who helped me get where I was trying to go, help me make a life, and ultimately, you know, did make one. So real one of the week, Shaky Marco, Marco, Shaky Rodriguez. Wow, man. Rest of peace, man. Sorry for your loss, G. Appreciate.

My real one of the week is none other than Stacey Abrams out of Georgia. Well done, sir. Well done, sir. We all know that he had a highly contested governor candidacy in 2018 with Brian Kemp. There was a lot of voter suppression that we have seen in Georgia. After she lost, she registered 800,000 residents in Georgia to vote. and probably turn Georgia blue. We've got to put some respect on Stacey Abrams' name

and put some respect on black women across the country's name. No doubt. She did the damn thing. Real one. That's all I can say is real one. Stacey Abrams, Georgia, black women, real one, real one of the week. And with that, we're going to take a quick break. And we're back on the Real Ones podcast.

We got a real one in the chat. Rockets Guard, Austin Rivers. What's popping, bro? What's up, man? Appreciate you having me. It's been a minute. Long time, no, see, man. Last time I saw you, you know, it was a few years ago.

It was during the Rockets, Warriors, you know, the series back in the day. We're going to get to that in a second. But how are you doing these days? It's kind of a weird time in America and NBA. How are you doing, bro? I guess how everyone else is doing, man. You're just taking it a day by day right now. So much is in the air.

You don't know when free agency is going to start. I don't know, you know, they're saying we're going to play December 22nd, which means camp's probably got to be the first. So, like, I don't even know where we're going to be playing in three weeks. You know what I mean? That's just crazy. That's crazy to say that in three weeks. I don't know wrong.

Because we hadn't had a draft. We hadn't had all these things. We're going to have to try to squeeze. So it's like so much right now is in the air in terms of that. Other than that, though, I've been great, man. I'm spending every day with my son and getting to see him and hang out my family down here in Florida. So I'm all good. Are you, I want to get to your, you know, you did say you didn't know where you want to play just, or you're going to play just.

Yeah, I want to get to that in a second. But how do you, are you in the camp where it's like, I want to play right away on Christmas Day? Or are you in that camp when we talked to Danny Green a couple weeks ago where he was like, it's too soon. We don't know what's going to happen. How do you, where do you call online? I want to play. I want to play. I want to play.

The Christmas games are the best games. Like, that's, if you're a hooper, like, that's, that you want to play on that day. But coming from Danny Green's perspective, he also just got done playing literally like three weeks ago. You know what I'm saying? So like his perspective is justified. I mean, I can't blame him. You know what I mean? Like I don't want to play, but I didn't just get done playing three weeks ago.

I mean, I got, I was down there, though. We didn't play a little bit. Not too far. But yeah, but they just got done though. They just got done. So, I mean, yeah, I want to play the Christmas the best day. Was it like, do you think your, do you think your mindset would have changed if you weren't Danny Green's shoes or you wouldn't be tripping either? way. How would you have gone if you were in that in that way? I guess that really depends on

where you're at in your career, what age you are. Like me personally beat 28, I would be like, yeah, let's play again. I'm cool with that. You know, Danny Green has also been to the finals, how many years in a row now? Like, he plays had long seasons and short off seasons for a lot of times. So for him personally, I bet he's probably like, yo, I need some more time to rest, which is justified. You know what I'm saying? So I think everybody's, everybody's just different. Everybody's different. But I, yeah, for me personally, yeah, I want to play. how do you work out during this time when you or i mean i guess you know when training camp and stuff is going to start you don't know where you're going to play yet do you

are you are you going to pick up your option or is that something that you're like what are you yeah that's something i'm i'm going through right now with my agent but yeah i mean that's that's i definitely want to probably be out there in the market bro and just see what else is out there but i love houston houston's still the one of my main options you know what i mean like that's that's a team i love playing for um but there's other teams out there uh that you you want to want to look at, you know what I mean? Like you owe it to yourself to at least see the best situation for yourself. You know what I mean?

So, yeah, for sure. How do you work out during this time where it's a quick turnaround more and during a pandemic and you don't know where you're going to play? So what is going through your mind when you're working out? How do you, how are you navigating this as opposed to other off-season when you could be outside and it's normal? I guess for me it's, for me, it's control what you can control, right? You know what I mean?

So what I can't control was me just staying in shape, me being ready, not overdoing it because I did too also just kind of get done playing. I wasn't in the finals, but we were in the bubble and we were a second round of the playoffs. It's not too long ago. So I'm in that cross area right now, but I'm back in the gym five days a week, just getting in shape, kind of getting ready. That's what I can't control. And then everything else, time will come and decisions will be made.

And then you just go from there. Unfortunately, that's how this summer is going to have to work. Yeah. Let's talk about that, what has the league been telling you about Vry Agency, though? Like, how do you think what things will operate from what you've known? It's going to be like a two-week thing or like, or is it going to be like after lockout last? How's it going to be? That's why, man, I don't know.

For what I heard, it's just going to be, you know, it's just going to be a little bit of craziness. You know what I mean? Just because it's such a short time and you've got players that have to make decisions and GMs that have to make decisions. You know what I mean? In a short amount of time before camp. So, you know, it's just going to be one of those things. That's just going to be unique. again, this, no one thought life was going to be what it is, what it is today.

Right. You know, the NBA's done a great job so far, just on the fly and continuing to keep this thing going. So that's what everybody has to understand, be patient with. Do you think it's a little bit easier because I think the biggest free agency fish is, well, Anthony Davis, but he's already locked in. It just seems like he's going to be playing for the Lakers. Yeah, he's not going anywhere. You know what I mean? Yeah.

Does it make it easier for you, then? Did you don't have to wait on like a big fish to go before you? Yeah, that's always. That's always. that's always a nice thing because for whatever reason, every team in the league thinks they're going to be the team that's going to get the guy when even though he's already come out and publicly said it's only been down to two to three teams. You know what I mean? But that's just how it works. And it's usually more than, there's usually like three or four big fish and you've got to wait for those guys to go and that can hold up everything. So it is nice. This free agency doesn't have a lot of those guys. You know what I mean? But there are still a lot of good players, man. You know what I mean? There's a lot of good players. And people don't never know what guys. in this free agency who's considered an okay player now or a good player, they can go somewhere to a better situation and become a great player. You know what I mean?

Like that's the thing about the NBA, people sleep on. I mean, people talk about, I would say this. I knew, I said Anthony Davis is the big fish. But it always seemed like we're, no matter what he says, it always seems like Janus is the one we're looking at right now, no matter how much he says, yo, I might be staying in Milwaukee. From a player's standpoint, and to that same question of, are we waiting for a big fish to fall?

Are players around the league even thinking about him as that we need that domino to fall before we can do anything? Or you guys just being like, yo, he's probably going to stay put. So we're probably going to get our deals under normal circumstances. Yeah, I think deals will go quick this summer just for everybody. Because I think teams just want to get their team. I think, again, I'm not a GM. So I'm just going from the outside. I think deals will go quick.

And they want to get their teams established as quick as possible. So guys can already start kind of getting, you know, acclimated to each other. And, you know what I mean? Like, you just kind of want to try to get as set as possible. Right. So that's what I suspect. But who knows? Who knows?

I don't know. It's going to be crazy. Yeah. I've never seen. I mean, the only thing closest thing I can think of this free agency is just like the lockout. I think it was your, was it, no, it wasn't your rookie years. It was the, when you were at Duke. But it just seemed like just a wild thing.

But I do want to talk about. You did talk about the Rockers. I want to talk about your time so far. He said specifically last season. It seemed like whenever I think about you guys' season last year, it just seems like two chapters. It's the chapter where you guys were a very balanced team, and then it was the second chapter where you guys said,

fuck it, we're going to go full small ball. What were those two chapters like for you? You know, it's interesting because as a player, you kind of just have to sit back and just know your role and continue to, you know, that's what I lock into. So it's just all these decisions that kind of get made, you know, I mean, like, I'm not in that. So it's just like, we had Clint and our team was great. You know what I mean?

I thought we had a really, really good team. And I love Clint. But then we wanted to play a small ball style, which is appealing in a lot of ways. And it's hard to guard. And we went with that. And that worked too. So, I mean, it's one of those things that we didn't win the championship, but only one team won. You know what I mean?

Like, so it's like, you know, just because it didn't work this year doesn't mean like that philosophy can't. Again, I'm not saying I'm all for bigs, man. I love centers. You know what I mean? But like I love Clint. I'm just saying I don't think that method was, was like a madness method. You know, I thought it was smart as unique.

You know, it just didn't work, man. You know, but can it work? Yeah, maybe. Maybe with different personnel. Maybe with different personnel and, you know, different decisions being made. Who knows? You know what I mean? But that's all you could do is just be a part of it and just, you know, buy into it.

Because at the end of day, if you don't buy in, then it's never going to work, right? You know what I mean? So no matter what philosophy, whether we play small ball, big ball, whatever, if I'm on a team, I got to buy in, bro. Otherwise, I'm not going to give you my best, and our team's not going to have the best chance of winning. Everybody has to buy in. So that's it. For sure. I mean, I know I'm of the mind of maybe not going full one way.

You know, maybe not. Don't be too, too, too big, but also don't be too, too, too small, right? And you want balance on your roster. Do you think, I think, I think just get the best play. Just just I don't care how big he is, how small he's, try to get the best player at that position. You know what I mean? Like I don't, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, guys that, and then you got to get guys that fill in and guys that are good teammates. And then you might have to get a guy that is okay playing five minutes a game, but it's going to cheer and have good energy every day. Like, there's a whole different methods to fill in your roster. You know what I'm saying? So small ball, big ball.

I think you just try to find the best guys. And then you've got to obviously go get talent, get the best players. So it's a hard task, man. It's not an easy job. When you guys were playing the Lakers and you had to switch on the bigs all the time, know, how did that make you feel? Because you about, like, tall, you about as tall as me. I'm not as big as you, but you was about as tall as me,

guard switched on seven-footers. How was that experience, Guard, A-D, and garden, even Dwight and all these people on switches, like, the way you did? Yeah, you just got a fight. I'm down there trying to box out Dwight, but, I mean, that guy can push me under the room so easily. So, you know, that's where we had to gang rebound. And we did a pretty decent job.

The Lakers was just, I mean, that team was. was just really, really big. But I don't think that was the reason they beat us. You know, I think they beat us in other areas, too. So as bad as they did kill us on the boards, I don't think that was the defining reason why we lost to them. What would you say it was the defining reason why you lost to them, man? I think it's a, I mean, a lot of things, man.

Starting with just their team defense consistency, you know what I mean? They're just always, people talk about like 80s greatness and LeBron's greatness and rightfully so. but that team in general plays just really good defense all the time, bro. Their weak side's always there. Help side's always there. They're always shifting, always moving.

It's the one thing that people never talked about like with the Warriors team. Everybody talked about their greatness and the shooting of their guards and all that, but that team defense was incredible. And that's what people don't understand wins championships too is the Spurge teams, all those great teams,

the Celtics, you know, my pop Celtics team, And they all had great defensive teams, man. You know what I mean? And the Lakers do both, bro, consistently. Not just when they're making shots. They still defend when they're missing and playing bad. They still defend. You know what I mean?

There's a different. Everybody defends when they're hitting shots. And, you know, when you're shooting, you know, when you hit a shot and you go down and you play hard defense. Everybody plays defense when you're hitting shots. But they've just on a consistent basis, they're solid. They're solid, man. I think that's why they won.

You've known Anthony for a long time. Is he the best big in the league? Yeah, that's not even... Did he show that against you guys? Like, how was that playing against... Who was... Okay, even before he played... We played him.

Like, who else... Even before this season, who else... Did you all have ahead of him? I'm curious. Oh. Like, I'm saying, like... I mean, I personally... You know what I'm asking?

I was asked... I personally believe that AD's the best big in the league. For sure. Yes. I do. But I'm saying, like, who else would people put ahead? I mean, I don't even know who... Like, I'm trying to think.

I don't know if you consider Janus a big. I don't know if you can consider... See, that's what I'm saying. Because I consider like Joe And bead maybe. Okay, man, I consider Joel a center. Okay, so if you're just saying best big overall. He's a big.

Okay, so Power Force Center. Okay, then you can put Joel up there. But he's not better. I think AD is the best big in the league. And then I think Joel's right. Joel and Yokic are right behind him. Okay. I think Yokic is right behind him.

Yokage is tough. But Joel's right there too, man. Joel's unstopping on the block. Yeah. Got everything. And how was it in that bubble though, right? Because like you're beat, you know, we're talking to Danny, you're playing these teams.

You beat them, or you lose to them, but you see them at the hotel, like, right after. How was that? Like, it's like an AAU environment, because I know you played, you played there as an AAU player. How was it in that environment when, whether you win or lose the close proximity? It was weird. I remember, like, the smells of that whole campus, like the Disney. You're talking about the Disney stuff? Yeah, Disney joint, yeah.

Yeah, that's, like, that's, I remember, like, growing up playing in there, like, how it. So, like, when I, we had a couple games in the milkhouse, I was like, oh, my God, bro. Like, I just, I felt, it was just kind of, it was weird. It's just crazy, man. Like, I remember being here with my friends, and I'm here in the NBA, and now I'm back home in a arena that I grew up playing in all the time. It was just kind of cool, man. How was it, like, just being around, like, you know, you around AD, you around all the

people you, you know, a lot of people you grew up with, you know, or grew up around in the age, like, how was it for you to, I'll just take, you know, the last, you know, games, as you know, AD, and the Lakers, how was it when you're playing in a postseason series, you lose or you win, and you got to see them right after? They weren't at our hotel, so thankfully, was that easier? Yeah. It was a lot easier because, I mean, when we were playing, like, the Thunder and we had to lose to when we were in the same actual, like, bunk, like, there were rooms for next to ours.

What was that like? Because, I mean, there's a lot of history between them, like, with CP and the Rockets. Yeah, I think the NBA was, I don't know if they were worried about that or not, but I think they were before the series. There was a concern what might happen, but there was nothing to happen. Everybody's cool, man. You know, Thunder has all good guys, too. You know what I mean?

When I think about it, Schroeder's a good guy. C.P.'s a great guy. Shea's a good kid. They're all good dudes, man. Steve, I mean, so there's no competition, man. It was a good series, though. I do want to get back with the Rockets right now. I, you know, covered the Warriors throughout, like, at least the back half of their run.

saw it from the Warriors point of view how they viewed you guys. How did you guys view them during that run? And what would you, what do you take away from that era of, of Rockets basketball? I mean, well, first, I guess. I mean, I call it a robbery. We talked before this. You don't call it a rivalry. You're not saying as a rivalry.

I at least think it's a rivalry. Yeah, it's a rivalry in the sense of competition. You know what I mean? It definitely was a rivalry in the sense of competition, but not in the sense of us actually ever beating them because if they were to publicly be like it wasn't a rivalry. Like say y'all asked anybody in their team

was it a rivalry with the Rockets. They're going to say no. And I can't disagree with that because we never beat that. We almost did. We almost did. We almost did. We were close. We gave them a lot of competition. The team before me was even closer before

I got there. They were up three too. So we definitely have given them that type of competition and sent up a robbery, but we have never beat them. So, you know, it's just tough to say that. You know what I mean? I just feel like I just remember you guys were all, even last year, Christmas, like, you guys were the team no matter what that they got up for and that they circled on their,

on their calendar. Like, you guys, y'all were to one. You know, if they don't be nobody, they want to beat the rockets. That's what it felt like. And I just, that's why I ask you the question. Well, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's, that's definitely respect then to us, you know, first or foremost, because they are one of the most dominant teams that tells you something right there. I mean, they, they are one of the most

dominant teams in the history of the game of basketball. And the one team that you just said they felt like they really wanted to beat was the Rockets. That goes to show you how good of a team we've had, you know what I mean, over the past couple years. So that's pretty special. But, yeah, you know, that team, the best thing about them was what I was just alluded to earlier. that's just how consistent they were. Extra pass. Defense was always solid. It just seemed like you had to be fucking perfect

to beat that team. And I mean more so when they had Kevin, when they had Kevin. Before Kevin, they were an unbelievable team. But, you know, I would say they were beatable. You know what I mean? Because they were. They were beatable.

With Kevin on that team, they were unbeatable. I don't know how you can beat that team with them fully healthy. because all three of them can shoot the ball extremely well. And they can do it without dribbling the ball, which is very rare. Most guys need five, six dribbles, getting to their bag. They can do it with the bag or without the bag.

Or two of them can. And, you know what I mean? It's just like, then you got Draymond, who's this guy kind of holds the glued together, that middle guy. That's just a perfect mix of guys. And I just don't know if you're going to beat that team.

What about after game? I don't want to ask you. In a seven-game series. In a seven-game series, I mean, you can beat them in game. I'm just saying, in a seven-game series, that's tough. That's tough. Right. I want to talk about 27-18 season because you weren't there, but I do want to talk about

the last season, you know, because when Kevin went down with the calf injury, right? Yeah. There was a chorus of like, okay, the rockets are in the, it's in the back. Like, the rockets, or at least it was a chorus of people saying the rockets have this series. Did you guys feel that way when Kevin went down? I mean, I'd be lying if I didn't say, like, we definitely felt like that. that improved our chances. You know what I mean?

Like we're like, oh, man, this dude's down. We got this. You know what I mean? Because we were already two, we were tied up in the series with him. You know what I mean?

It was two, two, too, with Kevin. And then he goes down in game in game five. We're like, oh, this shit is, this is a rock. You know what I mean?

But that team had been doing it before Kevin. Kevin made them greater. Kevin made them damn near unbeatable. I don't like to call nobody unbeatable because that's the day anybody can be beat. So take back my last statement. But they were,

were damn near close. You know what I mean? Like they were as close as you could be to be in that. But without Kevin, that team was still really, really good. This is a team that won championship. And they had those guys, those qualities, Andre Aguadalas, the Steph Currys, the Clay's, Livingston, all these guys who have just been doing it for so long that in that situation, they reacted as champs do, you know what I mean?

Yeah. Did you, was there like a sigh of? I don't know what to say a sigh relief because you don't like much people get injured. But was there like, okay, we got a chance now when Clay went down and then you, we kind of had an inkling that stuff, I mean, that stuff that Kevin was going to dip no matter, no matter what he was injured or not? I mean, we thought we could beat them before that. There's a reason why it was a rivalry kind of low key is because we thought we could beat them. See, told you.

No, no, but I said, but I'm saying in the sense of competition, though, you know what I mean? Right, right, right. Because we did think we could beat them. Like, we really are like, well, we're going to beat them. We're better than them. They did it. So they have the rights to say that, you know, we were better than you because they beat us, man. So I can't say that.

At the time, I thought that. I can't say that now because at the end of the day, push comes to show. They beat us, bro. So it's just like, but yeah, we thought we could. So even when he went down, we were like, oh, yeah, we got this for sure now. You know what I mean? But those guys, those guys, man, that game, I didn't want to talk about that. I don't want to talk about that.

I don't want to talk about the same one. Yo, I remember that. I remember that. I remember the end. Y'all are, yeah. Yeah, I don't want to talk about this. But going into like going into this coming season, does, do you see that? Where do you see?

I'm going to give you some names and I want to see where you would rank them. This is a new season. I'll start it because we're talking about them. Where do you, for lawyers, where do you see them going? And I got a few more teams for you. If you want to rank them, where would you rank them going into the Western Conference in the season? At the end of the season where they'll be, they'll be at the top. You know what I mean?

Like they'll be in the conversation. I'd say like top three or four. They could be anywhere from four to one. You know what I mean? I wouldn't surprise me. Let's go. Let's go Lakers. Depending on the moves they make this summer because something's happening.

I don't know what they got going on. But that team is definitely. Is that what you guys think? You think they got something up their sleeve is what you do? 100%. Because they have a lot of aces in their hole right now. You know what I mean? Just having that top pick,

having a near the top pick. and having, you know, the assets they have, I just see something happening. That could be wrong. Okay. So, I just, regardless, regardless, I see that team being very good next year. Okay. Let's go Nets, Brooklyn Nets. They're going to be very good.

Even with Kevin being, you know, coming off. Kevin will come back and remain the best score in the NBA next year. I fully believe so. Okay. I mean, I think he has the game to do it. And he might not be 100%. So maybe like, and I, Along with James, you could put James Harden in that conversation, too, by the way.

But, yeah, he's going to come back and not be like exactly himself, but even like 80% of himself is still. You say best score with Kevin, all right? Do you think he could be in the best player conversation even still? No, I think it's going to take him maybe a year or two. You know what I mean? I think he'll still be in the argument for best player next year. Yes.

Yes, that's how good he is. Okay. You know what I mean? And then I think even the next year, he'll be even better. I think it would be even better two years. And then I think he has the frame, the built, and quite frankly, you know, the rare greatness of skill to bounce back from something that horrific of an injury. You know what I mean?

I just think he has it. So I would be, I just can't doubt someone. I just playing against him and how he scores the ball, bro, and how skill he is. I just don't see someone like that, not coming back. Where would you say, where would you say the Lakers? Do you think they'll come back in the same way? Again, that depends on. a lot of changes that they make this offseason, if they make the right moves.

But yeah, they're still going to be in that conversation because push comes to show, they still got those two dudes there. And if those two are there, then you've got a chance with anybody that they fill it around them pretty much. You know what I mean? Come on. I think, and this is, I'm assuming that. They're going to have a chance wherever they go.

I'm going to ask this next team with the assumption that you get the bag with them and that you stay there. The Houston Rockets. Because the Houston, and before you answer your question, I do want to previs. It seems like the rockets are in a space where it's like, it seems like we have written you guys off as like this was the last stand. I don't necessarily believe that. I don't know who writes these narratives because that's that's, that's, that's, that's on us. You know what I mean?

That would be on, you know, that'd be on the rockets. You know what I mean? It's like the media just wants to portray that. So where do you think that as soon when you're on a team? Where do you rank you guys, the rockets assuming you're on the team? That team would be right there. That team would be right there back at the top. I mean, that team is still ridiculous.

I mean, what are we talking? You know what I'm saying? He's still got Russell. Yeah, yeah, but PJ Tucker, Eric Gordon, myself, Covington,

Daniel Howes, if we had that same team back, we're still going to be one of the top teams in the league, 100%. There's nobody can tell me anything other than that. I mean,

that's just a fact. Yeah. There's a lot of moves that'll probably be made there too. So, like everybody's doing. Because everybody wants to get better. You know what I mean?

Yeah. So there'll be moves that'll be made and decisions will be made on all sides. Was it weird to see Darryo Mori go like that? Well, yeah, I think, yeah, it was, you know, I didn't expect it. I didn't expect it. So it surprised me for sure.

I love Darryl. I think he's a great, as a GM, you know what I mean? I love Darrell as a GM. One thing Darrell, you know, does really well is, you know, he's unbelievable with numbers. And, you know, some people don't agree with his methods, whether it's a small ball or the analytics or whatever, you know, might be. But he is really good with the numbers and putting the right pieces in place.

So, you know, he'll probably do great with Philly because they have him in an album. So you have the balance of like analytic and basketball personnel. You know what I mean? Which I think a lot of teams should do anyways. So that's what I think. I think basketball, getting basketball players

in those positions are always encouraged. For sure. But yeah, the new guy, you know, Rafael is, is, you know, a likable guy and everybody likes them there, too, the new president or GM. And it'll be, it'll be exciting for, you know, what they want to do, too, man. You know, there's a lot of changes that have happened between Mike going and then your president goes right out. That's just a lot. You know what I mean? So. Yeah. What does that, what does that do for a potential free agent, though? Like, you know, you came under one, one, one, uh, iteration of a front office and it's changed now, right? So, like, it's not exactly the same people in the building that are in charge right now. Right. What does that do for, like, a free agent? Does that, does that, do you look at that? How do you look at that?

I mean, bro, that would be, like, dependent on who you are as a player, you know what I mean? Like, if you're Kevin Durant or something like that, where you could pick a team, you know what I mean? So you get to see, like, who's, you know what I mean? But, like, every other player, you want to go, regardless of the front office, if the situation looks like, oh, I know I can play there, or I know that system. I know I could, then you're going to go there. You know what I'm saying? Like, I'm sure the only players are really looking at that, like, I don't know if I like

that. Like, that's like the guys who are, you know what I'm saying? Everybody else trying to go to the best basketball situation where they can become maybe the player they've always dreamed of. You know what I mean? That's what everybody, or where they have a great role that can help a team win games and be a part of something. You know what I mean?

So it's just like, that's what I look at personally. Is it, how does it feel to, we talked about Philly for a second, which your Pops is also there. How does that feel? Because it just seems like an error of the Clippers, which you were a part of, is kind of over right now with Doc being there so long and now leaving.

What did that feel like to see him leave the Clippers? Oh, that was really unexpected, man. I didn't see that coming. Did you think he was going to chill for a bit? Or did you know he was going to go back to coaching? I told him to chill. I was like, you need to take a... I said, you've been coaching for so long.

I was like, take a break, man. When he got fired, I was like, bro, this is great for you, okay? I was like obviously no one wants to get fired. And I was sad that he obviously has his son. You don't want to see your dad get fired or anybody in my family lose a job or anything like that. With that being said, I knew he was going to have offers waiting for him. But I just felt, I was like, you've been coaching for so long.

It's a stressful job. You know, people don't understand how hard a coaching is or being a president is or being a GM is. Because at the end of the day, everybody wants to play. Everybody thinks they're great. And everybody thinks they should get paid the most. and the reality is that's not how it works, because players are better than each other in different situations and whatnot.

So you're always going to be someone's favorite and someone's always not going to like you. You know what I mean? It's just a tough job. Yeah. And he's been doing it for years and years and years and years. And I just felt like he should take some time, man. Just take some time.

I just thought he was going to do like at least, I didn't think he wasn't going to get back into coaching, but I thought he was going to do like a Tom Tivito or something, like maybe do some TV or something. I thought he'd maybe do a little bit of ESPN, maybe a little bit of T&T. You know, that's what I assumed he was going to do. And he loved, I mean, he was like, man, this Philly opportunity is a great opportunity. He's just really excited about Philly, man.

Like, he was so excited. Like, that was a team. There was a lot of other great teams that, like, had great, you know, maybe situations that were going to offer him a job. and he wanted the Philly job. He wanted the Philly job. He just loves coaching. Who were the other teams and why did Philly stick out, though? Because he's like, man, listen, they were about to roll away two years ago from going to the finals.

You know what I mean? When, what's it called? When Quiliter hit that shot, you know what I mean? Like that's because I got that team. Now, granted, we don't have Jimmy Buller. He goes, but we have still, you know, two young stars. The East is, you know, it's not the West. where you got it's like a gauntlet

you know in the Western Conference to get to the finals yeah um so it's it was appealing for him for a lot of reasons and I think the last time he was on the east he did well you know what I mean you won a championship you won a championship last so I think he likes being back there um

he's from Chicago uh you know I mean there's a lot of variables that go into this he's closer to home you know I think a lot of things wouldn't know him and I think he just can't do anything else but coach. I think that's what he is as a person. Like he has nothing.

Like that's like what he does, like when he calls me, it's not like, hey, how's your day, how's your kids? He's like, all right, what you working on?

Like, that's just who this man is, man is, man, all the time. I don't think y'all understand. How did you, what did he say when you was like, hey, pops, bro,

check this out. I'm gonna need you to chill for, for a year. What did he, what was his response to that? Oh, like, I do it all time. He'll call me.

He'll be like, so, So what you mean? I'm like, man, listen, I didn't call you for all that. I was just like, I just called you to stay out of my pops, bro. Like, I damn, you know what I mean? Like, he's just who he's all, I respect it. But specifically when you told him to chill on, like, coaching for a little bit.

Like, what did you say? Like, oh, I'll think about it all. I thought he was talking about basketball. I mean, all he always wants to talk about my game. Once he became my coach, he could not be my coach. Like, that's just, he's always still like, that's how all dads are, though. All dads are always coaching their kids no matter what. But when he was coaching me and he'd get on.

me, I would never be like, you know, chill or anything like that. And then this- No, I meant more so, I meant more so when he, when he was talking about, like, when he got fired. You were talking about your fire and he got fired and he was like, yeah, my bad. He was like, calm down. Yeah, yeah, my bad. No, I was, I just told me, I just thought he needed some time just to heal and view with his family, really, maybe look into doing business stuff outside and then getting back

to it. I made no mistake. I told me you need to coach again because I always do something with basketball. I love it too much. whether it's a coaching front office, um, agent, something around it.

I'll always be doing something basketball. I can't do anything else. I'm obsessed with it. And he's the same way. I get it from him. So I knew if you wanted to coach again, I just like, he's been doing for so long and at his age,

just for health reasons. Like I just thought maybe like he should just. Did you feel, you know, did you know? Did you get the sense that he felt you like, no, he did. No, he was like, I agree.

He's like, maybe I just, I'd like to just go golf in and then go, go see, you know, this or that and go travel maybe. Just like just, things he hasn't done because it's always been coaching offseason, you know, recruiting guys,

this, this, this, he's always doing something. And at his age, I felt like, you know, he should just take a little break and focus on his health, his inner soul, you know what I mean, just like, you know what I mean, just stuff like that. And he really bought into doing that. Like, I thought that's what he wanted. But as soon as he had this Philly, as soon as he went there and he had met with him and he just, he kept talking about the Philly situation and now he's So it's like for like a day after he was like yo I'm a chill also

I'm a matured. Literally literally like two days later he's that I'm going to field I'm like all right man and I already knew it like it'd be one thing if he was my age like yeah I'm constantly going to keep doing something because I'm 20 something years old I want to play basketball until I'm in my late 30s hopefully you know what I mean

like I love this game or even longer than that if I can't but you know he's you know in his 50s or whatever I thought he would just maybe take a couple years, but he's still young. My dad just lets a game, and he wants to win, man. So at the end of the day, he's excited for the Philly job. Why do you think that, do you think it was in the Los Angeles?

Because you know, you were in the building for a little bit. Why do you think it was time for him to leave at that point? Because I do know the last season with the Clippers, it seemed like, I talked with this Danny Green. It seemed like they stuck their chest out. It seemed like they were going to win it all and it just didn't work out. Why do you think that didn't work out and it was time for a change in Los Angeles? You're talking about this past summer? This past summer, yeah.

I don't know how. I didn't see it coming. So I couldn't tell you. I didn't know he was going to get fired. I was like genuine. I'm not just saying this because he's my dad. Like I genuinely didn't think he's going to get fired. I knew it was worrisome a little bit because they dropped a three one lead versus a team that they were better than.

You know what I mean? But I still thought, you know, I don't think they're going to blame my pops for that. You know what I mean? Like, but, you know, that's how it is. sometimes and that's how it goes and you know i mean it's uh they want a new direction and that's that's just that's just the business man i knew i i i know like how the lakers looked at the clippers this past season but how did how do the rockets look at the clippers how were they looked at league wide um last season it seemed like i mean from we talked about narratives the narrative was

that it was going to be a clippers lakers show in the western conference final But how did everybody else look at this? How did you guys look at it? I mean, we thought we thought we were a team that could sneak in there and maybe beat one of those two teams. That was the goal. But yeah, everybody, I think in the Western Conference knew that the two favorites were Clippers and Lakers. And I think the Nuggets, ourselves, Jazz, Portland, one of these other teams probably thought, no, you know, OKC. We could sneak in there and beat one of those teams, you know, because if we're a good team, too, Dallas.

You know, man. Yeah. The West is just, it's loaded, you know what I mean? It's deep. So that's how you got to come in to Lakers, man, for beating everybody. You got to because their path there was crazy. How crazy was it to see the Clippers drop that 3-1 lead and just fumbled up for 3-1? I mean, I was out the bubble already.

I had just got out. And I'm watching this series and just disbelief because I'm just like, you know, there's no way. Because I'm sure you're thinking like, yo, it's about to be Lakers Clippers. Like this is, it is going to be. When it went to game seven, I was like, guys, relax. Like, there's no way the clippers are losing this game. And then they came out. And after that second quarter, I literally looked at it.

I was like, they're going to lose his game. I mean, they're going to lose this game. I was like, they're going to lose. Because you can see the confidence that the nuggets are playing with at that point. It was over. The way Jamal was playing, the way Yokic was playing, you know, they were, when you're playing in that groove and with that confidence and it's a team thing, it's not just an individual, like not one guy.

It's like all of you, are like playing at that level. That's what the Denver did. And that's why they kept coming back from these three-one leads, and they just got in this groove together. And you commend them for that because that's not easy to do.

A lot of guys will quit. They didn't do that. They won the series, man. But I lost, I was like, whoa. I don't know. I mean, what do you do? Like, you, I'm watching this series. I'm just like, there's no way

they're about to lose this series. There's no way. Yeah. So you were a part of the last, three one fumbling of the bag in 2015 what do you if you have to guess they saw both thank you thank you know I mean listen man we listen this is the history I'm sorry not is what was in your mind which was worse well this team this team was worse yeah I thought this team come on man with that that that team they had this year's I mean

even after like you know like James was it James was on the bench when they came back in 2015. Like even then there was a little, I know there was a little bit dysfunction in the Clippers back then, but do you feel like you think, why do you think this team was, was more, it was more disappointing and worse than the 2015? I mean, they both were bad. I mean, that's, I think every one, any team that's three one and you lose is bad. You know, I mean, it's like, I'm not saying they're a bad team. I'm saying it's just, it's just, it's just, they all look bad. You I mean. When the Thunder lost to the Warriors, it was bad.

When we lost to Houston, it was bad. Clippers lost the, it's just a bad, when you lose three times straight, you know what I mean? Like, that's, that's, that sucks, man. You know what I mean? But I've been a part of it, unfortunately. And you got to learn from that type of stuff. Got to.

So I'm sure the Clippers will be a lot better next year in some ways. In terms of the playing, I'm not saying the record or, you know, the coaching or this or that. I love Tailu, so he'll do a great job. But I think as a, their players are probably motivated after that type of a summer that they've had to deal with all this stuff, they'll probably come back even better next year, you know? Yeah.

With that being said and with Doc moving on, I know you've said in the past that, you know, you've had some reservations about playing under him, not that he's a bad coach, but, you know, like his father's son. Now, I'm going to give you a scenario. No, I love playing for my pops. I love playing for my pops. If, if, yeah.

It was just a lot to deal with, but it was cool, though. You know what I mean? Like, I had to deal with a lot just from, like, the noise, things you hear doing that. But he was a, don't get a twist of like, shit, it was fun playing for him. And I got to know my pops better. That was like the coolest thing about playing for him. I got to actually, I got to actually get to know him.

I didn't grow up with him like always in the house. You know, I mean, I grew up in Orlando mostly and he grew up in, I mean, I mean, he didn't grow up. He was coaching in Boston. So, like, I just, you know, that was pretty cool, just kind of getting to know him a lot better than that level. But so with that being said, if the Sixers call your agent and you opt out and they throw a bag your way, are you considering and are you picking up the phone like, I guess we might be having a family reunion in Philly?

Is that on the table? Oh, I don't even know. They haven't. I mean, I haven't had these discussions with like my agents yet because it's just, there's so much in the air. You know what I mean? But would you play with your pops again, though, in any circumstances? I mean, if the situation was, was, was fitting, then I play for anybody. I play for anybody.

If the situation is fitting and I can help their, I'm going to be in a situation where I know I can help this team win games, then I'll play for anybody. I don't care for it's my grandpa, my dad, my mom, my sister, my uncle, my dog, my cat. If I think it's a situation where I can thrive and I can play and produce and help this team win and you get to go out there and compete,

then I'll play for you all day. You know what I mean? That's anybody. I love the hoop, man. I love the hoop. I love to compete. So I'm not going to get, let my ego or my pride getting the way of me playing for my pops or anyone who's coaching no matter what the circumstances are. What's the biggest thing you've learned as a player?

You know, from that, from playing with your pops to now, like, you've, we're around the same age. You've grown, you know, a lot just immaturing and things like that. What's the biggest thing you've learned just being in this league? I think that it's a small league is the biggest thing I've learned and that you have to approach everything the right way and professionally. You know what I mean? As a small league, people talk. You have to get a routine, you know, on game days and show professionalism and all these other things.

You know, it's called professional athlete, not just athlete. And a lot of people forget that professional comes first. And I think that's what I had to learn in this league. There's two sides of being an NBA player, you know what I mean? And not that I wasn't like a guy who was unprofessional or late or anything like that. Just like obviously, you know what I mean? Trust me, at Duke, that would not fly or something like that. You know what I mean?

But just like there's even a different level when you're at that agent in this league. It's in a business. So you're just kind of learning that. I think that's the biggest thing I've learned from playing for my pops and that whole time there, getting to see him closely and how he approaches stuff. You got to see kind of how he's got to where he's at because his career has been even more successful after basketball. So I kind of try to watch stuff like that and learn from him in ways like that. did you think that uh have do you think you over have overcome just the fact that because i know it

annoyed you and stuff that you know it was always like i'm doc sun like and you would all get that and then you had the game against portland where you bawled out and it seems like you've now i don't think we see you was just like oh it's doc son i feel like you're a hundred percent austin rivers now i know you always were but do you feel like you've overcome that do you think you've overcome whatever that stigma was though that you had early in your career i don't yeah sure because that stigma never was real to me, bro. You know what I mean? Like, listen, man, come on, man.

You know what I'm saying? That stigma was ridiculous in the first place. But yeah, man, I have my dad's die. You know what I'm saying? And at the end of the day, I'm proud of that, man. I love my pops. He's a great man. He's something I definitely look up to in a lot of ways.

And, you know, I used to like shy away from that, you know, and be like so egotistical about that. And then I just learned to enjoy that. Because I'm going to want my son one day to look at me in a certain way. So I know that's what my pops would want from me. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, I have no problem with that. If people want to say Doc, son, so be it.

They know who I am. And then they know my name. So they can say whatever they want. They know what it is. And everybody knows I've worked my ass off to get here. And I will continue to work my ass off. shit if it was about any stigma of coaches, sons or president's son, that why aren't anybody else's kids in the league?

You know what I mean? It's because these are the best basketball players in the world, and it's hard. You know what I mean? And to be here, I had to work every night, every day, Friday night, Saturday nights, just like all the other guys who are in this league too, because they all work, they ask, to get off. People don't understand how good this league is. And then not only to be in the league,

but actually be a really good player in the league. You know, I mean, it all started to lead. Like, these are things that guys want to do and be. let alone just be a really competitive good player. So I got a lot of work to do. So anybody that says, Doc, this, I don't, I just, that's not my mission anymore.

I'm just, I'm on the bigger things, man. People know who I am now. And my goal now is to try to continue to just be a better player, a better leader, learn, be more professional. You know what I mean? And I mean professional as in being a great leader, you know,

being someone that young guys can learn from. And the things that I did well and the things that I didn't do well early in my career. You know what I mean? I could teach a lot of guys these things. And I'm not old. I'm 28. You know what I mean?

But it's a young, I got my best years are ahead of me. My next four or five years will be my prime of my career. But with that being said, I've been in it long enough and been around it my life to where these are the things I'm focused on. Not the Doc's Rivers names and Austin River's names. People couldn't have any stigma. Man, I'm on to other important things now. Michelle, man. All right, man.

It was a good talking. Before we let you go, though, man, I told you before, we, We have a segment called Rear One of the Week, where we talk about an entity, a person, an organization that did well in your eyes this week. And for context, I did Stacey Abrams this week who registered over 800,000 people in Georgia and did her civic duty. So that being said, what would you say your real one of the week is, Austin? real one of the week Kamala Harris man that's what I'm going to do man

That's that's Come on man That's incredible Oakland A black woman from Oakland I met her I met her I'm actually

That's pretty cool I'm gonna say that I know she's gonna be the president One day My my pops brought her in To speak to the Clippers Oh really? When was this?

Yeah Whenever that was That whole team Was that three four years ago And I remember my Sam Casale was like him and my dad were like she gonna be the next president of the united states one day just watch just watch this is like four or five years ago now she's the VP what did she say anything that was

like i was like wow like did she have an aura around her like okay she could be or she has she has the total package man like you know what i mean she's the ones people that walk in a room and she starts talking and she demands attention you know i mean you don't get to be the vice president the first black woman vice president for no reason bro you know what i mean you got you got to you got to overcome just about every damn barrier possible um you're a woman you're black. I don't even say anything more than that. So for her to be in this position, you've got to have, you got to be a star. You know what I mean? And that's what this was about for me. That's what this whole

election was about. People talk about Biden versus Trump. For me, it was about her. It was about her. Because I know with her behind him, he can't, you know what I mean? He'll be solid, bro. You know what I mean? And if God forbid anything happened to him, we got her. Yeah. And I do think she will be the president one day for sure. and I would vote for her. So that's my real one of the week, man. Right. That was a great one.

I do have a follow-up today. How do you feel before we get out of here? You've been, I looked at your IG before it is. You have kind of grown your voice a little bit in social issues. Yeah, a little bit. I used to not say anything about anything, but just because I just try to just not. For sure. Not for no reason.

It just wasn't my thing. You know what I mean? It was kind of saying I'm just going to lay back. And I like to observe and then formulate an opinion about. about myself and how I feel about something and then just be that. I don't need to voice it. You know what I mean? But I think right now, the more voices, the better, especially during these dark times

when we had our past president. Yeah, I think we need as many good voices as possible. You know, especially like during the, I think we should keep it, you know, I think, you know, we, especially over this summer, we used our voice. They got us to keep getting louder, man. Yeah, for sure. For sure. And that's something I still got to improve on.

You know, I could be better. I can still be better, too. I think everybody can be better, but I look at myself first. So I know I could be better than that stuff too. Michelle, man. Well, thank you for coming on the Real On the Rear NBA feed, bro. Like, you welcome any time. I appreciate that.

You were real one. It was good seeing you again, Brody. Always, always. Yep. That was a fun episode. We'll be back next Monday, me and Raja, and maybe a guess, maybe not. Who knows? You need to check it out.

But in the meantime, you can look at everything on our NBA feed, including the mismatch and group chatting. also go watch and listen to the NFL feed, the NFL show, and also my personal favorite, R2C2 with my main man and Bay Area legend C-C-Sabathia. So go check that out, wherever podcasts are recorded. And we'll talk to you next week. Peace.