S2 Episode 7: Last Minute Prep

hop on the planet two third and get up. Welcome back to Drafted, I'm kicking Michael Key and in the seventh episode, Anthony Edwards and his friends visit their longtime barber No No to prepare for the cameras and media coming their way in two days, while Tyrese, Maxie, and his uncle Brandon traveled back to Garland, Texas for their Draft at home with their family. After arriving at the airport, Tyrese and Brandon discover flying has changed quite a bit

since they came to Los Angeles eight months ago. Were your mouth healthy? Honestly, I have a mixed emotional feelings might not. Saying goodbye to Los Angeles is complicated. As we shared in the last episode, the city taught him a lot about being a professional and how to move and live as a celebrity, but he thinks it may also have a dark side. The food in l A Is not good. I'm sorry, there's there's there's no, if

it was about it, it's just not get it. And in my opinion, it is not like like we submit my uncles all the time, Like you want a healthy smoothe if you want somewhat no great healthy options being with all that stuff, this is the place to be because you want to get a great smoothe, a great get a great smovis you don't find a way to get They gonna have every vegan, vegetarian, esketarian, any terry you want to be. They're gonna have all those options.

But the scenery and all these different spots that I name the towns and all that is ten out of ten by far. Tyrese ated some of the fanciest, most expensive restaurants in the city. He visited packed eateries on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, Ocean Front dining in Malibu, and Santa Monica, places with world renowned chefs who have had their cuisine emulated across the globe. We're getting a table takes months of advanced planning. The food was horrible.

Who was Caroble like not to get at all, like we have to leave there and but yes, but well we were saying that and on the beach and they know it was jet skis on the drive to the people that were cool. It was amazing, right at least I see why people want to go there, rather the food is good or not, because it it was just the great, great atmosphere. It was so cool to be there,

you know what I'm saying. Like, and that's how it is that almost all these spots, despite Tyrese's assuredness, over twenty Rush, Drunts, and Greater La have been awarded Michelin Stars for their food, so not everyone agrees with his assessment of l A dining. Here's agent Mark Murray, a member of the Clutch Sports team representing Tyrese. Brandon and tyres are the only people you know that that go to a Wendy's or a fast food drive after eating at Malibu or going to a lot of these other

l A hotspots. You don't hear that the very often. But that's also what makes those guys great. As a lot of people, you know, they'll sit there and tell you and lie to you, Oh this is great. I love it. Brandon and Tires for the most part, will be no, terrible, not not a fan. Don't like it, you know, they're straight up, so I can. I can live with that all day. Part of what Tyrese and

Mark are describing could be culture shock. He's still barely twenty years old, and he's used to college dining halls in Texas, barbecue, eating super expensive raw fish, your tables full of celebrities is a big change, and Reese may not realize that in less than forty eight hours, there will be many more changes heading his way. Uncle Brandon is starting to notice though. Here he is heading towards the jetway in the airport terminal. I guess I'll, I

guess I'll get this last little record. Actually, well, to get on the plane we inquired, ready for the PJ. It to get on the plane, go back to the crib. The PJ he is referring to is a private jet, and as he and Tyree's board, the impact of what's coming on novemb becomes clearer for hours. Bro, you gotta worry about this no moment, then I gotta worry about

it multiple times a week. Tyrese won't have to worry about what they're doing because he'll be flying with his teammates on an NBA Franchises private jet from that one brand. On the other hand, we'll still be flying on commercial airlines to be with his nephew for games on the road. The boarding do please turn off and put away all over our campaign for alcohol. It's tie recent Brandon fly back to Texas, Anthony and his friends Nick, Red and

Trey visit their longtime barber, No No in Atlanta. They know cameras will be pointed at them throughout the day and night, so they want to make sure they're looking perfect for the draft. That's No No. The barber, All right, let's go. Let's go sleep knee you first, Nickole, you're looking like somebody grandmama. Man, what's what's your dough? Nick is one of Anthony's closest friends and apparently someone in

desperate need of a haircut. If he's going to be visible with Anthony on the big day, I gotta put the dollar in, eat man, put a dollar and I'm gonna do it. Man, whatever man, I'm gonna putting on. There's also a consensus that Nick is a little too soft. He's gonna be in him. Got damn. I got him. Make sure it will go. He ain't on the first time you try. You know what, I'm saying, you got to try again. See now it got a little bit,

It got a little bits. In sports, being a dog or having a dog mentality means a certain quality of grit or fight. People would use this term to describe someone like Portland Trailblazers all star Damian Lillard. He's undersized but plays with a level of determ the nation that makes it seem like he's unwilling to accept defeat under any circumstance. But he'll die trying before he gives up. But not everyone agrees on how you get that title. No, I'm saying, see listen. Having the doll is like a

portion of confidence. So once you build that ship, Beau, you keep doing that ship get with you know how to worry about having it because you're don't have that or the dog has nothing to do with confidence. You have no confidence in the world and be a dog. Now, now you gotta have a confidence. Half of confidence, half of it is confidence and talent, like meeting both together. I ain't seen no doubt. Who ain't got no uh? Who ain't confidence? Name of dollar, ain't confident? Richard account.

Richard was a safety on the University of Georgia football team. Now a fucking doll. He just don't look he's not he don't have the image. But he a dog. He's a dog. Listen, he's not confidence. Listen, he got the helmet on to respect that number. They agree to disagree, except when it comes to fixing Nick's haircut. That needs to happen. Now he confident? Is he got their hand on? He confident? But if he got their head on, you

know what I'm saying, it's it. You know it's it is what it is, Bro, But Nick, Nick, don't worry about I got Nick. Don't mean she's gonna be a player. Why would I say, don't worry Buck, don't worry. I got Nick, I got Nick. Don't worry about Listen, give me back three months with Nick, trust me, Bro, Put me in the put me in the room, full on, we're gonna come out and got them bowling. Nah, no matter, Hell yeah, that ship looking weird as fun, man, We're

like a weirdo. That's a weird though. We'll be right back, you know. The barbera finishes cutting next hair and then moves on to Anthony, who takes his seat in the chair. You don't feel like a like it's a Chrit mc gill that you always wanted and now you're gonna get them a little bit. Oh god, that was so. I'm trying to add this ship got them as a big ad moment, Bro. Should ain't a little moment. That should be big brom kind of you small, you're trying to

be smooth? What what're gonna forever? They did they did in that outfit just like outfit like not no graffitia type shit is why don't win those regulars business? Like play a preface ship like it's like it's a black boot. Okay, it'd be a white repeated shirt and my mother dream the name and it's it's a black Google jack but I made it. Were like exactly stopped like here some my certain overviews of jacket how didn't work because I'm not walking on stage like nobody in football. But they're

gonna have you on TV though. Bro, everybody who's bed football the exactly what I'm doing. Listen, Bro, listen google that ship while they right here and google the top five. You can't google talking about draft because they can they have Okay, I got you. When did they knew the virtual of draft last year. They need football, right, I could have sworn Chase you who got them? What cha you hat on? So it wasn't last yea, yeah it was.

It was it was like yeah, yeah, okay, I'm just thinking if No No listened to episode six in the last season have drafted, he would know Chase Young war John Elliott because his Gucci suit was held up in Italy due to the pandemic. But Anthony pulls it up on YouTube instead, same as that kind of outfit your shoes probably what he won. That's that's in the draft. That's the virtual draft. I'm not a kid swill that's foot uh. I'm gonna pull up the number two drafted. Mhmm. Okay,

so it's some iraban ship. That's what he wants to the draft. Okay. Reserve No No finishes the trim and Anthony steps out. Next up is Donnelle Gresham otherwise known as Red, another friend of Anthony's who's played basketball with him at the University of Georgia. Are you know you know they ain't mom, but then you know our relationship,

you don't know what? Yeah, like having no answers. He was about seven, like and I've been couldn't hear his brothers and towns now, so they were were since I was in barbering to and so like I hadn't couldn't had done the free room years just because I wanted to be at my client table, I'm saying. And then I started to get piping and started to get biggest, and he started to foot with me, you know what

I'm saying. And then one day read and MoMA came to me and she was just like, you know, she said that she was sick and she was like, I just want you to like make sure you get look out my boys. Like my MoMA told me that. I was like, what do you mean? She was like, and then then we could do no. And so she's like, they didn't give me that loan to live and she was like, man, just probably to me, you'll he'll take

him my boys. So like I mean, I told him, since you can, got a little older with Right from that day forward, I said, I always looked out, you know what I'm saying. Always, you know what I'm saying. The community that rallied around Anthony and his siblings include more than justice trainers and coaches. There are people all across Anthony's life. Who've tried to help in their own ways. People like No No, who've been involved since Anthony and

his siblings were little Grandma almost super quiet. She deserved. She just come in, just had her purse. She just see it should weight. Mom turned Okay, do you know

what I'm saying? Like that's how she's definitely spicy. But and ship was tough, bro, Like little Brook got a big hard bros the first of the time to day because you don't you know he knows though he most about this ship from this like like I'm saying, like the fact that he could just walk around in like be he feeling I'll talk to you feel He'd rather not show it though I want to show weakness, you bro,

he can't him. Nineteen year old guys aren't exactly known for their willingness to articulate difficult feelings, and the culture in highly competitive sports promotes toughness and resiliency along with hiding vulnerability and pain, which seems to be what Anthony's doing my ship, Why I come in bro on too, But it's like through the process. Though he was a good he was a good kid. But yeah, deep, but me tell you Drew Ray was got in Man's league

in the older broke. He'd reading why Charlotte wants to leave. They're talking about Anthony's oldest brother, Antoine. He's nearly eight years older than Anthony. Do a whole life, bro when used trade and tirate every day, Oh day like this sports? Why he did? He used to drill why he like, I'm know full a fact he did. He's personally peep and you know what I'm saying. He shouts and pits, cry and might lose man his calcular Oh the ship

when they paid off them ship paid off. Anyone with siblings might relate to what No No is talking about. An older brother trouncing his younger brother on the court, taunting him the whole time, the competitive younger brother getting mad, crying and staying behind a practice long after they're done playing, swearing revenge while he keeps working at his game, only to lose again and again every time they play. Here's

Anthony on this dynamic with his two older brothers. Playing sports with my two older brothers was rough because I never could win, and that definitely pushed me to be better because like I'm like, one day I gotta be able to beat him. It can't be beating me my whole life. So my brother that I'm closest to, he's twenty two. We always kind of play in the same areas. Like sometimes I played up on his age group. So we went to high school together, and my whole ninth

grade year I did and beat him. But when I when I got to timp grade, I beat him once. I beat him one time, and then after that he couldn't beat me anymore in less than forty eight hours. Anthony's hard work, promises and dreams will finally culminate when he's picked near the top of the NBA Draft. But on that random day in tenth grade, he accomplished something that might be as personally meaningful when he finally turned the tables after an entire life of losing to his

siblings and avenged himself on the basketball court. I mean, it's a good feeling just because he can't. He can't a little boy, you know more, he can't a little bro, you know more, just because you're better than him at the sport that you wanted to be like him and when you was growing up, So like just it's a major goal in life. When you beat your older brother, We'll be right back. Teresa's flight lands in Garland, Texas.

He and Brandon get in a car to head home, and to no one's surprised, he already has basketball in his mind. Yo, come up, what's up my man? What's going on? Man? None? When you got with it? Okay, this is his agent, Rich Paul. Now I don't. When I was calling the scene, uh me and me were talking about like working out at facility. So how does that work? Like you have twenty four hour access to

the gym? How does that work? Where like whever whatever, the team you get drafted too, I'm saying, like, you got twenty four hour access to the gym, how does that work? Is it like school? Because normally yes, but because of COVID, you won't have that. Okay, okay, cool, but normally done COVID. Yeah, access to the gym. Okay,

all right, that's okay, that's that's free. And if you go to a team that has these new practice facilities, it's like Stayer Arc like fingerprint underground parking, um like the Calves Fingerprint underground parking music play everywhere there. Yeah, okay, that's tough. That's tough. Yeah, it's it's the NBA is JATAJ Hall basketball, don't you now? I was just I was just curious. That's all your days of high school,

you know, child is trying to find the gymp. So, yeah, your days of trying to find somebody to work you out. O tap, it's over your cat. I mean everybody, that's your being call right, you got the best of the best of the best. Oh yeah, that's that's yeah, you're right, that's that sounds smooth to me. I mean people sitting here talking about because it was talking about like it's gonna be weird. You know what I'm saying. We we ain't got that same schedule no more. We haven't had

this this schedule for seven months. But yeah, all right, my man, I ain't Yeah, I ain't about to mean to hold you to go ahead with you what you got going. You're the crab chiller. Just you know, man, chest what's throwing out? Can start abous that I'm expected to create us give me something? Yeah, well I hate you this okay. At Tyres and Uncle Brandon returned to the Maxi household in Garland, but things are not as they left them. What up. What's this? What is it?

Is there? Your name on it? It's start everywhere, bro, this is ridiculous. There are unidentified boxes and packages all over the living room. Some are addressed to Tyrese, some to Brandon, and some to Tyrese's mom. Denise, you've got on the phone's just like the draft phone is some? Is it from then you? This isn't? This should be too? Tip it back? Well, I guess I just I don't know what it is. This is what proud Yo called Mark. You called Mark? They said your name on it. Look,

I'm not tripping. Look let me see it again. Are you sure you don't order a new phone? No? What anything will come like that? Yeah? This is oh no, yeah you go play that. I don't know cal Mark say, though they're hoping Mark from Clutch Sports can explain this special phone that arrived unannnounced along with the other surprise boxes and packages. Here's Mark. So this whole process not only from our side, but from the NBA and league side. This is their first time going through this whole or

d too, and so it's new to them. So there's boxes left and right, big fed xboxes showing up stack to the ceiling almost in their living room of draft equipment. NBA. Here's an NBA ban or for media. Here's an I pan for draft night. Here's some technical equipment for this and that, a lot of different obligations and things like that. Where a lot of it is is last minute. The draft truly was moving in real time this year. All the stuff that normally would be in Brooklyn for this

year's draft is now in Tires's living room instead. This is so exciting, isn't it? There's also so nerve breaking life whole bunch of stuff. What if it pop out eye Hello Brandon, like, hey you where it came. Let's say he's got a new phone. Well, if I bought a new bone? When it coming this? I ask you? I'm asking if I come in for when you coming this? Did the new phone come in there? Yes? Are you not listening? Well? Maybe reaching to it for you to

ask this for? I don't love what we'll say saying back to no instructions, No instructions, So would you you you gotta record something and then we don't know. I can say my name on that. Yeah, let's say it was it whatever it is? I have no idea. Look, look look these people up. Look this about to claud Martin, I have no idea. None of that means secret high tech phones are only the beginning. ESPN crews will be

arriving tomorrow, bringing more chaos with them. Here are Tyrese, Denise, and Brandon again, looking over another folder of information sent to their house. Yeah cool. When they started talking about other stuff. He's an insurance guy. He does all NBA insurance up. Who's that? Who that person? I mean, well, you and you you have no whol We have been through these last few years with you. So many people call us as random and just send stuff, and it's

been freaking crazy. Denise's right, what Tyrese and Anthony are going through is crazy. It is rare that anyone experiences this kind of whirlwind of money and fame and scrutiny in such a short amount of time. Even with all the preparation and excitement, it can be a lot to handle. Tyrese decides to step away from all of it and go for a walk to clear his head. Immediately, some neighbors spot him and wave, how are you. I'm great. I'm gonna keep my mask on because I just got back,

so I'm so excited for you. Thank you, thank you. Um, I guess normal right now, I mean it's not and really hit me. Yeah, this starting to make you feel all this stuff everything, Yeah, a little bit as soon as I got home, because I was in l A, so I was just working out out there. So as soon as I got home, you know, all the boxes and everything that was here, that's when they kind of started hating me. They sent the little hats and all that.

So appreciate it. Everything you do me. I appreciate that. I appreciate that. Less than two days to go and the reality is finally starting to sink in. That's the thing about the draft. You can train and practice and get your hair cut and find the perfect outfit and call your agent about gim hours and research all the teams who might take you. You can do everything possible

to prepare. But then at a certain point, the draft is out of your hands and there's nothing left to do except wait, which can certainly be a challenge for someone built the way Tyrese is. Let go like to handle this. It's too much. Are you working out? Yeah? Yeah that's why. Yeah, yeah, I see why you had

to come back now somewhere around. He got, he got, he got a bunch stuff going on to Mark's sending him stuff, Rich sending him stuff, and dude, I'm the only one that really got him to new I'm going that's his mom who just said, no, you're not, because unlike the seven basketball access he'll have in the NBA, Tyree still has to answer to mom and dad right now,

and coach Denise keeps strict hours for her sons. Yeah, there's no more time for basketball now, not when they have a draft at their house to prepare for a draft that's only one day away next undrafted. Thank you all for being here. We really appreciate it. Nice to meet you. My man might be nice to meet y'all. So that was the first cast of the day, was keeping Tyres out of the gym for trying to knowing him.

He probably still gotta work out in his room. I've literally only worn one pair of Jorge in my whole life. I can't sleep with both eyes closed. In the NBA, it's only one guy that could do that, maybe two. He was like, Jay Sean got killed last night, and he says Jay Sean from the gym, and I just I just kind of lost it. That was just hard. That was hard everybody because kids aren't supposed to die and it came out of nowhere. But I really can't

shake it. Th Like I thought I was good, Yea, I can't shake because at the end of the day, this is way bigger than basketball. It's just trying to help society at the end of the day. Drafted as a production of tree Fort Media, Clutch Sports Group, and I Heart Radio. The executive producers are Kelly Garner, Lisa Ammerman, Eric s a Lot, Sean to Tone l Ki and me Keegan Michael Key. The series is produced and written by Eric Weiner. Jared Brom is our coordinating producer. Trey

McCain is our associate producer. Tom Monahan is our senior audio engineer. Mixed and edited by Steven Johnson, additional production help from Tim Shower, June Rosen, and Hayley Mandelberg. For transcripts of the show and more information on Drafted, go to tree Fort dot fm. For more podcasts. For my Heart Radio, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.