All-Star Weekend, Juwan Howard + a Damian Lillard Interview

fan duel sports book makes it easy. What's up, everybody? Welcome back to The Draymond Green Show. This is our episode, and boy do we have a great show this week. Extremely excited about this and I think it's the best conversation with the guests that we've had to date. And that's obviously no shade to all our guests that we've had,

because I think it's been incredible. The podcast has been getting incredible ratings and views and and just a lot of people reaching out and saying that, you know, it's been a great listen for them, and it's a real listen, So I am thankful for that. I'm thankful to everyone who tunes in and listens every week, and most importantly thankful to everyone who's taking the time out to come

on the podcast share their stories. Uh. It's incredible and it's always it's always extremely fun for me to do and so but this convo was very good, it was very insightful, and it was with none other than the top NBA Top seventy five player, perennial All Star brother of mine gold medalists Dame Lillard uh. And we talked about his injury recovery, We talked about the CJ trade, and we also talked about his his future in Portlands and a lot more. We man, we probably talked for

about an hour and it was incredible. So I'm looking forward to everyone um getting to having the opportunity to listen to that interview. But before we get to that, as you know, we like to go around the world, around the association uh and and just share a few thoughts. So we'll start today with Obviously, I tweeted last night about one of the most respectful statements and I know

everybody's like, oh man, what is he talking about? And when the reason I said one of the most respectful statements because as a as a competitor, um as someone who's currently in this league. I always say, the most important respect you can get, uh, and then when in this league is from your peers, it's from other players. It's from the guys that you go up against every

single day. It's from the guys not only do you go up against every single day, but also of the guys that are in your locker room that you take the court with every single day. So that is the most respect you can get, which is why I said this is one of the most respectaful statements I can take. Obviously, we just got through All Star Weekend, which, let me tell you, was one of the most incredible weekends, uh,

the NBA can possibly produce. It was amazing. I mean from All Star Weekend being in Cleveland, Lebron James, I mean Lebron was essentially Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg hosting the Super Bowl. That's what Lebron was to this. Uh. He and Rich Paul and Maverick, Carter, Randy, that's what they were to this this All Star weekend. And I don't know most people obviously don't know them personally well, but let me tell you they know how to host, and not only in Cleveland for All Star, but they

do it the right way. Maverick has this saying. He always says, hey, Dre, He's two things, he say, Dre. A lot of people has done it. I don't know if any has done it better. He always says that. And another statement he always says, is who's having more fun than us? Like who's having Like you can't find someone having more fun than us? And I agree, um, And obviously and being a part of the family, you know, you just see all ins and outs and how fun it is and and the great business moves that lead

to more fun and so on and so forth. So they were the host of the weekend, which obviously they blew it out the water, but just being surrounded by greatness, like, you can't script that any better. Now here's where the statement comes in that Lebron James and Steph Curry, two guys born in the same hospital in Akron, Ohio, goes back to Cleveland. Steph obviously played against Lebron uh and

and NBA Finals Warriors versus Calves. The booze were raining there anytime they men should my name or Steph name The boozer, raining and all of these things, and then stuff comes out of his sixteen threes and go for fifty m v P scripted right, Lebron James comes out. You know he's doing Lebron. He's dunking a little bit, but you can tell he's out there. He's not going for the m v P, but he's dunking a little bit, putting on the show. But then Lebron James gets the

ball in the mid posts. We all know what movies going to We all know before he even shoots the ball. This ball is going in like you just felt it. Scripted right, what's Stephen Curry and Lebron James did this weekend? What's the exact reason people think they're so great at what they do that what they did this weekend further let people on to think the NBA scripted And you can't draw it up any better than the way it happened. One guy goes for fifty, breaks the record, shatters the record.

He almost had double the amount of threes than the previous record was. He probably broke that record with six minutes ago in the second quarter. Incredible, I know a matter of fact, he broke it early on in the third quarter. But you can't write it up any better. Again, That's two guys born in Akron, Ohio, which is twenty

minutes away from Cleveland, goes to Cleveland. One wins the m v P. The other who's Cleveland's son, who owns that city, who's put that city on the map, who brought them their only NBA championship in the history of the organization. Um, I mean really almost probably in the history of the city. You know, I gotta throw that in there. My thing with Cleveland's gonna stay. My thing

with Cleveland. But a guy who was sought out by clear evening they tanked to get him, didn't only live up to the hype, but surpassed it, which had to be nearly impossible to do. They actually did something that made everyone thing again that the NBA has scripted, and you couldn't draw it up any better. Like, I'm sorry, but the NBA can script as much as they want.

You can't script Steph Curry actually making sixteen threes, Like you actually have to go hit those shots with people running flying at you, um, him shooting it right across, Like you actually have to go make those shots. I'm not sure how that can be scripted. Lebron jays like it was destined. Like when he shot that ball, we all knew what was coming. Joel tried to double at the last second, no problem. The ball looked like it came out of Briant hands so nasty. It didn't look

like the shot was going in. Of course he cans it. You can't script that any better. He actually has to make that shot like and so what my statement simply was was those two guys are so great at what they do that they actually did something to further the notion of the NBA is actually scripted. And I was there to see it. I was there to witness it,

and it was one of the most beautiful things. I hope everyone appreciated the greatness that was on display this past weekend in Cleveland, from top to bottom, uh the the top seventy five lists. I hope everyone appreciated the greatness that was on display, because I tell you who did, I did, and it was amazing. UM. I truly enjoyed my role in the weekend with my T n T family. UM.

I hope everyone checked out the broadcast. Maybe next year that would be the number one broadcast but next year I'll also be playing, so we'll have to figure that out as well. But there are ways, and Craig Berry is great and he's gonna figure it out as he always does. And I hope everyone enjoyed the telecast as much as I enjoyed being a part of it because I thought it was incredible. Um. So that's that, And I hope you guys again appreciate those two guys because

they are legends. And no, it does not matter which one is better or who did this. They both are legends. They're both born and accurate, and they both led you on to think the NBA was scripted due to their greatness. The three point contests I truly enjoyed. I thought it was incredible. It was great to see Cat become the first big man to win it since two thousand twelve, since Kevin Love, who was also a Minnesota timber with

at the time. I thought that was incredible. I actually chose cather Win um, as you know, because as I said before, he's it's not much movement. He does not jump, so it's no extra wasted energy. It's literally him picking the ball up. Boom boom boom. It's it's no wasted energy, and so I actually thought Cat will win. Cat did win. Kudos to him. He shoots, He shoots the lights out of the ball, and this is the best year he's had shooting it. He's shooting it at a career clip.

But you you saw this coming, like you've seen this over the years, uh coming his shot taking more and more of him, and the more that he's taking over the years, the better his percentages has gotten. So I thought that was absolutely incredible. Congratulations to Cat, well deserved, incredible shooter. Definitely probably the best shooting big man um

that we have in the league. And you know, you have something specialists and so you maybe can find a specialist big that can shoot better than him, but someone with the whole entire package like Cat has. Catt'll give you a bucket anyway you want to dribble, post three, step back your name, and he giving you all of those buckets. So he's the best at doing that. You gotta give him his credit. He shoot the lights out three point champion. Congratulations to Cat. Job well done, my friend,

and way to hold it down for the biggs. That's two for Cat. Now that's Cat got the skills competition, and that's also another one for cat three point competition. Maybe he'll go to the Dunk Contest next year, which is a totally different story. I mean, there's been a lot of riff raff and a lot of talk on the Dunk Contest. Quite frankly, I thought it was terrible. I thought it was bad. I didn't really enjoy it much. What I did enjoy was watching Wantu, Scote Anderson compete

on the biggest stage. And that's a guy who got it out the mud, straight from ninety Street in Oakland, who did a G League tryout, pay for a G League tryout, made the team, continue to work, gets the training camp, invide from the Warriors, gets cut, goes back to the G League, continues to work, get a call up, and obviously we know the rest is history. So to see him on that stage and only be one dunk away from winning the Slam Dunk Competition, I thought it

was incredible. And if there was anything that I enjoyed from that Dunk Contest, which it wasn't many moments to enjoy, it was that Because I thought that was incredible. That's pure. That's what we all love. You love to see the guy, get it out, the underdog and make it to that stage. And so kudos Tawan Tuscano Anderson, congratulations to Obie topping Um. But yeah, the dunk contest has to be figured out

because it was not it was. I mean, I used to be the Marquis event at like there was a time where the where the dunk contest was more important than the actual All Star Game. Not quite anymore. I mean, the three point contest was the mark event isue but in the same token of three point shot is the most important shot in the NBA. So it makes sense

of why that would take precedent. You think about the NBA back in the day, it's all about slashing, getting too the cup, highest flyer, um, tough physical, toughest nails. Nobody's really shooting three. That was condemned and everybody talked about if you live by the three, you die by it three. And so it wasn't a big thing. And so the reality is is it makes sense of why that was more of the Marque event because the NBA is built on three point shooting right now thanks to

Steph Curry and Clay Thompson. So I get it. But something has to happen because it wasn't not great. Um, I'm not sure. There was many things that took place during the dunk contest that got you out of your seat. And of course we I saw Kareem Abdul Jabbar infamously walking out of the dunk contest mid dunk. So and I also told you all Jalen Green was the guy who has the most outs and he's gonna try to do so much and miss the dunks. I knew it. I knew it because he's supposed to win, like all

the pressures on him to do something spectacular. He do normal dunks. He doesn't win, so he has to do something spectacular. So I don't know, man, you can see it coming. It's kind of the same thing every year. The guy who's supposed to win doesn't really win. You think back to James White, the hot flyer, dunks from the free throw line. Women like those guys. They they're supposed to win and they just never win. Zach Lavine was supposed to when he did win, but most guys don't.

So I thought that was very interesting, um or lack thereof of interest, But I will see the NBA has done a great job of revamping things for All Star Weekend to keep the energy going, and I have no doubt in my mind they'll figure something out with the Dunk contest to make it more interesting. So we'll see, and we'll we'll wait to see until next year, which is another All Star Weekend that I'll be at who

I'll be playing this time around. And lastly, before we get to the damn interview, because it was a pretty long one, so for the sake of time, we'll try to keep this open a little shorter. But before we talk about the damn interview, I have to say something like, it's absolutely necessary that I say something about the Juwan

Howard situation. Uh, in part due to I hate Michigan Wolverines like I'm all the way good on them, So any time to see their programs in turmoil is always fun for me, because why not, I'm a Michigan State guy. I'm sparking through and through. They hate us, we hate them. It's no surprise there, it is what it is. So any time that happens, and not necessarily the incident with Juwan Howard, but any time their programs are in term more fire, hard hardball like I enjoy that. Let me

say that first. Now, Juwan Howard Um. It baffles me how no one spoke about the guy grabbed his arm as he's walking through the handshake line. It's almost as if he walked up to someone and punched him in their eye. No words said premeditated. I made up my mind. I'm walking up to you and I'm punching you in your eye. That's what it almost. That's what the the narrative around this thing feels like to me. No one's talking about his arm being great. It's the reason Juwan

didn't apologize. I have the utmost respect for him for not apologize. At the end of the day, you did it. It's done. It is what it is. If you ultimately want to reach out to that guy and apologize to him for punching him, totally fine. But the whole he needs to get in the press conference right after. He haven't had time to process his thoughts, hasn't had time to go through and this whole notion if he needs to get in the press conference and apologize right away,

miss me with that, that's ridiculous. You did it. It is what it is. You have to live with it regardless. If you apologize or not right, then you take it on the chain, you continue to move. And I'm so happy I didn't go to the University of Michigan as I almost did, because the way they're athletic director comes out immediately like oh, I reached out to them and I apologize, My man, have you even had an opportunity

to talk to your coach yet? Two you came out with the statement within a couple hours of this thing happening. I've reached out to them and apologize, like number one, war man, you like you're you're not involved directly. Now you have to make decisions, but you reach and I apologize it. You're almost sad as as if Juwan was wrong? Was he wrong for punch of him? Absolutely? Okay, we all know you keep a certain level of professionalism blah

blah blah, But you didn't ask. You didn't ask their athletic directed to reach out to you and apologize about their head coach been Jowan's aren't. But I reached out to them, our presidents reaching out to the chancellor to apologize, like stop it, Like how about how that man back instead of just throwing them under the bus like that, how about coming out and supporting him and saying I don't agree with what Jawan did, but ultimately I stand in support of our coach. I will handle and we

will handle and discipline as we see fit. But let us further figure out what happened first, as opposed to, oh, we apologize already and we can't like stop it. That's ridiculous. So I thought that was put theetic. Yeah, it wasn't surprising to me because I know how they are up there.

I'm always rolling with the Spartans, I'm rolling with time is though, But the fact that there was no support from the people that are supposed to be on his side, it's just further validates why I chose the green and white and not It's come up the highway, because I couldn't believe that. That was baffling to me that their athletic director ran out like that, apologizing and not supporting his coach. I hope, I hope you wanna say forget you all the rest of the season, suspension on out

of here, you can have. That's That's what I'm hoping for. But we'll see, we know how it goes. Whatever I thought it was absolutely ridiculous. Also, suspending for the rest of the season. Can Can we also know what the assistant because see as someone who's been suspended from very important things. There's there's also two sides to it. And I've been in trouble before for coming into a scrum after the fact in the NBA saying you escalated the situation.

So how does this guy, Joe Krabenhof not get anything for coming in and escalating the situation. Obviously you got pushing your of face, so you did get something, but he gets absolutely nothing for coming in and escalating the situation. And the guy who grabbed Jowan runs out scotch free, So does he get anything? Like nothing happens for him running out and grabbing that man's arm like he's not

your friend, you're and grab his arm. That's ridiculous. In two thousand and twenty two, you can't even grab your kid arm without getting in trouble. You're gonna grab the arm of another grown man and then he the situation.

That's ridiculous, Absolutely ridiculous. So I absolutely hated the way Michigan's athletic director came out and did that show no support for Juan and coming out and do that I absolutely hate the fact that no one is talking about him grabbing Jowan's arm, and I absolutely hate the fact that no one is talking about grabbing half coming in and escal late in the situation and ultimately getting punched in his face. But it's not a Michigan state state thing,

so ultimately it is what it is. I really don't care. That's just that We'll move on from that. Good Michigan's in turmoil. I love it. But let me welcome in my brother, Olympic gold medalists, six times NBA All Star, Rookie of the Year, cornerstone of the Portland Trail Blazers,

and NBA Top seventy five performer, Dang dollar Man. I'm honored to have this next guest on UM, a guy who I've now had the opportunity to play with, win a gold medal with, but someone who I have the utmost respect for UM that I've kind of built the

that I have built a bond with. And it's funny because it just kind of happened like right at the at the combine, and we was in the draft together, sixth overall pick of our draft, but just kind of had that same underdog coming up and just clicked right off the bat, you know, become has become a brother of mine. Uh, built the lifelong relationship that will go far beyond our basketball years. And I think that grew even stronger and getting some hardware together in the gold medal.

But I'm honored to how you on day and welcome to the Draymond Green and show my brother six time All Star. First off, First off, man, how are you feeling? Um? Obviously we know you're coming off the injury. Well you have surgery. Um, you're trying to rehab back from the injury. How are you feeling? First off, I should have listened to y'all. Y'all told me to do that. I got it done, But I mean should I had to. I had to do what I had to do. I ended

up getting that that surgery. Um where our team was that they just made sense. I mean, just go ahead and corrected him and move forward. But I mean it's a it ain't a bad surgery, you know what I mean. It was like, you know, it's an aggressive recovery. So I had surgery on on January thirteenth, and on at like six am, and then on the fourteenth at six am,

my therapy, yoga. It was like right away, just like get back moving, start attacking it and building that shrimp back up and says today it's just been every day Bright's rehab all that. So I mean I'm back, I'm back on to move now just cutting, spread and jumping and stuff like that. That was just a matter of you know, strengthening my adepts in that growing area, my hips and getting my quarterback strong. But I'm I'm getting there equipped broth like I'm moving. I'm just not in

the rush. You know. That's that's beautiful seeing I obviously as you saw I said on I think Instagram like this dude finally going and get the surgery and made me happy. And I don't think I was a thing. To my defense, brother, I didn't realized how hurt I was until until now when I'm walking around and I'm doing stuff, I realized I heard I was like, I knew I was hurt, but I didn't know I was

hurt like that. It's funny because the reality is we're all, like you just said, we're all telling you like, damn, get the surgery. Damn with the surgery, and the reality is you're you're you're stubborn as hell and you don't listen. But what most people don't understand is that's actually what makes you great, is that you are stubborn, that you do carry that chip on your shoulder. And so it wasn't ironic to me that you wouldn't listen to nothing

else tell you get surgery. Almost did, but I was like, I didn't until until I couldn't move. I was like, good, it's um. I don't think people really understand. There was a lot of talk after the after the Olympics, Uh, you know that, don't look healthy this, and then you know you you you rehab, you come or you took a break, you rehab, then you come in for training

camp and you having those days still. But people don't understand when we were over in Tokyo and seeing you not be able to practice and seeing you like, hey man, I'm hurting today, but tomorrow it'll it'll loosen up again. And now like it'll loosen up again and I'll be

able to play. Like I don't think people really understand what you were going through over there, so like walk them through and I can help with that, but walk them through what you were going through in the Olympics and still continue to fight through, continue to help when help us win that gold. Mental I mean, I think the number one thing for me, I don't I ain't even comfortable with excuses for him. So my main thing was like I just gotta find a way to get

through it. But I think what it came down to is and it's been getting worse every sea it you know what I'm saying. Like at first, it was like, all right, I gotta get treatment and it feel better for the next couple of games, and then it'll be like bothering me. I get in the cold to up, get him a size, and I'll be good for a month. Then the next year it was like every week I gotta be on the table before and after practice. And then the next year it was like I do the

same stuff, it ain't really helping. And then last season it was bothering me the whole season. Like the whole year, I'm like struggling, Like in between games, I'm trying to walk up my stairs and like my ship is completely locked up. So I'm like I started realizing, like I'm really hurt. Then I stopped being able to explode like vertical when I was running full speed when usually I can just pop up there. I'm like, damn, I can't run fast and jump, but run fast, change direction to

go off one foot. So we get to the playoffs, and during the playoffs, like I was getting so much treatment and you know, doing medication and stuff like that, where I was able to have a good playoff. We lost, and I started getting ready for the Olympics. So after a long season and then I kept training, then went to Vegas and then it was there for three weeks and then went to the Olympics, and the pretty much just gave out on me, like it was done bro. And the whole time we was there, I was like,

really scenting experienced I playing. I planned the half on the court. It was already like half the experience just being there as we couldn't do nothing. So but on the court, I'm like, ship, I'm FINNI play with Drey, I'm playing with Kade, I'm playing with all these people. I'm finding I'm fenning hit eight threes a game. I'm gonna get some dunks. We're gonna have some fun. And then it's like you get there, I can't really move my sheet hurt and I couldn't even walk norm So

I'm like, as long as we're gonna league here. When I went in this gold medal, like, I'm cool, Like we just gotta win a gold medal. Katie just telling me, you know, in between time, I was like, Regis, you're gonna need you to hit a big shot. We're just gonna need you to do this, do that. I'm like, if I can do anything, I'm gonna do that. Bro.

Like I can't. I mean, I ain't gonna be out there playing all these minutes, which I didn't need to, but you know, I can have some moments, and you know, we we accomplished when we went over there to accomplish, and you know, I'm just happy idly when we get through it. But after that, it was all dawn litill. You know what I'm saying. That's why I said I should have just had the surgery, because after the Olympics,

I took a bunch of time off. But then when I came back to training camp, it was like the first day we started like moving around. We got to the end of the day and I was just like, you know, when you know something but you don't want to tell nobody. Because you're like, man, I'm I'm fucked. You know, it's past the point. Like like I got to Kim and I was just like after the first day I knew, I knew a training camp, like it ain't never been as bad, you know what I'm saying,

Like I could at least practice a little bit. I got out the next day and like it was done. Bro, Like it was, it was done. So that was it. But I mean, it is what it is. I never really had I never really thought a whole lot about, you know, what other people were saying, because you gotta ask the people who have experienced the injury to really know, because it's hard to explain it. So if you don't want to be explaining and ship and then sounding like

you just making a bunch of ship up. So you know, I just didn't say nothing, and I'm still not gonna say nothing. I just I just handled it so I can get healthy. And then when I'm healthy and they see me, they're gonna be like, something's wrong, you know what I mean, When they see how I returned, they're gonna be like, damn, you know, like something's really wrong. And that's that's all I really care about. You know what I'm saying, it's it's being healthy when I know

I wasn't hire, no no doubt. And I think for me, who already had a bunch of respect for you, I gained even more respect, you know, and going through those times, uh me having to go to coach pop Yo take Dame out of practice like he's not gonna come out like, you know, like he can barely move, Like just let's get him out of practice. At least we can get

him for the game tomorrow. So I gained a bunch of respect for that, or for you and just watching you handle that, you know, but and moving forward obviously, Uh now can we expect you back this year? Or should we expect you back this year? I mean right now, I don't. When I first had this surgery, I was, I was, you know, more optimistic, like you know, we don't see um, but I think where we are right now, and uh, what we need to happen for us to be able to take full advantage of, you know, the

opportunity we created with all the moves we may. I don't even think, um that's the play that make you know what I'm saying, I ain't a thousand percent sure, but I mean at this point I'm not sure how much since it made Yeah, and that makes sense, And obviously you had the opportunity to use all this time to get healthy. I think people don't realize you like how much you've been in the playoffs and how the told that that takes on your body. So I think

it's great for you to get this rest. Uh. And speaking of the moves that y'all y'all made, and trading away Norman Pole and Robert Covington and then of course obviously trading CJ a way. And I know I've spoke to you about this before, just you and c J. And I remember you telling me like you know, I mean, c J talk all the time, like we know at some point this is gonna happen. It's kind of just a matter of when it does happen. Obviously it's happened. Now.

How how did you feel about the move where? How how you feel about what it was for c J and him going to New Orleans and the type of situation it is for him. But then also what y'all got back and where that leaves y'all going forward, I mean from back you know, three or four years where it's like I remember when we lost in New Orleans in the playoffs, it was like, man, we don't don't

know what's gonna happen. At this point, we just got swept as a three seed, Like we don't know what's gonna happen, but we knew it was a possibility, and you know, I think at that point we started to align our contracts up to where we was basically on the same on the same time. You know, we're like, all right, if someone gonna happen, you know what I mean, Like we was already where what the possibilities could be. And I think that's what that's what being solid and

you know, really being partners is about. Whereas like we know that there's a possibility, like I'm never gonna be like I'm never gonna hang him out there and I'm never gonna know something. And and now I go to him like look for our things something something might go down or whatever. You know, Like two days before it happened, We're talked on the phone for hour, you know, like

just talking about it. So um, you never would like if it was gonna be something where I was gonna be moved, and you know, see, okay, I knew about it. I would never want him to be like, I would never want him to tell them like, no, I don't do this. You know, I would want to be there on the strength of them wanting me to be there, as opposed to me being there on the strength of somebody making them make me be there. So you know, and I know you feel the same way. So um.

You know, you you get to a point where you know, maybe maybe something running his course, you know, you gotta you gotta rerape yourself and try to figure out what's the what's the best thing, what's the best angle to take at this point? And that's where that reached. And you know, he went into a great basketball situation, you know with e I and Zion and Balantis. And also people don't realize how good c J really is. I think that's another thing. It's like they don't realize that

how nice he really is. So um, that ship was tough to deal with. But I ain't gonna lie like I was. You know, when you know something could be coming and you know that as a possibility, but when when happened is different, Like and I kind of been stuck in that space the whole time, Like I've been watching every game in New Orleans like damn, like he really ain't coming back, you know, it was over. So

that's kind of where I've been at. I still kind of haven't even really moved plastic because I ain't had to play, so yeah, like when I ain't had to get on the court and he ain't on the team, or it's like it probably take a little bit longer to be like, man, this is really over, you know. So you know the end of the era, bro absolutely, And I think, um, obviously y'all had a great run. We met you all in the Western Conference finals and

in other playoffs series as well. But and looking back on these years, I think it's, uh, nine years you'all played together eight years, I mean nine years as teammates,

eight years because of the injuries. But what was your favorite moment and playing with c J that you can go back to him and be like that was the moment that will hold on to forever or it's is just the relationship overall, um, I'll say a relationship overall, because it was a lot of moments where I was just like you know that I think about and I'm like, damn, but I think the a moment that I think back to is um and just because like even when c J wasn't playing all the way up until last season

when Covid hit me and she just sat next to each other on the plane. For the first eight years we played together. We was like sitting right next to each other on the plane. So we used to watch film together. We's listening to music right there. We used to be watching TV shows like everything. Like we used to sit right there and next to each other. And when we made the first move when you know, l A left and the tune and west and rollo and

all them. When that team first broke up, c J came in and he was like, bro, I got you. Like we ain't about to just be trashed, you know what I mean, Like we probably were just gonna take time, but like I'm gonna I got you. And I remember we like sweeked our way into the playoffs that year and we end up being like a five seed or

something like that. Five seed. And two thousand sixteen, it was my fourth year, and um, we played the Clippers in the first round in the game I think Game four CP and Blake got hurt and then we tied the series up to two, and then we went to to the to l a game five when that one was up three two, and then we closed him out in game six at home, and I just remember like walking off the court and I turned around and he was behind me, and he just hugged me, and I

was like, bro, we just want we just want to playoffs series Brothers a year, like we're gonna be all right. And I just remember, like I just remember we embraced each other, and I was like, bro, we kind of like we're about to get some ship done. I mean like like I'll never forget that because I was like, all right, you know it's real. We really as long as we can put it together, like we got a chance,

so yeah and so and making those moves. I think y'all have somewhere around sixty million dollars or something like that in cap space. Um, like you're turning thirty two, as I am turning thirty two next month as well. The one thing you don't have on your side is time, and so you don't have like, oh man, I can watch this play out for four years or five and and grow with It's like y'all have to go for

it now. Do you feel confident in the team's plans and what and what they want to do moving forward? That's going to help you get what I ultimately know you want to get to, which is winning the championship in Portlands, right. No, I think, Um, what we've done, brother, is put ourselves in position, in a position we have not been in. I don't think you're when we signed sign Et, we signed Mode, we signed Chief, you know,

we just signed it. But myres we signed a bunch of people, and we haven't been in position, you know, with with talent on the roster already since since I've been here. You know, you look at what and It's doing, and then you look at what NAS was doing before you got hurt, and then you add nerve like Josh Hard Joe ingles like, we got some some pieces to the puzzle now that we just gotta use what we had available to add to that. Um, And it's just a matter of us being able to execute that. Bro.

We in posit, we in play to get to get something done, and I trust the fact that we're gonna be able to execute it, you know, and we just gotta you know, we just gotta see where that land. That's where we had that. We just gotta see where we land at the end of it. Bro absolutely, and I want to I want to talk to you about a young young point guard that I have a that has earned a lot of gained a lot of respect from me. And I know how you are, like lot

of guys in this league. You really ain't rocking with you kind of steady yourself. But I also know you do respect guys who get it out to muther another mid level, a guy like yourself who played I mean major guy like yourself played at the man major level. John Moran, what do you make of what he's doing with his team, especially at this stage in his career, because not many people can really relate to what he's going to Like I can't as as much success as I had early on in my career, I can't tell

you what John Moran is doing. And there's other guys in this league who's big time that can't either, that did it at the level that y'all that you've done it at as early in your career as you did. And now what he's doing, what do you think about what job doing and where he's falling in that pack and order a great point guards in the league. No, I think he's I think he's rising pick, you know, and I think a few things when from experience as a man major point guard that ends up being a

top pick in the draft. Being a good NBA player is that as a mid major player. But you're playing with less talent than what everybody else played with, and you're learning, you're learning early how to get the most out of that and how to make a team win without everybody just being nice. Everybody you know, having the same ability that you have. So you gotta learn how to lead, and that ain't always scaring all the points of getting a budgets since you gotta learn how to

make people go. You gotta learn how to make people like come along with you like and do everything they can to do have a part in winning. And I think you saw that, like c J think that Kauai did that, Steph did that. You know, it was like all of us that come from small schools, is like, we have that responsibility in college with lesser like, less talented players. So when you come to the NBA and you plan with more talent and you've got the ability yourself,

like you know, how to make it happen. You know, it's one thing I know how to do, and let's make it happen. And I think a big factor in the level that you do that at is what are you surrounded with. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don't, you know, Like I feel like if I had the team that I came into the league with for two more years, I would I would be a champion already if I still if I played my fifth six years

with Lea, Marvis, Robin Lopez, West, Matthew's, Nick Betune, More Williams. Like, if I still had all these dudes on my team as a six year player, I would have won one. But you know that didn't happen for a long enough period of time for me to come into you know what I mean, what I was coming into. So for him, I think they've got it. You got Jaren Jackson, got Steven Adams, experienced center that's gonna set screens, gonna rebound,

he's gonna talk, he's gonna be the enforcement. And then you got Dylan Brooks, and you got Desmond Bang then you got a job, and then you got Jones coming off the bench, and then you got um the Anthony Melton, the Anthony Milton, Like what's the athletic they'd be throwing a love to it, Brandy Clark, Like they got it right, you know what I'm saying. So like they got him, but they got everything else right. So now it was like he got like he got a he got a shot.

They just gotta keep the team there, you know what I mean. So I mean he I got a lot of other respectful job. Like the thing, the number one thing that I love is when I came in the league, like and you was the same way, like people might not have liked you like that, Like I don't think people dislike me, But when I came in the league, bro, I didn't have just no above and beyond respectful dudes like that, Like I knew who was who, but I wasn't.

I wasn't coming in bound down. Like my mentality was, like I can I can work with everybody absolutely more highly regarded or got a better body of work, but like I'm not doing no bound down or nobody like And I feel that way until this day. And he has that about him, you know, absolutely he has that about him like ain't no bound down, And I think

that's That's my number one favorite thing along man. I absolutely love that because the reality is you come in and you you bow down to these guys who you know, we've put ourselves in a position and now beat those guys, right, But you come in and you bow down to those guys. Everyone's gonna continue to follow that, or if he gives people something else to follow, they're going to follow that.

And it's funny because I'll be talking to my I talked to my fiance all the time, just sitting in the crib and I was just talking to be watching the game and start talking to her about like the games within the game, you know, and or talking to my mom. And I remember I was telling my fiance the other day about the about the Bengals. I said, Baby, the thing about this team is they're young, and they're unfazed.

When you got when you're young and you're unfazed a team go up team, you're just standing there like you know, or like they're not even really Uh. They haven't been around long enough to even process how big that moment is, and so for them it's just like, oh, we're down three. What what people don't understand is when the Chiefs are up three, the Chief's supposed to win that game. So once they go, they get tighter than the other than the opposing team. And this in this situation was the Bengals.

They get tighter and they like loose, like no we could like we're just gonna keep playing. And so that's a good trade for a young team to have, And you only get that by having and in a lot of cases actually a young leader because he doesn't process what the moment is. And because he don't process what that moment is, everybody who follow him they don't process

what that moment is. And I was telling I was telling her the other day, I said, that was us my first year, we won a championship in my third year playing this fourth year, steps in his sixth year. Um. But for Steff his six years, he the first three years of his career he missed half of each, wanted the seasons. Then four years like yeah, like he don't know what's going on either, until y'all into the year.

Who did they? Who do the Spurs? Yeah? We lost to the Spurs in the second round after beating Denver. And then that's when it was like, oh man, you know what I'm saying. But even then it's like, damn, we actually just did that. All right, let's see what we can do again, you know. And then we're losing seven to the Clippers and you're like, wait a minute. But then Mark Jackson get fired and so you kind

of go through that whole thing. But even then we get to the to that to my third year, and that's when we like we come into the season, we're playing well. Steve kerk first year, we're playing well. We're like, okay, all right, and then you kind of win a couple of games and I remember the one game where we knew like, ah okay. That's when we were playing at the Clippers and Steph drop CP with the double behind the back on the baseline. They were up twenty points

that game. We came back and we won that game. And after that game, that was when like, oh no, like we're really supposed to be this good. But but you go through that whole year and you're not really processing how big those moments are. So we go up in the NBA Finals against Cleveland Cavaliers and Lebron James Lebron know how big that moment is, Like Lebron has

to win that championship because he's Lebron James. We're going in there, like, man, what y'all see all these people around the THISBA finals and you just you're almost dumb to the to what's going on. And I think that's where the Grizzlies are right now. And then large part due to all of those guys just follow job and out there like I don't see none of you all

in front of me. I'm him, I'm that guy and I and I just remember seeing a lot of that in yourself because you, I think what LaMarcus have left after your second year, after your second, third year, after my third, and you took on that team like you had really already taken over the team, which is part of the reason I felt like he left because he felt that switch in the organization, but you had already taken on that and then now taken on the team

by yourself. You know what he's going through. And so I think that's a dope thing to watch. Yeah, it is, because you know, like when it's infectious, like even when it's not on purpose, people have like they start to just follow that energy. Bro. Like I came in Portland, Bro, I came in here walking did the building, rapping on my phone with the instrumental plan, and you know what I'm saying, I like I brought something that was that felt like confidence and belief, you know what I mean.

Opposed to before that it was kind of just quiet and I'm almost a little bit like on eggshells. And I had that like I didn't give a funk. I was just like, I work hard, I do what everybody asked me to do. I don't be walking around like I run the place. I just do what I do. And it was a belief. People had belief in that, you know what I'm saying. So they definitely got that

going on. But I can see it, I mean absolutely know and and so and just speaking of mid major guys who at some point obviously will overlook UM I thought, I think everybody thought you and you were out spoken about it in two thousand and sixteen two thousand and seventeen when you were smelled for the All Star Game both of those years, um I and obviously you made all start every year since except this year due to the injury, but and and being snubbed that way, I

also thought, um, last season you should have been higher up like with the seat, with the year that you had, you average thirty and eight, you shot from three. I thought you should have been hired up and then be m v P conversation just just based on what you

were doing. And you know, when guys, when other guys get those numbers, you're talking m v P runner up, m v P right away didn't quite seem like the saying to you do you feel do you still do you feel like you still don't get the respect that I personally think you should get or or that you think you deserve um in this league and as far as what you've accomplished and and how you go about your business and what you bring to the table every night. I think I think I get the respect I think people.

I think people respect it. I think is I just think that because what I do is not loud. My game is loud, like I have sixty and ten and seven and we'll win a bunch of games. Like I have loud performances, but I'm not loud. I don't get on social media say crazy ship, what stuff is happening? I don't respond crazy Like every once in a wife I feel challenged or somebody like pushing the line on me,

like they think something like they think something sweet. Then I come back, I say something real aggressive, and then it'll be like a headline, you know what I mean. But like I'm not out spoken about everything and I'm not loud. You know that ain't I don't think that's really attractive. Like I don't give him another of a topic, you know, to fit only be like because in reality is like for example, last season when y'all, who y'all lost the Lakers in the playing game, we lost to

the Lakers, then the Grizzlies, then the Grizzlies. So last year, like step going on a crazy run, right steps going on like he's going crazy, y'all lose to the Lakers, y'all, Louis to Memphis. But there's a significant amount of people out there saying he's he should be m v P, you know what I'm saying, Like in my eyes, I'm like, he probably shouldn't be MVP, Like he probably shouldn't be because what he's doing is that crazy with what he's what he's playing with. But for me, I'm averaging thirty

points eight. This is then there are five rebounds. What he said present from the field forty from three ninety from the line. C J missed two months, NERD missed two months, everybody then being hurt. We get to the playoffs and it's like, yeah, they is having a great season, but they just stated seven seed, they seed. So like I say that to say brother that like I get my respect, but people are going to respect what I've done and how consistent I've done it when I'm done

playing more than they will now. And you know, it's a it's a thing where like if I when you say the truth, sometimes people say you're crying, like you know what I'm saying. When you say the truth, they don't line up with what they wanted to be. You're crying for all he's saying this or he's saying that. But like that's just the truth, bro, Like I've I definitely should have been up there and at that nv P. Bro.

They like when you weigh in, when you weigh into like everybody's situation and what you're able to make happen. Like for us to get into the playoffs, Bro, we had to really come from behind, and I'm coming out here. I had sixty against y'all, I had sixty against Brooklyn sixty against Dallas, fifty against Spilling, fifty against Denver, fifty against the Lakers. fIF Like, Bro, this is the season

where I'm like player in the league fifty two. I literally was averaging fifty two points tennessis and eight rebounds and player of the week. Then the following week average forty seven points with tennisis and nine rebounds. And it's like had that been anybody else, they would have been ready to hand them the m v P. But like I'm just saying, like this ship is like so for me, Bro,

I've accepted my place. You know what I'm saying, Like when you ask when you act like a lot of college players and like young players like who you you know who you funked with? Like they funk with me, Bro, because because they know I'm solid. I say what I mean. I mean what I say. I ain't know hater be jelic, but I just do what I do. But I do feel like what I do is not it's respected, is not appreciated and and value as it should be. Like that's just what it is. That's what that's what I see.

Do you think And I actually agree with that one. I think in Steph's case, it could be a little different. But I'll ask you this question because I would love to hear your opinion. Do you think for Steph is viewed a little differently because he already has rings as opposed to not. Because, however, I think even in what you're saying, there are still other guys in this league that don't have rings, but they'll still get that now. But I think in Steph's case, it could be a

little different because he already had the rings. Do you feel that Do you think that? Or UM? I mean I don't. I don't. UM, I don't think into it that deeply. You know what I'm saying for me to wait all of those things, like I always tell people, you know, like people ask me like, you know what about this, like kind of like along the lines of what you're saying about step what about this person? And

I'd be like, have my position. Step is the one person that I'm like, you can say what you want, like if you say who's who's the best of this, who's first? Like this step is the one person that, like I can accept coming behind. Because Steph came from a mid major, like Steph went through injuries. Steph teams struggled, like Steph isn't two time MVP, three time champion, Like I respect step you know what I'm saying, Like I have no I'll take nothing away from step I respected

one thousand percent. But like after that, like I ain't you know what I'm saying, Like I can't. I can't take it, I can't take a back seat after that, you know what I'm saying, Like in in in our time, and I'm not talking about numbers and none of that. I'm just talking about lining it up, you know what

I'm saying. And Kyrie too, Like I like people don't give Kyrie enough credit because they'd be worried about the wrong ship, you know what I'm saying, Like they them the ones, so like, um, I don't really like I think it is. You know, certain people don't have certain things based off of what they've done, you know what

they've accomplished. Um, But I think you gotta any time you start to have these conversations, you gotta weigh in the positions that everybody else, everybody's been put in, Like look at who, look at everybody who the teammates that everybody at the top have had. Yeah, okay, who has who has Step played with? Who has Brown played with? Who have You played with? Who has a d played with? Who has Russ played with? Who has James played with?

Who has CP played with? Like, if you look at everybody at all, these guys that played with, everybody has played with with, everybody has played with everybody mm hmm and had a chance and they didn't have to leave their teams for that to happen. Yeah, So some cases might be like, well, you could go and do this and go do that, but like in many cases, nobody has had to do anything. They've been afforded these opportunities to play with the best. I do not mm hmm.

Do you do you think? Um, well, first off, how many All Stars? How you played with one, lamar two, LaMarcus. That's it, that's it. That's interesting. LaMarcus was an All Star me and LaMarcus was He was an All Star in my rookie year and then my second and third year we were All Stars together my second and third year. After that, I'm not played with a star Rookie of

the Year like men of that. That's interesting. But do you but do you think do you think some of that has to do with where you play and getting guys to come to Portland's I think that's I think part of it. I think part of it is that.

But I mean people going to Oklahoma City right like nose, but like people going to Oklahoma City and people going to Milwaukee, and you know what I mean, like absolutely, like Portland is a better city than both people are going places and Portland ain't what people think it is. Otherwise I wouldn't have been living here as long. You know what I'm saying. Absolutely, if I if you just couldn't live here, like I wouldn't be living here Islamic. So like I think that's part of it, you know

what I mean. But at the end of the day, people are going places. That's like you went there, you know what I mean, Like Mellow went to Okay. See Yeah, when we was trying to get Mellow to come here, as Mellow where he will go and ask him where he will go first, I me ing Mellow. I know what that act would be like. And not just and I say this, Bro, not just because of the living situation, but like Bro, people that play with me, Bro, I

don't play the game selfishly. I don't operate selfishly like I want to see everybody getting get having their way. I want to see everybody getting to be happy do that thing, bro. And even on the court, I don't get in the way of that. I know how to do me while not getting in the way of everybody else having an opportunity. I'm not holding onto the ball until i can get an assist or a shot or all that. But I'm passing it in. I'm hockey assists

boom boom. I'm making the right play. I ain't walking around the facility and everywhere trying to run everything and have everything my way. Bro. I play fair. So like when you consider all those things, like come on, man, that can't be That can't be the reason. It's like it sometimes honestly, it looks like which route is the easiest? Mm hmm. Oh here they got this dude and that dude. So if I go over there and then when they get there, it's like I ain't getting my shots, I

ain't getting my numbers. I can't do me. And then you see them going somewhere you like, but you could have just came and got with somebody that's going, somebody that can meet you there. Like I ain't trying to I ain't trying to compete with you know what I'm saying, Like, I know how to win, bro, I know how to get along with people and and make it work, you know what I'm saying. So I don't know, bro, Like, do you do you feel like it is going everywhere?

They do it all kind of places, So that can't be the reason. Yeah, yeah, that's true, that's true. But tell me this, do you think, um, like, what's it made you greater? And who you are? I think you have the toughness that you have, like, but you're very silent, so you know, if you don't if you don't know, you can mistake you for not being the alpha that

you are. You know, if you don't know because you don't say much, like you said, do you think in your career that that's maybe hindered you a little bit from the standpoint? Uh? Like most guys in your position are constantly telling a GM what they should do, you know, or Hey, you gotta give me this, or you gotta do that, or you need to move this guy like

that's I don't think that's no secret. Everybody always talked about Lebron, like, hey, Bron about to trade you, But The reality is guys who are in the in that position and you are to face the franchise as you do have that power to go to a GM and say, hey, I need you to move this guy. I need you

to go after that guy. You're not quite like that just because you're gonna take whatever situation you've given and treated like I'm still growing up and and Brooke Field and if I can make it out of that, I can push through this. Do you think that's hindered you in the in the sense of, like, yeah, you you're you're always going to get your team. Now you haven't been able to get over the hump. And I think that's for way more reasons than people are going to

attribute it to. But do you think that's played a party. I think that's definitely played a part in it, because you know, I think the solid parts of me are like I can't go in there and say do this and do that, do that and be you know, putting other people's lives and their families and they their situation just out like it ain't nothing, you know what I'm saying, Like I've never felt comfortable. I really like that, But um, you know before now I reached a point where I

knew that I can't. I can't ask the team to say, you know, give me an opportunity to win and then not be willing to deal with them, you know the hurt that comes that comes with that, you know what I'm saying. And I don't mean I'm going in there telling them do this, to do that, but I'm telling them like, man, if y'all you know, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna tell y'all what to do, like, but I'm also not gonna tell y'all, you know, stop y'all

from doing your job. Like I want y'all to give us a chance to win, you know, So like that's that's kind of that's my stance, is like give us a chance to win. Like, don't feel like, oh we're gonna you know, Damon's gonna be mad or anything like that, because there's been plenty times, like throughout my time in the league where I was like, man, both Williams just my guy, Like to this day, we didn't bring in back he Robb was my guy. Like these none of

this stuff goes over easy. So it's just like they know where I'll stand, like, give us a give us a chance to really win. So I do think that's that has played a part, you know, probably in it because you just But another thing is, I don't think being an alpha to me don't mean um to be like the the person the loudest wanted telling everything like to be at To me, being in alpha like is the presence, you know, the presence of the alpha is

more known than anything. And um, that's I don't think anybody that's been around, like, anybody has been around there, they'll know, like, you know this is I didn't know he was, Like I didn't know that was there, you know what I'm saying, And they know it's until they see us there and then they'd be like it may it all make sense now? So like that's been my stance. But I do think, you know, for a long time in my career, I took too much of the stance of like, you know, I can't I can't you know

what I mean. I don't wanna. I don't want to see that happen type thing. When it's like, man, you know you can't want to win and then also want everything to be a peachy you know what I mean. It don't work like that. No, absolutely, because ultimately it's a business and you have to make those decisions best for the business. Like I know, for instance, right like I to this day, Harrison Barnes, I've actually never spoke on this before, but Harrison Barnes, I think to this

day still don't like me for Katie come here. And the reality is, Bro, It's like, I didn't tell him to trade you to bring Katie in. Now, the reality is, if Katie did come in and you were still here, you would you maybe had to come off. You would have had to come off the Benship's fucking Kevin Durant and like it just is what it is if you were sitting here. I didn't tell them to trade you. But he took it very personally because of the story that came out that I cried to Katie in the

car whatever. Uh like, he took it very personal at me. And so for instance, dude, invite stephanem this way and Steph Clay everybody this way, and it sept me, Bro, Bro, Bro Studies. Was that the same meeting that I was at with Katie. They was all there too, you know what I'm saying. However, I didn't take it personally because it is what it is, like I wasn't invited to your well, now that is what it is. I thought it was funny. I thought it was funnier than anything.

But I thought it was funnier than anything. But in that same light, it's like, it sucks that you you you got traded, but you went a major money. You know, you went and got a great deal. You're still making money. But I did get two championships, and again I did that. I didn't go in there and ask them to trade Harrison Barns. I didn't do that, but I did have a conversation with him about how much Kevin Durant could help us. What what move happened after that? Ain't my

job like that ain't really what I do. That's not my job. But I do think Kevin Durant could make us better. And so it seems like now with with with y'all, absolutely with y'all, what y'all current GM and a rout y'all going on, that you're you're taking more of an approach like, hey man, I'm trying to win as opposed and you've always had that approach on the court, but now and those just in the decision making around

the team. Yeah, it's it's just you know, the it's like what it's kind of like what you were saying, where it's like, man, you you gotta to to actually win. It's like you gotta you can't just go on the courting and think, all right, I'm just gonna play great and it's don't happen because some people just built better than than You're a buil know what I'm saying. Like I never went on the court one game where I

was like, we're about to lose. Literally, like we played the Lakers New Year's Eve and you know, we had eight players out with COVID and they had Brown on the run, Russ. They out there, you know, they was flowing, and we went out there and we're about to win. And night I really thought that in my head we're

about to win. At night, we get blew out, reaggravate, I re aggravate my my ap, my abdomino, and I'm like walking off like the way they walked on the court when we was about to do the tip, Like they walked out there like the champs. We walked out there and I'm like, you know, the underdogs. It felt

like it looked like the underdogs. And at that that moment, I was just kind of like, man, I want to like it's time for me to you know, had that feeling of walking out there and feeling like the champ, like we got we we really got it, you know what I mean, Like that's what And I remember looking at them walking on the court and they was walking out there like and they didn't even have a d but it was like they walked out there like that, and it was to me, it was just like, man,

I gotta I gotta be in a position to win it, you know what I'm saying. So that I don't mean I'm gonna go in there and say, you know, trade everybody like I didn't even when we when we made the move to the Clippers, I didn't, you know, I knew after, you know, like I knew after. But like I said, it was the thing of like I'm not gonna stop y'all from doing what y'all think is gonna make our team better. So um, you know that's that's where it's at. Brother, just and now were in position

to do that. So you know, we just gotta you gotta execute that plans to make some ship happen. I think, uh, you just said something that really sticks out to me because and being in the position I've been into my first couple of years, obviously we made the playoffs, and then the five years after that we went to the finals. You tend to take that for granted, you know. And I think for me and all of those years of knowing like like you just said, and walking in and saying, yo,

like we're gonna win today. Like there were times there were times during our season, um where we would saying, hey, yo, let's let's approach these next three weeks, like the playoffs, let's lock in, let's um, let's let's we need we were setting needs. We need to hit these things and work on these things to get great. And like in those three weeks, we'll go eleven one, like twelve and two like and and and that's like getting up for

regular season games. But you know, you get the old cliche saying like you can't flip it on and flip it all like that ship is that that's saying it's cliche, But the reality is for our teams, it was true, like we could click it on and off, like hey, yo, stop playing, let's go let's go pick them or walk into it like yeah, or like walking into arena, like hey, we need to send a message to them, And we went by twenty you know, it's like and then two

seasons last year was rough. I mean it's better, but two seasons ago and walking in every arena and and knowing like, yo, we don't have a chance to win, Like it was the most unnatural, mind boggling thing to me. I lost love for basketball. So people like, yo, he washed up in this I'm like, you want me to get excited to go play in this game? We like we were seven and thirty nine, bro, Like, how am I supposed to get excited and to go play in

this game? Like I can't begin to even think about getting excited if if we win, we are moving into a whopping eight and thirty nine, Like you can't possibly think I care about this game. And so that really stuck just stuck out to me when you said like you never felt like like you were gonna lose until he was like, damn, like we we can't win, Like

it's I mean, we're in middal Covid. I'm looking. I'm like, I think we're probably six games under five hundred, and I'm just like, I ain't healthy, you know, I'm just like I'm putting it all together. Like, Bro, I'm really like in pain. I just you know, I didn't of these courts on shots and I felt good for about ten games, just wearing off like I just was sitting there.

I'm like, man, I'm trying to I want to walk on the court and look like the team looking at us like we gotta be It's gotta be our nights night to beat them, you know what I'm saying. So yeah, hopefully we can make this happen. Bron. Absolutely uh. And I've held you long enough. I could sit here and talk to you all day because it's just me talking talking to the homie. But moving off the court, obviously, you said your rehabbit is going well. We all know

what you're doing your spread time. Damn dog. You've been in the studio a lot. You've got some new music coming, Like, what's the deal on that side? Yeah, Bro, I got some I didn't. I got a lot of news ship um,

just stuff that I did. It's some it's some stuff that people have heard, some of the stuff I sent you in during and maybe some stuff that I still ain't put up, and I even did more assisting, but I got I got a lot of stuff, all the stuff that I'm trying to um put together for like you know, post career, in the career, just stuff that I want to you know, do the groundwork force. So

it's already done. So I ain't you know, sitting here trying to put it together at the end now that I got this time, I've just been you know, playing those seeds, getting all that stuff ready that I want to do. And I'm also about to get back to uh, I'm about to restart. I did this series on YouTube during the draft re called License to Litard m hmm, and that ship was it was big during that time. It was being a lot of people was following it out the whole teen years we've been in the league.

I'll be getting like tweets all the time, like when you're gonna start back license to Little So like I'm about to pick that ship back up, start putting up like out. I think that's gonna be cool. So that's probably like the main thing I've been I've been getting ready for. And what and what would License to litally look like out? Well, that includes your family is it's

just like hoop is wrappings like everything. Bro. Like, Um, there was a lot of stuff that coming from we were saved, all that basically making myself known, and I think now we'll probably started just kind of reflecting, you know, just all the way up to this point, just all this ship that then took place that I never kind of you know when when you would admit it was something you don't really realize how big it is or like, so like it would be just reflecting on that stuff.

Because now that I'm sitting still, I'm just looking at and stuff like damn, like I still got like I still have I still feel like my absolute best are coming in the next three years. Bro. Like I really I really feel that in my heart and in my body. Like I didn't know how hurt I was, bro, It's crazy, Like but just being able to reflect on like all that stuff to this point and just going through the process, just keeping you know, and just keeping just keeping people

in the loop's happening in It's gonna be smooth. And you you you spoke on what you're setting up post career. What does that look like for you? Is it trying to make one of your label one of the top labels. Is it trying to be a number one charting artists? What? What does that? Is that? Some mystery of both? What does that look like for you? Post career, post basketball. On the music side, it ain't really so much for

my music. I'm still be recording, but it's more, um, create opportunities for others finding artists, Like that's what I'm lying and tripping on my own stuff when I'm dumb clinting to be just line and other artists up. But um, the main thing just putting together to the ease um. It's just empowering the youth. Like, I got a couple of situations that I ain't that I haven't finished setting stone, so I don't want to putting that out there like that.

But I got some stuff that I'm gonna be doing. Brother, it's gonna be different. It's gonna be different, and it would be the typical um money grab for show, like oh this is what this is. It ain't gonna be none of the fiction. It's gonna be authentic. It's gonna be something that you know, It's gonna be something for real, you know what I mean. It's gonna be truth telling like character building type stuff where it's like I don't need I don't need nobody's money, like I don't need

nobody's approval or nobody's validation. I'm telling you the truth. I'm telling you the real from whatout knowing what I experienced and people that also come from that same angle. There's gonna be a part of it. It's gonna be it's gonna be a real thing, bro, I'm looking forward to that. I think, uh, speaking on things that you've done, one thing I appreciated that you used to do, and

I I think you should bring it back. If you do bring it back, obviously you know I would always attend, but if I can help with any any way, I would love to. But I definitely think you should bring back the block party you used to do. I thought that was super dope. And I think I think, for even speaking for myself, we get so busy, you know,

and and so into our own lives. You know that things like that, like the block party you used to do, or like for instance, for for myself, like I used to do this camp in my hometown, I haven't done

it in years now. Because you get busy, right, you start having kids, you got a wife, like I got a wife, I got kids, you get these two to three months off and and people, I don't think people really understand how special and precious a day or two is, you know, when you have when you have sixty seven days off like that one or two day and then for the next two eighty or to seventy eight whatever eight actually something like that. My mask was off right now.

But that's not the point. The point is that day becomes so much more oppressions because now it's to travel and so it's not just that um four hours that that the Black Party could be going on, it's everything you're doing to set it up. Is getting there to day before is you're probably there a day after. Now that's three days and sixty seven gone. And so I do understand. And I think for myself too, like I've been exploring things of what what can I start back

doing back for my hometown. The reality is it probably won't be the camp because I don't have the time to necessarily go do a camp like I didn't stop doing and I didn't stop doing that because I was just like I'm over it, Like oh, you just kind of run out of time. And so if that's something that that I think that you should do again, and I would love it be in office, even like in moving over to San Francisco. Like I always tell people Oakland his home for me, man Like that's my second

home I was. I really grew into manhood in Oakland, you know what I'm saying. So I have a soft spot for there. But as you know, I mean, I don't care what no one saying. Oakland and San Francisco are two totally different places, and when you live in San Francisco, you're not in Oakland much. Just like when I lived in Oakland, I was hardly ever in San Francisco,

you know. And so I've kind of lost touch over there too, and I want to put my hands back on that community because I know how special and important that community was to me and who I am as I want to do that again in my hometown as well. So just something I would love to see you do,

my brother. I thought it was amazing we didn't do I think the last two years we haven't done it because it because of COVID, But uh, like I'm definitely gonna I'm definitely gonna bring it back show because I brought it back from when I was a kid when they used to have it, bro Like he used to had that when I was a kid. That's what made me doing anyway, because they hadn't had it since. I was like, so, wow, they stopped let us head because people start. The last time they headed, it was like

they started shooting it on type of ship. Bro No, no jubt. But I think that's what the power of your name, you know. And and then you bring in some of your teammates you brought me. That's a different thing, you know what I'm saying. That's like one of your own bringing something back. People don't come on that same thing, you know what I'm saying. So it's a beautiful thing, bro But I truly appreciate you coming on the show man obviously, UH always wishing you a speedy recovery. I

can't wait to see you get back. I was dying this year watching you come out and score fourteen and everybody like, oh damn, ain't got it here, And I'm just sitting there like, hey man, I get this surgery, but like these people are pissing me off talking now, and Brotha looked though, like they're gonna always talk like this. It's some people that have know the truth and some people that don't. Bro, I don't really care. I mean, obviously we all care what people have to say, but

you gotta tell you what a grain is salt. Like if you know their understanding of what's actually happening is so little, then then you then what they're saying and their their lands always happening is is understood. Like I understand they're used to me scoring thirty points every game, and they're used to me blowing by people and dunking and step back left, step back right and all that stuff, and you don't see it happening. They're like, he washed

and he came. They ain't missed this that. And I'm like, bro, I'm a healthy thirty one. I ain't gonna beat up thirty one. I'm a healthy one years old. I've never missed games like that, Like you know what I'm saying. So like, I don't live a hard life, bro, I don't be out partying all the time, getting high and drinking and all up. But I'll be chilling. I take care of myself. So like it only gives it only

they're only giving me more power. At the end of the day, because now that I am fully healthy and I have not given him a single excuse, like I have not given them a single excuse. So now that I'm fully healthy, they're going to see and when they see, they're don't be like They're just gonna be stupid, you know what I'm saying, Like they only stupid and it'll be like damn like and there nobody gonna tell them

take nothing back you said this or what about? They just don't act like men never happened, Like like they've never said a thing in the world took me. They canna act like nobody said a thing. And it's like, all right, we don't. No, man, I definitely appreciate. I've never seen a job if people could just make bold a statements and not be held a counting before and look,

let me say this before we go. They had so much to say all year, twenty four points, twenty four and a half points and seven assists, bro, Like y'all hear people in the All Star Game and giving grace all these people that have are not even doing that. Yeah, how great and how great do I have to be? How great am I? That's really what you're know what I'm saying, like a great cities and all that, But like, Bro, what do you you know what I mean? Like, absolutely,

we're not doing that. So it is what it is, Bro, Like we'll see that's facts. Man. Many people have done it, not many has done it the way you have, Bro. Like from coming from where you come from, the where you go about your business, I think people can say what they wanted. People on the outside always gonna have something to say. I always say, the ultimate respect for me and the ultimate um acceptance that I'm that I look for and I appreciate is the acceptance of my peers.

And I don't think there's a guy in this league that will have anything to say about you. How you go about your business, how you handle yourself would be any different than what people see and how you carry yourself. It's the same across the board. And I got nothing but respect and love for that. Bro. I appreciate you coming on the show. Like I said, we're looking forward to you getting back healthy. My dog you get healthy too, Bro, Yes, sir,

soon come. That's a rap Dame Dollar Draymond Green show. We all