The Ringer NBA Show - David Fizdale on Luka and Juan Toscano-Anderson Shares Unique NBA Journey | Real Ones

Episode Date: June 3, 2021

David Fizdale joins Logan and Raja to talk about Luka Doncic’s heroic performance in Game 5 against the Clippers to go up 3-2 in the series (0:30), what the Clippers need to do to uplift their stars (15:00), whether LeBron James himself can still go supernova for the Lakers (30:00), and predictions for Thursday night’s games (41:00). Then, Warriors forward Juan Toscano-Anderson joins the podcast to talk about his journey to the NBA, playing professionally overseas, and quite a lot more (48:00).  Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guests: David Fizdale and Juan Toscano-Anderson Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Justin Charity and Micah Peters in Sound Only as they discuss their deepest, darkest thoughts about the millennial lifestyle, rap music, video games, anime, YouTube, social media, and their underlying themes. Check out Sound Only on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. What's popping? Logan Murdoch here. Rajah Bell, Sasha Mac on the boards, Juan Tisano Anderson in a bit. But first, Roger, we got a low-key of L.A. legend in here, man. You know what I mean? Free Ma'i-L. High legend. You know what I mean? Miami Heat. Memphis Grizzies, New York Knicks. Who we got in the building, Roger? This is one of my favorite coaches of all time, Coach David Fisdale. Thanks for joining the show, bro. I'm going to just let me start off. I always like to start off with this. While I really am fond of you, I didn't know you were from L.A. I didn't know that.

Born and raised, South Central L.A. Yeah, he's hitting around the head at Fremont High School. Pretty much, I know the alleys of the alleys. And anybody from L.A. know I'm telling the truth that grew up around me. So, but I do have, you know, obviously, Roger, you know, I spent so much time in Miami that that's second home for me. You know, I got deep, deep roots in Miami and South Florida and love because that community, dude, the community, you know. The community is just special. It's electric. It's connected.

And so I called Miami home as well. And I think I can pull off both. Yo, I got a quick story on Fizz real quick. He don't know this. I was going to say this in the pre-show, but I feel like I should say it for the show. I was a few years ago, I think like four or five, three or four years ago, I was an intern at the commercial appeal. And I was doing a story in Memphis. And I was doing a story on Nick Van Exel.

And the good people at the Memphis Grizzlies PR, staff gave Fizz my number to help me out on the story. And he gave me like 20 minutes, man. I was just an intern and he really gave me some good stuff, man. And it was really good. So thank you, Coach. I appreciate that, man. Thank you for your time, man.

I still got your number. I'll never use it, but thank you, bro. Appreciate that, G. I appreciate you bringing that up. Just know, man, I never look at stuff like that from the standpoint of what it can do for me. It ain't about me. You know, that was about Nick. I was about a young guy.

trying to write a great story. And so that's my approach on all the stuff, man. I take myself out of it as much as I can, you know. But good to see you here where you are. You got good company. I know that. I appreciate that, Fitz. And you could tell that man to lose the number, bro.

I tell him to lose the number. I tell him to lose that. I mean, I'm surprised. I'm surprised. I still got Rodgers' number. I'm surprised he still texts back. But thank you, bro. Friends like Raj, right?

You all got to have friends like Rod. Just assholes. You know what I mean? Just assholes for no reason. You didn't even do anything. He's like, well, I didn't give you my number. Oh, shit. Yeah, yeah.

What will we be without, without our friends, you know? I know, right. I know, right. You know, right? You know, right. You know, right there, right where you're supposed to be. Right there. Oh, man.

Oh, man. We are talking to you on a Thursday after a big night of postseason basketball, man. It was so much fun. I want to start with, I think, the biggest game of the night. You know, Clippers' Maps, Luca, balling, 42 points, whole bunch of rebounds, whole bunch of assists. Best player in basketball. Say that again, coach. Say that again, coach.

Best player in basketball right now today. And then this is the hard. The hard part for me is the big fella in Denver and discounting, you know, trying. And here we are talking about two big-time European players as well. That's awesome. That shows you how our game is coming. That, you know, these guys are in the conversation for best players in the world. But Luca Donchis, to me, man, is he special?

And Drayman said something last night that I thought was just, he hit on the head. You can't speed him up. Yeah. It looks like he's out there just taking a jog through the park. Hey, man, Jokens. Jokens be jogging through the park. You can't speed them up. They play the game at the pace they want to play.

Man, they're fun to watch. And they make everybody better. Every single guy on the team benefits from their presence on the floor. And you can see really, I think what I like about them as a fan is you see joy in their game. You see what it's all about. Like, I know we get caught in the business and the money of and all that. But the first time Roger Bell picked up a basketball. basketball, it was to hoop.

It was out of joy. And you can see that shining through their game and the fun that they're having in the way that they compete and play. So I'm Luca right now, man. Oh, my God, I would pay a lot of money to watch and play basketball. Fizz, I just was on, you know, with Amino Hassan and them dudes. And they asked me, like, as a defender, you know, how I felt for Kauai at times and Paul George and the dudes that were actually tasked with trying to slow him down.

down. My point was that I felt sorry because you could, on some of those possessions, you were executing at least what you thought was a really good defensive possession, and he's still cooking you. From your seat, though, where you would sit, like, what would you, what would, I mean, for a dude like that, what's the, what's, what is the game playing? Like, what are we trying to do? Watching them right now, goodness gracious, like, armchair quarterback, I am not trying to coach behind T-loose. Yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. But watching the game as a fan or a basketball enthusiasts, the one thing I'm seeing right now that's hurting them is they're letting Luca walk downhill into those pockets off the pick and roll.

And he's really moving wherever he wants to move off of the pick and roll. Soft coverage on that pick and roll. Yeah, they're dropping. You saw a couple of times he got into that floater area. A couple of times he actually cut back against the pick and roll and stepped back to the three. Because you can't get to them. your big is so far back. The guy is chasing,

Rondo's chasing, and you have to get over, and you have to chase him. When the big is back, there's no chance of covering that three ball in that situation. So I think what the clippers may end up having to do is get more aggressive against him.

And, you know, really think about trapping him, shows against him, aggressive switches, things like that where the big is up. And that may end up eliminating a guy like Zubak from the series. You know, it's a war of attrition in a playoff series, right?

And you've seen this as a series goes, depending on who you are in the series, players get shed out of the series because they can't switch or whatever it may be. They're hurting the team because of what they bring to the table. So Zubak might be a guy that they have to shed to win this series. but I think they got to get more aggressive with him. And even then, he's such a great passer. He fills the game so well. And they've got so much shooting and skill on the team.

They still may tear the clippers apart with the way they move the ball. And I was on the other end of that in Miami back in the day when they moved the ball and had us running around with the way Rick Carlis' system works, especially when you've got to picket pop big like Porzingis. Right. And they're dirt. And they spread you out. and now they get you running around.

So it's picked your poison. But, man, I just, Luca Donchich is just, he's got all of that good stuff, all of it. One of the things that you said early coach was that Luca is, it's not fast to him. The game isn't fast to him. And that was interesting that you said that

because I remember one of the first times I watched Dirk play in person. And I was really just, I was surprised because I'm a young kid and I'm thinking, hey, man, the NBA is a fast game. and all he had to do, all Dirk did that whole night was get to his spots. And it wasn't like he did anything special in terms of, you know, being faster, or he just got to his spots and got to his fade away. And every, like, good player that I've seen from Yokic to Luka, even in a women's game, like Sabrina Nescu, you know, players like that, it seems like it seems like, it seems like, logically, that's counterproductive.

Why would you be slow in a game that's so fast? I want to go to first you coach and then, Rajah, why is it so effective when you're that good to slow down when you're playing? That's a great question. And it goes into how I try to teach develop players. You're not most likely, there's very few people that's going to be the fastest person on the floor. But the one thing that you have is you have the starting pistol to the race, right? If you're on offense, you got the ball. a defense is always usually responding to what you do.

And you get to decide, remember when you was a little kid and you line up with your buddies and one of y'all got to say, go? Yeah. That dude always got a head start, right, on the race. He may not have won, but boy, he got a first step on everybody. The guy with the ball has that, he gets to say, go. And he can continue to stop the race whenever he wants.

Slow you down. Put you on his back like Lucas. does and just sit there, make your big decide something while his big's rolling or popping, right? And he's getting to play in those because he's slowing you down. Now, he may not be able to outrun you, but if he can start the race whenever he wants in a two or three foot span, he can get to where he wants to get to because he's the starter of the race and you're playing catch up now. And so guys that understand that, they end up being some of the most deadly players in the history of our league. Think about Bernard Kek,

King, I know a little bit before your time, but Bernard King was a, he'll love you to sleep, boom, blow you to sleep, boom. It was always slow to fast, fast to slow. And the great ones really get you, you know, Roger used to have to chase Ray Allen. And Reggie Miller and got, and those guys had an innate ability to slow you down to fast. And then stop again. And then, you know, they changed those speeds on you, but a lot of it was they understood the slow part of it and how important.

that stillness and that slowness played in the overall game. How frustrating is that, Roger, when somebody is changing speeds in that way as a defender? Well, it's super frustrating. It was a great explanation of why it's so important, right? And Phiz, I work with kids. Like, my oldest is 14. And so I'm working with my 12-year-olds team right now. And we're talking about that every night, like with our ball handlers about, you know,

the pace of your game, right? being able to change that up, slow to fast. Also using screens off the ball, right? It's the same, what you just talked about. Like you, if you're moving, so here's why, Logan, as a defender, if you're moving at full speed, the entire game, I may not be as fast as you, but I time that up. Like, it's going to take me, it's going to take me, I don't know, maybe a half of a quarter, you know, like, but I'm going to get a bead on your speed.

You know what I mean? And then I can, I can figure out how much space I have to give you, how many more inches I could crawl up closer to you. Like, I start to really lock into that. But if you're always changing the pace and keeping me kind of off balance and guessing with the hirk and a jerk, just to, like, it's really frustrating because I can never gauge what's about to take place. The other thing I'm going to add to that is, like, and what I try to tell the kids is when

you're moving a thousand miles an hour, you can't make good decisions. Right. You can't, you're not seeing what's, like, unfolding. Like, you're reading that book. You're trying to read a play as it kind of, you know, mature. and if you're moving so fast, you can't make that decision. So it's important that you're under control so that you can execute what is, you know, what you're tasked with executing.

This is deeper conversation and I don't mean to do it because I know Fizz ain't here for this. But in American basketball, our grassroots basketball, if you go in a gym at the tournament I'm going to play in this weekend with that team, it's counterproductive. It's why I believe somebody's European players are better at it. They hop on the floor and to win a game, everyone presses everybody in third grade. it turns guards into little like speed nervous like the whole game is played a thousand miles an hour and i watch it and it sucks you know you're like man this isn't even basketball yes it's craziness

so like i know he wasn't going there but that's what i watch oh but you're in it you're in it and that's important because the the soul of the game is important the fundamentals of the game is important and now it's such a i love the perspective of the global perspective of the game of the game. And it is something you have to recognize that European players are making a tremendous impact on the NBA. You have to be Giannis, Luca, you know, you can just keep going, I can go forever. Like, we can literally go forever on how many awesome European players there are. So there's something to be saying. You watch each one of them. They have a cadence to the way they play. off the ball when they cut,

the way that they curl cut, right? You look at those how guys, how they have a force and a timing to the way that they cut. You know, and again, may not be always the best athlete, but they always seem to be able

to create the separation needed to score. And that is what's important in basketball more than, you know, offensively. And I learned that from Chris Mullin, who was probably slow as dude would ever put at the wheels on. but he could get to his spot

anytime, anywhere, against the best defenders, Jordan, anybody. You can name a guy, and they'll tell you, Chris Mullins would pop me in the eye constantly all night because he would,

that Bay Area, see, I'm giving you that Bay Area love of you. He would get that separation and he would just, he'd had a real understanding of that. I don't have to be faster than you. I just have to understand how to get away from you.

And that was that change of speed. One of the questions that I did have, though, you referenced Draymond. Draymond said also something really interesting out of thought, and I want to talk about the Clippers. He said, he talked about Reggie Jackson, and he was talking about how Reggie Jackson shot 6 to 13 from three-point range. And he was like, that's great, right? That is great.

But it's not as great when PG is shooting 7 or 14 from the field in a game. What is that conundrum like for, I want to go start with Roger first, because you were a role player. how do you how do you kind of limit your game or something or adjust your game in the postseason to get it to your star player or how do you, what is the fix in that? What do you do?

What is the fix in making sure the star player gets the shots in the biggest moments? So I have played what I played. I played 12 and a half years. I played on some pretty big stages in the NBA. I played, I don't know, college basketball before.

I've never had someone come to me and say, I need you to limit what you're doing as a role player so the star can eat. Yeah. That shit is not a conversation that anyone has. So is that more on a star player to be like, no, fuck this. I'm going to, what is the fix here?

I mean, first of all, like, let me clarify. If Reggie is out there shooting like between the legs, double teamed stepbacks, like those are bad shots. But if I'm open and those are my shots that I know, normally shoot. You got to shoot them. You step up and you shoot the ball. So to the point, I think that you've got to, if you're a star, especially in those big games, not that I was, but this is just me. You have to come out and put your stamp on the game, man. Like, you have to find a way to put your stamp on the game. Like maybe that's a conversation with Kauai,

like in terms of, I need to be able to help you tonight, dog. Like I'm trying to get going. Like, let, like, help me help you, dog. Like, you know, we got to do this together. I don't know where the conversation starts, but I know it don't start with asking Reggie to not shoot the ball if he's open. I know that. Yeah. What do you do as a coach on that, coach? Well, I want to piggyback off a rise and say, I gave you an experience that I witnessed, and it was beautiful to watch. But you guys remember the game when I was coaching in Miami and D. Wade and Spow got into the big argument in Indiana on the sideline. Yeah, yeah. And we were down to 1.2. After that, and everybody was like, oh, shit, Miami looked like they're in trouble.

DeWay might be hobbled, him and Spoh were fighting. The conversation between LeBron James and Duane Wade to get DeWay going, and how they were going to do it was the most single, most important conversation that was had in that run when the title that year, because if you watch, go back and watch that game and you watch that first quarter and you watch the concerted effort that LeBron makes to get D. Wade easy baskets, back cuts, he got a couple runouts, and LeBron was just focused on, if I get him going, I know we're going to win because I'm feeling good.

He knew his game was rolling. And now he got in LeBron ended up having like 40 and 18. and D. Wade had 30-something. But I remember it was an important conversation, you know, between two guys where they had to just say, look, this is, this needs to happen. I need you, you need me, let's figure this out. And it was during a very strenuous time. As a coach, and I think for T. Lou, he will go back through the film

and look at ways that he can try to trigger PG and put him in advantage. positions, especially to get layups and free throws. The great scores I've ever, most of the ones I've been around, you know, just to a man, they all said if I can get layups and free throws early, whoever's guarding me that night is in big trouble. And so I think that will be the effort that the collective makes. Because T. Lou is going to have to translate that to the team to say, hey, guys, we got to

get PG going. He's not going to tell Reggie don't take good shot. Right. No, that's not, that's an insult to Reggie. And that got him thinking and that big shot comes swinging around to him. And he's, he tight. No, Reggie needs to keep taking every, as long as he's on that floor, you keep taking the best shot that you give.

You're open, you got to shoot it, especially in the playoffs. Otherwise, you can't play. Right. You got to go, again, we're shedding guys, right? You start to shed guys. And so, so I think, you know, translate T. Loo, translating that to Paul, how he wants to get him going, and then making sure the team understands the offensive game plan

on how they get him going. But ultimately, I think the clippers also, they got to get more disruptive defensively, and they got to create some easy ones, like through turnovers and deflections and steals and disruption. And Paul George, he get a couple of those now, a couple early dunks, you know, a couple runouts or, you know, some open threes and transition

because they can't get back and get matched. Now all of a sudden, coach don't have to call plays and all of that. You're going to be in that rhythm. You're going to go find the ball. The ball will find that energy. And you'll get yourself going. But I think that's probably going to be the mindset going into the next one. And it's a do-or-die situation now.

You got to, hey, ain't no excuses. Ain't no finger-point. They ain't no blaming. You got to get it done. You know, and beyond just scoring, they're going to have to do something to slow that monster down because that dude, he smells blood and he feels like he left, he left an opportunity on the shelf last year, right?

So, you know, they're going to have to really bring a lot to the table to go on the road to keep this series alive, and a lot of that is going to have to do with the mindset of Paul George. I, um, it's something that Fis just said that I thought was interesting, although, again, I'm not a star like Paul George, But I always felt like when that offense wasn't there for me, like let's say I was in a funk with my shot, right? The more I thought about the shot,

like the more counterproductive it became. So once I did what he's talking about, which was like, you know what, fuck the shot. Let me see if I could get out and really get some steals. Let me dive in, you know, to the rest of the game, the energy that I could put forth in other areas. Once those juices started flowing and I let go of the offense, it always came back.

And it came back in a bigger way than before. but you had to just submit and just go get it. Because you sacrificed me. See, when you take yourself out of a situation, all of a sudden now the opportunities are endless because you see so many people you can affect in so many ways you can affect something because now it's not just about how does this affect me.

Yeah. This is more about the bigger group. This is about the team. And the more you can get everybody on that with that mindset. And you see it when the best, When the best teams get to clicking and all of that stuff is working beautifully, you see it because even when scores aren't scoring, the best teams, they still find the way because they've abandoned this idea of this little egoic meat,

this personal ego thing. And so I think that's where they are right now, and they're going to have to figure that out as a group. And Paul George, really, as a, you know, now with a lot of people barking on him, and calling him to the table. I think that's probably, if he can dive deep overnight and say, you know what,

everybody's trying to make this about me, I'm not going to even let that noise get to me. I'm going to make this about my team, and I'm just going to do whatever I got to do to help our team win. He may have some big time success in Dallas, but if he lets this noise fuel him into this idea of like you was talking about earlier,

I've got to get more shots. I got to go to that, you know, that, that, it's going to get tight on them. It gets tight. And that rim gets small. And every decision gets small and tight. And, you know, and now you're not playing the game with freedom and fun. And so I think that's going to be, you know, Raj, you hit it on the head. You got to dive into the doing of the game and not get caught up in the individual part.

You know, that soft coverage, that drop of the big, letting him get down into that pocket, snake and pick and roll. Like, again, I'm a Tyloo fan, though. I spent time with Tyloo in Cleveland. I think he's great. But philosophically for me, he has to get rid of that ball. And while I might not, like, as Paul George or Kauai, to his brilliance offensively with the ball in his hands,

I might not be able to stop that. I'm athletically more gifted. If he gives it up, like, early in that possession, I have an advantage now with him trying to get it back. So, you know, then you got to get out of your rhythm offensively, trying to get it back to him. Like, I have to get that shit out. And I think too, picking them up full court,

running, jumping on them in the back court, just to keep him off balance. You know, just dusing your athleticism and speed to just get that ball out of his hand sometimes. And like you said, maybe keep the ball out of his hand sometimes could help them. And, too, you may keep that drop coverage on everybody else. That might be the coverage for every other guy out there

running a pick and roll. But when Luke is coming out, you've got to get up there, right? And so those are, but that's the chess match, right? One, two. Clippers went in one, two, which is hard to do. They come back and get another winner. So this is that, this is that move.

This is that chess move. They either works for T-LU or you got to knock over your queen and it's checkmate, right? And that's, you know, that's where it's at. So I think it'll be a fun, fun game to watch. no doubt. I want to get to predictions and talk about LeBron real quick. Before we do that, Memphis is one of my favorite teams,

and they talked about going through growing pains. I love Memphis, but I was doing research on this coach, and I came across the rant after the game against the Tann Antonio Spurs. It was glorious. It was awesome. You said, don't rook me. Don't rook us. Y'all not going to rook us. You made up a term.

That's that on California stuff coming out of it. And then you said, and then you said, take that for data. And I was like, oh, well, shit, cool. What were you thinking, I just want to know before we get some Brown and predictions, what were you thinking immediately after you got out of that presser? I only think you took like one question, right? You only took like one. That was it.

I didn't, yeah, I took like one. And then I went on the rant. And then the whole point, I knew I was going to do the rant before I went up there. So I didn't know, I didn't have a scripted, but I knew I was going to go off. That wasn't even scripted? No, I just, the only thing that was scripted was I had in my mind in the last two minutes of the game, I just had my numbers guys pull all of the different numbers. So I wanted our paint touches compared to their paint touches.

I wanted our layups attempted compared to their layups attempted. I wanted their free throws attempted compared to our free throws attempt. Because I don't want to go up there and just be benching. and said, are we getting screwed? I didn't curse once. That was pretty good. You were free my eye. That was a real great.

Some of it was calculated from a standpoint of I wanted to get the information across that I didn't think we got a fair shot. And, you know, the other stuff was just hood stuff because I was pissed and just yelling. I'm not going to rook us. You know what I'm saying? But the numbers, I really, like in the last, probably two minutes of the game. And then when I got to the back, I told the team, I said, don't one guy say anything about the officials. I'm taking the hit on this one.

As soon as I was walking, I told my guys coming off the floor to get the numbers. As soon as I was walking out of the team meeting, they handed me the numbers. I saw the president of the team. I said, I'm about to get the shit find out of me. So put the pot out and get everybody to pay my fine. Collection played out, bro. And I went up there and, you know, and then, I just, and I was desperate.

You're down too old to the Spurs, who was the number two team in the league that year. You know, I'm sitting there looking across the floor. I'm looking at one of the all-time grades, you know what I'm saying? Okay, I got to pull out every tool in the bag to try to beat this guy because I'm competitive like that. Now, I'm not going to cheat, of course.

I might, maybe, but I'm not going to cheat before you could catch me. I try to win. You know, I watch you play all of years. Oh, Roger was for sure with cheating. He for sure was cheating. By any means. Hey, hey, we're trying to win.

So I just knew I was at a point that I had to, one, I had to, I really had to get my team a oomf, a lift. You know, it was much more about my guys than it was the rest and all of that. It was more like, I got your back. We're going to go into this battle back home. This is our series. You know, and thank goodness, man, my guys responded, and we got that thing, you know, tied up at 2-2.

Hey, you just said all like the hood sayings. You said, y'all not going to rook us? You said, I know, I know, I know, I know Papa OG, but I'm here too. And then he was like, that was real. That was right here with it. And then you said, you know, you know, your ego gets involved. And I look down there and I see how they communicate to pop. And then they come over to me and they got this.

You know. No, it was funny. I see him over there and pop. Papa's butt, you know, pat them on the bud, you know, they get a little giggling in, and then I miss that call. And I'm like, you're right, pop, I missed the call, man. My bad, dude.

My bad. Yeah, I'm like, fuck this. Like, I'm about to go off, you know. The Spurs, the Spurs are always on that shit. Bruce Bowen before games, play all fucking games. I walk out, Fizz, and the man would be out there asking reps about their kids and chopping it up. And I'm like, you know,

I already know what this is about to be when I get the first foul. Like, you- That off-law foul you get, that stupid off-pull, quick whistle. And then threatened to kick me out if I say some shit, and he's over there politicking, like, chopping up spurs shit, bro. Yeah, yeah. LeBron, he's about to go into game six. Might not be playing with Anthony Davis.

He said he's talking about, he's talking about, he's preparing as if Anthony Davis isn't going to play game six. You were on the staff on a, you know, a notable game six of LeBron's career. You know, maybe probably his best game that he's ever played or won his signature game. What is it like to coach him in these types of situations? And how was it to coach him during that game six? How locked in was he during that time? First, I want you to ask, like, how was it to coach him during that time like that?

I don't think we coached him game six. We didn't coach that game. That was, you can ask Spode or something. We had nothing to do with that. We lost game five. Paul Pierce hit a shot with a few seconds left, a three. And then Paul Pierce bashing walked off the court calling us all kind of bitches. And y'all done.

You know Pete, P is like, you know how you LA dudes are. You know how you're L.A. dudes are. You know how you're going to rip our hearts out. You know, we're supposed to win. We just came off from losing the Dallas the year before. We're supposed to be this chosen team. You know, Garnett and them were still like,

we're still here. You know, and P. is a killer. We know Paul Pierce is a... Another slow dude that gets to his spots, by the way. Perfect game. Just take this time, get wherever you. So he hit that shot. Get the fuck out of here, you bitch,

you bitch, oh, pooh, pooh, pooh. All right, here we go. From that minute on... At least personally, I didn't see LeBron speak to anyone. And it wasn't a malicious, I ain't fucking with y'all type of night. He was engaged in the, you know, the preps and the post-game analysis and the pregame and all. He was locked in on that. But he just wasn't in conversation with people.

And I just remember he was laying on the floor. He always read a book before the game. And he was laying on the floor on his stomach getting stretched. and he had his book in front of him. And I just kind of caught eyes with him, and he looked up at me, and he just gave me the, that's it. And as I was...

You know that look. We know that look. And as I was happening, I happened to see Dway and Dian, and Dian were close to each other. And I said, hey, how's our guy? And they said, Dway said, just grab a seat, coach. It's about to be a show. And, and I just remember me and Juan sitting next to each other on the bench,

And it was just like he got a tip dunk. He got a tip dunk early in that game. And his whole body was pure. It was in traffic. He came over everybody. He just, and Juan gave me the doom. He said, all right, here we go. And from then on, our whole game plan, Dan Craig,

the assistant coach, now with the Clippers who was with us. He was our video guy at the time. And this goes to show you how great spo is. Dan had the suggestion that broke the series. he said whatever we run no matter what play we call LeBron ends up with the ball either on the elbow or the post

that's where he was at the whole time we run elbow actions we run this catch two to do to do brine and then it was like stand back and watch and he just it was it was I was just lucky to be a fly on the wall that night I was I was not coaching I can't say anybody, no one coached him.

And then even after the game, because we have so much respect for the Celtics, and we understood what we was facing, he still didn't talk to nobody. And that game seven came down to Chris Bosch hitting two threes in the corner, where he hadn't even shot threes all year. He had just started shooting threes. G came off the corner twice,

because most beings aren't used to guard that position. C.G. had two big threes to win game seven. And LeBron stayed in this mold. all the way through. And it wasn't, it wasn't this anger. It wasn't like worry or fear or nothing. It was just.

Was it like a calm? Was it like a calm that he had? Super calm. He just, he was in the moment. He was super present. And, and it showed in the way he played

because he did not make mindless plays. Every play had, had real intention. Washington was an intention to everything. he was doing and it was it was just fun to watch it and I think you know for the most part that's what it's going to take tonight because Phoenix I love Phoenix yeah this ain't like a this ain't like Roger Bell Sins this ain't like Roger Bell Sons this is this is a different

different era this ain't just a young team about to beat up on old team like Chris Paul Jay Crowder they got guys that's been through some stuff so when they like Chris Paul right now is so desperate to have a chance to win the title. You better not let him smell any sense of give up or let down or, and he got a younger version of it next to him in Devin Booker, because Devin Booker thinks he's the best player in the league. And he's making great arguments for it every single night. Right? And he, you see it early in the year how he went after PG.

He was letting PG know, it's a new lion in this Western conference. And you need to understand, I ain't chasing you no more. You ain't going to rook me. Right. Basically. And so I think, you know, tonight is going to take a transcendent type of game for the Lakers if they don't have AD. And even if a hobbled AD gets out there, you can't, this ain't type of game for wounded animals. You can't, you know, this is you running with cheetahs out there.

Them boys, eight, them dudes are serious. And they come in at you. They believe in their coach has given them money. Oh, my goodness. you know, and every aspect of the title coach, he is, he's embodied that this year. And I think the Lakers are in big trouble. Lakers are in big trouble. They are in big trouble.

Hey, look, that energy that was in the Phoenix building, let's not take the building out of the equation. The energy that that team had fueled that building. They were flying around with the level of, you talked about joy with the offensive games and Luca, the defensive joy that they showed the other night. Now, granted, they were up 30, but I was watching it like, damn, that is, they are flying around the court. And I hope somebody was listening to you today. And Braun's probably already got it on lock, so I ride with Braun or somebody needs to

call VoIP. He needs to have his ass on that elbow or on that block. He needs to put the onus on them refs early, right? Don't be fucking around, like, setting the table for people or shooting people. shooting threes, you need to punish and make them blow that damn whistle to get the game under control early and at the level you want to play it.

It has to be a muddy game, right? It has to be a muddy game, one of those. Oh, it has to be. He's got to make this game crawl to a hole because he's at the line all night long and he's making Phoenix take the ball out of the net all night long. Facts.

Right? So the other part of what Raj is saying that I think is important is, they're going to have to have somebody else handle the ball tonight. Because you don't want him exhausting energy bringing the ball up against those pit bulls entering offense.

And now I got to come back and get the ball. You got to let somebody else bring it up and enter it to him. You know what I mean? So now he's playing off of a live dribble. He's got the ball where he can attack. He can see the floor. He's not exhausted because he's going to have to play

big minutes tonight. And this is where I think we're going to watch where is he physically from the injury from being a guy who's played in so many wars for so many years he is I think at some point he's going to be human and showing you know

some huge signs of being a human but this is the type of series that may show that but I think if the Lakers have any chance that's exactly what Roger said one they got a guard they got a they got a their defense has to go to a whole other level and I don't know I don't know how high level it can go to without AD. I worry about that because AD is such a defense of just,

he covers up so many mistakes that other people make. But they have to guard and then, you know, they got to find a way to not to use LeBron's energy wisely. Wow. To be able to be, and it still might not be enough. I'm going to piggyback. Just one more time. Let me just piggyback again, dog, because I'm a nod.

We rarely have dudes that are really talking shot. I want to talk shot. So you talked about AD covering up. See, the Bron, Kobe, like, the energy that they have to put. You talked about energy bringing it up, right? Defensive energy is a mofo, dog. Like, so even LeBron, as those guys get older, they still can provide brilliant offense and brilliant defense in spurts.

But that's where you start to see the drop off, right? And so it makes them equally vulnerable to the night because you ain't got AD, and you can't ask LeBron to go out there and just give it all to you on the defensive end because you're going to need him to carry on the offensive end. I mean, as crazy as this sounds, and I know I sound crazy, and it's so easy for me to say stuff like this

because I don't have to win or lose games. You might have to play LeBron at the five tonight. And you might have to eliminate all of those bigs that they're trying to play. This ain't a game for elephants and mammoths and giraffes. This is a game for Cheetahs, right? This is a floor game. This is not a power game and a size game.

And so they may have in their second unit have to figure out a way to have LeBron play more power positions to get more skill and speed on the floor to play with Phoenix that way. And it might create a tough matchup for whoever has to guard LeBron, right? And so, you know, when they take Aitin off the floor, that might be those minutes where, LeBron, you have at the five. I like it. I like it. You know, but I think they're going to have to get, and this is where this is this, but they're going to have because they don't have AD, you can't play by your normal, and you face

an elimination, you just can't play by your normal playbook. You've got to get out of the box and go after this, you know, and use all your tools. This was great. Let's go to predictions really quickly. Let's go start off right here. Lakers Sons, who's winning? I got, I'm going to just say, I doubted LeBron before. I remember when I did it against Boston in 2018.

I didn't think he was going to win that one. Just for the same reasons we've all laid out here, just everybody around him. And somehow he won that series, large part in the game seven. So I'm going to go with LeBron tonight, man. I'm going to go with the Lakers tonight. I'm going to put you on the spot. No, you know what?

I'm going to go a ride. I'll put you on the spot in the second. Roger, who you got tonight? I've said numerous times I don't bet against LeBron. I've said that. And having said that, however, this is different, bro. That was 12, that was 10 years ago, nine years ago. That was three years ago.

And I'm talking about this is three years ago. Wait, when you said against who? Boston, in the conference finals, 2018, when they ended up playing the Warriors. My bad, my bad, my bad, my bad. Yeah, all right. But anyway, I don't know how healthy is. Real talk. Like, I don't.

Phiz talked about it. I don't know if he's playing at even 85% right now. So I'm going with the sons tonight, dog. I say, home town, like, I'm going with the sons. Coach. I never have. That's your man's coach. That's your man's coach.

Yeah, but I still have to be real about what I'm seeing. And I just think Phoenix Suns right now, one, he's coming off an injury. And his return was literally two games, what was it, two games before his playoff started or whatever. It was for the playing games. Playing games, yep. Well, his conditioning level isn't at where it probably should be. As much as you ride the bike and you do all this stuff while you outrise,

you know that. Playing is playing. And now you're talking about playing in the most intense environment against a bunch of young dudes who are, these dudes don't even get out of shape. You know, the kids on their team, they don't get out of shape yet. They won't get out of shape for another six years. Right.

Because they don't. And so these dudes, they just, they can run all day. And they're going to try to dog him and drain him and wear him down. And I think they got enough of those guys to do that. And then you just look, at the end of the day, you know, AD is AD. And not having AD in this series when you're facing Chris Paul, I just don't. I see Phoenix. I see Phoenix.

I just don't think the season lined up for the Lakers that way. And I can be totally wrong, and he'll call me and cuss me out at the ears of his butt. It can be totally wrong. And, you know, a lot, like you said, a lot of people have bet against them, but I just see a Phoenix team, you know, that really, really, everything's clicking for them right now.

And everything's lining up for them in a certain way, you know, for them to win this. series. Let's go with Blazers, Nuggets. I'm going to go first. We saw what Dame did, you know,

town legend, you know, all of that, all everything that comes with that. We saw what he did last game. I'm going to go with Dame. I'm going to go with Dame back in Portland. Who you got,

who you got, Roger? Yeah, we're talking just tonight, right? Tonight. We're talking just tonight. Yeah, I'm going to take it Portland. I think, I mean,

you ain't going to have, Nurkitch is not going to be a foul trouble again like that, although he has the last two games. Hopefully Dames' teammates can show up, too. You know, hopefully. Yeah, you're going to get, CJ McCullum is a boss. Like, he didn't play great last game, but he don't, I mean, he's cold-blooded, bro.

He will be there tonight. I got them winning. What you got, Coach? I got Portland, too, one, because Dane is Dane. And he's in his building. But I think it's tougher on guys like Morris and Porter Jr. When you go on the road, right? You're a role player and you at home and your best player's,

pumping you full of confidence, that's a little lighter situation. When you're trying to eliminate a desperate team who has star power and pride, we'll see how those guys perform in those games. And that'll be, you know, a lot of that will be showing growth on those young guys. But what I've seen throughout history is usually those games, those guys don't perform at such a high level. And Portland's guys, their role guys will probably perform at a higher level. to help Dame. And, and, you know, again, it's a chess match back and forth.

It's been a great coaching battle. I think this is a seven-game series. It's got seven games written all over it. Yeah, for sure, man. Well, thank you, coach, man. Friend of the show, come back anytime. Wish you had more time with you, bro. Next time, hour and a half of just y'all talking and me just...

Yeah, you get out the way. Me and Fizzle just do what we do. Yeah, I'm just trying to soak in a game when y'all talk. You know, you can always, and then, when you talk basketball with people, I like talking about as well with people like Raj because he

he understands the team aspect of it. He always he constantly yeah he gets he's Roger Bell people know who you are

and that's but you always eliminate you're trying to pull yourself away from and it's saying we and team and when guys that look at the game from that standpoint usually can have much more in-depth

conversations because Because when you're always looking at it from your standpoint, it's shallow conversation, and it gets old fast. I appreciate that, Fis. I appreciate it, man. And you played the game that way, too, Raj. And I'm glad you're coaching and giving it to your kids and other kids. And I think eventually, if you ever felt like it, you can go on and do it on our level, too.

You gas him. No, listen, he had a chance to do it. He was about to go on the Brooklyn staff. And he keeps, every time someone says this, he perks up. He's like, so he's. So he's probably going to leave. I'm saying, listen, you come to town soon.

You got the info. Let's go grab a meal. Yeah, who knows? I appreciate the law. All right. Certain guys that can do it. And certain guys that have the DNA, because it ain't for everybody.

This coach or shit is, who, and test you on the highest level. And it really fucks with you from the, you got to really be able to center yourself because a guy like Roger might sock somebody in the mouth. If a player is, you know, if a player coming at him and he coached it, he ain't listening,

Raj might just, you know, I had to teach Ross to, you know, to sit her, you know. Usai, wise, you got the IQ, you got the pedigree, you've got the unselfish nature that it takes, you got the work ethic. I would not be surprised. But yeah, let's grab something to eat.

That's what's up. You know, it's all love, man. I always appreciate you, coach. We're ticking the time down to Raza that leaves us. Thank you so much, coach, man. come back anytime. Juan Tiscono Anderson up next. Logan Murdoch here, Roger Bell. Roger, the Bay Area propaganda is still here for another week.

We're ready to roll. We got another guest. We got Golden State Warriors swing man. Got Oakland legend. We got Juan. Tisano Anderson in the building. What's up, Juan? How you doing, bro? What's going on, man? I'm doing well. I appreciate you having me, bro.

It's a pleasure. Oh, man. Lacey, this has been at Juan. Full disclosure, this has been a long time coming, man. Like, Logan has been lobbying for you from, like, Logan, first week of the season, maybe? So what's been the hold of? Raymond Ritter has been the hold up, bro.

Yeah, Logan can't say it, but I'm because I know Raymond, right? I work with Raymond. Raymond, tell Raymond get on his shit, bro. He's been holding it up. Hey, double R, great dude, man. It's probably been a queve. I'll give him that. We've been trying to have Juan on for a minute.

And me and Juan have been texting. I've been, you know, putting pressure on Instagram. Like, it's been a long time coming to have him on, to be honest. He's been a show. But yeah, man, what's it like been for you right now? I mean, you guys are out of the postseason right now. But what's this season been like for you going to this point? I mean, man, like, I just tell everybody all the time, like, it was my first season.

So I went in there kind of like with zero expectations, more or less, just really accepting everything that was to come. and being a sponge to everything. And so I think it was a really productive season. Some may say otherwise, you know, because we're not in the offs, but I thought there was some emergence of some guys. You know, the front office and the team as a whole found other guys who could be a part of this, you know, long-term thing.

It's a different team now. You know, I mean, obviously we still got Drake, Clay, Steph, Loon, that core, but, you know, Iggy not here, Dot not here. You know, David West isn't here. Those vets aren't here. So I think it was great for the organization to be able to find some other guys like myself, Jordan Poole, Mike Mulder came alive at the end of the season. And we made it out of this season, nobody was hurt.

I mean, other than James Wiseman, but towards the end of the season, you know, we were playing with eight guys for like the last six, seven weeks of the season. And, I mean, Rogers, you know, you play. played in this league a long time, that's tough to do, you know, night after night after night. And then, you know, so I think that kind of caught up to caught up with us towards the end of the season. But it's unfortunate that we're not in the playoffs. You know, I play this game to win and for championships. And I'm sure a lot of the other guys do too.

But sometimes you got to take the good with the bad and, you know, keep it rolling. Yeah, you got, look, you guys were a fun team to watch. It is hard even when you have a nice deep rotation once you get into that. to the 70s in terms of games play. That's a lot of miles on legs. There's a lot of rest needed that you don't necessarily get in between those games, especially in that playing situation.

I wanna ask you though, Juan, going into camp, going in not really knowing you said with no expectations, how did you approach that? And I too came in like on it, I came in maybe a little different, but I had bounced around, you know, to minors, I was on a 10 day, I was on another 10 day, I had to go to Europe, then I came back.

And I remember being in camp, kind of happy to be in camp. Like, yo, this shit is kind of dope. I'm in camp with, you know, Steve Nash, Dirknow whiskey, and Michael Finley. And then there was a time where I said, I can do this shit. Like, given the opportunity,

I'm not just going to be happy to be here. Like, I'm taking the bull by the horns. Like, when did that happen for you? When did you realize, like, yo, this isn't just going to be me making the team. I'm going to put a stamp on the team. I mean, there's a little bit of both. I knew during camp that, you know,

I could play in this league. I could be on the team. but there was still some things like what the team wanted, what the team needed. I wasn't really sure. Didn't really tell what direction they were going in. And then so they waved me and then they put me on two-way. And then I had a stint in February.

I want to say February 3rd or 2nd, we played the Boston Celtics. And that was my first game, like actually really being incorporated in the actual team. And I played well and I played about 10 games that stint. And after that, I was like, man, I'd be longing to sleep. Like, I could hoop with these dudes. Like, because that was the first time I was really able to just get busy.

And Steve allowed me to get busy. Also, we were down some injuries and stuff. I think Loon was injured at the time. So it was kind of like the team needed me at that point. And there was just a lot more opportunity for me. And so I was able to kind of like find myself at the same time and also find a space on this team in the rotation, see myself being a vital part of this.

team success. And with all those things, I was just like, man, I'm in the best league in the world, but I belong in the best league in the world, you know? So that was very uplifting for me in my spirit. And I just felt like as a season progressed, like I just found more confidence in who I was, not only as a person, but as a player, or not only as a player, but as a person as well. Like, I really started to kind of solidify myself as kind of, I don't want to necessarily say a leader because it's very clear who our leaders are on the team, but I felt, I felt like I was able to be an extension also between the young guys, you know, in the leaders. Like I have a really good relationship with the vets and the older guys, but I'm also always hanging

out with the young guys as well. So I felt like I established myself as being that extension between the two different age gaps. I want to ask another question. Logan, I know this is your guy, but like I'm fascinated just because stories, you know, aren't that unlike each other's. Was there a time in your minor league days, and you talk about getting there and realizing, yo, I can put work in here? Were there times in those younger, you know, Juan Tuscano Anderson days bouncing around that you doubted, you know, whether that shit was ever going to come to fruition for you, or did you always hold firm that this was the path?

For sure. I always, I don't want to say I always doubt it. But, you know, the fact of the matter is, I'm, I'm a realistic person and only three, four hundred some odd players get to play in the NBA. You know, there's a lot of guys around the world who deserve to be in the NBA who just simply are not for whatever reason. And so that was always like something in the back of my mind like, man, you may be good enough to play in the NBA.

You may do everything that you should and everything that you can, but it may not work out that way. So that was one component of it. And then the other component was just, you know, after college, I kind of lost my love for the game and my confidence. And so those four, four years of me playing in the G League and overseas, like, that was time for me to rebuild my confidence and find the love for the game again, you know. But all the while, like, I was still dreaming of the NBA, but it seemed so far-fetched.

You know, I was playing in Mexico, bro. Like, nobody gets, nobody comes from the Mexican League to the league. Like, I'm the first. That's I heard of. You know, all those guys who are from Mexico, I played in the league, went to Europe first. It just seemed very far-fetched. Even when I went to the G-League, there was so many people tell,

there was only one person in my life who told me to go to the G-League that knows anything about basketball. Like, my family is, they're in a different conversation because they don't really know anything about basketball and how it works.

But a lot of people in Mexico were telling me that I was making a mistake. A lot of people were telling me I wasn't good enough. And the only person that told me to go was my girlfriend. So it was just, it was my own doubt,

my own hesitation, but then also hearing everybody else kind of doubt me and be hesitant about the opportunity, kind of like, it threw some shade on my, on my vision. You know, everybody don't have the vision that I have. And so that was hard for me. And I remember I had to make a decision the very next day. I was on the phone and I remember my girlfriend just being like, like, nah, go. Like, there's, if it's about the money, we'll figure the money out later, you know. And so, and I'm just like, man, I ain't got to do it alone, you know? So, worst coming the worst, you know, we'll figure it out together. So that was very uplifting and very, it was good for my confidence. Yeah, that's what's up. Wasn't there a, I feel like we talked about

this earlier. Wasn't there like a system, you talked about money and like going into G League. The money he was making in Mexico was probably like way more than what you're making in the G league. And what? Didn't you have a plan of like, you know, I'm going to give this one year and I'm going to figure this out if I don't do it? Like you saved up enough bread to do just, just to, to support yourself through a year. Can you talk about that part of it and kind of expound on that part of it? How much did you financially bet on yourself during this, that year that you gave yourself? Man, so, I mean, just to put it into perspective,

I used to think making $110,000 a year or a season was a lot of money. And it is a lot of money, you know, it is. But it ain't nothing in comparison to an NBA contract. So obviously, everybody knows the G-League is $35,000 a year before tax. Texas. So when I seen that and I seen the buyout was 50,000, I'm like, ah, all right. Like, you know, this is a tough situation. The buyout is more than I would actually be making. So worst case scenario, like, I'll be taking the L financially. Either way, whether I stay through the whole season or whether a team in Europe comes to buy me out or whatever. And so,

man, that was tough, man. I figured I would only do it for a year, but as a season, and progressed. I really found myself in the rotation. I was starting some games when Marcus Derrickson was on two-way. So he was the one playing in front of me at the four spot. And so he spent a lot of time up top

as well. So whenever he was up top, like I was getting busy. Obviously, when he came down, I had to split minutes with him and he's the developmental guy. So he's going to get the nudge and get the majority of the minutes. But towards the end of the season in playoffs, I was actually starting. And

then I got invited to Summer League. And then during Summer League, I got invited to camp. So throughout, between the end of the G-League season in camp, I had multiple offers from teams in Spain, ACB, which if you're not in the league, ACB is the goal. You know, and so honestly, man, that was hard for me to turn down. I turned down a lot of, I turned about, turned down about three deals from ACB teams. And, you know, I was going to camp. they told me they

it was like you got to come in and earn a spot, beat somebody out and so forth and so once I got to that point I just felt like I was too close to go overseas to go back overseas like I'm pretty much knocking at the door I got one foot in I got into camp

I got waved I'm going back to the G League now a little bit now that I'm going back to Santa Cruz I'm the guy on the team you know I'm the leader I'm all that stuff I'm the captain and so go to state life likes me. I just got to get better at certain things. Like, the opportunity will be there. And so that's

what, that's what made me decide to stay another year. I remember like what, I remember like in as journalists and stuff and you have one foot into like your opportunity and one foot of still kind of being not going to being able to make it. You know, when you get to that want, you see that line right there, but you're not right there just yet. You're talking about that. What is that like for you when you're like, man, I'm putting all my chips into this this goal right now and this shit might not work. And, you know, I think I remember seeing you in training camp. And you were, I feel like you were in that mindset. What is that mindset like to where it's like, yo, I can see this happening, but it is no guarantee that I'm going to make it. And I already, I put bread up for

this. I put my whole like basketball life up for this. And it still might not work, but I'm going to go anyway. How was that, I guess this was 2019? What was that time like for you? It's stressful. But, you know, when you put it in perspective, man, it's a good problem to have. I mean, there are people out there with real problems in life. You know, I get to wake up and play basketball and I get paid for it. And I get the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Like in perspective, man, that's really not a problem. It's just stressful because, you know, you desire something so much.

And there's a possibility of it not happening. So it's kind of more like your feelings being hurt. Like when I got waived that first time, that was the first time in my life that I got cut. And I'm, bro, to be honest, I got. in my car and I almost start crying. Like, that hurt. You know, obviously it hurt to be cut, but to be cut from the NBA team where I felt like, damn, I'm that close to being on an NBA team.

So it was stressful because this is what I want and this is where I wanted to go. And like playing overseas is stressful, bro. People don't really realize how stressful that is. Like, you know, sometimes you may not be getting your money. Sometimes, you know, you may be stuck in a place because of, you know, know, the politics there, like, I got friends who are playing in Israel right now, and they can't come home. You know, I was playing in Venezuela for some time, and they were having political turmoil there. Like, you know, when you go to different countries, you're dealing with all this

stuff. You know, you ain't got your family, whatever, whatever the case may be. You jumping around from country to country. Like, all those things are taxing on the mind and the spirit. And so, like, I just wanted to be here so bad. And those desires was, those were my desires. So like I said, and when you're in the moment, it's really stressful. And it can be defeating sometimes if you don't stand tall through it. But when you put it in perspective, bro, that ain't a real problem to have. People are trying to figure out where their next meal come from. Yeah, listen, I played over at Tausa Ramick in the ACB.

And I got off the plane. I had been in the NBA for a year and a half. And I, you know, I didn't make a team that next year. So it was really startling for me, Logan. I got there, you know, The flight was already something I wasn't accustomed to because I was coming off for charter flights and shit. But when I got there, you know,

there was nobody there waiting with something holding my name. There was nothing. So I grab all my bags. I don't speak Spanish. I'm in this little airport. And I got to just find my way around. So finally I get to the curb and there's a dude. He picks me up.

He don't speak English. I don't speak Spanish. This mofo takes me, drops me off, hands me some car keys, points at the car. Okay, boom. Takes me upstairs to the apartment, hands me another set of keys, points to the door.

points at his watch and says 8 o'clock. And that's it. I was like, what? You know what I mean? So like then it really is stressful, though, because like I'm in a new town. I don't speak anything. I got dropped off.

I got a whip. I got an apartment. And I got 8 o'clock as my directions. And you were left to figure all. There's no infrastructure like on an NBA team where they're helping you get where you need to go and organizing shit for you. That's like grown man shit.

For sure. Juan, I want to ask you because I came up, real talk is it's really irlyly. similar what you're talking about. When I came out of the CBA, there were guys. You talked about the cat that was playing in front of you, you know, and then you split the minutes when he came back, and I'm sure you were playing against friends. Did you find, I want you to be, I want you to keep it a buck, because a lot of my good friends were always cool with the call up that I got. But there were some dudes that I lost, like as people that I thought were my friends because

we're all vying for the same thing. And they couldn't find joy in the fact that like I got the call. Can you dig it? And I would admit that there's luck involved in that, right? But did you find that at all? Did you find like there was anybody looking at you kind of side-eyed because you got that call? You ain't got to say names? You ain't got to say no names? I won't. I won't. From the first year in the G-League,

my first year, when I'm playing in G-League, I think, man, that was like a perfect basketball situation. Like, I liked all of my teammates, my coaches, et cetera, et cetera. That was perfect. And then the second year, when I went to camp and then I came back down, we had a whole totally different team. I think I was one of two returners. And I think every single player except for maybe one or two had NBA experience.

And so, yeah, I could feel the tension. You can see it. You can feel it. But I also think it just was because a lot of those guys came and felt like they were the guy. And rightfully so, they were very talented players, you know, had a lot of experience. but I felt like I was the guy. Like I just came down from camp. I knew, I didn't know, but without it being said or confirmed by anyone,

I knew that I was the next guy in line to get a call up or get an opportunity. And so I fit everything G.A. going to stay once, you know. And so I could feel the tension for sure, man. After I left the team or then COVID ended up happening. So there wasn't much time for any development of any. conversation or any back and forth, they just kind of split after COVID. But when I was there,

yeah, I felt the tension for sure. What's it like playing at the crib? Because I know, on a very smaller level, like I know how, you know, covering the team and being on television back home, it's a different feeling when you, when you do that.

But as an NBA player, playing at home, like right there, and we all know your story. What's that like? It's a lot of fun, man. I enjoy it. I spent time playing out of the country,

and my family couldn't really come see me play too often and all of that. So it's cool to see them in the stands. It's cool to, you know, where the Oakland jersey and represent the city that I'm from. All that stuff is fun, man. I get to hang out and chill and have money where I'm at, where I live at. You know, like before I was, like,

making money in Mexico and Spain and Venezuela. and it's just you don't get to enjoy your money too much like while you're playing you you get what I'm saying Rajah like it just ain't the same like here I can go out to eat with my family my friends I can go shopping with them we can go down to the beach on my off days we can go hang out and you know it's just I feel like I'm not working you know what I'm saying like it ain't work for me because basketball is basketball for me that is never going to be work but then the fact that, like, I'm able to do everything that I've always been able to do my whole life, like hang out with my family, go back to the east, go get tacos at the taco truck,

you know, like, you don't get that everywhere. And so it just feels like, it feels like destiny, bro. It feels like this was all just pre-written for me. What's the best taco truck in the town? I'm putting you on the spot, man. Best taco truck? I don't, where I get my tacos, though, it ain't a truck. Oh, it's not? Where do you go? I get my tacos from La Costa. They got real good seafood there, so I go there.

But I go somewhere different for everything, somewhere different for burritos, somewhere different for steak fries, cevice, tacos. So it just depends, man. Okay, for sure. I used to go to 22nd a lot, though, when it was in high school and back in the day, but they ain't really getting it like that. almost they ain't they ain't hitting like they got they got a little Hollywood now they got a yeah I know I'm gonna offend some people and a lot of people but hey man coming from a true

Mexican like it's better tacos out there shout out to send a load truck wait you sound it's interesting because I never got to play at the crib it's one of the you know it's it's something that I wish I would have been able to do um some people say there's some pressure associated with with playing at the crib like you you sound like you've not experienced experience that and it's it's all love and whatnot. Any pressure at all, though? I mean, are you saying that the good outweighs the bad? Or are you saying that there are no negatives associated with playing at the crib just in terms of pressure?

And maybe, yo, hey, you got people you got to take care of. I got, you know, I'd have to have 100 tickets a game. Nothing like that going on? I wouldn't say no pressure, but I'm a, I don't know, like when you said it's all love, it's definitely not all love. Like, luck, I mean,

luckily it happened the way it did. Like, I got waived twice before I was even on the team. You know, so, like, the first time I got waves in 2019,

right, like, nobody hit my phone for like a month. Nobody. Nobody hit my phone. I was in the G League. I, that hurt,

bro, but you know what? I was like, okay, whatever, cool. And then when I got into a training camp, this passion,

year like preseason, I stunk it up. I didn't, I didn't stink it up, but I didn't help myself. I didn't hurt myself, but I didn't help myself. And so, man, on Twitter, there were, everybody was saying that I was, I was an NBA player. Everybody was literally everybody, bro, everybody. Then I got waved and a lot of people went missing again and went ghosts. I knew that they were going to put me on two-way when they waived me. They told me that, but however the NBA rules work and I got to go through waivers and clearance and all that. It was about a two or three day stretch between when they announced that they were going to put me on two way. So for those two, three days, like, I was just seeing a lot of shit on Twitter, Instagram,

like a lot of people who was hitting me every day during preseason just went ghost. And so the first time I was like cold-hearted about it. Like I was just like, man, fuck y'all. Like, you know, y'all fake. And then the second time I got waived, it was like, this is what I expected, you know, I already been through this. And so I was able to just keep my core group around me. I was able to just see who my real friends and who really rocking, you know, right or wrong, or whether we got a flat tire or who going to get out and push the car with me. You know, I got to see who was really there for me. And so I don't, I don't hold that against anybody. Like, I'm too mature to be like, you know, like, ah, like you, fuck you. You fake. Like,

nah, it's cool. I just see you for who you are. And I know how to deal with you, you know, when we having communication and so forth, and I'll also keep you at a distance. So it is what it is. You said you stunk it up in preseason. I mean, look, I was cut two, three times myself. So I know what being in a preseason is like and knowing that you're not doing it, right?

Like, you feel that as a player, dog. Like, we played enough. Like, you know, you're like, damn, bro, that shit wasn't a good night. When you talk to your people, you're like, I didn't, what was it that you were struggling with? What part of the game was it that you just weren't? See, because I always say the three times I was cut,

although at the time I didn't know it, looking back after playing as long as I did one, I know why I didn't make it. Like there were things that I was, I didn't know how to play pick and roll basketball yet. I didn't understand floor spacing. There were things that I didn't grasp. What was it for you that wasn't allowing you to get over to hump?

I don't think it was anything particularly, particularly that I was doing. I just knew what my role was and I always knew who I was as a player and where my fit was on this team. Unfortunately, during preseason, I wasn't able to get any minutes with Steph. You know, he was in the first unit.

I was in the second unit or whatever. And so that's where my value is. Like, I know how to play with those type of guys, you know, get my scores open. Like, I understand the game at a high level. And so on this team, there's only two, three guys who could get out of the game. there and do what they want, you know what I'm saying?

And so I just wasn't able to be aggressive enough, aggressive enough because with the second unit, it was just a bunch of guys who were new trying to figure it out. There really wasn't any cohesiveness. And that's not any shade to anybody in particular. There's just a bunch of new guys trying to figure it out. And also, shit, we try to make this team too and get it done. And so, and I'm like the whole time, even throughout the year, everybody's texting my phone after every game and Twitter and Instagram.

I'm like, you need to be more aggressive. You need to shoot more. You need to do this. Maybe. Maybe. But also at the same time, what I need to do is establish myself on this motherfucking team so I can get paid. And I did exactly what I needed to do.

Now, you know, I'm on a guaranteed contract. So y'all can sit your ass back at home and just watch the games like everybody else. You know, so like I said, man, I didn't really help. Yeah. I didn't go out there and kill. So I didn't help myself. But I didn't go out there and look bad either. so I didn't hurt myself.

But I knew that there was only one spot that they had available to keep somebody in. The very last preseason game, shout out to Mike Moter, man. I'm happy for him. Even though we were competing for the same spot, I'm happy for him. The last game, Mike Motor came into the game. I think we were playing Denver. We were down by like seven. And he hit three threes to win us the game.

And so once he did that, I already knew the deal. I already, like, yeah, they're going to keep him. He just showed out. He got an opportunity to show out. and he did. And so I was like, damn, it was never on like, damn, Mike and not me. It was just like, damn, Juan, you kind of just let the opportunity go. And so with all that being said, when they waved me and they put me on two way, I'm like, okay, at least I got another opportunity, you know, to showcase myself and get busy. You know, it's not ideal. It's not on a contract, but fuck the money.

I'm still in the NBA. You know, I'm still going to be working out every day. I'm still be doing, and getting all the resources that I need as everybody else. And so it's just my pay ain't going to be the same. But, hey, man, you didn't earn that pay. And that's how I looked at it. You know, I didn't earn that pay during preseason. I earned that pay during the season. Now I'm going to get paid next year.

Hey, that's a mature approach. Last thing, Logan, I'm going to let you ask you ask questions. That's some funny shit, what he said, right? Because I got those calls. Like, damn, dog, like, you ain't shooting the ball. What you just running around? I said, listen. From motherfuckers, that's not in the league.

Larry Brown told me to go out there and fucking guard somebody, bro. That's what I'm going to do. do. And I'm going to do it until he tells me to shoot a ball and then I'm going to shoot the ball, dog. So let me live. Exactly. Exactly. And that's the thing like, bro, like at the end of the day, I'm making, if that's what my role is, I'm making millions of dollars to just do that. And you're making whatever you're making to sit here and criticize me. Like, and I like using the money disparity because that sounds arrogant. But man, like, just sit your ass down and watch the game like a spectator. I can dig it, bro. I can dig it. Wait. I want to get to. I want to get

of Warriors questions, but it's pertinent and it's very current. Do some fans have the game fucked up? Because we've seen this a lot in the last week or so with the Russ and with Kyrie and with fans feeling entitled to not only an opinion, but to do

shit two players. Do you see that? And how do you maneuver through that world? Well, let's, this part, there's parts of this. So the first part, like the shit that the fans are doing now, like that shit's out of line, bro.

Like, some people just don't have no home training. And that shit is just not okay. You know, like, it's no excuse. Oh, I was locked up in the house because of COVID. Like, come on, bro. Like, and I don't like to use the race car, but anytime black people do something, we don't got no good enough reasoning for why we did it. Like, shit, I had to go rob somebody.

I grew up poor, though. They're not going to give me any pass for that. You know what I'm saying? So fuck all the passes that people trying to come out with. like y'all got to learn how to be fans come enjoy the game man we're putting on a show for you guys you know that's the first thing secondly fans do got it fucked up bro like just it don't bother me that people feel like they're entitled to opinion that's cool be entitled to your opinion what bothers me is the fact that you think you can say whatever you want to say to people without

there being a consequence like i mean i'm i'm past the point in my life where i need to fight people or defend myself or stand up for myself or really correct people when they come at me crazy. Like, in my mind, I'm making close to $2 million. I don't get to fuck what you got to say, you know? So that's how I feel now.

But, you know, prior is just like, why do people, these people, you can tell who has been punched in their mouth before and who hasn't. Like, I grew up with an older brother, so anytime I stepped out of line, my brother was punching me and my shit, you know what I'm saying?

Anything I said anything crazy, you know, I got into plenty fights on the street. you can't just go out in the world and say whatever you want to people without feeling like there's some repercussions to it. And so that's my thing, bro. Like, you know, two, three years ago, I'll probably get, even in the beginning of the season, like I'll rebuttal with a smart-ass remark. But two, three years ago, I would have been going off on fans. But I know that I have a platform now that shit's going to get screenshots it and put here and put it here. And I don't have no time to be not necessarily dealing with it in my life, but I don't have no time.

for that shit to be following me to my work because at the end of the day my paycheck is way more important than a fan's opinion like especially somebody who never even had any experience at the highest level like bro you don't know what the fuck you're talking about um that bro he put that shit that was an eloquent response this is simple this is simple math bro that people have not had repercussions for shit yet no one's been hit in their mouth no one's been in a fight and so you feel like you could do what you want now i will say this though one because i'm with you though there's no excuse for none of that shit. This is crazy. But if you played in Mexico, like, I played in Kuyakon. Like, I've been down in them gyms. I was down in Maracaibo, like, with the Virgin

Islands national team in some of those venues. You've probably seen some wild shit from fan interaction. Like, the shit in the NBA is as, as egregious as it is, and it's never excused. Like, how crazy could it get over there? Oh, man, like, bro, I myself have had many situations. Like I ought to have people like attack our bus, throwing stuff at our bus. I had to get us military escort out of a state.

And like, these is all because of me. Like, I mean, because, bro, it's a gift and a curse, but like, I don't deflect at all. I don't go out and start shit by no means. Anybody who knows me would tell you I don't start anything because I'm a cool dude, but I also ain't, I don't deflect either. I go from zero to a hundred

quick. So when people start talking shit and get me on that that page, then, you know, all bets is off. Like, let's do it. And so I would get into conversations with players. I remember one time I was getting and talking shit to a fan, but it happened to be the owner of the team. So, you know, he's very well. And this is, mind you, let me put this in perspective to you. This is in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Laredo, Mexico. If y'all know about Laredo Mexico, it's off the chain. Like people, cartels out there, you know, it's off the chain. And so that was the game where the military had to escort us to the state lines for us to go home.

Sakatecas, it's a city in Mexico called Sakatecas. Man, some fans was trying to rush the floor on us. It gets crazy out there, bro. It's cool, though. It's fun. Wow. Because these hands work, bro. That's right.

What's it like playing with Steph? I know you get that question all the time, but what is it like when you said, talked about when you were playing with the second universe as the first unit and you wanted to show how you played alongside him. What is it like playing with him? Does he make the game easier? Does he like, is it just, are you in all all the time?

What is that like? The game is so much easier with him. Not only because of who he is out of the player and what he does with the ball in his hands, but the gravity he takes with him, like his gravitational pull with the defense, bro, two people are jumping out of him every single time. And so like when I'm running down the floor and Dre's running on one side,

I'm running down the middle, steps on the other side. I know what I need to do. Go set a screen for Steph. Either he's going to come off and get a shot because I'm going to set a good screen. He's going to come off and get a shot. And if he doesn't, the reason why he didn't is because that big stepped up. And if that big stepped up, well, Dre going to hit me on the slip, step going hit me on a slip.

and if defense pulls over, then that corner man's open. Like, you just got to really understand the game and understand Reeves, bro. And he makes the game so easy for me. And, like, I'm past the point in my life where, like, or I shouldn't say I'm past the point in my life. But, like, of course, everybody wants to be a star and score 30 points. And, you know, but, like, bro, at this point, like, I'm about my money. You know what I'm saying?

Like, I'm going to be doing what I love, whether it's in the NBA or in Mexico. or in Venezuela. Obviously, it's all better in the NBA, but I'm about my check. And so what's going to get me to check to play my role, to do what's right on this team? And what's right is to get step a shot whenever we can. And so, and it's fun, bro.

He's a great leader. Like, he's always positive. He don't get mad at you. Like, he might, you know, correct you on some things. But it's never like, man, I, I, I, Kobe's my favorite player and made his soul rest in peace, you know. But, you know, I used to watch. watch Kobe sometimes get at his teammates crazy.

And I just be like, damn, I wonder if Kobe ever yelled at me, how would I take that? Like, this is one of the goats, you know? And so when you deal with young guys who are new to the league, young guys who are 19, 20, like, it has to be a method to your madness. And so I think, like, Steph's method is perfect. Like, he's just so balanced, bro, that you never feel like, damn, I fucked up. Like, damn, is Steph going to be mad at me? Because, like, if we keep in a real, bro, every player on every team,

at their superstar and be like, damn, like, did I fuck up? Like, you can see Vets doing it. Like, I watched Robert Covington do it last night when he missed the dunk. And that was a huge play. It was a two-point game or whatever the case may be. Dame had came off the ball, which at that point, you kind of lucky Dame coming off the ball because he didn't just hit three threes in a row. And so my whole point being is like, I've seen Robert Covington just be like,

damn, I fucked up, you know? And so when your superstar is just easy going, he's going to pick you up. up like it's easy man it's easy mentally it's the game's easy physically and like it makes you want to get on board with that guy and I told step at the beginning of the season I said bro like I got you whatever you need I run through a wall for you and I told him that at the end of the season you know we played Memphis the first time Dylan Dylan Brooks was being super physical with him and I walked up and I'll find a clip and I'm gonna send it to you bro I walk if they got it I walked up and I walked between him.

I stood him in his face. I said, hey, you're going to have to back up off my nigger like that, bro. Like, you know, for real. Like, it ain't good like that. When I come in the game, bro, like, I'm not a tough guy. I ain't anything like that. Like, but at the same time, I got my teammates back. And I'm not going to just let you keep being hell of physical with him.

So then I start being physical with Dylan Brooks. And like, all that stuff stays on the floor. It ain't like, bro. I'm a whoop your ass after the game or nothing like that. But it's just like, I got a lot of love for Steph, bro. Like, that's the guy that I'll, I text and he texts me back. And I'm 28 years old, bro.

I'm not starstruck by him, but it's just like, damn, this dude who just at the top, top, top, like he still makes time to respond to me. It's a thorough response. You know, I feel like I'm his teammate. I feel like I'm his friend as opposed to like, oh, I'm just on a team with Steph Curry.

You know what I'm saying? Wow. I don't really have a question. So let me, I just want to make a few points because I like listening, like it's really interesting. Number one, when you talked about being about your check, I always said this, one.

You do, hey, when you get in, because it's hard to get in. You know how hard it is to get in. I know how hard it is. When you get in that motherfucker, you do what you got to do to stay around that shit. You do what you got to do to get checks. Until someone comes to you, you know, while you're doing what you're doing, you get your opportunities. You know, you spread your wings a little bit. And then when the time comes and they're like, all right, now it's your turn to eat.

Like, we're going to give you the ball. And that's when you start doing that. But way too many cats get in there and put the cart before the horse. and think they're supposed to be in there eating before Steph, and now your ass got to go. Exactly. I think you're approaching that shit really well, if I may say so. Number two, the best players, and I played with some great ones,

but I felt like the best leaders were the ones that when something went wrong, they could tell Juan or Roger, hey, that's my fault, even if it was our fault, right? Because they know that we're looking at them like, damn, dog, that I fucked that up, and they know their shoulders are bigger than ours. So they can take that from the fans, from the coaches, and they're protecting you in a sense, right? They're saying, look, dog, let that shit fall on me. And that's what always made cats like Steve

or when I play with Chuck, Alan Iverson, or even Dirk and Mike Finley. I got you, dog. Like, the day I closed line, Kobe, what people missing that is about four minutes before that shit, he ran up on Steve. Like, ran up on him and hemmed him up with an elbow. And I had to go over there and be like, dog, no, what the fuck are you doing, man? You got this fucked up. Like that's not happening.

But you want to do that for them because of the way they hold you down. You know what I'm saying? Exactly. It's cool to hear you talk about that. Exactly. Like you said, the way they hold you down, like, man, like those guys, they got my back, man. I know that they got my back. Like, I don't know what goes on behind closed doors or, you know, in the medians with

the front office and stuff. But I know they fuck with me. You know, I know that they won't. And, you know, even an extension and like, Dre, like, man, same. thing. I run through a wall for him. I remember, you know, I don't know how much I'm allowed to talk about this, but I remember in the game, there was a referee. I was talking, uh, Nicola Yolkich. This, I'm going to give you the conversation. I checked him coming through the paint and he was crying to the ref and I'm like, dang, bro, you're the biggest dude. This is how the conversation

going. I'm like, dang, bro, you're the biggest dude on the court. Like, why are you crying? And the ref comes to me, walks by and says, be quiet or else. And I said, I said, what you mean? be quiet or else. Like, I can't talk as a competitive again. He said, no, shut up. Where else? You know what I did? I told Dre. I said, hey, Dre, why this ref talking me like that? Dre let his ass have it. Have it. Have it. And those type of things is like, because me, I'm on two-way. One, I can't, I can't say anything. You know, I don't have no leverage. I don't have no stripes. And I get that. But at the same time, this rep is just kind of like sunning me and that's not okay, you know? And so I told Dre and Dre and Dre let his ass have it. So those type

the things, bro. Like, you got bets who gonna rock for you, bro. I'll get down for them, whatever they need. If it come to throwing blows in the game, like, what's up? Just pay my fine, bro. Listen, Mark Cuban told me in what was that, 0-3, it was the year I came back.

I started half the games for them because some games I wouldn't even play. And then some games they start me and let me do my thing. But it was understood. Like, if somebody runs up, you got it. And we got the fine. And that was all I needed to Because I was like, to your point, but don't fuck with Steve or fucking Dirk or Mike. Because that you got, I'm coming.

Now, you might woo me, but you got to see somebody because we're not just going, we ain't going to do that. Right, right. You ain't just going to come around here punking nobody. Right. That's what's up. What's the craziest move you've ever seen Steph do that we've never seen behind closed doors? Oh, nah, you can't ask that question, bro.

Y'all don't see everything. That dude, bro. No, he's out there. We didn't because I remember. I hit you before the season and you told me a story of some shit that I'd never seen before.

Okay. Then that's the one then. All right. Tell us that one. That was tough. The one where he caught the ball, he was on, I can't remember who he played.

It was recently, like within the last four games to the end of the season. He caught the ball. He pumped fake. He fell on the ground, I think, and there was two people next to him.

I don't know. I can't remember. But an open gym, he fell on the ground. He's still dribbling. He gets up off one leg and leans back. and shoots it.

And this is from like 35 feet. And when I seen that, I'm just like, bro, like you really can't be nothing with him. I was not. Okay. And the last time, hey, the last time I matched it with Steph,

I dunked on Steph. Mm. I dumped on Steph. Mm. I dunked on Steph. Nah, but step, bro, he's hard to guard,

bro. Like, I honestly think he's... What does that do to your pride, though? Because you're somebody that's in the league. and you pride yourself on defense, but it's still Steph Curry.

What does that do to your pride when you guard him and he gets you one time? Like something ridiculous in a way because you're used to being one of the best dudes that you've, if you play somebody, you're going to guard them really well. But if you play Steve Curry,

that probably fucks up your pride. How does that, what does that do? It's just, you got to realize what the NBA is and this is what I learn, bro. You just got to make the shot tough. You know, you're not going to stop a lot of these guys. A lot of these guys, A lot of these guys, they're the best at what they do.

And he is the best ever at what he does, shooting the ball. So I just, I'd start taking my personal feelings out of it. Like, damn, bro, I'm not a good defender no more. I can't stop him. But it's just like, I'm just making it tough for him. And he makes shots. Hey, what can I do? He probably going to make that shot out on anybody at that point.

You know how they say shooters have to have short memories? Yes. Defenders have to have shorter fucking memories because that is, that's coming at you. Who, I mean, you haven't probably seen Clay a hell of a lot recently, but were either Dremont or Steph better than you thought they were, like in person, live seeing them every day? Was it, was it about what you expected? I remember seeing Kyrie for the first time when I worked in the Kaz's office, like, you know, I thought he was good, but the shit he doesn't practice. I was like, wow, I just had no idea. Yeah, man.

I played against Kyrie, too. He's amazing with the basketball. No, that shit's crazy. Steph, obviously, like, we, I've been seeing this for years and years, but just to be able to see it every single day, every game, every day in practice, like, that's impressive. Like, I got a lot of respect for guys who do this for 82 games, 72 games. It's a long season.

It's hard to wake up and be competitive and have that much, that high of a usage rate, and be healthy and come and compete every day. And I salute Steph, but Draymond really impressed me. Like, I always respected his game and what he was about and what he brings to the game. You know, you see it statistically. You see it when the ball's in his hands on TV. But when you're sitting there right on the sideline, you're able to understand his presence. When you're on his team, you're able to understand his presence and the effect he has on his teammates, but also on the other team defensively.

You know, like you don't see in the stat sheet or when you watch in the game, you more often than nine times, nine point nine times out of ten people are watching the ball. They're not watching help defense. They're not watching the guy who's in the gaps. They're not watching the guy who's blowing up everything else. And that's what he does. Like his presence is like, I always used to tell people like, before I got to the league, I thought LeBron was the best player in the league.

I think Steph Curry is the best player in the league now. But I would always say like LeBron's presence. is just different. You know, when he has the ball, he's reading the game, he's breaking down teams, defense with his IQ, so forth, et cetera. Like, Draymond's the opposite on defense. Like, he's just a juggernaut defensively, bro, out there. And all that shit don't show up in a stat sheet.

Now, obviously, I'm only 28 years old, and I ain't been playing around the game as long as you, Roger, but, you know, I ain't going to disagree with what Draymond said when he said he's the best defender ever. Like, I definitely think he's the best defender in today's league. I played against Rudy Gobert. Rudy Gobert is blocking a lot of shots, but he ain't blowing up ball screens like Draymond is.

He ain't picking guys up, you know, on three-point line. He ain't, he ain't just blowing up teams' offense like Draymond is. So, you know, I think he's the best defender in the league today. And he definitely impressed me, and he's much better than I thought he was. What is, you know, I know that you, they put you on the guys, they put you on typically the best perimeter player on the opposite. the team usually. You know, when it's Kevin, who I know, Kevin Durant, who I know has a lot of love for you,

or LeBron or Devin Booker at times, who are the, if you had to give the top five matchups that you have to face defensively, what are they? Bradley Bills in there. I didn't get to play against him this year because I had had a concussion the game prior, so I didn't. But last year, he kicked my eyes. He's a really good player. very athletic, quick with the ball,

more athletic than I thought he was. Dejante Murray's good. I like him. He's very quick, gets to his spots. This is no order, by the way. Jai's tough to guard. Very quick. They got you out there on job?

They got you out their own job. They had him on job. Yes, sir. He gained me this year, man. But that's something I'm going to take to the heart and I'm going back next year. I saw y'all was talking after that game, though. I saw y'all were talking after the Memphis game.

You and John. Yeah. He's a good dude, man. I like him. He's a good dude. You got two more. Boosevich is in there. I just don't want to put KD and Karee in there because I feel like those are givens. You know, like those are just givens, bro.

Like KD wasn't hella tough to guard because he not giving you the boot, boop, boop, boop. He's just giving you his crossover and he getting to his spot. Easy buckets. You know what I'm saying? Like he's seven foot. And I'm there. And I was just like, what can I? What I realized about those stars and watching him up close is like,

especially like Kevin, where you kind of know his package because, I mean, obviously, we know his, we've seen him basically for most of his career, whether it was, he was playing when we was in high school. We know what it is. Right. But you see it up close and you still can't stop it. You know the move that's going to come and it doesn't matter. That's the, I imagine is the most frustrating part, right?

Like I said, man, these guys are the best at what they do. Like I watched Steph practice the same. move 50 times straight in one day. And so he's doing this every single day, perfecting this. And so that's what I realized and I stopped being so hard on myself as a defender, like you just got to make it tough for these guys. Zach Levine is good. He's really athletic and shifty with the ball.

He can shoot it. Jason Tatum. I mean, these are guys you guys know, man. They're really. Zion's in there. is a tough matchup, bro. He's number one for me. He is a tough matchup.

That kid is going to be a mom. Bro. A, scowal report, force him right. He's still going to get to his left hand. It don't matter, bro. He's going to his spot and he's going to find a way to get there.

Is that one of them dudes that hurts when you guard him? Like, it's like, damn, bro. Like, you sore after the game when you guard him? Yeah, it's not even one of those dudes where it's like, oh, shit, he might embarrass me. It's not even that, bro. Like, he's going to wear you down. physically, and we played them on a back-to-back.

Yeah. Yeah, we played them on a back-to-back. That was tough. That's Genobley. Genobley was like Zion and Mello was like Zion. Mello was like Mello in that. When I played Mello, Mello, he didn't mess around in the, like, anywhere out on the perimeter. That shit was coming through your chest, like, every play.

He was putting, he was putting you under the rim and then offensive rebounding and putting it back up. So your chest was like your sternum was bruised. And then Genobaly was left, and you knew he was. is going left and you're forcing him right. And it was like the more you forced him right, the more it opened up his snake back to the left. Right. So like you were like, I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't.

I want to apologize, Logan. You did this a couple weeks ago, right? You apologized to Chris Middleton. Oh, okay. Yeah. Do you remember? I'm going to apologize to Juan personally right now. You talked about your concussion, right?

Yes. You had flipped over a stanchet. I'm a big enough man to do this shit. You had flipped over the stanchet. I did not know the severity. of the injury, dog. I didn't know you had all them stitches. I didn't know you were concussed.

I had ranted on today's players, take it too much time to get up off the floor. You happened to get injured that night. So your name was in the mix. I now apologize, having known the severity of the injury and getting to know you because you're not built like that, dog. I'm going to keep it a buck.

I don't even know you, but listening to you talk. I owe you an apology, dog. So I'm going to do it right now. Apologies to you. It's all good, man. I appreciate that. Yeah, like, once,

I got up. What the fuck were you thinking? No, no. Start before you. I know you want to say that. What were you thinking, bro? Like, I hate you afterwards. I'm like, what the, what, why?

What are you doing? You jumped over like two roles. That's it. That point he's trying to eat. He already told you, man. That's all I know, bro. He's trying to stay. Yeah, play the game, try to win.

And exactly, I'm trying to stay. So what happened? Tell me to play on that, on that play. What happened on that play? Man, so I remember going after, I was like for the first three days, two days, I didn't remember anything. but like it all started coming back to me. So, uh, obviously I went for the ball and I tried like as I hit it.

If you watch the video, I tried to grab and brace myself and I, my fingers came off and like, it started, it just happened in slow motion. I'm like, damn, brough, fuck. And I started to fall back and I seen the lights and I just hit my head on a metal, the metal thing. Boom. And it's like in a movie when you or on the game, if you play Call of Duty, you know, when they throw a stung grenade, just like, you know, you get that like ringing sound.

And that's what I got. I got a ringing sound. And the lady that was, she should have caught my ass. I don't know why she didn't. But the lady that was sitting there, she looked at me and I looked at her. And as soon as she looked at me,

I just passed out. And then when I opened my eyes, everybody was standing on top of me. And I remember somebody saying, don't touch your head. Obviously, you say that. I'm going to touch my head. So I do this.

And mind you, the stitches. Let me see. The stitches are like from here all the way back to somewhere like back here. It's pretty big. And so like right now I got like this whole like just extra layer of skin on my head. But they were like, don't touch your head. And I went like this and there was a groove. Like I could put my fingers in the scar.

Yeah. That's why like I did that interview and I talked about it, bro. Like the more I just like thought about it and the more. like I start looking at things around me. I'm like, bro, the way I hit my head, like, not to be dramatic, bro, but if we're keeping it at 1,000 right now, I could have died.

You know, like, that shit was bad. I hit my head on a metal step coming down, full impact, full speed. Like, that shit cracked my skull open damn near. And so... That's my bad. Yeah, dude. Yeah, Roger.

I'm just... Also, he walked off like a Gito. Like, even after... He did. But he walked out. Yeah, he walked off with the ice like a G. Lightweight, lightweight. That's why I, like, because it didn't look like that.

When you left, you got up and fucking left. I was like, what my bad. And that's what I said in the first time I was able to talk about. I'm like, people don't think it stops that bad because I got up and I walked off. But that's just me, bro. Like, as soon as I woke up, I tried to bounce up. And they was like, no, chill, chill, chill, but like in my mind, like, shit, I'm up. I'm ready to hoop.

Like, let's go. We got a game to play. We in a TD garden. Like, my. first time, bro, that was, that game was so lit, bro. That was like a playoff game. I was having so much fun, bro. And so, yeah, people didn't think it was that serious because I just got up, but that shit

was bad, bro. Oh, shit. Yeah, we're glad you all right, bro. Straight up. Appreciate it. Oh, fuck, man. That's, yeah. You over here talk about playing.

I'm like, yeah, after hearing that, you bet need to sit your ass down for a couple games, bro. Right. To calm down. What are, what was it like in the playing game again? against LeBron, right? Because we grew up in the same, around the same time, and we both know what LeBron means and, like, how it is, he was one of, you know, Kobe was your favorite player. LeBron was the other people's favorite player, right? And we know what kind of aura is around

him. What was it like playing in that moment and that type of game? You're talking shit to LeBron. You over, we over here back in the crib. I'm like, oh, one of ours is talking shit to LeBron? That's crazy. What was that like being on the floor like that, man? And it's not even having any fear and, you know, playing in that way against somebody that we kind of grew up idolized. It was a really dope experience. It was kind of like, I was kind of having outer body experiences at the same time because this is something I've always dreamed of, you know, playing at this level. Like, we're playing to get into the playoffs.

Steph Curry versus LeBron, like, I mean, within the last six, seven years, like, I've been watching that matchup, like, oh, Steph Curry and the Warriors versus LeBron and the Cavs in the finals step kerry lebron here blah blah christmas day and so to get into the playoffs at staples center that shit was crazy bro like in and that game i went into that game like i belong here i'm here because i had i was i was starting to gain my own confidence naturally but then like after we played uh the sons a few days before that you know chris paul came up to me and he was just like man like I respect you. Like, I respect dogs.

Like, I respect your story. How you got in this league. You know, I got words from KD. Like a lot of guys from around the league, James Johnson. So I came to that game. Like, my fuck I'm here. I belong here. And I'm here to play.

Like, I'm on this team. I'm one of the guys on the scouting report that y'all like, okay, you know, like it's some guy, let's keep it a buck. It's some guys on teams that ain't even on the scouting report, let alone even talked about on a scouting report. You know, when I was just talking shit to him, that was just like, Like when I was saying, what you say? What's you saying?

I said. And I'm bad because I let him score. I should have fouled him instead of letting him score, but it's LeBron James, one of the best players in the world. But I'm like, I'm like, yeah, I'm here. Like, what's up? Like, you got to score on me. You got to show me. He showed me, but, you know, that just felt fun to be able to talk shit to LeBron.

And, you know, after he scored on the way back down, like, he like, man, that was great defense. But, you know, I'm the best player in the world. and so but just being able to have that conversation on the floor with a guy like that like that ain't just that ain't just the guy that we just going to talk about for five or 10 years or even 15 years from now like people are going to talk about lebron james like they talk about dr jay mike you know kareem magic for 30 40 50 60 years like so that was fun you know drake and michael b jordan sitting courtside it's just the whole atmosphere is just dope i remember um i I remember the first time you played against LeBron.

It was a preseason game when he did that wild-ass bullshit incredible pass. That was crazy, but it was all you. But I remember that game, and I remember watching until the end, and it seemed like you made a point to say something to him. Because it was a time in your career where you didn't know if, no one knew if you were going to get back to that point to see LeBron or see playing that moment. It was 2019. What was that like when he, did you do that?

because it seemed like you made a point to go say, yo, I need to like shake this dude's hand or I need to at least show something. Like, was that what happened? And then tell me the full circle moment of like, nah, fuck that. I'm guarding him and now I'm playing against him. And now it's for all the marbles.

What was that first moment like for you when you played against him? Yeah. I mean, for me, you're coming to this league, man. Like, obviously you guys know, some people, there's like a fine line of being like a competitor and being like a fan boy, you know? But me, like, bro, like, I respect it. game, all aspects of the game, like whether it's, you feel me rapping, whether it's the streets,

or it's, it's who, or it's a corporate job. Like, there's levels and, you know, bro, he, he is who he is. Like, I don't have too much pride to go salute somebody and shake their hand and be like, yo, you're one of the greatest to ever do it, bro, and I admire you. You've done everything that I've ever dreamed of doing. I mean, number one, draft pick, you got a lifetime Nike deal. I mean, you're a black entrepreneur. Like, LeBron is amazing. And all. all facets, bro. And so this is something, he's my Michael Jackson. If you like music, he's my President Obama. If you end up politics, whatever the case may be. And so, man, you don't never know if you're going to have an opportunity to ever just be around greatness, bro. Like, that dude is,

he's greatness in all facets. And so, you know, I wanted to shake his hand and say hello and be telling him, like, bro, like, bro, when I was in third grade, I had a Carmelo jersey and a LeBron George. We used to have a lunchtime league at Montclair. I wore that shit every Tuesday and Thursday, faithfully. And so, like, bro, I've been watching this guy since I was eight years old. Like, and he's been doing it. And so that was the first time. But now coming back around, like, yeah, I'm a fan. But also, like, all y'all respect. I'm not going to say they all respect me, but they all acknowledge me and have some kind of respect for me based on who I am as a player and my toughness and the dog that I bring. They've all said that to me personally. LeBron, Chris Paul, KD, Steph, Dreyman. Like, bro, I'm naming all Hall of Famers, bro. Like, and that may not mean anything to other people, but for me and everything that I've been through to get to this point and create a name for myself and be acknowledged,

not I ain't Steph Curry's teammate no more. Like, that's Wantee, that's JTA, you know what I'm saying? Like, I got my own name. Say it. Say it. Say it. I ain't just step teammate no more, you know? So, like, the second go around, it was like, I'm here to play.

I'm here to compete. y'all know who I am and like yeah I admire what y'all do but fool I'm coming for your head too and that's what they respect about me no that's validation man that's that's what that is that's some validation I would give you um some advice right this what I'm gonna say to you dog that shit goes by real quick so like soak that shit up soak it up I don't know if you write like if you got a journal or some shit I do like because you you forget a lot of that shit man you forget a lot of those stories that you're talking about. Not even the major ones, but like the little insignificant ones that are cool as hell.

Like jot that shit down so you could look back. And my last bit of advice, dog, would be obviously keep doing what you're doing and double down on that. Keep growing your shit. But get into getting some shit, man. Like I never did it. Like little Jersey exchanges and stuff like that for your wall. Because like those are, you know, when you're done, like not only do you have those memories, but you like, yo, Braun gave me that shit, dog.

Like you show that shit to your sons. Can you do what I'm saying? or your daughter is like this is like i got k k he signed a jersey for me rudy gay was one of my favorite players when he was at yukon and when he got in league i got a rudy gay jersey um staff signed the jersey for me i asked jray mind but yeah like to your point like you on your way then you i ain't got i ain't got too much pride to be a fan bro like and that's the problem with a lot of niggas these days like they got they got too much pride to just keep it a buck and just be who they are bro like regardless bro i'm i'm i can be a fan of you and still be an alpha male

bro, because at the end of the day, like, as a man, you're not going to ever be above me. Now, as a basketball player, you've done everything that I admire and I want to do. So, yeah, I can respect that. But as a man, bro, you shit, sleep and bleed just like I do. Like, you know, so I don't have no problem with who I am as a person. I don't have no insecurity with that. That's what's like. You're going to be right.

What are it? All right. Two more things, man. I got two more things. We're going to get to ruin of the week in a second. But before that, Juan, what are the, what are the thing? the characteristics of a town hooper me me and dame like dame's dame's a different player like in who he is as a player score all that shit but dame tuff you know take no shit from nobody everybody who knows dame

if you a fan or a player in the league or have ever worked with him you know he he's his own person uh he don't follow the crowd you know we're very confident in who we are as people because like we have identity, bro. When you're from the town, you've been through so much shit, you're able to have experiences that mold you and help you find yourself as a person. And so, like, I know who I am as a person, bro. Like, I'll get into it with somebody on the court on the floor, and I ain't doing it for, you know, fan appreciation. I ain't doing it to be labeled as this tough guy or nothing. Like, ah, this is just who I am, bro. And at the end of the day, this, you know, this is just who I am. And so me and Dame, bro, we epitomize.

that for sure. Just being solid dudes. You see this you see how we do this town propaganda rages? We got to bring it all the time. You see this, bro. You see it. I'm glad you, this is a banger for your last one, dog. So, Juan, you represent it because we

ain't doing this shit no more. So you bring it home tough. We had, we had, we have this is two weeks stretch. We had CC on, Cecee Sabathe on last week. We got Juan on this week. C.C. A real legend. I'm feeling great right now.

I'm a fan of C C, bro. Yeah, he's good people, bro. Let's get to a real one of the week, man. Rewaner the week is a segment that we like to do to shout out a person, an entity, an organization that won the week, man. I'm going to go first and just set the tone. You talked about this one and alluded to it. I'm going to go Dame Lillard, man.

It's a fucking legend. You seen what he did on Tuesday night? He bawled out. He completely bawled out, man. He put the team on his back. It felt bad that they lost, man. But, Dame, Rear one of the week. real one of real one and that's mine roger who is your real one of the week oh shit man this is tough um

you know what i'm i'm gonna i'm gonna keep it close to home too i'm gonna go with the phoenix suns my real ones of the week me like i don't i don't want to hear about i want to hear about ad side note did you guys hear your man draymond was on last night with chuck did you hear the slander did you hear the nickname he was blessed with by chuck last night anybody what did you no i didn't see what did you say he called him the street clothes bro That's what Chuck Cardre Ma? Chuck called, no, he called A.D. He said Anthony Street Close Davis.

Oh, wow. That shit was cold-blooded, man. That she was low blow. But anyway, I'm not co-signing on it. I'm simply saying, I don't want to hear that he was out. Like, that doesn't mean anything to the team that you're playing against. Can you dig what I'm saying? No, for sure.

Our job is to advance to that next round. And they're flying around. Did you see that goddamn defense last night? I'm not going to lie, man. Fuck the offense. Did you see the defense, Logan? I'm locked into all of Phoenix Sun's propaganda right now, bro. I'm locked in, dog.

I love, you know, I'm a Laker fan, and I love the Lakers, but y'all, y'all, y'all nice, man. I'm sorry. The pretty people were back in the building. Diana Tarasi was sitting over there with Robert Sarver. The building is jumping again. Real ones of the week, Phoenix, Sun. Nice.

Juan, who is your real one of the week? I got to go with D.L., man. That performance last night was impressive. It hurts. Like, it even hurts me, and I played for the war. It hurts me that he didn't win that game last night. That's just a hell of a performance. but it's the playoffs man it's tough teams win championships players don't so at the end of the day somebody else got to step up you know what i'm saying

yeah yeah man um thanks again juan man you know what it is it's a long time coming in front of the show bro come back anytime you know what it is um i appreciate you have to make sure you guys uh check out all of our slate on uh the ringer NBA feed we got real ones we got group chat we got mismatch we got the answer. Make sure you check out all of our other podcasts like R2C2 with who, Roger Bell. A Vallejo legend, C-C-Sabathia. Damn right. Also, make sure you check out, which is on hiatus. Check out Black Girl's Songbook with who, Roger Bell? Danielle Smith, another town legend, damn it. Right. Also, make sure you check out, make sure you check out, Ringer Music Show with Charles

Holmes. Make sure you check out Ringerverse with Mao, with Van. Sometimes Jomey. We'll see you guys on Monday. Holland.