Rajon Rondo | Ep 63 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

the kids, so it's NonStop twins. Ashton running around the house opening everything. So I got a little pit stop real quick to uh knock this interview out today. Man, how's everything out there? Man? Everything's good? And speaking of ash you know Sky's running around with Speaking of ash my man, take a showers already, Bro, it's crazy. It's crazy. He like a little key like he can't get the soap in his head. But once I get the soap in his hand, he could rub it on his body.

But he told me the other day, said daddy know and like shut the ship on me like he loves like when I say this is shower time. This broke this dude, will you know, make his way upstairs, fast up the stairs, you know how to take his diaper off, clothes off, and he's ready, so it's solid. At least I know it's gonna be clean. But anyway, man, they

appreciate that, thank you very much. But we got man two time NBA champ, if I'm not mistaken, the only person in the history of the NBA to win a ring with the Boston Celtics in the Los Angeles Lakers just recently signed a two year deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Welcome and region Rondo appreciate. It's what's up nine, How are you? Yeah, we're supposed to do this and we're supposed to do this interview last week, but he was he was on vacation. The WiFi was spotty, so we

we we had to push this. But I'm glad we finally were able to track you down and yeah, wherever you was, but you had you had some lions and tigers and bass showing on the Wi Fi car and I don't know where you It was horrible, So I'm glad we had to get rescheduled and got this thing going to that. Well, let's get to it. You know, you come off a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. Uh, what what years schooling you're going into? What year going

into year fifteen? What was your deciding factor, um to go back to the Lakers or take a little more lucrative deal um with Atlanta. Not one prior to his family, So for me to be close to my family more on the East Coast. Um, and then obviously playing for a young organization, helping a lot of these young guys out. You know, they made a couple of me to call and you know, once it was over, as far as the free agency signing, Uh, they gave me a call.

I'm talking how much they wanted me there and they wanted to learn from me. So, um, I'm glad I made a decision being able to to be a veteran the trade younger going into this knowing how much you're gonna mentor him, and that's being players. We know the education you're gonna give him. Hi high expiring. How excited are you to going to be able to give that game to to one of the stars, upcoming stars in

the game. I'm very excited. Uh. You know, we've been in the gym a couple of times already h just kind of picking each other's brain and getting up some shots together. So, uh, he seems like a sponge and I'm ready to give him whatever I have, obviously trying to lead him to the best point guarding could possibly be and this understanding different dynamics of the game. So I'm excited to teach him and all the other young

guys as well. But I think it's great too from a standpoint, and you're gonna allow him to do more of what Steph gets to do, and we'll just play off the ball and come off screens and be able to catch the you know, to pick a row off the side on the run. Is that everyone loading up to him up top, So I think obviously similar to what I feel like CP is gonna do with Devin Booker.

You guys got two young monsters next to you, and I'm sure you guys are gonna both enjoy, you know, that opportunity of passing all your knowledge of the game, because you're one of the greatest minds that ever played this game. Man. So I'm excited because I think low Ki Atlanta's done really well and Free Agency to me, that done really well. We we definitely did I would say that. So I'm excited. You know, I'm always I

loved undogment tally and being against a lot. So I'm looking forward to the challenge this year and getting us to where we need to be. So are you are? You guys are out in the landing now. You mentioned before you are you settled in yet? You ready? Because I mean everything is right around the corner. I'm not settled in yet, but I'm about a week away. Like it's still getting everything there and close ship from Cali and getting better get I'm almost close. Mm hmm. What

was it like? Um? You know, as I mentioned at the top of the show, you want a championship for the Boston Celtics. You won a championship for the Los Angeles Lakers. Has it kind of sunk in yet? Obviously? You still have more time? And until I finished, I didn't really kind of look back at anything I had done. But has it kind of sunk in that you won a championship for the two greatest franchises in the sports history. It's definitely sunk in, but you know it's still being

active right now. It's you know, my my main focus is obviously now going into the season so quickly is the Hawks and helping us grow as much as possible. But um, you know, I see it. I hear it every day, understanding that what I've accomplished, but it still hasn't really hit it sunk in for the most part. But I'm definitely aware and grateful with an opportunity to be able to just play this game for so long

and one of two most story franchise in history. Uh, you know, it's definitely a blessing to do what I did in my career so far. What what has it been like? You know, just just being you know, being the champion again. Like you know, I got a chance to experience Matt, Matt got a chance to experience. But being able to to be back at the top, being at the mountaintop twice. You know, how does that feel this the second go around? Uh? For me, it's even better.

You know you obviously guys you saw it. It's crazy quick story. When I went back in uh oh eight, the house son, Eddie house Son was always on the sidelines and around and U you know, I was like, damn, it'd be dope, you know what I mean? Like if I had the opportunity to do the same thing, you know what I mean. So I wanted to you know, wanting kids earlier, I had kids. My son is nine now, and you know, for m to be able to coome

experienced that in the bubble let alone. We want to back last year when I hit the game, when you shot against the Celtics, he was there, you know, on the floor. So you know, for him to be able experience that, you know, full circle, like you manifest that, you know, nine, ten years later or twelve years later. Uh, you know, they come full circle. It was definitely a surreal moment to be able to have been there with

me celebrate my second championship. So winning one at now and thirty four, and it's a big difference, you know, Like I said, there's having people around me that I love, being able to witness and experience experience that as well with me. So it's been a hell of a run. You know, leaving the bubble was it is what it is. But after leaving, you know, I enjoyed myself in a nice vacation. We celebrated with the team, We kicked it with you know, a couple of days and a couple

of different cities and just enjoying life every moment. You gotta you gotta blow that picture up though, which with you and your son on the court, that has to be. Yeah, And if you ever decided to drop the out at uh like like like we did a little quarantine, packed up on songs, that gotta be the comer that guy. Yeah, that was a was a beautiful picture. It's funny you

said that because that was my best experience. Obviously I got hurt going into the playoffs and and and and didn't play as much obviously as I'd want to, and when I won a championship, but the best thing was that the twins were there, so, you know, Steve Kerr let them fly on the plane and go to practice with us being the hotels, be in the locker room, be on the sideline, and when we had an opportunity to win it, these two little dudes are up next

to Stephan Clay trying to hold the championship trophy and try to get the m v P trophy from from from KD. You know what I mean. So that was the best moment. That's still when I talk about it, what gives me chills about it is because that's something you can't pay for that's something you can. Unless you're in the moment, you'll never understand what it means to that kids. Uh in a little side, No, I think

a great thing. He's just your Your son is the same age the twins were when we wanted and I got them championship rings for Christmas and they lost their minds. So I know they may they may replica little rings too. If you need an idea for a Christmas president, just want to throw that out there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's what's up. You mentioned real quickly, which I thought was an interesting because we haven't really talked about this, was

leaving the bubble. What was it like going back into society, because you guys, I mean although you you know, you had an injury, you went and then you left and then you came back. But after being in the bubble, just the whole overall process, what was it like leaving? It was definitely different. You know, um, you know, I might even always adjusted my environment wherever the case may be. So I kind of got right back to it. Um. I went home to put it with the kids for

a couple of weeks. I actually went to Miami chill for a couple of days, went back to l A and just kind of just kept it moving, you know what I mean. I'm really a home body, So you got the kids around, went to the house. Obviously during COVID you can't do much anyway, so we kind of chilled and relaxed. Uh, you know, I got in some water, and then I took my vacation, so I was right back to it. And like you said, I was home for six weeks, so I don't have to go through

as much as my teammates did. So you know, I'm just you know, in a in a certain sense, you know, I was kind of blessed as far allting to go through it that endured that that long time. But I think it was hunt into or three days. So I got to go home, come back, and it's kind of just locking in and go from there and just focus on the goal. I kind of got a restart. I don't know if it was rumors or not, but I heard you had questioned even coming back after that thumb injury.

Was it What was that rumors or was that true? Or Um? I had questions. I wasn't even thinking about going into the bubble initially. UM, you know, that was the thought in my mind during the quarantine times, like I said this, I want to be closer to my fan. But after I broke my thumb, I didn't have doubts or it's not that I didn't want to come back. It was just a matter of you know, this is my third surgery on my right hand two years, you

know what I mean. So it was kind of understanding like I gotta now, I gotta figure out what's my bone density in my hands? Like so I gotta I think differently of how I gotta protect my body and you know, be able to understand whatever you know I do to me. You can said that, you know, we got a little we got a little a stegment we got. We were talking about the point guards and we call a point guards and you're a point guard. You can

said that you fall into that point guard category. What was it like bringing point guard Rondo playoff Rondo back in the bubble? It was It was amazing. It was an unbelievable feeling, you know, just the mindset and the mentality that I had going into the bubble. I was able to completely focus everything I had into the game, you know, me to my distractions and like I said, being a bubble help, you know what I mean, Like it's it's there's so much we can do. Um, you know,

I'm not really a gamer. We started, I started actually when I come back and breaking my hand, I started a game with the guys. But when we lost our first game, I was pissed and I couldn't really focus on game anymore. So you know, I was kind of locked in with the game plan and understanding what we can do to win and dominate the game. So for me, it was just a straight mentality just to you know, try to get it done. That was the goal going

into the season. That was the expectations for me and what I had for the team, and we all had the same goal. So our attention to detail what Frank was able to do with us in the bubble, and like I said during film, how guys were able to learn so quickly on the fly without even going through it on the court really, you know, I mean we have a five ten minute walk through, but it was it was light. You know, we had on hoodies, flip flops like it wasn't you know what I mean, like

a tape walk through anything like it. Like I said, we was picking up on the flight, going to the game and making quick adjustments. M hm, you don't do you like when they call you play off Rondo like you're someone different? See um Max I did the first day. I think in Max he broke it down differently on why people consider that. But my main thing is, you know, and you have a couple of days of rest, you have a couple of days of preparation, being able to

lock in on one team. You know, I think, you know, everybody can ever reate their game in a sense. You know, it's about the dedication or the knowledge of the game to some levels. But when you have those things that come into play, it is easy. And also you know, during the playoffs, look at my career, I pretty much got more time in the playoffs, and I believe that's when coaches allow me to. You know, I would say, like I said, I said, to be a magician with

the ball and manipulate the game. Put people in spots to where I know a guy's gonna make a mistake weak side, and I can, you know, put my best shooter there if I want to get him the shot. So it's just I feel like that's what coaches then allowed me to do with the playoffs, just be me, and they understand that that point is okay, cool. He wants the same thing I want is to win, you know.

I mean that's the only thing that matters. So you know, I think they give me more leeway to maniplate the game and make me have to have an impact on the game. And that's what I get out of it. That's what I get out of it when when they say playoff Rondo, because I I know the difference between me and the regular season in the playoffs, and I know your your mind is one of the being one of the you know, you and Chris Partler two spart

part of the smartest point guards in the game. I know your mind works different in the playoffs because every game counts and everything. We know, you only gotta be you only gotta be the best team in this series for four games. You know what I'm saying. So you locked in you and you see different things to get these teams. So I understand when they call you playoff rather because I know your i Q probably goes up

ten times how you in the playoffs. But you know, being able to you know, work with you know a lot of great minds that ship. You know what I mean, I was a sponge as well. You know a lot of people always say um um this. I always I don't want to be the smartest in the room, you know what I mean, Like I got to surround myself next to Brin, you know, Frank Bobe, feel Handy, Jake Kid, Mike Penberleys, Like it's just a lot of great minds

that you know. I'm like, give me everything you've got ship ortique me ORTI us, Like, you know, what's your mindset? So you know in the future, you know, you never know where I want to be down the line is coaching r and whatever the case it be, is like I want to know, you know what the great what's the great? You know what the great mindsets? So how they think that's where you belong for sure, that's that's

that's iron shopping, shopping the iron. But I wanted to touch on, you know, going into a locker room with Bronze, seeing that you guys are natural born leaders. You guys mindset, the attention to detail, your discipline, you're hunger to win. What was it like collaborate? You know, obviously one of the greatest players of all time. From a mental standpoint, it was. It was a hell of experience, you know,

Like I said, I was. He was very vocal to sharing film as far as helping young guys understand what they need to be and where we need to be as a team. So I was, like I said, I was learning on the fly on the court, you know, just picking his brain and studying him, his his body of work, the way he moves. When I go back and watch film. I used to always watch filming myself, and then I watched film of of him a d you know what I mean. It's stand where they want

the ball, where they're great at. So that's just, um, that's just kind of how my mindset was going into it, like I said. But to be able to play with him and pick his brain daily and understand his discipline of what he's done to be able to become you know, so dominant year seventeen is uh. It was fun to watch. It was great to be next to and understanding like, okay,

this easily. You know, I played with so many lead players at a high level, Damn man, I would say more than fifteen first ballot Hall of famers, So, um, see, the the best at the best. It was the hell of arrived these last couple of years. Just I'm just watching them. You came in and picked up where you left off, which was crazy to me after six weeks off and a broken thumb. It's like you said, a

third a third surgery. On the same hand, tell me what it was like being a younger player in the playoffs and then your mentality as a fifteen year vet or a fourteen year vetting coming back and knowing exactly where you need to be and how you can affect the game and the most because you put up solid numbers, but just your presence on the court allowed Lebron to kind of exhale a little bit, and you were able

to run the show on both sides of the floor. Well, I mean, like I said, that's you know something that really it's just about trust, you know what I mean. Like Brown was able to trust me, and I told him, you know what I mean, Like I got you. You know, yeah, I damned you. Don't let anybody down. My stepf down. But I'm not gonna anybody downs. I'm gonna make mistakes. But you know, if I make a mistake, I'm probably gonna make up for two times in the next two

or three minutes. So it's just that was just my mindset and just having energy and and want to become, you know, the best player on the court, and even with him on the court, of my mindset is to be the best play on the court at all times. And I was able to do that, like I said, with trust in my teammates and my coaching staff, so I to get them credit. But just having a mindset, like I said, when I was twenty one and the playoffs going to get going at it. You know, I

had three grades. You know, a lot of other great teammates, I had three grades behind me, and I knew they had my back from day one. So I did have to earn a respect, which you know is obviously expected, which was not a problem, but have then behind me understanding like you know, they gave me leeway. You know,

they pumped the confidence in me. I saw those guys work at at an early age, and it was only right there I followed suit, you know what I mean, Like I said, having that competitive drive I want to win, I was able to learn, you know, some of the things I had been put it with thirst and just picked each one of the other brains, you know, the PJ. Browns Keian dude was like, I had a lot of great vets, Senaca, sale, tyrone, loup. So they were on me daily and they helped me grow. And then fast

forward fifteen years later. For fourteen years later, Um, you know, I mean I was able to just come back, you know, the grace of God. You know, I broke my hand. Then I was supposed to play in the Portland series thirty minutes for a tip off, my back locked up. I'm out another week. So I missed that serious completely. So I'm thinking, like, damn, you know, I've been out seven months. I'm coming right back in the heat. So I had a brain in his understanding, like I said,

make sure my body was was right. You I still could lift even though I broke my thumb. I was. I was on a daily lifting Um. I was doing yoga every other day, just trying to lock in and make sure my body was right from the back so I don't have any little extremity, you know, mess up. So that was just my mindset. M hm. Ship. I love hearing that. But take me back to one year old Rondo being the floor general to win your first championship in Boston with team like you said, the likes

of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce. You guys had a hell of a team. I think Tony Allen was on that team too, wasn't he. Yeah, t A. You guys have, yeah, a lot of a lot of different personalities, but you were the one. You were the you know, from from the outside looking in, you were the pulse of the team, but you were only you were the

youngest at the same time. So what was it like navigating that team and what did you learn from actual on the court experience, and then also having Dock next to you, because you know, I personally, you know, Doc would tell stories how you guys would butt heads sometimes because you see things one way. Yeah, yeah, yeah, get yeah, get into that ship for us. So let's let's start with Doc. Let's start with Yeah. Man, my first year, Um, you know, we lost eight teams straight at one point,

So I'm like, man, what the funk? You're like, I can't get no burn, you know what I mean, I even't give me the game. He's he's just just I don't know, I'm gonna get into a little bit and goes crazy on it basically, so fast forward that the trade happened, you know, the same year, same players go KG. I think that I heard KG said he wanted me to stay, so boom we win a championship. But throughout that year it was tough, yo, but Doc helped me

get through it. Obviously understanding you know he's played I think he played with two Hall of Famers at the time,

and just how to navigate and keep those guys happy. Um, you know, I think I'm blessed and fortunately, like I said, I played baseball, football, basketball all three growing up, so I kind of had that leader mentality, leader mindset growing up as far as it's being a believer in being a student of the game whatever I wanted to to accomplish, And that will show those guys are under respect, you know,

back with my my knowledge and my work ethic. You can't deny me or you can't you know, not hand me the keys and you know giving them granted, Uh they didn't, you know, that's earlier. Obviously want to give me the keys. At first, I had to earn their respect. I did that throughout the season. Um, they ain't still trusting me. I communicated with my guys all the time on the court, you know what I mean. Like I

prided myself on having the most touches. There's a stat back in the day when Steve played, and um, I think one year he had beat me in most touches with his teammates, you know what I mean as far as like coming back, running back on defense, touch or coming that time I was touched like that, that mindset, you know, also helped me kind of earned their respect and this to gather that I could probably kind of bring teams together that I don't mean to cut you off,

but see that's that's how you set them apart. Who thinks about stuff like that? Right? I love hearing this ship. I love hearing this ship. I love that. Damn that's crazy. I didn't even know that was a stat. Yeah it was. It was Steve beat me when y'all I was like, damn beat me. I mean, like that's what you know, that's just like I said, how I am. But it

it wasn't forceful like I said. There's always you know, me being the point you know what I mean, Like everybody runs back to the point guard, you know what I mean. So okay, good shot, good what is that that pick like it just you know, positive encouragement and talking to my team to where you know, we feel confident about what we're doing and were ready to lock the funk in. Everybody know what we're doing. Only stat Jack knew was motherfucking f g A S f J

speaking of that though. That's that's what Danny. That's the key thing Danny told me. Game sticks back in our way. He was like f g A, he said, he said, put him up against Coble. He said, put him up, I play. You gotta be aggressive. I end up shooting twenty one field goals of that game. But see I remember that though, because obviously, you know, being in the league the same time, I remember cob used to play you under the free throw line sometimes, you know what

I mean. And it kind of could clogged the defense up for everyone else, for all the curls and all the ship in the paint and it, and it took you to be more aggressive for him to come out and motherfucking guard you, right, So that he was the first to do that, then obviously he set that. He set the trend. I mean a couple of years that I think Brown was playing like that in the playoffs and and they put a bigger guard on me that type of mentality. So I was like, okay, cool, I

gotta figure out how to dash that. This I got you know, this is this is playoff Okay, I get it. Okay, Now I gotta elevate because I think throughout the playoffs, no one that played me that way. And Kobe, you know, that's why you arresting peace one Grace. I love the Peters because he understood the mindset of the game and just had a you know, we it was a chess match out there, and I love playing against it with him, you know. And also you know, obviously gotta give Phil

Jackson credit as well. What is it about like you and like Jaked, like even Jakid, like y'all wasn't shooters now now they can't leave y'all open m That's what he telling me too. But now just you know, just working and not giving the funk, you know what I mean? Ship, Yeah, but but on some real ship that not giving a fun meter has to be really high. And to me, that's the only thing holding Ben Simmons back right now is that I don't give a funk meter and what

you get over that. I don't give a meter. You're good. The crazy part is you look around the league nigger shooting three for seven teen. I'm like, what come on, okay, all right, get up til three, nick, I'm a five five of the mothers exactly exactly, exactly real. But you got But you gotta get over that though, Like you said, how what what was it difficult for you to get over that? You embraced it right away because you are a past pass first type of guy. So was it

hard for you to actually take that mentality on? It was? You know still at times, you know, it's just my mindset is always thinking open man. But you know, the way the game is played today. When I'm able to stay in the league now, like I said, they've been telling me, I gotta take it so um. Like I said, I'm looking for that motherfucker. I'm trying to get him up. I ain't got nothing to lose, you know what I mean. I'm gonna make any back in the game so many

other ways, so I get three D bit just on. Yeah, all right, back, let's let's go back to bron Rondo. Give me one thing that you could say you actually learned from the King. I call him the k A n G. The King. I think I actually learned as far as game while I was like or or or yea or or just something you previously didn't know about him, you know what I mean. Like you hear a lot of different things, like what is something you learned from him that you just didn't know? Like damn, Okay, I

mean I'll go I might say it's disciplined. I just think it's discipline, you know, Like I said, he got the best guy working on his body in the game. Uh, and everything to do is you know, it's routine, strategically routine as far as the rest diet, you know what I mean, like from top to bottom. The only person that was KG. But like I said, Lebron is the way he's daily doing exactly what he needs to be doing.

It is a match. So it's like you, I can tell you that, but you can't really understand until you like see it, like damn, like I see him every day like and he's he ain't taking no shortcause like he owned it, locked in love it, so putting them days together. What was it like going from being a Boston Celtic to winning a championship for the Lakers. The year Kobe passes, it was a lot. This is the emotional rollercoaster the year m H winning it, you know

for Kobe, the year Cope passes is unreal. There's something you can't imagine obviously, be playing against a couple of finals, uh, you know, in the in the same uniform. So h it was. It was a tough one. I said. We all understood the mindset and the goal of what we had, what we're trying to attain, and who we were doing it for. So do to be able to you know, kind of like you said, say that full circle accomplish

your goal. It was just a real moment and it's definitely something but you know it would be grateful for I'm sure the rest of our life. So it was a dope moment. It's been. It's been a dope moment despite everything else, you know, I mean, just being able to share some light in that in that aspect, I mean, it's been amazing to me. You know, people talk about

this should be an asterisk. To me, this should be a gold star considering what the world was going through, what you guys had to go through to to to get in the bubble, and stay safe and still carry your message and still be away from your family. To me, the game is mental. Once you get to this level, everyone could pretty much do everything. So who mentally, like you said, with Broun's discipline, or who can really lock in for this time and understand the task at hands.

So for all those people to say this is an asterist, this ship and then the man funk that, there's gotta be a gold star considering how fucked up it, how fucked up in your ties been as a whole. Absolutely, I can't wait within my room. I'm gonna wear my last Yeah, I saw, I saw Braun. He did an interview Richard Jefferson Um not too long ago, and he said the one thing he was disappointed was was not

being able to party with his teammates. Obviously said, you know, the locker room is cool, the parade is cool for the fans. But then, and I heard before this, you guys are a really close team. You guys moved as a unit. So how disappointing was it for you, even though you're old, wildly vetting you want to sit at home with the family, to not be able to a party with you team. You know, when you win a championship because those obviously the ships don't come around all

the time. That's the time to turn up. That's right. You get everybody in the past, you can, right. So no, it was you know, it wasn't uh, you know, it wasn't what you would expect. It was difficult, you know, I just you just gotta appreciate what we did. You know, we didnt get the opportunity to kind of go crazy and celebrate it due to the situations. But let's just hoies, Ben, you know, it's just roll with the punches. Like I said, its warts up and down. You you take your wins

when you can't understand, you know, some things uncontrollable. So you know, where were unite, you know what I mean? Like ship, we're still out here. So it's something they can never take away from us. So it might not be the ideal right after right after the CHIP championship celebration, but we figured some ship out in a lot of guys we got on this team. You know, we can

make some moves. Um. Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, multi sport athletes, UM, similar to me, didn't really tune in to basketball until I got older, Like I watched the Lakers, but outside of that, I wasn't really following college basketball, know who like that. I was just out there playing sports. When did basketball become serious to you? It became serious to me probably with my senior at Okaill you know what I mean, Like I played sports growing up. Now

I take that back. It might have been serious maybe junior year, I say. Junior year, I would say, but I still didn't know, you know what I mean. I had an opportunity to kind of get to leave, but I understood that. Um. You know, I had a mentor growing up that I met when I was like fifteen years old, Um, Derek Anderson. And I met him. Like, I'm from Kentucky, so I didn't watch basketball growing up. I watched football like I was outside playing. So we

didn't have a professional team in Louisville. And I was just always outside active, so I didn't I didn't grow up a fan of anybody or anything. And like I said, once I met him, uh, you know, he exposed me to a lot of different a different life. Basically, you know, we picked me up like that's all we're doing, chilling that he worked out to or three hours of morning. The rest of that he got chill. I'm like, Dad, this is what you're doing. Like you who were drive

out to it. We would drive to a big gass crib. I'm like, damn they are You're doing it like that Sam Cars. I'm like, Okay, the life, Okay, who I mean, let me focus on. Let me locking and try to get you know, go this way, because you know, at to that point, I was just I was just heard, you know, with just being fifteen six and year old kid. I mean not really, no, really go there's got a lot of kids in neighborhood were kicking and we're doing

whatever we're doing, trying to get through the school. So once I met him, my stoo coach Doug Bibby flew me out of Sacramental working out with Mike Bibby. So I'm like, okay, everything I can hoop you. I mean, I'm over playing ones against the nigga. They ain't killing me too much. See what I got. Let me focus a little bit more. Um. Then I went to Old Kill Academy. I got my boy, my brother to this day, Josh Smith and the league they coming, they come to

scout him, the league coming. See this Nick. I'm like ship he they come to see him. You know, we had once every day going at it and practice my shot. I can keep up this nigg he just you know six eight freakish athleticism. But you know I got some shipped too. Once they started looking at him as the league, Um, I kind of was like, oh, I can get it. I can go get you know what I mean. That's kind of my master's when I really kind of locked

in my senior year. I went from Danna Reddy eight to make McDonald's my senior year and then um it was on every cent. I mean I all got matched up with a couple of you know, Sebastian Tilver, Sean Livingston. We had. We had I think one of the best McDonald classes all time. I'm arguing that with anybody, so class old folk. You know, we think we had fourteen go out of the league, straight out of the league and go to the total League. So you know, once I once I got to that point, I was like,

it's all. I was pissed. Funny, I had to go to school. Everybody all when I went out of high school, I'm like, damn, I ain't even know good. I'm going to Kentucky. But I'm like everybody went to the league, So I had to go to school for a couple of years, and you know, here we are. It's funny to say something about O Kill because my going into my junior year, you know, I can win the state

championship with Texas. I started getting the name for myself, and I started, you know, looking at basketball more shares. But once I got the Old Kill and I got a chance to experience traveling all around the country, plan against the top players and holding my own I think that's what made it real for me, you know what I'm saying, Because before I got the O Kill, I never thought about making the McDonald's game. You know, I

had it. I had a dope class to Kobe, Jermaine on Neil, Tim Thomas, Real Hamilton I had, and Mike Bibby I had a dope class too. But going to O Kill made me realize that I could make it. You know what I'm saying. I heard you kind of speak on that earlier. Absolutely same likewise, when I got A Kill got the Josh, we we played four or four games that year, like thirty seven on the road, and I mean so that was just already getting the set.

If we did, like most of us did, go to college, you know how that mandset to still be able to do academics on the road and then make sure you get your grades working then who so we're prepared for you know, at a young age, the hardest part was living on the hill ship man, I'm talking about girls on one side, dudes on one side. You can't come across the line. Yeah, got a line, boss you Yeah, you get calling with the girl you sed to spend it off the rip there no questions, right, that's made

it happen, man, I made it happen, matt if any month. Anyway, back to business, what was the recruiting process? Like you chose Kentucky, you played for Tubby Smith. Did anyone else get a real consideration or being you know, born and raised from there? That's where your mind was from the beginning? No, actually, um I was. I got off from Louisville my junior before I went to Okill, and I said, no, I'm

gonna wait. So a lot of people thought you don't never offered me, But I'm like, you know, it didn't really make a difference. I kind of want to wait to see where I was at. I got to o Kill, so I had about five business set up. I never took no out of my visits and being being ok Kill, you know, I was like ten hour drive from from the crib and my mom was, you know my biggest

my name wants to paint number one fan. So I wanted to be close to her, you know what I mean, like going Okay, I miss home like crazy, um, and I wanted her to be able to come travel and see me. So Kentucky here, I think four or five seniors leaving that year, I would opportunity to come in and start right away. And the ship was supposed to career and we have like I think number two recruited class coming in. We had Randal More, Joe Crawford, Mell Bradley,

Chuck Hayes there already clinizes a booky. So I was like, ship, you know, we can go out and rock it out and figure, you know, try to get to the lead from there. The biggest platform. Mm hmmm. How was it being a part of that Kentucky legacy still to this day? You know what I mean, Like I'm really I played

are be in basketball three? The most story franchises. You know what I mean, Like it's let me recognize, I mean right behind, right behind, right behind you see la, But I feel you go ahead now, we ain't done ship lately. Now it's definitely Kentucky now, I mean U C. L a Is is played out unfortunately, but it's definitely Kentucky is the mecca for college basketball now that's for sure.

And point go out of cat right now, even Ship since the abandoned brothers man for no, you ain't lying absolutely right now resting Kevin Love and them had their nice little run but never won a championship, like we ain't won the championships. I think Drew was a little older. It was Derren Collins. It was Darren Collinson, Russell Westbrook, Yeah, Kevin Love. They had a good team but could never get over the hump. And then we had a dope

team too. But our coaches are only a couple of years older than us, laugh at just like her thirties. So motherfucker's out trying to chase holes just like we were. So we we all we had like nine pros or eight pros. Go pro off our team, but we didn't win ship. So you decided you decided to make that jump. Um, the Knicks passed on you at twenty and you went

twenty one to the Sons? Did playing and being but being a Nick ever crossed your mind and the thoughts of what it would be like to to to be a point Guarden for that it is a historical franchise, even though I haven't done nothing a long time, but just thinking like changing the culture in their mental Did that cross your mind seeing that they were right there? No, I didn't give a damn where I win. I was with my name. It's so crazy because the nigga went in front of me. Dude in front of me. His

name is Ronaldo Balkman. Yeah, that's who got knocked out by Mellow. They said, okay, you know means they gat me. I thought I was ready to get picked that in. I don't know that wasn't he was just on the team my bad four winning season. Then it all changes someone when you get KG and ray Allen y'all bounced back, Tell me what have tell I had the team changed when nob y'all had those guys. So, I mean it was from jump, you know it was. It was a

chemish from Jump. I think those guys came in. We all came in about maybe three weeks earlier than camp and started a hoop and from the first game him to pick up. The biggest difference I noticed was was KG yelling you know you I'm up top on the ball, He's yelling screen screen screen. I'm like, damn, this ain't

even nowhere near me yet. So I was like it was a different It was this easy playing with him, you know what I mean, Like he he told you what to be, what was happening behind you, and if you got a guy behind you just to be able to check your eye, he was able to, you know, quarterback and do that and that. From that moment on, I knew like this ship was on, you know what I mean. He was having a guy that can quarterback behind me versus me and not being always on the

back line. Having to say ship like I had a big fellow that knew the game as well, so I have him behind me being able to quarterback. And then, like I said, it goes along with our work ethic. You know, we went to Rome right away. That helped from jump. You know, we got our chemistry from from day one, going on a trip overseas where ship you don't have anybody to talk to about yourself. Everybody speaking

for an language, We got them too. There were able to lock in and just just understand what we're trying to accomplish that year and the mentality and their mindset from me being able to free us that being around the great leadership. And when they brought in Sampa Sale. One of my my closest coaching staff bladders was Armine here. You know he's still with our Hey, Hey, did he used to motherfucker take it? Did he used to take his shoes off of everything and sit on them hot packs? Uh? No,

that was my bad. That was oh dude from the Lakers with Phield Jackson. My bad our mom. But our mom was cool, cool, real cool dude. Hey, you know KG. KG said the same thing when he was on the show. He was like, from that first practice, how we competed, how he felt like everybody was on the same page and came into work. He said the exact thing. Broad from that first practice. He knew that y'all had some special Now we used to dog it. We used to

have called junior runs. That's when we played one on one and you couldn't call a foul, you know what I mean. Like it was like we weren't going crazy. Ain't know the soft ass foul they was playing. Like I said, bigs are lined up on one end and the guards line on another, and we would go at it and we're playing ones before the games. So getting it in. What's speaking? He speaking to KG you know, obviously to land him was huge. He was talking about

other teams and impossible situations where he went. But when we interviewed him on the show, and I quote he said, you gotta keep the little African kid, yo. If I come to Boston, you gotta keep the African story. He keeps saying that, Hey, but he said, I mean it. But but but to hear that, it is what it is. But to those someone of Kevin Garnetts caliber knew that you were a young and up and coming main piece

for that team. How did that make you feel? I'm sure they had to give you a lot of confidence. Definitely a lot, you know, Like I said, it was so crazy that I was sitting at the cree of my mom's house in Kentucky when the trades were happening. I think it was before the draft, And like I said, my name was on the board the first two days, along as you know, six other guys. I'm like, damn, we're gonna I'm going to Minnesota. I'm like, fun, I'm like I said, I asked to get out here cause

I was trying it out here my rookie year. Games wouldn't blame me. I was trying to get a batter, So I was like, okay, cool trade having I trade. It happens to happen. Two days past, Danny called me like, you ain't going nowhere, So I said, cool, I lock back in with Boston and I, you know, not knowing that, kJ was like, no, get him out of there, keep him here, you know what I mean? So that that changed my career path right there? What that's what? What? What?

What is your heritage? What does the name region Rondo come from? Raj and my mama just made it up, you know what I mean? Just a unique name that I appreciate you this day. So it ain't thathning. I think my other name, my ucle name is Roderick, and I think she started as was made, uh talk to us a little bit. Uh, you guys had a run. You guys won a championship obviously the first taste of the Lakers selfish rivalry. Uh, you guys got a chance

to play play against each other a few times. What was it like to be a twenty one year old point guard in the midst of the most historical I ad in the game. I was just locked into the moment, you know, it was it was a real moment to understand the history because the Celtics hadn't one, you know, so I was born I think it was twenty years you know, prior to it. So I was getting there

or being back into the championship. So I had to watch a lot of tape and just understand, like, you know, all the greatness that I've I'm pretty much a part of now and understanding how big the rivalry was. And it didn't realize until you know, the NBA Finals of the media hit, you know, once the media was there, it was it was like, damn, this is this is

the real deal. And all the attention and uh reporters from different countries, you know, at the event, it was like this is, uh, this is bigger than I imagine. So it was dope at twenty one just to be able to go through that and then being from you know, playing for Boston. You know, I still say, the best fans and you know, one of the best fans that I've ever played played for those Arenas, so they know

the game, they're they're amazing fans. And uh, it was just like I said, great being in the town at the entitled town m You and Jack both won the Young Ages. You guys both had big close out Game six. What was your experience like closing someone out on the biggest stage Rondo? And then I want to compare to you know, I want Jack to talk about his experience as well, because for young players, a lot of mother's ain't got them kind of balls. Yeah, I mean I

was just thinking dominated. Like I said, Danny came to me before a game six and I was like, I don't know what you do. He was like, get him up. I said, well, get him upright? Cool? So I just kind of went the mentality like I said, and the shot and shot and shot the ball. And I knew that aggressive play well. I intended to hope that that aggressive player would would propel us to get a victor again, like I said, would be the shot out of here. So it was it was all around team. I think

for me and it was similar you know, Toronto. I'm pretty sure, but just having Tim doncan have the comfidence in me, I think for me not playing to me starting to me getting all those shots and making big shots. It all started and had something to do with him. And when you got the best player believing, then you you got the best player of telling the coach that you need to start. You got the best player coming you were believing you to throw you the pass at

the end of the game. That boost is your confidence. So for me having Tim to have my back and let me know that I belong in this game, that I belong on this team, that I'm a big part of this team, That's what helped me as a young guy. So when anytime you have a young guy that you know that they're gonna be a big part of your team, it's imperative that the star players give them that confidence.

M HM. Talk about it. What was the process of growing because you had to grow fast and learn fast, and and when would you say like you were kind of handed the keys to the car, you know, along with it with three Hall of famers that are rolling with you handed the keys. I think I kind of gained him throughout the playoffs that that first year of playoffs run we had you know, we we had a tough battle against the Hawks. You know, we went seven.

We went seven and seven and six six. I think I think at the time it was the most you know games played the win the championships like twin six games, so you know we were about to tested, you know, ship. I pretty much played every game seven, you know what I mean, I think I had any packing those games seven. I think it is group, you know, going into the playoffs that year, Um, you know, every everybody on this in that role, and I wanted to be the best

roleplayer possible and make my guy's job easy. You know. That was just my masset one to the game. Whatever I can do to make y'all, make y'all ship easy. You know, if you're shooting PT two, I want to get it to fifty five, you know what I mean, Just little things like that, as far as just having him to understand that they know I want the best for them, so that it wasn't a problem. Um that gave me the keys, Doc gave me the keys, and it was it was through time, through film, through working

through a lot of criticism. Like I said, even we wanted me and Doc still was but in his I mean, but Doc right bumped his first four or five years, you know. I mean it was just um point guard point guard understanding game from what I saw, what he saw. So it wasn't um nothing that it was something if I coach, I look forward to doing as well, you know, just teaching the game, understanding the game with what my point guard sees or the guy I'm helping, or even

trade this year, you know what I mean. I love it. I'm gonna enjoy picking his brain understand like what he sees and how I can help you get him, you know, whatever level he's trying to get to it, which is probably the best. So I look forward to that. So just having those vests, Man, it was big in the locker room for me coming off that. You guys had a big two thousand ten run uh knock and weight off braun our Lando team um to get to a

reach match with the Lakers. Um Na, remember, so we had we Man, who was I talking to about this was events. I was pissed because we had beat you all three one that season and we got going into the Eastern Conference finals. The standing got scared, like, yo, this is a veteran team. We gotta change up this, this, and that switched the whole game plan. Man. See, y'all was up three, remember you guys were up three, three nothing, and then we won two in a row, and then

y'all beat us in game six. Bullshit, So we thought we were Yeah, we thought we was going to the finals that year, but anyway, you guys whipped our ass um And we talked to Paul Pierce obviously, uh last year on the show, and he said that game seven lost in two thousands ten, he still hasn't been able to watch. How tough was that after tasting it the year before getting back and then not getting a chance to to taste it again. It was, It was difficult.

It was so you know, some of the players in my mind as far as whenever I watched the finers and you're understanding, like ship, we were up three to you, I mean with two games ago, like we didn't get the job done. So you know, I don't try to live in the past too much, but understanding what I had and how precious it is to get to the finals and not taking that for grant because you know, you can eat if you get there, you still can

be up in a series and losing motherfucker. So it was like that was just my mentality coming into this year, understanding, like ship, we get these boys life. You know, when when he won the first game, so I understand, like I've been up in the finals and it ain't you know, coming back and losing it, bitch, ain't what you want to be and you want to live with. So um, you know, I think maybe you know that helped me, you know, you know, inspire guys or to bring a

little bit more this year in the finals. But nevertheless, it's still something you mind. You know, I've been on the finals three times one when too. It's not a bad but understanding we were we're geting going into the fourth, that's the crazy part. We're going to the fourth and uh, you know, still took their but like I said, key role player has made plays. They stepped up and win the championship. It's gonna take everybody. You've mentioned Doc a

couple of times interview. How instrumental or or how much did you learn from him in your early years to kind of shape who you are um as a floor general and as a man man. He was big in

my life own and off the court. Um, whatever I had problems, any think I was going through whatever we were going through the court, you know, and never waver how you know, our relationship was off the court, so uh, you know, he was definitely big as you being a black male mentor in my life at twenty years old coming to the game understanding you know what I needed to be become a great young point guard. That he you know it was or how he played back in the day, as far as you know, how he's ever

to impact the game. So I was. I was fortunately, I was lucky man. Like I said, I always say, you know, you know, as good as your coach pleasing you in certain sports and pretty much every sport. And he gave me the keys. Like I said, we be bump heads, you know, a couple of years in the row, but it was still for as far as a mentality of him want the best for me. And I'm appreciative to understand that I got fortunate to play for a

coach like Doc. I could have been with ten other coaches and should I could have been out of the league. And if I got a rid car a lot last you know what I mean first, and who know who knows? So ah, I'm just appreciative the idea to play for doctor. What was it like being after leaving the Celtics, like before becoming the Laker your career after leaving Boston, Like once you become a Boston Celtic and you win champions there, you become a legend in Boston and you kind of

become a state in that community. Some players don't want to leave. Paul was able to stay, and I thought you was one of those guys that would finish their career in Boston, one of those Boston Celtist Hall of Famous. What was life like after leaving you know, the Celtics before getting to the Lakers. To be honest, you was so crazy you said that. I was just talking about that like three days though, maybe two. Um. Uh. It's certain ways to look at it, you know what I mean.

Like I look at you know, guys like a Dirk you know, who lived in Dallas his whole life. You know, uh, you know other players who played their career at one place. It's like when I was younger, when I was playing the game and I was living in Boston, I felt that way, I was like, Okay, it could be you know some ship. Tim Duncan did players like that. But but the end of the day, like I said, once I was, I was traded being able to live in different cities, man like my parents joined. What that life

experience like? Now I figured out where I want to live. I played in the best cities in the world and got paid to do it. So it's like ship I'm in. I'm enjoying life. I'm glad I didn't stick in Boston. You know, my entire career. You know, when I lived there of eight and a half years, I got experience that now I get experienced live with a Docramento amazing time and stack. I asked why I should going on to my basement downstairs the stack, which you know, I

mean I had interest. I mean it was a dope experience, I said, So, I said that perspective of living in Chicago, you know, I lived downtown and the Triangle, like you know, that type of lifestyle kind of living there that was that was fun. Uh. You know, citing New Orleans is different.

Like I drove an hour every day to practice in New Orleans, you know what I mean, Just because I'm really particular about where I live in my home like that asked to be in my happy place, in my leave the reno or practice for every place me be. Like I told you, I'm my home body. So my career got to be you know what I mean, like a lovely place and enjoyable, great vibes, the type of field.

So I love it, you know what I mean. Being able to experienced the different different cities and different climates, enjoy life. So I don't look back at it, want to regret it. Uh, you know, she could have went differently, But it's all about perspective for me. And like I said, I'm trying to figure out where I want to live the rest of my life. But differing this type of lifestyle and understanding like I said, I've got to experience

so many different cities. My mind is thinking differently. Now, how was it plan with Boogie and A d Who to my favorite show? That's what I wanted, favorites, two of my favorites shows. Y'all seen you fill my career. Now, I've been trying to play with him to the last four or five years. They wanted wanted to the best to do in the game, and I called him Tim Duncan and David Robinson on steroids. That's what I called

him to, especially when they was in them. Listen, when I got with them in New Orleans, I thought I had it figured out a blue prints, except we're gonna shot the world with that group because we had a big three. And what was so dope about that is at first, uh you know because and eight you know, they they both would go get trying to go get fifty, and uh, I'm like, cause, nigga, you can you can

damn rab a triple double with this lineup. I mean, like get the fifty, you get fifteen, fifteen and twenty, you know what I mean, Like kill it that way. And then you got you got Drew in the Pico roll that you can't funk with, you know what I mean. So it's like, Nick, we got a baby, big a monster,

big three over here. The niggas ain't they sleeping on like I said, but I was, we would have to give Golden State in the playoffs with because eight Andrew, come on, man, they gonna mess up with that because because you gotta put Draymond on cuse you know what he trying to do. But he bullied basketball, so we can get in they can fast over real. Then I said, who gonna who gonna check a D? I was missing, y'all was missing Matt Barnes and Ron test and Stephen Jackson.

You was missing that three guard that could defend the shoot. Y'all had everything else, you Drew boe a D. Y'all just needed that three guards. I wouldn't even I wouldn't even talk, abouldn't. I didn't even need to be on the court. Them three on the court, stop stopping you put them in the sea. Actually because the elbow with the ball. Now he's making the play, Drew pinning down for eight d Like what you're gonna switch? Like you

can't stop everything? How tough? Know when you know obviously Kentucky ties, but then just being a good dude, you got a chance to play with him in sacrament I think Cousins so much understood how tough is it for you as a as a brother seeing him go down when he finally got into position. He was up for two hundred plus million that year, and y'all had a hell of a team. What was that like to you as a brother just seeing him have to go through

all that ship. It was. It was sickening, and the disrespect on his name and man, you know, even to this day then I was like, y'all, this nigga the best thing, y'all. I don't know if you nigga seeing like when he gets the ball, like what you're scared of. But he's a great deal. Yeah, you know what I mean. Like if you know some people are I like that, if you smell blood, he gonna eat. But you know, if you stand up for yourself or you speak up, he he's gonna he gonna respect that. You know what

I mean. Understand that, Okay, cool, I understand where you're But if not, you know, people you know are intimidated by his dominant presence and its demeaning. But like I said, you get to know the man. He's one of my favorite teammates of all time. I love playing with him and I think he's one of the best to ever

do it. Y'all. I hated that he went down pack the back injuries like that, and like I said, just even like I said, those two with them too, they could change the game back to where and he was looking for big mens because you can stretch, we can stretch the floor. He won't, but ship that the games wanted to paint. I mean that month, you can't stop him. He's gonna demand. I'm saying it's now double. I'm saying it's now boogie cogs boogiecause it's come back player of

the year. Watch. But if he if he's healthy, if he's healthy, he's gonna suck it up down. I already know that one that anybody here going to demand a double for show. So I'm glad. Yeah, I mean, I say, to be honest with you, you could, we could go back and forth. But as far as skilled centers, he's probably the most skilled big man we've ever seen from There was not a hole in this game from the

block to the three point line. There wasn't you know everything you never I love about that motherfucker boy is when we play sacking Mino, when I was a stacked with him, you know before every game was a big man. If we got to play against he b like, Nick, I'm about to fund this nigg up, I'd be like, oh, I can't wait to get the ball, big felling. I love it off Like he won't. He was like, I'm ready,

Biggs ain't talking about that was cool. I ain't say the name, but he was sucking a all up you when they know that the niggas niggas getting niggas getting thrown out the game because they won't play against this nigga. Man, he was an animal like watching listen watching film back when I said, I told you like I watched myself then I usually watch cousin. When I was in sack Man and Ship. He used to do like on film that you didn't even see. Unreal he was. He reminded

me a lot of a little bit of kg. You know. I mean like he might mean boom one of these you know the rebound. Ain't saying that like he just he was a bullyou he could he could talk about he can back it up with his game. He go get you fifty and twenty like easy. That's what I'm saying. Easy. And but like you said, don't sleep on how good he could pass the motherfucking ball like man, he could really average a triple double. That's how good he is.

He gonna demanded double. He can throw one hand, wrap around any past your name, and he can bring the bitch off off the off the glass. He's like all right, but I said, I actually have to let him bring it up the court like he was too good not to me trying to like, okay, let me look at the bar, and so he got it. I gotta get out the way, I gotta run the flow. Let me try to step up or something, let me get involved.

But he was he can play, yo. He has some moves. Yeah, man, I hope you know, all for all of it, you know, for his sake, but definitely coming from all of us. Man, I hope he has a healthy else back a year because he was. It was sad the way the game was taken from him at at the point of career where he was at, you know what I mean. He was still young. Like I said, he was on the brink of two million. Never get the two hundred million back. But I think at the end of the day, he

just wants to play. He just wants to be healthy and have a chance, and hopefully he'll have that in Houston. Man. So if you see this, you big ugly motherfucker, good luck. That's my boy. I love Buggy. I had a chance to play with him a Sacramento man, and it was almost like I was a cousin whisper like they would come to me because Rondo knows you don't really you don't really funk with respect too many people. But when he respects you, he'll listen to you. So I'm sure.

I'm sure Rondo had his ear, but I had his ear too. So it was me kind of like because Jack, you know me, and you like for me to have to try to calm down you were you to try to calm down me just seeing his young fire was like us in in in in Golden States. So me just trying to, you know, maneuver him through the technical fouls and you don't need all this and let me handle this and let me get in trouble for you,

like let me. But he was figuring it out, man, And I really think, you know, it's sad how quick people forget. But then, like you said, the disrespect put on his name because he was the code is big in the game when he was healthy, no question ending up in Los Angeles, What was that process like for you? And from your early days did you ever think you would be a Laker. I didn't think I'd be a leker, But at the time y'all had two teams called so ship. I mean I know that, you know it was my time.

Who was different? Who was on the table? I think it might have been New Orleans at the time. You want me the money, leve, try and get me out of here. What you want me to do? Yeah, I'm trying to figure it out. That's how I go. That's just how I go. Right, quick, turnaround. You're going into your fifteenth year. Where where's your body at? Where's your mind at? You guys literally just finished what two and a half months of on you gotta start soon? Um,

where's your mind that? Mentally and physically? Man, I feel great. I'm locked in. I said, I'm down a and I'm on it. Like I said, I got the game planning to watching a little bit of tape as far as Offensive says they want to run this year, So I gotta figure out quickly. I mean, how to MANI theate the game and who to put people in certain spots. So I'm enjoying the process so far. It's different, Yo,

the game is different now like this league. Ship, How we got this COVID testing and we got the schedule so crazy that we can't even interact with our teammates for the most part, Uh in the locker room. You know, it's like we're in groups of four right now, and you know you've got to train and table, you've got weight room, court, get your ass out, m straight like that. I mean, no, ain't no sitting around rock room talking to the guys getting no one. They're trying to get

you out of here. And we're in the locker room with masks on. Yeah you know, I mean talking. So it's just it's a little bit different. Um, you know, still trying to know how to you know, get the chemistry and the comarader with guys. We're taking foe buses this year, you know what I mean. It's like only

thirtain amounting for that ast of time. So it's like it's now we all have to adjust and adapt to it, which would be fine, but um, you know, it's it's different, and I'm just trying to like just just adapt and enjoy the process getting settled. I learned the system, but you know, it is what it is. Like I said, I feel great and we'll see them satisfying. We've been doing a couple of four court drills, you know, here and back and forething and what I pried myself on.

That is like I never get a drink. It's just feeling to see a couple of young guys over there, you know, I mean gas and for air, a little bit can get water. Ship. I'm like, okay, I might. I'm thirty four. If the drug test it was like it was now, man, we could have played all year round, easy, easy around. You don't need to break. As long as I can burn it down. I'm ready all year round. My let's go. I mean, I mean I did. I did like I burned it down my whole entire career.

But it's funny because I took pride in being the one most of the most in shape people. If you look back when I played like I was always top ten in miles during the season because my game was running and I love to run. But I knew I had to bust my ass in the summertime because I was gonna smoke that much weed to get me through the season. And I need because to me, it wasn't really the alcohol, it wasn't the peels, but my stomach up.

So I knew I had to go a bug and beyond my cardio so I could burn my tree during the season straight up, what were those experiences? Like, I've removed myself obviously retired from basketball. I don't miss playing at all, not one bit. But you touched on something, kicking it in the locker room most of the time after practice with some of the funnest times in my life, just sit there, talk shit ice. Sometimes you stay in that bit for two hours, just talking with someone and laughing,

laughing the whole time. That's like, no bullshit. That's one of the things I miss is just that locker room time. And like you said, well COVID, obviously it's not the same feeling, but touch on how just fund them locker room times were with you? You could just had a hell of a practice or a tough ass game. Sometimes you said, I can't remember enough that that's the best

time y'all. Even like I said, me playing with so many different teams, all all the guys in the chemistry, that the fun times we're in the locker room, you know, whether before the games or after practice, it was. It was a lot of crazy things. And uh, that's a funny story when that comes a man. When you said that, So there's so many there's so many stories that all the funniest stories come from the motherfucker locker room. Trust me, listen.

We and the Motherfucker we were in New Orleans a couple of years back and we got some gamblers on the team. We were gambling or whatever throughout team. What what team were you on? I'm in New Orleans with the I'm with the Palestor note so we're actually in like so what happened was we had a delay. The raining had a leakage in it. So we're sitting there on you from the locker room and it is a delay. So I'm like, ship, let's get it in like Nigga's

oh money whatever. So right, but they got sitting in the locker room like we gotta wait the hour and had to play the game. I'm like, man, play the game for you wanted to sit that We first of all warmed up, they stopped. They stopped it so we couldn't go out. I'm like, you want to sit in the locker room for an hour and a half and then go play a motherfucking game. I'm like, yeah, okay, cool, whatever. So we're sitting there for without chilling anybody doing that,

Okay cool. I'm like, sucking man, bring the cars out. We end up getting the cars out gambling right there before the game. Man. We didn't play the game, but it was like this we got inn we paid out the cards. Like I said, this team ship. We was vibe and put the music on whatever our gymer managed came in there and he was like, y'all playing. Were like, no, we ain't playing, but you're trying to None of that slaves right now. We ain't gonna just sitting at ourselves up.

We just said for two hour cold out and let me go and played for sprint. Now it's over. So we end up gambling getting it in. It was funny, like I said, it was a good time. We laughed about it to this day and uh, you know, that was one of my funny locker times. I can imagine, Bro, I can imagine you t a big baby. Kg Perk and Paul are on the same locker room. Dog. That's kind of classic. That's kind of that's got into a

bad locker room one day. I have to practice too, though, like buckets of water, throwing each other, like tacking the We got some crazy movements doing the locker room. So that's where it all go down. That's where closer though. That made you all closer though, all that ship battle testing all right, man, were down the quick hitters. Just first thing that comes to mind when they asked these questions, who's one player you haven't played with that you wish

you could have got a choir? Would like to get a chance to play with Katie? Oh, motherfucker's are in trouble this year? Man, I didn't see film on Katie in the summertime because he was playing in my homeboy. Rico Haynes runs KD is back. Yeah, you're proudly easy easy and he's doing it. He can do it on both and so Ship, Yes, yes, sir, you and four other players to go to the black Top and run the court all day. Who you go? Who you for? Players?

You pick the outdoors because because Aby Bradley of course, Uh the Mosquito. I'm gonna go with Drew. Lord, they're not scoring on y'all for show them too, motherfucker's who who my forward? I'm out this fuck with KG Ship Oh my god, yeah, that's Y're definitely gonna win all day. So you Bradley, uh, KG, Drew and Boogie and y'all go. Yeah, y'all gonna win one way or another. You most like you on, but y'all go have a great chance in winning in the scrap too, if you come down to it.

Yeah sir, Yeah sir. Right now for you top five artists or who are you listening to the most little baby? Little Baby J? Cole Drake in one. Yeah, this kind of lead this kind of leads me into my next question. You've been named dropped by several artists, Wayne J. Cole, Pusher, Uh, Tiger Trey, to name a few. What's been your favorite name dropped us far on? Maybe maybe Jeez, he had one.

I know he had one. There's a couple of them that I like, like that's uh, you know they're old now and the old ship now they still don't though, Well, what was it like here? Like you mean, you're a kid from Louisville, Kentucky, Like, what was it like hearing dude you look up to in a whole another space talk, you know, talk to you about you? But Matt, one of the famous lines all all rappers say, I keep a nine on me, like Rondo, that's what's favorite line?

Stay fat that green on me? Like yeah, okay, right whatever, So it's Uh, it's unreal, yo, It's it's so it's so much. It's dope. How much love like it? Especially in our community. You know what I mean when I'm out in the clubs where if I go like Nigga's love me and it's like you may be respected and loved by your peers like that. Uh you know, being when I'm fromt Like I said, it's this dope feeling and being able to be mentioned in so many rap songs.

Uh you know now I'm like said, my kids get a kick out of it, and uh, you know it's dope. It's dope, dope to have that, you know, they experienced to be a part of something as far as a rap history favorite point guard battle De Rose d Rose the God two point Guards, his rookie year, is that Nigga's seven games problem? Can you can you? Can you compare a prime time De Rose to anyone you've ever either either played against or seen? Can you compare them

to anybody? No man, anybody. I was about to say, you candy him like seven games here when he was a you're putting your gass in trouble. You on your heels the whole game, The whole game English. You know, one person in front of him, you got a whole scouting port on him, for sure. That's how we packed the paint, packed the paint. And he's still getting there, everybody, He's still gonna get in there. But then he could he could hit that little one dribble pull up to

he's hitting that too. He's hitting threes when he's rolling like he wasn't. He was too exclosively and he was a shore one man fast break every uh five dinner guests dead are alive? Mm hmmm, big mhm jay z m hmm, oprah mm hmmm. H my mom, that's gonna be a dope one. That's gonna be a dope. You got, you got, you got, you got some warrior as in some entrepreneurs at the table, and and and two queens. You can't lose. Who do you want to see on All the Smoke? Whatever you're answers, you have to help

us get this guests on. Josh mill Oh, that would be a good one, of course. Man. I think I've seen him, I've seen it, but I've seen him recently. I told him if I wanted to have him on the show, would be a good one. That'd be a good one. I like that Atlanta got to so you know here in Atlanta two app massive we can get it. Yeah. Hey, something that just came to my mind just while we were doing these quick hitters. And I wouldn't be me if I didn't ask it. What's the deal with you

and CP three? Let's deal with us? Yeah? Like to me, like not, I don't know. You know, you played against you a long time. I'm getting to know you now, knowing CP CPS and a chuired taste. But I see very a lot of similarity as far as the way you guys managed the game and thinking our leaders. But you guys just butt heads and then sometimes that ship happens. They both they both too damn smart. That's what it is. You think. You think you're smart, and I'm smart. I'm

the smartest point guard the game. No I am. But now I'm gonna punch you in the face because I think I'm smart. Hey, I ain't got no problem about it, man. I'm just a lot to compete, you know. I mean obviously he does as well, and he just go at it. You know, it's nothing I don't like. I said me. Now, I don't feel like it's personal. That situation happened. You know, obviously he at the moment, but I just try to

you can go out him every time I can. That's just any point gonna play against nothing, particle Like I'm getting Elevator in the game for him and ship. I'm trying to fuck everybody else. So it is what it is. That's between the lines, that what goes on between the lines. I mean, that was a throwback basketball to me. I mean, you know me and Jack, that's me and Jack Speed. So when I seen I was like, Okay, I like this. Yeah, he's he's clever, you know. I mean I watched him play.

Understand he's dirty too, now you know that's my boy, but he wanted dirties. Motherfucker's in the game. I gotta say that that is my boy. I fight for CP, but he is one of the dirtiest players ever in the NBA. Dog hands down, mm hmmmmmm CP three. Hey man, Well that's a wrap. Thank you Reigion for your time. Man, Congratulations on the win. I hope you enjoyed the off season, and good luck in Atlanta. Jack Show, good job, and you can catch this on Showtime Basketball. YouTube or the

I Heart platform Black Effects. We'll see you all next time. This is all a smoke, A production of The Black Effect and Our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime