Jaren Jackson Jr. | Ep. 131 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

How does him? How does him feel after him's done him? Don't feel like I don't feel nothing but broken bones and bruises. I can't lie to you, Matt. When I get back, the first thing I have to do is sitting the tub, and I gotta lay down because I'll be so hurting that I can't even eat. No way, Hey, well, thankfully man. Our next guest is one of the young Guns, young bright stars in the NBA over there in Memphis, part of the Grizzly Family Man. Welcome to the show,

Jaren Jackson Jr. How are you today? I'm good, I'm I'm just happy to be here. This is the legendary show. Um, It's always on my TV the Homies and what I mean, we I'm happy for y'all, how far y'all care, just because I mean, this is it now? Like you you this is it now? Now y'all get to watch your episode though. That's just gonna be dope, man, I can't wait. Go ahead. Jack born in Plainfield, New Jersey. You moved around a few times. Talk about your upbringing. Yeah, born

in Plainfield. Was there for hot second. Um, I mainly lived. I lived in Virginia, Maryland. Really came up in Indiana though, Like basketball wise, that's really what made me, you know, Uh, I bet y'all know good coaching out there, like good high schools, like you know, people moving the ball. Uh. That's just kind of where I really found myself basketball wise, before I was really playing. I'll play with some dudes who go to Villanova now, Brandon Slater justin Moore. We're

really good coming up. But uh, I mean really finding that group and thinking that I could do it and for the rest of my life. I found that in Indiana. So that was really where I found it. And I transferred. I was going to a school Indiana called part Tutor, and I transferred to another school of prep school called Lalla Mere, and I played with Jordan Pool, Brian Bowen, Tiger Campbell's I mean playing now in college so with the Bruins. Yeah, how was how was Jordan's pool and

prep school? Because he's a killer now starting to find this groove. Yeah, that's my roommate. Okay, that's my dog. Like uh, I mean at first, I remember we used to just like go at each other, like we we would talk so much trash to each other in practice and his boarding school. So we went right back to the dorm and we would just sit there some times early on and we wouldn't saying nothing to each other. I just we'll just be thinking about how we're gonna

kill each other next time whatever. We talked the whole time, and like we love bringing that out of each other. Um because because at the end of the day, like he worked so hard, I just know how he was always going to be this special. I always knew that, and I mean he instilled that in me a little bit. Like we would always go to the gym. He always waked me up early to go to the gym. That's that's one thing about him though. I never liked that what time he went like that was that was like,

you know, like what are we doing? Yeah, like I love it, but like we could I could totally just do this later, like I was planning on doing this later. Totally done this later. But I mean he was trying to get up early. That's my dog though. Like man, talk about Indiana, I was, I played there around the Peyton man in time and just to just to go touch on what you said, Indiana had paid Manning at the top at the top of his career and they still was behind the paces and in the Indiana who

was just like basketball is everything in Indiana. Man. So I so I know what you're talking about. But growing up, was there any other sports she was interested in? And how did you find the game of basketball? Yeah, I mean my mama hated football for me. She didn't want all that. She didn't, you know, Mama scared. So I was swimming. Actually early on I was swimming. I was good. But then we started to train outside the water, which was like I didn't love it. I clearly didn't love

it to do all that. So I was like, you know, maybe like I was always hooping, Like I always hooped, like even if I'm hooping for fun and for for real, like I'm always hooping. So I'm like, you know, I organically, I just fell in love with it. And my you know, I see like my dad played, so you would think, like, you know, he's gonna push me into it whatever, and he's definitely happy it all worked out that we love

the same game. But he never pushed me into it, Like if I didn't want to do it, he would have just he would have been cool for whatever. Like he he just wanted me to have that level of my own. So, I mean I had the love. I didn't even find the Indiana. I had it. I just had it the whole time and didn't know it, Like

I just didn't know it. And then in Indiana, I just kind of learned like the discipline of it all, like the discipline to work, like the real when it's not fun per se, you know, like the other things. So I just be in Indiana and like, you know, you got the Hoosiers down there, So the Whosiers all the fans go to the Pacer games. So that's why it gets loud, like they're still loud. I was going to Pacer games watching Danny Granger. I was watching PG back com PG was like a real four, like a

real four or five. Indeed, Dan Granger was hooping and George Hill and Lance like I would go all those games, um, and I mean it was always rocking. You get to produce fans. I was recruited by I you, Purdue Butler, Xavier Michigan, Michigan State, and so yeah, like mid West. I was real mid West dude at that point. So I mean Indiana bred me. Yeah, you're coming from two parents that's tied into the game. Your pops played, won the championship of course with San Antonio Spurs, and it's

still coaching this day in the G League. He was born in your your dad won the ring. Talk, do you do remember anything from that time and what kind of game that your dad is stealing you, you know from first hand from being the NBA player and being the NBA champion. Yeah, well no, I don't remember nothing. I was calling around and in the whatever room. And I was born the same year he won the ring.

So then the next couple of years after that, like the Spurs was the team that really I mean had his back for real, like you know, had him for like four years and then you want to ring with that team. And then you was there like right right after your point guard was Your point guard was Tony Parker and his was Avery, so like right right around that time and uh malics burning. I know he was one in Agetown. So I mean I didn't find out, Yeah,

but I was. I was in Santon. I remember, Shoot, you could cook eggs outside it's hot, Spanish little things like that, like, but I mean I was. I was a nice little for my family, Like you know, you always remember that from my family, and I mean that's always a special place. My mom live living there too, So Santoni, I mean both your parents are in the game.

Uh your mom. Terry is the uh the director of the u w n b p A and it's done a lot of amazing things across the league, like negotiating higher salaries, protesting finds really having the backs of the women in the w n b A. So does that you know how in tune to are you to what she's doing? And and and the growing support of the w n b A. It's crazy. I used to I used to watch my mom like we started this. We used to have a pretty big house. I'm not gonna

lie like Chief really did it? Thank God for Chief, and like that's my dog. So but my mom used to hide in the workout room and film these videos of what she wanted to accomplish. She would say, like, you know, I wanna it was always pro women, Like we always when we didn't make fun of her around the house, we're like, man, you love women, but like she literally would do you know whatever for for women,

Like she's always in that mode. So I've seen her work at a u U d C and she all and where she's at now is kind of exactly what she used to say on those videos, like exactly what she wanted to do. So she's she's just she's really doing and I'm proud of how far she's come. She's I mean, she ain't hoop by no means she ain't whop. And she got a free throw shot, that's it. So just like in tune, she is with women in sports just because of the human aspect of it, Like she

gets that real. Well, um, I'm just that's like a real big part of our family too. And she's the reason why we moved to Indiana. Funny enough, we didn't even move for hoops. We moved because she was working for the n c a A. So that's really why it happened. And were like cool, like we know you're grinding and we didn't even question it. Really all right, we can get out of here, even though who knows if we wanted to leave her and I ended up

working out for everybody. That's what's up. Um. Obviously both your parents connected to basketball so much. What kind of fans are they within their crowd? Are they quiet? Are they yelling? Do they embarrass you? What kind of what kind of fans are your parents? Yeah? Well, as I get older, I'm realizing like back then, I'm like dango, but you love that now like I love that now

they're screaming, like my mom's screaming. My mom got a high voice, so very like you know, piercing, likes to clap like with her hand, like perfectly on her other hands. So it's it's loud, and everything's real loud. And my dad's just you know, having fun. His voice is loud too, so he don't even he might not even know he's loud.

But I mean they just get real active and they still do that now, Like it's funny, Like I know where they sit at my games now, um, and you can I can hear it, like I can hear little things my mom says, butter when I make a free throw still today, screamed it show yell out like come on thirteen. Like I'm like, yeah, but I hear you know, you know your mom's voice, though you can hear it

through the whole stadium. I think I used to say calm down maybe once when I was growing up, and I think after a point, I was just like, you know, clearly, there's just no stopping this. So you know what you got it like, go hand like I love it, embrace it. There you go. You and I both shut up. Mcdowne's all American experience, you know. For me, it was a blessing.

Uh talk about Um, how do you felt about being chosen and being one of the best players in the country of high school and also being able to rub shows with some of the elite. Yeah, I mean I was never even going into that summer. It's like your last summer before everything. So it's like, you know, it's your last summer to prove everything. Hey, you your circuit, you're trying to go ham. I was probably ranked like

eightieth and I didn't like trust me. I don't know if I ever set a bar for myself this whole time. I think I was just in it. I just was in it. So like eightieth we started playing, I was playing on Specs and like circuit happed to thirty. At the end, I was eight and I'm like, oh, I'm probably gonna make it. So I made it UM with my teammate Brian Bowens, so we both made it together. With was dope, Like it was crazy, and I mean getting picked for that Jordan's Hoops Summit that was like

a dream. Like I didn't really feel it at the time because like you, you don't you you never really thought maybe. But when it realized and I realized all the names I'm associated with, even just nominees when the nominees came out, it's just crazy to think, like you made it out of that um. But it's a long day at McDonald's. People, midda McDonald's, man, that is a long day. It is not. It ain't like you're there and you you don't want to complain because you're there.

You don't want to complain because then you're just donna feel bad like you look in the mirror, like, why am I complaining about this? But man, you're going there and you signed ten thousand basketballs. Hey for me? Man, Hey, I know what you I know how you felt for me. They could have took everything out instead of going to the hospital. I think I enjoyed going to the hospital, talking to the kids at the at the McDonald's Children's Hospital.

That's I think that's the only part I enjoyed, besides playing all the other stuff in the middle. They could have counted yeah, because it was a human thing. Other stuff was pressing, smiling and photo op and go here and do this, and and honestly, even practice is weak. I don't even know we're doing. I think we did a layup drill. I was. It was funny. We we were, uh, like you watched the other team practice, You're on different court, the we're the West something. I don't even remember what

we were. I was a trade Young and Michael Porter. We're looking over at the other team. They scrimmage in the whole time we're looking at our coach, like, man, can we scrimmage? This man is having us doing full court layup drills. And then at the very end, Trade missed the layup just like just missed it and we had like nineteen try and get the twenty made us do it again. We're like, man, we didn't even scrimmage in, Like what are we doing? Like where everyone's trying to

be Everyone's Premia Donna. Now everyone's Premia Donna coming out because everybody nice. So it's it was funny. I think we kind of laughed at that later because I mean we've seen each other place since, like we're twelve, and now it's all of us here again. And then at the draft we could look back at it too. We're laughing about that then. But I was crazy, man, McDonald's was lit. Some of the other guys to cut you off. You you mentioned Trey Young and Michael Porter Jr. So

who was the other guys in that game? Yeah, Mo bamba um DeAndre Aman was in that game. When del Carter was in that game at Big in that game, Um trailer was like the guard Trayvon Duvo was in that game. Uh shoot pretty sure. Billy Preston, Jared Vanderbilt, Um, yeah it was. It was. I don't know if Bill

was in there, but it was always good though. But yeah, like it was, it was I mean for sure, and I mean Marvin Bagley would have been in it, but you know, transferred whatever he did to get to the whatever he did, he just wasn't in the game like some people just don't. But it would have just been all big dudes for real, and it was funny. And we ended up winning two, which was hype, Like, I'm so glad we want Yeah, I got, I got a quick coote. We start by McDonald's game. You talked about

high team two teams. Yeah, yeah. The scrimmage, well it's foot I got footage that I put on my Instagram. But I was going through Shooter Rogers walk through and real Pammington guard Kobe and we was just to walk through Kobe, get the bad, drive me down, lay dunking hard like we're playing for speed. So instantly after that, coach like we just walked over, Code was like, no,

let's get after. Let's get after. So we ended up playing four quarters bro full practice because of Kobe wanted to go hard bro, So I know what you're talking about because the other team was just chilling. Yeah, for real, I'm glad you and I'm glad y'all had Kobe anger like you know what I mean. I'm glad. Y'all got to do that too. That's the side gart nothing, do nothing. But yeah, that was Yeah, that's so dope for real. Heah too. College recruitment process was your parents pushing you

to go to Georgetown, but that the teams reached out. No, they weren't pressuring me. Uh you know, maybe my dad hoped, but at that point, so many schools that reached out, and he realized that it was gonna be I was gonna have a lot of options that I mean, you just gotta make the right decision. Um, a lot of pretty much everybody in the big term reached out Canadas, we reached out, um, North Carolina, and then my final five was noted Dame Michigan, Michigan State, Georgetown in Maryland.

That was my final five. Um yeah, and I shoot, I know how it was like getting all those calls, everyone's buttering you up. I mean, to keep it real, like schools was lying. There were schools that were lying, for shure, it just were lying. Like I'm glad I'm here now able to say that like that because I've never really been able to say that, because I usually just say something else. Like thank you, but people were lying. They were saying, you know, you don't get the ball

every time you're gonna do this. You don't have the keys to this here is you don't have anything you want. And I'm like, like, I hate it when schools like because I'm like, man, y'all will probably get me if y'all just said less, like I'm probably more into y'all than y'all know. And y'all damn the bush. Yeah, y'all ruining it for me, y'all just But then Michigan State they then he pissed me off. They would call me after games and tell me I played horrible, Like what

am I doing? Like get on me? And then I remember at first I was like mann, and then like I sat down, I thought about it. I'm like, man, it's probably something to this, Like it's probably something. It's probably something to this, like why are they doing this? They know that everybody wants me to go there, like why are they doing this? And they would end up telling me like man, we just want you to be good period, like we don't care where you go. We

don't care at all, like none of that. They would never promise me anything, is I was like, man, you don't have to work for real. I'm like, all right, cool, so let's do it. Like I was like I took out a challenge, which it was for sure, it was an adjustment early, but it was like it's what I wanted and what I needed for sure, Like it just it works so well, like it was like a perfect

fit for me. So so you chose it because he kept me funking with Yeah, he kept it real and he was real like that's o g right there, Like he really like he cares like so deeply about like the game and how players develop and how they go on and live their lives and just how how much you give compete, Like you know, he remember, I remember I got to I got to the program. We had practice and he was like, all right, all right, we're gonna gonna run here and co get the ball, run

full court and catch the corner. Three. I ran for court. He said, Yo, what is that? I said, what do you mean? Like He's like, is that your run? I'm like I'm like I ran and he's like, yo, Kyle, he said, Carle, show him how to run this man. Kyle ran like like it was the last time you ever gonna run. I'm thinking, like I gotta run to get the three. So I'm thinking I'm gonna run and get in rhythm. That's not what he wanted. He wants me to run full speed stop on a dime and

take this three. But like the point of it, like I get he get with that. It was hard, But the point of is like he knew it was hard, Like he knew early on it was gonna be difficult, but at the end of the day, like it pays off later, like may not even be paying off for that exact drill, but like the mentality, you build the mentality enough for everything else you're doing. And like, I don't know people, don't people be missing that? People be missing that? Man's like at the next level, what man,

I got a quick story. I don't think you know Tom iszo why he will go? Um. I was doing First Things First and right after the show he called Chris Carter on FaceTime, and Uh, all he was saying was how much he loved our show Tom and coach coach Tom really so shout yeah, so shout out coach Tom. Is this was maybe last year. I think around last year when I was doing First Things First, and he FaceTime Chris Carter just to tell us about Yeah, that with our shows. So that's dope. That's the dope, you

know what I mean. We had Draymond on the podcast. Remember outside of arguing with is Oh, he said, I mean he had nothing. But I've never heard anything bad about coach yourself, So it's never will. I'm telling you, it's just so real some of the obviously he's teaching you. Like you said, it wasn't about the shot it was. It was just about instilling principles that you hustle while you're on the basketball court, and it's always going to add to the bigger picture. But what is the best

advice you recall him giving to you? Best advice m hm hm uh probably, I mean first probably was to leave school. He really made me here you go. That's what's really funny because there was rumors. I remember that. I love rumors, like they're so off because there was rumors. I remember if they say that it was trying to keep me in school. I'm like, how does that? How does that work? How did you? How would y'all know that?

He's literally I walked in his office after we're done, like everything's over and I actually signed up for like the the summer trips and like the weird stuff in college, like the weird stuff. I signed up for it for the next year, and people are asking me if I'm staying. I'm like, hell yeah, I'm staying next year. About to be crazy, I go in there. I'm like all right. So he's just like, so what are we talking about here? Like I'm like, what do you mean. I'm just like,

what are you gonna stay for? I'm like, I don't know, because I like school. He's like that's that's a horrible reason. And then and then he was like he was like he ended up telling He told Draymond I was thinking of He drove me to class, and he was like, like he puts out on my shoulder as if like it's the last time you finn to seeing me. I'm like, all right, man, like I'm not thinking that. And then he told Draymond, and Draymond called me and cut me out.

Because there that's how Michigan State be, Like everybody on each other, like we don't care generation generation, there's no gap, like everybody knows everybody very well. So Draymond calls me, I don't even know Draymond like that, like we're not that cool yet, Like we're cool, but we're not that cool yet. So he's calling me, not even introduced himself. He's just calling me and saying, what the fund is you doing? I'm like, who is this? He's like, no,

this is and I'm as drama, all right, what's up? Bro? Like I know how you'd be. He's like, why are you in the stay? There's no reason? How how you want to go? How how you want to go? One? You want to go? One? Huh? How high? Like what's the point all this? Da? Da da dada. I'm like, all right, bro, like dang, it ain't like I didn't even thought about it all yet, like man, I could have let like who knows? And then I sat down

and really looked at it. And then my dad finally decided to talk to me about it because he was waiting to give me space, and he was like, yeah, it's probably shaping up, you know what. You know what's funny about that is as I was about to ask you about Miles Bridges next, but I particularly remember since you brought Draymond up. Draymond was having conversations with Miles and his parents while we were on getting ready. We were I think we're in the Western Conference finals. We

might have been in the finals. I'll sitting right next to him, and he was really going back and forth with with with Miles and his parents about staying not staying. I think Miles wanted to come out, and I'm not sure if his parents didn't want him or something like that. But it was funny you said that because he was on the phone with Miles too. And obviously you guys UH playing together. Thoughts on his uh Man arguably could be most improved player UH this year in the NBA.

What kind of relationship do you guys have and and and are you surprised that the leap he's made. I don't know, I'm not surprised. Um. Kind of like the same thing with Jay Pool. He just worked so hard. There's like levels, like you work too hard. I know eventually something's gonna sink for you. Eventually you're gonna work double as hard as someone else like you're going against and it just adds up enough. So I mean, I

just see how he works. I know his mentality. He don't you don't give a damn about anybody in front of him. You he going at you and he's gonna laugh about it. Like it's just this is joy, Like it's pure joy, is coming from real place. So I know, like if you have that, I have more confidence in like anything you're going to do in the future. So I mean, Plus he's my roommate too, that's my dog. Like, were working out together. We worked out in the summer

right before the draft. Uh what we were still in Michigan before we left and I went to l A, so I knew what he was on and um, I mean just to see the leaps. Yeah, we worked out with Chris Johnson this summer, so and shout out, yeah, Chris is Yeah, he works he works out by twins. I was I was never shocked at how when he

was gonna go. I think I was shocked on how he adapted so well to probably shooting, just because that was probably the only thing that like people say, like you know, I don't know, he's super athletic and drive all that. Now, I mean, you really got to put a hand up like he could shoot. So I mean I'm just happy for him, you know, whatever whatever they do.

I mean, Charlotte's on the five game winning Street right now as we speak right now, and I know him and Mellow I have like a crazy connection right now. They're really doing it, so they got it. Mm hmm. You you clasp of the draft Ineen, you get drafted number four by the Grizzlies. Talk about that experience. Yeah, draft process. Uh only did three workouts, ironically, none of them for the Grizzlies. It was Atlanta, Dallas, and Phoenix because I was going for the number one pick and

I actually wanted to a funny thing. I actually asked Phoenix to be like a group workout for the number one pick, which honestly was pretty weird. No one does that, Like everyone said, everyone said no, but no one wanted to do it. But it was okay, Like I still worked out for them, um and yeah, Like at the time, we had a whole different front office, a whole different team, and the Grizzlies. Uh, you know, the agency process angle you in different ways, and I didn't really know much

about any of the places. I was just happy to go anywhere. When I knew I was going one through five or one through ten, I was like, you know, I'm gonna just make sure I'm ready for whatever comes and I pretty much knew draft morning where I was going. You never know, but like you knew to go, aid My agent told me Austin Brown to go, and he were at the draft table, and everyone thought I was

going to Atlanta. So everyone's looking at me for Atlanta and I'm like, no, no, it's not I'm trying to tell people like no, and then they think I'm mad, Like as soon as it happens, I'm like, no, I knew, and they try to put the camera on me for my like explosive reaction or whatever. I'm like, no, it's cool.

And then uh. I went to Memphis and immediately, I mean I just felt different, Like as soon as my name was called, I just felt different, partly because you go right to the media circuit and it's like you're getting asked questions like you was on the team for your whole life, What do you want to bring to the city. How does the city treating you? I'm like, bro, I ain't get there, but like but like I'm just

I was immersed. You're immersing in community. Like as soon as you get there, everybody is so excited to see you, like it's crazy, Like it's like they ain't they don't. I mean, Matt no to like they just more how do they asked? But like they on everybody. It's like if you come for the team, they on you, but they on your ass too, So it's like it's both and it's like real, like you know it's real, you know, it ain't nothing like it's not a bunch of people

just going to the game not know what's going on. No, they love I mean, because it's really all they got out there, you know what I mean. So I was obviously a competitor with the Clippers, and we battled them in the playoffs for a few years. But then once I went there, it was like they love you. They embrace you. And I wasn't even the number four pick,

you know, I mean, you're you're a lottery pick. So I can only imagine the love um that they showed you when you arrived, because it's it's really a real basketball town, like they really care about their Grizzlies. It was a lot of love. I went to a baseball game first off through a pitch like no sleep, like coming straight from the draft, like had a had like a bunch of my people at the drive night before, really not sleeping at all, Like it was crazy, and uh,

flew right there and met everybody. We're a VET team, though heavy VET team. We're not like we are now. Who was still there? Who? Who? Who was there when you were draft it. I started with Marshawn Brooks, Shelton Mack Dylan Brooks was probably the youngest, and Mike Conley, Mark, Jamichael Green, Umri Caspy, Garrett Temple was on our team. Kyle Anderson. Yeah, Uh the age was the like the the whatever age was high. So I'm like, um, it's funny. Oh, Wayne Seldon my brother. It was crazy like I was

Rooke for real, like it was. It was funny in the locker room, Like it's it's funny to see how the locker room has changed. But I mean I really had O G s Like I really g who had a lot of different experiences, knew a lot of people in the league, and I would I remember, I would say stuff and they'd be like, you have no idea. I had Chandler, I had Chandler. You had Chandler on here, I had Chanl. Yeah. I was gonna ask because I

think I left the year before I I went. Yeah, I was there the year before, and then Chandler came the year I left. So that's why I's gonna ask. I think Chandler was on that team too. I was a good root too. They know it too. I was good. Like what I learned about the rug duties is like the only way you get hard rook duties if you don't do the easy ones. So I was always like tiles, the showers, look like the food for the plane. Like everything I was on point with. I never missed ever.

And they treat you right. That's what they don't like. They're gonna give you something, give your ms, give you our per damn that we would have had you on blunt runs, alcohol runs, what else, jack rubbers, rubbers all that, but she didn't use those. That's why I said, we wouldn't say they know. But like I literally had two am you ready? One? Am you ready? You just gotta be ready, Like if you just are considering with it, they leave you alone. But I remember Chandler Chandler. Funny

thing about Chandler. Chandler had me he was like all right, he keeping my bag like off the plane, like get the bag, his bag and bring it home and bring it to the gym the next day, and I'm like, this is so odd. This is like the just so he can get right to his car, don't have to wait for the bag. Yeah, I'm like, all right, fine, I just didn't care, So I did it. I bring

his bag home. I bring his bag in my crib and I'm like, dn, this bag is huge, but it's so light, and I'm just thinking to myself, like, what's I don't even feel like being that dude, but what's in this bag? Bro? So I'm just like Maro, all right, I'm opening your back. I opened the bag because this joint don't make sense. And there's just one pair of jeans in there. It's just a huge bag and just a pair of jeans in there. I'm like, I'm like, dude, what I'm just so confused now. I just I just

bring it to him. I just bring it next day and I never say anything about it. I didn't never tell him. But I'm just like, bro, and he's like, good rook. I'm like, yeah, you know, damn well, there's just some jeans in here. This is the most random thing, Like what is the point of this? Like you got this big gas bag for what was your welcome to the NBA moment. We all got one. Uh, just that moment, just that moment when you're like, damn, I'm really here,

I'm in the league. I'm here, I'm in the building. I feel like mine was the first preseason game because we played the Rockets and we were playing Chris Paul and James Harden. I played, I mean I played a lot of two K, So two K was getting really good. Two kids getting really good, Like I know the rituals, the intros, and we're going through like warm ups. I'm coming off the bench and I see like the little Chris Paul where he jumps on hits the pad, James

Harden hits the pad, does like this. I'm like, wow, this is like exactly like two I'm like, it's exactly like two kids. My first game playing somewhere, Chris Paul gets attacking like the first three minutes of the game for nobody's the first preseason game of the year. I'm like,

all right. So then I get out there and they really literally run the same play ten times in a row and just get me on the switch, and I so and take a hundred dribbles back and forth and just do a step back and then or they just tried to drive by me and like I wasn't getting baked, but they hit some and then like I remember one time, James having just was staring in my eyes, like staring at me and like laughing as he's doing this dribble because he knows I'm this is the first time I'm

out here and I'm about to barbecue man. And he stepped back, and I remember I tried to contest. I kind of stepped under him and he fell and they're like hey, like they were freaking out, like on the rockets bench, like he stepped under him. And then Chris Paul was like hey, man, like, don't even He told the bench calmed down because I don't even know. He knows I don't know what's going on right now, like he knows, I have no idea. I didn't even know

what they were mad about. I was like, what's up? Like the dude just hit me with eight moves combos and stepped back like I don't know what y'all what y'all want? You want me to not contest? Like y'all, I don't even but he that was was probably a moment um playing against Brian that season was crazy. I just remember for it was the first time for everything. So like it's anyone that didn't did anyone dunk on you that season? You get dunked on him? Bout anybody? Yeah,

he's a shot, He's a shot blocker. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, because that's why, No, he'd be going up and contested. That's why I'm saying. It's only you know, it's a matter of time. You're gonna blocking up, but you're gonna get dunked onto. Yeah. Probably it's probably something I can't. I don't. I don't remember them. It's hard for me to remember him. And I ain't even bullshit because I really would say, I really really because I do block

a lot. So it is gonna happen. But when it happens, it's just like I'll just be I'll be forgetting it. Ain't it can't be. Oh, I mean I don't even want to. I mean, belief, Belicia Felicia dunk. Yeah. See it's the one you wouldn't expect. It's not the high flowers. Yeah. In the Sacramento I banged on him the first half. I went and left banged on him. Talking crazy my bench, I'm talking crazy. And then in the fourth quarter she comes down the lank and gives me and the whole

crowd remembers and they're going crazy. And then I got subbed out. Right then, I'm like, that's the worst it was, and one oh, and you got subbed out. I got subbed out for like the nine minutes. I got stubbed out so long that they put me in to like be on the ball at the end of the game. Like I got subbed out for a minute that game randomly, Like I was like, man, like, damn, but I remember. I think that's why I remember that one. That one

was weird. March twenty nine, two nineteen. You're shut down for the remainder of the season. Um, what is that like for you? You're in the league now and you're shut down? How was that mentally for you? Understanding that you know, damn, this is a part of the game.

The worst Funny enough, I had I had literally just gotten hurt and I was coming back from injury and I was a game away, so it was the next game I was about to play, and I'm like, really, like all right, so then we shut down and I mean at first, I didn't know what the thing because I didn't think it would be a long time. But when I realized, like what what was really going on around the world, I was like, man, it kind of

just made me grateful for everything. Definitely great for everything, Grateful for playing the game, playing competitively around people, like like, obviously I ain't gonna lie I was. I was going to the gym always, like I found a way to get to the gym. But even then, like it's different.

You just different. You're not around like even the people at the coaches, like the video dudes, like people training, like anything, like the relationship there is, it's just not there, and you're just you're just getting better on your game waiting for that time to show it again. It's kind of like you're in a cocoon or something. But I mean it was just more. It was just more like you're kind of everybody's on the same playing field for some reason. Like it's hard to say, but like everybody's

in the same boat. You know, everybody's probably thinking around the whole world because everybody's just sitting there waiting. Everybody's just kind of making do Everybody's just kind of um, you know, it's less about basketball for once, Like it's always about basketball, but it's finally less about basketball, and that's weird, like it's usually all about that. Yeah, it's life. The following season, the end of the year, in December, you dropped a career high forty three with nine threes,

tying the franchise record with Mike Miller. What was that night? Like, Uh, who was big? Who was real big? Like, I don't know what. I didn't do anything special before the game. I think it was a regular game. I knew I was playing your honest, so I was hyped and people were, you know, excited about that matchup of me finally getting the taste of that. And I just realized that day, I mean for a while, like my shot for him, like it would just not have people contest and stuff

like that, I could get away with a lot. So I knew I could shoot and I had a confidence to shoot, and they weren't playing up on me at first. So my first four, when I hit my first four in the quarter, I was kind of like, all right, I just like, no matter what, I'm gonna take probably five or six more just because I deserve it now, Like I felt comfortable like doing it, so my team, my teammates were finding me. I hit one one time. I remember I played the whole court. I was so gass.

Coach was running a play for me to get it at the elbow, and I was so gassed. I kind of just like ran to the ball, like at the top of the key, just to give me the ball, and like cleared everybody out and took like a forty footer off the glass. And I was just like, Wow, this is crazy. I don't even know what's going on. Like, I like, I hit seven. I probably had seven in a quarter in the third and then ended up hitting

nine for the game. But the third quarter was the third quarter was unreal, Like I didn't know what was going on, and I had to lay up in that. I had a couple of laps in that quarter where they finally closed out on me and I drove off. I was like, Wow, I'm gassed, But this is a dream right here. This is crazy. Whatever you want, Uh, you guys, go to the bubble. What do you remember about that? I mean, whether it be playing or just in that environment. Uh, what sticks out to you the

most about that time. I'm an only child, so pretty much like growing up again, just being by yourself and hooping and coming back like a long tournament. And it was like we was a AU team, roommates going to each other's room every day, hanging out, playing video games, listening to music like all the I just remember everything being so open. There's just no one there. You can do whatever you want, and then you just go and play these games. Um, I got hurt there too. What sucked.

I got hurt there too, That's what really. Yeah, that was like my first real getting hurt experience, like surgery. Um, and I remember I got hurt there, My boy Justice wins all got hurt there. So we're pretty much hanging out with each other until we had to leave the bubble, And I mean that was kind of a blur. I ain't gonna lie up until that point, it was a blur, But that experience was I think we were just so excited to play again that we weren't as mad about it.

But then again, you're away from your friends and your family, it kind of gets to you a little. And I mean people wanted to leave for sure. People want to leave. Man keep a hundrer air like people wanted to get out but it's like it's testing basketball is all. We know what you're gonna do, leave and do what like not who uh you guys get your first taste of the playoffs in um although losing to the Jazz and for one, what did that teach you personally? And what

did that teach your young team about? What this what this playoffs like? Is like yeah, I mean there's no fouls in the playoffs. You can you can off ball, name somebody, you can punch somebody in the face, cutting somebody out, so crazy ribs the lower rib areas open season. You can set a crazy screen and and like you can get away with a lot which they knew. And it was funny, Like my first cut in game one.

I remember we were running a like we got the tip and I was supposed to just it was a bluff cut, Like I wasn't even part of the play really, I cut Royce O'Neil checks me going through like checks me like harder than we have all year. We played them four times. I'm like, alright, alright, alright, playoffs Okay, Okay, I see where're on And then uh, I mean, moving the ball is just so important. That's what you really learned playing against the Jazz, like moving the ball. Every

possession matters. That like no one's crashing, everyone's getting back. There's just slow half court basketball, Like it's like chess. You're just playing chess. Everybody knows everybody real well. Every tendency is known, so it's just about mismatches and knowing

everything about your opponent. That's when, like, um, I started, I mean, we I had nothing else to do but play the Jazz, So like what I kind of thought, I was like, man, I got nothing else to do with play this team, and this is what we work for the whole time, I cut everybody off, like no one could get to no one could talk to me, like no friend, no, nothing, like you couldn't talk to me.

Um for the most part, I mean, and then I was just I ended up looking at weird stuff about the Jazz, like where the players were from, and I ended up looking at little interviews there that they had just to kind of I didn't know when I would use that info, if I would, or at all, but like I just wanted to get a feel for more of who they were, just to just to just cause I had nothing else to study the Jazz I'm just like, man, all right, I might as well, Like I'm on my computer,

I'll just be like, all right, I look up Donovan talking about this, or I know Donovan from New York. Like maybe I say about New York to him one day in the game. Just throw him off, maybe just make him miss he missed two more shots. I don't know. He might miss too much shots, man, those and it's Donavans, so it's like, you know, he's gonna take a bunch if he misses too and that's what helps us winning. I don't know. But we only want one game, so only on one. So, I mean, you see how that went.

They're a great team. They definitely taught us a lot well. I mean we I'm glad we got there, got that experience. What do you know about the green and grind era. What I really know is, I mean, it's self explanatory, but at the same time, it's really mental. That's what you really don't see much Like obviously everybody's physical, you grinding, diving on the floor, but those things are given, like

that's what you should do. You should dive on the floor, you should you should do all these things for your teammate. Like I hope you do because then because they're gonna do it for you. But like the mental side, like being locked in every game, being locked in ready to play every game is tough, like you really gotta be on UM. And that's like the what people don't see,

the preparation UM, the pedigree that comes from it. I mean, you had t A. T A is still Ta was always around, Mike Tayshawn works for our team, so I mean everybody looms around, Zach still goes to all the games. You still have that that love, that family aspect kind of and they pass it down. But at the same time, they just they shared a lot of their stories to share it and you can see on how they play, um, how connected they were. Just it comes from the crowd too.

I mean everybody around here embodies that like all the time. So it's it's something real special, Like I can't even explain it, and we still kind of had that it don't it don't They don't go nowhere like it really don't it don't. You guys are just a newer version of that. Yeah, we're next GM. They allowed us to be next Gen because they want us to have our own thing. But Green Grinds has never gone and it will never go away. It's just that's just what you

are at the end of the day. Explain jobs in one word, um, electrifying, box office, box office, electrifying him bright for real, really him. And I always say this, I always say it about jocks. I love seeing this. I get better, I get better ceased than all y'all to see this because I'm right there seeing this, And most of the time we don't even really know what we're seeing until we back up and really think about

we're seeing some crazy stuff right now. Like I'll go down to history and yeah, like he'd probably have a lot of people's highlights of their career in the game. It's really funny, Like he gets some loud Bucky. It's like you'll he'll he'll have thirty, and you'll be like, that's about right. I probably thought he had fifty the way he was what he was doing, and when he has fifty, it's like, man, what kind of But I mean, you see it, man, you see it now right in

l a back. Dude, I didn't seen them out do y'all hang out up the court any Yeah, that's my brother. I mean we were kicking. We have a lot of common. Uh, we jail really quick, like when he got here, because we just read as we had a lot in common, and we knew how Also we also knew how important it was for us to be on the same page. So it kind of gave us a little extra motivation to just kind of jail and get to know each other because we knew there was a chance, like you know,

a higher chance we'd be around each other alive. All goes well, and if we do know each other, it probably would go better. But I mean, now it's just organic. I mean, we just we're just we syncd up in a lot of ways. Um, you're right. He's chilled. He's very humble, very laid back. He doesn't change, like that's

one thing. That's one thing everybody knows about twelve. You don't change for nobody, like the situation whatever is going on, Like he's gonna be him, and he looks out for his family, his family, He looks out for his friends, he looks out for his teammates. He really cares about other people, Like, I mean, all the time he puts on from me, all the time, he he'd be saying, I'm Defensive Player of the Year. He'd be saying, I'm

All Star. Always say that's like, I mean, he says it for everybody, like he makes sure he puts on everybody, and um, I mean, I just that's just how he's built. That's how he's raised, raised from good people. So that's what you that's what you get, man, that's that's a real dude, real dude. What's this? What's this? Craziest highlight

to you so far? Craziest highlight to me probably the the little the fifty point game where he had a dunk, he dunk off two from outside the paint and then after called a full court passed and shot it over the backboard at the buzzer. That or or like awesome, real ship like the game winner against Phoenix was unreal, because that's like real bucket, Like he he faked the handoff, turned the corner and hung in the air for like

eight seconds and shot it. He went left, but shot it with his right hand off the wrong leg, off the glass, Like that's like too to hit that at that time, Like I kind of knew he was gonna shoot that because that's what he likes, but everyone else don't know. So to them, it's like, wow, that's a ridiculous shot, but it's also a shot he works on, and shot he likes. It's a I mean, there's so many though, man, Like I forgot about them. Man, I gotta like look at his highlights and see like like

one time we looked. I was on the plane and he was just looking at his highlights and I was just looking over his shoulder at it, and he was like, usually when we look at each other's shoulder at I pass, we're usually watching the film of the game. We'll talk about it. He's a bro, uh you go, this is just my mix. I'm like, Bro, I know I'm about to watch this. This is fire. This is like this is I'm telling you like you're you're doing it and I just watched it and I'm looking at this own

damn twelve. Do you see this right now? I'm not sure you're seeing this? And I like, well, I would like hit his iPad, hit his hand out the way and rewind that, Like, bro, look at this, Bro, do you see this? Bro? And obviously he's laughing, but I'm like, man, you need to know. Man, you're clapping your hands on layups like this's not normal. Like a lot of this stuff ain't normal. So Katie said it best. He has a lot of great players, Like oh that he's a

lot of great players all wrapped in one. Like he's he's different. You guys are coming down the home stretch heading into the playoffs. What's the environment like around your team right now? I mean, you guys got a taste of the playoffs. Now you guys have moved yourself up to the two seed in the Western Conference. What's the vibe and energy like around the team right now? We're

super focused. We're thankful that we're the two seed. We don't take it for granted, but like we're really we're reflecting a little bit, like man, good job, Like like I'm glad we're in this comfortable position because last year we're fighting for playing and every game was not stressful,

but you just were thinking about it a lot. And now we're just kind of thinking about putting ourselves in the best position, but knowing that we're most likely gonna be in there, um and then we're we're also knowing how much we gotta lock in and understand this is new for us, Like having a target on your back is new, having people look at you. No one's gonna You're not surprised at anybody. No one's happy for you. You know you're not. You're not happy for a one

or two seed. You're not. You don't care, You're just trying to knock them off. So I mean just us knowing that us locking in every game, trying to be there for each other because it's new to all of us. So we're trying to right Like I'm trying to make sure my dog over here is good so he can make sure someone else is good, so everybody can lean on each other, because you don't want to feel like you know, you just don't want to feel like you're lost out there in in a new space. So and

just making sure you locked in. Like if we're not in the plan, then we get a week off. Just making sure we keep that focus and keep our energy and practice is important. You're not a legal league practice we need and practicing that much. So the practices we have now we actually practice pretty hard today. They're important, Like every practice important, were learning and every rep is important. Just to get our chemistry up, guys in and out

of the lineup. That's what it is. UM you're one of these new stretch forwards that can shoot threes and get to the basket, finish, do it all. But you're also someone who leads across the majority of the defensive categories all season. Where did that defensive mindset? Um? Or when did that defensive mindset click in? And really know, when when did you make that a part of your game? Yeah? I always had it, um, It's just guards got better,

you know. Uh. When I was really young, like you could just let a guard go to the rim so I can bocket because guards only knew one hand side of the layups, like one hand to use. They had no game, no flare. And then as we got older, they start getting some some tricky ship they you know, and then I had to get better on mine and kind of and but what helps for me is, like I work on a lot of the things guards worked on, So I start to remember how I would want to

shoot a shot against me. Like I started to think about that when the guard's driving, and I'm like, all right, if a guard's driving, I know he's not coming all the way. I know he's about to shoot this floater, So I'm about to jump even earlier. So I jumped even earlier, and then I know he's about the ball fix, so I'm just not biting yet, and then try to jump in time the right and it's a whole game.

It's like a chess match. And I think I really picked it up this year, Like being able to play against Gobert in the playoffs last year as a five more really kind of gave me a test on how to be like an anchor. And you gotta talk. It's a lot of talk. It's direction here. You can see everybody. You're just trying to give instructions and at the end of the day, like your gifts are cool, but like you shouldn't just think about blocking the shot because then

it takes you out of everything else. The block is like the last piece. Like if you block it, cool, but you're supposed to make it tough on everybody. You're supposed to make a hard These are great players, So I mean, if you're in the league, you're nice, You're gonna make some shots. You just gotta make it hard. And if I block it cool. But you know, I'm growing all the time. I grew year the year, like

my arms is growing, so that also helps. I can't lie you mentioned earlier your teammate has been very outspoken as far as he thinks you should be defensive player of the year. Uh, do you think you're defensive player of the year. Of course I do. Yes, Okay, that's what I'm talking about. I think, um, state your case right now. If for the world, the world is about to hear this, state your case to why you think you're defensive player of the year. Yeah, I mean, first off,

always back yourself period. If you don't get that, you don't get it. Second, I mean, I just think the things I have to do besides blocking shots always separates me from people who be blocking shots like I have to. My responsibility isn't just that it just so happens that I'm very good at that. But I'm able to switch on the guards contain. I'm able to, um, just be

a presence other than blocking a shot to change the shot. Um. My timing, I think is just better on trying to time the type of blocks I'm getting our own ball. It's not just a guard shooting the lap and not knowing them. They're all block a shot and the half court on ball. And just figure it out myself while guarding the dude who's shifty and all that type of thing. Um, as well as what my responsibilities are on offense and what I've had to do offensively this year. I mean

it's just been picked up. Especially. I mean there was a time when job was out for a little bit and everybody had to pick up their stuff, and I mean that just puts a lot of stress. Sometimes when you have more offensive duties, your defense can slack off and you kind of you might not be there mentally for that. You might just think it's about scoring for a second. But I know that never happened to me. If anything, my defense is picked up and I was

just able to to do more. I was just more active, um, you know, and all the analytics and all that stuff. That's cool, but that's for everybody else. You know, that's not my job. At the end of the day. That's cool to hear and see. I'm just out there too, do whatever I can to win. And we've won games. I think I've what I've done is impact. It has impacted winning. So that's another difference than like previous years

when we weren't really winning as many games. We're still in games and doing we gotta do but now we're a two seed, and no one thought we were gonna be that, so all right, okay, they might take that in consideration. We'll have to see. Ask me the best of luck on that he just dropped the album suddenly debut album. When did you start doing music and what

got you well? I mean, of course we all know music and sports go hand in hand, but when did you officially say, you know what I'm dropping, I'm dropping music during the season. Yeah, Um, I mean freestyle rapping. I've always been doing that since I was younger, and my friends always just wrapping the crib. That's just easy. And at Michigan State me and j Pool really did it as roommates. And at Michigan State, Me and Miles

did it every day like we were wrapped. Every day we come up and practice, put on a beat in the kitchen, we make some food and just wrap like we just wrapped, wrap, And eventually you do it enough stuff starts to sound a little fire. You're like, okay, damn, all right, and then I think, uh, when we would be on the plane rides, like I think around time I was I was hurt or maybe before that, I would just sometimes write a verse, and I would not even have a beat or anything, just write a verse

randomly for fun. Probably be pretty trash, but what ever, probably be something. And then I remember just one day, just decided to go to the studio and we're on the road. I was in New York, and I was like, you know, let me try it. And going to the studio. It's funny like when you go to the studio, it's a lot different than just rapping. Like you can stop, you can pause, you can stay a line, and and you realize it's more about creation and just more about

um sound like a bunch of stuff. And uh, I just was into that, Like I was just I always listen to music. I listen to so much music that I you know, it goes hand in hand. You're playing stuff in the locker room, you're playing stuff when we wake up, go to bed, you shower or anything like, you have different stuff. So I was just like, man, if my favorite artist ain't gonna drop, i'mna just make it. And I just was like, I'm I'm gonna start making it.

And then I ended up getting in my house, so I got still upstairs and my homies come through and they like my homies to do music professionally, like they come through and they make their albums up there with their producers, and um, they'll go hand, they'll go crazy. And then when I go in there, I usually just did it as therapy, like we'd just be kicking it and if I felt something, I just wanted to say something, I just get in there, and then you eventually figure

out how to record, and it's a process. But now it takes probably like thirty minutes to make a song just off the top of your head, whatever you're feeling, and and those are the songs that came out so eventually, Like I was like, man, I always just made songs from my homies. I never thought I was really gonna I just didn't think of it like that. And then dudes are just like, man, you should put it up. I'm like, all right, Well, I was never really that

into it. A year went by and then I'm like, you know, all right, maybe, and then I just ended up doing it randomly, Like the concept for suddenly in the concept for it all that came a week before. I was just like, you know, I think I'm gonna put it out over break and we're just in the crib talking like like yeah, all right, I'm gonna put it out. And then we just picked the songs. They're already done, We already listened to them all the time. We just picked the ones we liked and put them

on there. And it's funny, like I wanted to pick suddenly, like suddenly. The name was important to me because I usually will write a bunch of stuff down if I'm like if I'm coming home after the game and I can't sleep, I'll write down like something, how I'm feeling right now, I'll just right. And one time I wrote down like suddenly, like you always have to be ready because suddenly the opportunity is gonna come and you don't want to have to prepare to get ready. You're always ready.

Suddenly it will happen like suddenly a door will open. That's really what it comes from. And I saw that written down, I'm just like, I want to call it suddenly. Also for dudes like you ain't hear it. I don't want you to like hear some whack name and be like man, I'm not like to play it or like some goofy like at first, like everyone calls you call you like a unicorn, and I was like, oh, I'm gonna name it dark. I was gonna a dark twisted Unicorn and put the unicorn as the Kanye thing. But

I'm like, man, that won't age. Like I'm gonna have to walk in the rooms and be like, yeah, you wrap beat. What's the name of it, dark twisted unicorn? Okay, yeah, uh huh yeah. So like suddenly, like you don't even know what said lead means to the point where you gotta listen to it just too, just figure it out. This is vibe seventeen minutes long. Um, I made it short because people got stuff to do. I work too,

so I get it. I wanted something I could listen to fully on the drive to work, and he man, it's fine. I love it. Step five man, I know, I know, you know what I mean. I heard your stuff even got on here. Yeah you had to. You had a freestyle on a French record. I saw that you had the bed to using the uh oh man, you had the scene, the classical scene, you know, the people people wake up out of the bed like like I'm rapping, but I was asleep, Like, man, I was

number I had number time in Milwaukee. I wasn't playing, I wasn't trying to set foot on that court. I was ready to get traded. So in the meantime between time, take these bars. Yeah, take these bars. Who was the best known rapping in the NBA? Two? Well you heard Miles, right, you've heard yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well he's no, he's elite. I'll say, mm hmm, Brandy English, Brendan English, pretty good, Um, he's pretty good. I have a song on Obama. You do not want me to put it out? I only

I only. I only respect athletes that actually dropped their music, like I was dropping to three mix tapes, ther seasons and and doing shows. So what's the point of doing and selling dope on the side, you know what I'm saying. Whatever else it took Matt, you know what I'm saying to get a record, so hey. But but now I respect athletes that put their music out, man, because that mean not it's not only a hobby, but you believe

in your music. And a lot of people try to put us in the box just because our contracts, our rages and our money is guaranteed. They tell you just play basketball, stick to basketball. But rappers can act, you know, and everybody else can do everything, but they try to put us in the box. So I always salute athletes that get behind their music and stand up and and and and put it out. So I salute you for that. Bro. Yeah, it's it's kind of a deep concept. Why though, Like, uh,

I mean, people my age don't really get this. So I mean, this is a good lesson for people my age. But like when you when you're when you're in passing, like if you're in hospice, like people who are in hospice, people are going to pass, Like the biggest thing they think of is regret, Like that's what kills and that's what people say, like regret kills you, Like you'll die, but regret kills you. And you don't want to sit there and like everything you do should be about that moment,

like when you look back, like that you did it. Here, you did this, you did that right, Man, this joint, I'm in the crib, like, man, this joint, drop this joint. I don't really like at the end of the day, man, we got everybody out here and then I put it out and it was fine. Everybody liked it. It was what's up? So we know you're a big anime fan. What's anime? Found him? Like an NBA. People don't really

be people. People don't really be tapped into anime. It's like an acquired taste or you gotta have it before and I get honestly, anime really just teaches you lessons if you really pay attention. Behind all the flash and like all the like Japanese like you know, there's a bunch of stuff that will throw you off right if you're not really looking at it, but like it teaches you lessons, like it's a message in all of it.

I got an eight year old, so I watch it. Yeah, it's pretty like it's a lot of like goofy ship, but like there's a lot of stuff that like when you when you watch long enough, you'll be like damn, Like these people are going through it and it kind of makes you look at your own stuff, like you know, maybe I am going through it, but one I'm not going through it like this, And like let's just show

an Attack on Titan. Very good, probably one of the best ones on Hulu, And like it's about humanity, like how it's like how we let's say we're living in humanity and there's these giants around that at any point could just wipe us all out. So we have to

protect ourselves from these giants. And that's what life is about, protecting ourselves these giants while living day to day the child, the child wipe us out and at the end of the day, like I mean, you look at people losing like they're they're they're family, their cousins, their friends, their brothers.

Like when you see that, yes, enemy, But if you have some weird problem, like if you have a problem with your girl, if you have a problem with your homie, if you have a problem with your mind, like you can fix that. You can't fix losing someone. There's things that aren't fixable. Like, so you gotta kind of like a problem is only a big problem to you because

it's you. Like if you step out and really look at the whole perspective of it, it ain't no problem and it's a problem, but it shouldn't ruin your focus or anything like that. Definitely shouldn't ruin your focus on court perspective. Yeah, okay, you received the community system ward

and very important of giving back to you young girls sports. Uh. I fell in love uh with girls sports from watching Kobe and his passion with his daughter, and uh, I was I started the first UM female high school showcase that was headlined by NBA player in Memphis, right right there in Memphis. But when did you get your love to and your and your well as I say, uh, what's the word I'm looking for, Matt and your passion? Thank you, my brother, your passion for giving back to

women's sports. I mean, definitely few fuel through my mom. But just overall, being a good person is important and it's just a human thing to do. You speak out for people who may have not not a problem, but you speak up for people who you who could always use a little more in terms of getting their voice out there. So I just view that as something that

was close to me, important to me. I have a lot of cousins and I have a lot of girls in my life who play sports, and you know, I know that they can be overlooked at times and ways like that, and that is definitely We've came a long way, like for sure come a long way with that in that area. But I always want to make sure I'm making a difference for them. Um, It's just it's just the human thing to do. It comes natural Uh, nothing. I can really put my finger on on why. But

it's a beautiful thing. Plus I love being around I love being around kids and just pushing the youth new heights, um and just making sure everybody's giving the having their voice. Oh, by the way, so that Wayne thing, he said, a boy, Wayne, this is off topic because you know that was deep in love. But that Wayne thing, I have a crazy quote by Wayne. I always keep with me. It's the craziest thing. Was he was sitting like, because Wayne, Wayne, you know, Wayne smoke his ass off, so he's just

be in the clouds. He'll say the most poetic thing and then never remember it. But I quote by Wayne I have in my notes, and like it's only that quote in the notes. That's how you know it's bad. He said. He said, work hard, be somebody, Be something more than what you see in the mirror. Let the world be your mirror. Don't let them judge you, because the mirror can't judge you. You judge what you see in the mirror. Crazy crazy I was. I heard that, like, oh my god, this man just I wasn't even sure

what's going on, but I was it. I don't know what that should mean, but it sounds good when you say that, was it? Like Wayne is a beast? All right? We have quick hitters man, first thing to pop in your mind. Let us know top five current NBA rappers in your opinion? Meles dialogue, dialogue, dialogue, Miles Bridges, Um, oh, damn, Damian Lillard, Marvin Bagley, Um, yeah, and I'll say, Brandon Clark, you know, yeah, my brother, you ain't even check it out.

His stuff ain't even out yet, but you don't. He don't count. All right, Well then then I'm I'm gonna throw Uh, I'm gonna throw mm hmm me twice, me twice Miles, Marvin and Dame because Dame appreciate you put yourself first. How you put yourself first? And everybody's got in lane like Dame is you know, poetic. You know he's he's rapping that reel, you know that real like he and the barbershop with like and with it like he'll play it on the boom box like over his

head like Miles really from Flint. If you ain't from Flint or Detroit, you don't know, then you just don't know. And then me just a lot of swag, a lot of good sounds. I feel good. You know some girls may like it as you post posted to rapping for the women, because if you wrap for the women, the good guys gonna come and exactly. And then Marvin got songs like Tory Lanes. He like a you know Marvin out here, so shout out Marvin Man. He was really

doing it. I think he's signed. He signed straight up on some that ship stuck on the island with three shows and movies. What you're watching ozark Um, Snowfall, thank you? And oh I'm watching any of the Batman movies. I'm watching, like the The Dark Knight, the New Ones, Hard the Dark Knight, or the one with Bain. I'm much you want to know, just give me in that mode. Mm hmm. Toughest matchup you've had up to this point in your career. Mh probably Anthony Davis um in ways, Oh, Steven Adams

before he was on my teeth. That's a strong motherfucker, ain't it. Yeah, it's it's a whole it's a whole experience. It's like playing it's like playing it back to back in one game. And uh, I'd probably say uh um. I mean just when you play Steph your garden him as a team man. He's shooting fifty shots. Everybody's gonna get a few. So that's that's definitely a shared experience playing stuff. Five five dinner guests dead are alive mm

hmm um five is Heath Ledger mm hmm um yeah right. Uh, I would say Juice World Rist is soul as well. Um m, it's funny like all the old old head basketball players I knew growing up from all those little legends brunches, and they used to be all funny like I used to like they used to grab my head and grub my forehead and grab my head a time like I used to already already dealt with them. So like um mm hmm Kobe mm hm for sure, mm hmm.

Michael Jackson and uh dinner, I guess. And then maybe I want to meet somebody like weird, like I want to put like somebody who did something like a criminal or something, some type of criminal. That last spot is some type of criminal. I need you got to spice it up. Ain't no way like we gotta have something like what did you like somebody really messed up, you know, so that spot is open. I ain't got no name for that. But if you really messed up, you're coming

to dinner. I mean, I like you. But that's the whole point, you know, we had dinner. Strike that conversation. Uh. If they're passing you, if you're controlling the music in the locker room before the game, what's one song you're gonna play. We're playing a lot of young boy, young boy. We're playing an off side by young boy. We're playing some baby. Probably gonna hear gang signs by little baby. You're prior how you did that? By gonna Uh, you'll

probably hear popping by yeat you guys. Just something, you guys, just something a boy, go ahead and do that. When we're done, I promise you'll say something. But yeah, yeah, your head, that's the dude, man, real do right there? Yeah all right man, if you can have one guests on All the Smoke, who would it be? And who would it be? But before you answer the question, you have to help us get your answer on our show. Mm hmm, I gotta help you. Yep, uh m hmm.

Floyd Floyd been Hugh No, Floyd Floyd. I think hey, look Floyd, look, come to All the Smoke, right now come to all the smoke. You you're gonna you're gonna feel You're gonna feel cozy, and you're gonna you're gonna not want to do it because you're gonna say some stuff you really feel. But I think it's by the time you say some stuff you really feel. Right, you got all the money, you got eight chains on. I saw the Cubans from the one pick. It was I

was written, Yeah, that was ridiculous. It looked like a little mini Mr Tea. Yeah, yeah, he was everybody that he was bugging. But you know, like I mean, shoot, I don't know, man, he does a lot of like exercises. You never know how how it was weighing him down or anything like that, vvs to them or not in size. So I'm proud of you. They were good, Jaren Jackson. Man,

We appreciate your time. Wish you the best of luck the remainder of the season, man, and we'll be checking out the playoffs man, So thank you for your time today. Appreciate legendary. Appreciate your brother. That's a rap Jaren Jackson Jr. Look for him and his Memphis Grizzlies coming to the playoffs near you. Very soon. You can catch this a Showtime Basketball YouTube and the I Heart platform Black Effects.

We'll see y'all next week. Yeah, this is all a smoke, A production of The Black Effect and our Heart radio and partnership with Shows Up