Shaq | Ep 82 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

the jokes. So I got some jerks hack sack with Flower, but then he got the Vestibo got the Christ on his tattoos. Jumping boy here looking like hey man, But man, thank you for your time down year for the world. What was one thing positive or negative you took from last year? Was the hardest year of my life. I'm forty nine years old and I've had a couple of deaths, grandmother, father, But when my baby sister died that hit me. She

was forty. That really hit me because she had she had cancer a couple of times and we beat it. So when they told me she had cancer again, I figured we're gonna beat it. But then it was just too late. So I already got insothing anyway, So I just made it times ten. And then one damn downstairs working out with my youngest son, Shaquire, and one of my other son comes in the in the Gymuey. He's crying and I'm trying to prefigure out what he's crying.

When I say crying, I'm talking about tears everywhere. So I'm like, my mom, okay, your mom, okay, my kids okay. And then I see the Kobe thing. So now I'm like, it gotta be a hoax because I was watching the game when Brian passed him up. Probably just somebody messing around on on the internet, and then the coach just kept coming in and then you go watch TV and it just it just hit. It put me in a I should have Mowte. I should have spent more time

with my sister. I should have reached out to young fellow. I should have just called to just check on them. I should have. And you know, things like that you can never get back. Somebody did a picture. I hope you'll find this picture of an old Shock and old Kobe. That's how I would have liked it to Ben. And you know how it is as as as basketball players, we don't always get along, but if the respect is there, you can never be beaten. Like y'all know him, he was,

he was alpha. Y'all know me. I was the alpha. We didn't always agree on things, but when it comes time to compete on the court. I think the fact that we always competed with each other made us even more unstoppable, because Matt, you know me, I'm always in the stats. Oh damn you and I only got fifteen. It's something wrong with that picture. So we would always compete with each other, and we was able to win three out of four, and we did the Laker interview

and we we we talked. We had a good time. Last time I saw him was when he announced he's gonna be playing the last game. T and t uh flew down and I did what I always did when he was a youngster, and man, as you get fifty, and what do you do? You know? I got sixty. That was probably the last time I saw him. But I should have reached out. I should have got in this DM. I just should have shouldar shouldar should have it.

So now I'm just trying to reach out more to people that I know, people that allow people that I care about but it's been a hard year. But growing up from a drill sergeant type father, you know, I don't want to use the word get over, but you're trying to overcome certain things and you're just trying to try to move on. But it's hard. It really is hard. I got a mirror of Kobe and my sister in

the house, so I see him every day. But it's it's hard, and it just puts me in that I should have mowed and you should never be and I should have mowed. So my advice to everybody out there, if you want to get something done, you want to call somebody, you want to say something to somebody, just

do it. It doesn't matter if you have past differences, past beef, if you got respect for that person, you love them and you just hain't talking for a while, did I mean that's you're good to face time about the blue broke, it's out the blue of that, you know. I love that and I want to congratulate you. I really love this show. This show speaks our language. That's actually the first show ever that speaks out of language. I like the fact that you guys don't trying to

Brian Gumble. It down, So congratulations and I hope you guys get many, many many more awards. Was tough, but I'm trying to do big things and you know, Prospero, just stay focused. I mean, obviously with the pandemic hitting basketball is kind of changed from what we know it to the bubble last year, two limited fans this year? What are your thoughts on this unique yet strange season.

It's different, and I think what I have to do, what we have to do is I don't know if it's the right thing to do, but we have to stop comparing them to us. It's hard. That's all I know is greatness coming from Texas. All I know is the Spurs. All I know is Magic Johnson. All I know is magic being the big man. All I know is Kareem Will Russell. All I know is greatness. Sometimes so sometimes when I don't see greatness and I say

I don't see greatness, they think we're hating. Well, I thought the definition of hate was somebody that can't do it, somebody that ain't doing that. None of them guys ain't ain't doing anything that we ain't done, see what I'm saying. So I just tried to actually I tried to do the same thing that that they did us. I mean, when I first got to l I was putting them numbers, but we was losing the ad of here Spurs and

Utah over here, so somebody hate. Kareem was like, hey man, Shack probably one of the best Laker big man ever. And Kareem said he ain't winning US. So with him having G fourteen classification, I can't say nothing back. I can't say nothing back. So I thought, because I had G fourteen classification, so many guys would take it as constructive critics, says right, And then some of the guys and the same thing I did with young fella, man, you ain't that good, and he'd go, he'd be like, okay,

watch this thirty forty right. So but I guess people ain't like that no more. And then I got the call from the guy mother baby, he's somebody like but this, look, this is all I know. This is really So when I went at Donovan, and I kind of felt sorry that I kind of hurt his feelings, but I was just testing his temperature. Knew that. Yeah, So like when I said, man, I don't think you got what it take. I want him to be like, Okay, oh man, watch this,

but he's doing that. He's showing us now that that so exactly what I wanted. But of course at the Internet, oh he taken it too far to that. But what I was saying was, you can be good, but when it comes time, the playoff time, you gotta get to next that next level. We all had to go through it, y'all. Remember I was out thirty, we get swept by the Spurs, and you talk, I wasn't good enough yet. It wasn't good enough yet. So that's it was. It was a

challenge to him. But I like his game. I like the fact that big guys are starting to emerge back up. I like Joker m Problem and this league. Now the guys that that are at the top, besides the Brian k then these are guys that are similar to what y'all had to go through, work hard to get to wherey'all that and I love that Like Steph Kurry, he wasn't know talk about guy coming out of high school college, but he my favorite player and he my favorite practice.

I've never seen that like that before closet. The things the step I've seen was Mike Mood So when I say Steps my favorite player, he really is because the guy that was from here worked his way to the time and did it the right way, didn't team up with nobody. Him and Claye Draymond. They did it the right way. So yeah, that's crazy. So I like I like Joe. I like the way he playing out. Doc

got him playing like a big man. And it's funny that, you know, always tell big guys just because you can shoot, don't mean you have to shoot. Like, no disrespect to y'all. I know you're all the great players, but I'm not shooting jumpers on y'all. I'm gonna try to back y'all doth and you ain't gonna try to post me up face, all right, So you know what. So that's just the name of the game. So a lot of times when we say these things, I guess some of the guys

take it personal. But you should know. And this thing of IRUs. If you guys play well, everybody get paid, everybody. So if I'm giving you answers to the tests, hopefully you take them. If you don't take them, I understand, but I don't. I don't. I don't want y'all to you know, think it's hate, like with Dwight Howard earlier on people you hate on the like. No, I'm telling him if he average, it ain't nothing nobody can say to him. So but it's it's fun. I like it,

you know. I like the I like the going going back and forth and this thing of oves. Only we understand it, like I remember, Uh, you know that they have to be thing about you know, talking trash white guy. That's why I gotta that's what we do. Yeah, not at all and personal. It's just what we're doing, you know. Only we understand that when you get outside is talking

about it, you know, becomes a big thing. We discussed how Alan everything kind of changed the culture of basketball, you know, not only on the court, but off the court with his appearance. You said, Steph Curry changed the face of basketball itself and how the game has played him. Before we even got on air, you were talking about a situation with your older son. We had a chance. He's standing in the corner when he should have dove back in the day. But now that's what the game is,

and that's kind of a Steph Curry effect. Talked to us. Steph Curry is messing the game up. I'm on the internet now I see a bunch of little kids dribbling shooting a hundred foot us to give more to st the game. But he's doing something for them. He's giving them a chance. So what I mean by giving him a chance? Do you have to day I talked about Rudy Gobert making two hundred. People thought I was hating. But it's given big guys that aren't David Robinson, Tim Duncan,

Dirk Demny is giving them a chance. If you work hard, this is the bridge you can make. And that's the point I was trying to me. I don't know. I mean, I said this is I was sing. I said, you know what I'm about to say, he ain't worth it. I'm gonna say that, but you you get with, you negotiate, and that's what it is. Well, I'm not gonna say I mean, I don't. I don't like talking about people. Bread. I'm glad he got it. But the same thing happened to me in high school because my my dream was

to make eight millions for ten years. That's my dream going up to San Antonio's. One day my father came intout to the paper and he hit me in the face. Keep your hands up. We're going to the game. So we go to the Spurs game. We at the top. You should see him. He just signed fifteen for three John contact and he wasn't that good. And I'm like, that's when I just I said he I said, okay, you know, I learned to school about inflation and economic I was like, ship by the time I come out,

I can probably at least get twenty. So I end up getting forty. But so you know, it's all about it's all about watching these guys and you know, learning from But you know, Steph, it probably is the most influential player when it comes to little people because I see a lot of I see a lot of little guards, like a little kids. I'm going to this tournent day. They're doing stuff I can't even do. And it's good and bad. Nobody running the lane. Everybody is stopping at

three point line. Coach you like I coached the Twins, you know what I mean. And like I said, it's from the time they warm up there shooting it from like the out of bounds line instead of like hitting layups and everything. And that's literally the effect and the whole team shoots threes, now, you know what I mean. So that's kind of just the way the game has moved. So I understand, like you said, giving little people a

chance is what steps doing and giving them hope. But at the same time, like you said, there's a reason why Steff is so great because he makes a lot of the motherfucking shots. He makes a lot, you know. I mean, other people don't make as many. And I used to hate on him early on in his career, but he ain't gonna make that. But he kept proving me wrong. That's why my bed player, I like being

proved wrong. Yeah. So my message to these young cats when I say something proved me wrong, yeah, take it wrong. Because my Kareem and was doing all that talking. That's okay, you're right, Mr Abde. I'm not winning. I understand. I appreciate what I will. And I called my father, he's my fucking he right, Yeah, you ain't doing ship. He said, you've been in l A four years and got swept four times. Now you did doing videos and rap songs and ship. You ain't doing nothing. I was like, all right,

you're right, sarge. And then that's when you know, Phil came along, and you know we started turning around. So remember that. I mean, the thing needs to be by the three. You die by three. Like no teams were winning shooting a large amount of shot at three point attempts like they are now obviously, and they've changed the dynamics. So it makes sense. Take us back to your upbringing, your family dynamic. You know, military kids are moving around.

Born and raised in Nook, New Jersey, high level juvenile delinquent. Got out of there just in time. This is around the time where people stop using their hands by chaining knife and then pistols started coming out exactly. So, by the grace of God, moved to Germany, got away from that right to three years in Germany. Now only thing I could focus on this basketball. So I'm terrible, six nine, Cut from the freshman team, cut from the sophomore team. Again.

My father comes in the house. Keep your ass up. We're gonna go see this college coach, see if you can get a scholarship. It was Dale Brown. So I went in there and said, hey, coach, I need help. I ain't make the team. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. It's like, but I'm thirteen six nine, can't play. I got a bad knee. I got osgod I got I got the brown knee, breads with the whole. I'm slow as hell. I can't do anything. People laughing at me. So Coach Brown writes me, I do everything you say.

So the next year, I still didn't make the team. So I sent him a little up man, I'm gonna just join Army. Just join Army. They're right. I'm I can't walk and you down at the same time. I can't do it. So he said, no, I'm off your scholarship. So now we leave. When I come back to Texas and I go to a small high school in Texas, our team is terrible. I make the team all ship, and I'm starting to get a little confident. And then my dad take me to see John Contact and now

everything just changed overnight for me. Everything just changed over the open night for me, being that I was a hip hop kid, had little rhythm. I'm not doing with Korea. I'm not doing those sky hooks. I like this magic cat. So you know, I started working on my little handles right. And then when I first started dunking, I never wanted to dunk. So Junior, yeah, I got forty five at three, I'm killing the little dudes. I'm playing against my finger

rose it I miss. My father comes out, its fatigues. Time out. He you know, he walks the middle of the floor. Yeah, he's time out. So yo, man, time out. Bring you. As I said, I'm cool. The public inding me out. I got the flavor flat like I'm I'm cool, right, yeah, I'm cool. So he takes me aside. See how man fuck? You know? Said man, I'm just you know, you know, I'm working on my little matt wap smacks me. Ain't

no magic be Shaquille O'Neill. But that's when I started dunking, right, and the reason why I've always dunk so fierce because I was mad at him and I wanted to tell the room down. But it was just regular dunks dunk. So then I'm going home, and you know, he's making me watching college games and I'm watching Syracuse play Sherman does the stories to Ronnie cycling. He duncan, but he getting his legs up. Okay, So the next game, my

father said, I'm dunking and getting my legs up. So when I learned from that, people started doing that I was like, Okay, I got something there. So that's when I just started Duncan Duncan, Duncan, Duncan Duncan, dunk and dunking dominated, dominator dominated, And I'm the type. I was always a jealous kid. If your name is ahead of me, I'm coming after. B J. Tyler was ahead of me, right le Bradford Smith was out of me. Yeah, they had a dude name Matt something that was ahead of me.

So I'm maveraging thirty four in Texas, but nobody recognized on all these guys ahead of me. So I'm coming for because that's what I've been doing all my life. Right, So I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming. That's what I'm trying to teach my son. Now, I said, our lives is about peace and valleys. It's only a few people that come in and just do this. But the rest of us terrible high school player, high school

all American. Oh, now you gotta go to college. Hey, they gotta do name Chris Jackson stand, you're gonna have to wait. Okay, now you're the man. Oh now you get to the pros as you and as Robinson, as the King I like. I like being challenged. I like when people say you can't do it. That just you know, makes us work harder. So my father was always a guy that never told me I was great because he knew that that was gonna make me want to be great.

And when I did accomplish something, he'd take the trophy. That's why I went so hard when when I was winning, because I took the trophy, he didn't say, good game enough. All right, see you letter have fun September coming around. Let's even get another one, pussy m but get to two is good. Lakers went back to back. Then you go back to back to back. So that's why I like, you know, went so hard. And then the business of basketball kicked that and you know, stop moving around, started

getting older. But you know, I wish I could have stayed to stay there the whole time and take me back a little bit. Though when you said he would it was obviously a challenge. But at what age did to start becoming Was it ever like, damn, dad, is he's rough on me and this is or was it always a challenge from the jump you looked at as a challenge or what did you ever look at it like, damn, he's not my real father. But I don't. I don't

believe in that. So he met me and my mind when he was two, so he my real father to me, and he made me hard, Like I would go outside and get bullied and he'd be like, I come in the house. Were you gonna I didn't fight. You're too big. I have to fight, and like he because you know we're from we're from northern New Jersey, the projects. So his thing was you're too big to be soft. He didn't have a son, but I was his son. He had. He had two daughters. But he's like, I'm not gonna

let you be soft. And he told me football, basketball, baseball, and bast the ball. He just kept saying these three names, Kareem will Bill and from like five, he said, I'm gonna make you the most dominant big man ever. And I could remember one time when I was ten, I had one move, fake left, go right, throw it off the back board. So we was beating this team like nineties and three, and the dude come and grabs his kids. This motherfucker ain't ten. If he's ten, he's gonna be

the best big man ever. Like I remember that. So you know, my dad was like dominate, don like you would always say, dominate, dominate, dominated, dominated, tominate. So the fact that he stayed on me, and then the fact that I like to be challenged, and the fact that when you were a big guy, you can't be soft. You put all that together and then turned into you. And then the fact that when you moved from place to place, you you learned different things, like Nork, it's

one set of coult you want to rout. Then he moved to Germany, when you bro when I went to Texas, I had never seen nothing like that before. Hey, boys was hard. Spanish cash was hard. We was hard. Like it's just you know, like I would have to like walk through certains to get the world Plan. I ain't never seen nothing like before. And again that was the time when all this was done. They started doing and now you got to navigate like a certain way, and like you know, we we like to do what we

do and get on our stuff. But I'm thinking about my MoMA new house. I can't I can't got time for that. I can't do that with you. All right. Now they got you know, they got all these dudes ranked ahead of me, on for let me get there first, and then we're talking about but right now, I can't do it. So and then you know, most of the guys that were that were doing it, they were responsible enough to say, uh, go that way, you got something else, don't go this way that way. So shout out to

all the homies that took care of me. When did you know you can dominate on the court? I remember seeing you in high school and the states in the state and Austin State championship. I didn't know I can dominate until I heard somebody else say, like, my father was the only one in my year. Right. But then when I'm looking at the paper and I'm like getting the validation that I want, I still don't believe it.

But now you get, Dick Vitela say something. Now I'm laying for real, Dick, you think I'm the best high school player in the country. Okay, watch this. So that's when I knew I could start dominating. And then, like every every level, you learn. So in high school playing against little guys, it was easy. But then when I got to college, I had to go back to zero because Stanley Robberts used to kill me. Everybody, no, no, no, I used to y'all don't understand the stuff I was

doing new people. I got that from him back. Yes, every day he used to back me, now, back me down, drop step, pump, fake and dump on me, embarrassed me, legs all out everybody, that's Jim going crazy. I got that from him, so he would do it to me. I was trying to do it to him. But we go back and forth every day. Then when he failed out being that, I was trying to go at him. Already had all that. Then when it was my turn to step up, I did that. And then when I

got to the pro same thing. You know, Robinson used to kill me Uli Jouan Rick smits like all these dudes just to kill me. And I had to had to learn. I had to learn. I had to learn. I had to learn. I had to develop my own technique like I wish I could have did with guarding that and Duncan did faced up and do it. I got all that, but I had trying to do that. The double and triple is coming, so I had to jump, throw it out, clear the land and get it and go quick. So but listen, it was fun. I was

on the mission. I was always on the mission for a guy that who said there was terrible. I wanted to be known as one of the greatest players ever. And even though I would validate myself, I never believed

until other people validate. Like you know, when you you're playing in the T and T games, you hear Ernie Stephen in direction from the court, differ like Matt bon Like, it's different, So you know you get you get earning them guy As to say your name, and Dick Ye till Tell and Bill Roffery and all those guys to say your name. They started believe in and I started believing it. Yeah, And then you had the money game of that I'm trying to get that bread, trying to

get that bread. Like when I was like being the first pick, I think it was either Larry or Derek went before me. They got a nice thing, and I learned the college negotiation. You started high. So when I first came to them, I was I don't want eighty. I told my guy won eighties, I can't get you

any I can play get your forty take forty. So then we were one of the first ones to sign a seven year deal, but with the option up the three after that, so I'm you gotta so if you ever sween you one this year, you got to go to four. So I'm already knowing that. So there got some people start talking to a hundred millions. So that was a motivation. Being great was the motivation. And just playing and competing with a motivation because I ain't gonna lie.

I was terrified of David Robinson and Patrick my rookie terif because they had they because they had it all. But now when I'm in the game and you would go to the turnaround and I'm right there, I'm like, oh ship, he's human. And then don't let me block one, well, don't let me dunk on you. Then all that, you know, all that fear is gone something David Robinson, the way he ran and all the people like I was terrified

those guys. But at some point, the student must kill the teacher to become the master, and that's all I wanted to do. Let's go back to coming out of high school. What other colleges was recruiting besides that University of Texas, Tom Penders, North Carolina, North Carolina State in Illinois. But I'm sort of like you and Matt I'm a mama's boy. I had to be closer to career. And the fact that and the fact that Dale Brown offered me a scholarship before I became the shock, that mental lot,

that mental lot. He saw something you didn't see. Yeah, and they shut me up at the football game too. I'm gonna tell you how they did me. So when I first get there's a whole bunch of dudes, so you know, if you want, this guy seven ft one l s HU from San Antonio of l s U makes a note, so they put the spotlight on me. I turned around nothing but man, yeah, man, the gray and the blue out Like, damn man, I'm about to sid that right now. That yeah, I was like, man, yeah,

I sign it. Yea, What was I mean? Obviously we'll get to the jump in the NBA. But what was college basketball like back then? Because it was people weren't coming straight from high school. People are going to pay their dudes in college. You had to pay your dudes as dumb as you ended up being. What was that era of college basketball life. I'm glad I had experience of not being the man, because when I went to college, I was a man. But the first thing I got.

There was a rude awakening. I couldn't get no girls, couldn't get in the club. I had to wait in line at the lunch room. Nobody knew who else. So now I'm just sitting back. Don't think about me, as I'm a great observer. So it was Chris Jackson, Stanley Roberts, and we had a quarterback forgot his name was Toy something. But the dudes are like god on campus. I just sit back and watch him. Don't be like that's gonna be me one day. So you know, you just have

to You just have to work your way up. I didn't start my freshman year, you know, I got some pt but I just learned the game, you know. I learned that the doubles coming, I learned where to make the passes at. I learned how to make an impact, and I learned how to put on the show. I had a bunch of dudes, four or five, my friends, my tutors. I made some T shirts, shack pack. I said, yo, let just sit up here. Anytime I do something, go crazy. It was already just yeah, just just go crazy, rebound,

dump block, just do it. So yes, so now you see ten kids, and I see twin kids and now you see thirty kids. So but it was different. And then I realized that even though you're good and great, it's always somebody better. Like I was the man in the West, but that Tim Dunston wasn't. They're saying, y'all be like all them day we all got something. So we go up against Duke Christian later tell me a new one, and then dig tell him starts saying his name,

and now I'm mad. Now I know I got work to do, So I'm jump hooking it every night, going to the gym. Y'all go on the club. Now I'm gonna I'm trying to get this first pick now and now only saying I need the first pick? What is Alonzo? Dude? Now y'all got me at three? Oh hell? So now I'm working out every day. We played Duke one more time. I showed him who I am and we still lose, but show him, which you know, puts me back at

the top. But look, I like being challenged. It just I think it makes you the person and coming from where were coming from. And I've been on both of y'all since your first come in Langue. We don't back down all ever, even if we know we can't do it, we're still don't back down. I think that's what makes us all great. That's when I try to beat, you know, and still in these youngsters. But I think they got it too easy. It's different. Yeah, it wasn't that that

that that struggle, that ground we had. I remember the first time we met um. Actually you guys my freshman UCL with the lockout, so you and Cob used to come to use heal again we saw you. But I remember when I worked out for the Lakers. The small fir comes out the back and tights, shower shoes, no shirt, nipple rings. Just give me a big old hug. I'm like, what the fuck? Nipple rings? Bro? I don't don't think I'm freaky like that. I did lose the nipple rock.

So you end up being the first pick in Orlando, you know, New Expansion. What was that experience? Like, I learned how to become arrogant m m, but professional arrogance. It's important because growing up I never talked back to my father, high school coach or college coach. You got a pad, I gotta tell you the story. Hand me that why ain't got in there. It's just so you know, I'm nice and respectable. I'm trying to do things the right way. But these guys in my ear, man, it's

your team and you gotta take over. These these guys are hey man, it's your team. Forget all that we we it's your team. So I'm like, na. So one day, Jerry Reynolds Iceman in the shoot around, we're playing against Dale Ellis and Maddie Gookas was like, hey man, they're gonna run to these plays for the LAS. You gotta go over the screen. So the first three players, Jerry go under the screen. So we call the time out, and man, he was like, goddamnit, Jerry go on that.

So this is the first time I seen him play talk back. I've never seen that before. It's the first time I se him play talk back. Jerry knows, go funk that ship, call some place for me too, you know. Then Maddie did it, and then he was like, see, so that's how you gotta be. So that that's when I that's when I kind of started that, I kind of started serving myself. So my first power moments, my first power moves. After we lose I'm in l A

same day we lose. On the Sunday, I'm in l A. So I'm shooting the movie Blue Chips, and they I said, you gotta make me a court so I can work out the skinny kid is motherfucker diamond me up like matching. I don't know who he is because you know, man, I don't be paying attention to you don't care. So you know, I'm thinking, here, actor. So finally I see him. Who's this? They said, yoh man, that's Penny Hardaway. I said,

he actor. He said, now you know that. You know they think he's gonna be a number two and number three pick. And I'm like that. So I got this in my head. So my first major move was when when I found out we got the ball. Hey, man, yeah, I don't get this, Penny, dude, I'm gonna be looking to do something else, just to try. For the first time I was ever arrogant, first time I ever talked back. So now we shoot the move whatever. So the draft comes,

they draft Sea Webb. Now piss, I'm tearing my house up, breaking mirrors, breaking trophies, and then they do it, they do the switch. I'm like, man, this guy was right. It works. So the second big move, hey man, give me a horse. I don't know. If you're gonnafall hoard you don't get horse, I'm gonna be looking to do something else after my deal. So now I'm learning how to I'm learning how to maneuver because you know, they're

saying it's your team, so we all know. If it's my team and it don't go right, I'm getting blong. So if I'm gonna get all the blame, I'm gonna

make sure I'm totally in control. So that was what I learned about being a professional, because like, look, I'm my father used tell you something back in my father you're getting touched up, push ups, sit ups, and the damn Superman's on your elbows, and you gotta sit on the wall, and you gotta sit on the wall with some dictionaries like this, and if you move you get three paddles. So I went into like talking back. But once I figured out how to do that, I was like, Okay,

this is how this this works. Yes, it is what is your welcome to the NBA moment, My welcome to the NBA moment. It is different because it's not about the game. My welcome to the NBA moment was when I first got to the Lando. I already got into my head. I need my family with me. So my mother, she don't want to take nothing from it. So we I'm looking at this big house and I already bought the house. So I'm looking at the big house and I'm like, you know, I told him mysel I'm gonna

get my house first. I'm gonna take care of y'all. But I was doing the opposite. So we're looking at this big house and she's like, I like it. Five bedrooms, tends, it's cool. Hand of the keys and watch them tears. That's my welcome to the NBA, because you know, riding around in Texas, I used to ride around San Antonio just looking like, damn, look how they live and look

how we live. That's what I want. So that was my moment right there, just being able to buy my mom and dad a house, brothers and sisters, and then you know, take my dad to the dealership. I just got that black on black six. What you want, the same thing you want? So that was my bike to the NBA. MoMA. I already knew I was gonna do well, I gotta do well. But I didn't know that I was as close to the greats that early. Like I said,

I was terrified of Ewing and Robinson. But if I'm right there on your shot, all I gotta do is, yeah, all I gotta do is make some of justice before I get it. And then I'm bumping you back and you, uh, yeah, I got you, And I'm close to the rim like that, and all I gotta do is term and throw it down you so mercy. But you know, it took me a while to get there, but look, it was fun. It was something that we always wanted to do. Get there. Yeah,

I'm there. I gotta represent my family and I gotta represent myself and I gotta look for challenges that's gonna make me great. M You were able to improve Orlando by twenty games your first year, and one of the reasons why I look at you so high as far as all time players and then all time big men, is because you played in a real era where there was a bunch of big men, you know what I mean. And it's all due respect to Bill and and to to Will, but there wasn't very many considered night and

night out you faced a dominant big man. Who are some of the ones that really gave you problems early on? The ones that I didn't respect enough. I always told me, Big Country, I always killed me. Rick Smith's always killed me, Duck or if I always killed me, Bill Winnington always killed me. Who's the guy to play with? You all disperse for per due, Well, I wouldn't produce who it was. I just have to smoke so much weed, said Malik Rose and David I just hate my link gross he

was in nuisance. But they're just like so which which also told me, you gotta respect your opponent. Like I know I'm better, but look, we all come out here to play a game, so you know, when it comes time to playoffs situation, I would turn and switch on. But like doing the regular say, especially like if you're in certain cities. Listen, Dallas, I wasn't gonna do nothing. Toronto, I wasn't gonna do nothing, Miami. I wanted to do

nothing in New York. I was gonna do nothing. Two times in the first quarter anyway, And I could remember me posting him in the game and COVID, no, you ain't ready. Well well, yeah, well the funniest of the funniest. That was big Shot Bob. He was doing for the game. I wasn't doing nothing up Shot Bob breaking back boards and this and signs bringing the breaking the backboards like talk about that. It was all being mad at my dad. Crazy, Yeah, crazy,

I mean, motherfucker's were breaking broken backboard. It happened for but you were bringing down the whole because I knew if you, if I dunk hard, I got your attention. That scared me. Watching I was a little that she needs to scare me, Like I got your attention. That's if you're really big and strong and I go through and I got your attention, it's gonna be easier for me the rest of my career. So I just wanted

to like really really get your attention. And I know it was gonna show it on ESPN and no other big I was doing that, like I had to take pride and being different. Another thing I was trying to do was get these commercial endorsements. There wasn't no big guys doing that right now. I took a college course a l s U and marketing, and the guy was like, hey, present on something that you could see in the future. So I came with the shock shoes, the same thing

I'm doing that shock underwear, shack T shirts. And the guy says, big guys don't sell mr. I was like, he's right, because the only guys that were doing commercially there was Magic Johnson Library and made me Mike right. So I was like, you know, I gotta do something different. So I was I was doing whatever it take to get on that Da Nada and then once they see me there, then I would just show my don't show my personality. You've always been big on the business of basketball,

probably the biggest to ever do it. To be honest with you, but what was that first experience like with Blue Chips as an actor, the pickup games of scrimmages, you found someone you thought was an actor who ended up being Penny Hardaway. What was all that like? That was about taking advantage of opportunities we don't We don't get those opportunities, and I never look, I never wanted to be an actor. I never wanted to be a rapper.

When I'm sitting in the Fourth Seasons hotel, the guy say, hey, man, my Hollywood producer, here's my card doing a movie called Blue chips. I think you should do it now. I'm not a good I don't know. I've never acted in my life. You gotta do is play basketball, play yourself. Nah, we're gonna get you three million? How much? I don't do it? So just playing, you know. And that's how I met Penny. You know, everything happens for a reason.

The same thing with the rap thing when I first get drafted, sitting your hoss bucking me, you know, maybe want you to be on the show. I don't want to be like everybody else. I don't want to go get No. Fifteen out of suit talking. And I said, let me do that and then let me wrap that the end. So I did something with fush Nikins. My Asian Coleman said me, you're not gonna believe this. Said what he said? Drive off of your three album deal ten me. I'm taking that? Why none? Yeah. But then

but then I meet with Job. I said, look, nobody wants to hit me wrap on myself. Let me wrap it on my favorite. So as a kid that was on punishment, it's like a dream come true. Look I know him dead Snoop, Peter Guns, Lord Rick Nas, jay Z, fat Jo like I don't. Yes, you can't stop to rain. That's what it was about for It ain't about being like because you know rappers, rappers don't make no money.

You gotta you gotta be Travis Scott to make money. Yeah, like because I went platinum and I gotta check for me and I was I was like, what is this? But you know I had the commitments on platinum only one. It was fun. So you know, we don't get a lot of opportunities. I was always talked to take advantage of my opportunity. So every time I get an opportunity,

I'm always taking advantage of periods. Run because shut the Boston Garden down, beat the Bulls, pas her Battle and then you run into a team in them in the finals. That was my fault. We lost. You say that because as a leader, I didn't lead. After we beat the Bulls, I let up Mike. We straight. We didn't play in the Houston before. I think it was one on one on you know, even the King gonna get thirty, I'm gonna get twenty seven. Right and off the record, we

had eight days off. Me and the Scott were doing stuff. We weren't post. Yeah, they had they had like a little parade and all that we were just celebrating. So it taught me that would celebrate too early. And then when we get in the game, we hang out with him and then it just you know Nick, and you know, I can't blame it on Nick. My fault because I didn't get the guys ready. But Nick misses the free thos, we go down over one second game, we go down, oh two, we go to Houston, we know we don't

have a shot, so we get swept. But it just taught me never to celebrate you early and then also put that hunger. I mean, I said, okay, if I ever get back to the finals ever again, I got to dominate forties. Forget that every time, I gotta be in the forties. And that's how when we made to the finals, I was trying to put up big numbers because if we don't win, it's gonna be my fault. And as a leader, I accept that. I went that. I once you said, shock ain't ship, that's why they lost,

it's his fault. I accept all those challenges because that's how it was for me as a youngster growing up with a drill sergeant father. If you woke with your brothers and sisters in school. Then your brother come back when his shirt messed up because he got jumped. That's your phone and I'm whooping your ass handles on right, no question. So it just taught me never to celebrate too early. Obviously a cool run, but don't get what

you set out to do, which was win the championship. Orlando, you make a jump to l A. How did that move not only benefit basketball wise, but change your life off the court as well. It was a hundred million dollar talk and I made forty the first time, and I said to myself, I'm gonna going off and tell him I want one, just to see. So they had it in their mind that no guys were rough a hundred millions. And I was actually getting ready to sign.

We were here during Olympics. I was getting ready to sign for four yet ready signed to Orlando, but my agent told me, hold up, give me one more day. So me and money Mark we're in Magic City and my Asian called me and said, hey, man, come to the Omni Hotel. Got something for you. So we get to the Omni Hotel. Jerry West is in the Vasacchi housecoat. Come on up, big fella that comes like, how you on? Mr West? He said, I got some good news, we got some bad news. I said, what's the bad news?

He said, I can't get you that one fifty that chance for but I can get you one twenty. And then I told my agent, I said, did you give Orlando a chance to come? They don't want to. Kind of cool, So I'm signing nobody now family then no, Penny ain't no. Next day, in practice it broke. I was comfortable with l A because after we lost, I was already in l A. And then there was a chance for me to stuff. Yeah, do so and they

had a nice team. The next it was cold Eddie Jones and day they're probably gonna take some murder that had a nice day. But I can remember this vividly. I'm signing as soon as I get signed. Mr West said, a man, I just moved, Vlady. I don't know how I got this kid. I got a kid and the Kobe Bryant, you and him, we're gonna get multiple championships. And I'm like, yeah, okay, whatever, because I'm looking at all the well, yeah, he said that like he saw

something Kobe and nobody saw. And then in In an interview, Kobe reminded me that he came to Orlando to see Penny, and Penny kind of blew him off and he had a sad look on his face and I grabbed him, was like, come on, man, I take a picture. I never knew that was him. Yeah, I never knew that was him until he told me. You know, when we did that T and two and everything, he said, you don't remember meeting me. He never told me that. Like, you know, through all the years that we played in there,

he never told me that story. I didn't know that you I did. You and co connect y'all robbed at the same time. He was a guy that wanted it right away. And we all understand pecking order. My team I ain't about to happen. But I saw that he had something in him and he wanted it right away. A lot of guys don't have that when they come in. A lot of guys just like to go through the road. But he wanted, he wanted it, He wanted, he wanted and wanted it. So it's rookie. Yeah, we let him

do what he does. Make his mistakes, but the defining moment and his greatness was we were playing Utah. Nobody wanted to take the last shots. I'm not taking the last shot, shooting four percent for the free throw. Y'all ain't gonna be talking about me the shot class game. So he takes three shots to eil boss. If you can remember, and I hope you can show this clip, I was the one to grab him. I don't worry

about it. One day people are gonna fear you. And the next year he come in and becoming a little more. He wanted it, he wanted it, he wanted it, he wanted it, he wanted it. And this is where I wish I was a little bit more tactful. Egos getting away that word my team will mess you up, right, especially from big guy giving up to a little guy. I don't play that ship, so instead of But unfortunately it still worked out. We still one three out of four.

But a lot of necessary stuff that shouldn't have happened happened because of the ego, and it was probably my fault. But one thing I never do is I never disrespect nobody. I ain't gotta like you a you gotta do what you do. But if you open in the corner mat even if we had to fight the other day. I know you're gonna not that down for I'm killing it.

So you know, even though we didn't hang out or do anything of that, I'm always looking for him first, and he's always looking for me when he go into the hole to get done with it and he dropping off. So I think that will help us. And always tell people that in relationships, you know, when you focus on the tasks, sometimes the relationship dwindles. But you always gotta have respect. You've always gotta have respect. I'm anxout to

know how those how those Spurs teams were, did you guys? Ever? Yeah, the only person that got in the fight was man Pop every time he took me out the game when I want to come out, you know what I mean, like tim and and never none of that. That's that's probably the first time I'm hearing of a dynasty that never had no problems. All the other dynasties had problems. There are problems because you know, you get egos involved.

But I knew that he had it, and I remember him at eighteen years old telling me he's gonna be the Will Smith of the NBA. Like slow down, young fellow. But he had a dream, he had a vision. Yeah, he did have a dream. He had a vision, and look he went for being forty nine year old Scheck looking back on those Laker days, he said he won three out of four. He said, you probably caused was some of the ego. If if you had the wisdom you have now back then, how many championships you feel

like you guys could have won seventh? Because the reason why I got traded it wasn't about me and Kobe beefs what they wanted me to take less money? Not doing that? Coach said, at least ten. We asked him, he said, at least team if it wasn't for the Spurs. That's true. But I got money. I had money. I just should have been like, all right, I raised you enough, it's your team. Now, I know what I'm gonna do. I'm still gonna do ten. But I was like, nah, I want I want one fifty. I don't care what

you like. If I had all over do again, I probably would have had a meeting with the family, which I wonder, let me take less money, take a less role, stay here, or you were still want me to be shocked. Here's that ego and the ego still got me what I want. I should have went to Miami patri Care mean, I still won one, but I would have liked to have stayed there the rest of my career. Imagine that. So three championships, three finals, MVP you spoke to if

you ever got to the finals, he's gonna dominate. You did that off the South Beach. What's that experience like with a young d Way? So when I got to d Wade, I was like, I know you heard all the stories. Share a team. Well I should have did in l am now what I'm thinking about it, So we ain't have any problem. You're the man, You're the CEO. I'll be the consultant. But imagine that. Is it a young V Wade here and this motherfucker's team, but it's your team. It's crazy. I didn't. I didn't. It's not

that I don't pay attention to guys. I just don't care. I got my home. I didn't even know who he was. So while we're in the playoffs, I'm watching him go at Baron Davis. I'm night, who is this? So then when the Lakers talking about playing with me, I said, I know where I want to go go back and forth. Yeah, I want to go play with him. So as soon they got to the first day, I said, look, man, you heard this, You heard that. Me and you ain't

gonna have a problem. You know, man, take as many shots as you wanting you to make everybody feel good, think myself feel good. So but just and we never had problems. So how do you talk about the spurs. I've had problem. We never had an altercation. The only time we had an altercation was when I had to check everybody during the finals that year. Does everybody waiting into the final were already in the final versus Dollars when we went down a little too and everybody waiting like, yeah,

what you're waiting for? I got three dudes on me when I kicked Posy flat like, so then we, you know, and the respect thing. We were able to go on the meeting and go at each other and it just surned around flat that I got four people on me though everybody folks on me. We're gonna use that though to me when they come, I'm gonna can't do something where I get the rebad This seriason about just throwing to me doing all that I ain't doing nothing right now.

I'm old, I ain't doing it right now. But you know, every Johnson still worried about me, We're gonna use that. I kick it back out and go to work. So you know, we had one of the fight, one of the argument and was able, you know, decor, and then again Ego kicked in me and Pat got into him, and that's how I ended up in Phoenix. So you get a championship there, you end up in Phoenix. One thing I liked about you where obviously there was no question once you were on the court, you were the

most dominant motherfucker. But me and you d were talking, we just how U d two weeks ago. You had a way of keeping the locker room energy light. And I think that's so important because you can't always be motherfucker like. Sometimes you have to laugh and joke and you were the king at that And where did that come from? It just you know, being a leader all those years, you gotta keep people together. One thing I like about him if you do something in front of him,

he ain't gonna say nothing. So one day we're in the locker room, go, what isn't that going Judgic going drudge and keep talking. Yeo, man, shut up. He just keep talking. So I get behind him, put him in one of the UFC things. Yeah, he falls to the ground. It's me. It's me and Matt there not take his gatorady walk out. They asked what happened? Mess? I see but I told him, I said, he man, we got a game. Stop talking. Oh you're not gonna do nothing, you old, I said quick too, was like, yeah, yeah,

you came in like what happened? Man, I don't know what happened, but but it was that I even had had a respect. But it's always my job as a leader to keep everybody loose. You know. Kobe spoke to that too, because he said he learned how to you did that and put it in his own way because he didn't understand that when he played with you, Because you know, you gotta keep everybody loose. Like you guys are shoot us and shoot us go on the slumps. But I can't. I can't. I can't come down on

your shoes. So I gotta I gotta make you laugh. I gotta come to your house. I gotta ask you how your mama doing. I gotta come to your kids part Like we just gotta do all that the whole fan. The twins are babies, he'd be twins when they were just all along them, you know what I mean? A little tiny thing, one thing, Like I said, I don't I want to ask you about this, and we can go into it if you want to talk about it. The little back and forth war between you and Lou

Walmington and man, what you did? You shoot around them one day? You put some in your tights this nigger put so him and Lou Walmson are going back and forth. This motherfucker put lose mouthpiece and his tights for shoot around. Went through the whole shoot around. He only told me and maybe one or two other people, but nothing. So this motherfucker puts lose mouthpiece and this type goes to shoot around with it and put quietly puts it back

up in this thing. But by the time the game comes around, you must have told people because more people knew about us. So lout puts his motherfucking mouthpiece and after coach talks, so we're about the huddle and we just lose it because he because he did some ship to you though, because he broke I had a big gas bad and so I opened the door all the

little white they hit this dude's bicycle. Somehow you got his bicycle up on the stoplight, at the top of the stoplight, his bike because you used to try to bike. I know some people, right, You got a chance obviously to play you being as great as you were. You got a chance to play with Code, You got a chance to play with the Wade, Nash Lebron, Paul Pierce KG.

What was that experience like? Obviously you being great, but then you know, playing with those guys, some of them, some of them in your prime and then later on in your career. I realized early that you could never do it by yourself. How good you are. I realized from also watching the other grades, there's two or three grades on the court at the same time. My favorite team going over with the Lakers, Kareen magic Worthy Coop knowing what he do. So I always knew I needed

somebody else of that caliber. So whenever I got traded, I wanted to go somewhere where why I could win and when I can help somebody else win. I wish I would have got to you in Phoenix two years because at that time and ages ages of months, I just didn't have it. Eventually I had it. But you remember, just like if Nellie and then wasn't doing that treatment, I probably him when two years earlier. But with my process, our process was fine. I had a great time doing it.

I could say I did it my way. I could say guy from New Jersey, from Germany, from Texas put his name on the map. Guy represents the culture the hood. And I want all the little kids, especially the big kids, to look at me and see how I did it, and cheat off my test. Look at Rudy Gobert, see how he did it and cheat she off his time. I tell my son all the time, Yo, man two hunted two. That's right there, that's your money, and you're standing in the corner talking about your guy. Are not

gonna pass? Go get it two bro. I wish I was seventeen right now, me too. I wish I could said to y'all, y'all wouldn't see me on those social media I just pop out of the man. Who's this kid? Man? Who this kid? From seven? I'll just be working as players like you spoke on early when you hear certain people talk about you as that shit, okay, tnc the postgame crew is that for us as players? What was it like, you know, to transition into that and being

a focal point with that team. It came a year too early because when I left you, I had a two year deal with Boston. I wanted the shack to her. I wanted it, but the Achilles came out. I wasn't gonna even try and come back. I was just gonna take a year of travel. And then they come to the house and say, hey, man, we want to hire you. And I'm like, fine, So I'm trying to be like Brian Gum, but I'm terrible awful. And then you know, Charles gonna take up the whole second by talking. I

only get a few sentences, right. So then the guy used to pitch you off because he used to say it on the air, like damn, mother, are you talking to us? But then the guy came in and said, I said, man, we didn't bring it in for that. He wants you to be shock, so okay. So once I started doing that, it's better. And you know a good thing about that show is they allow us to be ourselves. And I think from a basketball standpoint, we have a lot of experience. You know, the fans know that.

You know, you got two Hall of Famers up there, and you've got a guy that was a part of the championship team, and you've gotta earn it. So I think our respectability is up there. But I like watching all the shows. I like watching all the shows. When this us talking and listen other people talking. If I can ask you how you know, then you're not incredible, right I think about it. Oh, he's Steven, should have

did this? How you know you're shooter? Yea, yea. So being at this US talking to you, him, Paul and all that that is us talking. I can respect the fact because I know that y'all know. Y'all know that, we know, so real quick before we get to the quicker doesn't get you out of here. You've always been about the business of basketball from day one, and now obviously it's more commonly talked about and it's something to strive for. When people were talking about it, that was

always your mindset. I mean, you're on every motherfucking commercial of you are a part of hundreds of companies where that mindset come from. I'm not gonna use the word beat up and use discipline whenever athlete did. I'm crazy. I would get disciplined, athlete, lose all, lose sixty million, I get disciplined, touched up by the starge. My worst ask weapon was lit byas I don't even know who linn by as well us. My father came in, face full of cheers. If you ever do cool, IM gonna

kill you. So my my dumbas is like, Bro, I don't mess with coke. I'm missing PEPSI That's what I said. Motherfucker ain't talking about that because he made me sit down and watch it. That's what I never did drunk, right, That's why I don't do nothing that. I don't do nothing. What I'm saying that he came in, he was just right, and then I watched the story. My damn, my man could have been the first pick. So whenever somebody made a mistake, he brings me, don't teach me. So I

never wanted to be bro. Do you remember what you did for me? That's how I got I had court. Nope, I'm sitting in court. I'm actually standing up. Judge walk in and as soon as you get ready, said, I was like judge, hold on, hold on, Mr Jackson. Before we even start I got somebody want to talk to you, and they FaceTime you remember, and all my charges got dropped. I said, this motherfucker's everywhere dog. This mother just turned

around the FaceTime and big feather and dropped my charge. Said, man, that's my I had. But you didn't tell me. I was with Max. You know what I'm saying. You did not tell me, and I was like, let's do it everywhere. You know, you have to club take care of people taking You always took care of me, and y'all know I message with y'all. I'm messing with a lot of people. But this dude did some things for me. Trust me,

you did some things for me. She could have went all the way left, but because he is standing up guy and you don't see nothing, that's how I go. That's let it go. So I'm always had love for her, more has had love for you. Being from Texas, I'm in one time when I came to your hood, you know, your whole hood showed me love. So I appreciate that. You know, when I saw you was going through that minding stuff. You know, I'm in that. I'm in that world.

I'm in that world. Last quick Hitters first thing to come to mind. Your top five rappers. See, I hate doing this because I know all the rappers. I don't want them to get I don't don't want nobody get upset. Biggie Okay, since we're all basketball, can I do an Eastern Conference in the Western Conference a little bit? Okay, Eastern Conference Biggie jay z nas red Man and I'm gonna have to get somebody down south Jeezy Okay. On the West Coast, e forty Snoop ice cubeen to growing up,

specially Texas. That's all we listened to. That's nice. I like the East Coast Top five the eastern East Coast was cool, though. I like that Top five current player current I hate doing this because they're all guards, all right, all right, Steph Dame Dollar, Lebron. We'll go with Joe like that. You know he's gonna let yeah. Top five dynastiest Lakers, Boston Spurs, Golden State and in the last one, Miami had, Miami had, Miami had looked no bulls. I'm

tripping bull stamps. I thought, how would you rank your top five nicknames? Big Ariostotle number five World, Chambi Easy number four World Chambi easy, you know what that is? World chat? I forgot about that. Yeah, big would be three Big, Cactus would be too. Yeah, I'm a woman, be Godzilla Gorilla, so you don't know about that one Godzilla Cabrilla. If you can relive one moment from your career, what moment would that be and why? It'll be making it to the final four and winning a college ship

may show I went on every level except college. How far do you guys go in the tournament? Sour thirty two? Five dinner guests dead are alive? You plus five people always just to see Tupac and we all used to give each other to not He'd be in it big. He'd be in it is doing big things that I'd like to chop it up at him. That's three. Four would be the guy who told me about business. Name was Roger Enrico. He was the CEO of Pepsi. And five would be my sisters rest pig, who would you

like to see? All the smoke? And your answer if you have to help us get this person on the shlf, well, I'm not going to lie to you, don't. I don't watch a lot of TV because because I'm a Netflix guy. So yeah, I don't know who you got. I would like to y'all have Snoop on of course, and that was when our best longest. We haven't had Q yet. We got you coming up. Have had all of them dope. Yeah, so one of those. And if you ever done than Joe, we need to have him on. So if you have

do another song, come in, let's do it. We Overdo you need to meet all the smoke to tnc on night? Have us come out there? Yeah, I can do that with that the smoke lap Man. That's a rapid. We appreciate your big rap, Shaquille O'Neil. You can catch us on Showtime Basketball YouTube to the Kardashians over the catch us our Showtime Basketball YouTube and the Heart platform Black Effects. Well see you all next week. Appreciate your big fella.

This is all a smoke a production of The Black Effect and our Heart Radio in partnership with Showtime